Ernst bustles into view from the direction Claude just happens to be looking. He’s alone, though.

  “…Come to think of it, Lady Diana, has Emperor Vica not arrived yet?” Aileen asks.

  “I imagine he’ll be here soon.”

  The brisk answer causes Aileen to fall silent.

  Vica is the host of this soiree, and he technically should have escorted Diana to it. It isn’t an absolute must, though, and this isn’t considered a breach of etiquette; it’s simply an issue of appearances. Vica may have sent her on ahead. Every situation has its exceptions and reasons.

  What tugs at Aileen is that neither Diana nor Cattleya seems concerned.

  Of course, if Claude is late to a soiree he is hosting, Aileen will enter first and take charge. However, that is because Claude is not present, and Aileen is the empress.

  If Vica is here, then unless he and Diana perform the first dance, the soiree cannot begin. Or does Kilvas consider it natural for Princess Cattleya and Diana, who isn’t yet queen, to take charge?

  “Cattleya, Diana, may I have a moment? Vica is—” Belatedly, Ernst finally notices Claude and Aileen. The fact that he’s addressed the women without their titles makes him appear anxious and rushed. When Aileen pulls gently on Claude’s arm, he seems to understand.

  “On that note, we’ll take our leave,” Aileen says in parting.

  Ernst gives them an apologetic nod. Looking as if she’s heard nothing, Aileen sets off with Claude.

  As soon as they’ve put some distance between themselves and the others, Claude sighs, long and bitterly. “What on earth are you plotting? This is hard on the heart.”

  “My, how awful. Are you certain you aren’t tired from the journey?”

  “…No doubt there isn’t another woman in the world who could rattle me as much as you have with only a dress and some makeup.”

  That evaluation isn’t bad. Spotting one of Kilvas’s influential aristocrats nearby, Aileen nods in response to Claude’s questioning look, sending him off in high spirits. Now then, what about me? As she scans the venue, Ernst steps into the center of the hall, accompanied by Cattleya and Diana.

  “Assembled guests, I regret to inform you that His Imperial Majesty is feeling unwell and, as a precaution, will not be attending tonight. Please accept my deepest apologies. However, he has told me that he wishes for all of you to enjoy yourselves this evening, so Her Highness Princess Cattleya will deliver the opening remarks—”

  The wedding is tomorrow. Will he be all right, if he’s feeling unwell now?

  In terms of the game, Vica being absent from the wedding is an impossible development…

  Aileen has a bad feeling about this. When she glances around, the Valkyries are leaving the venue in a hurry.

  Something’s happened.

  Aileen narrows her eyes. Both Cattleya’s and Diana’s expressions are tense, confirming her apprehensions.

  “The situation’s pretty much what your brothers said.”

  The next morning, Isaac stops by just after Luc has finished her morning exam. Jasper agrees with him. “The fight between the demons and Valkyries on the other side of the wall was definitely a case of human experimentation by the Queendom of Hausel. Kilvas’s imperial family tolerated it because they wanted support, and they kept mass-producing Valkyries like they were told. Rumor has it that the demons were imported from Ellmeyer through the Queendom.”

  “It’s remained a mere rumor?”

  The chances of a civil war erupting are affected by the number of people who believe in it.

  Isaac picks up on Aileen’s concern accurately. “I’d say about fifty-fifty. The Valkyries and the people close to them believe it; everyone else knows about the fight beyond the wall but thinks it’s not their problem. Right, guy?”

  Jasper sits down at Luc’s desk, since Luc is recording Aileen’s condition in her file. “Yeah. Even if they wanted to suspect the imperial family, the princess is a Valkyrie, and the emperor’s a notorious puppet. There’s no clear bad guy to blame. Some folks are using the fact that the demons’ invasion stopped when Hausel fell as circumstantial evidence, but as long as it’s settled down, most people don’t care why.”

  “Then there’s the wedding. Having a Valkyrie with a phenomenal war record marry the emperor seems like a reconciliation.”

