The Expelled Boy Does All Sorts of Things with the Onee-sans He Saved. - Chapter 52 & 53 & 54 & 55

Chapter 052: Me and Master ①

(Sophia Side)

(This became quite long, so I’ve split it.)

This is Sophia’s past arc.

My past was pitch black.

The one who gave me light was Alphonse-sama (that person).

Even today, after Master falls asleep, I return to my own room. Inside my room are traces of every moment I’ve spent with Master. Photos I took using the magic projector I bought with the money I earned from working cover every wall.

Whenever I look at them, I always remember.

I remember my past.

～～～～～～～～～～

From my earliest memory, there was no such thing as family.

It was a memory of a dark underground.

“Hey, don’t space out!!”

A half-naked man was shouting something. I didn’t understand.

I was kicked. But I felt nothing. Because I had nothing.

“Here, take the knife and fight!!”

That place was a facility for raising members of some organization.

Underground, boys and girls around my age were forced to wear ragged clothes and fight with weapons.

We were made to run through the underground facility and clear obstacles.

The floor was stained dark red with dried blood, and every day at least one person would collapse, bleeding.

Even when I saw that, I felt no fear or pity. I felt nothing.

We also had classroom lessons. General knowledge about poisons was common, but we were also taught reading, mathematics, and history so we could blend into society.

That was how I learned I was ten years old. But I knew nothing about the outside world. I bathed in water and ate meager meals in that blood-scented underground. I had only seen the outside through pictures and photos, but the blue of the sky and the sparkle of stars were the first things that ever interested me.

Would I ever be able to see them?

A turning point came for me a little while later.

I was summoned by one of the organization’s men.

For the first time, I climbed stairs, walked on soft flooring, and stood in front of a wooden door.

“Boss, I’ve brought her.”

“Come in.”

The door opened. I was urged inside.

Inside the room was a well-dressed man. Since he was called “Boss,” he was probably the head of the organization.

“Hoo, so it’s this one.”

“Yes. This one has no emotions. Her combat skills are top-class among everyone we’ve seen so far.”

“I see. Then I’ll leave it to her.”

He showed me a photograph. It showed a woman with chestnut-brown hair. She was beautiful.

“Her name is Louisa = Meldy = Belladonna. Kill this woman.”

“…………”

“Can’t this one even speak?”

“My apologies. I’ve never seen her speak before.”

“Whatever. Get it done quickly.”

“Yes.”

After leaving the room, I was taken to another room.

There, I was given the cleanest and highest-quality clothes I had ever worn, along with a full set of tools.

In addition, I was handed—

“Kill her with these dual swords. These suit you best.”

I was given two black swords, which I equipped on my back. I was shown a map and given the target location.

“Complete it tonight. You know what will happen if you fail.”

After those words, the door was opened, and for the first time in my life, I stepped out into the outside world.

～～～～～～～～～～

I ran across the rooftops, heading toward the target mansion. Thanks to my training, I barely felt tired.

Suddenly, I stopped and looked up.

The starry sky spread out above me. It was different from what I had seen in the dark underground.

It was beautiful. So incredibly beautiful. For the first time, my heart trembled. I never knew the outside world could be this beautiful. The cold night air made its beauty stand out even more.

I didn’t know this world. But I understood that it was beautiful.

What would happen to me now? That question was born inside me.

But I shook it off and ran again toward my destination to carry out my orders.

The mansion was quiet. There were no lights — it was completely dark.

It was large. Much larger than the building I had come from.

I had been told the layout of the rooms.

I entered through the terrace, choosing a room away from the target’s bedroom.

It smelled nice. Unlike the blood-scented building I came from.

I moved forward carefully, making no sound. There were guards outside, so I couldn’t be noticed.

I reached the target room. The door was locked.

I took out lockpicking tools from my bag and opened it. It was easy because of my training.

I slowly opened the door and entered the room.

The target was lying on the bed. Right beside it was a baby’s crib.

Even from here, I could see the baby sleeping peacefully.

I drew the swords from my back. I held no grudge against this person, but I had to carry out my orders. If I didn’t…

The moment I took a step forward—

The lights in the room suddenly turned on.

“!?”

The sudden change in brightness blinded me. I narrowed my eyes, but I could clearly see the woman rising from the bed.

“I thought so. They sent someone after all.”

The woman’s voice was clear and beautiful.

“To use a child like this… they really are awful, aren’t they?”

