A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

Thirty years since the first prince, Seir, was born――it was the first time he'd entered his mother's room.

There was something cold and dreary about his mother's room.

A room is a reflection of a person's character.

For example, a warrior's room would have armor and swords, and the paintings on the walls would depict heroic tales.

In a sage's room there would be rows of bookshelves, and parchments piled up on a writing desk.

But there was nothing in his mother's room that indicated her individuality or personality.

It wasn’t that she was simple.

The furnishings were all masterpieces, seemingly elegant, but that was all.

There was no sign of the room's owner, who was supposed to be the center of the room.

If there was, it was probably only a large bed with a canopy and two swords, one large and one small, displayed above the bed.

A short sword with a blade one shaku long, and a long sword with two and a half shaku.

――His mother didn’t trust people.

One thing he knew was that the sword displayed in the queen's room, which should have been the safest place, was not just for decoration.

Whenever her mother went out, one of her servants would always carry a sword.

Not for the servants to wield, but for his mother to wield.

The beautiful and intelligent queen was also a divine commander as a general.

The army she led was undefeated.

Many who feared her strength surrendered the castle without a fight and submitted to his mother――in just a few years, the throne, which had been in decline, regained its glory.

If there were anyone who doubted and thought this was an exaggeration, it would be those who did not know his mother.

Her purple eyes had an unfathomable power that made one believe it was the truth without a lie.

"...How boring. I wonder if Venure committed suicide to make me waste my time like this. It's more than foolish, it's appalling."

Just as she said, there was disappointment on her beautiful face.

Clad in a crimson dress, her elegant golden hair swaying.

Though his mother should be over fifty, she still showed no signs of aging, and there was no shadow on her beauty.

Too young to be called a woman, but not young enough to be called a girl.

Her bewitching beauty seemed to sway on an ambiguous boundary, and she was wrapped in a mature sensuality, with a magnetic pull that seemed to draw you in with every one of her movements.

And her shining, yet dark purple eyes exerted a repulsive force that was difficult to put into words.

Everyone was captivated by his mother, and at the same time, they all fell to their knees.

If one had to describe it, it would be like being in front of a god.

Divine, demonic.

More than being attractive, it was as if they had been cast under a spell of enchantment.

Everything that her body emitted drove people crazy, and her eyes made people prostrate themselves without words.

Thus, sitting at the same table and sipping tea, this scene which should have been reality, only reminded him of an encounter with god depicted in a picture book.

Alberan――a country ruled by the Child of God.

Some might laugh at this as arrogance, but no one could say the same after seeing his mother.

Even Seir, who had fought on countless battlefields and killed many warriors, was just an ordinary person in front of his mother.

So much so that he trembled at how small he felt.

"Mother (Haha-ue), the Rofran and the others are serious. If we don't do something now, a great disaster will threaten the kingdom. Many people will die, and the world will be in chaos――"

"Fufu, I was wondering... why didn't you join the Rougrans? I thought you would lead them."

"Huh...?"

"I gave you, the first prince, a fine territory for that purpose. As the second prince, there are only a few who side with him... but if you, who are popular, cooperate, then it would be all the princes against me. You can pull from those close to me, and it should be easy to make them betray me."

His mother's face was amused, but also mocking.

Sail clenched his fist.

"...Is Mother trying to make the Rougrans rebel?"

"Yes, of course. ...That's why I say it's boring. He is trying so hard to collect the trash together after all, of course I'm not going to do anything to disturb it. Fufu, in that sense, this is the first time Rougran has shown filial piety."

‘I'm so proud’, His mother said, shaking her shoulders and laughing.

‘What’s so funny?’ Sailu said.

"...Rougrans and the others are just trying to save the people. They may be short-sighted, impulsive, and foolish, but...they're not thinking of usurping the throne from Mother. Just a word from Mother would make them realize how foolish they were. This was a difficult decision for Rougran."

After subjugating the neighboring countries, his Mother suddenly imposed bad laws, imposed heavy taxes, and oppressed the people.

At first, both Seir and Rougran and the other followed mother's advice, thinking that she had a reason for doing so, but seeing the people suffering in poverty was unbearable.

Rougran, who was rough but kind-hearted, could not bear the suffering of his people.

