Events rewind slightly.
The Konron 2 was hovering in the sky above the Guest House.
Inside, the delegates from various nations were engaged in idle conversation. Everyone was so preoccupied with the fate of the throne that the meeting had lost all focus.
Meanwhile, Elsa was in the cockpit with Edgar and Lily, similarly lost in thought. Rose was in the guest cabin acting as a flight attendant.
"...I'm worried about Jin-nii."
Reiko was by his side, and he was wearing a Protect Ring. Furthermore, his clothes were Hourai Island specials. While it was highly unlikely anything would happen to him, nothing in life was ever a complete certainty.
"...A legitimate... succession to the throne..."
That would undoubtedly require an official abdication from the King.
In that regard, Cesar was the legitimate successor by virtue of being the crown prince. However, the king's younger brother was taking advantage of the fact that this couldn't be proven, stepping forward to usurp the throne.
"Is there anything... I can do...?"
Richard still hadn't awakened from his coma. Even if he did, it was almost certain that he would be left with some form of brain damage.
"Even... so..."
Elsa had spent a long time treating her father, who suffered from similar neurological issues. In his case, a blood clot from a brain hemorrhage had compressed the tissue, damaging the brain cells.
"...In the King's case, as Jin-nii said, it was likely drugs. But the treatment for the brain shouldn't be that different."
She had already cleared the hemorrhaging in his brain. Despite that, his consciousness hadn't returned.
"...Could there be a cause other than his brain?"
The moment that thought occurred to her, Elsa felt a wave of self-reproach. She had been so fixated on treating his neurological symptoms that she had ignored everything else.
Once she broke free from that mental tunnel vision, other possibilities began to surface.
"...The circulatory system... it might be his blood pressure."
The mysterious alkaloid had caused significant damage to his internal organs as well. In particular, the heart would be suffering from the strain of being pushed to its limits.
"...Yes, blood pressure!"
Elsa arrived at the realization that he might be suffering from extreme low blood pressure as a rebound from his previous hypertensive state.
"...I have to try."
Elsa stood up and headed for the guest cabin.
"Elsa, what is it?"
The first person Elsa approached was the Empress. She was the leader of Elsa's own country and, for the time being, the chair of the World Conference.
"Your Majesty, I have an idea...."
Elsa explained her hypothesis.
"I see....And you wish to test it?"
"Yes. If His Majesty Richard's consciousness returns because of it..."
"Then the king's younger brother's lies will be exposed, won't they?"
Marquis Gaylen Theoderic interjected.
"But can we be certain he will support Crown Prince Cesar? Is there a chance the result could be less than ideal?"
"..."
Elsa had no way to answer that. However, the Empress spoke up in her stead.
"If that happens, then it simply can't be helped. That would be the destiny of the Celuroa Kingdom."
The other representatives had likely overheard the conversation, but none of them spoke up. Taking their silence as affirmation, the Empress gave Elsa a supportive nudge.
"Elsa, go. Do what you must."
Encouraged by those words, Elsa resolved to head to the healing room.
Piloted by Lily, the Konron 2 made a brief landing on the roof of the Guest House.
Elsa disembarked from the ship, accompanied by Edgar.
The healing room was located at the back of the first floor. Elsa ran down the stairs, mentally rehearsing the treatment procedure one last time.
"Elsa-sama..."
The healer on duty looked surprised to see her. He was aware that all the foreign guests had already evacuated.
"...I've thought of a new approach for His Majesty's treatment."
Elsa spoke curtly and took her place beside Richard's bed.
"Diagnose."
Magic wasn't omnipotent. If the mental image wasn't firm, the magic wouldn't yield results. This was as true for healing as it was for anything else.
Even with a spell like Diagnose, if the caster didn't have a clear idea of what they were looking for, the information gained would be minimal.
This time, Elsa focused her examination entirely on the circulatory system.
"...As I thought. His blood pressure is too low."
While she couldn't see a digital readout of his exact pressure, she could sense the intensity of the flow. Compared to her own or those of the people around her, Richard's blood pressure was dangerously low.
"...His heart rate is sluggish. The pulse is weak, too."
Looking closer, she saw that the blood vessels leading to the brain were also somewhat constricted.
"Heilung... Heilverfahren."
Now that she knew exactly which areas required treatment, she could apply her healing magic with surgical precision.
First, she repaired the blood vessels in the brain. It would be a catastrophe if a weakened vessel ruptured the moment his blood pressure returned to normal levels.
Next, she revitalized his internal organs as a whole.
Finally, she focused on stimulating and activating his heart.
Elsa wasn't entirely sure if this was the "correct" medical procedure, but judging that it would at least have no negative side effects, she proceeded through the treatment in stages.
Ten minutes later, Richard's complexion had improved visibly.
"...Nn... ggh..."
Richard stirred. His consciousness was beginning to surface.
"Your Majesty!"
The woman who had been waiting in silence nearby called out with joy. Judging by her clothes, she was a maid.
"...Ugh... where... am I...?"
"This is the healing room of the Guest House! Your Majesty collapsed and has been unconscious all this time!"
"...Is that... so..."
Richard closed his eyes again, causing the maid to panic.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
However, Richard opened his eyes once more.
"...I'm... alright....Is... Cesar... safe?"
"Ah, yes! He is safe, Your Majesty."
"I see....I must... have him... succeed me."
With those words, he indicated his intent to abdicate the throne.
"The throne, sire?"
"...Yes."
"But, Your Majesty. Your brother... Lord Alan is currently..."
The maid quickly filled him in on the situation.
Elsa worried about stressing his mind so soon after he had regained consciousness, but given the severity of the situation, she couldn't bring herself to stop the maid.
"...That... man..."
Richard tried to push himself up.
"Your Majesty! What are you doing?!"
"...It's obvious. I'm going... to stop... Alan."
Though some neurological impairment seemed to remain, his judgment had returned to normal now that the toxins were out of his system.
"But in your condition!"
The maid tried to restrain him, but Richard wouldn't listen.
"...This is... my last... duty... as King. I must... go."
Forcing his sluggish, uncooperative body to move, Richard began to climb out of bed.
Elsa saw that his resolve was unshakable. Knowing that Cesar was currently fighting a losing battle, she made a decision.
"Edgar, please assist His Majesty."
She would take Richard to the meeting room in Cybele Mansion as safely and quickly as possible.
"I-I shall accompany you as well!" the maid cried.
"Yes, come with us."
And so, Elsa, the maid, and Edgar—who was physically supporting Richard—left the healing room and made their way toward Cybele Mansion.
A few soldiers tried to block their path along the way, but the moment they saw Richard, they fell back without a word. Their progress was swift.
When they reached the doors of the meeting room in Cybele Mansion, Richard eased himself out of Edgar's arms and stood on his own feet. The maid stepped back behind them.
The doors swung open.
On the dais below stood Crown Prince Cesar and the king's younger brother, Alan. At that very moment, Alan was in the process of cornering the prince.
"Cesar, give it up. Anyone can see that you're the one lying. I am the next King."
Hearing those words, Richard forced air through his throat and shouted with every ounce of strength he possessed.
"...No! The one... who is... lying... is you!"