I looked around at the people at the round table.
　They all seemed to be serious.

　The plan to make Filia the emperor and have the people of the Free Alliance take real power in the Imperial government was a clear rebellion.

''If we start an armed conflict in the imperial capital, a lot of people will be hurt. If that happens, you and the Free Alliance will be no different from the murderers of the July Party.

'We are not like the July Party. The political change is scheduled to be over in an instant. We will remove Prime Minister Stras and the other chief ministers and urge His Majesty the Emperor to abdicate, but no one's blood will be spilled.

　Finance Minister Witte's voice was full of conviction.
　He seemed to be very confident in his plan.

　If this coup succeeded, Witte, the finance minister from a commoner's background, would become the prime minister, and perhaps Lucy would be one of the ministers.

　And they will have a wonderful government that is different from the present government.

'You are one of the ministers, Soron the Magician. You're the one who is most trusted by His Highness Filia, you know.

Why is Lady Filia here?　There must be plenty of other princes and princesses out there.

'His Highness Filia is not only a relative of Lord Lucy, but also an intelligent one. And the main reason is that His Highness Filia is the devil's, and a slave's daughter at that.

'That would ... rather invite a reaction from the people of the Empire.

　The feeling of contempt for demons and slaves still persists among the people of the Empire.
　But Witte denied it.

'That's why. That's why it's so important that a princess with demon blood is emperor. We, the Free Alliance, will not discriminate against demons, nor will we abolish slavery. Her Highness Filia's accession to the throne will be a symbol of liberation by us.

'But what about Lady Filia's intentions?　I'm sure Master Filia doesn't want to be an emperor.

But you don't want to be, either.

　Lucy interrupted from the side.

'She's been ignored in the court all her life, she's been alone. But it's different when you're the Emperor. Besides, if Filia wants to be with you, it's best to get the power.

　I stammered.
　Filia said she didn't want to be helpless.
　She wanted to have the power to create her own path by herself.

　But is becoming an emperor and gaining power the kind of power Filia wants?

''And if we don't stop the war, Sophia will be separated from Solon as well. She'll be sent to the front lines as one of the five great magicians of the Empire.

Dr. Lucy, too, I suppose.

　Lucy nodded.
　Then Lucy said.

'If Solon wants to protect Filia and Sophia, I want him to be on my side. Solon protected me in the fight against the red dragon. You are my proudest disciple, and I am sure you will be able to help me.

　Lucy stared at me with her crimson eyes.
　Lucy is my teacher.
　And I think she truly cares about me.

　But I couldn't decide whether or not I should listen to Lucy's words here or not.

''........Let me discuss this with Filia-sama.

　When I said that, the faces of the Free Alliance nodded.
　Letitia of the Free Alliance smiled.

''I hope that Lord Solon will be able to persuade His Highness Filia to become the emperor. I'm sure you will be able to convince His Highness to make the decision to become an emperor.

I'm not sure I'll be able to meet your expectations.

　Witte and Letitia didn't seem to be afraid of me betraying them and informing the Imperial Government.

　Maybe they had a plan, but I certainly couldn't tell the Imperial government about the Free Alliance before that.

　If I snitched, Lucy would be subject to punishment as a traitor.

　And as long as I didn't snitch, I would be considered a member of the Free Alliance if it was revealed that I had taken part in this event.

　If this was the case, I would be caught up in a cunning plan of treason.

　Eventually, the Free Alliance meeting ended, and those present staggered their time, changed their attire so that their identities wouldn't be exposed, and left the tavern one by one.


☆

　The sun had already gone down and it was dark on the way home.

　Both me and Lucy were silent in the carriage until we reached the mansion.
　Awkward.

　It was like going back to when we first met Lucy.

'Solon are you mad at me?'

　At last, Lucy reluctantly opened her mouth.
　She didn't believe me when I told her I wasn't mad at her.
　I shrugged.

'It was surprising. 'I didn't know Professor Lucy was interested in the politics of the Empire.'

Last time I went to the Republic of Alemania on a research trip. The Republic was nothing like the Empire. Everyone was rich, equal, and free.

Is that how it started?

That's not all. Solon was also the reason I changed my mind.

Did we?

Solon was born close to the border of the Alemany Farren Republic, right?　So, being born to a great nobleman in the Imperial City, your way of thinking was always new to me. Didn't Solon help you with the demon girl when you were at school?

You mean Perse.

　Lucy seemed to have talked about Perse in the Free Alliance as well.
　Apparently I won a bet with a nobleman and saved the slave Perse, which was very impressive.

　It's true that I should have introduced Perse to Lucy, and it wouldn't be surprising if she remembered it.

'Perse became your slave, but he wasn't treated as a slave. He became your equal collaborator and a first-class merchant. When I saw that, I wondered how such a girl could have been a slave.

　I see.
　So that was one of the reasons why you joined the Freedom Alliance against slavery?

'I taught you magic as a mentor, but it means that Solon has taught me a lot too.

　Lucy said, closing her eyes and leaning lightly against me.

　Anyway, I had to talk to Filia as soon as I got back.

　I had a decision to make.
　Whether or not to revolt with Lucy against the Empire and put Filia on the throne.

　And there wasn't much time left to think.