"I don't think this is really something I ought to be answering for you here."
"I know. You wouldn't have the authority to make such a judgment on your own, anyway. Rest easy in your quarters, and we'll have dinner with His Majesty the Emperor."
I lowered my head to glance at the documents on the desk. It was an unmistakable dismissal order.
It was a rather rude gesture, but Wolfram Hardeberg withdrew without protest. Was he shocked by my words, or was he simply the type who kept his emotions well in check? Probably both. No sooner had I silently shown Wolfram Hardeberg out than I rang the bell.
"Your Highness. You called?"
Ivar Lodbrok, who had been waiting outside the door, entered. Ever since Daisy had disappeared, Ivar had taken over as my personal attendant. He was a bit rougher around the edges than Daisy, but nothing that interfered with his duties.
"Have the Elector Demon Lords already gathered in the reception room?"
"Yes. I was told they've been there since half a shijin ago."
"Oh my, I've made them wait unintentionally."
I rose from my chair. With my prosthetic left foot and a cane, I somehow managed to keep my balance. Ivar approached to offer me his support, but I shook my head and refused.
"I haven't fallen so far that I need someone else to prop me up just to walk."
Ivar's expression looked like he was about to cry.
"But, Your Highness…"
"Enough. I said I'm fine, so I'm fine. Rather than wasting energy on pointless things, focus on managing the war funds. You've already contacted the Helvetica Confederation, right?"
"…Yes."
I shuffled toward the door, somewhat unsteady. My gait must have looked ridiculous. Until I got used to it, I'd probably waddle like a duck.
"Good. If war breaks out, we'll definitely need mercenaries from the Helvetica Confederation. Subtly pass along the word that Laura will be commanding again this time. That way the mercenaries will follow us more readily."
"Th-there is one problem, however."
"Hm?"
Ivar licked his lips, clearly uncertain how to broach the subject. When I urged him on with a look, he finally managed to open his mouth.
"Secretary Lapis Lazuli is currently requesting an audience."
"…"
My heart sank.
Everything that had been filling my thoughts—the schemes against the Plains Faction rebels, the diplomatic stratagem involving Barbatos, the measures regarding Elisabeth and Daisy—all of it vanished in an instant, like alcohol evaporating into thin air.
"Right now? Here?"
"She arrived almost the same moment the Republic's envoy was admitted. While you were conferring with the envoy, the State Secretary has been waiting outside the door the entire time."
I glared at Ivar.
"You didn't tell Lapis about my left foot, did you?"
"Of course not. She probably heard through other channels. Secretary Lapis Lazuli spent the time you were absent during the previous Chrysanthemum War building connections with officials throughout the imperial palace in every possible way. That's likely where the information leaked from."
Ivar looked just as troubled as I felt.
I had imposed strict silence on everyone regarding my left foot, absolutely forbidding the information from reaching Lapis or Laura. Both of them had been staying at the Demon Lord's Castle. As long as we didn't spread the information from our end, I had thought it unlikely that two people focused solely on their work at the castle would discover the truth… but apparently I was wrong.
Well. There was no helping it now.
If the secret was already out, there was only one course of action.
I turned and walked toward the wall. Behind me, Ivar called out.
"Lord Dantalion?"
"What is it?"
"That is… what are you doing right now?"
"Can't you tell?"
I placed my right foot on the window frame.
"I need to make my escape before Lapis gets here."
Yes.
There was nothing left to do but run.
"Your Highness, this is the third floor!?"
Ivar, who had been maintaining his polite speech, was horrified.
"If you fall, you'll be injured!"
"It's fine. No problem at all. At worst, I'd only break one leg. I've already got a broken left foot, so I'll just land on that one. In other words… I'm completely safe."
"That logic is completely backwards! What kind of nonsense are you spouting with a straight face?!"
Ivar rushed over and grabbed me by the waist.
"Let go! Can't you let go right now! Ivar, you have no idea how terrifying a woman Lapis is—that's why you're doing this! If she catches me, she'll lecture me for a minimum of five hours! The Elector Demon Lords are waiting in the reception room right now—how am I supposed to deal with that!"
I struggled, but Ivar, despite his thin and slender arms, had a grip strength that was absurdly powerful, and I couldn't break free.
"Even so, I cannot allow this! You haven't even healed properly, and you're trying to jump from the third floor—there are limits to reckless behavior! Besides, even I know the Secretary is a terrifying woman, so please don't worry!"
"Ah, I've had a brilliant idea."
I looked up at Ivar's face with urgency.
"Ivar. You carry me and jump. Let's escape together, the two of us. That way there's no danger, and everything works out perfectly. It's the ideal solution."
"I'm afraid that's not possible either."
A look of steely determination flashed in Ivar's violet eyes.
"After all, wouldn't I be the one getting scolded by the Secretary later!"
"Ivar, you too?!"
So it wasn't my safety he was worried about—he was trying to stop me because if he let me escape, he'd be the one in trouble. Unbelievable. Stunned, I screamed.
