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Chapter 40

A maid writes in her diary about her Kiliko was invited to a banquet and how her wrist has yet to heal. Then she leaves to clean Orcelito's bedroom.

At the Western side of Azelprade in the Baltic Region at Galt Blitz in the Mare Road Sea, Lord Orbus is bugging about all the lords dying around him. He thinks he might be next before his attendant comes with another message. Still freaking out, he calms himself because he's a noble; he's too rich for anxiety. The letter he gets is a record (most likely from the maid) on Orcelito from autumn of last year. Him not being much of a reader, he gives it to his attendant to summarize. The attendant then tells him they have almost arrived at Lord Baltic's villa which they will go to on a small boat.

The two lords greet each other warmly, Lord Baltic stating that Lord Tein, Lord Arthur, the Rubeli Duchess and Lord Katerina are all waiting inside. Once inside, he asks everyone their opinions on the Neue Favrille case. They obviously want the medicine to stop because they didn't sign off on it and it costs them money. While they trade theories for why this is happening in the first place, Orbus wonders if he should tell them about Orcelito's sickness. He does...for the glory. The gathered lords know they don't have any real evidence but they will take advantage as soon as possible...

Orbus goes to bed a hopeful man, hoping he can step out one day as Belca's guardian...

Meanwhile, Prince Belca's group reaches the Stone Capital. A guy named Kareru Teio, claiming to serve as the Hero King's spirit, talks them into lowering the gate. They get let in but they're on a time limit: the highness is having a conference with Orbus.

Londalea's retainer goes out to meet them and apologize for the wait. Also...Orcelito doesn't want to see him. On account of politics and all that. Belca knows there's a heavy risk in going somewhere where he is persona non grata...but he still wants to talk to Orcelito himself. So it's out the door into the rain. Or it would be, if it wasn't for the fact that the rain caused a flood from the river.

Meanwhile, Musca's lady-in-waiting is worrying over how a simple maid knows how to write a letter and seal it with wax. That's not exactly a peasant skill...Musca figures out that she's worrying about the letter rather quickly and tells her that she will protect her no matter what. The lady-in-waiting is touched.

At the Regis Solaris, the two confront the maid and...invite her to tea. She reveals the recipient of the letters as Lilia, who is writing love letters to some guy named Lamuzesu. Musca then wants to send a crown of leaves to her brother.

Meanwhile, a guard ends the chapter sneaking through the castle to find the Lagen's family's secrets.

Chapter 41

We open on Captain Rovisco about to set sail despite his bosses' misgivings, his lover coming with him. Turns out there's a mysterious disease going around on his home island that affects the genomes and reduced the life expectancy by 60%. The birth rates have also declined due to the genes responsible for reproduction going with the corpses. People have been developing artificial limbs and organs to increase their life expectancy, though something called the acceleration furnace cannot be invented because...reasons. The reasons being it was caught in a literal goddamn tornado and disappeared. A conversation between Rovisco and Reitz reveals that Rovisco is shocked that Reitz is completely flesh and blood, no machines needed to keep him alive. When they get to the Hokulea's place, they feel like they've found the Promised Land.

Then Reitz kills him. End of (incredibly short) chapter.

Chapter 42

While riding on a horse, Belca begins to wonder if he can trust Kiliko's right-hand man, that Crow guy whose name I can't remember. He killed a bunch of Hokulea and he put Belca's life in mortal danger more than once. But he wants to see his brother...and Linna has his back. And so do the Hokulea. So it's over the bridge. The bridge that breaks, leaving the group sitting ducks for the defending army. They look screwed until the King's Sword shows up as back up, attacking the guards to let them pass. Eco watches from afar, guessing they lost...but stating he kept an eye on Tenko the whole time.

At Neue Favrille's Intermediate Servants' Dormitory, the guard from the last two chapters is spooked by a guy putting his hand on him, thinking one of Lagen's men is about to jump him...only to see a priest behind him. The priest (Peter) calms the guard (Hans) and says he and his men are only there to confirm information. They say there was something strange in the results of the medical examination while introducing himself. Apparently, Orcelito's condition is worsening so Hans holds off on going to see him. Then Peter has something to tell Hans...

But fuck that, Orcelito is coughing up blood!

