Brothers.

Klaha, who had come to study abroad from Helgner, stayed on in the Kingdom of Temberl, partly because of Amiel.

She’d noticed the air growing thick with suspicion, but so far no one had pressed her to return home, not even a letter.

She knew, deep down, that this was all she’d ever get—just a reminder of how little she truly mattered. Klaha sighed, staring at her own position with a quiet resignation.

She wasn’t imprisoned in Temberl, and within certain limits, she was free to move about.

She needed permission to go out into the city, but Klaha spent most of her time studying in the royal library.

She couldn’t even begin to repay the kindness of Prince Orrel, the king’s younger brother.

His genuine care made everything so comfortable—so much so that she found herself, against all reason, wishing she could just stay here forever.

＊＊＊

She was focused on her studies, as usual, when suddenly the noise from the hallway caught her ear. She set down her pen and looked up.

The other patrons, equally annoyed by the interruption, turned toward the entrance, curious.

Noticing something was up, I suddenly spotted Orhel among them.

He seemed to have spotted Klaha too, waving one hand with a smile.

Klaha nodded in return, and then—oddly—Orhel started walking this way.

Realizing, with a jolt, that the person he’d been searching for was me, Klaha scrambled to her feet.

“Sorry about this. I need to talk. Can we move somewhere else for a bit?”

“Y-yes, of course. I’ll just return this book—please wait a moment?”

“Ah, sure. Take your time.”

She dashed back to shelving the book, then hurried back to Orhel, who gestured, “Let’s talk while we walk.”

But Orhel brought three guards with him—unnervingly close, like a procession.

What’s going on? I wondered, as he led me into a quiet, unused room.

“Have a seat.”

“Yes.”

I sit across from Orel on the sofa. The maid brings tea, but Orel says nothing, and nothing begins.

For some reason, the guards Orel brought with him stand on either side of Klaha and behind the sofa, forming a circle. Surrounded on all sides, Klaha feels the pressure building.

This heaviness… I’ve felt it before. Exactly like when Amiel didn’t come back from her exchange program. Klaha realizes something must have changed.

This stillness… it’s not good. Maybe these peaceful days are over.

A cold, greasy sweat breaks out on my skin. I start thinking—what if Orel, who’s been so kind, now sees me as an enemy? My face goes pale.

The maid bows and exits the room. Then Orel speaks.

“Sorry for the grim news. I know this won’t be welcome.”

“Yes….”

“Do you know anything about your brother?”

“Huh?”

My eyes blinked rapidly at the unexpected words.

The eldest, Duran—the current king of Helgnera. The second son, Lüür, who died soon after birth. And the youngest, me—Klaha.

I was the only one born to a concubine.

“Since I’m the only one born to a concubine… honestly, I don’t know much about my older brothers…”

“Hmm. And about the late Lüür?”

“Yes…? Lüür-sama? You mean…?”

I’d been told he was about my age.

I’m fifteen. If he’d lived, he’d have been sixteen, maybe?

“I’ve only heard he died in an accident.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Orel nodded, then gave a subtle signal to the guard behind him.

Just when I’m wondering what the hell that was about, I hear something utterly unbelievable from Orel.

“Actually, it seems Lord Ruel is still alive.”

“Eh…?”

“Yeah. He’s currently in this country.”

“Wait… what? So… that’s… my older brother… has King Duran already heard about this?”

“That’s precisely what I wanted to check with you… Hmm. Troublesome.”

Orel’s giving me that dry, half-smirking look. So that’s how it is—he stumbled upon Ruel being alive while searching for Amiel?

But just a moment ago, he’d said it was bad news for Klaha.

From Klaha’s perspective, sure, it might be. But honestly… isn’t it kind of a relief to learn the guy you thought was dead is actually alive? That thought creeps in, uninvited.

Just then—knock, knock—someone’s tapping on the door.

The door swung open as Oruel answered, and there stood Gadiel, accompanied by the guard. Behind him was someone unfamiliar. Klah thought he must be one of Gadiel’s retainers.

“Prince Gadiel.”

Klah nearly sprang to her feet in a bow. Gadiel, however, looked utterly bewildered. “Ah, uh… no, actually, I’m not.”

“Huh?”

“I’m surprised too—my nephew looks just like me.”

Klah blinked, switching her gaze between Oruel’s confused smile and Gadiel’s equally baffled expression.

“I’m Yuu… no, Helgner Lore Lyr.”

“Huh?!”

Klah’s eyes flew open. She gasped, staring straight at Lyr’s hair.

“Gold hair?!”

“…………”

Klah stared at the man speaking her brother’s name, as if trying to memorize every detail.

She couldn’t believe it. Gold hair—Helgner’s hair—was forbidden.

Klah flinched under Lyle’s steady stare.

This is the Tembar Kingdom. Most people here have golden hair. Orrel too had golden hair.