“…………”

There was noise outside the door. People were coming this way. There was no time.

Even if I was discovered, I just needed to eliminate the target in front of me.

“Oh? It’s useless, you know.”

A glint of light appeared in her left hand. It was thread.

Before I realized it, threads were wrapped around my body.

“It’s my magic. Convenient, isn’t it? I’ve spread them throughout the entire mansion so I would notice if anyone entered.”

I hadn’t been told that. The organization only told me she was a merchant. They said I had no aptitude for magic.

I tried to tear the threads, but it was completely useless.

“Resistance is futile. Surrender.”

She approached me as she spoke.

It was over. What awaited me now was torture, or worse. If the organization’s existence was exposed, I had been told what to do.

There was a poison capsule in my mouth. I just had to bite and swallow it.

To be honest, after seeing that sky, I didn’t want to die anymore. I wanted to see more. I wanted to see many different skies.

I was about to bite the capsule when—

“Waaah… Aaaahhh—”

The baby who had been sleeping suddenly started crying.

For some reason, I stopped. I don’t know why.

“I’m sorry. There, there.”

Even though the person trying to kill her was right in front of her, she began soothing the baby.

Then, she brought the baby closer to me.

“This is my child. His name is Alphonse.”

Such an innocent face. How innocent he was.

Then, the baby reached out and touched my cheek with his small hand.

It was warm. Warmth spread from that tiny hand. It was my first time experiencing this. Why did a mere touch resonate so deeply in my heart?

“Ah… aa… ah…”

For the first time, a sound leaked from my mouth. Something warm flowed down my face. It wouldn’t stop.

As that happened, the capsule fell from my mouth with a soft clink. I no longer cared about it.

“Louisa!! Are you alright!?”

People rushed into the room. But I wasn’t paying attention to them.

“Auu… uuu-aa…”

The baby touched my face with his other hand too.

I didn’t understand. This was an order. I had to kill her.

“Ah… aaaaaah… aa……”

I collapsed. Something I didn’t understand overflowed from my chest.

That was my first meeting with Lady Louisa and the young Master.

Chapter 053: Me and Master ②

(Sophia Side)

(Sorry, I thought this would be the end, but there’s one more part after this. This is Sophia’s past ②.)

After I was captured, I was confined to one room in the mansion.

My hands and feet were bound by her thread magic, and I was laid on a bed.

I had failed. Even if I returned, it would be the end. When morning came, it would be the end.

I was going to die anyway. Everything had stopped mattering to me.

At that time, I had given up on everything.

Later, I heard what Lady Louisa and the others had discussed while I was restrained:

“So, what do you plan to do with her?”

It seems that after Master restrained and confined me, the key members of the household gathered to discuss my fate.

“Sister. As regrettable as her youth is, execution is the proper choice.”

“I agree.”

It seems Uncle Klaus’s words were met with agreement from the head butler and the head guard.

That was only natural. There was no telling what would happen if they let me go.

“I suppose so.”

Lady Louisa was apparently holding the newborn Master in her arms while participating in the meeting.

At first, even she thought execution was the only option.

“We have no choice but to do it.”

The moment Lady Louisa said those words, something surprising happened.

“Waaah!! Waaaah!! Aaaah!! Uwaaa!!”

Master began crying louder than he ever had before.

“What’s wrong, Alphonse? Look, peek-a-boo!”

No matter how much Master Reislott and the servants tried to soothe him, he wouldn’t stop crying. His diaper wasn’t dirty, and he wasn’t hungry.

“Why is he crying like this?”

“You don’t suppose he’s crying because we’re going to execute that girl?”

Master Reislott said suspiciously.

“T-That can’t be. He’s not even one year old yet.”

The head butler said, but even when they showed him toys and beautiful jewels, Master wouldn’t stop crying.

“Waaaah!! Aaaaah!! Waaaah!!”

While watching Master cry without stopping, Lady Louisa proposed:

“Hmm… Then how about this?”

The suggestion Lady Louisa made would determine the rest of my life.

“Let her work as a maid in this house!!”

“Louisa!! What are you saying!?”

“That’s right, Sister. She tried to kill you!!”

“I know that. But I have a feeling she’ll be fine.”

“What proof do you have!?”

“Woman’s intuition.”

Everyone was stunned. But it was thanks to this decision that I am who I am today.

