Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V5Part3

Part 10 (Part 3 of Volume 5)

The weight of his suspicions, combined with the unease of what this investigation might reveal, lingered heavily in his chest as they continued their journey.

A Sense of Time Lost.

How long had passed since being thrown into this cell? Sakagami Kiyoaki had no way of knowing.

With no windows or clocks, it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night.

Lying on the cold concrete floor, his body battered and bruised, Kiyoaki stared blankly into the darkness through his swollen eyelids. The only thing he could do was hope not to hear the approaching sound of footsteps.

If the interrogators came, it meant more violence. His body, now covered in bruises and cuts, wouldn’t respond even if the restraints were removed. Yet, despite his physical state, he refused to break.

Sakagami Kiyoaki and Kagura Murasaki were being forced to confess to being spies for the Akitsu Federation. The violence wouldn’t stop until they admitted to this falsehood.

But if they did, the two of them would face execution by firing squad.

There was no hope in sight. At times, the thought that dying would be better than enduring this torment crossed his mind. But each time, Kiyoaki scolded himself.

Kagura is here with me. I won’t let her be executed.

That single thought kept him enduring the irrational brutality.

Handcuffed behind his back, lying on the floor, Kiyoaki gazed into the darkness, his mind drifting back five years to the invasion of Messus Island.

That sudden airstrike on his homeland.

Hiding in their secret base in the cornfield, Kiyoaki and his older sister Yumiko were toyed with by Karnasion, the "Black Panther," as he fired his machine guns at them for amusement.

“I won’t let you die. You’ll be fine.”

Yumiko had embraced Kiyoaki, shielding him with her own body.

The rain of bullets tore through her back, and the warmth of her blood soaked Kiyoaki.

“We’ll always be together.”

Her smile, one he loved so dearly, was something he could never forget.

“I’m living together with you, Kiyoaki.”

Those were her final words. The reason Kiyoaki was alive now was that Yumiko had given him her life.

Kagura, who resembled Yumiko so much.

When Kiyoaki first met Kagura, he remembered how his hands trembled, and tears welled up in his eyes. Though their personalities and actions were completely different, something about their spirits—the way their souls existed—was so similar.

He hadn’t been able to protect Yumiko back then.

But now, at least, he wanted to protect Kagura. No matter how much he was beaten or kicked, as long as Kagura was safe, that was all that mattered.

"Kagura," he muttered briefly, his voice barely audible. He had no idea what had happened to her.

Please, don’t let her be suffering like I am. Let the officers of the St Vault military police know shame. Let them not heap their cruelty and malice upon someone as dignified and composed as her.

"I’ll save you. I promise," he whispered into the darkness. Somehow, they needed to escape from this place. Together, they had to flee from St Vault.

The chances were slim.

Surely, our friends will come.

Illia, Cecil, Balthazar...

And then, he thought:

…And Reiner...

He remembered how, just before being captured, he had confronted Reiner about his true identity. That had been a stroke of luck. Because of that, Reiner was undoubtedly on edge right now.

Reiner will come.

To question me—and, depending on my answer, to kill me.

Kiyoaki knew that much. Reiner’s only concern was whether he could continue his covert operations within the Voltec Air Corps or if his position had been compromised.

Hurry up, Reiner.

As he stared into the darkness, Kiyoaki called out to his friend in his mind.

I’ll use your power.

Kiyoaki held one single card. A fragile hand of just one, upon which both his and Kagura’s fates rested.

At the end of summer, Balthazar Grim arrived in the imperial capital, Selfaust.

He exited the station and, without any detours, boarded a city tram heading towards the Selfaust Officer Academy. The view of the city through the window was steeped in the colours of war. With the outbreak of the Second Multi-Island War, patriotic fervour had swept the nation, and the expressions of those on the streets were filled with vitality. Young men lined up in long queues before recruitment posters, eager to volunteer for the army.

