Yua invited her childhood friend Leena in to sit down, but as she put out tea and cookies she never let her guard down .
“Thanks . ”
Leena began to eat the cookies as gratefully as if they were back in that royal garden .
“Yep, they’re delicious . I’d expect nothing less . ”
But, the person in front of her was nothing like that cute young girl from the past .
“So, just why have you come here? And dressed like that?”
Leena wore a white breastplate that looked ill-fitted for her slender frame, and a crimson cloak covered her back . The standard gear for one of the Kingdom’s knights .
She had never heard of this girl belonging to the knights .
Not when she was a Princess, at least .
That must mean Leena joined the knights only very recently or had joined in secret some time ago .
Those are the only two possibilities .
Although, the latter seemed more likely .
A single silver wing was engraved on Leena’s breastplate .
That emblem signifies the rank of a cavalry lieutenant, meaning that she’s an adjutant to a knight captain .
Even if Leena is a member of the Lilyfall family, advancing up the ranks that quickly should be impossible .
“I kind of like it, do you think it’s weird? I thought it was a cute outfit . ”
“What’s weird is that you’re wearing a knight’s uniform . Did you join the Order?”
Yua asked with a tone full of suspicion, but Leena answers as if there’s nothing to it .
“Yeah, it’s to help mother’s work . I joined half a year ago . ”
“You joined that recently, and you’re already a Vice-Captain?”
No matter how you look at it, that’s quick, it usually takes several years . I suppose it should be expected that a member of that particular lineage would be able to make it in less than a year .
“So, which unit did you join?”
“Aria Squad . ”
“…Aria Squad?”
Yua looked confused .
“What’s this, you haven’t heard of Aria Squad? It’s a clandestine squad that is tasked with information gathering . ”
No, she knew . But, it didn’t make any sense .
For someone with her capacity, she should be enlisted in one of the elite frontline combat units . Why is she operating with an intelligence unit?
Yua asked the question along those lines, and after Leena swallowed a cookie and washed it down with black tea, she answered .
“I can’t tell you all the details, but needless to say it’s important for mother’s business . I didn’t really have a choice . ”
Her mother . The Lady of the Lilyfall house . Yua had never met her and isn’t sure of what exactly her work entails, but she’s well known for just how capable she is .
After hearing the answer, Yua decided not to probe any further and changed the subject .
“Anyways, since you’re wearing that uniform, that must mean the other knights are…”
“Yes, they’re on their way . ”
…She knew it .
Yua stood up curtly .
“Going somewhere?”
“I’ve made up my mind . I’m going to warn Veena . ”
“Hmm, I don’t mind if you go, but that might complicate things . ”
“Complicate?”
Leena nodded and told Yua the truth .
“Well, it could get messy since Aria has already found her . ”
“Wh! Then I have to go help right no-”
But Leena moved to calm Yua down with just one sentence .
“My sister will not be defeated . ”
“…Leena, you’re a member of the Order now, aren’t you? How can you say such a thing?”
“I don’t care . Besides, truth be told I really don’t care enough about this Kingdom to put my life on the line for it . ”
“I don’t care . Besides, truth be told I really don’t care enough about this Kingdom to put my life on the line for it . ”
A treacherous remark . If another knight heard her say it, she would be expelled from the Order immediately . But, Yua won’t condemn her for it .
“Then, just who would you risk your life for?”
Veena opened her mouth, and with a childlike voice answered with “That’s a secret ♡” .
What is this?
How can this be?
I’m being dominated so easily…
Aria is baffled as she’s being constantly pushed further and further back .
If she stopped swinging her sword for even an instant, she would be defeated .
She knew that on instinct .
“Guh, damn you, h!”
The sword is blocked again and again by the barrier . She cannot pierce it or break it .
The girl in front of her should just be a student .
That’s why she made the decision to capture her alone . Originally, her unit was not intended for regular combat but was entrusted to scouting missions and intelligence gathering .
Nevertheless, she chose to pick a fight here because she was certain that this was an opponent she could overcome .
And yet…
It was as if her blade had lost all its keen .
Her sword had been on the verge of breaking through mere minutes ago . But now it was like smashing steel against a castle wall .
“D-Damn it!”
She puts all her might into the blows .
But still, the barrier stands firm .
(What do I do? Call for reinforcements? No, that would only increase the casualties . I need to withdraw and relay this to the-)
Veena’s spoke before she could finish her train of thought .
“Found you . ”
“Found you . ”
Multiple pillars of light sprung up in the forest behind the two of them .
