kscans

Chapter 13 - Introductions and Entrances

There were two lavish, silver chairs, though no one could sit in them.

"Why am I being summoned, too?" Litt grumbled, looking up at the high ceiling of the Hall of Crests.

"You’re one of the ‘involved parties,’ I suppose." Jin’s footsteps echoed as he came to stand beside Litt.

Looking up at the crests of the royal and noble families, Litt snapped at the taller Jin.

"Why?!"

"I don’t know. Don’t take it out on me. Ask His Highness Raoul." Jin surveyed the assembled group.

Near Tagi stood Lady Sumika and her father, Viscount Scott.

Across from them, their eyes blazing with anger, were Valona and Duke Philbard.

Spirld stood by the wall near the lower seats, pale as a ghost, not responding even when Bald offered words of concern.

Though the attendant Touli had prepared a small table with tea, wine, and fruit liquor, no one touched it.

The doors to the adjoining room opened.

"Captain." Jin turned to face the Captain of the Royal Knights, who was the first to enter.

"Thank you for keeping watch, Jin. Take your post."

"Yes, sir." With a swirl of his cloak, he left Litt’s side and stood at attention near one of the chairs.

Following Raoul were the King and Queen. Raoul stood at the head of the room, while the King and Queen sat in the opulent silver chairs.

The air in the Hall of Crests grew tense.

"May the protection of the Moon Goddess Kuna be upon the Silver Snow Country for all eternity."

Raoul bowed his head and recited the formal address. The King nodded.

"Let us hope that not a single dark cloud is reflected in the sacred ice mirror of the moon."

"Tsk." Spirld’s face tightened. Bald’s eyes slowly widened.

"…Surely not, Spirld. You didn’t…"

"You are in the presence of the King!" Raoul’s voice rang out.

"All of you, state your names!" Tagi was the first to kneel.

"Tagi Fulmia, Second Prince of the Kingdom of Fulmia. This is—" He quickly prompted the woman beside him.

"Sumika Scott, daughter of the Viscount Scott family." She offered a perfect curtsy, unfazed by the powerful figures before her. The gold filigree in her chestnut hair chimed softly.

"…Nild Scott, Viscount, at… your… service…"

Normally, his rank would not permit him an audience with the King. To be summoned so suddenly, and for a matter concerning his daughter, it was no wonder his voice trembled with anxiety.

Raoul gave a magnanimous nod. The Viscount let out a small sigh of relief that he hadn’t committed a breach of etiquette.

"And you?" Raoul gestured with an open palm, granting permission to speak.

"Valona Philbard, daughter of the Duke, fiancée to His Highness Tagi!"

"…And I am Monteland Philbard, Duke and brother-in-law to the King."

"My own dear brother by blood," the Queen added with a giggle.

"Mother. Please do not interrupt. We have not yet heard from everyone." The Queen merely smiled at Raoul’s frown and fell silent.

"The shining single wing and the three feathers upon your chests. Your names?"

Bald and Spirld knelt before Raoul and the enthroned King and Queen.

"I am Bald Talon, humbly serving as Court Secretary-General."

"I-I am Spirld, First-Class Court Secretary and heir to the Marquis Furas family." Raoul’s eyebrow twitched in puzzlement.

"First-Class Court Secretary Furas. You have a proper royal court name, do you not?"

"M-My apologies! I was so nervous my mind went completely blank."

His usual arrogance was nowhere to be seen. Trembling, he stated his name again.

"I was granted an honorary name by His Majesty. I am Spirld Furas Virtus."

"Bearer of the glorious Secret Name. Do not be timid. If you have nothing to hide, you should stand with confidence."

"…Yes, Your Highness." Spirld bowed his head deeply to Raoul.

"Now then." Purple eyes clashed with green.

"You who does not kneel before the King. Who are you?"

"My, what a grave discourtesy. I was so certain it was a dream, that one such as I, with no title, could have an audience with His Majesty."

How transparently false.

"Shall I punch you to wake you up?" Jin clenched his fist.

"No, no, I couldn’t possibly trouble the Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights, Jin Jikitalia-dono."

His tone was flippant, but his green eyes were as clear and sharp as the moon’s reflection in a silver mirror. With a defiant smile, he announced his name.

"A humble First-Class Court Secretary. Littrald Liton Virtus."

Spirld was not the only one to gasp.

Touli, Bald, the Philbards, the Scotts—everyone but the Royal Family froze, their faces masks of astonishment.

"A Secret Name is meant to be a secret, you know. There’s no need to be so surprised, everyone."

"You’re one to talk," Raoul snorted.

"There is a fact that will surprise you even more, Your Highness Raoul."

"What?" Raoul’s purple eyes glinted sharply.

"—Tell me, Lady Sumika."

"Yes!" Called upon so casually by Litt in such a tense setting, Sumika jumped.

"What is my full name?"

"Huh?" She blinked like a little bird.

"Umm, Lord Littrald Liton, isn’t it?"

"Correct." Litt approached her with long, graceful strides.

"But, Lady Sumika, how is it that you know my full name?"

"Well… you announced it before His Majesty, did you not?"

"Yes, I did. Just now, I did." Litt stopped directly in front of her.

"Before this moment, the only ones who knew my full name were the Royal Family, the Court Secretary-General, the Vice-Captain of the Royal Knights, and my own attendant. Spi-boy over there wouldn’t know."

Touli’s eyes widened.

"Now that you mention it… in the library, and when we were attacked on the way back… Lady Sumika, you called him Lord Littrald…" Litt nodded.

"Well, only the Royal Family knows about the Secret Name, of course."

"Why didn’t you tell me that?!" Touli demanded.

"A Secret Name! You have a Secret Name?!"

"See? I knew you’d latch onto that." He shrugged.

"That’s why."

"It’s because you keep everything a secret, Lord Litt!"

"Can’t be helped. There are more things between heaven and earth than you can imagine, Touli."

"You always try to obscure things like that!"

"I’ll clear up your questions later. Right now, it’s time to clear up some suspicions." All eyes focused on one person.

"Isn’t that right, Lady Sumika Scott?"

"You may call me Sumika, Lord Littrald, First-Class Court Secretary."

"You may call me Litt. Let’s keep it simple." Tilting his head, Litt spread his arms in a theatrical gesture.

"I’d like to reach the finale before the curtain of night has fully risen."

"You’re quite the poet," Sumika returned, her voice cold.

"Or perhaps… you’re the writer who chronicles the truth."

"I’m just a Court Secretary."

Litt placed a hand on his chest in a formal gesture. Sumika responded with a perfect curtsy.

The second act had begun.