When Marcos called out her name, Emilia took a deep breath. Her silver hair swayed gently with the rise and fall of her chest, and although her amethyst eyes still held a trace of nervousness, there was no longer any hesitation.
Carlisle noticed her emotions. He leaned slightly closer and whispered softly in her ear, "Lady Emilia, there is no need to worry too much. Simply convey what is in your heart to everyone with sincerity."
Carlisle's words allowed Emilia's tense shoulders to relax slightly. She nodded gently, and a determined smile appeared on her lips. Then she stepped forward toward the front of the hall, with Carlisle following closely behind her.
After stopping in place, Emilia looked across the entire hall, her gaze clear and open.
"It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, esteemed members of the Council of Sages, and everyone present." Her voice rang out as clearly as a silver bell, reaching every corner of the hall.
"My name is Emilia. I do not have a family name, so please simply call me Emilia."
There was no deliberate humility and no arrogant distance. It was merely a simple and sincere introduction.
"The kingdom I envision is a nation where all people can live equally."
"Whether human, elf, demi human, or a child living in the slums. Everyone should have the same opportunities and the same dignity."
"Nobles should not stand above others simply because of their bloodline, and commoners should not be looked down upon because of their birth."
"If I can become King."
She raised her hand with her palm facing upward.
"I hope to use that power to create a Lugunica free from discrimination and prejudice."
Emilia's idealistic speech immediately stirred murmurs among the noble seats.
"Please allow me to interrupt for a moment."
A civil official wearing a dark green ceremonial robe stepped forward. He deliberately adjusted the gold embroidered cuffs of his sleeves before speaking slowly.
"Lady Emilia just mentioned that she has no family name. Does this mean." He deliberately dragged out his words. "You cannot prove your lineage or origins?"
Carlisle quietly stepped half a step forward.
"It seems this gentleman may not be familiar with the customs of the border regions."
"Lady Emilia comes from, within the Great Forest of Elior. The residents there live close to nature, and family names are simply unnecessary conventions for them."
The civil official nodded as if he understood, yet he continued pressing the matter.
"Oh, I certainly do not question the customs of the border regions."
He bowed politely, though his tone carried clear insincerity.
"However, as a Royal Selection candidate, without a prominent family name to vouch for you." He gestured meaningfully around the hall. "How can we be certain that such noble ideals will not one day become corrupted?"
The whispers inside the hall grew louder. Several conservative nobles nodded along with the suggestion.
Carlisle's eyes darkened slightly as he prepared to respond, but Roswaal's voice suddenly echoed through the hall before he could speak.
"It seems that the esteemed gentlemen have doubts about Lady Emilia's identity." Roswaal spoke slowly, drawing out each word. "Then this question will be answered by me, Roswaal L. Mathers."
"First, just as our respected knight has stated, Lady Emilia truly comes from the Elior Forest." His gaze moved toward Emilia's delicate face. "Look at her beautiful silver hair, skin as pale as snow, and those pure amethyst eyes. Without a doubt."
Carlisle suddenly realized Roswaal's intention and quickly tried to stop him.
"Lord Roswaal. Please be careful with your words."
But Roswaal continued without stopping.
"This is the unmistakable proof of her noble half elf bloodline."
The moment those words fell, the entire hall exploded with noise.
Among the seats of the Council of Sages, the bald elder Bordeaux suddenly stood up. His aged face twisted with fury.
"A half elf. A silver haired half elf."
His voice trembled with agitation.
"Guards. Where are the guards. How can such a defiled being be allowed to step inside such a sacred hall."
Miklotov , who sat beside him, frowned and spoke calmly.
"Lord Bordeaux, please mind your words."
"My words." Bordeaux waved his staff wildly. "Look at her. Her appearance is exactly the same as the Witch of Envy from the ancient legends. That demon who devoured half the world."
"That monster who brought suffering upon the world in the name of envy, who fed upon fear and reveled in slaughter."
"And now she dares to aspire to the throne."
Carlisle immediately stepped forward, his voice echoing clearly through the hall.
"Lord Bordeaux. Although Lady Emilia bears a resemblance to the Witch of Envy described in the legends, if we deny an individual solely because of a similar appearance, then what difference remains between our kingdom and a barbaric land."
"Silence."
Bordeaux slammed his hand upon the table in fury, his withered finger pointing directly at Carlisle.
"And you. Carlisle Eltheran. You knew that she was such a defiled existence, a silver haired half demon. Yet you still chose to pledge your loyalty to her."
Carlisle maintained a calm and composed tone.
"Lord Bordeaux, I have always followed the knight's code of judging right and wrong. Should we deny the worth of a kind heart simply because of an ancient legend?"
"Nonsense."
Looking at Carlisle, who continued to contradict him, Bordeaux roared hysterically. The wrinkles on his face twisted grotesquely with anger.
"You still dare to defend a half demon."
"Do you know how much calamity the Witch of Envy brought to this world."
"What exactly are your intentions."
"Have you already been bewitched by the Witch. Or perhaps."
He sneered as his voice rose sharply.
"The title of Perfect Knight is nothing more than a false reputation fabricated by the Knights Order to gain fame."
The entire hall erupted into chaos.
Bordeaux suddenly turned toward the other members of the Council of Sages, his voice hoarse with anger.
"Look at this so called Perfect Knight. He has already abandoned the honor of a knight."
"His sword no longer protects the kingdom. Instead, it has become the servant of the Witch."
"Such a knight."
He glared fiercely at Carlisle as he spoke each word clearly.
"Does not deserve to stand in this hall."
The moment Bordeaux finished speaking, the hall exploded into a frenzy.
The nobles, like hyenas that had smelled blood, immediately began shouting accusations at Carlisle. For them, no matter how honorable a knight might be, he was still only a royal guard in their eyes. If humiliating him could earn the favor of Lord Bordeaux from the Council of Sages, then it was a perfect opportunity.
"The Knights Order has actually produced such a traitor."
"Pledging loyalty to a half demon. This completely defiles the honor of knighthood."
"What Perfect Knight. He is nothing more than the Witch's dog."
Wave after wave of malicious insults crashed toward Carlisle, every word sharp as a blade.
The gaze of the Knights Order captain, Marcos, suddenly turned cold. The royal guard knights standing behind him tightened their grips on their sword hilts, their eyes burning with anger.
They stared at the nobles who continued shouting wildly, as if they might draw their swords at any moment.
However, when their eyes moved toward Bordeaux seated among the Council of Sages, they forcibly restrained themselves.
The authority of the Council of Sages could not be openly challenged. Even the Knights Order had to exercise restraint.
"How could this happen. Carlisle."
Emilia's voice trembled slightly. Her amethyst eyes filled with hurt and pleading as she stepped forward.
"Please look at me with fair judgment. I am only Emilia. I am not the Witch of Envy, nor some silver haired half demon."
"Please look at me."
Yet her voice was like a feather thrown into a violent storm. It was instantly drowned out by the nobles furious curses. No one paid attention to her. No one even looked in her direction.
Carlisle turned his head, his blue eyes reflecting her lonely figure. He opened his mouth to speak.
"Everyone, shut up."
A roar suddenly exploded across the hall. The sound was so loud it instantly overwhelmed the clamor.
Carlisle froze in surprise. He recognized that voice immediately.
It was Subaru.
The entire hall fell silent in an instant as all eyes turned toward the source of the shout.
...
Read advance chapters on p@treon
[email protected]/guilt_free_daoist
Join disc0rd link in synopsis.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.