“Today’s training ends here!”

At the resounding shout, bright smiles bloomed on the faces of the weary knights who had been practicing. After putting down their wooden swords, they soon gathered in one place and began a serious discussion.

Training usually started in the morning and ended in the evening, but today it had unusually ended at lunchtime. The doors of the restaurants near the village would be wide open, so they suggested having a group dinner together.

“For the record, I’ll be skipping out.”

Sir Dante announced his absence to the group seriously discussing mere eating plans. Complaints erupted from various places.

“How can you miss it, Captain! Please join us just for today, we beg you!”

“No, I have important business. Eat without me.”

“It’s not important business, you just don’t want to pay the bill―! Ack!”

“What should I do with this mouth, really.”

Tsk tsk, Sir Dante clicked his tongue as he pushed his subordinate’s philtrum with his finger while scolding him. Soon, he took out a pouch from his pocket and tossed it to his colleague.

“Ugh.”

The knight who reflexively groaned at the heavy weight looked at the money pouch resting heavily on his two hands. Checking the contents through the slightly open gap, it was surprisingly money.

With this budget, everyone could eat their fill at a fancy restaurant.

The subordinate’s eyes sparkled as he started to grin as if this was an unexpected windfall.

“There’s no way you’d have this much money, Sir… Ah!”

He’s always asking for a beating. Sir Dante stomped on the foot of his cheeky subordinate. He easily ignored the pained groan that followed.

“Of course I don’t, but it’s rude to point that out. Naturally, our sponsor provided it.”

“The sponsor is the best!”

The knights rushed out of the training ground, saying they should go before it’s too late. The surroundings felt desolately empty.

Discovering a snowflake fluttering onto his hand, Sir Dante grew impatient and ran straight away without finishing the cleanup.

He saw Natasha sitting on the stairs opposite the training area.

Sir Dante took off his outer garment and covered the woman waving at him. He belatedly added the trite words that it might be a bit big or smell.

“That same old tune again, Sir Dante.”

Natasha smiled softly. Hmm, as he said, there did seem to be a slight whiff of sweat.

“By the way, to think it would snow even in Baile. I suppose it’s winter after all.”

Sir Dante muttered in wonder as he watched the snowflakes beginning to pile up beautifully on the ground.

Natasha also brushed the white snow neatly stacked on the stairs with her finger. The damp, cold sensation chilled the surface before disappearing.

“Indeed, it seems winter has come here too now.”

Unlike the north where winter had already begun, the seasons changed slowly in Baile.

As Natasha calculated the date, she suddenly realized that the period for their divorce was not far off. When she was at the duke’s mansion, each day felt like an eternity, but here, a day passed as quickly as half a day.

‘I feel a bit sorry for Meliana and Vanessa.’

Natasha gave a bitter smile as she thought of the two left behind at the duke’s mansion.

She occasionally longed for those lovely friends who had taken such good care of her. Not being able to say a proper goodbye because she was in such a hurry to save herself kept nagging at her memories.

‘I wonder if Jenkins is alright? He must be handling my work instead, I’ve caused him trouble.’

There was a lot of work she had taken on, wanting to fulfill her duties as a duchess.

But the woman herself had disappeared, so Jenkins would be dealing with the remaining work. Thinking of Jenkins tackling all that by himself made Natasha’s spine tingle.

‘I should have completely forgiven Lady Tristana too.’

Although she was a lady who had been rude to her, she had also helped with the Cayena incident, and had always been kind to her afterwards, so she had intended to revoke the lady’s punishment someday.

‘I should have said goodbye to the knights too…’

Ah, this is…

As she recalled each person one by one, regrets that shouldn’t exist kept springing up anew.

Wasn’t it that she wanted to run away from Sieghart even if it meant pushing everyone away? Natasha began to erase the worthless longing from her heart, reproaching herself.

‘Right, I can say goodbye later. When I’ve dealt with everything and gained perfect freedom, it won’t be too late then.’

Recalling her goal, Natasha turned her head back to Sir Dante.

As it happened, Sir Dante was also gazing at her. The two gazes that met explored each other intently.

