45.Killer Queen 【演説には扇動と死体を】
「なんのために集まれって話だっけ?」
「王女様とあの英雄様から話があるんだってさ」
「細剣の騎士様か。また活躍したって聞いたぞ」
「なんでもヴィシーの大軍を少ない兵士で撃退したらしい」
ざわつく民衆の話題は、どちらかというと王女よりもフォカロルの新興貴族一二三の話題に偏っているが、概ね一二三の注文通りの話題になっている。
群衆の中にさりげなく紛れ込んだ第三騎士隊によって、これから行われるイメラリア王女からの発表が、一二三絡みである事が流布されていた。第三騎士隊にとってこういった情報誘導工作は初めてだったが、オリガの依頼を受けたサブナクによって指揮された作戦は、騎士隊の面々が驚く程効果的だった。
群衆の中には、サブナクも紛れている。
「王城にいま、あの細剣の騎士がいるらしいよ。なんでもヴィシー相手にすごい戦果を上げたんだってさ」
屋台で買い食いをしながら、世間話として話題に出す。
「おう、イメラリア様からまた褒美があるんだろうな。すごい奴もいるもんだ」
いい反応を返してくれる屋台の親爺に笑いかけながら、さりげなく周りの反応を見ると声が届いた人々が興味深げにこちらに耳を傾けているのがわかる。
(まったく、人の心を操るなんて、おとぎ話の悪魔みたいな人だ)
作戦を続けながら、サブナクはその人物に認められて請われた事が嬉しいやら恐ろしいやら、複雑だった。
そうこうしているうちに、第一騎士隊が王城正面に整列して人々を押しとどめ、間も無く王女が姿を見せると大声で繰り返していた。
声が枯れんばかりに静粛を訴えていても、民衆の口はふさがらない。
「あっ王女様!」
誰かが声を上げると、ざわめきは静まり、喉をからした騎士は落ち込んでしまった。
バルコニーに姿を見せたのは、イメラリア王女。
そしてその隣には一二三がいて、後ろの影になった場所に、オリガが控えているのがうっすらと見える。
(さて、今度は何をやらかす気ですか?)
謁見の間ではなく、自らの執務室へと一二三を招き入れたイメラリアは、応接のソファへ彼を促し、侍女に紅茶を用意させた。
「で、今回の件についてだが......」
「全てはわたくしの責任においての事です。パジョーさんの事は残念ですが、どうか他の騎士たちや城の者に罪を問うことだけは、お許しいただけませんか......」
一二三が話しはじめるのを遮り、イメラリアは頭を下げて一気にそう言った。
「ああ、それはもういい。今ここで暴れても、どうせ下手くその相手を繰り返すだけの話だ。つまらん」
大体、集団戦の基本どころか対人戦の訓練すらまともにやってないだろうと、一度出はじめた不満がボロボロと一二三の口から溢れた。
妙な話ではあるが、イメラリアはこの城の騎士たちのレベルが一二三の興味をそそらない程度だったことに安堵した。
「では......」
「ああ、今回はお前の責任という事はわかっている。首謀者は死んだしな。お前には殺すよりはもっと良い使い道が残っているから、今は殺さない」
少しも安心できない言葉だが、命はつないだらしい。
だが、殺すよりも良い使い道とはなんだろう、とイメラリアは不安だった。女である自分を求められたとして、断ることはできない。もしそれを望まれたとしたら自ら命を断つことも考えるべきだろうか。
しかし、と膝の上の細い手に力を込めて、覚悟を決める。何があっても、弟が無事に戴冠するまでは、そして目の前の男をどうにか押さえる方策が見つかるまでは、何があっても生きていなければならない。
だが、その目論見はあっさりと否定された。
「お前が王になれ。反対派は始末して後押ししてやるから、この国の絶対的な君主となってしっかりと強い国家を作れ。それが今回の件の償いということにしよう」
「そんな......! では、弟は......アイペロスはどうなるのですか? あの子の周りには次期王としてのあの子の支持者がいます。わたくしが王を目指すとなれば、わたくしやあの子の意思とは関係なく争いになってしまいます」
「知らん。大人しくしているなら別にいいし、敵対するなら殺す」
聞くまでもないだろうと、当たり前の事として切り捨てた一二三の顔は、極々平然としている。
「しかし、わたくしには王を継ぐつもりも、その能力もありません......」
一二三を召喚する以前、聖女と呼ばれて民衆と触れ合うことしか知らず、所詮自分はお飾りだと思っていた頃に比べれば、多少は政治を考えるようになった。
だが、為政者となる教育は受けていない。その結果として、信用していた騎士を失い、今この国そのものすら壟断されようとしている。
「お前はまだ若い。確か14だったろう。今からでも宰相なり貴族どもなりから学べばいい。それに、為政者は自分の能力で何かをやるもんじゃないぞ。能力がある奴を見つけて、上手く使えるのが優れた為政者だと、俺は思っている」
