There’s that thing in sugoroku where you go back to the start, right?
That’s the feeling I’ve got.
«Looks like I’m back to the house I first used.»
I returned to the house the embassy set up for me, and watched my older sister happily cleaning and tidying up.
«Big mansions are nice, but I think I’m more comfortable here.»
A few days after the Erik incident.
I’d protested at the Bariel family’s estate—no, I’d lodged a protest—and ended up getting compensation again.
Whoa, that’s not the end.
I’ll make a big loan out of it and slowly squeeze them for a while.
Since the compensation came in like a get‑well‑present, the negotiations are just getting started. I’ll keep jumping until the clink of coins disappears!
Also, I’ve already contacted the Kingdom properly.
Thinking of
But—about the execution stuff, we can’t push it further or we’d break the original story too much. It’s not about their lives; averting the world’s crisis comes first.
Honestly, if the world wasn’t in danger, I’d never have studied abroad.
If possible, I’d rather have nothing to do with this any more.
Still, Erik’s sudden arrival did bring one good thing. Not the «katsua‑ge» material or the fact that we tormented Roland.
—My sister.
She’d been all shy before, but now she’s smiling again, like she’s finally let go.
Her way of speaking has become blunt too.
I’m really glad. Before, she’d start crying even in normal conversation, get confused when I asked questions, and shut herself away—it was a nightmare.
She’d mostly just react to what I said.
Now it’s more like I’m the one starting the talk, maybe?
«Hey? Where’s
«He’s heading to the port because the main body—no, the second delegation from the Kingdom is coming, so he went to the port on that business.»
The main body arrived, so he said he’d handle Ainhorn’s supplies and maintenance.
He also mentioned needing to service and clean the Alogantz.
He said he’d do a thorough overhaul and cleaning.
For an AI, isn’t that a bit too fastidious?
Seeing my sister in an apron, I felt relieved that she’d recovered.
But the real problem starts now.
Putting together
One is a senior student, but if you don’t get involved with them in the first year they end up pairing off with someone else.
…Because of Lelia, that senior’s already been crossed off the list automatically.
The second is a male «capture target» who’s also a reincarnated—well, more precisely a possessor?
He doesn’t know anything about otome games and just does whatever he wants.
Even among the three I know, Erik is out of the question.
Emile is leaning toward the «safe» Lelia, so switching to my sister would probably be rejected by Emile.
My sister probably wouldn’t want to steal her little sister’s boyfriend either.
I watch my sister cleaning up around the house.
«Um, the plates go here?»
Seeing her in an apron doing housework makes her look… domestic.
That’s it!
A gal‑type girl trying to be «gap‑moe» by being domestic is just too on‑the‑nose. If we keep living together like this, I’ll probably mess something up.
I tell myself: «Don’t make a move. Don’t make a move. If you do, you’re dead.»
Remember.
I’ve got two fiancées already.
One is hard enough; two is insane.
In the notebook I pulled from my pocket is a photo Claire sent—Libya in white underwear,
My sister calls out to me.
«
«No, you don’t have to force the ‘‑san’ on me.»
«Then just Leon. I’ve been forced to use stiff language for so long, even speaking is a hassle now.»
Erik seemed to be trying to force my sister into a girl who fits him, even dictating how she should talk.
That’s just one of the things.
Is this really his true self…?
Did Lelia’s guy not think anything of seeing my sister in that terrible state back then? He was a bit flustered, but what was he actually thinking?
◇ Summer break.
Lelia was invited by Emile to come into town.
But seeing Lelia down, Emile was worried.
«Are you okay, Lelia?»
«Y‑yeah…»
Inside, she wasn’t fine at all.
(What do I do? If Erik’s no good, Emile’s no good… the only one left is Professor Narcissus. But even he…)
Emile changed the subject.
«Sorry about that. I’ve been all over the place lately, haven’t been able to meet properly.»
«You’ve been busy, huh?»
«…Yeah. The Fevel family incident. The Republic had to pay a huge compensation, but there were other things too.»
The current incident that Pierre caused.
If we say we lost to Leon, it means we lost the defensive war. The six great nobles who can’t accept that blamed Pierre.
Fevel protested, but the other five families wouldn’t budge.
On the other hand, the punishment for Fevel looked light to other nations. It’s the Republic not wanting to admit defeat, and a decision to keep Fevel appeased.
Lelia thinks it all ended in a messy stalemate.
