The Holy Grail of Eris (エリスの聖杯)

Was it Your Grace who sent Scarlett to the scaffold?

What makes you think so?

The conclusive evidence in Cecilia's attempted assassination

was the bottle of poison found in Scarlett's chambers.

Someone snuck through a duke's house and planted that in his daughter's room.

Only one person could do that without leaving a trace,

and that person is you.

You arranged Scarlett's execution.

Strangely, he and I came into the world on the same day.

Yes, I'm so capable that I surprise even myself,

but I still wish to serve you.

So take pride, Ern.

Dolphy, you can't be serious.

Remarry? Me?

The Republic of Soldita is begging me

to take a descendant of Cornelia Faris off their hands.

I can't trust a lineage that dangerous to just any noble house.

So, well, you're my only real option.

Honestly... The things I do for you.

I am Aliénore Shibola.

My bride from across the sea was the very picture of a good wife.

Her singular shortcoming was her frail constitution.

However, it wasn't long before we had Scarlett.

I couldn't help it.

It was out of my hands, I tell you!

Coochie coochie coo.

What a beauty you are!

And you don't cry at the sight of me!

Dylan, don't hold her too long. What if your stupidity rubs off on her?

Hey!

Did you hear that, sire?! Wasn't that uncalled for?!

Yes, I heard it, and I share his concern.

You'd better hand dear little Scarlett back to me.

What do I do? I'm surrounded by enemies!

Looking back, those might have been the final days

we'd laugh together in blissful ignorance.

Word has it a strange hallucinogen has been circulating recently.

A drug?!

It's chiefly popular among young aristocrats,

which makes me wonder how they're getting it.

Only prominent nobles have the stuff.

And what is this hallucinogen called?

Jackal's Paradise.

At the time, it seemed a trivial matter.

But one day, some months later...

Dylan's been jailed for treason?!

Yes. Given the circumstances, I doubt he can avoid the headsman.

That's preposterous!

Naturally, Dylan would never turn traitor.

Someone framed him.

And their goal is...

You don't mean... war?

It's Faris. They've secretly been pulling the strings.

"The Holy Grail of Eris"?

Dylan is a pillar of our border defense. They'll invade once he's dead.

Then Dylan was sentenced to death so quickly because...

Yes. We have rats in our midst.

Could Daeg Gallus be using the drug to secure funds?

Given its popularity with the upper nobility,

they almost certainly mean to erode our nation from within.

And amid it all, one man has seen a meteoric rise.

Simon Darkian!

Question him at once!

He'd only plead ignorance.

We have no proof.

What a disaster!

Is the poisoning accusation against Scarlett part of their plan as well?

No, that must be coincidence.

They have no motive to harm Scarlett.

That's true... They want her on the throne.

That means without Scarlett, their plan falls apart.

In which case...

What am I thinking?!

Sire, I suggest we make use of Scarlett.

Their plan requires a pawn possessing the blood of the old imperial family.

Executing Scarlett will buy us a way out.

It will stall them and sow the sentiment that public executions are barbaric.

I'll task Kimberly Smith of the Violet Association with leading the outcry.

That will allow us to delay Dylan's execution.

Wait, wait, wait.

In the meantime, I will gather proof of his innocence.

Wait, Dolphy!

Your Majesty!

Commit the face of every person who pleads for Scarlett's life to memory.

Their agents will be among them.

We'll show them all that we shall be the ones

who will have the last laugh.

Supposing that I did engineer my daughter's execution,

what is that to you?

I'm doing this for her.

"Her"?

May I have your permission to speak?

Yes, of course.

How are you feeling?

If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were worried about me.

Of course I am. You're my wife.

Listen, dear...

Don't give me that nonsense.

A woman you don't sleep with and only see to exchange the occasional greeting

isn't what most people would call a wife.

You're thinking of a mere acquaintance.

Are you angry?

I'm only asking that you spare me your foolery, you dunderhead.

What do you mean?

Why, you can hardly expect a young lady to spell it out.

I may be a silly little girl,

yet even I know the blood in my veins could spark a fire.

But do you expect me to just grin and bear it?

To just accept a life of being treated like a prisoner?

What is that but a living death?

I think I'd like to be very selfish and have some harsh words with you.

What?

I believe that when most people say "harsh words," they do mean words.

Oh, do forgive me.

Back where I come from, we talk to dunderheads with our fists.

What a lawless place that must be.

I've done a lot of thinking since I came to this country,

and I've decided to live my life as I please after all.

That was our dear Cornelia's dying wish.

It was?

Yes. And so...

If you have a complaint, tell it to Cornelia Faris.

I...

I actually went and did it!

Oh, do forgive me.

But my mother taught me to speak to dunderheads with my fists.

Th-That was, um, a custom from the homeland of my friend's mother!

Your friend...?

Y-Yes, something about the best way to deal with dunderheads.

Oh, not that I mean to call Your Grace a dunderhead.

What's a little slap?

It hurt a lot worse back then.

So, what else does your friend want?

Shall I offer my head, perhaps?

P-P-Perish the thought!

Is that so?

If you ever have need of it, you need only ask.

Does Your Grace...

wish to die?

Oh, that must be it.

I've been longing for death, have I?