どうしてこんな男に王族の自分が政治を語られているのか、混乱しながらも彼が自分を慰める言葉をかけてきたのに、少しだけ気持ちが和らいだ。
しかしそれが間違いだというのは、彼女にもわかっていた。
「親にべったりの弟ほど、お前は無能じゃないだろう。とりあえずは周りの奴に助けられて国を守っていけばいい。その間に、しっかり兵を鍛えておけ。あ、フォカロルに修行に寄越してもいいぞ。きっちり仕上げてやるから」
「......いったい、何が狙いですか?」
「強い者が増えて、敵対すればこの世界はもっと面白くなる。腕力が強い奴に対抗するために技を鍛える者が出てくる。カンが鋭い奴を殺すために策を考える奴が増える。効率よく殺すために新しい武器も生まれる」
夢を語る少年のようなキラキラした目をしながら、イメラリアが過去に少しだけ読んだ暴君の言葉と似た事を語る一二三。
「それでは、この世界は、この国は乱れてしまいます」
「そうなるかどうかは、この世界の人間がどうするかによるだろう。俺が居た世界では、戦争で技術が進歩し、勝つために人は努力して工夫をする頭を鍛えていったぞ」
一体どれだけ血みどろの世界なのかと、イメラリアは想像して恐ろしくなった。なんという世界から勇者を呼び出してしまったのか、と。
そこに入ってきたのは、数名の若い貴族たちだった。
「イメラリア様!」
対応に立った侍女を押しのけるようにずかずかと入り込んできた貴族たちは、一二三の顔を見て小馬鹿にするように鼻を鳴らした。
「誰かと思えば、最近子爵になった成り上がり者か。イメラリア様にうまく取り入ったようだが、僕たちが来たからには、君にはもう用はないよ」
さらに、他の貴族たちも口々に一二三をなじる。
「イメラリア様、今王城の前に平民どもが集まっております。何やらイメラリア様よりお言葉があるとか」
「民衆が......?」
イメラリアの視線は、一二三へと向く。
「ああ、集めたのは俺だ。ちょっとこの国を率いていくのに、派手に宣言でもしてもらおうかと思ってな」
絶句するイメラリアに代わり、貴族たちが吠えた。
「貴様、調子に乗って国政を壟断するか!」
「しかも、イメラリア様に対してなんたる態度! 許せん!」
喚く貴族の声を涼しい顔で聞きながら、一二三はゆったりと立ち上がり、刀を取り出し、抜いた。
その時点で、一人の貴族は首が胴から離れた。
「声をあげるだけの奴はいらん。必要なのは、戦う意志を持つ奴だ」
イメラリアが執務室のバルコニーから見渡すと、王城の前面には民衆が詰めかけ、多くのという言葉すら温いと思える程の視線を感じる。
彼女はこれまで、このバルコニーから街を眺めたり、今のように民衆に語りかけたりすることは何度もあったが、これほど気が重くなる舞台は初めてだった。
チラホラと見える第三騎士隊の姿に、つい助けを求めたくなるが、これは自分が招いた状況でもある。助けを求めれば駆けつけてくれるかもしれないが、結果はわかる。
自分の隣りには一二三がいて、その後ろにはオリガという奴隷だった彼の従者がいる。
そして、その後ろには数体の若い男たちの死体が転がっている。先ほどの若い貴族たちだ。彼らは、自分がまさか殺されるとは、身分の低い成り上がりに反抗されるとは、夢にも思っていなかったのだろう。
しかし、現実はそうではなかった。彼らに優しい世界は彼らが気づかないうちに、もう終わっていたのだ。
これから先、次第に身分は意味をなさなくなり、血統ではなく実力こそが基準となる世界になると、一二三は彼女に言った。
うまく想像できなかったイメラリアは、それは強者に弱者が虐げられる世界ではないのかと問うたが、一二三は首を横に振って笑った。
「生まれという枷が弱者を弱者のままにするんだよ。弱者が強者を倒せる可能性が出るのが、身分の縛りがない世界だ」
やっぱりイメラリアには理解できなかったが、一つだけわかった事があった。王族だから貴族だからという生まれの差に従う事なく、悪いと思えば悪いと断じ、実力を以て処断する一二三のような者が増えるのだろう。
それはそれは恐ろしい世界だが、イメラリアはそんな世界の中で国を守らなければならない。
自分には戦う力は無いが、考える事はできる。一二三は言った。腕力が無くても頭で生きていく者も居ると。
考えろ、考えろと、イメラリアは自分に言い聞かせる。このままでは、王城内はイメラリア派とアイペロス派の争いが始まり、結果として多くの者が死ぬ。その中には、アイペロスや母もいるかもしれないのだ。
「みなさん」
イメラリアが語り始めると、民衆はしんと静まって聞き入った。
「いま、ヴィシーとホーラントによってこの国は脅かされています。しかし、この新たな伯爵である一二三様の活躍により、大きな驚異は去りました!」
おお~......と民衆は感嘆の声を上げ、一二三を讃える声が聞こえる。
