Even though it was nighttime, it was bright as day. The nobles gathered here were dressed to the nines, and a flowery scent permeated the air. At Lernaean’s insistence, Saya was visiting the residence of an influential noble.
“Your dress today suits you, as always.”
Saya was wearing a jet-black dress this time. It was tailored to match her girlish body. The outfit splendidly brought out her silver hair and red eyes. When she had first seen herself in a mirror, even she had felt a little charmed.
“I’ve said it many times already, but it doesn’t make me happy to hear that from you.”
She ached to show herself off to a certain commoner boy instead, but that day would never come. The sheen of the fabric showed how tremendously expensive this dress was. A commoner could go their entire life without seeing such a thing.
“How harsh,” Lernaean said with a refreshing smile.
He was also wearing a luxurious outfit to fit the evening party. It suited him so well that Saya hated it. When he grinned in response to her looking him up and down, she felt nauseous and averted her gaze.
“I think you look wonderful as well, Jubilia,” Saya said.
“Erm, thank you. I’m not used to this sort of clothing, though, so it’s a little hard to move in.”
Jubilia blushed. She was also wearing a dress. It was a subdued amethyst color with an elegant, minimalistic style. Nevertheless, the soft and mature womanly curves which were usually hidden beneath her uniform were far more charming than any unnecessary decorations. Her blonde hair was tied up in a different manner than usual as well.
“I can’t seem to calm down without my sword. I am here as your guard.”
Lernaean sneered. “What purpose is there in that? So long as you have your blood caliber, there is no point in bringing a sword along.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Lernaean had been continuously bringing Saya out to evening parties as of late, all for the sake of accomplishing his goal.
“You made it!” shouted the owner of the residence, waddling his way over.
He was a stereotypical noble, with a plump body. He was rather low in rank, but he held much influence in the capital because of his successful business ventures. That was what Saya had been told on their cogwagon ride here, at least.
“Lord Granapalt, Lady Saya, thank you for coming this evening. It truly is an honor to have the rumored Silver Princess visit my abode.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Lord Rudike,” Saya said with a courteous bow.
The baron was deeply moved. “Ooh, how lovely.”
The guests were astir upon seeing Saya’s figure as she entered the estate’s ballroom. After ten days of showing herself at evening parties, she had become a celebrity. The topic of the Sovereign’s older sister, who had been hidden up until now, had spread like wildfire among the nobles. They were constantly trading tales of her unusual silver hair, red eyes, and sweet appearance. It seemed many people had already asked Lernaean to bring Saya to them.
Her job was simple. All she had to do was show up to parties, exchange a few greetings, present herself pleasantly to those around her, then leave immediately after. Lernaean apparently wanted to avoid having her stay at the parties for too long.
“It would cause your mystique to fade,” he had said. Saya was actually grateful for this; she was completely clueless about the necessary etiquette, to say nothing about her complete inability to dance. Still, Lernaean didn’t mind. Allegedly, the nobles only sought the honor of having the rumored Silver Princess visit them.
She was planning to leave right away this time as well, but that didn’t come to pass. Right when she thought it was about time to head back, a maid rushed over to Lernaean and whispered something in his ear. His expression changed completely, which Saya found unusual. Had something that serious occurred? The reason for his expression quickly became apparent.
“Everyone, your attention please! The Sovereign is here!” cried one of the baron’s attendants.
Kyou, Gratos, and Ivara entered to the announcement. The guests were shocked by the impossible situation before them.
“The Sovereign himself has come to a baron’s estate?” someone muttered.
The host of the party, Baron Rudike, ran over and prostrated himself before Kyou.
He began, “For you to grace us with your presence in such a—”
“Lord Rudike,” Gratos interjected, “we’ll be intruding on your party. Forgive me, but this was the Sovereign’s wish.”
“There is no need to apologize! For you to come to such an insignificant affair in this humble abode of mine, I...”
“It truly is an insignificant party. You should not be in such a place, sister.” Kyou’s voice, cold as midwinter ice, sent shivers through all the guests, not to mention poor Rudike. It was the first time Saya had seen this side of Kyou.
“So, you really have been dragging Lady Saya around. I’m astonished, Lord Granapalt,” Gratos said.
“You say the strangest things,” Lernaean replied indifferently. “It was our liege’s request for me to bring Lady Saya around like this.”
“What?”
“Our liege stated that all of Lady Saya’s requests are to be granted. She asked to know about noble society. Thus, I have brought her here.”
Saya nodded as Lernaean prompted her for confirmation. Gratos definitely remembered the conversation himself. He made a bitter expression and fell silent.
“There is no worth in seeing such a pathetic party, sister.”
“That’s not true. All of this is new and unusual to me.”
The people around them began murmuring when they saw Saya speak with Kyou as if they were equals. Her next words caused even more ripples, however.
“I wonder how long a commoner could live on the money required for this single dress. They would surely never eat such overly luxurious food in their entire lives... And still, you call this party insignificant.”
Saya’s words decisively leaned in favor of commoners. The Traditionalists, led by Gratos, and the Sovereignty Faction, led by Lernaean, were in the middle of a heated argument in Congress over the treatment of commoners. The guests were left with the impression that Saya’s statement was very close to Lernaean’s position on the matter.
“Who cares about mere commoners? We shall prepare an even more beautiful dress for you. We shall also provide as much food as you’d like.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. The commoners live in poverty while offering their very lives to nobles; then they die. Why is that? Why was our world made this way? I want to know.”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s because both commoners and nobles all belong to the Sovereign,” Kyou declared. “And you also belong to Us, sister!”
“That’s wrong,” Lernaean refuted. “With all due respect, my liege, Lady Saya is the one and only member of royalty aside from yourself. Her standing should be right up there next to yours.”
“What are you saying?” Gratos shouted. “The Sovereign’s Blood chose Lord Kyou. That’s why he is the Sovereign. Even if she is his elder sister, she is no different from any other noble.”
“Hmm. Unfortunately, a youngling such as myself has never lived to see royalty other than these two. However, Chairman Gratos, you were alive at such a time, were you not?”
“I was.”
“In the time when multiple members of royalty coexisted at once, I’ve heard there was an order of succession. Lady Saya and Lord Kyou are twins. What happens to the succession in this case?”
“You know full well, you shameless little...!”
“Please answer me.”
“In such a case, the order of succession is equal. Hence, Lord Kyou was chosen.”
“If I may ask: why? Furthermore, why has Lady Saya’s existence been kept hidden for such a long time?”
“The answer to both questions is the same. Lady Saya had a weak constitution. She was bedridden the entire time from sickness. She has healed over the long flow of time and is now finally able to travel outside, with accompaniment. We have been concealing her existence out of consideration for her safety.”
“I don’t remember that,” Saya said, to which Gratos nodded.
“Of course you don’t. You’ve been sleeping all this time, after all.”
“So, Lady Saya was not chosen as the Sovereign because of her weak constitution?” Lernaean asked.
Gratos shook his head. “Nobody decides who will rule. The Sovereign’s Blood chooses. Has even this knowledge been lost to time? Or perhaps you’re pretending not to know.”
“It’s chosen by blood?” Saya asked.