Chapter 225 - 3−29
"Rachel-sama, this is the Audience Chamber of the Tratia Empire's Imperial Castle."
At a signal from Lute-sama, two knights pushed open the massive double doors, which stood at least ten meters tall.
A gargantuan mural of a dragon painted across the entire ceiling dominated the view. Perhaps enchanted with some special magic, it possessed a transparency akin to stained glass and glowed with a faint, ethereal light. Beams of brilliance filtered through it, shimmering as they converged directly upon the throne situated on a high dais.
A crimson throne sat at the end of a straight path from the doors. The Emperor marched forward without hesitation, ascending the stairs to seat himself upon the most noble of chairs.
"Now, shall we proceed as well?"
Lute-sama's voice snapped me out of my daze as I stood frozen before the entrance.
Is this the Audience Chamber? A place so terrifying, yet so divine?
With every step, the dragon mural overhead demanded my attention. I could swear the dragon's eyes moved, tracking my shadow as I walked. I lowered my gaze slightly to escape that piercing stare, only to notice the polished floor sparkling beneath me. Perhaps gold was inlaid within the marble, or maybe magic stones embedded in the ground reacted to the radiance from the ceiling.
It was a mysterious room. Its otherworldly atmosphere reminded me of Nel-sama's Temple, yet it lacked the gentle warmth of the Spirit Land. Instead, a sharp tension filled the air, as if massive icicles might plummet toward me at any moment.
"It is a beautiful place, is it not? They say this room was constructed from the Scales of the Progenitor Dragon."
"The Scales of the... Progenitor Dragon?"
Rumors claimed that Emperor Alec Tratia was the Reincarnation of the Progenitor Dragon—the first Dragonewt capable of taking human form despite being a dragon.
"The Progenitor Dragon is my idol," Lute-sama said, his eyes sparkling like a young boy's. In this moment, he looked more like his actual age than the usual smiling man whose thoughts remained a mystery.
"The Progenitor again? You never tire of it," the Emperor remarked.
"Of course, Your Majesty is also my idol." Lute-sama took his place diagonally behind the Emperor, who sat on the throne with his legs crossed. He maintained the perfect posture of a knight while wearing a thin smile.
Following Lute-sama's silent cue to stand beside him, I obeyed without a word. As we stood atop the dais, the doors opened again, and a long line of knights and servants began to file in along the walls. This was likely the first time I had seen so many people at once since arriving in the Empire. Their expressions remained utterly unchanged, reminding me of the maid who usually attended to me.
Why are the people of this country so strange? Something is definitely wrong here.
The sight of them moving silently with lightless eyes sent a chill down my spine.
"By the way, Lute. Don't you feel like we haven't had enough excitement lately?" the Emperor's bored voice reached my ears just as I was lost in thought.
"Indeed. Your Majesty has been quite settled recently."
"I see... Then perhaps it is time to execute some useless nobles for a bit of fun. Or perhaps... it might be more interesting to go and destroy a country somewhere."
"I would be honored to accompany you when that time comes."
Their exchange left me aghast. Were they truly discussing the taking of lives with the same casual tone one might use to suggest a walk on a sunny day? I turned my gaze toward the Emperor with eyes that couldn't believe what they were seeing. He curled the corner of his lip and looked my way.
"Do you want to come too?"
"...Pardon?"
"How about you join me for the next war? Staying in this tedious castle must be boring. The battlefield would be much better."
"Wh-What are you..."
"You are the Lady Saint of the Spirit Country, are you not? I hear that even if you cannot use a sword, you manipulate techniques with the magic of spirits. I wish to see for myself just how much power that entails."
The Emperor didn't look like he was joking at all as he scrutinized me. His gaze felt like a blade pressed against my throat, sending a shiver of terror through me.
"Shall we try killing that maid over there as a test?" Ignoring my loss for words, the Emperor pointed to the maid standing closest to the throne. At his words, the maid's doll-like mask shattered, her face turning pale as fear flooded her eyes.
"I always welcome those who are strong," the Emperor said quietly in his resonant baritone, unbothered by the maid's reaction or my agitation. Lute-sama, standing beside me, finally offered a lifeline as I stood frozen like a frog before a snake.
"Your Majesty, it is nearly time for your duties."
His calm voice swept away the prickly atmosphere. At Lute-sama's words, the aura of the Emperor—who looked ready to draw his sword at any moment—softened slightly. The maid must have felt the same relief; her face contorted as she bit her lip, looking as though she might burst into tears.
"War is part of my duties as well, is it not?"
"We must attend to the matters at hand first. Everyone is waiting for the opportunity to present Your Majesty with gifts."
"...How troublesome."
The Emperor let out a deep sigh, scratched his head in annoyance, and faced forward. As if on cue, a man dressed in the lavish attire of a noble entered the Audience Chamber. Servants followed in his wake, carrying numerous boxes.
"What exactly is happening?" I whispered to Lute-sama. He lowered his brows apologetically.
