---

Gilbert left the office after receiving full authority over the Sigurdians from the Count of Lithuania. It was the moment when one of the prerequisites for clearing the Main Scenario fell into his hands.

The condition he set for clearing the scenario began with receiving full authority. By holding complete command, he aimed to take proactive actions rather than passive responses.

Since there was no way to prevent the war itself, the Count of Lithuania would reorganize the army to deal with the Sigurdians. As Gilbert, who wanted to clear the Main Scenario and minimize damage, joining the reorganized army was essential. Without command authority, this would become a significant problem.

To prevent bloodshed and clear the Main Scenario, his independent action was absolutely necessary. But where in the military would individual actions be tolerated?

Moreover, being part of the army meant strict adherence to hierarchy. Even as the eldest son of the Lion Heart Count Family, he couldn’t defy the commander’s orders. If he disobeyed, it would affect military discipline and morale.

In such a situation, if they clashed with the Sigurdians, the Empire would inevitably suffer significant losses.

That’s why Gilbert, despite thinking it was unreasonable, requested full authority over the Sigurdians from the Count of Lithuania. If his independent actions as the commander didn’t affect the entire army, they could be treated as part of the operation.

Of course, if he, as the one with command authority, acted unilaterally, it would cause problems, but compared to the earlier issue, the risk was lower. At least he wouldn’t be disobeying his superior’s orders.

However, Gilbert thought the Count of Lithuania wouldn’t delegate full authority. It was common sense that a greenhorn with no official war experience couldn’t lead an army into war. No matter how capable his aides were, if the commander was incompetent, it would be meaningless.

So, he was skeptical about receiving full authority, but fortunately, the Count of Lithuania delegated it to him.

While receiving it was the goal, Gilbert was puzzled by the Count’s reasoning. Regardless of the Count’s intentions, he had no complaints. The best solution was to receive command authority, and having achieved that, there was no need to overthink.

Shaking off his thoughts, Gilbert headed to the reception room where Camilla was. Leaving her alone could lead to some unforeseen trouble.

By the way, Lily.

He recalled the words of the servant who came just before he received full authority from the Count of Lithuania.

The message was that Lily had visited the Lion Heart Count Family.

When Gilbert first heard it, he thought he misheard. After all, for her, the Lion Heart Count Family was the worst place, a source of childhood trauma.

Didn’t she say she would never return near Bisbark after that incident?

For Lily, this place was a terrifying location that haunted her with trauma.

Yet, suddenly, she visited the Lion Heart Count Family today.

Why would she come to a place she found so horrifying?

Gilbert couldn’t even begin to guess her intentions.

Childhood wounds etched in the heart don’t easily fade. While memories of childhood may blur with growth, what if they leave a strong mark?

Surely, they linger for a lifetime, tormenting endlessly. That’s what trauma is, and it’s why Lily hated Gilbert.

But for some reason, Lily came here. He didn’t know what had changed in her heart. Recalling, she had been consciously avoiding Gilbert lately.

Perhaps his direct apology had been effective.

Thinking that maybe it was the right approach, Gilbert arrived at the entrance of the reception room.

“So, what’s your relationship with the eldest brother?”

“We’re travel companions, just the two of us.”

“So, what kind of relationship is that?”

Gilbert paused at the sound of Dorothy and Camilla’s conversation from inside the reception room. Even from a brief listen, the atmosphere didn’t seem pleasant.

What’s going on now?

After a moment’s hesitation about whether to enter or go to his room, Gilbert sighed and stepped into the reception room.

***

Upon hearing that Gilbert had returned, Dorothy immediately washed up. Superficially, it was to avoid being criticized by her incompetent eldest brother.

Anna, who knew the truth, smiled at Dorothy’s lack of honesty, but Dorothy was serious.

With Anna’s help, Dorothy put on the recently purchased dress and checked her reflection in the mirror several times before nodding in satisfaction.

“Anna, did you say the eldest brother is meeting with Father?”

“Yes, the Count summoned the eldest young master immediately.”

“And you said someone came with him. Who is it?”

Before leaving the room, Dorothy noticed a stray hair and carefully smoothed it with a comb. In her haste to prepare, she hadn’t dried her hair properly.

“I heard it’s Lady Camilla from the Tristitia Count Family.”

“Ah, I see. Lady Camilla from the Tristitia Count… what?”

Dorothy froze mid-brush. Coming back without notice and bringing a woman with him?

A thorn sprouted in Dorothy’s calm heart.

“That damn eldest brother still hasn’t come to his senses! Coming home after half a year and bringing a woman with him?”

“P-please calm down, Miss.”

Anna hurriedly tried to calm Dorothy, whose eyes were blazing. Mentioning Camilla’s presence without thinking seemed to have been a mistake.

The series of events had shaped Dorothy’s perception of Gilbert in a way Anna hadn’t considered.

Dorothy was likely worried that if a woman was involved, things might revert to how they were before.

“This won’t do. Let’s go to where that Lady from the Tristitia Count Family is!”

However, Anna couldn’t shake the thought that Dorothy’s worry was turning into aggression.

