The biggest lesson I learned from the fight with Leonhardt was that I shouldn’t think I can solve everything alone.

Even if it was possible to clear someone like him out of my sight right away, there was no way I could handle the aftermath by myself.

I was just the second son of a count who couldn’t even inherit the title, and what I could do was limited.

My father, my brother, and everyone under the Astria name had to shoulder the aftermath.

“Kraaaah…!”

That’s why I changed my thinking.

I had to analyze, think, and act by utilizing all the cards I had, no, all the cards I could mobilize.

I wasn’t exceptionally talented, my position wasn’t high, and I wasn’t particularly good at using my head. Thinking of my original self, I was the worst in all areas, and considering Felix as well, I was just barely passable.

In other words, to put it simply, the probability of me winning against Siegfried in a head-on confrontation was extremely low.

That’s why I called Cain.

There was no way I could politically go against Jeffrey and the Sun Church.

That’s why I called Ashillya.

I thought Cain would definitely step up if he heard that Siegfried was trying to take Sylvia away because he was someone who would jump into fire to protect her.

I believed Ashillya would step in to eliminate Siegfried, one of Jeffrey’s schemes, if she could, knowing that he was plotting against her.

Among the cards I could think of, I had used the two most important ones.

As a result, Siegfried couldn’t even extend his sword to Cain. The shadows subdued Siegfried and waited for Ashillya’s command.

“He dared to try to harm an imperial citizen. It has been revealed that he lacks the qualifications to be a Hero. Cut off his hand.”

“…”

No answer came.

Squish…!

“Aaaaaah!!”

They simply carried out the order silently. The man holding Siegfried’s arm drew his sword without hesitation and struck down his right hand.

A fountain of blood gushed out, and what was his right hand rolled on the floor.

However, no one questioned that sight. There was only Siegfried screaming in pain.

“Cauterize it so that it can never be reattached, and take him away.”

The current Ashillya was calmer than ever but burning with anger hotter than anyone. As someone seeing this side of her for the first time, it was a sight I wish not to get on the wrong side of.

The shadows silently carried out the next order. To make it impossible to reattach the hand even with holy power, they started cauterizing Siegfried’s wound with magically created fire.

“Cra… Crazy bitch…!! Aaaaaah!!!”

Along with the sound of skin burning, Siegfried spat out curses.

“Search this man’s room. There should be at least one piece of evidence linking him to the Second Prince.”

“I shall obey your command.”

Ashillya looked down at Siegfried indifferently and gave orders to the shadow. The shadow bowed his head and literally disappeared into the shadows.

… That’s amazing every time I see it.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

“…To be honest, yes, it is.”

It seemed my thoughts were showing on my face. Ashillya looked at me as if I was cute and smiled. She approached me and whispered discreetly as if she had never been so cold.

“If thou become my consort, I can easily teach thee such techniques, though?”

“…I am honored, but it seems like too much of a burden for me.”

I couldn’t become Ashillya’s consort just to learn the technique of hiding in shadows.

As Ashillya smiled and stepped back as if it were a joke, I awkwardly smiled at her, took my gaze off her, and headed straight for Helena.

Fortunately, thanks to Sylvia’s emergency treatment, Helena seemed fine. However, I was unsure, so I lifted her onto my back.

“We need to go to the infirmary.”

Siegfried also tried to eliminate Helena as a witness so he wouldn’t have held back. It would have been best to have her thoroughly examined.

“I-I’ll go with you…!”

As I muttered those thoughts as if talking to myself, Sylvia immediately stuck close to my side and spoke.

Seeing that, I glanced at Cain and whispered quietly.

“Sylvia, wouldn’t it be better for you to be with Cain?”

“…Huh? Why?”

As I mumbled as if troubled, Sylvia widened her eyes and asked back. Worried that her loud voice might be heard by Cain, I lowered my voice even more.

“What do you mean why? You should be with Cain!”

His girlfriend, or the girl he’s flirting with, was involved in a dangerous situation, and the guy came running right away after hearing about it.

Cain would be worried about Sylvia too, and wouldn’t it be right for the two of them to spend some good time together? However, Sylvia, a novice in love, still seemed not to understand my words.

“…So why?”

“You and Cain are doing well, right? I understand you’re worried about Helena, but I’ll take care of Helena, so you be with Cain.”

“Wha… What?”

Sylvia’s eyes wavered strongly.

She seemed quite flustered that I found out she had that kind of relationship with Cain. I grinned mischievously and whispered to Sylvia.

