Chapter 109: When Jewels Become Weapons.

“If a blue rose were to bloom, it would be a miracle.”

I don’t know if he read my thoughts.

Even with the imprint, I couldn’t know everything he was thinking.

Perhaps it was the same for him. Philius realizing my intent simply meant he knew me that well.

It also meant he had observed me with great care.

“I have already achieved a miracle.”

Philius fastened the cravat around his neck himself.

The blue rose tucked away beneath his collar.

He rested his hand there for a moment.

As if confirming that the miracle was indeed there. We soon began to move toward the place where beautiful jewels became sharp weapons.

****

To get to the royal palace, we had to pass through the plaza.

I would have preferred to go near the Tranche Bridge if possible, but the Capital Guard had it blockaded, making it impossible.

“It’s quite deserted.”

“It seems we are the last ones.”

Philius spoke with a perfectly leisurely attitude. I could see the streets illuminated by gaslights. It was quite ironic.

Right now, the brightest street in Noborten was the Beta residential district.

It was the result created by a single carat of synthetic diamond.

Among the nobles, there were those who clamored about why the Prince favored Betas.

As if they had forgotten the fact that they once screamed about how synthetic diamonds couldn’t be trusted. Passing beneath the dim lights, my eyes grew wider and wider.

The place where people prayed for the glory and luck of Henia.

The place where Philius, dressed up like the King’s beautiful doll, led the expeditionary force at the very front.

The place where I only realized my feelings as I watched him leave.

t was filled with a crowd just as large as it had been back then.

No, it was being filled.

The mercenaries, who hadn’t caused any disturbance until now, were breaking through the blockade and crossing the riverbank to enter the plaza.

Those who had achieved the victory but were not allowed to attend the ceremony. Following the path taken by the carriages of those attending the banquet.

My eyes, accustomed to the darkness, conveyed more details of the situation.

“The Capital Guard is opening the way.”

It looked as though the Capital Guard was being pushed back by the mercenaries against their will. However, just as they had permitted food to be delivered to the mercenaries, they were opening the path.

It might have been a tiny gap compared to the barriers blocking the Tranche Bridge and the riverbank.

“Block them! I said block those bastards!”

A man who appeared to be the captain of the guard screamed frantically, but the path that had already been breached could not be closed.

It was the Capital Guard’s side whose ranks were collapsing instead.

More and more men abandoned their posts as if a wall were crumbling.

Between them, mercenaries dressed neatly in camouflage uniforms marched forward.

“…They’re joining in.”

Just as Philius said, some among the guards began to follow behind the mercenaries. Their numbers were by no means small.

Eventually, they were clearly divided into the commoner ranks following the mercenaries and the knight ranks trying to stop them.

And then, I saw it.

People who weren’t wearing uniforms were also joining the ranks of the mercenaries. They appeared to be the ones who had come to deliver food.

They were dressed in all sorts of clothing.

There were those who looked like university students, neatly dressed, and those who barely covered themselves with rags, just as the mercenaries had on the riverbank.

“Sammy…”

There was a face I recognized. Sammy, the leader of the children who used to collect and deliver rumors about the nobles to me.

Children who still had a long time before they would become adults were following behind him.

“Don’t back down! You must not retreat any further!”

The guard captain’s voice grew closer and closer.

It was impossible for a mere dozen or so men to push back those whose numbers had grown from hundreds to thousands.

The knights gathered around the captain were pushed deep into the plaza by the mercenaries’ march. Their faces were filled with tension.

It was the moment I saw the strength in their hands as they gripped their guns.

“Jay, the shield.”

At the same time I heard Philius’s words, I activated the necklace’s protective barrier.

Once Philius perceived that the shield had activated properly, the scent of the forest emanated from him. The slowly moving carriage turned and picked up speed.

And in an instant, it cut in between the mercenaries and the knights.

“Captain of the Guard.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

At Philius’s call, the captain replied with a dazed face, his previous tension nowhere to be found. The knights standing behind him also relaxed their fingers on their triggers.

“These people will remain here.”

“It is as the Duke says.”

Someone at the front of the opposite side shouted loudly.

I checked his face.

It was John. He recognized me next to Philius and gave a slight bow.

I returned the greeting in the same manner. “You only need to hold your ground as you are.”

“Understood, Your Royal Highness.”

