Chapter8 My Beloved Rei and I (Pixiv Fanbox)

*Translation below was made possible with the help of Sephallia. Thank you so much Sephallia.

80. The Bauer Kingdom After the Eruption

The damages caused by Mount Sassal’s eruption were massive. A third of the members of the House of Lords had died leaving it on the verge of collapse. However, because the chairperson themselves had survived as well as my father’s tact in handling the situation, the House of Lords continued to serve its function for the Kingdom.

Once the House had managed to fill the vacant positions with relatives of the deceased members, the first matter they discussed was King Rousseau’s successor. Of course, it was previously expected that the first prince, Rodd-sama, who was first in line to the throne would succeed him, but he had gone missing just before the eruption. According to reports from within the palace, Rodd-sama was last known to be on his way to a small village at the base of Mount Sassal. He was hoping to personally convince them to evacuate before a possible eruption. When Rei had previously mentioned this village to Rodd-sama in the past, he had more or less told her to give up on them, but it seems that it had been weighing on his mind after all.

(But to think that it would happen now of all times―!)

This is just a prediction, but it seemed likely that Rodd-sama got caught up in the eruption. We hadn’t found anything conclusive, but considering that it had been five days since the eruption and we still hadn’t heard anything from him, we could only assume the worst. This threw the House into disarray, but as we were on borrowed time, the conversation shifted to having Sein-sama inherit the throne. For our kingdom, a monarchy, it would be impossible for us to overcome our current crisis without a king.

And yet―

“Really… Just what is my father thinking…!”

As I read the newspaper, I couldn’t help but click my tongue. I had returned to my room at the dorms in the Royal Academy. Rei was with me, and she turned my way as though to inquire what was wrong.

My intent was to continue our pursuit of my father and his crimes, but Rei recommended against it. She said that my father’s political influence was necessary to overcome our current predicament. While it was clear now that he had been participating in some sort of illegal activity, my father truly did excel as a politician. Rei insisted that it would be for the best that my father continue to contribute to the kingdom’s politics for now.

However, that very father of mine seemed to be doing something absolutely absurd.

“What does it say?”

Perhaps acutely aware I was reaching my boiling point, Rei came and asked me that.

“It says that Sein-sama’s coronation has been canceled.”

As I spit out those words, I threw the newspaper in Rei’s direction. According to the article, talks of Sein-sama’s coronation were put to an end, and instead, the faction of nobles supporting Rodd-sama, led by my father, would come together to form a governing body.

“The only one who has the right to rule a monarchy should be its monarch. What the House of Lords should prioritize, first and foremost, is the coronation of our next king but this…”

The tone of the article of the newspaper was more or less in line with my thinking as well. Some newspapers were even calling this a coup d'etat by the nobles.

Of course, it wasn’t as though all of the nobles were in support of this movement. Just… It hurt that many of the casualties within the House of Lords were a part of Sein-sama’s and Yuu-sama’s factions. In addition, Yuu-sama had lost her rights to the throne causing many of her supporters to align with Rodd-sama’s faction instead. The fact that Sein-sama’s supporters had always been in the minority did not help either. And most importantly, as Rodd-sama had gone missing, Bauer’s largest political faction was missing its very leader. That was the political climate that Bauer’s nobles found themselves in.

“And all when the kingdom needs to come together to overcome its greatest peril yet… The people are fraught with nothing but worries.”

As a result of the volcanic ashes and debris from the eruption, the kingdom’s agriculture was in a dire state. Heartless merchants had become scalpers, foreseeing the shortage and buying out everything that they could. As a result, prices were increasing for goods all across the kingdom. My father’s―self proclaimed―provisional government was offering rations, but just how long would their supplies last?

It’s not as though I was simply here twiddling my thumbs either. If my father were to stray from the correct path, it was my duty as his daughter to correct him. That said, even were I to be forthright with my objections, it was hard to imagine that my father would listen to me in earnest.

If there was someone who could affect change on my father and the nobles behind him―

“Rei, make the necessary arrangements. I will see Sein-sama.”

I wanted to request that Sein-sama take action. As a result of what my father’s done, his coronation had been set aside for now, but under other circumstances, he was next in line to be king. If our kingdom’s royalty were more resolute, perhaps father would change his mind as well.

