episode_0095

Think about it for a moment.

It’s called the trolley dilemma.

If you can save five people by killing one person, is that right?

Although everyone can come up with their own conclusion, no one can say for certain that it is the right answer.

Because that’s what a dilemma is.

Then ask yourself again.

What if you could save tens of thousands of innocent people by killing one evildoer?

– Of course it’s the right thing to do.

…okay. i think so too.

—-

He tried to suppress his murderous intent and turned his gaze away from Empress Isabella.

She is sensitive to hostility… and my life is too dark, even though it is full of ferocity.

It was not yet time to reveal this.

If she finds out that I am not just a quiet person, but that I have a deep murderous intention towards her, her vigilance will only grow stronger.

Three royal family members walked in side by side, following Isabella.

Leopold is smiling lightly. Ernst has a stern expression.

Even Leonor recognizes me and gives me a smile.

The two princes were wearing imperial robes, but Leonor was wearing the uniform of the Knights Templar even though it was an official banquet.

A princess would normally have to wear a dress… but it seems everyone has decided not to care about her anymore.

After all, who can stop a stubborn person who even the emperor gave up on?

The Emperor, who received the courtesy of the nobles and advanced to the head of the banquet hall, turned and looked down at the audience.

“…Everyone, lift your heads up.”

It’s a dying voice.

I didn’t expect that Emperor Ferdinand would already be like this.

also. Did the burning of the system leave a significant psychological impact?

I don’t know yet whether this will be good news…or bad news.

The nobles slowly straightened up.

The emperor continued speaking with difficulty. One word at a time, in a slow, trembling little voice.

“Today…is a happy day when the system has finally officially returned to its original form…Everyone, forget your worries…and enjoy the banquet.”

With those words, the emperor sat down on the throne.

Next, Isabella, standing next to the throne, spread her arms and left a congratulatory speech.

“Thank you to all of you who gathered here. As His Majesty said, this banquet is a celebration of the revival of the system, so we ask that you bring blessings and vitality to the heart of the empire that has risen again with your enthusiasm and joy.”

The voice was like a lake filled with honey.

A thick swamp filled with a sweet scent, but once you step into it, the stickiness that clogs up your feet and you can’t get out, slowly sinking.

The banquet has begun.

—-

To the tune of the orchestra, pairs of nobles filling the central hall spin and dance.

A strange excitement rises in the venue.

A man and woman making eye contact let out a strange smile.

Is it lust or affection?

I leaned against one wall and looked at it.

I didn’t dance. I had no intention of leaving in the first place…

I had a feeling that if I spun around and the veil was lifted to the side, the laughter and cheers would turn into shock and screams.

Imagine a tiger dancing among people.

…That might be kind of fun.

The image of a tiger waltzing and stamping its feet came into my mind, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

The role of Friede’s partner was left to Nigel.

Nigel looked confused for a moment, but then nodded heavily.

Looking at the way they dance, I can kind of understand why they hesitated.

Just by looking at it, it looks a bit awkward.

Nigel doesn’t seem to be used to this either.

Nigel, who had been breaking out in a cold sweat, looked like a criminal who had committed high treason after he stepped on Friede’s foot.

Friede quietly comforted her.

Thank God, if I had stepped on it, I would have had to walk on one leg until I was fully healed.

Empress Isabella was sitting next to the emperor, and Leopold was dancing with a young girl who appeared to be about sixteen.

Is she the daughter of the Duke of Vienne?

Since he’s given up on his plan to become engaged to me, I guess he’s aiming for the Duke of Vienne.

It is the right decision.

Of the five electors, two archbishops support Ernst, so you should attack the remaining three.

Ludwig is clearly a Leopoldist, and Palun is also said to be neutral, but considering the 2nd Prince Karl, who is active in the North…

Ultimately, there is a high possibility that they will support Leopold’s side.

Is it worth doing if we can get the Duke of Vienna involved?

The unwritten rule of the imperial family not to enter into an arranged marriage with the lineage of the elector has been thrown away.

Well, it’s a matter of life and death, so it’s foolish to worry about unwritten rules.

The girl dancing with Ernst… I don’t know who she is. It’s a woman I’ve never seen before.

That means they are not particularly high-ranking nobles.

Isabella will hate it.

Leopold is building a relationship with the Elector’s daughter, and says that his son only cares about useless women.

Leonor did not dance.

Although I already guessed it when he came dressed in a knight’s uniform.

