Chapter 33

"Prince Zayed, it seems the main force of the Royal Capital Guard will be arriving shortly."

Zayed listened to the soldier's report in high spirits.

The plan was to collapse the aqueduct in front of the Royal Capital Guard using a crest artifact. The crest artifact that manifests flames is a special order, with immense destructive power. The flames that will rise will surely be visible even from the capital. The flames will act as apostles of condemnation, impressing upon the people of the capital the wicked deeds of Leonhardt.

Immersed in his satisfaction, Zayed was confirming his plan when—

"……What is that……?"

"That woman, the traitor, and the one behind her……"

The murmurs of the soldiers scratched at his ears. When he looked to see what was happening, on the second-floor balcony of the mansion stood—

"……A lion?"

A majestic golden lion stood there, as if guarding Cordelia.

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Cordelia took a deep breath at the many soldiers looking up at her.

What she was about to say was a bluff. It was a series of tightrope walks. Without showing the slightest pain in her right foot, Cordelia smiled calmly.

"——Everyone, please look here. I have something important to tell you all."

"Cordelia!! How did you escape from the ropes!?"

Zayed shouted, and Cordelia looked down at him calmly.

"That was easy. I have the Holy Beast on my side."

"Holy Beast……?"

"Could it be that the one behind you is……?"

"Indeed, it looks like a magnificent lion as described in the legends……"

The soldiers began to show signs of unease.

"Don't lie, Cordelia!! It's probably just some magical trick! Shoot her down with arrows!!"

At Zayed's command, the archers drew their bows. Dozens of arrows were fired at Cordelia—

"Wha—?!"

Each one was burned and vanished by the flames.

"Please stop such foolish acts. Such arrows are meaningless to me, who has the protection of the Holy Beast."

Cordelia spoke and then drew a shining golden sword from behind her. The holy sword, a part of Leonhardt's power, felt light and easy to wield. As planned, she used Leonhardt's power to wrap the blade in flames and raised it high to the sky.

"This is the holy sword of fire, mentioned in the founding legend. It is proof that I have received the protection of the Holy Beast."

Speaking solemnly, Cordelia observed the soldiers' reactions.

"That sword and the flames……!"

"I saw the holy sword enshrined during the Founding Festival! The craftsmanship is definitely genuine!!"

"But the holy sword hasn't been drawn by anyone for hundreds of years……"

"Only the first king, who was the Holy Beast, and the saintly lady who received his protection, could draw the holy sword……"

"So……"

"Does this mean the legend of the Holy Beast is true……!"

Seeing the awe and admiration in the soldiers' eyes, Cordelia spoke.

"About two months ago, I met the Holy Beast by chance. Fortunately, the Holy Beast took a liking to me and bestowed its protection. I kept it a secret to avoid causing chaos in the country, but to stop Prince Zayed's plot, I have decided to make it public."

"Shut up!! Someone, go into the mansion and silence that woman!!"

Zayed shouted, but the soldiers, captivated by Cordelia and the lion, did not obey. Cordelia, ignoring Zayed, gently stroked the lion's back. The lion, who was Leonhardt, had an arrow wound on his shoulder, but fortunately, it was hidden by his mane.

The sight of Cordelia touching and controlling the massive lion convinced the soldiers of her "protection by the Holy Beast."

"I have received the protection of the Holy Beast. And the Prince, who is now bedridden with an arrow wound, learned of this by chance. ………That is why the Prince, who is just a viscount's daughter, took an interest in me and we began to share our feelings."

"I see, that's how it is……"

"Yes, it makes sense that the Prince would be so attached to you……"

The soldiers nodded in agreement, but Cordelia watched them with mixed feelings. She had turned the perception of a viscount's daughter, who was "somehow favored by Leonhardt," into a viscount's daughter who was "naturally favored by Leonhardt due to the Holy Beast's protection."

"I was deeply moved by Prince Leonhardt's character and intended to protect this country with the power of the Holy Beast. ………But when Prince Zayed learned of this, he seemed displeased."

"What? Don't lie!! I've never seen such a Holy Beast before!!"

"I understand why Prince Zayed would be displeased. The Holy Beast is the incarnation of the first king and symbolizes the royal authority. If such an entity were to side with my younger brother, Leonhardt, I can imagine he wouldn't be at ease……"

Cordelia lowered her head sadly, furrowing her brow and falling silent. Her compassionate demeanor towards her enemy, Zayed, seemed to move the soldiers.

