After the Suppression
After suppressing them, Dante ordered his insects to retreat.
“Wh-who are you...”
“Quiet.”
“Ugh! Uheheeng...”
After putting the mysterious spinning top of a man to sleep with the red honey bees, Dante approached Princess Esilia.
“...”
Bound with ropes, she looked up at him. Her cheek was flushed red and swollen.
Unconsciously, Dante slowly reached out toward her cheek.
The princess smiled faintly for a moment—then gently closed her eyes.
His hand brushed lightly over her cheek.
“It feels cool and nice.”
“...You're hurt.”
“Yes. Just a little.”
“I was late. Please forgive me, Princess.”
“Not at all~ I was prepared for this kind of 'accident,' you know~?”
Dante fetched a knife and severed the ropes.
Even after they were fully cut, she remained seated in the chair, gazing up at him for a while.
Then, suddenly, she said,
“I heard from some noble lady that there are people in the world who actually feel good when tied up with ropes.”
“Fascinating.”
“Hmm~ I tried it this time~ but I don't really get what's so great about it~ Maybe if I try it once more later, something will click~?”
“...”
“Ahaha. Just kidding~”
She pulled medicine and cosmetics from her handbag, then skillfully tended to her swollen cheek. The injury vanished flawlessly in an instant.
“Good. I'll look around here for a bit, so Dante, go outside and greet the guests.”
“Guests?”
“Yes. Just bring anyone you meet straight here.”
Dante nodded and stepped out.
Compared to the battle outside, taking over the Carmilton Liberation Army Command Post had been far too easy.
There were barely twenty people—a mere handful of lackeys. All the combat operatives had been pulled away elsewhere, leaving almost no one capable of a proper counterattack.
That mystery unraveled shortly after.
The 'guest' the princess had mentioned turned out to be one of her maids.
“Lady Valentine.”
“Yes, Lord Dante.”
The quiet, taciturn knight-in-lady's-clothing(?). Alisa Valentine, the baroness.
She was one of the ladies in Princess Esilia's maid corps who handled combat duties.
She insisted she was absolutely not a 'knight'...
But someone who could freely manifest sword aura with mana wasn't a knight? Well, a battle maid, perhaps?
Anyway, since she claimed to be a perfectly normal(?) lady who simply admired the princess, Dante let it slide.
“Where have you been?”
Lady Valentine bowed with elegant poise before replying.
“I was coordinating with reliable knight orders to intercept the intruders breaching the capital.”
As expected.
The enemies infiltrating the capital weren't limited to this bunch.
They'd moved simultaneously across multiple locations.
“I see.”
“Is Her Highness unharmed?”
“...Of course.”
The princess had positioned her maid corps in advance, repelling the incoming intruders alongside the knight orders.
At the same time, she'd deliberately allowed herself to be captured, racing to the base at top speed.
A brilliant outcome born of exceptional intelligence and decisive action.
“I can see why Her Highness trusts Lord Dante so deeply.”
“You flatter me.”
“Even if it was just one detachment, taking down over thirty foes single-handedly... It's a feat beyond my imagination.”
Lady Valentine spoke with a faint smile.
She seemed thoroughly pleased with the night's results.
“We shared intel with several knight orders and crushed every last intruder. In doing so, we secured both their trust and the credit. Two birds, one stone.”
Dante nodded.
Earning the capital knight orders' trust was crucially important.
Especially for someone like the princess, whose future was so precarious.
“And with Lord Dante rescuing Her Highness... all the merit from this intrusion goes to her retainers.”
Dante smiled in response.
“Wasn't it all part of Her Highness's premeditated plan anyway?”
“Planning and execution are separate beasts. I'm just glad it went off without a hitch.”
“Fair enough.”
Dante exchanged brief small talk with Lady Valentine about the Carmilton Liberation Army as they returned to the princess.
“Not sure it's an effective strategy. Kidnapping noble kids from a laxly guarded ball to drum up Carmilton's resistance? Northerners might buy it, but to imperials, it'll just breed resentment.”
“Her Highness reached the same conclusion.”
Lady Valentine nodded.
“This won't net the Carmilton Liberation Army much gain. Though some other faction might profit.”
“Her Highness seemed concerned about the Hand of Power religious group.”
“Indeed. Interrogation will tell, but she suspects the Hand of Power egged on the Liberation Army for this op.”
“What does the Hand of Power want... chaos in the Empire?”
“I couldn't say. Though many such cults preach the Apocalypse Theory.”
“Apocalypse Theory...”
“When the world's end arrives, salvation will descend from the faith they follow. That's their logic.”
Dante pondered briefly, but no answers emerged.
Too little information.
The Liberation Army's structure, the Hand of Power's schemes in the north—more intel was needed.
“Just in case: please downplay any mention of Her Highness in this affair.”
“...The Prime Minister?”
“Likely. Yes. Her Highness prefers not to flaunt her abilities publicly. She rules over the noble ladies from above... and shows only the face of one who mingles with them.”
As an imperial noble, Dante grasped it instantly.
“Women's business.”
“Yes. The realm of ladies and noblewomen.”
Women handle women's affairs.
It was a longstanding tradition in imperial high society, so the princess wielded her talents freely there.
But she shied from overt external involvement.
...Because of the Prime Minister.
She still suspected him of sickening the Emperor.