After the captain’s reply, the carriage began to move slowly once more. Even after the carriage had completely pulled away from between them, they remained in a state of standoff.

Behind us, as we headed toward the palace, the sound of singing could be heard.

It was a song I had heard several times already and was familiar with—a song praying for military fortune.

****

“It feels like a different world.”

Once we passed the gate guarded by the Royal Guard and entered the palace grounds, a completely different landscape unfolded.

There were lights so bright that no blind spots existed, red roses decorated everywhere, and well-controlled music that was entirely different from the songs the mercenaries sang as they pleased. Rather than beautiful, it was simply bizarre.

The fact that the King of a nation maintained a life so isolated.

The carriage moved slowly along a strictly controlled path.

Everywhere I looked was incredibly flamboyant. Even compared to 21st-century Earth, there would be few sights as brilliant as this.

“This is…”

The moment we passed through the doors of the banquet hall, an extremely alien sensation hit me.

“Is this the palace barrier?”

It felt as though the mana in the air was thoroughly inspecting my body.

“It’s stronger than usual.” “Do you feel any discomfort?”

“I’m fine.”

I had heard about this from Philius beforehand.

Offensive magic circles and spells would lose their effect inside the palace.

“At this level, it seems they wouldn’t just lose their effect but would be reflected back at the caster.”

“I feel the same way.”

We weren’t the only ones who felt the majesty of the strengthened barrier. I could feel tension coming from the people laughing in the banquet hall.

In particular, those wearing red uniforms, who could be called the protagonists of today, seemed even more tense.

“I finally get to meet you.”

Pushing past the officers who tried to approach Philius, the first person to stand before us was the Prime Minister. Even General Populu was pushed aside by him. The old man, who looked slight and stern, walked up boldly and examined me with a smiling face.

“His Royal Highness cherishes you so much that I’m only meeting you now.”

Contrary to his words, he didn’t seem to believe my reputation at all—being treated like a Cinderella by the public. He was broadcasting that sentiment quite blatantly.

“Circumstances were unfavorable, so I couldn’t meet you.”

I linked my arm with Philius’s. Making sure the ring on my left hand was clearly visible. Haha. The Prime Minister let out a dry laugh.

“You are a bold one.”

However, his eyes weren’t laughing at all.

“You are fit to stand beside the one who led the war to victory.”

“He is the one who stood beside me.”

At Philius’s words, which elevated me—though I was known as a recessive Omega—the Prime Minister let out another laugh.

His tone suggested he had heard a funny joke. I wondered how long the political life of the Prime Minister, a terrible Beta-discriminator, could last.

The Prime Minister himself seemed to believe he could remain in office for the rest of his life, but he was in a position elected by the Parliament.

He had many political enemies. It meant his situation was completely different from the King’s, whose hereditary authority made him terribly difficult to replace.

“His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen are entering.”

As the battle of wits with the Prime Minister continued behind smiling faces, a servant’s voice rang out to announce the entry of the King and Queen.

Everyone bowed their heads and bent their waists in unison.

We could be no exception. I felt the King’s gaze pass over me and settle on Philius.

That thick, lingering gaze seemed reluctant to pull away.

In the banquet hall where even the music had stopped, only the footsteps of the King and Queen echoed. They were agonizingly slow steps.

Even after the footsteps ceased, the King’s voice was not heard. He seemed to be looking down from the dais at those who had bowed before him.

After quite some time had passed, I saw the Prime Minister’s legs trembling.

He looked stiff, but he couldn’t hide his age.

“Rise.”

It seemed the King had seen it too.

When I raised my head again, the first thing I saw was a massive 170-carat red gemstone. The giant stone in the center of the crown worn by the King flashed as it caught the light from the chandeliers.

“Today is a place to celebrate the victory our Henia has seized.”

The red gemstone further emphasized the King’s pale complexion.

“I find it truly joyous.”

Hearing the King’s voice, I shifted my gaze to the side.

The Queen stood there. She looked far too perfect to be a living person.

I realized belatedly that many others besides me were captivated by the Queen. Thump. The King stomped his foot.

At the loud noise, everyone’s gaze returned to the King.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the Queen lowering her eyes and adjusting her veil.

The King standing on the dais now seemed to think he was entitled to be looked up to.

As everyone looked up at him, a smile twisted his lips.