Her Grace's unexpected words froze the air. But it was Nora's scream, echoing through the throne room the instant she grasped the meaning, that truly shattered the silence.
"!? That's obviously not happening!"
Obviously not happening. What kind of logic was winning a race and then asking for the throne as a reward?
"I said anything was fine…"
"I-I did say that, but… Alisha, do you actually want to become queen? Obtaining the throne means carrying the lives of everyone living in Code on your shoulders. Do you really have the resolve for that?"
Nora spoke in her usual slow, measured way, trying to reason with her. The knights stared wide-eyed at this unexpected display.
Alisha fell silent for a moment under Nora's persuasion, but then suddenly collapsed to the floor.
This was — surely not…!
"No way~! Alisha wants the throne! Please, Big Sister Nora! Can I have the throne? I~wan~t~i~t~! I'll~tre~a~s~u~re~i~t~!"
"…Klye, you — how dare you fill a member of the royal family's head with such ridiculous ideas…"
Nora didn't even glance at the flailing Alisha, instead fixing Klye with a look one might give a cockroach. How had she figured out he was behind this… No, she must have been watching them.
Even the old Liliz, back when she was the most willful of them all, had never thrown a tantrum to demand the throne. But Alisha didn't even seem to particularly want it — the tantrum itself was what reminded Klye of the old Liliz.
"Klye belongs to me~! So Klahi and Kuubi are mine too! And the throne is mine~!"
"The fact that it sort of makes sense is what makes it a disqualified tantrum. Tantrums aren't persuasion, you know."
"Is this really the time for that!"
Nora smacked Klye on the head, activating the Barrier Ring.
She was right — this really wasn't the time. In the midst of the chaos, one of the knights spoke up.
"H-however, there is a certain logic to it. Lady Alisha's argument does have merit."
"The royal guard's strength is the royal family's strength, after all. But to base the succession on nothing more than a race result—"
"Lord Nora has acknowledged Lady Alisha. She's certainly better than Prince Angus, who resorted to underhanded tricks."
"Those movements without any enhancement at all, and keeping pace with Lord Nora — the potential is undeniably there. With proper training, she could surely become a fine queen."
"She might even grace us with a casual stroll, waving to the people. The current Code king is great, but he can barely leave the Royal Tower."
"Or there could be a division of roles with Lord Nora — Lord Nora with the whip, Lady Alisha with the candy."
The knights kept chiming in, one after another. What on earth was going on with their loyalty?
"St-Stop talking nonsense! Whose side are you on — mine or Alisha's?!"
As Nora thrashed about, her hair disheveled and her face beet-red, the hearts of her knights had completely tilted toward Alisha.
Zachary had been listening to Alisha too, and Nora's own attitude had visibly softened. Perhaps Alisha possessed some kind of charisma like that.
But this couldn't go on. Klye looked at Nora and spoke.
"Nora… there are still further stages to a tantrum. You should give in soon."
"Further stages…? There's more!?"
Nora's cheek twitched. Alisha's movements halted for a split second. Klye continued.
"Yep. If you don't give in now, next she'll start throwing her tantrum in the mud."
"!? In the mud!? Is that any way for a royal to behave!?"
"And if that doesn't work… she'll start taking off her clothes."
"!? The — the dignity of a human being—"
"I-I wouldn't go that far!! Obviously!"
Alisha flushed scarlet and shouted at the ashen, stunned faces of Nora and the knights.
It seemed Klye hadn't quite reached Liliz-class levels of commitment, but Nora was too shaken to think clearly.
"I-I understand. I understand, Alisha… Let's do this. How about this — I'll cede the throne. But… there's a condition."
Nora spoke with a grave, serious expression to Alisha, who was still frozen on the floor.
"You have to persuade the other royals. I'm not saying convince Angus. If you can persuade Tony, Morris, and Zachary, I will willingly cede the throne. I won't make any further concessions. Do you accept?"
"Y-yes, Big Sister Nora…"
Making her maximum concession, Nora watched as Alisha covered her face with both hands in acceptance.
The face visible between her fingers was dyed a deep crimson.
§ § § First Prince Angus Code. Deep beneath his territory, in a facility where weapons were being manufactured at full capacity for the upcoming battle for the throne, Angus was glaring at his confidant and chief strategist, Jean Gordon.
"Jean — I hear you launched a surprise attack on Nora."
At those words, Jean bowed his head and answered with exaggerated deference.
"At your command. It was deemed necessary. I humbly apologize for the delay in reporting to Your Highness."
Originally, Angus had no intention of launching any surprise attack against Nora. The king's directive could serve as a catalyst for operations that hadn't been feasible before, but the gap between Nora and Angus was already wide enough as it stood.
Most of the mercenaries from outside had ultimately gathered under Angus's banner. Combined with the semi-criminal elements who had cut their teeth in real combat and the vast quantity of weapons he had mass-produced, he had more than enough military force to deal with Nora's knights.
With overwhelming numerical superiority, plus the power of Kai and Saya, the throne was practically within his grasp. Depending on circumstances, Kenbi could be deployed as well.
Angus was cautious. Cautious, but careful to avoid inflicting unnecessary damage.
Because — Nora's forces were slated to become Angus's own once he secured the throne.
And even after becoming king and gaining absolute authority, one could not change the hearts of the people. The battle for the throne was a fight where one could not afford to stand on ceremony, yet it also carried the color of a trial — a test of worthiness.
Victory through dishonorable means would drive the people away, potentially undermining his power as king.
This surprise attack, on top of everything, had earned Nora's ire. The drawbacks far outweighed the benefits.
"Necessary. It was necessary, was it. Jean — are you suggesting that I, of all people, might lose to Nora?"
"That is not the case, Your Highness. However, irregularities have been confirmed. If the Thunder Emperor were to assist Princess Nora, there could be a one-in-a-million chance—"
"Unthinkable. Even if the Thunder Emperor assisted her, not one chance in a million."
Angus cut Jean off with absolute certainty.
"Furthermore, even if Nora somehow managed the additional feat of persuacing the sealed-designation target — Void — the probability of defeat remains low. If Void emerged, Kenbi would engage — that's the arrangement. I'm aware you've been working tirelessly to bolster our forces, but the authority I granted you was not for the purpose of such measures."
Jean Gordon was brilliant. But Angus knew that brilliance could sometimes go too far.
In the outside world, Jean probably had to resort to every trick in the book. But not here in Code.
"I'll overlook it this time. But engrave my words into your mind. The soldiers you captured from Nora — they're still alive, aren't they?"
"Of course, Your Highness. They are faithful citizens of this Code as well. We would never dream of harming them."
Looking down at the prostrate Jean, Angus snorted.
"Good. I won't be troubled by such petty matters for much longer."
According to Angus's calculations, the king had only a few days left to live.
Unexpected complications had piled up at the end, but no force rivaling Angus had materialized. All that remained was to scatter the factions opposing him and march on the Royal Tower.