The group temporarily staying at the Karsten residence had finally reached the time to part ways. Although Crusch, representing the Karsten family, was somewhat reluctant and wished for them to stay a few more days—after all, no one knew what might happen next, and the royal capital was relatively safe—they ultimately declined her proposal.
If it were only her and Emilia, it would have been one thing. The problem was that it wasn't just the two of them. There were also the innocent villagers who had taken refuge in the royal capital. As the saying goes—when there are too many people, disorder follows. This was an important district of the capital. To avoid anyone accidentally causing trouble, and fearing the villagers might not adapt to the environment, it was better to return.
Thus, they set their departure for early the next morning—
"Lady Emilia, Lady Raiden, won't you stay a few more days?"
Standing before the two of them, Crusch still asked somewhat unwillingly.
"Thank you, but I think the villagers want to return home as well. And it wouldn't be right to keep troubling you here."
Emilia shook her head slightly and declined politely.
"...Thank you for your help these past few days, Crusch."
The Shogun also spoke up to express her gratitude.
"It was nothing on our part. Compared to what Lady Raiden has done for us... this bit of assistance hardly counts. We hope that someday we may repay this great kindness."
Crusch shook her head and responded gently.
"You two, I've settled them in already, nya~!"
Felix jumped down from a dragon carriage and waved at them.
"Thank you for your hard work, Felix."
Emilia replied politely.
"No, no, it's nothing. There are quite a lot of people, after all. It'll probably take seven or eight dragon carriages."
Felix returned to Crusch's side and shrugged while glancing at the fully occupied carriages around them.
"..."
The Shogun shifted her gaze as well. Half of the village's residents had been settled here, while the other half remained in the Sanctuary where Mathers resided.
"Big sisters~! Come quickly~!"
In the distance, Petra, already seated in one of the carriages, waved at them. This time, Emilia would ride with the children. They couldn't let them sit alone in a carriage without an adult—it would be too dangerous. Overall, the arrangement was much the same as when they had come.
"Mm~ I'm coming."
Emilia smiled and waved back at the blonde girl in the distance.
"Take care, Crusch. Felix."
The Shogun bade the two of them a solemn farewell.
"Mm, until we meet again if fate allows, Lady Raiden, Lady Emilia."
Felix smiled at her.
"Lady Emilia, may you be safe and in good health. Lady Raiden as well—may your martial fortune flourish."
Crusch offered her blessing and extended her hand.
"I look forward to seeing you both again in the near future."
"We certainly will... Please take care as well."
Emilia clasped her hand firmly in reply.
From now on, she would have to become someone capable of helping others, rather than always being the one who was helped. She cast a quiet glance at the Shogun beside her and made up her mind.
Without the Shogun these past few days, she would never have managed to endure.
Haa... looking at it this way, I really am still immature... It's time I learned to stand on my own. After all... the beautiful woman beside me cannot stay at my side forever. It's time to grow.
Afterward, the group boarded the dragon carriages and slowly departed the royal capital under the watchful gazes of those at the Karsten estate, embarking on the road that led to the Mathers border mansion.
This road was already quite familiar to both the Shogun and Emilia. They had traveled it back and forth several times before. Even so, each journey still took about half a day, and this time was no exception. By the time dusk settled, they had finally reached the borders of Mathers territory.
"Everyone, we're almost there!"
The coachman uncle, catching sight of the village in the distance, turned around and called loudly into the carriage. Hearing this, the villagers eagerly leaned out, their faces full of excitement as they looked toward their homeland. Truly, nothing was more comforting than returning home.
"Everyone looks so happy."
Emilia did not lean out. Instead, she sat with one leg lightly crossed, speaking to the Shogun with a soft sigh of emotion. Though her legs were crossed, she maintained a ladylike posture, her hands resting neatly against her thighs.
"They couldn't adapt to life in the royal capital... even though its environment is far better than here. There's a saying—'habit' is the most frightening thing."
The Shogun glanced at Emilia beside her, then rested her forehead lightly against the window as she observed the villagers' excited expressions outside.
"Then—what about you, Shogun?"
"Mm? What do you mean?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, she turned her head in confusion.
Click~
Emilia slowly lowered her slender leg and braced herself against the seat as she leaned closer. The posture was somewhat intimate, prompting the Shogun to instinctively lean back slightly.