Throwing away all imperial customs and anything else, he just looked down at the banquet hall with his arms crossed at the corner of the head table.

“I guess you don’t want to dance? Princess Aishangior.”

After staring for a while, a woman came towards me and started talking to me.

In a voice that gives me a feeling of déjà vu that is somehow familiar.

Is his age around mid-twenties?

Caught wearing a purple dress. She was a strangely seductive woman with languid-looking eyes.

The mouth was covered with a colorful fan, but the upper part that was revealed was a fairly familiar face.

So much so that I immediately realized the true nature of the deja vu.

That’s because it seemed like Ophelia would look like this when she grew up to be six or seven years older.

Claire van Siegmillus.

She was an influential aristocrat of the Ernst faction and a woman who was like Isabella’s hand and foot.

In the original, he disappeared after losing the duel with Ophelia.

“…Lady Sigmillus.”

“Oh my, did you know me? nice to meet you My name is Claire van Siegmillus. Please call me Claire.”

Claire gracefully held out the back of her hand.

Are you contacting me at this point? I don’t really know the purpose. I guess I should at least say hello first.

He gently wrapped his slender fingers, brought them to the corner of his mouth inside the veil, bent down and lightly kissed them.

The smell of medicine covered in perfume and the faint smell of blood.

The typical female wizard’s body odor was slightly visible on her fingertips.

“This is Hashalr Median Aishangior. Since I had occasionally seen the Lady of Sigmillus at the Academy, I could recognize Miss Claire at a glance. I think you two resemble each other a lot.”

“Are you talking about Ophelia? She’s my cute little sister. She suddenly entered the academy, so I haven’t seen her for quite some time… I don’t know how she’s doing these days.”

I’m doing well. It’s so relaxed that the instructors get upset.

Of course, in my heart, I’m grinding my teeth against you.

By the way, it’s similar to the dress Ophelia wore during the entrance exam.

No, it would be more correct to say that Ophelia wears clothes similar to Claire.

Even though you say you hate my sister, why do you go around wearing clothes that look similar to her? He has such an unknown personality.

“I only saw him from afar, but he seemed to be doing well.”

“Thank goodness. No matter how busy you are with your studies, it would be nice if you came to visit the family from time to time. Miss you.”

Isn’t that why I’m not going because you’re there?

If others see you, they will only think that you are a sister who really cares for your younger sister.

“First grade is the time to learn. Miss Ophelia must also be missing Miss Claire.”

“I hope so… By the way, it’s a long-awaited prom, so why are you standing alone in a place like this?”

“If I come in between them, the people around me will be shocked.”

Everyone around you will avoid or stop moving, and you will be able to perform on your own.

In that situation, I have to dance a dance I don’t even know how to do properly?

It’s a creepy thing to even imagine.

“You can’t possibly be afraid of the hero who saved the citizens of the island.”

“Aren’t you scared of me, Miss Claire?”

“Should I be scared? You are such a wonderful driver.”

Claire took a step closer. Close enough that the sweet, peach-like scent becomes clear.

This woman is as talented as if she were breathing. Even against people of the same sex.

Did Isabella order you to? Approach me?

“It’s right to be scared. Respect comes from fear. Without fear, it is difficult to expect courtesy. This is especially true for me as a stranger.”

He answered in a firm tone, as if distancing himself.

okay. If those nobles weren’t afraid of me, they would have approached me thinking I was prey to mess with.

Just like you now.

Being so afraid that you fall into a panic is also a problem…

“Is that so…? I’m not sure.”

Claire smiled like a fox.

I don’t know what I don’t know.

He said that even after seeing the charismatic emperor sitting over there like a mere ornament.

“Miss Claire, may I ask why you are not attending the ball? Unlike me, I think there are many people who would like the honor of being chosen as a partner.”

“Hehe… That’s a happy compliment. Normally I would have done that, but I gave the first dance of the day to someone else.”

Claire looked towards Ernst. To be exact, the Lady who is dancing and smiling with him.

Did you originally plan to dance with Ernst?

Beyond the eyes covered with a fan, I could feel the hostility that was so hard to hide.

Just by looking at his eyes, it feels like he wants to give that woman to Isabella.

As long as Ernst is chasing her, he won’t dare to put it into practice without Isabella’s order.

“Is that so? Even so, it wouldn’t have been that difficult to find a new partner.”

“Well, I wasn’t very reluctant. Why? Maybe it was because I was destined to meet such an attractive driver?”

…No matter what, isn’t it too blatant?