/
“We’re merely asking for an apology for a matter that needs to be apologized for, but I think the Queen is overreacting a bit.”
“……High Priest.”
“Whether you’re a commoner, a noble, or even an emperor, if you’ve done something wrong, you should acknowledge it and apologize, don’t you think?”
The queen bit her lip until it bled.
After all, Cesar had been the gentlest of the three warriors so far.
Now that he’d come out like that, there was no way he was going to back down.
“Rudolph.”
At the queen’s call, Rudolph’s shoulders stiffened as if he’d been beaten with a whip.
“To Miss Tatiana and…… the first prince.”
“Uh, mother?”
“Apologize,” The queen finished with a pale face.
Rudolph clenched his fists tightly.  Then he turned to me and apologized, looking as if he was dying of shame. 
“I’m sorry, Miss Tatiana.”
I mean, does he really feel that bad apologizing for something he did wrong?
I turn to face Rudolph with a pout, and then give him a curt nod.
“Yes.  Don’t do that in the future.” 
“…….”
Rudolph looked somewhat irritated, but not so much so that he would protest further in front of the three warriors.
Instead, Rudolph gritted his teeth and turned to face Lakius.
“…….”
“…….”
The two boys stared at each other.
Rudolph glared at Lakius for what seemed like an eternity.  His apology came out in a stream of words. 
“……I’m sorry, Lakius.”
“…….”
Meanwhile, Lakius was looking at Rudolph with a strange look in his eyes.
It was almost as if he was overcome with emotion.  In many ways, it was not the look of an eight-year-old boy. 
My heart sank.
“Yeah.”
Lakius nodded lightly.
“I will sternly admonish Rudolph myself.  So, I hope the three of you will also ease your mind.” 
Rudolph’s apology, followed by the emperor’s promise.
The three warriors looked a little relieved.
I, however, was still troubled by Lakius.
We may be leaving, but Lakius must remain in the imperial palace.
Doesn’t he get bullied whenever I’m not around?
“Cesar.”
I whispered in Cesar’s ear.
“Why doesn’t First Prince come with us when we go out?”
“…….”
For a moment, Cesar’s eyes widened.
“Miss Tatiana is still young, she’s not at the age where she should be interested in the opposite sex…….”
What the hell is he talking about?
I glared at Cesar with a cold stare.
“The Queen might scold the first prince.  It’s because I’m worried about it.” 
Only after hearing my words did Cesar look somewhat relieved.
“Yes, you have a point.”
He pulled me into a hug and looked back at Lakius.
“Your Highness, First Prince.  If you don’t mind, would you like to accompany us for a while?” 
“……You mean with you?”
“Yes.  I think it would be a great help to Miss Tatiana to have you with her, to help her settle down.” 
“Yes, I will do so,” Lakius said quickly.
‘Good.’
I made up my mind firmly.
Poor Lakius, I cannot allow this to continue to happen.
I must somehow get him under the protection of the three warriors this time!
* * *
Thus, it was that I, the three warriors, and Lakius sat down together.
I began by thanking Lakius.
“Thank you, First Prince.”
“Eh?”
Lakius looked somewhat puzzled.
“‘You defended Tati earlier.”
With that explanation, I crossed my arms and muttered.
“But what if, because of Tati, the queen gives the first prince a hard time……?”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
At my words, the pupils of the three warriors’ eyes began to shake violently as if there was an earthquake.
I subtly prodded their consciences.
“Tati will be so sorry if the first prince gets in trouble…….”
Lakius smiled at me.
“It’s fine.”
Hey, how is that okay?
At times like this, holding back isn’t helping!
I was dying of frustration, but outwardly I was sticking to my “child with a guilty conscience” persona.
“……Nevertheless.”
“Miss Tatiana, you defended me at the victory party, as well.”
Lakius said in a soothing tone.
“Never mind.  I only helped because I wanted to help.” 
“Mmm…….”
I sneaked a glance at the three warriors.
Each of them now had a serious look on their face.
