Chapter 39

"Fire brigade members are currently extinguishing it, but since this place is close to the city gates, it would be better to evacuate."

A boom cut off their conversation. Fireworks bursting from the stage finally reaching its climax embroidered the jet-black sky. While lighting torches around the stage, the protagonist who received God's grace advanced toward enemies.

"When the play ends, people will swarm and it'll become dangerous. You must leave now."

"Is it large enough fire that I must evacuate?"

"Since members moved swiftly, they'll soon contain the flames. But I too should go to the scene, and if people become agitated, I might not be able to safely guard Your Holiness..."

"I'll go to the scene too."

"Your Holiness."

As if about to rise from his seat immediately, Parvellone pressed Siennas's shoulder to seat him. Though it was utterly rude behavior that made him sharpen his gaze, instead of apologizing, Parvellone lowered his voice further to whisper.

"I am 'The Holy King's Sword'. My going is Your Holiness going. If Your Holiness goes to the scene, more personnel will be needed to attend to Your Holiness's safety, so people might be unable to concentrate on fire suppression. Your Holiness has work only Your Holiness can do."

It was correct. Stubbornly insisting like this was in a way also stealing Parvellone's time.

"I understand. You go to the scene right now. However, report the situation immediately."

"Yes, Your Holiness."

While leaving, Parvellone stopped by Cassian sitting below and whispered something again. This time, he could guess what conversation they had. Probably needing someone to command security until Siennas went to the Grand Church. Cassian nodded and pushed Parvellone's back as if telling him not to worry more and do his work.

On stage, the protagonist who defeated enemies, Callisto Deva, was singing a hymn of ecstasy. When that song ended, the play would end too. Siennas pressed his forehead while glaring at the brightly lit stage. Though the hardships on stage seemed to end with a few songs, Siennas's hardships seemed just beginning.

Already people sensitive to smells began looking around at the faint burning smell carried on the wind. Siennas turned his gaze toward the south where the gates were. He could see grayish smoke gradually rising into the southern night sky. If smoke was visible even from here, surely...

A great fire.

Just as he couldn't prevent the solar eclipse, Siennas's worthless abilities couldn't prevent the great fire either. Disaster came to Siennas like a natural sequence. Trying to handle disaster wrought by God with mere human strength only made his position difficult. Rather than trying to prevent it, he should have devised methods to cleverly avoid it like during the solar eclipse.

"Your Holiness. I've instructed the stage to drag out curtain calls as long as possible. Please rise now."

Unable to wait longer, Cassian approached Siennas's side. Siennas alternately looked at the smoke in the southern sky easy to overlook without close observation, the brilliantly shining stage, and the murmuring audience.

"Your Holiness."

"Head Priest Cassian. What does the Head Priest think?"

"Pardon?"

"Look at the southern sky. Without drawing attention."

Cassian only rolled her eyes to look where Siennas indicated.

"It's smoke."

"Doesn't seem to be suppressed. Doesn't the scale seem larger than expected?"

"...That's why you should evacuate."

"Is the Head Priest's thinking truly so? In the current situation, if a large fire occurs, who do you think would be most advantaged?"

Cassian didn't bother answering. The answer was already determined anyway.

The person who had emphasized fire might occur at the festival. The person who decided not to hold the festival's biggest event despite many people's opposition.

If no fire occurred, Siennas would be in trouble. For him, even a somewhat small-scale fire occurring would be advantageous. Because he could propagandize 'we could prevent it thanks to preparing in advance what could have spread into greater disaster.'

"If Your Holiness had instigated the fire, you wouldn't be saying such things now."

Though thinking 'Mayee' might do so, saying this was because of her own resolution to trust Siennas once.

"Of course I didn't instigate it. But if I evacuate like this, someone wanting to use this situation might spread such talk."

Especially Duke Mayee wouldn't miss this opportunity. He'd bribe people to create witnesses and fabricate circumstantial evidence of the Holy King's instructions. Though unable to shake commoners' faith from the roots, nobles didn't trust each other. He'd immediately lose ministers' trust.

