“That king. He plays dirty …”

In a plaza in the fortress town [Nerva] at the southwestern edge of Amidonia, one person who was blending in with the audience watching the broadcast muttered. That person was hiding themselves by wearing a hooded cloak and their expression was unreadable. What was clear was that the person was a slight bit smaller compared to the other members of the audience and that they were female judging from the tone of their voice. There was another person next to the hooded woman, who was dressed in the same way as her but had a larger build (though they were just at the average height of an adult male). They asked her.

“Playing dirty, is it?”
“Yes, dirty. He suddenly gives the people what Father took away from them. Julius cannot hope to get his rights back now”

*Well, that might be good for the folk though*, the hooded girl shrugged her shoulders. The hooded man standing next to her looked at her confused.

“Um, Princess. What did His Highness Gaius take away?”
“What else? Of course it’s [freedom], Colbert-han”

The hooded little girl was Gaius VIII’s daughter Roroa Amidonia and the hooded man was the former Finance Minister Colbert who hid himself together with Roroa. Roroa pointed at the broadcast and said

“You didn't really think that Amidonia would ever have used the Royal Broadcast like that, dressing the pretty little girls up an letting the boys go ooh an aah over them do you? Father didn't like to spread that kinda weakness around you see. But that King wants to show the people that Elfrieden allows that sort of thing”
“In other words, he showed them freedom”

Colbert answered, to which Roroa clapped her hands, *yes, exactly*.

“Oh yes. That's why he plays dirty. Freedom is ‘free’. Soma will not lose anything by giving them that, but they’ll fight back if we take that away from them. You think that awful brother of mine will give them [freedom] after borrowing the Empire’s power to get Vannes back? … Yeah right! He's not going to care about the people rebelling, there's sure going to be chaos”
“Huh!? Did Soma even go so far as to even take the loss of Vannes into consideration!?”
“Thas how it looks to my eyes”
“………”

Colbert widened his eyes. This little girl in front of him, who if you took away her cloak would look just like a cute little tanuki, was able to accurately guess the aim of Soma who led Gaius VIII by the nose. If the Lord of Amidonia weren’t Gaius or Julius but Roroa, would the future of Amidonia have been different? There’s no mistaking it, is there. That realization vexed Colbert. However, the person herself, Roroa, wasn’t even thinking like that at all.

“Well he’s not an enemy Father could win against. That’s because Father doesn't know anything that doesn't have to do with the battlefield . Sheesh … no matter how many times I told him that if we didn't stimulate consumption and revitalize the economy we’ll stay in depression, but he never listens”

Hearing Roroa anguishedly talk, Colbert flusteredly said.

“Um, Princess … about your Father …”
“Ah, don't let it bother you. I’m not all that bothered anyway”

The other day Amidonia had just been crushed by Elfrieden in battle and word reached Roroa that her father Gaius VIII had been killed by Elfrieden’s King Soma Kazuya. But in contrast to the worried Colbert, Roroa only waved her hands.

“I wonder why, though, when I heard Father died I didn't feel sad at all. So even in the end I couldn't get along with Father and Julius, eh …”
“Princess ……”
“If pushed to say I’d say it was more shocking that I wasn't shocked. Rather than begrudging Soma for killing Faither I’m rather more curious about him. The way he restored that old-fashioned country and the way he used the Royal Broadcast … I wonder what sort of world he used to live in. I wanna go and meet with him. … Colbert-han, am I cold-hearted?”

A pair of uneasy eyes peeked out from under the hood. Those teary eyes looked just like an abandoned puppy. Seeing Roroa like that, Colbert shook his head, no!

“Princess is not like Gaius, you truly were thinking for this country! That’s why you feel closer to Soma who also thinks for the people rather than Gaius or Julius who puts policy and ideology first! That is the sign that you’re the true Princess of this country!”

Colbert rattled on and on, and Roroa who should’ve had a look like an abandoned puppy, said:

“Really? Good then”

Then she giggled.

(W, wait, was that crocodile tears!?)

Of course, even the gentle Colbert was angered, but he held himself back. That’s because both ways are possible with Roroa. This girl is capable of both acting like she was sad or acting like she wasn’t sad even though she really was. Only Roroa herself knew what was inside her heart. Colbert had known her long enough to understand that, being one of the few people who shared his economic sense. Which is why Colbert refrained from saying anything.

Looking at Colbert, Roroa smiled. She took his arm and began to walk.

“Come now, we have to hurry as well. Soma is moving a lot faster than I thought”
“O, okay!”

As she walked, Roroa turned her head back. She saw Soma’s face in the projection and smiled.

(I’m not letting you quickie this country an run away when you please. I’m going to get you to take proper responsibility. Be ready, Soma♪)