No matter when and where, it seems that the night is so creepy.

Because, in this dark vortex that seems to be within reach, you can't catch a glimpse of anything, even if it's there.

At this moment, Vane was holding a goblet in his hand, silently pouring wine into the crystal clear glass as if it were blood.

- After so many unexpected things happening one after another, there's no doubt that she needs time like this to relax as much as she can.

However, even so, she still felt a little uneasy. It was as if something was about to happen......

And from past experience, my sixth sense is always jaw-dropping from beginning to end-

"Are you a prophet or something?"

Therefore, he was often teased by his brother. - But if that's the case, at least my sister-in-law won't be in trouble, right?

Prophet...... No, it's not, I'm not that great.

She knows this better than anyone.

If you had predicted the outcome of that encounter, would you have been able to avoid tragedy to a certain extent?

No, it can't be, right?

"Even if it was predicted, what was destined to happen would still happen, right?"

Yes, there are some things that we can't change the outcome even if we change the process......

Because the outcome may have been predestined from the moment it happened.

- "Is this cruel? ”

At this moment, facing her own heart, she answered categorically-

"It's a matter of course, right? Honestly, I hate it. It's just that I have to take that responsibility. ”

"It's okay to run away, right? No one will blame you. ”

- Escape? And even if we do, where can we flee? Nowadays, there is no such thing as a "place to stay".

There is no other way but to resist!

"Don't you even understand that?"

- Apparently, however, Vane knew all this......

However, because of this, she wanted to choose to escape.

But at the same time, she also knows better than anyone that once she chooses to escape, to some extent, she also chooses death.

Only such an ending is something she doesn't want to see anyway. In other words, it is a taboo that must not be touched!

And now, what makes her uneasy is at best one of them......

There is also a brother who is seriously injured, when will he wake up-

"Your Highness's vital signs are in an extremely critical state, and coupled with the old wounds left in the past, I am afraid that there will be more than one luck-"

The simple words of the head of the medical class were like a bolt from the blue for Vane.

I saw that she was silent as if she didn't say a word, it was as if she had lost the ability to "speak".

"I don't want to listen to these speculations, please...... If you can, will you just tell me the result? ”

Brother, will he be able to wake up?

Now I just want to know this......

After a long silence, the words squeezed out were unbelievably shaken, and Vane, who had always been good at controlling his feelings, was trying his best to suppress his rationality as if he would be shattered at any time and place.

"Yes, if Your Highness can survive tonight, maybe he will be saved! That one...... It doesn't matter to you, right? ”

"I'm fine, and I don't care what means you use, even if it takes my life, it doesn't matter, as long as you can save my brother...... No, I command you, no matter what, save him! ”

Of course, even if Vane didn't specifically order this kind of thing, all the medical team would do their best to do their best

— because they probably know better than anyone —

Once Lemuel was lost; What does the loss of Lemuel Lavria's words mean for everyone.

"Obey the order, and the subordinates will definitely go all out!"

However, despite such a categorical reply, the uneasy mood was not soothed as expected—

"Probably the only thing I can do now is wait and believe in them, right?"

At times like these, even if no one says—

"It's all your fault that things are the way they are?"

In such cases, Vane will also rightfully put the blame on himself and blame himself for it.

"I'm so useless! It's really the same as it was back then......"

But even if it did, it wouldn't help. She already knew this.

But now isn't the time to get down, is it?

Facing the mountains of documents in front of him, waiting for her to sign, Vane perked up again in the blink of an eye.

"Anyway, let's do it!"

Although the reality is so cruel that it is breathless, there is also "hope" in this breathless reality.

And, at your fingertips. ——

It's just that my brother used to do these jobs single-handedly, and to be honest, I wasn't good at it.

But now I can only bite the bullet -

Since my brother can do it, he can't do it himself? This kind of thing...... How could it be!

Yes...... It's definitely a weird switch, right?

In the blink of an eye, of course, the only thing left in the huge room seemed to be the occasional sipping of coffee and the flickering lights.

The figure hidden in the shadows is slowly elongated over time.

"Hmm...... Well? ”

Although she occasionally uttered syllables similar to those of unknown meaning, it was clear that she had no intention of stopping.

It's just—

"Looks like I'm going to have to stay up all night today......"

Even such an exclamation is not surprising.

"That...... Are you still awake? I have something to report! ”

At this moment, Matz's voice suddenly sounded outside the door, and it sounded like he was in a hurry.

"Does it have to be this time? Can't you wait until tomorrow morning? To be honest, I'm awake now, but I'm too busy. ”

This is undoubtedly Vane's true words, as she is not very good at lying.

"I'm afraid it won't work, Your Highness the Princess."

For such an answer, Vane naturally showed a bitter and helpless wry smile-

This guy is really not a little inconsiderate......

