I traced my fingertips along the rounded handle of the teacup. Feeling the smooth texture of the porcelain, I continued speaking in a detached manner.
"It's not just my father, is it? In truth, everyone is watching the relationship between Your Highness and me, aren't they?"
The Empire's nobles, for all their talk, see me as the Lady of Roam.
Partly because Roam actively emphasizes its relationship with me, but also because I've spent my entire life dealing with them as a daughter of Roam.
But I am not Roam.
I didn't want to see Roam transform into a prestigious family that produced a Resurrected One. And the Emperor would surely think the same way.
"His Majesty has been deeply troubled. Regarding your relationship with Roam."
"Will he revise the Roam family registry for my sake?"
"If he gains the conviction that you will become a member of the Imperial Family, he will do so."
"I hope he gains such conviction at this banquet."
If I enter once more holding Heinrich's hand at the splendid banquet being held for me, would the Emperor finally be convinced?
And when the Imperial decree arrives ordering my name to be erased from the family registry, what expression will my father make?
"I am not yet Crown Prince. If His Majesty is determined, it will be difficult to stop everything."
"As I mentioned, Roam considers me a member of Roam."
I couldn't imagine my father's expression, but I could be certain of his reaction. He would definitely scoff. Of course, my mother as well.
If it were my sister Frijian, she would be flustered but would soon regain her composure.
Father would seek out the Emperor and methodically lay out his grievances. What sacrifices Roam has made for the Imperial Family.
He might even bring up the past, claiming they cut me off despite scandal to serve the fickle Maxel.
Naturally, that would be words that go against the Emperor's wishes, but...
"What belongs to Roam remains Roam's. A lesson engraved into the very bones of any family member. Roam will want to 'secure' me. Once a position is prepared, they'll be confident they can win me over somehow."
"While enduring His Majesty's wrath?"
"Now that Maxel is in jeopardy, Roam extended its hand to Your Highness."
Fidgeting with the teacup handle, I lowered my gaze.
"Roam could be close to the Imperial Family because they always held the hand of the next Emperor."
The sky dimly reflected over the calm tea.
"Later, when I'm gone, they will suspect each other. Because they believe such capability exists in one another. So use it. In the conflict between Duke Roam and the Emperor, Your Highness can build a power that belongs solely to you."
Heinrich didn't react greatly even to the suggestion to reject the Emperor. He must have already been considering it.
After all, he was someone who had been watching for opportunities from the shadows to depose the Crown Prince chosen by the Emperor in the first place.
The current Emperor's power was of no use to Heinrich whatsoever. Even more so now that he had confirmed the Emperor was someone who could replace his successor at any time depending on circumstances.
"To not be swayed, one must become the chooser, not the chosen."
"I know."
Heinrich's voice was bitter as he said this. Lost in thought for a moment, he suddenly looked up at me. A faint worry showed in his eyes.
"If Roam does 'secure' you, will you be able to escape from that?"
"My, what a meaningless assumption."
I took a sip of the cooled tea and smiled cynically at Heinrich.
"No one will be able to 'secure' me."
"But..."
"Everyone seems to have forgotten what's trapped in my palace since I've been behaving so meekly. How regrettable."
I clicked my tongue openly and leaned back against the chair. Minte, who had been sitting at my feet, let out a growl and pressed closer to me.
"Now that my business is done, should I be reluctant to smash through the palace walls and leave?"
I'm only staying quietly because I'm worried they might gather an army to subdue my Dullahans for no reason, and if I'm going to stay anyway, I might as well help Heinrich bring down the Emperor and Roam.
Heinrich, glancing at Vark behind the bars, smiled calmly. Then he spoke in a serious voice.
"Maxel's palace can be destroyed, but please preserve the other assets moderately. They're things I'll need to inherit soon."
...I didn't actually plan to destroy it, but saying that makes it seem like I should destroy Maxel's palace.
At his appearance of seriously considering what I said half as a joke, I became serious too.
I can't keep relying on the wyvern every time. How should I destroy it this time?
"Your Highness will cover the expenses, right?"
"I'll provide everything you need."
The conversation that followed was entirely about 'how to destroy Maxel's palace.'
By the time tea time ended, Heinrich's face looked thoroughly refreshed. Thanks to verbally destroying Maxel's palace dozens of times over, even grinding it to dust.
"Regrettably, I must take my leave. Thanks to you, I've become quite busy."
"That's good news. Go safely."
After confirming Heinrich walking away with light steps, I finished the remaining tea when Xenon, who had only been watching the entire conversation, cautiously spoke up.
