Chptr 7 gmr

Iris knocked on the door; it was the Grand Duchess's office. What was she doing here? After the Duchess learned about her joining the tournament, she sent Viktor to fetch her.

Hella had given her a half-hour-long explanation about the whole situation. The crux of it was as follows: Gracia had three houses that held equal power, namely Lancaster, Laurent, and Lambert. Iris was in the capital city of Gracia, Sangfroid, which was a neutral territory away from the influence of the three houses and controlled by the crown itself.

An Inspector was appointed here to keep the three houses in check. The current inspector was of royal lineage, thirteenth in line for the crown.

The inspector held a meeting between the three houses every six months to resolve relatively small conflicts. In that meeting, no side was allowed to bring more than one attendant with them.

Lady Lancaster had brought Hecate along with her, and that's where the disaster began. During the meeting, the Inspector's son tried to force himself on her, but Hecate resisted and burned his left side, face and all. She was panicked and couldn't control her powers.

Then, the Inspector's Guard, the Imperial Knights, apprehended her, and she was taken to the inspector while the meeting was still in session, in front of every house.

The law stated that regardless of the situation, anyone who harms royal blood is guilty of treason and would be judged by the royal blood only. In this case, the inspector. He ordered an immediate execution. If he had delayed, Ilona would have saved Hecate.

There was no time for Diantha to contact Ilona and had to step in personally. She asked for time to appeal to the emperor, which was a ruse just to delay. But there was no law that allowed such respite, and the inspector denied her request.

With no other option left, Diantha proposed to bear the sin of treason herself. Meaning Hecate would be left unharmed, and Diantha would be executed.

As a duchess, she had the power to do so, but executing a single mage and grand duchess, the highest noble of the empire, were not the same. The inspector did not plan to do so anyway. They had planned this, the inspector and the other two houses.

After that, the inspector proposed an alternative: a wager. If Diantha won, she would be pardoned for the crime, and if she did not, she would be stripped of her title and live the rest of her life as the 17th Concubine of the Inspector.

The challenge was to win the Trinity tournament.

Of course, the Inspector did not issue a direct challenge. As an organizer, he could not have his own participant. That's where the other two houses came in; they would make sure Diantha lost.

And then they added the stipulation where the problem truly lay.

Diantha had to sign a treaty that prohibited Lancaster's vassal from harming the other two houses, regardless of the situation. If they did, she would immediately lose. That was also the reason for Hecate's panic earlier. It was done to prevent Diantha from waging a full-scale war against the other two houses. If she were to break the treaty now, the imperial army would intervene.

The second stipulation was that Diantha's participant could not be older than 20. Thus, only Felix, 19, and Hecate, 18, were qualified to participate.

And the final stipulation: if Lancaster's vassal severely injured or killed their opponents, they would be disqualified, but their opponents need not exercise any such caution.

At this time when there were many restrictions on her actions and powers, they started circulating rumours that Diantha had murdered her own family to take the Seat of Duch from her father. It would ruin her image and trust in people. Iris did not truly understand the importance of this.

…

"Come in," Diantha replied from inside.

Iris twisted the doorknob and stepped in. She immediately felt the clarity in the background music. It had been coming from this room. Iris looked around, but there was nothing that suggested to be the source of the sound. The room was filled with files upon files and books, nothing else. There was a desk in the center where Diantha sat. Her eyes were still glowing; Iris would ask about it if she had a chance.

"Have a seat, Iris." Diantha was scribbling something while staring at her.

Iris took the cushioned chair in front of the desk. "Were you looking for the violinist?" Diantha asked.

"A what?" Iris didn't even understand that big word.

"The one who is playing this music."

"Yes, I cannot see who is doing that."

"Don't mind him; he does not like to show his face."

"He is using magic with his music, one that has the power of suggestion." Iris didn't know if the Duchess was aware. He very well could be controlling her.

"It's not whatever you're imagining. His spell only increases focus so that I can continue to work through all these files without making huge blunders." She waved her gloved hand at the stack of files as big as herself.

"Ohh," Iris didn't know the effect; she had been relentlessly guarding against it.

"I can imagine, being honed by an external source might not have been the best experience. I apologize."

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"No, no, I am fine; I was just surprised."

"You can relax; his music is a joy. Very few get the chance to hear him this close."

Iris nodded and let go of the filter she had created in her ears. The music became even clearer and more pleasant. It didn't affect her as she had expected. The only other things Iris knew that used music were the Krest, and they used it to put you to sleep, peel off your skin, and then burn you at the stake alive. This music was not like that.

"I heard Lady Ilona made you join the tournament as one of mine."

"She did. In return, I will get to the location."

"Do you want to?"