"Well, anyway, the work to be done has already been piled up, and there is no more such thing, you can come in!"

Matz, who had finally been allowed to do so, breathed a sigh of relief, and then pushed the door in—

"Excuse me, Your Highness Princess."

Matz's words were a little reluctantly confused—

It seems that the two are undoubtedly the same in terms of not waking up.

"What? Do you look like that, too? ”

Seeing this, Vane asked with a snicker.

"After all, it's early in the morning, so you shouldn't have seen this level of rudeness, right?"

As soon as the words fell, both of them were a little helpless.

"So, what's the matter?"

At this moment, although Vane's tone was serious, the atmosphere of the conversation between the two was quite relaxed.

"Just now, FEAE sent a document, saying that it was for His Highness to personally look at it and give a reply."

"But the situation of His Highness at this moment ...... That's why I'd like to give it to you, and it's the same. ”

“FEAE？ Isn't that a direct military council? Why did you come to the door at this time? ”

Reaching out to take the file, she couldn't help but blurt out.

"Anyway, will you take a look first? Although I personally don't really like them. ”

As soon as the words fell, Vane also happened to finish reading the document, but it was also at this moment......

Her expression became rather stiff.

"What's wrong? Her Royal Highness the Princess...... You don't seem to have a good face, huh? ”

"Nonsense, if you see what is written on this, who can calm down!"

"Is this a report? No kidding...... This is a letter of accountability, right?! ”

- In other words, did the members of the Military Council come to the ground on purpose?

“......”

With that, Vane kept the papers on the ground in the blink of an eye......

Apparently the anger is already self-evident.

And this is the first time Madz has seen her so angry.

So, wanting to find out, he picked up the papers scattered on the ground and looked at them carefully.

"For the casualties caused by your light enemy, the members of the committee will discuss and decide together that they will be questioned and held accountable in a week's time."

"So please return to Midgard within a week."

It says so, I'm afraid it is...... An official order, right?

- What? Are those guys still in their heads?!

After reading the results, just as Vane thought, Maz was so angry that he couldn't help but stomp his feet!

Even more so than her.

"Do those guys know how much we've sacrificed in our previous encounters?!"

"Obviously, those guys gave the order on the premise that they knew the truth."

Before she finished speaking, Matz was dumbfounded—

"What? In that case, did they know that Yuki and Gareth had been trapped in the transit station until now? ”

In that case, why not send in support troops?

"Anyway, put aside the idea of those guys for the time being, you should have already sent a rescue team, right?"

Faced with this question, which did not need to be reminded at all, Matz's answer was as expected-

"Yes, I immediately dispatched a rescue team. News is almost coming back. ”

At the same time, such an affirmative answer also relieved the nervous Vain-

"Thank you."

"No, Your Royal Highness Princess, you are serious, this is my business in the final analysis. Because they are important comrades-in-arms to me; Companions, and irreplaceable friends. ”

"These are things that I can't do as a colleague."

After hearing his words, Vane smiled gratefully.

"So, Your Highness Princess, do we want to carry out the order to return? Because as you can see, His Highness's current physical condition is not suitable for long-distance travel. ”

"Of course I know that, so I'll let the medical team accompany me all the way."

After listening, Maz understood what she meant as a matter of course -

Since it is a formal order, it can only be obediently followed......

There is no room for negotiation.

"Do you mean to do it as planned?"

In fact, this question does not need to be answered by Vane at all.

"Of course, if we don't, wouldn't it be more tricky if those guys were to give us a charge akin to treason?"

After listening to her words, Maz couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat-

"Is it really going to be like that? If it does develop like that, then what are our sacrifices so far?! ”

Unconsciously, the more he spoke, the more excited he became, and he slammed the most ** fist on the wall......

"Matz, calm down! What I just said is just hypothetical, but at least for both of us, there is value for both of us. ”

"There is no doubt that in these precarious circumstances, they need us as a shield to do everything we can to ensure their daily lives."

Because, those guys are only suitable to live under the umbrella of others......

"They don't care about the cost or anything, and they can't care about it."

Just to protect yourself, and do everything you can...... Anyone can be regarded as an outcast and give it up without hesitation.

They are undoubtedly all such people.

As soon as Vane finished speaking, Maz slumped into the couch in the blink of an eye.

"You don't need to be so surprised, do you? You have to know that the so-called power holders are like this, right? ”

As he spoke, he handed him a cup of coffee in a hurry.

"Warm up, although the night breeze of this season does not make people cold, it is still a little cold."

Looking at Vane in a brown trench coat, Maz took it gratefully.

"Thank you. Her Royal Highness the Princess...... His Highness Laphria, will he be okay? ”

After listening, she smiled-

"It's going to be fine, brother, he's not such a vulnerable guy—"

Because, he's survived all along, hasn't he?