"I haven't explained yet, have I? His Majesty Alec dislikes appearing in public as Emperor, but once a month, he sets aside time for audiences with messengers like this. On these occasions, nobles from both within the Empire and abroad compete to present him with gifts."
"Gifts?"
"Yes. Everyone is terrified of His Majesty Alec. They offer expensive and rare items, hoping that if he takes an interest, it will buy them time."
Buying time? Lute-sama seemed to notice my confusion even without me asking aloud.
"A reprieve until they are killed. They all scheme to curry favor with His Majesty Alec to ensure they alone escape disaster."
I winced at the casual way Lute-sama spoke of such violent things while smiling.
"Of course, it isn't limited to nobles. His Majesty Alec's siblings, who live in hiding, and the royalty of neighboring countries also never miss this opportunity."
I glanced at the Emperor; he was looking at the person before him with the same bored eyes as before.
"You are about to see something interesting," Lute-sama said, his eyes shining with amusement as he raised an eyebrow.
♢
"What... is this..."
I covered my mouth with my hand, speechless at the scene unfolding before me.
"Is this your first time seeing magical beasts and beastmen?"
Magical beasts and beastmen...?
"We are of the Dragonewt race, so the existence of beastmen isn't particularly rare in these parts. However, the weaker species live in hiding in groups, so you might not see them often. And while strong races like ours tend to be rough... the area around the Kingdom of Dutoit is protected by spirits, after all."
The creatures crammed into small cages were unlike anything I had ever seen. A three-eyed dog snarled and growled in a frenzy, repeatedly slamming its body against the sturdy bars. A man in handcuffs and leg irons, with bull-like horns growing from his head, stared blankly with hollow eyes. A beautiful woman with small wings on her back performed a song as lovely as a canary's.
The Emperor merely gave instructions: "I shall accept it" or "Take it back." Items he accepted were carried away to another room by knights.
"What will happen to them?"
Is this not a form of slavery or human trafficking?
"They are gifts to His Majesty Alec. He will decide. If he takes a liking to them, they might even be appointed as his guards. His Majesty does not care about race. He simply likes those who are strong."
I had heard of beings called magical beasts and beastmen. However, within the vast continent, the divine protection of spirits was considered special near the Kingdom of Dutoit and its allies. I had only heard rumors of magic sourced from other powers and never sought to know more. Even the existence of Dragonewts was something I would never have encountered if not for these circumstances; they were beings from the other side of a story. And yet, look at the situation now.
To be brought to such a place as a spectacle simply for being a different species, and then offered as a tribute... such a thing should never be allowed.
Might makes right. Taking what you want by force... The Tratia Empire, the strongest nation on the continent, truly has no ethics or compassion.
The reality of having to oppose such a country made me tremble with unstoppable fear.
"...And if he does not like them?"
"Then they are simply disposed of immediately."
"That's..."
To have one's peaceful life stolen away just for being rare or different, and then to be treated like a toy...
"Do you sympathize with them?"
The Emperor, who had been listening to the messenger from a neighboring country with boredom, turned toward me. Seeing my face, he let out a derisive snort and sent a cold gaze my way.
"As expected of the mindset of someone from the Spirit Country, raised in a greenhouse."
"...Then what are you?" I forced the words out. The Emperor looked at me with dull eyes.
"Are you saying it would be settled if I told them not to bring such things to me? How ridiculous. If I say I do not want them, they will simply use the same methods to cozy up to a different person in power. The weak have no choice but to gain the protection of the strong or live in hiding. ...Pitiable creatures."
"I am saying that as the Emperor, you have the position to crack down on such things!"
"Me? You want me to stop the slave trade?"
The Emperor seemed taken aback for a moment by my words, then immediately burst into a fit of amused laughter.
"Now that is truly strange."
"What is so strange about it?"
"I don't recall saying I dislike toys. If there is something among them that interests me, I shall graciously enjoy it."
With a smirk, the Emperor stood up from his chair and moved to stand before me. Being looked down upon by him, with his hands on his hips, felt like being slowly strangled. Still, I did not flee from his gaze, meeting it head-on. He curled his lip as if impressed.
"It is quite comical to see someone like you try to hurl logic directly at me."
"...I have no intention of changing my mind."
"No, that is fine. It makes things interesting. ...There isn't even anyone that foolish around me. Perhaps that was why I was bored. ...You might serve as a bit of a diversion."
This man likely viewed anything I said as nothing more than a child's tantrum. It was futile to try and correct his broken sense of morality. Even so, my heart ached at the thought of the caged beasts, the shackled people, and the further victims that would surely follow. If this man were left unchecked, so many more would suffer.
"No matter how much you glare at me with such loathing, reality will not change. It will be quite a sight to see the kind Lady Saint learn of her own powerlessness and fall into despair."
"...!"
I suppressed the urge to snap back. He was merely taunting me. Falling for his provocation might only lead to unnecessary bloodshed.
