When Al was making his move inside the castle.

Finne and the others were heading to join Emperor Johannes.

The secret escape route in the throne room led to the upper layer of the Imperial Capital and their group is currently moving toward the middle layer.

However, the Emperor is currently at the east gate. It is even further beyond the outermost layer of the Imperial Capital.

Moreover, Gordon has laid a two-fold siege against the Emperor.

The first is the one encircling the east gate. The second one is in the middle layer to prevent anyone who tries to bring reinforcement to the Emperor.

Finne’s group is approaching that.

“Breaking through forcefully here would be a bad idea as expected……”

Mia who always prefers facing the enemy head-on muttered so when she saw the enemy’s defensive line is manned by a large number of soldiers.

While smiling bitterly at Mia, Finne thinks of a way to get past them.

If they cause a scene here, it will be difficult for them to go any further past this place.

After all, this is not the enemy’s final line of defense. According to the information from the scout, she knows that the Emperor has established a base at the east gate. It is impossible that their encirclement has reached all the way to this place given the distance between here and the east gate. With that reasoning, there will surely be another defensive line near the vicinity of the east gate.

If they choose to break through them by force now, they will definitely get caught inside a pincer attack.

That’s why they must slip through here unnoticed.

However, it would be extremely difficult to get away without getting caught with Rupert, Alois, Mitsuba, and Gianna in their group.

This number of people will make them stand out too much.

Mia and the Imperial Knights were assigned to guard them but they are only their escorts. It would be unwise to have them fight a whole army.

Then what should they do.

[If it’s Al, what would he do], Finne starts thinking.

Al is good at threading a narrow path even if their options are limited. He does this by observing both his allies and enemies and accurately analyzing the situation.

Their quality aside, the enemy’s number is overwhelming. On the other hand, albeit few, their escorts are of high quality.

Their first goal is to get Rupert to Emperor Johannes. The secondary goal is to prevent anyone from becoming a hostage.

Thinking so, Finne came up with an idea.

“Your Highness Rupert. May I talk to you for a second?”

“Wh, what is it? Finne.”

“Will Your Highness be okay even without me or Mia-san?”

For a moment, Rupert didn’t understand what she meant.

However, Mitsuba and Alois immediately noticed.

Mitsuba turned her worried gaze toward Finne but Finne smiled at her.

“Our priority is to get Your Highness Rupert to His Majesty’s side. I will act as a decoy for you.”

“A, A decoy!? Why!? I am only carrying a fake you know!? There’s no use bringing a fake to Father right!”

“Your Highness, have you forget? What you are carrying is the real one. You must bring it to His Majesty at any cost.”

This is the real jewel.

Remembering what Al said to him, Rupert stared at the bag.

He promised him to act with that in mind.

However, Rupert was strongly reluctant to put someone’s life at risk to deliver something he knew to be fake.

Finne then gently wraps her hands around Rupert’s.

“I am very happy that Your Highness worries about me but this is the only way. I am certain that they will chase after me but Mia-san will be there for me. Moreover……..I also have a place I wish to go.”

“A place you want to go?”

“Yes. I don’t know whether it is appropriate for me to go there but I think that it will be worth a try. That’s why I and Mia-san will take our own separate action. Please use that opening to get away.”

“But……if something happens to Finne……what should I say to Arnold-aniue……”

“It will be okay. Everyone is doing what they can. Al-sama too and Leo-sama as well. Your Highness’s brothers and sister are doing their best. Your Highness has to do your best too.”

After he got persuaded by Finne, Rupert reluctantly agreed and gave her a small nod.

Finne then looks towards Mia.

“I am sorry but may I count on you?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. Let’s head to the center of the middle layer. We are going to break through their siege.”

“It will be quite a chase you know……”

“The more attention they pay to us, the easier the others can move. Now, Your Highness. Please do your best to escape. It does take courage to confront your enemy but you also need to be brave to run away as well. Killing your emotions and making the right decision is very difficult……but Your Highness is Al-sama’s younger brother. I am sure that Your Highness can do it.”

Saying so, Finne started running.

In response, Mia shoots an arrow toward the sky.

The arrow scattered and accurately hit the soldiers, making an opening in their defensive line.

“Wh, What!?”

“Magic!?”

“It’s, It’s an attack! Enemy attack!!”

As the soldiers shout so, Finne runs through the opening together with Mia.

The soldiers who saw her figure then shouted.

“Blau Mowe!? It’s the Blau Mowe!! Catch her!!”

“It seems that you are quite popular, Finne-sama……”

“I usually do not like being shown favors by strangers but…..I am grateful for that now.”

Saying so, Finne smiles and continues to run with Mia.

While thinking what a bigshot she is, Mia blows away the approaching soldiers.

“My arrows are wasted on you people(Desuwa)! Don’t come after us again(Desuwa)!”

“She got a skilled escort with her! She speaks funny too!”

“Wha!? Did you just make fun of my way of speaking!? YOU!? It’s you right! I will remember your face! I will blow you face up later!!”

While shouting so, Finne and Mia head to the center of the middle layer.

The soldiers’ eyes were completely focused on Finne’s group. After all, Finne is that famous.

One could say that she is great as a decoy.

“Your Highness…..we have to move as well.”

“Un……”

Prompted by Alois, Rupert turned his eyes away from Finne and Mia and started moving.

The enemy’s perfect line of defense was breached and Rupert’s group easily broke through it.

Then, while Finne’s group is attracting the enemy’s attention, Rupert’s group went from the middle layer to the outer layer.

Since the first encirclement is focusing their effort on the Emperor at the east gate and the second encirclement lured away by Finne, their journey was surprisingly smooth.

However, bad things can happen when you least expect it.

When entering the main street, Rupert saw a group of people fighting in a distance.

“That’s!? Her Highness Christa’s group!?”

Alois shouts.

Christa’s group seemed to have been discovered and now engaging the enemy.

The problem is that their enemies are not ordinary soldiers.

“Dragon Knights…..”

The Dragon Knights of the United Kingdom are racing through the sky.

Christa’s group is under attack.

I have to help them.

When Rupert thought so, a person he didn’t expect to be there came into his sight.

At the place between Rupert and Christa’s group.

A small number of cavalry arrived through the alley.

Leading them was a big man with red hair.

“Gordon-aniue……”

Then, after he swept his eyes toward Christa’s group, Gordon glanced at Rupert who is in the opposite direction.

Gordon and Rupert met eyes for a moment.

At that moment, Rupert’s body was frozen with fear.

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