Chapter 107: The Cocagne Affair (7)

Satine ended the dance looking quite shaken.

“That is… unbelievable,” she said once Simon concluded his tale, her skin paler than chalk. “I would have been informed…”

“I have no doubt the Oracle knows, since she was already alive and active when the Zodiac Fiends first started stirring up trouble,” Simon replied. “Maybe she wants you to focus on the Overlord, or she is mistaken and believes the seals can be reinforced. Either way, the threat is real. Even my father threw enormous resources to secure those demonbarrows, and I know the Cobweb is looking for them too.”

Satine glared at him. “Or this is just another lie to keep us distracted and divided.”

“Ask Frea to check the seal and double-check yourself, if you don’t believe me.” The look of shock on the princess’ face when he named her elven teacher was pure delight to Simon. “Do you realize it now? Endymion knows everything about you and your organization. You will lose if you pick the wrong fight.”

Satine remained silent as the music reached its conclusion. Simon let go of her once the dance ended, at which point he noticed Alphonse walking up to him with a furious expression.

The Paladin took off one of his gloves, and then threw it at Simon’s feet.

Silence fell upon the room, which Alphonse quickly broke. “You know what that means, Magnos.”

By the Light, everyone was looking at them now, from Remedia to Norbelle…

“I suppose we cannot settle this with a dance competition, Alphonse?” Simon quipped in an attempt to lighten up the mood.

It failed miserably.

“Are you mocking me?” Alphonse raised his voice, his fist clenched. “After all your family has done, you think you can just walk away?!”

“Alphonse…” Satine said, but it was already too late.

“What’s going on here?” Norbelle asked, a wide grin stretching on her face. “Did you steal another girlfriend, Simon?”

“I did no such thing,” Simon retorted in annoyance. Everyone would think he was a skirt-chaser at this rate, and worse, the situation was rapidly getting out of hand! “He is a man our father wronged.”

Norbelle pouted, drawing a blank. “That hardly narrows it down.”

“Your family executed my uncle and he ordered my master’s assassination!” Alphonse snapped, his finger pointed at Simon. “I shall have retribution!”

“This is madness!” Verdis protested. “Simon is no killer!”

“I shall have no blood staining my ballroom!” Remedia ordered with a thundering voice, crackling with magic. “Who are you, Ser, to challenge one of my guests under my roof?!”

“He is Alphonse of Lore, the man I told you about,” Filip said, squinting at Alphonse. Having one of his handpicked guests causing trouble didn’t reflect well on him. “Those are serious accusations, Ser.”

This is bad, Simon thought while trying to figure out a peaceful way out of this situation. A fight would likely lead to Norbelle or Remedia getting involved, which in turn would bring this ball to Endymion’s and Illusea’s attention. Should I challenge Alphonse to a no-Class duel? He’s honorable enough to agree, but it won’t settle the matter.

Leonard, who had been attending the party with Meredith, walked up to Simon’s side. “Your Highness, allow me to be your champion.”

I have to choose now. Simon considered how to de-escalate this situation before it spiraled out of control, when an idea crossed his mind. Let’s hope this works.

“Very well, Alphonse,” he said. “I agree to duel you at a place and time of your choosing, under one condition.”

Alphonse glared at him, smelling a trap. “Which one?”

“As the challenged party, I have the right to pick the weapon.” Simon crossed his arms. “And in the spirit of this country, I shall thus pick prayers.”

Alphonse blinked in surprise. “Prayers?”

“We will call upon the Light to bless us with our highest Tier spell,” Simon replied, spotting the way Norbelle smirked with a finger on her lips. “If you can cast one higher than mine, then I will let you kill me. If I win, we shall part ways without bloodshed. Surely if I am as unholy as you say, then my pleas will go unanswered.”

There was no way Alphonse could cast Tier V prayers at the moment, and even if he could, surely seeing the Light bless the Overlord’s spawn should shake him to his core; perhaps enough to listen to reason.

“You will cheat,” Alphonse said, his scowl deepening. “There is no way you would agree to this otherwise.”

“The Mage can be our judge.” Simon turned to Queen Remedia, hoping she would go along rather than smite them on the spot for ruining her ball. “Would you agree to arbitrate this contest? I assure you it won’t last long.”

Remedia hesitated and scowled as Filip whispered something in her ear. Whatever he said caused her to nod slightly.

