75

Blood dripped from Julius's hand. He had smashed the crystal orb with his bare fist.

"That arrogant half-breed dares defy me to the very end?! I spared him out of pity, and he dares to touch my girl? I haven't even touched her lips once—!"

He cut himself off mid-sentence. Because someone had just walked in, silently watching him.

"Would someone care to explain this commotion?"

Grand Duke Lucan's cold voice filled the room.

He glanced between his son's bleeding hand, the shattered remains of the crystal orb on the marble floor, and Rodolphe, who stood frozen and pale.

"I— The orb… fell and shattered, sir…"

Rodolphe stammered.

"And the blood?"

"He… cut his hand trying to gather the shards…"

But Grand Duke Lucan didn't miss the look on his son's furious face, nor Rodolphe's evasive tone.

"I'd wager you saw something unpleasant in the orb," he said flatly.

"And your temper flared again. Am I wrong?"

Julius didn't answer. He turned abruptly, attempting to storm out—

But his father's voice cracked across the air like thunder.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"That's none of your business!"

"You reckless fool! The palace sent word. Someone is here. Lemy—bring them in."

At the Grand duke's command, a pale-faced palace attendant rushed in and dropped to his knees.

"Your Grace… T-the situation is dire… a catastrophe—!"

"What are you babbling about?"

Julius barked, scowling. He was itching to storm the dungeon and strangle Leca with his own hands.

This interruption only added to his fury.

"W-war… war has broken out!"

The color drained from the faces of Julius, Rodolphe, and Lucan.

Lucan snapped,

"What are you saying? War?!"

"The allied forces of Muria and Naizman have crossed into Sibareth's borderlands!

They're massacring villagers and burning everything in sight!"

"What?!"

Julius seized the attendant by the collar.

"Since when?!"

"About… two hours ago, sire…"

"They've gone mad, the lot of them!"

"There's an emergency meeting underway. You must come at once—"

But Julius vanished before the sentence could finish, teleporting straight to the palace war room.

The eleven Ministers already present did not look surprised by his sudden arrival.

"You're here, Your Grace."

"I've been briefed. What the hell is going on?"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs replied,

"They claimed it was because we missed the deadline to respond to their demands. Now they say there's no turning back."

"You mean those ridiculous demands?"

Not long ago, Muria and Naizman had sent a joint envoy to Sibareth, demanding reparations for the influx of Sibareth's displaced refugees.

But their demands were outrageous—Muria wanted Mia returned, and Naizman demanded five million drakhma.

They also warned that failing to respond in time would result in consequences "for which Sibareth must take full responsibility."

Julius had never intended to comply. He was biding his time, planning to feign cooperation and betray them later.

But not even a full day after the deadline passed, this happened.

He bit his lip.

"Muria has never invaded another country before. Naizman must have manipulated them. There must be secret deals or bribes behind this."

"Thorpel III always was a different sort from the spineless kings before him,"

one advisor muttered.

"Crafty and calculating, yes… but to go this far…"

"The real problem is Naizman," Julius said coldly.

"What gave those savages the nerve?"

"That's just it, Your Grace," said the Minister of Finance.

"Our forces still vastly outnumber theirs. It doesn't make sense. What changed so suddenly?"

Then, Court Mage Roland spoke.

"If we're to believe in prophecy and omens…perhaps this was inevitable."

"Prophecy?"

"Jakiel once mentioned it, remember? That every five hundred years, when the red-tailed comet appears, calamity strikes Sibareth."

"Are you saying Naizman knows of this too?"

A minister asked. Roland nodded.

"They excel in divination and astrology. Better than us, even. And if you recall… a thousand years ago, when the red comet appeared, Sibareth fell under Naizman's control."

Julius muttered darkly,

"And every five hundred years since, whenever that comet returned,Sibareth has been pushed to the brink. If Naizman planned this around the comet's appearance…"

A heavy silence fell. In their hearts, many of them were thinking the same thing.

The wise and kind King Minophon, now unconscious.

Jakiel, the brilliant vizier, dead under suspicious circumstances.

Jakiel, accused of murdering the previous queen candidates—

killed by the very girl poised to become the next queen.

