If the Modes frustrate you guys, then I'm sorry. I have removed it in this chapter and the future ones. Thank you McPoopin for the advise.

Next morning. Headmaster's office

"It's what he told me last night. Do you have the whole situation written down?"

"I do, but… it's still absurd. How could we give the Palace a report like this?"

"I know. However, the facts about the messenger's sin and his death are true. We will also need to bring what mister Wisdom has brought here as here… you know what I'm talking about."

"Yes… it's very uneasy, thinking about it."

After hearing Louise's scream, professor Colbert and secretary Longueville rushed towards Old Osmond's office. However, when they entered the room, the only one they saw was the old man with a pack of bloody letters on his table, with the black bag containing someone's head on the floor. Both gasped in surprise as they walked to Old Osmond and asked what happened. The Headmaster then explained the situation, and told both of them to write a report to the Palace while keeping their mouths shut. They both understood how severe the situation was, so they nodded and returned back to Colbert's office and immediately wrote the report through the night. Then they decided that the next afternoon, the Fire mage would bring the report directly to Her Highness.

"By the way, have you seen the familiar this morning?"

"Unfortunately, he left last night. When I went to miss Valliere's room and attempted to ask her about him, a maid called Siesta has arrived to wake her up, while explaining that she's temporarily replacing him. About where he left to… no one knows."

"…Will he come back?"

"He kept his promise to return in the Familiar Exhibition contest."

"Hm… well, I don't mind having one maid short, this time. After all, mister Wisdom saved her from the Noble."

"So we just leave them be?"

"For now, yes. Please go ahead and prepare to go to Tristania. We need to inform Her Highness before any misinformation could be made."

…Idiot Wisdom. Why did you have to do what you said so seriously?

True to his words, he has vanished after he has left Siesta notes about helping me in his place. He didn't even take any with him, not even a horse. All he had, maybe, is the guitar I bought him. So at least now I know he will definitely return.

But… I feel so guilty… Why did I doubt my familiar's actions? Why did I not trust him? He trusts me to be a good Noble, and guess what I did: I unintentionally kicked him out of the Academy.

When he returns, I will apologize him. Screw the Noble's pride against commoners. I made a mistake, and I must fix it.

Afternoon

"What's going on here?" Colbert asks himself in confusion as he sees the people in the town suddenly running towards one direction. From what he could tell, they're heading to the main square of the city. He decides to stop a young woman and asks: "Milady, can you tell me what is happening?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? There is going to be a public execution! Apparently a commoner has killed a Noble right in his mansion! He has already admitted his crime before Her Highness, and got a death sentence in place. But the execution is on hold for a moment…" The woman explains. "Some of us have already seen his face, but they said that they didn't see him around…"

"…Do you know who the Noble being killed is?" Colbert asks in fear, as he's having a terrifying guess in his mind.

"I heard that he's a messenger of the Palace…"

"Show me the way, please!" He urges the woman.

"Follow me." The two start running to the site. The woman then asks: "You want to see how the killer looks like, do you?"

"I know who he is!" Colbert explains. "And he had right reasons to commit the murder!"

And true to his horror, at the execution site, a hanging stand is already erected. The executor is standing at one side, waiting patiently to do his work. And on the stand… the missing familiar is being tied up with his head going through a noose. He's not moving at all, with his eyes closing, his head hanging down like there's no life left in him, the blood on his body making the scene look worse than it should be. Around him, the commoners are all shouting while whispering to each other about how a young person could kill a Noble, much less a messenger of the Palace.

"No!" Colbert screams once and tries to rush to the stand, only to be stopped by a couple of guards. "Stop the execution! He did nothing wrong!"

After managing to push the Fire mage back, one of the guards shouts at him: "He has admitted before Her Highness! There's no doubts about it!"

"But he has reasons to do so!" Colbert argues. "I have the evidences to prove that his actions were just!"

"…Wait a second… Flame Snake, is that you?" The other guard, an old man, manages to catch the professor's appearance. "Why are you… wait, you know the killer?"

