For as long as they've been at the palace, Shirley hasn't seen Arthur since arriving here.
She thought that the two of them could have some off-time somewhere outside the empire and kindle their love through physical intimacy. Shirley's menstruation cycle just ended and her lower body was aching, more so than in the past. Maybe it's because she finally has a lover that her "heat" cycle is so severe to the point where she wanted to touch herself.
Of course, said "lover" was on the premises but with how gigantic the palace and surrounding buildings were, it became difficult to find him. And with all the unfamiliar smells disturbing her sense of smell, it's equally as difficult to find his scent.
Even if she does find him, will the two of them just have their first time in the… palace? She found it slightly strange to do such a thing. But will he listen to her if she asks to leave together?
"…"
Shirley laid spread eagle on a big canopy bed with red curtains and a painting hanging overhead. While only a guest room, it was way bigger than her room back home. That isn't saying much since her father doesn't believe in grandeur so his castle was smaller in comparison to even noble homes. And even with all the silver his kingdom has, he spends it on expanding his territory and uniting outside tribes instead of spending it on luxury.
In place of a floating magic orb that controls the temperature of the room to be comfortable for humans relative to the weather, Shirley only had a fireplace to keep her warm during winter. And with how they are further south, close to mountains, the weather is always brutal.
Without enough fur like their ancestors, most demihumans froze to death if caught outside too long. Shirley once looked down on humans, envying their comfort and stability. Meanwhile, under the rule of the Lion King, demihumans lived in constant fear—beset by hostile tribes and lacking the high stone walls that protected human cities.
It wasn't that demihumans lacked the knowledge to build those walls—they simply lacked the means. For generations, they imported building materials from human nations and focused more on waging war with hostile tribes and uniting with neutrals. But with the Elves refusing all trade and the Theocracy exerting pressure, those routes were severed. Back in the day, to build even basic defenses, they had to cut down their own forests—further destroying their environment just to survive.
And walls weren't their only need.
Food, medicinal herbs, and gold were also part of the now-crippled trade. Humans valued the rare meats and game the demihumans provided, while the demihumans depended on gold and herbal goods in return. Demihumans have come to appreciate human creations like potions since one can create a potion that increases endurance, heals wounds, see in the dark, gain immense strength, etc… With how disorganized the tribes are, conflicts aren't uncommon so battles will naturally occur. There are also hostile tribes which had the sole purpose of taking over Theorinia kingdom. Potions were one of the advantages the kingdom had over those tribes that outnumber them.
When the Theocracy imposed its will a decade ago, it shattered this balance. Humans did nothing. Maybe they saw it as a distant political squabble.
But the truth was more malicious.
The Theocracy wanted land—specifically, the territories they had abandoned generations ago. Crumbling temples, long-empty churches, and ruined outposts still stood across the disputed zone. Worse still, they coveted the Great Ridge cavern—a key strategic location and the only known trade route between the two large regions above which the only bridge was built millennia ago by demihuman hands using a rare metal lost to time.
So, they made their claim. Declared the land theirs by divine right a decade ago by order of the late Mad Pope.
And with that claim came bloodshed that lasted a decade but never elevated to war.
Underneath their righteous words, the Theocracy's leaders harbored a deep hatred for demihumans. They didn't just want the land back—they wanted to eradicate those who now lived on it.
Anyone who knew the current Pope, Augustus, would think so.
But alas, unlike with the Mad Pope, one cannot simply hope for Serz to assassinate another pope.
Shirley twisted and turned in bed for a while, trying to sleep all throughout the day but a knock came from the door.
"—Your Highness, you have been summoned by His Majesty." Fecius' voice came from the other side.
**
"What is this about?" Shirley asked after leaving her room and following her personal guard. She didn't have time to bathe herself, only put on her clothes from yesterday that had a tinge of sweat to it.
"It's related to the Hero Ceremony."
"Then why am I being summoned?"
"The thing is… there will be some obstacles in the way of Arthur's ceremony."
"…Did you lie about His Majesty summoning me?"
"Princess, we have known each other since childhood so I am aware of your lazy habits. Only certain things would get you out of bed."
"Tch." Shirley walked ahead of Fecius, trying to get to the throne room faster. Normally he would chuckle at her behavior but his reaction seemed odd to her.
What did he hear to be so quiet…?
…
After a while, the two reached the throne room. Even the guards had the door slightly open to listen in on the conversation. Upon arriving there, Shirley caught Arthur's scent so he was most likely in the room.
"Move." She commanded, making the guards straighten their backs and salute. Shirley breathed in deeply, "Shirley of Theorinia requests to enter, Your Majesty!"
After a brief silence, a maid appeared on the other side and opened the door. She looked shaken up for some reason.
What's going on?
On the far end of the hallway stood Arthur, face blank, eyes unblinking. He didn't seem to notice Shirley entering the throne room.
Nearby sat the emperor on his golden throne, a deep frown on his face but not aimed at Shirley. On his right side stood all the Great Nobles— Feldina Ulsian (Fairy Millennium), Duke Marcus von Berkley, Marquis Vance von Penston and Ariane Marldor. On his left side was a familiar middle-aged man—their Vice Principal.
Among them, Marcus had the most distorted expression. His body was trembling ever so slightly and an air of killing intent surrounded him.
Shirley arrived in front of the emperor and knelt.
"—I apologize for coming on such short notice."
"It is fine… This news must have reached you somehow as well so I am sure you want answers. Lord Arthur is your lover, after all…" Jurnick replied, his voice trembling a bit but still carrying the royal air of a king.
"News…? Arthur, what is going on?" she stood up and approached Arthur, his silence scaring her. Even when grabbing his hand, he wouldn't respond.
"My son, Arnold…" Marcus said through gritted teeth, "Declared that he will kill this nation's hero."
