“I’m glad you catch on quickly. Just like that, we managed to establish a stable society. But unfortunately, a factor which threatens the balance appeared. Over the passage of time, some commoners were born with no affinity to Amrita. Their blood conflicts with the key factor of the blessing, and internal hemorrhaging causes an irremovable mark to appear on their skin... I’m sure you all know what this is.”
“Bloodmark disease,” Dimitri answered, having fully embraced his role as the representative student.
Lernaean nodded. “What’s worse is that this disposition is hereditary. If left unchecked, bloodmark disease will taint all commoner blood. When that happens, Amrita can no longer be made.”
Lernaean looked around Congress. His intentions were clear. Everyone present had received the blessings of Amrita, after all. After confirming that the meaning behind his words had seeped throughout the entire room, Lernaean nodded.
“If that happens, our society will crumble. The nobles tried turning to the Intelligence once more for salvation, but the Intelligence never returned. We had no choice but to take matters into our own hands.”
He was getting to the core of the matter. Lernaean let his sonorous voice fill the room.
“The answer is simple. The Crestfolk must be eliminated. That was far too pitiable a choice, however, hence the policy of sterilization... Yes, sterilization was a kindness. Now then, how did that turn out for us?”
“They rioted against us!” someone yelled.
“Rioted...? They’ve only protested. It hasn’t reached the point of an armed riot,” Jubilia muttered.
Her voice was quiet enough that only Saya could hear her. The one congressman’s voice broke the dam, and yelling quickly filled the hall, laying blame for all the world’s ills on the Crestfolk. Lernaean quietly watched this unfold, then gestured to them to stop. The entire room fell silent in an instant.
“Your anger is understandable. I am also in agreement. It is true that their disease-ravaged bodies are pitiable, but if they turn their unjustified resentment toward us in revolt...” Lernaean said, pausing to slowly make his declaration. “Then unfortunately, there is no choice but to exterminate the Crestfolk.”
“Agreed!”
Voices of approval filled the assembly hall.
“Massacre them all!”
“Lady Saya, this can’t be allowed... The Crestfolk are just normal people who have contracted a disease. What is Lord Lernaean even thinking...?” Jubilia said quietly next to Saya. She was shocked. Her voice was trembling. “Please, you’re the only one who can stop this.”
Saya looked over Congress. Her remarks weren’t normally permitted here. She was terrified. What could she possibly do against this surging wave? But in this moment, a serious decision was about to be made before her eyes: the decision to wipe out the Crestfolk.
That would include Tess and Keele, as well as the one currently considered to be their leader, Nagi. Saya had approved of sterilizations because she listened to what Lernaean said, and as a result, Nagi abandoned her. But right now, there was something she could do. Saya took a deep breath.
“Stop right there!” she yelled as she rose to her feet. “In the name of the Sovereign, I won’t allow such a thing!”
All eyes pierced Saya at once.
“Lady Saya,” Lernaean said in a calm voice. “This is Congress. Your statements are inappropriate here.”
“Even if all of you decide to exterminate the Crestfolk, I will never agree to it!”
The entire hall was astir. Lernaean glared at Saya. Her legs trembled, faced with his overwhelming pressure head on. Jubilia gripped her hand from the side, reassuring her.
“It’s okay. There are many among Congress whose loyalties lie with the Sovereign. They aren’t likely to allow this motion to pass easily after hearing your statement.”
As a large uproar began to pass through the hall, Lernaean swept his right hand in a wide arc. That simple gesture brought silence back to the room. His dominance was still well in effect.
“Dr. Dimitri, I believe you are responsible for Lady Saya’s treatment, are you not?”
Dimitri had trouble catching his breath over the sudden change of topic. “Y-Yes...”
“How is her condition? Is her mind and body sound? Can she make proper judgments?”
Dimitri immediately understood his endlessly cruel intentions.
“With all due respect, Lady Saya’s health is extremely poor. She is in no condition to be making sound judgments.”
“Dimitri! You bastard!”
Their exchange was so shameless that Jubilia roared at him. At the same time, confusion spread among the Congress members.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Lernaean said, bringing them under control. “Please recall once more. It is Amrita which gives you eternal life. What is it that we must do now to protect that?”
Silence fell over the room. Amrita was the weak point of every Congress member. So long as it granted them eternal life, they couldn’t possibly allow it to be lost. The temptation of Amrita was a poison spread among them by Lernaean. Everyone present recognized by now that Lernaean held absolute power here, as the one who held it in his clutches.
“Lady Saya has had her heart stolen by a rebel in her infirmity, affecting her ability to make sound decisions. Take the Sovereign to her room.”
At Lernaean’s command, the knights posted near Saya approached her. Jubilia stood in their way before they got too close.
“Do not touch her.”
Her hand was on the sword at her waist.
“Jubilia. You will be deemed a traitor if you draw your blade.”
“You’re the traitor, Lord Lernaean. What are you even thinking? Exterminate the Crestfolk? Ignoring Lady Saya when she tries to stop it? Is this your ideal?! You weren’t like this before... Did you not try to save the commoners from their own suffering?!”
Lernaean chuckled cynically. “You simply believed that I did. What do you, or anyone else, know of my ideals? They haven’t changed. Not ever; not even once.”
“Jubilia, it’s okay. Stand down,” Saya said.
“But...”
“You’ll just get arrested if you oppose him now... Lernaean, please forgive her. I’ll come quietly.”
“Very well. Now then, return to your room,” Lernaean said, turning back to face the room. “We shall have Lady Saya get some rest so that her condition doesn’t worsen. Given the extenuating circumstances, I shall make this decision without the Sovereign’s approval. The Crestfolk and the despicable factor of bloodmark disease shall be wiped from this world!”
“Hear, hear!”
Voices of approval filled Congress as Saya bit down on her lips. She couldn’t stop it. She was too late in taking action.
Nagi, what should I do...? Oh, I don’t... have Nagi with me... anymore...
Saya was all alone, swept by the great wave of hatred within Congress.