Rosetta's spirit was on the verge of breaking.

Like her grandmother and mother before her, Rosetta's spirit was being worn down by her life at the academy.

"--I--I wanted to get promoted and escape this miserable life..."

She wanted to escape this endless hell.

But reality was cruel.

Every day, she was shown the difference between herself and those around her.

By the time her second year was ending, she couldn't even see the backs of her classmates anymore.

She didn't understand what was being said in class.

In martial arts, she couldn't even lay a hand on girls smaller than her.

No matter how hard she studied or practiced, she couldn't catch up.

She began to doubt if they were even the same species.

She hugged her knees on her bed.

"I hate this. If I have to feel this miserable, I wish I'd never been born."

She remembered the sad faces of her grandmother and mother when they sent her off to the academy.

They looked so pained.

Even so, the two of them had no choice but to send her, and they had told Rosetta, "It's okay to give up."

That was unbearable for Rosetta.

She hated admitting defeat.

But after coming to the academy, she realized the reality that she couldn't even compete, let alone lose.

Rosetta's spirit was on the verge of breaking.

Anything could make it snap.

The teachers' lounge at the academy.

The teachers were talking.

"Regarding Ms. Claudia..."

Mr. John, who was consulted, was also struggling with how to respond.

"It's painful to watch. If possible, please pay attention to her."

At the academy, Rosetta wasn't being actively bullied by the staff.

However, there was the matter of her past circumstances.

More importantly, her level was clearly different from the other students.

It wasn't her fault, but simply a matter of financial resources and social standing.

Therefore, she couldn't be blamed.

In fact, they knew she was trying her best.

That's why their responses were always so lenient.

They didn't get angry if she couldn't do something.

And they didn't scold her much.

To Rosetta, this felt like being looked down upon.

Another teacher said,

"Why don't you let her rest for a while?"

Mr. John shook his head.

"We've received complaints from the officials monitoring her. It's difficult to do anything further."

The people who had been monitoring the Claudia family for many years were sadistic.

They were the kind of people who thought about how to break someone's spirit.

Such individuals were gathered and continued their work.

If they tried to let Rosetta rest, they would receive complaints from the monitors.

"Are you defying the orders of the late Emperor?"

Threatened in such a way, the teachers couldn't resist.

Therefore, they were also forbidden from helping her.

"Isn't there anything we can do?"

The teachers couldn't do anything.

A teacher rushed into the teachers' lounge.

"Th-this is terrible!"

Mr. John turned his face.

"What is it?"

"It's about the next mobile knight tournament! Lord Derrick has entered, but Lord Liam has also entered!"

Upon hearing this, the teachers stood up.

"--We must stop it immediately."

Liam had injured Derrick before.

Liam, usually a calm person, was known for thoroughly crushing pirates.

If Liam and Derrick were to fight with mobile knights, it would be a disaster.

"We'll have Lord Liam withdraw. If not--"

However, the teacher who brought the information shook his head.

"Lord Derrick came and insisted that she must participate. He said if she didn't, he wouldn't forgive us."

Mr. John decided to report it to his superior immediately.

"What on earth are they thinking?!"

The one who received the report from the academy was the Prime Minister.

"--Hmm, interesting. Shall we let it proceed?"

And the subordinate who brought the report was--Tia.

She had officially been assigned as an official to the Prime Minister's staff.

"Lord Liam will also be pleased."

As he watched Tia smile, the Prime Minister invited her to become a direct subordinate of the Empire.

This was proof of Tia's exceptional competence.

"By the way, Christiana, have you considered becoming a direct subordinate of the Empire?"

Tia replied immediately.

"There's no need to consider it. I refuse."

Hearing this, the Prime Minister backed down.

"That's a shame. I wanted as many competent subordinates as possible."

"My only lord is Lord Liam."

"To inspire such loyalty in a capable knight. I see, you are different from the rest."

"Of course."

Tia, who had been working as an official, was scouted by the Prime Minister due to her abilities.

The Prime Minister regretted that if she had worked professionally for a hundred years, she would have become a reliable subordinate.

"--Now, this means the Banfield family and the Barkley family will be in a full-blown conflict. Are you prepared?"

Tia had no doubt of their victory.

"Of course. Lord Liam's decisions are never wrong. Even if they were, I will make sure we win."

(She's reliable, but her faith is a bit too blind.)

The Prime Minister felt a sense of danger from Tia and thought it was the right decision not to recruit her.

"Very good. Go ahead and cause as much trouble as you want. The Empire will accept the victor."

It was a battle between the Banfield family and the Barkley family.

Who would win?

Even the Prime Minister didn't know.

(In terms of scale, Barkley has an overwhelming advantage. However, the Count has always won battles against the odds. Personally, I want to believe it will be the same this time.)

Although he was cheering for the Banfield family in his heart, he couldn't serve as the Empire's Prime Minister if he did.

(Either way, it's going to be a long fight from now on.)

It was a conflict between nobles.

First, they would clash quietly.

Those who would benefit from the Barkley family's victory would surely support that fight.

If that happened, Liam would have no chance of winning.

No matter how strong Liam was, he would lose.

(The question is whether the spirited individuals will support the Count.)

If there was a path to victory, it would require the support of spirited nobles and merchants who opposed the Barkley family.

"I-I'm so sorry!"

Brian, apologizing on the monitor.

I listened to his report, rubbing my sleepy eyes.

"The head of the Claudia family, and the previous head as well, doubt Lord Liam's intentions, so the engagement negotiations are not progressing."

As I watched Brian wipe his sweat, I thought.

