n

nFrom where a destroyed castle town spread out, Cleo looked over her surroundings.

nThe earthen dolls ceased function, rattling as they began to crumble apart.

nOnce the sun had fully shown itself, their movements grew strange, and just like that, they stopped moving.

nNear Cleo, Nate took off her mask and looked around.

nWith a whistle from her lips, a hippogryph descended from the sky.

nSeeing that, Cleo spoke.

n

"U-um,

"

n

"Mn? Oh, that's my partner, don't worry about it. See, he can become a horse too.

"

nAfter landing, the hippogryph gave a shake of its eagle head and took on the form of a normal horse.

nAnd breathing a sigh, Nate looked around.

n

"But this really will be a pain to report.

"

n

"You're… right.

"

nWhen they saw the red pillar pierce through the sky, that moment they felt the tremor and gale, both Cleo and Nate were surprised. But they could understand it now.

n

"Do you think Rudel-dono won?

"

n

"I'd quite hope so. Because that would also mean the destruction of Celestia's ancient weapon, or rather guardian deity… who's going to take responsibility for this, I wonder.

"

nCleo spoke.

n

"The guardian deity, is it. If I just…

"

nShe had much to think about.

nThere, Nate cut in.

n

"… My ancestors, you see, they were once people of Celestia. This blue hair is something of a testament to that.

"

n

"Eh?

"

nAs Cleo looked on blankly, Nate…

n

"Meaning, I'm a survivor of your clan that ran away. Though at present, I've got work in Courtois as you can see.

"

nShe kept on talking on the matter, but Cleo worried whether that might bring problems to her position. There, Nate's expression turned serious.

n

"Well, I'm just trying to say that humans can live anywhere. Don't you think it'd be alright if you just became free? If the threat of Celestia is gone, Courtois should give a public apology and provide some support.

"

nAs Cleo hesitated, Nate spelled out her options.

n

"You could run off somewhere and live, not as a princess but a single young girl. All that's left of the Celestia royal line is you and a few children. It's possible to push it onto someone else.

"

nCleo gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

nShe wouldn't choose that option.

n

"Thank you. But I have my responsibilities and obligations. I could not become a sacrifice, but I cannot abandon my people. Someone will have to take the leading role. Even if it's someone as unreliable as me.

"

nNate spoke disinterestedly.

n

"Is that so.

"

nAnd putting on her mask, she pat her partner's neck a few times. Cleo understood that Nate wasn't particularly angry.

nIt felt like she already knew which one she would choose.

n

"I'm just a little envious of you.

"

n

"Eh?

"

nAt the end, Nate,

n

"That you could choose the option not to run, I'm just a little envious.

"

n◇

nA few days later.

nIn the ruins of Celestia, Sakuya moved around heavy loads as if playing with building blocks.

nTo help out in the reconstruction efforts, Rudel and Aleist worked dawn to dusk.

nIzumi and Millia aided them.

nNate alone made for Courtois to report on the incident. Someone had to be told…

n

"To be totally honest, I think there's something messed up about defeating a god and making an island of it.

"

nHolding a shovel, Aleist looked at Rudel.

n

"… Aleist, sure enough, I won't deny I had some personal feelings involved. But there was no helping that one!

"

nMillia looked at the two of them tiredly.

n

"I understand it was a situation where it couldn't be helped, but… who's going to take responsibility for this?

"

nNeither Rudel nor Aleist could take responsibility.

nMillia looked at Izumi…

n

"Isn't this his surveillance inspector's liability?

"

nA startled Izumi spoke.

n

"I do get the feeling there was nothing that could be done there.

"

nIzumi had hurriedly drafted up a report and handed it to Nate. But just how would the top brass evaluate it…

nThe four of them put some thought into it, but Rudel,

n

"Well, whatever will be will be. Once I return, I'm sure I'll be put to work in the outer reaches again, so I don't mind if I'm to aid reconstruction a while longer.

"

nAleist as well.

n

"You're right. This feels so much more worthwhile that returning to cleaning duty. Now then, let's give it our best for another day.

"

nMillia looked at the two.

n

"Isn't it strange to use Courtois' white and black knights like this? Normally, they should have some post or something, and work in the royal palace, right?

"

nRudel and Aleist's standings were dubious even in Courtois. When normally it wouldn't be strange if they had much higher ranks, one was sent to the middle of nowhere. The other was treated as a cleaner.

nIzumi sighed.

n

"Well, as long as the ones in question don't raise a ruckus, isn't it fine? If anyone's got any complaints, they can voice them to the higherups.

"

nWhen he became a dragoon, Rudel knew he would be sent to the outer reached as he had no complaints; while Aleist might grumble here and there, he was earnest in his work.

nYet the two of them had saved the country called Celestia.

nNo, perhaps saved was a misunderstanding.

nOf all else, the one they fought was the guardian deity of Celestia.

nOne wrong move and people might say Courtois took advantage of their request to eliminate their deity.

nOf course…

n

"But it's a huge problem if a majority of their important ministers are gone.

"

nIt was just as Rudel said.

nAlmost all of Celestia's ministers and high officials had perished in the castle.

nIt was because of the mechanized unit, according to Nate.

nThere were various hands moving behind the scenes, and from Rudel's group's point of view, it was a peculiar mission that ended while they fought a battle they'd been roped into.

nSakuya looked up at the sky.

n'Hey, can I eat that?'

nShe sought confirmation with Rude, so she followed her eye line.

n

"The hippogryph? Someone's riding it, so you can't.

