On the next morning of the passing day. It's time for school as Kira is seen walking in one of the school's hallways. The young noble carrying his schoolbag over his shoulders while reading a small dictionary book.
"Please move left, Kira." Hachi told Kira through his earpiece as the AI guided Kira to move to the left in order to not bump into some students who were passing by. "please be advised to not walk while reading your book, Kira. It could lead to trouble for you."
"I know, but I have to learn these new verbs for nobles and all." Kira said as he sighs while flipping a page. "To think that there are some verbs that nobles must learn to be able to live as one…" he sighs again. "This is rather troubling…."
"Perhaps using a combination of the first few words to be mixed only with the specified verbs would ease the trouble?" Hachi replied. "please move to the right, Kira."
"That could work…" Kira said while moving to the right and goes pass some girls who were standing around gossiping about something. "by the way, how's the work with the Strike's full repairs?"
"The Strike along with the Buster, Duel, Aegis, and Blitz are functioning at full capacity." Hachi replied. "although their inner weaponry's ammunition are still being refueled, they are still able to function in movements."
"that's good." Kira said before he sighs while looking a bit frustrated.
"is the previous day' encounter still bothering you?" Hachi asks and Kira nodded.
"I know that those two are Balcus-san's son and daughter, but I believe that they are really not." Kira spoke.
flashback
in the morning before Kira came to the Holfort Castle to deliver his report of the adventure to the elf island.
Kira is currently walking in the streets and heading to the castle while passing by nobles who gave him a look and then whispered to another noble nearby.
"is that him?" "yes, it's him." "to think that the rumored count is that young." "he looks rather…ordinary.." the nobles whispers to one another while Kira ignores them.
"Seems that the rumors about your endeavor have spread to the entire kingdom, Kira." Hachi told Kira via his earpiece. "they now know you as the foreign noble. Quite a peculiar title."
"I know and I couldn't really care." Kira said as he passed by some nobles who took a look at him and then whispered to one another while taking glances at him. "after all, I'm still associated to be a foreigner even though I am the Bartfort Family's vassal knight."
"That is true." Hachi replied after beeping a few times.
Kira continues walking before he stops when someone came and stopped right in front of him.
"hey, you!" that person is Rutart, the son of the Bartfort Household's legal wife; Zola. The young noble is accompanied by his sister who is standing near him. Merce just looking at Kira with a sneer while holding her fan near her face. "how dare you look so confident in this place!"
'I could've really not wanted this encounter to happen…' Kira thought as he sighs and faces the two. "What is it that you wish to speak to me about?"
"hmph! Seems that you're as confident as you are overestimating yourself, foreigner." Rutart said as he waves a hand to the side. "almost everyone in the capital is talking about you and your great achievements in battle."
"and would that be a problem?" Kira asks with a raised eyebrow. "after all, I'm only doing my duties as the Bartfort Household's vassal knight. What I've done is merely helping the growth of the household's reputation which also gives you some benefits, would it not."
"you little…" Rutart growls a bit before he scoffs. "but who cares about what you do. I know that you just do some dirt tricks in getting them. I know that because you're a foreigner who knows nothing about true loyalty." He points a finger at Kira. "you only work under the second family and never us. You don't ever sent money to my mother who is the legal wife! What's the meaning of that!"
"your mother may be the legal wife, but the current and standing head of the Bartfort Household is Balcus-san." Kira replied while hardening his gaze a bit because he is slowly getting annoyed of Rutart's pompous behavior. "it is logical for me to deliver finances to him instead of your mother."
"I'm the heir of the Bartfort Household! That makes me the next head of the household!" Rutart exclaimed angrily. "You should be working under me too!"
"that…is something I do not wish to happen." Kira said with a very threatening gaze directed at Rutart. "I only vowed to be Balcus-san's vassal knight and not to you who is considered a nuinsance."
"w-why you!" Rutart was about to punch Kira but was stopped by Merce. "what the!? Merce!? why!?"
"enough, Rutart. Have some self dignity when you're in the public area." Merce said as she motion to the nobles in the area who are watching. "if you make an embarrassment of yourself. You'll just be made a mockery for the rest of your life." She then looks at Kira with a sneer. "and as for you. You should be prepared when you'll fall like the rest who dare defy us nobles. Just you wait."
Kira didn't understand her words as he just stayed silent and watches the two leave the area.
flashback
"I still wonder what she means by that.." Kira spoke in a whisper. "is it possible that they are in cahoots with the Marquis Frampton' faction?"
"it is possible even though there is no supporting evidence for it." Hachi replied.
"I see.." Kira nodded before he stops when he hears someone calling out his name from the back. "huh?"
Kira turns and sees Carla Fou Wayne coming to him while looking a bit breathless.
"you are…" Kira muttered while turning to face Carla who stops near him.
"u-um!" Carla looks a bit nervous at first before she bows her head while reaching out her hands that is holding the handkerchief that Kira had given to her when he had saved her from the bullies. "please have this back! I've washed it after using it!"
"I see.." Kira said as he nods and takes the handkerchief back. "glad that it could be of use to you."
"yes!" Carla raises her head up and then bows again. "truly, thank you so much for helping me that day, Count Bartfort!"
"you're welcome." Kira replies. "so? how is your life faring now? Have you been bullied or abused by others lately?"
"no! in gratitude to your actions, they've been staying away from harming me!" Carla said before bowing again. "thank you so much, Count Bartfort!"
"you're welcome." Kira nods with a small smile. "do take care of yourself."
Carla raises her head up and smiles before bowing again and then leaving Kira be. The young man watches her leave as he looks at his handkerchief that he pocketed away.
"Perhaps she has developed some affections to you after that incident." Hachi told Kira.
"I hope not." Kira said as he shakes his head and watches Carla who disappeared to a corner by the hallway. "I've already have my hands full with Angie and Livia."
