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Chapter 8

At the Neue-Favrille Palace Gates Square, Musca is being wished good luck on her trip. Where is she going? To a convent near the Schez Villa, where she can make some friends! Musca protests that she's not sick and that she wants to see Orcelito but her wet nurse drags her off into the carriage, saying the Schez air will be good for her health. In the palace, Lord Lagen asks if she's gone; he needs her later as an important diplomatic tool, after all. It turns out Musca is sick: Kiliko had her poisoned with diluted snaked venom which gave her a slight fever. Then Orcelito runs in, straight into Kiliko's arms.

Lord Lagen says "control your ho, man" and Kiliko says in time, Orcelito will be fully under control. Lord Lagen then leaves back to his colony, saying being away for too long makes him uneasy. He also says that while he'll leave Kiliko in charge for now, he better not be disappointed when he comes back.

Sighing, Kiliko tells Orcelito not to surprise him like that next time. He then invites the prince back to his own room so that they can read a book together.

But what of Belca and Eco? Well, Dietrich wakes Eco up while the latter is napping at the desk in the former's office. Dietrich asks Eco to go on a ride with him and Eco calls him crazy, reminding him that his fiancee is supposed to be visiting soon. Then, he asks if he hates the prospect of marriage so much, why doesn't he just leave? Dietrich answers that he knows he has to take over as head of the family but he wants to enjoy the single life just a bit longer.

You're probably wondering "what the fuck does this have to do with the last chapter's cliffhanger?". Well, that moment was a flashback. In the present, Belca is still exploring the grounds and comes out to find a part of the mansion that bridges to a locked small tower thingy. You figure it out.

He wonders if it's a cabin or a storeroom and walks in, bitching about how cold it is. He mentally compares it to the killing room in the royal tomb...but nah, The Earl of Arlon would never do a thing like that! Then he finds a cage with Eco locked up in chains inside.

Dietrich is there too, putting on his best "whoopsie! I've been caught!" face. Belca demands to know what he's doing, saying him and Eco are supposed to be friends. Dietrich just tells him to watch where he's walking; it's cold in there so some areas are iced over. When Belca asks him why is he talking so formally, Dietrich says it makes sense that he's speaking so politely to a prince, after all. He then apologizes to a shocked Belca for making him wear servant clothes (I thought they were his...) and reveals he found out who he was when he had his clothes inspected last night, realizing the materials needed to thread them could only be purchased by royalty. He then says his suspicions were confirmed when he sparred with the prince this morning, saying his stance is that of a knight's but his style is explicitly that of Astelion. The smoking gun is when he reaches over and pulls out Belca's pendant, saying his Primseed is proof and advises that Belca wear it with pride.

He says that Lord Lagen wants him returned safely and Belca will be sent back to Neue-Favrille. Prince Orcelito will definitely be happy (cluing in Belca to the fact that his brother is still alive). Belca then says if he truly thinks he's a prince then let Eco go; he saved his life. Dietrich says he can't do that since he doesn't know what Eco is up to. Belca says there is no proof of him doing something but Dietrich tells him that he sent someone to Sana to investigate and they found out that there is a rumor that someone, a bard in particular, who caused a ruckus there died...yet, a man with a golden ponytail who plays an eleven-stringed koto (a Japanese harp...in a European setting) is right in front of him. Eco says he played a song to escape with the prince but Dietrich counters if he what he told him earlier about Orbus killing Hector is true, why didn't he contact help from the nobles and merchants he's worked for in the past? By not asking for help and making the decision to travel dangerously on foot, Eco looks suspiciously like he's trying to use the prince for his own ends.

Belca tries to tell him the real reason why Eco took him but they are interrupted by a messenger (The Squadron Captain from the last chapter finally reaching them.). Dietrich points out since a messenger and not a carrier pigeon came, it must be important and drags Belca off with him. When Belca asks about Eco, Dietrich tells him not to worry about him: he'll have him sent back to Neue Favrille too. The council of elders will decide what to do with him...

Eco tells Belca to go ahead with Dietrich, reminding him that no matter how powerful people are, it doesn't mean that whatever they are saying is true. People will use their words to influence the thoughts and actions of others.

The important thing is what Belca thinks and not what those people say; he tells him not to forget that even if he's not around.

Outside, the Shingetsu and the Amontels (Album dropping on the 30th) notice the lights out in the mansion but the perimeter is well-guarded: they're being expected. Tenrou (the Amontel with Shingetsu) jokes that Shingetsu's curse didn't work. Shingetsu tells him to drop it and come with him.

Inside, Dietrich thanks the Squadron Captain for warning him about the attack, saying they were able to buffer their defenses because of the information. The Squadron Captain brushes off the praise, saying he was doing what was expected of any person in his position but Dietrich cuts him off by revealing that his horse has been fed and cared for and offers the Captain a room for the night. The Captain offers to assist but Dietrich tells him not to worry about it and leaves.

Belca marches up to Dietrich in the hallway and demands to know what's going on...and the Captain sees him.

Dietrich tells him it's not a big deal, just some wild Amontel wandering outside so the guards are about to hunt them. He tells him not to stress and that he sent a blanket and a heater for Eco so Belca can rest easy.

Inside the room, turns out the guard didn't recognize Belca as the prince. However, he turns out to be the creep captain from a couple of chapters ago and does recognize Belca as "Mariebelle", the courtesan he saw at the brothel who is actually a boy!

Outside, the guards bait and capture one of the Amontels, saying the rest won't abandon a comrade so they can get them too. Inside Belca stews in his room, listening to the hunt. He says if he stays, he'll be sent back to Neue Favrille. This mansion has become a further extension of the castle; he might be more comfortable here but it's still the same as being caged. Going outside his room, he discovers everyone is outside, giving him a rare opportunity to get Eco out of the jail. He thinks about the fact that Dietrich has a point but he can never forgive him for what he did. On the bridge to the jail, however, he catches an Amontel with a sword to a maid's throat, making Belca dash forward to save her...only for the chapter to end with Shingetsu firing an arrow at Belca, deriding him as a fool for falling for their trap.