"...I see. You aren't foolish enough to rise to the bait."
When I chose silence, the Emperor gave a dismissive snort, glanced at me, and then turned toward Lute-sama.
"Lute, that's enough. You handle the rest of the visitors."
"This is the minimum requirement for your duties as Emperor. No one can take your place, so please return to your seat. ...Ah, and it seems the next one is the last. They should be arriving shortly, so you must persevere just a little longer."
The Emperor let out a deep sigh at Lute-sama's words, scratched his head in annoyance, and sat back down.
"The last one is... scheduled to be the messenger for His Highness the First Prince. The First Prince is His Majesty Alec's elder half-brother, and he is one whose abilities have awakened."
I tilted my head at Lute-sama's whispered words.
"Abilities... you mean those held by those with imperial blood?"
"Yes. Only the descendants of the Progenitor Dragon are born with unique, special abilities. However, now that the dragon blood has weakened, many live their entire lives without ever awakening them. Most die without ever knowing what ability they were born with."
Princess Margaret had apparently escaped the Emperor's disposal by faking her past-life knowledge as a Dragonewt Ability. In truth, she was unawakened and did not know her own power.
"Once an ability awakens, a mark like this can be manifested on the back of the hand."
Lute-sama removed his glove and held his hand out to me. On the back of his hand, which was surprisingly smooth and beautiful for a swordsman, a floral pattern slowly emerged.
"What a lovely flower pattern."
"Yes. It is a tuberose. It is a flower with a sweet, refreshing scent."
Lute-sama brought the back of his hand toward his face, wearing a sweet smile that felt almost bewitching, as if a dangerous fragrance might waft from him at any moment.
"And what kind of ability do you possess, Lute-sama?"
Lute-sama let out a small chuckle at my question and put his glove back on.
"One rarely reveals their Dragonewt Ability to others. It serves as a trump card, after all."
"A trump card? What do you mean by—"
Just as I was about to ask, the knight waiting by the door announced the visitor.
"Ah, they've arrived."
The double doors opened, and the first to enter was a middle-aged man in noble attire, his brow furrowed with a stern expression. Judging by his dignified appearance, he was likely a relative or a close aide to the First Prince. Unlike the others who had been subservient to the Emperor, he exuded an air of dissatisfaction no matter how polite his actions were, making me feel anxious just watching him.
He performed a formal bow and greeting, then signaled to those waiting behind the doors. A line of people carrying boxes of various sizes filed into the room. The man explained each tribute one by one. It was clear that every item was expensive and rare, yet the Emperor merely shook his head in disinterest.
The moment the man announced the final gift, I saw something unbelievable beyond the doors.
A man who looked like a sturdy knight entered, pulling a rope. At the end of that rope was a single man.
The moment I recognized him, my heart began to thud violently, and a cold sweat ran down my back.
"No... it can't be..."
The moment he entered the room, I heard the maids—who usually kept their faces like masks—gasp in surprise. And for good reason. The man possessed a pure aura and a gender-neutral beauty; even in his simple attire of a white shirt and gray slacks, he overflowed with elegance.
He had ruby-red eyes and brilliant silver hair that reflected the light of the chandelier. If someone had told me he was an exquisite doll crafted by a god, I would have believed them.
While he usually captivated countless women with his smile, he was now expressionless, as if he had left his emotions somewhere else. This only served to make his refined features stand out more, giving him an unapproachable air.
"Why is he here...?"
The man I knew well had long hair tied back, laughed often, and was full of confidence. But the man before me, who looked so much like him, had his beautiful silver hair trimmed just below his ears, and his expression didn't twitch, much like a real doll.
His hairstyle and expression were different. But none of that mattered; my heart trembled with joy.
For the person I had been searching for all this time was standing right before my eyes.
The man in front of me was, without a doubt, Theodore-sama.
Thank you so much for your warm comments regarding the resumption of updates. They are very encouraging!
I am truly sorry for keeping you waiting so long regarding what happens to Theodore and Rachel's future.
Finally, finally... they have reunited!
What will happen next...? I will continue to update daily so that you can enjoy the continuation, so please stay tuned.
Also, the 8th volume of the digital edition will be released by Tsugikuru Books on April 10th!
I plan to write more details in an activity report soon, so I would be happy if you checked that out as well.
Furthermore, the 5th volume of the comic adaptation will be released on April 17th.
At Manga-Oh... amazingly, a set with an acrylic stand of Louis, newly drawn by Bin Sakamoto-sensei, will also be released!
The Louis on the acrylic stand is also very cool!
At FLOS COMIC, the first volume of the comic spin-off, "The Story of Saint Anna," is also on sale. I plan to write about this in an activity report as well!
I am so, so happy to have the story of how it all began—which I had always wanted to write—turned into a comic in the form of a spin-off...!
All of this is thanks to everyone who supports "The Reincarnated Villainess." Thank you so much.
I hope you continue to enjoy the story!