“Hey, don’t be too upset. I don’t usually go this far, but the shock from the panties hasn’t gone away....”
"Ah."
Again. Again. Again!
In fact, there was another reason why Ryan was so wary of Nike and Vania's contact.
It was because of the wrong gift given at their first meeting.
Of course, not wanting to be the crazy guy who gave panties to a little girl, Nike explained everything on the spot.
“I told you I didn’t buy it.”
Vania could have just confided in Ryan, but it seems like she really didn't say anything because she decided to keep it a secret...
Nike had to explain the day's events in detail to Ryan instead of Vania.
“Oh, I see. It wasn’t our gentle Prince who gave it to her, but ‘Vania’.”
“...”
That was weird, too!
“...It was a mistake. Please clear up the misunderstanding.”
"Don't get me wrong. I just want to keep all possibilities open. Who knows, maybe Vania gave it to you intentionally?"
“What? That’s ridiculous...”
Nike was dumbfounded.
“Don’t you trust your younger sister?”
"Yes. At least when it comes to matters related to Your Highness. The child simply can't think rationally."
Ryan shook his head.
"I believe love is a wicked emotion that paralyzes human reason. Don't you remember? When Vania revealed her secret without hesitation in response to your question, Prince?"
“...”
Nike was speechless. It seemed he was partly responsible for Vania's loss of trust...
"And think about it. Why would the Prince have met a woman from the Wassenberg family? Would you have been unaware of the wrongness of the relationship?"
“...”
"Because of that damn love... So, as Vania's guardian, I'd like to pay just a little more attention, so please understand. After all, it's... Ahem. Well, since it was a gift with sexual connotations, I'm more than a little worried."
"...Yes."
Nike nodded with a sigh.
It would be even stranger if the older brother didn't show any caution when he found out that his underage sister had given her underwear to an adult man.
Yes.
So let's just endure it...
"But, Your Highness, I'm curious about what bunny was wondering earlier. Why didn't you set off with the Knights? Could it be because you wanted to see more of Vania, or some other sinister reason...?"
“No, it’s not. It’s just that David Wassenberg might come here.”
"...Yes?"
Ryan was frozen.
***
The capital, the Duke of Wassenberg's residence.
Horororo.
The owl on the saddle made a small hoot and tilted its head.
Knock, knock, knock...
The pensive Duke Edgar Wassenberg's index finger tapped the desk, making a rhythmic sound.
Marina did not return.
Only the owl returned.
There was a small note tied to his ankle.
Could she be dead?
Or maybe Ryan, that is, joined hands with the royal family?
Or maybe she ran away?
Edgar couldn't be sure of any of the three assumptions.
It was because of the 'last greeting' that Marina sent through the owl.
A note written in blood, the handwriting illegible.
I with my own hands...
Edgar gritted his teeth as he flipped through the note he had already read dozens of times without looking at it all the way through.
He doesn't know if what Marina wrote is correct or not.
My daughter's last greeting was...
Because it was a truth known only to Edgar and Marina under the sky.
“Bridget.”
“Yes, Father.”
As usual, the Seventh Princess, Bridget, came to the office, dressed up to the nines.
Edgar ordered.
“Send a message to David.”
***
“Didn’t you say you killed the person with supernatural powers who was the leader of the Wassenberg Assassins?”
Nike became concerned as soon as she heard the full story from Ryan.
The Duke of Wassenberg will move.
"You may not have noticed since this is your first time being chased, but the Wassenberg Assassins have never failed. I only learned this recently from you that it was due to the leader's special powers..."
The 'disappearance' of a person with special abilities.
There is no way that the Duke of Wassenberg will not uncover the truth.
"He might want to investigate what happened. And the person he can send here as quickly as possible to confirm this is David Wassenberg."
"Well, of course, Father wouldn't just let it go. But David is coming here right now? Isn't that guy's teleportation ability?"
“No, I’m worried because I think he might be around here.”
“Yes?”
The cursed land of Farnese is now facing a period of demonic resurgence.
