Yuri asked Enox a few questions.
The interview went relatively smoothly, though it was accompanied by a bit of violence.
"What kind of tea did you drink?"
"Pardon?"
"When you were talking with Ekaterina, what kind of tea did you drink?"
"I'm a knight. I don't remember every little detail about what kind of tea it was."
Thud.
"Do you remember now?"
"C-come to think of it, I think it was called something Grey."
"Hellgray?"
"Yes."
Thud.
"Why are you hitting me?"
"You could've said it right away, but you keep dodging the question and earning yourself a beating. Do you like being hit or something?"
"What nonsense is that!"
"Anyway. Back to the point. Did you just drink Hellgray as it was, or did you have it as milk tea?"
"I think she added milk."
"How did she mix it?"
"What?"
"How did she mix the milk and Hellgray?"
"Why are you asking something so obvious? She just poured the milk and—"
Enox's eyes widened mid-answer.
"C-come to think of it…"
"Was there something unusual about it?"
"Yes!"
Enox pushed himself up from the floor, bouncing his hips to raise his upper body. Since he was tied up, he couldn't express his emotions any more than that.
"At first, I thought it was some sort of eccentricity. She was having the tea as milk tea, but then suddenly…"
"Instead of stirring, she shook it?"
"Yes! She told the attendant not to stir it but to shake it! The attendant, as if used to it, naturally brought out a shaker, shook it up and down, and served a foamy milk tea. That was really…"
"She knows how to truly enjoy it, doesn't she?"
"Huh?"
"People who know how to drink milk tea properly always do it that way."
As he said that, Yuri lowered his head and pressed his forehead.
His suspicion was turning out to be correct.
Ekaterina, too, seemed to have returned to the past just like him.
He recalled her green eyes staring straight at him.
"Haa…"
But judging from the situation, she likely hadn't returned with her full memories intact.
After all, the one who made her drink milk tea by shaking it was none other than himself.
He had once jokingly told her that people who knew how to drink milk tea did it that way.
Ekaterina had believed him completely and went around doing it for a while.
She even convinced herself that it really tasted different.
She had been so earnest about it that he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth for a while.
When he finally confessed much later that it had all been a lie, Ekaterina's face had turned bright red as she furiously pummeled him with her fists.
Of course, it hadn't hurt at all…
"Yuri Briol, why are you suddenly making such a sentimental face?"
"It's nothing."
After that, Ekaterina never shook her milk tea again.
"If her memories are incomplete, it makes sense that she stayed quiet…"
"What are you mumbling to yourself?"
"Enox, are there many knights like you who follow Ekaterina?"
"You're getting arrogant, calling Her Highness by name, Yuri Briol."
Thud.
"Argh!"
"You're calling me by name too, aren't you?"
"Oh, I guess I am?"
Shaking his head, Enox said,
"Of course there are. Many knights are drawn to Her Highness's beauty and her kind heart."
"Doesn't the Crown Prince keep her in check?"
"Well, I wouldn't know about the behind-the-scenes politics."
"Incompetent fool."
"What did you say?"
Yuri reached a conclusion.
Ekaterina had returned to the past, just like him.
But there was a high chance her memories were incomplete.
There were still a few questions he had.
Why would Ekaterina, who belonged to the Empire, want to help him?
Could this be a ruse to feed him false information instead?
"Enox."
"What?"
"Why is Ekaterina trying to help me, even sending you?"
"I wouldn't know. But if I were to speak from my personal impression, it seemed as if Her Highness felt some kind of guilt toward you."
"Guilt, huh…"
Yuri let out a small laugh.
"I see."
Whatever the circumstances, all he had to do was meet Cedric directly to confirm.
"Interview over."
"Are you going to let me go now?"
"No."
"My job here is done. I should head home now…"
"Who said you could?"
Yuri opened the door of the interrogation room.
"Jared, lock him up."
"Yes!"
"Wait! Yuri Briol!"
He began to thrash about wildly. Yuri sighed.
"Enox, you incompetent fool!"
"Why are you suddenly insulting me again?"
"If a captured prisoner like you gets released right away, do you think the Empire will welcome you with open arms, or suspect that you colluded with Briol?"
"Well…"
"If your dream is to be accused of espionage and slurp beef stew through your nostrils in the Imperial Palace dungeons, I'll let you go."
"No, that's not it…"
"Then stay in there."
"What about an approach where I barely escape?"
"Just rest before you go."
"Fine."
Looking at his bound body, Enox said,
"But could you at least untie me…"
"Jared, put him in."
"Yes!"
"Hey, young man. Jared, was it? You—mmph!"
"I'll gag him as well."
"Good."
After imprisoning Enox, Yuri immediately headed for the city walls.
It was already night.
In the distance, lights flickered in the Imperial Army's camp.
Just like the Briol forces, they were likely tending to the wounds from the day's battle, preparing for the war that would come again.
"Jared."
"Yes."
"I shouldn't leave my post, right?"
"Hmm…"
With his arms crossed, Jared looked out in the same direction as Yuri.
Occasionally, the sound of drums could be heard from far away.
"Yes," Jared said.
"Everyone is fighting hard, but it's true the Imperial Army's strength is formidable. His Majesty is facing the Black Knight and the Empire's elite knights, so it falls to you, Prince, to command the soldiers from the walls."
Being too capable was a problem.
Normally, such a role would fall to another seasoned knight, but Yuri was the one doing it.
Not only was he taking it on, he was doing it so well that the entire force had grown dependent on him.
If he left now, it was questionable whether they could respond properly if the Empire attacked again.
"This is my mistake."