And now, as if waiting for the perfect storm, foreign forces invaded.

Could this truly be the red comet's curse made real?

Just then—another attendant burst into the room, breathless.

"Your Grace! Urgent news! The allied armies of Muria and Naizman are sweeping through Sibareth's villages like wildfire! We must deploy our forces at once!"

"Those bastards have a death wish," Julius growled.

"I'll go myself! Let them learn what Sibareth's wrath really means!"

Julius stormed out like the wind as soon as he spoke.

Some of the ministers tried to stop him, but the Foreign Minister spoke with a cool-headed tone.

"Even His Majesty King Minophon, in his younger days, personally led campaigns to suppress the fiends on the borders and the Naizman bandits. A true ruler of Sibareth must be able to rise to the occasion in times of crisis. Let us trust in His Grace the Grand Duke."

"Of course, I don't doubt his excellent martial skills or strategic mind. It's just that... the times are turbulent, and that worries me..."

Just then—

Roland spoke quietly.

"Then what if we retrieved the ancient treasure?"

"What treasure are you referring to, Roland?"

"The treasure stolen by the demon god Beelzebub two thousand years ago—wasn't it said to be an artifact that granted wishes?"

"There were others, but yes, that was the greatest among them."

"But no one knows what exactly it was, or even what it looked like."

Some ministers sighed, stroking their white beards.

"Whatever it was, thanks to that treasure, Sibareth became a prosperous and powerful nation. We claimed the lands infused with the strongest magical energy! But ever since it fell into Beelzebub's hands, Sibareth's soil has been growing more barren year after year."

"Hmm..."

"At this rate, our land will become no different from the desolate desert of Naizman. Haven't the number of natural disasters been increasing each year? Isn't that why we have so many displaced people now?"

"So how exactly do you propose we retrieve it?"

"The late Grand Vizier once proposed a plan, did he not?"

At Roland's words, the ministers exchanged startled glances. But soon, relief began to spread across their faces.

"You're right. I had forgotten about that plan."

Their expressions brightened.

That troublesome woman—they had no idea what to do with her.

Perhaps Jakiel had been at fault, but that didn't mean they could allow a woman who killed the Grand Vizier in his own residence to become queen.

Now that Julius had departed for the front lines, there would be no one to oppose it.

And if he returned and asked after her whereabouts, they could simply say she volunteered to leave for the sake of Sibareth.

Conspiracy. Conspiracy, conspiracy.

The ministers' discussion continued.

"...What is this?"

Mia stared at the armor and travel bundle the maids held out before her.

Behind the maids stood armed soldiers.

"A command has been issued to you. You are to set out immediately to retrieve the ancient treasure that was taken by the demon god Beelzebub."

A burly soldier looked down at Mia as he spoke. She blinked, wondering if she had misheard.

Beelzebub the demon god? Could this be... the second rite of passage Jakiel once mentioned...?

"This is an orb from Court Mage Roland. It contains the route and instructions for your journey. Follow it exactly. We'll give you thirty minutes—pack your things and come out."

The soldier's words left Mia stunned.

"Wait. I passed the rite of passage already. Why do I have to do it again?"

At that, a short soldier sneered.

"Listen, girl, this is no time for naive questions. Muria and Naizman have launched a joint invasion. His Grace the Grand Duke has thrown himself into battle, and you think you get to lounge around in your room?"

A war? Even Julius went to the battlefield?

What on earth was going on? Mia was confused.

Then the first soldier, sounding irritated, snapped at her.

"Don't make me say it twice. You've got thirty minutes—get moving."

Mia tried to stay calm.

Thinking back on the ministers' reactions after she returned from killing Jakiel, this was bound to happen eventually.

Even if not through war.

They want to dispose of me in a legal way.

They never had any intention of making me queen.

And now, with Julius gone, this is the perfect opportunity.

Mia changed her clothes and packed her belongings.

So I'm leaving without even saying goodbye to Lily and Zeffel.

What do I tell Leca...? I'll ask the Salamander to pass the message.

With her chest lifted, Mia walked out.

"I'm ready."