Compared to the hectic opening day, the second day of the Lion King Festival was much quieter, allowing the members of the Executive Committee more time to relax at their headquarters.
Reports streaming in from various venues indicated that students from the Imperial Military Academy were performing exceptionally well across all competitions. Most notably, every single one of the academy's representatives had advanced in the Martial Arts Tournament. Despite reaching the fourth day, where only the most formidable combatants remained, the academy's presence was overwhelming.
Prince Radius was currently reviewing these reports while traveling to the headquarters in his carriage. It was an opulently furnished vehicle with a luxurious interior befitting the royalty of a great empire. Mirei sat beside him, while Estel occupied the seat opposite them.
A summer breeze, heavy with the afternoon heat, drifted through the open window. Radius ignored it, maintaining a composed expression as he focused on his documents without relying on the cooling magic tools installed in the cabin.
His focused demeanor didn't change even as the carriage arrived at the plaza.
"I’ll wait outside, nya," Mirei said.
Usually, Mirei would step out and Radius would follow immediately behind her. This time, however, Radius remained seated, and Mirei exited the carriage alone.
Seeing this, Estel let out a soft "Oh?"
The atmosphere in the small space shifted instantly.
"Is something the matter, Your Highness? Do you have other business?"
"I do. Right here."
"Here... in the carriage?"
Radius nodded and set his documents aside. He closed the window and snapped his fingers, activating a magic tool. To keep the stagnant heat at bay, a cooling breeze began to circulate from a device within the cabin.
Then, a sharp, high-pitched ring vibrated in the air, piercing their ears. Estel knew exactly what that sound signified.
"It seems you’ve sealed away all sound," she observed.
"Don't be alarmed. I simply want to talk."
A similar magic tool had been used when Ren and Lithia were abducted by Jelkku. It manipulated the sound within a specified area; this time, it was set to ensure that not a single word escaped the carriage.
Estel's expression turned solemn as she looked at Radius.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Radius’s voice echoed within the confined space. Despite the abruptness of the question, Estel remained perfectly calm.
"What am I doing, you ask?"
"You know exactly what I mean. I’ve gone to great lengths to set this stage, Estel. You should realize by now that I’ve perceived more than you think."
Radius spoke to the silent knight with a dignified voice, devoid of any hesitation.
"You seemed quite busy during the holidays. It’s understandable, of course. With the Lion King Festival being held across the entire Imperial Capital for the first time in ages, the Lion Holy Chancel must have been swamped with security negotiations."
"No, nothing of the sort..."
"I understand exactly how busy you were, Estel. In every sense of the word."
Estel tried to offer a hurried denial, but she faltered under the weight of the Overpowering Aura radiating from the boy before her. Even just meeting his eyes made her feel as if she were on the verge of confessing everything—even matters concerning the Emperor’s secret orders.
"Let me rephrase," Radius said, his gaze fixed on her. "What were you doing in Erendir during the break?"
Estel crossed her arms. Without so much as a twitch of her eyebrow, she tilted her head in a display of practiced curiosity. It was a perfectly natural gesture, devoid of any suspicion or panic.
"It was for the sake of the knights being dispatched there," she replied smoothly. "Since I was away from Leomel for so long, I needed to confirm the situation on the ground with my own eyes."
"You’re saying it was to ensure everything was perfect?"
"Precisely."
In truth, Estel had walked boldly through the town. If she had been trying to hide her presence, she wouldn't have spent her mornings drinking at the Guild. She had nothing to be ashamed of regarding her public appearances.
"Very well. However, I’m not finished."
Estel wondered when he had developed such a piercing gaze and such a heavy aura. She had known Radius since he was a small child, but she had never imagined he would grow into a young man capable of exerting such immense pressure.
"Is this Ren’s influence?" she wondered, her voice a mere whisper that didn't reach his ears.
Radius’s voice continued to resonate eloquently within the carriage.
"I know you were in Erendir. You made no effort to hide that fact. My question is, why did you leave the town and head for the highway? And why were you moving in the shadows, acting like a hidden agent to avoid detection?"
Radius was making it clear that he knew she had been operating covertly. He wouldn't have cared if she were simply sightseeing in Erendir; the issue was her suspicious behavior on the outskirts.
"I believe you have the wrong person," Estel countered.
"The wrong person?"
"Yes. If I had truly intended to move without being seen, then with all due respect to Your Highness..."
Estel tried to dismiss the claim with a brief remark. However, she was overlooking one crucial detail. Radius couldn't have known what she was doing during the holidays after the fact, because one cannot revisit the past. He would have had to suspect her and start monitoring her before she even took action.
In other words, Radius had been ahead of her from the start.
And there was one more thing Estel had momentarily forgotten: the existence of Mirei Archeise, the half-Cait Sith girl who was always at the Prince's side.
"Even for me... what?" Radius prompted.
"No. It is nothing."
