Now, Go Ahead and Stamp It - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

May’s face didn’t show any particular feelings of distress or sadness.

Rather, she was very calm, like someone who had already made a decision or resolved something.

Elsier didn’t bother to change the subject.

“It would be better not to, huh. Is that because of Periwinkle?”

“……Yes.”

She never understood this young master of the Crient family from the beginning.

Elsier Crient was also famous for having a showdown with Miller Periwinkle.

So when he first approached her, she thought he might suggest going together to put Miller Periwinkle in his place or something like that.

But for nearly a week, all they did was peacefully exchange pleasantries and exercise.

She had resolved to pretend not to know the moment any mention of Periwinkle came up, and she felt a bit awkward.

So today, she decided to draw the line first with this clueless classmate.

“Periwinkle, huh.”

Elsier said with a frown on his face.

“He’s really someone who makes people feel ashamed.”

“……Did something happen to you too?”

“The fact that someone like him is here is a problem in itself. The thought of being called an academy peer with someone like that for life is horrifying.”

When Elsier snorted, May couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his sharp words.

“Heh, I agree with that.”

After laughing for a while, she soon composed herself and spoke.

“Personally, I support you, but you’d better heed my words. Otherwise, it will be quite tiring.”

“Hmph, do you think that guy can handle my sister?”

“Sister?”

“Ah, it’s something like that.”

Elsier dismissed it with a vague explanation, feeling too lazy to elaborate.

Perhaps because he had once put them on the chopping block, their topic throughout the run was Miller Periwinkle.

“Anyway, he’s nothing without his family. He was so pathetic at the recent competition too.”

“Competition?”

“That guy was so boastful and then got eliminated in the preliminaries. So I decided to call him ‘preliminaries dropout’ the next time I see him.”

“Oh, come to think of it, I heard something too. I heard he was thoroughly humiliated in the social circles.”

“What’s that about?”

“You know, the retest opportunity that was given only to him. I heard Lady Periwinkle was embarrassed because of that.”

May recalled the exact words from back then before speaking.

“Come to think of it, it was Lady Krembell who caused that stir. So you’re not the only one growling at Periwinkle?”

“As expected of my sister.”

Elsier felt proud, which made May chuckle again.

“Are you on good terms with your sister?”

“Good terms? She’s scary. Actually, she’s scarier than Father.”

“I can tell by the way you talk. It’s a good thing.”

“Is it? There are things that are more apparent to others than to oneself.”

Elsier agreed with her words without much objection.

“You have a vibe similar to my sister. Maybe your younger sibling sees you the same way I see my sister.”

“Oh, judging by Lady Krembell’s recent actions, that seems like an excessive compliment to me.”

“No, I don’t really give empty compliments.”

“Yeah, judging by the way you talked about Miller earlier, I thought so.”

May chuckled, recalling their earlier conversation.

“At least a sister like you is better than a brother like Miller. Especially if they hear your brave duel stories.”

Elsier subtly brought up her duel stories.

“Unfortunately, I also have a brother.”

“Don’t tell me he’s like Miller?”

“Well, I can’t deny it.”

“That’s terrible. It looks like you’ll have to carry the family on your shoulders.”

“Oh, that…….”

May dragged her words as if choosing her response carefully before speaking.

“No. I have my limits.”

Elsier frowned at her words, like they were some kind of Zen riddle¹.

“Can you express it in a way I can understand?”

At his blunt question, May burst into laughter.

“Sure. It’s not difficult. I want to be a knight. While paving one’s own path like Lady Krembell is certainly admirable, everyone desires different things.”

She glanced around the park lightly before speaking.

“There aren’t many people like me, but I’m not the only one. Look, the girls’ dormitory area is so deserted that it’s just you and me. Even though it’s not strictly forbidden, no one comes out. Because there’s no point in doing so.”

“…….”

“There’s no outlet to showcase our abilities.”

Indeed.

Elsier nodded.

Her point was certainly valid. Unlike before, now everyone had access to educational opportunities.

But that was all.

Just because they could get an education didn’t mean the gateway to advancement was wide open.

May glanced at Elsier once, shook her head as if to shake off something, and spoke.

“Anyway, that’s it. So even if something happens to you, I can’t help you. My advice to stay away means that.”

“So your family won’t risk trouble with Periwinkle for someone they can’t use as an heir.”