"Yes!" The mage nods. "When will the execution happen?"

"About an hour… You said you can prove him innocent, right?" The old guard asks back, just to be sure.

"Not innocent, but I could prove that he had to do so." Colbert clarifies.

"…I will do what I can. Get to the castle quickly." The old guard then walks to the executor to tell him to withhold the event longer.

"Thank you!" The professor shouts his thank before running away and heading to the Palace to provide the evidence.

…

The Throne. Palace

"A report about Count Mott's case?" Princess Henrietta of Tristain asks Cardinal Mazarin. "Didn't the killer already show himself up before us?"

"Yes, he did." The Cardinal replies. "However, the professor from Tristain Academy reported that he could prove the actions of the killer had right reasons."

"…If that's the case, shouldn't the killer defend himself when we asked him about his crime?" Queen Marianne de Tristain asks out loud, letting her question be known to the others.

"Maybe he was just mentally unstable? I mean, Your Highness, did you see his face? He showed no emotions at all." One of the nearby Nobles suggests.

"Hm… we will see. Let the person in."

Cardinal nods and calls out for the reporter to go in. A moment later, Colbert comes in and kneels before the Queen and Princess and speaks up: "Your Highness! We Professors from Tristain Academy have a report about the situation in Count Mott's mansion."

"Speak." The Queen gives out her permission.

"Your Highness. Count Mott has been found obtaining information for the enemies of the nation." Pulling out the letters from his pocket, he gives it to a nearby Noble so he could give it to the Queen and Princess. "Also, the 'killer' has found a hidden dungeon under his mansion, where he found the missing servants in the rumors, however, it was already too late to save them."

Taking the blood-stained letters with slight disgust, the Queen opens them up and looks through them. "…Reconquista… I should have known… How did this 'killer' find that out?"

"I don't believe he knew." Colbert continues. "His first objective was to take back a servant from our Academy who were transferred to work for the Noble… with your permission, Your Highness."

"I don't remember giving him any permission to recruit any servants recently." The Queen denies. "Due to his lack of work, we have limited some of his benefits for being the messenger."

"…Then I'm afraid we have a more serious situation here. The seal of the letter Count Mott gave to our Headmaster was yours… or it was a fake given by the enemies so he could do what he wanted."

"…Cardinal, send someone to the Count's mansion and investigate. We cannot let this unanswered." The Cardinal complies and goes out to send the words. "Professor, if that's the case, then why was the Noble killed?"

"…The 'killer' only spoke it to the Headmaster, so I'm not sure the whole story. It seems that he managed to strike a peaceful deal with the Count. But, the Count changed his mind and ordered the guards to kill the 'killer'. Though, the only death was the Count, as the guards were knocked out… based on the Headmaster's re-telling story."

"…So you are saying…" The Princess now has a visual of the event.

"We didn't say that he is innocent, but we could tell that his kill had a good reason to not be sentenced."

During the whole report, the Nobles and the servants around have already murmured to each other, surprised and fascinated at how the event went out.

After speaking with the Princess, the Queen nods and orders: "Send someone to the center square and stop the execution. Bring the 'killer' here for more examinations."

…

Later on

"Mister Wisdom, why did you recklessly go here?" Professor Colbert asks the familiar, disapproved of what he did.

"I know that you're going to report to the Palace anyway, so I didn't speak up. I didn't expect to get sentenced immediately though." The familiar replies, his expression never changes.

The Fire mage has excused himself to get out of the Throne room to wait for the guards to bring back the 'killer', and when Wisdom showed up, he immediately asked.

"You are lucky that I have arrived early."

"Yeah… I owe you one." The familiar nods gracefully.

The two then re-enter the Throne room and kneel down before the eyes of the Nobles and Her Highness. The Queen speaks up: "I have heard the Professor from Tristain Academy's explanation, about why you killed Count Mott. Why didn't you say anything from the beginning?"

"…I don't trust the Nobles around your seat, Your Highness." Wisdom replies. "If a messenger could be a spy, then who knows how many traitors are still there surrounding you." That earns him a lot of angry shouting from the Nobles, but they all shut up when the Queen glares at them. "And, do you really believe a commoner's word over many other Nobles?"