  The political marriage Cattleya has arranged is working as it should. However, Aileen’s brow is still furrowed. “Then the suspicions regarding Hausel and Ellmeyer haven’t cleared away…”

  “Yeah, because the current stance is to simply set aside suspicions for now. If the empire stays peaceful, then that’s fine; if it doesn’t, it’s more than possible that the country will focus that hostility outside its borders. It’s an old trick by those who hold the reins of power. Anyway, what’s with the new look? What are you fighting?” Isaac asks.

  Rachel has been with Aileen since last night, and Isaac stayed at an inn in town with Jasper to help him gather information, so he doesn’t know about the business with Diana. Even so, he’s picked up on the fact that the change in Aileen’s makeup isn’t a mere whimsy; it’s preparation for battle.

  She’d expect no less from her right-hand man. Crossing her legs, Aileen smiles. “That should be obvious. It’s a battle between women.”

  “Fine. I won’t butt in. Just gimme intel. I don’t need to hear the rest of it,” Isaac says, raising his hands in mock surrender. Still facing the desk, Luc chuckles quietly. Rachel, Isaac’s wife, is serving tea to Luc and Jasper.

  “Lady Diana is hostile toward us. It doesn’t look as if she respects Emperor Vica, either. However…even Lady Cattleya seems to be making light of Emperor Vica. I find that concerning.”

  “The word on the street is that the siblings are supposed to be close. Do they actually not get along or something?” Jasper wonders.

  “No, they do. It’s subtle, but she dotes on her little brother. She just doesn’t seem to respect him as an emperor. She is close to Lady Diana, though.”

  “Making an enemy of Diana right now wouldn’t be a great move.”

  Folding her arms, Aileen thinks. “It really wouldn’t be… For the moment, hold off on making a decision. I’m still investigating.”

  “Don’t tell me that’s why you’re dressed like that. C’mon, somebody stop her.” Isaac shoots a glance at Rachel.

  Smiling, she simply offers him tea. “Thank you for all your hard work.”

  Isaac accepts the tea silently. The fact that his wife hasn’t broken character as a lady-in-waiting seems to have made him realize that Aileen can’t be stopped.

  “And?” Jasper asks. “What’s the emperor actually like? Does he seem pretty unreliable? Young Master Isaac told me he’s the spitting image of the demon king.”

  “I’ve barely seen Emperor Vica at all. I’m no different from Isaac there.”

  “I’m gonna bet he’s not incompetent. Having the demon king’s face and being incompetent would just be a horror story.” Isaac sips his tea, looking glum.

  The sight makes Luc burst out laughing. Then he turns to Aileen. “At any rate, do put your health first, Lady Aileen.”

  “Don’t worry. At this point, doing nothing would be more in line with what they expect from me, no?”

  “If anything happens, I’ll have you sent home by force. I won’t fail to keep the demon king updated on this matter.” The fact that Luc beams while he says that makes it even scarier. “Please don’t make that face. I will permit you to attend the wedding.”

  “Come to think of it, I wonder how Master Vica is feeling.”

  Like Jasper, Isaac has also noticed something might be up. “Yeah, the emperor wasn’t at the soiree last night, was he? Things at the castle seem sort of panicky, too.”

  “They’ll make it happen no matter what it takes. They’ve invited guests from abroad; this isn’t just any old wedding.”

  If this wedding ceremony falls apart, the danger of civil war will rear its head again.

  “At any rate, we must prevent that hostility from turning on Ellmeyer at all costs. Please continue your investigation, you two. No discovery is too small,” Aileen concludes.

  Jasper nods. “Understood. I hope we find something that’ll work up into a good article.”

  “Actually, where’s the demon king? Working?” Isaac asks Aileen.

  “Sir Ernst summoned him a little before you arrived, and he went out with Master Keith. I believe they may be talking about the demons.”

  “That seems sort of sketchy… I hope this isn’t about demon snuff again.”

  “It’s time to get ready, Lady Aileen,” Rachel says, glancing at the clock. When Aileen nods, Isaac and the rest set their cups on the tray and leave the room, and Aileen promptly begins to get dressed.

  Rachel curls the tips of Aileen’s hair loosely. It is Aileen’s cherished view that when attempting to appear adorable, no effort should be spared.