“Very well,” she decided as she put on her Class outfit and then swiftly summoned a faceless effigy in the middle of the dance floor. “I shall pay close attention, and anyone caught cheating shall be punished for it. Everyone, please step back.”

The crowd moved back with delight at this unexpected spectacle, leaving Alphonse and Simon alone in the middle. “I would wish you good luck,” Norbelle told her brother, “But we both know you won’t need any.”

I pray you’re right, sister, or we’ll have a fight on our hands. Simon glanced at Alphonse and said, “You first.”

Alphonse took a deep breath and quickly cast his spell. “Guide our way and blind the wicked, oh radiant lightstone! Light Nimbus!”

A circle of blinding light materialized over the effigy’s head, and gasps of awe spread through the crowd. Norbelle smiled ear to ear with interest, and even Simon’s eyes widened in shock, though not for the same reason.

“A Tier IV spell,” Remedia noted with appreciation, “An impressive display for one so young.”

And that didn’t make any sense!

Something was wrong. Alphonse shouldn’t be able to cast a Tier IV prayer spell at this point in time. Barbas himself couldn’t cast one at over level fifty! Even when taking into account the fact that Templars were mere Vassal Classes of the Paladin, Alphonse shouldn’t be higher than level thirty or so right now.

He had somehow become stronger much sooner than in previous reigns.

This must be because of his Heroic Destiny ability, Simon thought, his jaw clenching. Does it grant him an exp boost proportional to the Overlord’s level or something similar? If so, then Alphonse’s actions might begin to deviate across the reigns as he grows in power. There’s no way he’ll stick to training in Valne if he skyrockets in levels.

Solving that mystery would wait for another time. For now, Simon followed Alphonse’s demonstration by casting something a cut above his rival’s spell. “Lightstone, burn that which offends thee! Kindling!”

Holy blue flames consumed the effigy, to the shock of everyone save Norbelle and Cocagne’s royal family. Satine covered her mouth in shock, and Justine’s eyes gleamed with fascination behind her fan. Alphonse’s confidence collapsed, his jaw dropping.

“A Tier V prayer,” Remedia said, Simon catching a smile of relief at the edge of her lips. They had just avoided a fight. “There was no foul play from either side. I thus declare Simon Magnos the winner.”

“That’s impossible…” Alphonse muttered, now at a loss for words.

Here’s my chance, Simon thought as he made his move. “Do you realize it now? You were deceived, Alphonse. It was my father, Balzam Magnos, who framed me for your master’s murder because it amused him to see us at each other’s throats. He feared we might one day meet as friends, and do you know why?”

Simon put a hand on his chest and dropped the bomb.

“Because the imperial concubine your uncle was meeting behind the Overlord’s back… was my own mother!”

His declaration was met with gasps from nearly everyone in the ballroom. Satine covered her mouth in shock, Alphonse was paler than chalk, and Norbelle… Norbelle was the only one grinning, the cruel bitch.

“The Overlord executed her alongside your uncle, because they planned to leave for Lore with me in tow… and Balzam Magnos does not share.” Even now, after many reigns to process this truth, Simon couldn’t suppress the bitterness in his voice. “Do you understand now?! He hoped that we killed each other because had things been different, we could have been family! The irony of us tearing each other apart amused him to his core!”

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Alphonse stared at Simon as if the bastard prince had grown a second head… or rather, like a man suddenly reconsidering everything he once took for granted.

He… he was listening.

Alphonse was actually listening.

“I have told Princess Satine everything you need to know,” Simon said, immediately. “You are aiming your sword at the wrong target. I will not deny my father’s sins, and I’m sure he’ll pay for them one day–” And already had, “–but the Overlord is not the threat you should be focusing on right now.”

Alphonse’s expression turned into a thoughtful scowl, which only deepened when Satine leaned over to whisper in his ear. He stared at Simon for a moment, clearly needing to digest all these new pieces of information.

“I will… investigate this,” he decided. “If you are truly innocent of my master and uncle’s deaths, then…” Alphonse took a deep breath. “Then I am truly sorry.”

For once, Simon was surprised in a very pleasant way, and slightly at a loss of words.

“Apologies accepted, Alphonse,” Simon replied, not sure what else to say. “It’s my father alone I blame.”

Alphonse nodded sharply, and then turned to now and apologized to Filip and Remedia. “I am sorry as well for ruining your ball, Your Majesties. It seems I was deceived.”