"What about us?" Angie's voice is heard as Kira turns to see her and Olivia coming to him. "You said something about having your hands full with us?"
"I'm just implying that we have many studies to attend to together." Kira said with a smile. "by the way, are you two on your way to class right now?"
"we were, but we stopped by when we saw you receiving something from that Carla-san." Olivia replied, a bit tense and looking a bit jealous. "just what did Carla-san gave you, Kira-san?"
"yeah, I'm curious on that part too." Angelica added in, looking very skeptical at Kira.
"She only returned my Handkerchief that I've lent to her." Kira said while taking out the said item from his pocket and showing it to the two girls. "I've lend it to her when she was being harassed by some other girls a few days back. just that."
"Just why would you even bother to help her?" Angelica asks. "sure she was being used by the former Offrey daughter but she's still the person who tried to harm you and Livia during the School festival, right?"
"Angie, whether or not she is a person who had tried to harm us, she is still someone who deserve a second change." Kira said while pocketing his handkerchief. "If people have determination to change, they deserve a second chance. You should know that, right?"
"t-that's…" Angelica looks a bit surprised at first before she looks down with a small frown and nodded. "I know..i just don't like that someone like her…got so close to you.."
Kira sighs with a smile before patting Angelica's head.
"just remember that there are times for people to deserve a second chance in life, alright?" Kira said before he slightly turned to the side. "come on, class is about to begin and we should get there now."
"r-right!" the two girls replied as they followed Kira who had started to walk first.
The three walked in the hallway while chatting a few topics for conversation, from their adventure to the elven island and into its ruins which was destroyed at the end.
"speaking of which…" Olivia spoke out as she looks at Kira. "I still don't get why Princess Lacus is the one person from the royal family who had to join in the adventure?" she tilts her head while placing a hand to her chin. "I mean, I've heard that Princess Lacus would only stay in the castle and handle international relations with other kingdoms, right?"
"that's true." Angelica nods while imagining Lacus in the back of her mind. "for almost 10 years since her 5th birthday, Princess Lacus had greatly improved the relations of Holfort Kingdom with other neighboring kingdoms." She sighs while remembering the past of her younger self meeting Lacus who looks very mature for a girl of the same age. "Even the kingdom's trained ambassadors were stunned to see how such a young lady could establish great relationships with nations who were once hostile to our own…she's basically a queen in the making."
"that's amazing…" Olivia said while Kira smiles a bit proudly to hear his beloved past achievements.
'she did say that she established a great trade relations with another country that was very hostile with Holfort for centuries…' Kira thought with a smile. 'perhaps when we have time to be together, I should hear it from her.'
"Kira-san, what do you think?" Olivia asks Kira who glanced at her direction. "why would Princess Lacus of all people would join in on the adventure to the elven island? I mean, the kingdom did entrust the responsibility to watch over Princess Hertrude to you, right? This means that Princess Lacus wasn't needed, right?"
"Lacus' task is to establish great relations with another kingdom, right?" Kira said with a smile and Olivia nods. "then that just means that Lacus was there with us because she wants to see if there is a way to tie the Holfort Kingdom and Fanoss Dukedom to be allies instead of enemies." He looks to the front. "after all, it is better to have peace than constant bloodshed."
"I see…." Olivia nods in understanding before she looks a bit skeptical at Kira. "by the way, Kira-san…"
"What is it?" Kira asks.
"me and Angie would call her Princess Lacus while you call her without any honorifics…" Olivia said as Kira flinched a bit to hear her tone that sounds a bit interrogating. "I wonder why you could call her that?"
"e-eh…well…" Kira mumbled while scratching his cheek with a rather flustered face. "the thing is…"
"I've been wondering about that too." Angelica said as she got close to Kira and is giving him an interrogating look. "ever since the start of the adventure to the elf island, you've been close to Princess Lacus for some reason. From the start to the end, you've been by her side at all times even though you were only tasked to watch over Princess Hertrude and her bodyguard…"
"well, that's…the thing is…"Kira looks more flustered and also scared because Olivia and Angelica are slowly closing in with very frightening and threatening faces at him. "y-you two….can you not…um…"
"Why were you so close with Princess Lacus, Kira/-san?" Angelica and Olivia spoke in unison at Kira whose face was sweating bullets.
"well…." Kira spoke before he heard the school bell ringing that he took as que to run away. "the bell rang! The class is starting! I'll be going first!"
"ah! he ran away!" Olivia cried out.
"Wait right there, Kira!" Angelica shouted before she and Olivia chased after Kira.
"perhaps it would be wise to create a story to allow the two to understand your relationship with Miss Lacus Clyne, Kira?" Hachi told Kira via his earpiece.
"not now, Hachi!" Kira exclaimed as he just keeps on running.
Some time later, at a reserved tearoom in the school.
Kira is present in the room as he is in the middle of making tea, the young man pours a teaspoon of tealeaves into a teapot before filling it up with hot water. He covers the lid and then begins pouring the tea into two prepared teacups set on a tray that had assorted biscuits.
Afterwards, Kira carried the tray and brought it to a nearby table that had two guests of his sitting by.
"Please enjoy." Kira said as he placed the two teacups on the table for his two guests. One of the guests being his senior friend named Clarice Fia Atlee.
"Thank you, Kira-kun." Clarice smiles while taking the teacup and taking a little sip and sighs in satisfaction. "and as always, your tea has a delightful taste."
"Thank you very much, Clarice-senpai." Kira said with a smile before he prepared some more tea for later. "by the way, I have some freshly baked muffins. Would you like to try some?"
"certainly." Clarice nods while sipping more tea and sighing before she looks a bit annoyed at the other guest who is sitting across from her. "but still I keep wondering.." she faces the other guest who is another senior like her who goes by the name of Deidre Fou Roseblade. "why were you invited, Deidre?"