However―

“… I think that might be difficult.”

“Why!?”

Faced with Rei’s reluctance, I unwittingly raised my voice. While I knew that self-restraint was important, after the eruption, I had constantly been here and there doing so many different things that I was unable to contain myself.

“That’s because you’re Dor-sama’s daughter. As Dor-sama’s faction is the one who’s put Sein-sama under house arrest, Sein-sama’s faction sees you as his sworn enemy.”

“… Krh…”

Rei certainly did have a point. It wouldn’t make sense for the royal palace to lend its ear to the daughter of the very man who was undermining them. I hadn’t even considered something so simple until it was pointed out to me.

“Claire-sama, I think it would be best if you gave yourself some distance for now. Ever since the eruption, you’ve been working far too hard.”

Rei spoke to comfort me, but I certainly did not feel that way.

“I’ve only done what the situation called for me to do. And yet, my father doesn’t seem to want to do the same.”

I simply couldn’t bring myself to understand my father’s current course of action. My father had constantly spoken of the ideals of what it meant to be a Bauan noble. His current actions had strayed so far from that, that I simply couldn’t believe that they were one and the same. The papers had even gone to say that my father was taking advantage of the crisis to take the throne for himself. The fact that such a thing had been written about my father, my role model, made it difficult for me to sit still.

Truly, just what has happened to you, father…

“Claire-sama, I already think that you’re doing all that you can. I believe that right now, you should get a little rest. I mean, you’ve barely slept at all for the past couple of days.”

After she said that, I briefly touched my face and felt that it was dry. Rei had been very thorough with her care of my skin, but it was true that I hadn’t had the chance to take a proper bath for a while now. As Rei said, I also hadn’t been getting enough sleep. Another couple of days like this would be no matter, but there was no way that this was sustainable long term.

“I am fine. Just fine, but―”

As I said that, I stood from my chair and approached Rei.

“… But I am perhaps, just a little, tired. Could I ask we remain like this for just a little?”

“C-Claire-sama!?”

I softly leaned onto her.

“I’m really glad that you’re here with me Rei. If I had been alone, I would’ve long crumbled.”

“Claire-sama, are you alright? No, you can’t be, there’s just no way Claire-sama would rely on my like this if she was―”

“I’m simply being ‘dere’ right now. Isn’t that how the word is meant to be used?”

“Erhm, you’re not wrong but…”

In response to my sudden display of affection, Rei was clearly flustered.

“Even I at times need to depend on others in this way. Before, I’d often have Lene support me in this way.”

“… Ah, I see.”

That Lene was now no longer by my side. When I thought of what things might look like if Rei hadn’t been by my side either, it sent shivers down my spine.

“Being nobility is one of my greatest prides, but sometimes… Really just sometimes, I dream of what it might be like were I free of my obligations, a little like this.”

“Isn’t that just fine? Just quit being a noble, leave it all behind.”

“I can’t allow myself to do that. The only reason I was allowed to live in luxury until now was because, as a noble, it is my duty to take proper action in these dire times.”

“You really are rather stiff, aren’t you, Claire-sama.”

Rei wore a strained smile.

“In that case, even if it’s nothing more than nonsense, I want you to tell me. If you were no longer a noble, is there anything that you’d want to do?”

Rei laughed a little as she asked that. If I were no longer a noble…?

“… Well…”

It was really difficult for me to imagine such a scenario. To me, being a noble was the very same as breathing, just natural. I hadn’t even even tried to imagine myself as something other than a noble… No, now that I think about it, I do seem to remember that someone once said something similar.

“I’d like to try to learn how to cook and how to sew.”

After taking a lot of time to think about it, that was the answer that I had come to.

“How surprising. You’d want to do something so common among commoners?”

“You’ve taken very great care of me up until now. If I were no longer a noble, that’s about all that I could do to return the favor.”

Rei appeared perplexed at my response.

“What, just what is your expression meant to be? Ah, I haven’t bathed in a couple of days… Could it be that I smell?”

“No, not at all, actually I think you smell great.”

Just what does she think she’s saying.

“Liar. This is a good opportunity, so let’s take a bath now.”

“Okay.”

Rei and I both made our way to the bath, but we found out that the temperature of the water had yet to stabilize after the eruption, so use of the dorm’s hot spring was prohibited.