“Louisa never backs down once she’s decided something. Fine, but I have conditions.”

“What are they?”

“Put a slave collar on her. A strong, sturdy one.”

“……Haa. Understood.”

Master Reislott and the others accepted those conditions.

The moment they agreed, Master supposedly stopped crying immediately.

“Our son really does take after you in personality.”

“Oh my. When it comes to women, he might take after you.”

After that exchange, Lady Louisa left the room while holding Master.

Then she came to the room where I was being held.

～～～～～～～～～～

“Good evening, Miss Assassin.”

The target entered the room with a tone completely inappropriate for the situation.

In her arms, she was holding that baby.

“Regarding your treatment…”

“…………”

“How about becoming a maid and this child’s guard?”

“!?”

It was shocking. I was the enemy — the person who tried to kill her. And she wanted to employ me? It was beyond ridiculous.

Why? How? I didn’t understand. She continued:

“You want to know why? It’s because this child wouldn’t stop crying. He kept saying he wanted you.”

She brought the baby close to me just like before. The baby desperately reached out his hands, trying to touch me again.

“He really took a liking to you. What a strange child. But I also think you’re too talented to waste. You might hate it, but consider it the duty of the defeated.”

She cleared her throat once and said,

“Come with me.”

She released the restraints on my legs and told me to follow her. I obeyed.

I was taken to the conference room. Master Reislott and Uncle Klaus were there.

“I have a question. Where did you come from?”

As expected, that was the question. I could explain the location, but I couldn’t speak.

I shook my head.

“You refuse? Don’t you understand your position—!”

The head guard started to shout, but Lady Louisa stopped him. Then she noticed something.

“Could there be something on your chest? Let me see.”

She handed the baby to a maid behind her and without hesitation opened the front of my clothes. All the men in the room turned their faces away.

“……Just as I thought.”

“Lady Louisa?”

“I expected an assassin to have something like this. They really went with the cliché method.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s magic cast on her chest.”

Of course. If I spoke about the organization, the magic would activate and kill me. That was why it was meaningless.

All of us in that underground facility had been given this magic by a mage. We all had it.

I knew what it was. It was a trap that took advantage of the survival instinct.

Incidentally, that mage was killed after trying to escape the organization. Since the caster was dead, the only way to remove it was with the high-level magic ‘Dispel’. Very few people could use it.

“What should we do? Should we call a mage who can use ‘Dispel’?”

“But that will take time.”

While everyone was troubled, Lady Louisa said,

“Why don’t we let this child try?”

She meant the baby she was holding.

“Sister. Al is still a baby. There’s no way he can do it!?”

“Lady Louisa, that’s impossible. You must be joking.”

“Now now, we won’t know until we try.”

With that, Lady Louisa brought the baby close to my chest and said,

“Hey Al. Can you do ‘Dispel’?”

“Auu… u… aaah.”

Of course a baby couldn’t understand. The only thing that didn’t change was that he kept desperately reaching out to touch me.

“Stop it, Louisa. Al is still—”

The moment Master Reislott tried to stop her, it happened.

The baby’s hand happened to touch my chest. At that instant, a pale blue light shone.

By the time I realized what had happened, the magic formation on my chest had completely disappeared.

“Impossible!!” “This is—!!”

Everyone was shocked. So was I.

“See? I told you our son is amazing!!”

Lady Louisa puffed out her chest proudly.

“Now there is nothing binding you anymore. You are free.”

When she said that, something flowed from my eyes again.

I already knew what it was. Tears. I was crying.

“Th… Thank… Thank you…”

“It’s fine. By the way, could you tell us again?”

At her words, I nodded and explained the route to the organization.

Immediately afterward, everyone sprang into action.

Thanks to the information I provided, the organization and the noble who was sheltering them were identified. They were quickly arrested and executed. The organization itself was captured with the help of the Adventurers’ Guild and sent to the large prison island managed by the guild.

From that time onward, I began training as a maid and slave of the Belladonna family, learning how to properly serve Master.

“Hey, calling you ‘you’ all the time feels wrong. Do you have a name?”

I had never been called by a name.

I shook my head.

“Then from today, your name is Sophia.”

“So… phia.”

“Yes. I’ll also give you a surname. Sophia = Gracia. That is who you are now. You’ll also need a tutor for pronunciation. I’ll call one for you, so do your best.”

With that, Lady Louisa left the room.

I sat down on the bed in the small room I had been given.

