After the Third Prince approached the Emperor for a greeting and shared a few words, we made our way to Lady Trisha, who was cozily linked arm-in-arm with the Third Prince.
Lady Trisha’s face registered surprise when we approached, and she leaned in to whisper something into the Third Prince’s ear, who was chatting with other nobles.
Is she not going to run away?
…Well, even if that girl is Cidri, she wouldn’t think I’d figure out her true identity. Finding a disguised demon with ordinary methods is tough, especially when it’s Cidri, who specializes in that.
So, the real game starts now.
“Long time no see, Prince Patrick. I hope you have been well.”
“I believe this is our first proper conversation, isn’t it?”
Unlike when we faced the First Prince, we greeted the Third Prince quite amiably. After all, it’s a bit different when we’re the ones extending the greeting to someone who acted rudely.
Anyway, I could hear the nobles around us gulping.
How will this be interpreted?
Getting closer to the Third Prince after scolding the First Prince implies that we are implicitly supporting the Third Prince.
Of course, I couldn’t care less about the Third Prince, but the nobles might think I—no, perhaps we—support him.
This must be a completely unexpected development for them.
After all, choosing a side among the three princes is already a headache.
I can’t say it outright, but the hero of the nation supports the Third Prince? In a situation where there’s a struggle for power in the royal family? That’ll really throw them for a loop, especially considering the First Prince’s disgrace.
This complicates things so much that the nobles’ heads might explode.
Should I stick with the Third Prince now?
Or should I stay with the First Prince?
And what about the Second Prince?
Imagining the nobles wallowing in anguish, I scanned the Third Prince’s face.
He looked a bit flustered at first, but like the youngest of the three princes, he beamed happily and laughed heartily, ready to speak to me.
“Sir Quartz! It’s been a while! How have you been?”
“I’ve been exceedingly busy, with a myriad of tasks to handle.”
“I have too! I was busy sending support to the West,” he replied.
…It’s just a few words exchanged, right? I glanced over at Lady Trisha, who was smiling brightly at us, trying to maintain my aloofness.
According to Martina, this lady had suddenly risen to prominence among the nobles. She looked rather innocent at first glance, but there was a hint of awkwardness on her face, clearly feeling pressured by our approach.
Well, considering she seemed like a country noble, she would undoubtedly be shocked by an important individual coming near.
I casually inquired of the Third Prince, “Is this lady next to you your fiancée?”
“Haha, we shall soon be!”
I doubt it’s officially recognized by the Emperor, right? There’s a significant difference between that and not. I pondered over Lady Trisha’s reaction as I observed her slightly bashful face, which seemed to show she was embarrassed.
Alright, let’s gradually get this show on the road.
I discreetly drew a cross on Karina’s palm with my finger, a signal we had predetermined for situations like this. Karina gently smiled and suggested to the two of them.
“Those who arrived first in the banquet hall have received blessings. Would you like me to offer a small blessing to honor your future together?”
“The blessing of the Saint! We absolutely must accept it! Right, Trisha?”
“Y-Yes?! T-That’s right…”
…This might just be the right angle.
I thought as I saw Lady Trisha visibly flustered. If things go smoothly, I might be able to drag the Third Prince into the mix as well.
The First Prince has already plummeted, and I might be able to get rid of the Third Prince too. If that happens, the Second Prince will automatically ascend to the throne… How should I deal with the Second Prince? Should I involve the Agares Cult?
Even if I handle all three princes, I’m not totally out of options.
“Then, let’s begin.”
“Um, c-can I go pick some flowers before the prayer…?”
“What do you mean, my lady?”
“I… I suddenly felt the urge—”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to look like a zealous fanatic I had often encountered. “It wouldn’t take long, so you should just receive it.”
“Lady Trisha… it wouldn’t take long, so you should just receive it, right? I’ll finish quickly.”
“Trisha, it’s better to get it over with quickly, don’t you think?”
Just then, the clueless Third Prince asked Lady Trisha with a puzzled expression, and she realized he was thinking something strange, so she bowed her head in embarrassment.
What’s she trying to do?
In this situation, the only thing she can do is either prove her innocence or—
“Karina.”
“Yes.”
“One moment…!”