"So, Prince Zayed thought his position as the crown prince was threatened……"

"To bring down Prince Leonhardt, he tried to frame him……"

Whispers of suspicion spread among the soldiers. They began to look at Zayed with disapproving eyes.

(……The tide has turned.)

Zayed's plan was quite forceful and had obvious flaws. The soldiers were not truly convinced or resentful of Leonhardt. They had simply followed Zayed's orders out of respect for his position as the crown prince. With Cordelia, who had the "incarnation of the first king, the Holy Beast," appearing, the soldiers' distrust and dissatisfaction with Zayed naturally came to the surface.

Zayed was indeed the crown prince, but whether he was fit for the position was another matter. If Zayed's method was to borrow the authority of the "tiger" (the position of the crown prince)—

(Then I will confront him with the true king, the lion.)

—That was Cordelia's strategy. She would show the people Leonhardt in the form of a lion, proving that she had the Holy Beast's protection and was superior as a royal. It was a gamble, a bluff, but it seemed to have worked.

"Snap out of it!! That woman is just making up lies to escape punishment!!"

Now, no soldier obeyed Zayed's commands. The more he shouted, the more the contrast with Cordelia's calm demeanor highlighted his desperation, further alienating the soldiers. Confirming the shift in momentum, Cordelia decided to address the next issue.

"Excuse me, the person near the aqueduct's support. Please step back a bit."

When Cordelia called out, the soldier who was attached to the crest artifact on the support hurriedly moved away.

"Then, Your Highness, please."

The moment Cordelia whispered, the crest artifact burst into flames and vanished without a trace. The flames burned only the artifact, leaving no scorch marks on the support.

"What? What did you do? That artifact was supposed to be indestructible—"

Zayed fell silent, but it was too late. The soldiers, now convinced that Zayed was the culprit, looked at him with suspicion.

"Prince Zayed!! What was that flame that rose from the aqueduct's support?"

At that moment, an armed group emerged from the woods. They were the Royal Capital Guard, summoned by Zayed.

"!! Treason!! That woman tried to deceive and frame me!!"

Desperately trying to win the support of the guard, who were still unsure of the situation, Zayed shouted. The guard, though hesitant, showed signs of following his orders as the crown prince—

"Listen!! Prince Zayed is lying!! We have no intention of harming this country or any of you!!"

"Don't be fooled by that woman!! Kill her quickly—"

"I will show you the proof right now!!"

Cordelia shouted, and the lion stepped forward with a majestic gait.

The lion shook its mane, threw back its head, and took a deep breath—

"～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～!!"

A massive roar. An overwhelming roar that shook the souls of everyone present.

With a powerful and noble voice, a large ring of fire appeared in the sky.

A massive ring of fire, visible even from the capital, burned golden and beautiful, like a crown of flames, etching itself into the eyes of the people.

"——Do you understand now? This is just a fraction of the Holy Beast's power."

As Cordelia spoke, the lion stopped roaring, and the flaming crown vanished like a mirage.

"If we truly intended to harm Prince Zayed or the aqueduct, they would have been reduced to dust by now."

Everything was under her control. This was the final blow, declaring that all righteousness and strength were on her side, but—

"Hey, you!! What are you standing around for?! Arrest that woman quickly!!"

Zayed, still refusing to accept the situation, was lashing out at the guard.

(……It seems he won't be silent until I burn a strand of his hair.)

As she thought this, a shadow approached Zayed.

"Prince Zayed, I have a question for you."

"Is that Duke Arvad?! Perfect, quickly mobilize the troops and—"

"Answer my question first. The one who took Katharina out of her confinement was one of your men, wasn't it?"

"Yes, that's right!! So what?!"

"Did you use Katharina only for your own ambitions?"

"Use? Don't be ridiculous!! She didn't accomplish her job at all!! Because of her, my plan was ruined!! And then that woman just died—"

"——What?"

A gleaming blade was thrust into Zayed's chest.

"Why…… Why you……"

"Katharina was a foolish girl."

Duke Arvad, holding the dagger, said—

"A foolish girl. A selfish girl. A girl who committed many sins."

"Wha—?!"

"——But she was my only, beloved daughter."

He twisted the blade, driving it deeper and deeper.

Zayed convulsed, spitting blood, and collapsed to the ground.

——Zayed, who had envied his younger brother and caused the fates of many to go awry, was finally brought to an end by the betrayal of his ally. The crown prince, who refused to admit his wrongdoings even in his condemnation, finally met his end.