The five idiots had returned.

That was nice and all, but the timing was uncertain.

They were not present when Lucy was kidnapped, and now they were useless at this stage when they were going to bring her back.

What was the purpose of these guys' existence?

I was seriously thinking about that. But I couldn't leave them in the dark either.

After all, these were the group of idiots who came back as a pianist, magician, bodybuilder and a festival guy after leaving the mansion and promising to make money.

Liam, the waiter at one stand, seemed the most decent among them.

Liam was sitting in a chair and crossing his arms while still wearing an apron. I had explained to him what had happened so far, but─

"I get the gist of it. In other words, Bradford, you want to save Lucy, don't you?"

"I guess so."

I didn't expect any appropriate response from these guys, but I guess I should ask their opinion just in case.

If they said something stupid and tried to carry it out, they'd have to be stopped. I was thinking that.

"Then you can save her."

"Ha? You, did you hear the story? Lucy is the priestess, that's why Aster came desperately looking for her. Even if I take her to the Kingdom and shelter her there, those guys will go after her without hesitation."

As he thought, these guys were hopeless. Frey tilted his head just as I thought that.

"Why isn't that right?"

"N-No, that's why, it will become an international problem."

Clovis, who was shuffling cards, burst out laughing when he heard the problem I was worried about.

"Of course there will be problems. But is that really that important?"

"Troublesome boys like you won't understand, but it would be a big deal."

Chlust, who was wearing no clothes except a loincloth, pointed at me.

Put on some damn pants first.

"The sapling of this sacred tree will be able to do the same as the sacred tree in the future, right? Then isn't it natural to take possession of it, even if it brings some trouble? Even the palace will cover it if it can solve the power problem in the future."

(... Huh? This oily man with his butt in the air, is he unexpectedly brilliant?)

Allen offered some clothes to Warren, but he firmly refused. "This is my uniform". And he stuck to his current look of loincloth and ceremonial coat.

"I can't claim to be superior to the other four in politics, but after hearing the story at this point, I still don't understand what you're so concerned about."

He was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"Th-that's why."

I was even puzzled with these five denying my concern. Liam spoke up boldly.

"Bradford, you're worried about the trouble that will happen with Aster, but I think the merit will outweigh such a thing. The sapling of that sacred tree and the priestess being a set will also be more convenient for the Kingdom, right? In that case, you can boldly steal it with such a cause behind you."

"You guys are really radical!"

"Not as much as you are, Bradford. First of all. If you know Lucy's background, why didn't you evacuate her right away? The Kingdom had a friendly relationship with Vermillion Household. They will accept and protect her even without telling the issue of the sapling."

"The problem is the game not me!" I couldn't say that, though.

"No, but kidnapping her in this situation is a bit... the international trouble it will cause is frightening."

"Stop it!"

While hesitating, Erselica, who was tightly gripping the brown envelope, kicked my butt.

"Ouch! What the hell are you doing, you midget!"

"It's irritating to see you like this. If you want to save her, then go save her! It'll be troublesome if you keep worrying shyly forever and leave this alone until you waste your time."

I'm not being coy!

"There are many things to consider! Like responsibility, for example!"

"You're going to save her anyway, right? If you're just going to break the rules and make a fuss later, then it's better to save her from the start. aah~, you're really irritating!"

Erselica approached Liam.

"I'm sure you think this is the problem right! Let me show you what it's like to be in a relationship with multiple people!"

She grabbed Liam and kissed him.

It was the kiss you'd expect from a slut.

Their tongues intertwined, Liam closed his eyes but she didn't, rather, it looked like she was reversing the order of male and female in the kiss.

Her lips parted and she cried out to me.

"Did you see that!!! In a polygamy relationship you need to teach them the hierarchy order!"

Hierarchy? I think Ellen once said that.

"The hierarchy is the order of arrival or rank. In my case it's the order of arrival. If you want to take Lucy and have those two by your side, you have to domesticate them."

"Why do you talk about them as if they were dogs!"

"Because your girlfriends are freaks. They're very weird, and Lucy unfortunately is weird like them. Any woman who loves you is weird. Therefore, you must teach them that you will love them no matter what the position."

"Frey!"

"Yes!"

Frey pulled his hair back and got ready, Erselica grabbed him and kissed him passionately, she seemed to enjoy this kiss more than with Liam.

