The reason why the Tin Knight’s party ended up staging a play was simpler than expected.

It was because there were too many people.

More precisely, the problem was that the ball itself was split into several events.

“This might be more disadvantageous to Miss Cinderella than we thought?”

“Is that so? I saw her trying on the completed dress, and she looked incredibly beautiful, like a princess from a fairy tale…”

“It would be fine if she could compete in beauty with her rivals at the same ball. But if they select candidates from several balls and then choose among them, appearance won’t be an absolute criterion but just one of the evaluation factors.”

Indeed, the moment when beauty gave the strongest impact to a person was at the first meeting.

Even if the prince fell for Cinderella’s beauty and had his heart stolen, as he continued to face her two or three times, that impact would inevitably weaken compared to the first meeting.

In contrast, the power or wealth of a family didn’t decrease in value, no matter how many times it was confirmed.

No matter how outstanding Cinderella’s beauty was, no matter how appearance-obsessed the prince was, Cinderella, from a fallen noble family, was at too much of a disadvantage to compete with other young ladies backed by formidable forces like royal or count families—of course, this was generally speaking with the standards of the Tin Knight’s party being an exception.

Therefore, a new method was needed.

The first method was to strengthen Cinderella’s backing to a level that wouldn’t lose to other competitors.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ suggests that since Adel’s forces are growing, why not use them as backing!]

The Lennart forces under Adelaide were currently expanding their influence at a terrifying pace in the border area between the kingdom and the empire.

It wasn’t like they were starting from scratch; they were absorbing support flowing in from the empire’s legacy and the two magic towers, so it was natural in a way.

But the scarecrow shook her head.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. If the timing were a little earlier or a little later, it might have been effective, but now it’s delicate. I’ve been going around collecting information, and the people here aren’t very well-informed about the current situation in the central continent.”

In an era where information spread slowly.

The kingdom’s nobles were trying to collect information from the central continent with their eyes and ears open, but due to limitations in distance and means, they often mistook old versions for the latest version.

Patch 1.2 content: The Lion Duke’s bloodline was still the empire’s top prestigious family.

Patch 1.3 content: The Lion Duke’s bloodline was involved in treason and fell.

Patch 1.4 content: Survivors of the Lion Duke’s bloodline were rapidly building a powerful force centered around Friedel.

If we listed the current status of the Lion Duke’s bloodline like this, the latest information that the kingdom’s nobles thought they knew was version 1.3.

Among those who believed the Lion Duke’s bloodline had fallen, trying to present the Lion Duke’s bloodline as backing was likely to backfire.

If more time passed, the information would be updated, so it would be helpful later, but it wasn’t helpful right now.

So, a new approach was needed.

Currently, Cinderella was just beautiful, and compared to that beauty, her family background was lacking, but what if we added a few more seasonings?

“Do we really need to go that far? Honestly, I think we’ve already fulfilled the contract sufficiently with what we’ve done so far.”

Unlike her excited companions, Dorothea wasn’t actually very enthusiastic about this operation.

Her thought was that it should be enough to have provided equipment like the dress and carriage, taken care of her appearance, and even given her crash courses.

The other companions, instead of forcibly dragging Dorothea in, continued to devise their strategy among themselves.

However—

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that here, we need a development where ninjas rush in, massacre—no, beat down the enemies and kidnap Cinderella!]

Flinch.

“If magic production is impossible, we have no choice but to replace it with physical production. If there are no casualties at all, the other side might feel a sense of discomfort, so how about cutting off just my head for fear production and having the Tin Knight carry it around?”

Flinch. Flinch.

“T-that might be a bit too cruel, no matter what.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that production is all about impact!]

“It’s not like there will actually be any human casualties.”

“Hmm…”

“What ‘hmm’? Do you all want to get hit for real!? Huh!!”

The Tin Knight who had no brakes.

The scarecrow who wouldn’t use the brakes even if she had them.

The lion tried to act as brakes but failed to function properly and got dragged along.

Seeing these beings, who were like disasters to the human world just by existing, trying to turn the glamorous ball into a cruel and bizarre play, Dorothea couldn’t help but intervene, even if it made her burst.

It was truly according to the Tin Knight and scarecrow’s plan. A truth that would make the person in question beat them with her staff if she knew.

“What? A play?”

And so, the Fairy Godmothers four times over called Cinderella and began to whisper their wicked plan into her ear.

If she were an ordinary girl, she would have been horrified by this terrifying plan and immediately told them to stop, but Cinderella was no pushover in her own way.

“Wouldn’t a woman who says she’s satisfied with just one dream as hope be more pitiful and heart-wrenching from the prince’s perspective than actively expressing her desire to be by his side? I’ll try to act in that direction as much as possible.”

“It’s one thing to capture the prince’s heart with a play, but we also need to give him a justification to persuade others afterward like, ‘A child born from this woman’s womb will become a great hero,’ no, that might be too much pressure on the child, so let’s say ‘Will leave their name in history in some way,’ then the prince can proudly claim her as his partner, right?”

“I’ll handle speaking various things remotely using the skull. I used to teach children in a theatrical way, it brings back memories.”

“Hmm, what should I do? Play the role of rushing in with the knight and subduing people?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ claims it’s time for the Lennart Mask to make another appearance!]