"oh, don't be so rude, Clarice." Deidre said as she holds her cup of tea which she took a sip from. "Count Bartfort had invited me to have tea in order to repay the kindness that my family had bestowed upon him when we supported his promotion." She chuckles. "just that…"
"yeah, right…" Clarice said while Kira place the plate of muffins to the table.
As usual with the school's regulations, Kira is hosting this tea ceremony for his seniors as it was the norm for him. the young man didn't invite Angelica and Olivia because the two had other classes to attend to and Raymond with Daniel were currently away from school for some reason.
"by the way, I've heard some interesting things from my father." Deirdre said while placing her cup of tea to the table and taking a look at Kira who is brewing more tea. "he said that yesterday, the noble ladies in the castle were very disappointed because they were not able to meet you when you were submitting the report of your adventure to the elf island." She hardens her gaze a bit. "I wonder what had happened."
"that's…" Kira spoke as he remembered how he was nearly invited to a tea ceremony with various noble women who were total strangers to him and the fact that he spent most of his time in the castle is to be with Lacus and having his conversation with the queen. The young man turns with a smile and said. "I just had some assignments to do and therefore couldn't have the time to attend the tea ceremony."
"I guess you would be considering that things in the royal court had been going a bit haywire." Clarice said while nodding before she sips her tea and place the cup down. "I've heard that with the Redgrave Household losing their power and influence with the royal palace, the Marquis Frampton's faction is currently on the rise." She looks at Kira with a worried look. "you should be careful, Kira-kun. The Marquis has been advocating strong and harsh actions to be taken against you, you know?"
"is that so?" Kira asks as he came to refill their tea. "is it because of something I've done?"
"Are you really asking that?" Deidre asks with a questioning look at Kira. "you do realize that you've challenged the Prince and his entourage to a duel before and that you've single handedly taken on a fleet of Sky Pirates and the Fanoss Empire's military forces, right? If I was in that man's shoes, I would've designated you as a possible danger, you know?"
"I do, and I can only say that I was only acting as an adventurer and knight of Holfort Kingdom." Kira said as he refills Deidre's teacup to the brim. "I did not act as a hostile individual at all."
"fool, he doesn't care of reasons!" Deidre said with a huff. "that man wants to hunt you down and furthermore he wants to steal your Lost Items and your airship! They're a group of people who are coming up with a pretext to do so right now!"
"is that so.." Kira thought about it and if such thing happens, he would definitely wish to stop it from happening.
"not only that, but I've heard that the Marquis has been rather acquainted with Princess Hertrude." Deidre added in while leaning against her seat and crossing her legs. "it's the very reason as to why the Principality is quite lenient right now. All of it is because of Marquis Frampton's faction taking control of power."
"yeah." Clarice nods in agreement and looks more worried at Kira. "you should be very careful right now, Kira-kun. There's no telling what the Marquis will do to get what he wants."
"noted.." Kira nods in gratitude before he and his guests hears the sound of hurried footsteps outside. "this is?"
As Kira and the others were trying to think as to what is making the sound, a group of knights and soldiers entered the room without knocking and quickly aimed their spears and swords at the young man's directions.
"Kira Four Bartfort! You are under arrest!" one soldier exclaimed loudly.
"What is the meaning of this?" Clarice spoke out as she looked at one soldier who seems to be the captain.
"we are arresting this traitor man." The captain said.
"Traitor? That man is a count and noble who had saved many lives and is considered a hero." Deidre stated."
"he is no hero nor is he a noble!" the captain smirks and laughs a bit. "He is nothing more than a traitor who has been making dealings with the Fanoss Principality!" he looks at some soldiers and commanded them. "Take him away!"
The soldiers quickly grabbed Kira's arms and folds them behind his back before tying them up with rope.
"Dealings with the Fanoss Principality?" Kira whispers in confusion.
a few minutes later, at the Girl's dormitory.
Within one room there is Hertrude who is smiling while reading a book and having a cup of tea. The princess of Fanoss is having a nice and peaceful time that was soon interrupted by Angelica who came barging into her room with a very furious face.
"ara, Miss Angelica. What a surprise visit." Hertrude spoke calmly with a smirk at the Redgrave daughter. "I was surprised at your abrupt visit, but I'll forgive you just this once."
"quite with the acting!" Angelica exclaimed. "just what are you planning!?"
"my, I don't understand what you are saying at all." Hertrude replied with a chuckle. "please be more specific."
"Are you playing dumb now? Rumors have spread about Kira supposedly working with the principality!" Angelica exclaimed as she pointed a finger at the princess. "and now, a group of knights are in the process of arresting him too!"
"Angelica, it's not good to suspect people without any proof." Hertrude said after shaking her head.
Angelica gave the princess a hard gaze, seeing her calm and collected expression which further infuriated her.
"It seems that you're quite close with Marquis Frampton." Angelica spoke with a hard gaze. "just what is your reason for having Kira arrested!?"
"oh my, you went to me for that kind of reason?" Hertrude asks with a pitying tone. "it's as the rumors say, you're quite hysterical. Too much of that and you'll be no more than a mere fool."
Angelica got closer and glared at Hertrude very angrily.
"What are you thinking? Do you really want to go to war?" Angelica growls. "What can you people do when you've lost to Kira already?"
Hertrude smile merely grew in response.
"You have quite the high evaluation of Mr. Hero, don't you?" Hertrude giggles. "I've taken a look at the Count too, just for a short while though." She close her eyes while crossing her arms. "From appearances, he's an ordinary yet quite attractive person. Perhaps he has some potential, but as a knight, he's below-average."
Angelica merely looked more angry and frustrated that Hertrude merely laughed in response.
"I'm right, aren't I?" Hertrude spoke before shrugging her shoulders. "Kind-hearted knights are just a fantasy. A knight who can't kill in war is useless. Very different from Vandel himself." She chuckles while opening her eyes and waving a hand to the side. "Sure, He's a knight who stumbled upon two powerful lost items, but they've been wasted of their potential by him."