His mother was harsh, but was undoubtedly a great ruler.

She was not the kind of person who enjoyed luxury or took pleasure in making money, and she would never do anything pointless.

Seir repeatedly tried to dissuade Rougran, telling him that his mother was trying to drain the pus, but Rougran shook his head even while understanding that.

If the goal was to drain the pus, she will continue until it comes out.

As long as the pus is not drained, the people's poverty would continue――and that was something their mother didn’t mind.

His mother was cruel and merciless.

In fact, she replaced or beheaded many of the kind-hearted vassals who had given her advice.

Everyone was afraid of Mother, couldn't say anything, and the whole country was afraid of Mother.

In such a situation, even Sail was leaning towards Rougran.

Venure had even sacrificed her life for Seil to create this situation. She told Sail not to act rashly, to stop this hopeless killing spree.

"I understand Mother's reasoning. However...Rougran, Phenireis, Taurasia, and Shares are not pus. Like me, they are Mother's children who respect Mother more than anyone else. Please consider the reason why Venure sacrificed his life."

"Respect.. fufu, respect."

She chuckled mockingly and narrowed her eyes.

It was a girlish laugh.

"I wonder how many useless people I've killed who said ‘for the Queen’. ...You don't understand, including you... all a fool."

Mother stood up and stroked Sail's cheek.

She spoke gently, but with a look of condescension.

"Do you obey me or not? I always ask you these two questions. If you do, I'll keep you as long as you don't make me uncomfortable, but if you don't, I don't want you in the first place... But you're all useless, but you think you're smart, so you make all this annoying noise with your crafty reasoning."

‘It's so annoying’, his Mother laughed.

"I have everything I know in my head, from the finances of each region to the small things, like the names of the people living in a certain town and what kind of work they do. With a little calculation, I can understand how the world and economy will move, develop or decline, and who will rise to prominence. All you have to do is report to me and do the job you're told to do."

The pressure from those purple eyes was so oppressive that it made him stop breathing.

Even though his mind and body were supposed to be well-trained, he was like a child in front of his mother.

"You're being very arrogant. If you say you understand my logic, why don't you follow it? It's like a sheep giving advice to its shepherd. Saying that you think it would be better to look after us this way..."

The voice was gentle, but it seemed to be filled with hatred.

Sail involuntarily lowered his eyes.

"Eating, sleeping, mating, fufu, in the end, all you can think about is what's in front of you. If animals could keep other animals, the world would surely be a very peaceful and happy place right now. But that's why I'm taking care of you."

So, a question, his mother asked.

"Are you going to obey me, or not?... I'll give you a chance to answer, I’ll consider it for that foolish Venure."

Sail clenches his fist at her words, then relaxes.

"I... have no blade to use against you, Mother."

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"I see."

"...But, I, Rougran and the others, and Venure all love you, mother. I just want you to believe that."

When he told her that, his mother looked at him, mocking him again.

"Fufu, ufufu..."

She shook her shoulders and put her hand over her mouth, as if it was really funny.

He knew that his words wouldn't be conveyed, but he couldn't help but say them.

Both the Rougrans and Venure looked so pitiful.

"Hey, Sail."

"..."

She pressed her lips against Sail, and for a moment, he froze.

Sail looked at her with wide eyes, and she tried to stick her tongue in, but he suddenly jumped away.

"Wh-what..."

"Well, you say some funny things... You say you love me, I'm curious to know how you love me."

His mother approached Sail with a girlish smile, put her hand on his arm, and looked up at him.

She showed off her seductive beauty, adorned with sensuality.

"Shall I sleep with you? Fufu, in bed, I'll be just the way you like me. I wonder if it will satisfy you if I whisper "I love you" like a lover would? If you don't mind, I can order you to."

"...Mother!"

He shook off his hand and took some distance.

His mother laughed. With a smile that was innocent or perhaps endlessly malicious.

"You just want to attract my attention and be loved. If you just push me down, I think it will become clear. You are deceiving your desires and instincts with pleasant-sounding words. I may look like an attractive woman, but I'm sure you would never see me as an attractive mother. The love you feel is an illusion of carnal desire... why don't you check it out?"

“No, I...Mother, it's just been distorted! If that is all love is, then why did you say Venure took her own life?”