“Argh, geez…!”

“Calm down, Claire-sama, there, there.”

In the end, I had to settle with having Rei wipe my body as she normally did. Even while a contented sigh escaped me as Rei’s warm towel did its work, I continued to think about my next steps.

(I must do something about all this… I simply must…)

But unfortunately, under all that pressure my mind only spun in circles and I was unable to come up with any specific countermeasures.

81. Reminiscence

　※Told from the perspective of Dor François.

“Then, we are all in unanimous consensus regarding proposed Restoration Taxes?”

“No objections.”

When I asked for confirmation, everyone was in approval.

“Then, that is all for today. We will convene once again tomorrow.”

Calling the end of the meeting, the various people who had taken the bait and joined my “Provisional Government”, a government in name alone, took their leave. Without letting any of my emotions show, I simply watched them do so.

“But wow, just as one would expect from Dor-sama.”

“Truly. Restoration is costly. Of course we nobles are prepared to make our own sacrifices, but of course, it only makes sense that we have the commoners share that burden.”

This was all praise I was fed up with and foolishness I could no longer bear to hear, but I forced myself to return a pleased smile. I was accustomed to keeping up appearances.

“Earl Ardouin, Viscount Lelong, thank you. I am truly thankful for your support for our cause.”

I didn’t even feel hesitation uttering this empty thank you.

“Why of course. For a long time now, I had always thought that you, Dor-sama, were the only noble who truly thought of the future of our kingdom.”

“Yes, I absolutely feel the same.”

Though that’s what they said, the earl and viscount were both previously a part of Marquis Achard’s political faction. When the Marquis fell from grace, they ran to me with their tails between their legs and I openly welcomed them. These men had no care for morality or reason, despicable politicians that were only concerned for their own gain. They were exactly the kind of people that should perish alongside me.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll be excusing myself here. Ah, that’s right, I truly appreciate your donations as well. I’ll be sure to use them to further our cause.”

I made sure to thank them on my way out as well. I had called it a donation, but what they had given me was unmistakably a bribe.

“Yes, of course, do with it as you see fit.”

“Until tomorrow, Duke François.”

Leaving behind the two bootlickers, I left the meeting hall. As I did, I felt just a little guilt that I had to use such a hallowed place in this way.

　◆◇◆◇◆

When I returned to my room at my own manor, I let myself sink deeply into my chair. I felt my fatigue weighing on me. While I fully intended to sacrifice myself for the sake of purging the masses of corrupt nobles, I didn’t want to put the lives of our kingdom’s people at risk. We needed to focus all of our efforts dealing with the after effects of Mount Sassal’s eruption. Following Rei’s advice, I had made preparations for the eruption, but the damages were much greater than we could have anticipated.

“Restoration taxes? Do they really believe that will provide the people relief, the absolute buffoons!”

If we were to increase taxes, lashback was nigh guaranteed. They all seemed to think that the kingdom’s people were simply slaves that would comply to any command, but they’ll be learning the hard way when the people’s anger finally reaches its boiling point.

“… It is however, difficult that I must see my daughter glare at me with such contempt…”

Before the eruption, my daughter had received orders from His Majesty to investigate corrupt nobility. The look that she gave me at that time is one that I will never be able to forget. A look filled with despair―as though the very ideal she had trusted and believed in had betrayed her. I didn’t give a damn what the other nobles thought of me, but for my daughter, the apple of my own eye, to glare at me that way… Was an agony difficult for me to bear.

“However, just a little longer… It’ll be just a little longer, Milia.”

Turning my gaze to the framed portrait on my shelf, my words were filled with conviction as I called to her.

In truth, I wasn’t always the rolemodel noble that people consider me to be. What changed me was… My meeting with Milia. Milia was a very virtuous woman. While she was born and raised with the lineage of a Marquis, she stood firmly against injustice and evil.

『Duke François, might you spare a little of your time?』

At an evening party, she called out to me without concern for my rank and title as a duke, showing open contempt for the concept of high society. To me, who until then had aimlessly lived up to what society expected of a noble, she was dazzling. After that, each time we met, we continued our debates. At a glance, others would have perhaps considered our conversations to be dull… But I found each and every one to be irresistibly fun and interesting.

