“House Eldran supports Her Highness the Second Princess, Alecia Valsein, as the next monarch.”
Galvas Eldran’s deep voice resonated into the furthest corners of the Great Hall.
A stir rippled through the assembled nobles. The largest ducal house of the West, which everyone had assumed would maintain its neutrality until the very end, had finally made its move. Prompted by the Old Prime Minister, Galvas stepped forward to the center and pressed House Eldran’s seal onto the register presented by the scribe.
In the Royal Selection, houses of the rank of count and below held one vote, a marquis held two, and a duke held three. The three votes of House Eldran carried immense weight. However, even that was not enough to overturn the numbers Regnard had already secured.
Scribes recounted the ballots and presented the parchment to the Old Prime Minister.
“House Eldran, three votes for Her Highness Alecia! The gap has narrowed, but at this moment, His Highness the First Prince Regnard leads by two votes!”
The cheers that had begun to rise died out halfway.
Beside me, Clarice’s fingers dug into my sleeve once more.
“...It’s not enough.”
“I can hear you... Don’t pull so hard, you’ll stretch the fabric.”
“Is that really what you’re worried about right now?”
“If I have to get the royal tailors to mend it, they’ll likely charge me a king’s ransom.”
While tossing back a joke, I turned my gaze toward the rows of the West.
If Duke Eldran stood up, those around him would follow. That was how I had read the situation. However, I hadn't made any formal promises to anyone... Since the Duke himself hadn't revealed his intentions until the very last second, there was no guarantee that the men behind him would fall in line.
—In other words, from here on out, there was nothing more I could do.
Two votes, huh... He had more support left than I anticipated!
Regnard remained seated, his usual gentle smile playing on his lips.
“What a pity, Alecia. Even with Duke Eldran moving, it seems you’re still two votes short.”
Alecia said nothing. After bowing deeply to Galvas, she remained facing forward, waiting for the tally to be finalized.
Houses that chose neutrality had not yet pressed their seals on the register. Before the final confirmation was finished, they could still declare their support.
But if no one stood up, it was over. Just as the Old Prime Minister scanned the hall and prepared to speak—the legs of a chair scraped against the floor in the Western section.
The one who stood up was the silver-haired Lord Lodis.
“Wait! The houses that chose neutrality have not yet pressed their seals, have they?”
“That is correct. If you wish to change your mind, please do so before the tally is closed.”
“Then my House Lodis withdraws its neutrality... His Grace Duke Eldran, who has protected the West, has made his resolve. We cannot be the only ones to hide in our chairs, cowering from retribution!”
With one vote added, the difference was down to a single vote.
The Western nobles looked at one another. The letters sent by the First Prince must not have threatened House Eldran alone. If only one house stood up, their trade routes would be blocked and their businesses strangled. But if a ducal house stood at the vanguard, the houses that had received the same threats could unite and resist together.
Next, a young viscount stood up. Though his voice trembled with nerves, he announced Alecia’s name and pressed his seal.
—With this, it was a tie...
Even before the Old Prime Minister could confirm the count, a stout baron rose from his chair.
“My house also withdraws its neutrality! I have no intention of telling my children and grandchildren that I chose a king because I succumbed to threats. I support Her Highness the Second Princess Alecia!”
The second that final vote was added, the atmosphere in the Great Hall was completely upended.
Suppressed cheers leaked from Alecia’s side, while the nobles of the First Prince faction turned pale. Galvas didn't even look back as he snorted.
“Too slow! You should have found that much resolve before I even stood up.”
Lord Lodis offered a wry smile while bowing his head.
“It is also because Your Grace remained silent until the very end. Had you given us even a word yesterday, we could have steeled our hearts then.”
“Don’t lean on the judgment of others. Decide for yourself.”
Galvas turned his face away irritably, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
◇
The Old Prime Minister checked three times to see if any other houses wished to withdraw their neutrality.
No one else stood. The doors of the Great Hall were closed, and the scribes began recounting the seals one by one. Only the sound of turning parchment and voices quietly reading off votes filled the silence.
Clarice interlaced her fingers at her chest, her eyes fixed on the Old Prime Minister. Beside her, I remained motionless with my arms crossed.
Panicking now wouldn't conjure more votes... If that was the case, it was better to look like a man who had known he would win from the start. At the very least, there was no reason to show any weakness to Regnard.
Eventually, the Old Prime Minister set down the parchment and stepped into the center of the hall.
“I shall announce the results of the Royal Selection. Her Highness the Second Princess Alecia has surpassed His Highness the First Prince Regnard by one vote.”