"Don't yell at me like that. Haha, did I hit the nail on the head, getting so worked up?"

"Mother!"

He glared at her, but his mother sneered at her beauty.

It was meaningless. Sail's words didn't reach his mother's ears.

He had heard from Venure how his mother had lived up until now.

He didn't think that a single word could change those decades.

If he had more talent, if he had more power, if he had something that would not disappoint his mother, he might have been able to reach her.

But heaven did not grant Sail the talent of his youngest sister, the only one his mother loved.

Sail turned on his heels and reached for the door.

"...No matter how foolish people may call me, or how incompetent I may be, I love you, mother. ...Even if my feelings are not reciprocated, as your son, I swear on this name."

There was no reply. He did not expect one.

He left the door, walked down the corridor, and descended the stairs.

He had no further business with her.

"I took a good nap..."

"Don't worry about it. I can always continue the painting. ... Livinia-sama, please take care of the rest."

"Yes, Fili-sama."

On the way there, Elsreine and two servants were on the dancing floor.

The floor where the servants of the royal castle stayed――a place that was normally off-limits to royalty.

When Elsreine recognized Seir, she called out to him.

"Sail-niisama. Are you here for work?"

Swaying her golden hair and giving a beautiful bow, Elsreine was relaxed and natural.

Among the prince and princess, there was one special one――the youngest sister, whom their mother had named Reine.

The same name as his mother, and the same beautiful purple eyes as his mother.

The only person in the world to whom his mother's love was directed to.

"...I had some business to attend to with my mother. And I'm going to visit Venure's grave. ...Elsreine, what are you doing here?"

"Learn painting from Fili."

"Painting?"

"Yes. Fili is very good at painting."

Reddish-gold hair.

The servant bowed her head――he knew Fili.

He was Elsreine’s attendant and tutor, and was trusted by Venure.

"I don't reject the idea of ​​teaching painting, but... I'm not impressed. Making the princess visit the servants' room."

"..My apologies."

"With Venure gone, you should be the role model for the servants. If you behave like that, Elsreine and the entire royal family will be insulted. If this is a country where the princess behaves like that even to the servants――"

“...Sail-niisama”

A cold voice.

Elsreine stood in front of Fili and glared at Sail.

"Reine got permission from mother (Kaa-sana) to learn how to paint from Fili. And asked Fili to teach her, so why is Sail-niisama angry at Fili?"

"That's a different matter. Fili is your personal servant, isn't she? And if Fili is like this――"

"Fili is no longer my personal servant. That's why Reine went to Fili's room."

"...not a personal servant?"

I looked at Fili, and she bowed her head and answered, ‘Yes’.

"Except for special occasions, Livinia-sama is usually in charge. Now that Elsreine-sama has begun to fully assist Her Majesty in her government affairs, I am no longer necessary... but in any case, it is as you say. Inviting Elsreine-sama to the servants' room is extremely arrogant... please forgive me. If you are uncomfortable, I will punish you--"

"There is no need for Fili to apologize. Sail-Niisama argument is one-sided and unreasonable."

"...Elsreine-sama"

Fili looked at Elsreine with a troubled expression, but Elsreine, with the same eyes as his mother, was looking at Sail with a piercing gaze.

A mysterious pressure that sent a chill down his spine.

Like a child――in truth, Sail was intimidated by the child.

Perhaps seeing that state of Sail and Elsreine, Fili bowed deeply again.

Sensed that she was trying to end the conversation, he sighed.

In any case, she was a clever servant.

At least if she did that, Sail’s reputation would not be hurt.

"...You’re right, I might have been a bit too upset, but, Elsreine, you are royalty. You must understand that every single one of your behaviors will cause the royal family and mother's authority to be disregarded."

Seeing Fili bow her head, Elsreine hesitated and looked dissatisfied, but nodded quietly.

"I'm sorry for making you feel unpleasant....I would have liked to talk to you a bit, but I think we should wait another time."

"...Yes, Sail-niisama."

Seeing Elsreine bow her head with some discomfort, Sail headed for the stairs.

Raine was very similar to her mother.

Her purple eyes sent chills down anyone who looked into her eyes.

It wasn't just in appearance, she was the only one who was her mother's daughter.

The only difference was the presence of servants.

