Why had Rhodes Island suddenly gained a handsome, heroic-looking Sankta built like a one-man army?
To explain that, we have to start from the beginning.
Lucian had originally gone to visit Amiya after dinner for tea, conversation, and a game of chess.
Cultivating favor with this adorable little rabbit required daily effort. Not even the smallest detail could be neglected.
So, in Amiya's private room, the two were engaged in a passionate and heated exchange.
Amiya said, "Lucian, if there's anything you don't remember, just tell me."
She moved a piece across the board.
"This is the king. If it's captured, you lose. This is the queen—she's the strongest piece. This is the rook, the bishop, the knight, and the weakest one is the pawn. But if a pawn reaches the farthest rank on the enemy's side, it can change into any piece except the king. That's called promotion."
Her long ears twitched as she lifted her head.
"Lucian, did you forget anything?"
Lucian nodded solemnly. "I forgot the first sentence. Say it again."
"Ah—okay. This is the king—"
Lucian lifted his hand. "No, no, not that. Earlier."
Amiya blinked in confusion.
"Earlier...? Did I say anything else...?"
"Ah. You mean—'Big bro, if there's anything you don't remember, just tell me?'"
Lucian gave her a thumbs-up. "Yes, that one. Especially the first two words. Say them a few more times."
"Big bro~!" (○｀3′○)
The little rabbit puffed her cheeks and hammered her tiny, ring-covered fists against him.
Ah. Bliss.
How could this rabbit be so cute? Lucian felt his whole soul melting.
Once she tired herself out, Amiya still kept her cheeks puffed in displeasure.
"Big bro, you do know how to play chess, don't you? You were lying to tease me, right? With your status, you can't possibly have lacked entertainment in Laterano."
Lucian shook his head. "No, I really don't know."
He toyed with one of the chess pieces, speaking casually:
"Laterano truly has no entertainment. Every hour and minute of an Sankta's day is strictly regulated. Every meal is predetermined. How many times you chew, how many creases your clothes have, how many times you oil your Gun—all of it is written clearly in law."
"...N-no way..."
Amiya stared in disbelief. This little rabbit would need a whole year to recover from that shock.
Everyone knew the Sankta lived rigid lives. Laterano was synonymous with monotony. But that was mostly rumor.
Most Sankta spent their whole lives in Laterano.
And the ones who left Laterano... were outliers. Not representative at all.
So Amiya hadn't believed the rumors. She couldn't imagine an entire nation living by such suffocating rules. It sounded terrifying.
She asked carefully, "Big bro... are you teasing me? What's it really like?"
"Yes, I'm teasing you. It's even worse."
Lucian smiled kindly. "Amiya, have you ever heard of the missionary position? It's the only one permitted by Lateran law."
Amiya: "???"
After listening to Lucian's detailed explanation—complete with gestures—the pure little rabbit learned knowledge that, at her age, she probably would've learned soon anyway.
Her pale cheeks instantly turned into slow-braised red rabbit, making Lucian want to demonstrate the doctrine personally.
"But seriously, I'm a special case. Because I'm the Holy Son."
He spoke to the thoroughly embarrassed rabbit hiding behind her pillow like an ostrich.
"I didn't have to pray, worship, or attend school. Playing with Guns was fun at first, but I got tired of shooting at fixed targets. So I made my own games."
"...Big bro, you made games yourself?"
Bright-eyed, bright-red Amiya peeked over her pillow.
Lucian nodded. "I made card games, chess variants, all sorts of stuff. I even made a Terra version of Jungle Chess, and tried things like YGO and Hearthstone."
"But trading card games were too complicated. No one around me could learn them. Then things escalated quickly into 'Forgive my incompetence, Your Holiness, for failing to comprehend your will—please grant me death'. After that, I never touched card games again."
"...???"
Amiya's head filled with question marks.
"I don't understand... but I do know you had a very hard time."
Ah. The emotional-sponge bunny hits again.
One simple sentence, and Lucian felt so happy he wanted to scoop her up and rub her until she shed fur.
Even so, when he thought back, ninety percent of his Holy Son days were boredom and helplessness. But there were some bright spots.
"I learned a bit of traditional Laterano performance arts too," he continued. "Music."
"I didn't think I suited something so elegant, but I was that bored. Eventually I learned piano."
"And you can do four-hand duets. You know—an excuse to lean close to girls and get a little cozy. Probably the only refined art I've ever mastered."
Amiya's eyes sparkled. "You can play piano? That's amazing!"
This sensible child automatically ignored the second half of the sentence and smiled brightly.
"That's wonderful! I love performing music. If there's ever a chance, I'd love to play with you."
Lucian asked, "What do you play?"
"Violin. But Rhodes Island keeps me so busy... I haven't practiced in a long time."
Her expression dimmed slightly as she looked toward the cabinet in the corner.
Despite being the leader of Rhodes Island, Amiya received no special privileges aside from having a single room.
And the burden she carried was unimaginable.
Managing Rhodes Island's internal operations and external diplomacy—it all rested on her shoulders.
Kalt'sit would help her, of course. But that woman was an overworked machine herself, performing surgeries day and night.
Truly, Rhodes Island was a black-hearted company.
The Empress and the Grand Duchess both working 24/7? This place had no future!
...of course, that was a joke.
Lucian had only just arrived at Rhodes Island. He couldn't comment too much. So he simply passed her a cup of freshly made Soy Milk.
"When you have time, you're welcome to come find me anytime. But I'm warning you—I only know how to play. I'm terrible and have zero talent. Sankta in Laterano used to cry whenever I played, so I never got real feedback. Don't laugh at me if I embarrass myself."
"Heehee~ I won't."
Amiya beamed. "Thank you, Big bro."
"You're welcome." Lucian smiled back.
The mood was perfect—so perfect that he felt his ability to charm girls had leveled up again.
At this rate, he'd successfully trick Amiya into upgrading him from "big brother" to "dad" in no time.
He couldn't wait to see Kalt'sit's face then. It would be glorious.
Just then, frantic knocking came from outside Amiya's door.
A voice from HR shouted, "Amiya! An external individual suddenly forced his way inside the ship. He claims he wants to register as an operator... Blaze is watching him now, but we can't communicate with him at all. Could you come over?"
"An outsider? What kind?"
Amiya jumped to her feet and hurried to open the door.
The operator said, confused, "He's a Sankta. He claims, 'By order, I volunteer to join Rhodes Island. According to instruction, I will not reveal the identity of the one I am protecting.' And he also said, 'If I appear suspicious, you may pay me and treat me as a mercenary by common standards'... He was so suspicious we contacted Security immediately."
Smack.
Lucian slapped a hand over his face.
The shame was overwhelming.