And now, let us return to the present.
“…There’s no way!” Tolcheila was livid. “Why would Falcasso send people out here?! That letter is a fake!”
Her reaction was justified. To those unaware of the situation, Falcasso had appeared out of nowhere.
“This handwriting…is authentic.” Despite this sudden upset, Caldmellia remained calm. As director of the Gospel Bureau, she conducted various correspondences and was familiar with Miroslav’s script.
“…! Are you saying you accept this?! That they aren’t with Eastern Levetia?!”
Tolcheila wouldn’t stand for it. She’d seized her opportunity after spying a connection between Eastern Levetia and Delunio, but she had no excuse to criticize the latter if the link proved false. Now that Gruyere had the Soljest throne back, losing Delunio spelled total failure.
“Yuan, was it?” Caldmellia’s eyes locked on the missionary. “Is this letter true?”
“Yes. We are not Eastern Levetia members but Falcasso citizens sent by Prince Miroslav.”
Yuan gave a distinguished bow as he lied through his teeth. He glanced at Falanya beside him and noticed her pained expression. He gave a small smile.
It’s all right, Princess Falanya.
Prior to this meeting, the princess spoke with Yuan.
“Yuan, I’m afraid you’ll have to lie about your convictions for this plan to work. Will you be okay?”
“Of course. I’ll do what I must.”
“…I’m not pious myself, but I understand those who are don’t take lying about their faith lightly. I’ll find another way if it starts to feel like too much, so please don’t force yourself.”
Yuan wasn’t putting up a brave front. This was for the good of Eastern Levetia. There was no shame involved.
Still, Falanya’s conscientiousness touched his heart.
Even I wouldn’t really consider myself “pious”… But Princess Falanya’s support is definitely part of God’s divine plan.
And so Yuan would spread pure lies on this grand stage.
“If you are still uncertain, please feel free to contact our homeland. We are devout followers of Levetia who serve the Holy Elite Miroslav.”
Mentioning a Holy Elite gave Yuan’s words new gravitas. The Holy Elite were a unique existence within Levetia. A slight against them was a slight against the Church.
“My, this is quite the conundrum,” Caldmellia muttered.
She could easily crush Delunio on its own, and even Natra’s interference was no trouble for her. However, it was different if Falcasso endorsed both countries. Claiming people sent by Holy Elite Miroslav were from Eastern Levetia was akin to challenging the prince. Falcasso was the West’s first line of defense against the Empire. Appeasing him was a common practice.
Well, that’s precisely why it doesn’t hurt to try.
Caldmellia wasn’t sure how Miroslav was roped into this, but he’d likely withdraw if she pressed the issue here. There was a chance she was wrong and everything would spiral into a disaster, but that would make the situation more entertaining.
However, my role is minor this time. I’ve already collected my fee, so perhaps I should leave the rest to her.
Having reached this conclusion, Caldmellia turned to Tolcheila.
“Princess Tolcheila, I believe both this letter and Yuan’s claim are authentic. What do you think?”
“Wha…?!”
Caldmellia was tacitly announcing Levetia would bow out if Tolcheila couldn’t turn things around.
“You mean Levetia will just accept their idiotic story…?!”
“You speak out of line, Princess Tolcheila. Dismiss the direct testimonial of a Holy Elite as ‘idiotic’ and appropriate measures shall be taken.”
“N-Ngh…!”
Tolcheila ground her teeth with such force that one might expect blood to spurt from them.
Her plan had been flawless. One more step and she would’ve had Soljest’s throne and part of a dissected Delunio. Now she stood to lose it all at the final moment.
“…Hold on! Then why did you lie about being from Eastern Levetia?!” Tolcheila shouted at Yuan. “I heard you back at the ceremony. You said you were with Eastern Levetia! Nearly the entire room heard it. What was the point of that if you actually serve Miroslav?!”
Even if Falanya’s group tried to mask the truth with lies, there were bound to be gaps. Tolcheila caught one and jumped on it mercilessly.
However, Falanya had taken that into account. “That was to excise troublesome elements from Delunio, of course.”