"You have no idea just how dangerous Kira can be when he is serious." Angelica spoke, remembering the brutality that Kira showed in his duel against Jilk or against the Offrey Household's demi-human servants.
"is that so?" Hertrude spoke before scoffing. "as if such a person like him could pose as a true danger to anyone."
"do you really hate us that much that you want to get rid of Kira who has done nothing wrong!?" Angelica exclaimed.
Hearing her words, Hertrude's smile disappear and she had a very annoyed look on her face.
"What do you know?" Hertrude spoke with a voice filled with hatred and anger. "Do you know the grief of the citizen's whose children, parents, and families were killed? Don't think that we'll forgive you for having attacked us so one-sidedly!?"
"How naïve! It seems you're the one who knows nothing." Angelica exclaimed. "The royal palace was right to have you study abroad. What you need is!"
Angelica was soon interrupted by some racket outside as she and Hertrude turns to see Canard standing by the door and blocking a group of female knights who are trying to enter.
"hey! Move away!" one knight exclaimed. "we are tasked with protecting the princess!"
"funny, you say that." Canard said as he crosses his arms and sneered a bit. "but that job is mine and no one else." He turns and glances at Angelica. "if you two don't got anything else to talk, I suggest the blonde to leave before things get ugly."
"whose side are you on, Canard?" Hertrude spoke, annoyed by her bodyguard's tone.
"Knights of the Kingdom…" Angelica sees the knights and instantly realized something. 'so these people are with the Marquis' faction and that perhaps mean that from the very beginning since her transfer here..' she then faces Hertrude one last time. "Are you people getting serious?"
"obviously." Hertrude spoke as she stares down at Angelica while smirking. "now watch as Holfort Kingdom be stained in blood before it sinks and be destroyed, Angelica."
"why you…." Angelica wanted to slap Hertrude but knowing that her bodyguard plus the female knights waiting outside, it would just lead to trouble no matter what.
"get going." Canard said as Angelica clicks her tongue before she abided and leaves the room.
At the front yard of the school, many students had gathered as they were talking about Kira being captured and arrested as a traitor of the kingdom.
"Bartfort is a traitor!?" "no way! And I thought that I admired him to be a hero!" "I heard that the evidence of him being a traitor was found in his room." "what were the evidence?" "letters of his dealing with the Principality!" "damn! So he's actually a foreigner who came from the Principality!" "I knew that there was something strange about him!" the people chattered around as a few started to give out boos and negative criticism at Kira who is currently being escorted out of the school.
"it would seem that during your time away to the castle for your report submission, someone implanted fake evidence of you being in cooperation with the Principality." Hachi told Kira via his earpiece. "it seems that it is our mistake for not installing proper security in your room, Kira."
"yeah, I know." Kira nods before he sees Olivia along with Daniel, Raymond, Clarice, Deidre, Jessica, Milly, Carla, and his fan girls who are being held back by Dan and his airbike companions nearby.
"Kira-sama!" "please don't go~!" "Kira-san! we know that you are innocent!" "there is no way that you are a traitor!" the fan girls scream out as they wanted to go and save the young man, but Dan and the others stopped them on the order of Clarice who knew that if anyone interfered with the kingdom's knights would get arrested and Kira wouldn't want that to happen.
"seems that for a hero, you managed to seduce poor girls into believing that you're a good man." The soldier holding Kira's rope smirks and scoffs at him. "but with this, they'll learn that you're nothing but a traitor who should be executed." He turns and grins at the young man. "but I'll let the nobles handle that and I can't wait to see how you'll get away with this, kid."
"I won't get away with this because I have done nothing wrong." Kira said before he gets punched to the cheek by the knight who seems annoyed.
The action made Olivia and some of the fan girls gasp and scream.
"you can talk big, traitor!" the knight exclaimed as he watches Kira slowly regains his bearings after receiving the punch. "if you talk like that again, I'll punch your teeth-!?" he stopped talking when Kira turns and shows his eyes that have turned hollow and seemed very terrifying. "ugh!?"
Kira's eyes stared deeply into the knight who started to have goosebumps and cold sweat all around his body.
'w-what is with this kid!?' the man thought as he never felt so afraid before. Not wanting to see his eyes anymore, the knight looked away and commanded his comrades. "start pulling him out!"
"a-alright…" the knight's companions nodded and begin to pull Kira's rope.
Kira is now slowly being escorted out of the school, the young man looks a bit emotionless at first before he turns and smiles a bit to Olivia and his friends who are looking a bit worried for him while the fan girls were screaming angrily at the person who just hit the young man.
"Just how did this happen?" Olivia asks worried.
"found to be a traitor because of letters filled with his dealings with the Principality…" Clarice spoke and Deidre who is near her nodded.
"This reeks the stench of a lie in action." Deidre spoke while taking out her fan, spreading it out, and holding it near her face.
"what's going to happen to Kira-san?" Olivia asks Raymond and Daniel who are near her.
"worst case scenario, instant execution." Raymond said while adjusting his glasses. "but that's only if the claims of him being a traitor is true or not!"
"yeah, I mean the letters could've been slipped with the other letters from Kira's fans!" Daniel added in. "like someone wants to get him into trouble!"
"but who would want him to get into trouble this time?" Jessica asks. "I mean, he hasn't done anything wrong for the last few days, right?"
"yeah" Milly nodded. "he's been helping people, not hurting anyone."
"Kira-kun~! Kira-kun~!" Jenna cries out loudly as the others turn to see her being held back by Nicks who is struggling. "let me go! Kira-kun got punched and is getting taken away!"
"yeah! And you too if you try anything stupid!" Nicks exclaimed before getting a slap to the face by his sister. "ow!"