This continued for a while, until I proposed to her. This was how she responded.

『Will you share with me in my ideals?』

To her, the simple word, “ideals”, was one that carried an immense weight. Sharing in her ideals meant one thing―fighting against corrupt nobility and this world that they ruled over. She was asking me whether or not I had the resolve to do so. I was young. Before giving sufficient thought to the true implications, I had already said yes.

Life after our marriage was smooth sailing. I took my place in politics, and Milia took hers in high society. In each of our spheres, we fought to realize our ideals. Within that, we had also been blessed with a child. Our precious baby, who closely took after Milia, I chose to name Claire.

Claire really did take after Milia. It was only natural that she’d inherit physical features, but she had inherited Milia’s heart as well. Because I couldn’t resist spoiling her, she would say some rather selfish things, but at their core the two were one and the same. My daughter, more than anyone else, firmly understood that she was a noble, and held herself to unrelentingly strict standards.

Milia too, like Claire, held herself to strict standards. In a world where nobles were gluttonous monsters that let their greed run unchecked, maximizing only their profits, she kept her hands clean. Of course, as a direct result of all this, Milia very openly opposed Marquis Achard. Even back then, there were already unfavorable rumors circulating regarding the Marquis, but due to the name’s legacy and their influence, no one dared to openly oppose them. Milia however, was different. Even when it came to House Achard’s darker secrets, she remained just and impartial.

And then, the accident happened.

It was officially processed as a carriage accident, but I knew the truth. It had been a premeditated murder, staged by House Achard. Strangely enough, my memories directly regarding the accident were foggy, but after the fact, when I had returned to work, the Marquis said something to me that I would never forget.

『So you lived. How unfortunate.』

The fact that I had not killed that man then and there, was my life’s greatest regret, most difficult decision, but also my best one. I could have used my authority and influence to stage his murder as well, but I didn’t do that either.

Why?

Because I no longer felt that I could allow myself to lash out as an arrogant noble like I did in the past. If I were to revert to my old ways now, then everything would have been meaningless.

That’s right, even Milia’s death.

I couldn’t even allow myself to give into my anger to take revenge. When I realized that, for the first time, I truly understood how frightening and unforgiving Milia’s ideals were.

That was when I began my plan to exact a different sort of revenge. House Achard, and by extension, this rotten aristocracy. I would purge it all―that was the sole thing that I would live for.

Since then, I’ve done numerous things that would result in unfavorable criticism. Reflecting on it, I realized that my crimes likely made me a great villain comparable to Marquis Achard himself. Even as I commit such evil, I would not allow myself to be tainted by it―the difficulty of that had caused me much anguish over the years.

Even so, I had made it all the way here. Just one step… I was just one step away.

“I’ve finally made it here. I’m sure it won’t be too long now before I can see you again.”

I immediately realized what I had said, and corrected myself internally. There was no way that I, marred by so much sin, would end up where someone virtuous as Milia did. When I died, I was sure my destination would be hell.

“Right… I suppose I’ll never be able to see you again, Milia.”

That made me a little… No, it made me very sad.

But I couldn’t back down now. Now that I had made it this far, I had to see it through to the end.

“To the very least… To the very least, I want Claire to live…”

I’ve entrusted my daughter to Rei. Rei readily accepted, telling me that it would be alright, but my worries remained. Claire had taken after Milia. Too much so. Would she, would someone like her, really allow themselves to live even after being disgraced?

“All I can do is bet on her.”

Rei Taylor. She truly was a mysterious girl. She told me she had come from another world. At first, it all sounded absolutely absurd, but her accomplishments since spoke for her.

There was no doubt that my daughter had changed as well. Rei was on the verge of becoming an invaluable, unexchangeable existence to my daughter. Perhaps if it was Rei, perhaps she could truly change my daughter’s way of life.

“No… These are just my own personal wishes.”

Rather than realizing my ideals, I wanted my daughter to live on―that was how I truly felt. I didn’t want to see someone precious sacrificed for the sake of their ideals, never again.

“Milia… Please, protect Claire.”

From the portrait before me, Milia smiled. It was obvious that she couldn’t give me a yes or a no.

It only made sense, and yet, to me, it felt like my punishment for all of the sins I bore.

