ay it straight out though since it might become lese majeste toward Lilyana if he spoke it frankly.

「........... That is................」

Somehow Takahisa is at a loss for words as he guessed the meaning behind Rio’s words.

But, when he’s showing an expression as if he ate a bitter bug,

「As long as we can meet...... Everyone will understand as long as I tell them」

Soon, Takahisa said that while looking fixedly at Rio.

Rio’s sighing lightly and,

「What do you think we should do, Satsuki-sama?」

Then asked Satsuki who sat beside him with a pensive look on her face.

「The die has been cast seeing that it is already known by the princess. He is already showing his determination too. In that case, I think what was left is.......... Depending on the decision of Miharu-chan and the others」

Maybe because of a light headache, Satsuki’s replying while pressing her left hand on her forehead.

Having met with Takahisa, the older brother of Aki and Masato, she might have no authority upon them who’s not even her blood relative.

So Satsuki gave that answer after such trouble.

「The problem is what kind of method we have to use to set the meeting」

Rio said that while shrugging his shoulder.

「”What kind” you sa~............ Ah that’s right, that’s also the problem right 」

Though Satsuki almost saying 「The same one that you’re using last night」 by reflex, she shut her lips before it cause any further trouble.

As expected, she couldn’t just say that she slipped out of the castle last night in front of Lilyana.

There’s no way they’ll slip out of the castle by taking along the royalty of another country.

Moreover, the defense of the castle tonight is even more strict to the point of it can’t be compared from before.

They’ll increase the amount of light, and increasing their vigilance on the sky.

Even if they’re receiving the help from Rio, only now she’ll be opposing even if it’s a secret meeting.

「When will the two of you returning to your country?」

Rio asked that question to Lilyana and Takahisa.

「Though regretful, unfortunately we can’t stay for too long. Though we can prolonging our stay if there’s a valid reason to it, we’re going to return to our country when the evening party has ended」

Lilyana’s replying to him.

「I see. In that case, it’ll be difficult for us to meet again right」

Rio sighed lightly as he said those words.

「Uhm, where’s everyone right now?」

Takahisa suddenly asking to him.

「They’re currently lodging in a certain inn in this capital」

「Inn you say........ Is it really safe?」

Wrinkles appearing on Takahisa forehead.

「Their inn is a high class one where wealthy people staying in. There’s soldiers stationed in its vicinity and the soldiers are always patrolling around its vicinity. No idiot will cause any kind of problem in this kind of place」

Rio replied with a cool tone.

（Moreover, a powerful bodyguard is also going along with them........）

He recalling a strong sense of security thinking about Celia and Aisia who’s accompanying Miharu and the others.

But, he wants to hide the information about Celia and Aisia for now.

Since Celia’s currently traveling incognito.

「If that’s the case, how about you call them to come to the castle?」

Lilyana suddenly proposed that.

Rio and Satsuki’s eyes is opened wide in amazement.

「To the castle......... Is it」

Rio’s showed a bitter expression.

If they ended up being summoned to the castle, its the same meaning as an open declaration that Miharu and the others have some relationship with the hero.

But, seeing that clandestine meeting is being sealed, it’s also true that they’ve no other way for Miharu and the others to meet Takahisa except going from the front door.

There might be room for consideration if Miharu and the other is wishing for it.

Though he is personally opposing to that idea, he abandoned such idea.

「We just got attacked by the burglar awhile ago you know? There’s a possibilities of a second attempt but..............」

Satsuki’s mentioning that despite being anxious herself.

「There’s no way the burglars will try to do the same thing again tonight」

Lilyana replied that with a plain tone.

「Why do you think so?」

Satsuki’s asking that question to her.

「Assembling the master of that field, polishing the plan, poking into the gap of defense and yet they still failed. The people who can perform such task without leaving conspicuous trace. At least they won’t even think about performing a second attack so soon right. Galwark kingdom is also increasing their vigilance」

Lilyana stated her own idea.

Rio also have the same idea as her.

Commencing a raid when the other party is being vigilant is just a plain poor tactic.

Because surprise attack become a surprise attack due to the opponent carelessness.

In the first place he doesn’t think that they’ll be preparing substitute members for a second attempt to such a important plan in which they must infiltrate the castle to kill the royalties.

「I see. That’s true...........」

Satsuki nodded in agreement.

「But, the mastermind is currently still hiding inside the castle, so the danger has yet to pass. Was what you think around this point right? 」

Rio’s asking Lilyana.

