He seemed to understand by the expression on Hector's face. For Hector who burned with sadness, loneliness, and hatred this was probably the happiest time for him now.

Might
...Hector, I'm going soon.

Might slowly stood up.

Hector
...That would be best.

Might
...Well then, Hector, bye.

He bid farewell to Hector with a light wave.

Hector
...Yes... bye.

However, they both understood well their was no chance of them meeting again.

On the way back to the lodging house, Might collided with a man's shadow that flew around the hallway corner.

Boy
You, you rude idiot, watch where you're going!

Might
Ah, I, I'm sorry.

And, from behind them a masculine voice was chasing after the boy.

Man's Voice
Prince, Prince Werne~, where are you~~...

Boy
This, this is bad...! Hey, you, come here for a moment!

Might
Eh? Ah, umm, for a moment...

The boy pulled him behind one of the pillars.

Man
This is ridiculous, I thought for sure he came here... Really, where in the world did you go? Prince~~...

Boy
Huu... He finally went, really, Fritz is unbearably persistent.

Might
Ah, umm, is it possible, you are the prince...?

Werne
What do you mean "possibly"! Indeed, I am this country's first prince, Werne Claudius, know that, you rude idiot!

Might
E, excuse me, Prince...

Werne
...By the way, who are you. What are you doing here?

Might
*I... N, no, I'm Might. I belong to the punitive force against the "silver chaos".
*Might changes from "Ore", a very masculine way of saying "I", to "Boku", a more polite way.

Werne
I see, someone from the punitive force...

That second, a thought flashed through Werne's head.

Werne
That's right! ...Hey, you, hide me with that cloth around your waist when we go out.

Might
Eeh...?

Werne
I want to try and go to town for a little while, but if we leave the royal palace, it'll be annoying if the people around us are troublesome. I need you to cooperate with me for a bit until we get out.

As he said that, Werne quickly removed Might's loincloth, and covered his head with it.

Might
Wa, wait a minute, Prince...!

Werne
Huhuhu... It's a splendid strategy, with this no one will guess I'm the prince.

Might
(It's pretty obvious but...)

Werne
Well, let's go, stop slacking!

Man's Voice
...What are you planning on doing? Your Highness.

Werne
Eek?!

Someone spoke suddenly from behind them, and Werne became disoriented.

Werne
I, I'm not that person, you must have me mistaken for someone else! His Highness went that way awhile ago...

Man
Your Highness, Fritz is searching for you... Stop playing around and making him wait, please hurry back to your room.

Werne reluctantly removed the loincloth and showed himself.

Werne
...My my, you saw through me, as I'd expect, Lorence. It can't be helped, I'll give up on going out today.

Lorence
Yes... That would be best.

Werne looked bored as he left the scene.

Might
(Lorence? Could he possibly be the Lorence...)

Lorence
...You were unfortunate. But, please excuse me, I don't have any ill will in the corridor.

Might
Ah, umm... Could you be... Lorence-san, the leader of the... Knights of the Court?

Since the time Might was a student at the training school, Lorence Lancaster' s, the leader of the Knights of the Court, his fencing ability and pure character were widely known.

Lorence
? ...Certainly, I am Lorence... And you are?

Might
I am Might of the punitive force. Umm... I want to ask you a question.

Lorence
Me...?

Might applied for an audience with the king through Lorence. By any means, he wanted to speak about the event of the financial affairs department 7 years ago that Hector told him about.

When Might met with King Sergei Claudius, he told him all the stories he had heard from Hector.

Sergei finished listening to all of Might's stories, nodding his head deeply several times.

King
I see... As I thought.

Might
Eh...?

King
I've heard stories of the financial bureau not being good, and for a long time I've heard rumors... About that event 7 years ago.

Lorence who was holding back continued nearby.

Lorence
Though we kept a secret investigation, we couldn't grasp any positive proof easily. I never thought the recent assassination were related to that...

King
Might, was it... Can I trust you with this matter? We must sweep away injustice in the royal palace. ...In the name of the king.

Might
Y, yes... That...

King
Understood, that man called "Hector" doesn't seem to be bad.

Might
Th, thank you very much.

Might was convinced that his own actions were just. On the other hand, he continued to believe firmly that the kingdom was righteous, and his feelings became warm in his chest.