"Head Priest Parvellone recommended evacuation?"

Cassian's question approached meaningfully. Without looking at her, Siennas nodded.

Could it be Parvellone rather than Duke Mayee?

Or was she just confirming whose will Siennas's current words were?

"I'll follow Your Holiness's decision."

Siennas squeezed both eyes shut. Determining the arson culprit right now was a secondary problem. He had to gain people's trust to avoid suspicion as much as possible.

"Head Priest Cassian. Can you issue instructions instead?"

"Command me."

Parvellone had said to do 'work only the Holy King can do'.

What Siennas knew was that if that great fire too proceeded as scheduled, at least the fire demon wouldn't reach this Festival Plaza.

When 'Sion', he had always been like that. Wrapping himself in hypocrisy and lies to gain people's sympathy, thus protecting his safety. In other words, 'pretending to be good' was no different from Siennas's specialty.

"Please arrange so I can appear on stage during curtain call time. Instruct guards to evacuate all people at Dueling Plaza and Prosperity Plaza close to the gates inside Festival Plaza. I'll hold prayer meetings here to protect the Holy Capital until the fire is extinguished."

Same principle as the solar eclipse. Since flames would absolutely not invade this plaza, using that reversely to make it Siennas's achievement.

Parvellone's words were right. He should watch plays often.

Perhaps those who must act more often than actors were precisely these nobles and high priests.

"It might be dangerous, Your Holiness."

Because it was an irreversible path once committed, Cassian drove the point home.

"As you already know, I'm not a courageous person, Head Priest. I'm just stepping forward because the situation that would come if I hide behind the Grand Church like this is more frightening."

As if it was a satisfactory answer, Cassian curled up her mouth corners.

"May God's grace be with you."

Bright red flames like a snake's maw covered the entire field. Though not only fire brigade members but nearby people were mobilized to draw water streams, it was insufficient to catch flames that had already gained momentum.

Though you so wanted to see flames, now you can see them to your heart's content.

Parvellone clicked his tongue and sealed the gates. The entire plaza right now was covered with waves of crowds. If rumors of major fire spread in such a situation, people rushing to flee at once might cause even greater accidents. He had to control information as much as possible and somehow protect at least Holy Capital Zeon.

Turning at the rumbling ground, an elephant was pulling a cart full of large water barrels. Still unable to even remove the festival parade flower crown from its head. Still, mobilizing the elephant preparing for parade agilely was praiseworthy. The guard vice-captain commanding transport personnel saluted briefly upon seeing Parvellone.

"The situation doesn't look good."

"They say it wasn't such a big fire at first, but for some reason, the flames show no sign of being contained."

It was strange. How many ignitable materials existed in harvested fields for flames to spread this quickly? Though straw bales might be piled here and there, this speed was definitely suspicious.

"The smell is strong."

"I think so too. For just burning straw bales..."

"What do you think it's from?"

"According to members suppressing early on, a guard dog we keep in the guard first found the fire's origin."

"Guard dog?"

"Yes. Since it's sensitive to sulfur smell... Some people witnessed blue flames, so it's probably certain."

If sulfur had been sprinkled at the ignition point, flames would have flared intensely when first lit.

"Seeing the oil smell too, we're also considering the possibility it started with sulfur fire then spread along oil."

Moreover, if oil had been sprinkled throughout the field, the money spent on such machinations would have been enormous. Parvellone covered his mouth and nose with the towel the vice-captain offered and approached near the scene. Dozens of members dug water channels, and the rest were frantically pumping water to spray. But even to Parvellone's eyes, the flames didn't seem containable. Even securing space to step forward, it endlessly expanded its power backward and to both sides.

First, flames would have jumped on sulfur, soon spreading along oil-coated stalks, but once growing to some size, the fire demon itself greedily swallowed what lay before it with its own power. Before the heat seemingly burning his whole face, Parvellone recalled the terrain beyond that field invisible behind flames. To the southwest would be a small forest, and the Gallio River stretching from that forest's center to southeastern fields. Flames would stop upon reaching the river. But flames meeting the forest would swallow dried leaves and flee toward southwestern mountains.

