After Evangeline finished telling them everything, a heavy silence settled in the area.

She fidgeted.

'Will it work…?'

The old woman seemed to be digesting the information with a thoughtful look on her face. After a while, she slowly raised her head and looked directly into Evangeline's eyes.

"The things you speak about are rather concerning indeed. If this prophecy really comes true, then returning to the continent would be nothing less than suicide. But it's just that… how can we know that everything you said is true? Do you have some sort of proof?"

Evangeline pursed her lips.

This was exactly what she had been afraid of.

She indeed had no proof that her words were true. That was obvious since everything she had told them was a lie. There should be no such prophecy circulating on the continent.

She hesitantly opened her mouth.

"What reason would I have to lie to you all? I am clearly not a citizen of this kingdom. I come from the continent—"

"And?" the old woman narrowed her eyes. "That doesn't automatically make your words credible. We clearly saw you jump out of the room's window alongside the princess, so it is clear that the two of you are acquainted. We, on the other hand, don't even know you, girl. So it would be natural for us to assume that you are on her side. Who knows, you might be lying on her behalf because of some deal the two of you struck. So? Do you have a way to prove that your words are credible?"

Evangeline gritted her teeth and slowly lowered her eyes.

The old woman turned her attention to Lilias.

"Well then, Princess, is there some other trick that you have in store as well? If I am being honest, the things you have already pulled off are impressive enough, but I guess this is as far as they could take you."

Lilias crossed her arms while the old woman continued in a sharper tone.

"All we want is to leave the island and return to the continent. We no longer care about whatever reason you have. Allow us to leave or die, Princess."

Evangeline's eyes slowly grew moist.

'So it failed in the end…'

She really wanted this loop to be the last one, but it seemed that they would need a few more loops to figure out a way to convince them.

But that was when Lilias's voice suddenly entered Evangeline's ears.

"I am the fourth ruler of this kingdom, and I will not allow a decision to be made that can lead this kingdom to its ruin. I will fulfill my duty, no matter what. But that is not to say that you can't leave this island. You can, but not as a citizen of this kingdom."

Evangeline raised her head and looked at Lilias in shock.

They had not discussed something like this beforehand.

Lilias continued.

"As long as you let go of your identity as a citizen of this kingdom and become an exile, I will allow you to use the ship so that you all can reach the continent safely. Because if you are not a citizen of this kingdom, your existence is not my responsibility. You can die for all I care."

Suddenly, the burly man stepped forward and came to stand right in front of Lilias, casting a shadow over the girl's figure.

"If all of us leave as exiles, then who the hell would you even rule?"

Lilias met his gaze confidently.

"I don't think it would matter to you what happens to this kingdom after you have become an exile. As for me, I would still sit on the throne with dignity. I would not feel ashamed to face my ancestors, at the very least."

She scanned the crowd.

"Now then, who wants to become an exile? You should raise your hands."

But despite her words, no one in the crowd raised their hand. They all looked at each other in silence, as if wondering if someone would.

Lilias smiled mockingly.

"What happened? Why aren't you all raising your hands? Weren't you all about to come after my throat so that you could leave the island and return to the continent? Why are you all silent when I am presenting you people with the opportunity?"

Nobody reacted to her words. Some even had a conflicted look on their faces.

Lilias made a sad face.

"You don't want to be exiled from this kingdom because you all are proud of being a part of it, aren't you? I am also proud of being the ruler of this kingdom. But there are always responsibilities that come with labels and positions." Her voice slowly turned weak, as if she were holding back a flood of emotions. "I am doing my best to fulfill my responsibilities, but what about you people?"

She looked back at the crowd watching her.

"As the citizens of this kingdom, is it not your responsibility to trust its ruler? Yet here you all are, making excuses. Just like you don't need a ruler like me, I don't need citizens like you all either. So I would be happy if you all just left as exiles. Why aren't you all saying anything?"

One by one, people began lowering their gaze, as if no longer able to meet Lilias's gaze. There were still some who were staring at her with eyes filled with rage, but the atmosphere of the crowd itself had certainly shifted.

In Evangeline's eyes, the girl looked different from before. At this moment, Lilias truly looked like a ruler, firm and unyielding. More than anything, she looked proud.

The old woman had a troubled look on her face, as if struggling to find words to speak. The same was true for the burly man or anyone else wearing leather armor.

Meanwhile, Evangeline was internally cheering.

'Yay! Queen Lilias is such a genius! Hooray for Her Majesty!'

Lilias's move was so genius that Evangeline couldn't dream of coming up with it herself. Having been born and grown up in this kingdom, people were naturally attached to it. Moreover, the people of this land were ‌apparently especially close.

Becoming an exile and leaving sounded simple, but it was actually rather difficult because it was like breaking away from the connection that bound everyone. More than anything, there was absolutely nothing wrong with what Lilias had said, so the people couldn't refute her.

In the end, there was nothing that anybody could do because they had lost their justification.

'I think I'm gonna become a fan of you, Your Majesty!'

Lilias turned around, as if about to walk away, then looked over her shoulder and spoke coldly.

"I will give you all a few hours to make your decision. If you want to leave, then consider yourself exiled. You can just get on the ship and leave. But if you don't wish to become an exile, then enter the throne room and apologize to me properly. Moreover, all the current seat holders of the council will lose their position. We can discuss the details about elections for their replacements later."

Saying that, Lilias began walking towards the castle's entrance. Evangeline hurriedly followed behind her as the two of them entered the castle under everyone's watchful gaze.

***

Not long after, Lilias and Evangeline were in the throne room, waiting quietly.

Lilias was sitting on the golden throne, wearing a beautiful crown above her head. Her gaze was fixed on the door as she supported her chin with one hand.

Standing next to the door, Evangeline leaned in and asked nervously.

"Do you really think it's gonna work? Will they really apologize to you?"

Lilias had gained both initiative in the argument and justification. But to ask that they come and apologize to her, Evangeline believed this to be a mistake.

'After all, those people were after her life not long ago; it wouldn't be easy for them to bow their heads to her so quickly.'

But Lilias scoffed at her words.

"So what if they don't come? I don't care about exiles. If all they need to do to rectify the mistake of raising their blades against the crown is to apologize, then I would say that it's a rather small price to pay. Besides, if I didn't do this, then things would only become harder for me in the future since everyone would consider me tolerant and try to test my limits."

Evangeline thought for a bit and then nodded.

"I guess you do have a point. But what if… they really didn't come and chose to leave for the continent as exiles?"

Evangeline didn't really know much about how groups of people thought and behaved, but she was still aware that the crowd had been silent back then due to the situation and atmosphere. They might even change their minds once they have the opportunity to sit down and talk it out.

Lilias replied firmly.

"If they make such a decision and leave, then that's it. I do not need people like them as this kingdom's citizens. They are better off as exiles."

But just then, the throne room's door suddenly began to open.

Seeing that, Evangeline saw Lilias's lips curl up into a smirk.