Chase The day after we were attacked, we went to the Royal Palace.
As Claire-sama and Lily-sama together requested an audience with His Majesty, they received the permission right away.
Something like that would be impossible under normal circ.u.mstances.
"So, you"ve come"
"…"
When we entered the audience hall, His Majesty and Salas were already there.
The Queen is nowhere to be seen.
Rumors say, after Yuu-sama renounced throne succession rights she"s been bedridden.
Moreover, several Royal Guards were lined up.
"You are late. What are you doing making His Majesty wait"
Salas said brazenly.
"I apologize. There was a place we needed to visit for a short while"
Even when faced with Salas"s snide remark, Claire-sama kept her composed face.
"And, what business do you have"
His Majesty asked.
Of course, we reported our purpose when applying for the audience, so this is a play.
"Your Majesty. We have come to accuse Prime Minister Salas of his crimes"
Claire-sama said so confidently.
Salas"s expression didn"t change.
"What are Salas"s crimes"
"Your Majesty. These people only have imaginary false accusations against me"
"The, they are not false accusation"
It seems Salas is planning to feign innocence to the bitter end.
It must be because he knows the King"s supreme authority hasn"t been invoked.
Lily-sama sorrowfully denied him.
"Are you still planning to say I have committed infidelity?"
"No, we will not say that"
Salas made a puzzled face at Claire-sama"s words.
Claire-sama continued.
"Salas-sama"s offense… is inviting a foreign threat"
"… What was that…?"
Salas"s eyes glinted sharply.
Without minding, Claire-sama continued.
"Salas-sama secretly communicated with the enemy nation, Naa Empire"
"Please don"t say foolish things. There"s no way that would be the case"
Good grief, Salas-sama shook his head.
His Majesty is quietly listening.
"Your Majesty. The radical part of the commoners" movements happening in this country is not due to Your Majesty"s policies. Salas-sama colluded with the Naa Empire to incite them"
"It"s ludicrous. Your Majesty, do not listen to such nonsense"
Salas tried to end the talk by saying that it"s enough for the audience.
"There is evidence. Is that not right, Rei?"
"Yes"
I took it out of my bag.
"No, no way…!"
Seeing the item I held in my hand, Salas was rendered speechless.
It"s a slightly old recording magical tool.
I put magical power into it.
―― If I cause a revolution in the kingdom, the empire guarantees me the top position in the new administration, right?
―― Yeah, rest a.s.sured.
―― What"s the concrete plan?
―― Take advantage of the foolish king"s policies. Radicalize the commoners" movement.
―― Ah, I see. Then it"ll be simple. Ma.s.ses are stupid.
"Enough"
I stopped the magical tool per His Majesty"s order.
Salas is standing stock still with his complexion turned pale.
"Salas. Do you have any explanation"
"Your Majesty, it"s different! This… is a scheme!"
"Whose scheme is that"
"That is…. That is…"
It"s checkmate.
"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds… Why do you have…!"
Claire-sama replied to Salas"s question filled with resentment.
"Of course, it came from the safe in Salas-sama"s office"
"No way! n.o.body but me should know the dial number!"
"This person here acted skillfully. Isn"t that right, Rei?"
"Yes. I, or perhaps I should say this child did it"
I opened my bag, and having turned it upside-down shook it.
A jiggly, amorphous, transparent substance fell out.
"De, demon!?"
Due to Salas"s scream for an instant the Royal Guards displayed anger, but His Majesty stopped them.
"Because it"s a familiar, there is no danger. Look, the core is golden, right?"
"Hmm. It seems like it"
Speaking of His Majesty, he"s got the nerve.
I lifted Relaire and showed it to Salas.
"Doesn"t this child resemble anything?"
"What are you talking about?"
"A certain ice curio in your room"
"… Ah"
This is how the trick went.
When striking the fake deal with Salas, I secretly left Relaire in his room.
Then, I had Relaire mix with the curios in his room using the mimetic ability Undine.
As I was leaving the room I told Salas that the recording tool would disappear to make Salas confirm that it"s in the safe, and to make him operate the dial again.
After that I recovered Relaire who had seen that and could do the same thing.
Don"t look down on Relaire as a former demon.
Our child is smart.
"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds… You tricked me…!"
"Yeah"
"Ple, please give up, Father!"
The Royal Guards surrounded Salas.
Salas has a medium water apt.i.tude, but he shouldn"t excel at combat abilities.
In addition to the Royal Guards there"s also Claire-sama and I.
There"s no way Salas can break through.
"It is time to pay for your sins, Salas-sama"
"… Kuku"
"?"
"Kufu… Kuahaha!"
Salas laughed loudly.
I wonder if he"s gone mad.
"Noo… I"ve been done in. That was truly something. Claire François and Rei Taylor"
"There is also Cardinal Lily"
"No, she should"ve been useless. Try thinking back on it. Whether she has taken action that would harm me even once"
I thought it was nonsense, but for the time being I tried reminiscing.
Then, I noticed that though Lily-sama questioned Salas, regardless of how she acted towards other n.o.bles, she hasn"t done anything substantial against Salas.
"What are you trying to say"
"No, I find it comical"
"…?"
"How does it feel, being betrayed by a comrade you trusted, I wonder"
"!?"
Instinctively I looked at Lily-sama.
Speaking of her, her fl.u.s.tered face says she doesn"t understand what her father is saying.
I wonder if it"s Salas being desperate after all.
"Lily, help your father"
"P, please don"t say stupid things! Father, you should pay for your sins properly!"
"I see. Then, you should also pay for them. Your own sins"
"Wha, what have you been saying since a while ago! Lily doesn"t understand what Father has been saying!"
I wonder if Salas expects Lily-sama to betray us this late.
No, something"s strange.
"Lily… You pitiful child… Lord, have mercyKyrie Eleison"
The last words must"ve been some keyword.
The moment she heard them, Lily-sama collapsed.
"Cardinal Lily!?"
Claire-sama approached Lily-sama in panic.
I have an intense bad feeling about this.
"Claire-sama, get away!"
I shouted without trying to sound polite.
When I got Claire-sama away from Lily-sama, with a flash of a silver arc a number of Claire-sama"s blonde hairs scattered.
The next moment――.
"Honestly… How awful"
A cheerful voice inappropriate for this place resounded.
"You are…"
"Yo, Rei-san and Claire-sama, been a while since yesterday"
The tone of voice and facial expression were totally different.
Especially the tone of voice, it was exactly like that black-masked man"s.