"Her Highness Frizziore, as of now, neither His Highness Kabajid nor His Highness Schurus appear to have noticed our movements."
Frizziore breathed a soft sigh of relief at the report from Angela Luxinowa, the Commander of her personal White Rose Knight Order.
Escaping the castle—or more precisely, the Imperial Capital—was a perilous gamble.
While Videre and her group, dispatched to the Rebel Army, had yet to return, waiting for them before starting preparations would waste precious time. If she delayed, her brothers might uncover her intentions.
So, she had begun making quiet, incremental preparations.
In the recent summit, her last hope for peace, she had failed to prevent the reorganization of the Subjugation Army.
Left with no choice, she decided on the most effective move remaining: join the fray to balance the scales of power and force a stalemate.
In terms of pure military strength, the Subjugation Army and the Rebel Army were roughly equal. However, the Rebels lacked political legitimacy, possessing only Mercureo.
In contrast, the Subjugation Army boasted three members of the Imperial Family.
Technically, Vihera was with the Rebels, but she had already fled the country and had no desire to take center stage.
Frizziore believed that by throwing her weight behind the Rebel Army, she could create a true deadlock. This conviction drove her current actions.
Fortunately, the ongoing civil war made it seem perfectly natural for her to meet with the nobles of her own faction. This gave her the opportunity to discuss her plan with those she truly trusted.
Not everyone was in favor, of course. Yet many were so devoted to Frizziore that they accepted her words, however reluctantly.
"And how many had infiltrated us?" Frizziore asked. Her voice was thick with sorrow.
It was only natural to feel that way; they were discussing suspicious movements within her inner circle.
As an idealist, the news that Schurus and Kabajid had planted moles in her faction cut deep.
Kabajid was a given, but Schurus’s agents were actually the result of independent initiative taken by his lieutenant, Amare.
"Three are confirmed," Angela replied. "There are about five others who are suspect, though we lack definitive proof."
"Eight in total. I don't know whether to be relieved or grieved."
Being a princess, Frizziore’s faction was smaller than those of Princes Schurus or Kabajid. Finding eight traitors in such a small group was a significant blow, depending on one’s perspective.
"I assume these eight have not been informed of the plan?"
"Correct. I've assigned trustworthy individuals to shadow them. But we can't maintain that watch indefinitely."
"I know. We'll keep up the charade for now, but we need Videre to return as quickly as possible. Do you think we should send more people to Mercureo’s side?"
"No," Angela Luxinowa shook her head. "Such a conspicuous move would surely tip off Prince Schurus or Prince Kabajid. We must wait and trust in Videre."
Frizziore nodded, offering no further argument.
"Very well. Aside from that... how are the others? Did they listen to my request?"
Angela shook her head again, but this time, a faint trace of warmth bled into her features.
"I've spoken with those whose loyalty to Your Highness is beyond doubt. Almost all of them wish to accompany you."
"That is... a problem," Frizziore said, her own face reflecting that same bittersweet joy. "This has spiraled beyond a family squabble. My decision to join the Rebel Army is a personal one. I didn't want to drag others down with me. Honestly, they’re such troublesome people."
Even as she spoke, the warmth in her expression gave her away. She was clearly moved by their loyalty.
"Can't I persuade them? If they follow us, they'll be branded as rebels. I won't ask them to join Schurus or Big Brother Kabajid, but if they would only return to their own lands for a time..."
"It's unlikely, Your Highness. They are nobles. If they've chosen this path of their own will, they'll see it through."
"Angela, what about your father? What about Count Luxinowa?"
Since Angela was the Commander of the White Rose Knight Order, her father naturally belonged to the First Princess Faction.
Angela gave a small smile. "My father was the very first to declare he would go with you."
"Oh my..." Frizziore was surprised, yet a part of her had expected nothing less from him. She remembered the count—a man as stubborn as his daughter—and smiled.
Angela puffed out her cheeks in a minor pout. Despite her dignified beauty, the gesture made her look remarkably young. Though in her mid-twenties, she looked like a teenager—an exaggeration, perhaps, but she certainly looked younger than her years.
"Regardless, we must be ready for whenever Videre arrives. Only the White Rose Knight Order and the volunteer soldiers will accompany me, then?"
"Yes. Every member of the Knights has decided to go, but as for the soldiers..." Angela Luxinowa trailed off.
The "volunteer soldiers" were hardly an elite force. Most were simply followers who served Frizziore for one reason or another. It was a ragtag assembly, including even failed adventurers.