If one opened a newspaper, it was filled with reports of the atrocities committed by the Akitsu Federation. During the Odessa campaign on Messus Island, after the tide had turned, the Akitsu forces suddenly opened fire on allied troops, resulting in the deaths of many brave St Vault soldiers. Such treachery was unprecedented in military history. It was a tragedy for St Vault, a nation that, in its desire for peace in the Multi-Island Sea, had been forced to make allies of such cowardly people. The press echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the Akitsu Federation must be punished for their betrayal, and that St Vault must bring down the hammer of justice upon the barbarian states of the southern seas.

Balthazar’s thoughts, however, were clear.

This is just the right kind of propaganda to deceive the masses.

Though the narrative presented in the mainstream press was far from the balanced analysis of a prestigious paper, it was simple enough to stir the public. St Vault was the righteous force, while the Akitsu Federation was the villain. It was a message that even a child could understand, and it had gained overwhelming national support for the war. The Empire was poised to crush the Akitsu Federation so thoroughly that it would never rise again.

All of this was planned from the start.

According to the Empire’s announcement, the Akitsu forces had shelled the St Vault landing forces during the Odessa campaign. But if that were true, it was likely a simple misfire, something that happens frequently in the chaos of war. Normally, the shelling would have stopped as soon as contact was made with the attacking unit. The real issue, however, was that the Empire used this as a pretext to launch a coordinated attack against the Akitsu Federation without any attempts to clarify the situation.

It was an unlikely scenario. The original mission of the St Vault forces was to secure Balsinos, not to suddenly change their target and attack their allies. The only explanation was that the St Vault military had been preparing for war from the beginning and had seized the opportunity to execute their plan.

It wasn’t an accidental skirmish that escalated into war.

The Imperial forces had prepared for this conflict all along.

That’s how Balthazar read the situation. From the moment the alliance with the Akitsu Federation was signed, the Empire had planned to betray them as soon as the Hydrabard Union was neutralized. The Empire didn't care about what the Akitsu thought of them. They only needed to convince their own citizens that they weren’t the villains. By portraying the Akitsu as cowardly traitors, they could stoke the flames of nationalism. Patriotic fervour would soar, war bonds would sell out, taxes would increase without complaint, and young men would continue to volunteer en masse to exterminate the “monkey” enemies across the sea.

It’s all a well-executed three-act play for the nation.

Balthazar looked out at the capital with cold detachment. If each citizen had a modicum of reason and knowledge, they would see the smirking faces of the military’s top brass and the government officials who profited from the chaos. But the populace, lacking education and accepting government-controlled media without question, danced to the tune of the Empire’s war drum.

The Akitsu Federation likely had a similar frenzy underway. They would be painting the St Vault forces as treacherous "white pigs" who attacked them during joint operations, rousing their own people’s patriotism to strike back. The narrative was probably not so different on their side.

The whole world is dancing to the absurdity of war.

As distasteful as it was, Balthazar knew that this situation was advantageous for his grand ambitions.

It’s the perfect era for someone to rise to the top on their own merits.

Just watch, old man. I’ll destroy the Werner conglomerate you built with my own hands.

Balthazar’s grandfather, Renior, had singlehandedly built the Werner conglomerate, spanning industries such as steel, oil, coal, shipbuilding, automotive, aviation, pharmaceuticals, leisure, electronics, and military goods. It stood as the largest conglomerate on the Mitterland continent, wielding power that exceeded national boundaries and influenced the geopolitical landscape of the Multi-Island Sea.

You think you have the world in your hands, old fool.

I will crush the empire you built with your life.

To do that, I need my own country, one that moves at my command...

Ever since Balthazar ran away from home at the age of fourteen, he had not once forgotten his dream:

Conquering a nation.

The most efficient way to counter the Werner conglomerate was to seize control of a nation’s power. Building a business empire from scratch would take too long, and his grandfather might die of old age in the meantime. That wouldn’t serve his purpose. He needed to rise to power while his grandfather was still alive, so that he could personally witness the destruction of everything he had built.

I will take the St Vault Empire.

