"Drescalay?"
Ignomas was fully aware of why Princess Carmin looked so anxious the entire time he spoke with Allen.
"Yes, is Lord Drescalay doing alright?"
Ignomas asked just in case, but Princess Carmin just repeated her question.
He turned to look at Agiley, looking troubled.
There was someone from a new family on the throne, so it was easy enough to assume what had happened to those with ties to the Prostia Royal Family.
Agiley frowned slightly, feeling Ignomas' gaze on him.
(I knew they would react like that. They need Clebeur's territory on the surface after all.)
Ignomas was not attacking either of the Two Imperial Armies, or the nobles.
He had spent large sums of money to avoid any large conflicts.
That was all so had as many soldiers as possible to invade the surface.
As far as Allen had observed with his Fish D summon, they had no intention of harming Princess Carmin.
And that was why they decided they would try bringing Duke Drescalay's name up.
Clebeur was a key waypoint for Ignomas' invasion on the surface.
Multiple hundreds of thousands of soldiers would be stationed there, so they needed to maintain a friendly relationship.
Ignomas had a lot more authority and power than Clebeur, but having a friendly relationship would spare the lives of many soldiers.
Even though Clebeur was a small country, they still had an army of more than ten thousand.
There was also the possibility the Five Continents' Alliance would step in to help them.
Information traveled fast in the surface thanks to their magic devices.
Fending off the Alliance without suffering losses was a tall order.
If Princess Carmin was harmed in any way, Clebeur would likely mobilize its forces too.
Ignomas knew how risky that was, and he was seeking Agiley's counsel.
"I guess there's no other way out then?"
Ignomas suddenly spoke.
(I guess he's the type to think out loud. Though well, he's right.)
"Wait, but wouldn't that mean-?"
Agiley was shocked, asking if Ignomas was serious about that.
Even the knights standing next to Ignomas were getting nervous.
If Princess Carmin had decided to remain silent, they would have overlooked it, but she had insisted.
Allen noticed Ignomas seemed to turn towards his knights.
"Princess Carmin, could you consider overlooking this matter? Please forget about Drescalay."
Before Ignomas could complete his order, Allen whispered into Princess Carmin's ear, but making sure his voice was loud enough for Ignomas to hear it.
""What?! B-b-but…I can't…
Princess Carmin turned away and began bawling.
"Hm?"
Ignomas' brain was completely overloaded, unable to comprehend what was happening or what to do.
"Wha-?! H-how dare you!! Shot at least a bit of respect. A-Alec, have you already forgotten just how much favor the royal house of Clebeur showered you with!!"
(Shea, your face is a little red. Don't get so nervous.)
Hearing Allen's words, Shea, who played the role of bodyguard, spat out in anger.
Her voice was heard loudly in the entire throne room.
"Huh? Joanna, are you raising your voice against me thinking I'm a mere servant like you? It seems you don't realize my position as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary."
"Damn you! Are you betraying us?!"
Shea's body was trembling as she reached for her sword, as if preparing to cut Allen down.
"Heheh, I know you won't do it. Your attitude is nothing compared to our positions. You're that princess' bodyguard, so I'm sure you realize everything I had to go through."
"Guh!"
"I've spent many long years working in arid and dusty environments, all for the king. Yet I was only called back when it was convenient for them, not for my merits."
Allen claimed he had spent many years in Baukis, a dry and arid land, working for Clebeur.
No matter how successful he was, he was never rewarded, and he was only called back home when Clebeur was in trouble.
That was quite the selfish attitude, said Allen.
"What are you talking about?! If Clebeur's royal family falls you fall as well!"
It was Sophie's turn, and she said her lines with all her might.
Allen could tell she had stayed up late memorizing everything the night before.
"Think again. His Imperial Majesty has just told me he'll employ me if I get him his money."
"S-so you really are intent on betraying us then! You shameless fool! If we return to the kingdom safely you'll get what is coming to you!!"
Sophie sounded decided, fully embracing her role.
But she quickly calmed down and limited herself to just glaring at Allen.
(Thank you very much for your emotive performances. We came up with everything yesterday, but this is perfect. So, what will you do now, Ignomas?)
The act was built around Ignomas' plans and personality.
Allen wondered just what Ignomas was thinking about now.
The knights had come to the house Allen was staying in the day before, saying they would need to go to the palace.
Between then and today, Allen came up with this plan.
The information gathering phase had started when they arrived at Patlanta, and it was finally complete.
He decided to put everything he knew to use, and find out even more things.
When Princess Carmin heard about it, she quickly agreed to it, deciding to dirty her hands a little for Clebeur's sake.
Now that Prostia was about to fall, it was hard to say what would happen with Clebeur.
It was likely Ignomas would try to change the country's identity once he was in full control.
And even if they agreed to collaborate and Ignomas successfully conquered the surface, there was no guarantee he would let Clebeur continue existing after that.
