(Clyde POV)

'What the hell was that?'

During the king's speech, I sensed a powerful aura coming from the sky. I couldn't exactly see what caused it but I could feel it. The presence disappeared a while later.

'Fuck.'

I felt goosebumps rise on my skin when I felt its eyes on me. It was only a curious gaze so that was a relief.

It seemed no one else besides me sensed it.

–My little girl, Charlotte. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a happy birthday.

The entire hall of nobles applauded. The princess bowed respectfully to the king.

"Thank you for making this possible, father."

–Umu. As it is her birthday, she may have the first dance with whoever she chooses.

"E-Eh?"

Everyone's eyes landed on Charlotte.

The entire hall went silent as they anticipated who Charlotte would choose as a dancing partner. All the noble boys puffed out their chests to make themselves stand out. I think I saw a familiar face. That Alfred guy from back then.

I felt an itch in my nose and was about to scratch it–

"You'll do."

"E-Eh?"

The princess suddenly grabbed my arm and took me to the dancing floor.

"W-Wait–"

"Are you refusing a dance with a princess?"

She whispered menacingly. I felt the killing intent of the boys on my back as we made our way onto the dance floor.

"Move along with me."

Charlotte pulled me towards herself and held my arms out in a waltz pose.

'Oh, my.'

"Yes, your highness."

I wasn't adept at dancing but I'd at least be able to not make any blunders.

Charlotte began moving with the flow of the music that entered our ears. She led me around and around as we stepped along with the flow.

"So you are a mage?"

While we were dancing, Charlotte casually spoke.

"Yes."

"Your magic is impressive. You're good at your age. I truly mean it."

"Thank you very much."

We continued dancing to the music. People gradually moved with their own partners and joined us on the dance floors. I saw Arthur and Arielle pout at Charlotte and I.

I smiled wryly.

As the dance continued, I began getting used to the moves and began leading Charlotte.

"!!!"

She gasped when I spun her around and held her close.

"Kuh!"

"That little bastard."

I heard a few of the older boys mutter amongst themselves.

"D-Don't be so rough. I almost tripped."

"Ah, sorry."

She averted her eyes. The music was coming to a close as the hall was slowly lit up and the music started softening.

"Gaaah!!"

A pained shout suddenly caught my attention. The owner of the voice fell onto the ground, pulling the contents on the table with her.

"Huh?" Charlotte also looked towards the person who fell down. "Mother!!"

She shoved me out of the way and ran towards the queen.

"Stop the music and light the hall!"

The king shouted when he saw the queen vomit blood.

"Aaaaah!!!"

"The queen!"

"Your majesty!"

The nobles ran towards the queen.

"Get away! You'll only make it worse!"

A woman wearing a maid uniform pushed the nobles aside and rushed towards the queen.

I also made my way towards the scene.

"Belle..."

The queen grabbed the maid's hand.

"Your Majesty…"

The maid cried and held her hand.

"Find this bastard who did this!!"

The king roared at his knights who stood like idiots.

"Y-Yes!!"

The knights hurriedly formed a formation and closed the entrances. Everyone was thus kept locked inside.

"Move the children out of the hall. Immediately."

The servants hurriedly moved at Arielle's father's command.

"Let's go."

Arthur grabbed my hand. The servants took all of us outside the hall and blocked the exits.

'Did someone poison the queen?'

I saw a purple tint in her blood which she spat out.

"No…" Charlotte hit the door with a shout. "Let me back in!!!"

The knights blocked the door and didn't respond to her crying.

"Charlotte…"

Arielle rubbed the princess' shoulder and hugged her. The latter kept crying as she held onto Arielle.

◇◇◇

"What a mess…" Aunt Kimberly muttered.

"Who would have the audacity to poison the queen of a kingdom? Whoever did this won't be left alive if they are caught."

Since we had to leave in a hurry , the duke insisted on taking us back to his residence before going back to the palace. It seemed the king trusted the duke's family and didn't want his family involved in that mess.

An investigation might take place once the grand duke goes back.

'It hasn't even been two hours and the night was already a mess…'

I sighed as I looked up at the sky when I leaned my head out the window. The princess stayed in front of the door of the hall even as we left. Her eyes were unfocused as she kept muttering for them to let her back in.

The knights looked sad that they had to hold the princess back.

"Don't leave the house unless I say so. Understand?" The duke sternly spoke to us. "The perpetrator might be after our whole family as well. Until they are caught, don't leave the house."

He repeated his words to which we nodded.

"Yes, Lord Cliff. Please rest assured. I will make sure the children stay in the manor. By the way, where is miss Sadith?"

"She said she'd help in finding the suspect. Do not worry about her. She'll he fine."

Aunt Kimberly nodded her head at the duke.

The carriage rode quietly through the capital city of Pira. The Knight Order made a perimeter around the entire palace so that the suspect doesn't escape. I didn't sense any magic so they shouldn't have used teleportation scrolls.

