Elodie walked forward, descending one step at a time as if there were stairs in the air.
Frondier stared at her, dumbfounded.
"I suddenly remembered something I need to do across the sea," Elodie said nonchalantly.
"Do you want to come too? Frondier."
What to do with this shamelessness?
Frondier looked around.
The plaza was already starting to get noisy. Especially the place where Elodie had been was in an uproar.
Then the Emperor's voice was heard.
The Emperor, despite Elodie's sudden intrusion, did not seem particularly flustered or angry. Rather, his expression suggested he had expected it to some extent.
"Do you understand what it means to stand there now?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Elodie was confident even in front of the Emperor. Even as she gave him a light bow.
"I will stay by Frondier's side."
"...Even if that means you will be seen as a devil too?"
If she sided with Frondier, naturally, in the eyes of the Empire's people, Elodie would also be considered a devil's ally.
"Your Majesty called me this," Elodie said with a smile.
"A devil loved by the Five Gods. There are many fools even among the gods."
Frondier had no divine power, but Elodie did.
To call her, who was blessed by the Gods more than anyone else, by the name of a devil was utterly foolish.
By then, the plaza was already filled with commotion.
Elodie's sudden action, as promising as Aster in the Empire, was enough to cause confusion among the citizens.
Frondier spoke to Elodie with a cold gaze.
"What are you going to do about this situation?"
"I was trying to paint a picture of the Empire's citizens united to drive out the devil, so what are you going to do?"
"I don't care. It's not a picture I drew."
If this situation continued, the citizens' suspicions would only grow.
With Inies siding with Frondier, the flames of the citizens who already opposed Frondier's trial would only intensify.
"It's okay," Elodie said.
"There is wisdom standing here that will accept my childishness."
At that moment, someone's indignant voice was heard.
"Ugh, is that even something you can say!"
The Zodiacs finally couldn't hold back and stood up.
One of them shouted at another Zodiac, Osprey.
"Osprey! Inies is your student!"
Osprey, the head of Constel, nodded leisurely at the Zodiac's cry.
"Why aren't you stopping her!"
Osprey stroked his chin at those words.
The Zodiac actually didn't expect Osprey to stop her. They knew very well that Osprey was on Frondier's side.
They just needed an opportunity to separate Elodie and Frondier.
"Indeed, I should stop this."
The Zodiac was a little flustered by Osprey's easygoing agreement but quickly agreed.
But Osprey said something even more outrageous.
"From what I see, Inies seems to be possessed by a devil."
Osprey spoke without a hint of a joke.
"Even though she is loved by the Five Gods, Elodie is human. The power of devils varies greatly. It's impossible for her to want to be by Frondier's side right now, thinking rationally."
Osprey, saying something out of the blue.
Osprey then looked up at Emperor Bartello.
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Bartello understood Osprey's intentions.
"When you look with your wise and insightful 'eyes', Your Majesty, is there anything strange?"
Osprey knew about Bartello's eyes.
The people of the Imperial Palace knew.
The Zodiacs knew. And so did some of the citizens of the Empire.
Bartello looked at Elodie.
Her eyes, like a clear lake. Her eyes, shining brightly.
"Certainly, she is possessed by a devil."
"What, is that true!"
The whispers of the citizens grew louder, and the Zodiacs' murderous intent boiled over.
Meanwhile, Frondier let out a hollow laugh.
'Aha. So that's what this is.'
Right. He was already going to be kicked out of the Empire as a devil.
He might as well do some devilish things.