“I saw you and Cain at the banquet for Her Highness the Crown Princess’s appointment ceremony. I haven’t told anyone, so don’t worry.”

I wanted to pat Sylvia’s shoulder, but it was impossible since I was carrying Helena. I playfully winked and hurriedly moved my steps.

Helena’s breathing, which had come from behind me, had settled down calmly. Taking that as a relief, I headed to the infirmary.

“…No, that’s not it!”

I thought I briefly heard Sylvia’s voice but thought it was nothing.

***

Sylvia blankly watched Felix and Helena leave.

‘…Me? With Cain?’

The image of Felix smiling playfully and linking her with Cain wouldn’t leave her mind. He was clearly mistaken.

And the cause of that misunderstanding was the result she had brought about.

‘The banquet…’

Sylvia also knew what it meant for a man and a woman to participate as partners in a banquet. However, she accepted Cain’s proposal without much thought.

And as a result, Felix saw that scene and misunderstood her relationship with Cain.

She shouldn’t have forgotten that fact, being excited that even as a commoner, she participated in the banquet. She shouldn’t have taken it lightly.

‘I shouldn’t have done that.’

Did she dislike having her relationship with Cain misunderstood?

That was an excuse. The moment she saw Felix appear in front of Siegfried, the moment she saw him getting angry at Helena being hurt.

The moment she saw the kind Helena lose her reason over Felix getting hurt.

Sylvia realized.

She had feelings beyond friendship for Felix. That’s why she regretted even more that she had thoughtlessly accepted Cain’s proposal in the past.

Should I chase after him now?

What should I do?

Sylvia’s mind was filled with confusion. While she was hesitating, Ashillya approached Siegfried, who was shedding tears and snot along with screams of pain.

She had restrained her anger as much as possible because Felix was there, but her mind was burning with rage.

Ashillya, who didn’t even care that her shoes were getting dirty with blood from the floor, coldly looked down at Siegfried with eyes filled with anger.

“There is only one reason We are keeping thou alive right now. To confirm if that child Jeffrey has truly made up his mind to touch what is mine.”

“…Da-Damn… it… Fu-…”

“So it would be best for thee to speak honestly. I have endured much until now and do not wish to endure any further.”

“Ju-Just…”

Ashillya exhaled a long sigh of anger and waited for Siegfried’s words.

Siegfried, wriggling on the floor like a trampled worm, glared at Ashillya with bloodshot eyes.

“For the sake of just that little brat, to to-touch the next Hero and… th-think you can… re-remain unscathed?”

Squish.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

With Siegfried’s words, Ashillya personally stepped on Siegfried’s remaining hand and spoke.

“Just? In thine eyes, does that child seem like ‘just’?”

“…”

“Do not be mistaken. Even if thou art not the Hero, but merely the next in line, to think thou can survive after touching the one who shall become my consort. And to think thine value surpasses that child’s.”

Ashillya applied force to her foot and crushed Siegfried’s hand as she spat out her words.

“Thine value and that child’s value are on different levels. At least within this Empire. So if thou think the Sun Church can surpass the Empire, it would be best to put aside that thought.”

Squish.

“Because I shall do everything to protect that child.”

Just before Siegfried’s eyes rolled back in pain, Ashillya lifted her foot and spoke to the remaining shadows.

“Cut his Achilles tendons and make his left hand unusable too so that he can’t function as a person.”

“Understood.”

The orders were swiftly carried out.

Two shadows pressing on his foot cut Siegfried’s Achilles tendons, and the shadow holding his left hand easily broke it.

“Aaaaaah!! Fuck!!! You bastards!!! Uaaaaah!!!”

Enduring the pain assaulting him simultaneously, Siegfried screamed.

Ashillya coldly watched Siegfried writhing in agony.

He cursed the firm mental strength given to him by the Goddess as a Hero.

He wanted to faint, but he couldn’t. Ashillya quietly whispered to Siegfried.

“Do not be mistaken. Thou will die anyway. Whether thou die peacefully or in pain… That will be up to thee.”

As if she had said everything she wanted to say, Ashillya swiftly turned around and started to leave. Her shadows quietly lifted Siegfried’s body and concealed themselves in the shadows.

Ashillya passed by Cain, who was watching that sight and headed towards Sylvia, who was standing blankly.

And she whispered softly.

“It seems thou have made up thy mind.”

“…”

“However, it is already too late.”

“…”

“We have already made up our minds long ago.”

Before Sylvia could respond to the low voice, Ashillya moved towards where Felix had left.

Sylvia could only blankly watch that sight.