He's disturbingly chill about it though, cleaning himself up and saying he still has time. Kiliko walks in to tell him that Duke Mefuraru has a funeral coming up and his son will inherit the position. Ain't gonna be that big of a ceremony, what with The Plague and all. Back to Mefuraru, the report says he died in an accident...caused by his weakness because of The Plague. That's a dead Elder...which means he needs to be replaced with a successor. This whole Plague problem has made the citizens lose faith in the Elders since they couldn't take care of it. Orcelito makes a note to rebuild the citizens' trust when he revamps the system...but everyone's dying too soon. If the succession happens, he'll have to start from square one again. He'll send a representative to the funeral...and leave the picking of the successor to Kiliko. He then asks him if he gave the maids who cleaned the room a day off. Kiliko says he gave them a vacation...

Kiliko leaves, ignoring Orcelito's cry to stay...but he does tell him that he sent someone to welcome Belca. He'll leave that matter to Orcelito to clean up.

Musca wakes up and is greeted by her lady-in-waiting. She was going to read the maid's letter...and passed out from exertion. But she couldn't have read it anyway because the lady-in-waiting identified it as being in a different language. Specifically, a code designed between two people for only them to understand. The lady-in-waiting doesn't understand it and Musca wants Orcelito to get better. The lady-in-waiting comforts her while wondering why the maids are being given so many vacations...before a knock on the door interrupts her train of thought. The maid gives her a letter from Duchess Rushutaru...

The chapter ends with Hans leading the guards down to apprehend the old man who was deciphering Rovisco's records.

Chapter 43

Musca is mad because she didn't get an letter from her brother but instead a stupid invitation for stupid tea.

It's the letter from Lady Rushtaru that was given to the lady-in-waiting the last chapter, inviting Musca for tea. The lady herself, Lizelotte, happily welcomes them to her tea room and Musca calms down. Lizelotte drones on about fairies and flowers...which freaks out the lady-in-waiting, who heard a similar story about a fairy that would warn the prince in a voice that no one else could hear. A servant comes by with dessert (apple pie) and spills soup on the lady-in-waiting. Lizelotte apologizes and has the lady-in-waiting sent back with Musca to change her dress to one from her own wardrobe. Musca says Lizelotte gives off a soldier's aura, even though she's a lady.

Back with Belca's group, the rain has stopped but they're still sloughing along like bitches. Tenko wants to stop and rest for the night but Shingetsu spots a knight from the Stone Capital in the distance. He rides up, recognizing Prince Belca and introduces himself as a member of the King's Army, specifically the Vixen group. He says Commander Edovald Vixen is camping up ahead and he himself was sent to get them. They can stay with them for the night. The Vixens will now be defending Belca on the way to the castle! All is well...aside from the fact that there is Hokulea in Belca's group, clearly making the King's Army uncomfortable.

Belca says if they have a problem with that, he won't join up with them. The knight apologizes, saying that they heard what happened in Kamino and how the Hokulea were responsible for The Plague being treated. He says the reaction of the troops are due to everyone still mourning Hector's death. Apparently, everyone thinks that if the Hokulea hadn't helped, Hector would still be alive. Hearing that, Belca says the Hokulea are to be treated as guests which the knight agrees to. He then asks for water for the horses which the knight also agrees to. The knight then says Belca's group will be escorted by five elite knights and followed by the rest on foot.

At Regia Solaris, Kiliko confiscates the journal from the maid who turns out to be a renegade princess. He says not only will he decipher the code in her love letter, he'll also have Lamuzesu investigated. Orcelito, worried about the elders' underlings and The Plague, says it's too dangerous for Belca to come over. He tells Kiliko to make a residence in the district a base, have the King's Army protect it and have the district's medics learn the antidote...he can ask the Hokulea with Belca for help if he needs to. These are just precautions to take until this whole "Maid Lilia" case is done with. Kiliko accepts and says the preparations for the Imperial Villa Shez is finished and asks what should be done about Musca, who is worried about his health. Orcelito says he'll meet her by preparing a room with a curtain so he can talk to her like that. He wants to hear his little sister's voice before dies, of course.