The color drained from Shirley's face.
Arnold?
Wasn't he… killed?
"Is it true that—" the vice principal looked at Arthur, "that you killed him?"
He nodded, "…Yes."
Marcus didn't know how to react to that so he just stared at Arthur.
"Regardless of the motive behind that threat, we cannot take it as some joke because I know what sort of person Arnold is," Jurnick said, "You understand we must take action, Marcus."
"I do… But please let me talk to him first, Your Majesty. I will go right now to discipline him."
"According to what we just heard, it sounded like he has no intention of backing down. What good will discipline do? No, we must lock him up." Ariane gave her opinion, "Or if he resists too much—kill him."
"I… I unfortunately agree." Vance pitched in, "It would not be a stretch to say the rest of the nobility will agree with this stance once the public hears of this. Even if it was some street rat commoner, the punishment for threatening humanity's savior…"
"Enough…" Jurnick leaned back in his throne, "I will hear your reason for your actions another time, Lord Arthur."
"Yes, Your Majesty…"
"It is by Melis' teachings that any who turns their sword to the hero must be influenced by the demons. As such, I believe it is vital we request the Theocracy arrange a consultation between Arnold and Oracle Angelica. If the goddess descends, demons may be walking among us."
'Is that really true?' Shirley isn't a religious person so she never studied the holy scriptures.
Speaking of demons—
Shirley glanced at Arthur, "…Didn't you say you saw something within Arnold when you struck him?"
"Hm?" Jurnick heard this and turned his attention to the two of them, "Please share it with us, Lord Arthur. Surely his thirst for your blood does not just stem from hatred?"
It seems that the emperor wanted to believe Arnold was being controlled by someone or something.
And as it turns out, Arthur had an answer to that—
"When I took the Holy Sword in my hands, a new world opened before me. I could see a tar-like cloud of smoke surrounding Arnold's body. Merely being in his presence from that moment onward filled my body with unnatural disgust. He became something I could not tolerate in my presence. One of the titans told me that when such a strange feeling overcomes you when looking at someone, it is because that person is a demon."
"!"
"She whispered into my ear that if I did not kill him, Oriel the Failed King, a being stronger than Arsnoria, would have awakened." Arthur looked at his trembling hands, "I was… so happy that I could prevent a disaster by killing him… I thought to myself that I would feel guilty about shedding the blood of someone I grew up with but when I hold Song and Light in my hands, I know that I did the right thing. B-But before I got the sword, there was a feeling deep inside me that he must've been a demon. And that same demon killed Madilith because it toys with people's lives. It probably knew a way to remove the curse without anyone dying but it found it amusing to kill her!"
There was an uncomfortable silence. Jurnick and Marcus looked at each other, both sharing the same troubled expression.
"…Another teaching of Melis is that a hero knows best which person has been corrupted by a demon… We have no choice but to contact the Pope."
"Your Majesty, if he is still alive, that must mean the demon has already awakened its power and revived him from death." Feldina said, "We must act now."
"Hold on," Vance interjected, "If Arthur already used the holy sword, couldn't the sword have sealed the demon away?"
"I don't think so…" Arthur couldn't give a clear answer, "I don't know how to use its abilities yet."
"That is true… the Goddess would offer guidance in the form of dreams but you have not seen any, have you?"
Arthur shook his head at the emperor's question.
"It's settled then. We fight to kill. If it could revive him once, it can do so again." Feldina said, "I will contact one of Undine's sisters and seek her assistance to cast a spirit seal. It may be temporary but the spell has divine properties that can imprison the demon. One of her sisters will have to sacrifice her life for this but I am certain they agree that a demon as powerful as Oriel cannot be allowed to roam these lands, even in a weakened state."
"S-Shouldn't we inform the Archmage first?" Arthur asked.
"No, we will handle the demon, son." Vance placed a hand on his shoulder, "Together, we can stop even a demon lord."
He glanced at Feldina.
"In the event the spirit dies and the demon is free again, will Arthur have to seal it away himself?"
"He just confirmed he can't use all the sword's abilities yet. For that reason, we will need His Majesty to contact the Pope so that Oracle Angelica can be sent here to perform her miracle spells. If she arrives quickly enough, Undine's sister may not need to die for the sealing spell to hold."
Shirley heard that that spirit sealing spell uses the lifeforce of a High Spirit to fuel it. There is a big difference between a human's lifeforce and a High Spirit's lifeforce. It's almost like the difference between Aura and Divine Aura. But like many other fuel sources, it can run out and kill the spirit.
"Hmm, if it is Angelica, I'm sure we can seal the demon away for good." Jurnick agreed, "Her divine magic is second to only the hero's. Or so the tales say."
The emperor clapped his hands once then announced:
"Assemble every noble officer in the throne room. They are to gather immediately." When he issued his order, the knight by his side saluted and left the throne room.
"Then bring me the national transmitter so that I can contact the border to send a message to the Theocracy." One of the servants he made eye contact with saluted before also leaving the throne room, "Gods, if only we had a means to contact the Pope fast… Tragedy may be averted. Unfortunately, it may take several days for them to get here."
"I heard the Theocracy has some spell that allows them to teleport short distances," Feldina added, "I think they will be able to arrive by the end of the day if necessary."
"That is fortunate even if this is the first time I've heard of it. Hm, we still need to hurry but there is more time to prepare an evacuation. No more lives need to be lost just to capture this demon."
"Shouldn't we take him right at the academy? It has a magic field and is full of spirits that I can use. I won't be able to summon Undine's sister otherwise since the spirits are very rare outside the academy premises."
"Yes, the academy will be the demon's grave. Are all of you prepared to hunt this demon?" Jurnick looked at the Great Nobles.
"Yes, Your Majesty." All four knelt in unison.