一方その頃、屋敷で一大イベントが開催されているなどとは露知らず、フォックスライダー家の屋敷に訪れているエルザは、早くもピンチに陥っていた。
「被告人エルザさん、何か申し開きはございまして？」
「…あのな、アイーナさんや？」
「申　し　開　き　は　？」
「ああ、まぁ…非が儂にあるのは認めとるし、質問には正直に答えさせてもらうが」
「えぇー。言い訳のひとつでもして下さらないと、尋問できないじゃないですかぁ」
「裁判じゃないな―これ―」
「お黙りなさい、そんな事訊いてません！もう、ちっとも面白くないですわ！」
　裁判長が持つ木槌のつもりか、アイーナは手にしたピコピコハンマーでエルザの額をまっはたたきする。
（検事と裁判長がごちゃ混ぜになっとるじゃないか…本当の裁判だったら不当判決し放題じゃな）
　身動きも取れず、なんとも情けない顔でそれを受け続けるエルザの額は、とっくに真っ赤に腫れ上がっていた。

フォックスライダー家の屋敷を訪れたエルザを玄関からアイーナの部屋の前まで先導していたメイドが、ドアをノックをした後「御武運を」と言い残しダッシュで去った時点で、既に何かが怪しくはあった。部屋の中からあからさまに自分の様子を伺っている気配をひしひしと感じ取っていたものの、しかし逃げる訳にもいくまいと部屋に足を踏み入れた途端、床に仕掛けられていたロープの輪っかに足を引かれ転倒し、しかも両脇からアイーナとミフィに襲い掛かられたのである。悪意も害意も、それどころか敵意すら感じず、よもや家の中で待ち伏せられて襲われるなどと全く予想していなかったエルザは、運動音痴なアイーナと戦闘能力的には素人に毛が生えた程度でしかないミフィ、この二人の手でいともあっさりと捕縛されたのである。
　後ろ手に拘束され、そして両足首も縛られ何故か床に正座させられて、更に太腿の上にジャンクパーツの入ったカラーボックスを乗せられた姿は、珍妙と表現する他ない。正座させられているのはフカフカの絨毯の上なのに、姿勢を正す事もままならない所為で、早速足が痺れてきている。あと何故かミフィに噛み付かれている尻が痛い。ピコピコピコピコッ。ピップピコピッピッ。アイーナの叩き方が段々雑になってきて、甲高かったり鈍かったりするピコ音が殊更滑稽だった。
　何の援護も受けるつもりもなく、敢えて投げ石を受ける覚悟を決めて、腹を括ってやってきたアウェーの地だというのに、蓋を開けてみればいつものノリの展開である。逆に安心感すら覚えてしまうエルザだった。
「ところで、質問があるんじゃがのう」
「こちらが尋問している最中ですのに…何ですの？」
「儂を拘束している意味は？」
「安易に情事に流れるようなきっかけを与えさせない為です。アレを始めると、つい耽ってしまうかミフィさんが大暴れするかで、話をする時間が無くなってしまいそうですから。なので、エルザさんの悪戯を防止する方向性で拘束させて頂きました」
「この時点で時間を無駄にしてる気もするがなー」
「何か仰いまして？」
「いや別に」
　その逆パターンだって有り得るじゃないかとも思ったが、少なくとも野生丸出しに尻カジられてる時点でミフィにその気はねーなーこれ、と一応納得しておいた。ああ尻痛い。
「じゃあ、ミフィが儂の尻に噛み付いとるのは？」
「しかし、エルザさんがなかなか話す気にならないのであれば、このままじゃれついていても埒が明きませんわね」
「おいミフィは」
「では巫山戯るのは大概にして、そろそろ真面目に本題へ入りましょうか」
「あらやだこの子、人の話を聞こうともなさらない！」
「フぐフフフ」
　無慈悲のスルーに、横向きに寝っ転がって尻に噛み付いたまま腕を組み、ドヤ顔で勝ち誇るミフィであった。最早何が何だか。
「ではまず、ご主人がいらっしゃる事を私達に黙っていたのは、何故ですの？」
（うん？まずその事からか？）
　てっきり、旦那が居るのに自分達に手を出すなんて、という内容でひとしきり罵られてから出る話題だろうと思っていたが、意外にも最初の質問だった事にエルザは驚く。そもそも、アイーナ達の態度に全く変わりはなく、怒りを押し殺している様子も見られないのが不可解だ。しかし正直に答えると言った手前、今更逃げるつもりもなかった。
　なのに、いざ話そうと思うと上手く言葉になってくれず、ついもじもじしてしまう。珍しくしおらしいその仕草に、アイーナは可愛い！と目を輝かせたが、ミフィにジト目で睨まれて咳払いで誤魔化した。
「いつかは話そうと思っていた。思っていたのじゃが…どうにも恥ずかしくて、つい先延ばしに…理由は、な、あのな、あの、な、わ、笑われると思って…」
「え…私達が、貴女を？隠し事をされていた事自体はショックでしたけれど、それを笑ったりなんてしませんわよ。ねぇミフィさん？」
「フガ」
「だって、儂が…その、結婚してた、なんて…嘘吐いてるみたいに、き、聞こえるじゃろ…？」
　アイーナとミフィは同時に吹き出した。あのエルザが、こんな子供みたいな理由で言い出せなかったなんて！
「ほ、ほら、笑ったじゃないか！だから言いたくなかったんじゃ…」
「ふふ、ご、ごめんあそばせ…まさかエルザさんがそんな可愛らしい事を言い出すなんて、思ってもみませんでしたから。ご安心下さいな、確かに信じ難かったのは事実ですけれど、よく考えてみればエルザさんがご結婚なさってた事、当然の話だと思っていますから。これだけは言っておきますけれど、貴女がご結婚されていて、ご主人がいらっしゃる事について、私達、別にエルザさんに騙されていただとか、弄ばれていただとか思っていませんし、怒ってもいませんわよ？勿論、別れろと言うつもりもありません。そりゃあ初めは…ちょっぴり怒りはしましたけど、許します」
「へぁ？」
　想像していた反応とはまるで違う上に当然とまで言われて、しかも許すというアイーナの言葉に対し、エルザは気の抜けた声を出した。