Musca is happy because she can finally see her big brother! She and her lady-in-waiting are on their way to see him before they overhear workers talking about the "rumor" that Orcelito has The Plague. The lady-in-waiting angrily has them arrested but it's too late: Musca has heard everything. She tries to deny it but Musca has seen her head maid's expression; it's the truth. Kiliko tells Musca and her lady-in-waiting (whose name is PAIGE. Finally!) to keep what they see and hear a secret when they see Orcelito. Musca goes over to Orcelito but he tells her to keep her distance from the curtain, bumming her the fuck out because she wants to see her brother's face. She begins to sob, the reality that her brother has the same disease that killed her mother finally sinking in. Orcelito assures her that Belca will come soon with the cure but she still needs to be careful: she's young so if she catches The Plague, she might not survive it. So he tells her to stay at the Shez where it's safe. So he can focus on getting better without worrying about her.

Musca leaves, having agreed to stay in the Shez. But NOT before telling Kiliko not to "bully her big brother". She'll be leaving tomorrow and there's more good news: the code has been deciphered! It was written Da Vinci style, upside-down, backward, in cursive while using a mirror. Lilia was snitching on Orcelito's condition. Orcelito asks if Lamuzesu will be arrested and Kiliko says he won't; they'll just guard the mail room more closely. Kiliko tells him to get his rest and asks about his ink, saying he has been writing more often; Orcelito says that he just keep making memos to himself because his memory is going...

Outside, Lamu asks Ingrid the maid about Lilia and Ingrid says she's sick. Lamu asks if she would give her some flowers he brought her and Ingrid...becomes a human carrier pigeon as a bunch of people give her messages, only for Kiliko to intercept them and demand for them to be deciphered.

Belca and his group have made it to Neue Favrille but it's quiet...too quiet. The chapter ends with them being greeted by, of all people, Lizelotte.

Chapter 44

Eco tries to make small talk with the King's Sword's commander. It goes predictably:

The Commander confirms the Hokulea will not be touched as long as he is guiding them. One of the soldiers asks if he's seen Eco before...and Eco tells him not to flirt with him.

At the gate to Neue Favrille, the countess sneaks Belca past the gate...with him in drag (again) on Orcelito's orders. Linna and Tenko are snuck inside as attendants.

At Regia Solaris, Orcelito is told by Kiliko that the envoys have picked up Belca, the duchess being chosen because she was a peer with Kiliko when he was young. She was also told to bring Eco along if she recognizes him. Before he goes, he informs Orcelito that Lilia is the head maid. When Kiliko leaves, Orcelito notes that Kiliko has changed, becoming more compassionate over time...but, that newfound human heart is going to just increase the number of deaths...anyway, he gets up to shut the door only to overhear the guards' "rumor" that he has The Plague.

Outside, some guards are discussing Theon's mansion before the old man comes by to steal one of their apples in front of them. They share with him...while discussing the old maid being tortured and interrogated in the castle's keep.

Back to Orcelito, he overhears that the old scholar has disappeared with Rovisco's documents. Oh, and the head maid in the keep has been killed. Musca and Paige watch the clean up crew, Musca being pissed because "you can't hold a mop in front of a lady" (?!). But Musca is in disguise to be let out of the castle so she can't complain, her Karen powers restricted. Anyway, off to Shizu.

Kiliko sends out a manhunt for the scholar and wonders if Lilia needs to be interrogated...drug interrogated. Then Lord Lagen's own Crow, the "Sparrow Hawk" comes to greet Kiliko at his window. Kiliko is shocked because this means his father is alive. A peek at daddy dearest shows he's not exactly pleased with his boy going soft, working for Orcelito instead of against him. Looks like it's time for him to take manners into his own hands...

At the Neue Favrille's Town Area, the duchess tells Belca that Orcelito wants him to use the house as a base to develop the cure. Belca says they don't have time for this because Orcelito might die any day. The duchess says that Orcelito wanted Belca away from him because he'll be targeted if he goes to the palace, what with the spies and all. The elders are moving in on the royal family and they know that Orcelito has The Plague. They will try to win Belca over to their side. Rushtaru's attendants overhear and panic about needing a cure but Rushtaru says that this situation is a direct order from the prince so they have to wait for the cure. Belca and everyone get ready to work but Rushtaru ends the chapter with a secret request: save Orcelito for Kiliko. You see, Rushtaru does not work for the Lagens. She works for Kiliko.