Balthazar was serious about this. To achieve that, his first step was to become the Chief of General Staff of the St Vault military. Given the lacklustre abilities of the current high-ranking officers in the Operations Headquarters, Balthazar estimated that it wouldn’t be long before he could claim that position.

There’s no room for mistakes in trivial matters.

I need overwhelming success.

A great achievement that only I can accomplish.

For that, I will use every means necessary.

Resolving this in his heart, Balthazar noticed the tram had arrived at its stop in front of the Selfaust Officer Academy.

Stepping off the tram, he gazed at the red-bricked buildings before him. The academy wasn’t as large as the Air Hunt Academy, but it was one of the most prestigious in the Empire, having produced many chiefs of staff. Its history made it the oldest officer academy in St Vault.

This is where that chimpanzee is.

The silent thought escaped him, and Balthazar hurriedly shook his head.

No, she’s not a chimpanzee. She’s human.

Despite her foolish and carefree nature, her obsession with clothes, food, and pointless chatter, and her perpetually relaxed expression even in the most tense situations, she was still a human being, capable of speech. She wasn’t an ape. He had to treat her as a person.

In fact, not just a person.

If his suspicions were correct, she might very well be... her.

Ridiculous as it seems, I can’t deny it.

That little monkey could very well be... Elizabeth Sylvania.

Balthazar had come to the academy today to determine Cecil’s true identity. Based on the intelligence gathered by the Imperial spies and his own research on Princess Elizabeth, as well as Cecil’s background, there was no evidence to rule out the possibility that Cecil was, in fact, the princess.

Their ages matched. Their birthplace, the reason Cecil had lost her parents—everything aligned. Most significantly, Cecil’s close relationship with Colette Avery was a heavy indicator. The only thing missing was a photograph or portrait of Princess Elizabeth, but none could be found in all of St Vault.

The Avery family likely hid it.

That’s what Balthazar believed. It was almost inconceivable that no photos or portraits of a princess, even from her childhood, existed. Some powerful force had undoubtedly erased all traces of her appearance. There was someone for whom it was inconvenient for the princess’s identity to be revealed.

Whoever went to such lengths likely had something to hide about Cecil. As outlandish as it seemed, there was no solid evidence to dismiss the idea.

I’ll use all my manipulation skills to unmask you, Cecil Hauer.

Once I set my mind to it, bending you to my will is child’s play.

He had treated her harshly in the past, but after all, she was just a naive girl from the countryside. With his wit, looks, and charm, it would be easy to erase past grievances and make her fall under his spell. Given Cecil’s bird-like intellect, she would likely forget all about the past as soon as he treated her with a bit of kindness. One smile, and she’d be his in no time.

I’ll use every trick I know to charm Cecil and uncover her true identity.

Taking a deep breath, Balthazar stepped onto the grounds of the Selfaust Officer Academy, ready for the decisive encounter.

Of course, he hadn’t informed Cecil in advance. He needed to make it seem like a chance meeting. He already knew her class schedule for the day. All that was left was to wait for her to finish her seminar and casually "bump into" her in the courtyard...

"Wait... Captain?"

As Cecil exited the classroom after presenting in her tactics seminar, she spotted a familiar figure in the courtyard. But there was no way Balthazar could be here, so she stopped and took a closer look.

The figure turned to face her, and their eyes met.

"Hey, Cecil! What a coincidence!"

The person, who bore a striking resemblance to Balthazar, smiled brightly and waved as they jogged over.

He looked exactly like Balthazar, but something felt off.

"I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken."

Cecil turned away and quickly started to run. However, the figure chased after her.

"What's the matter, Cecil? It's me, Balthazar, your friend!"

A shiver of revulsion ran down her spine. It was creepy. This person looked exactly like Balthazar but was doing a terrible job impersonating him.

"Stay away! I'll call the police!"

She yelled as she glanced over her shoulder, only to see the figure still chasing her with an eerie smile, waving as if scattering invisible flower petals behind him.

"But I'm telling you, I'm Balthazar!"

"Stay away! Don't come any closer, you creep!"