このアイーナ・フィオ・フォックスライダーという女性は、幼い頃からＦＲ財閥の令嬢として、そしてフォックスライダー家次期当主として、厳格な父親にスパルタな英才教育を強いられ続け、その苦痛の経験から男性に対し恐怖心を抱えている。その所為もあって、ハイスクール在学時代に巻き込まれた事件で友人であったエルザの秘密を知った頃から、同性でありながら恐怖を感じる事のない異性として意識するようになり、「この人を逃してはならない」と考え始め、エルザを心に決めた運命の人としてしまった。だから「エルザのパートナー」という立場を脅かしかねないと見た相手には、近付くだけでも嫉妬の炎を燃やし、明確に敵意を剥き出しにする事さえあるのだ。
　彼女がミフィといがみ合っていたのも、ミフィが自分と同じくエルザを愛し、己の想いを臆する事無くぶつけている事と、エルザお付きのメイドであり長い時間を共にしてきた事に対する、対抗心の表れだったのだ。それは恋愛経験皆無だったアイーナにとって自らの行為を暴走させるに十分過ぎ、エルザに「お手付き」されない事に悩むミフィに差を付けようと、在学中は正体がバレないように厳しい禁欲を課していたエルザに自分から迫って陥落したり、これみよがしにその情事の内容をミフィに自慢したりして、淫魔だと疑われて塩や聖水をぶちまけられた事があるほどだ。成長と共に心境の変化があったのか、今ではミフィとは和解し、「エルザを愛する同志」として認め合っているようだが…基本的な反応は変わっていない筈だ。
　そんなアイーナが、許すというのだ。
「な、何か悪いものでも食したのか？いかん、いかんぞ、ＨＰが回復するからといって、ゴミ箱から拾ったハンバーガーを拾い食いしては、いかん。おとなもこどももおねーさんも、な」
「誰が野生のネスサンですかっ！」
　つい口から出たボケにすぐさまツッコミで返してくる、いつも通りのやり取り。実は怒っていた、というのなら、ツッコミを入れるよりも叱られていただろう。本当にアイーナは自分を許しているのだと解り、ポカンとしてしまう。
「私ね、以前から…そう、二ホンへ遊びに行く以前から、考えていた事がありますの。二千年も生きているのなら、これまでにも私達のように、男女問わず好かれていても不思議ではないな、と。だって、二千年ですよ？他人を拒絶し、孤独を友として生きてきたのなら、話は別です。けれど、貴女のような方がそれだけの時間を生きて、私達と出会うまで誰にも、誰からも、何も想わず想われず過ごすなんて、まず不可能でしょう。それこそご結婚されていない方がおかしいですわ。そう考えて、ミフィさんと話し合った上で、貴女を許そうという気になりましたのよ」
　若干、思考停止気味だったエルザは、アイーナの話を理解するまで時間が掛かった。じんわりとその意味が沁み込んでいくにつれ、目が見開かれていく。アイーナは、二千年もの歳月を生きるという自分では成し得ぬ生の軌跡を分析し、その長き生の中で経験した出会いと別れを理解までして、あまつさえこれまでにも自分達のような存在が居た事や夫が居る事を、当然と言ってのけたのだ。