その中には、サブナクの声もあった。
「お調子者め......」
イメラリアの耳に、苦笑いする一二三の声が聞こえる。
そこで、不意にひらめいた事があった。
「ですが、無傷で終わるはずの戦いは、わたくしの失策によって騎士たちが命を落とす結果となってしまいました! ただ一二三様へ任せておけば良かったものを、余計な手を出して、大切な命を失ってしまったのです!」
両手で大げさに顔を覆ったイメラリアは、これで自分の人気が落ちる事を確信した。これで民衆の支持を失えば、自分を利用して国を動かす企みは頓挫するだろう。
これで自分は死ぬかもしれないが、弟の敵となってまで生きるつもりはなかった。
顔を隠したまま、一二三を見ると......笑っていた。
「さて諸君! 今の話は真実だが、俺はイメラリア様を責めるのは間違いだと思う!」
ゆっくりと見回して、誰もが耳を傾けている事を確認する。
「国を守るために戦った俺を、イメラリア様はお許しくださった。それならば、俺たちも俺たち国の民を守るために騎士を動かしたイメラリア様も、そして戦って死んだ騎士たちも、賞賛を受けるべきではないのか!」
一二三の呼びかけに、民衆は湧いた。
紛れ込んでいる第三騎士隊の者たちは戸惑っているが、すでに民衆はコントロールできない状態だった。
「イメラリア様は、俺も、君たちも、同じこの国の民として守ろうと心を砕いておられる! だからこそ思うのだ! 国のために何も成し得ない、何もしようとしない者が王位についてはならないと! イメラリア様こそが、我々を率いて立つに相応しい御方だと!」
イメラリアを盛り立てる一二三の言葉に、民衆は次第に興奮状態になっていく。元々人気のある人物だけに、英雄がその行動を認めているということに、正体不明の期待感を抱く。
「俺はここに誓おう! 女王となるイメラリア様を支え、この国を強靭なる力を持つ国にすることを! どうか皆も、俺と共にイメラリア様を支えてくれ!」
一人一人の力に期待していると言う一二三の言葉は、民衆に強い衝撃を与えた。今までは政治に口出しすることは御法度だったのが、今目の前にいる貴族と王女は、民衆に失態を告白し、民衆の支持こそ必要だと言ったのだ。
誰ともなく王女を褒め称え、一二三を賞賛する声も更に大きくなった。
王女を伴って一二三がバルコニーから姿を消したあとも、しばらくは民衆たちの興奮は収まらなかった。
「やってくれたな......」
一二三がイメラリアの王位継承を支持したという話は、瞬く間に王城内を駆け巡った。
その報に苛立ちを隠せないのは、王子派閥の者たちだ。
特に派閥の筆頭たる高位の貴族たちにとっては、王子不在に行われたクーデターまがいのやり方に怒り心頭だった。
そこには、イメラリアの実母たる王妃の姿もある。
「まさか、イメラリアにこんな野心があるとは思いませんでしたわ」
ギリギリと歯を食いしばって怒りをこらえる姿は、鬼気迫るものがある。
王妃はこれまで、どうせ誰かに降嫁するイメラリアよりも、いずれ王を継ぐ王子アイペロスを可愛がっていた。
それをイメラリアも理解していたと思っていたのだが、裏切られたという気持ちは、王妃の表情をさらに険しくしていく。
「しかし、民衆の支持は完全にイメラリア様へ向いています」
「平民どもの支持などどうでもいい! 聞けば、姫に苦言を呈した若い貴族たちが殺されたというではないか! 伝統ある貴族として、これほどの横暴を許すわけにはいかん!」
「であれば、最終的にはイメラリア様にはご退場いただくほか......」
「お、おい......」
言いかけた貴族は、敵対しているとはいえ実母である王妃がこの場にいることに気づいて、怖々と王妃の方へと視線を向けた。
「かまいません。先に母親たるわたくしを裏切ったのはあの子です」
決然と言い放つと、王妃はすぐに腕の立つものを手配するようにと命じた。
「あの男に邪魔されぬよう、あの子が寝室で眠っている所をひと思いに殺しなさい。せめて苦しまないようにしてあげるのが、母の愛というものです」
狂気の滲む瞳に見据えられ、王子派の貴族たちは一斉に頭を下げた。
Chapter 45: Killer Queen
"What's the story with us gathering here, I wonder?"
"It is an announcement by Princess-sama and that Hero-sama, you know."
"The knight-sama with the thin sword? I heard he played an active role again!"
"They say he repelled the large army of Vichy with a few soldiers."
