Chapter 165

He struggled to stand.

The crowd wanted to help him up, but he waved his hands to both sides and forced himself to stand upright on his own legs.

The aged king swept his gaze across the nobles gathered, across this palace that had weathered decades of trials by his side.

In the end, his gaze landed on Sheffy Harl, who had also risen to her feet.

“Princess Sheffy, today, with nearly every noble of influence in the nation present, may I ask you a question?”

“You may.”

“Even if this question might anger you?”

“I am not one easily given to anger.”

“Then I shall ask it.”

Though his eyes were clouded with age, they still held the resolve of one who wished to offer his last contribution to the kingdom.

“Your Highness... the peace you advocate for—do you truly pursue it in earnest? Or... is it merely a game of strategy to you, a pastime for moments of leisure?”

The moment the question was asked, the entire hall erupted into noise.

Livra reacted swiftly; she immediately detected the accusatory tone hidden in her father’s words.

She knew what a gentle soul Princess Sheffy was, and she did not want her father to harbor hostility toward her, not even now.

“Father…! You…”

“Livra, you need not speak. Right now, I am addressing Her Highness.”

“But...!”

“If you still count yourself among the royal bloodline of Aurus! Then hold your tongue at this moment!”

“……”

This… wasn’t how it was supposed to go...

Livra had heard that today was meant to be a celebration banquet—to honor Princess Sheffy for saving the royal bloodline, for saving Aurus, and to reward her accordingly.

But… but how did it turn into an interrogation?!

Or rather... was this the true purpose of the gathering from the start…?

Did Father want a clear answer here, in front of all these nobles?

With the king’s words turning somewhat harsh and sharp, the nobles' gazes turned blade-like.

The hatred running in their bloodlines was all directed at the Demon Clan Princess standing before the gleaming pillar. Whispers of dissent could no longer be suppressed and spread like wildfire, waves of doubt crashing forward.

Xiarette furrowed her brow and placed her fingers on the hilt of the Holy Sword.

She had no desire to commit treason. If possible, she wished to continue fulfilling her duty as the Sword of the Nation.

But if everyone was going to treat Sheffy like this...

She wouldn’t mind leaving with Sheffy, abandoning this place that filled her with such unease.

In her heart, Sheffy’s importance far surpassed honor or disgrace.

But before she could take further action, Eclight stepped lightly on the ground, sending out a ripple of wind—not strong, but enough to be felt.

But it was enough to draw the attention of Xiarette beside him.

“Father…?”

“Patience, meticulousness, loyalty.”

Speaking the three words he had often said to Xiarette since she was young, Eclight cast a firm sidelong glance at her.

Then, he quietly imparted another lesson.

“Beyond those… there’s also trust. Trust in the one you believe is worthy of it. If I’m not mistaken... the witch you speak of—is that not the Shaya girl who’s always by your side?”

“Uh… you figured it out…?”

“Because the look in your eyes now is the same as when Firex was badmouthing Shaya before.”

Xiarette’s lips quivered with inner conflict, but her hand still clutched tightly to the sword’s sheath.

“Father… I will listen to your teachings. But I may not always be able to uphold loyalty as unwaveringly as you do.”

“Whether you can or not… let her be the one to decide. I don’t know why you two have come to trust each other so deeply, but as things stand, the trust you place in her... is not enough.”

“……”

Xiarette slowly released her grip on the sheath.

And all her sharpness transformed into resilience and trust, cast upon the silent Sheffy not far away.

—Trust.

Eclight hoped Xiarette could understand its true essence.

Xiarette, since childhood, you’ve never shown such a rebellious look in your eyes.

To be trusted to this extent by you...

Could that person truly meet your expectations?

If she could, then she must respond with a resolve equal to yours.

You, for her sake, are willing to betray your oath of loyalty.

Then she, so that you won’t be forced into betrayal or torn between two impossible choices...

She must silence the harsh words before the avalanche begins.

---

74. The Gods Have Already Betrayed (5K)

“Hah... Your Majesty is truly amusing. Is there even a need to ask? Of course this is a game of strategy. Do you still believe... I was suddenly moved by compassion and decided to pursue peace for your kingdom—even if it meant defying the will of the Demon Clan? Hahaha, that’s nothing but a whimsical tale from a child’s storybook!”

“!”

Under the eyes of all.

Sheffy Harl—had actually responded like this.

With her fingertips resting on the table, she stood, circled around it, and stepped onto the red carpet, her tone dripping with mockery and disdain, as if she hadn’t taken the king’s question seriously at all.

At that, the nobles present could no longer endure. Their composure collapsed entirely, and the room was on the verge of erupting into open dispute.

They shouted, protested, and some even raised their arms, demanding that the witch be expelled from the grand hall.

Of course, they were only shouting. Even though Sheffy had not unfolded her wings, no one actually dared step forward and confront that six-winged demonic radiance directly.

But the anger was real.

“What do you mean by that?! Are you treating the lives of our soldiers like some child’s play?!”

“A game of chess? Ha! Shameless! You call the blood-soaked battles for home and honor a game?! Then who are the pieces?! This is outrageous!”

“Your Majesty! How can you continue to allow her to stand in the palace of the kingdom?! I risk death to offer my counsel—please expel the Demon Clan Princess from the country at once!”