（生きた時間はこの際、別の問題としても、確かに相手の立場に立てば多少なりとも考え至る事ではある…まず大半は、それを考える事にまで気付かんというのに、感情と思考を切り離し、冷静に考え至るとはな…。しかし、過去の事を許せるというのはまだ解るが、旦那の事まで許せるというのは…いや、儂としては嬉しくはあるが…この二人は二人なりに、何か答えを出したのだろうか？この儂を理解しながら、儂が思い付きもしないような、答えを）
「ただ、そう考えると、ひとつ疑問に思う事が出てきますの。何故、エルザさんに子孫が居ないのか」
「ああ、うわ、ここでそれくるか」
　真面目にものを考えている時に不意を突かれたものだから、思わず情けない声を上げてしまった。というのも、この理由はランや雪恋の前で話した事はあるが、改めてこの二人に話すとなると、やはり恥ずかしさを感じてしまうからだ。それでも今更の事と、なんとか決心を固める。
「儂はな、まず儂自身が旦那との子を成したいのだ、女としてな。ミフィよ、おぬしには悪い事をしていると思っている、だがおぬしになら解ってもらえるはずじゃ、儂の、この気持ちを」
　それを聞いて、尻に齧り付いているミフィがもぞりと反応する。部族最後の生き残り、ただ唯一の部族巫女。純潔を失えば巫女を失う事となり、それは部族が真の意味で滅ぶ事を意味する。それを覚悟してまでエルザとの間に子をもうけたいと願うミフィには、酷な話なのかもしれない。が、噛む力が弱まったのは、何かしら思う所があるからだろう。
「言わんとする事は解りますが…そうなると、余計に疑問なんですのよ、子孫が居ない事が」
「あぇ？」
　本心で答えたのにまだ疑問を持たれている事に、エルザは混乱した。これ以上答えようがないというのに、他に何の理由がいるというのか、本気で判らない。
「ああ、エルザさんが本気だという事は、ミフィさんの反応を見れば解ります。けれど、辻褄が合わないんですの」
「辻褄？」
「ええ。…ご結婚までされているのですから、その気になれば子供を作れたでしょうに。ちなみにお訊きしますけれど、ご主人は今どちらに？それともお亡くなりになられまして？」
「いや、生きとる生きとる。旦那は儂と同じ師に師事した魔法使いでな、今は次元を渡り調和の楔を築く使命を負い、あらゆる世界を飛び回っておる。大体４、５０年に一度くらいは帰ってきてくれるが、それだけ間が空くとなかなか子を成すのも難しくてな」
「４、５０年に一度…でもお帰りになっている期間は、一日だけという事はないのでしょう？頑張れば一人くらい生まれていそうなものですけれど」
「う…もしかして儂、不妊症なのか…？この体（両性具有）じゃし…」
　この時、エルザの心の中で、渦を巻く感情があった。解っているようでいて解ろうとしたくない、胸を締め付けられるような思い。そしてそれは、次のアイーナの指摘で遂に白日の下に晒される事になる。
「もしやと思っていましたけれど…エルザさん、貴女…」
「な、なんじゃ？」