Chapter 45

Lord Lagen writes his son a letter if Orcelito doesn't recover, Prince Belca---

Anyway, Lord Lagen says The Plague has a cure and Belca needs to be separated from his territory in order to be used as a pawn. Also, keep using the drugs that don't kill people. Kiliko answers the Sparrow Hawk that if he opposes Belca's group now, they will not have access to the cure so he will handle the matter by himself. Sparrow Hawk politely tells him they do not have time for that and asks him to make Lord Lagen's wish a priority. Kiliko tries to protest but Sparrow Hawk puts his very sharp nails to Kiliko's throat, ominously saying that he will not trouble his father. Kiliko asks if that's a threat and Sparrow Hawk denies it, disappearing in a gust of wind (?!) while telling Kiliko not to hesitate to call. Kiliko then reflects that the allies he has are his guys in Adin, the Crows, and Lizelotte the countess/duchess. A guard comes in and says they couldn't find any clues about the scholar and Kiliko informs him that Lord Lagen is still alive. They need to hide Belca from Sparrow Hawk...

Meanwhile, Ramses the not-guard complains about Lilia fucking up while riding with his scholar buddy. He's only helping for the history, us nerds being willing to betray our entire country if we're given the possibility of having something interesting to read. So it's off to Theon's mansion...

Paige and Musca are traveling to Shize before Paige spots a familiar face outside the carriage, getting worried...as she should be, because that familiar face is "Ramses" with his scholar buddy. Musca and Paige, outside the carriage, bump into them intentionally so that Paige can confirm her suspicions. That's when Musca points out the scholar was reading a book with weird letters...

Meanwhile, Lizelotte's carriage is stopped by guards who have to search around, subtly creeping on her in the process. A few hours ago outside of Neue Favrille, Belca's group debates their next course of action. Shingetsu says they can't save Orcelito as long as they're there so they'll have to reach him through the underground tunnel in the Stone Fort. Belca is worried about them getting lost so three knights offer to accompany them. Back in the present, Belca is hit with the ol' nostalgia as he finally gets inside Neue Favrille after nearly half a year outside the walls. It's not even unstable anymore...although, he has be called Marie Belle while he's in disguise. Lizelotte is informed of the theft at the archives and is told she will be escorted by the King's Sword.

At the Hierarchy Gate, they have to show their identification papers because of the kingdom being on high alert. They manage to get through but there are six more doors ahead of them so they're not confident about their future success. Belca complains they should have used the underground cave too...and Tenko promptly takes them to another one, Belca having just reminded him of its existence. It's the "Gardener's Secret Passage" and it leads to the cathedral. They walk through and someone cuts them off from up ahead...

Meanwhile, turns out our captive maid wasn't as captive as we thought, escaping in a guard's disguise...well done, Lilia.

Orcelito comes upon two guards and asks them for the key of the stone cave that leads to the cathedral. Glad that their Prince is feeling better, they lead him away...followed closely by a disguised Lilia.

They open the door and prepare to give him his rites against evil...and he walks past them. They call for him to come back but Orcelito tells them to close the door and to tell Kiliko to finish things up with that cure. He's the prince; gotta obey him.

Back to Belca's group, the guy that cut them is the attendant for the priest who shows them a secret room...while offering them food!

They sit at a table and are greeted by the High Priest. He then implies he knows about Reitz...and what happened to Hector.

At the Neue Favrille's Land at the Theon Street Mansion, the chapter ends with the scholar revealing to the Lord inside the real secret of the Rovisco's journal. Namely, it's not what's written but who wrote it...King Reitz himself.

Chapter 46

The castle chefs greet Lilia, you know, due to all being spies. She tells them about Orcelito's whereabouts and they discuss what's taking Lobnec so damn long. So they'll stay the course and cooperate for now...

Kiliko, with a guard, reviews that Belca is not with Eco and that Eco is probably still alive despite the whole falling from a bridge thing. He is led into a garden which leads into a cave...

While that's happening, an attendant leads some guy around and they reveal they're planning on making a church...much to that guy's pleasure. He's the king and that's the origin of the garden according to the high priest talking to Belca. Then, before the king (Reitz) fell ill, he left the monk there his records for the Judgement Day that will inevitably come.