The topic of the noisy populace, if one had to say, it is one-sidedly focusing on the new noble of Fokalore, Hifumi, rather than on the princess, but it was mostly due to Hifumi's orders that it became the talk of the town.
Because of the Third Knight Unit being nonchalantly mixed up within the crowd, although it would be announced by Princess Imeraria after this, the matter of Hifumi's involvement had been circulated already. This kind of information manipulation work was the first time for the Third Knight Unit, but because of Sabnak leading the operation after having received the request from Origa, it was effective to the degree of surprising all of the knight unit.
Sabnak is also slipping into the crowd.
"Apparently that knight of the thin sword is within the royal castle currently. I am told he has achieved amazing war results with Vichy as his opponent, you know?" (Sabnak)
While buying sweets at a stall, he spreads the topic as gossip.
"Ou, I guess he will again receive a reward from Imeraria-sama. He is a great fellow."
While smiling at the good response of the old man manning the stall, he watches the reaction of his surroundings in a casual manner and understands that all of the people in this place, the voice had reached, are indeed listening carefully with great interest.
(Good grief, what a way of manipulating the hearts of people. It is a personality resembling the demons from fairy-tales.)
While continuing the mission, Sabnak had a complicated feeling whether he should feel happy or frightened having accepted this kind of personality in the requested matter.
In the meanwhile, the Third Knight Unit checked everyone standing in front of the royal castle. "Soon the princess will make her appearance!" they repeated continuously in a loud voice.
Even as their voice become hoarse close to being mute, the crowd doesn't cease to chatter.
"Oh, Princess-sama!"
With someone raising their voice, the commotion subsides. The knights having exhausted their throats ended up feeling depressed.
