"So, Kanon was your aunt… and the youngest daughter of the former king?" — muttered Kojou with a hesitant expression after hearing La Folia's explanation. His face carried a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"Mm… in fact, her existence was discovered not too long ago, and it caused quite an uproar throughout the royal palace," — replied La Folia in a tone tinged with embarrassment and helplessness, especially when mentioning her grandfather.
"Well, how should I put this..." — Kojou raised an eyebrow slightly before adding with a tone that mixed respect and disbelief, "It seems the former king was in remarkably good health despite his advanced age."
He had actually been about to say something far cruder, but decided against it at the last moment, settling for this more polite remark — though his expression and tone didn't quite manage to hide what he was really thinking.
There was a strange sort of respect in his voice toward that old king of Aldegia, for when Kanon was born, the man had already reached his seventies.
And considering he was just an ordinary human, not a Demon, simply maintaining such vitality at that age was impressive in itself.
La Folia smiled faintly, as if recalling something from the past, then said softly:
"My grandfather was truly an eccentric man, but everyone adored him. Even in his later years, he still went out every morning to train with the sword."
"At that age?" — Kojou raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise.
"Yes," — she answered with a quiet laugh, "he used to say that old age only comes to those who allow it. But still… no one expected he'd leave behind a daughter younger than his own granddaughter."
"I must admit, the old man really knew how to enjoy life to the fullest," — Kojou nodded with a knowing expression, as though he had found the true essence of living in the old king's actions.
"Um… Senpai, Your Highness…" — said Touka, looking both flustered and annoyed, "I think there are more important things than discussing the former king's love life, don't you think? Kanon-chan is in real danger right now. It seems her foster father turned her into a winged creature… or something even worse."
La Folia's expression changed instantly. Her smile vanished, replaced by a grave look as her brows knitted in visible concern.
"Yes… we've received similar reports," — she replied in a low voice, clearly aware of the situation but unwilling to believe it.
"According to the information…" — she continued heavily, "that man, Kanase Kinsei — the High Magus of Aldegyr's royal court — performed a forbidden ritual… one of the ancient royal ceremonies that requires the blood of the royal family itself to create a being known as a Faux Angel."
Kojou slowly lifted his head, his tone dropping to an icy calm:
"...Faux Angel, huh?"
"Yes," — La Folia nodded gravely, "it's an extremely dangerous ritual. Everyone who attempted it before has failed — but this time… it succeeded, at least partially. The result was Kanon."
"It even seems he reached a highly advanced stage," — Kojou remarked after a pause, "from what I've heard, she was just one step away from completion… about to become a true Faux Angel and ascend to a higher plane."
La Folia's expression grew heavy with frustration. Even though Kanon's disappearance might have simplified many political matters for the royal family, they were people known for their deep affection toward their kin. Their feelings for Kanon were genuine — none of them wanted to see her turned into a complete Faux Angel and vanish into another realm.
"It's alright. I won't let anything happen to Kanon," — said Kojou reassuringly as he placed his hand on La Folia's shoulder. "I promised Nagisa I'd help her friend."
"Kojou…" — whispered La Folia, deeply moved by his words. She hadn't expected the infamous Fourth Primogenitor — feared and reviled by so many — to be so gentle, to value family so much that he'd risk his life to save others for their sake.
And yet…
There was a small, unspoken part of her that felt slightly displeased seeing Kojou so calm around her. She was, after all, a stunningly beautiful girl, one who would normally have countless men vying for her attention — yet Kojou didn't seem affected in the slightest.
Though usually composed and calculating due to her royal upbringing, she was still, in the end, a sixteen-year-old girl — and such feelings were only natural.
"Hmm..." — murmured Kojou, his gaze shifting toward the horizon outside the window.
"It seems they haven't learned a thing after the Automata ship's destruction."
A cold smile curved his lips as he continued in a low tone:
"They're flying the white flag as if they've come in peace… yet they've hidden several Faux Angels aboard the very same ship. Clearly, their intentions aren't as peaceful as they claim."
La Folia froze, casting her gaze toward the coastline where Kojou was looking — but all she could see was the misty expanse of the sea under the pale moonlight.
As expected of the Fourth Primogenitor… he really is a monster. — thought La Folia silently as she followed his gaze, unable to sense or even see the ship he was referring to.
...
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