"Why are you running? I just want to talk!"

"Why do you think?! Of course, I'm running!"

"Wait! Hold on!"

"Go away, pervert!"

"Pervert? Who are you calling a pervert?!"

"You, obviously! Stop following me!"

"I'm not a pervert, I swear! It's me, Balthazar!"

"The real Balthazar would never act like this! If you're going to impersonate him, at least study harder first!"

As she angrily shouted this, the smile on the impostor's face began to crack, and a deep frown creased his brow. His hand, which had been waving, slowly dropped to his side.

"...It was a joke."

The impostor suddenly stopped in his tracks, hanging his head low. He slapped both hands on his face and then slowly lifted his head, revealing an expression like he had eaten something awful.

"...It's me. ...Balthazar."

His familiar monotone voice and emotionless face, devoid of any charm, stood in stark contrast to the bizarre display earlier.

Out of breath, Cecil stopped as well, keeping a distance of about five meters between them, hands clasped in front of her chest.

"Ca... Captain!?"

"...Been a while, huh? You seem well... That's good."

His awkward, forced greeting left Cecil utterly confused.

"W-What is this!? Why are you here? And what was that earlier?!"

"...Please... one question at a time. ...I mean... it would be helpful if you could... consolidate them."

His strange and stilted speech left Cecil even more bewildered. She tried to calm her racing heart, focusing on the Balthazar standing in front of her.

"Uh, okay... What are you doing here?"

"...Do you have a problem with me being here? Is there something wrong with it?"

That familiar threatening tone in his voice, the kind she was used to, made her realize this truly was the real Balthazar.

"Wait, really? You’re the real thing?! What was that earlier?! It was SO creepy!!"

She hurled the accusation at him, and Balthazar’s face twisted in a grimace. He lowered his head, clearly trying to suppress his emotions. He raised his head briefly, his expression filled with barely restrained rage, causing Cecil to take a step back. Then, after several deep breaths, he restored his usual cold, composed expression.

"...I told you... it was a joke."

"Captain, you looked so dumb!"

"..."

"Do you honestly think that was a joke?! That was so wrong! You really need to work on your sense of humour. If you keep pulling stunts like that, you'll end up in jail!"

Her rapid-fire criticisms clearly struck a nerve, as the muscles in Balthazar’s face twitched. His lips quivered as if he was trying to contain his frustration.

"Let me show you how bad it was! Look, like this! Isn't it stupid?! Doesn't it look awful?!"

Imitating Balthazar’s earlier bizarre behaviour, Cecil exaggerated a wide, goofy smile, waving her hand wildly as she pranced around him in an awkward, pigeon-toed run. Then, she stopped, hands on her hips, ready to deliver more scolding.

"I don’t expect you to have a sense of humour, Captain, but even so, that was terrible! I’m saying this for your own good—you need to learn some basic social skills, or one day you'll make a huge mistake and fall from grace!"

As she rattled off her critique, Balthazar's face twitched more violently, his lips, brow, and even his throat all spasming in unison. Cecil expected him to snap at any moment, perhaps even physically lash out, as he often did when angered. She braced herself for retaliation, but it never came.

"Are you okay, Captain? Are you sick or something? You seem... off."

"...I'm not sick... Just... give me a moment..."

Balthazar turned away from her, visibly trying to regain his composure. He muttered something under his breath, looking up at the sky. After a deep breath, he turned back to her, now sporting a surprisingly gentle smile—one that made Cecil instinctively step back.

Although this new smile was more human than the earlier unsettling grin, Cecil, who had spent countless hours with Balthazar during social functions at the Air Hunt Academy, knew that any smile from him was likely masking some ulterior motive.

Balthazar ran a hand through his hair, flashing a brilliant smile.

"How about dinner? You must be tired of cafeteria food. Let’s go out to the city."

Cecil felt a chill run down her spine. She instinctively wanted to flee but stopped herself as she recalled her aunt Colette’s words.

"Mark my words, Balthazar will seek you out."

