kscans

Chapter 54 - The Creeping Thing

Lupia's celebration for passing the Knight Order exam was grand, yet held only among close family. Though, the twins couldn't help but think that with the King of the Qua Kingdom present, it was on the scale of a full-blown party for the entire house. But since he was celebrating purely as a relative, they decided to set that thought aside for now. To add to the occasion, Tilmina secretly showed up, which angered Rod. However, she countered with, 'I have Mother's full permission, and I'm representing our cousins,' and proceeded to shower Lupia with gifts. This prompted Vernella to declare, 'I-I have a present for my sister-in-law, too!' and tried to compete, but Rupert stopped her.

"Vernella, there's no need to rush… Besides, just having you here to celebrate is more than enough to make me happy."

"Oh, Lupia-san…!"

It was practically hero worship. Tilmina listened to Lupia's explanation and understood the situation. To have someone outside her family so easily recognize her talents and guide her toward a fitting future, to give her that push—that was probably more than enough for her.

"Lady Alcioni."

Tilmina thought this a good opportunity and addressed Vernella.

"Since this isn't a formal occasion, allow me a simple greeting. I am Tilmina-Li-Qua. I've heard about you from Lupia. She says you are a very precious sister-in-law to her."

"…I have been terribly rude, Your Highness. My name is Vernella-Alcioni. I am honored by your undeservedly kind words."

After a perfect curtsy, Vernella bowed her head respectfully. Then she raised her face, a smile gracing her lips. Ah, this girl truly loves and cherishes Lupia, Tilmina thought as she continued.

"I have heard good things about the businesses the Alcioni Count Family has developed and the breadth of your connections. But… are you truly sure it was wise to move your entire family to our country? …What about all your previous ventures…?"

"All the business relationships our house directly managed have been brought with us, so you need not worry. What we left behind were merely connections we had mediated. I imagine they will manage somehow."

Vernella said this cheerfully as Rupert prompted her to sit, and she returned to the seat beside him. Tilmina glanced at Lupia, who gave a reassuring nod.

"Lady Alcioni…"

"Your Highness, please call me Vernella."

"Very well, Lady Vernella. …From your earlier words, I could take it to mean you have no particular attachment to your homeland."

"No, I do not."

"…Why is that?"

"My family and I feel a debt of gratitude to Lady Lupia, who is here with us. As for our business, well, we certainly have things to thank our homeland for, but is it not natural to adore the one who recognized the talents of our family's 'other side' when it was on the verge of collapse?"

"I see…"

"In addition, we could no longer trust them."

"Pardon?"

Vernella slowly swirled the glass in her hand and continued in a calm voice.

"A country where the nobles, the common folk, and above all, the nation's leaders, all mocked a single young lady… How could we possibly want to continue living there?"

Ah, that's right. That's how it was. Vernella's words settled into Tilmina's heart. For someone who adored Lupia this much, it was obvious that the entire country's response had been bizarre. Stories of the fated love between the Crown Prince and Princess had even reached the Qua Kingdom. The commoners were ecstatic, exclaiming that a fairy tale had come to life! And the lower-ranking nobles had apparently swelled with hope, thinking that perhaps if two people's feelings were mutual, differences in status could be overcome.

—As if reality could ever be so simple.

The moment they were united was likely the peak of their happiness. After years of laying the groundwork, she had been so trusted that she was even entrusted with official duties. What could he have been dissatisfied with? Who—or what—had sought that relationship in the first place?

In reality, it all fell apart.

Falty's support is still considerably high at present. However, unaware that the ground was crumbling beneath her feet, 'Falty' continued her fall. And worse, no one else has noticed it either. The current 'Falty' is not the real Falty.

"…What is the current situation?"

"Her Highness the Crown Princess seemed a bit distraught, but otherwise, nothing has changed, I hear. On the surface, at least."

"…On the surface?"

"Yes."

Just for a moment, the atmosphere around Vernella changed.

"It will likely descend into chaos. That country."

The ominous words, muttered softly, made Tilmina's expression turn wary.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"You know, Liam-sama, I really think I must apologize to Lupia."

