“Melrose…”
Someone in the hall whispered the name, and the attendees began to grasp the situation.
Everyone had assumed the new fiancée would be “Saint Alicia.” If Clara Dandall, chosen by Crown Prince Elvan, was at fault, she was unfit to be queen. Alicia’s fame as a Saint, recognized by the Holy Church, was suitable for propagation not only domestically but also in foreign countries.
If there was a problem, it was that she was a Viscount’s daughter, and her lineage was insufficient for a Crown Princess. The current Queen being a former Viscount’s daughter was not a good precedent, and the old noble families who lamented the decline in national power because of it would object.
But that problem seemed to be solved with surprise when Alicia Melsys herself revealed that she was of the “Melrose House” lineage—but.
“…What are you saying!?”
Saint Licia’s voice echoed through the silent hall.
Her glaring gaze was fixed on the pink-haired girl in the black dress. That girl claimed to be “Alicia Melrose” herself, and Margrave Melrose had called her so.
The girl they once recognized as an “enemy” to be eliminated had appeared as a troublesome foe in the most inconvenient situation.
“That person is the Princess’s guard, right!? Why is someone like that doing something so dangerous!?”
Licia’s shouting reminded the surrounding nobles of the rumor that she had died. Why had that girl returned, claiming to be a Melrose? Amidst the gazes seeking answers, Margrave Melrose, Belt, scoffed at Licia.
“It is because my granddaughter, ‘Alicia,’ went missing due to a Monster attack. You know that well, too.”
Licia had also lost her parents in a Monster attack that struck the town and spent her childhood in an Orphanage.
Belt’s daughter and her husband were of unknown status, so it took considerable time to reach the possibility that their orphaned granddaughter was alive. As a result, when they arrived at the Orphanage where Licia was, the real “Alicia” had disappeared.
Licia also knew from her “game knowledge” that the real Alicia had been in the Orphanage, but she had not remained in Licia’s memory because she had no interest in the same gender.
Was the “real one” who had been there the girl in front of her? The reason Licia couldn’t recognize her as the “Heroine” even when she saw her Pink Hair was her unusual “strength.”
“There’s no way a noble lady could become that strong!”
The gentle impression from her game knowledge got in the way, and Licia couldn’t believe she was the Heroine. She couldn’t understand how an orphan in the same situation as herself could become so strong.
“Most of the royal family’s guards are from noble families. The Knight Order Commander and the Court Magician are all nobles, and there are skilled women among them.”
Belt relentlessly cornered Licia.
Originally, nobles were descendants of the “strongest” who had united the region by force long ago, and the higher the current noble rank, the more proof their ancestors had accumulated victories.
“…!”
But Licia didn’t understand that. To Licia, who only knew nobles from her game knowledge, “nobles” were a symbol of “happiness” dancing in a glittering world.
The Kingdom of Claydale, the largest country on the Searth Continent. The position of “Crown Princess,” envied by all the women who had abused Licia.
She had been working to obtain it. She had obtained everything for that purpose and discarded the necessary sacrifices. How could she easily give it up?
“…Even so, how can you say that person is the real one? You can’t say that ring belongs to her.”
The Pink-Haired Girl also had a ring on her hand that looked very similar to the one on Licia’s finger. If that was really the real one and it was compared to Licia’s ring, it would be troublesome, but she couldn’t stop speaking.
Belt showed a hint of anger at that statement but responded with composure.
“I see, some may think so. But the ring is not the only reason I consider this child my granddaughter. —”Alicia.””
“Yes.”
At Belt’s voice, the Pink-Haired Girl stepped forward, and the curious gazes of the people were focused on her.
The audience sighed in admiration at her dignified appearance in the glossy black dress, and the higher-ranking nobles understood the “meaning” of Belt’s words in the girl’s figure.
“…Lady Sheryl?”
It was a lady of the parent generation who muttered that.
That was the name of a Melrose House woman who had gone missing, and those who heard the name overlapped the image of the “Princesses” of the Melrose House, whom they had once admired, with the figure of the Pink-Haired Girl in front of them.
Moon Rose… The nostalgic memories of being captivated by the “pinkish blonde hair,” a characteristic of the Melrose female line, were awakened.
“That’s right. This girl is my granddaughter, left behind by my child, Sheryl.”