Display her prowess too boldly, and assassination might follow—that was her grim hunch.
And Dante agreed it held water.
If the Prime Minister had truly felled the Emperor and seized de facto rule... he wouldn't tolerate the heir presumptive running wild.
As long as she stayed meek like now, he'd likely leave her be.
But she huddled low deliberately.
Except in the ladies' enclave, beyond easy male reach.
“In any event, thank you for your efforts tonight, Lord Dante.”
“And you, Lady Valentine.”
She gave a small smile.
“'Lady Alisa' suffices.”
“Then, Lady Alisa.”
“Much more pleasant.”
Dante rejoined the princess with Lady Alisa.
She'd already gathered every valuable document.
“Ah! Dante~!”
“Find anything?”
“Nope~? All just dumb Liberation Army ops paperwork~ Nothing on the Hand of Power~”
Princess Esilia laughed.
Her jewel-like eyes gleamed with an eerie spark.
“But won't interrogating the prisoners turn up something?”
All the Liberation Army fighters Dante had clashed with were taken alive.
Simple reason: the Noon Fairies' unique venomous magic. Red sleep.
“They performed way better than even Dante predicted~! Made everything too easy~!”
“Thank you, Princess.”
“Ahaha~! What reward should I give my Dante~?”
“Any honor would be mine.”
“Wow. You're so steadfast~ Same as when we met at fifteen~ Not a bit changed~”
She chuckled, then continued.
“Well, we'll sort rewards later. Ready to pull out?”
Her maids stayed behind for cleanup.
“Dante.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“You'll likely meet the Prime Minister soon. Steel yourself.”
Makes sense.
Even with her setup, Dante's solo rescue was merit enough for a summons.
Lady Valentine's maid corps began tidying: hauling prisoners, securing documents.
The princess directed them with practiced ease, then turned to Dante.
“You did great today. Nothing left for you, so head home and rest up.”
It had been a long night.
Dante bowed courteously and withdrew.
The ballroom glittered under brilliant lights.
Dante Aision, half-shrouded in shadows, gazed at the light-wreathed venue.
...Peaceful.
While the princess was targeted for kidnapping and Dante's forces clashed in battle—the ongoing coming-of-age ball brimmed with music, as if nothing had happened.
“Lady, next time, dinner at our estate...”
“Oh my...!”
Men courting women. Women meeting men.
Dante watched for a moment, then turned away.
He considered returning to the ballroom.
But he was drenched in sweat, clothes rumpled.
Not his scene.
His sister's voice rang from afar.
“Oppa! Where've you been?!”
He'd thought of slipping back to the lodgings, but courtesy demanded a note for Sara.
Receiving it, Sara bolted over, demanding answers.
Dante replied wearily.
“Sara. I'm beat. Too much going on.”
“???”
Sara blinked in disbelief.
The guy who'd ditched the whole evening ball, now tired?
Did he have any idea how much she and Charlotte had searched?
“The princess nearly got kidnapped.”
“What?!”
“I was in the woods by chance and brought her back.”
“Hold up—why the forest mid-event?!”
“Ballroom felt stuffy?”
“...Yeah. Figures for you.”
Sara knew Dante's forest obsession.
More precisely... his bug obsession there.
Stuffy ballroom sent him bug-hunting again.
Stumbled on the kidnapping by luck.
“Princess ordered no mentions, so it'll stay quiet awhile.”
“Whoa... shocking though. Kidnapping? Who? Why?”
“Dunno. Ask her later.”
Sara pondered, eyes widening.
“Wait. You saved the princess?”
“Yep.”
“Insane! Royals giving medals or what?!”
“Probably?”
“Whoa...! Waaah...”
About to whoop, Sara hushed herself.
Awkward silence hung.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“So you've fully committed to working with the princess now?”
Dante nodded.
At fifteen, first meeting her—did he foresee this?
He and the princess were deeply bound now.
They trusted utter non-betrayal.
From mere contract to something more.
“...Never thought you'd end up serving the royals.”
Sara held back words, tapping the floor with her toe.
“If it's your call...”
“Worried?”
“Nah... just.”
Dante just smiled.
Her concern was obvious, but calling it out would fluster her.
Better play dumb.
“Ball fun? Met anyone decent?”
“No... why ask? You want me hitched ASAP?!”
“Sooner the better.”
“Wow. Then I'll grab anyone?”
“You'll vet with Dad anyway. Survivor wins.”
“...”
Sara glared.
But at nineteen, adult now.
Years from marriage, leaving Aision house.
She'd wed soon regardless.
Might as well be a good match.
Not Dante's to push, though.
Her choice, parents' above all.
Marriage's nature.
Dante need only hold eldest son post till then.
“...Home?”
“No more fun?”
“You're heading home too.”
Trailing her grumbles, Dante walked.
When did that tearful, laughing 14-year-old debutante grow so?
Coming-of-age ball safely wrapped.
Like any imperial lady, Sara would prowl balls for her match.
Imperial society's way.
I too... must tend my duties.
Dante was twenty.
A normal noble? Roaming balls like Sara for a girlfriend.
But he was the princess's confidant.
Much awaited with her.
Duties in their spheres.
Sara to the ballroom.
Dante with princess, across the vast Empire.
“Head back?”
“Yeah.”
Dante went home with Sara.
Their coming-of-age nights drew to a close.