"Mobilize elephants and cavalry to set counterfires and defend so flames don't spread to the forest."

"Yes, Your Eminence."

"You know His Holiness has been especially concerned?"

More than just knowing. The Holy King personally visited to hold the vice-captain's hands personally requesting caution to prevent fire. She bowed her head with a gloomy expression.

"I'm not reproaching you. Evacuate all people to the riverside, and above all, we must somehow protect Zeon."

"Yes. I've already instructed evacuation first."

Response was fast and accurate. If flames couldn't be caught even with the vice-captain personally acting, they'd be uncontainable whoever acted. Then weight still leaned toward planned arson.

"Has the ignition cause been revealed?"

"At the ignition site, multiple charred bodies presumed to be nobles were discovered."

If those were the cause, they probably died unable to escape due to toxic smoke from sulfur.

"Nobles?"

"According to someone nearby, they heard rumors that noble youths would hold a scarecrow burning festival today."

This disaster because of immature nobles' pranks?

Though thinking so would be more comfortable inside...

"Survivors?"

"None confirmed currently."

They couldn't all have burned to death. Knowing what they'd done, they'd be desperate to flee.

While looking at crowds crying out after evacuating but unable to enter inside the gates, Parvellone whispered quickly toward the vice-captain.

"Right now find if there are injured nobles among that group."

"But they wouldn't reveal their status—I don't know if we can identify nobles."

"Tell them through members that we'll only let in those who can prove parents or relatives reside inside the castle. Whoever they are, to escape such an ignition point, they'd have severe burns somewhere. If pathetic noble greenhorns, they'd immediately want to run to parents for treatment. Even if their crimes are revealed, besieging in parents' mansion would be better than here."

"They'd want to enter the Holy Capital as soon as possible."

"Holy Capital people are inside the castle enjoying the festival now, so most of them would be residents outside the walls. Only nobles whose parents and relatives' residence can be proven would have played with fire."

"I'll convey as commanded."

After hearing the vice-captain's message, the cavalry rushed west. The elephant carrying a keeper also began running with fearsome momentum. Parvellone threw away the towel covering his mouth, mounted his horse, and headed away from the rumbling ground.

After hearing the guard members' notice that only those with connections inside the castle could enter, people let out sighs.

"Here, here!"

Except one person.

One man roughly pushed aside people before him while raising something high. Regardless of screams leaking from all directions, he limped on one leg and jumped before guard members. Just then, Parvellone who arrived pulled the reins. A jet-black horse like midnight darkness raised front legs and roared powerfully while stopping in place.

Startled by that momentum, the man dropped what he was holding and plopped down in place. One leg with skin peeled from burns was visible. Parvellone promptly jumped off his horse and picked up what he'd dropped.

"A seal."

"Ah, ah, Your Eminence, it's Your Eminence?!"

After fiddling with the seal, Parvellone looked down at the man. And smiling broadly, he called his name.

"I told you. Don't predict any future besides God's teachings. We meet again like this, Dukelain Harman."

A light of joy crossed the man Dukelain's face. Parvellone remembered him—thus he could enter inside the gates even without complex identity verification procedures.

Of course, his wish didn't last long. Members who received the vice-captain's orders promptly rushed in to seize him.

"Agh, I'm injured! Support me properly!"

Well, he seemed unable to grasp the situation. Parvellone strode before Dukelain being dragged up and sharply grabbed his short golden hair completely singed at the ends. And he tilted his head back to face him.

"How did you get burned, Dukelain?"

"Your Eminence, why are you doing this! Don't you know what family I'm from?!"

"Since Dukelain doesn't seem to know how to converse yet, I'll teach you. Now, I question and Dukelain answers. How did the leg wound occur?"

"C-call Mother and Father."

"Haha..."

