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Chapter 95
A Simple Reason
If wyverns were miniature dragons, gargoyles were similar but distinctly different monsters. They had the bodies of birds or jaguars with large bat-like wings. In Panberra and the Holy Kingdom, they were sometimes called “demons.”
Unlike wyverns, gargoyles were only about human-sized, but they were highly intelligent and, true to their nickname, cruel and wicked. Some were known to kill for amusement and even laughed while killing their own offspring in front of their parents.
“What’s the situation?”
The knight reporting the situation looked slightly surprised. He must have assumed Diana would be trembling in fear. The sheer obviousness of his expression annoyed Diana, but she forced herself to hide her emotions.
“Sir, what exactly is happening right now?”
“Ah… Since they’re flying monsters, the city walls have already been breached, and the northern districts are under attack.”
“They’ve used their heads.”
Diana frowned. The north was where the commoners lived, especially the poor. Their homes were weak, made of mere wood or mud walls. The people of the north could not defend themselves.
“Will all the women and children be evacuated to the palace?”
“Yes… they’re on their way here.”
In the Lodbrok Kingdom, when the capital was threatened, noble women and others were required to evacuate to the palace. This was intended to efficiently protect the noblewomen.
“Will the forces of the guard and palace troops be sufficient?”
The royal palace was protected by the royal knights and soldiers. The guard and palace troops were the standing forces that defended the capital.
“They should… be enough.”
Diana narrowed her eyes at the knight’s uncertain answer.
“Wait a moment.”
“Your Majesties!”
Diana ran up to the top floor of the palace. Giskar had told her there was a bell tower in the center of the main palace that offered a full view of the capital.
It took a while to climb up, but once she reached the top, she saw a swarm in the sky, like a flock of crows against the bright blue sky.
Using the telescope set up there, Diana observed the flock. As expected, they were all gargoyles. Not just one or two—they had invaded the capital in a swarm.
In her previous life as queen, she had never faced such an enemy. What were these creatures? Why was this happening?
“Could it… be because of me?”
Diana shook her head. Whatever the cause, she had nothing to do with the emergence of monsters. She looked up at the sky with a troubled expression. Whether in Panberra or here, the nobles were safe, but the commoners would suffer greatly.
When Diana descended from the tower, all the evacuated noblewomen were gathered in the audience hall. The young girls looked frightened, so Diana instructed that they be served warm tea.
She listened to the knights report the situation. When noblewomen and girls evacuated to the palace, the noblemen and the knights dispatched from noble houses would guard the palace perimeter.
It was indeed an efficient and safe method. Yet Diana found it unsatisfactory…
“Your Majesty!”
Princess Kragel, who had entered the palace, ran to Diana. Everyone seemed unharmed. No matter what, they would be safe…
However…
Diana thought of the gargoyle swarms filling the sky like flocks of crows. A deep concern showed on her face.
Her role here was to comfort the frightened and prepare for unforeseen circumstances. She looked at the noblewomen watching her.
“Thank you all for coming here. Please remain safe until the situation is under control.”
She knew well that among the looks of favor, there were subtle expressions of caution. Was it even possible to comfort them? Diana sighed and left the hall where they had gathered.
After walking a bit, she paused in the corridor, thinking, then spoke to the knights behind her.
“Call the Chancellor, please.”
“Eh? Lord Rivius is currently…”
“Do I have to give the order twice for it to be obeyed?”
The knight frowned at Diana’s cold words and ran off. Diana herself was surprised by her own tone.
‘Just now… I really sounded like a queen…’
Even in her previous life as queen, she had never spoken to her knights this firmly. When she spoke seriously, whether to Princess Lebian or the attending maids, they usually just laughed. Lebian herself would try to lighten the mood, pretending Diana was overly sensitive.
Seeing Rivius running with the knights, Diana realized she was not as pitiful as before. Of course, she wasn’t wearing a leash or married…
Her thoughts stopped when she saw Rivius approaching with the knights.
“Why have you summoned me during such a busy time?”
The moment Rivius spoke with a tilted tone, Diana’s positive view of this life vanished. He looked at her with the same expression as in her past life, unchanged.
“I went up to the tower to observe the situation…”
“Ah, but the women and children, including Your Majesty, should be safe.”