「I can understand your worry. First, let me to say, I, the first princess of Saint Stellar kingdom, Lilyana, swear upon my own name that I’ll protect those three」

Lilyana replied to him with a serious expression on her face.

「Then may I hear in detail about how far that protection will be?」

「We only brought along the people that we can put a full trust on that person from our country. There’s also several excellent guard knights amongst them. But, if we brought them inside the room, we can greatly decrease the chance of outsider participating in it」

From the fact that Takahisa and Lilyana is using their own way of being vigilant which is different from the Galwark kingdom when staying inside this room, it certainly will guarantee that there won’t be any outside in this place.

You might say that they need to take several safety measures since the betrayer is still in the castle.

When Rio’s frowning as if hestitating,

「......... I personally didn’t mind about it. But, I think that we might need to make a confirmation from Miharu-san and the others whether they want to come to the castle or not」

So she said.

「I see. How about you, Satsuki-sama」

「I........... Also don’t mind for it」

「That was what you think right?」

Lilyana asked that question.

「It makes me feel anxious if they’re then being forced to live in a strange castle. In addition, there’ll be interference from outside too. Since you need to report to the lord of the castle, the king, in case you want to bring them in」

Satsuki’s replying.

But, maybe because that objection was expected.

「It’s as you say, we can’t avoid to make a report to your majesty seeing that we’re the ones who’s being invited. Moreover, if your majesty says that they want to meet those three, there’s no mean for me, who’s just a mere princess, to stop him. 　But, it’s the same case if that request is coming from our side. Because there’ll be bodyguards attached if we, a foreign guest or Satsuki-sama, the hero of this country is strolling outside. Seeing that we can’t even doing a secret meeting in this current situation, we can’t avoid to explain the circumstances to your majesty」

Lilyana replied almost without pausing.

They can’t make a simple reason such as the hero is strolling together.

It seems they have no choice but have to be frank about Miharu and co if they want to do this. そ

In case the information about Miharu and the others are known to the public, they might have to reconsider which safer between outsider and insider nobilities and royalties.

「That’s right but..............」

As for Satsuki, to somehow not disclose that information to the country, she has no feasible method to meet without being found out.

Which means that they’re at their wit’s end since Takahisa will be back to Saint Stellar country right after the end of the evening party.

They’re pressed in times and don’t have that much freedom to make their move.

「May I ask Haruto-sama whether the sibling[Little brother and little sister] of Takahisa-sama is amongst the 3 that under your protection. Will you kindly give a favor to Takahisa-sama who want to meet with his family? 」

Lilyana made a sincere plea.

「That’s just natural. Because we’re being worried about their safety」

Satsuki also replying immediately, Rio also nodding by her side.

「I agree with your opinion to inviting them to the royal castle. But, in return I want you to make a vow, how about it? For example, even if they’re wishing to go along with Takahisa-kun, I want you to make sure that they won’t become political tools against their own will」

Satsuki said that with a sullen face.

「It’s the same with me. I want you to respect their own will no matter what they’re going to choose. That’s the condition for inviting Miharu-san and the others to royal castle」

Rio also presented his condition.

Though it’s an extremely disrespected act for doing something like forcing an agreement toward the royalties, nevertheless, Rio have no choice but to say it.

The current Rio have no strong relationship with Miharu and the others, though it’s clearly not his place to butt in their matter, nevertheless――

「I give my vow. I’m vowing to it. I want to meet and talk to them. I won’t let them to get themselves being dragged into political strife」

Though Takahisa made an expression as if unable to hold back any longer, he gave his vow just in the nick of time.

「I also give my vow. Because I just follow Takahisa-sama’s will」

Lilyana also saying that with a calm tone while placing her hand on her chest.

Rio’s staring into their eyes.

「.................. Understood. I’ll confirm their will till tomorrow whether they want to come to the royal castle. Since I’ll have an audience with your majesty the king from afternoon, I’ll finish it within this morning and then report back to this room」

Rio’s scheduled to have an audience with king Francois Galwark tomorrow afternoon regarding his achievement in the surpression of the burglars.

Perhaps he’ll be given the permit to travel alone or along with someone if it’s just in the morning.

If it’s Rio, he’ll be easily given more freedom to move around than the royalties or hero.

And then he’ll be contacting Aisia as they’re getting closer to the inn by saying something like that there’s his acquintances in there.

「Thank you very much」

Takahisa and Lilyana’s telling their gratitude.

They’re showing such delighted expression while emotion and Reason inside Rio’s fighting at each other.

Rio’s heart is filled with mixed feelings.