Sophia. My name.

Becoming a maid was the moment when the life of the person named Sophia = Gracia truly began.

Chapter 054: Me and Master ③

(Sophia Side)

One year had passed since I started working at the Belladonna house.

I had never done laundry or cooking before, so at the beginning, the person in charge scolded me many times.

After two months, I finally started to get the hang of it and could prepare most basic dishes.

I also resumed my studies and language lessons, and around this time I corrected my speech to be more polite.

“It’s already been a year since Sophia came to this house.”

Lady Louisa said while sitting on a chair under a parasol in the garden, sipping black tea.

“Yes, it has already been that long.”

“How time flies. That child has started walking properly too.”

In the direction of her gaze, Master was walking unsteadily around the garden.

I moved closer to him so he wouldn’t wander too far.

Master slowly walked over to me.

Right before he reached me, he nearly fell, but he grabbed onto my maid uniform and managed to stay standing. It was so adorable that it made my chest feel ticklish. He was so cute.

Once he stood firmly, he looked up at my face and gave me a bright smile.

Even though my time in the organization had left my expressions stiff and I almost never smiled, at that moment, I couldn’t help but grin.

“Fufu, he’s cute, isn’t he? Even you make that face when you look at him.”

“Yes, very much.”

Ah… I want to keep seeing this expression forever. That was what I thought.

That alone was more than enough, but I would experience something even more wonderful.

Master began to speak. His first word was “Mama.” Master Reislott was quite jealous about it.

“Here, Al. This is your maid.”

When Lady Louisa held him up, Master turned toward me.

“Sophia.”

……!!

My heart stopped for a moment.

I never knew just hearing my name could have such destructive power.

I had obtained something I could never have gotten in my previous ten years of life.

When Master was three years old, a mage happened to visit the villa in Versha.

At the time he was still unknown, but he would later become a court mage in Zelgon and gain great fame — it was Lord Shuriman.

“Hoo, kid. You’ve got talent.”

He said that to Master. Of course he did. To be able to unconsciously activate high-level magic even as a baby — he was nothing short of a bundle of talent.

“I’ll give you this. So keep working hard.”

Master began carrying the magic book Shuriman gave him everywhere he went.

It was a thick book containing many different spells, and Master learned most of them.

Around that time, I used the salary Lady Louisa gave me to buy a magic projector. I started taking photos of Master — a record of his growth.

Lady Louisa saw them and left the task entirely to me.

I recorded not only our trips to summer resorts and the beach, but also everyday moments like meals and study sessions.

Whenever I looked at those photos, I felt joy at Master’s growth, but at the same time, a faint loneliness would well up inside me. Was this maternal instinct?

In daily life, nothing could compare to the sight of him pulling my hand impatiently, saying “Hurry, hurry!!”

Master didn’t grow very tall, but by the time he was seven, that part had grown quite large. As a man, I thought it was a good result. Every time I saw it, I felt an indescribable ache. It was around this time that I began comforting myself.

But when he turned eight, he suddenly declared:

“I want to become an adventurer!!”

He said he wanted real combat experience to train his magic.

Lady Louisa was strongly against it.

So was I. Even if it’s not my place to say, he was still so young.

If something happened to him… the family… I…

But he refused to back down.

With no other choice, we spoke to Guild Master Beatrix, who said,

“Understood, but wait a little.”

It was then that the Arbonne ducal family made a proposal.

Their son was already an adventurer and had formed a party. They would let him do it for about three years and then pull him out. They promised not to give him any particularly dangerous requests.

Beatrix also offered to be his guarantor, suggesting we let Master do as he wished. When Master Reislott, a former adventurer himself, agreed, Lady Louisa finally accepted under certain conditions.

On the day of his departure, watching Master walk out with a bag on his back, I felt as if something had been scooped out of my heart.

It wasn’t just maternal feelings anymore — at some point, I had begun to see my young Master as the opposite sex.

For several days after that, I couldn’t focus on my work. Lady Louisa noticed and gave me time off.

But even with time off, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Looking back now, I wonder why I didn’t say I would go with him at that time.

I still felt I owed Lady Louisa. I probably thought I hadn’t repaid her kindness yet.

That day, I went to Lady Louisa’s room.

“Lady Louisa, may I have a moment?”

“Of course, Sophia.”

She invited me to sit. I tried to refuse, but when she said “Sit down,” I obediently took a seat.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I’m unsure about what I should do.”