"for now, let's try to stay calm and wait for further news." Raymond said as he looks to the side and sees Kira being placed into the back of a carriage. "we don't know what's really happening, but if we let the nobles decide…"
"that might be a mistake considering that Marquis Frampton's faction is growing strong in the royal court." Clarice spoke while having a worried face. "this is really bad…"
Some time later, at the Holfort Kingdom's castle and within the treasury room.
Numerous treasures and lost items have been decorated around the room as among them are tools of unknown purposes.
Hertrude along with the Marquis Frampton is found walking within the treasury as they stopped near one item which is a large Armor's Arm piece that is black and looks very demonic. Both just looking at the piece while Canard and Luxion remains nearby, the Bodyguard watching the Marquis' every movement while the AI seems to be trying to control itself from going berserk after spotting the broken armor piece.
'I found it. I heard that it was in the kingdom's treasury, but I didn't think that they'd leave it out in the open like this.' Hertrude looks at the item with a small smirk directed at the Marquis who she glanced at the end. 'Even that marquis doesn't know its true worth.'
"Marquis, why don't you relinquish this item?" Hertrude asks the old man who strokes his beard in response.
"An arm for ancient armor, is it?" he asks. "This is a very valuable object, so even with my authority, I cannot do much."
'Leaving a dangerous object like this out in the open, the kingdom is beyond saving.' Hertrude thought. 'In order to prevent the off-chance of them using it, it should come to us.'
Unaware of Hertrude's thoughts, Marquis Frampton displayed a haughty attitude.
"Is there something you want to ask?" Hertrude asks when she sees the noble's expression.
"Hohoho, you seem quite interested in it." Frampton replied with a chuckle. "May I ask what it's used for?"
"nothing more than it seems valuable as a work of art to my kingdom." Hertrude replied before she looks around and spotted a few items in the treasury that sparks her interest. "and also…" she turns and faces Frampton. "Not only my magic flute, but I also require Vandel's sword to be returned." She waves a hand to the side. "but I do not see it around here. was it not submitted to the kingdom after that battle?"
"well, the magic flute is one thing but the sword was never presented to the kingdom." Frampton spoke. "I've heard that after the battle, that foreigner decided to keep it as a trophy of somewhat."
"if that guy kept it, it would be on the Archangel; his Airship." Canard stated out loud. "it's also where he got his Lost Items stashed."
"I see…" Hertrude nods in understanding before she looks at Frampton. "I would like for it to be returned. it was originally made in my kingdom and I demand it to be returned to its rightful owner."
"I see.." Frampton strokes his beard. "if you wish for it to be returned, how about making it as a sign of friendship between the two kingdoms?"
"explain." Hertrude replied.
"As a mediator for this friendship, I will find a way to return your magic flute and your sword." Frampton spoke. "but at the same time, i was thinking about asking his Highness Julius to head to the principality."
"Isn't he that saint's lover?" Hertrude asks.
"It's embarrassing to talk about." Frampton replied while shrugging his shoulders. "I wish that his Highness Julius was as self-aware as you are." He sighs before he looks rather serious at Hertrude. "Now then, onto the main topic, we are ready to transfer a portion of the territory to the principality. However, for that purpose, it is necessary to clean the kingdom."
Upon hearing Marquis Frampton's proposal, Hertrude showed more interest.
"I'd like to hear more about this." She replied.
"The principality can be traced back to a branch of Holfort's royal family. I was thinking of using this as a chance for a genuine friendship." Frampton explained before smiling. "We can cooperate, don't you think so?"
Hertrude took a cold attitude in response to Marquis Frampton's call for cooperation.
"That's out of the question. You're saying that we're going to lay down our arms just because we're being given a small portion of land?" Hertrude replied with a scoff. "Besides, that talk about transferring land is probably a lie."
Marquis Frampton shook his head and explained with a smile.
"Your Highness Hertrude, you seem to not know the circumstances of the kingdom." He said with a smile that looks eerie. "The process of transferring is no problem."
"What are these circumstances?" Hertrude asks as they begin to talk about the Holfort Kingdom's internal affairs.
"There's an area where a fight will occur with the principality, but the kingdom has no direct control over." Frampton spoke as he is referring to the areas where there are islands ruled by feudal lords which means that they are only pieces of the kingdom that are not attached to the royal family's land.
"I see. I almost forgot about Margrave Field's floating island." Hertrude spoke before glancing at Frampton. "Though, that's not your people's territory, so there's no way you would be able to transfer it."
"Without the support of our kingdom, those rural feudal lords can't put up much resistance." Frampton spoke with a chuckle. "The principality has no need to deal with such worthless feudal lords, right?"
"That's one way to put it. I won't say no to the offer." Hertrude spoke before sighing and crossing her arms. "Though, is there some kind of benefit to this for you people?"
"Your Highness, rural feudal lords are a nuisance for the kingdom." Frampton replied expressing nothing but contempt in his words towards his lessers.
"Nuisance, you say." Hertrude whispers. 'Come to think of it, Marquis Frampton and the Field household are in opposing factions. But oh well..' she then faces Frampton. "Alright. Let's go with that. If his Highness Julius becomes my husband, then let's make this a pre-celebratory gift for him."
"A splendid deal." The Marquis nodded with a smile. "Now then, tell me when the principality is ready. I believe that the best scenario is for us to clean up the royal palace and then make peace once the principality achieves victory."
"Sure. I promise in my name." Hertrude said with a skeptical look at Frampton. 'His face is telling me that he thinks he got a good deal out of a supposed piece of junk. As if I'm just a young girl in the palm of his hand.' She inwardly chuckles while smiling as she looks at the broken Armor piece. 'I'll quickly send this to the principality.' She looks at Canard. "can you get the adamantis sword and have it be delivered to the Principality, Canard?"
