Although the supreme authority in the Thracian Empire is the Emperor, it is the ministers appointed by him who are actually in charge of government.
　The twelve ministers constitute the Council of Ministers, which is headed by the President of the Council, the Prime Minister.

　The former Chancellor had recently been dismissed from office.

　The defeat in the war against the neighboring countries, the growing starvation in the countryside, the assassination of the Minister of the Interior by the extremists, all of which have a negative impact on the hegemony of the Empire.
　In all these ways, the former Chancellor has been blamed for the failure of the Reich's hegemony.

　And me, Filia and Lucy had come to the ceremony to appoint the new Imperial Prime Minister Strath.

'Do you like these events, Solon?'

　Filia asked me in a whisper and I shrugged.

'I don't want to be too formal,'

　Filia smiled as if she agreed with me.
　I looked around.
　The ministers were lined up in front of the grand old emperor sitting on his throne.
　They knelt on the red carpet in front of the Emperor and the new Prime Minister grudgingly received a single treasure sword from the Emperor.
　The treasured sword, Elea, signifies the honor of being entrusted with the politics of the Empire. It is the secret treasure of the imperial family.

　Apart from the Emperor and his ministers, the President of the Privy Council and other dignitaries are located on either side of it, away from the Emperor and his ministers. Furthermore, outside of that is occupied by the royal family, the great nobles and their attendants.
　In other words, we were a long way from the center of the ceremony. Filia, me and Lucy on either side of her, were mostly at the end of the line.

　But the voice of the new Chancellor, Stras, was far and clear.
　Strath was a young man, still in his late thirties, full of spirit.

　He still drew his treasured sword from its scabbard. For that was the etiquette of a chancellor's inauguration.
　He stood with his back to the emperor, then swung his sword straight at the crowd and declared.

'O God, protect the Emperor and this nation!　I will fight every enemy that threatens this country. Our fight will not end until the laws, traditions and ideals of the Empire have saved all of our subjects at once.

　So Strath cut off his words and was silent for a few seconds.
　The crowd in attendance fell silent, and Strath slowly looked around the ceremonial area.
　He began to speak in a calm but powerful voice.

'These are difficult times in our country. That being the case, we must come together. For it is I and all of us here who have the courage to crush the conspiracy of the demon lurking in the darkness and the ambitions of the rogue enemy, the Alemany Farren Republic. Long live the Emperor!

　Following Strath's words, those in the pew chanted, "Long live the Emperor.
　And then cracking applause erupted, and some people said, "Glory to Strath the Savior! He exclaimed.

'You're very popular indeed!'

　Lucy murmured in a cold voice and I responded.

'We all have high hopes for Strath,'

　Strass is an ex-military man.

　He was a general from a prestigious noble family, but I'm told that Strass ate the same food and slept in the same huts as the commoner soldiers.
　There's also a famous story about how he was wounded defending a commoner's privates and had a wound on his forehead.
　That's why Strath is so popular among the people.

　Even the leading nobles are hoping that Strath will change the stagnant politics of the country.
　He's well-liked by the emperor, and he receives financial support from the entrepreneurs.

　In other words, Strath is the hope of the Empire.
　But Lucy doesn't see it that way, apparently.

'I hope it doesn't end in disappointment.

　Lucy mumbled and gave a small yawn as if she wanted it to be over quickly.
　The reason me and Lucy were here was for Filia.

　For one thing, we were here to protect Filia. There's no guarantee that an incident like the other day won't happen. There are many among the nobility who hate the mixture of blood with demons.
　The other aim is that having two squires with respectable titles will raise Filia's status.　

　Lucy is voiced as a professor at the Imperial School of Magic, and I'm supposed to be one of the strongest adventurers in the empire for some reason or another.
　Filia will be in trouble if we have no decent followers, and having us around might make Filia's position in the cold shoulder a little better,
　Lucy said.

'We need Filia to be great.

Why?

You'll see.

　Lucy brushed off my question.
　I don't really know why Lucy is so involved with Filia.
　It doesn't seem to be more than just a relative.
　However, it seems that Lucy has no intention of discussing the situation any further for the time being.

　The ceremony was almost over and the emperor stood up from his throne.
　The long awaited feast time would begin.
　Lucy was a big drinker and her eyes were shining as she looked at the fine liquor that had begun to be laid out in the hall.
　Just then, a beautifully clear voice was heard from behind her.

''Are you sure it's Her Royal Highness Filia?''

　Filia slowly turned around, and I was trailing behind her.

　The person who approached Filia was a small girl.
　She was a beautiful girl with striking golden hair that flowed.
　And she was wearing her usual pure white monastic clothes.
　The girl was staring straight at Filia with her large jade-colored eyes.

　Saint Sophia was there.

　Almost at the same time, the sound of an ear-splitting explosion rang out in the hall.
　The murderers of the 'July Party', who were committed to overthrowing the empire, appeared and began the carnage.