The High Priest has been safeguarding the books for generations but it has recently been inherited after it was brought out of the royal palace. Why is the High Priest telling Belca about this? Because Hector showed interest in the book. Belca asks that when The Plague is under control, may he see the book? The High Priest agrees...and Kiliko, listening outside the door, has heard everything. Now he knows how Reitz really felt...welp, time to barge in!

Meanwhile, Tenrou, Shingetsu and the knights are fighting monsters in the sewers! Shingetsu holds the main knight's hand because the lamplight freaks him out. Tenrou gets mad, the knight gets an erection.

Anyway, Kiliko greets Belca, apologizing for the trouble the Crows have been causing him. Belca is pissed but forces himself to calm down, saying he'll play nice if he and his group are provided with weapons. Also, don't fuck with the Hokulea. Kiliko agrees and says he'll help out...then he whispers to Belca that his father's men are coming for him.

Belca crossdresses, Orcelito bumps into the elders' men below the caves, Musca informs others about the symbols and...Sparrow Hawk snitches that Kiliko isn't on his side anymore.

Speedy wrap-up. Next chapter will be longer.

Chapter 47

Lord Orbus is eating food, thinking that everyone is heading to Neue Favrille. Belca is working on the cure so, in a sociopathic sense, The Plague was a blessing in disguise. Also, Orcelito is in his grasp so he has a perfect story to form: Kiliko tried to take the throne and Orcelito helped him by killing Prince Hector. A messenger comes into his room and Orbus asks if he has any news from Neue Favrille. Eco's song about Belca is still popular so Orbus orders for Eco to found so he can be put to better use...

At Neue Favrille itself, the King's Sword are defending the nuns who escaped chapters ago. Eco is mad that a particular knight is kissing up to them...but forget him, Musca and Paige are talking. They sent the letter but Musca is worried that Orcelito will be unhappy with her, considering that she very much isn't in Shez. Paige assures that since bad things are happening, traveling is unsafe so they should stay put. Plus, the King's Sword is here so they should be fine. She is very much still afraid of the Hokulea being at the castle though but it turns out Musca has been talking to one of them (Shamrock) and, through empirical evidence, has figured out that they are not scary sinful monsters but actual people. There's is a good chance that people have been lying to her her entire life about them...

At Regia Solaris, Tenrou runs out of the bath because he isn't into beefy guys. Belca stops him and asks where Shingetsu is and Tenrou answers that she's looking for the knight with sun hair. This pisses him off because the Hokulea and the King's Sword are supposed to be mortal enemies but she's just treating them like people! Belca wants to search too but Linna forbids it, saying it's too dangerous. Belca asks what he can do then and Linna says they have to ask Tenko and Lord Lagen to see what can be done. But first, tea and custard buns for the grumpy prince!

Kiliko confers with his council that he has received a direct order that Belca is to be made the Crown Prince, straight from Orcelito. In his letter, Orcelito apologizes for getting Belca and Musca wrapped up in his problems and that while Kiliko was a dick to Belca, he asks him to forgive him because Kiliko isn't that bad. More importantly, he's useful so he asks that he uses him as a subordinate. Oh, and don't tell Musca about The Plague. Belca, being in the room, says he wants to find Orcelito to confirm this but Kiliko says he's missing. Belca wants to look for him but Lord Lagen's men are looking for Belca to kill him so that's out. Lord Lagen's men may also try to cure Orcelito but for all the wrong reasons...this confuses Belca because Lord Lagen is supposed to be dead, right?

Kiliko confesses his father is alive and that Orcelito specifically asked for Belca to not be handed over to him.

Thinking about this at tea time, Belca is still besides himself. He doesn't know why Kiliko is suddenly acting like a good vassal and he doesn't get why his brother is acting like this. They've known each other their entire lives and he still barely gets him. Linna says that's impossible because both have the king's blood but considering Reitz's history...oh wait, doesn't Belca have Rovisco's blood in him? It looks like he'll have to talk to Kiliko, as much as the thought annoys him.

Under the chapel, Orcelito is listening in on the guards and learning the senator's plans. Somebody in the cult's clothes comes and tries to kill him but he acts crazy to throw them off, believing it be a kind of test. The assassin leave, revealing herself to be Lilia who's disappointed at Orcelito's apparent insanity if still suspicious.

