"Londinium means to provoke us!" A deep voice bellowed throughout the semi-circular chamber.

It originated from a large man with copper skin. Even through his thick toga, one could discern the subtle contours of his arm as he grasped angrily at the air.

"Hear! Hear!" At once, voices of approval met his assertion.

Riding on this wave of enthusiasm, the man continued, "Surely, this senate cannot let this unruly saber-rattling go unanswered!"

Amidst this rallying call, a young woman sat sullen on her bench, her otherwise expressionless eyes hiding beneath them a searing contempt for her peers.

What pointless demagoguery.

She leant back on her seat, crossing her legs, as she waited for the commotion to die down.

The man at the center podium, forced into silence while the voices dispersed, meekly responded, "However, we still do not know the true reasoning behind their actions."

He quickly replied, "At a time when most countries treat their Legendary Hero as a highly guarded secret, Londinium instead publicises theirs in the most overt possible way. I ask you:

"What is there to 'know'?

"Are we to believe this was all a mistake, that there is no deeper meaning to the grant of Lordship!? Or shall you insist that this provocation is directed at the anemic Grand Duchy? The chronically chaotic Hellas? Perhaps Jizzaro, their closest trading partner? Or the Easter Empire, to which they do not even share a common border!?"

Assailed on all sides with ridicule from his peers, the man in front shrank behind his podium.

Amidst all this, a defiant voice rose, "Then I don't suppose the esteemed Senator Renault is willing to lead a campaign against Londinium?"

The room was shaken. The riposte had come from a woman, sat beside the young lady. At a single glance, she was more mature and her feminine features stood out even beneath her toga. But more than that, she brought to bare her sharp eyes and equally sharp tongue with such a dignified grace that no matter what she said, one could not accuse of simply being rude.

And as soon as the senate had recovered, whispers began to spread, mostly among the men.

"Th-this woman...!"

"To talk in such a way to Senator Renault... does she not know her place!?"

"I knew it. It had to be her..."

In the meantime, the enraged senator leered at her from across the chamber, grumbling, "Senator Le Forzette...!"

To which, she responded with a smirk. "If the granting of noble office to Londinium's hero has incensed you so, then please submit a motion for war. The senate has no time for open-ended agitating."

It was as if a cold air suddenly swept past the entire room. Everyone froze as they were and a heavy silence dominated, above which only the woman's voice could be heard.

"Guh!" he grunted, his face steaming from her suggestion.

But apart from turning red with rage, the man could do, and say, no more.

Hmph.

The young lady snickered.

He had no intent to take the responsibility of marshalship to begin with. All this was just a childish ploy to attract the favor of the aristocracy.

Such weak, half-hearted men... this chamber is filled with them. It sickens me to have to listen to them bicker in their seats, like little girls, all day. And all for the sake of political advantage.

It's tiring.

She then glanced at the woman who just spoke. As it happened, their gazes met, after which she was given a smile and a wink.

Though I suppose seeing them ridiculed is amusing enough. And they could not launch into a tirade of her 'being a woman', or it would lead to them being ejected from the senate.

Hah. From time to time, this country's excruciating egalitarianism can be quite entertaining.

As the noise died down, another senator took his turn to speak. "Perhaps," he said, "the esteemed Senator Le Forzette simply wishes to convey that we should exercise restraint. Londinium is weak. They may have their Legendary Hero, but so do we. What does it matter if they rattle their saber? It would not do to distract ourselves while we have more pressing issues on our plate."

"Objection!" a man on the upper benches, said, "I must strongly suggest that an ever bellicose Londinium is, indeed a matter worthy of consideration, and urgently, at that. I understand that the esteemed Senator Le Forzette means to call our attention to the Easter-occupied province of the Flanneries. However, we cannot turn our back to our southern neighbor, lest they sneak yet another knife in our back! Let us not forget, there is great suspicion that they are behind the attack on the village of Renne!"

The young woman twitched.

"But that is merely speculation," he replied, "there is no concrete evidence for it aside from the testimony of some terrified plebs."

And before allowing either to say any more, she, herself, interjected, "It is no mere speculation..."

"What!?"

And then, she rose from her seat.