"Between life in the royal capital and the countryside... which do you prefer?"
After moving closer, Emilia tilted her head slightly. Because she supported herself with one hand, that tilt caused her head to rest gently against her own shoulder. Her silver-white hair slipped down with gravity, and under the golden light of the sunset streaming through the window, her entire figure seemed bathed in a soft glow, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Haa... I'm not particular about my surroundings. As long as it's a place suitable for ordinary living, I can adapt."
Unless it were some extreme environment. And even then, she would not complain. For a warrior like her, such endurance was also part of inner cultivation. That was something Ei had once taught her.
"I see... That doesn't sound like something a ruler's daughter would say at all."
Emilia smiled teasingly.
"Do you take me for some... pampered young lady?"
The Shogun narrowed her eyes, speechless.
"I might have, at first. But after gradually getting to know you, that impression disappeared."
After all, pampered young ladies were usually like Priscilla, weren't they? Certainly not like the woman before her—quiet, reliable, honest, attentive, and gentle. That was why she found it somewhat unbelievable. Perhaps this was what charm meant—an uncommon kind of charm.
[Haa... perhaps it's because of family upbringing.]
Ei sighed inwardly as she added her thoughts. She might not boast about many things, but in this regard she was fully confident. From beginning to end, she had never once been lax in educating her child—even during the Vision Hunt Decree of the past. If Makoto, the Shogun's other mother, were still alive, she might have indulged her slightly, but never excessively. At that time, the responsibility of educating the Shogun would have fallen to her elder sister instead.
After all, given her former temperament, she had been better suited to being the father. And now, she truly was both father and mother—playing both roles at once.
Life really wasn't easy.
"Lady Emilia, Lady Raiden, we've arrived at the village."
The coachman uncle turned back to inform the two of them. In doing so, he happened to catch sight of the two beauties still in their rather intimate posture. His face instantly turned red, and he hurriedly looked away, repeatedly telling himself he hadn't seen anything—otherwise it would have been far too stimulating!
"Thank you... we'll be getting off shortly."
Emilia merely glanced at the blushing man as he turned away and replied in her usual tone. Then, while the Shogun was still in a slightly dazed state, she stood up first, preparing to disembark.
"...Haa."
Watching Emilia leave her side, the Shogun couldn't help but let out a faint sigh of relief.
Why does everyone like sticking so close to me?
She grumbled inwardly before standing and stepping out of the carriage as well.
A few minutes later, everyone disembarked and gathered within the familiar village. Yet at that moment, a sense of unease crept over them.
It was too quiet.
Unnaturally quiet.
"What's going on? Did the others not come back?"
The villagers began murmuring among themselves. Aside from their own group, the village was completely empty. They had clearly evacuated in two separate batches before.
To be safe, Emilia asked several young men to check the houses and confirm whether the village was truly deserted. The result was predictable.
"No one here!"
One of the young men shouted from afar after checking his assigned area.
"Nothing on this side either!"
Another called out. As expected, the remaining few returned empty-handed, shaking their heads.
"Did Ram and the others not return from the Sanctuary?"
Emilia murmured softly, worry written across her face.
The second group of villagers, led by Ram, had taken refuge in the Sanctuary. They had agreed upon a return date beforehand. Judging by the current situation, something must have happened to prevent them from coming back.
"Did they run into danger?"
The concern in Emilia's expression deepened.
"For now, let's return to the mansion. Waiting here won't produce any answers."
The Shogun glanced at the setting sun dipping toward the horizon and offered her suggestion.
Besides, the villagers needed rest. After walking for most of the day, anyone would be exhausted.
"Mm... you're right. Let's go back. Everyone, please return home and rest for now."
Emilia followed her advice and called out to the gathered villagers. Though she remained worried about Ram and the others, she understood the Shogun's reasoning. It was better to return to the mansion first and consider the next steps afterward.
The village was still some distance from the Mathers mansion—not too far by carriage. By the time the two of them arrived at the gates... night had already fallen completely.
"Beatrice should be watching the house, right?"
Knock knock~
Emilia raised her hand and knocked on the large doors, waiting for Beatrice to answer. Since Ram had not returned, only Beatrice should be left in the mansion. She hoped the spirit could hear her.