Brian is a man of gentle demeanor.

He wouldn't negotiate with a condescending attitude like "I'll deign to engage you," nor would he allow it.

If that's the case, do they genuinely hate me?

Even if they've fallen on hard times, the Claudia family, with their unyielding spirit, is the best!

"Continue the negotiations politely. You need to negotiate as if you're slowly melting and loosening them. Right, Brian?"

"Of-of course. Bu-but-- the Claudia family says that even if Lord Liam takes a liking to Rosetta, there's no reason to make her his legal wife."

It can't be helped that he fell in love at first sight, but are they playing games by suggesting marriage? This is a ducal family with a long history!

--Is that the kind of sentiment they have?

The Claudia family--you truly know how to entertain me.

"Lord Liam, do you truly intend to take Rosetta as your wife?"

Seeing Brian's worried expression, I understood what he wanted to say.

He was probably wondering if a corrupt lord like me was fit to take in the daughter of the Claudia family, who were like paragons of justice with their steel spirits.

The Claudia family is an amazing lineage.

They defied a persistent and wicked emperor, and endured millennia of harassment without breaking.

Furthermore, they have a female head--they are probably the kind of people who think men are trash.

Subjugating such women would surely be fun.

It doesn't matter how long it takes.

Rather, I want to see how long they can endure.

"Brian, are you dissatisfied with my decision?"

I generally don't forgive those who complain about my decisions.

However, Brian is like a retainer of a hereditary house.

I'll allow a little bit of complaint.

"--To be blunt, I am dissatisfied. The Claudia family's debt is worse than the previous Banfield family's. Even if we form a connection, we gain too little."

Money can be managed.

In fact, Amagi said that if development continues smoothly, repayment on their own would be possible.

If Amagi says so, it's definitely true.

"This is a decided matter."

When I conveyed that, Brian's shoulders slumped.

"Understood. However, personally--I, Brian, support Lord Liam."

I cut off the communication.

I stood up and stretched.

"Brian is starting to understand my feelings too. He's a bit off, but that's to be expected from Brian."

Around that time, tests were being conducted on prototype machines at the Seventh Weapons Factory.

Marie was piloting one of the luxuriously built prototype machines.

In space--she was speeding through an area filled with debris.

Nias, watching from the ship, blushed dreamily.

"It's good. My mobile knight, made with such luxury, is the best."

The machine, made with abundant rare metals without regard for budget, was closer to a work of art than a prototype.

Marie, having finished the test, returned.

"Nias, your reaction speed is a bit slow. Do you think Lord Liam will be satisfied with this?"

And her skill as a test pilot was also first-class.

While there were many issues as a test pilot, Marie was undoubtedly an ace.

She was a valuable pilot who could maneuver difficult machines as if they were extensions of her own limbs.

Nias, operating a tablet device, replied.

"I'll be careful about Avido's reaction speed."

"I want to borrow this unit for experiments."

"You're making multiple units of the same kind, aren't you? Don't be so greedy, or I'll have your head removed. By the way, I hate the color of the prototype. Paint it white and purple for my exclusive use. It's my personal color."

To dye the exclusive machine with her own colors.

It was the privilege of an ace pilot.

As Nias was about to arrange it--.

"Oh? Marie, unfortunately, permission is denied. It's set to Christiana's personal color."

Then, Marie's demeanor completely changed.

Her polite tone from before suddenly became--.

"That minced meat woman! She used my personal color without permission! Should I turn her back into minced meat, that bitch!"

She began to curse Tia vulgarly.

"Uh, um--Marie-san?"

"Oh, excuse me. By the way, how brazen can that woman be? A woman who calls herself the leading knight is not worthy of Lord Liam. Don't you think so?"

It wasn't a self-proclaimed title, but Liam's decision--yet Marie wasn't convinced.

(How should I answer this? More importantly, if this person--finds out that Lord Liam has decided on an engagement, will she go berserk?)

However, she couldn't not tell her.

"Um, more importantly--it seems Lord Liam found a woman he's interested in at the academy. He says he wants to get engaged to her, and is currently negotiating with her family."

"What! Wh-who is it! It's not easy to find someone worthy of Lord Liam, even if you search the entire Empire!"

Nias was astonished at how highly Marie evaluated Liam.

"Um--it's Rosetta of the Duke Claudia family."

Upon hearing that, Marie shouted.

"That's wonderful! I must prepare the celebration immediately!"

"Huh? Aren't you angry?"

"As expected, Lord Liam was my ideal lord. I never imagined he would choose the Claudia family--this must be fate."

There was no answer.

Leaving Marie to her own excitement, Nias operated the tablet device.

What appeared was Avido, which was undergoing modifications.

It was being modified using a large amount of rare metals.

She drooled at its appearance.

"Ahhh, it's magnificent. Especially these lines and this gimmick are the best. I'll nuzzle it when I get back."

Nias felt something akin to affection for Avido, which was being modified with all the resources of the Seventh Weapons Factory.

--Close to maternal love.

The other staff members watched Marie and Nias, who were getting excited, with disgusted looks.

"Are those two okay?"

"They're lost in their fantasies. Don't talk to them."

"Nias-san was talking to Avido like it was her own child."

The modification of Avido was proceeding smoothly.

On the tablet device, Nias was nuzzling it.

"Ahhh, the shine of reinforced mithril drives me mad."

Brian (´・ω・｀) "The engagement with the Claudia family is tough--but if Lord Liam fell in love at first sight, it can't be helped, I, Brian, think so."

Brian (｀・ω・´) "Therefore, I, Brian, will do my best for Lord Liam."