"Golden hair and red eyes—those are the most prominent physical characteristics of the Lugunica royal bloodline." Rickert muttered.
Then he immediately denied it vehemently, "But that's impossible. The royal family all passed away from illness half a year ago, there's no way any bloodline could still be out there..."
"Rickert-sama."
Reinhard's calm voice interrupted him, "Are you aware of an incident that occurred in the royal palace fourteen years ago?"
"What?" Rickert's expression stiffened further.
"Knight Reinhard..."
His voice went dry. "What you're trying to say, could it be..."
"Fourteen years ago, intruders invaded the royal capital."
Reinhard said clearly, "The daughter of the late King's younger brother, Ford-sama, was kidnapped that night. The intruders escaped successfully, and that young princess has been missing ever since."
This was a scandal the kingdom had tried desperately to cover up.
"Because the dragon tablet provided no warning, there was a lapse in the royal palace's defenses at the time. Even though a search was launched afterward, it coincided with other major events, making it impossible to investigate with full force."
Miklotov added, "Indeed, that was also a major reason for the dissolution and reorganization of the former Royal Guard."
Reinhard said, "It is precisely because I know this secret that should never have been made public that I was able to connect the clues."
Miklotov nodded, but Rickert's confusion did not subside.
"That's too far-fetched! No, it's simply fallacious!"
He waved his arms, "The princess who went missing fourteen years ago just happens to end up living in the royal capital's slums, and just happens to be found by you? And she just happens to possess the qualifications of a Dragon Priestess? How can there be so many coincidences in the world?"
"I stake my sword on it."
Reinhard unbuckled the sword at his waist, placed it solemnly on the ground, and performed the most solemn rite of offering one's sword.
Seeing the "Knight among Knights" offer such a solemn vow, Rickert's shoulders slumped, his momentum instantly vanishing.
"The royal bloodline is extinct, there is no way to verify her identity. Relying on mere speculation will not convince everyone."
"That is a matter of course."
Reinhard stood up, his gaze firm, "But I am convinced that Felt-sama is the person suitable to inherit the throne. Even if that blood relation did not exist."
'Though he is hailed as the Sword Saint of this generation, this idea is insane... but not bad.' Tsukasa thought.
Listening to these convoluted conversations filled with historical secrets, Tsukasa felt his head throbbing, and he increasingly felt that this country was obscure and difficult to understand.
Hearing Reinhard's unwavering answer, Rickert seemed to give up, sighing heavily.
He looked back at Felt, the center of all this discussion, his tone complex. "Setting aside the qualifications of a Dragon Priestess for now, your background in the slums, combined with the possibility of being of the lost royal bloodline... The difficulties and scrutiny you will face from now on will exceed your imagination. Have you truly prepared yourself?"
This seemed like a final test. Rickert seemed to want to use her own answer to settle the dissatisfaction in his heart.
Everyone waited for Felt's response, as if this long dispute was about to reach its end.
"Huh?"
Felt tilted her head, looking baffled. "What kind of bullshit are you spouting, old man? I never said I wanted to be any monarch."
Her clear voice delivered an answer diametrically opposed to everyone's expectations.
The hall erupted in an instant, everyone shaken by this unexpected rejection.
"I was dragged here by force from the slums!"
Felt's voice grew louder, filled with pent-up rage. "I wanted to go back, but this guy wouldn't let me! He even hid my original clothes and forced me to wear this flimsy, cumbersome thing! I've had enough, and I'm furious right now! Who cares about your damn problems!"
Her outburst of cursing caused an extremely awkward silence to once again envelop the entire hall.
Even Tsukasa, standing to the side, couldn't help but chuckle.
"How much longer are you going to drone on?" A voice filled with obvious impatience rang out.
Priscilla, who had remained silent all this time, crossed her arms, her red eyes filled with boredom.
"There is no topic more tedious than this."
Her ample chest swayed slightly with her movement. "It is merely for the sake of form that five people are needed for the opening. When it truly begins, those who are unqualified will naturally be eliminated. In any case, the one remaining at the end will be me, and whether the others have so-called 'qualifications to be monarch' is completely irrelevant."
This unreasonable, arrogant statement instantly ignited Felt, who was already fuming. She leaped from the platform and stood directly in front of Priscilla, the two of them glaring at each other with daggers drawn.
"I thought you were just some pretentious young lady at first, but is your head actually stuffed with cotton?"
Felt did not back down. "Want to fight? I'm game! My kicks are famous in the slums!"
"Impertinent."
Priscilla's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Who do you think I am?"
Felt scoffed, "Ha! Who cares about you!"
"Brother, the Princess and that person..." Al, standing beside Tsukasa, suddenly shouted.
He seemed to know exactly what Priscilla intended to do.
With Al's shout, the air in the hall seemed to undergo a decisive change, and an invisible pressure rose abruptly.
"Forgive the intrusion, Priscilla-sama." A calm voice rang out.
At the same time, a red figure appeared in front of Priscilla as if teleporting—it was Reinhard. He, who had been kneeling on the platform, had interposed himself between the two girls in the blink of an eye.
And at almost the same moment, another white figure flashed into the scene—it was Tsukasa.
The red-haired knight and the mysterious white-haired knight stood, one on the left and one on the right, blocking the front of the orange-haired girl, Priscilla.
And behind them, Emilia had already stepped forward quickly, shielding Felt in her arms.
Tsukasa stood between Reinhard and Priscilla, waving his hands casually at both of them, his tone relaxed. "Everyone calm down. How about we just leave it at that?"
"As my attendant, you actually stepped in to help an outsider..."
Priscilla glanced at him and snorted coldly, "Hmph."
Tsukasa shrugged, looking innocent. "I didn't say anything."