82. Turbulence

Only a few days after the provisional government announced its plans to increase taxes, the capital was rife with commoners in protest. When I opened the window, I saw commoners as far as the capital’s main road stretched. They made no effort to conceal their anger as they marched on with their signs in hand.

“Really, it only makes sense…”

Ever since the eruption, the kingdom’s agriculture industry had suffered a huge blow. On top of that, the scalpers buying out all the goods meant that prices had risen exponentially. Even before all of this, most commoners had already been struggling to survive, so it only made sense that their frustrations would reach their boiling point now.

“I wonder if the meals we gave out really helped…”

Based on Rei’s suggestion and Yuu-sama’s advice, I began offering rations and free meals to commoners in poverty. Of course, everyone had expressed their appreciation, but it was a known fact that all of this had been caused by my father’s provisional government in the first place. As a result, many also thought that this was all staged, that I was taking advantage of the circumstances to prop myself up.

“Let’s just focus on doing everything we can. And I mean, if that’s not enough, then we’ll just have to accept that.”

“You really are quite easy going, aren’t you, Rei.”

When I closed the window and sat back down, Rei offered those words as a form of consolation as she offered me freshly brewed tea. I simply found myself unable to be as optimistic as her.

“Well, Claire-sama, you’re too pessimistic. As the one by your side supporting you, I think this balances us out.”

“… Perhaps you’re right.”

To some degree, I had always considered myself to be a pessimist. That was because while also being a perfectionist, I was painfully aware that I could never meet my own standards. Repeatedly lamenting over myself… Had stained me to my core.

―No matter what I did, I was sure that things wouldn’t turn out for the better.

That thought had stuck itself somewhere in the depths of my heart.

But Rei was different. To me, it appeared as though she was able to accept and deal with things as they came. For better or for worse, she always remained herself. While she never overestimated things, she never underestimated them either. It was probably precisely because she was like that, that she was able to see me in a positive light.

“Claire-sama, you’re not overthinking yourself into a negative spiral, are you? I can see the wrinkles as you furrow your brows.”

“… As usual, you’re quite attentive, aren’t you.”

“That’s because this is about you, Claire-sama. Here, please enjoy this tea and take a short break.”

“You’re right, I think I shall.”

Taking the cup in my hand, I let the tea’s gentle fragrance waft up and tickle my nose.

“What a nice scent.”

“This is a chamomile tea. It’s said to have a calming effect.”

Even in such dire times, how could the commoner waste something so luxurious―was not a reprimand I directed at her. That was because I knew that, thinking ahead, Rei reserved some of the flower beds at the academy to raise various plants. In all likelihood, this chamomile too was something that she had grown herself.

“Absolutely perfect for my current situation. Thank you, Rei.”

“… You really aren’t your usual self today, Claire-sama.”

“Eh?”

Even though I just spoke honestly, for some reason, Rei looked worried.

“If you were, you’d probably say something like, ‘Hmph, considering it’s you, you’ve done alright I suppose.’ But instead, to think that you’d say something so meek and gentle…”

“Now listen here. Even I know to be thankful when someone shows me earnest kindness. The only reason I lash out like that is because you ruin the moment by taking things too far.”

“Oh, is that right? In that case, let’s go ahead and take things too far right now. We could do this, or we could do that…”

“No, I will not.”

“Just what did you imagine us doing? Claire-sama, you perv.”

“Cough, bft…!? You…!”

In response to Rei’s ridiculous words, I nearly allowed myself to get riled up, before,

“… You’re doing all of this in order to lift my spirits, aren’t you.”

“Really, Claire-sama, you just aren’t your usual self today. As the simple and easy heroine, you need to bite harder when I lay out the bait.”

“I don’t know what you mean by simple and easy, but, Rei, I know you don’t possess any ill will.”

“Argh! When you’re like this it’s just no fun.”

When I saw Rei stomping on the ground so clearly dissatisfied with my response, somehow, I felt just a little lighter.

“Moving on, today is the day of our negotiations with both the provisional government and the revolutionaries, isn’t it.”

“That’s right. In the morning, we’ll meet with Dor-sama and the most influential members of the provisional government. In the afternoon, we have a meeting with Arla and the revolutionaries.”