He couldn't do everything alone.
He should have delegated roles beforehand, but he had stepped in too much himself.
"Is this because of Enox earlier? Are you thinking of returning to the palace to see the Crown Prince?"
"Yes."
"Then send him a letter."
"I think I need to see him in person."
"Hmm…"
Jared nodded.
"I understand. Sir Laurent said something similar. Things have been strange lately, and it's not just anyone saying it, but Sir Laurent."
"That's what I'm saying."
"Go."
"Hm?"
"My judgment. I think it's better for you to go."
"Hmm…"
"You look unconvinced."
"Earlier you said I should stay."
"That was earlier, this is now. Shall I explain logically?"
"Go ahead."
"If the war is one we'll lose just because a single prince isn't here, then we might as well lose."
Yuri looked at Jared's profile as he gazed at the distant horizon.
"What if we really lose?"
"No, we shouldn't let that happen. And think about it, which is more important, this border or the royal palace? Frankly speaking, the royal palace, the core of the country, is far more important. If, just maybe, the Crown Prince really has, you know, even colluded with the Empire, then Briol is already in a huge crisis. It won't end with just one fortress."
Jared thumped his own chest.
"Go quickly, then come back and fight with peace of mind. You'll swing your sword better if your heart is at ease, won't you? If you only kill five when you could've killed ten, then Your Highness becomes useless. Got it?"
"Jared."
"Yes."
"You really are…"
"Moved?"
"A lucky bastard."
"Huh?"
"You, who weren't even human, met me and learned to function like a person. I can only call it extraordinary good fortune."
"Wasn't that supposed to be a compliment for me?"
"Based on what?"
"Ehh…"
"Enough, explain it well to my father."
"Pardon?"
"Leave out what Enox said. Just tell him I had urgent business at the palace. Say I'll explain later, and that I'll be back as quickly as possible."
"All of a sudden? I've never spoken with His Majesty before."
"You can try it now."
"As your guard, shouldn't I accompany you?"
"Time is short. The more baggage, the slower the tail."
Saying that, Yuri turned his body.
"I'm going."
"Wait, Your Highness? Right now?"
"Yes."
Yuri did not hesitate.
He went straight to the stables, brought out his black horse, and mounted.
"Take care."
Jared stood there blankly, watching Yuri's figure as he began to ride off.
"Wow, he's really going."
***
Yuri rode toward the southeast, where the royal capital lay.
Using the mana method to let the air's resistance flow away, the horse galloped without restraint.
How long had he been riding?
At some point, a fork in the road appeared, along with an old signpost.
One way led to Francaise, the other stretched toward the kingdom's center.
Laurent, too, must have stopped here, then turned his horse toward Francaise.
It wasn't far.
A little further, and Francaise would appear — perhaps he could stop by briefly.
Yuri hesitated for a moment.
Francaise was currently under blockade, so he couldn't enter. But simply asking the soldiers if Laurent had passed through might be fine.
"…"
Yuri soon took the reins in hand.
There was no need to go to Francaise right now. He must not waste time.
The more urgent matter was to go to the palace and clear the suspicion.
Yuri spurred his horse.
The horse began to run again.
As soon as Yuri left, a strong wind blew in, making the old signpost creak. Then, with a cloud of dust, it collapsed.
Only the fork in the road remained.
***
Laurent gazed silently at the mansion.
It was the place he had lived since childhood, yet somehow, it felt unfamiliar.
In his memory, the mansion had always been bathed in sunlight, shining white.
But today was different. Clouds thickly covered the sky, casting a gloomy shadow over the entire mansion. It was as if the entire surface of the building had faded to gray.
Laurent approached the gate in the surrounding wall. No knights were there to greet him.
"Sir, do we really have to go in?"
Stephanie, who stood behind him, spoke. Laurent gave a short nod.
"I'll just check and leave."
"Yes…"
Stephanie wanted to leave Francaise, but Laurent had something to do. He had promised her that once they visited the castle, they would leave Francaise immediately.
Laurent pushed the gate's handle.
The iron-barred gate scraped open with an unpleasant sound.
The moment he stepped inside, Laurent could sense killing intent.
"Stay back."
Laurent warned Stephanie, then drew his sword.
The hiding zombies revealed themselves.
All of them had skin that looked as if it had melted away, grotesque in form.
These were the stronger ones Stephanie had warned about, stronger than any others.
From fighting zombies for some time, Laurent had realized — a human who was strong in life remained strong as a zombie. The formidable ones he encountered from time to time often bore the traces of knights.
The zombies charged forward at high speed.
Laurent raised his sword.
Although they had become hideous, most of their faces were familiar.
They were the knights of Francaise who had once followed him, calling him young master.
As he cut them down, Laurent thought,
Perhaps today, he might die here.
Looking down at the zombies whose limbs had been hacked apart, Laurent lowered his sword tip. Then he spoke to Stephanie, who was hiding behind the gate.
"Stephanie, stay here."
"Yes?"
"I'll be back."
"S-Sir, I should come with—"
"No."
Laurent said firmly, then turned his body.
"If I don't return, run."
"What? How could I possibly…"
Laurent did not answer.
Frightened, Stephanie glanced around, then slipped into a small guard post built beside the entrance Laurent had just cleared.
"You must come back quickly…"
Leaving her voice behind, Laurent soon passed through the garden and stood before the mansion.
He could feel the presence of zombies crouched in the darkness.
Francaise, and the House of Flandre, were destroyed.
Laurent now accepted that fact anew.
As the last surviving member of the House of Flandre, he had to personally bring it to an end.
He stepped inside.
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