— Checkmate.

Your leader said these words calmly and with a pleasant smile.

Cielomort convinced you to play chess, because you are both talented strategists. However, your leader, unlike you, was a big fan of this game. He might even have been a grandmaster. He probably had a lot of strategies and clever moves in his head that you didn't know about yet.

The pale blue eyes of the Blue Bouquet leader sparkled with joy. Even his short, white, disheveled hair seemed to have become fluffier. He was clearly amused by the way you looked at the chessboard and the pieces in disbelief, as if you couldn't figure out how it happened. What was your mistake? Maybe it was some kind of clever trick? Or a banal deception?

— That's it.

Cielomort pointed out your mistake. All you had to do was use the queen's chess piece. It was so easy!

You sighed heavily, realizing your defeat, and took a sip of tea from the cup that had been standing next to you all this time.