Semi-Coercive Imperialist

Goebel moved quickly. He ran straight to the Imperial Palace and met with Bertem and Grossman. He had nearly forced the meeting to happen, and Grossman barely squeezed it into his schedule.

“…So that’s what happened.”

Grossman raised his eyebrows as he set down his teacup.

“We’ve already seized quite a number of documents from the Knight Order, so suddenly pulling out now would make us look foolish.”

“For my part as well…… I am deeply sorry.”

Goebel bowed his head, cold sweat on his brow. Kentz Bertem beside him also looked frustrated.

“It seems… we may have misunderstood things.”

However, Grossman did not show his emotions. Blaming someone doesn’t change anything.

“Chiron put in more effort for us than we expected, and Maximilian’s ‘promise’ was remarkably solid, befitting a noble.”

Just in case, he had planted the trap of the forgery to protect Goebel from other factions that might tear him apart.

Whether he had anticipated a fellow knight getting caught in the trap was uncertain.

“It can’t be helped. The surveillance and auditing of the Knight Order……”

This had been Grossman’s long-held ambition. To obtain the scabbard that could control a blade too unwieldy even for the Imperial Guard, let alone the Imperial Palace itself.

“We’ll tell them to handle it internally within the Knight Order.”

“Will that really be alright?”

Kentz asked cautiously. Grossman picked up his cigar.

“It’s not bad for us either. Think about it. What if Chiron were the one conducting the audit? Do you think he’d treat Adria rationally? He’d try to find fault no matter what, and tear her apart.”

He was handing the authority to resolve this incident not to the Imperial Palace or the Imperial Guard, but to the Knight Order.

Though it appeared as if the Imperial Guard was making a major concession, precisely because of that, internal division within the Knight Order was inevitable.

“And. If in any direction, improper politics unfold…”

Grossman exhaled a long stream of cigar smoke.

“Then we’ll have both the ‘justification’ and the ‘authority’ to correct it. It won’t be too late to intervene then.”

The faces of Kentz and Goebel brightened. They grasped Grossman’s intent in an instant, and the two nodded with admiration.

***

──[ Imperial Palace Special Audit Request ]──

Recipient: Sentinel Knight Order

Sender: Imperial Secretariat

Content: In relation to the recent suspicion of evidence fabrication against Imperial Guard Commander Goebel, a full audit is requested of Knight Adria von Hardenberg, who led the operation in question, as well as all personnel who participated in the intrusion of Goebel’s residence.

Note: This request has been approved by His Majesty the Emperor.

──────────

Regarding the forgery incident, Goebel himself had settled it with ‘no charges to be pressed against either side’, and all discussions about limiting the Knight Order’s authority had been rendered moot. However, the Imperial Palace had directly requested an internal audit.

It was under the pretext of properly tying up loose ends, and with the Emperor’s seal affixed, it was an order that could not be refused.

This was likely the gift the Imperial Guard was sending.

“……I thought you’d be well suited for this.”

Chiron entrusted that sword’s hilt to me.

“I’m not in a rational state of mind right now, so I’m leaving you full authority. It’s too difficult for someone in their first year…… no, honestly, you’re not just a first-year anyway. Handle it as you see fit.”

His decision was wise.

“Yes. Understood.”

I thought about Adria.

Adria von Hardenberg.

Codename ‘Blue Owl’. A noble-born spy who had served for over a dozen years as a core officer of the Revolutionary forces.

“The audit covers not just Adria herself, but her entire command, meaning everyone who broke into Goebel’s residence.”

I looked at Chiron.

Chiron is a straightforward person. He is also transparent. He does not hide his ambition for power. He clearly intends to use this opportunity to cut away not only Adria, but also those clinging beneath her.

“However, agents from our direct-affiliate agencies have already come to Sentinel and seized a considerable amount of documents.”

“I will retrieve them immediately.”

“Good. Go.”

“Yes.”

I left Chiron’s office.

I walked down the corridors of the Knight Order.

A strange wave of nausea seemed to rise from within, so I simply kept walking.

Before I realized it, the scenery had changed.

When I came to my senses, I was at the central park not far from the Knight Order.