“…………”

“I wanted to follow Master. But with my current ability, I would only hold him back. And when I think about whether I have repaid your kindness yet, I can’t make up my mind.”

Lady Louisa listened to me in silence. Then she let out a small sigh.

“So that’s what you were thinking.”

She continued,

“Sophia, I’ve watched you for these eight years, and I believe you have done more than enough for me.”

“Lady Louisa!!”

Joy surged within me. Being praised by Lady Louisa filled me with happiness.

“That’s why, Sophia, I want you to live your own path from now on.”

“I want to be together with Master.”

“I see. In that case… Your skills have grown dull after these peaceful years, haven’t they?”

“That is true.”

“Then why don’t you start from there?”

“Y-Yes!!”

I felt like I had finally found my path. I bowed and left the room, returning to my own. I took out something I had kept hidden in the closet for a long time.

“It’s been so long since I last saw them. They felt so big back then.”

Two black swords. This time, I would wield them as swords to protect. I made that decision.

From then on, I resumed my training. I received instruction from Master Reislott and worked on physical strengthening. It wasn’t painful. I wasn’t just going through the motions like before.

It was for Master. I gave it everything I had.

We received letters from Master. He had been caught up in a Stampede but somehow made it through, he had defeated a dragon — every report was dangerously exciting. My resentment toward the Arbonne ducal family kept building.

However, when we heard that Master had become S-rank, we all celebrated together. Lady Louisa praised him as well.

And then, shocking news arrived.

“Al was expelled!?”

Lady Louisa’s anger was clear. It was reliable information from the Belladonna family’s network.

I nearly crushed the plate I was holding with my grip. That was how furious I became.

The one who expelled him was the next head of the Arbonne ducal family. Even if he was the heir, murderous intent welled up inside me.

After that, we received direct contact from Master. It seemed he himself hadn’t been subjected to any physical violence. Well, of course — those trash weren’t even worthy of standing at Master’s feet.

When it was decided that he would return, I was overjoyed. I would finally be able to serve by his side again.

But at that time, I heard something I couldn’t ignore.

He had saved three women and was returning together with them.

An emotion I had never felt before surged in my chest. Master… with women…

What kind of people were they? I would have to carefully evaluate them myself.

Chapter 055: Conflict and Resolve

(The Holy Kingdom Invasion Arc Begins.)

Rosaria Side

“Then, let us resume the countermeasures meeting regarding the Holy Kingdom.”

At Prime Minister Grant’s words, the meeting to discuss the Holy Kingdom’s de facto declaration of war began.

“Why are only the three of us — myself, the Prime Minister, and the Grand Duke — deciding this? This is a matter of war.”

“There is the question of whether we will hand over Lady Elena. That must be decided first.”

The first to react to the Grand Duke’s statement was that catfish-faced bastard.

“We should hand her over without question! That way, we can avoid war!!”

“Can you really say that with certainty? Why are you so confident?”

The Minister of Military Affairs immediately pushed back.

“Has the Holy Kingdom ever broken a promise before? Since the non-aggression treaty signed 50 years ago, they have never invaded our country.”

“What are you saying!? The situation is completely different now! The Empire and the Holy Kingdom have joined forces. This is unprecedented. It is entirely possible that the Holy Kingdom will attack us.”

“Exactly. Just look at the current situation.”

The Minister of Military Affairs and the Foreign Minister spoke one after another. However, the Agriculture Minister refused to yield.

“May I state my opinion?”

All eyes turned to the Grand Duke.

“Personally, I would first like to hear from Lady Elena. What do you wish to do?”

“I…”

“As the one who granted you state guest status, I do not wish to lose you.”

“…………”

This guy was staying completely silent.

“Sorry. I’m taking her out for a bit.”

I grabbed Elena’s arm and forcibly dragged her out of the conference room.

“Rosaria, that hurts!!”

Ignoring her protest, I pulled her into a nearby room.

“…………”

“What are you—”

“Not yet.”

“Eh?”

“You still haven’t shaken it off, have you?”

Her silence irritated me.

“You understand the situation, right?”

“I do.”

“You know that even if you’re handed back to the Holy Kingdom, they won’t stop their invasion, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then—”

“But!!”

This was the loudest I had ever heard her shout. Tears were welling up in her eyes.