"Do you know the way to the Sanctuary?"
While they waited, the Shogun turned slightly and asked.
"...Eh? I thought... you would know... ahaha."
Emilia froze for a moment, then laughed awkwardly.
"..."
The Shogun gave her a flat, speechless stare.
"Ugh... s-sorry... I forgot to ask before."
Under that gaze, Emilia lowered her head obediently, reflecting like a scolded kitten. Her fingers twisted at the hem of her skirt, looking every bit like a student being punished to stand in place.
"Haa... forget it."
The Shogun said no more. She would never scold her over something like this. If they didn't know, then they would ask someone who did. Perhaps the blonde little girl would know.
Knock knock~
After waiting for quite some time with no response, Emilia knocked again.
"Um... I remember Roswaal mentioning the Sanctuary before. It's some kind of mysterious ruin—"
Click!
Just as Emilia was halfway through her sentence, the doors suddenly opened—as if with a slight delay. Standing there was a tall woman with golden hair and blue eyes, dressed in a maid uniform.
"Welcome back, Lady Emilia, Lady Shogun. I have been awaiting your return."
Her voice was gentle and refined. She lifted the hem of her maid skirt slightly and offered them an elegant bow.
"Frederica?"
Emilia spoke first, her tone full of surprise.
Why was she here?
"Yes, it is I—Frederica."
As she parted her lips to speak, her most distinctive feature was revealed—her teeth.
Sharp teeth, like those of a prehistoric shark, lined neatly within her mouth. They clicked faintly against each other as she spoke. Combined with her bright, harmless smile, it was hard to decide whether she looked adorable or slightly eerie.
"Why—"
"Your teeth are as sharp as ever."
The Shogun teased lightly.
"W-Wait—Shogun~!"
Emilia flushed with embarrassment and pinched the Shogun's arm in mild complaint.
"Hehe... it's alright. Just as Lady Shogun said, I've been taking very good care of them lately."
Frederica was the sort who could take a joke. Hearing the familiar teasing, she simply laughed along and played into it.
A few minutes later, the two were led into the main hall. Frederica skillfully prepared tea for them and bowed once more.
"My apologies for earlier. I was cleaning and could not answer the door immediately."
"It's fine..."
Emilia shook her head.
"Why did you come?"
The Shogun took a sip of the hot tea, cradling the cup in her hands as she looked at the blonde woman.
Frederica Baumann was once a maid of this mansion. Why "once"? Because she had resigned for personal reasons. She had served before Ram became head maid and was said to have a younger brother as well.
"Ram asked me to come. She said she couldn't manage everything alone. But when I arrived today, I found the mansion completely empty. Later, I discovered a letter Ram had left for me and only then understood what had happened."
Frederica still looked somewhat puzzled.
After Rem lost her memories, Ram had to care for her constantly. Naturally, the mansion's affairs became difficult to handle alone. That was why she had invited her former colleague Frederica back to help. Who would have expected the Witch Cult's attack to occur midway, leading to this unfortunate twist of events?
"Since you've all returned, does that mean the matter has been resolved?"
Frederica asked.
"Mm... thanks to the Shogun."
Emilia cast an admiring glance at the woman beside her.
"I see... as expected, there is nothing Lady Shogun cannot accomplish. Frederica is impressed."
Frederica smiled warmly, echoing Emilia's praise.
"You flatter me... Do you know why Roswaal went to the Sanctuary? And what happened there that prevented Ram and the others from returning?"
The Shogun asked, her tone serious.
"...No, I'm afraid I don't. The master's actions are often difficult to predict. He is... quite an unusual person."
Frederica shook her head apologetically.
"Did he not tell anyone?"
Emilia pressed.
"If you wish to ask someone, perhaps you should consult the Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library. She might know."
Frederica offered the suggestion.
The Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library...
That blonde little girl—Beatrice.
"In truth, finding Lady Beatrice is usually quite difficult. If Lady Shogun intends to look for her, then you should—"
"I have my own way of finding her."
Before Frederica could finish, the Shogun had already risen and left the hall.
"..."
"..."
The two remaining women exchanged a brief, silent look.
"Haa... Lady Shogun is still the same as ever."
Frederica smiled helplessly.
—
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