Haven't we been trying to avoid bringing up Lupia's name lately? Liam thought, turning his gaze to Falty, who had come to his office. He was already exhausted from repeated meetings to decide who would take over the national defense roles that the Calmond family and its branch houses had abandoned. 'Not this again,' Liam thought, opening his mouth with a weary expression.

"…Falty, you—"

"You'll listen, won't you?"

Falty smiled, and Liam felt a sense of wrongness. It was strange. The moment he thought that, a feeling of terror followed.

"…What?"

This was Falty, but not the Falty he had been drawn to. Yet her appearance was unmistakably Falty's. He could feel his breathing becoming shallow. He knew he had to take a deep breath, but for some reason, he couldn't.

"Well, Liam-sama?"

This isn't her, he thought, instinctively. The Falty before him was not 'Falty-Ardia.'

"You're not."

"…Not what?"

"You are not the Falty I loved!"

"What a strange thing to say, Liam-sama."

Falty giggled.

"I am me, after all."

A twisted, unnatural smile spread across Falty's face as she slowly raised a hand and held it before Liam's face.

"This is the only way to drag Lupia-sama over here, isn't it?"

A voice that wasn't hers spoke through Falty's lips. The name 'Lupia-sama' made Liam jolt, but when he tried to stand, his body wouldn't move.

"If Falty-Ardia had just cooperated, we wouldn't have had to come out here for aftercare…"

"What are you…"

"No one would have thought she was just an idiot who happened to be smart… It was our selection error, I suppose, but she did achieve the Queen Route ending, so I thought I'd set up the 'next' stage before cutting ties for good."

The words were a stream of nonsense to Liam.

'Queen Route ending'? 'Set up the next stage'? What did it mean? He wanted to question it, but his voice wouldn't come out as he wanted.

"You… bastard…"

"Don't look so scary. You're nothing but a simple cheater who was seduced by this thing, broke off a nationally-decreed engagement, and married it."

A strange, choked sound seemed to escape him. No one had ever pointed it out to his face, but it was a fact whispered quietly beneath the surface. It was slowly spreading among the commoners, too, though it had yet to reach the palace.

"You're a fool, too, aren't you? If you had just stayed with Lupia-sama, you wouldn't have had to clean up this mess. The future of this country would have been secure, too."

"Ahahahahahahaha!" Falty laughed, then took a deep breath and declared:

"System authority, activate. Commencing interference."

An inscrutable something began to dominate the room, the country itself. Originally, the 'System' had intended to vanish without any further involvement once the main story was complete. The 'Systems' supporting other young ladies who had reached their romance endings had done so. But Falty was different.

She had blamed the 'System,' demanding to know, 'Why wasn't it the Grand Finale?'

The reason she hadn't reached the Grand Finale was simply because her favorability with Lupia hadn't been high enough. If it had reached the required value, an event with Lupia would have started. Even if someone in the ducal family had noticed something was wrong with Lupia, the game system would have made adjustments, and even that sense of unease would have been lost. As a result of Falty's incessant complaining, the 'System' itself grew interested in Lupia and set its sights on her.

And so, the 'System' decided. Lupia was the one worthy of the Grand Finale ending. Despite bombarding her with various enticements, starting with the call to become the Queen of the Qua Kingdom, her willpower never wavered. Though she refused, the 'System's' desire to achieve the Grand Finale Route by summoning Lupia here using its last remaining authority function overflowed. To start a new route, it was necessary to drag a different person onto the stage as the protagonist and make them perform the story.

If they wouldn't do it willingly, then they would be forced.

To that end, it just had to use Falty, who had reached the Queen Route ending, and this Liam to create an environment where Lupia would walk right into its hands.

"…Damn it…"

Falty sneered at Liam, who was glaring at her with frustration. She closed the distance between them and gently touched his cheek. Leaning in close, she whispered.

"I'll be counting on your cooperation. To make Lupia-sama the protagonist of the story… you see."

She pressed her lips to his, and Liam's consciousness rapidly faded as he felt something being sucked out of him.

(Lupia, I'm sorry.)

His apology never reached her. Liam lost consciousness. The thing standing alone as 'Falty' wore a victor's smile, though success was far from guaranteed, and turned its gaze out the window.

"Just you wait, Lupia-sama."

'Falty' murmured with a rapturous smile, then walked out of Liam's office with a cheerful spring in her step.