The fallen leaves slowly beginning to turn with autumn colors. The once clear and vivid greenery shifting into reds and yellows at the turning point of the season.

I sat down on a bench there.

“…It’s complicated.”

In the face of this situation, these circumstances, that was the only thing I could say.

My thoughts and actions are spreading into places I don’t understand, in directions I didn’t expect, and I could hardly keep them in check.

It was an uncontrollable spread, yet even so, I had to reach out.

I had to grasp hold with everything I had.

But the entirety of it was nauseating to me.

All I could do was endure.

All I could do was endure the nausea that came with all of this.

Because if I don’t endure, I’ll collapse.

“…Max?”

Suddenly, someone called my name. A Wizard draped in a robe. It was Ezell. My eyes narrowed.

“……What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? This is the Magic Tower Park. Been a while, hasn’t it?”

Magic Tower Park. Another name for the central park. The Sentio Magic Tower was right nearby, after all.

Ezell sat beside me, gripping an ice cream cone.

“You must be busy these days, so what are you doing here?”

I looked at Ezell’s ice cream.

It looked delicious.

Ezell moved it away from me, as if she had no intention of sharing.

“Don’t covet it. I asked what you’re doing.”

“……Nothing. Just thinking about some things.”

I sank into the bench and let out a deep breath.

“Thinking about what?”

“Whether I should do things the way I want, or whether I should consider what other people want too. Thoughts like that.”

Factions and forces. Chiron and Adria. And the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Guard, and the Knight Order.

Should I become a bat, belonging to none? Or should I take someone’s side? (TL: The 박쥐 (bat) metaphor refers to someone who flip-flops between sides)

“Hmm…… I don’t know what it’s about, but you know, Max. Didn’t you just start doing things the way you wanted?”

Ezell took a bite of her ice cream as she spoke. My gaze drifted toward her.

“It’d be a shame to let go of that now. You’ve worked so hard to get here. You’ve been all over the newspapers, too.”

Fweeeeee—

A gentle breeze pulled back Ezell’s robe. Her blue-gold hair fluttered softly.

“Max, you’re no longer the Max I knew. You’ve overcome your temperament and disposition. I don’t know if that’s ent⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠irely a good thing, though.”

At those words, I simply found myself nodding.

She was right.

It would be a waste to let go now.

Now, I had gained a conviction more important than myself.

If I had conviction, it didn’t matter where I stood.

Rather, it was because I had conviction that I could move forward, anywhere and everywhere.

“…You’re right.”

An Ebenholtz was no bat. He was a man.

And a man doesn’t grovel before others.

“You’re absolutely right.”

Factions and forces are nothing more than that.

It’s not them who choose me.

I choose them.

Who to save, who to kill. Who to make my ally, and who to turn into my enemy.

That choice belongs only to me.

“Thanks. That helped.”

I stood up from the bench. I was about to turn and leave, but paused.

“Where’d you get the ice cream?”

“Huh? Ah~ just up there. A street vendor.”

First, I walked in the direction Ezell had pointed.

I’m going to eat some ice cream.

……

All I needed to do was find my own center. Among all the countless gears of this Knight Order, only I could do as I pleased. Because Ebenholtz was a bloodline granted that kind of power, authority, and right.

“Starting with Senior Knight Adria.”

In a separate office set up outside the Order. I addressed the officers who would be conducting the audit.

“We turn her command inside out.”

Every knight who participated in Adria’s operation will be audited. Tiana was no exception. Every case, mission, and financial transaction they had handled over the past three years would be thoroughly investigated.

There would certainly be knights who’d be cut loose. Among them, there were bound to be some who were corrupt.

“And, Otto. Hans.”

The two most experienced officers among my staff.

“Go and retrieve the documents the Imperial Palace took.”

I entrusted an important task to the two of them, one a former deputy warden and the other a former prison guard.

……

In front of the Imperial Palace’s direct-affiliate agency records room.

Maximilian’s two officers stood there, tense.

“…Will we be able to do this?”

Officer Hans whispered.

“Don’t be scared. Remember what we learned at the Main Estate.”