"…Embarrassing as it would be, yes, I will doubt you." The Queen sighs. "And if you had said more, maybe we could have declared that you are lying."

The Princess then asks the familiar: "Mister… why didn't you wait to come with the professor? It would be easier for that to work out, right?"

"It would be normally the case. However… the one I served was… disappointed at my disobedience. I have announced that I would leave for a while before returning for the Familiar Exhibition. I decided to take the time and headed here immediately."

"You walked all the night to come here?" Colbert asks in surprise.

"How else, professor? I don't know how to fly." Despite that there's no emotions in the voice, Colbert could tell that he's joking to lighten up the mood.

"...I'm afraid I couldn't release you yet." The two return their attentions back to the Queen. "Until this case is solved, we still have to lock you up."

"That's fine, Your Highness." Wisdom replies. "I hope that you can find the evidences soon enough and release me before the day. I would hate breaking my promise."

"…Then we are done here. Sir Colbert, you can give the full report to the Cardinal. Guards, return him to the prison." The Queen concludes.

Everyone complies and does their work. However, before the two part way, Colbert asks Wisdom: "About…"

"Don't tell her. It would be… bad for her heart, and her reputation. Not until this is over. Then I will tell her myself."

"…Good luck." Colbert understands.

After that, everything returns to normal. The Queen leans back into her chair and sighs. "…Betrayers, right under our noses…"

"What should we do about it, Your Highness?" One of the loyal Nobles asks her.

"…We will make a check on all Nobles. No one excluded. Not even the most loyal ones, including you."

"Yes, I understand." The Noble has no reasons to fear that. "I have nothing to hide."

"I hope so."

The Princess looks a little troubled as she says to herself: "The Familiar Exhibition…"

"I suggest you to not go, my daughter." The Queen warns.

"…No. If I don't go, then I won't have a second chance."

"…Then bring your best guards."

"Would you let me go if I don't bring one?"

"…You know the answer."

…

A day later

"Your Highness, I'm not sure why you want to meet him." Agnes Chevalier de Milan asks the Princess in confusion. "While he might be a good guy, I suggest to not be anywhere near him."

"I understand your concern. However, he took a part in the Exhibition, where my best friend is definitely going to join. I want to ask about her before I head to the Academy."

"She's just one of the students. You can't expect a servant working there to remember all of them."

"Have you come across someone with pink hair recently?"

"…My apology. But, I still think it's a bad idea."

"And that's why I bring you with me."

After heading to the entrance of the prison, the guards there lead the Princess and her personal knight to the cell where Mott's killer is staying. During the walk, Henrietta could hear song emitting and echoing through the wall. "Who is playing the music?"

"The one you're looking for, Your Highness." The guard answers. "He asked us to give him back the guitar, and ever since then he started playing music non-stop… well, before midnight reached and we had to shout to him to stop him from annoying the other prisoners."

"I see…" Henrietta acknowledges with a nod.

When the group is in front of the right cell, the Princess sees the prisoner is indeed playing the guitar, not caring that there are people watching him. She decides to speak up: "Hello, mister… can you stop for a moment? I want to talk to you."

His fingers stop, and the music follows. His face slightly raises up so both can see each other's face. "…What pleasure do I have to meet one of the most important figures in this… not so clean place?"

"Hey, watch you…"

"Agnes, let me do the work." The Princess interrupts Agnes, causing her to turn silence. She then continues: "The professor knows you, and he's from Tristain Academy of Magic. You work there, right?"

"…Yes." That's the prisoner's reply.

"How long have you served there?"

"…Over a week, I believe."

"Do you happen to know a student with pink hair there?"

"…I do." His fingers slightly move over the strings.

"May I ask if she's doing well?"

"…I believe that's the question you should ask her yourself. I have no authorities to speak about someone's current state to someone I don't personally know."

"I have warned you, Your Highness." Agnes shrugs, knowing this would happen.