Everyone in the chamber knew what it meant when a member stood up. Each one had, by virtue of their position, a right to demand the senate's ears. This came, however, at the price of opening oneself to the scrutiny of a gallery of bloodthirsty ticks, eager to jump at any excuse to pump up their political ego.

But this young lady feared no such thing.

"Senator Crotale," said the man at the podium, "the chamber recognizes you."

She spoke, "Esteemed members of this senate, I shall reveal a new piece of information regarding the attack on Renne."

Anxious ears latched on to her every word. While many wore openly their skepticism, they had no choice but to remain silent.

"Two days ago, I received a new testimony from a survivor."

"Two days...?" voices around her whispered, "What foolishness is this? The attack was at least a month ago, a testimony now is just-"

"It was an adventurer. A woman, part of the guard assigned to a carriage belonging to my family - she had just awoken."

Her eyes scanned left and right and took in the impatient gazes centered at her.

Dangling her statement in front of them, like a worm wrapped around a hook, bobbing up and down a crowded pond - it amused her to no end.

She wished to tease their anticipation for a bit longer, but she relented, for now, and continued, "She was badly hurt, and it seems she was thoroughly 'used' before she was rescued. But she clearly recalled having fought Londinian agents during her ordeal."

"Londinians, are you sure!?" yelled a man from a far bench, "And even then, for what purpose!?"

Her gaze sharpened.

"She did not say..." While her outer expression did not change, she wore the cruelest of grins within her heart. "But it seems to me that they aimed to disrupt internal trade. As you well know, Renne is a crossroad for many important cities, including this, our fair capitol of Galicia. I wish to refrain from unnecessary speculation, so I shall end my statement here."

And with that, she sat down.

"Thank you for your contribution, Senator Crotale," the man at the podium said.

"Hmph!" grunted the still-hot-headed Senator Renault, "I told you those Londinian rats need to be taught a lesson!"

Some rallied behind him. "Scoundrels! Resorting to banditry, what vile scum!"

While others retorted. "With all due respect, we cannot possibly take such a testimony as evidence without cross-examination!"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"That is fine," she said, "but I am afraid you will not get much else out of her."

"And why is that?" asked a fellow senator.

"I am sorry to say that she has, since then, become completely insane."

"What!?"

"As she was recounting her experience, she suddenly broke into tears, and afterwards could only mumble to herself a certain name. 'Martin'. That was her partner and fellow guard. She must have witnessed his death before her very eyes..."

Impatient, the man launched himself onto his feet and yelled, "Preposterous! How can this tale spun from insanity be then used as evidence!?" Though, in a moment, he realized what he had done and quickly clambered back to his seat.

The young lady simply closed her eyes and said, "Make of her story as you wish."

That woman was quite lucky to have lost her mind... For she must have learned far more than what she was able to recount. Such as the identity of her client. Indeed, had she not, then she would simply have... 'died of her wounds, soon after'.

"So we have no proof to its authenticity..."

"Nonsense! How could there be any doubt up to now!?" once more, the easily excitable Senator Renault raised his voice, "Are we to let such a reprehensible deed go unanswered!? Nay, I say!"

Several senators nodded to his sentiment.

"I agree."

"As well do I."

In contrast, the one calling for restraint was shaken from the lack of support for his side. He muttered, "This alleged attack by Londinium not withstanding-"

"Alleged!? A village lay in ashes, and you dismiss it as mere rumor!"

"I-I only say the claims are unproven! And with our inability to cross-examine the witness, it will stay like that. But more importantly, with the tone this discussion is taking, I am afraid that this chamber is tilting very much towards a conclusion that is not warranted by the evidence!"

And finally, after a lengthy battle for his case, the man received his first call of approval.

"Hear, hear," said one of the older members of the senate. This old fellow, with snow-white beard flowing down to the collar of his black toga, stood up. And without waiting to be acknowledged, he continued, "Pardon me, my esteemed colleagues, but I believe I have come to a perfect compromise between the topics at hand."

"Ah, Senator Leclerc!" said the man at the podium, "Please proceed."

