It was hard to believe that such cherry-like lips could spew out such a deafening roar. It was like the rumbling of thunder that spread across the sky when lightning struck.

Everyone in the grand hall turned to face the throne in a startle.

Kim Hannah, who was getting ready to intervene; Sorg Kühne, who was standing speechless; and even the man who was triumphantly pointing his finger — all of them stared dumbfoundedly as the Queen was glaring straight ahead.

Her two pupils had gone beyond the point of being cold and were blazing with a frigidness.

Soon—

“Killed while fighting the Federation?”

Charlotte Aria’s expression slowly distorted starting from the corner of her left eye.

“The Parasites will be repaying my grudge?”

Her throat quivered.

“A bastard who only cares for his own safety dares to say this… while not even knowing the determination of my elder brother… How dare you speak such words…!?”

The Queen’s face turned unusually serious. The man leading the mob must have realized the change in atmosphere as he hurriedly let out a cough.

“No, that is not what I meant.”

“I told you to shut your damned mouth!”

The man closed his mouth at the fierce bellow. A chilling silence descended. The commotion filling up the grand hall until just a moment ago disappeared like a mirage.

In its place, an indescribably heavy pressure swelled up and filled the space. The pressure was so terrifyingly heavy that it made the man’s lips tremble as if electrified.

After giving a deathly glare for a while, Charlotte Aria slowly leaned forward. Then, she asked.

“What is the reason?”

The man couldn’t answer. He was incapable of opening his mouth. His spirit was already crushed to the bottom, and he had a strong, ominous hunch that things would not end well if he gave the wrong answer.

He truly felt this in his bones. Though he might be mistaken, the Queen’s eyes seemed to be crackling with a sharp glint of lightning.

“Some are risking their lives and sticking their necks out for something that earns them...