Officer Otto replied.

“Yes. Just like Master Enzi taught us…”

They were officials who had aligned with Maximilian while at the prison where Schatz had been confined.

But now, they were no longer government officials.

Ah, this isn’t to demean civil servants. Not once had they taken the blood and sweat shed those days lightly. But the nature of the duties and the level of authority they now held were entirely different.

“Let’s go.”

They took a deep breath and stepped into the records room. Inside, there were many agents from the direct-affiliate agency. They seemed quite busy sorting through the documents seized from the Knight Order.

“──We’re here to retrieve the documents you took!”

Otto was the first to speak in a clear voice.

“Who are you people? How did you get in here?”

One of the agents approached, irritation on his face.

The officer pulled out a document and held it up before the agent’s eyes.

“These are orders from Knight Maximilian.”

The agent furrowed his brow and took the document. A retrieval order stamped with Maximilian’s knight seal.

“And here are our identification cards.”

They presented their IDs as well.

[ Sentinel Knight Order Officer ]

Name: Otto Baren

Position: Administrative Officer

Affiliation: Maximilian

The agents checked the document and the IDs back and forth, then gestured to the side.

“…Very well. We’ll hand them over.”

The agent nodded and stepped aside.

An agent of a Imperial Palace’s direct-affiliate agency, a man known for his arrogance and fearsome reputation, was now quietly obeying the words of men who, just two years ago, had been nothing more than prison guards.

It was a surprising scene, but the two officers bit their lips and refocused their minds.

They must not get carried away.

They were not Maximilian. Nor were they Ebenholtz.

The core of the training they had heard endlessly from Enzi at the Ebenholtz Main Estate:

The moment a servant mistakes the master’s authority for their own, that servant’s life is over.

“There’s quite a lot. Will you be able to car⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠ry all of it?”

The agent asked. Otto picked up a box and responded with a request.

“We’d appreciate your help.”

Without further comment, the agents helped carry the boxes. Together, they lifted the Knight Order’s documents and loaded them into the car trunk.

***

…The internal audit of the Sentinel Knight Order had been completed.

Maximilian had mobilized all his personnel and meticulously investigated the past three years of activity of every knight under Adria’s command. At last, a meeting was held to present the findings.

“…….”

A heavy atmosphere filled the meeting room, presided over by Deputy Commander Anton.

The knights stared tensely at Maximilian, who stood at the front.

“I’m getting rather tired of this kind of meeting by now. Being a knight isn’t supposed to be a desk job, after all.”

Maximilian made an uncharacteristic joke.

Chiron hesitated for a moment before laughing belatedly.

“Ha. Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”

The knights aligned with Chiron smiled in a similar manner.

On the other hand, the mood on the opposite side only grew colder.

“I will now present the results of the internal audit of the Knight Order, which was authorized by His Majesty.”

“I wonder if they’re ready to accept them.”

Chiron sneered as he stared at the Adria faction.

“Sir Chiron.”

Maximilian restrained him.

“Please refrain from private remarks during the meeting.”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

“──No. Sir Chiron is right.”

Suddenly, a knight from Adria’s side cut in.

“How are we supposed to trust what you people say?”

It was Jer⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠ome.

To him, who spoke of trust while clearly prepared to believe nothing at all, Maximilian replied calmly.

“All evidence that was not conclusive has been excluded. Furthermore, this is merely a briefing on the audit results, not a disciplinary committee. Opportunities to submit explanations will be provided in due course.”

Jerome was at a loss for words. Chiron looked at him and shook his head, as if in disappointment.

“…First, we discovered that some of the knights who participated in the ‘Goebel Operation’ had, in the past, accepted bribes and favors. Additionally, there were indications that certain individuals concealed or manipulated evidence during investigations.”

Maximilian picked up a document.

“Among them, the most noteworthy were Knight Werner and Knight Müller.”

The faces of the two named individuals twitched.

“We have attached separate evidence documents to support the charges against the two of you. After reviewing them, you will be given an opportunity to explain yourselves. However, if your explanations are insufficient or unreasonable, we will recommend referring the matter to the disciplinary committee.”

