Side Story 84: The Second Prince's Rebellion (8)

Your Majesty, I am Luluria Fezaris Bardusa. It is an honor to meet you.

Oh.

The meeting between Luluria and Father took place not in the audience chamber, but in the Emperor's private quarters.

Only Tsetsedra, Elder Brother Bittegald, Elder Brother Rokabill, and the Emperor's three consorts were present to witness it.

In fact, there had been a bit of a commotion as soon as Tsetsedra and the others arrived. Needless to say, Father was displeased with Filemas, but he also showed his displeasure toward Tsetsedra for not immediately moving to suppress him.

Father had apparently assumed at first that Tsetsedra would fight Filemas, then come running to him in tears for help.

Although an early request for reinforcements could objectively be considered a calm decision, Father judged it spineless to ask for them without taking any action at all.

Thus, he began insisting that, at a public audience, Tsetsedra and the others swear they had no divided loyalties and declare that they would face punishment if they failed to defeat Filemas.

It was a somewhat forceful course of action, driven by irritation. Salisha-sama was the one who stopped him, scolding Father and calming him with a warning that such an approach might leave lasting resentment. The plan was therefore changed to a discussion among the family alone, at least for the time being.

Father rested a hand on his chin and leaned forward as he gave Luluria a rude, probing stare. Luluria, meanwhile, maintained the formal posture of greeting, her eyes lowered to the floor...