But Dorothy, already fired up, was unstoppable. She flung the door open and headed straight for the reception room where Camilla was.

In the reception room, Camilla was elegantly sipping tea. Despite her tomboyish nature, as a noble lady, she had been thoroughly educated in basic etiquette.

Though she usually ignored it out of laziness, this was the Lion Heart Count Family’s mansion, a prestigious family even within the Empire. Camilla knew to maintain at least minimal decorum.

Upon arriving and seeing Camilla sipping tea, Dorothy let out an involuntary groan. Charging into the reception room was one thing, but seeing Camilla left her at a loss for words.

Moreover, seeing her elegant demeanor, Dorothy understood why Gilbert had brought a woman with him.

That damn brother’s standards have only gotten higher!

Dorothy clicked her tongue and approached Camilla.

“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Dorothy Flamma Heart, the third daughter of the Lion Heart Count Family.”

“Ah! You’re Gilbert’s sister! Nice to meet you! I’m Camilla Alaker Tristitia.”

Camilla, who had just been putting on an act, reverted to her usual lively self in an instant. The sudden change in atmosphere left Dorothy slightly stunned.

“Ah, yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you too.”

“Gilbert, that guy. He never mentioned having such a cute sister… I’ll have to give him a piece of my mind when he gets back.”

Camilla clenched her fists, making a vow, which made Dorothy’s head ache slightly. What kind of person was this that Gilbert, who had supposedly changed, brought her along on his return?

Though she couldn’t pinpoint it, this woman named Camilla was getting on her nerves. Regardless of her relationship with Gilbert, she kept irritating Dorothy.

At first glance, she seemed frivolous, but there was an inexplicable air of dignity in her actions. Was this what it meant to be the daughter of the great Tristitia Count Family?

Dorothy looked at the still bouncy Camilla with slightly narrowed eyes.

“By the way, Gilbert’s sister! I have something to ask!”

“Is there something you’re curious about?”

“Yes, yes! Of course! What was Gilbert like at home? I heard rumors he was a hopeless delinquent, but from what I’ve seen, that’s not the case at all!”

Camilla crossed her arms and nodded.

Not just rumors, but Camilla had occasionally heard her father speak of Gilbert. When she first saw Gilbert at the academy, she couldn’t help but be surprised.

The Gilbert she had heard of was an irredeemable waste of a man.

A man who could do nothing but harass women and bully the people of his territory.

It made her wonder if the term “delinquent” was coined specifically for Gilbert.

But meeting Gilbert in person changed that perception.

From the entrance mock battle to the general assessment and the Resistance punitive force. And most recently, the academy attack incident.

Gilbert had made it clear to the world that he had changed.

At first, those who didn’t believe him gradually acknowledged his transformation over time.

He had become a man of outstanding ability and noble purpose.

And that change fascinated Camilla. It was like watching the epic of a hero from a story, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

That’s why she decided to accompany him to Bisbark this time.

She wanted to see up close what he was worried about and how he would overcome it.

“The rumors were true. He was someone you couldn’t associate with, separate from how he is now.”

“That Gilbert? I can’t imagine it since I’ve never seen it… Even now, when I think of Gilbert, all I can think of is him saying, ‘Stop with the nonsense.'”

Camilla, imitating Gilbert in a low voice, looked quite ridiculous.

Of course, Dorothy didn’t laugh.

“By the way, Lady Camilla, what’s your relationship with the eldest brother? I didn’t hear from him that you were coming.”

“Gilbert and me? Hmm…”

Dorothy’s eyes narrowed. Was their relationship so complicated that she couldn’t answer easily?

“Ah! We’re travel companions, just the two of us.”

“Excuse me?”

Dorothy’s friendly smile cracked. This was an unexpected counterpunch.

“So, what’s your relationship with the eldest brother?”

“We’re travel companions, just the two of us.”

“So, what kind of relationship is that?”

Travel companions, just the two of them? What kind of relationship is that?

Dorothy felt her mind going blank.

Was she implying a deep relationship in a roundabout way?

The quick-witted Dorothy busily racked her brain to interpret Camilla’s words.

But the only conclusion she could draw was that it was something akin to a romantic relationship.

“What kind of relationship? Travel companions are travel companions!”

“If you just say you’re travel companions, how am I supposed to…”

“Stop with the nonsense.”

Just as Dorothy’s voice rose, the protagonist of the story made his appearance.

Seeing Gilbert’s expressionless face, just like at the academy, Dorothy finally exploded with the anger she had been holding back.

“That delinquent brother! What on earth have you been doing outside?!”

Dorothy pointed an accusatory finger at Gilbert, who sighed deeply.

And Camilla, watching the two with sparkling eyes and a smile, all gathered in one place.

***

Knock knock!

“Come in.”

With the Count of Lithuania’s permission, the door opened, and a woman with pink hair entered.

The Count, reviewing documents, gave a faint smile to his old friend’s daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It’s been a while, Lily.”

“Have you been well?”

Lily Roseus Nobilitas.

It was the moment she met the Count of Lithuania after over a decade.

 

---