The clamor poured down like a torrential storm. Xiarette couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

She knew that Sheffy must have come up with another plan... but with the situation nearly spinning out of control like this—could it really work?!

Livra felt the same. Her heart was in her throat, trying to persuade her father that Her Highness Sheffy definitely hadn’t meant it like that. But it was clear to the naked eye—the king’s expression had darkened even further compared to before.

Amidst this wave of furious condemnation, Sheffy remained composed. She even had the leisure to gracefully pinch a single peanut from the table behind her and toss it into her mouth.

After all, this was the royal palace’s great hall.

The king’s gesture of raising both hands and pressing them downward may not have been effective enough. The nobles, whether out of loyalty or genuine fervor, all believed they were truly risking themselves to speak candidly.

However—when the members of the Wright Family all turned their heads in unison, casting sharp gazes toward the nobles...

Even if those nobles had been flushed red with rage, necks bulging from fury, they still had to gradually fall back into silence.

The sword at the side of royal authority was an absolute power. Even protests must not bring disorder to the great hall.

Once order returned to calm, King Celt Aurus let out several heavy coughs, shaking his head repeatedly.

It was clear that he found Sheffy’s reply deeply unsatisfactory—disappointed and disheartened.

However, his reason told him that Princess Sheffy’s words couldn’t have merely been provocation.

Otherwise...

What meaning would there be to everything she had done before?

“Your Highness... as you can see, the people of this nation—no matter how lowly—have never intended to bow to the might of the Demon Clan. You may be powerful, and the Demon Clan may be overbearing! But that does not give you license to scorn the resolve of those who would fight to the death. Still... I must ask. Since you are not truly earnest in seeking peace, then what, exactly, is the purpose behind your self-proclaimed role as peace envoy…?”

“Oh, I could answer you, but looking at your people here, they don’t exactly seem like they want to hear what I have to say, do they?”

“I can guarantee... at the very least, no one will interrupt during Her Highness’s time to speak.”

Though aged, the king’s sharpness had not dulled.

In his youth, a single glance from him could command thousands of troops. Even now, a glare was enough to make these civil nobles maintain silence and composure—that much, he could still do.

Thus, the right to speak finally returned to Sheffy.

Oh… so they’ve finally finished shouting, and now it’s my turn to talk, is that it?

That old king just now said something like, since I “don’t intend to sincerely pursue peace,” didn’t he?

What a joke. Think about it—me, a Princess of the Demon Clan, if I were to shamelessly declare something like “I don’t want war, let’s get along, I’m really friendly,” anyone with a shred of critical thinking would assume it’s a trap or hypocrisy, wouldn’t they?

Not just people—even a passing ant might get so mad it’d climb up the table just to carry off one of my peanuts.

After all, Sheffy Harl’s nickname was Princess of Calamity—a so-called demon who could kill without blinking.

But within Sheffy’s playful gaze, a sudden clarity emerged.

You know...

When you’re fishing, if you want a good catch, you can’t be stingy with the bait.

The more expensive the bait, the bigger the fish. In this world, there are no shortcuts where you get the best of both worlds.

If you truly want to achieve your goal, you have to learn to take the long way around.

Sheffy’s objective had always been clear.

Avoid war. Strive for peace. Create the conditions for a relaxed, laid-back life where she could slack off.

This “pursuit of peace”—had never been limited to Sheffy herself being the one to pursue it.

As long as she could present a reason so convincing that both humans and demons alike would have no choice but to halt the war…

Wouldn’t that achieve the goal of peace?

Sheffy’s lips curved into a slight smile. And when she spoke again, it was with the same imposing grace.

What seems complex is often, in truth, quite simple.

Her delicate yet powerful voice reached every corner of the palace without needing any amplification crystal.

“Everyone, it’s true—I don’t have the leisure to sympathize with your misfortunes. After all, it's you who suffer in this war, not us in the Demon Domain. Think about it: the war has dragged on until today... heh... your lives probably haven’t been very comfortable, have they?”

“……”

They wanted to argue—but had no room to.

For the Demon Clan, the cost of war was primarily in manpower. The Demon Domain didn’t need to make major economic sacrifices to support what was already an advantaged military force.

But for the kingdom—it had poured in the power of the entire nation. Even the royal family had to tighten its belt just to maintain frontline logistics. The hardship was self-evident.

But… but wasn’t it all because of you demons?! If you hadn’t invaded on a massive scale, why would we be in such a sorry state?!

Yet—before any voices of protest could rise again—

Sheffy’s words rang out first.

“That’s why, sometimes I really do think that war is rather like a game of chess, don’t you think? Two sides contending, thrust and counter-thrust… it’s almost a pleasant little pastime. Hah… I know hearing this kind of talk makes you uncomfortable. After all, you’re the side that’s already been cornered in this game—short on moves and short on options.”

And then, when Sheffy followed up with her next sentence—

The entire hall fell silent.

“But... while idly observing this little ‘game’ in my spare time, I suddenly noticed something—seems like the ones playing aren’t just our two nations, huh? Hey, why don’t you all take a guess? Guess who’s really benefitting the most from this war between our two nations?”