「もしかして、純粋に恋愛する事自体が、苦手なのではなくて？」

　そう。
　実はそれこそが、エルザが性欲を隠れ蓑にして無意識に目を逸らしていた、認めたくなかった欠点だったのだ。

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the huge event beginning at the mansion, Elza, who had come to the Foxrider family's mansion, had already found herself in a pinch.
"Defendant Elza-san, will you present your defense?"
"...Ummm, Aiina-san?"
"Your defense?"
"Ah, well... I admit that the fault was mine, so could you please answer my question?"
"Eh. Since you haven't given me a single explanation, I won't be able to conduct my cross-examination."
"This isn't a trial!"
"Silence, I didn't ask you! Geez, this isn't fun at all!"
Maybe it was supposed to be the gavel that judges have, but Aiina hit Elza in the forehead with the piko piko hammer she had in her hand.
(Isn't she combining the role of prosecutor and judge... If this was a real trial, this would be a real breach of impartiality.)
Being unable to move, and with a pitiful face, Elza continued to take it, and her soon her forehead was swollen red.

Elza had arrived at the Foxrider family mansion. The maid who guided her from the entrance to Aiina's room, after knocking on the door, said "good luck in battle" and dashed away. At that moment, she realized that something was odd. From inside the room, she felt a strong sense that she shouldn't do anything, but since she couldn't run away, she stepped into the room. As soon as she did, a lasso placed on the floor caught her by her foot, and she was hoisted in the air, upside down, and was set upon on both sides by Aiina and Mifi. She didn't sense any ill will or malice, or any hostility like that, and she was certainly wasn't expecting to be ambushed and attacked inside the house. Aiina, who was terribly unathletic, and Mifi, who had almost no combat skills, very easily captured Elza.
With both hands tied behind her back, and both ankles bound and forced to sit formally, and also with a box filled with junk parts on her lap, she had a strange look on her face. Although she was sitting formally on a soft carpet, she couldn't adjust her sitting position, so her legs quickly became numb. Also, her butt, which Mifi was biting for some reason, also hurt. Piko piko piko piko. Pipu piko pi pi. Aiina's hits were gradually becoming less precise, and the slow and high pitched piko sound was especially funny.
Not expecting any relief, prepared to be rejected, and expecting the worst in the hostile territory, maybe if she tried opening the lid on this, things might go back to normal. Elza was strangely feeling a sense of relief.
"By the way, I have a question."
"I'm in the middle of your cross examination... But what is it?"
"What's the point of tying me up?"
"Simply so you don't have the chance to make a move on us. Once that starts, Mifi will get caught up in it and will go on a rampage, so we won't have any time to talk. And so, you've been tied up as a way to preventative measure against your pranks."
"I have a feeling that this right now is also a waste of time."
"Did you say something?"
"No, nothing."
She had thought that this kind of reversal was a possibility, but once her exposed ass was bitten by Mifi, she realized it wasn't going to happen. Ah, her butt hurts.
"Then, what about Mifi biting my ass?"
"However, Elza-san, if you have no intention on talking, then this we won't be able to get anywhere and this will continue."
"Hey, what about Mifi?"
"Let's not get sidetracked, and seriously address the issue at hand, shall we?"
"This girl, she's not listening to anything I say!"
"Hegehehehe"
Mercilessly ignoring her, Mifi was lying on her side, biting her ass with her arms crossed and a confident look on her face. That's how it was.
"First, why didn't you tell us about a husband?"
(Huh? Starting with that?)
She was thinking that the topic of why, despite having a husband, she was chasing after them would come up, but Elza was surprised that it was the first question. In any case, she was confused at how Aiina and Mifi's attitude hadn't changed at all, and how it didn't seem like their anger had been snuffed out. However, she was going to answer honestly, and had no plans on escaping now.
But still, even though she was going to tell them, she couldn't find the right words, and became hesitant. As her eyes lit up with the thought that Aiina was acting oddly meek and cute!, she felt a stare of scorn from Mifi, and cleared her throat and started to explain.
"I was thinking of telling you eventually. I was, but... it's embarrassing, so I procrastinated... The reason, uh, umm, well, y, you might laugh..."
"Eh... Us, laugh at you? The fact that you were hiding something was a shock, but we wouldn't laugh at you. Right, Mifi-san?"
"Mmph"
"But, I... Umm, doesn't it sound... like a lie, when I say I'm married...?"
Aiina and Mifi, at the same time, burst into laughter. That Elza couldn't say it for such a childish reason!
"H, hey, you laughed! That's why I didn't want to say it..."
"Haha, I, I'm terribly sorry... I really didn't think that Elza-san would say such a cute thing. Please don't worry, it certainly is difficult to believe, but when I think about it, it would only be natural for you to be married. That is all I have to say, but if you are married, and you have a husband, then you've been deceiving us and just playing with us. So don't you think we would be angry? Of course, I don't think you're saying that you'll break it off. At first... I was a little angry, but I forgive you."
"Huh?"
Her reaction was completely different from what she imagined, and she said it so naturally, and also forgave her. In response to Aiina's words, Elza's voice was flat.

