Chapter 16: The Elder Council – (2)

The council chamber was circular in design, surrounded on the outer edges by private guest quarters.

In other words, the building also served as a lodging facility. Given that matters serious enough to convene the Council of Elders often required meetings that lasted several days, the structure had been built with that in mind.

But now, the once-imposing corridors were utterly silent—spotless, as if even dust dared not settle there.

Since the recent upheaval, the Council had been temporarily shut down. The only signs of life were the occasional palace guards patrolling the halls.

In the game, these events weren’t fully illuminated, but in this first arc, Lincia experiences multiple ambushes disguised as accidents.

The statue incident was only one example. No doubt they’ve hidden more traps.

With that in mind, I brought Millia with me to thoroughly search the chamber. I had left it in Rowan’s hands originally, but I couldn’t bring myself to trust him entirely.

“Nothing... as expected.”

That was the conclusion of our search.

We spent hours scouring the place like we were hunting mice, but nothing suspicious turned up. Not behind the candelabras, not under the rugs. Not a single spellstone or even a pebble. No suspicious individuals either.

Kora, who was on patrol duty, scurried off the moment we bumped into her—but let’s ignore that for now.

Even Milia, with her keen instincts, found nothing. That likely meant the place was actually safe.

Then again, the enemy probably had no reason to make a move just yet. Most likely, they’d act right before the meeting began, when everyone let their guard down. Maybe they planned to hide a spellstone in Lincia’s path.

Which meant I’d have to come back early tomorrow morning and do another sweep.

“How troublesome.”

But I couldn’t leave Lincia’s side either. Not with things as they were.

“Milia, I need a favor.”

That’s why I decided to use Milia.

There probably wasn’t a single knight stronger than her here right now.

Milia flinched when I called her name, then gave a small nod.

“What is it?”

“There’s someone we need to keep an eye on. You could say they’re the mastermind behind all this.”

Milia’s expression shifted instantly at my words.

I motioned for her to lean closer and whispered in her ear.

“Edwin Faylid. Could you keep watch on him?”

“W-What?! The Chief Speaker?!”

“Hey, hey! Keep your voice down!”

“Hnnf!”

I quickly clamped a hand over her mouth.

What if someone overheard that?

If Edwin caught wind that I was tailing him, he’d cover his tracks and everything would fall apart. That’s why I had to stop Milia’s outburst, but… the situation ended up looking… weird.

Like I was attacking her or something.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Milia’s eyes shimmered with tears.

And when I looked around, I saw Kora in the distance, staring at me wide-eyed in horror.

I really didn’t want to get caught up in some ridiculous rumor, so I gently pulled Milia down the corridor, toward a more private hallway.

“Just stay quiet for a second.”

A dead-end hallway. The man who had just covered her mouth standing in front of her.

Maybe that’s why her glittering turquoise eyes darted around, unsure of where to focus.

“Someone might hear us. Let’s keep our voices down. Nod if you understand.”

Nod. Nod.

“What I’m about to tell you—don’t tell anyone. Not even the princess. Not even Lautrec. Got it?”

Nod. Nod.

“The one targeting the princess is Edwin Faylid. He’s behind all this.”

Shake. Shake.

“If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. But I’m serious. You’ve never seen me lie, have you?”

Nod. Nod. Ah, maybe she has…

“Okay, well… even if I have before, this time I’m not. This is serious. I don’t have the luxury to joke around right now.”

Milia must’ve realized I wasn’t playing around—she swallowed nervously.

Only then did I remove my hand.

Milia whispered, her voice barely audible.

“But… why? Why do you suspect the Chief Speaker? He’s been loyal to the Empire for over two hundred years.”

“Hm.”

“And didn’t he recently present rare treasures to His Majesty? He’s clearly loyal!”

“It’s hard to explain. Let’s just call it… a hunch.”

Honestly, it’s difficult to put into words.

Suddenly telling her to spy on the Chief Speaker would probably sound absurd. And I didn’t really know how to explain it without sounding crazy.

As I was wracking my brain for a plausible excuse, Milia suddenly asked:

“So this… this is a secret mission, right?”

“Huh?”

“A mission that no one else can know about. Just between you and me, Sir Freed?”

...The way she phrased that made it sound weird.

Still, her expression was so sincere that I couldn’t bring myself to deny it.

I gave a small nod.

“Yeah. A secret mission.”

“Then… it’s an important one?”

“Of course it is.”

Lincia’s life was at stake. Of course it was important.

“Then… why are you entrusting this important mission to me?”

I looked at Milia.

Serious eyes. Lips tightly pressed together, waiting for my answer.

She looked like a kid at Halloween, standing at the door with a bucket in hand.

Was I supposed to give her candy?

I almost laughed, but held it in.

Instead, I gave her the answer she clearly wanted to hear.

“Because you’re the only one I trust. Knight Millia Liantour.”

“Hngh…”

“You’re the only one who can do this. Lautrec is busy guarding the perimeter, and Rowan… well, I don’t trust him. I can’t give this to a random soldier either. That’d be even worse.”

Milia slowly nodded.

“So… I’m the only hope left, huh?”

“That’s right. You’re my last card.”

Not really my last, but close enough.

Milia relaxed at my words.

