Deep within the mountains of the Great Silke Forest...
It was a green sea of densely clustered trees. Fracton Salmage breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped carefully between tall trunks untouched by even the moonlight, spotting the two individuals he had come to meet.
Fracton was a high-ranking official of the Amelia Kingdom's royal court—in other words, a civil servant. To be frank, he was terrible when it came to rough business. Moving through a mountain forest in the dead of night was the first experience of its kind in his entire life.
"How are our preparations?"
"Favorable. Everyone is in position. Thirty Imperial summoners have formed an encirclement with black panthers and ogres. On top of that, the two of us are here. Not even a single mouse will escape."
An older man, the lower half of his face concealed by a red cloth embroidered with the crest of a two-headed divine bird, replied to Fracton's question.
"As expected of the unit led by Lord Enz, the Supreme Summoner. I have heard much of your renown."
A graying, shaven head atop a massive, muscular frame obvious even beneath his red robe. This man, whose appearance seemed tailored for the front lines, was one of the Six Knight Generals hailed as the mightiest in the Glitnir Empire—a summoner of the Spirit King. He was truly a strategic-class weapon of the Empire.
"I have no taste for baseless flattery. What of the princess's movements?"
"Princess Rose was engaged in a lengthy conversation with that incompetent traitor, but she has already retired for the night. All that remains is for our side to cause a disturbance and draw the knight captain, Arnold, away from her. We leave the rest to you, as planned."
As long as Princess Rose, the leading candidate to become the next queen, vanished from the kingdom, the chances of Prince Gilbert—whom Fracton's faction supported—ascending the throne would grow remarkably high.
"Hah! Selling out the royal family you serve, are you? That is a notion we Imperial soldiers could never stomach."
With his arms crossed, leaning against a tall tree behind him, a wild-looking black-haired young man with a scar on his cheek spat out those words, dripping with contempt.
"Lord Sword Emperor, are you implying that we are shameless?"
This man was the Sword Emperor, Zignir Gastrea. A martial genius who had inherited the title of Sword Emperor from the previous holder, Ashburn Gastrea, at a young age. Fracton had heard as much, but he had not anticipated the man would be quite so insolent.
"Hah, if it sounded like anything else, then that's my fault for phrasing it poorly. My apologies."
"For someone ignorant of our nation's internal affairs, that is an utterly outrageous, disrespectful remark! I demand you retract it!"
Humiliated beyond measure, Fracton spoke in a fierce, heated tone.
All of Fracton's actions were aimed at preventing the destruction of his homeland's order. He had no reason to accept insults from an ignorant young brat.
"Hah? Is it not a fact that you're selling out your own master?"
"We are not selling her! She is merely marrying into the Imperial royal family!"
"Hmph! Though I imagine that little princess will spend the rest of her life as a plaything for those gloomy summoners!"
Her Highness Rosemary's Gift, [Saint], possessed the power to summon a Hero from another world. The power of the Saint was precisely what the Empire desired her for.
While it was conceivable that the princess might summon a new Hero, peace terms were slated to be established with the Empire on the condition of her marriage into their royal family. Rather than fearing the military might of a future allied nation, eliminating that woman who posed a threat to the state was of far higher priority.
"Stop it, Zignir! Forgive him, Lord Fracton. He is somewhat on edge due to being in foreign lands. Pray overlook it."
Lord Enz straightened his posture and bowed slightly toward Fracton. Zignir clicked his tongue and shut his eyes tightly.
No, no. I let the blood rush to my head. Nothing is gained by bickering right now. I must remain calm.
"No, think nothing of it. Well then, I shall make my move shortly. Lord Zignir, when the time comes, I leave the stalling of Arnold in your capable hands."
"..."
Without a word, Zignir gave a brief nod and vanished among the trees. Lord Enz also bowed his head once more before disappearing.
At last. At long last, they could banish that princess from his homeland.
Princess Rose was a madwoman. Of all things, that woman dared to proclaim that affairs of state should be conducted without regard to social status. Doing such a thing would inevitably invite unimaginable chaos.
Traditionally, succession to the throne of the Amelia Kingdom favored primogeniture, but that was merely a customary practice; the final authority rested with His Majesty the King.
Infuriatingly, Princess Rose was a Saint. In other words, a being chosen by the gods who could summon a Hero. Consequently, she enjoyed overwhelming popularity among the populace and clergy within the Amelia Kingdom, securing a solid base of support. It was entirely conceivable that His Majesty might exploit that popularity, setting the princess up as a figurehead to boost morale in the imminent war against the Demon King.
If that deranged princess were to become the next queen as things stood, what would happen? The aristocratic order their ancestors had preserved for generations would be destroyed from its very foundations.
That could never be permitted. High society had to be saved. It was for that noble cause that Fracton, born of a family that had served the royal house for generations, was now taking up arms against royalty.
(With this lineup, failure is impossible.)
Two of the Six Knight Generals, renowned as the strongest in the Glitnir Empire, were present. The kingdom's knight captain, Arnold, was undoubtedly strong, but the Sword Emperor, Zignir, should be able to fight him on equal or superior terms. Stalling him, at the very least, would pose no issue whatsoever. If they used that window to escort the princess and escape to the Empire, victory would belong to Fracton's faction.
(Prince Gilbert, my loyalty is yours!)
Fracton offered a salute toward his true master, who awaited good news in the royal capital, and began walking to set their plan into motion.