Following the absurd snicker, his ears went deaf. Dukelain couldn't even properly let out a scream at the tearing pain felt on one cheek. Red blood flowed down from his nose and ears. One eardrum seemed to have burst. After lightly brushing the hand that had struck his cheek, Parvellone grabbed his hair again and forcibly turned his head to show the ear without blood flowing.

"I'll say again. I question, Dukelain answers. The leg, why injured?"

"J-j-j-just, fi-fire suddenly, so I, somehow..."

"Playing scarecrow burning, you mean?"

"N-n-no, no! I've never done such things!"

"Really? But you seem to know such an event existed. Seeing you deny without even saying what that means."

"No, please believe me, no, Your Eminence!"

Seeing him tremble just from one slap, breaking a few places would make him talk readily. The problem was his parents wouldn't just watch. But for this matter especially, establishing a 'culprit' was most important. Even a nominal culprit rather than the real one didn't matter. Without someone to be a scapegoat, many people could face difficulties. He had to obtain confession from Dukelain as quickly as possible. Parvellone released the hair he'd been gripping.

Must obtain confession before rumors spread inside the castle.

"Your Eminence, His Holiness issued evacuation orders for Plazas 6 and 7."

"......"

Rumors had all spread. Well, it couldn't be hidden just seeing the smoke.

"His Holiness?"

"He's at the theater."

"Hasn't he evacuated?"

"No. He's offering prayers at the theater to protect the castle."

If he'd evacuated other people inside Festival Plaza, the Holy King was currently personally at the Holy Capital's front line. Though he'd thought this might happen...

"I see. Young nobles seem to have caused fire playing with fire. Most died at the scene, but we secured one survivor. Though keeping his mouth shut now, tell His Holiness I'll obtain confession as quickly as possible. The flames..."

Parvellone looked back at the still uncontained flames with complicated eyes.

"It'll be difficult, but tell him I'll somehow manage by tonight."

"Yes, Your Eminence."

He pointed to one corner for soldiers holding Dukelain. Raising his thumb to make a throat-slitting gesture, he shook his head once. After sending hand signals to open his mouth by any means up to just before killing but not killing, he mounted his horse.

"I'll command this side, so you go west."

"Yes!"

As if waiting for those words, the vice-captain mounted her horse and spurred hard.

The flames flickered as if to burn even one thread of hope.

"There he goes!"

Lionello, who had been anxiously standing before the theater, startled and turned his head at those words. From the side door connecting to the stage where the Holy King was, one person in guard uniform was running out hurriedly. Though he'd been waiting for him, actually seeing him like this, his soles froze and wouldn't readily move. While Lionello hesitated, Ulrike whose heart grew urgent urged him once more.

"What are you doing, Rio! Quickly go ask?"

"But he looks busy..."

How could he be so considerate? Ulrike forcibly pushed Lionello who kept acting frustratingly. Thanks to that, Lionello ended up rushing before the guard member who was about to mount his horse.

"D-don't draw your sword. No need to draw."

Because the guard member reflexively brought his hand to his waist, the conversation started like this. Behind Lionello, Ulrike shook her head.

"I'm Head Priest Parvellone's younger brother."

Fortunately, at these words, the guard member seemed to recognize Lionello and brightened. Come to think of it, he seemed somewhat familiar. Perhaps one of the members together when Lionello visited Parvellone. Still, clarifying identity would be good for both, so Lionello showed the seal ring on his hand.

"Though I should show courtesy to the Young Lord, since the situation is urgent now, please forgive me."

"Ah, it's fine. I just want to ask one thing... Brother is outside now, right?"

"Yes, he's at the fire scene."

The guard member pulled the reins as if the 'one' question was finished so he'd leave. Thanks to that, Lionello again hurriedly clung to his sleeve.

"Just tell me why the fire started."

"That's..."

"No, not that I'm trying to do something, but there's something necessary..."

As the suspicious gaze deepened, Ulrike, unable to endure, whispered from behind.

"Suspicion, suspicion."

Lionello promptly corrected his words following her directive.

"There's suspicion. I want to help Brother."