“Sit down, you lot. Don’t even think about going near the prince except for the tin can. Even if by chance the magic concealing our appearance is dispelled, this guy can at least make the excuse of being armor, but if our true appearances are revealed, it’ll be a disaster.”

“That’s right.”

Cinderella nodded sincerely at Dorothea’s words.

Dorothea probably meant it would be troublesome if her identity was revealed, but in Cinderella’s opinion, the three here revealing their true appearances in front of the prince would be a threat in itself.

The other two might be in the realm of preference when compared to Cinderella in beauty, but the witch was just half a class—no, a whole class above.

No, considering her attire, it might be more than a whole class difference.

And so, what happened to the prince who had his heart stolen by the wicked fairy godmothers’ sinister plan?

“Find her! Before the wicked witch takes her away, we must find her somehow!!”

In vulgar terms, he had gone crazy.

His actions of turning over every corner of the territory and trying to make women of marriageable age wear the glass slipper were tinged with madness.

Of course, there were those who found this behavior unpleasant.

“Wait a moment. I heard you’ve publicly declared that you’ll make the owner of this glass slipper your bride, is that true?”

“Such behavior from the Lumière Count family is tantamount to an insult to our Hartfield Marquis family!”

“Other young ladies were also chosen at the ball, so why are you giving such special treatment to that woman alone?”

The attendants or knights of the young ladies chosen from other parts of the ball protested against the prince’s behavior, but the prince was truly consistent.

“I sincerely thank the young ladies who have shown favor to this unworthy self. However, please understand this. While other young ladies might have plenty of suitable options even if not this unworthy one, for her, it’s over if I don’t save her! When a pitiful woman’s life is in danger of being sacrificed in a suspicious ritual, played by a wicked witch’s tricks, how can I dare to talk about noble blood while pretending not to see this!?”

“That, that may be so, but still, there’s a matter of mutual courtesy—“

“You may curse me! I’ll gladly endure even if you slap my cheek! What’s a mere pain compared to this passion burning in my chest!”

Adelaide, who was watching this scene remotely through Dorothea’s bone mouse, broke out in a cold sweat.

“T-the effect is incredibly good. Maybe a bit too good…”

Sophia smiled, “It’s worth teaching him various excuses that are easy to use. And it’s not just the prince who’s enthusiastic, the other ladies seem to be the same, don’t they?”

It was as she said.

“The slipper, if the slipper fits, she’s the prince’s bride! The next mistress of Lumière!”

“I didn’t even try before because of the strong candidates, but this time…!”

“Somehow squeeze it in! What’s a little pain!?”

Those opposing the prince’s search for the glass slipper’s owner were only the other candidates who would have been chosen by the prince if not for Cinderella’s play.

Those who had little chance of being chosen in the first place rather showed fervent support for this sudden event.

After all, it meant a chance had come to them as well.

“But, wouldn’t at least the person herself know that she’s not the owner of the glass slipper, even if others don’t?”

To Adelaide’s simple question, Sophia answered simply, “That’s because the witch sealed her memory.”

“What?”

“It means we can use that excuse, whether such a thing actually happened or not. A terrifying being who could kidnap someone through the count family’s strict guard. If it’s a witch who can casually control such a being, wouldn’t anything be possible?”

In a sense, it could be said to be the aftermath of staging the play too spectacularly.

The abilities of the mysterious “witch” were so exaggerated, rumors were spreading that she was a bizarre transcendent being who could literally do anything.

This itself was something the party had anticipated, but the problem was that the direction of the rumors was flowing in an unintended direction.

“But who exactly is this witch?”

“It’s obvious! It must be the witch of that cursed forest!”

“Indeed, if it’s a witch with the ability and audacity to cause such chaos in the count’s territory of all places, it can only be the Witch of the East!”

As people around whispered, the heads of the Tin Knight, scarecrow, and lion all turned to the side at once.

There was a witch who was somehow biting her nails and claiming with her whole body “I’m anxious now”.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ comforts Dorothea, saying that even if she’s her teacher, she wouldn’t kill her just because of a slight misunderstanding!]

“W-who said anything about that? I’m not bothered at all!?”

It was clearly not the expression of someone who wasn’t bothered at all, but the Tin Knight didn’t dare point it out.

Attacks should be made when the opponent was fine and the impact felt good, not when they were truly cornered.

Apart from Dorothea becoming anxious about this reaching her teacher’s ears and showing symptoms of anxiety, the operation was going smoothly.

Although the Lumière territory was indeed large, when narrowing down the range to unmarried women of marriageable age, the number of candidates decreased significantly.

In fact, giving two days was close to allowing ample time in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ raises a question, saying that even if the glass slipper has stricter size restrictions compared to ordinary shoes, with so many people, wouldn’t there be someone whose foot fits perfectly?]

To the Tin Knight’s words, Dorothea, who wanted to turn her thoughts in a different direction anyway, responded, “Of course we’ve taken measures for that. I’ve placed a curse so that anyone other than Cinderella who wears the shoe will feel unbearable discomfort and inconvenience. If someone with mediocre skills tries to remove the curse, the glass slipper itself will break. In other words, someone who has a similar foot size and shape to Cinderella and has the skill to ignore or break through the curse needs to respond to that test, but it’s unlikely that such a person would appear so conveniently, right…? Wait, why are you sharpening your sword?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that if a flag has been raised, preparations must be made!]

***

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