"

nSakuya was downhearted.

n◇

nWhat the returned Nate informed them of was everyone's return.

nAt the same time, she told them, a squadron from Courtois had been dispatched with the intent to provide aid.

nRudel wanted to remain until they had built an extent of a basis. But he had to follow his orders.

nHe had asked Nate, but it seemed Celestia would officially be treated as Courtois' vassal state. This owed to the fact it didn't have any strengths worthy of forming an equal alliance.

nAnd the new queen of Celestia, Cleo, was to have a discussion over it with the temporary ministers.

nThe damage was great, if they went against Courtois and could no longer receive aid, it was easy to imagine Celestia's reconstruction taking decades.

nThere was no guarantee Courtois wouldn't invade in that space.

n

"Did I do something unnecessary?

"

nLying down in a room of the palace, Rudel muttered.

nThey would depart come the next day, so he took an early rest.

nOnce he returned, a report to Courtois' palace awaited him.

n(I'm sure I'm causing them trouble again.)

nThinking he'd brought even more trouble to his superiors, Rudel closed his eyes.

nThere, a knock at the door.

n

"Boss!

"

nThe ones who entered were Ben, Pono and Passan, the party of three. As they had been promoted to knights, they now wore clothing that half-looked the part.

nCleo had appointed them as part of her royal guard.

nTheir achievements in evacuating citizens all the way to the end, and Cleo's trust for them brought it about.

nOf course, that was the public reason.

nTruthfully, there was a severe lack of personnel, so things had grown lax in various places, and the three of them were appointed.

n

"What's wrong? You want to train again?

"

n

"No, today it's work.

"

"That's right!

"

"t's work!

"

nAs the three of them stuck out their chests, a single woman came out from behind them.

nIt was Cleo.

n

"Princess… or no, it's Queen now I see.

"

nAs Rudel left the bed and stood, Cleo turned him her tired face curled into a smile.

n

"Can I have just a little bit of your time?

"

n

"Yes, I don't mind.

"

n◇

nThe party of three kept watch outside, while Rudel and Cleo went out to the balcony.

nThe night breeze had a nice feel to it.

n

"So why have you called me for?

"

nCleo was taking deep breaths. And resolving herself, she looked at Rudel, wrung out her voice…

n

"Rudel-dono, no, Rudel-sama, I've fallen in love with you!

"

nShe confessed.

nRudel spoke with a smile.

n

"I can't!

"

n… He refused.

nUpon hearing that, Cleo burst into laughter. Perhaps she knew the answer from the start.

n

"Can I ask for your reasons?

"

nRudel spelled it out clearly.

n

"To start with, I have no freedom in my marriage. And even if I look like this, I've got quite a few restraints placed on me. I doubt the country will recognize a marriage between the two of us. If that's how it's going to be, I concluded I should decline it from the start.

"

nCleo gave a bitter smile.

n

"You won't give an answer in regards to my feelings, I see.

"

n

"… I already have someone I love. Of course, for the same reasons, I can't tell her I love her.

"

nRudel got the feeling Cleo had become stronger than before.

n

"… In this incident. Celestia will put up a strong protest to Courtois for destroying our guardian deity. Of course, the country's circumstance and the feelings of our people are conflicting, so that is simply the public stance. I am personally quite thankful, Rudel-dono.

"

n

"So it's going that way after all.

"

nAs Rudel said that, Cleo…

n

"I truly am thankful. Celestia has finally gained the opportunity to stand on its own power… I can think of it like that now.

"

nCleo was surely troubled over many things, Rudel imagined.

nAnd he surmised she had confessed to get her own feelings in order at the end.

n

"So have you gotten your feelings in order?

"

n

"You noticed? Well let's see… with this I can be not Cleo the princess, I can become the figurehead queen Cleo. I'll leech as much aid from Courtois as possible.

"

nRudel laughed.

n

"It's quite troublesome if you say such things to me. Even like this, I'm one of Courtois'–

"

nCleo said it before he could.

n

"Dragoons, after all. Right? … You have my thanks. At the end, you even let me hear the words of my mother and aunt. That I was loved. I've been granted the opportunity to learn that, and I look on it with delight.

"

nDefeating the monster, Rudel had conveyed the words of the existence calling herself Cleo's aunt to Cleo and the surviving royal children.

n(Even so, she's become quite strong in the past few days.)

nShe had lost her brother Emilio, she had lost many things, and Rudel mulled over what he should say to her.

n

"You'll be off early tomorrow morning, right? I shall see you off from her. Well then, farewell… Rudel.

"

nShe dropped the honorific at the end.

n◇

nThe next day.

nLooking at Sakuya take to the sky from the balcony, Cleo stroked aside her blue hair.

nAround were the party of three and her servants, likewise looking at the dragon soar through the air.

n

"They've gone, boss and his friends.

"

nThe party of three were shedding tears, while the servants pulled back from the sight of them.

nTo Cleo, those three were idiots but honest, and kind from their hearts. Precious knights to have.

nLooking at Sakuya, Cleo sung a song.

n(At the very least, even if only in song… thank you, foreign knights. Thank you, dragoon.)

nPassan spoke.

n

"The princess' songs really are the best!

"

nBen,

n

"Fool, it's queen now!

"

nPono,

n

"Quiet down and let me hear the song!

"

nAs Cleo's song voice resounded through Celestia, the white dragon took a leisure circle around the palace. And the knights on its back waved their hands.

nThe party of three grandly waved back, and Cleo also answered in a wave.

n(Thank you, Rudel. .And goodbye.)

nHer smile still on her face, Cleo shed tears.

n