“Wha!?”
It was arresting magic .
“That’s impossible…”
Aria bit her bottom lip .
“My squad…”
“Yes, I got them all . ”
“You!”
Aria staggered backwards . She had played them .
Until now, Veena had persisted in fighting defensively . Aria thought that Veena had simply been fighting defensively in order to bide her time and counter-attack .
But, Veena had different plans altogether .
She was using the time to find and prepare magic to capture all of Aria’s subordinates that were on standby .
(Checkmate? No, if I can make it back to the kingdom alone, that will still be a victory . )
But, at the moment it took her to make that decision, she had already been caught .
“!?”
Swallowed in a pillar of light, Aria’s body began to lift off the ground .
If she hadn’t taken so long to react after her subordinates were captured, she would have been able to escape .
Veena isn’t able to track Aria’s movements when she’s at full tilt .
But, Aria didn’t have the experience to react to the changing situation quickly enough .
“Kuh… This kind of thing, I’ll…”
Aria strengthened her body with magic as much as she could, but she couldn’t break free from the spell .
“It’s a wasted effort . I’ve combined various sealing magic sigils . ”
“Is that your singular sorcery!?”
Veena denied it with a simple ‘No . ’ .
“I have no such thing . ”
Veena denied it with a simple ‘No . ’ .
“I have no such thing . ”
“No such thing? What a poor lie, there’s no way you could cast such high-quality magic without it being a singular sorcery . ”
Keep the conversation going for as long as possible to look for an opportunity to escape the spell .
“You poor thing . I really don’t have anything like that . ”
“You’re bluffing . And what’s more, you’re terrible at it . ”
Aria does her best to get a rise out of Veena . But, Veena remains as stoic as ever .
She’s completely uninterested in what Aria has to say about this .
“You seem to have a misunderstanding . Why should I rely on some unique skill when I’m already capable of using every magic? I don’t have, nor need, a magic that’s only for me . ”
For a moment, Aria didn’t understand . But, eventually, surprise began to wash over her .
“T-that can’t be true! That means… You can handle the singular sorceries of others?”
“That’s right . ”
Veena slowly walked towards Aria, who was still in a state of shock .
“Well, no matter . What I want to know is why a knight of the kingdom is here . Answer me . ”
Aria says nothing, she just glares daggers at Veena .
As if to declare that she would rather die than answer her .
“I see . I suppose there’s nothing for it then . ”
Veena formed a magical sigil in her hand . Eight lines of light expanded from its centre .
“What do you plan to do? I will not yield to your torture . ”
“I’m not going to do anything as barbaric as that . ”
“Then what-”
Veena laughed .
“I only ask that you look forward to it . ”
As she said it, the white light enveloped them both like a cocoon . What was going on inside of it? It was impossible to say from outside .
Leena Yua invited her childhood friend Leena in to sit down, but as she put out tea and cookies she never let her guard down . Thanks . Leena began to eat the cookies as gratefully as if they were back in that royal garden . Yep, they re delicious . I d expect nothing less . But, the person in front of her was nothing like that cute young girl from the past . So, just why have you come here And dressed like that Leena wore a white breastplate that looked ill fitted for her slender frame, and a crimson cloak covered her back . The standard gear for one of the Kingdom s knights . She had never heard of this girl belonging to the knights . Not when she was a Princess, at least . That must mean Leena joined the knights only very recently or had joined in secret some time ago . Those are the only two possibilities . Although, the latter seemed more likely . A single silver wing was engraved on Leena s breastplate . That emblem signifies the rank of a cavalry lieutenant, meaning that she s an adjutant to a knight captain . Even if Leena is a member of the Lilyfall family, advancing up the ranks that quickly should be impossible . I kind of like it, do you think it s weird I thought it was a cute outfit . What s weird is that you re wearing a knight s uniform . Did you join the Order Yua asked with a tone full of suspicion, but Leena answers as if there s nothing to it . Yeah, it s to help mother s work . I joined half a year ago . You joined that recently, and you re already a Vice Captain No matter how you look at it, that s quick, it usually takes several years . I suppose it should be expected that a member of that particular lineage would be able to make it in less than a year . So, which unit did you join Aria Squad . Aria Squad Yua looked confused . What s this, you haven t heard of Aria Squad It s a clandestine squad that is tasked with information gathering . No, she knew . But, it didn t make any sense . For someone with her capacity, she should be enlisted in one of the elite frontline combat units . Why is she operating with an intelligence unit Yua asked the question along those lines, and after Leena swallowed a cookie and washed it down with black tea, she answered . I can t tell you all the details, but needless to say it s important for mother s business . I didn t really have a choice . Her mother . The Lady of the