Sparrow Hawk shows up on the roof to greet Kiliko. Sparrow Hawk tells him to keep searching for Orcelito while leaving Belca's case to them. Kiliko plays dumb when he's asked where Belca is but Sparrow sees right through it, saying that his father is pissed enough.

Eco is eating lunch at the place we found him at the beginning of the manga before chatting with the waitress about carriages coming in and out of town. Meanwhile, Kiliko is making sure the people of the kingdom are accommodated (with help from Tenko) before Tenko brings him some tea when he's back in his room. He assures him it's totally not poisoned before Kiliko drinks it. Then Tenko asks him about the details on Hector's death, saying the official story is it was from The Plague. He thinks it was due to some medicine...but Kiliko's silence and Tenko continued questioning makes it clear who he thinks is really behind it.

Kiliko doesn't deny his final accusation that he was involved so Tenko draws his sword and pins him to the table. He doesn't kill him though; no, when Orcelito is found and The Plague is cured, then Kiliko's time will be up. Kiliko himself agrees. Then a guard walks in and sees them. Belca and Linna, serendipitously walking outside, overhear the commotion and rush over to see Tenko having knocked down the guard to defend himself. Kiliko says he and Tenko were just playing around and the guard (Crow!) is relieved, if injured. Belca blames himself for letting Tenko do too much so he asks to speak to Kiliko. First on the agenda: did he kill Hector? Kiliko says yes. But Belca says he's only hearing half the story and orders Kiliko to spit it out. Kiliko says he had hoped to become friends with Hector or at least control him but Hector was having none of his shit. The poison that Hector got actually came from one of Orbus' men. It's supposed to erode someone of their free will but with some people, it just kills them. Belca already knows why Hector was targeted: he wanted to reveal Rovisco's records. Belca tells Kiliko about what the Stone Capital's tre history is and Kiliko surprises him by revealing that he already knows. Belca asks if Kiliko wants revenge but Kiliko says he just wants to be free. He understands if Belca doesn't trust him but Belca says he does...because Orcelito does.

Belca tells Tenko that he shouldn't be aiming his vengeance boner at this guy...then gets up and forcibly fist bumps Kiliko, saying that he still owes him an ass-whupping for Linna and the Hokulea's sake. The chapter ends on that note.

Chapter 48

The cure has been distributed and Orbus and his peeps are besides themselves with joy. Belca is destined for the throne; good times all around!

Except for Orcelito who is dying in the dungeon.

He's crying for Kiliko while Orbus and his men look on. One guy asks why they couldn't put him in a decent room; Orbus says they don't have time. They need to spread a rumor before Belca ascends to the throne...

Orcelito overhears them, knowing they're taking advantage of his condition...

So at Regia Solaris, Kiliko's men have found the Hokulea daughter and discover that she was taken by someone. It can't be Lord Lagen or Sparrow Hawk because too many traces were left...then again, that could have been done to throw them off the trail. Kiliko tells his guard to keep searching, telling Crow that they should have went against Lord Lagen earlier if he knew he was going to pull this. Crow is on his side till the end.

Meanwhile, Lord Lagen tells his attendant that Kiliko is officially a waste of time and he's going to focus on leveling up his low-level subordinates.

Eco is being stalked by "Ramses" on his way back from the cafe only for Seamrog to tackle him down.

Seamrog and Musca (on Seamrog's back) tells a shocked Eco that "Ramses" is the guy who has the book they're looking for. Lizelotte wanted to meet him so they were looking for him. Seamrog and Musca go off as Eco meets with Lizelotte, the two noting they're allies for the moment due to shared goals. Eco is shocked that Lizelotte is working for Kiliko...and thrown when Lizelotte reveals that Kiliko is going against his father who is very much still alive. But that can wait: the tied-up Ramses has awakened. He gives his spiel about being a humble messenger who doesn't know anything and says he barely knows Lilia since he was just ordered to correspond with her. He says if they untie him, he'll tell them something cool like how Lilia was the one who killed Prince Hector...

Lizelotte is very interested in that tidbit but Eco says that he wants to try something first. He makes Ramses drink poison and says that if he wants to live, he'll need to take an antidote on a regular basis. So, new arrangement: do what Eco says and he'll get to live (and if he gets the antidote himself, he'll just get the crap beaten out of him). No obedience, no life.

