The Invincible Full-Moon System Chapter 1806: Lady Justice (2)

"Do you have something to say?" The voice of Emperor Dominar slices sharply through the atmosphere.

His words targeted Althea directly.

In an instant, the entire gala falls into utter silence.

Hundreds of eyes fix on her like she's a trapped beast. Murmurs build up pressure that blocks her hearing—as she's thrust into the spotlight. Isolated. Drola whispers her name urgently, pushing her to beg forgiveness. Marquess Darius turns ghostly white. For the first time, she sees true terror in his face.

Her siblings edge back a bit, unwilling to stand with her. Even her husband joins them—spineless lot.

Solidarity proves far tougher in practice, particularly with an outcast involved.

All gazes lock on her—a highborn lady who crossed her limits. Youthful, failing to hide inner thoughts. Unproven in matters of allegiance. Whispers claim she's finished. Others feel sorry for her innocence. Yet at this moment, Althea ignores it all.

A decision loomed before her.

Usually, she hesitated on choices, dragging them out unnecessarily.

Now, though, resolve surged within her. Fearlessness grew.

Watching Rex battle for his convictions likely sparked a fiery zeal in her young spirit.

A spirit that yearns for danger and integrity.

Despite all the jabs and insults aimed at Davina, she held to her principles.

Backstabbing Davina wasn't her way; she aimed to outdo her through honest means.

That's held true over a century, and it would persist until she finally bested Davina.

The surrounding treachery repulses her. Punishing Empress Morgana would shame the realm. Yet she refused to let Rex lose his rightful due after staking it all.

Plus, Princess Davina's no-show indicated her stance against these idiots too.

Out there somewhere, Davina pursued her own right path.

Just like Althea, the moment called for taking a position.

With a tired exhale, Althea raises her eyes to lock onto the emperor's steadily.

'Alright, Davina. I'll follow your instinct. At the least, your sense of honor outshines mine.'

Like a swift hare, Althea springs twenty-five meters up and touches down elegantly atop the dome. Shocked inhales fill the space. Servants trip in surprise. Royal knights yank out their blades with fury. Voices from House Seawyn yell at her.

Drola clutches her gown in horror and alarm. Next to her, Marquess Darius drips sweat from dread and astonishment.

The emperor observes quietly.

Disapproval brewed inside him, though his striking features remained composed.

Althea straightens up tall and commands the dome's peak. Her sky-blue locks wave with authority. Like everyone else, the silver bracelet binds her life energy, rendering her bold move all the more daring.

Rays of sun cast shadows over her face, transforming her into an emblem.

Adrenaline races in her blood as she surveys the assembly of elite aristocrats.

"I am Althea of Seawyn, though that won't hold after today," She glances at her kin, aware they'll disown her once this ends. Laughter erupts from some. Mockery from others. Still, she presses on. She must continue. "I count myself among the brave nobles who strengthened Her Majesty's forces during her... holy quest."

Mockery laced her words.

It draws scowls across faces.

"And I appear here to defend the glory of our grand empire." Her proclamation rings out strong, followed by a halt. Her stare ensures full attention. "Our realm arose from forebears who fought the shadowed era. From champions of untainted resolve. Authentic aristocracy that gleamed with dignity.

"Yet now, I witness inferior nobles reveling in injustice. Inferior nobles allowing years to dull their heroic fire. Spineless schemers plotting to crush a warrior who ensured the holy quest succeeded. A warrior who endangered himself to rescue many of you.

"Marquess Darius of Seawyn. Marquess Raka of Lorntyr. And those beneath them."

Althea voices the raw facts.

These lords mostly heard the tale painting Empress Morgana as the savior.

That's false.

Rex stands as the true savior, with her delivering the final vital strike. Essential. But no savior.

"Girl, get down!" A voice bellows.

"Not a chance," Liliana, Castillon's oldest daughter, snaps back with bottled rage. "Hear her out!"

Duke Lorcan yanks her arm, his face contorted in wild fury.

Liliana fights back, wrenching her arm loose.

He snorts hot air like an enraged beast. Without the silver bracelet, Liliana couldn't have broken free so easily. Rage boils in him. He itches to strike his own child. But Althea's words keep flowing.

"Knight Rex battled relentlessly to shield the empire, and I call for fairness in his name!" Her cry booms. Yet now, royal knights surround her. One dashes forward, arms outstretched to bring her crashing down.

Althea erupts with force.

Metal groans under strain as her knee crashes into the royal knight's jaw.

Two additional royal knights rush in.

She twists her form aside, dodging blows meant for her skull and limbs as they slice through nothing. Then, from an unexpected twist, she spins her body in a stunning flip while airborne, channeling the motion to shove the royal knights backward.

They slip on the slick dome and tumble off.

Rosa bursts through the entrance and hurries up the stairs.

Cold sweat trails along her forehead as she hastens. Entering the legendary Milky Garden, fresh air slams into her like a barrier. Her pace stumbles. She anticipated festivities. Instead, heavy quiet envelops her like darkness.

A tense vibe she senses sharply.