And indeed, here he was, just as predicted.

"You must respond to him with the dignity of a ruler."

Colette had foreseen that the operations headquarters might suspect Cecil’s true identity. Balthazar, it seemed, was here to confirm her status for his own purposes.

The Captain's here to investigate me...

At that realization, Colette’s voice echoed again in her mind:

"Use Balthazar. He’ll be your first subordinate."

This could be an opportunity.

If I play my cards right, maybe I can use him to save Aki and Kagura...

Suppressing her unease, Cecil forced herself to stand tall.

If he’s planning to use me, I’ll use him too.

Feigning nonchalance, she replied, "Sure, I’d like that. It seems like we have a lot to talk about."

Balthazar’s overly polite smile showed a flicker of satisfaction—he believed he had her where he wanted her.

"Good. Let’s go then. We’ll take a cab or a carriage—public transport is a hassle."

"Uh... actually, could you wait a moment? I need to drop something off in my room."

"Of course, no rush. I’ll meet you at the main gate."

"Great! See you soon!"

Cecil hurried back to her dorm room, retrieved a certain treasured item from her drawer, and smiled a devilish grin.

The restaurant Balthazar chose was among the finest in Selfaust. The amber glow of the soft lighting, white tablecloths, silver candleholders, string music, and wealthy patrons in tailored suits all suggested a place where even the air had a price. Everything about the place screamed luxury.

"Is this okay? It seems... expensive."

"It’s not on the expense account, but it’s a special occasion. Don’t worry about it."

Balthazar’s fake, polished smile stretched across the table. Apparently, he was paying out of pocket. Whatever he was scheming, he was sparing no expense, and Cecil found herself impressed.

"Would you like some wine? You drink, don’t you?"

"Sometimes, with friends. I don’t mind it."

"Great."

It was obvious he planned to loosen her tongue with alcohol. He was playing the part of a charming gentleman, but his probing glances revealed his real intentions.

I don’t need to reveal my identity.

That was a last resort. Right now, her goal was singular.

I have to steer this conversation toward getting him to help Aki.

"Cheers."

Balthazar poured a vintage wine into their glasses, offering it with an overly formal flourish. Despite his efforts, Cecil could still remember all the times he had belittled her. He seemed to think she had forgotten, but she hadn’t. His arrogance permeated his very being, as if everyone else were merely puppets for his amusement.

Suppressing the urge to throw the wine in his face, Cecil smiled back.

"Cheers. It’s been a while, Captain."

After a clear sound, she took a sip. As for the taste of the wine, she couldn't tell if it was good or not.

With a nervous hand, Balthazar cut into the dish with a mysterious name that sounded like "something from the sea breeze or something." He casually asked about Cecil’s student life. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Back when they were students, he had always imposed his will on her, dragging her along wherever he wanted. Now, without a single inquiry about her well-being since graduation, he suddenly appeared out of nowhere, playing the role of the "caring senior."

—This guy probably thinks I’m like a bird that forgets everything after three steps.

As she responded to Balthazar’s questions, Cecil became convinced of it. She had written about her student life in the letter she had sent him, but from his questions, it was clear that he hadn’t read it. He might be smart and skilled in his work, but his consideration for others was completely lacking.

—This feels so uncomfortable...

It was easier when he openly treated her like a lesser being. The deceitfulness of his current demeanour made it worse.

After finishing the oddly named soup, the main course was served. That’s when Balthazar started to talk about his job, almost nonchalantly.

"For the time being, I'll be working on matters related to Santos Island in the southern archipelago. Conquering that island is only a matter of time, but the real concern is the sentiments of the islanders after the occupation. They’ve grown weary of constantly changing rulers due to the ongoing wars. Since the island is geopolitically significant as a battlefield, it’s crucial that we manage to win the cooperation of the locals.”

He said all this in one breath, observing Cecil’s expression carefully. He seemed to be gauging her reaction to the mention of “Santos Island.”