Her previously stiff expression melted, like a forgotten popsicle on a summer day.

And when she spoke again, her face was the very picture of resolve.

“I’ll do my best. I won’t let you down.”

“That’s the spirit.”

…Come to think of it.

She’s kind of… simple.

No, not kind of. Very. Almost overly so.

But in a weird way, that made her even more trustworthy.

A naïve genius.

That might be the most accurate way to describe Millia.

***

The next morning, the council chamber reopened.

The Council of Elders had reconvened.

Standing at the entrance, I watched Lincia trying her best to look composed.

“Nervous, Your Highness?”

“W-What? No! Not at all!”

She swayed slightly, trying to appear calm, but the way her legs dangled and shook beneath her seat betrayed her.

In just a few minutes, she’d be standing in the center of the chamber, surrounded by figures who were, without exaggeration, the very pillars of the Empire.

It’d be weirder not to be nervous.

“Inside, the Chief Speaker and other high-ranking nobles are already seated.”

The official, tapping his gull-shaped mustache, added,

“But there’s no need for you to worry, Your Highness. It’s a mere formality. With no other contenders to the throne, there won’t be much debate.”

Yes. That’s how it should go.

But I knew what was about to unfold, so I stayed quiet.

Lincia seemed somewhat reassured by the official’s words and hopped off her chair.

“All right. Let’s go.”

She slowly pushed the chamber doors open.

I followed close behind.

Once we emerged from the long tunnel, it felt like stepping into a snowy world.

That was the impression the chamber gave—with its pure white decor. I had seen it in-game, but the real thing was far more impressive.

Whoever designed this place must’ve had a serious obsession with the color white. From the chairs to the grand chandelier hanging overhead, everything was pristine and pale.

...Hopefully, that thing doesn’t fall on us.

“Please take your seats.”

I sat directly behind Lincia.

From there, I surveyed the chamber’s occupants.

Most were elderly, though a few younger figures were mixed in.

What they all had in common was their extravagant attire and glittering jewels.

If they were attending the Council of Elders, they had to be major players.

And seated at the highest position among them—only the most influential figures in the Empire were allowed there.

At the center, holding a gavel with stately authority, one man looked down at Lincia.

Chief Speaker Edwin Faylid.

“Now that Her Highness has arrived, let us begin the meeting.”

At that moment, Edwin raised the gavel and brought it down with a sharp swing.

Bang. Bang.

With Lincia’s entrance, the chamber stirred. The rumors had finally taken form—proof, now standing before them in the flesh. It was only natural for them to be shocked. After all, the princess everyone believed to be dead was very much alive.

Though there was some commotion, the meeting itself proceeded without issue.

The proceedings, cloaked in ceremony and pomp, were undeniably dull. Yet the air was heavy with seriousness, so I kept my expression locked in place.

The actual content of the meeting barely registered. The speeches were buried in archaic language and ornate flourishes, making it hard to grasp even the core of what was being said.

So instead, I kept my eyes fixed on Edwin.

He hadn’t spoken a single word since the meeting began. He simply stared at Lincia, expressionless.

Then, his eyes met mine.

Eyes honed and weathered by centuries. That sharp gleam in his gaze—undeniably the eyes of a sage. There was no other way someone could survive the tempests of hundreds of years without becoming something like that.

“……”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

And right at that moment, a young man stood up abruptly and raised his voice.

“The Empire is in need of change. A transformation of its very foundation.”

So it begins.

I shifted my attention back to the proceedings.

The man continued to speak, his voice gaining strength.

“The royal family has no future! We must embrace a new path! One where this very council rules the Empire with wisdom and clarity!”

He launched into a passionate speech.

The core of his proposal was simple: A republic.

To put it plainly, a government where sovereignty belongs to the people.

And the way to achieve it? Elevate the Council of Elders to the Empire’s supreme governing body. Dissolve the dying bloodline of the royal family and transfer all authority to the council.

In flattering terms, it was a revolution. In blunt terms, treason.

“Ridiculous! What nonsense is this?!”

Naturally, many leapt to their feet. Overturning the entire system? A claim too outrageous to accept. To call for a revolution in times like these was practically a death sentence.

In any other era, saying something like that would have gotten him dragged straight to the Imperial Court of Justice. His assets confiscated, and eventually, his head taken.

But that was if only one man had spoken.

“I agree.”

With that, another raised their hand.

And another.

And another.

Like a stone dropped into a still pond, the ripples began to spread—distorting everything they touched.

In an instant, the chamber spiraled into chaos.

Those who had initially responded with calm rebuttals were now shouting, and soon, hurling insults. The opposition responded in kind, throwing aside any pretense of decorum.

It didn’t matter how flimsy the logic was—once the volume rose, the matter became serious. The chaos wasn’t an accident. It was a trap, dragging the meeting into a mire for one clear reason:

To buy time.

“Disgusting.”

I turned my gaze to Edwin, who was watching the disorder with a glint of amusement.

He was smiling at Lincia. Like a man who had just found a new form of entertainment.

Alarmed by that look, I quickly turned to Lincia.

She seemed frozen—utterly overwhelmed by the battlefield unraveling before her eyes.

I couldn’t see her expression, but the tension in her shoulders, the stillness in her form—it all screamed despair.

This… was bad.

-- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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