"It is true that we should not let the arrogance of Londinium unanswered, be they the perpetrators of the attack on Renne or not. For they may take it as a sign of weakness, and strike once they find opportunity. At the same time, I recognize the wisdom of our colleague that we have a more important matter at hand - namely the incursion of the Easter Empire of the Flanneries. Therefore-"

His entire face contorted as he furled his brows.

"-is it not wise to answer Londinium's posturing by matching a heroic deed with a more heroic deed?"

Hm? Senator Crotale leered at him out the corner of her eye.

"Their hero fought off mere bandits. Fine. Let our heroine defeat an army. Send the Spear Maiden to liberate the Flanneries!"

Almost the entire senate stirred to an uproar.

"Oh! Magnificent!"

"As expected of the venerable Senator Leclerc!"

"Two birds with one stone, as they say. He is truly a man of strategic prowess."

Whilst applause showered upon the one known as the 'Quiet Warhawk', the young lady clenched her teeth.

And once a lull finally appeared, she took a deep breath and stood up for the second time.

"The heroine," she said, "is a weapon capable of defeating the Demon King. The scale of this power is that which can lay waste upon all of Terra Nova." She then turned her gaze towards the old man. "This is not a power to be taken lightly."

Now, two members of the house were on their feet. And each stared the other down with no intent to retreat.

He declared, "He who makes the bold first move... shall seize victory. At some point, the Legendary Heroes shall take to the field. Otherwise, they should not have been summoned."

And she answered, "One plays chess with but a single opponent. I wonder - what would be the maxim had there been more than two players on that board? To expose the strength of our heroine from the outset - are we not merely courting a counterstroke from our opponents?"

Alas, the pair had driven the chamber into a deadlock.

The members stayed silent, unwilling to go between the famed general-turned-senator, and the enigmatic young lady who bore the weight of her entire aristocratic clan as its head.

It seemed that the confrontation would last forever, until an unfamiliar voice resounded from the very back, beyond even the uppermost benches.

"I don't mind," said a young woman, clad not in the same black senatorial toga as everyone in the chamber, but an elegant silk dress that accentuated her curves and had a slit to one side that exposed most of her upper leg.

The senators clamored.

"That's-!?"

"The Spear Maiden!?"

"What is she doing here!? Even if she is the heroine, only senators are allowed in this chamber!"

She merely brushed off their protests.

"Now, now," she said, "Don't worry about these meaningless details."

"M-meaningless!?"

"As I understand it-" The heroine then turned her gaze and met eyes with the lady senator. "-there are some complaints about revealing my power, right?"

Tsk.

"That won't be a problem." She shrugged. "An army of mere humans is no match for me. I don't even need to fight seriously."

The young lady's expression darkened.

Mere humans, she says...

She had been made aware of it before. The Spear Maiden was from another world. That woman of dazzling beauty; her face adorned by gleaming locks of golden hair that streamed down her flawless shoulders; her reassuring smile, and irresistible charm. She was, in fact, not human.

What does that make you, then? A monster.

Soon enough, the sycophants stood up in droves.

"Oh! As expected of our dear Heroine!"

"I would not be surprised if the Spear Maiden is the strongest among all the Legendary Heroes!"

"Indeed, even if you were to show a fraction of your might, then, not just Easter, but Londinium, shall be put in its place!"

Amidst all this, the heroine snuck a parting glance with the young lady.

Nothing was left to be said. With a disgruntled expression, Senator Crotale finally took her seat, and the senate resumed its course.

I will not soon forget this shame you have cast upon me, dear heroine...

Afterwards, a vote was called to adopt the motion suggested by Senator Leclerc.

It was passed by an overwhelming majority.

And with the stroke of a gavel, the man at the podium declared, "The motion is hereby passed. As an answer to both Londinium's and Easter's aggression against the Republic of Rafale, the Spear Maiden shall make an example of the invaders in the Flanneries."

That being said, I could not have wished for a more favorable conclusion to this session...

Behind the cover of her slender little fingers, the young lady shared with herself a malignant grin.

And beside her, Senator Le Forzette, one of the few people who voted against the motion, whispered, "It went well, didn't it, Noemie?"

These poor old fools... They do not even realize upon whose palm they dance on.

She snickered. "It did."