Everyone in the hall held their breath.
“Therefore, the one chosen as the next monarch of the Kingdom of Valsein is—Her Highness the Second Princess Alecia Valsein!”
Applause and cheers erupted all at once.
Alecia closed her eyes once and took a deep breath. She couldn’t manage a smile immediately, but she clasped her trembling fingers together and bowed to everyone in the hall.
She would officially become the Queen only after the Coronation Ceremony held at a later date. Until then, as the heir to the throne, she would begin preparations to inherit the crown and government affairs.
When the applause quieted, Alecia turned her gaze not only to those who supported her but also to the nobles who had stood with Regnard.
“I have no intention of stripping anyone of their status or domain today solely because they supported my brother... I accept this as the result of everyone considering the future of the kingdom and choosing of their own responsibility.”
In the rows of the First Prince faction, several sets of tense shoulders finally dropped.
“However, it is a different matter if there is someone who held sway over another’s weakness and forced an unwanted choice. I ask that you investigate what transpired leading up to the Royal Selection, including House Dalgren. If there are those exposed to danger, I want them protected in the name of the Royal Family.”
Since she had not yet been enthroned, this was not a royal command. Nevertheless, the Old Prime Minister bowed deeply and promised to arrange for the investigation and protection.
Rather than punishing the Marquis who had betrayed her, she sought to help him. Seeing that, Galvas nodded with satisfaction.
At that moment, I felt a gaze that pricked my skin like a needle.
—Regnard.
His usual soft smile had vanished. His mouth was a hard line, and the eyes looking at me laid bare the anger he had been concealing until now.
“...Razgrim.”
For the first time, he didn't even address me as a lord.
Regnard broke through the crowd and walked straight up to me. Those nearby sensed the aura and cleared a space for the two of us.
“If not for you, it would never have ended like this... Had it been Alecia alone, she never would have made it this far.”
“I appreciate you holding me in such high regard, but it’s poor manners to glare at your opponent immediately after losing.”
“I am saying that I misjudged you.”
“I see... But a loss is a loss.”
Regnard’s cheek twitched slightly, and his clenched fists tightened. His eyes looked as if he might lung at me any second, but after a few breaths, he forced the anger down.
“I will remember those words. The next time I face you, I won’t misjudge you again.”
“If you can already think about a ‘next time,’ you’re quick to recover.”
“Just because a monarch has been chosen doesn’t mean my conflict with you is over.”
The mask remained stripped away.
Even so, Regnard turned his back to me and stepped in front of Alecia. The applause in the hall stopped as all eyes gathered on the siblings.
“I admit it...! Today’s Royal Selection is your victory.”
“...Brother.”
“Now that the votes are finalized, I have no intention of disputing the result. You all surpassed the numbers I gathered at the very end... This is my defeat.”
There were no excuses, no calls for a recount. However, he clearly had no intention of celebrating, either. Regnard looked his sister straight in the eye and continued in a cold voice.
“But being chosen as the monarch and ruling the country are two different things. Even those who voted for you today will turn their backs if the country falters. Should you show a pathetic display and I judge that you cannot protect this kingdom—I will return to seize the throne at any time.”
“I shall become a monarch who leaves no need for that. I expect you to watch me until the very end, Brother.”
“I see. In that case, do not disappoint me.”
Regnard gave a shallow bow. It was not a brotherly blessing, but a formal salute acknowledging the result of the Royal Selection.
As he was leaving the hall, he stopped once beside me.
“Today is your victory, Razgrim.”
“You’re wrong. This victory belongs to the Princess and the people who stood their ground at the end. I couldn't have done a thing alone.”
“I look forward to seeing how long you can keep that composed face of yours.”
After Regnard departed, I heard Clarice let out a long sigh beside me.
“...How could you stay so calm? It was as if you knew the Western lords would move from the very beginning.”
“Well... I figured that if Duke Eldran stood up, the rest would follow.”
—Well, of course, that was a total lie...
I had no certainty that Duke Eldran would choose Alecia. There was no guarantee the Western nobles would follow, either... If even one more person had remained in their seat, I would have been finished—just a foolish count who had picked a fight with the next king.
That was too close... It really came down to a single vote.
Clarice looked down at my hand and furrowed her brows.
“You look quite composed, but... your hand is trembling, you know?”
“These are battle jitters.”
“After everything is already over?”
“...Don't sweat the details.”
And so, the Second Princess Alecia was chosen as the next monarch by a one-vote margin. And I, while maintaining the facade of a man who had been certain of victory from the start, was so relieved I felt like emptying an entire barrel of wine right then and there.