“Syl―phie! What are you doing?”
Princess Luna popped her head up over the commander’s desk.
“…….”
Sylphid, who was writing a document to report to the home country, stared at Luna with hollow eyes.
“I am telling you in advance, I cannot play with you. I am busy.”
“Aww.”
Princess Luna made a crying face.
“But I’m bored, play with me~!”
“…….”
A prisoner whining about being bored and asking the enemy Legion Commander to play with her.
Sylphid placed a hand on her aching forehead. She wished Luna would realize her situation.
You are a prisoner! You didn’t come here to play!
“Aww, Syl―phie~”
“…….”
It had already been a week since Yuria left.
Because Princess Luna kept sticking to her, Sylphid had to take charge of looking after her.
She looked like an adult on the outside, but her actions were completely child-like, so it was incredibly difficult. It felt as if she had become a nanny.
‘Why on earth am I…….’
It was unfair and annoying, but since it was a request made directly by the Crown Prince, she couldn’t just quit either…….
What could she do? She had no choice but to bite the bullet and keep her company.
Still, she had to work right now. Pushing away Princess Luna, who was clinging to her at all times, Sylphid focused on writing the document.
Looking at Sylphid, Princess Luna, who had been puffing up her cheeks, tilted her head with a ‘Huh?’.
“Come to think of it, Syl―phie, have you not seen Sir William?”
“Pardon?”
William? Who is that?
At the unfamiliar name, Sylphid only blinked her eyes.
“Or what about Gilliam?”
“Gilliam? Who is that again?”
“Both are friends I used to play with.”
Princess Luna gathered her lips and made a humming sound.
“I think it’s been quite a while since I saw them…….”
William? Gilliam?
Sylphid, who was lost in thought while tilting her head, recalled the owners of those names a beat late.
Eindel Kingdom Knight Order Commander William Light, and his son Gilliam Light.
Sir William was killed by Sylphid herself, and Gilliam was cut down by the Crown Prince personally when the fortress fell.
“Ah, if it is those two, the Crown Prince and I…….”
Sylphid was about to say they cut them in two, but quickly shut her mouth. Princess Luna’s innocent gaze, looking at her with sparkling eyes, felt burdensome.
Sylphid cleared her throat and gave a vague excuse.
“A, Ahem! They went to a different place for a while.”
“Really? Where?”
Obviously, they went to the afterlife.
……She couldn’t say that. Sylphid averted her gaze and equivocated.
“To a place a bit far away. You will be able to meet them later.”
Anyway, she didn’t lie.
Princess Luna drooped her shoulders feebly. It seemed she was a bit down.
“Hnn…… Is that so?”
“That is so.”
“Then where did Oros and Bianca go…….”
Who are they now?
‘No, I shouldn’t respond anymore.’
Sylphid turned her head away completely. She had a lot of work to do. She had to hurry and process…….
“Legion Commander!”
It was then. A member of the imperial guard rushed in from outside. Sylphid opened her eyes in annoyance.
“Why are you acting up too? What is the matter?”
“Enemy knights have requested to surrender! They say they have captured important figures as prisoners!”
Sylphid asked back unenthusiastically.
“Important figures? Who?”
“W-Well, they said they captured the Commander-in-Chief and the Knight Order Commander…….”
“What?!”
Commander-in-Chief? Knight Order Commander?
Names that were too big suddenly popped out. Sylphid, eyes wide open, sprang up from her seat.
“Where are they?”
“We have detained them downstairs.”
“Let’s go immediately. Lead the way.”
Sylphid, who was about to leave the commander’s office following the guard, stopped with an ‘Ah!’ and looked back.
Princess Luna, eyes sparkling with curiosity, was following right behind her. Sylphid raised her index finger and thrust it in front of Princess Luna’s nose.
“You cannot follow me!”
“Hng…….”
Leaving Princess Luna making a crying face inside the commander’s office, Sylphid closed the door and ran down with the guard.
***
“I surrender, Brynhilt Sixth Dragon Knight.”
Oros held up both hands with a beaming face.
Although his weapons were taken and he was surrounded by Brynhilt soldiers, he looked relaxed and comfortable.
“You are…….”
Sylphid realized she had a memory of seeing this opponent. He was an opponent she had crossed swords with a few times in the battle to capture this fortress.
“Oros and Bianca from the Eindel Kingdom Central Knight Order, and 10 subordinate soldiers request to surrender.”
Oros, pointing to his people, gestured with his chin towards Hughie, Shion, and Kay, who were tied up and following in a line behind them.
“It is a bit awkward to call it a gift of sincerity, but we have captured the new Commander-in-Chief and Knight Order Commander of the Eindel Kingdom Army, along with one other knight.”
“Commander-in-Chief and Knight Order Commander, you say?”