However, every one of them shared a common bond: they had been saved by Frizziore at some point. They were far more reliable than any noble of questionable loyalty.
"Honestly... such fools," Frizziore said.
Though her words were disparaging, her heart was full. She knew she was attempting something mad, and yet these people were willing to throw their lives away for her.
"Truly, they are idiots."
"Perhaps," Angela agreed. "But Your Highness is the one who stands at the pinnacle of those idiots."
"Fufu, quite right. Then I shall do my best to play the lead role in this farce. Tell them to be ready to leave the Imperial Capital at any moment. If any agents of Schurus or Big Brother Kabajid ask questions..."
"We tell them we're preparing to defend the city once the Subjugation Army departs. Understood."
"Yes, please."
The First Princess Faction busied themselves with preparations, awaiting the arrival of Videre and Rei. Naturally, Schurus and Kabajid were not about to overlook such movements—especially Kabajid, who had been investigating Frizziore for some time.
While several of their spies had been caught, others remained hidden, taking almost no action. These moles contacted their employers or superiors to report the faction’s shifting stance.
Yet, those who learned of the report chose not to act, intending to use the situation to their own advantage. The lack of definitive evidence provided a convenient excuse to stay their hands. If they had pressed Frizziore, she could simply have claimed—as per her plan—that they were preparing to defend the capital.
About an hour's distance from the Imperial Capital, tucked away from the main highway, were Rei, Set, and the knights led by Videre.
They had steered clear of the road specifically to keep Set out of sight. Gryphons were exceedingly rare; any sighting of one as a tamed monster would immediately point to Rei. With the Fighting Tournament still fresh in the public's mind, the connection was inescapable.
Rei assumed his presence in the Rebel Army was already known to the Imperials. Especially since some of those who escaped with Sobul likely reported my involvement, he reasoned.
Rei stroked Set’s head. "Set, I'm heading into the Imperial Capital. I'm not sure how long I'll be, but it'll probably be at least a few days. I need you to wait out here. You can hunt for your own food, right? Even if there aren't many monsters near the capital, there should be plenty of animals."
"Guruuu," Set gave a mournful cry. It understood it would only be a hindrance inside the city. It stepped back obediently.
"Sorry, Set. If I find anything that looks delicious in there, I'll buy it as a souvenir, so look forward to that."
"Gurururuuu!"
Set perked up at the promise of treats. It turned and began to trot away, though it frequently looked back over its shoulder at Rei. The knights of the White Rose Knight Order watched the display with tears in their eyes, their protective instincts stirred by the gryphon's endearing behavior.
Set stayed on the ground as it departed, knowing that taking to the air would draw too much attention.
Rei watched his partner go. He’d look like a painting out there if it were the lush green of spring or summer, he thought. He shook off the sentimentality and turned to Videre.
"Alright, I'm counting on you for that favor we discussed."
"Leave it to me."
After dinner the previous night, they had discussed how Rei would enter the city after parting with Set. Rei had initially suggested running or walking the remaining distance, but Videre, wishing to repay him for the meal, insisted on assisting him.
True to her word, Videre reached down from her saddle and pulled Rei up behind her. He sat behind her on the horse. His weight was negligible for the beast.
It would be a different story if I were carrying the Death Scythe, though.
"Let us depart," Videre said, her voice slightly strained. Rei was pressed right up against her. Even through the armor, the physical proximity was intimate.
As members of the all-female White Rose Knight Order, the knights rarely had close interactions with men outside of training or combat. Videre was internally tense, though she kept her face carefully neutral as befit a Unit Commander.
They approached the gate reserved for nobles—the same gate Rei had used when he arrived with Daskar.
The guard on duty bowed low as he recognized Videre’s distinctive white armor. She was a well-known figure in the capital.
"Welcome back, members of the White Rose Knight Order." Then his gaze shifted. "Who is the individual behind you, Videre-sama? Their equipment does not match your order."
"He is not a knight, but he is a collaborator," Videre replied with sharp authority. "I take full responsibility for him."
The guard hesitated, but he wasn't about to cross a Unit Commander. "Understood. If you are taking responsibility, then..."
Rei’s face was obscured by the hood of his Dragon Robe, and with Videre’s word, the guard didn't press for him to show his face. Had he looked, he might have recognized Rei’s face from the sketches circulated to the guards.
The party was waved through. Rei was officially in the custody of the White Rose Knight Order.
Once more, he had set foot inside the Imperial Capital.