Looks like she’s already starting to show her true colors. I quietly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
At that moment, the bewildered Third Prince tried to stop me, but a clear voice began to fill the banquet hall.
Then, having heard the sacred prayer, Trisha screamed as her body began to melt away.
“How did you find out my identity?!”
“Trisha?!”
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice with that awful stench?”
I certainly couldn’t say I knew because you were a possession taker, so I had to fabricate a plausible reason.
What does it matter what the reason is? I just needed to take down a demon.
I confirmed once again that Cidri was indeed the demon as I looked at her black hair and twisted face emerging from the molten exterior.
“To be recognized by a mere human?!”
“Demon! It’s a demon!”
“A demon in the banquet hall!”
Naturally, the distance between Trisha—no, Cidri—and the people began to widen. As they created a large circular space, royal knights started to appear from within.
Wielding their swords, the knights positioned themselves to ensure Cidri couldn’t escape.
“Hey, Cidri.”
“…How do you know my name?”
“It’s written on your forehead, how could I not know?”
“What?”
Cidri put her hand to her forehead, surprised by my joke, and then, realizing she had been tricked, grimaced as I punched her stomach.
“Gah… human… what have you done?!”
“I know very well you’re the weakest among the demons. I am aware that you can’t do anything while Karina’s blessing is focused on you. So hand over the information peacefully, Cidri.”
“H-How do you know that?!”
Having been mercilessly targeted in her weaknesses, Cidri glared at me with fiery eyes. But given the circumstances, unless Agares showed up, there would be no way for her to escape.
Using all the advantages of being a possession taker, I pulled out a twig about a hand’s length from my robe. Cidri stared at the twig in bewilderment before realizing what it was and screamed in panic.
“How do you have a branch of the World Tree?!”
“I guess you’re not as close with Agares as you thought.”
I might have even thrown you away as a mere trump card from the beginning. Even if I were a demon, I wouldn’t take this useless demon seriously.
I infused the twig with energy and stomped on Cidri’s foot while whispering.
“Bind them.”
Upon my command, the twig swelled rapidly. From a thickness of a chopstick, it quickly grew to the size of an adult’s arm and wrapped around Cidri like a rope—an impressive sight.
“Damn…”
“How is this happening…”
“Your Highness the Third Prince, were you unaware that Lady Trisha is a disguised demon?”
While my tone was subtly threatening, the people couldn’t comment on my manner of speaking due to the suddenness of the situation.
Excluding us, no one else knew that a demon had infiltrated the banquet hall, let alone that it was Lady Trisha herself.
“Of course I didn’t know! How could I?! None of us knew!”
“It seems you’ve been bewitched by the demon.”
“Y-Yes, that’s right!”
I responded in a loud voice to the Third Prince, who answered in confusion.
“Did you know? Demons stick to those with similar dispositions.”
“What?”
Considering the Third Prince had often acted mischievously, I wondered how my statement would be perceived by the other nobles and royals.
Could I truly keep the Third Prince as a competitor?
As if snapped back to reality by my statement, the Third Prince stared at me blankly.
“What… is that supposed to mean?”
“You, too, should cooperate with the investigation, Your Highness.”
“No—wait—”
“Your Majesty the Emperor! Sir Quartz has captured a demon that has been hiding in the banquet hall!
Please halt the banquet immediately and investigate those with a close relationship with Lady Trisha! There may be those who have made a deal with the demon or have been enchanted by it!”
“I permit the investigation! Knights of the royal guard, prepare a search party immediately!”
“Understood!”
As expected of the Emperor. His judgment is swift.
While it’s a bit concerning to leave the princes unattended… honestly, aside from the Third Prince, they’re all in their late twenties. I can’t be expected to babysit them.
“Your Highness the Third Prince, if you cooperate with the investigation, you will not face any trouble.”
Though, you will acquire a significant disadvantage in the power struggle.
“I will interrogate this demon myself.”
“Let go of me!”
I turned to head towards the banquet hall’s exit, dragging the fallen Cidri, who was bound by the World Tree’s twig.
“Let me go! You lowly human—gah!”
“I’ll give your bottom a smack every time you make noise.”
Which will happen first—you shutting your mouth or your backside swelling up?
I pondered whether hitting a demon’s butt repeatedly would cause bruising as I exited the banquet hall.
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