As news spread of Cobalt’s capture and reclamation of Ronadyphe Prison, commoners began to swarm the grounds. The Amrita they were promised should the cause prevail was far too sweet a nectar to resist. When dangled before their eyes, they were compelled to follow.
Furthermore, Nagi and Tess had returned with a gaggle of new Crestfolk recruits. In a matter of days, Cobalt evolved from a figure of folklore and rumor to the singular focus of the country’s zeitgeist; the rhetoric of their righteous cause unearthed the public’s buried grievances. The people of Cobalt, starting with Crow and Senak, were spreading the following news far and wide.
“Kyou is the False Sovereign. Our True Sovereign was meant to be in his place.”
The Sovereign was the object of the nobles’, commoners’, and even the Crestfolk’s respect and adoration. The hatred the oppressed felt was directed toward the nobles, whose predations on them were obvious; they hadn’t directed any of it at the Sovereign. The suggestion that their faith was misplaced brought about a violent rage among the people.
“Save the True Sovereign. Defeat the False Sovereign Kyou.”
Those voices spread from the outer regions of Agartha, gradually encroaching on the center. It was only a matter of time before they reached the capital.
And finally, on this day, the True Sovereign appeared at Ronadyphe Prison.
“We have been awaiting your arrival, Lady Saya.”
The moment Nagi and Saya were shown to Crow’s personal room—what used to be the warden’s room—Crow and Senak reverently fell to one knee, and the others followed suit in a fluster. The two of them were bewildered. Nagi understood showing respect for Saya, a noble, but this was going too far.
“It’s been a long time. Um, what’s going on here?” Saya asked.
“Please forgive the discourtesy we showed you previously. We didn’t know you were the True Sovereign at the time.”
“We are deeply sorry.”
Hearing this from Crow was one thing, but even Senak was submitting to Saya to an eerie degree. She felt chills from what Crow just said.
“I’m... the Sovereign? Isn’t that Kyou?”
Crow shook his head. “That was all a deception. You are the True Sovereign, Lady Saya. It cannot be anyone but you.”
“Explain things properly,” Nagi cut in. “Saya’s troubled by this.”
“Nagi!” Senak yelled in anger. “Call her Lady Saya! You have to show her the proper courtesy!”
“No way. I want Nagi to refer to me as he always has,” Saya said immediately.
Crow sighed. “Well, let’s leave that for later. This all came about from Dr. Dimitri’s testimony. Professor, if you will.”
“Hmph, fine. First things first. Amrita is made through the synthesis of Sovereign’s Blood and commoner’s blood. In short, it uses a component within Sovereign’s Blood to—”
“Professor, we don’t need the full details right now. Please keep it brief.”
“Research depends on a foundation of fine and disparate details, though... Fine, then. Second, Kyou, who has been set up as the Sovereign, has not left the capital for at least the last few decades. It’s rare for him to even leave the royal palace.”
This pained Saya’s heart. It was just as she surmised. Kyou was a captive, much like Saya always had been.
“Now then, here’s the important part. Third, regardless of this farce, Sovereign’s Blood is delivered to the palace from outside the capital. I stole from these shipments, so there’s no mistaking it. The blood was, of course, very real. My successful synthesis of Amrita proves this. So, what do you think this means, boy?”
Dimitri pointed at Nagi. He wasn’t expecting this; his answer was hesitant.
“Uhhh... The Sovereign never leaves the royal palace, so the collection of Sovereign’s Blood should take place within its walls. And yet, Sovereign’s Blood is delivered from the outside, so the real Sovereign isn’t in the capital?”
“Exactly.”
“And you’re saying that’s me?” Saya asked.
“Nagi, do you remember how when you first met Lady Saya, you thought she was a commoner? Why was that?” Crow asked.
“Huh? That’s because...”
“Nobody who entered the Garden seeing a girl wearing such fine clothing would think she’s a commoner. Nagi, didn’t you see it for yourself? Try to recall why you thought she was definitely a commoner.”
“It was...”
He had definitely witnessed it happening: the pitiful sight of Saya’s arms bristling with tubing.
“Nobles do not partake in blood offering. That’s why you thought Lady Saya was a commoner. However, there is one other person aside from commoners who does partake in blood offerings.”
“The Sovereign,” Saya muttered.
To her, the yearly blood offerings were a matter of course. Now they were saying it was proof she wasn’t a noble. Saya couldn’t believe it. She was the Sovereign, and Kyou was a fake? Setting aside Nagi and Saya’s confusion, a messenger rushed in to see Crow.
“Lord Granapalt has arrived!” he declared.
“Lernaean?” Saya said with a stiff voice.
Crow nodded as if he was expecting this. “Please let him through.”
Shortly after, Lernaean entered, changing the atmosphere completely. All eyes were glued to his uncannily attractive figure. Once more, Nagi was made to realize how he was paralyzed in fear before this man.