"I am your bodyguard and not your delivery man." Canard said annoyed before crossing his arms. "but I have been planning to go back to check on my Gundam with its upgrade." He then shrugs his shoulders. "fine then, I'll just get Luxion here to safeguard you while I'm gone."
"very well." Hertrude nods before she shifted her attention to the magic flute that is encased in a glass case nearby, the princess frowning a bit.
'Rauda, please forgive this foolish sister of yours.' Hertrude thought of her sister who remains as the current ruler of the Fanoss Principality. She sighs and then turns to face Frampton to ask another question. "by the way, what of Count Bartfort? Have you seized his Lost Items?"
"we have." Frampton nodded while stroking his beard again. "his Airship called the Archangel is currently being seized as we speak. But I've heard that they are having problems trying to get inside." He shrugs his shoulders. "however, it is merely a matter of time before we have it in our possession."
"I see." Hertrude smiles as she believes that the kingdom won't be a threat without Kira. 'The principality will have the advantage once Count Bartfort is gone and the principality will win.' She was inwardly in joy for the possible victory of her kingdom, but a thought cross her mind. 'but still…' she thought back to the first time she met Kira, remembering how he had such kindness in his eyes and remembering the fortune told to her by the elder elf. 'that time…a hero who would save me no matter what..' she shakes her head and sighs. 'There is no need to think of it. The Hero in that fortune isn't Bartfort at all. it's someone else.' She then looks back at Marquis. "by the way, how close is it until the day you're named as the prime minister?"
Hearing the words "prime minister," Marquis Frampton made a smile.
"No no, having me be something like the prime minister is preposterous." He spoke with a chuckle that made Hertrude scoff a bit.
'Lies. You were planning that from the very start.' Hertrude looks at Frampton who is chuckling. 'You must have done a lot of reckless actions to prevent the Redgrave family from ascending to the prime minister position. However, thanks to that, my objective was accomplished. Thank you, foolish prime minister.'
Hertrude then asked Marquis Frampton a question. "I'd like to quickly send a letter to the principality. Could you arrange an airship?"
"We'll arrange one at once." Frampton replied with a nod before walking away to talk with a subordinate stationed by the doorway.
Canard taking this as a chance to go to Hertrude and asks. "you sure you can trust that geezer?"
"I don't and that's because I'll be using him instead of the other way around." Hertrude said with a smile. "I didn't learn the art of negotiation since a young age for nothing."
"hmph, it's your problem if things go sour." Canard said before he looks at Luxion who is fuming with steam. "get your drone bots here, Luxion. And stop going angry over some stupid stuff like this."
"THIS ITEM IS A PIECE OF SHIT THAT MUST BE DESTROYED~! ! #! !$! %!%" Luxion basically screams out while spinning around very fast.
"that AI of yours is really strange" Hertrude said to Canard who just scoffed in return.
a few hours pass.
In the sky, there is a small group of Fanoss Airships floating in the sky as they are a small detached force of the Dukedom.
The former Black Knight, Viscount Vandel Him Zenden and a group of Fanoss generals and soldiers gathered together in their airship's hull as they just received an item from Hertrude which was delivered to them via Airship.
"This is from the princess?" Vandel asks.
"Indeed. We were told that it's an important item." Garett replied while scratching his beard.
"Could it be that…" Vandel spoke while further inspecting the item. "this is a lost item?"
"Indeed." A nearby soldier replied with a nod. "It was found in the kingdom's treasury."
"I would have preferred if the princess had sent an item that was a little more useful." Garett spoke while sighing. "Has the execution of that 'Knight of Arms' even happened yet?"
The name Knight of Arms is an alias used by the principality for Kira who destroyed their first invasion fleet with his Strike Gundam that had multiple Armaments, therefore naming him as the Knight of Arms.
"I will not tolerate the princess being insulted nor the boy." Vandel spoke with a growl at Garett. "he is a knight who have bested me in an honorable duel."
"I-I didn't intend such!" Garett tried to defend himself when he noticed a letter in the delivered package. He take sit and checks the content with a careful eye before he looks shocked. "C-Could it be!?"
"What happened?" Vandel asks as Garett chuckles while smiling in joy.
"Black Knight. No, former Black Knight. are you ready to give up your life?" Garett asks.
"I'm an already an old fool who's died as a knight." Vandel replied while crossing his arms. "I'll do anything to help the princess."
"Splendid! Then, let me explain!" Garett laughs as he waves his hands out. "This is a piece of an ancient. No! a legendary armor. A lost item that only a portion of the royal family even knows about!"
As everyone gazed at the armor's right hand, Garrett opened his arms and raise them up.
"What a wonderful gift! Her Highness Princess Hertrude carried out her duty well." Garett exclaimed. With this, her younger sister, her Highness 'Princess Hetrauda Sera Fanoss,' has no enemies! This time, even the Knight of Arms has no chance!"
"It can even compete with that monster?" A soldier asks.
"Yes, there's a good chance of success." Garett spoke while chuckling. "However it would seem that the heretic knight has currently been betrayed by his country and imprisoned." He scoffs a bit. "Just as he deserves. It's a shame that we won't be able to finish him off in a battlefield."
"I can't comprehend the feelings of a military man." Vandel spoke while looking to the side. "However, thanks to this, one of her Highness Hetrauda's enemies has disappeared." He then looks at the armor piece. "I'll help Hertrude. Even if it means giving up my life."
Vandel tightly grasped his fist while next to Garrett, who was joyed that he could get revenge over his humiliating defeat that disgraced him.
Meanwhile within the royal palace's Dungeon. Kira is locked behind the bars while having his hands cuffed. The young man sitting on the quite uncomfortable looking wooden bed and just remains silent after being brought into the place.
Kira stays sitting on the bed before he glanced to the side when a guard came with a visitor. The young man seeing the visitor is a cloaked figure who is speaking to the guard who nodded and then leaves the room to be locked from the outside.