“Oh wow. That sounds tough,” she responded with a carefree tone, trying to act like a bird-brained girl. Beneath his charming facade, she could sense his disappointment in her lack of reaction, but he quickly put on the mask of a kind mentor again.

“You’re from Santos Island, right?” he asked.

“Yes. Wow, I’m surprised you remember that, Captain.”

“Of course I do. How could I forget the hometown of a dear junior?”

—Liar, she thought, suppressing the urge to grab him by the neck and scream.

“Oh wow, Captain. You’re so thoughtful,” she said, buttering him up.

Pleased, Balthazar flashed a smug grin and ran his hand through his hair again.

“Of course. I’m always thinking of all of you.”

“Oh, I’m so happy to hear that.”

“By the way, Cecil, do you have any relatives on Santos Island? If you do, it’d be a huge help if you could introduce me to them.”

As they continued their phony conversation, Balthazar leaned forward slightly and asked this. It was clear that this was the real reason he had invited her today.

Cecil widened her eyes and tilted her head slightly as if deep in thought.

“Nope, I don’t think so. I used to, but I haven’t been able to get in touch with anyone for a long time.”

This, at least, wasn’t a lie. She had no idea where the former vassals were or how to contact them. Only her aunt Colette knew that.

“Anyone would do, even a familiar face like a shopkeeper or a waitress. The fact is, we don’t have any contacts on Santos Island. Could you jog your memory a little and see if you remember anyone?”

Balthazar spoke in a sickeningly polite tone, persistently pushing her for more information.

“I do remember some things, but it’s been so long. I’m not too confident in my memory,” she replied, keeping the charade going.

“There must have been some childhood playmates, right? It was only seven years ago. Do you remember any names?”

Cecil felt a mischievous urge to mess with him but managed to control herself.

“Playmates, huh? I didn’t really have many. You see, my parents were quite overprotective, so they didn’t let me play with kids my age.”

Balthazar’s nostrils flared slightly. He was hooked. Leaning forward even more, he pressed her for details.

“I see! I always suspected as much. When I took you to those parties during our academy days, I noticed you were well-versed in social etiquette. I figured you must come from a rather high-ranking family. Even among the "Seven of Eriadore," you always stood out for your refinement and intelligence.”

—Liar. He used to treat me like a monkey, throwing bananas at me.

Cecil suppressed the urge to lash out and instead smiled sweetly.

“Oh my, you’re making me blush. But Miss Mio is far more refined and intelligent than I am.”

“Mio? She’s no match for you. Sure, she was popular with the boys, but when you stood next to her, she faded into the background. Your natural grace is something you were born with. It’s almost like you’re a princess from some far-off kingdom.”

Cecil nearly choked on her wine.

—This is torture. Her whole body was covered in goosebumps, and she fought the urge to scratch herself all over and kick him in the crotch.

“O-oh my... A princess, huh? Th-that’s quite flattering.”

She forced a strained smile, barely managing to hide her discomfort. Balthazar, still grinning like the cat that got the cream, continued.

“It’s true. For example, even if you were the rumoured "lost Princess Elizabeth," I wouldn’t be surprised.”

At the same time, he flashed her his most charming smile.

—Now, reveal your true self, you silly mix of bird and monkey.

—Are you just an odd little creature? Or the fallen princess of a ruined kingdom?

—Depending on your answer, I might just stick you with the bill and run.

While thinking these ridiculous thoughts behind his smile, he patiently awaited her response. After a brief pause for consideration, Cecil finally opened her mouth.

“Oh, I’m a princess, huh? That’s pretty funny.”

Her response was as indifferent as always.

Then she placed both elbows on the table, cupped her chin in her hands, and smiled at him like she was admiring a wildflower.

“If I were... what would you do, Captain?”

A shiver of fear like nothing Balthazar had ever experienced exploded down his spine.

His instincts were warning him of some unseen danger. It was a fear unlike anything he had ever felt before. Even during the life-threatening missions aboard the Eriadore airship, when he had faced death multiple times, he had never been this terrified.

—What is there to fear? It's just Cecil. There's no reason to be afraid.