"Chlust, your muscles disgust me! I liked that you were strong but now I'm disgusted by the way they shake!"

"But, Erselica, I discovered the way of bodybuilding!"

"We won't bathe together if you don't get back to normal!"

"I'll do it right away!!!"

Erselica again kissed another one of her boyfriends, but it was very obvious that she liked Chlust's exaggerated muscles, she was shamelessly touching them.

Next came Warren.

His kiss was a little shorter.

"You smell like a public toilet, wash up."

Last was Clovis who was eating a mint and grooming himself.

Erselica was demonstrating to me how she blatantly made out with her boyfriends. Four boys were watching their girlfriend kissing another boy.

No doubt, she was slutty, but more so, is the fact that they are all quietly watching that.

The kiss ended and she wiped the saliva off.

"You saw that! That's what you must do to make your relationship in polygamy a success. Give love to everyone and none of them will complain."

This little bitch was telling me to kiss my girlfriends in front of Lucy and kiss Lucy in front of them.

I certainly got two new women, deep down I was happy, but for some reason I felt weird.

If you were to ask me if I love Lucy... I would say I don't know.

Love is a weird feeling.

It's chemical compounds that make you feel a huge affection towards a person.

Last year I had that same problem with Airi and Alisa. We solved it after a lot of chaos.

But now it was different, I had to take a girl I didn't know I liked and make her my lover.

If we're talking about girls I'm interested in, I wouldn't lie in saying that Lucy is a girl I would definitely go for if my sentimental situation was still like it was last year.

The same goes for Sara. She's quite the upper class lady and at the same time she's a very spoiled and stuck up girl like Alisa.

I would certainly like to take both of them. They are in my love interest range. But Sara is engaged and Lucy saw how I flirted with my boyfriends.

Both are bad outcomes.

Ixion looked at me and muttered something, but I didn't catch it.

"... Looks like the effect is over, too bad."

Erselica kept calling me dense, cowardly and an idiot, I got annoyed.

Ada was in a panic to see me discussing with Erselica. And then, Felicia sent a cold glare my way.

The five idiots formed a circle and spoke in whispers.

"What do you think?"

"I think he's the worst."

"How should I put it... he's terrible?"

"I have the same opinion, too."

"Bradford really hasn't noticed?"

Liam and the others were whispering among themselves, so I pointed at them.

"You guys! Say it clearly if you have anything to say!"

Then the five of them looked at each other and Liam stood in front of me as their representative.

"Then let me say it, Bradford─ you didn't notice Lucy's feelings, you really didn't notice?"

I lost my vigor from a moment ago.

"N-no..."

It was the fact that I didn't notice until I was told. I couldn't answer anything.

"I see. Well, that's good. Maybe this problem could be avoided beforehand if you had noticed it, but that's okay."

This kid was really persistent.

He went so far as to say that the problem wouldn't have become so big if only I had noticed.

"By the way, Bradford, do you remember when you first fought with us?"

"Obviously. It felt really refreshing that time."

All three of them showed irritated expressions when I said that honestly.

I was an honest person, so I would answer honestly if I was asked a question.

"I see, do you remember your words at that time? If my memory serves me correctly, it was that, despite being the crown prince, I could do whatever I wanted. That, if I wanted to, I could make the duel that ended in m victory."

I think I said something like that.

"What about that?"

"I'm thinking that those words might very well apply to you right now."

"What are you talking about?"

Liam was looking at me with the disappointed look on his face that I made when I saw them.

"Steal her."

"Take Lucy and take her to the Kingdom, you were saying feelings matter weren't you? Then accept her feelings and take her home. No one will object to that."

"You mean make her my mistress! That's wrong!

"However, it looks the same from the outside. But I think you'll be forgiven if it's Alicelotte. No, she sure will. After all, isn't this a bit similar to what happened with Klein this?"

"Ha?"

"I'm saying that if you say you want to put Lucy by your side, Alicelotte will allow it. Alicelotte is also the daughter of a nobleman. Moreover, she is a queen candidate who received a proper education. She will agree to secure Lucy if she has the national interest in mind. There's nothing to worry about!"

"I can't do that! You guys, are you telling me to cheat on my fiancés!!?"

Frey scoffed at my words.

"You have no persuasion even if you say that since you already have two fiancés."