"you are?" Kira asks as the cloaked figure turns and walks towards his cell while slowly taking off the hood to reveal Lacus underneath. Seeing her, he quickly stand up from his seat and went to the bars of his cell which has its door unlocked by the princess who had the key in hand. "Lacus…"
"Kira.." Lacus went to Kira and both hugged each other. "I'm so sorry that you had to be imprisoned."
"What are you saying?" Kira said while caressing her back before he and Lacus stares at each other. The young man smiling to her. "it's not your fault, it never is nor was."
Lacus frowns as she reaches a hand to gently caresses Kira's right cheek which had been punched by the soldier who was arresting him.
"it's nothing, just a small bruise." Kira said as Lacus is gently caressing his bruised cheek. "don't worry."
"how can I not?" Lacus asks before she tiptoed to give a peck on Kira's bruised cheek like she is wishing it to heal faster. "you were hurt at school and.."
"I know and it's alright." Kira assured her. "I'm fine, Lacus. Don't worry."
Lacus frowns again before she and Kira hugs, the princess feeling his warmth and hearing his heartbeat while the young man is caressing the back of her head.
A few minutes of hugging and assuring kisses later, Kira and Lacus sat on the bed side to side while having their right and left hand intertwined.
"All the reports from the royal court are informing every noble that you are a foreigner spy sent to the kingdom by Fanoss." Lacus spoke, explaining to Kira the details of the situation during his arrest. "but I along with Mylene-san don't believe it because all the reports are from the nobles of the Marquis Frampton's faction."
"So I am being framed by him?" Kira asks and Lacus nods.
"I knew that he was planning something, but I couldn't have expected this." Lacus said while looking a bit frustrated.
"perhaps it is something that the both of us could not predict." Hachi said while making an appearance. The AI's drone came out of camouflage mode and hovers near the two. "Kira and I were focused on protecting our closed ones, that we failed to consider protection for himself." The drone made a few beeping noises and projected a hologram image of the demihuman servants entering Kira's room via the spare key. "I have found out that there were a couple of Demi-human servants who had snuck into Kira's room while he was away and implanted the letters that were made to frame him as a Fanoss spy." The AI's drone then lowers itself down like it was bowing. "I deeply apologize in failing to protect him, Miss Lacus."
"I understand and You have nothing to apologize for, Hachi." Lacus said after nodding and then smiling. "You've been with Kira ever since he found you on board the Archangel and you've been helping him upon his life in our current world. In which I am forever grateful."
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Lacus." Hachi replied after making a few beeping noises.
"so then…" Kira spoke as he looks at Hachi and then at Lacus. "What should we do now?"
"for now..i believe that you should stay here, Kira." Lacus told him. "the royal court is in a complete disarray after making your arrest. The two factions of the Duke Redgrave and the Marquis Frampton are tipping the balance of power against the Royal Family." She frowns. "Mylene-san is doing her best in trying to control the situation, but it's only a matter of time before…"
"I see…" Kira nods in understanding before he cups his chin and scratches it a few times. "How about if Hachi helps you with gathering the evidence?" he looks at Lacus who looks back at him. "We know that the Marquis is the one who set things up, but we know that there are evidences that could turn the tables, right?"
"That is only considering if the evidence hadn't been destroyed yet." Hachi stated before beeping a few times. "But we have a 55,64% chance to gather the evidence that we can obtain right now."
"Do you believe that you can obtain some evidence with your drones, Hachi?" Lacus asks and the AI's drone did a head nod.
"I shall have them collected as we speak." Hachi said while making his remote controlled drones go to work. "Would a recording of the Marquis' speech since last week be sufficient as the evidence needed to control the flow of power?"
"Do it." Kira nods and the AI beeps a few times before proceeding with his command.
"if this is how things will go.." Lacus whispers as she looks at Kira and gently holds his hands with hers. "Kira, listen to me carefully. I do not want you to ever follow with any nobles who come here and try to bribe you into following them. They will be from the Marquis faction who might already have hold of the Archangel and your Gundams." She looks serious. "I will convey a message and make a plan to stop this coup from ever happening. So please do your best to always stay here, no matter how much they try to threaten you."
"I got it." Kira nods before he looks at his AI friend. "Hachi. The Archangel."
"It has been taken to an island owned by the Marquis and is currently being forcibly boarded by Canard Pars and nobles of the same faction." Hachi replied before projecting a live image recording of the Archangel's inner hangar where everything is being taken by the nobles and Canard Pars who is watching an Armor transporting the Grand Slam sword which was forged using Vandel's Adamantis sword as its material. "Shall I initiate Contingency Plan A1?"
"Initiate." Kira said with a nod while Lacus looks a bit confused when she hears the Contingency Plan.
At a closed harbor of a floating island, the Archangel is found anchored with large chains supervised by Armors and men working under the Marquis' faction.
Currently inside the mobile ship's hangar, an Armor is found carrying the Grand Slam sword and is now taking it away to the opened launch bay door.
As the Armor is taking the weapon away, Canard and Luxion watches it and then turns to look at other people who are taking anything that seems to be useful for them and the Marquis.
"Are you really letting them take away your hated enemy's armaments?" Luxion asks, sounding a bit huffy and angry. "Did you not desire to defeat him on equal terms?"
"I do and I intend to after that guy activates his contingency plan." Canard said as he turns and looks at the Strike and the other G mobile suits that are stationed to their areas and currently being analyzed by Frampton's nobles who are trying to get them to work. "I know for a fact that guy knows what's going on and I know that he's going to do something that'll get these runts out." he turns and begins walking away. "let's go and deliver that sword to the geezer knight before things here get ugly."
Canard walks away and Luxion watches him before making a few beeping noises and spinning his red eye lense.
"Sometimes I can't understand Master's decisions." Luxion said before he follows after the man.
While Canard and Luxion leave the hangar, the nobles are struggling in getting the 5 G Weapons to work to their liking.
