The one who pushed open the grand doors afterward was the fourth candidate following Priscilla—a young girl with soft, light-purple hair cascading down her back. She had a youthful face and wore a white formal dress, a white shawl, and a white fur hat. Her overall color theme was primarily white, accented by pale purple.
"Looks like I made it just in time, Julius."
After seeing the other three candidates, the girl smiled slightly and teased in a distinctive regional accent.
"Yes."
Julius—the royal knight who had been slapped by the Shogun earlier—stepped forward to stand at her side.
Perhaps because her entrance lacked Priscilla's flamboyance, she failed to draw much attention. Even if some gazes fell upon her, they quickly shifted away. In a situation like this, the only one capable of commanding attention at all times was probably that so-called "Bloody Bride."
"Hello~ My name is Anastasia Hoshin. I'm not some noble lady, but my greed isn't any less than theirs, you know~? As enemies, I hope we can still get along pleasantly."
Having already passed by the other three candidates, she waved her hand casually.
"Heh... what grand words~ How vulgar."
Priscilla let out a cold laugh. She fanned herself lazily with her folding fan, her golden bangs swaying back and forth in the breeze she created.
Tap tap~
As Julius passed by the crowd, his eyes instantly locked onto the Shogun standing beside Emilia.
"!"
His expression froze for a moment, displeasure flashing across his face. Though he restrained himself as a knight, the dissatisfaction was still visible in the slight chill of his gaze and the faint furrow of his brow. He still hadn't settled the matter of yesterday's humiliation.
"...Heh."
The Shogun glanced at him, then deliberately curled her lips into a faint, mocking smirk—adding fuel to the fire.
Although she had been acting under a mysterious malfunction when she lashed out at him before, she felt no guilt whatsoever. If anything, she was faintly amused.
After all, he had it coming.
"Tch..."
He nearly lost his composure at the sight. His eyes narrowed as he shot her a sharp glare. But this was the royal palace—he knew he could not act rashly. Moreover, his master was present. He could not afford to disgrace her.
Just wait.
With a disdainful glance at the purple-haired woman, he moved on and rejoined the ranks of his supporters.
"Julius looks really mad at you. What happened, meow?"
One of the nearby knights, Felix, poked her elbow and whispered.
"Nothing much. I just slapped him once."
She answered indifferently.
"Huh? You slapped—"
Just once?!
Why say it so lightly?! That was Julius...!
He felt as though his entire worldview had been shaken. What kind of bizarre situation was this?! The damage might have been small, but the humiliation was enormous!
"He started it. He deserved it."
The Shogun scoffed, casting another glance in that direction.
"Uh... he's a member of the knight order, you know."
Felix reminded her cautiously.
"So? I'm not afraid."
She shrugged.
"Uh... alright, meow."
Felix forced a smile.
A few minutes later—the four Royal Selection candidates stood shoulder to shoulder in the center of the grand hall. Directly facing them were the representatives of the Royal Capital Council—the governing body temporarily ruling the kingless nation of Lugunica following the monarch's death.
These individuals were currently making national decisions in place of a king, effectively the highest authority in the land. Most of them were elderly, stubborn traditionalists. The sharp glint in their eyes revealed them to be seasoned old foxes.
Though the council seats were fully occupied, one position remained conspicuously empty—the magnificent throne of gold and crimson at the center. That seat symbolized the outcome of this Royal Selection.
"(Shogun... go over there.)"
Emilia turned back and saw the Shogun still standing in the middle of the aisle, momentarily dazed. Covering her mouth, she whispered a quiet reminder.
"?"
She snapped back to attention and looked at Emilia, who subtly gestured for her to join the supporters' ranks.
"Raiden dear~! Over here~!"
Felix, already in position, waved enthusiastically at her.
"..."
Letting out a soft breath, she walked over and joined the line of white-clad royal knights. Because of their casual attire, she and a few others stood out noticeably among the uniformed figures.
"Oh? You really did come, Miss Raiden."
Standing one place ahead of her, the red-haired knight Reinhard turned at the sound of her footsteps. Upon seeing her, he greeted her with a bright smile, as though he had expected her all along.