What do I do? ... I couldn't answer anything.

But... isn't this weird? I mean, in the Kingdom I accepted Ellen and Lecia as my lovers. Why do I feel this awkward?

Liam concluded the conversation.

"Well, your personal feelings aside, the Kingdom won't object if you save Lucy. Besides, my mother gave you a position so you can move freely in Aster, right?"

Well, it was true that when I temporarily returned home I was entrusted with the responsibility of taking action in case something happened here.

"I think I was given that kind of position."

"Well, no problem then. Go save Lucy."

"... Huh?"

Warren, who wasn't joining the conversation until now, gave me a piece of advice.

"Don't worry. The Aristocratic Kingdom has been locked inside their own country these past few years. If the story about the sacred tree is true, those guys can't invade another country. First of all, it seems that all their military is only useful in defense. Attacking other enemies is only due to entering their range, so not without invincibility from the enemy range point."

Aster's weapons that moved using the energy of the sacred tree were formidable in the defensive aspect.

But, their weapons were weaker than the Kingdom's weapons when they left their territory. That was because they used the magic power of the sacred tree to bring out their maximum capability. Ixion confirmed this when he attacked the Herring Household's territory.

"They're going to complain a lot, but they won't really be able to do anything."

I thought a bit and posed a problem.

"There is a possibility that Aster will apply diplomatic pressure, isn't there?"

Clovis answered that question.

"There is. But, you're forgetting one thing."

"What one thing?"

"If your story is true, this is a power struggle within Aster. Banfield Household is just moving to gain authority. In that case, there's a house that's in trouble right now, isn't there?"

"You mean Rosenberg Household?"

"Correct. We can join with the Rosenberg Household to oppose the Banfield Household."

Erselica's shoulders jumped when she heard that.

"W-well~, about that. The reputation of the Rosenberg Household is bad, isn't it? I wonder if it would be okay to join that guy's side without asking permission first~"

Well, they were the last boss of this part of the otome game that they were based on. So to speak, they were the villains of the game.

Chlust argued against Erselica's opinion.

"You don't get it, Erselica. That's only from Aster's perspective, right? From the Kingdom's perspective, it will be more convenient to have Rosenberg Household controlling Aster. If we tell them we're going to take Lucy in her situation, it feels like they'll happily send us away!"

Certainly, from the perspective of the Rosenberg Household who thought of Lucy's existence as a thorn in their side, it wouldn't hurt them at all, even if the Kingdom were to take her away.

On the other hand, if that happened, then Banfield Household would be hindered from gaining prominence.

Frey smiled as he thought of something bad.

"The Kingdom will also be grateful if we can form a connection with Rosenberg Household, which is the Acting Chairman."

Liam put his hand to his waist and looked at me.

"Now then, Bradford, all the problems are solved."

"They're not solved at all. We can't get cooperation from the Rosenberg Household."

"For that, if you just─"

These guys, they were more capable than I thought.

Come to think of it, they were young nobles who had received a proper education.

I had forgotten because they were usually too stupid, but they were honor students with excellent grades.

Guys, don't be serious just at these kinds of times!

Felicia had disappeared from the room unnoticed by me while I was arguing with Liam and the others.

And then she appeared once again.

"Young Master Rudel, there is a guest. He introduced himself as a messenger from Miss Sara of Rosenberg Household."

"From Sara?"

Liam looked at me.

"Bradford, this is a unique opportunity! Get her cooperation no matter what."

"Are you fucking with me?"

"No, I'm serious."

Don't make it sound so easy!

◇

I entered the party place of the six great nobles together with Erselica.

I was wearing a suit while Erselica was wearing a dress.

Normally I would not be invited here, but Sara prepared a letter of invitation for me. She designated this party as the place for us to meet.

It seemed I couldn't easily leave the Exner Household mansion. Besides, I heard there was always someone watching her.

She called us to this party location so that we could meet because the movement of the Exner Household was suspicious. Erselica's eyes were stolen by the extravagant kitchen.

"Aah~, that whole roasted pig looks delicious. I want to try eating it just for myself."

I was exasperated by Erselica who said such a thing.

"I'll feed you later, so wait for now."

We need to meet Sara first.

When we entered the feast place, the Aster nobles who knew about me were surprised. They whispered to each other.