“M-my apologies…”

Seeing Klah bow hastily, Orrel said.

“Now, now, it’s only natural to be startled. For now, Lyle, please, sit down.”

“Ah, yes.”

Just as Lyle was stepping toward Orrel, a voice suddenly echoed from midair.

‘Don’t you dare get near Lyle—!’

A black cat with fur standing on end—Lore—suddenly appeared, hovering in the air right in front of Orrel.

Klah gasped, her voice cracking.

“M-maybe… Lore-sama?”

‘Huh? You’re not by chance Duran’s younger brother? Why are you here?’

Lyle blinked, turning back with a startled “Huh?”

“Brother…?”

‘That’s right. The brother just below Lyle. …Didn’t Tiots tell you?’

“…I knew he existed, sure, but…”

"I didn’t think it necessary to go into detail about your younger brother."

Tioz, who had been silently waiting behind Lyle, answered.

"…Ah, uh, maybe we should start with introductions?"

Orhel cleared his throat.

Claha thought, with a deep sense of relief, that having Orhel here was really lucky—this whole mess was getting completely out of hand.

＊＊＊

After going through a full round of introductions, Claha listened as everything—from Lyle’s upbringing to her own position—was laid bare, and she felt utterly drained.

It was unbearable enough having her family’s shame exposed in front of Tembarr’s people, but the real problem was Lore’s presence. That was the worst of it.

The fact that Lore—the very symbol of Helgner—was here meant Helgner’s current position was dangerously unstable.

It could be seen as Lore abandoning his own country, or as Duran betraying Lore. Either way, it wasn’t good.

And then, on top of Amiel’s incident—timing couldn’t have been worse—Clara was shaking so hard, her face gone pale, you’d think anyone watching would’ve turned away in discomfort.

Now, at last, Duran understood why he’d done it.

“Clara, first, calm down.”

“But…! This…! Our country…!”

Clara looked at Lore, on the verge of tears.

“Have you abandoned our country, Your Highness…?!”

She now understood why he’d disappeared. The answer was right there. Her voice cracked with despair.

‘…What on earth are you talking about?’

Lore said it, genuinely bewildered. Clara, overwhelmed, screamed back.

“You don’t even know what you’re saying, Your Highness! Do you have any idea how long we’ve waited—how desperately we’ve waited—for you to show yourself again?!”

‘S-so… that’s…’

“Have you… abandoned us… Your Highness…?”

Lore stared, stunned, as Clara broke into tears.

"Why does it have to be like this? Why? I just wanted to be with Ruel… that’s all…"

Ruel, hearing those words, narrowed her eyes, tears welling up.

"So you’re the one who took Lore-sama, aren’t you?!"

"W-what…?"

"How much our nation reveres and adores Lore-sama…! You can’t possibly not know that, not if you’re speaking our nation’s name!"

She spoke Lore’s name aloud, warm and close, nestled at Lore’s side.

Everything that had been a mystery now snapped into clarity. Clara’s timid demeanor vanished in an instant. Her gaze locked onto Ruel—hard, hostile, like she was staring down an enemy.

"Now I understand my brother’s feelings…!"

She’d been dismissed just for being different. That’s why her standing in the nation had always been so poor.

But Clara had grown up hearing about the nation’s founding, nurtured by the thought of the spirit that protected it.

She could practically see how someone in her position—bearing the weight of the nation—would react upon learning this truth.

The air in the room turned sharp and cold.

Oruel felt it was going south fast and quickly tried to pull Clara and Lyrue apart.

‘Found you. Been looking everywhere.’

Suddenly, a crushing pressure tore through the atmosphere.

Everyone in the room froze, eyes snapping toward the voice—there, hovering in midair, was a great spirit wreathed in divine light. The one who’d scratched Lore earlier—Hose.

Recognition flashed across her face as she looked at Lore. She wrinkled her nose in distaste, stepping back slightly, and declared:

‘The time has come. You will not return to that nation. Otherwise, you’ll be caught in the curse.’

‘W-what…? What do you mean by that…?’

"The purification of the princess begins. That nation shall be sealed away in darkness for a time."

The room buzzed with confusion. Lyle and the others stared, baffled, when Klaha spoke, dazed.

"Sealed away in darkness...? That... is that about our nation, Helgner?"

Hosee glanced at Klaha, just briefly.

"Reckoning for the cursed one you led. If you don’t wish to die, stay here."

As if he’d already finished his purpose, Hosee began to fade away. Then Lore lunged.

"Wha—?!"

"My nation! The nation I promised Lyle! It’s—!!"

Sobbing, Lore screamed.

"My nation is dying!!"

Hair bristling, Lore clawed at Hosee.

"Take me to the princess—now!!"

"Ow! Hey! Stop it! What are you—!!"

And so, the struggle between Lore and Hosee began.