At the moment, I found myself in a rather peculiar position. Despite being noble myself, I had also garnered a lot of support among the commoners. As a result, I was directly between the provisional government and the revolutionaries, trying to find middle ground that both would accept. This was another thing that I had tried to do based on Rei’s advice, but the two parties' stances could not be further apart.

The provisional government saw the revolutionaries as nothing more than insurgents. Their demands were for the revolutionaries to dissolve and cease activities as soon as possible. On the other hand, the revolutionaries saw the provisional government as an enemy that they must tear down. Their demands were that the provisional government concede the rights to govern the kingdom over to the people. It was clear that there was no middle ground to be found between these demands.

The sole path that I found that seemed perhaps promising was a theory from a political scholar in a country called Lens. In that country, it was sad that a revolution had occurred and most if not all of the nobles had been killed as a result. That scholar, lamenting over the history of their motherland, said that perhaps, had the nobles compromised to give the commoners suffrage, the ability to influence the country’s political decisions… Perhaps, they may have lived on. I saw potential in this idea.

If we gave the commoners the right to participate in our kingdom’s politics, the revolutionaries would have achieved something, meaning that they wouldn’t feel that their efforts were for naught. And on the other hand, the provisional government would have compromised, but they would still be able to hold their status as nobility. In that sense, both sides would be able to share the pain. I felt that if there was common ground to be found, this was it.

However, at this point in time, even that seemed to be impossible.

The provisional government saw it as unthinkable to confer suffrage to the commoners, and the revolutionaries were intent on fighting until the current system was overthrown. It seemed that both sides would need to suffer losses―blood would need to be shed―before either side was willing to come to an understanding.

“So, what do you think, Rei?”

Before I was about to once again lose myself in the labyrinth of my own thoughts, I asked Rei what she thought.

“Hmm, well… It does seem like both sides need to learn things the hard way.”

“No…”

“Right now both sides are blind with rage. If they suffer losses, things will likely only get worse, but eventually they’ll have to realize, ‘Ah, this can’t go on.’”

“But at that point it’ll be too late!”

Unable to hold myself back, I stood from my chair and screamed.

“If both sides turn to violence, the greatest victims will be the weakest―the women and the children.”

Among those women and children, some may be able to protect themselves with magic, but at this point, the people who had learned to use magic were still in the minority. Without a magic stone, they wouldn’t be able to use powerful magic, and even the cheapest wands were an extravagant expenditure to commoners.

“We have to do… something… We have to settle this matter before it gets to that point.”

“In that case, all we can do is do our best.”

As she spoke, she again put her hands on my shoulders, gently easing me back into my chair.

“If possible, I don’t want blood to be spilled either. Let’s do everything that we can.”

“Will you support me?”

“Of course. If it’s something that Claire-sama wants to do, then I want to do it as well.”

I felt slightly flustered looking at Rei’s smile as she said that.

But, in retrospect, it was clear that there was something off about Rei at this time. She managed to smile and smooth things over, but simply put this is what she was saying:

―Why not just do as you’d please?

For her, who had always managed to keep one step ahead and seize the initiative, it was unthinkable that she’d be so haphazard. At that time, the truth was, that she was already thinking about something else.

And I, in my foolishness, hadn’t realized that and gave her my blind trust.

83. Kingdom Era: November 10, 2015

A few weeks passed as I went back and forth, trying to mediate between the provisional government and the revolutionaries. Neither side seemed remotely interested in compromise, but I persevered in my attempts to convince them. Rei too did all that she could to support me. She didn’t just take care of her usual duties, but also discussed possible ways we could convince either side, helped me form my plan of attack, and much more. I was truly thankful toward her devotion and diligence.

However, that day had finally come.

November the 10th, Kingdom Era. The protests had fully devolved into an armed revolution. Half or so of the provisional government’s army had defected to the side of the revolutionaries, leading to civil war. As per reports from various newspapers, the state of the war favored the revolutionaries.

“… We didn’t make it.”

As we watched the conflict between the revolutionaries and the army from the academy window, I was tormented by my own powerlessness. While I clenched my teeth, frustrated at just how useless I had been, there was nothing that I could do to reverse what had already happened.

“Claire-sama, you’ve really done all that you can. Now that things have gone this far, I think it was inevitable…”

“But… If I had just tried harder…”

“Claire-sama, you tried really hard. That’s more than enough.”

