A Farce And The One Who Won

“…With that, the Estraia Empire hereby lodges a formal and stern protest against Lady Quylindra for unfairly misleading the Empire.”

A VIP room prepared for the meeting, located diagonally opposite the hall where the celebration was being held. Patricia handed the rolled-up letter to the attendant at her side.

“Indeed, this was our misunderstanding. I, Quylindra Alverich, solemnly accept and apologize for the protest from your nation.”

Quylindra, seated opposite Patricia, took the letter from the attendant, read it, then bowed deeply and apologized.

In addition to the two and the attendant, the VIP room contained the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, the Chancellor and various ministers, influential nobles including the Five Great Ducal Houses, Quylindra’s attendant Titancia, and the person involved, Jonah.

Acting on Emperor Karl’s orders, everyone here attended the meeting, but for Jonah and Patricia and their group it was nothing more than a farce.

After all, Quylindra’s goal was to find Jonah, and if admitting fault would protect him, it was a small price to pay.

As for Patricia, she had already said what she wanted at the celebration earlier, and since Jonah, the person involved, didn’t care, it was no longer important.

More than that, Patricia, who couldn’t be with Jonah at the celebration, was desperate to hear from him about what happened and his impressions.

But.

“Please wait. It would be unacceptable to have such an important matter settled with a single word of ‘misunderstanding’.”

Second Prince Wulfe interrupted the meeting.

“…Brother Wulfe. I am here as the Emperor’s representative at this conference. I’m sorry, but I must ask you to refrain.”

“What are you saying! I am the Second Prince and the Marshal of the Estraia Empire, responsible for all military affairs! So in matters that might concern national defense, to ignore my words is utterly intolerable!”

Perhaps displeased by Patricia’s manner of speaking, Wulfe became furious like a blaze.

For Patricia, who had intended to let it end as a farce, this development was somewhat troublesome.

“With respect, Prince Wulfe. It is precisely because Princess Patricia is the Emperor’s representative that I am quietly apologizing like this. If you engage in such rude behavior, we will not hesitate to refuse the Empire’s protest.”

“…!?”

Stared down by Quylindra’s murderous aura like a hawk eyeing its prey, Wulfe gasped.

During the Human-Demon War five hundred years ago, countless demons had their lives taken by Quylindra’s bow. The Silent Archer’s skills had not diminished in the least.

“Th-then, how could you have deceived our Empire into thinking that, as anyone can see, a mere child defeated a commander of the Demon King’s army?!”

Although Wulfe flinched, he held firm and continued to denounce Quylindra.

Patricia, Quylindra, and Marquess Hagenberg—who knew Jonah’s capability—found the accusation outrageous, but the others did not…. No, in fact most agreed with Wulfe’s opinion.

“So we have already apologized for that. Prince Wulfe, what exactly are you seeking?”

Feeling further bargaining would be pointless, Quylindra asked directly.

Surely this man was using the incident as a pretext to request some favor. If so, it’s faster to draw it out.

“What, it’s simple. Quylindra accused that the child defeated the Demon Army commander Zarichu of Hunger. Then, to verify the truth, we should have that child defeat a Demon Army commander once more.”

“…What are you saying? If you open that filthy mouth any further, I, Quylindra the ‘Silent Archer’, will accept the challenge.”

Quylindra, no longer intending to hide her murderous intent, stood and advanced toward Wulfe.

If it continued like this, Wulfe would not get away with it. Those around tried to stop her, but their legs would not obey.

It was unsurprising. Quylindra was a hero of the Human-Demon Great War who had challenged the Demon King alongside the hero. No one in the Empire could hope to match her.

…No—there was one person.

Of course it was not Jonah, who had already severed ties with the Langheim family and was no longer bound to the Empire.

That was.

“…Lady Quylindra, I apologize for the discourtesy. But please, I ask you to stop this further.”

“Princess Patricia…”

Patricia stepped between Quylindra and Wulfe and spoke quietly.

She herself was also a hero of the Human-Demon Great War. It shouldn’t have been an ordinary amount of pressure, yet Patricia had a composed expression.

In other words, Patricia, at eighteen, stood in the realm of heroes.

“Brother Wulfe, why would you now force Jonah to face a Demon Army commander? His ability has already been disproved; that would be meaningless. Do you intend to needlessly provoke the Demon Army remnants and open hostilities?”

“Ugh…”

Glared at by Patricia’s amber eyes, Wulfe found himself at a loss for words.

Now that Jonah’s strength had been shown to be dubious, there was no need to verify the truth.

‘But… I must have him fight…!’

He couldn’t understand why Patricia and Quylindra would go so far to protect a mere commoner’s child, but if that child were to fight a Demon Army commander, Patricia would surely take on the challenge herself.

If Patricia could defeat ‘Apostasy’ Taromati, it would be ideal for the Empire. His decision would be praised, and he could close in on Crown Prince Leonardo in the struggle for the throne.

Conversely, if Patricia were defeated and died, the bothersome sister who had always been compared to him would be gone.

Even if she survived, he could then spread the claim that the ‘Silver Sword Princess’ was actually nothing special and ruin her reputation.

In short, either way things would work out advantageously for Wulfe.

As Wulfe schemed how to somehow engineer a battle with ‘Apostasy’ Taromati…

“…Putting aside the question of verifying the truth, wouldn’t having that boy fight ‘Apostasy’ Taromati satisfy everyone?”

Crown Prince Leonardo, who had remained silent until now, said so quietly.