(As expected, without a proper chairperson among the six houses, it’s doomed.)
That’s how the game went, Lelia thought.
Because of this, over a hundred airships sank. Even though casualties were low, the six great nobles panicked.
Emile and Narcissus were drafted to help with the work.
Lelia’s guess: (Alberk. He used the Fevel family as a puppet, so they couldn’t give him a heavy sentence.)
The six nobles wanted a family feud.
Alberk, acting as interim chair, couldn’t fully blame Fevel.
(What a persistent guy.)
Emile, looking exhausted, continues.
«The problem is Pierre. He lost his protection. His fiancée dumped him, which triggered a chain reaction.»
Pierre’s fiancée, now unprotected, asked to break the engagement. Fevel accepted without blame. Being unprotected is deadly in the Republic’s aristocracy.
That’s why Lelia’s down.
Pierre’s fiancée is now marrying someone else.
Other nobles involved in the incident also had their fiancées switch partners.
«Erik messed up too, so it’s a total mess. Narcissus was forced into an engagement because his family’s fire spread, and I even got a call about it.»
Lelia’s worry is that there’s basically no more «good» guys left—only hidden character Fernand and «that guy.»
The story’s gone beyond the game, and Lelia’s head is spinning.
◇ Marie’s house.
Erik, watched by Bariel retainers, shows up as a guest.
«What are you doing here?»
«Get out.»
In the reception room, Marie calms the two and talks to Erik.
«Sorry. But you’re at fault too. The six great nobles are being naive letting you wander around. If Leon loses his temper, you’ll finally be done for.»
Hearing «done for» makes the retainers tense, sweating.
They’re watching Erik not say something weird.
Yes, they’re keeping an eye on Erik.
Erik speaks calmly.
«…Looking back at what I did, maybe I was wrong.»
Marie snorts.
«Not maybe—fact. Fix that naive attitude.»
Leon’s reputation as a force even the Republic respects makes Marie act haughty.
She’s getting carried away.
But the Bariel retainers stay silent.
Erik gives a wry smile.
«…Maybe there’s no need to change.»
«What do you mean? Are you mocking us?»
«No. My life depends on you. The Kingdom keeps having scandals. My father is at his wits’ end. Even if I’m executed or locked up, the other five nobles would oppose it. If I’m harshly punished, the people who let Pierre go would be in trouble. The Republic can’t hand Pierre over to the Kingdom.»
Marie imagines the chaotic parliament.
With a weak chair and a split vote, nothing gets resolved.
She’s irritated by the mess.
«Is that a refusal to reflect?»
Marie thinks.
(Alright, I’ll push my brother and squeeze the Bariel house next, maybe I’ll get a share too!)
But— «So my father said, even if you kill me, I won’t blame you. Do whatever you want.»
«Huh?»
A surprised Marie looks at
«…That’s weird. Killing unofficially does what? Your life is also a bargaining chip. Even if we kill you here, the Bariel house and the Republic gain nothing. Actually, handing you over officially would improve the Kingdom’s image.»
Erik smiles thinly.
«Yeah, that’s probably what you think is right. —But I’ve got no value for that now.»
Erik shows the back of his right hand.
Seeing the crest gone, Marie gasps.
«W‑what? It wasn’t a duel with the
«You’re sharp. After that, they took the crest and I lost my protection. My father wants to lock me up or erase me. But the Kingdom can’t stay silent. The parliament won’t allow us to hand you over. So even unofficially I want to show goodwill. To the Kingdom—no, to that earl, maybe?»
«If we have to erase me, can we at least look better?»
«Can’t you just apologize? Pierre never even came to apologize.»
Erik explains about Pierre.
«They’re missing. Apology would be priority, but they’re not in a state to apologize. During interrogation, Pierre intended to knock his brother down. The next heir was furious.»
Yurius and the others immediately understand. Marie, a bit later, closes her mouth.
(Everything’s just a mess. Why does it have to be like this!)
Erik looks at the Bariel retainers; a pistol is placed before Marie.
«If you want to shoot me dead right now, go ahead. If torture can be avoided, that’s better for me too. If possible, do it where Baron Barelfort is.»
A demotivated Erik is ready to throw his life away.
Marie stands from the sofa, steps onto the table, straddles the gun, slaps Erik, then grabs his chest.
Everyone’s shocked, but the Bariel knights don’t intervene.
«Don’t you dare!»
«What?»
