Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume13 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 1===

&mdash;A few days prior to Kamito and Rinslet's departure from the Academy...

Claire returned to her homeland by herself&mdash;The former territory of Elstein.

"Father and Mother are here, right..."

In front of a small house by the riverside, Claire pressed her hand against her chest, adjusting her breathing, trying to calm down.

It was already four years since she was separated from her parents. Four years ago, due to the Calamity Queen's betrayal, Claire's parents were stripped of their noble status and thrown into the imperial capital's Balsas Prison.

Due to having served the Ordesia imperial family for many years, they were not treated like other convicts of heavy crimes despite being imprisoned. With only their freedom restricted, it was a state more akin to house arrest.

However, these long years of prison life finally came to an end recently. During the Blade Dance held earlier, the Ordesia Empire's team had obtained victory. As the leader of the winning team, Claire Rouge was rewarded by the Empire.

Naturally, Claire's wish was a pardon for her parents.

The Empire's council was greatly divided over this matter, hence her wish did receive an official response. But due to the increased prestige and influence of the second princess, Fianna's words now held greater weight and finally under her efforts, Claire's parents finally regained their freedom. 

However, their noble title was not restored, and their castle and lands were taken by the Empire. All that was left for the Elstein family was a small patch of land and this house.

Compared to their former castle, this was a very modest house.

Standing at the door to the house, Claire looked around nervously.

She pressed the spirit crystal at the door. After a brief wait, the door opened slowly inwards.

Inside the tiny home, Claire's parents came to the door to greet her, dressed in simple clothes.

"&mdash;Welcome home, Claire."

"...You've grown so much now."

"Father, Mother..."

Hugging her parents tightly, Claire cried her heart out like a little child.