Sisilia's Scheme (3)
"Sisilia."
The one who greeted Sisilia upon her return to the mansion was Chiron.
"......Why are you carrying so many baguettes in your mouth?"
Sisilia was munching away, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's with baguettes.
She gulped them down and finally managed to reply.
—It took about twenty minutes to get here—
"Because I ate too much strawberry jam."
"......Strawberry jam?"
Sisilia's antics were always a mystery to Chiron, so he let it slide. More importantly, he had something to say to her.
"Was it really necessary to go that far?"
Sisilia tilted her head.
"The wound."
"Ah......"
"It wasn't even that serious."
"......How did you know?"
"You fought so noisily."
Chiron spoke slowly.
"I could tell someone won overwhelmingly."
The place where Sisilia had fought wasn't far away. Chiron, who had ascended to Sword Sovereign with a single sword, could gauge the battle's outcome from the flow of mana alone. What he sensed was Sisilia's utter domination. The enemy's attacks probably hadn't even grazed her.
"Why?"
That's why it puzzled him. Why had Sisilia pretended to be gravely injured and collapsed off her horse?
In Chiron's eyes, Sisilia still had plenty of stamina and mana left.
Meeting his questioning gaze, Sisilia flashed a bright smile and pressed a finger to her lips.
"It's a secret."
"......"
Chiron closed his eyes. Whatever she was up to, she must have her reasons and intentions.
"No matter what, I'm on your side."
Chiron gave a faint smile and patted her head.
Early morning.
"Any good missions available?"
Dresen yawned as he stood before the mission board.
To get promoted, one had to complete various missions to build strength and solo clear a "difficult dungeon." Even in the kingdom's top knight order, unpaid internship life was hell.
"Huh?"
"......What the hell?"
The problem was that the mission board, always packed, was completely empty.
"Duty knight! You didn't update the mission board?"
One knight headed toward the on-duty knight. Rihaeton, who had been reading a book, sighed and said,
"You didn't know?"
"Know what?"
"......Vice-Captain Sisilia is handling every single mission."
"W-What?"
"And she's clearing three a day, no sweat."
These were missions assigned to the Windsor Knights. None of them were easy. Especially dungeon subjugations—they weren't something you knocked out overnight. Each one typically took 1-2 weeks minimum. And she was doing three a day?
"I-Is she even human?"
"Vice-Captain's always been famous for her speedy mission clears."
It wasn't strange. The Sword Princess had been resolving missions swiftly and precisely since she was six. But...
"Lately, everyone's been worried. Even for the Sword Princess, this is overwork."
"I-I've heard rumors that Captain Edward and Vice-Captain aren't on good terms, but... to this extent?"
"It's not the captain's orders. It's entirely her own decision. The problem is she's barely sleeping while pushing through攻略."
"Shouldn't the order step in and stop her?"
"Impossible."
Sisilia had lost authority over budget management, but in exchange, other privileges were strongly guaranteed. The biggest one: "No restrictions whatsoever on missions or combat." If Sisilia decided it herself, she could do anything. But no one had imagined she'd abuse that authority so ruthlessly.
"It's Vice-Captain."
"Vice-Captain Sisilia!"
"So cool......! I'm gonna be like that too, Mom!"
A crowd swarmed Sisilia as she returned from a mission. Some gazed with envy, others expressed overwhelming gratitude to the Sword Princess.
Sisilia Windsor, the youngest vice-captain of the Windsor Knights. At first, there had been some skeptical looks, but now no one dared.
Her insane mission-clearing speed. Her methodical conquest of the capital's surroundings, like folding paper. It all returned as fame.
"Heard she cleared the 'Shadow Garden' today?"
"Wasn't that failed several times before? How'd she do it?"
"She demolished all the dungeon structures, had her adjutant fire light, and pierced the core in seconds. Clear time: 12 minutes?"
"In-insane. Easier said than done."
Ever since the summoning ritual, the capital residents' days started with "The Sword Princess has achieved a great feat!" And chatting about her latest dungeon clear was daily routine.
That's why the "Capital Invasion Incident" caused such a massive uproar.
"Demon King's army came charging in huge numbers, and Sisilia blocked them single-handedly."
"......But she took a critical wound."
"'Even if this body crumbles, I won't budge an inch from here.' With that line, she just...!"
"Why go that far? She could've fought from the walls."
"You asking 'cause you don't know?"
The rumors were somewhat distorted, but one thing was certain.
"She lost her parents and joined the Windsor Knights at six. She couldn't show her back to demons."
"Such a sad story."
Sisilia's influence was beyond imagination. Perhaps even surpassing Queen Lydia's.
"Oh? There's Sisilia!"
People swarmed Sisilia like bees as she "coincidentally" walked through the capital—really "coincidentally."
Some were shocked by her seemingly large wounds, others worried, but it all connected to one thing.
"Even if you ask why I pushed myself so hard......"
Sisilia looked especially pitiful today. Bandages on her arms and thighs. An eyepatch over one eye. Especially on crutches—it tugged at everyone's heartstrings.
"They're people from an unfamiliar world. Shouldn't we save as many as we can?"
"No way—were your recent reckless dungeon runs for that reason?"