Not fazed by the comment, Henrietta continues: "How are you going to return back to the Academy?"

"Like how I went here. Walking."

"…Maybe I can help you…"

"Princess, you can't be serious!" Now the knight understands why the Princess wants to talk with him. "He's a killer!"

"With a right cause." Henrietta counters. "Also, you have seen how the professor talked to him. I don't believe that he would have a reason to hurt me…"

"You are still too naïve, Your Highness." Wisdom's comment interrupts her words. "A killer is a killer. You always have to be cautious of someone who have killed. Past, present or even in the future." A small silence. "However… that's also your charm. Maybe because of it, people would willingly risk their lives to protect you… that, somewhat, is also something worth fighting for." With that, he starts playing music again, not caring what the others would think of next.

"…" Everyone is speechless after hearing him saying that. Especially the Princess. Not many would dare speaking so freely with her presence around.

"About your offer, Your Highness…" Wisdom continues. "I only take it if The Queen allows it. If not… well, nothing happens, really."

"…Then I will take my leave. Have a good day." With that, the Princess gestures that she's leaving, and the guards immediately lead her back.

"I told you, Your Highness. You won't get much from him." Agnes comments.

"No. I believe I have gotten enough. Now…"

Two days later

He still hasn't returned. And it's one day from the Familiar Exhibition.

Wisdom, please return. Those days are terrible without you.

Sure, Siesta is dedicated in her job serving me. But her dedication can't compare to yours. Also, she doesn't know as much as you do.

…If something happens to you…

"Still no sights of him?" Kirche asks Louise worriedly. "He couldn't have run away that far, right?"

"I don't know." The pink-haired mage sighs in depression. "Her Highness is going to arrive soon…"

"How about you ask her to find him?"

"The Princess shouldn't be bothered by such small things."

"I don't think it's small when it comes to a Noble's killer."

"…" There's nothing Louise can counter. Not when her mind is still trying to ignore the bad possibilities about her familiar's well-being.

Then, the Royal Carriages arrive, causing all conversations to immediately die down. When the carriages stop just before the waiting professors, one of the guards announces: "Her Royal Highness of the Kingdom of Tristain, Princess Henrietta has arrived!"

With that, one of the maids gets out of one of the carriages and walks to the Princess' one and opens the door. Another maid heads out and stands at the side of the carriage, then holds the Princess' hand as she exits the carriage. Now the students applaud as the Princess elegantly waves her hands towards her subjects with a thankful manner.

"What a beauty…" Guiche comments with sparkles on his face, admiring the beauty of Tristain in the Academy.

"Heh, that's the Princess of Tristain? I'm better looking than her, don't you think, Tabitha?"

The petite Wind mage decides not to comment at Kirche's statement.

While the Princess is escorted by the guards as she walks to the professors, Louise watches her childhood friend with a happy smile on her face. But then, remembering that she couldn't show anything to her if her familiar isn't with her… her smile falters.

"You should keep the smile up, my mistress. It suits you better."

"How can I smile when you're still missing Wisdom?" She replies back unconscious… until she realizes who just spoke to her. She immediately turns back to see the missing familiar standing right behind her, with everyone else now noticing and staring in surprise. "WIS…" She is about to shout up before he puts a finger on her lips, stopping her in the process.

"We're still in the middle of the event, so please keep your voice down."

Quietly nodding, she then takes a quick look on her familiar's appearance. The blood on his face has been wiped out completely, and his hair has been taken care of, unlike when he was with her… though that doesn't change too much. His clothes, though, is now a complete set of a butler, without the tie but with the guitar on his back. She then asks, her voice has been turned down a lot: "Wisdom, where did you get that outfit?"

"Her Highness has gracefully given me this in place of my previous outfit. And she has also allowed me to arrive here in one of the carriages."

"How did you… you turned yourself in?" Louise widens her eyes in shock.

"I will tell you when night comes." He then places his right hand on his heart and bows down. "My apology for returning so late. Please forgive my insolent actions."

"…No. You arrived one day early. And I should be the one apologizing."