"After learning the situation, I don't mind helping."

"Heh, want to play the hero, saving a damsel in distress?" It was a jest, her smile and lack of seriousness didn't give Iris any hint of distress.

"Are you really in distress? As long as Lady Ilona is on your side, you can walk out of here unscathed."

"You are very confident in her abilities."

"She is far too strong; I cannot imagine more people like her are just here to watch over a tournament like this." Iris could still remember the fear she felt. "If there are, then people overestimate the difficulty of Hell."

"Heh, you are from Labyrinth?" It was more or less a statement than a question. Diantha didn't appear to be shocked about it.

"Yes," it was not a secret; she was just not supposed to announce it to everyone.

"That would explain being level 6 at such a young age."

"You said me being level 6 was sad. Why?"

"Hmm… It's nothing important; we will discuss it later. I've called you for a reason; a few things I think you should know."

Iris nodded. "What is it?"

"If you participate in the tournament, people will assume you're one of my vassals."

"I don't care," she was not going to be here for long, anyway.

"All of the Empire, not just this place."

"I do not care what people may think."

"Alright, during the tournament, you'll have to wear Lancaster's insignia and clothing that matches our colors."

"I don't mind," she did, only a little—wearing real clothes was very hard.

"And you'll be staying in this mansion."

"Huh? Why? I have already found an inn." It even had a soft bed. She felt very reluctant to agree with.

"I cannot have people whispering behind my back that I was desperate to win and hired an outsider for help. That will ruin my image."

"But that's what you're doing, or Lady Ilona is doing."

"That does not mean I will openly let people know that. The stability of the realm depends on the image of its ruler."

"Shouldn't it be strength?" Iris asked, confused.

"Strength can bring you peace from outside threats; people's trust in their ruler provides internal stability. A realm requires both to be prosperous for its people," Diantha spoke in an educative tone.

"Hmm… I don't understand, well, I don't have anything to rule over, so it makes sense that I don't."

"Your title has 'Lord' in it; that is implication enough that fate will give you something to rule over."

"It is just a title, and I don't have enough time to be a lord for anything." Iris was sure she did not mention her title to Diantha. How did she know?

"Regardless, you'll have to stay with us and make a public appearance before the tournament and attend a party tonight, which is hosted for three houses and their vassals."

"I don't really have a choice."

Diantha's pen stopped, she picked up a file and filled whatever she was sketching in it.

"Winny is not with you?"

"Hella took her for riding. I thought her energy might be good for Winny."

"She won you over quickly."

"She is very warm and simple. Winny would be safe with her."

"She is a charm to live with,"

Iris could imagine.

"Let's go," Diantha said as she stood from her seat.

"Where?"

"To the market; we need to get your clothes stitched." Diantha waved the sketch, which Iris assumed was what she would wear.

"Aren't you a big shot? Shouldn't you be sending one of your servants for something trivial like this?" Iris asked in childlike wonder.

Diantha smiled, "Accompanying a Level 6 is something that even a king will have to clear his schedule for. You're not trivial, dear." Diantha placed the file in a paper bag. "Compared to you, my status is quite insignificant."

Iris did not believe that, especially when she said, "How can that be true when you have someone like Lady Ilona?"

"She is..." Diantha paused, "Like you, a passerby who just happened to take a liking to Hella. She is not part of my strength, nor does she hold any loyalty for me."

Iris wanted to deny that; Lady Ilona looked very concerned about her safety.

"Please don't pressure yourself into accompanying me. I don't know what standard behavior for Level 6 is, but I am not interested in false pleasantries. Just tell me what to do; I will do it by myself, and it will be faster." Faster was the most important part; traveling by carriage was not something she found herself liking. She was lightning, faster than most imagined.

"Hmm… in that case, take Hella. She will guide you," Diantha presented the bag to her. "Give the store owner this, and he will create a cool-looking suit for you, one suitable for a big shot like you." She said with a mischievous smile. "Make sure to return before 5."

"Right."

Iris stood to leave, just as she grabbed the knob, she remembered something. "I forgot to ask something."

"What was it?" Diantha looked at her curiously, her eyes glowing intensely.

"How do your eyes glow?"

"Glow? I don't understand."

"They glow, like an evening sun before it crosses the horizon."

"My eyes glow like an evening sun?" Diantha smiled with her whole face. "I did not know you were such a flirt; are you trying to score me? Not that I am against having you as my partner." Her voice was deeper and more intense. Iris felt heat rising from her neck and reaching the tip of her ears. She twisted the knob and hurriedly ran off.

Diantha looked at the window; her eyes were red and they were not glowing. She truly might have considered Iris was flirting if not for her child-like curious voice. Diantha wondered if Iris was capable of such feelings.