With those words, the nobles knew that the “Moon Rose (Melrose)” had returned in every sense.
But—
“It doesn’t matter who that person is! The one most suitable to be the Crown Princess in this place is me, the ‘Saint’!”
Licia stopped the scales of fate that had begun to tilt.
“You all understand, don’t you! Who is really needed in this country!”
To tilt the scales of fate back to herself, Licia used her “Bewitchment.”
The decrease in Mana Capacity, the price of “Bewitchment,” varies depending on the target’s favorability towards Licia. Licia, who had difficulty even with simple Magic, now had fame as a “Saint,” and it didn’t require much of a price to draw believers and neutral parties in the hall to her side, let alone Belt and the royal family on the platform.
Unlike “Charm,” which is a magical ability, “Bewitchment” cannot be prevented. The “Black-Haired Girl” noticed that the audience’s thoughts were being guided by the power of “Bewitchment,” and the flow had begun to tilt towards Licia. She gave a mocking smile, and the “Pink-Haired Girl” stopped it with her gaze.
But—
“…Licia, stop it already.”
It was Elvan, one of the people in the midst of the turmoil, who stopped the flow.
“El-sama?”
Licia turned back to him with wide eyes, and Elvan looked at Licia with pity while holding Clara’s shoulder.
While truly realizing that “Bewitchment” was no longer effective on Elvan, Licia used her original “words” to deceive Elvan.
“What are you saying? El-sama. Who else but me, the Saint, can become the Crown Princess? That criminal you’re holding? That Pink-Haired Girl who suddenly appeared? The current Queen is also a former Viscount’s daughter, so there’s no reason I can’t become one!”
The country was in turmoil because the current King made a Viscount’s daughter his Queen, and it was necessary to bring a Queen from an upper noble family to correct that.
The precedent was not a good one, and Licia, the Viscount’s daughter, had falsely claimed to be of the Melrose House lineage for that reason. But now that that was impossible, she shouted that there was still a “precedent,” so there was no reason she couldn’t become Queen.
Even with disrespectful words that demeaned the Queen and a disjointed logic that repeatedly overturned the premise, Licia’s “Bewitchment” could turn the surroundings into allies and push it through as a majority opinion.
Even if the final decision-making power was with the King, the King, who wanted connections with the nobles to unite the disordered domestic situation, could not ignore the majority opinion.
But it was “he” who stopped it.
“Licia, I haven’t told you about my Gift…”
Elvan had discussed it with Clara until they understood each other, and they had decided what to do with Clara’s “Foresight.”
Elvan and Clara looked at each other and nodded, then stood up close to each other and turned their strong eyes to Licia.
“My ability is ‘Complete Appraisal.’ It’s the same ability as my deceased uncle, the Second Prince, and I can see everything about a person. I know that Clara has special memories, that the Pink-Haired Girl over there is the real one, and Licia, that you… are a commoner orphan who impersonated a noble.”
“El-sama… what…”
Licia was at a loss for words at Elvan’s sudden statement.
“Licia… you cannot become the Crown Princess. I will cede the Crown Prince seat to Elena.”
“What!?”
Licia’s eyes widened at Elvan’s words, and Clara gripped Elvan’s hand tightly.
“That is my atonement for the terrible things I have done with you, Nasanitaru, and Uncle Amor. Clara is also aware of this. Therefore…”
Elvan closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them again, his tearful eyes reflected Licia’s stunned expression.
“I want you to stop distorting people’s hearts with your Divine Protection… ‘Bewitchment’.”
“――っ!”
The surrounding people did not immediately grasp the meaning of those words, and in the moment of silence that filled the area, a figure moved as if waiting for the opportune moment.
“We have investigated that you have been deceiving people using that ability.”
“…P…Princess?”
Princess Elena, accompanied by the Pink-Haired Girl, ascended the stage.
“Originally, a Saint refers to someone who can use Holy Magic, which is different from Light Magic. The reason you were able to become a Saint without that power is because you manipulated the hearts of the Holy Church members using your Bewitchment ability, according to the testimony of Hiram-dono from the Fandora Theocracy and my brother.”
“What…?”
Licia’s gaze swept over the knights, and she saw Hiram, who had come from the Fandora Theocracy to certify her as a Saint, standing behind them.
“Yes, I swear that Princess (Your Highness)’s words are true and without falsehood.”
