Published: July 4, 2025
The second wave of the remaining people has arrived.
Ryo and Abel have disappeared.
There was no one who could move immediately.
This was the same for the knight order that constitutes the royal army.
Especially for those who were relatively close to the two and had witnessed their disappearance...
Imogen, the knight commander leading the Valkyrie Knight Order, collapsed at that moment.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."
She muttered over and over.
Her beloved King Abel had vanished.
This was what it meant to be utterly stunned.
However, amidst her despair, her close friend quickly approached her.
"Imogen, get up!"
That friend spoke sharply, albeit in a small voice.
"It’s Mew…"
Mew, the captain of the Valkyrie Knight Order's magic unit.
"I know you're in shock, but Imogen, you’re the knight commander. Your subordinates are always watching you. You are their hope. You absolutely cannot kneel. You must keep standing."
"But..."
"Your Majesty will surely be fine. He is definitely alive somewhere. He will come back with Duke Rondo eventually. When that happens, don’t you want to hear him say, ‘Well done, Imogen!’? So stand up."
Mew encouraged her with fervor.
Those in positions of leadership must sometimes stand firm even if they have to put on a brave face... She knew that.
Her grandfather was the former lord of Twilight Land. Her father was the influential Marquis Westwing.
Having observed leaders from a young age, Mew understood the difficulties well.
That is why she respected her friend, who had created, nurtured, and led one of the knight orders representing the kingdom.
Because she understood the challenges better than anyone else within the order.
That’s why!
Yes, that’s why she cannot crumble here.
She understood the feelings.
Anyone would be stunned if their beloved king vanished before their eyes.
However, if she crumbled here, everything they had built until now would collapse.
That would not serve Imogen, nor would it be what the vanished king wished for.
So she must get up and keep standing.
"Right... Right. For Your Majesty's sake, I must hold on here."
Though still in a faint voice, Imogen said this and stood up.
She swayed slightly.
Camilla, the vice commander, supported her from the right, while Abigail, the scout commander, supported her from the left.
"Everyone..."
Imogen whispered, and Camilla and Abigail nodded.
Mew, facing them, smiled brightly.
However...
"Imogen has recovered, but there's still one person who is still down."
Abigail, while supporting Imogen, spoke.
In the direction of her gaze...
"Ryo-san... my dear Ryo..."
Scarlet, the captain of the rescue unit, who always wore a face full of love, was muttering while sitting on the ground.
"Scarlet..."
"I’ve never seen Scarlet make such a face before..."
"Ryo-san... she really loves Duke Rondo..."
Imogen, Camilla, and Mew were witnessing a scene they had never seen before.
Supported by her friends, Imogen approached and sat down in front of Scarlet.
"Scarlet..."
"What should we do, Imogen? Ryo-san..."
Tears were overflowing from Scarlet's eyes.
"I believe that Duke Rondo... Ryo-san will be fine. He’s such a powerful mage. He will definitely come back safe."
"…Really?"
"Yes. Just moments ago, he appeared, breaking through the sky. He will surely rush to the kingdom's aid in a crisis... that’s what the first duke does. He will come back."
"Right... you’re right. If the kingdom is in danger... he will surely come back."
"Well, let’s not say anything ominous."
Scarlet remarked as if she had thought of something, and realizing the unsettling nature of her words, Imogen put a stop to it.
...After that, Scarlet regained her usual loving smile.
She probably hadn't done anything to put the kingdom in danger...
The Royal Knight Order had a fair amount of time in shock, but their time to stand up was relatively short.
This was because Knight Commander Dantan recovered quickly.
After King Abel's disappearance, no one could move for a while.
Everyone felt the same.
But...
"Knight order, fall in!"
A voice echoed within the Royal Knight Order.