Mirei was a civil official, not a spy. While she might be able to manage some basic tailing, she wasn't skilled enough to deceive Estel. However, when it came to investigative work, Mirei’s talent surpassed even Radius’s. She possessed an almost prophetic ability to uncover information that surprised even a veteran like Estel. When combined with Radius’s resources...
"On the morning in question, Ren also left Erendir. It seems you were heading in the same direction. Were you aware of that?"
"With all due respect, I was never near Ren."
"How strange. Did you suffer a convenient lapse in memory?"
"I don't lose my memory so easily. It is simply that no such event ever occurred."
"My apologies. But surely you know the type, Estel? The cunning old nobles in parliament who often suffer from selective memory when it suits them. I’d hate to think you were becoming like them."
Radius didn't need to say more; his implication was clear.
"This isn't just about Erendir. Did you think that no matter how much you lurked in the shadows, I wouldn't notice?"
"Prince Radius, I..."
"Excuses are unnecessary. I want to know only one thing: Why were you shadowing Ren?"
Radius’s next move would depend entirely on her answer.
"Erendir is a vast place. One doesn't run into Ren that many times by mere coincidence."
His eyes were cold, making it clear this was her final chance to be honest.
Estel let out a long, weary sigh. The crushing pressure Radius had been exerting finally began to fade.
"It seems there were things I had overlooked."
"I thought as much."
"...By the way, what would you have done if I had continued to claim I didn't remember?"
"I would never have entrusted you with work again. Nor would I have permitted you to enter my presence."
"There is no greater punishment than that," she admitted. "Very well."
Estel 'remembered' everything in front of the Prince.
"As for what I was doing... I cannot give you an answer. I have been instructed to say that I can say nothing from my own lips."
"Instructed?"
"Yes. That is the truth."
That confirmed it. Taken literally, it meant that whoever had given Estel her orders had anticipated that she might be interrogated by Radius.
"Then, hypothetically, what would you think if I were to ask someone else about your movements?"
"I would think nothing of it. How you choose to proceed is entirely up to you, my lord."
"...I see."
Fortunately, Radius was smiling. Seeing that bold, familiar grin, Estel felt a wave of relief.
"I’m sorry for taking up your time. As you were, Estel. Please resume your security duties."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Radius stepped out of the carriage. Estel followed him a moment later, clearing her throat with a slightly forced gesture to regain her professional composure. As they walked over the cobblestones, they exchanged a few more words.
"I will dare to say it once more, but I was speaking the truth earlier."
"Oh? Which part?"
"The part about not meeting Ren."
"The incident in the forest during the break?"
"Yes. My orders were to observe Ren, but it proved impossible. I had a strange premonition that he would detect me if I got any closer, so I abandoned the attempt."
So, they really hadn't met. Just as Estel had claimed, they were never in the same place.
"You were wary of Ren’s intuition?" Radius laughed.
"Yes. It’s the kind of instinct common among those who have survived life-or-death struggles, but Ren’s is exceptionally sharp even among that lot."
"Hahaha! True enough! Ren has always been a bit extraordinary!"
Mirei was waiting for them a short distance away. Despite the stifling heat, she stood there without a drop of sweat on her brow, looking exactly as she always did. Estel stepped back to a respectful distance.
"Shall we go, nya?"
"Let’s. We all have to give it our all today."
"Yes, nya!"
Estel watched Radius and Mirei walk toward the headquarters in the plaza.
"Estel talked," Radius murmured. "She said she was ordered to tell me she couldn't say anything."
"Uwaaa... I get the feeling we’re being danced in the palm of the Emperor’s hand, nya~..."
"Yes. To be honest, I find it irritating."
"What’s the plan, nya? Should we schedule an audience right away?"
"If you can. I intend to interrogate the Emperor... no, I’m going to have a very long talk with my father."
The Third Prince spoke with absolute certainty.
It was the morning of the fifth day of the Lion King Festival.
"Wait, the Martial Arts Tournament is only up to the quarterfinals today, right?" Ren mused as he woke up in his room.
By the end of the day, the four semifinalists would be decided. Since every representative from the Imperial Military Academy was still in the running, there was a high probability that they would sweep the top four spots. Ren wondered how that compared to the events in the Legend of the Seven Heroes.
He got ready for another day of work with the Executive Committee and headed out. Since Lezard had already departed for the day, only Lithia joined him in the dining hall a few minutes later.
She walked over to her usual seat with a light, cheerful step.
"Good morning. We have to work hard today too."
"Right," Ren agreed.
As they finished breakfast, Ren stretched his arms. "I’m full of energy. Ever since those unsettling dreams stopped, I’ve been sleeping like a log."
"Me too. Though I still wonder what that dream was all about."
"We were together from morning until night that day, so maybe we just saw the same sights and had similar dreams."
"Hmm... maybe you’re right."
Once they finished their preparations, they left the mansion and were greeted by the brilliant morning sun. Lithia squinted, shielding her eyes from the glare.
"It looks like it’s going to be another hot one."
As always, Lithia’s smile was every bit as bright as the sun.
Later that afternoon, back at the committee headquarters—
"If we get through this, we might actually be able to take it easy tomorrow," Ren said, glancing at the schedule.