"get this thing to open!" a noble shouted at some men who are trying to open the Strike's cockpit with crow bars, hammers, axes, or any optional tool in hand but nothing seems to be able to do the job other than giving some unwanted scratches to the mobile suit's frame. "you people were told to be the best Armor craftsman in the entire kingdom!" he then points a finger at the robot. "and yet you can't open this Armor!? You're worthless!"
"b-but sir! This Armor is still considered a Lost Item!" one worker cried out as he is trying to open the cockpit with a large hammer that did nothing but make a small dent in result. "it's just full of mysteries!"
"don't give me that excuse! If you don't want to lose your entire wealth then you better get..!?" the noble shouted but stopped when the Strike's eyes lit up and flashed when its entire system activated. "what the!?"
Not only The Strike, but the Aegis, Duel, Buster, and Blitz started to activate in sequence as their eyes flash. This scene surprised everyone in the hangar as the 5 Gundams went to life with their Phase Shift turning on.
"good job! We now have these Lost Items in our control!" another noble exclaimed while seeing the 5 Mobile suits activated, but he didn't realize that no one from his side did anything.
"n-no sir, they just…" the first noble spoke out before he and many others started to panic because the Strike and the other Gundams started to move on their own while breaking off the bolts on their frames. "What the hell!?"
"what's going on?!" "who is piloting them?! Stop this!" "hey!" they all started to panic as the Gundams began to wreck havoc in the hangar, they would lean down and swing their arm to swat away any nobles near them and they would kick down any Armors that were trying to fight back.
In time, many nobles were seen running out of the Archangel as the Strike and the other Gundams came flying out and begins destroying the chains wrapped around the mobile assault ship which is turning on its engine and slowly igniting its thrusters.
"h-hey! Who is taking it away?!" "stop them!" the nobles started ordering around their subordinates as many of their standby Armors started to move forward with their weapons prepared but they were all dismantled or shot down by the 5 Gundams. "agggh!"
The Strike wields a single beam rifle and started firing single shots against the Armors with the Aegis, Blitz, and Duel while the Buster connects its High-energy rifle and Gun Launcher in creating its Hyper Impulse Long-Range Sniper Rifle that is aimed at the gate of the harbor that is blocking the Archangel from leaving.
The Buster Aimed for the Gate before firing a charged shot that was pulled side ways in causing the large gate to have a burning scorch mark that melted half of it off. Not fully finished, the Prototype Artillery Mobile suit opens its 220mm 6-tube missile pods mounted on its shoulders and fired the missiles which flew around and completely destroyed the gate and giving a free entrance out of the harbor.
"hey! Stop!" a noble screamed out while looking extremely panicked and frustrated because of the Archangel that is now flying straight for the ocean below. "stop!"
Not knowing what was going on, the noble is panicking because he doesn't know what to report to his faction leader in losing the powerful Lost Item which in a second dives straight into the ocean and caused a huge geyser of an eruption.
The Archangel sinks into the ocean as it dives deep into the water where it disappeared with the 5 mobile suits back in the hangar which had dozens of worker robots repairing what was damaged in the scuffle.
In the Archangel's Bridge, the Mobile Assault Airship's entire system is active and being monitored by Hachi's worker robots that are watching over the system while the AI is controlling the ship's navigation system.
back in Kira's prison cell, Hachi's copter drone projected the image of the entire havoc for the two to watch.
"Contingency Plan A1 is completed." Hachi spoke out in the system. "Navigating the Archangel into the sea's trench for concealment."
"Thanks, Hachi." Kira nods. "Do some needed maintenance and repairs for the Archangel along with the Strike and the others."
"Understood." Hachi replied after beeping a few times.
"with this, I can feel assured that the Marquis' faction won't become a problem." Lacus said after sighing a bit. She then heard some small tapping noises from the side as she turn and sees the guard had come back and giving her a signal by tapping his right hand's fingers to his left wrist which made her nod before turning towards Kira while the guard leaves. "I have to go now, Kira." She puts her hood back on while getting off the bed with Kira.
"what's wrong?" Kira asks, confused.
"I have to attend a meeting with Mylene-san and Gilbert-san of the Redgrave Household in order to prevent any misconduct between the nobles and the royal family." Lacus said as she looks at Kira with her hands placed to his chest. "Remember, Kira. Stay in the Dungeon, and never listen to any nobles' offer for freedom. Don't leave because this is the only place where you can be perfectly safe, understand?"
"I know." Kira nods before getting a kiss by Lacus on the lips and then a hand caressing his cheek. He held the hand and pecked the palm. "please be safe, Lacus."
"I will, so do you." Lacus replied before both shared another kiss and then the princess begins to leave the cell which was locked once again.
Kira watches Lacus leave as the princess waves a hand in goodbye before leaving the dungeon with the guard accompanying her.
As Lacus left, Kira turns to Hachi while sitting back down on his bed.
"I guess…i should stay and do nothing like she asked?" Kira asks his AI friend who made a few beeping noises.
"Perhaps some multiplayer game could help spend the time?" Hachi asks while projecting a hologram image of a chess board with the pieces prepared. "Chess?"
"why not?" Kira shrugs his shoulders and looks at the projection as Hachi made the first move with his white piece before the young man went with his turn.
Kira watches Hachi make the next move as he begins to think of what piece to move next and while he did so, he hears footsteps coming from the Dungeon's only entrance.
"Lacus?" Kira turns and looks at the entrance, thinking that it was Lacus who came back because of forgetting something, but to his surprise it wasn't his pink haired princess. "you?"
"Did you believe that I was someone else?" a chuckle is heard as Princess Hertrude Sera Fanoss of the Fanoss Dukedom made her appearance and stands near Kira's cell. "It's been a while, Count Bartfort." She smirks at the young man. "Doing well?"
That's a wrap!
Bye bye