‘Hmm, I think we’re good to go.’
My eyes twinkled.
The three warriors are naturally kind.  They’re willing to risk their own lives to slay the Five Demon lords in order to save humanity. 
They’re also probably at least aware that I’m the reason Lakius is in trouble.
I’m sure they’re very upset about the situation.
If so, then my task at hand is simple!
´Offer a solution!´
A way for the warriors to ease their consciences, while still protecting Lakius from the Emperor’s hand!
I sprinkled some rice cakes on the ground.
“You know, the first prince really is something else.”
“The first prince?”
It was Siegfried who took the first bite.
I nodded curtly.
“Mmm.  Earlier, the first prince ran off with Tati, and he was so fast!” 
So, what do you think? That’s a lot of physical ability, isn’t it? Don’t you wonder what kind of talent he has?
At the same time, the gazes of the warriors froze.
It was understandable.
They were well aware of the danger of demons.
In order to keep the demons at bay, it was essential for them to train.
It was only because the three warriors were undisputed heroes, and their eyes were on the sky.
The downside was that they didn’t recognize talent as talent……….
“The first prince…… carried Tatiana up in his arms?”
Siegfried scrutinized Lakius up and down.
“And he even managed to run with her?”
Kirios narrowed his eyes at Lakius, too.
Lakius looked puzzled.  “Yes, is there a problem?” 
“No, not really.”
Siegfried shook his head, his mind wandering.
He turned to the other two warriors.
“Cesar, Kirios.  What do you think?” 
“Considering the first prince is only eight years old, …… it’s quite a feat of physical strength,” Cesar replied thoughtfully.
“Ah, don’t be stuffy.  Why don’t we take a look for ourselves?” 
The short-tempered Kirios shook his head and took a step forward.  Then he stopped and grabbed Lakius’s wrist.  “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, First Prince.”  
“Ah, yes.”
Lakius looked a little uncomfortable, but obediently allowed Kirios to take his wrist.
A moment later.
“This is …….”
Kirios’s eyes widened in shock.
“What the hell is…… all that nonsense?”
“What are you talking about?”
“No, I’m just saying that I was trying to see how much magic His Highness the first prince has in his body.”
Kirios raised his voice in disbelief.
“However, it sucked all my mana away in reverse!”
“…… Is that really true?”
“Oh, are you for real? Why would I lie about something like this?”
Kirios leapt to his feet, furious.
He gestured at Lakius, who looked helpless.
“At least the First Prince’s talent is real, and it would be a national loss to let it go to waste.”
Yes, it would be.
I felt a surge of pride.
Our Lakius is the protagonist of this world.
Even in the original story, Lakius reaches the pinnacle of swordsmanship and becomes a Sword master with no training.
So, what if he received a proper education?
After all, I didn’t try to make you the heir to the Three Warriors for nothing!
“First Prince, would you mind giving us a moment?”
Leaving Lakius behind for a moment, the three warriors talked amongst themselves.
All the while, Cesar did not release me from his embrace.
And so, unwillingly, I listened to the entirety of their discussion…….
“Education,” Siegfried began to speak seriously.  “Surely, if we continue to leave the first prince in the hands of the queen, that talent will be wasted.” 
“You are correct.  It’s true that the queen looks upon the First Prince as an eyesore,” Cesar replied rather sourly. 
“So, if we were to train the First Prince ourselves, wouldn’t that at least create a little more protection?” Kirios suggested with a shrug.  “Roughly, we could have the first prince come to our townhouse in Orleans three times a week.” 
“To our townhouse?”
“Yes.  Don’t you think it would be difficult for the queen to lay a hand on the first prince if we were to educate him ourselves?” 
“……Kirios, are you sure you’re not referring to my home?” Siegfried’s face became somewhat sullen, but he did not object to Kirios’s suggestion.
The three warriors discussed for a while.
Kirios looked strangely nervous and muttered.
“Well, yes.  Aside from teaching…….” 
He glanced sideways at me.
“Then what about our kid?”
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