Clebeur's royal family was a descendant of Prostia's lineage after all.
Princess Carmin wanted to conserve her family, so she perfectly played the role they decided upon the night before.
Iwanam did not have a part in this, so he just kept his head lowered, worried if it would really work out.
Princess Carmin was able to act so well thanks to the rings Allen had prepared.
Peromus and the other members who did not usually fight had one as well.
With them, Princess Carmin's Intelligence was raised by 10000, allowing her to follow Allen's plan perfectly.
Allen, Princess Carmin, Shea, Sophie, and Cecile continued their charade.
"That's enough! You're in the presence of the emperor!!"
Agiley shouted at them to calm down.
Princess Carmin was still excited, so she snapped her head to look at Ignomas.
"He's right. Do you mind ending your little spat already?"
"O-oh, I'm truly sorry…"
As Ignomas' knights took a step forward, Princess Carmin acted like she finally realized what was going on, instantly kneeling and bowing deeply.
Seeing that, Iwanam and the other guards became restless.
They would give their lives to protect her life at all costs.
(He's really confident in his skills at least.)
Ignomas was said to have a 4 Stars Talent, Spear King, so he did not seem bothered at all by Iwanam's reaction.
He had absolute confidence in his skills.
"Hmm…"
Ignomas grunted, he had stopped thinking for a while now.
"Is it really fair to overlook their sullying of this majestic place and throne? Why don't you send them as a present to your queen?"
Allen decided to lead Ignomas into taking action.
"Huh? What do you mean? Does she have some treasure on her?"
Ignomas was still hesitant to take action, so he was relieved to hear a different opinion.
"Have you ever thought if your queen feels bored?"
"I see, I get it now. So they can be her conversation partner. Alec, you really are smart."
Ignomas was glad he could postpone the matters that way.
"You praise me too much, I'm still nothing in comparison to your genius."
Allen smiled devilishly as he praised Ignomas.
Allen was suggesting Princess Carmin be kept together with Princess Rapsonile.
That also meant that Princess Carmin would be isolated from her knights and guards.
Meanwhile Agiley realized she could be used as a bargaining chip against Clebeur too, so he nodded in approval of Allen's idea.
"Alright, take the princess to the villa. The rest of you can leave as well."
That was all for their audience with Ignomas.
He seemed to dislike annoying situations like that, shaking his head in disapproval as he stood up from the throne and left somewhere.
The knights took Princess Carmin away.
Allen and the rest followed after her.
"This is as far as you go. Men are prohibited entry past this point."
They thought they could go to the villa as well, but they were denied entry.
They were on the first floor of the palace, on a corridor leading to the villa, but halfway there Ignomas' knights stopped them.
Men were not allowed in there, so Allen, Peromus, Iwanam, and the other guards were stopped.
"I see. Well princess, I guess this is goodbye. Farewell, I doubt we'll see each other again."
He said that, implying that he would continue working for Ignomas, while she would be gone forever.
"I-I'll never forgive you, traitor!!"
Cecile shouted as her leg flew through the air.
"Ghah?!"
Her foot seemed to dig itself into the back of Allen's head.
(Thank you for improvising a little here. Also, I can see your ass cecile.)
As Cecile's impromptu act started, the knights began to move.
They opened the villa's door while telling her to calm down and comply.
Princess Carmin, Cecile, and the other girls were shoved inside.
The knights closed the doors then, and went back to the palace.
"That was quite a thrilling experience though, it was hard to believe it was all an act."
Shea felt accomplished as she said that.
At first she had been doubtful whether the plan would succeed.
"Well, I'm glad it worked out somehow."
Sophie heaved a sigh of relief.
'It was a magnificent performance, everyone. Seraphy's kick really hurt.'
"Oh? I see, Alec."
As they spoke, a Bird G summon peeked out from between Cecile's clothes.
"Who are you!"
They were all conversing next to the doors when a lone woman appeared on the stairs in front of them.
But she was not using the stairs.
(Ohh, a mermaid, that's an actual mermaid princess.)
She was swimming in the water, her lower body that of a fish, and her lustrous and wavy green hair fluttering around her upper body. That was Princess Rapsonile.
Allen peeked through the eyes of his summon, concealed as much as possible in Cecile's clothes.
After the princess, a group of female knights hurried there as well.
"I'm truly sorry for the disturbance, Your Highness. We're here to rescue you."
Shea spoke first, apologizing for intruding in the villa.
"Help me? What do you mean? Please explain."
Princess Rapsonile could somehow tell they were no regular people.
Shea seemed to exude a certain aura.
"Could you first tell us everything that happened here first?"
Shea offered that both sides share their stories.
"...Sure, let's do that. Follow me please."
She could see something in Shea's expression.
She took the lead, guiding Shea and the rest to a room in the second floor.
