Night of the Banquet, Storm Rages (1)
The night after hearing that utterly absurd tale from Count Melrn.
Emilia, clad in a lavish dress prepared by her exceedingly capable head maid Hilde, surrendered her body to the jolting carriage as it carried her toward the imperial palace. Rattle… rattle… clop… clop…
…The weather feels off…
Leaning against the carriage wall and peering outside, Emilia thought absently. The view beyond was shrouded in thick, dark clouds despite the sun not yet having set, casting a gloomy pall. The wind howled fiercely, the air thick and humid—it felt like a downpour was imminent. But this wouldn't be an ordinary rain; looking at that ominous sky, it seemed worthy of being called a storm.
Holding a birthday celebration on a day like this? The emperor must have rotten luck.
…Well, since the party was inside the imperial palace, protected by powerful barriers, the weather probably wouldn't matter much anyway.
"Is there something fun out there, my love?"
"…Look, I say this every time, but can't you do something about that nickname? You planning to call me that in front of His Majesty the Emperor too?"
Emilia turned her gaze, not bothering to hide her exhaustion, and glared at Count Melrn sitting across from her. The carriage was luxurious and comfortable at a glance, and even with the overcast sky, the long-absent outdoor scenery soothed her heart. But the mere fact that this man sat right in front of her made her feel like her spirit was being stabbed repeatedly, crumpling like a voodoo doll in a haystack.
She hated him so much. Utterly loathed him. She wished he'd just drop dead.
"My love. Staring at me with such fervent eyes… it gives me chills, I can hardly bear it…"
"…Just die, please."
"Oooohhh~~ Ahh, those shivers… My love, tell me more? More, more, more…!"
"…"
What should she do? She'd known from their first meeting he wasn't right in the head, but somehow he seemed to be losing it more with each passing day.
Feeling a deep-seated revulsion rising from her core, Emilia shot him a look as if he were a hairy caterpillar crawling on the floor. But Count Melrn only grew more delighted by her gaze, hugging himself and twitching in exaggerated shudders.
What on earth had made this man like this? …She truly couldn't fathom it. The world was full of mysteries, and the more you learned, the scarier it got.
"Haa… Really. My love's cold stares always feel so good, no matter when."
"Please… just… die…"
"I'll naturally mind my manners with titles at the banquet hall. No need to worry, Emilia."
Count Melrn leaned back comfortably against the seatback as he spoke. …Well, even if his core was rotten, he was undeniably competent. He'd handle himself properly without her worrying. If anything, she was the one who needed to be careful.
Last night, sandwiched between Mona and Hilde, she'd been drilled on a fabricated scenario. She couldn't exactly blurt out the truth—that she was kidnapped and imprisoned by Count Melrn. So they'd hastily concocted a plausible cover story and rehearsed it.
She'd been present when her parents were murdered, witnessed the culprit with her own eyes. Fleeing retaliation, she'd tracked the killer relentlessly until cornered in a desperate bind—only to be rescued by Count Melrn. He was her lifesaver, and with his full support, she'd complete her revenge—something along those lines.
Grit… Just recalling it made murderous rage surge; it felt like a blatant mockery of her. But under the Spell of Dominion, Emilia couldn't defy it. From now on, she'd proclaim this farce as truth with her own mouth.
Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. Stress might punch a hole through it, but her hero's body wouldn't allow such weakness.
And amid all this, one more factor gnawed at Emilia's worries.
…Mine…
Emilia glanced back cautiously. Beyond the rear window, another carriage rattled along, shadowing hers. But it was warded with spells, invisible to outsiders' eyes.
Inside that one rode her friend, the noble imperial princess Mine Romancia.
She'd caught a glimpse before boarding but hadn't spoken. Anxiety gripped Emilia as she peered back. No words exchanged, but their eyes had met briefly… and Mine had seemed unchanged.
Her platinum blonde hair even more vibrant and ornate than Emilia's, golden eyes gleaming like the imperial lineage they proclaimed. Her beauty, her intelligent gaze—nothing altered. That alone let Emilia maintain some calm.
Had something happened to Mine, spells be damned—she might've torn her own limbs off in a rampage.
…Still, something felt off…
The worry wouldn't fade. A mere glance couldn't reveal Mine's inner state. Subtle changes might have slipped by unnoticed. Over two weeks captured by Count Melrn… irreversible changes were likely.
What they were, or how he'd exploit them, she couldn't guess.
"…"
Sitting primly as nobility had taught her, back straight despite the carriage's sway, Emilia fixed Count Melrn with a steady glare. He offered no explanation. She knew nothing of his thoughts, why he brought her to this banquet, or why he insisted on Mine's attendance.
Emilia knew nothing. The ignorance choked her.
Ria, Ria. Don't you want to know?
Don't you want to uncover what you don't know? What your master's thinking? Don't you want to escape his chains? Isn't it a waste to end your life as a doll or slave?
Won't you… join hands with me?
Mona's words from the study echoed. She'd learned of the party in advance from Mona, even that Count Melrn would bring her as his partner. Not everything, but hints of his intentions.
She couldn't fully trust the lying demoness. But now, she'd verify it with her own eyes.
Rattle, rattle—the carriage pressed on toward the imperial palace. Where the emperor resided—and perhaps entangled in centuries-deep enmity with Emilia herself—a den of schemes and intrigue.
The carriage bearing Emilia advanced peacefully…
A little time rewind, two days prior. Back to the study where Emilia found the diary—the moment Mona proposed cooperating for her escape.
"…What are you talking about? Why would you help me? Who'd believe that?"
"Yeah~ But if you don't believe me, what can you do? Ria's totally powerless right now, like a pathetic little prisoner slave fish? Just a toy for us to play with and enjoy? Think you can do anything without an ally?"
Mona's words hit like a bone-deep strike, but Emilia couldn't just swallow the offer. This demoness had dragged her into this mess to begin with.
Emilia didn't know much about demon traits, but her faint 'woman's intuition' screamed not to trust the woman before her. Trusting her would lead to ruin, betrayal at the worst moment, utter despair.
An inexplicable certainty filled her.
But.
In this situation, I really have nothing I can do.
What if she refused now? Per Mona, everything Emilia did in this mansion was reported back. No matter how she struggled to escape, she'd stay in Mona's palm. One report to Count Melrn, and any chance would vanish.
…No real choices anyway.
Mona knew that, offering from a devil's vantage. Always extending a hand in utter desperation, no alternatives but acceptance.
"Of course, I'm not doing this out of pure goodwill—I'll have some demands… but nothing like lifelong slavery."
"…"
"What do you say, Ria?"
After agonizing, Emilia's conclusion was singular.
——Accept Mona's proposal.
But not blindly. Not depending on her—using her. To shift from worst to slightly less worst. Emilia repeated this to herself as she nodded.
"Great~! Hehe, our secret bond with Ria~ Ahh, this feels sooo good~ I'm so happy~ Being Ria's special someone makes me thrilled~♪"
Mona grabbed Emilia's hands, swinging them wildly with exaggerated glee. If she were an innocent country girl, Emilia might've smiled. But with Mona, her gaze remained icy.
Undeterred, Mona continued delightedly.
"Then, my first demand."
"This time, Ria, you're going to the imperial palace. There, you'll——"