  “I wonder if Master Claude will be ready in time. He hasn’t returned yet, has he?”

  “I’m sure it will be all right. Master Keith is with him, so they must have an accurate grasp of the hour.”

  “Lady Aileen, are you there?”

  Speaking of Keith seems to have summoned him. Aileen checks her appearance in the full-length mirror, and she glances at Rachel in the glass. Rachel swiftly opens the door and lets Keith in.

  “Lady Aileen, I’m very sorry. Would you come with me?”

  “What’s the matter? There’s still time before the wedding.”

  “Milord is in trouble. It seems like a job for you, so I came to get you.”

  Aileen turns to look at him, and Keith flashes her a bright smile.

  Keith simply starts down the corridor, without explaining a thing. Aileen follows him, breaking her own rule just this once and walking as quickly as possible.

  The castle’s velvet-carpeted halls are bustling with servants, but as soon as they cut through the garden gallery and enter the inner palace, everything is quiet. Apparently, everyone has been sent away.

  As a result, once they’ve walked a short distance down the corridor, they can clearly hear the quarrel from the inner room.

  “Please, Master Claude.”

  “Cattleya, this is reckless. I object!”

  “But it’s the only way, Ernst. You understand, don’t you, Diana?”

  “…If you say so, Cattleya, I’m fine with it.”

  When Aileen glances at Keith, he retreats a step, taking up a position beside the door. Seems like she’s supposed to look and decide for herself.

  Aileen sets a hand on the door, which is standing slightly ajar. Then she grimaces. The door hasn’t been left open; it can’t be closed. It’s broken.

  “You are the only one who can substitute for Vica, Master Claude.”

  At the double shock of the words she’s heard and the horrible state of the room beyond the door, Aileen’s eyes fly open. Startled, Ernst and Cattleya turn. A little belatedly, so does Diana, but any greetings will have to wait. Aileen pushes her way in, looking around.

  Broken windows, slashed curtains. Overturned chairs and cupboards, scattered documents and books. Even the water from the broken vase hasn’t been cleaned up.

  It looks as if the room’s been ransacked.

  “…What happened here?”

  “Keith, I wondered where you’d disappeared to. Why have you brought Aileen?” Claude asks.

  “Because a discussion of standing in for the emperor isn’t the sort of thing you can exclude Lady Aileen from.”

  Before Claude can say anything, Cattleya steps in front of her. “Lady Aileen… Now that you’ve seen this, we have no choice. Please help us. I want Master Claude to become Vica.”

  Aileen cocks her head, genuinely perplexed. Cattleya speaks rapidly—she’s clearly anxious. “This is Vica’s room. It appears he was attacked by someone last night. By the time Ernst called us, the room was as you see it now. Look over there.”

  When she looks where Cattleya is pointing, she sees a fine trail of bloodstains on the floor leading to the window. It appears as if someone was dragged.

  “…It can’t be. Is it Emperor Vica’s?”

  “We don’t know. We’re searching for him all over, but we have no clues…”

  “We do have a clue.”

  “Ernst! That’s—”

  “If you seriously mean to send in a substitute, you shouldn’t hide this from her, Cattleya.”

  Ernst has brought a small bundle over, and he opens it to reveal what looks like a shattered crystal. A few fragments are stained with blood.

  Aileen recognizes those shards. During the war with the Queendom of Hausel, she struck down several dozen holy swords set with similar objects. “Is this…a divine stone?”

  “You knew? Impressive. Yes, that’s right. It was lying in the bloodstains by the window. In Kilvas, they’re used in the Valkyries’ magic lances.”

  When she looks up, Ernst is gazing at her steadily. He’s clearly trying to turn her thoughts in a certain direction. Gratefully, Aileen clasps her hands in front of her chest, venturing a question in a tiny voice. “Then… Um, do you mean to say that the Valkyries were behind this?”

  “Don’t be stupid. You know nothing,” Diana cuts in sharply. “And you, Ernst. Dispose of that at once. If a Valkyrie were the culprit, she wouldn’t leave a thing like that at the scene. Use your head a little. Or what, do you doubt the warriors who’ve given everything for their country?”

