Chapter 10: ⑤ The Inner Palace Burns Quietly

Lieselotte felt the taut tension filling the Round Table Chamber on her skin.

Into the gaps in an air already talked to death, the next voice slipped.

It was limpid to the last—and yet carried a definite contour.

“…Each of you has your reasoning. But a ‘hero’ does not belong to anyone. He must choose his own ‘role.’”

It was Celine. Quieter than anyone, more precise than anyone, she took command of the room.

“Blade, blood, wisdom—or all of the above. What we ought to do is not to ‘order,’ but to ‘guide.’”

(…That is the Inner Palace’s logic.)

“In that case, how does Her Majesty the Queen intend to guide our dear Hero? Surely you don’t mean only in the guidance of the night?”

At the sardonic tone, a faint tension ran through the room.

(Sigh, at this point it’s either refreshingly blunt or just pathetic…)

(If I recall, the Chancellor once pined for Mother and got turned away…)

The one who spoke was the Chancellor. A theatrical smile tugged at his lips.

“Oh my, was that a misstep? Still, I’m sure Hero-dono would be most ‘happy’ to be guided by the ladies. Hand to hand, day and night—how enviable.”

Even so, Celine did not waver.

Wearing her gentle smile, she answered softly.

“Yes, certainly—the guidance of night is important.”

While a murmur ran through the room, only her voice remained crystal clear.

“Everyone harbors unease before sleep. I believe those who can sit with a weakened heart in a lonely night are the ones truly qualified to guide.”

(…I can’t believe she answered him like that… unbelievable.)

And then, at once, Celine shifted the topic.

“This time, we have received one proposal from Lord Karou regarding daytime state affairs. Specifically—a plan to restore the kingdom’s finances through frontier development.”

“…Frontier development, you say.”

The Chancellor’s voice dipped slightly.

His words posed calm, yet a trace of disarray bled through beneath.

(…He’s rattled.)

(A moment ago he had such easy sarcasm; now he’s the one ‘groping for words.’)

And then at once, Celine tilted her fan lightly and spoke, as if flipping the room’s mood.

“This time, we have received one proposal from Lord Karou regarding daytime state affairs.

Specifically—a plan to restore the kingdom’s finances through frontier development.”

“How grand—positively storybook. The Hero-dono himself will tame a monster-ridden wilderness and save the kingdom—perfect fare for a bedtime tale.”

The Chancellor lifted his chin a touch as he spoke.

(People like this can only see within the borders of their own common sense.)

(Ideals are always ‘unreal,’ and change is always a ‘fairy tale.’)

“That is good.”

A low, carrying voice split the hall.

“The damage from the Demon Forest can no longer be overlooked. If Hero-dono himself means to take the field against the monsters, the knight order has no objections. As for personnel, we can even loan him our finest.”

The one who spoke was the Grand Marshal.

“What!? You take that seriously? Grand Marshal, are you in your right mind!?”

The Chancellor blurted in a fluster—but the Grand Marshal did not so much as flinch.

“Was it not for that very reason that His Highness the King’s brother went to that frontier domain—to stop monster incursions into the realm? I hear even the dragons have been more active of late. If we wait for a monster rampage to cause real damage, we’ll be too late.”

(…The ones without urgency are always the nobles lounging in the palace.)

The Chancellor’s brows twitched, just a hair.

It was the face of someone ‘deliberately feigning calm’ to hide his panic—yet even so, a hairline crack ran along the edge of his sardonic tone.

“Even so, with a work so great, someone must draft the plan. Surely you don’t mean that Hero-dono himself will spread the maps, raise the funds, and recruit the people…”

He spoke as if chuckling lightly, his gaze skittering.

Unconsciously, the Chancellor’s fingertips pinched his cuff.

Then, as if to swing the air of the room, the Eldest of the Ten Sages spoke.

“Hmm. If I recall, that river runs to the eastern sea. Once development advances and distribution is set to rights—trade with the Free City Alliance will become reality. We of the Ten Sages also support Hero-dono’s proposal. Funds can be redirected from the Inner Palace harem’s operating budget.”

“Wha… Even you, Eldest—seriously!?”

The Chancellor’s smile seized up in an instant.

“But won’t that hinder the operation of the Inner Palace harem?”

His voice climbed, just a shade.

“Precisely why, if this reduces the burden on the state even a little, is that not for the people?”

(Easy for you to say—the point is you want a piece of the frontier concessions…)

—And at that, the Star-Guiding Church’s representative continued, cool as ever.

“In that case, the Star-Guiding Church cannot refrain from financial support. That domain is holy ground won by the First Hero overcoming the ‘dragon’s trial.’ If the present Hero means to raise that land again, then that too is the Star Spirit’s guidance.”

The Chancellor’s back rounded, ever so slightly.

His gaze dropped to his feet; his palms shifted faintly atop his knees.

“R-ridiculous… Why? Has everyone lost their minds…?”

(At this point, he’s starting to look even sadder than ‘that man’…)

Celine glanced to the Chancellor and asked gently.

“May we take it that the Chancellor’s Office, too, will support Her Majesty the Queen’s will with wholehearted sincerity?”

At those words, the Chancellor parted his lips—then shut them at once.

Silence. A single beat.

The interval of someone who cannot answer at once.

Grinding his teeth, the Chancellor let his gaze wander—

as if seeking help from the empty air—

then, reluctantly, turned back to face Lieselotte.

“L-Lieselotte, Her Majesty the Queen-to-be… do you truly believe Hero-dono can achieve this? What is your view?”

(…He’s telling me, ‘Don’t nod,’ with his eyes.)

Lieselotte let out a tiny breath—

and yet her gaze met the Chancellor’s straight on.

(…That only makes this more so.)

“Yes, of course. I’m in favor. If it’s Lord Karou, both the monster subjugation and the development of the domain are achievable. And assistance from the Star Spirit—has already been promised.”

For a heartbeat, he glared with eyes like rising flame—but the Chancellor only slumped his shoulders, as if resigned.

“…Very well. If it is the judgment of Her Majesty the Queen-to-be, the Chancellor’s Office has no means to oppose. You’ve played a move ahead of us, and beautifully at that.”

Muttering his irony, he bowed his head.

“The Chancellor’s Office will also respect Her Majesty the Queen Consort’s esteemed view and consider Hero-dono’s proposal in a positive light.”

“Fufu. Then—Lord Karou’s proposal is hereby approved. Everyone, I ask for your cooperation. We’ll begin preparations at once.”

(Ah… Mother, how strong and how beautiful you are.)

(Just to stand behind you changes the air—like a king in truth.)

(…If only I could become like her, someday.)

That feeling, quiet as it was—like a small light kindled deep within her heart—began to truly breathe within Lieselotte.

Meanwhile, as for Lord Karou, who sat at the center of the discussion—