Ulrike had to open her mouth once more.

"His Holiness."

"Must help His Holiness too, ahem."

The guard member narrowed both eyes and casually looked at Ulrike hiding behind Lionello instead.

"Since rumors about the fire spread inside the castle and you're His Eminence's younger brother who seems trustworthy, I'll tell you."

"Yes, thank you."

"It seems to have occurred from nobles' fire play."

"Fire play... Then did you catch the culprit?"

"We caught him but haven't received confession."

"Who's the culprit?"

The guard member smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"I can only tell you this far."

They could only watch the guard member's back busily leaving the plaza. Since he seemed to go back and forth between the fire scene and the Holy King conveying news, waiting would have him return again...

Lionello watched Ulrike's mood. Ulrike, thinking something, frowned with crossed arms. When the Holy King appeared on stage at the theater announcing the fire outside the castle and declaring he'd personally borrow God's protection to guard this plaza, Ulrike had immediately grabbed Lionello and went outside. Saying though prayer was good, grasping the situation was priority. She definitely seemed to suspect something. Same for Lionello.

"Kelly's definitely involved. Are there other humans stupid enough to play games His Holiness prohibited besides those guys?"

That golden-haired man, Ulrike's friend seen during the day. Dukelain Harman.

"Rio, go outside the castle right now and meet His Eminence."

"Outside the castle? Evacuation orders were issued outside Festival Plaza. It might be dangerous."

"His Eminence is somehow handling it. Rio, if this were just a good opportunity for us to flatter, I wouldn't try sending you to that dangerous place. But if the situation I'm thinking is right, Rio, you're in danger."

Rio blinked both eyes. No matter how much he thought, what could be more dangerous than jumping into a fire pit didn't readily come to mind.

"Think about it. If the culprit's really Kelly, this is the grave crime of distrust and impiety. Could he preserve his life? Then to grasp even a thread of hope, he'd cling to anyone. The fire scene commander is His Eminence Parvellone—who would Kelly try to drag in first?"

"I've been in this theater the whole time. You know that too."

"What's important is you knew. If careless, Kelly's family might try to drag you in for non-reporting crime as retaliation against His Eminence."

Of course, Ulrike didn't bother mentioning Parvellone might not bat an eye even if Lionello was punished for non-reporting crime. Lionello was one of few people who didn't fear Parvellone, but on the other hand, also someone desperately hoping Parvellone didn't hate him.

"So before Kelly finds an escape, Rio, you must strike first. Go find His Eminence right now. Go and tell him all the plans Kelly made during the day."

"What if he gets angry asking why I didn't tell earlier?"

"Tell the truth, Rio. Though he only talked, you didn't think he'd actually hold the event."

"Will Brother believe those words?"

"He will. Would I send you to a dangerous place?"

He should believe. If Lionello was reported for non-reporting crime without telling anyone, Parvellone could avoid responsibility, but if he struck first confessing to him, the reporting obligation for non-reporting crime would pass to Parvellone. If he reported Lionello, Countess Assar and Duke Kyrimov's side wouldn't stay still, and rumors would circulate in society of a 'bastard' envying his 'legitimate' younger brother. Thus Parvellone couldn't report Lionello. Then he too would become accomplice to non-reporting crime, so to prevent this situation, he'd have no choice but to protect Lionello.

"Must go as quickly as possible."

Ulrike promptly removed the money pouch attached to Lionello's waist and threw it to a nearby coachman.

"Let me borrow your horse."

Lionello stood awkwardly holding the reins Ulrike handed over. Ulrike wrapped both hands around his cheeks and brought her face close. And she silently gazed into his frightened green eyes that only swallowed and stared wide.

"Stay calm and return safely, my love."

Lips lightly met. Faint blush colored both cheeks that had been pale. Only then did Lionello muster courage to nod before sitting on the saddle.

Following the path the guard member took moments ago, Lionello too rushed. Ulrike watched until his back completely disappeared then turned around. To find out who among the group usually with Dukelain participated in that foolish play.