"Does the Windsor vice-captain have to step up? Does our kingdom lack talent that badly?!"
Commoners and nobles alike were outraged.
The Sisilia they'd watched for ten years. And with her growth halted, she looked like a fragile girl. Her injuries hit differently from other knights'!
Sisilia-cat wouldn't miss the opportunity.
"Well."
Sisilia stared sadly at the ground.
"All I can do is kill monsters to keep as many people safe as possible."
It struck their hearts.
"Don't cry, Sword Princess."
"We thank you for your dedication."
"I've never forgotten, not for a moment. Who keeps the kingdom safe......"
Words of comfort poured in. Sisilia sniffled and wiped her eyes.
Then, with a chilling glance, she searched for someone.
It was a noble gentleman who had once tried to buy Sisilia's Nixus at a high price.
The bought-off noble stared at a gold coin for a moment, then steeled himself and spoke.
"No. Can't the Windsor Knights rescue those users directly?"
His awkward acting was enough.
Sisilia hesitated slightly before opening her mouth.
"That would certainly be the right way, but... Her Majesty won't permit it."
"Good heavens. How heartless. Is there no way we can help?"
"There is, but......"
Sisilia trailed off, still hesitating.
"Just say it!"
"Yeah! We've only received help—time to give back!"
The people were ready to give their all.
So they never imagined.
As Sisilia wiped her tears, the corners of her mouth, hidden slyly by her sleeve—
Curled into a triumphant grin.
"Sisilia, you really landed a hit."
Lydia's lips twitched.
—Have mercy!
The kingdom's citizens shouting in unison outside the palace pierced Lydia's ears.
'If she did politics instead of knighting, she'd be a legend.'
Lydia was just dumbfounded.
"In my 300 years of rule, first time I've seen citizens in white protesting before the palace."
She sighed deeply.
"Sir Erterion. Convince them and send them home."
"Doesn't Your Majesty pity Sisilia?"
Erterion said with a heartbroken face.
"Have mercy!"
"Even you're swayed?!"
Queen Lydia couldn't hide her shock. Even her guardian knight was hooked.
"Enough nonsense. Prepare the meeting."
Lydia sighed and headed to the council chamber. She rarely attended council meetings, but with the new era changing rapidly, she needed to guide them right.
"Now, next item on the agenda......"
"Your Majesty! I propose a most urgent matter."
"Uh, yes?"
The prime minister stood with grim resolve. Several nobles followed suit.
'What are they on about?'
As Lydia tensed slightly,
The prime minister declared,
"Grant Sisilia Windsor authority to search for the 'users'!"
"Pfft."
Lydia spat out her tea in surprise.
"They're from an unfamiliar world! As the kingdom of justice, Liannen must find those poor souls!"
"Right! That's the humane thing!"
(Note: They'd once said, "Liannen isn't some apostle of justice; we're just a kingdom—why interfere?")
Nobles never moved for justice. Yet so many at once...
'Edward. You too......!'
It was Edward's doing—he controlled many nobles. Lydia's head throbbed amid the chaos, so she halted the meeting and returned to her office.
'Why this obsession?'
It made no sense to Lydia. Not just pity for "strangers from another world." It was mad fervor. Sisilia's actions reeked of pure insanity.
"She wasn't a troublemaker before......"
Erterion approached quietly from behind.
"Considering her merits, please let it slide this once."
"......"
"Lord Chiron said she's out patrolling at dawn every day, sleeping only at midnight like magic, and back by morning."
Lydia's eyes clouded.
"Plus, she's taking several times more missions than usual. Her injury from the recent incident—might really be from sleep deprivation."
Lydia sighed and turned away sharply.
She stood and headed to the balcony.
"Your Majesty."
Erterion gazed at her back with despair. Could even this queen, ruling for centuries, be swayed?
"Fine."
"!"
"......Just grant permission."
Erterion's eyes widened, then he chuckled. Her face was hidden, but Lydia's ears were beet red.
"The vice-captain of the Windsor Knights, receive the royal command."
Sisilia Windsor shall receive this royal command:
I grant you one week. Devote all your efforts to rescuing the users.
However, after one week, return to your original duties without complaint.
'Finally succeeded.'
To achieve this: Cleared nearly 80% of Windsor missions. Wagged her tail at Edward to awaken his sleeping little-brother cells. Used the "frail Sisilia cosplay 3-set artifact" as backup.
All the groundwork paid off in just 8 days. Sisilia-cat grinned victoriously, toasting the moon with her wine glass.
"......What are you doing?"
"Gatsby Sisilia. Special price: 80 billion gold."
"That's way too expensive...!"
Beatrice, who had just received the decree, stared blankly at Sisilia.
'She really gets what she wants, no matter what.'
How did she overturn the queen's fierce opposition? Unknowable, but Beatrice felt a chill.
"I had a scary thought."
"Hm?"
"......Imagining Sisilia planned this from the start."
Sisilia elegantly downed her lemonade and said,
"The kingdom's future is at stake. I wouldn't do that."
"Right? Even Sisilia wouldn't fake an injury to worry everyone just to find users—that'd be trashy. I'd toss you in the trash."
"......"
Sisilia glanced around, then made a goddess pose. Preparing for the trash bin, in her own way.