The sixth day wasn't entirely free of responsibilities, but the tasks were minor compared to previous days. It looked like they might be able to head out and enjoy the festivities starting in the morning. Ren even thought the committee members might be able to spend some time together as a group.
However—
"Ahaha... I actually have to help my family with some work in the morning..." Fiona said.
"I’d love to, but His Highness and I have official duties, nya~" Mirei added.
It seemed a group outing was off the table.
As Ren let out a soft sigh of disappointment, a knock sounded at the door. He went to open it and found Sera, Wayne, and Nemu standing outside. Lithia joined him, and the two stepped out of the headquarters to talk.
"Listen! I won again today!" Sera cried out before Ren or Lithia could even say hello.
She was so overcome with joy that she threw her arms around Lithia, nearly knocking the other girl back half a step. Lithia caught her and laughed.
"Lithia! All four of our representatives won their quarterfinals!"
"So that means the semifinals tomorrow will be entirely made up of academy students?"
"Exactly! It’s incredible, right? Our reps always do well, but they say it’s been years since we’ve swept the semifinals like this."
"That’s why I was thinking, Lithia—I know you’re busy, but is there any way you could come watch the semifinals and the finals?"
Lithia glanced at Ren, her eyes asking the question for her.
"I think we can make it work," Ren said.
Since the academy and the festival organizers coordinated their efforts, there was plenty of time carved out for students to attend the main events. By the sixth day, most of the minor competitions would be finished, and the crowds would be flocking to the colosseum for the tournament's climax. The seventh day was largely reserved for the festival itself.
"Really!? Yes!"
"Ah—honestly, Sera. Don't hug me so suddenly." Lithia smiled as Sera squeezed her again.
Beside them, Wayne turned to Ren. "You really helped me out the other day."
On the first day of the tournament, Ren had helped Wayne manage his nerves.
"Say, Ren, do you have some time tomorrow morning? Sera suggested that since we’re all here, we should go and offer a prayer together."
"A prayer? For the semifinals?"
Wayne nodded. "Yeah."
Sera joined in. "Wayne and I are more nervous than we’ve ever been. Especially me, since I’m up against Kaito."
Wayne’s opponent was also from a Heroic Ducal House and a classmate of Kaito’s—the master archer Kaito had mentioned before.
"I can understand being nervous," Lithia said, "but it’s rare to see you so eager to go pray, Sera."
"Is it? I visit the temple fairly often. But it’s not just about the prayer; it’s the Lion King Festival and we haven't even had a chance to hang out."
Embarrassed to admit she just wanted to spend time with her friends, Sera tried to push through with sheer energy.
"So, I thought it would be great if we could go to Roses Kaitas together!"
Hearing the suggestion, Ren and Lithia assumed she meant the Grand Temple.
"Isn't Roses Kaitas sealed off?" Ren asked.
"It is, but there are several areas set aside for prayer, so it’s fine."
There hadn't been an event like this in the Legend of the Seven Heroes, but Ren was well-acquainted with the fact that reality often deviated from the game.
"Why Roses Kaitas, though? The Grand Temple is much closer."
"Because Lithia mentioned she wanted to see the seal," Sera said. "There are extra flights running, so it’s the perfect chance. Plus, the choir is supposed to be performing there tomorrow."
Lezard had mentioned something similar on the first night of the festival.
Ren and Lithia exchanged a wry smile. They had already seen the seal from the window of the magic ship, but they didn't want to ruin Sera’s thoughtful gesture. She was so excited that turning her down felt wrong. Besides, both of them were genuinely interested in hearing the choir.
"Ren and I were actually talking about wanting to hear them sing, so the timing is perfect," Lithia said.
"Then it’s settled! We’ll meet at the Hanging Garden tomorrow morning!"
Nemu, standing beside the beaming Sera, didn't miss the knowing glance between Ren and Lithia.
"You two are so kind~"
"Nemu?" Sera asked. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing. It’s just that Nemu is a lot more observant than Sera-chan, so I’ve seen exactly what those two are trying to hide."
"? I don't get it."
"It’s Nemu," Lithia said with a chuckle. "She’s probably just making things up."
"Hey! Lithia, that makes it sound like I’m always making things up! I only do that sometimes! Sometimes!"
The group burst into laughter at Nemu’s huffy indignation.
They briefly discussed inviting Fiona and the others, but since they had prior commitments, it was decided the smaller group would go.
When Ren and Lithia returned to the headquarters, Radius looked up. "Did something happen?"
"The Martial Arts Tournament," Lithia explained. "Tomorrow’s semifinals and finals will be an all-academy affair."
"That’s excellent news. It’s a rare opportunity, so the three of you should go and watch it together."
Fiona, though busy in the morning, would be able to join them for the afternoon matches.
"I think we will," Ren said, as he, Lithia, and Fiona began discussing where to meet up.
Watching the three of them chat happily, Radius smiled, enjoying the lively atmosphere within the headquarters.