So in Neue Favrille, Rondarea City Mansion, Eco is invited as an official bard. He leaves his new slave (Ramses) with the guards on his behalf as he is taken to another room. Lilia sees Ramses and he tells Eco about her.

Kiliko is informed by a messenger that the Viceroy wants to end Kiliko's ability to give orders. Kiliko says that's only because the two in an argument right now and things are tense; take what he says with a grain of salt.

Tenko and that knight guy are on guard, the latter whining about working with Hokulea because he wants to fight them, especially Tenrou.

Belca is stuck in a room with Linna, whining about how he can't do anything. Tenrou comes with food and the guys talk about the records for a bit. Linna casually says he would work with Belca if he wasn't royalty and Tenrou says he still wants him to marry his sister.

So...the King's Sword's captain because shit is getting weird. His subordinate is about to join him when they are attacked by Shingetsu, mistaking them for enemies. She leads them away as an apology.

In The Suburbs of Neue Favrille, the Londalea Estate, Lilia ends the chapter overhearing Orbus talking about the Hero King's song.

Next chapter is the last one.

Chapter 49

Final Chapter.

Eco is walking through the town's square with his new captive Ramses, walking by Lilia who vaguely recognizes him. Tenko comes by on horseback to pay Eco for his song...while letting him in on the fact that he's being followed. Eco knows Lilia has been stalking him for a while and says it's time Tenko was let in on a little secret...

But first, back to Orcelito! He's still in his dungeon room when a guard comes in to give him stuff, even offering to help him change. Orcelito says he's fine and the guard leaves while a Duke named Barto approaches the guards from outside. He asks them to leave so he can talk to Orcelito alone. They do and he walks in, offering his assistance to escape with the prince. Tein, who is disguised as a guard, comes in to sneak Orcelito some snacks only to find Barto choking him.

Tein pulls Barto off only to find a knife lodged in his throat. Orcelito thanks Tein for the "assist" and tells him to take care of the body.

Lord Lagen is waiting for Barto to come back and assumes he has betrayed him. His attendant tells him that there is a rumor that something is happening around the city and asks him to have a look.

Kiliko receives a letter inviting him to a party, apparently written by the very much still missing Orcelito. He knows Orbus is trying to manipulate Belca...or Lord Lagen is trying to lure him out. Belca says as long as Crow and Shingetsu and the others are on their side, they won't go down that easily. If there is a chance, they need to take it because they're running out of time. Still, a guard offers to escort Belca, telling Kiliko to leave because it is Orcelito's wish for Belca to go alone. Crow wants to push through but Kiliko tells him to hold off: the Adin Knights are with Belca and the Hokulea are a bit further away.

They walk along the walls, the guards leading them to a room. Walking through the door, Belca finds Orcelito, alive and well (?)! Belca cheerfully greets him...only for Orcelito to tell him that he will not be handing over the throne and that Belca will die here.

You see, he knows that Reitz was a liar and a murderer and that his blood runs through his family's veins. But Belca's mother, and therefore Belca himself, have the Rovisco's blood running through theirs making Belca the biggest obstacle to Orcelito ascending to the throne.

The citizens watch from below the walls...and so does Orbus and his attendants, who have set the whole thing up. One of Orbus' attendants asks if Orcelito can even fight in his condition but Orbus says it doesn't matter: the citizens need to see him point a sword at Belca with the explicit intention of usurping the throne. Meanwhile, Theon's wife representive asks where Barto and Tein are, confusing Orbus as well...

Belca is being attacked by Orcelito, Belca calling him out on him acting crazy out of nowhere while mentally noting he can barely hold onto the hilt. Orcelito tells Belca to draw his sword while Belca wonders if he's being controlled by someone before dismissing the possibility because if the poison was that convenient, Hector would still be alive. It's at the moment he realizes that Orcelito is fully intending to die on that wall but he still doesn't know what he wants. Belca tries to talk him into standing down, saying their bloodlines don't matter. He just wants his brother back.

Meanwhile, Tenko corners Lilia, the latter confused why she's being chased. Tenko identifies her as the girl who asked Hector for a kiss...giving her the perfect opportunity to poison him. She realizes she's being followed by Hector's main attendant and draws her hidden blade to fight him off but he quickly disarms her. She asks if killing a lowly subordinate will really satisfy him and Tenko says yes...for now. After all, when Belca takes over, he will accomplish Hector's dream.

