“I understand that information has been circulating in the royal court that we’ve been winning over lords for the purpose of invasion. So the question, Your Royal Majesty, is: who will you believe? Those who haven’t set foot outside of the royal capital yet have the temerity to spread unsubstantiated rumors, or me, who has dealt firsthand with the monsters destroying your nation?”
Using a dessert fork, Richard neatly cut a piece of cake off. Though he smiled once more, his flame-colored eyes did not.
“I sincerely wish for your country’s survival and prosperity. After repeated rejections of my formal petitions to lend assistance, I took the necessary steps through the lords who administer these lands to demonstrate my will. Should you choose to denigrate our aid as an invasion, none of your neighbors will ever support you in the event of future crises.”
A pause to take a bite of his dessert then he continued.
“Moreover, our empire has gone to similar great lengths to provide relief to other countries in the past. The Principality of Arjentia was one of them.”
Solarus inclined her head regally in agreement. Then she and Richard both fixed their gazes on the king once more.
“Your Royal Majesty. All that we in the Empire’s Order of Knights, Special Forces seek is your approval to support the Kingdom of Kophe and defeat the monsters.”
“You…!” When Lord Kantas tried to intervene, His Majesty silenced him with his eyes then spoke.
“Continue.”
With a nod, Richard did just that. “I request permission to station a limited garrison of the imperial army in Kophe. We need a base of operations to conduct both relief efforts and monster hunts.”
“A-As if we would allow you to do that!” Prince Medaikonar shouted those words angrily. His father’s hard glare rendered him mute for an instant, but even that wasn’t enough to suppress his agitation. “You bastard, you plan to make this country a vassal state, don’t you?! I wager the Empire actually encouraged Philisbyl and the margrave to destroy Arjentia just so you could get its survivors to trust you!”
High Priest Pisciozze picked up the gauntlet Medaikonar threw down and ran with it. “With all due respect, our kingdom doesn’t need the Empire’s support. As part of the Church’s monster control division, our holy knights are more than capable of exterminating the monsters. I must say this next part at the risk of offending you, Prince Richard. Do you realize your actions as the Empire’s representative demonstrate your lack of faith in the Great Church of Kophe?”
The grand chancellor added his own remark after the high priest’s. “The results of our efforts against the monsters and the status of each territory have been correctly reported to the Kingdom’s parliament. Wouldn’t you agree then, Prince Richard, that it’s reasonable to expect a discrepancy in accuracy between the information that reaches us through the proper channels from each region and your unofficial rescue efforts?”
In the face of the clamoring individuals in the opposition, Richard continued eating his dessert with a composed expression. His table manners were so lovely that I fancied the dessert was delighted to be consumed by him. When he finished it, down to the last mint leaf used as garnishment, he looked at the king. He continued behaving like he was speaking only to His Majesty.
“Your Majesty. When we questioned members of the royal forces that attacked us a few days ago, they testified they acted under orders from Kophe’s Crown Prince Medaikonar and High Priest Pisciozze.”
The prince and the high priest both paled. The king didn’t react at all now.
“…I see.”
Those two words conveyed everything he felt.
“If you give me permission to establish a garrison in Kophe, I plan on purifying the whole of Mayga Cieux.” Richard glanced at me then. “Madam Monica, if you would. Please explain how it’s possible to cleanse the forest of Mayga Cieux with the power of all twenty-two holy women in the country.”
“Naught but a pipe dream!” For some reason, High Priest Pisciozze suddenly shouted with a panicked expression. “His Royal Majesty despises saints. It is already the height of blasphemy to have the wicked Arousing Priestess here, but you wish to further the insult to the king by engaging her opinions too? Absurd.”
“Well, there you have it, Madam Monica. Right from the horse’s mouth. Evidently, expunging every last monster would actually be an inconvenience to certain quarters. Whatever shall we do now?”
“How dare—”
Ignoring the high priest who now fumbled for words, Richard closed one eye and continued. “Right then, Madam Monica. I believe it’s high time you demonstrate to His Royal Majesty that you’re the only one capable of saving Kophe.”
Everyone in the room directed their attention toward me. Hardening my resolve, I turned to face the king. I flinched when I saw the hatred oozing from his eyes.
“Your Royal Majesty, I am well aware of your disgust for holy women. I also know that our meeting like this again is discourteous to you. However…if I can save the Kingdom of Kophe from the monsters, then I wish to do so by purging them with my supernatural powers, even if I’m hated for them.”
The king kept silent. I pleaded with him as he stared at me with his unreadable, sunken eyes.
“The former Nowasilo district has been purified and though it’s small, the people there can expect a harvest come autumn. I have already proved that my plan will work. Therefore…won’t you listen to what I have to say?”
No one said a word. A long time passed. Then His Majesty spoke, sighing.
“Prince Richard. We will send you an official thank you at a later date.”
He replied to Richard, not me.
“Then might I be bold in presuming I have your permission to establish a garrison?”
His Majesty nodded, silently affirming Richard’s question. When he spoke again, it sounded almost like he was talking to himself. “I do indeed loathe holy women. I despised our warped system of governance preserved by the reliance on saints. But…” The king’s gaze pierced through me. It was the first time he acknowledged my existence. “At the very least, since her time in the palace undertaking a queen’s education, Saint Monica has never once uttered a lie. One might even call her too honest for her own good.”
Indescribable, undefined emotions flitted inside my chest. I bowed my head to His Majesty.
And so the luncheon ended without incident.