His mother was not interested in anything other than herself and Elsreine, but Elsreine was also attached to others besides herself and her mother.

Dependence or love? However, Sail didn't know Elsreine well enough to know the answer.

In that sense, too, it was a mistake.

His sticky feelings towards his younger sister, who was the only one their mother recognized and loved.

Elsreine was certainly right, this was just him taking out his frustrations on her.

The only person who could tell his mother was surely her.

Nothing good could come from having her direct her hostility towards him.

Elsreine was like her mother, but she was not as disappointed in others as her mother was, and at least aside from her talent, she was an innocent child.

Fili's existence was proof of that, and it was likely that she would hold the key to the future.

At the very least, Elsreine saw Fili as something special.

He stopped on his way down the stairs to catch a breath.

He then called out to a servant passing by.

He recognized her――it was an old servant who had taken care of him when he was at the royal castle a long time ago.

"...Call Fili to my room. I need to talk to her about something... keep it confidential."

In her mother's room, on her bed.

She hadn't been called for a while since Venure's death, and it had been a week since they had slept together like this.

Fili didn't want to talk much about Venure's suicide, and gave Reine a vague explanation that Venure had her own circumstances.

Even if Fili could imagine the reason, it was only imagination.

She didn't seem to want to talk about it, so Reine also didn't ask any further questions, and when she simply said it was a shame, Fili replied that it was sad.

True to her words, Fili's face was a little gloomier than usual.

When Reine went to see her, she smiled, but he didn't seem very energetic, and Fili's usually smooth writing became choppy.

She was so worried about that that Reine couldn't concentrate very well and couldn't continue painting ‘Elsren’.

It seemed that Fili and Venure had been friends for a long time, even before Reine was born.

Fili had spoken of her as a benefactor, and Reine had heard from the other servants that they were like parent and child.

So she could understand that Fili was very sad, and she could vaguely sympathize that her feelings of it being a shame was way stronger.

And Venure was someone who had been by her mother's side since she was born.

If that was the case with Fili, she felt that it was something she shouldn't bring up, so she didn't ask her mother about it.

Her mother never mentioned it at work, and it was on the day she was called into her room for the first time in a long time that she brought it up.

Venure had taken her own life so that she would talk to her brother, Sail, her mother said with a laugh.

And that it was useless talk.

"So basically, she wanted to stop the war with Rougran and the others?"

"It seems so. I didn't realize Venure was that stupid."

Her mother said in an exasperated voice.

She wanted to start a rebellion and eliminate the unsettling elements.

That's what her mother had been telling Reine for a while.

Keep the people alive, but don't kill them, but apply moderate pressure and remove any seeds of future anxiety.

Reine had been helping with this "job" for a while, and had been putting a lot of effort into adjusting the pressure on the people without weakening the country's power.

If she made taxes heavy, tax revenue would increase and the national treasury would grow.

But if she made them too heavy, many people would starve to death and the economy would stagnate.

If the people had some lee-way, they would spend more, and if they could not afford it, everyone would save money for emergencies.

If artisans lose their buyers, it's a matter of life and death. A country with no room for maneuver couldn't produce good products, the quality would decline, and the relative gap in technology with other countries would widen.

Balancing this was quite difficult, and Reine had been working hard, taking various future considerations into account――Reine thought it was a good plan considering the future.

Her mother wanted to build a country where she could control everything, and Reine felt that this was correct.

Her mother was smarter than anyone, and she thought about the future.

There were many parts of the nobles' thinking that were hard to understand, and their mistakes were noticeable, but with her mother, there was no such thing as failure.

If the most capable person――her mother controlled everything, there was no doubt that this country would become much richer in the future, and she believed that a ‘happy paradise’ would come for everyone.

It was true that squeezing the people in order to provoke a rebellion was a violent method, but after twenty or thirty years, a much better result would be waiting.

It was certain that a happy world in twenty years' time is better than a happy world in a hundred years' time, and in the long run, many people would be able to live happily.

Some sacrifices were inevitable.

Raine thought the same about her brothers who would die, including Rougran and the others, but Venure didn't seem to think so.

Sail didn't seem to accept it either, and his mother said that was the reason he came to see her today.

"...But it's a shame."

"A shame?"