In that case, this time is no exception, right?

Maybe it's just her own wishful thinking, but even so, she doesn't hesitate to believe in it.

In fact, for herself, she could no longer afford to lose her family again.

So she had to think so......

Although people must learn to forget something in order to live, there is also a relative thing that must not be forgotten; Something that was discarded.

"By the way, I'm going to go to the medical class to have a look, do you want to come along?"

For such a natural invitation, Matz certainly had no reason to refuse.

Even if it was possible to touch the scene, he still agreed without hesitation.

"Please let me come along, after all, I am also very worried about Your Highness."

As the conversation progressed, they unknowingly came to the outside of the ward.

Lemuel was of course unconscious now, and of course it was impossible to greet them with a smile—

"There's a sterile room in front, and you can't get in yet-"

"I know."

As a result, the two could only spy on the situation in the ward through the glass partition......

Yet even so, they felt a considerable degree of contentment.

But the scene of being covered with all kinds of catheters......

and the face like a blank sheet of paper, but the hearts of the two of them have been tugging at them from beginning to end.

While the medical staff noticed Venn, they were all busy saluting.

"I don't want to disturb your work, so don't worry about me."

As soon as the words fell, she entered the reception room with Maz—

"Looks like we'll have to wait here, hopefully there's good news, right?"

Unexpectedly, the moment the words fell, his stomach bulged......

It was only then that she realized that she had hardly sat down to eat for a day.

I'm so hungry, now ......

"Shall I go buy something to eat? I've heard that the food here is pretty good. ”

As for Mazna's quiet thoughtfulness, Wayne accepted it as a matter of course.

"Then please wait a moment, I'll be back shortly."

At this moment, the ripples of the dawn can be faintly seen.

"Brother, no matter what, please be safe......

After muttering what sounded like a prayer, Vane was rightfully defeated by a sleepy feeling that seemed to be a stormy sea......

This is also a helpless thing, after all, I haven't closed my eyes for almost a week-

"Her Royal Highness Princess, Her Royal Highness Princess! If you sleep here, you're going to catch a cold, right? ”

Originally, looking at the tired face, Maz didn't intend to disturb her sweet dreams.

However, he put on his own coat for her.

"Excuse me, am I asleep?"

She looked a little confused. "yes, but thanks to this, I saw a very cute sleeping face."

And in the face of Metna's unhesitating and frank statement, Vane behaved quite calmly-

"Thank you."

Then he casually took the vegetable salad burger he brought back.

"It's already full of light!"

The two of them noticed this, but it also meant that they couldn't stay here any longer.

"It's almost time to go, right? After all, there's a lot of work ahead of us. The first is the minimum maintenance of the airframe. And the placement of the wounded - and then ......"

And just as Vane wanted to continue, he was unexpectedly interrupted by Madz as if he were merciless-

"No, Your Highness the Princess, please go and rest for a while, right? You haven't closed your eyes in two days and two nights......"

"If you continue to push yourself like this, your body won't be able to hold on—"

"Just leave it to me."

And just at the moment when she wanted to refute, Madz took the lead again-

"Now, Her Highness Laphlia has fallen, and if Her Highness the Princess falls again, we really don't know who to rely on. So—"

"So even if it's for you, you want me to rest. Are you trying to say that? ”

"That's right, that's what I meant, I hope Her Royal Highness the princess takes care of her health."

And for his kindness, Vane also accepted it naturally.

After all, to be honest, my body is so heavy now that it seems to be filled with lead...... Even if he insists on it, he doesn't know how far he can go.

Let's lie down for a while-

"Okay then."

So she turned in the direction of the living room.

But soon she noticed—

fluffy pillows; The warm futon is the best!

- "Well, even if it's just lying down, okay? ”

And just as she was thinking this, there was a commotion outside the living room......

"Could it be that something is going on again?"

But now she doesn't have the strength to stand up again. Maybe that's the price of continuous overdraft and fatigue for days?

Although it was a matter of course, she was still a little unwilling.

"Forget it, I might really need a break."

But in the end, she gave up her struggle and resistance, and let the thick drowsiness ravage her.

She didn't know what it would be like to wake up again, but at least for now, she decided to put all her duties and obligations behind for the time being......

First of all, enjoy the process.

And even when he wasn't there, Maz was able to handle all the chores.

There is no doubt about that......

It's been a long time since I've really enjoyed a time like this, but when was the last time?

To be honest, I've barely remembered it for a long time.

Maybe when I was a kid?

At that time, I could still complain to my mother at such a time, but now I don't have that kind of time and opportunity......

So perhaps, this moment is especially precious, right?

But perhaps even she herself did not expect that she would be so greedy for this short-lived time......