Holy Magic is a monosyllabic Magic similar to [Combat Art], and unlike Light Magic, its effects appear over a wide area. It is said that only those who have received the favor of the Spirits can use it, but even a political Saint does not need to use Holy Magic.
However, the story changes if that political Saint is involved with a “demon.” There is no clear evidence that Licia was involved with a demon, but by presenting multiple pieces of circumstantial evidence, even if it was just a rumor that would become a scandal for the Holy Church, Elena made a political maneuver to bring Hiram over to their side.
“In addition, we have confirmed here that you have made false declarations that you are of the Melrose House, a high-ranking noble family, and have made statements that disparage the royal family. We have already received a report from the Mercis House, which had taken you in, that they are dissolving the adoption.”
Preparations had already been completed behind the scenes. Elena had allowed Licia’s theatrical behavior to continue in order to increase her charges. The problem was the black-haired girl, whose movements were unpredictable, but the Pink-Haired Girl was keeping a close eye on her.
As soon as Elena finished speaking, the Royal Knights, who had taken “Bewitchment countermeasures,” appeared. Among them were Shadow Knights, including Theo, who were prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
“――cough. …Huh?”
In that tense atmosphere, Licia let out a voice as she coughed up blood that stained her mouth.
Not understanding what was happening to her, Licia looked around at the blood-stained hand she had used to wipe her mouth, and realized that the eyes of those around her were beginning to change as they looked at her.
Doubt, anger, pity… Elvan’s statement that Licia was distorting people’s minds, which he had conveyed even at the cost of withdrawing from being the Crown Prince (he), tilted the scales of the nobles’ neutral hearts, and the cost of the activated “Bewitchment” increased, draining all of Licia’s Mana Capacity.
All living things in this world, which is filled with Mana Particles, possess Mana. Even if they cannot use Magic, it is a necessary element for living, like the salt content in blood.
Although it was not Elena’s intention, Licia’s “Bewitchment” had almost lost its effectiveness by the time she began speaking.
“Why… why?!”
As those who had been her allies became her enemies, as she was condemned, and as she felt her life force dwindling, Licia raised her voice as if pleading.
“Everyone said that I would become the Queen! You praised me for being a Saint! What’s going on!? This is not what we agreed on!”
Even though the effects of Bewitchment had weakened, those who had previously believed in the Saint averted their eyes uncomfortably at Licia’s heartbreaking cries, as she looked young.
She was prepared to risk her life. She was willing to sell her soul to the devil for the sake of ultimate happiness. She didn’t need anyone to understand. For Licia, who was born in the lowest place among commoners, it was worth risking her life to obtain even a moment of ultimate happiness.
But she could not accept such an ending.
But that last cry was directed not at the audience or Elvan, but at the heavens.
“――Get back!”
Aria, the real Alicia, felt an unusual Mana around Licia and stepped forward to protect Elena. A white mist-like substance gathered around Licia, and a maid with pure white hair appeared.
“…Colette?”
The Adventurer girl she had met in the small town where the demon was. Aria let out a voice when she saw her, and the white maid… Colette smiled at Aria as she stood beside Licia.
“You! You said there wouldn’t be a problem! Didn’t you realize Elvan’s ability!? You and the ‘Woman in the Magic Stone’ are all liars!”
As Licia screamed as if spitting blood and grabbed at the white maid, Colette smiled gently and took out a small Magic Stone from her chest.
“Yes, there is no problem.”
“You――!”
At that moment, Colette’s hand was thrust into Licia’s chest.
“…Wh, why――”
Why would a demon attack its own Contract Holder?
At the same time that Colette’s hand was pulled out, Licia’s eyes rolled back, and the wound was covered and closed by Worm-like insects.
Seeing that, Colette took a step back and bowed respectfully to Licia, who was standing still with her eyes rolled back.
“Welcome, my ‘Contract Holder’.”
The next moment――
“――――Kyahahahahahahahahahahaha!”
Suddenly, the girl who had been Licia burst out laughing loudly, and as she looked around, she found Aria and grinned with a madness-distorted smile.
“Alicia… I found youuuuuu”
She’s here…
The true Contract Holder of the demon has finally appeared! The difficult talk is over!
It’s battle time!
Next time, the threat of that woman approaches. I can’t think of a two-character title!
Next time, we’ll return to Aria’s perspective!