"After coming to the office, Venure came to Fili's room. They were talking happily, which was unusual, but Fili seemed a little strange...maybe Fili noticed that Venure was about to die."

As she leaned her back on my mother, she remembered that day.

"If Reine had noticed properly, Reine might have been able to talk to Venure properly and tell her that it couldn't be helped."

"I had already told Venure properly. It's not your fault, Reine. Venure was just stupid... and there's no need for you to worry about something like Venure. I told you, he's like a farm animal."

"...Doesn't the mother feel sad or disappointed?"

"Why do you ask that?"

She turned around to look at her mother at her words.

Her mother looked at Reine with a troubled look on her face.

"I heard that Venure was by Okaa-sama side since she was born, taking care of her. If someone like that dies, isn't it normal to feel that way?"

"Normal, normal huh. Fufu, that's an interesting thing to say. Did Fili tell you?"

"...?"

Reine tilted her head and her mother put both hands on Reine's cheeks.

"Well... it's like a nice teacup that's broken. It's a shame, if you like that kind of thing... but there are plenty of replacement teacups."

"... but that's just the teacup, there's no replacement for Venure."

"Did Fili tell you that too?"

"Umm, Fili has nothing to do with it. Reine――"

Her mother chuckled and traced Reine's lips with her thumb.

Softly, but as if to silence her words.

"I've taught you many things. But you learned everything I didn't teach you from Fili, right? She was your tutor."

"That's..."

"You're just repeating what she told you. Hey, Reine, am I the one who's weird and she's normal? Am I wrong?"

"No, Kaa-sama. That's not what I want to say..."

"So, what are you trying to say?"

Her mother stared at Reine.

She brought her face closer to look into her eyes.

Reine let her eyes wander then looked back at her mother.

"...Umm, is Okaa-sama angry at Reine?"

"I'm not angry. I mean, you're my most precious treasure in the world."

She smiled as she said and stroked Reine's cheek.

"It's just that you keep saying weird things, so I was wondering... Come on, tell me."

Reine thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Reine doesn't think that Kaa-sama is wrong at all. But... I don't think Kaa-sama is absolutely right... that's all. After all, Reine can't see other people as different creatures like Kaa-sama does."

"...I see."

"Fili... Venure, and the other servants are all so kind to Reine, and Reine really enjoy chatting with them and having tea with them. So I wanted Mother to understand that, too."

That was all Raine wished for.

Just a little bit of mis-buttoning.

Surely everyone understood that Mother was a fine and wonderful queen.

Just a little bit more should be enough.

Just treating them with the same smile they showed to Reine, treating them with those feelings, would make everyone happier.

"Kaa-sama said she wanted to have a little paradise someday... Reine wants to create that too. Reine thinks it's not just Reine, but Fili and other people also feel the same way."

What should she do to convey it?

What should she do so it can be conveyed?

She thought about it all the time.

Small, trivial things can make people dislike or like someone.

"When Reine was little, Kaa-sama said she used to think the same way. She wished everyone could get along."

She stroked her mother's cheek and looked into her eyes.

Her purple eyes were the same color as Reine's.

"Maybe it didn't work out then. But Reine doesn't think that's everything. Now the people and the conditions are different. There are lots of people who want to be get along with Kaa-sama no――"

"... Reine"

Her mother called her name quietly, then smiled gently.

"You're smart enough, but your weakness is that you don't understand conflicts of interest very well. I'm the queen, and you're the princess, so it's natural that we all want to get along. If you and I like each other, we'll be safe and sound for the rest of our lives, and we'll be able to live without any worries or inconveniences."

"Kaa-sa――"

"The reason the servants are so sweet to you is because you're a powerful princess. They bow their heads and submit to you because they can't beat you in terms of authority, power, or intelligence. That's because they can't survive if they make you their enemy, and they know they'll be safe under your protection."

She pressed her finger over Reine's mouth again.

Softly and gently, but stronger than before.

"When I was a princess of a fallen royal family, no one helped me. That's because there was nothing in return for fawning on me. So I worked hard to protect myself, analyzing what kind of creatures other humans were, and using various methods to gain military power, wealth, and authority. ...It was then that other humans started fawning on me."

She called out her name, Reine.

She spoke lovingly, in a deep voice.