"That man is the knight of the kingdom?"

"I heard his nickname is the Fiendish Knight. A merchant in the Kingdom told me so."

"Oh, how scary."

"What is someone so barbaric doing here?"

"My husband said he was in possession of the sapling. It really is spooky what a country noble could do with it."

I was looking for Sara as my heart was hurting from the gossip of the noble wives.

Erselica tugged on my sleeve and spoke softly to me.

"Brother, it's Jude."

It was Banfield Household who was managing the party venue.

Perhaps the receptionist had reported my arrival. Jude arrived along with the head of the Banfield Household.

A man with large manly breasts was approaching. His name was... Cliff, I think.

"Look who we have here, welcome to this party, Mr. Hero of the Realm."

The man held out his arms to make a show of the surroundings. He had a large build and an intimidating air.

Jude was smiling fearlessly beside him.

"I don't remember inviting you, but have fun here for today. After all, there will be an important announcement for Aster after this in this place."

He offered me his hand, so I shook it. The other side gripped my hand tightly. I also held on tightly.

"I know. Something about a marriage, right? Congratulations."

Jude's expression didn't change.

"Mr. Hero has a very good ear. Well, even if it's just a compliment, I'll take it."

We both let go of each other's hands. Cliff spoke to me.

"By the way, I have a request for you, Mr. Hero. About the sacred tree sapling, it's something very important to Aster. No, it is something sacred. Perhaps you can grant it to us? Of course, we will prepare a suitable reward to show our gratitude."

I smiled at Cliff, who behaved modestly with me.

The surroundings also focused on us when the subject of the little sapling came up. Thanks to that, the surroundings immediately quieted down.

It showed very clearly how important this topic was to this country, whether it was political or religion.

"I really like it, so I refuse. I'll use it as decoration for my ship and maybe I'll pee on it."

(If you want it, you can take it from me by force. Sure, if you can.) I indirectly told him that.

Cliff burst out laughing.

"How hard! But we won't give up so easily. Let's continue the negotiation again in the future."

The surroundings looked at us with hostility.

"A knight of the Barbarian Kingdom dares to..."

"Don't act so cocky after winning alone against the Herring Household.

"He's getting cocky because he's not mature yet. He's an arrogant child, it's very shameless the lack of education in the Kingdom."

They said what they wanted.

Cliff and Jude left me because it seemed the time had come. Jude gave his parting words as he left.

"Then excuse us. Please have fun. Oh, also─ you'd better give up if you plan on taking Lucy back. She's mine."

He was keeping up appearances so no one else could see, but he was directing a dark murderous intent toward me.

His expression made me want to ask him if he was trying to make funny faces. Or if he wanted to be an actor in a murder movie.

Seeing that, Erselica said "This guy" and looked at Jude, but I replied with a refreshing smile.

"There was something similar like this before. Some idiot prince got into a fight with me."

"And so?"

"Do you want to know what that guy is doing right now? Right now he's selling ramen at a food stand. The former crown prince is making money at a broth noodle stand. It's really a touching story, isn't it?"

I wasn't lying.

That was true.

That Liam, he would head to that stand if he had free time and work there.

However, the person himself was really happy, it was like "I've found my calling!"

Well, something like this was just a threat. It had no effect on Jude.

Then I said to him.

"Besides that idiot Derrick, there was a jerk like you who thought he was so much, that idiot right now sleeps with the fishes."

The smile on his face wiped off and then he made a comical face.

"I'm looking forward to it, are you going to destroy Aster like you burned down the Herring Household? You're certainly strong, but don't think you can survive on that alone."

Jude looked away from us. There stood the diplomats from other countries. The Holy Empire's diplomat Weiss and a beautiful elf from the Holy Kingdom were looking at me.

"Do you understand? The world is not as easy and small as your country, there are bigger and scarier fish out there. You are strong, but don't think everything will go as you wish with just that."

"I never thought of anything like that. But remember this. I will crush those who oppose me. You think so too. Just go on worrying forever in the hope that Lucy won't be taken from you."

Jude glared at me before wiping away his expression and putting on his best face.

"I'll wait for you, Mr. Hero of the Realm. No, I think it was Demon of the Realm, wasn't it?"

That nasty nickname was spreading to this place.

Who was calling me that? I'm not a scary person.

Erselica seemed upset about Jude's departure.

