— — — — — —
Outside the abbey, in Exhibition Park.
Dressed in knightly attire, looking sharp and imposing, La Folia glanced at the dilapidated abbey in the distance and couldn't hide her surprise.
"Grandfather actually hid my aunt in a place like this?"
She knew the woman was an illegitimate daughter, sure, but sticking her in a crumbling abbey that barely looked fit for human habitation was still a bit much. That was downright heartless.
The Aldegyr Kingdom wasn't exactly strapped for cash, after all.
"That was two years ago." Holding a parasol, wearing a white pleated skirt with a strong Gothic vibe, Natsuki spoke calmly.
"Two years ago, the place caught fire. After that, your aunt was taken in by a teacher from Saikai Academy. Tsk, I remember all teachers fought to shelter this girl, known as the Saint of Middle School at Saikai Academy. Anyway, these days, she should be living in a nearby apartment building that doesn't allow pets."
"Uhh... Then that's fine."
La Folia let out a small sigh of relief. If her aunt were really living in a dump like that, her grandfather would probably be skinned alive by her grandmother.
After all, Grandmother and Kanon's mother had been close friends despite the age gap, practically besties. The old geezer slept with his wife's best friend and then let their daughter live in the slums. If that didn't earn him a gruesome death, nothing would.
"This is the place. If you're looking for her, go find her yourself."
Dragged along to help track someone down, Natsuki said this and turned as if to leave.
"Please wait." La Folia hurriedly stopped her.
"What now?"
Natsuki frowned, clearly annoyed, and shot La Folia a look.
"I'm busy, you know. If it weren't for your mother's sake, do you really think I'd waste time watching some family-reunion melodrama with you?"
"You're joking, of course. I didn't mean it like that, Auntie."
La Folia smoothly lowered herself into the role of the junior, using it to close the distance.
Natsuki's expression softened slightly. She glanced at La Folia and said impatiently, "Then spit it out already."
"I just wanted to ask how one might handle overseas travel paperwork for Kanon Kanase. You know, Grandmother feels she owes my aunt a great deal, so she wants to bring her back home for a while. Spend some time together, make up for lost years."
La Folia asked with a warm smile.
It's hard to snap at someone who's smiling politely at you.
Natsuki didn't bother with pleasantries. She let out a short laugh. "Asking me is pointless. You already know who's holding that kid's leash."
So the Fourth Primogenitor really had his eye on Aldegyr royal blood. La Folia's heart sank. She knew then that this wouldn't be easy.
Normally, if a lost princess couldn't be taken back, so be it. No big deal. The great powers had been trading hostages in all sorts of creative ways for ages.
But Aldegyr was different.
The reason it was called the Valkyrie Kingdom was simple. Every generation reliably produced a spirit medium princess.
Born with saintly traits, their bloodlines carried vast amounts of inherited magical technology data. And vampires, inconveniently enough, could steal that information through blood consumption.
In practical terms, Kanon Kanase's true value lay in the Aldegyr Kingdom's military secrets.
"So… there's really no way?"
La Folia asked Natsuki, hoping that even if she wouldn't help directly, she might at least drop a tiny hint.
As she spoke, La Folia casually slipped an attack rifle she carried into Natsuki's hands.
"This is the latest model. You might enjoy trying it out. Maybe then we could talk a little more."
"I've heard you were curious about how magic rifles are constructed. I might be able to offer a bit of… modest assistance."
Natsuki looked at her with a hint of amusement. "So that's it. You came to me to grease the wheels."
Just by feeling it and scanning it with magic, Natsuki could tell this was Aldegyr's newest attack rifle.
If things went the way La Folia hoped, Kanon might even be traded for an entire magic rifle production line.
That was one of Aldegyr's signature magical technologies.
Maybe not the absolute newest version, but still far from cheap.
It was basically like gifting a full fighter jet production line currently in active service.
With a present like that, Natsuki couldn't pretend she wasn't tempted, especially since rifles were perfect for special operations. Exactly the kind her department handled.
The problem was... Ryo Yagami.
Natsuki sighed, thought for a moment, then handed the rifle back.
"This is beyond me."
"Whether you can handle it or not, this is just a gift," La Folia said lightly, not taking it back. "Surely you wouldn't see it any other way?"
Once something was given, she wasn't stupid enough to take it back.
"You're a sly one."
Natsuki sighed again. After a moment's thought, she kept the rifle. "Fine. I can't do it. That doesn't mean you can't."
"Oh?"
La Folia's eyes lit up instantly.
So there was a way.
Seeing the clever little princess bite the hook, Natsuki's lips curled ever so slightly. Her tone turned faintly amused.
"You know how it is. The one at my place is pretty easygoing when it comes to spirit mediums like you. Maybe if you go ask him yourself, he'll say yes."
"..."
"You're joking, right?"
La Folia clearly didn't buy it.
Just asking nicely would work? There was no way it could be that simple.
"Why not?"
Natsuki's expression turned a little strange as she continued. "Ryo has always been… very accommodating toward beautiful girls. If they ask for something, he never says no."
'Especially in bed,' Natsuki added mentally. But even with the first lines, La Folia was speechless.
The Fourth Primogenitor granting every request from beautiful women?
Seriously?
Was Natsuki-chan messing with her?
"I've said my piece. What you do now is up to you."
As she spoke, Natsuki suddenly sensed Ryo's presence and glanced toward the abbey.
"Heh. What a coincidence. He's actually there right now."
She looked at La Folia with a half-amused smile.
"Why don't you give it a try?"
.
.
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