Having made her appearance on the balcony, it was Princess Imeraria.
And next to her was Hifumi. In a shadowy place near the back Origa could vaguely be seen waiting.
(Well then, what will happen this time?)
Not being at the audience hall anymore, Imeraria had personally invited Hifumi to her office. Urging him into the reception sofa, a maid prepared black tea.
"So, it is about this time's case, but... " (Hifumi)
"The entire situation is my responsibility. Although the matter with Pajou is regrettable, I only implore you to not punish the other knight units and the people at the castle. Can you accept just this much... ?" (Imeraria)
Interrupting the topic Hifumi has started, Imeraria straight away apologizes like that.
"Ah, that's fine already. Even if I acted violently now, it would only be a story of repeatedly dealing with shitty opponents anyway. That's boring." (Hifumi)
"In the first place, far from having a foundation in group combat, there isn't even decent training in inter-personal combat, don't you agree?" a worn-out dissatisfaction began to leak out from Hifumi's mouth on the occasion.
Although it is strange, Imeraria was relieved that the standard of this castle's knight's didn't raise Hifumi's interest.
"Then... " (Imeraria)
"Ah, I am understanding that this time the responsibility is yours. The mastermind died. Since, rather than killing you, there is an even better task left for you, I won't kill you now." (Hifumi)
Even though his words aren't permitting a peace of mind in the least, her life has been spared.
But, I wonder what is that better task than killing me?
However, as she resolved herself by putting strength into her slender arms laying atop her knees, she decided to not give up her life no matter what happens until her brother is safely crowned and until she discovers a plan to somehow calm the man in front of her.
But that plan was quickly denied.
"You will become the sovereign. Because I will support you by getting rid of the opposition, you will become the absolute ruler of this country building a powerful and sturdy state. Let's say that this will be your atonement for this time's affair." (Hifumi)
"Such... ! Then, what about my brother... what will happen to Ayperos? In that kid's surrounding there are supporters pushing for that kid to become the next king. If I were to aim at becoming the queen, it will end up becoming a strife disregarding mine or that kid's intention." (Imeraria)
"I don't care. There won't happen anything if he is obedient, but if he opposes this, I will kill him." (Hifumi)
Hifumi's face showed that it wasn't significant enough for him to listen to such topic and that he would cut him down without doubt. It is an extremely calm face.
"However, even if I intend to succeed as queen, I don't have the ability to do that either... " (Imeraria)
Before summoning Hifumi, she was unaffected by these matters without getting in contact with them and was simply called saint by the people. Compared to the time she thought
But she hasn't received any education in becoming a statesman. As a result of that, she has lost the knight she trusted. Currently she is monopolizing this country.
"You are still young. If I am not mistaken, you are 14 years old, right? It is even fine to learn from a noble or the prime minister from now on. Besides, a statesman isn't a person that does something with their own ability. I believe that you will excel as statesman if you find capable retainers and use them skilfully." (Hifumi)
Why is that man talking about politics to a royalty like myself? Notwithstanding my confusion, he is giving me words of consolation. Even if only slightly, my feelings are settling down.
, she also understood.
"You aren't an incompetent person like your brother who is clinging to his parent, I think. For now it is fine to make a move in order to protect the country and save those around you. During that time you can forge strong soldiers. Ah, it is also good to send them to Fokalore for training! I will polish them without fail." (Hifumi)
"... What the hell are you aiming for?" (Imeraria)
"By increasing the amount of strong people it will become a lot more interesting to oppose this world. People who have trained their techniques will oppose people boosting with raw strength. I want to increase the number of people thinking up refined schemes to kill people with sharp senses. I also want new weapons to be created for the sake of killing very efficiently." (Hifumi)
While having glittering eyes like a boy talking about his dreams, to Imeraria, what Hifumi was talking about, was similar to the words of a tyrant she had only read a bit in the past.
"Then, this world, this country will end up lapsing into chaos." (Imeraria)
"I wonder whether that's what will happen or not, it depends on what the people of this world want to do. In the world I come from, war advances technology. For the sake of victory people forge their minds putting a lot of effort into coming up with elaborate schemes." (Hifumi)
From what world had the hero been summoned?'