He reassured himself and returned her question with a casual smile.

“Even if that were true, I wouldn’t be surprised. The elegance you exude is something not easily attained by others.”

Cecil, with a mischievous look, stared at Balthazar for a while, as if observing him, before ignoring the question and making a request.

“Captain, would you go see Aki and Kagura?”

“...Me? For what reason?”

“They're comrades.”

Balthazar almost chuckled. He had felt a momentary fear, but after all, the person in front of him was still Cecil—naive, prioritizing personal feelings, and short-sighted in her actions.

Suppressing his urge to sneer, he gave her a reply.

“Seeing them wouldn’t accomplish anything. They wouldn’t be happy about it. There’s no point.”

“They're on the same island, though?”

“They're under the military police’s jurisdiction, not mine. To see them, I’d need to submit a request and get permission. Unfortunately, I’m too busy with my duties. I don’t have time for unnecessary things.”

“Your duty is finding the former retainers of the Sylvanian royal family, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“If I said I could help with that, would you meet with them?”

He almost made a fist pump but quickly restrained himself. He maintained a casual demeanour as he replied.

“What level of help are we talking about?”

“Substantial. Enough to surprise you, Captain.”

His throat tightened with anticipation, but Balthazar held back, trying to draw more information.

“Even if I met them, what would come next? Breaking them out is impossible, and even if we could, there’s no way to send them back to their homeland.”

Cecil, still smiling as always, responded casually.

“I happen to have a few connections that could help with getting them back to Akitsu. So, you can leave that part to me.”

She said it with the same foolishly carefree expression, despite the outrageous claim.

—This woman definitely has something behind her.

Convinced of this, Balthazar still maintained his expression.

“That would be helpful.”

“Please do!”

Cecil, seemingly carefree, clasped her hands together in front of her face, tilting her head in a manner not so different from any other naive girl.

“...So, I meet them, report back to you. Is that all you want?”

“Yes.”

—It’s worth making a concession. Meeting them isn’t much trouble.

—Play the kind-hearted senior, and win her favour.

Even if Cecil wasn’t actually Princess Elizabeth, it was highly likely that she held a significant position within the former royal family. Right now, he needed to focus on building a closer relationship with her. If he took his time, her true identity would eventually be revealed.

“...Alright. When I return to Odin, I’ll visit them. I’ll send you a report by telegram.”

“That’s great! Once I get the telegram, I’ll send you the information on the Sylvanian royal family’s former retainers.”

Balthazar raised his wine glass. Cecil picked up hers, and once again, the clear sound of glasses clinking filled the air.

—Not perfect, but well enough. This visit was worth it.

Smiling inwardly, Balthazar wet his lips with the wine.

Well, I suppose this will do for now.

Cecil, too, sipped her wine, whispering to herself inwardly.

The "treasure" she had tucked away in her breast pocket could wait for another day. That was the final card to be played when it came to controlling Balthazar. There was no need to use it just yet.

For now, it was enough that she had gotten him to agree to see Aki and Kagura without revealing her true identity.

Things would start to move from here, she believed.

—Once he meets them, the Captain’s heart will surely be swayed.

She hoped for that. No matter how cold-hearted Balthazar might be, surely when he saw the suffering of his former comrades, he would feel compelled to help. If Balthazar led a rescue mission in Odin, the chances of success would significantly increase.

And if, by some chance...

—If the Captain's heart doesn't move...

—If he sees Aki and Kagura suffering and does nothing...

Cecil cast a royal gaze upon Balthazar, one befitting a true heir to the throne.

—This man has no right to be involved with the Sylvanian royal family.

Balthazar, no doubt, was feeling satisfied with himself right now, probably thinking he'd pulled one over on her. But did he realize he was the one being tested?

—Captain, I’m sorry, but I’m going to test you.

—I know this sounds harsh, but a person without compassion or empathy has no place in the royal family.

With an innocent smile masking the steely resolve of a princess, Cecil took another sip of her after-dinner coffee.