King Ryze and the guest of honor, Amalie-san, appeared on the raised dais at the head of the vast Great Hall.
Their arrival signaled the start of the party, and a whisper reached my ears as if to confirm it.
"It’s starting~"
"……Alice? Where are you?"
"Right nearby. I’ve hidden my form since it would cause quite a scene otherwise."
I heard Alice’s voice, but I couldn't see her.
Perhaps it was because I didn't know the specifics of her plan, but I was actually feeling quite anxious. Knowing she was close by was a massive relief.
"Well, rest easy…… ‘About twenty percent’ of the guests are my subordinates. We’re more than ready to handle any surprises."
"……I see. That’s reassuring."
"If you need me, just say the word."
With that, Alice’s voice cut out. She likely went silent because the proceedings were beginning.
Still…… twenty percent of the people in this room were her subordinates? The sheer scale of it was staggering. To think she had rooted herself so deeply into the heart of this nation……
It made the fear surrounding the Phantasm King perfectly understandable. Alice—the Phantasm King No Face—was likely the one person in this world you should never make an enemy of.
It wasn't just because she held world-shaking power as one of the Six Kings. Her true threat lay in her subordinates.
To oppose Alice was to turn agents across the entire world against you. It meant living in constant terror that, at any moment, your most trusted confidant or your beloved family might be the one to slit your throat.
In a way, Alice might be the most terrifying of all the Six Kings.
As I ruminated on that, Ryze-san scanned the hall and slowly began to speak.
"I thank you all for gathering today to celebrate the birthday of my daughter, Amalie. Seeing so many faces here fills me with joy, as it serves as a testament to the unity of the Kingdom of Sinfonia."
His tone was majestic and dignified. His first-person pronoun had shifted from his private use to the regal "We," driving home the fact that Ryze-san truly was a king.
After speaking about the state of the nation for a few moments, he closed his speech with a slight smile.
"……I shall end my words here, with the hope that this day becomes a cherished memory for everyone."
As Ryze-san stepped back, the star of the show, Amalie-san, moved to the front.
She slowly looked over the nobles, blinked once, and then spoke with a resolute expression.
"Everyone, thank you for coming today despite your busy schedules. I have only just turned twenty and have much to learn, but I believe my love for this country is second to none. As one who will eventually bear the weight of this nation, I hope to work alongside all of you to further the development of the Kingdom of Sinfonia."
It was a magnificent greeting. I could hardly believe she was younger than me. As expected of royalty, she looked poised and impressive on that stage.
Like Ryze-san, Amalie-san spoke about the country for a short time. Just as she finished and was about to declare the party open, Lilia-san smoothly raised her hand.
"Yes? Duchess Albert?"
"……Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness…… first, please forgive my impudence during this celebration. There is something I wish to clarify here, and I humbly request permission to speak."
"And you believe this matter is necessary to discuss in this forum?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Duchess Albert…… you have the floor."
After raising her hand, Lilia-san had knelt on one knee to ask for permission. Amalie-san had replied in a somewhat cold tone.
The two of them were close friends, but in this official setting, they were forced to speak as the First Princess and a Duchess. Their exchange was stiff and formal.
Once Amalie-san granted her permission, Lilia-san bowed deeply and stood up.
"……In this place where the leaders of our nation are gathered, I wish to reveal one thing: there are those among us who have drawn their bows against our beloved country."
As Lilia-san’s quiet yet powerful words echoed out, the hall fell into a heavy, pin-drop silence.
It was only natural. She had just declared that there were traitors to the state in their midst.
"……Those are grave words, Duchess Albert. If they are true, it is a tragedy…… but you have made this declaration before the entire court. Simply saying it was a 'misunderstanding' will not be enough to save you. Do you understand?"
"I am prepared for the consequences. May I name them?"
"……Proceed."
Like Amalie-san, Ryze-san spoke with a heavy, somber tone. Lilia-san met his gaze with a serious expression and named the two nobles. They were the ones Alice had investigated—a Margrave and a Viscount.
In an instant, the silence shattered into an uproar. It made sense; both men were powerful nobles with many connections.
Of the two named, the man in the more opulent attire—presumably the Margrave—spoke up.
"Well, well, what a shock…… I believed I had dedicated my long life to the service of this kingdom. And yet you claim I am a traitor? I would dearly like to hear the basis for such an accusation."
"Hmph…… Silence, everyone. Duchess Albert, speak. Tell us exactly what these men have done."
"……Yes."
For the moment, the Margrave and the Viscount still looked composed. They were clearly confident that no one had caught them.
As a stifling tension gripped the hall, Lilia-san continued without a hint of hesitation.
"Your Majesty, do you recall the tragedy that struck the Second Division of the Order of Knights four years ago?"
"Umu. I remember. Due to an information error, the division was nearly annihilated. It was a dark day that left many injured, though none were lost…… You were the Division Commander then, were you not?"
"I was. Because of that event, many were forced to lay down their swords or leave the Order entirely. I ask you, Your Majesty…… what if that tragedy was intentionally orchestrated?"
"……What?"