  She’s speaking far too quickly. Despite appearances, she may actually be rattled.

  Pretending to be bewildered, Aileen listens carefully to Ernst, Diana, and Cattleya.

  “That isn’t what I meant. However, it’s a fact that there is a shattered divine stone here. It’s also true that only the Valkyries are capable of attacking Vica.”

  “That’s because you men have always made us women do all the fighting!”

  “Stop it, you two; that isn’t the problem. The problem is that Vica isn’t here. The wedding will begin soon. We need to make a decision, and fast.”

  For the moment, Aileen has gotten a handle on the situation.

  This is why Vica was absent last night. They’ve been searching for him quietly and keeping things under wraps to avoid causing chaos, but they still haven’t been able to find him, and the ceremony is drawing near. They’re being forced to decide whether to reveal that Vica is missing.

  Cattleya turns back to Aileen. “Lady Aileen, please allow Master Claude to serve as Vica’s body double. For the moment, if we don’t at least conduct the ceremony, the people will grow uneasy.”

  She understands Cattleya’s desperation. The peace of the nation is riding on this wedding.

  Ernst pulls a sour face. “If we go on with the ceremony anyway, there’s no telling what may happen to Vica.”

  “Considering the timing, this was clearly intended to obstruct the wedding. If we cancel it, we’ll be playing right into the culprit’s hands.”

  “They’re trying to cast suspicion on the Valkyries, too. I’m also in favor of holding the wedding.”

  …Well then, what should Aileen do in this situation?

  As she feigns bewilderment at their quarrel, her mind is racing a mile a minute. These three are anxious over the possibility of a domestic internal rift, and she feels bad for them, but her only goal is to keep Ellmeyer out of the crosshairs. Demonstrating friendship by helping them deal with their demons and so on would be one solution—but, of course, she can also resolve the issue by thoroughly studying their weaknesses.

  This is a golden opportunity.

  Right now, Vica and these three are the ones who are steering the Kilvas Empire. No matter who the culprit is, simply lending them Claude as Vica’s replacement will put them deeply in Ellmeyer’s debt. In addition, the most effective time to indebt someone is when they are most desperate.

  Only a handful of people are able to interact with the groom at a wedding, and Claude could pass as Vica’s twin. It would take far more than a passing glance to see through the ruse. The emperor’s behavior is sure to be beyond reproach. It will mean learning the ritual formalities at the last minute, but Claude can do it.

  The problem is how to get him to consent to it.

  Although he is practically indecency incarnate, Claude tends to take a romantic view of things like marriage and love. If Aileen told him to take another wife, Ellmeyer would be engulfed by a furious blizzard even at the height of summer. She can’t visualize her simple, honest husband agreeing to secretly pose as someone else at a wedding. Not only that, but if she takes the initiative and tries to sell him off, things will get extremely complicated. In spite of herself, Aileen steals a glance at her husband…

  …and makes eye contact.

  His red eyes narrow, but a moment later, his blank expression is replaced by a smile. The transformation makes her groan.

  Oh no!

  He’s realized she’s trying to find a way to loan him out at a high price, and he’s come up with a countermeasure in the blink of an eye. Claude is brilliant. If he moves first, she’ll lose.

  “Um, everyone—”

  “If I’ll do, then I’d like to help.” At the sound of Claude’s clear, reliable voice, the other three turn to him. “Vica is my relative. I can hardly consider this someone else’s problem. Besides, I would also prefer to avoid an outbreak of violence in Kilvas. There’s the matter of the demons as well. I can’t have people suddenly suspecting Ellmeyer.”

  Diana’s eyebrows knit together in a frown. Aileen feels like groaning: He’s good. He’s shown that he’s aware of the suspicions surrounding Ellmeyer and, in the same breath, declared that he will help Kilvas. The message is clear: I’ll cooperate with you, so don’t even think about threatening my empire.

  “We can extend our stay here. In the meantime, we’ll help search for Vica and think of what to do. Even if something has happened to him, it would be better for it to ‘happen’ after the wedding.”