"He's really an epitome of the psychological violence bastards. He's acting so that people around him don't notice. But more importantly, brother─ can you really bring Lucy back?"

Not only this party, the security around Lucy couldn't compare to how it was before either.

Even for Ixion it would be hard to make it without killing the enemy.

In the first place, that guy wouldn't care even if there were victims. He was a guy who couldn't resolve things peacefully.

"I'm still thinking about how to do it. Getting Lucy back is easy, but─"

"Rudel-kun, long time no see."

Randolf found me while thinking and came to where I was standing.

"Randolf-san."

His expression looked tired in his eyes.

"Why are you here today? I can't imagine Cliff invited you."

Didn't he know about Sara's letter?

"No, actually─"

Just as he was about to talk about the circumstance, the lighting in the place was blurred and the lamps were turned on on the stage.

Jude appeared there, with Lucy.

Lucy was wearing a dress, but it exposed very little skin. Her necklace was also decorated.

And then Jude took Lucy's hand and raised her right hand.

"It's been over ten years since Vermillion Household was destroyed. The position of priestess has been vacant ever since, but that is only until today. The priestess emblem resides on Lucyelle Liz Vermillion's right hand! She is a survivor of the Vermillion Household believed to be destroyed."

There was applause because the people inside this place knew about this beforehand. Randolf's expression was turning grim inside the dark place.

Was he unable to forget his anger towards Vermillion Household as we thought?

Lucy stood next to Jude and waved her hand with a smile. Erselica explained.

"... Brother, this is really bad. I'm just imagining, but there's a lot of bruising under his clothes. Her expression is also stiff, and her complexion is also bad even though they use makeup to cover it up."

"Do you understand that?"

"It's just my instinct due to a lousy memory."

Erselica told me that she suffered bullying at her school that got to the point where it gets to the point where she stopped going one day.

I was doubting her, but then came a report from Ixion, who was camouflaging himself.

"Erselica's instinct was right on target. The wound on her face is covered with makeup, but there are also traces of bruises on her body."

I showed my anger in my teeth at hearing that.

"Then why was he waving his hand with a smile?" It was Erselica who answered my question.

"She convinces herself that everything will be fine if she just holds on. Besides, her ability to think will gradually reduce with how cornered she is. She will lose even her will to escape. Other people would think that a victim can escape from this kind of situation if they really hate her. But it's impossible."

Was she talking about her experience? This was infuriating.

Jude made a statement.

"Now then, with the return of the priestess, surely everyone is expecting what's coming. As you all know, the guardian also does not exist at this time. But, this too will soon be resolved, I─ Jude Gaia Banfield, I will marry Lucy and assume that position!"

The surroundings clapped and cheered noisily. They must have done the preparation beforehand.

My hand was grabbed in the dark as I was watching that. Sara was there when I turned around.

"I found you. Come here."

Randolf was surprised too.

"Sara, are you the one who called him here?"

"I'll explain later. But right now it's about talking about Lucy."

We left the dark place of the party and entered a room Sara had prepared.

◇◇◇

Inside the dark place.

There was one more person who noticed Rudel and Erselica's appearance. It was Diana who was participating in the party with Lugh.

(Those guys, are they going to do whatever they want again!?)

Diana was losing her calm as she saw them leaving the place with Randolf and Sara. She spoke to Lugh.

"Lugh, I'm going to fix my makeup."

"Huh? But, just now you have─"

"Lugh, don't ask too many questions."

Lugh gasped when she told him that. He averted his gaze.

"W-well. Sorry, yeah, take your time."

He seemed to be thinking she would go to the bathroom.

It offended her as a woman, but right now her priority was learning about Rudel and Erselica's action.

"Those guys, moving like they want to!"

Diana followed Rudel and the others.

◇

We listened to Sara's story. The first to go ballistic was Randolf.

"You've done it, eh, Linus. You've decided to go with the highest bidder despite the fact that I saw you as a son."

His anger seeped out in silence.

Sara looked a little uncomfortable.

"I took advantage when the place went dark just now and somehow escaped. It was almost like being imprisoned in this mansion. There would be watchmen even when I got out, while in the mansion I had almost no freedom. It seems that even my letters are checked."

Why was Sara locked up?

That was because the Exner Household was betraying the Rosenberg Household. Randolf stood up.

"... Sara, you stay here, I'm going to talk to Linus!"

"Father?"

"I will take you to our mansion today. Use my name if the Exner Household people come."

Randolf left the room.

Erselica then let out a sigh after she was released from the tension.

"Aah~, that was scary."

Her pressure was no joke. Sara laughed seeing Erselica like that.

"He' s usually gentle, you know?"

"He doesn't look like that at all."

I was listening to Ixion's report that kept coming in. The surroundings couldn't hear him.

"Master, it seems that Exner Household plans to use Sara to make Tom the head of Rosenberg Household."

I kept hearing nothing but a nasty story. I wished there was a more cheerful story I could come up with. But, there were things that wouldn't come true even if you wished for them.

"There's a person peeping in front of the door. It's Diana, should I eliminate her?"

"Why are you always so radical?"

"I'll let her in."

Both Erselica and Sara looked at me because I suddenly opened my mouth.

I crept up to the door and opened it wide. There, Diana was crouched with her ear pressed to the door just now.

"That's unbecoming, you know, younger sister of the priestess."

When I laughed at her, Diana looked at Sara inside the room. She spoke to me in a small voice.

"What are you planning, huh, don't tell me you're going to be Rosenberg Household's ally!"

"I'm positively considering it."

"Don't dodge the question!"

Hearing the commotion, Sara looked at Diana and crossed her arms.

"... Diana, so you're involved too. Well, that's fine. I wanted to talk to you too. Anyway, there's no need to hide it anymore."

Sara allowed it, so I let Diana come in and closed the door.

Diana was nervous, but she was showing her hostility in front of Sara.

"... With this it will be the end for the Rosenberg Household!"

"That could be so."

Sara did not look shaken at all. Erselica spoke to me in a low voice.

"Hey, what's going to start now?"

"Do you think I know? That depends on these two."

It seemed Diana was already convinced of her victory. She was acting confident towards Sara. However, she was nervous in front of Sara, who showed no agitation.

"A-After this, you won't be able to do what you want. You've been bullying my sister a lot, but you won't be able to do it anymore."

"It seems so. I won't need to do that anymore, even if we go back to the academy."

(She wouldn't need to?) Me and Erselica looked at each other.

Erselica asked Sara hesitantly.

"H-Hey~, didn't you fight with Lucy because you hate her, or something?"

Sara laughed.

She laughed, then spoke with a really nice smile.

"It's true that I hate that woman. I really hate her. It's the same with Diana here too. They live carefree without knowing anything, besides, they even got into the academy. They even kept their name as it is. I wondered if they're thinking we're that stupid."

Diana objected.

"Th-That's just! ... It was because our servants wrote the name like that on the request form."

Well, then it wasn't of their own volition.

"When I met the two of them at the academy, I really hated them, I couldn't stand it. Even I don't know everything. But I do know that my father let the twins who are the heirs of Vermillion Household escape."

He let the twins escape?

I and Erselica were perplexed.

Erselica shook her head from side to side. She insisted she didn't know what Sara was talking about.

This girl is useless.

Erselica couldn't ask Sara, so I asked instead.

"I understand that you hate them both, but why then did you only choose to fight Lucy?"

Sara looked at me with a very sad look.

She clasped her hands.

"My father asked me to. He said it's because the twins are not to blame. Diana has Lugh by her side. But, there was no one at Lucy's side. Derrick was also still there until a moment ago, and Jude's troublemaker was also following her."

Diana was puzzled.

"What has that got to do with you picking a fight with my sister?"

Erselica seemed to have noticed.

"Ah, could it be that you were claiming her? Something like, 'This is my prey, so stand back,' right?"

Sara nodded weakly.

"Even I don't want to get involved with them. I hated the two of them living peacefully without knowing anything. Even though they don't even know our feelings, what's wrong with you two!?"

Sara was gradually getting nervous. She walked over to Diana and cornered her against the wall.

She grabbed her necklace, so Erselica and I pulled them apart. I spoke to Erselica.

"Take her outside! I'll take care of this here!"

"O-Okay. Come on, let's go outside!"

After the two left the room, only I and Sara remained inside. Ixion made a mocking comment.

"Now the master is alone with another woman. Let's be careful that he is not under suspicion of cheating."

"Shut up, AI piece of trash!"