It was several young nobles that came and entered the room at that point.
"Imeraria-sama!" (Maid)
The nobles entering in a rude manner pushed the maid standing in attendance aside. Seeing Hifumi's face they snorted as if scoffing at him.
"I was wondering who it was, but I see it's the upstart who became a viscount recently, huh? But it seems you were skilfully buttering up to Imeraria. Now that we have arrived, there is no business left here for you anymore." (Noble)
Furthermore, several of the other nobles also scold Hifumi.
"Imeraria-sama, the commoners are currently gathering in front of the royal castle. Something about receiving words from Imeraria-sama." (Noble)
"The populace is... " (Imeraria)
Imeraria turns her sight towards Hifumi.magic
"Ah, it is me who had them gathered. Let's make a showy proclamation though you are leading this country only for a short time now, is what I think." (Hifumi)
In place of Imeraria, who was lost for words, the nobles roared.
"Bastard, you are getting cocky trying to monopolize the national politics." (Noble A)
"Moreover, what an attitude towards Imeraria-sama! Impermissible!" (Noble B)
While listening to the screaming voices of the nobles totally undisturbed, Hifumi stood up calmly, took out his katana and drew it.
At that moment a single noble had his head separated from his body.
"Men only raising their voices are superfluous. Only those holding the will to fight are necessary." (Hifumi)
As Imeraria looks out from the balcony of her office, the entire part of the castle is crowded with people. Even the word 'many' is lukewarm in regards to the amount of expectant gazes, she feels.
Up until now she had gazed at the city from this balcony. She had addressed the populace, just like now, many times, but it was the first time for her to step on the stage while feeling this heavy-hearted.
Sporadically seeing the figures of the Third Knight Unit, she inadvertently wanted to call out to them to save her, but this was a situation she had brought upon herself. Although they might come running if she requested their help, she knows what will happen then.
Next to her Hifumi is standing. In the back there is the former slave called Origa, who is now his attendant.
And behind her a number of corpses of the young nobles are scattered about. They have been young nobles not long ago. They didn't consider in the slightest that the upstart of low social status would oppose them or that he would really kill them.
However, that wasn't the reality. Without them noticing how kind the world had been to them, their end already came.
From now on the significance of social status will gradually vanish. It will become a world where ability will be the criterion and not pedigree, Hifumi had told her.
Unable to imagine it well, Imeraria asked whether this world wouldn't become a place where the strong oppress the weak then, but Hifumi laughed and shook his head.
"It is the fetters called birth that label a weak person to remain weak. It will be a world without the binding of lineage making it possible for the weak to defeat the strong." (Hifumi)
Although Imeraria couldn't understand after all, she still grasped just one thing. The detestable judgement and the poor conclusion of obeying to something called difference in pedigree just because they are royalty or nobles, Hifumi wants to raise the number of people being judged by their true strength.
This is an extremely frightening world, but Imeraria mustn't fail to protect the country within such world.
Although she has no power to fight herself, she is able to come up with something. Hifumi said. There are also people surviving by using their head even without resorting to brute strength.
Think, and ponder about it, Imeraria tells herself. As it is now, the contest to become the sovereign will begin between the Imeraria faction and the Ayperos faction. It will result in many people dying. Even Ayperos or her mother might be amongst those.
"Everyone" (Imeraria)
With Imeraria starting to talk, the crowd's noise subsided into silence and everyone listened to her words.
"Due to Vichy and Horant this country is in peril now. However, thanks to the great efforts of the newly inaugurated earl, Hifumi-sama, a big miracle has happened." (Imeraria)
Ooh~ ... with the people raising their voices in admiration, voices giving praise to Hifumi can be heard.
Sabnak's voice was amongst them as well.
"They are getting elated easily... " (Hifumi)
The voice of Hifumi, who had a forced smile, reached Imeraria's ears.
Then she suddenly hit upon a good idea.
