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“Princess Eleanor, do not weep, she is still alive¹.”
“I-I-I-I’m not crying!”

Eleanor was crying in the dance hall at that moment. Her tidy face blended under her ragged tears and runny nose. Eleanor had at last been relieved of her worry.

“Zzzz… zzzz…”

Seletina’s innocent sleeping breaths made it hard to believe that she had almost lost her life in the battle with the Demon.

When Eleanor had first arrived on the scene, she’d found Seletina in a terrible condition.

Her white exposed flesh had been smeared in soot and dust everywhere, her red dress had been torn to pieces exposing her back and legs, and the fierce battle had left her beautiful golden hair disheveled.

Seletina’s wounds had been treated with a Potion, but the blood she had bled had stained her garment and her skin, leaving an unsettling image.

In Eleanor’s eyes, Seletina looked to be on the verge of death as she slept in Loggins’ arms.

Eleanor had started crying as soon as she realized that. And her tears spilled uncontrollably. She let out an uncontrollable cry, and despite her brothers’ pleas for her to stop, she continued to bawl hysterically.

“Princess, please calm down. She is okay.”

Loggins stated this while walking up close enough to Eleanor for him to hear Seletina’s sleeping breaths.

Seeing Seletina’s chest move up and down, Eleanor bawled once more. Not out of sorrow but out of relief, she wept.

Eleanor collapsed. She sobbed as she held her chest which tightened sharply. Eleanor had been worried. She had not doubted Seletina’s knightly vow. Yet, her heart, which had never experienced this kind of anxiety before, was unable to hold on. Which is also what had caused her to plunge a knife through Loggins’ hand.

Seeing Eleanor in this state, Loggins couldn’t help but bow his head.

“Princess Eleanor, these precious lives would have been lost had it not been for you waking me up. You have my sincere gratitude for this.”
“P-Please lift your head!”

Eleanor wiped away her tears and snot before facing Loggins.

“Sir Loggins, I am the one who should be expressing my gratitude. A member of the royal family should not be commended for stabbing someone in the hand…”
“… Haha. But there is no denying that it was that unfit royal act that had awakened me and spared our kingdom from the looming danger. You have every right to be proud of yourself.”
“But…”

“Do you not agree, Your Highness?” Loggins asked, looking at Gadius who was standing next to Eleanor.
　
Gadius, in turn, placed his hand on top of Eleanor’s head and said with a smile, “Loggins, if you say so, then so be it.”

“There you have it, Princess.”

“Father… Loggins…” Eleanor muttered, her face blushing.

I was actually praised for my actions…? Still, I suppose Seletina and the kingdom were truly saved in the end.

Eleanor caressed Seletina’s cheek.

I won’t cry anymore.

“Good grief… A knight shouldn’t make the princess cry, you know…”
　
Eleanor smiled as she looked at Seletina, her eyes filled with boundless fondness².

“It appears like Eleanor is one step ahead of us.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, just talking to myself.”

When he observed from a distance, Dios stated while smiling uncomfortably. He then handed Elias a bunch of parchment sheets.

“The list of those who fled the castle before us, as well as the nobles who were acting suspiciously. The names are all there, Elias.”
“Thank you. You sure work fast, Dios.”
“As if. It’s thanks to your warning prior to the start of Spring as well as our excellent maids.”
“But you did run around the whole castle.” Elias said.
“Well you know my forte is brawn, not brains. I’m not the type to hang out in a corner doing nothing.” Dios remarked.

“I’m still amazed that you’d willingly go and seek death. Please try to remember that you’re this kingdom’s first prince.”
“It’d be worse if you didn’t let me do whatever I pleased. So, what do you think about this incident, Elias?”
“I can only assume that the Anti-Royal Faction was responsible based on the names on this list. Although…”
“What is it?”

“I have a hard time believing that the Anti-Royal Faction orchestrated the appearance of the Upper Rank Demon and placed all of the soldiers in a coma.”
“I see… In other words, you can imagine them organizing those child-like Demons, but anything beyond that seems like a stretch, is that right?”
“Correct. Although, as I said, this is nothing more than an assumption.”

Elias said, biting his nail.

I doubt the Anti-Royal Faction would do something that would greatly shake the kingdom. They want to seize power in the kingdom, not conquer and slaughter the Royal Faction. The kingdom might well be doomed if an Upper Rank is let to roam free and all the soldiers wind up in a coma.

“This is so crazy…” Dios remarked.
“Sure is… Despite the fact that we were successful in stopping the Anti-Royal Faction this time, we are completely at a loss for how to deal with the person who led that Upper Rank Demon here and put all of the soldiers to sleep. Dios… We, or rather the Kingdom of Elugor as a whole, has quite the dangerous enemy breathing down its neck.” Elias said.

Both Elias and Dios couldn’t help but swallow as the thought settled.

“A dangerous enemy you say. I might have an idea as to who it is.”

Suddenly, Loggins appeared, slipping in between the boys.

He appeared to have left Seletina with Yennis, and the two of them had gone to the guest room after Eleanor.

“An idea?”
“Idea would be putting it mildly. Let’s say I met and spoke with the perpetrator.”
“Loggins, are you speaking the truth?”
“I am. I have some other topics I’d like to discuss; so could we perhaps move this conversation to a quieter location?”
“Surely. I’ll prepare something immediately.”
“You have my gratitude.”

The Witch of Black and White, as well as her relationship with Seletina. There were many things weighing on Loggins’ mind. He was also troubled by the situation involving his old friend Melia, but for the time being, Loggins wanted to inform the princes and His Majesty of what had occurred.

Loggins exhaled a heavy breath into the void. Yet, no one seemed to notice the heavy sigh coming from underneath the jet-black helmet.

1. Robinxen: Be strong Princess named the same as my Princess OC!
2. Robinxen: She’s fallen!