Barriere House──one of the six great nobles of Alzer Commonwealth.

It was Loic’s house. It was a house with exceptional strength even among the six great nobles.

That was why they weren’t satisfied with the current situation.

The head of the house Bellange Leta Barriere(ベランジュ・レタ・バリエル) had a stout build.

He was muscular with thick arms.

His face and chin were also thick.

In a glance he gave the impression of a hearty person.

Right now he was irritated with Albergue’s weak foreign policy toward the kingdom.

「That Albergue, doesn’t he understand that it will be disadvantageous for Alzer in the future diplomacy if he behave modestly like that?」

A count of Hohlfahrt Kingdom was one-sidedly beating up Faiviel House.

At the surface it was dressed as an internal discord of the commonwealth, but Bellange who knew the truth couldn’t stay calm.

The like of Faiviel House was categorized as weak among the six great nobles──they were the weakest.

It irritated him that there was a knight from the kingdom who acted pretentiously just because he won against an opponent of that level.

But if he was asked whether he was going to take revenge for Faiviel House, then his answer would be “no”.

Bellange himself understood that he wouldn’t get away unscathed if he fought Leon.

That was exactly why he couldn’t forgive Albergue’s attitude.

「The five houses should join hands together to deal with him. And yet that guy decided on his own.」

For Bellange, Albergue was──an enemy instead of a rival.

They were fellow six great nobles, but the strength of their houses were practically equal.

And yet, after Lespinasse House that acted as the chairman was destroyed, Rault House served as the acting chairman.

He couldn’t forgive that Barriere House was placed under Rault House.

「Is there no way to take away the chairman position from Albergue?」

A subordinate came with a report to Bellange who was pondering that.

「Bellange-sama──e-excuse me.」

Bellange glared at his subordinate that was hesitating to make his report.

「Give me the report already. What is Loic doing?」

Recently Loic, his son and the heir of Barriere House was acting strange.

He heard that Loic was getting obsessed with a commoner girl. He also caused some problematic actions that stood out, so he had his subordinate to investigate it.

「──The rumors are mostly true. He is stalking a girl and there are even bad rumors about it spreading in the academy.」

「How can the one who will succeed Barriere House acted so disgracefully!」

He thought that perhaps he should drag Loic back to the mansion and scolded him severely.

「But, the girl he is targeting is weighing my mind.」

「Aah?」

Bellange held a cigar in his mouth. He listened to his subordinate before he lit the cigar.

「The Beltre sisters, they are twin. The little sister is in a romantic relationship with Emile-sama of Pleven House.」

「──Troublesome.」

A young noble from a fellow six great nobles was at the side of the girl his son was inconveniencing.

It would be troublesome to hush this up. Bellange was only considering this matter lightly like that.

「I also investigated those sisters but, those Beltre sisters──it’s highly possible that they are related with Lespinasse House.」

Bellange dropped the cigar from his mouth.

He stood up from his chair.

「Lespinasse House you say? There are survivors from there? No, more importantly you said they are twin sisters──don’t tell me」

At the back of Bellange’s mind, the young images of Lespinasse House’s successor candidates──the priestess candidates Noelle and Lelia came up.

Bellange’s expression changed.

「Did Albergue miss them? No, there is no way that guy would──is there some kind of reason?」

His subordinate was troubled.

「Bellange-sama, what about Loic-sama’s matter?」

Bellange decided to call Loic in order to ask about this in detail.

「Bring Loic here!」

Noelle who left Marie’s mansion returned to her life in her apartment just like before.

Lelia was going out since the morning, so Noelle was alone.

Noelle decided to go out shopping in order to prepare dinner today.

「What should I make today? Leon like both meat and fish but──tsu!?」

Noelle was also helping with the cooking at Marie’s mansion. She got into the habit of thinking of food that would make Leon happy from there.

It strangely made her heart felt constricted.

Noelle smiled stout-heartedly.

「I’m really no good am I~. I need to quickly forget a love that’s already over and change to a new one.」

Noelle looked at the calendar.

Lelia was marking the date today.

「Looks like Lelia has a plan today and won’t return tonight.」

She didn’t know what kind of plan Lelia had, but she was preparing thoroughly this morning.

Emile came to pick her up in his car, so she must be going to a date.

「Lelia is really good at dealing with things since the past. ──While I am slow at that respect since the past.」

They were twins, but Lelia had been better in dealing with things and highly evaluated by their surrounding since the past.

Her parents were also putting their expectation on Lelia.

「Even though I need to be reliable as the big sister」

Noelle went out for shopping because she was feeling down even when staying in her room.

A voice called at her when she was locking the door.

「Yo, Noelle.」

She heard a refreshing voice, so she hurriedly turned around and found Loic standing there.

His right hand was holding a collar.

Noelle was terrified by that.

When Noelle moved to escape to her room, Loic slammed his hand violently on the door.

*Bam!* It made a loud sound.

「Don’t you run.」

Loic’s yellow eyes were staring at her with eerie light in them.

Noelle showed a confident attitude.

「You──it’s pointless even if you do something like this. I won’t go out with you. Besides, there is no way an heir of a great noble house will be allowed to go out with a commoner like me.」

Loic was smiling.

He touched Noelle’s cheek with his left hand.

「It won’t matter with my authority. Even if I get into a political marriage, my number one will be you. Noelle, you’re going to become my wo──」

Noelle couldn’t endure it anymore and slapped Loic’s face.

But, in that moment──the bandage that was hiding the back of Noelle’s hand came off.

She saw Loic’s eyes opening wide.

(Damn it!?)

Noelle who noticed that immediately hid her right hand with her left hand. Then she pushed Loic away before running away from there.

Loic called at Noelle’s back.

「W-wait! Noelle, that thing on your hand!」

Noelle felt her heart pounding so loudly from fear in her chest.

She had to run away quickly. She ran.

But, Loic used his excellent physical ability to chase after Noelle. He grabbed her arm and twisted it.

「Noelle, show me! Your hand──」

「L-let go!」

Loic forcefully pinned down the struggling Noelle and then he let out an eerie smile.

Noelle was panicking because she was found out.

(This is bad. If I show my crest to this guy, I’ll cause trouble for Leon again──)

If it became known that she had the priestess’s crest, the commonwealth would give their all to secure the sacred tree’s sapling to complete the set.

Noelle thought that she would cause trouble for Leon if that happened.

But Loic was strong and she couldn’t get away.

「Noelle, show me that crest! I know that crest. I know it. I remember seeing that crest somewhere.」

Noelle became terrified seeing Loic’s crazy smile.

When Noelle closed her eyes, she heard a voice.

「YOU BASTARDDDDD!!」

When she opened her eyes, she saw Marie came running and drove a jumping kick on Loic. He was sent flying.

Marie sent flying a man like Loic with her small body.

When she landed, she took a fighting pose.

「What the hell are you doing when the sun is high in the sky like this, you bastard! If you touch this girl, I’ll instigate Leon to turn your territory into a sea of fire!」

Marie mentioned Leon’s name, but Loic only grinned slightly.

He wasn’t listening at all to Marie’s threat.

「Noelle, as I thought you and me are tied by destiny.」

Noelle’s left hand pressed on the back of her right hand.

She was found out by Loic.

(What now. He found out that we’re survivors of Lespinasse House)

Loic stood up and glared at Marie.

「Move, woman. This is between Noelle and me.」

Marie’s eyebrows were twitching.

She was really angry.

「Don’t get carried away you pervert stalker bastard. Don’t you see that this girl hate what you’re doing? I’ll turn you protectionless just like Pierre.」

When Loic couldn’t keep his patience and made the back of his hand shined, Noelle stepped forward in order to protect Marie.

「Marie-chan, don’t! Loic is really strong!」

But Marie didn’t back away.

「I know that! But if something happen to you here, I’ll get scolded by big bro!」

For a moment, Noelle wondered who was this big brother that Marie mentioned, but there wasn’t any time to think about that.

When Loic was about to use his magic, several cars came to a stop near them.

Men came down from the cars and held Loic down in great hurry.

Noelle and Marie were watching that happening with dumbfounded look.

Loic was protesting.

「Let go! You guys, how dare you do something like this to me!」

「Young master Loic, Bellange-sama is calling for you. Please come with us quietly!」

Loic stopped still and turned quiet when the name of his father was mentioned.

「Father is?」

「Y-yes! He is asking you to return to the mansion right away.」

They must be retainers of Barriere House.

They kept sending glances toward Noelle.

Loic thought for a bit before he got into a car.

He smiled at Noelle while he entered the car.

「Noelle, wait for a bit. I’ll definitely come to pick you.」

After Loic and his men left from this place, Marie yelled loudly at them.

「Never come again, you stuupiid!」

Noelle hugged herself and fell her on knees.

She was trembling with a pale face.

Marie called out to her seeing her condition.

「Noelle, get a hold of yourself! A-anyway, come to my house. I’ll protect you no matter what.」

Noelle evacuated to Marie’s mansion like that.

At the mansion of Barriere House.

Loic who was brought back sat on the sofa while grinning.

Bellange who was sitting on the sofa at the opposite side was getting angrier in front of Loic.

「I should have told you that today is an important day?」

「Yes, I know. There’ll be an announcement about the engagement between Rault House and Druille House isn’t it?」

Bellange scolded Loic.

「Just what are you thinking in this important day!? You should know what kind of tool that collar that you brought out. It’ll become a big problem if you cause a commotion!」

The collar that was placed on the table was a special item.

The collar had a chain attached on it so that the person who was wearing it couldn’t get away.

There was a bracelet at the end of the chain. It was for the owner to wear.

「Father, this is the engagement ring for me and Noelle.」

「Does this collar look like ring? Are you stupid? A part of the scared tree is fitted into this. Once it is worn, the wearer won’t be able to take it off. Forget about it, instead tell me, do you know about that girl’s background?」

Bellange ignored Loic’s nonsense about engagement ring and whatnot and talked about Noelle.

「Her background?」

「You didn’t know? That girl, she is a survivor of Lespinasse House. You never met her at that time but, you know that there were twin sisters at Lespinasse House don’t you?」

Loic recalled hearing that from somewhere.

「I didn’t think that Rault House would let them escape but, so that’s how is it. That’s why」

Bellange was irritated.

「This stupid son. If you have a romantic relationship with one of them, I’ll be able to peacefully invite them here and revive Lespinasse house. And yet you are scaring her instead──what the hell are you doing!」

If it was like this, Bellange planned to secure Noelle even if he had to be slightly violent.

Loic who was calm right now after seeing Noelle’s crest thought.

(I guess father’s pride cannot accept Albergue-dono staying in the position as the acting chairman.)

Bellange must be planning to make use of Noelle and obtain the seat of acting chairman.

Perhaps he would place Noelle as the priestess and became her backer so he could make use of her influence.

Bellange said.

「This can be helpful to take down Albergue. I’ll immediately bring her here, but don’t you dare lay your hand on her.」

Loic was just slightly curious about Bellange’s choice of words.

(Father isn’t going to bring her up as the priestess? But, it doesn’t matter right now.)

It was just unrelated with what he would say after this.

After all, there was a priestess’s crest on Noelle’s hand.

「Father, I’ll be troubled if you do that. I and Noelle should marry.」

「──Don’t disappoint me further than this. You and that girl will never marry.」

Bellange said that he absolutely wouldn’t allow it, but then Loic told him about the crest.

「This is for our house’s sake. After all the priestess’s crest has manifested on Noelle.」

Bellange got on his feet when he heard that.

「Impossible!」

His face was disbelieving of what he had just heard.

Loic was amused inside his heart.

(Noelle, you won’t be able to run away from me.)

In a party venue.

People related to the six great nobles were gathering there.

Lelia wearing a dress was participating in it with Emile.

「It’s strange that all the six great nobles are all present here even though it’s an engagement announcement. They’re political rival aren’t they?」

Emile smiled wryly at Lelia’s impression.

「Yeah. But, enemy and ally can change in a drop of the hat depending on the era. Besides, we are all families that are recognized by the sacred tree, so we have to get along when we can get along.」

「Hm~m」

Lelia wasn’t really interested.

She was more curious about one of the capture targets.

(I failed. Loic is a jealous person, it came back to bite me in the ass as it caused big sis to be unable to get closer to other capture targets.)

Loic had a serious case of jealousy in that otome game.

Because of that, he would get angry if the main character acted too affably to everybody and caused a bad end.

That was why Noelle was unable to raise a flag with the brocon Hughes.

In the party venue, Louise was dressed up with Hughes standing beside her with a slightly ruffled look.

He had blond hair like his brother Fernand(フェルナン), but his hair was longer.

He was a handsome boy with green eyes and languid air.

He looked a bit like a delinquent, but it gave him a charm of his own.

(He is a brocon, but perhaps I should try more seriously with him rather than with Loic. ──It’s too late now though.)

Hughes would get betrothed with Louise if his flag wasn’t raised at the early stage.

If that happened his capture became impossible. Not just in game, here in reality it was also looking impossible to capture him at this stage.

Emile tried to look for something to talk about and explained various things to Lelia desperately.

「E-err, even so the ties between Rault House and Druille House will grow stronger with this. The relationship between the chairman Albergue-san and the head of Druille House Fernand-san has been good since before, but now they have also formed a strong relationship politically.」

「This is a political marriage right?」

「Y-yeah. That’s right but──it’ll be nice if Hughes-san can also become slightly calmer with this.」

Hughes was a character who liked to womanize.

It was the same in reality. It seemed he was still playing around with woman even after the talk about the marriage with Louise was going on.

(──Rault House is going to lose their standing and Louise won’t be noble anymore anyway. Even so, the villainess is amazing huh. Does she know that I’m a fake?)

The villainess Louise had never try anything with Lelia for some reason.

She was only targeting Noelle.

To Lelia that looked like Louise was instinctually judging Noelle to be the real one.

The two of them were walking toward Emile to give a greeting.

Lelia backed away to diagonally behind Emile.

Hughes spoke.

「Yo Emile. I never thought you’re going to come bringing a lover with you.」

He had a friendly attitude that was unthinkable coming from a noble.

Emile looked troubled.

「Hughes-san, your attire is ruffled.」

「Who cares, there are only relatives coming to this event anyway. There are only old acquaintances around us here.」

There were a lot of people they had been acquainted with since a long time ago in the engagement announcement’s venue.

It seemed that Hughes was relaxed because of that.

Beside Hughes, Louise looked at Lelia.

「──Is your big sister doing well?」

That sounded like sarcasm to Lelia.

「I guess, she is doing well.」

Actually she was depressed after experiencing a heart break, but there was no need to tell the enemy the detail.

Louise was smiling.

「I see. ──Emile, protect your important lover properly okay?」

Emile straightened himself when Louise told him that.

「Yes.」

Lelia sighed after the two headed elsewhere to greet other people.

「She’s really sarcastic. She just want to tell me that I’m not worthy to be here.」

But Emile’s reaction was different from Lelia.

「Is that so? It sounds to me that she was speaking earnestly though. Besides, Louise-san has been a kind person since a long time ago.」

「What do you mean kind? Emile also know how she is picking a quarrel with big sis almost every day aren’t you?」

「Y-yeah. But, I’ve also known Louise-san for a long time, so」

Lelia was irritated by Emile’s attitude.

(Is Emile the type who will prioritize his own family even after marrying and make light of his own wife?)

She became uneasy about her future.

But, Emile was staring with a slightly sad gaze at Louise who was having fun talking with other people.

「Louise-san looked like she was really suffering when her little brother died. She has gotten back on her feet right now but, at that time I couldn’t bear watching her.」

「Little brother? Eh?」

Lelia was bewildered.

(From the way he said it, she had a little brother other than Serge?)

Loic arrived late at the party venue.

Loic headed toward where Louise and Hughes were.

Lelia secretly led Emile to a position where they would be able to listen to their conversation.

「Hughes, congratulations for your engagement.」

Hughes made a nonplussed look at Loic who was smiling.

「It’s just an engagement, so there isn’t any need for congratulations. I’ve also been acquainted with Louise since a long time ago, something like this is just a political marriage.」

They had no love for each other.

But, Louise made a slightly sad face.

Lelia thought.

(Serves you right you villainess.)

She often picked on Noelle.

To Lelia this looked like she was receiving the punishment for that.

Louise saw that Loic and Hughes were having fun talking, so she tried to leave from there.

She said that she was taking a break and left.

Then Loic’s tone turned serious.

「Hughes, I have something important to talk about. I want to discuss it together with Fernand-dono too.」

「──With Nii-san? Oy, you get it don’t you? My house and your Barriere House are political enemy right now.」

「Something like that only depend on the situation right? Besides, it won’t be a bad talk.」

Loic then sent a sharp gaze at Lelia who was eavesdropping.

Lelia hurriedly took off her gaze and went out of the venue.

「Emile, I’m going to take a break.」

「Eh? R-right.」

When Lelia finished fixing her makeup and went out, there was Loic waiting for her.

「Yo Lelia.」

「──Loic.」

She glared at him, but Loic paid it no mind and talked to her with a smile.

「Don’t glare like that. Actually I have a good news for you.」

「Good news you said?」

「You yourself understand that you won’t be able to marry with Emile if you stay like as you are right?」

Emile was a member of the six great nobles.

His status was far too different from Lelia right now.

It would become possible depending on the development from now, but Lelia couldn’t tell Loic that.

「That’s, true, but so what?」

「I told you don’t be angry. I’m saying that I’ll lend you a hand so that you can marry with Emile. If you want we can have this talk together with Emile.」

Lelia became puzzled just what Loic was thinking when he suggested having Emile be present for the talk too.

「Loic, big sis doesn’t like──」

「I know. It was my fault.」

「Eh?」

Unlike his forcefulness until now, Loic was showing remorse.

「It was my bad to scare Noelle like that. That’s why I want you to help me.」

「──Are you serious?」

「Obviously. I myself don’t want to scare Noelle. I want to become lover with her just like you and Emile. No, sorry. I’m thinking to take it even further than that.」

Lelia’s wariness was gradually weakening seeing Loic’s acting slightly playful.

「What are you planning to do?」

Loic’s eyes turned serious.

「Lelia──both you and Noelle are survivors of Lespinasse House right?」

「Tsu!」

She never thought that she would be exposed at this kind of timing.

Loic placed his hand on the shoulder of the flustered Lelia to calm her down.

「Don’t worry. I’ll protect you two. I also want to ask for Emile’s help because there is someone targeting you two.」

Who would be targeting them?

Even Lelia knew the answer.

「Rault House.」

「That’s right. It’ll be difficult to defeat the acting chairman, but my house will become the patron of you two to protect both of you. ──Actually, I saw Noelle’s right hand.」

Lelia started sweating heavily.

(No good. No good, no good! If he learns that the guardian’s crest appeared on Leon, I don’t know what Loic will do.)

The crest appeared on Leon first.

But, it was the priestess who chose the guardian at Alzer.

In other words, it was highly possible that people would misunderstand that the priestess──Noelle had chosen Leon.

If that happened, Lelia didn’t know what Loic would do with his jealousy.

Even if she tried to solve the misunderstanding, it was complicated because Noelle was also in love with Leon. Lelia was troubled.

「Loic, you see──」

「The priestess’s crest appeared on Noelle’s right hand. Noelle is chosen as the priestess. Lelia, I want you to help me. I swear I won’t make any mistake this time.」

「Eh?」

It seemed Loic didn’t know about Leon’s crest.