Back to the wall, Orcelito agrees with Belca...but he'll still fight. You see, it's not just Reitz's blood that's tainted, it's the blood of the people who turned on Reitz, the elders' blood, that's tainted as well. Orcelito is going way off script, shocking the guards and pissing off the lords. Belca answers if that's true then Kiliko should be the one who ascends to the throne because his family are the true descendants of Rovisco. Orcelito then tells Belca to carve a new way for the kingdom with Kiliko before the citizens shout from below, asking if what Orcelito said is really true. Linna runs up to say that Orcelito needs to be taken down for treatment and Belca agrees, saying that he can't be sprouting weird shit off without conversing with everybody first. Tired of this shit, one of the lords orders the guards to capture Belca so that he and Orcelito can't dish anymore. Orcelito keeps them at bay though with the power of "I still have the fucking Plague, you idiots". Belca has had enough and calls for the Hokulea to help him but Orbus comes onto the wall, ranting for everyone to capture the princes. A guard grabs Orcelito and Orbus then orders for the rebels (the citizens watching below a.k.a. witnesses) to be executed, which they are via arrows. Orbus says that's Orcelito's fault for running his mouth too much. The Hokulea, specifically Shingetsu and Tenrou arrive, and Belca tells them to protect the citizens below, even though he's just been ordered to be captured. On the wall, it's Belca and Linna vs. the guards.

Orbus goes over to Orcelito, saying he won't let The Plague kill him. No, he'll use the torture devices used on the Hokulea to make his death as slow and painful as possible...before he realizes he's been cut by Orcelito's hidden knife.

Meanwhile, Kiliko and Crow take down the guards sent by the Elders before we cut back to the guards being freaked out by Orbus, for all intents and purposes, being infected with The Plague. Orcelito holds his knife to his throat, thinking that he's leaving everything to Belca, only for Linna to hold off the guards and for Belca to dash over and knock the knife out of his brother's hands, saying he was here to bring his brother back, not engage in this weird heroic suicide crap. The representative from earlier tries to take control by ordering the guards to capture Belca only for Crow to hold a knife to the back of his neck, ending that nonsense. Sitting down with Orcelito, Belca says the High Priestess told him that, for all his shittiness, Reitz still made a fortress that protected people, cultivated land and gave flood control to the rivers. So if Orcelito is really worried about becoming like him, he should focus on doing as much good as he did if he wants to take the bad with it.

Below the wall, Linna sees the old man with the Rovisco's documents...

But meanwhile, Lord Lagen is getting away in a carriage. He says he can wait as long as it takes to try his plans again...only for his drivers to be Eco and Ramses. "You're such a pitiful man...let's stop cursing others, Father."

The next day, the remains of a burnt carriage were found in a forest near Neue Favrille.

The fates of the rider and the occupants remain unknown.

Some time later, Musca is demanding to play with Subaru but Tenrou tells her off, saying the High Priestess needs to study. Musca then tells Seamrog to kill Tenrou because he's annoying...even though he might become her big brother.

Anyway, because of the rebels and the plan to assassinate the royalty, the four territories, Lobnec, Theon, Londelea and Goldfritz will be temporarily listed under the king's direct control territories. Orcelito says how lively it is and Kiliko says it'll be livelier when Belca returns from territory inspection. Eco is alive and will be stopping by Neue Favrille to attend the crowning ceremony. Tenko will send a letter to the Holy Grounds. Also, Orcelito wants to make that school for the Hokulea after all. He says Belca left him behind in charge of the throne but he's expecting him to come back for it someday...even if it's by force.

So the merry band of Hokulea featuring Belca are retracing the steps of Azelprade's voyage, effectively doing what Reitz and Rosvisco did lifetimes ago.

The end.

Final Thoughts

Good manga overall, if bloated at times...

You can see throughout I struggle to remember character's names and there are a bunch of details I end up missing because I didn't think they were important at the time. But that's my problem and not the story's. The characters are good, the story is tight and the art is not painful to look at. Got that whole "gay purely in a digestible subtextual way" thing that I and more than a few others are trying to move away from but otherwise, I like the relationships in this story and I looked forward to the characters' interactions. I recommend to anyone interested in medieval political low fantasy drama.

Ultimate Score: 7.5/10