Chapter 82
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Chapter 82
"...."
"Of course, it's not because you're handsome, but for that girl Vivian's sake that I'm telling you this."
At Kaltz's sincere advice, a stifled laugh escaped between Dias Hessen's teeth.
The elderly statesman before me suddenly felt very real—a man who had guarded the seat of supreme power for all these long years.
After moistening his throat with tea, Kaltz shifted the conversation without dwelling further on the subject, just as he'd said moments before.
"Once you leave the Duke's Residence, are you planning to go to your sister?"
"I can't very well leave Vivian sleeping in a tavern room, so yes."
Kaltz seized the opening and pressed Dias Hessen once more.
"If that's your only reason, why not stay here?"
But Dias Hessen, as if to repay the thrust at his weakness from moments before, turned the blade on Kaltz's vulnerability.
"Surely you wouldn't leave that innocent child alone beside a strange man."
Kaltz felt a pang of guilt when he realized Dias Hessen was wary of Lahedis's feelings toward Vivian.
"I owe you my gratitude in many ways, sir."
Unlike his usual glib or arrogant demeanor, Dias Hessen expressed his thanks with genuine courtesy for the first time, then left the Dining Room.
Owen entered through the open door just as he departed.
"Sir, the carriage is prepared."
"...Has it already gotten so late?"
It was time to head to the Imperial Palace.
'The Imperial Palace will be in quite an uproar.'
The Emperor would be gathering public opinion, using yesterday's incident as a pretext to incite war.
'But his plans won't come to pass.'
I had already made preparations to thwart that scheme.
Kaltz finished his tea, then rose leisurely and left the Dining Room.
* * *
The Audience Chamber of the Imperial Palace had been in turmoil since morning.
The nobles who had arrived at the Audience Chamber in response to the Emperor's summons gathered in small groups, conversing amongst themselves.
The subject was, naturally, the incident that had occurred at yesterday's Hunting Festival.
"Demons appearing at the Imperial Hunting Grounds—what in the world is happening...."
"I'm beginning to wonder if the Demon Realm's barrier is weakening."
"Then are those barbaric demons crawling into our world again?"
"Surely another war isn't about to break out?"
At someone's careless remark, the chamber fell silent as if doused with cold water.
After a moment's silence, reactions diverged.
"War? Don't speak such inauspicious words!"
So spoke the nobles who despised war, while
"Perhaps we should seize this opportunity to march into the Demon Realm itself and uproot those creatures entirely—it might be better for future generations."
the nobles whose eyes gleamed at the spoils of war.
As opinions clashed, the doors of the Audience Chamber opened.
"His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, enters!"
"I bow before the Empire's radiance."
Orpen, seated upon the throne, naturally broached the matter concerning yesterday's incident.
"I trust yesterday's unforeseen and regrettable event has left you all startled. As the organizer, I bear considerable responsibility for what transpired."
"...."
"I suspect the appearance of demons resulted from the Demon Realm's barrier weakening near the hunting grounds—an accident born of circumstance."
The nobles began to stir at Orpen's words.
"This morning, I dispatched scouts to investigate the Demon Realm's barrier. They shall return shortly, and I wish to discuss this matter thoroughly once we receive their detailed report."
At that moment, a noble who favored military action seized the opportunity to speak.
"If the barrier has indeed weakened, should we not prepare now and strike first? We must eliminate the threat before it takes root."
"I share that sentiment. We should have crushed them twenty years ago during the war. The mere thought that their cursed bloodline flows through citizens of our Empire makes my blood boil."
Those who had lost loved ones in the war with the Demon Realm two decades past harbored an intense hatred for half-breeds.
As one or two nobles began voicing their opinions openly, others who had remained silent also began to chime in.
"Indeed. Perhaps these mongrels orchestrated this very incident. Consider how many crimes and problems they create by failing to integrate into our society."
Orpen observed those displaying hostility toward demons and their half-breed offspring, and an inward smile of satisfaction crossed his face.
The greater the animosity toward demons, the stronger public opinion would sway toward war.
The increasingly heated atmosphere quieted the moment one figure rose to speak.
"I believe there is a flaw in that argument, Count Tennan."
The voice belonged to Igraine.
"The actual crime rates between pure-blooded humans and half-breeds differ little."
"B-but surely the crimes they commit are numerous, are they not?"
"To speak plainly, the reason they fail to integrate into the Empire is because the Empire rejects them—not because they willingly remain apart."
"...."
"Biologically, they are half-demon, but equally, they are half-human. For those who belong nowhere, whichever place offers them better treatment becomes their homeland."
"...."
"As evidence, the Knight Order and the Guard already boast many talented individuals of mixed blood who dedicate their strength to serving their homeland."
"...."
"While I too deeply regret this incident, I would ask that rather than rejecting them based solely on emotion—when they bear no connection to this event—you consider the benefits we gain by embracing them."
With Igraine's intervention, no one dared to refute her words.
When even she, who had lost a sibling in the war against demons, defended half-breeds, how could anyone argue against her?
Some whispered that perhaps the Marquis was actually pursuing the position of successor and had eliminated her brother, but such speculation remained merely gossip.
No one possessed the courage to voice such accusations in her presence.
"Furthermore, no clear evidence has yet emerged proving their involvement in this matter. To discuss war would be premature."
As silence fell over the chamber, Count Parma, who had been observing the situation, interjected smoothly.
"A-and as the Chancellor has said, not all half-breeds are of inferior quality."
"What do you mean by that, Count?"
"I heard it was the common girl brought by the Duke who saved my daughter yesterday. Using a Dark Spirit, she protected several ladies and young noblewomen."
"That's right. She fought alongside the Imperial Princess against the demons, did she not?"
As Count Parma spoke of Vivian's exploits from yesterday, other nobles began adding their own remarks.
Even those nobles who had initially urged war fell silent once Vivian's name was mentioned.
And with good reason—all who had attended yesterday's Hunting Festival owed their wives' and daughters' lives to Vivian.
Orpen's brow furrowed as he watched public opinion shift in mere moments.
The fact that he had brought the woman who became the variable changing that opinion, only to see Kaltz calmly observing the situation, twisted his mood even further.
'How much longer until the Knight Order arrives?'
If they brought evidence that the barrier had weakened, he could overturn the current tide of opinion.
But the firmly closed doors of the Audience Chamber showed no sign of opening.
'I need to cut this short before opinion tilts any further.'
With that intention, I opened my mouth to speak.
"The Prime Minister makes a fair point. Let us set aside the matter of half-breeds for now, and address the Demon Realm issue only after we have confirmed the barrier's condition with certainty...."
Just as I was about to conclude the assembly.
The doors of the Audience Chamber opened, and the Knight Captain who had gone to inspect the Demon Realm's barrier entered.
"Your Majesty, I have returned after inspecting the Demon Realm's barrier under your imperial command."
Orpen's eyes brightened as he asked.
"Well then, what is the state of the barrier?"
Since the barrier had been crumbling even a fortnight ago, it must surely have deteriorated further by now.
And yet....
"The barrier has weakened compared to before, but the miasma seeping through is not yet sufficient to generate monsters."
"...The barrier is intact?"
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