Rei tried to comfort me, but all that I felt was regret. Perhaps if I had taken action sooner, or perhaps if I had managed to find a better point of compromise for both sides… Even now, a commoner, who I have an obligation to protect, could be in pain, in suffering. When I thought about that, I felt as though my heart was about to burst.

Even so, I would not allow myself to just wallow as a tragic heroine. I am a noble. If the times have chosen to move in this direction, then that left one choice for me to make.

“Now that it’s come to this, there’s nothing more that I can do. As a noble bearing responsibility for the old era, I will honorably accept my end.”

The commoners have chosen to reject the nobility. In that case, it was only right that nobles properly respond. House François stood at the very fore of this Kingdom’s nobility. So, to the very least, while the losses remained small on each side, I needed to represent the nobles and declare the end of this era.

The fury of the commoners was tremendous. In all likelihood, like what had happened in Reims, us nobles would all be killed. If I said that I wasn’t afraid of death, that would be a lie. However, it wasn’t something that I intended to cling to if it meant hurting the commoners.

I resolved myself to accept the commoner’s choice, and yet―

“No. Claire-sama’, I’ll have you stand on the side denouncing the old era.”

“… Eh?”

Rei’s sudden statement made me doubt my ears. I… Myself, would denounce the old era…? With the doubts that ran through my head apparently clear to her, Rei corrected her posture.

“Rei, just what are you saying?”

“Claire-sama, you’ll stand with the people, ushering in the new era, and seeing through the end of the old one.”

“W-What, that’s ridiculous… I am a proud descendent of the François lineage. My very existence serves as a symbol of the old era.”

What Rei was saying didn’t make any sense. If this was some sort of joke, I didn’t find it funny. However, her expression remained entirely serious, so it was difficult to think that she spoke in jest.

“Claire-sama, the symbol of our old era is not you, it’s Dor-sama.”

“Isn’t that one and the same?”

“No, it isn’t. Claire-sama, I want you to stand on that side that condemns Dor-sama’s current provisional government, the current ruling class―I want you to condemn the nobles.”

“Wha… What do you think you’re saying!”

FInally picking up on what Rei intended to say, I raised my voice. In essence, this was what she was saying,

Simply put―she wanted me to turn my back on nobles, no, on nobility itself.

“You mean to say that I should betray the very people who bore the old era alongside me and brazenly live on!? I would never allow myself to do something like that!”

Of course I had no intention to meaninglessly throw my life away either, but I am a noble, a proud noble. Even should I live on, just what meaning could such a life have? I was trying to explain that to Rei.

However, her next words were something that I never would have expected.

“These are… Dor-sama’s wishes.”

“… Eh? Wha, wait… Huh? My father’s?”

Just why would she mention my father’s name here? Wasn’t my father corrupted by his own greed and as a result simply chasing his own self interests?

“I mean… My father is… Just what do you mean in saying that…? Rei!”

“The one who started this movement, this revolution, is none other than Dor-sama himself.”

Rei’s words only confused me further. My father manipulated things… So that the commoners would revolt?

“I can’t understand a single thing that you’re saying!”

“I’ll explain things in order. This will be rather long, so please, sit down.”

I had all but entirely lost my composure. In comparison, Rei remained calm. After she sat me down, she took her time as she began her explanation.

“As you’re well aware, the kingdom’s politics had long shown signs of corruption. Almost all of the nobles only served their own self interests, and they constantly fought for more power and influence.”

“.. Yes, but just how is any of that related to―”

“Even within that, there was just one noble who sincerely considered our kingdom’s future―Dor-sama.”

“My father? But he ignored the wishes of the royal palace and claimed the kingdom’s politics for his own…”

After having tried to mediate between the two conflicting parties for the past couple of days, I was the one who best understood that. The stance my father had taken was one that didn’t even seem to consider tomorrow, much less the distant future.

“Dor-sama’s intention is to surround himself with all of the corrupted nobles and sacrifice himself. Everything he’s done so far has been for this day, the day where it would all be razed down at the hand of the commoners.”

“… No, that’s preposterous.”

Rei was telling me that my father’s horrible conduct had all been a facade.

Rei continued.