“Knowing that Artemisia is there… just the thought of fighting her…”

“From the moment you decided to stay here, you knew you might have to fight the Holy Kingdom.”

“I was prepared for that. But Maria and Artemisia are special to me. I don’t want to kill Artemisia…”

“So what?”

“Eh?”

“If you can still say something like that, I’m surprised you ever became the First Knight Commander.”

“What would you understand!!”

Elena grabbed me by the collar.

“We spent so many years together, pushing each other forward, like sisters. I can’t kill her.”

“Listen to me!!”

Slap!!

I slapped Elena hard across the cheek. She collapsed to the floor from the impact.

“!? What are you—!?”

“You’re not a citizen of the Holy Kingdom anymore!!”

“…………”

“And what the hell are you losing sight of!?”

“Losing sight…”

“Whose sake are you holding that sword for right now!?”

“!!”

Her eyes widened.

“If the Holy Kingdom wins, this country is finished. I fought them before — I know exactly what will happen. If this country falls, what do you think will happen to Al? Do you understand!!”

“…………”

“Think of him first. Don’t forget that. You are the only one who can fight Artemisia on equal terms.”

“Rosaria…”

“Decide what to do about Artemisia after you win. The Grand Duke here is a tolerant man. Also, during the meeting earlier, your expression… there’s something more, isn’t there?”

“Yes.”

“Then do that first. If you can’t handle it alone, rely on me or Urka.”

“Is that really okay?”

“You don’t have to carry everything by yourself.”

Elena slowly stood up. Her face was no longer the same as before. There was still some hesitation, but it was faint.

“Elena?”

Suddenly, Al entered the room.

“Master. What brings you here?”

“The people from Zelgon are leaving urgently. When I went to the conference room, you two weren’t there, so I was told you had stepped out.”

“Sorry. I had something to talk about with her.”

“Will there be… a war?”

“…………Yes.”

“Are all three of you going?”

“It might come to that.”

Don’t look at us with those eyes. I pulled Al into a hug and kissed him.

“It’s okay. We won’t lose. We’ll definitely win and come back.”

Elena also hugged Al.

“I will protect your place in this world no matter what.”

“I’ll do my best!!”

Urka also clung to him. Well, somehow we managed to pull ourselves together.

“Let’s go!! We need to tell them.”

“Yeah.”

“Tell them what?”

“Urka, we’ll explain in the conference room.”

And so, we returned to the meeting room once more.

～～～～～～～～～～

“I apologize.”

As soon as we returned, Elena bowed her head.

“I have wasted everyone’s time.”

“Indeed. What exactly were you doing?”

“Now now, calm down. So, what is your answer?”

To the Grand Duke’s question, Elena replied clearly:

“I wish to remain by Master’s side.”

“……I see.”

“In other words—”

“I am prepared to fight the Holy Kingdom.”

A wave of “Ohh!!” rose from the room.

“Of course, the same goes for me and Urka.”

Urka nodded in agreement. The conference room grew lively.

“With this, we can see a path forward!!”

“However, there is the non-aggression treaty with the Holy Kingdom. There is no way they would so easily discard it—”

“Forgive me, Agriculture Minister, but your words cannot be trusted.”

“What did you say!?”

“I was the First Knight Commander of the Holy Kingdom until recently. I know the internal situation well.”

“Indeed, your insight is valuable. Everyone, let us hear what she has to say. Is that acceptable, Agriculture Minister?”

“Guh… Yes.”

The catfish-faced bastard reluctantly nodded.

Elena then explained: The current Holy Kingdom was vastly different from before, ruled by authoritarian politics. A man named Wolf was operating behind the scenes and effectively controlled the country.

“Preposterous!!”

“No, I can vouch for that. When I fought the Holy Kingdom, villages inside the Empire were ravaged by their forces.”

My statement caused a stir of shock throughout the room.

“Hmm. So even if we handed over Lady Elena, our country would still face the threat of destruction.”

“Yes. According to her, the only one who can fight Artemisia is Elena.”

“Is that true, Lady Elena?”

At Prime Minister Grant’s question, Elena nodded.

“Most likely. I understand her abilities and habits better than anyone.”

“Please wait!!”

A voice came from beyond the door.

“Excuse us!!”

The ones who entered were a large, bearded man and a tall young man.

“General Antonio!! General Simone!!”

The Minister of Military Affairs stood up. Indeed, the two generals of the Grand Duchy had suddenly appeared.