"I know much more about humans than you do. You've been under my protection since you were born, so you just didn't have a chance to know that. As you say, Reine, there are many people who are fond of me now. But that's because, unlike before, I now have power. Don't get the wrong idea, Reine."

Her mother's words seemed to tighten her core.

"...If you understand your position and the other person's, and find out what the other person is thinking and what they want, the answer will be easy to find. You have to be able to find that for yourself. ...If you don't have power, even the servants who you think like you will easily turn their backs on you."

It's a little different from Fili's usual gentle and embracing words.

"...But Fili..."

"...Reine really likes Fili huh. Does Fili love you? Hehe, well, people have different desires. She enjoys controlling you like that, and getting her way."

"Control..."

"That's right. Reine is beautiful and pure. ...It must be very fun to manipulate Reine like this to get what she wants."

"No, Kaa-sama, Fili――"

"See, you always try to protect her. Why does Fili like you? Why are you so sure?"

When she was at a loss for words, her mother shook her shoulders and laughed.

"There's no logical explanation for that, right? Reine is just dependent on Fili, her words have been imprinted on you, and you’re doing what she wants. Like a dog that's been taught tricks with food, you wag her tail like that without knowing what the owner is thinking."

"No, it's not like that, Fili is――"

"...how troubling."

Her mother said, sounding exasperated, giving a wry smile.

Let's stop talking about this, her mother continued.

"I don't want to argue with you, Reine. So don't look at me like that."

"... yes."

"You've lived in a small world for so long, so there's probably a lot you still don't understand. I was wondering what to do, but... you know, this is an important opportunity."

"...?"

Her mother smiled.

"I want Reine to eliminate Rougran’s force when we put down the rebellion."

"Rougran and his men?"

"Yes. I was thinking of sending Sail, but I have a lot of concerns, like whether he'll betray us or kill Rougran properly. I could go myself, but if Reine goes, I'll feel more at ease and it'll be a good learning experience for you."

Reine thought for a moment, then nodded.

She knew her brothers' abilities. It shouldn't be that difficult to kill them.

That was the plan from the beginning.

The only difference is whether Reine will kill them directly or not, so there's not much hesitation there.

"If that's the case...does Reine just need to kill them all?"

"Yes. Good girl. I'll let Sail go because he's the first prince, but you can't trust him. He might betray you, and if that happens, we'll have to get rid of Sail at the same time. Can you do that?"

"... Yes."

Her mother smiled happily and kissed Reine's forehead.

"Don't trust anyone. You can't leave your food to anyone, they might poison it. I'm in charge of everything in the palace, but that's not the case in the outside world. You don't know who's trying to kill you. You have to act carefully."

"Carefully..."

"Right. That's what you learn... No one will try to lay hands on Reine when she's by my side, but when she's away from me, it's an opportunity for those people. You should learn to doubt people more."

"Doubt?"

She nodded and pressed Reine against her chest.

"You're the only princess the Queen of Alberan loves specially. If you go outside, there will be all sorts of people who will try to curry favor with you or get rid of you. There are many who dislike me and Reine. I really wanted to let you spend your time away from such places, but I thought it was important for you to study in such an environment... Of course, if you don't want to, I won't force you."

"No. If Okaa-sama says Reine needs to study, then Reine should, and Fili always says that it's important to see different things and look at things from different angles.

If her mother wants her to know, then there's no harm in it

And there was a difference of opinion――it turned into an argument.

She was a little worried that her mother might be upset.

"...Umm, Reine, it's not that Reine dislikes Okaa-sama or thinks Okaa-sama is weird or anything like that, Reine really respects Okaa-sama and Reine loves Okaa-sama. So, um, about what we just talked about..."

"I told you to stop talking about that. ...It's okay. I understand your feelings, Reine. I'm not angry or anything."

"...Really?"

"Yes, it's true. After all, Reine is my precious treasure. ...You're going to have to take the day off. I'm sorry I said something mean."

She shook her head, hugged her mother tightly, relaxed her cheeks, and closed her eyes.

"No. ...I love you, Kaa-sama."

"Yes, me too. ...My dear Reine."

When she felt relieved, her strength relaxed and she quickly lost consciousness.

Stroking her daughter's head lovingly, ‘Reine’ quietly narrowed her eyes.

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