“First, Lady Saya, I must apologize for exposing you to danger. I only learned of Kyou’s handmaiden being a part of the faction scheming your demise after you had left. I took chase in a hurry and was nearly too late to do anything,” Lernaean said, lowering himself to a knee. “I met Jubilia on the way and heard of the circumstances. I have taken custody of her. How shall we deal with her? It was her duty to guard you; now that she has exposed you to danger, she herself believes a decapitation is in order.”
“What are you even saying?” Saya asked, looking down at him incredulously.
Nagi only now noticed that Jubilia’s odd behavior when they parted was because she was already prepared to face her death.
“That’s what it means to expose the Sovereign to danger,” Lernaean answered.
“Absolutely not. Jubilia is my friend. I won’t allow her to be killed.”
“Such personal interest is not permitted of the Sovereign.”
“I’m no Sovereign!” Saya yelled, baring her teeth.
“No, with Dr. Dimitri’s testimony, I did some investigating of my own. It took me some time to get definitive proof, but the Sovereign’s Blood certainly flows through your veins. You have been the True Sovereign who has ruled over Agartha for the past few centuries. You are the one who grants all your subjects life. Jubilia was incapable of fulfilling her duty as your guard.”
“Nagi, what do I do? My friend is going to die because of me...”
Saya looked to Nagi for help. He thought it over for a moment, but before he could get things in order, Lernaean cut in.
“She is my subordinate. I do, of course, mourn her loss. If she did, in fact, manage to fulfill her duty as a guard, then I would show no hesitation in sparing her. However, she denies doing so herself.”
Seeing Lernaean’s gaze directed toward him, Nagi figured out his intentions. “In that case, Jubilia properly fulfilled her duty. I can vouch for her. Saya would’ve died if Jubilia didn’t risk her life to protect her.”
“Hmm, I see. Lady Saya, is that true?”
“It is! Jubilia saved me! If not for her, I’d be dead.”
“Very well; we cannot simply dismiss the charges entirely, but we’ll punish her with penitence. That is only after things have calmed down, however. This is a state of emergency. We need every skilled hand we can get.” Lernaean’s manner as he revoked Jubilia’s death sentence was ever so casual. “Nagi, you barely pass, I suppose. Whatever. You should learn to show a force of personality a little better. If you are to protect Lady Saya, you will require such strength.”
Nagi was apparently being tested. He wanted to snap back at him, but that was inappropriate, given the current situation, so Nagi summoned up his courage to respond dryly.
“I’ll work on it.”
“Your attitude is a little troubling. You have become the centerpiece of this revolution, after all.”
“What revolution?”
“You don’t know? The one to dethrone the False Sovereign Kyou, return Lady Saya to her rightful place, and liberate the oppressed commoners of the land. This is what you and the rest of Cobalt have spilled so much blood for, is it not?”
“Don’t forget the Crestfolk,” Saya added.
“Of course. I see, so you support the Crestfolk. I’m sure you intend to abolish their sterilization the moment you seize power. The one who spearheaded this policy was Gratos, the man manipulating the False Sovereign. He must be eliminated immediately.”
“Wait a moment. I thought Gratos was your ally?” Saya asked.
“What are you saying? He is the true enemy.”
“Then why did he help us?”
“Gratos is in a position where it would be troublesome for you to die, Lady Saya. You are required for the supply of Sovereign’s Blood to continue flowing. That’s exactly why he cooperated. The world is not so simple. Friends and foes change depending on the circumstances.”
“I don’t get it. Someone I thought was an ally is an enemy, and someone who saved me is to be executed...”
“That’s what it means to be Sovereign. That’s how heavy the duty of protecting the world is. Please be at ease. I am your ally.”
“Don’t lie to me. What if I said I would cast everything aside and run away with Nagi?”
“I would kill that boy for deceiving you and teach you the responsibility of a ruler.”
“So, that makes you my enemy. I at least know that much.”
“That is precisely what it means to protect yourself. So long as you rule these lands, you cannot live as a normal person.”
“You said there was a world without Sovereigns before.”
“I believe I also said it was nothing but a fairy tale. Let’s focus on the battle at hand. Unless you would prefer to return to the Forbidden Garden?”
Saya replied with a strong gaze instead of words. As she did, she suddenly entwined her fingers with Nagi’s. He strengthened his grip in return.
“I believe you understand now. Gratos was the one to lock you in there. If you wish to escape such a fate, your only choice is to defeat him. I’ve come here to do just that: to form an alliance between Cobalt and the Sovereignty Faction.”
“So, the time has finally come,” Crow said passionately. “After Lady Saya was taken from us, I realized we were receiving a noble’s clandestine support from the start. I was surprised to hear from you again, but just as you said back then, it’s impossible to overthrow the government in any other way.”
“Even with Halahala, I believe it would be impossible for you to defeat the knights protecting the capital. Similarly, the Sovereignty Faction is outnumbered by the Traditionalists. But if we join forces, we can rival them. What’s more, we have Lady Saya.”
“The rumors of the False Sovereign have begun to win the bulk of the public to our cause. It raises our morale while lowering theirs. Everything is in place. Now is the time to make a stand.”