This woman, Aiina Fio Foxrider, who had been the a daughter in the FR conglomerate ever since she was young, and then became the next heiress, had been forced by her strict parents into a very strict genius education program, and due that painful experience, she embraced her fear of men. When she was in high school, she'd got caught up in an incident with her friend, Elza, and found out about her secret. Realizing that she was a female and had a male part that she wasn't scared of, she began to think "I can't let this person get away from me", and set her sights on her as her destined person. That's why, when she saw someone who could fill the role as "Elza's partner", just having that person get close to Elza ignited her flames of jealousy, and even showed open hostility.
Aiina's fights with Mifi, combined with the fact that Mifi loved Elza just like her, wasn't shy about expressing her feelings, and had been with Elza for a long time as her maid, were all parts of their rivalry. For Aiina, who had no experience in romance, letting her own actions run wild was too much. And Mifi was worried about how Elza wouldn't "take her". Looking at the difference between them, Elza, who didn't want her real body known, was cornered by her own strict abstinence policy while in school and gave in. She boasted to Mifi about her affairs, and there were even times when she was thought to be a lust demon and had salt or holy water sprinkled on her. As she grew, maybe her mind also changed, but she now accepted Mifi as "a kindred spirit who loves Elza"... But her reactions didn't really change.
That Aiina, said that she forgave her.
"D, did I eat something that wasn't good? That's bad, that's bad, going through a garbage bin for a hamburger, just because it will heal your HP, is bad. For adults and for children and for onee-san too."
"Who's a feral Ness!?"
The unintentional boke coming out of her mouth was immediately responded to with a tsukkomi. It was their usual routine. If she was truly angry, instead of joining in with a tsukkomi, she would have lashed out in anger. With a whack, she understood that Aiina had truly forgiven her.
"In the past, I... yes, before I went to Japan to play, I had thought about it. Since you've lived for 2000 years, being loved by both males and females, isn't that strange. Because it's 2000 years, right? If you had rejecting others, and lived in loneliness, that would be a different story. However, someone like you who had lived for that long, having spent your time neither feeling anything towards others, nor having others feel anything towards you, would be impossible. That's why it would stranger if you weren't married. Thinking in that way, after discussing it with Mifi-san, I had been worried about forgiving you."
Elza, who kind of felt like her mind froze, took her time until she understood what Aiina said. As the meaning of it was gradually absorbed, her eyes opened wide. Aiina had analyzed the path of her impossible 2000 year life, and even understood her experiences of meetings and farewells in it, and even talked about how there were others who were like them, and that there was a husband, as though it was obvious.
(The amount of time I've lived, even as a separate problem, from her perspective, she must have thought about it deeply... First, generally, she wouldn't even realize to consider it, but she separated her thoughts and emotions, and calmly thought about it... However, I understand how she can forgive the past, but to even forgive about my husband... Well, I'm happy about it, but... Is this some kind of answer from the two of them, in their own way? They understand me, and give an answer that I wouldn't think of.)
"However, when I think about this, one question came to mind. Elza-san, why don't you have any descendants?"
"Ah, whoa, and now this, huh?"
She was suddenly ambushed while thinking seriously about this, so without thinking, she spoke pitifully. She had spoken to Ran and Seren about this reason, but having to tell these two again, she felt embarrassed. But it was too late for that, so she hardened her resolve.
"I, well, I wanted to have a child with my husband, as a woman. Mifi, I think I'm doing something terrible to you, but I think you should understand my feelings."
Hearing this, Mifi, who was biting her ass, squirmed in response. She was the last living member of her tribe, and the only tribal priestess. If she lost her chastity, she would not be a priestess, and in a true sense, her tribe would perish. When Mifi was with Elza, she begged her to have a child with her, but Elza was resolute on this. So this might be a terrible conversation for Mifi. However, the intensity of her biting weakened, so she probably thought this too.
"I understand what you're trying to say, but... In that case, not having any descendants would be an unnecessary problem, right?
"Ah?"
Elza was confused. Even though she answered from the bottom of her heart, they still had questions. Even though she had nothing left to say, they thought there might be another reason, so she really didn't know.
"Ah, Elza-san, you were being serious, and if you saw Mifi-san's reaction, you would understand. However, there is an inconsistency."
"Inconsistency?"
"Yes... You're married, so if you felt like having a child, you could do so. By the way, let me ask you, where is your husband right now? Or has he passed away?"
"No, he's alive. My husband is a wizard who was an apprentice to the same master as me, and is currently on a mission to collect items necessary for safe inter-dimensional travel, and hops between worlds. Generally, he comes back once every 40-50 years, but it would be pretty difficult to have a child during that brief time."
"Once every 40-50 years... But the time he returns isn't just for 1 day, right? If you tried, you could probably have 1 child born."
"Uh... Maybe I'm infertile...? Since I have this body (both parts)..."
At this point, Elza's mind was swirling with emotions. She should understand, but she didn't want to, and it felt like her chest was being crushed. And then, with Aiina's next point, it was laid bare.
"I thought this might be the case, but... Elza-san, you..."
"W, what?"

"Are you, perhaps, just bad with pure love?"

Yes. In reality, that was what being hidden by Elza's lust, and what she unconsciously ignored, and her fault that she didn't want to admit.