"Hehe... I heard Lady Emilia would be attending. I had a feeling you would come as well."
Noticing her slight confusion, he explained with a shrug.
"...Who are you again?"
The Shogun held back for a moment before finally asking.
"Uh—th-that's a bit harsh, don't you think? Miss Raiden, I'm Reinhard. We've met before."
He looked awkward, forcing a sheepish smile.
"Ah. I remember now."
She nodded in realization.
"Raiden dear actually knows Reinhard too, meow? You're quite popular~"
Behind her, Felix nudged her playfully, his soft cat tail swaying back and forth.
"I see... so you all know each other. That makes things easier. I didn't expect you to know Felix as well. You seem to know quite a few knights."
Reinhard praised her.
Yes. She had even beaten one of them.
She cast a sidelong glance at the purple-haired man ahead and sneered inwardly.
Perhaps out of pride—or because he couldn't swallow his embarrassment—Julius never once turned around, nor did he intend to join their conversation.
"By the way, as a supporter of a Royal Selection candidate, you're not a knight, are you, Miss Raiden?"
A knight wearing only a black helmet and missing one arm spoke up from behind Felix.
"I'm not a knight."
—But I fight better than one.
She folded her arms casually in response. She wasn't from Mondstadt, after all.
"Haha~ That's rare indeed~!"
The one-armed knight scratched his head, looking utterly unrestrained.
"Felix. Silence."
Seeing that the meeting was about to begin, Crusch reminded her subordinate.
"Uh, yes."
He immediately straightened up and stopped whispering.
"Al, you as well. Quiet down."
Priscilla clicked her tongue lightly.
"Understood."
The man nodded in response.
"(Shogun... shh~)"
Emilia was different. Though she was reminding the Shogun to stay silent, her tone was gentle and indulgent. She turned toward her, moving her lips softly and raising a finger in a quieting gesture.
I wasn't even talking.
She grumbled inwardly.
[That's not necessarily true—]
'Shh~!'
[...Ahem.]
Ei obediently fell silent as well.
For a moment, the surroundings sank into rare quiet. To the others, the stillness carried a cold tension—it meant the meeting was about to begin.
Clap clap!
One of the elderly council members at the front tapped the table and gave a look to a short green-haired man in armor standing nearby.
"Understood!"
After nodding, the man stepped forward.
"Then allow me—Captain of the Royal Guard Knights, Marcos—to take the liberty of presiding over this meeting!"
His loud, resolute voice echoed clearly through the palace hall, reaching every ear present.
"The events began approximately half a year ago, when the late king and the royal family passed away in succession—"
Sensing that he was about to recount all the background information they had already heard before, Anastasia interrupted him without hesitation, unwilling to waste unnecessary time. Her voice immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Excuse me. I understand the captain wishes to properly explain the background, but I am rather busy."
The purple-haired girl named Anastasia folded her arms slightly and waved a hand as if the matter were trivial.
"In Kararagi, there's a saying—'Time is money.' Rather than repeating well-known and irrelevant details... wouldn't it be better to focus on the key points first?"
"For example... the purpose of our gathering here today."
She brushed back her hair, her emerald eyes sweeping across the other candidates beside her.
"Agreed. There's no need to waste time on further introductions."
Crusch nodded in support.
"Lady Crusch, you too—"
"Observing proper etiquette is important, but time is limited. State the reason plainly. Though I can more or less guess it already."
Like Anastasia, she folded her arms and looked toward the council members ahead.
Wasn't it simply the Royal Selection vote?
"So please, get to the main point."
Anastasia urged.
If not for your interruptions, the background would already be finished.
The Shogun complained silently.
"I believe we should first listen carefully—"
"Apologies, but I wasn't asking for your opinion."
Just as Emilia was about to speak, Anastasia cut her off directly, her words edged with open mockery.
"No, I have the right to voice my opinion, because I am also a candidate for the throne. I believe we should hear everything first!"
Emilia did not back down. She stepped forward firmly, her voice resolute as she directly refuted Anastasia's remark and gestured for the knight in front to continue.
"Oh~ Not bad. Quite the presence."
Felix whispered gossipingly.
The Shogun revealed a faint, approving smile.