Chiron nodded in satisfaction, while the Adria faction still wore expressions of disbelief.

“The Imperial Palace specifically requested a thorough audit of Senior Knight Adria.”

Maximilian picked up another stack of documents. This one was considerably thick. Financial records, communication logs, mission reports. A file containing everything about her.

“The audit team’s final verdict on Senior Knight A⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠dria is as follows.”

Maximilian paused for a moment. Chiron’s eyes sparkled like an audience member awaiting the climax of a play, while the knights on Adria’s side braced themselves to stand up and launch their rebuttals at any moment.

“‘Nothing to fault.’”

“As expected…?”

“That’s ridiculous…?”

Chiron’s face went blank. Jerome froze mid-rise from his awkward half-standing posture.

Even Adria herself wore a look of confusion.

“Not only was there no sign of tax evasion, there wasn’t even an attempt at legal ways of tax optimization. All her financial transactions and actions were clean, and there was nothing remotely illegal in the course of her missions.”

Adria was a person of integrity. Before and after the fall of the Empire, there had been many hypocrites who spoke of revolution while neglecting their own conduct, but she, at the very least, was not one of them.

“Now, as the knight in charge of the internal audit for Sentinel, I will add my personal assessment.”

Maximilian set down the documents.

“As someone who has also exercised a knight’s authority to detain, the success or failure of exercising that authority is a risk borne by the knight themselves.”

A dry conclusion grounded strictly in fact.

“Therefore, I judge that this does not constitute a matter for internal disciplinary action by the Sentinel.”

A decision made without personal emotion, based solely on principle.

Jerome sank back into his chair, and Chiron’s mouth hung open, unable to close.

“With that, this concludes the announcement of the audit results.”

Maximilian continued in a composed tone.

“Additionally, the investigation materials have already been distributed to each of your offices. Those who need to submit explanations, please prepare thoroughly and do so.”

Deputy Commander Anton gazed quietly at Maximilian.

Before long, he let out a sigh and announced the end of the meeting.

“……Chiron. Adria. Everyone except you two, please leave.”

At those words, the knights began leaving the conference room one by one.

Only Anton, Chiron, and Adria remained.

Just as Chiron was about to speak first.

“Don’t worry.”

Adria beat him to it.

“I understand what that message meant.”

She pulled out an envelope she had prepared in advance from inside her coat.

“The risk borne by the knight themselves. He’s right.”

She placed it on the table.

It was a letter of resignation.

“…….”

Suddenly, Chiron’s expression settled into calm. Adria gave a faint smile.

“You’ve allowed a junior who went too far… to leave with some dignity.”

Looking at her like that, Chiron saw overlaid the days of their youth, a decade past, and he quietly opened his mouth to speak.

***

While Chiron and Adria were likely having their final conversation…

I had arrived at the Royal Opera House. Whether it was the Revolutionary Forces or the Ezenheim faction, it wouldn’t be long before someone made a move on the Imperial Princess, so it was partly to clear my head and partly to build up justification.

“Hm……”

Before the opera began, I sat in the VIP section and looked up at the VVIP balcony on the second floor.

A woman sat there, her robe pulled down low. Surrounded by tight security, she was unmistakably the Emperor’s daughter.

…But in truth, she was a decoy servant pretending to be her.

The real Princess was probably hiding somewhere in the general seating by now, watching the opera from there.

“──Do you like opera?”

Suddenly, a voice came from right beside me.

I turned my head.

A woman in a modest dress and glasses, yet with an unmistakable grace about her. Princess Justine.

She was sitting next to me.

I had expected her to be in the general seating.

Then again, the view was better from here than from general seating.

“……I wouldn’t say I’m a fan.”

I answered honestly.

“My mind’s been a bit cluttered, so I came to clear it.”

“In times like that, opera is perfect. It pulls you into another world. Makes you forget your worries about this reality for a while.”

She spoke softly, gazing at the s⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠tage.

Srrrrk.

Just then, the red velvet curtain began to rise, and the chime signaling the start of the performance rang out.

Without another word, we shifted our gazes to the stage.

The protagonist of this opera, Reynold, made his entrance.