Sir Dante, who had developed a knack for reading the other’s eyes through long interaction, finally gave her the answer she wanted.

“Are you curious about how the matter you hinted at last time has progressed?”

A week ago, Natasha had told the knights of the royal palace through Sir Dante, “Those who want to see the sunset again, remain.”

Sunset, the red sun.

This referred to the red eyes of the Charliee royal family.

Interpreted, it meant that those who wanted to reclaim the lost kingdom should remain. Or it also implied that only those who could bear treason should ally with her.

“Yes, I wonder if there’s been any change in numbers?”

Sir Dante nodded in response to the question.

Although it was a somewhat desperate answer, it was the expected result. They had no obligation to step forward for something that involved risk.

Most of the kingdom’s people living in the empire had already fully adapted.

Even if they missed the kingdom, they could just leave for the duchy, so there was no need to get involved in a perilous adventure that might bring death and dishonor.

“Well, will you tell me about the changes?”

The important thing was how big the change was.

Currently, there were about twenty knights belonging to the royal palace. Including Sir Dante, it was exactly twenty-three.

It was impossible to predict how many of these would drop out. No, the act of prediction itself might be frightening.

Five people?

No, this number was too hopeful.

Then ten people?

It would mean nearly half leaving, but even this was optimistic. She thought it was an unreasonable wish.

Surely not twenty people?

It was too pessimistic a number, but also the most realistic.

The unit Natasha had in mind totaled forty people. But if less than ten knights from the royal palace wanted to join the unit, how would they make up the rest of the numbers?

It would be too risky to hastily employ many commoner knights, as there was a high risk of secrets leaking out.

Sir Dante gave a kind smile to Natasha, who looked very worried.

“It increased.”

“…Pardon?”

“All twenty-three knights including myself agreed, and more knights who heard the news later volunteered, bringing the total to thirty-three.”

Such a smile from Sir Dante in this solemn situation was unlike him. Natasha was so surprised she couldn’t even get angry. The words he added brought her tremendous bewilderment.

“How, how many did you say?”

“A total of thirty-three.”

Wait a moment.

“That can’t be…”

Not five people dropped out, not ten people dropped out? All twenty-three remained, and not only that, ten more volunteered, bringing the total to thirty-three?

“…possible.”

Sir Dante gave an even deeper smile towards Natasha, who kept denying the situation. Soon, he repeated his statement.

“No, what you heard is correct.”

“…”

“I told you that the number of knights who volunteered to serve the sun of Charliee has increased from before.”

The unrealistic situation left her dumbfounded. The unfamiliar emotion rising slowly like a mirage made Natasha tremble.

A faint sense of elation spurred on her excitement.

Thirty-three.

It was an incredible number, more than she had dared to imagine.

This would be enough without having to bring in commoner knights. Although still a small number, it was not lacking to the point of risking confidentiality leaks.

Rather, they could leverage the advantage that the entire unit consisted of knights from the Charliee Royal Knights.

‘We can go straight to Gallonde.’

Then there was no reason to hesitate further. It would be right to go to the Gallonde Empire as soon as possible to seek cooperation.

‘The duke’s and my plan is to receive cooperation from neighboring countries.’

‘…Cooperation?’

‘I mean to ban war against the Letius Empire.’

Sieghart and Grand Duke Kshant’s plan was to receive cooperation from neighboring countries. Natasha planned to intercept the two’s plan first.

If only she could get support from the Gallonde Empire, it would be quite possible to lead the rebellion without help from the Asthart ducal family.

Natasha and Sir Dante planned to visit the Gallonde imperial family to discuss this matter.

A ship bound for the Gallonde Empire was helping passengers board.

Sir Dante boarded the ship first to entrust their luggage to the cargo hold. As Natasha hurried to follow him, someone stopped her.

“…!”

An arm blocking her chest slowly pulled the woman’s body back. Her helplessly pushed body eventually came to rest against someone’s chest.

As a familiar scent was carried on the wind,

“Don’t go, Tisha.”

A familiar voice subsequently invaded her ears.

“Don’t leave me.”

And finally, a familiar situation overtook her.