"But, expecting the fight to finishing flawlessly, knights ended up loosing their life due to my blunder! Even though it would have been fine to just leave things to Hifumi-sama, because of me getting unnecessarily involved, valuable lives were lost!" (Imeraria)
Exaggeratedly covering her face with both hands, Imeraria was convinced that this matter would cause her popularity to drop. If she lost the support of the populace with this, it would become a setback in the plan of using her to manage the country.
Although this might cause her death, she didn't intend to live just to become her own brother's enemy.
Looking at Hifumi while concealing her face ... he was grinning.
"Now then, Ladies and Gentlemen! The story just now is the truth, but I think it will be wrong for me to blame Imeraria-sama for that!" (Hifumi)
Slowly surveying the crowd, he makes sure that everyone is listening carefully.
"I, who fought in order to protect the country, feel obliged to forgive Imeraria-sama. That being the case, shouldn't the knights, who had been deployed by Imeraria-sama for the sake of protecting us and the people of our country and died fighting towards that cause, receive our admiration?!" (Hifumi)
The crowd surged in response to Hifumi's appeal.
Even though the knights of the Third Knight Unit, mixed amongst the crowd, were perplexed, it became a situation where the people couldn't be controlled anymore.
"Imeraria-sama, me and all of you have to rack our brains how to protect the people, who are citizens of the same country as us! For this reason, think about it! It mustn't be allowed for someone, who doesn't attempt to do something and to accomplish something for this country, to take the throne! The only person suitable to stand up and lead us is Imeraria-sama!" (Hifumi)
With Hifumi's words raising Imeraria to the top, the crowd is gradually becoming excited. Originally only being a person having popularity, with the hero approving of her conduct, the people welcome the mysterious feeling of expectation.
"I will make an oath here! I will support Imeraria-sama in becoming the queen. Together we will change this country into a country holding strong power! Everybody, please also support Imeraria-sama together with me!" (Hifumi)
The words of Hifumi, desiring for everyone's individual support, had a powerful impact on the crowd. Until now it was strictly forbidden for them to meddle in politics, but just now the noble and princess in front of their eyes, admitting their own failures to the populace, said that the support of the people was indispensable.
As there were also those who applauded towards the princess, Hifumi's praising voice became even louder.
Even after Hifumi accompanying Imeraria disappeared from the balcony, the agitation of the people didn't die down for quite a while.
"Now they have done it... "
The story of Hifumi supporting Imeraria in succeeding the throne spread in a flash within the king's castle.
Those of the prince faction are irritated by those news without hiding that.
Especially the high-ranking nobles, leading the faction, mistook the method as coup d'etat performed in the absence of the prince within their raging minds.
The prince's real mother, the queen, is amongst them as well.
"By no means I expected Imeraria to have such an ambition." (Queen)
Her appearance, enduring her fury while gritting her teeth with grinding sounds, is somehow blood-curdling.
Having been the queen so far, rather than Imeraria, who would be married off to someone anyway, she loved Prince Ayperos, who would succeed as king sooner or later, dearly.
Although she believed that Imeraria had understood this as well, her facial expression is becoming even more grim due to the feeling called betrayal.
"However, Imeraria-sama is perfectly suited for the support of the populace." (Noble)
"Something like the support of the commoners doesn't matter at all! Haven't you heard? The young nobles wanting to give the princess their advice were all killed! Even the conservative nobles won't forgive this much oppression!" (Queen)
"If that's the case, there is nothing left but to have Imeraria leave the stage eventually, it seems... " (Noble)
"O-Oi... " (Another Noble)
The speaking nobles, noticing that the princess' real mother, the queen, is present at this place albeit being hostile towards the princess, fearfully turned their gaze in the direction of the queen.
"It doesn't matter. It is that child that has betrayed me, as her mother, first." (Queen)
Declaring this decisively, the queen immediately raised her hand in order to prepare for giving a command.
"So that you aren't hindered by that man, kill that girl instantly at the time when she is sleeping in her bedroom! The most my maternal love allows is to ensure her passing away without having to suffer." (Queen)
Seeing the pupils oozing with madness, the nobles of the prince faction bowed their heads all at once.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido