Calvin, whose custody was entrusted to Liam, had been thrown onto a pioneer planet owned by the Banfield family.

It couldn't be called a well-equipped environment for the crown prince of a great nation to live in.

Calvin would never be able to leave the pioneer planet again, but...

"Calvin-san, it's about time we wrap up."

"Is it that time already?"

"Yes, you've worked too hard today."

As Calvin got off the heavy machinery and checked the time, it was past five in the evening.

Looking around, there was nothing but heavy machinery lined up, the area still under development.

A man younger than Calvin asked about his plans for the rest of the day.

"Are you heading straight home again today?"

Wiping his sweat, Calvin nodded shyly.

His once-long hair was now short, and his beard was shaved.

Lately, he had started to get a tan, and his skin had darkened from the sun.

"My kid is so noisy, always pestering me to play. I'm taking them to the amusement park on my day off tomorrow, so if I don't rest today, my body won't be able to take it."

"You're quite the family man."

"I was neglecting my family until a little while ago. This is my way of making it up to them."

"You, the devoted husband, Calvin-san?"

"A lot of things happened in the past."

When Calvin was placed in the Banfield family's custody, many of the women he had been married to requested a divorce.

This was because they all dreaded the life of hardship they knew awaited them with the Banfield family.

However, among them was one woman who followed him, bringing their child along.

The woman Calvin had fallen in love with and proposed to was originally a commoner.

She alone followed Calvin with their child.

At first, fearing how they would be treated by the Banfield family, Calvin refused to bring his family, but his wife, whose position was weak, insisted on coming, saying they would be together no matter where they went.

When she said it was better for the family to be together, Calvin, though feeling pathetic, wept with joy.

Therefore, he now spends his days prioritizing his family.

"Calvin-san, not joining the drinking party today either?"

"His stories are so interesting, we'd love for you to join."

"Ah, that guy has a kind of intellectual air about him, doesn't he? He can do all sorts of things, and there's even a rumor he's actually a noble from somewhere."

"No way. Someone like that wouldn't come to a pioneer planet."

"It's not that unbelievable, you know. There are plenty of nobles who run away for various reasons. Maybe he's one of them, someone who got fed up with high society and escaped?"

"Huh, so we're working with a noble."

"Well, it's just a rumor."

The Banfield domain's citizens were unaware that the man working alongside them was the former crown prince of the Empire.

◇

On his way home from work, Calvin bought a souvenir and returned to his house.

It was a detached house, terribly small compared to the palace, and even smaller than Calvin's own room had been.

When he returned, his wife came from the kitchen to the entrance.

"Welcome home. Dinner is ready."

"It smells wonderful."

As he entered the house, his children leaped at him.

"Papa, what's the souvenir!"

"Hey, hey, I'm dirty from work, so save the hugs for later. The souvenir is donuts."

"Yay!"

He watched as the children clattered off to the living room, carrying the box of donuts.

Watching them, he felt a pang of guilt.

(I wonder how my ex-wives and children who remained on the capital planet are doing?)

Concerned about the family that wasn't here, Calvin spoke with his wife.

"How was your day?"

His wife, sensing what he meant by the vague question, answered.

"An investigator from the Banfield family came by at noon. We just talked, and that was it."

"Any talk about the future?"

"Nothing in particular."

Although Calvin and his family were in the custody of the Banfield family, their lifestyle was that of an ordinary citizen of the domain.

Having received a high-level education, Calvin had many choices when looking for work and was spending his time with relative freedom.

It was true they couldn't live in luxury, but for Calvin and his family, they were, in a sense, living an ideal life.

In the palace, he needed permission for everything and always had to be mindful of those around him.

But here, there was none of that.

He couldn't live lavishly, but it was better than a constrained life—that was Calvin's true feeling.

But that was precisely why he also felt anxious.

"Hmm, normally, I'd think it would be more... strict?"

"A former crown prince living the life of a common citizen—perhaps Duke Banfield considers that punishment enough?"

Calvin found himself strangely convinced by his wife's opinion.

He had been Liam's enemy, but it was true that Liam had an air of integrity about him.

Ironically, a part of Calvin had trusted Liam.

"I thought we'd face all sorts of hardships. It's certainly been tough in many ways, but honestly, I feel more at ease now."

"Is that so?"

"I don't have to worry about the succession struggle or all that other stuff. If I'd known it would be like this, I would have admitted defeat much sooner."

In the end, Calvin felt it was for the best that he didn't have to bear the weight of the Empire.

Under the Banfield family's watch, Calvin and his family were enjoying an ordinary life.

◇

The territory of the Exner barony.

The planet, having received support from the Banfield family, had undergone a development so remarkable it was almost unrecognizable.

However, Baron Exner continued to use the same mansion he had always used.

Unlike Liam, he didn't have a new one prepared and was living a frugal life.

Kurt, too, was living this life without finding it a hardship.

Right now, the three of them were taking a walk in the mansion's courtyard.

Frolicking before Kurt and the others in a one-piece dress was—Number 3588.

Kurt called out her name.

"Lily, don't go too far."

"Okay~!"

Though she looked like a young woman who had just reached adulthood, [Lily] was like a small child.

She ran around playing, not caring about getting covered in mud.

Watching her from beside Kurt was his fiancée, Cecilia.

She was currently staying with the Exner family, and their wedding was approaching.

Cecilia was a gentle woman, and she watched over Lily with a warm gaze.

"Oh my, Lily is such a tomboy. She reminds me of Lysithea when she was little."

Kurt gave Cecilia a troubled smile.

"I'm sorry. It was my own selfish whim to take her in."

Hearing this, Cecilia shook her head.

"She's an orphan you found on the battlefield, isn't she? I believe it's the proper conduct for a nobleman."

Cecilia didn't seem to mind.

Part of it was that he hadn't told her Lily was a clone created by Cleo, but Cecilia was fundamentally good-natured, much like Kurt.

She fully believed that Kurt had taken in the pitiful Lily.

However, it seemed a slight suspicion remained.

"Could it be that she's your type, Lord Kurt?"

"Well... I can't deny that, I suppose?"

Kurt didn't hide anything and told Cecilia his feelings.

"It's true that I wanted to save her. Her background is quite complicated, though. Besides, she doesn't have long to live. I want her to be happy, at least for the short time she has."

"Are you going to make her your concubine?"

"Of course not. I think of her as a dear little sister."

When Kurt said that, Cecilia seemed relieved and let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm a little happy to hear that."

"Eh?"

"It's embarrassing to say, but I was a little jealous of Lily. Since you brought her here, Lord Kurt, I was worried I might be neglected."

Although it was a political marriage, Cecilia was trying to fall in love with Kurt—no, she had already fallen in love with him.

Kurt felt apologetic.

"That won't happen."

(--I'm sorry. I can't betray Liam. If Liam wishes it, I'll probably end up fighting your brother. In the end, I will betray you one day.)

Watching the happily running Lily, Kurt grew angry at what Cleo had done.

(Betraying Liam, I can still understand. It's infuriating, but that's politics. I can't accept it, but I'll endure it. However, there are still lines that must not be crossed. His Highness Cleo crossed them so easily.)

To defeat Liam, he created clones and relied on artificial intelligence.

Confiscating the nobles' assets was also going too far.

Kurt could see a glimpse of foolishness in Cleo.

(If His Highness Cleo ascends to the throne as he is, the Empire will surely fall into turmoil.)

As he was worrying about the future, Lily fell.

Kurt rushed over in a panic and helped Lily up.

"See, this is what happens when you get too excited."

"Ehehe, I fell."

"Come over here."

Kurt and Cecilia took Lily to a nearby water feature to wash off the mud.

It was a place like a fountain; when she entered the water, the dirt was broken down. And yet, as soon as she stepped out, she was instantly dry.

Lily flapped her hands.

"This is amazing! I'm all clean now."

Seeing Lily like this, Cecilia was a little bewildered.

"Is it amazing? I thought these were everywhere?"

To the bewildered Cecilia, Kurt briefly explained Lily's circumstances.

"Lily grew up in a special place, so there are many everyday things like this that she doesn't know."

"Oh—I'm sorry. That was thoughtless of me."

When Cecilia apologized, Lily shook her head.

"No, it's okay. Because, you see, Lily had Mr. Hat with her."

"Mr. Hat?"

When Cecilia tilted her head and looked at him, Kurt shook his head to indicate he didn't know either.

"I think it was a caretaker at the place she grew up, but it seems Lily doesn't know the details either."

Lily desperately talked about Mr. Hat.

"You see, Mr. Hat knows so much! He helped me when I was in trouble and healed me when I was suffering. Ehehe, Kurt gave me a name, so one day I'll have Mr. Hat call me by my name, not my number."

Kurt gently patted Lily's head.

"That's right. It would be nice if he calls you that one day."

"Yeah! Mr. Hat was my only ally. But... how can I meet him?"

"Hmm..."

Kurt folded his arms and thought.

(The facility where Lily grew up was probably top secret, and they might have already destroyed the evidence. This Mr. Hat might not even be around anymore. Even if he were alive, the chances of meeting him are almost zero.)

The possibility that Cleo left behind evidence of touching the taboo was low, and even if he did, it wouldn't be in the same place anymore.

So, Kurt told Lily.

"Shall we pray that you can meet him someday?"

"Pray?"

Lily clasped her hands together as she knew from her knowledge.

Then, she suddenly started looking around restlessly.

"What's wrong, Lily?"

"You see, you see! Just now, there was a doggy! He said he'd deliver it!"

"A doggy?"

Kurt looked around, but there was no sign of a dog anywhere.

◇

Somewhere in space.

The Guide, in the form of just a hat, was shedding tears.

The tears he shed became orbs and drifted around him.

"To think I can't even curse Liam. Before, something like mere mithril would have never repelled it."

His own power had fallen considerably, while Liam, conversely, had grown even stronger than before.

The gap between them was only widening.

"I won't give up. I will never give up. Liam, if I can just crush you, I can be revived and plunge this world into the depths of misery. If only you weren't here."

As the Guide muttered his resentment, a dog appeared behind him.

It held a knife in its mouth.

When it released the knife, it flew towards the Guide.

That knife was—a knife imbued with Lily's feelings of gratitude.

The knife pierced the Guide's hat.

"Gyaaaah!! Th-this feeling of gratitude is from Liam!? N-no, that's not it. Could this be—Number 3588!? Why is your gratitude reaching meeee! Ah, no. Don't pierce so deeply! My main body will split! It's going to split!"

Watching the Guide struggle desperately to pull out the knife, the dog, seemingly satisfied, vanished somewhere.

"After I looked after you so much, how dare you betray me, Number 3588!!"

Only the Guide's scream echoed through the vacuum of space.