King
Nevertheless...

As he said that, the King took a long hard look at Might's face.

Might
(What is his Majesty doing... Is there something about my face?)

King
...Nevermind, I'm sorry, you look a lot like someone I knew.

Might
Y, yes...

King
...Judging from appearances, you're about the same age as Werne. It's quite praiseworthy for someone to join the punitive force at such a young age.

Might
I, it's, it's nothing...

King
If only Werne was as level-headed as you. He still has a ways to go before he grows up...

Might
...

He couldn't say anything following that, he took in the close words from the King, and hung his head as he listened...

That night, Might was in his room of the lodging house, when he noticed some noise outside the window.

Might
Hnn? ...What's that?

He took a stance and watched the window. Though he never thought so, it was because demons might attack.

Might
(...It's not good to think too much...)

And, that moment. Werne jumped into the room from the window.

Might
P, Prince...?!

Werne
So, this was your room? Ok, I'm going to hide here for awhile with you.

Might
H, hide... Did something happen?

Werne
No, there's a party in the royal palace, but I hate the formalities. I had to run away because it was getting troublesome.

Might
(Wh, what is that...)

Werne
...Ah~ ah, I can be like you, too. I can go anywhere I want when I like.

Might
(...I thought I would envy the Prince for being this way, but...)

Being raised in an orphanage and training school, he couldn't understand the dissatisfaction Werne felt as a prince. His face was seen through, and Werne's expression became sullen.

Werne
Ah... Were you just thinking that I was a selfish person?

Might
Eh? ...N, no, it's nothing like that...

Werne
...It's all right. I'm getting used to people talking behind my back.

Might
Y, yeah...

Werne
...I may certainly be rich, but I don't have the freedom to go where I want to go or do what I want to do. I want to see the world on the outside more freely...

Might
Prince...

Werne
So that's why I envy you. You have freedom, I want to have freedom too.

Might thought he understood Werne's feelings just a little. He didn't understand with his body, but he understood having his freedom taken away.

Might came to want to make Werne feel at least an air of freedom. Of course, he couldn't directly take him out. So, he opened his mouth.

Might
...Prince, have you been to the Silver Training School?

Werne
No, I know it's near here, but I haven't gone. What kind of place is it? Tell me.

Might told about various memories and friends at the training school and orphanage, because Werne begged so. Even if it was natural to Might, it was a whole new world of adventure to Werne. His eyes brightened up as he listened to the stories.

...The stories that Might told excited Werne very much. After that, Werne would visit Might whenever he found free time.

Several days after that, Might was summoned to the King's room. The King he was meeting with was postured with half his body raised on the bed.

Might
Your Majesty, are you feeling ill...?

King
Hmm... Forgive me, for not being in good condition...

The servants had cleared out of the room, leaving only the two of them.

King
The truth is, Might... I have a fatal disease... I don't seem to have much more time.

Might
Eh...?!

King
Right now, only Lorence and a few senior statesmen know. It's useless to tell others.

Might
It, it can't... You Majesty...

King
My older brother fell to this disease too... There's no mistake. It's already been determined.

Might
Your Majesty...

King
So, Might... I want to entrust you as Werne's bodyguard. I want you to be by Werne to support him when I'm not here.

Might
M, me, Werne's bodyguard?

King
Up until now, he hasn't had anyone of the same age group to call a friend... So, he'll be excited if you're there...

Might
...

Might was at a loss to answer. He didn't hate Werne, and he wanted to become powerful. And he was worried about the king's illness he just heard about a little bit ago. But, if he left the punitive force he would lose his clues to find Adonis, too.

Might
I, I...

The king stood up from the bed, and gently clapped Might's shoulder.

King
...I know you're searching for you friend, I don't expect an answer right now. Just...

Might
(Eh...?)

The King pulled Might's face to him, and gently kissed his lips.

Might
(...!)

Might instinctively stiffened at the sudden incident.

King
I'm sorry to do that so suddenly... I want you to be by my side as Werne's bodyguard, Might. Please think it over thoroughly...

After he left ahead of the king, Might felt like he was in some sort of a dream.

Might
(His Majesty wants me to do those sort of things...)

His heartbeat quickens.

He's surprised.