«Kill me if you want? What do you think we are? First apologize! And that smug look like you don’t care about dying—have you never thought you might want to live?»
Marie… has something.
In her past life she died a pitiful death.
She was assaulted, froze, and all she could think of was her family—she wanted to see her daughter’s face again.
She didn’t want to die.
«That’s not even worth killing! Struggle, fight… you’ll live to the end. I won’t let you die until you make up for everything you’ve failed at!»
Erik tears up at Marie’s sermon.
«…They told me to die for the house. I never thought the ones who wanted me dead would tell me to live.»
An angry Marie tells Erik.
«Leon… I’ll explain everything to you later. You have no complaints now, right? If you kill this guy, I’ll set Leon against the Bariel house, so be ready! I’m serious! When I decide, I act!»
—It’s Leon who’ll act. No one objects.
Greg and Chris, eyeing the Bariel retainers, say, «If Marie says it’s okay, that’s fine.»
«Marie’s kind, after all.»
They stay silent.
The
Erik watches Marie’s dignified stance, eyes shining.
◇ I was waiting at home for lunch to be ready.
The pot boiled, bubbling.
«It’ll be ready soon.»
«Okay.»
I answered and waited.
Plates are set, I bought the bread they asked for.
Everything’s prepared.
Then my sister looks at the back of my right hand.
«Huh, what?»
«What’s up? Burn?»
She stands from her chair and shakes her head.
«No. It’s… this.»
A crest is shimmering on my skin.
«Is that a crest? A Sacred Tree protection?»
I don’t know the type, but I glance at the sapling on the table. It’s still sparkling, a bit bigger than yesterday.
It’s cramped in its case.
«…Could this be…?»
My sister, still looking at my hand, «I’ve seen this before. Back when we lived in the… house, it was the same.»
She knows my origins from her sister, though she hides it from me.
She’s still keeping the crest a secret for now.
«What the—»
A knock sounded at the front door.
A guest arrived, so I cautiously opened it.
There stood— «Leon‑san!»
«It’s been a while.»
Both of them rushed at me.
«Libya!? And Angelica!!»
They stare at my face.
«We came with the second delegation. Nix‑san and my brother‑in‑law are also here.»
Libya turns, and there’s my irritated older brother, arms crossed, glaring at me.
«…Why do I have to watch you looking happy? Anyway, get me inside already. I’m exhausted from the long trip.»
Angelica peeks inside.
«By the way, how’s Noel? I’ve been wondering—»
Ah, I never told them Noel had died.
I hadn’t even mentioned the old dog’s care—messy stuff like waste, emails, the dog getting weak and near death.
I was about to say I’m not here anymore when they tugged my back.
My sister pinches my clothes and pulls a bit, maybe scared of the strangers, hiding behind me.
Seeing that, Libya and Angelica’s smiles vanished.
«…Leon‑san, who is this person?»
«Let’s get an explanation, Leon. And where’s Noel?»
Why are they asking about Noel?
My brother? Hey, why are you turning your face away from me?
«No, this person has a lot going on, and Noel—»
«Noel.»
«—what?»
My sister, a little embarrassed, cheeks flushing, looks at me.
«My name… is Noel.»
I froze at that.
Libya mutters.
«Noel… a seventeen‑year‑old female. A‑Angelica! There’s a baby‑bed in the room!»
Noel—the baby‑bed they used for the dog’s care.
Angelica’s eyes widen, then she glares at me sharply.
«You’re really attached, Leon. A cute female dog, huh? We imagined an old dog, not a human.»
Their gazes were icy, cold, expressionless. Even I, usually dull, sensed this was bad.
My brother turned his back, covering his ears.
He probably thinks I’m at fault. If the roles were reversed, I’d have abandoned him.
I wondered why I was being pushed into this corner when I hadn’t done anything wrong.
…Ah, this is a dead‑end, I get it.
If I had to explain, it’d be like a wife showing up unannounced at her husband’s work, only to find him with his affair partner.
A soap‑opera mess.
I’m basically the husband caught in the act…
No matter what I say, they won’t believe me.
Misunderstandings breed more misunderstandings; I can’t get anyone to trust me.
Even if I try to explain, they’ll doubt me. So I should get Luxion to handle it.
Unfortunately, Luxion still hasn’t come back.
Libya and Angelica close in on me.
«Leon‑san!»
«Leon!»
Calling out to the absent Luxion, I shout from the bottom of my heart, «Help me, Luxion!!!»