「We’re going to make Noelle choose me as the guardian. If that happen then Barriere House will protect you two. Will you help me Lelia?」

Lelia was confused.

「S-sorry, I can’t relaly think right now.」

Loic apologized.

「Sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself. But, if there is anything then you can rely on me okay?」

Lelia nodded a little.

And then she watched Loic’s back leaving.

(Loic is finally calming down. Perhaps, if it’s him right now then even big sis will──)

If it was the Loic just now, perhaps she could entrust Noelle to him?

Lelia was thinking that.

Loic who was turning his back on Lelia was smirking eerily.

(Noelle, looks like you will become mine soon.)

Loic had become really calm, but that was because he had gotten an idea of how to obtain Noelle.

His status was a hindrance for him until now.

In addition Noelle was rejecting him with her own will.

But now Loic had obtained the justification that could overturn them.

Loic sensed someone approaching. He erased his expression and put on a smile.

It was Hughes with Fernand in tow who appeared.

「Loic-kun, long time no see. You have grown really big.」

「You’re always saying that every time we meet.」

They shook hand and then Fernand smiled.

「It’s my stock phrase. So pardon me for that. More importantly, I heard that you have something important to talk about?」

「──Let’s talk at a place where there isn’t anyone else. This will be an important talk about Alzer’s future.」

Fernand narrowed his eyes.

Hughes warned Loic after he saw that.

「I’m not going to forgive you if it’s just a pointless talk for Nii-san.」

「Hughes, stop it. Let’s just hear what he has to say.」

Fernand said that he would listen to Loic’s story, so Hughes shut up even though he looked dissatisfied.

「I’m in your debt. Please this way.」

The three of them vanished into an empty room.

In a break room inside the party venue.

Louise was talking with Albergue inside the room.

Albergue was making a troubled face.

「Hughes-kun too is a troublesome child. He is still womanizing even though he has a fiancee now.」

Hearing that, Louise said that she didn’t have any high expectation from the start.

「I won’t look for anything like love from a political marriage. I’ll marry for the sake of Rault House.」

「Louise, even so there is no rule that say you can’t be happy. ──But, I’m slightly concerned.」

「About what?」

Louise looked like an adult woman in her dress.

Albergue looked happy seeing her daughter had grown beautifully.

「Are you perhaps, wishing that you can marry with Count Bartfalt?」

Louise went red until her ears from the teasing remark.

「D-don’t be stupid! What are you insinuating about me and a child that look like my little brother!?」

「Ahahaha, if there is no one to take you then pushing you on him won’t be a problem though. ──Well, actually the problem is more on me rather than you.」

Albergue was ashamed of himself who was trying to make a connection based on personal feeling.

Albergue sighed.

「The marriage will be after your graduation, but go live together with Hughes-kun for the time being.」

「I know.」

Albergue looked down.

「Louise, I’m sorry. I’m using you as tool of political marriage. Even though you might have someone else who you like.」

She might have.

Or perhaps she would find someone like that in the future.

But, it was meaningless.

「I was born as a daughter of a great noble. I have given up something like that since a long time ago. After all there was even a talk for Leon’s engagement when he was five years old.」

Louise suddenly realized what she had just said and covered her mouth with her hand.

But Albergue didn’t blame her.

「Yeah. I too would have nothing to worry if Leon is still alive. But, my son right now is Serge. I’ll do my best until that child become a fine adult.」

Louise’s mood soured when Serge’s name came out.

「I hate that child.」

「He has become your little brother. I wish you can also accept him.」

The break time was taking too long.

Albergue left the room.

「Louise, it might be difficult for you but──you should accept Serge.」

When the door was closed, Louise gritted her teeth.

「My little brother is only Leon, whether now or in the past. ──Leon, why did you die」

She desperately held back her tears from flowing out.

After that Louise wouldn’t come out from the room. She kept recalling the past until a servant got worried and came to call for her.