Before Diana could finish speaking, Rivius interrupted. She wanted to call out his insolence but held back.
“I wanted to ask if the soldiers in the capital could handle the situation.”
“Handle, you say? What do you mean?”
“Not the palace defense, but whether the northern district can survive. Can the damage be contained and quickly resolved?”
Rivius frowned, then sighed and spoke as if troubled.
“That will be difficult.”
“Difficult?”
Looking at Diana’s face, Rivius continued reluctantly.
“Theoretically, the noblemen who evacuated the noblewomen should be fighting alongside their household knights against the enemy.”
“…”
“But look at the result. They’re surrounding the palace under the pretext of defending it.”
“…”
“It will be slow, but the situation will be managed. None of the guard or palace troops will be foolish enough to die from the gargoyle attacks.”
“…”
“However, since there are many gargoyles, the northern district will likely be devastated. If they were walking orcs, it would be better. Flying monsters are much harder to eliminate.”
“…”
“Although the guard and palace troops have received special training, it was for invaders—humans—not for swarms of monsters.”
Indeed, capital invasions by monsters were rare. Even if they had training to evade monsters or handle a single one, dealing with an invasion like this was impossible.
“Can the remaining royal knights be dispatched?”
Diana asked. There were 300 royal knights in the palace. Rivius responded with mockery.
“Of course, dispatching the royal knights would quickly end the threat, but the nobles would protest fiercely, wouldn’t they?”
“They’re guarding the palace already, aren’t they?”
Rivius curled the corner of his mouth at Diana’s words. Did he have some plan?
“The Vargarti Knights are the same. I understand that more than ten of them remain here. They too must be dispatched. Chancellor, please exert your efforts.”
Rivius stared intently at Diana, as if trying to pierce her true intent, or perhaps mocking her. Diana felt uneasy. He suddenly looked past her, then turned back and asked:
“Your Majesty, I do not understand.”
“…”
“Shouldn’t it be obvious that having more knights makes everyone safer? The royal family fulfills its role simply by surviving. Why send knights specifically to protect you?”
“…”
“I wonder if you lament the death of commoners, or is it to gain their support?”
Ah, that was his reasoning. That was why he looked at her with such a displeasing expression. Diana’s expression turned cold, and a faint smirk appeared.
“You always test people, Chancellor.”
“…”
“It’s regrettable that there’s no time to punish your rudeness and arrogance in repeatedly testing me.”
Diana gritted her teeth. Rivius still looked irritatingly smug. She felt a surge of anger.
“I just do what’s right! Does the reason really have to be so important?!”
“…What?”
Rivius’ stupid-sounding reply frustrated Diana. What complicated thought was needed?
“You lament the deaths of commoners? Want their support? Who has time for that? You find the most efficient way to prevent deaths, right?”
“Uh…”
“Stop this useless argument and send the knights immediately!”
When Diana shouted, Rivius nodded in surprise. Diana was shocked she had just said “useless.” Perhaps being with Princess Kragel lately had made her more outspoken.
She cleared her throat, and Rivius looked at the knights behind him and gave orders. They, too, ran quickly, perhaps feeling the urgency.
“Even without specific orders, the knights will act on the queen’s command. They’ll recognize it as a special mission of the ‘queen’.”
“…”
“By the way, you’re a really unusual person, you know.”
“You?” Diana glared. Rivius laughed. This was a side of him she hadn’t seen before. Surprised, she widened her eyes, shook her head, and headed to the hall where the noblewomen had gathered.
“Ah, Your Majesty.”
“Yes?”
“Let’s refrain from talking in the corridors next time. That rat must have overheard us.”
“What?” Rivius followed her silently. Why would he follow at such a busy time? Feeling uneasy, she entered the hall, only to be met with the cold stares of the noblewomen.
What? Earlier, no one had openly glared at her like this. Her heart pounded.
The noblewomen spoke in turn:
“Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?”
“We were told the palace was the safest place, yet you are sending out knights!”
Diana understood what the “rat” meant—they had overheard her conversation with Rivius and deliberately spread it among the women.
“Explain, Your Majesty.”
Duchess Islag’s wife said, her eyes cold and piercing.
