May I Ask for One Final Thing? (最後にひとつだけお願いしてもよろしいでしょうか)

Scarlet...

Oh, Brother.

It is a pleasure to see you, Prince Julius.

I saw the nobles fleeing and inquired about the situation.

I must ask what inspired this violent display.

You did have a reason, right, Scarlet?

They committed wrongdoings of which I dare not speak.

Then, rather than show any trace of remorse,

they continued to act in so audacious a manner

that I was forced to punish them on the spot.

More to the point...?

They pissed me off, so I punched their teeth in.

So you've shown your true colors at last.

Since the day we first met,

I've been wondering when you might unleash those fists of yours.

The merciless thrashing you gave those fools was probably quite a sight to see...

It's unkind that you did it when I wasn't here.

I reject your implication. I had no choice in this matter.

Our family's reputation will once more spiral down the drain!

After ten years of blissful peace...

How will I explain this to Mother and Father?

Oh?

Don't worry, Leo.

Scarlet won't be charged for this.

But don't you think—

Their voices are growing distant... and I feel...

Scarlet!

MAY I OFFER YOU THE TASTE OF MY FIST AS THE LADYLIKE THING TO DO?

I hear a familiar sound of a bell.

It's the bell of the church of Chronoa, God of Time.

Ah, of course.

I must have used too much of Chronoa's power.

And who might you be?

Scarlet... Die!

Watch it.

It's not safe to point knives at people.

What was that boom?!

Are you all right, Scarle—

Good morning, Leo.

You wake up after three days, and this is the first thing you do?!

Not even the doctor could find out what was wrong.

I thought you might never wake up again.

You tremendous fool.

I apologize.

I shouldn't have been so reckless.

I hope you'll forgive me.

Yes, please. Swear you'll never hit anyone again!

I cannot do that.

At least pretend to think about it!

I see our sleeping beauty has finally awakened.

The royal family has finalized the termination of your engagement.

Your father has also given his assent.

I see.

Kyle has been disinherited for the trouble he caused.

Rumors have been circulating for some time

about illegal ownership and trading of slaves in the second prince's faction.

This will provide an opportunity to crack down on all of them.

Will I be punished?

Certainly not.

The royal family considers you indispensable.

I'm sorry to say, but you'll likely remain single until domestic matters settle.

That will mean delaying your wedded bliss for a time, but there is a bright side.

You've gained something priceless in exchange.

Priceless?

It seems rumors of your deeds have gotten around in the city.

The champion who sent a horde of evil, self-interested nobles to prison

with just her fists.

As she stood alone, covered in blood, beautiful and terrible...

They've given her a nickname: the Bloodstained Lady.

Just as people seemed about to forget the "Mad Dog Noblewoman" nickname...

Now, things will be rather busy around here in the coming days.

Quite a few of the nobles you exposed were important men in the national government.

There will likely be many replacements.

Most pressing of all,

the organizer of the fools in the second prince's faction,

Prime Minister Godwin Bene Carmine...

We need to find a way to deal with him.

His Majesty and Prince Julius thought there might be someone

pulling the strings behind the second prince's faction.

They formed a plan to deal with all the corrupt nobles at once.

We formed an organization, the Crown Investigatory Office, to carry it out.

Leo is currently head of that organization.

My brother has been acting even more harried of late...

Would that be due to his time spent with Your Highness?

I resent the implication.

The more likely cause would be all the trouble you've started.

It's both of you, actually.

I almost forgot.

Let me introduce the one who exposed the prime minister's involvement.

An agent deployed by the CIO to infiltrate the second prince's faction.

I believe you may already be acquainted.

This is Sigurd Forgrave.

Lady Scarlet. It's a pleasure to see you, as always.

Oh, it's you.

I beg your forgiveness.

My behavior towards you in the past has been utterly unacceptable.

It never actually bothered me, but...

I was convinced that you had sworn fealty to Prince Kyle, Sir Sigurd.

It was a most convincing performance.

I had no idea the knights had such talented actors.

I-I beg your forgiveness!

Scarlet, if you still resent him for how he treated you in the past,

you may do whatever you need to put it behind you.

Prince Julius?!

May I clobber you?

Scarlet?!

I resign myself to your fists.

Sigurd!

Admirable resolution.

There.

It is all behind us now.

You saved me many times as well.

Only Prince Kyle is allowed to lay a hand on this woman.

I was merely playing my role as a knight.

I don't deserve your mercy...

Don't you?

W-Well... I...

My friends from the academy will have heard what happened at the ball.

They'll surely be worried.

I'll need to explain myself to them soon.

I'll be able to spend as much time with them as I like now.

It's just what I've always dreamed of.

I'm so glad I punched those people!

Still... to think the prime minister was behind it all...

Which means... the one who sent the maid who tried to kill me this morning...

Sit.

Unacceptable behavior.

The maids of our household must be level-headed,

silent in step, and voiceless unless called upon.

And they must always meet their master's expectations..

Beastkin Nanaka.

I only came to speak with you.

If you prefer to dance, I must ask that you at least assume human form.

I can more freely punch you that way.

Oh, I see.

You were a boy all this time?

So what if I was?

I'm gonna kill you!

It's the only choice I have!

That's a slave crest.

Any who bear it must obey all orders from their assigned master.

Is that because you're a slave?

So what if it is?

If I were to free you,

would you tell me everything you know about the one who sent you?

Fine. If you can do it, go ahead and try.

If you succeed, I'll tell you anything you want to know.

Your terms are acceptable.

Forgive my reckless treatment.

What are you doing?!

Reverse Time.

All people are born favored by one of our world's many gods.

Most people go their whole lives never realizing which god favors them.

But some do, and it allows them to manifest that god's power.

That power is known as a blessing.

It appears to have worked.

The slave crest is gone?

Not gone, exactly.

I merely restored your body to how it was before.

The power of "Reversal," part of the blessing of Chronoa, God of Time.

This is the reason the royal family wishes to secure my place in their kingdom.

But in practice, it has many limitations, and it burns through my energy quickly.

I'll die if I use too much too quickly.

My use of Acceleration at the ball is what caused me to pass out.

The power to turn back time?

I had no idea anyone—