“……I hate to admit it, but…”

“So that’s why you distanced yourself from Marina too?”

“……What?”

May questioned as if she hadn’t heard properly.

“Marina. Your roommate, the commoner scholarship student. Right?”

“Yes. But why are you bringing her up?”

“Aren’t you curious? How I know the name of a commoner female student I’ve never even taken a class with.”

“Yes. It’s curious and I’m wondering. Why is her name coming up here?”

May asked with a hardened expression under Elsier’s gaze.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“……What are you planning to do with her?”

“That sounds a bit off. I think she’s the one planning to do something with me.”

“No. She doesn’t even have a family to protect her.”

“You don’t listen to a word I say. Yeah. And it seems like you don’t trust your family.”

“…….”

“Just so you know, she’s the one who came to me. And fortunately, we have the same goal, and I have the environment to make it happen.”

“So what are you planning to do!”

Finally, May snapped.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to hit Periwinkle hard.”

“……You… from the start, you approached me intending to confront Periwinkle.”

“I told you earlier, didn’t I?”

“When did you?”

“When I said being peers with him is terribly shameful.”

May let out a big breath, exasperated.

“But Marina is a no-go. Where’s the guarantee that your family or you will protect her like family in case something happens? Especially in a place where even the real family is abandoned.”

“Sorry, but that’s a decision for your friend Marina to make.”

“……Ha.”

May’s mechanically running steps came to a halt.

Elsier also stopped and spoke.

“It’s not like it’s a major crime like treason. At most, it’s a pride fight among nobles. I have the power to shield her from harm.”

Periwinkle is someone my sister is also targeting.

May questioned Elsier’s words.

“……Lady Krembell?”

“Yes. So think about it.”

“Be quiet.”

May snapped as Elsier teased.

“Do as you please if you want to follow. But I’ve made it clear. Even if you manage to hit back later, the process won’t be smooth.”

“I’m already taking care of that. Should I take it as cooperation?”

“……As long as it’s within what I can do.”

“Wise choice.”

Elsier patted May’s back, as he would with any friend.

“Then I’ll be counting on you, May Sorbon.”

Elsier moved with excited steps, thinking he should quickly relay this good news to his sister.

* * *

Kaiden trudged toward the Emperor’s palace.

His task today was simple.

To gain his father’s cooperation regarding the Krembell family’s divorce.

[To dare cause trouble at an imperial event! Whoever they are, they must have nerves of steel!]

The story of how the Emperor threw an ink bottle with a shout that shook the entire palace upon hearing about the shooting incident at the imperial event was already famous.

‘But now I have to say it was my own setup…….’

Feeling like everything he ate was going to come back up, Kaiden squeezed his fingers tightly.

Damn. It’s not like that. I was a victim too.

However, he knew the incident might happen, and it was indeed him who authorized any action.

So ultimately, it was an incident that happened with his tacit approval, meaning he had responsibility.

Kaiden sighed once again.

‘Yes…… Even if the plan and execution were done by the lady, what does it matter? I was involved too.’

Alright. Let’s just get it over with.

Kaiden resigned.

Upon reaching the Emperor’s palace, he announced his visit through the attendant.

Fortunately or unfortunately, his father quickly made time for him.

“Your Majesty, Crown Prince Kaiden Istazio has arrived.”

But Kaiden’s father, Emperor Hedges, barely acknowledged the greeting and asked without looking up.

“Isn’t it too early for a report? Given the time, it seems you have other news?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Kaiden awkwardly smiled and closed the office door.

“So…… Father.”

“Yes.”

“About the recent shooting assassination incident.”

“Yes.”

“That incident…… was actually a setup.”

“……What?”

Emperor Hedges, momentarily doubting his ears, soon saw his son desperately avoiding eye contact and threw his pen with a shout.

“You crazy fool!”

* * *

“……To properly explain, I need to go back a few months.”

Kaiden carefully explained the events that had transpired, in a way that his father could understand.

He discovered an illegal gambling den while undercover.

While investigating it, he secured intel that the organization’s connections extended to the Tempt dock.

So he raided the dock and found unauthorized gunpowder and guns.

“You may recall I reported the dock search to you.”

“Right.”

“Although we haven’t caught the tail of the most crucial gunpowder and firearms, we did catch the trail of other illegally distributed general weapons.”

“Where is it?”

“……It was Krembell.”

“Krembell. I see.”

Hedges murmured in a heavy voice.