Sylphid scanned Hughie and Shion with suspicious eyes.
“Weren’t your Commander-in-Chief and Knight Order Commander Apoleon and William?”
“Since they went missing and were killed in action. I hear they were newly selected in the capital.”
Oros’s eyes turned cold for a moment when mentioning William’s death in action. Because this Dragon Knight in front of him was the very culprit who killed Sir William.
“The new Commander-in-Chief, 3rd Prince Hughie ‘Starseeker’ Eindel and…… Sir Shion Magnus, who was the Vice Commander and got promoted this time.”
“What? Prince Hughie?”
Sylphid looked at Hughie with a surprised expression. Despite being captured, Hughie was grinning broadly as if something was good.
“I guess I am a celebrity? Everyone recognizes me~! My popularity, fufu.”
No, don’t be happy…….
Kay, watching from the side, opened her mouth slightly in disbelief.
Sylphid opened the collection of portraits of key figures of the Eindel Kingdom. Then, she placed it next to Hughie’s face and compared it with the real person.
‘This jerk is that notorious ‘Rebel Prince’……?’
It was three years ago that Sylphid was appointed as a Dragon Knight.
It was after Hughie failed his treason and disappeared. She had heard of this man’s notoriety often, but this was her first time seeing him in person.
‘They said he was executed, but was he actually alive?’
“……Hmm?”
After observing Sylphid, Hughie, discovering the gauntlet on her right hand, grinned.
“I think I know. You are Sylphid, right?”
Sylphid frowned.
“What, do you know me?”
“I know~ Since I have a deep, deep relationship with your sister. I heard a lot of stories about you too.”
Hughie slyly curled up one corner of his mouth.
“Is Isabelle doing well?”
“……!”
Sylphid’s shoulders flinched. The shoulders of the guards watching from behind also trembled simultaneously.
Brynhilt’s Fourth Dragon Knight, and Sylphid’s biological sister. Isabella.
Hearing that name, Sylphid’s face, biting her lip tight, turned pale.
Hughie, facing Sylphid’s face, chuckled detestably.
“Oho, looks like you are a bit scared of your sister? Seeing how you are so appalled just by me bringing up her name.”
“Shut that mouth, prisoner!”
“Tell your sister. That I miss her every single day. That I cannot forget the hot nights we spent together.”
Thwack!
He finally earned a beating.
Sylphid’s left fist cleanly struck Hughie’s jaw, and Hughie rolled on the floor screaming a pathetic scream, “Gwaaack!”
Sylphid, calming her breath, compared the portrait with Hughie, who had fallen on the floor.
“……It seems to be Prince Hughie himself without a doubt.”
Even while fallen on the floor, Hughie flashed a sparkling smile.
Sylphid, frowning deeply, turned her head to the side.
“And the one next to him seems to be Shion Magnus herself.”
“…….”
Shion was trying hard to maintain her composure, but her eyes were trembling anxiously.
To be captured and brought into the center of the Brynhilt Sixth Legion as a prisoner.
She couldn’t even grasp what to do from now on. Her vision was dark.
‘Kugh…….’
Shion gritted her teeth.
Is everything really ending like this?
“And…… Hmm. Seems to be a knight.”
Sylphid, having roughly scanned Kay last, closed the portrait collection. Kay opened her eyes wide.
“W-Wait! I’m ranked 4th in the Central Knights? Am I not quite an important figure? Huh? Am I not in there?”
Sylphid completely ignored such Kay.
Behind the dumbfounded Kay, Hughie giggled unluckily.
“As expected, you were minding the rankings, Kay?”
“No, that’s not it. No, still!”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You are an important person in my heart.”
“I don’t care about the inside of your heart?!”
Disregarding the two making noise, Sylphid turned around. Oros, standing in front of her, still had a smiling face.
“I will have to investigate the actual ranks, but it is certain that they are important figures of the Eindel Kingdom.”
Sylphid narrowed her eyes and looked Oros up and down.
“Our Brynhilt Empire pays a corresponding price depending on the information or prisoners brought by those who surrender. Since you captured your superiors and surrendered, there must be something you want. What is it?”
“There are only two things we want.”
Oros bowed deeply and smiled beamingly.
“Our safety. And the end of the war. That is all.”
“Everything you wish for shall be granted. When the war ends, I will recognize your military merits as well.”
At Sylphid’s cool answer, the faces of Oros and the soldiers brightened all at once.
Sylphid crossed her arms and fell into thought. This was the first time an Eindel knight had surrendered since this war began.
Even as the country was scorched and death spread like wildfire, the knights of the Eindel Kingdom were those who rallied soldiers from all over and continued resistance until the very end.
To think there would be division within that sturdy Eindel Kingdom Knight Order.
‘Does this mean the Eindel Kingdom is also reaching its limit?’
