"Magic can be forged, Zaima," Hestia replied smoothly. She did not raise her voice. She projected an aura of total, unyielding authority. "I know Iris. We grew up in the same palace. She lacks the ruthless nature required for assassination. Someone is attempting to manipulate my anger. Someone wants me to destroy her."
Yukihime bowed her head respectfully. "The data points to Princess Iris. However, your tactical intuition is rarely incorrect, Your Highness. How do you wish to proceed?"
"We will confront them directly," Hestia decided. She stood up from her chair. Her silk dress rustled softly. "I sent a messenger to their estate an hour ago. I summoned them here. We will look Iris in the eye. We will present the evidence. The truth will reveal itself."
Right on cue, the large double doors of the parlor swung wide open.
Princess Iris walked into the pristine white room. She wore her crisp dark blue uniform. Her silver hair was tied in a loose ponytail. She looked calm and deeply dignified.
Naomi walked right beside her. The red-haired vanguard leader spun a silver dagger in her hand. She slid the blade back into its sheath. She smiled a warm, confident smile. She did not look angry today. She looked completely relaxed.
Sayma stepped in next. The intelligent Vice-Captain pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose. She held a neat notebook in her hand. Laxmi bounced on her toes, tossing a tiny orange spark between her fingers. Zinia stretched her strong arms. Ira walked silently, her pale face showing zero emotion. Luna let out a massive yawn, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Risa hugged her teddy bear tightly and admired the beautiful chandelier.
Ken Eliot walked at the very back of the group.
He slouched his shoulders as far as they could possibly go. His navy blue suit pants looked wrinkled. His white shirt hung completely untucked over his belt. He did not wear a tie. His black hair stuck out in wild, confused spikes. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He dragged his cheap shoes on the polished marble floor. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff.
"This mansion is entirely too bright," Ken complained lazily. He squinted his dark eyes. He looked around the spotless parlor. "There are no shadows anywhere. It hurts my vision. Also, the walk from the transit station was a massive ordeal. My legs are officially staging a rebellion. We need a teleportation spell. Or at least a very fast skateboard."
Naomi turned her head. She did not scowl at him. She laughed a soft, genuine laugh. She playfully nudged his arm with her elbow.
"Stop whining, slacker," Naomi teased gently. "We are here for a diplomatic meeting. Try to look awake for five minutes. I will buy you a massive bag of potato chips on the way home."
Ken grinned a goofy, incredibly wide smile. His dark eyes lit up with pure joy.
"You are the absolute best coworker in the Empire," Ken cheered happily. He popped a piece of strawberry candy into his mouth. "I am totally motivated now. I will stand perfectly still. I will act like a very professional piece of furniture."
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Elma watched the interaction from the side of the room. Her cheeks instantly turned a vibrant, glowing shade of pink. She saw Ken’s goofy smile. She saw Naomi bump his arm. A sudden spike of intense rivalry flared in her chest. She quickly looked down at her polished boots. She tried to hide her blush from her teammates.
Princess Iris stopped in the center of the parlor. She offered a polite, graceful bow to her older sister.
"Hestia," Princess Iris greeted smoothly. "We received your urgent summons. What is the emergency?"
Hestia did not offer a polite greeting. She did not smile. She simply gestured toward the glass vial sitting on the marble table.
"Look closely at that vial, Iris," Hestia commanded strictly. "Grandmaster Yukihime collected that magical residue from the canyon. It is the remaining mana from the monsters that ambushed my convoy."
Sayma immediately stepped forward. She leaned over the table. She adjusted her glasses. Her dark eyes analyzed the glowing red mist inside the glass. She clicked her pen and prepared to take notes.
"The mana is highly condensed," Sayma noted politely. "It is a refined summoning spell. What is the significance of this residue?"
Zaima scoffed loudly. She marched forward and stood right across the table from Sayma. She glared at her lookalike sister with intense, burning disgust.
"The significance is a direct match, Sayma," Zaima sneered maliciously. She pointed a sharp finger at Princess Iris. "Yukihime tested the magical frequency. The signature belongs exclusively to the Belmonte bloodline. It belongs specifically to Princess Iris. You attacked our unit. You tried to murder us in the canyon."
The entire 13th Unit went totally, completely silent.
Laxmi dropped her orange spark. It fizzled out on the floor. Zinia cracked her knuckles loudly. Naomi’s relaxed smile vanished instantly. She stepped right in front of Princess Iris. She placed her hands firmly on her twin daggers. Her green eyes flashed with intense, protective fury.
"You are completely out of your mind!" Naomi shouted fiercely. She glared right at Zaima. "Princess Iris would never do that! We were busy fighting our own battles! We do not use coward tactics!"
"The magical evidence is undeniable!" Zaima yelled back. She raised her chin arrogantly. "You are just a bunch of lying traitors! You want to eliminate the 16th Unit because you know we are superior! You are trying to steal the throne through deceit!"
Ken stood near the doorway. He chewed his strawberry candy slowly. He slouched his shoulders. He did not look panicked at all. He just looked incredibly bored.
"This is classic anime logic," Ken mumbled casually to himself. He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. "The fake betrayal arc. Someone steals the protagonist's magical chakra signature to frame them for a crime. It happens in literally every ninja scroll ever written. The real bad guy is just hiding in the shadows laughing. We just need to find the guy with the cloning jutsu."
Luna leaned her head against Ken's shoulder. She let out another massive yawn. "Can you tell them to stop screaming? My ears are ringing. I just want to take a nap on that white velvet couch."
"I think the couch is off-limits right now, Luna," Ken replied lazily. He patted her arm. "They are doing a very loud dramatic scene. We just have to wait for the plot twist."
Sayma ignored the yelling. She leaned closer to the glass vial. She pulled a small blue crystal from her pocket. She held the crystal next to the glowing red mist. She ran a rapid, highly advanced diagnostic spell.
Sayma stood up straight. She pushed her glasses up her nose. She looked directly at Grandmaster Yukihime.
"This is a fabricated signature," Sayma declared politely but firmly. Her voice cut through the shouting match. "The baseline frequency matches Princess Iris. But the internal mana decay rate is entirely wrong. A natural spell dissipates evenly. This residue is deteriorating in artificial clusters. Someone synthesized this mana to look exactly like the Princess's magic. It is a forgery."
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