The hall erupted again, and Ryze-san commanded everyone to be silent.
Once quiet returned, Lilia-san continued.
"The Order of Knights is the sword and shield of the people. To provide them with false information and lead them into a trap…… that is an unforgivable high crime."
"……Indeed. If someone truly did such a thing, it would be nothing less than treason."
"I see…… So, Duchess Albert wishes to name us as those criminals. How terrifying. And? Being the brilliant Duchess Albert, surely you haven't made such a claim without preparing a single shred of evidence?"
As they listened to the exchange between Lilia-san and Ryze-san, the Margrave and the Viscount clutched their heads with exaggerated motions and let out sickening, mocking smirks.
They acted as though evidence couldn't possibly exist. Watching them made my blood boil.
However, those arrogant expressions lasted only until Lilia-san spoke again.
"Yes, I have it right here."
"……What?"
"Your Majesty, please look at these. The forged reports, the tools used to produce them, discarded drafts showing the handwriting, logs of their movements over the last several days…… and we have already secured the conspirators who executed the plot at my estate."
""Wha—!?""
They clearly hadn't expected such a mountain of evidence. The composure of the Margrave and the Viscount vanished, their faces turning pale with shock.
Ryze-san took the documents from Lilia-san. After reviewing each one, he looked up.
"……I see. This is certainly compelling evidence…… Do either of you have anything to say?"
"Ah…… no, that is……"
"T-this is…… I mean……"
Under Ryze-san’s piercing gaze, the two nobles turned white, sweat pouring down their faces.
At this point, they only had two options: admit their guilt, or stubbornly refuse and try to lie their way out.
"T-that's a fabrication! W-we have done no such thing!!"
"Exactly! This is a conspiracy to frame us!"
They chose the latter. For them, admitting their crimes in front of the entire nobility meant certain execution. They intended to deny it to the bitter end.
I worried a pathetic shouting match would start, but it never came to that.
Cutting through the noise of the two nobles, the doors to the hall swung open with a bang. An overwhelming presence and torrent of mana filled the room as a new figure appeared.
"……Forgive the intrusion."
"Th-this is…… the G-Goddess of Time!?"
Entering the hall was the Goddess who ruled over time—Chronoa-san.
The sudden arrival of a Supreme God left everyone in the room stunned.
Amidst the shock, Chronoa-san walked with regal composure until she stood before Ryze-san.
"King of Sinfonia. My apologies for the sudden visit…… May I borrow this forum for a moment?"
"O-of course, by all means."
"Umu. You have my thanks."
She spoke with absolute authority. After Ryze-san granted his permission, Chronoa-san turned to Lilia-san.
"Lilia Albert…… I shall now bestow upon you my True Blessing."
"Yes…… It is an honor beyond words."
As Chronoa-san spoke, the hall was hit by the greatest shock of the day.
A True Blessing from a Supreme God was an event of unprecedented magnitude.
In response to the growing murmurs, Chronoa-san made a sharp gesture. Everyone fell silent immediately.
"In my name—the name of Chronoa—I speak to eternal time."
Her voice resonated with a power that shook the very air.
"This soul—Lilia Albert—I recognize as one worthy of my blessing."
Every word was solemn and carried the weight of divine law.
"Therefore—in my name—the name of Chronoa—I command time."
Dazzling light swirled around Lilia-san as she knelt with her head bowed. The radiance began to sink into her body.
"O eternal time—protect this one and guide her toward a brilliant future—In my name—the name of Chronoa—I decree that this name—the name of Lilia Albert—be joined with mine as one under my protection—and recorded in the annals of time."
A light so blinding that it was impossible to look at converged into Lilia-san, ending with a final decree.
"Upon you—the Blessing of Time."
With those words, the light vanished into Lilia-san’s body. The True Blessing was complete.
Once Lilia-san slowly raised her head, Chronoa-san spoke quietly.
"Lilia Albert."
"Yes."
"From this moment, you are under my protection. Therefore, from this time forth, I grant you permission to speak in my name."
"Ha! I humbly accept!"
By now, even I understood the script Alice had written.
Lilia-san had just been handed the ultimate trump card by a Supreme God.
Lilia-san stood up and turned that trump card toward the Margrave and the Viscount, who were frozen and pale.
"……In the name of the Goddess of Time, Chronoa-sama, I ask you: Are the crimes I have reported the truth?"
There was no escape.
Lilia-san had asked in Chronoa-sama's name. To answer with a lie would be an act of heresy against a Supreme God.
Their faces turned from white to a sickly grey. The Margrave and the Viscount slumped to their knees and bowed their heads.
"……Yes."
"……It is the truth."
With trembling bodies, they confessed.
That confession was witnessed by every noble in the room and recognized by the Goddess herself. Their crimes were now absolute and unerasable.
Watching them, Lilia-san let out a long breath, as if a massive burden had finally been lifted. She turned toward me and showed a bright, beautiful smile.
Dear Mother, Father—the long-standing conflict between Lilia-san and those two nobles has finally come to an end.
It ended in Lilia-san’s complete victory.
Serious-senpai: "……I think I’ll go make a rain doll."