And in its midst rises Lady Justice.

"Althea...?" Rosa gapes at the poised figure atop the dome.

Then, catching her ease, Althea pivots and gives a nod.

'Rex shared his scheme only with me,' Rosa muses inwardly. Her forehead creases in wonder at Althea's apparent grasp of the situation. No one else should understand her actions. 'Or does she truly comprehend?'

Footsteps pounding break her daze.

Another royal knight races in, much like her.

He speeds by, and briefly, Rosa spots the document clutched in his grip.

Events are unfolding, and he's heading to inform the emperor, it seems.

Rosa trails after him. She carries urgent tidings for the emperor too.

"If Her Majesty truly earned hero status, reveal the events at the Tomb of Heroes!" Althea glares, even flashing a grin at the emperor. She's down on the floor now, held fast by two royal knights. But that no longer counts.

Delay has been secured.

Shifts stir among the aristocrats too.

All witnessed Althea taking on three royal knights. No one foresaw such prowess, such raw ferocity. She embodies tomorrow's promise, upending the old ways. Veteran nobles loathe her, but the younger crowd feels a quiet, charged awakening.

Their stares reveal it.

"Reveal precisely what occurred there, Your Majesty," She mocks with disdain. "And you'd best show solid evidence that Knight Rex assaulted Her Majesty."

Quiet hangs heavy.

Doubting the assertions equals outright defiance of the emperor.

Althea shattered an unbreakable boundary.

Still, her choice was set long before leaping onto the dome.

"Marquess Darius," Emperor Dominar's command thunders, compelling the ashen marquess to raise his head, realizing escape from this disgrace is impossible. "Do you acknowledge her as part of your lineage? Speak."

At those words, Marquess Darius' eyes bulge.

An escape route opens for him.

"No, Your Majesty," He denies with a shake of his head and shoots a icy look at Althea. "Actually, exile awaited her post-gala. My leniency let her join the family for one final occasion. I accept blame for the disruption."

"Ridiculous," Emperor Dominar dismisses with a gesture. "It makes no sense for you to bear fault for a frantic woman's deeds." He shifts his gaze to Althea. "She answers for her own choices. Knights, escort her with the captives."

Just as the knights prepare to drag Althea off, a captain near Emperor Dominar steps up.

He murmurs in his ear.

Emperor Dominar glances back, brow furrowed deeply. His look questions if he misheard. The knight captain points to Rosa and a winded royal knight whose chest heaves.

An assault targeted the royal bubble's Obelisk of Life.

The bulk of nobles cluster here for the event.

Security thins out elsewhere solely today, and foes exploit the gap.

It's an uprising.

Only nobles learned of this gathering. Non-aristocrats face tight watch to prevent leaks. This points to a traitor in noble ranks.

A betrayer of the realm.

Beyond that, Princess Davina presses at the royal bubble's edge.

Her army numbers fifty thousand. Far beyond what border troops can counter.

'Princess Davina...?' Rosa overhears the name from afar.

For Princess Davina to challenge the royals so boldly, even invading from her lands into the royal bubble, screams folly. Emperor Dominar could eradicate her troops now inside his domain.

Yet Princess Davina isn't foolish. Rosa understands that.

She ranks among the sharpest, perhaps the sharpest, of the rising stars.

Countless strive to match her, so she weighs the perils well.

'She places such trust in Lord Rex that she'll endanger her life and fifty thousand others?' Rosa eyes the dome enclosing Rex, awed by Princess Davina's conviction. Her mind sharpens to one urgent plea. 'Rex, deliver a wonder.'

She pivots, clenching her fists while fixing on Emperor Dominar's form.

Immense might dwells in that frame. 'I truly can't fathom how you'll overcome the emperor.'

With the crisis, certain nobles muster for battle.

Chiefly, marquesses deploy to face Princess Davina's troops. A handful head to bolster the Obelisk of Life with their forces. It's a feint. Emperor Dominar senses plots brewing in the dark.

Tampering with a Citadel-level Obelisk of Life demands audacity.

Clearly a diversion.

Rosa realizes fooling the emperor with that trick won't suffice, and she's grateful Princess Davina adds to the turmoil. Now she hopes Emperor Dominar remains blind to these ploys' true aim.

Of course, Emperor Dominar remains on site.

The gala presses on, despite absences among the guests.

Tunes play. Scheming chats flow. A light spar between families stirs rivalry. The emperor himself guides a tribute rite to the earth for safeguarding them over millennia. Followed by a pledge ceremony displaying allegiance to the royals, starring Emperor Dominar, the Crown Prince, and select heirs.

No trace of Empress Morgana.

Each ticking second doubles Rosa's pulse. Each minute brings strain. Each hour drags in agony. Troubles extend the diversions. Perfect. That's exactly Rosa's goal.

She steals looks at the emperor, dreading exposure in the scheme. Restlessness grips her like never before.

Her spouse even murmurs worry.

Given her constant sweat-dabbing, anyone could tell she's off.

Yet she avoids the emperor and performs flawlessly in his presence.

Things proceed fairly well.

At last, darkness falls.