They'll have to wait and see how big it is before they know for sure, but if it's a 'level 1 incident'...
The imperial family asks Wassenberg for help.
And as soon as Wassenberg got their hands on the property, David would come to quell the situation.
Always, as if he had been waiting...
So he expected him to be nearby.
“I’m not sure, but it can’t hurt to be prepared.”
As Nike said that, Ryan's face turned pale.
“...Your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“Are you scared?”
"A little?"
Nike was surprised by the unexpected answer.
Ryan said, narrowing his eyes as if recalling a memory.
"That kid's got a bit of a mean streak. I'd probably win if we fought now, but I remember getting beaten like a dog when I was little. The size difference was significant, too."
“...I see.”
That was understandable.
David is a man with cruel hands.
He wished it was just a coincidence, but if he really came to investigate the case, he would probably act quite ruthlessly...
Ryan may have to deal with such a man in some way.
Wassenberg must already know that Ryan is staying here.
If you avoid the place in advance, it will be more suspicious, so it is better to act calmly even if you encounter it.
So Nike stayed here.
If there were a royal family, David wouldn't be able to do anything out of the ordinary.
He guess hr can at least be a little bit of a leader.
“Huh? Wait! Then put off preparing for the subjugation and stay here for my sake...”
Ryan opened his mouth in surprise, then stopped talking.
“...It’s not because of God, but because of Vania.”
"Hey."
“Love is destructive after all...”
Ryan shook his head and muttered.
***
We were all out playing, looking around the village market, and stopping at a small restaurant for lunch.
Everyone was enjoying the peace and laughing, but I was worried.
I also briefly thought of Nike, who had been cold to me for some reason...
We also examined the future direction that would change with the unexpected appearance of Marina and her earlier-than-planned elimination.
‘I think my father will react in some way...’
Marina's absence is a painful loss for my father.
Of course, with Marina gone, we're glad that the risk of being secretly followed has been reduced...
'Something will inevitably happen while they're chasing us, so we can't help but be suspected.'
My father is not easygoing.
I made it seem like Marina betrayed the family and left...
My father is not the type of person who would think, 'Huh? Marina betrayed me? I can't help it.'
First, it is more likely to find out whether there was a real betrayal or if something happened...
“Sister, sister.”
"Yes?"
At that moment, Alex, who was next to me, poked my side in surprise.
I followed Alex's gaze out of the restaurant.
'Ugh!'
...Why is that here now!
Lightning struck the eagle emblem.
A carriage bearing the seal of Wassenberg came in and stopped.
“Alex, don’t look. Just act calm.”
"Yes."
The quick-witted Alex went back to eating without a second thought, while I nervously watched who was getting out of the carriage.
'It's okay. Calm down.'
If you thought nothing would happen if you caught Marina, you're an idiot.
A man gets out of the carriage.
The moment I saw him.
My heart thumps.
‘Wow, of all things...’
Golden eyes sparkling between black hair.
A cold-blooded and cruel impression like a black panther.
As always, the man, with an indifferent expression on his face, fiddled with his black gloves and got out of the carriage escorted by his adjutant...
My first brother was David Wassenberg.
"Be careful, Vania. This brother can't look after you forever."
The older brother who slapped his younger sister's cheek with all his might, even though he thought she was cute.
He grabbed me by the hair and dragged me like a dog, throwing me into the basement...
“Since he’s so mortal, I’ll bring him here. Of course, I’ll just rip off his head.”
...even making such threats about Nike.
'I'm going crazy.'
The hand hidden under the table was trembling.
I'm most scared of David.
Maybe even more than my father.
Even though I was prepared to see his face again someday...
When I see something like this, I can't calm down.
'Think. Let's think.'
But my mind went blank.
As I watched David's back as he got off the carriage and headed somewhere, I became worried about Ryan.
'First of all... just a little bit.'
I can't think normally right now.
So, let's take some time to think about how to respond.
The Eye of the Mirror - Poetry of Retrograde
"Ah."
Time doesn't turn back.
I immediately realized why.
Currently, all those with this ability are...
It is in a <disarmed> state.
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