"I have something I'm curious about."
"Yes."
"Did that prince confess to Lady Anelli?"
"Yes."
"...You answer that so casually."
"Because it's not the first or second time I've heard it."
Whenever I doubted him, Heinrich emphasized his feelings. If I were to count, he had confessed to me several times.
At my calm reaction, Xenon wore a confused expression. Then he stumblingly began to speak again.
"I assume you rejected the confession."
"Yes."
"What... didn't you like about it? Because he's human, because humans are an untrustworthy race. Well, not reasons like that."
For some reason, Xenon's face as he asked was quite serious and earnest. I looked at him steadily and slowly considered the question.
As for the reason I rejected Heinrich's confession...
"He's Maxel's brother."
Naturally, this is the biggest reason. Why would I entangle myself with the tedious Imperial Family?
"Moreover, a brother who looks quite similar to him."
"...Failed in background and appearance, I see."
There was not a trace of playfulness on Xenon's face as he digested my answer. He nodded his head alone.
Watching him closely, I turned my gaze in the direction Heinrich had disappeared.
"Still, I want to respect his courage. It couldn't have been easy."
"That's true."
Xenon readily agreed.
"Thinking about it, he's an amazing prince. With that much courage, he's fully qualified to sit on the Imperial Throne. At least better than that whiny trash."
I also agree that Heinrich is better than Maxel.
"Is confessing something tremendous enough to discuss qualifications for the Imperial Throne?"
"Of course. It's not just to anyone..."
Trailing off vaguely while looking at me, Xenon quietly averted his gaze. What, I feel a bit offended now?
Sensing my glare, Xenon hurriedly picked up the teacup in front of him. He sipped the completely cold tea that he had barely touched and smiled awkwardly.
"The tea tastes excellent."
"You said you couldn't tell the difference from plain water."
"Now I think I can tell a little."
Looking at Xenon with a sour expression, I closed my mouth in dissatisfaction.
Forget it, forget it.
* * *
The banquet, canceled and revived twice already, had grown to an enormous scale by the third attempt. Not only the Empire's nobles but also guests from the Temple and the Magic Tower were attending, making it even more so.
Of course, the Temple guests, ignoring the banquet and everything else, were zealously engaging in missionary work like fish in water, and Xenon, appearing as a guest from the Magic Tower, was staying by my side under the excuse of a mage's curiosity...
The Emperor, who had recently experienced only humiliation unintended, seemed to be grinding his teeth this time.
I heard that this time he intended to showcase the Resurrected One grandly to all the nobles.
Already acting as if the Resurrected One had become part of the Imperial Family, Roam would likely be quite displeased.
'Rather, the Temple doesn't seem to be opposing much?'
I thought they would make a fuss asking why the Resurrected One was being housed in the Imperial Palace, but instead they seemed pleased that even the Imperial Family had knelt under God's blessing, meaning God's authority was stronger than ever.
'Seeing how zealously they're doing missionary work, they must be determined to make a proper killing this opportunity.'
Should I really demand a share of the Temple's profits?
Debating whether to hint at this to Samuel, I propped my chin on my hand. I was out in the backyard again today.
Eating cookies that didn't suit my taste, I wondered how much time I had killed. Finally, the animal I had been waiting for revealed itself.
A crow that had been circling in the sky landed on the table in a gentle curve.
[Reporting back!]
This was the crow that had been busy lately delivering news of Lilia's movements to me.
[She went out again at night!]
"To meet that man again?"
[Yes!]
"Seems she still hasn't heard rumors about him."
Lilia said she had been meeting more frequently with the people she was manipulating lately. Seeing her meet Casey especially often, I wondered if she was secretly trying to assassinate me.
If she knew how such actions would appear to the Emperor or Roam, I wonder what reaction she would show.
"Here, thank you."
The crow, holding the earring in its beak, flapped its wings. I've given it quite a few jewels, so its nest must be full, but the crow's greed truly had no end.
'Zigor and Tristan are far more excellent. When will I be able to summon them?'
Actually, I considered summoning the Dullahans outside the Imperial Palace where there's no barrier and bringing them in.
But I gave up, worried that if I summoned several Dullahans and any of the Imperial Family caught even a glimpse of them...
And since I have the Dullahans hidden in subspace, I have something to rely on, which is somewhat reassuring.
'At least I'm not in immediate danger. There's Minte and Vark too.'
I was habitually fingering my bracelet while gazing in the direction the crow had flown when I saw palace servants loitering at the backyard entrance.
Their eyes were filled with 'please come out this way, I have something to tell you.'