"Huh?"
Kallen's eyes widened in confusion.
Was this... an alliance?
She could hardly believe it.
To outsiders, the leaders of the three largest factions might not have been sworn enemies, but surely they shouldn't have been able to cooperate this smoothly?
And they were cooperating over the imperial throne!
Did this mean Schneizel had willingly given up the throne and chosen to support Ask?
Or was this a test?
Kallen dared not let too much emotion show. Suppressing her surprise, she put on a confused expression.
"What are you talking about? What things do you need to do?"
"Heh, there's no need to be so wary."
Schneizel chuckled and continued:
"Ask wants to become emperor, and he needs certain unconventional means to achieve that, such as the Black Knights. I can understand that. Besides, I know this younger brother of mine very well. Although his ideals differ greatly from mine, our definitions of peace are remarkably alike. That is why I chose to support him."
"..."
Those words were practically an open admission to Kallen that he and Ask were working together.
Kallen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although this outcome was somewhat unexpected, at least she no longer needed to keep up the act.
She had never been good at acting, and facing Schneizel put her under an entirely different kind of pressure from facing Ask.
"Since you already know, then..."
"Wait, Your Highness!"
Suddenly, Gino stepped forward from the side.
"What... did you mean by what you just said?"
There was a hint of accusation in his tone that bordered on disrespect.
He wasn't a fool. How could he fail to understand the implications?
Inciting a rebellion was unforgivable, even for a prince.
Just as he was about to rush up to Schneizel, Suzaku Kururugi reached out