Lilyfall house . Yua had never met her and isn t sure of what exactly her work entails, but she s well known for just how capable she is . After hearing the answer, Yua decided not to probe any further and changed the subject . Anyways, since you re wearing that uniform, that must mean the other knights are Yes, they re on their way . She knew it . Yua stood up curtly . Going somewhere I ve made up my mind . I m going to warn Veena . Hmm, I don t mind if you go, but that might complicate things . Complicate Leena nodded and told Yua the truth . Well, it could get messy since Aria has already found her . Wha Then I have to go help right no But Leena moved to calm Yua down with just one sentence . My sister will not be defeated . Leena, you re a member of the Order now, aren t you How can you say such a thing I don t care . Besides, truth be told I really don t care enough about this Kingdom to put my life on the line for it . A treacherous remark . If another knight heard her say it, she would be expelled from the Order immediately . But, Yua won t condemn her for it . Then, just who would you risk your life for Veena opened her mouth, and with a childlike voice answered with That s a secret . What is this How can this be I m being dominated so easily Aria is baffled as she s being constantly pushed further and further back . If she stopped swinging her sword for even an instant, she would be defeated . She knew that on instinct . Guh, damn you, ha The sword is blocked again and again by the barrier . She cannot pierce it or break it . The girl in front of her should just be a student . That s why she made the decision to capture her alone . Originally, her unit was not intended for regular combat but was entrusted to scouting missions and intelligence gathering . Nevertheless, she chose to pick a fight here because she was certain that this was an opponent she could overcome . And yet It was as if her blade had lost all its keen . Her sword had been on the verge of breaking through mere minutes ago . But now it was like smashing steel against a castle wall . D Damn it She puts all her might into the blows . But still, the barrier stands firm . What do I do Call for reinforcements No, that would only increase the casualties . I need to withdraw and relay this to the Veena s spoke before she could finish her train of thought . Found you . Multiple pillars of light sprung up in the forest behind the two of them . Wha It was arresting magic . That s impossible Aria bit her bottom lip . My squad Yes, I got them all . You Aria staggered backwards . She had played them . Until now, Veena had persisted in fighting defensively . Aria thought that Veena had simply been fighting defensively in order to bide her time and counter attack . But, Veena had different plans altogether . She was using the time to find and prepare magic to capture all of Aria s subordinates that were on standby . Checkmate No, if I can make it back to the kingdom alone, that will still be a victory . But, at the moment it took her to make that decision, she had already been caught . Swallowed in a pillar of light, Aria s body began to lift off the ground . If she hadn t taken so long to react after her subordinates were captured, she would have been able to escape . Veena isn t able to track Aria s movements when she s at full tilt . But, Aria didn t have the experience to react to the changing situation quickly enough . Kuh This kind of thing, I ll Aria strengthened her body with magic as much as she could, but she couldn t break free from the spell . It s a wasted effort . I ve combined various sealing magic sigils . Is that your singular sorcery Veena denied it with a simple No . . I have no such thing . No such thing What a poor lie, there s no way you could cast such high quality magic without it being a singular sorcery . Keep the conversation going for as long as possible to look for an opportunity to escape the spell . You poor thing . I really don t have anything like that . You re bluffing . And what s more, you re terrible at it . Aria does her best to get a rise out of Veena . But, Veena remains as stoic as ever . She s completely uninterested in what Aria has to say about this . You seem to have a misunderstanding . Why should I rely on some unique skill when I m already capable of using every magic I don t have, nor need, a magic that s only for me . For a moment, Aria didn t understand . But, eventually, surprise began to wash over her . T that can t be true That means You can handle the singular sorceries of others That s right . Veena slowly walked towards Aria, who was still in a state of shock . Well, no matter . What I want to know is why a knight of the kingdom is here . Answer me . Aria says nothing, she just glares daggers at Veena . As if to declare that she would rather die than answer her . I see . I suppose there s nothing for it then . Veena formed a magical sigil in her hand . Eight lines of light expanded from its centre . What do you plan to do I will not yield to your torture . I m not going to do anything as barbaric as that . Then what Veena laughed . I only ask that you look forward to it . As she said it, the white light enveloped them both like a cocoon . What was going on inside of it It was impossible to say from outside .Chapter end
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