The 21st day of the Earth month. I'm currently getting ready in front of
the mirror.
In the mirror, I'm dressed in a gleaming black-based formal attire, and
my hair set so slickly that I looked like a noble… perhaps.
This outit was given to me by Lilia-san the other day, and it looks like
she prepared it for the place we're heading to this time.
Today, I'm supposed to attend the birthday party of Amalie, the irst
princess of the Symphonia Kingdom, at the royal palace.
Amalie-san is the irst in line to the throne, so this party seems to be
quite the prestigious one, so I have to dress appropriately to attend.
While I was checking in front of the mirror a few times more, I heard a
knock on the door and along with Sieg-san, who came to pick me up,
we're going to the carriage that had been prepared for us.
As we continued down the corridor side by side, Sieg-san looked at me
with a serious expression on her face and spoke.
[…It's inally time, isn't it?]
[Yes.]
Of course, Sieg-san knows what this party means. No, since she's one of
the people concerned with this situation, she would obviously know
about it.
The purpose of this party was not only to celebrate Amalie-san's
birthday, but there's something of great signiicance that would happen
on this day.
For Lilia-san, Sieg-san and Lunamaria-san, it's the day to settle a past
feud… Today, Lilia-san brought the evidence Alice has gathered for her
and would use it to expose the crimes of the nobles who once
entrapped the Second Division of the Knights Order.
The scenario seems to have been assembled by Alice and has already
been passed on to Lilia-san, as well as to Ryze-san and Amalie-san.
I don't know the details that much though… To be honest, I'm not a
great actor, and so that I wouldn't accidentally slip it out, I decided on
not asking anything at all.
It's just that my only regret is that… The fact that this party is a very
prestigious one means that the number of people allowed into will be
considerably narrowed down.
[…Luna and I will not be allowed in the assembly hall. Kaito-san…
Please take care of Lili.]
[Yes… Though I said that, it's not like I can do anything special…]
The people that can attend this party are limited to the head of the
house with a peerage within the Symphonia Kingdom, the head's
marriage partner and their child who is irst in line to being their
successor, and the rest of the limits were restricted for guests from
other countries, and since Lilia-san is the head of the house, she's
eligible to attend, but I'm originally not allowed to attend.
Thanks to Ryze-san arranging for me as a substitute for Mitsunaga-kun,
who was playing the role of Hero, I was able to enter the assembly hall
as well.
No, well, even without that, I'm sure it would work out if someone like
Kuro arranged it for me but… I can't make myself conspicuous at all,
since the leading actor of this play is Lilia-san.
[Just the mere fact that Kaito-san is accompanying Lili makes her voice
as a noble stronger, and that alone is more than enough support.]
[Is that so… Well, if I can help Lilia-san, I'll do my best.]
[Yes, I'll be waiting for the good news.]
More than a dozen minutes of travel by carriage… We inally arrived at
the royal castle, and what I saw was an overwhelming sight of gleaming
carriages lined up in rows.
Just the fact that there are lots of authoritative personnel gathering in
this place, is enough reason as to why the security in this place is so
tight… Many knights were lined up around the gates of the castle, ready
to move when needed.
We presented our invitation to the gatekeeper and entered the castle.
Only those with an invitation are allowed to enter the assembly hall, but
each person may bring up to three guards to the assembly hall.
As for Alice, I decided not to count her as she would make a scene if she
showed up, so I asked Anima, Eta and Theta to follow me as my guards.
All three of them had been instructed by Sieg-san and Lunamaria-san
beforehand, and so, they were following behind at a distance from Liliasan and I, who were walking side by side.
[I knew that this was supposed to be such a place that would have tight
security, but the atmosphere is different from the last time we came
here.]
{Yes, the First Princess is that important to this country.]
[…I wonder if it's alright though? She's letting us use the assembly hall
that was supposed to be for an important occasion…]
I whispered to Lilia-san, who was dressed in a beautifully decorated,
luxurious dress instead of the simple one she always wore.
Pursuing the sins of the past in a place where a great number of nobles
gathered… This should be very effective, and hopefully, public opinion
will be on Lilia-san's side.
Incidentally, as far as timing apparently goes, the most effective time is
right before the party starts, and that's where we're going to do it.
[It's alright. That child is much tougher than I am. Anyway, I have no
doubt that she will deinitely use it to successfully solidify her own
position.]
[I- Is that the case?]
[Yes, the call of the most likely candidate for the throne isn't that much
before she herself becomes the king after all.]
When I met her before, she looked like a bright and elegant princess,
but that was just the way she interacted with her family, and apparently,
she behaves differently in oficial assembly halls. I guess I should say
that it's to be expected from royalty huh…
In the meantime, we reached the entrance of the assembly hall and at
one end, we were separated from all the guards here.
[Well then, master. We will wait on standby in the vicinity of the
assembly hall. If anything happens, we'll immediately rush over, so
don't worry.]
[Unnn. I'm counting on you, Anima.]
[Hahh!]
[Eta and Theta too, I'm counting on you two.]
[ [ Yes! ] ]
Encouraged by their irm responses, I took one look at Lilia-san next to
me, who was also being encouraged by Sieg-san and Lunamaria-san,
and then, we walked into the assembly hall together.
Inside the assembly hall, it looked like an extravagant room that I've
only seen from anime and games.
It was such a dazzling and overwhelming sight that I felt as if the entire
hall was shining. Everywhere I looked, I could see wealthy-looking…
people that seem to be nobles.
Ah, this is bad… I'm starting to get nervous now. It's not like I'm going
to do anything directly, but a place where so many people are gathered
together is still a hard hurdle to overcome for a former loner like me.
While I was thinking like that, I felt the hem of my clothes being lightly
plucked. Turning around, I saw Lilia-san, looking at me with a slightly
anxious expression on her face.
[…This is no good. I have been away from social circles for a while
now… and standing here makes me strangely nervous.]
[It certainly is a pretty amazing sight, isn't it?… I'm also strangely
nervous.]
[Even Kaito-san is nervous?]
[Wait right there, Lilia-san? What the heck do you think I am?]
[I- I'm sorry!?]
I don't know what kind of being with a spirit of steel I'm being made to
be in Lilia-san's mind… I think she was just overestimating me, but that
also shows how much she trusts me, so I'm a bit… no, I'm quite happy.
For all sorts of things, Lilia-san has been helping me ever since I came
to this world.
If Lilia-san wasn't the irst person I met when I irst arrived in this
world… I'm sure that I wouldn't be the person I am today.
That's why I'm grateful to Lilia-san from the bottom of my heart, and
why I want to be her strength when the time comes.
[…Lilia-san, I know there's not much I can do for you but… I will be
rooting for you. Please do your best.]
[…Kaito-san. Thank you. Those words are really reassuring.]
Hearing my words, Lilia-san happily smiled, and looked around the
assembly hall, her eyes illed with a strong light… and silently stared at
a certain spot.
Dear Mom, Dad——– I came to the royal palace to attend Amalie-san's
birthday party. Lilia-san's dearest wish… to confront the people who
once tormented Lilia-san and the others——- is just around the corner.
At the same time, a light ills the building behind the temple in the
Symphonia Kingdom, where the gate leading to the God Realm is
located.
[…Now then, according to Phantasmal King's letter, it's about time…]
The Goddess begins to leisurely walk, her deep blue hair luttering with
the wind and her differently-colored eyes staring forward.
The scenario written by the Phantasmal King… And she plays an
important role in it. She's Lilia's trump card.
[Well then, I guess I should head towards the royal palace…]
After muttering that, the Supreme God who governs time… Chronois
went to her friend to stand by her side.