“Eh!? Onee-sama, you are returning to Sousa!?”

“Yup”

Claire-sama’s surprise reflected everyone’s feelings .

The morning after the Amour’s Festival, everyone in the academy became aware of Manarisama’s return to Sousa .

“The First Prince suddenly died . I moved up in the order of succession and once again I’m in the ugly situation of family conflict”

I give up, Manarisama laughed, not looking defeated at all .

This came as a surprise for me too .

In the game, Manarisama stayed with the protagonist until the ending .

What in the world caused the difference .

While I was pondering by myself, Rod-sama snorted in dissatisfaction .

“Are you trying to quit while you’re ahead?”

“I’m sorry but that’s how it is . Well, won’t there be plenty opportunities for a rematch . Right, the future king of Bauer?”

“Hmph, be ready for it”

Saying so, Rod-sama boldly laughed .

“Ah, I don’t want to go back . Rei, let’s run away together?”

“Please do it alone”

When I coldly replied to flirtatiously acting Manarisama, she feigned crying .

No, it’s not cute .

“Since I was rejected by Rei, it can’t be helped, I’ll go and get the throne . Then I’ll come meddle again”

“You don’t have to come”

“Hey Rei, you are beyond disrespectful”

Claire-sama rebuked me for the words that came from the bottom of my heart .

Cute .

Even so, she said it like obtaining the throne would be simple .

But, it would suit Manarisama .

“But, what happened to the matter of your s.e.xual orientation being exposed that you mentioned before?”

“That’s a trifling thing . By nature, it wasn’t known to the citizens . I think it will at most be a disadvantage in the family conflict”

Well, not that I care, said Manarisama .

“I greatly enjoyed the past month . It’s truly a shame I have to go back to the royal palace”

“I feel the same, Onee-sama”

“… Please go back soon”

“Rei!”

Claire-sama stepped on my foot with all her strength .

It hurts .

I love her .

“Really… Rei, have a little more respect for royalty”

“My mind is already filled with love for Claire-sama”

“Je, jeeeez!”

Claire-sama blushed and turned her face away .

Yes, cute .

“Aaah . You’re totally getting along well . I wonder if I did an unnecessary thing”

Manarisama grumbled just a tiny bit dissatisfied .

But, I think .

Wasn’t it Manarisama’s aim from the beginning .

Becoming the bad guy and pus.h.i.+ng Claire-sama’s and my relations.h.i.+p forward – that must have been Manarisama’s true intention .

(But well, I’m not good with what I’m not good with)

Whatever her true intention was or how grateful I’m to her, I’m not good with Manarisama .

She’s an opponent who brought me much grief and even now is idolized by Claire-sama .

Above all, I wouldn’t win against her the next time .

“By the way, Rod-sama . I have a single piece of bad news”

Saying so, Manarisama’s expression hardened .

“What?”

“The cause of death of the Sousa’s First Prince was poisoning, but the symptoms match the poison used on your country’s prince Sein – cantarella”

“What was that?”

That’s to say, the culprit is―― .

“Naa Empire, huh”

“Yes”

It appears the Naa Empire, the country neighboring the kingdom that has had hostile relations with it for a long time, is working behind the scenes .

“The First Prince had advocated a hostile policy towards the empire from the start . They couldn’t stomach it”

“The First Prince had advocated a hostile policy towards the empire from the start . They couldn’t stomach it”

Even if I take the throne, I don’t think it will change though, Manarisama said .

“The attempted a.s.sa.s.sination of Prince Sein and the successful poisoning of Sousa’s prince… The Naa Empire is becoming active . Please be careful”

“Got it . You too take care in your home country”

“I appreciate your concern”

Having replied to Rod-sama, Manarisama faced me .

“Rei, you also take care? You may be able to detoxify cantarella but when you’re afflicted by the poison, you might be unable to use the detoxification magic”

“It’s okay . The academy is in the midst of formularizing the cantarella detoxification magic”

Immediately after Sein-sama was targeted, to make sure anyone can use the detoxification magic, I submitted the configuration formula to the academy research inst.i.tute .

Once they complete it, the number of people who lose their lives to cantarella should dramatically decrease .

“I see . As I thought you’re great . Claire, after all I――”

“I will not hand her over?”

“Recently, you two have become similar”

Manarisama smiled wryly at Claire-sama who found fault with her .

“Manarisama, it’s almost time”

Manarisama’s servant said .

It seems her carriage arrived .

“Ah, I will see you off to――”

“Claire, stay here . I want to borrow Rei”

“Onee-sama, you are still――”

“Haha, it’s different . I just want to have a secret talk between us two . That much should be okay?”

“… It cannot be helped”

She pushed my back with Rei, take care .

I have no choice but to accompany her to the carriage .

“Rei, there’s something I want to ask”

“What is it”

After we walked silently for a while, Manarisama spoke .

“Who are you?”

Asking so, there was a sharp glint in Manarisama’s eyes .

“Detoxifying an unknown poison, being aware of an unknown offering . Where did you get that knowledge?”

“… I can’t answer”

“Detoxifying an unknown poison, being aware of an unknown offering . Where did you get that knowledge?”

“… I can’t answer”

Manarisama wouldn’t accept a half-hearted deception .

That’s why I answered honestly .

“Are you a spy from Naa Empire?”

“I’m not”

“Really?”

“I swear on Claire-sama”

When I said so, Manarisama let out a suppressed laughter .

“Ahaha, then I’ll believe you . You’d absolutely never betray Claire, would you”

Ahaha, Manarisama laughed for a while .

“Is that the only thing you wanted to ask?”

“No, there’s one more”

Manarisama continued with the question .

“Do you still believe your feelings for Claire don’t need to be reciprocated?”

Her eyes said she won’t tolerate evading it .

“No . I’d like Claire-sama to respond to them now”

Firmly staring back in Manarisama’s eyes, I said that .

“It’s a th.o.r.n.y path”

“I know”

“Claire is straight”

“I’m also aware of it”

“Can you keep your feelings without giving up?”

“Absolutely”

I replied to her shower of questions without any hesitation .

“Yup, that’s fine . With how you are now, I can leave Claire to you”

Her face looked like father’s whose daughter is getting married .

It may be that Manarisama loves me, yet she cares for Claire-sama from the bottom of her heart .

“This far is fine . I’ve heard what I wanted to hear”

As she said that, Manarisama held out her right hand .

As she said that, Manarisama held out her right hand .

“It was fun . I’m leaving Claire to you”

“You don’t have to tell me”

I grasped her hand tightly .

“Then, see you”

Leaving behind such words, a person like wind left .

“Claire-sama”

“What is it, Rei”

“Please let me hear that line again”

That line refers to the line Claire-sama blurted out during the Amour’s Festival .

“What might it be?”

“You’re feigning ignorance again”

Because she’s cute I teased her, and flus.h.i.+ng, Claire-sama,

“Do not get carried away! It is not that I particularly――”

“Particularly?”

“Particularly… feel anything for Rei”

said so, turning her face away in a huff .

“Name”

“…”

“You are calling me by it”

“… I was not aware”

I don’t think Claire-sama loves me yet .

Even so―― .

“Claire-sama”

“What is it”

“I love you”

“… Hmph”

I think Claire-sama and I took an important step forward .