Caught off guard, Tolcheila widened her eyes. Falanya cast her a sidelong glance.
“For some time now, King Lawrence has been certain there are some within Delunio who would disrespect the nation, its citizens, and Levetia in pursuit of their own goals. Therefore, the king had Prince Miroslav send people here to be treated like members of Eastern Levetia to draw out zealous rebels who would cause havoc!”
Falanya paused to raise her voice.
“Isn’t that right, Prime Minister Mullein?!”
“Wha…?!”
Mullein’s face trembled, and Falanya came down on him hard.
“You approached Yuan with no knowledge of this! And even though he introduced himself as a member of Eastern Levetia, you dared to accept his financial support and reap the benefits! Furthermore, you took advantage of the trouble in neighboring Soljest and deceived Princess Tolcheila. King Lawrence’s fight to stop you was futile, and you invaded an allied nation to further your aim! Your actions betray your country, people, religion, and everything else!”
“Y-you’re wrong! I would never!”
“No matter your reason, the truth is that Delunio invaded Soljest! Proper reparations must be made! Fortunately, Natra is willing to act as an intermediary, and King Gruyere has already agreed to a meeting! As long as the culprit, Mullein, is justly punished for his crimes, that is!”
It was all a bluff. Gruyere hadn’t agreed to anything yet, but no one present could fact-check the claim. Furthermore, Falanya’s speech suggested the situation would resolve itself nicely if Mullein’s head were put on the chopping block.
This was a power game. If the issue remained domestic, Lawrence’s lack of authority ensured he’d be ignored no matter how much he criticized Mullein. However, when foreign nations like Natra and Soljest backed him up and agreed Mullein was guilty, the scales tipped in Lawrence’s favor.
“Guards!” Sirgis shouted. “Princess Falanya is right! This upheaval is entirely the work of Mullein! Arrest him!”
“Y-you must be kidding!” Mullein yelled. “Sirgis! What authority do you have over me?! I’m the prime minister of Delunio!”
“…Not anymore,” Lawrence declared gravely, eliciting a cry of horror from Mullein. “From this moment forward, you are relieved of your duties. You will be a powerless, common criminal.”
“P-please wait, Your Majesty! You misunderstood! I would never try to accuse you!” Mullein pleaded vehemently, but the guards ran over and pinned both his arms.
“Stop! L-let me go! Damn it, Lawrence, are you really going to allow this?! Sirgis! Shame on you for blaming others!”
“…Take him.”
The guards obeyed the king’s orders and dragged the struggling Mullein away. His indignant screams could be heard outside the conference room, and it was only after the door closed that silence returned.
“…Please forgive my unsightly behavior,” Sirgis apologized.
“No, that was a marvelous performance,” Caldmellia replied with a giggle. “I understand your point now. It was rather a roundabout method…he-he. But sometimes that is simply what happens in the web of government affairs.”
Caldmellia made it clear she fully accepted Delunio’s claims.
That left one last person.
“What do you think, Princess Tolcheila?” Caldmellia asked.
“……”
Tolcheila failed to answer.
Falanya…Maybe I was wrong to underestimate her…
Tolcheila had no way of knowing how Gruyere escaped confinement and defeated both armies. But based on what just happened, she was positive Falanya was somehow involved.
If only the princess of Natra were alone. Then Tolcheila might have stood a chance. She had a hunch one more person was working in the shadows.
I was disappointed he couldn’t make it to the ceremony, but somewhere in my heart, I was relieved! I thought it meant he couldn’t ruin my plan!
She’d been sorely mistaken, though. It was a mistake to disregard that unrivaled genius for even a moment.
Did you crush my plans without stepping one foot outside the country, Wein Salema Arbalest…?!
It was frustrating. Infuriating. Maddening. Yet no matter how she mourned, the outcome wouldn’t change. Tolcheila had issued a challenge and lost.
“Very well. I accept it.”
Everyone in the quiet room heard Tolcheila’s almost inaudible whisper. And thus, the maelstrom that visited the Delunio Kingdom drew to a close.
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