"Your own hide matters more than the safety of your lord!?"
"You were bound to be punished from the start! Ordering the Secretary and the Minister of Military Affairs to keep it secret—you might as well try to cover the sky with the palm of your hand!"
Ivar dragged me away from the window frame with his terrifyingly iron grip. I nearly toppled backward. Was this really the behavior of a lover and loyalist with maxed-out Affinity and loyalty?
"The Minister of Military Affairs is out of touch with worldly affairs, so you might be able to fool him somehow, but it's absolutely impossible to deceive the Secretary! Just counting the Secretary's connections alone could cover half the continent!"
"Wh-when did Lapis become like that?"
"From the moment she started serving Your Highness!"
Ivar ground his teeth.
"Every person who's tried to get close to Your Highness has come bearing all manner of bribes, seeking to win the Secretary's favor first—from the Grand Dukes of the Demon Realm to the heads of various trading companies, and even the Elector Demon Lords themselves. All of them are in the Secretary's grasp."
"That can't possibly be true…"
"Can't be true, he says."
Ivar's eyes blazed.
"Since Your Highness only concerned himself with foreign affairs and left all domestic matters to the Secretary, how could it not end up this way? You brought it all on yourself. Just stand there and let the Secretary catch you."
There was something like resentment in Ivar's voice.
It didn't seem to contain merely the thought of not wanting to be scolded by the Secretary. Something much older, something that had been buried and buried until it had rotted through, was pouring out of his mouth, passing through his chest. It was bad enough that I flinched.
"Ivar… have you been put through the wringer by Lapis?"
"I have no idea what you mean. Not at all."
Ivar's lips twisted into a grimace.
"As if I'd be petty enough to hold a grudge just because I was demoted from a former subordinate. Yes. That's absolutely not it. Harboring resentment toward Lord Dantalion, who demoted me to a mere servant—not the slightest bit."
"You're obviously sulking, so why pretend you're not!"
It was shocking. It seemed Ivar had accumulated quite a lot of grievances against Lapis. He was even trying to vent his frustrations at her—not to her face, but through me. Could there be anything more unjust than this?
"Now, Your Highness! Receive your just punishment!"
"You're not even putting effort into the pretense anymore!"
"Wasn't it Your Highness who advised me not to be hypocritical!"
We bickered like children—childishly, yet with the same earnest seriousness as children. This was no joke. The matter of life and death hung on this very moment.
Just then.
"Your office seems remarkably lively."
*Snap.*
Our bodies, which had been flailing and tearing at each other's clothes, froze simultaneously, as if we had made a pact beforehand. Ivar and I slowly turned our heads to look in the same direction.
There stood Lapis, impeccably dressed in a neat suit.
Lapis, watching us with her characteristically expressionless gaze.
"An individual's office always symbolizes the dignity of its owner. It should always be calm, unwavering, and maintain a solemn gravity without being heavy. Ivar."
"Yes, Secretary."
Ivar immediately straightened up and bowed with impeccable politeness, as if he had never been roughhousing at all. The speed of his transformation was truly reminiscent of a goblin's breeding rate.
But it was far too late for pretense—the water had already been spilled. Lapis's cold voice crushed Ivar's composure.
"Come see me after work tonight. I have some points to raise regarding your work attitude, Ivar."
"Sec-Secretary! I was only worried that Your Highness might get hurt!"
"I'll hear your objections then."
Lapis turned her gaze away with an air of indifference and looked at me.
Lapis quietly examined my left foot first. Suddenly, she paused. She stared down at my left foot without saying a single word.
"…"
"…"
An almost unbearable silence descended upon the office. In the meantime, Ivar had slipped out with impressive instinct. I wanted to call him back, but with Lapis's gaze fixed firmly on me, I couldn't open my mouth.
A long time passed.
"Lord Dantalion."
"…Mm."
And once more, silence.
Lapis parted her lips slightly. But no sound came out. For a while she opened her mouth, then slowly closed it again. To me, Lapis's lips—briefly opened only to close again—struck my heart far harder than any reprimand could have.
I couldn't even bring myself to apologize.
I finally understood, in the most visceral way, what it meant to have "a hundred mouths and no words to say." Stripped completely bare in front of Lapis, I felt as though I'd been discarded like a thoughtless child. Lapis let out a small sigh.
"…I have something to tell you about Daisy."
"Y-yes."
"I had originally decided not to mention it to you, Lord Dantalion. But now that things have turned out this way, I can no longer remain silent."
What was this about?
Honestly, I never would have expected Lapis to bring up Daisy in this situation, so I listened with a somewhat stunned expression. It was a kind of surrender—a signal that I would listen quietly to whatever she had to say, no matter what or how.
"I have a general understanding of what happened in Niflheim. However, Lord Dantalion, there is one misunderstanding you hold regarding Daisy."
"A misunderstanding…?"
"Yes."
Lapis wore an oddly pained expression.
"A very important one."