Maybe they'd use the secret royal tunnels? In every palace there'd be entrances for the royal family to escape through if there was a war for example. Only high ranking members of the royal court or those closest to the victim should know of this.

'Wait… if that's the case then any of the high ranking nobles or servants could be the suspect.'

I didn't think any further of the situation and chose to leave it up to the king to figure out. Although it was sad for the queen to be poisoned, I wouldn't be able to help anyway nor did I have any reason to.

◇◇◇

Charlotte sat at the side of her mother's bed as the moonlight shined on her figure.

"…"

No matter how many times she called out to Melodia, the latter wouldn't open her eyes nor would she open her mouth.

All she did was lay there.

Her chest moved up and down in a smooth rhythm. That was the only thing that made others relieved knowing that she was still alive.

The usual energetic queen who would be kind to everyone no matter their status was like a corpse as she laid in bed unmoving. Her face which was said to be of the most beautiful in the kingdom was pale and blue.

The poison used was of unknown origin. The doctors around the continent confirmed that the poison was not in the medical books. Not even the Holy Kingdom's queen who adored Melodia, could help. Divinity of the highest calibre was no use .The two of them became friends shortly after Melodia's visit to the holy kingdom.

-She was a person I could enjoy being with.

The Holy Queen herself said those words when people asked her what she thought about Melodia. She was someone who could talk to anyone and make them feel comfortable. It didn't matter if they were of the highest or lowest status, she'd always find a way to make them enjoy her company.

Even the holy queen who was said to be the coldest person anyone has ever met fell for Melodia's charm.

Charlotte shook her mother several times in an attempt to wake her up. She knew it was useless since the doctors said Melodia was in comatose.

"You'll wake up again, right...?"

Charlotte finally broke down and cried when she let her mother's hand go. The hand was so cold. It trembled every few seconds.

"...Kuh..."

"Your highness..."

A boy with blue hair entered the room. He knocked several times but didn't receive an answer. He decided to go in nonetheless.

He was 13 and the eldest son of the Rosenberg family. He was also the one destined to become Charlotte's knight.

"I'm sure her majesty will recover."

It was already early the next morning at 3. The party ended abruptly after the chaos that ensued before. The doctors who arrived through the portal gates were still finding a way to save the queen. Many people were running outside the halls every few minutes.

"Take me to my room, Ryan."

"As you command."

Ryan took Charlotte hand and guided her out of the room. The arrived in the dark corridor where no lanterns were lit. Ryan only had one lamp tied to his waist. He searched for Charlotte and had a guess that she would've been in her mother's room.

"Wait..."

She pulled his sleeve.

"Yes?"

Before he could ask what it was, Charlotte hugged him and buried her face in his chest.

"Let's stay like this for a while."

"...As you wish."

Ryan stroked Charlotte's head and hummed. She allowed his touch. To her, he was the only person allowed near her. The two were childhood friends.

"Do you remember the promise we made?"

"How I will become your knight when you officially become queen?"

She nodded.

"Even if I am the queen by then, you must protect my mother as well... She... She'll definitely recover..."

"I will serve you and obey. Do not worry."

Charlotte smiled and slowly moved away.

They then heard footsteps approaching from the top of the stairs.

"Who would roam around this late?"

With quick thinking, Ryan grabbed Charlotte's hand and hid behind a pillar.

A light was coming down the stairs.

'Huh?'

Several priests along with the Pope and two more women walked down the stairs.

'Isn't that Lady Olivia and Sadith?'

Ryan thought as he leaned closer to hear their conversation.

The pope was smiling brightly as he spoke with the concubine of the king and the duchess of the Luxembourg family.

"Excellent work, lady Olivia. I did not expect you to go through with it."

They stood at the bottom of the stairs. The priests who were with them left before them.

"Thank you. If not for Sadith helping me gather everything then I would never have been able to succeed."

Sadith laughed softly.

"Anything for you."

Sadith took Olivia's hand and pulled her into a kiss.

"...?"

Ryan couldn't believe his eyes.

'Why are they kissing? They should be happily married, right?'

Ryan thought and covered Charlotte's eyes before she could take a peek. The latter was too innocent to know what was going on.

Sadith slid her hand in Olivia's bra and lowered her strap. Their curvy bodies hugging each other was giving Ryan eye candy which he somehow wanted to continue watching.

Their saliva mixed and trailed down their mouths.

"Hohoho…"

The Pope enjoyed the show while rubbing his nipple secretly.

"N-Not here..."

Olivia quickly covered her chest.

"Ahem... That's inappropriate. We will continue when there's time."

"Yes, your majesty."

Sadith licked her red lips with a seductive gaze. Olivia hurriedly fixed her blonde hair and turned towards the pope.

"Please do not forget about your role."

'Role?'

She instantly regained her composure.

"Of course, Lady Olivia. Well, then. I should be going now. The church's business never rests."

He fixed his hat and went down the stairs. Sadith gave Olivia one last kiss before descending as well.

Olivia smiled in satisfaction.

"One step left."

She walked away with a satisfied expression on her face.