Perhaps the war might end sooner than expected.
Nodding her head, Sylphid waved her hand.
“Take the prisoners away! Imprison them!”
“Yes!”
Immediately, the Brynhilt soldiers grabbed Hughie, Shion, and Kay and began dragging them to the prison.
Sylphid turned her head back to Oros.
“Come to think of it, I have something to ask you. Do you happen to have news of our Third Legion that attacked Eindelgrass…….”
It was then.
“Ah!”
A clear voice was heard.
As everyone looked in that direction, they saw Princess Luna peeking her head out from the other side of the hallway and observing this side.
Upon discovering Oros and Bianca, Princess Luna waved her hand with a bright smile.
“Oros! Bianca! Long time no see!”
“Princess Luna……!”
Bianca was flustered, and Oros froze.
Princess Luna, oblivious to the atmosphere, laughed ‘hehe’ and ran over here with small steps.
And she discovered Hughie’s group being dragged to prison while tied up.
“Ah?!”
Princess Luna’s eyes opened roundly.
“Uh?!”
Hughie also opened his mouth slightly.
“Hughie?”
“Luna?”
Immediately after the two siblings stared at each other as if they couldn’t believe it,
“Hughieeee!”
“Lunaaaa!”
The two ran towards each other and hugged tightly.
Of course, since Hughie was in a state of being bound, it was only the shape of Princess Luna hugging Hughie.
Princess Luna, hugging Hughie, reached out and pinched Hughie’s cheeks wildly.
“Hughieeee~! My brother! It’s been so long!”
“It’s been a long time for Luna too! You are still the cutest in the world, right? You aren’t hurt anywhere, right? No place painful?”
“Yup yup! I’m totally healthy! Syl―phie took good care of me!”
Hughie and Princess Luna, squealing and checking each other’s well-being.
Sylphid, watching these siblings who couldn’t grasp the atmosphere with bewilderment, clutched her forehead.
“Excuse me, one person failing to realize their position is enough, you know……?”
One person unable to distinguish whether this was a battlefield or a flower garden was enough with just Princess Luna. With Hughie joining in and acting like that, Sylphid felt like she was getting a headache she didn’t have before.
I mean you are prisoners, prisoners! And this is your enemy camp!
“Drag them away.”
As Sylphid signaled with her eyes, the Brynhilt soldiers grabbed Hughie and dragged him away.
Then, Princess Luna clung to Hughie and shrieked.
“No! Don’t separate Hughie and me, Syl―phie!”
“No, we cannot. The Princess is barely okay, but this jerk is dangerous.”
“I don’t waaaant to! I’m going to stay with Hughie too!”
Princess Luna clung to Hughie even more, and Hughie teared up with a moved face.
“Luna……!”
“Don’t worry, Hughie! Big sister will protect you!”
“…….”
Sylphid, who had been silently watching these cockroach-like siblings, suddenly smiled brightly.
“Huu…… Is that so?”
A vein was clearly popping on the temple of the Brynhilt Sixth Dragon Knight.
“Then I have a good idea.”
***
Bang!
The prison door closed with a loud noise.
In the spacious communal cell, Hughie, Shion, Kay, and Princess Luna were locked up together.
Shion and Kay had faces full of despair and hollowness, but Hughie and Princess Luna were still busy squealing and hugging each other.
“Hugh―ie! My cute brother! Why does it feel like I’m seeing you after a super long time?”
“It’s not ‘why’, we are really seeing each other after a long time, Sister. Since it’s been 3 years!”
“Hehe? Was that so? Have you been well during that time? Did you eat well too?”
“Of course! Sister has been well too, right? was there anyone who bullied you? Just say the word! I will ki…… scold them all!”
Kay, watching the siblings engrossed in their reunion after 3 years from a distance, muttered feebly.
“A foolish Princess and a crazy Prince…… The future of our Kingdom is also dim…….”
“Watch your tongue, Sir Kay…….”
Shion, sitting with her back against the prison wall, broke out in a cold sweat. Whether she did or not, Kay let out a deep sigh again.
“The Crown Prince, who was at least worthy of being called the hope of the royal family, has gone missing…….”
“…….”
“And now that even we have fallen into the enemy’s hands, sigh…….”
A heavy silence settled between the two knights.
Kay gripped the thick bars confining them with her hand.
“Is it…… going to end like this?”
“…….”
Shion could not answer.
The situation was desperate. To the point where even Shion, who had never broken in any situation until now, naturally thought that everything was over.
“Hughie~!”
“Luna~!”
Over there, the royal siblings were rubbing their cheeks together and continuing to squeal comfortably. It seemed they didn’t even have the thought that this was inside a prison.
“…….”
Shion covered her face with both hands.
It was enough to drive one crazy.