“In the past, not even Dor-sama himself held any doubts about the state of nobility. However, Claire-sama, it was your mother, Milia-sama’s, death that changed him.”

“When my mother… died…?”

On that day, when I was deeply scarred… Just what was it that my father had thought?

“Milia-sama’s accident was actually staged by another influential noble. She was murdered.”

“No…!”

“Dor-sama changed because after that day, he realized that there was no way he could allow things to remain the same.”

I finally understood. My father, who I deeply loved and respected, actually hadn’t changed at all. He was the one who truly loved and served this kingdom.

“Even as he acted out the role of a corrupt noble, he offered support to the revolutionaries behind the scenes. Do you remember, Claire-sama? The day that I became your maid.”

“… Yes. If I recall, at that time, you said something strange, and my father began acting very differently.”

“Yes, this is what I said. 『Irvine Manuel, March 3rd, five hundred thousand gold.』That was… The amount that Dor-sama had secretly given to the revolutionaries.”

According to Rei, that should have been a number that only my father and Arla’s little brother, Irvine should have known. In hinting that she knew of my father’s plans, she gained a shield that she could use to convince my father.

“After your father cleared the room, this is what I said. Dor-sama, I truly believe that your goals are admirable, but do you really plan to get Claire-sama involved too?”

“Why would you…”

“For the sake of this kingdom, Dor-sama planned to not only sacrifice himself, but you as well, Claire-sama. He of course loves you from the bottom of his heart, but part of him had given up, saying that it was for the sake of the future.”

As a noble, the choice was obvious. Even after hearing that he intended to sacrifice me for his cause, I felt no resentment toward him. In fact, I felt that was the way things should be.

“I offered Dor-sama another option. A way where, even should nobility itself be overthrown, Claire-sama… You could live on. When Dor-sama heard there was a possible way that his daughter could survive, he agreed to go along with my idea.”

Rei presented an alternate scenario to my father. A scenario where I cast away the nobility of the old era, and stood on the side that persecuted it.

“Everything that I’ve done until now has been for this. I worked to better your reputation among the commoners and distance you from the nobles, all so that you could live in the new era.”

“Then… Then you! You knew that it would come to this from the start!”

Then everything, the way she supported me by my side… Is she saying all of that was a lie? I trusted her! Even though I trusted her to the point where I thought that a life without her would be unthinkable!

“That’s right. That a revolution would occur, and that Dor-sama and the rest of the nobles would perish as a result of it. No matter what we did, I knew that this outcome was unavoidable.

“But… No… I… I trusted you…!”

“My deepest apologies, Claire-sama. I am ready to accept any punishment.”

When Rei said that and closed her eyes, she seemed so indifferent that I realized that I was long past my boiling point. Unwittingly, I raised my hand to slap her cheek with all my anger―

But, I couldn’t do that.

“My father… And you… You’re both far too self-centered…”

Both Rei and my father had been lying to me. That lie was not something that I could forgive. However, I was not so foolish that I didn’t know why they had been lying to me.

―Everything was… They had done it all for me.

So that my life would continue, even should nobility come to an end.

They lied out of love. A father’s love, and a spouse’s love. It was unmistakable. I could no longer contain my emotions as they overflowed onto my cheeks.

“Claire-sama, soon you’ll join up with the revolutionaries. I’ve already talked to Arla.”

“…”

Rei spoke of my next steps. Having known that it would come to this for a long time, she had likely made a vast number of preparations.

“Before long, the Royal Palace will declare their backing for the revolutionaries. When they do that, the nobles will be the insurgents. At that time, Claire-sama, I want you to condemn them.”

“…”

But Rei. Haven’t you forgotten something rather important?

That fact made me very sad.

“Claire-sama?”

With my back turned, I approached the window. Just outside, the sounds of conflict between the two factions raged on.

“So, Rei, if I were to become a commoner, what lifestyle do you think I would lead?”

It was an impossible supposition, an impossible scenario. Even so, considering all things, I thought that I’d ask Rei.

“Well… I think there would be a lot to adjust to at first. Just like when you stayed over at my place during our vacation.”

“I’m sure there would be.”

Without turning to face Rei, I gave a nod. Even though not a lot of time had passed since I visited her parent’s home, it somehow felt like a distant memory.

“But I’m sure you’ll get used to it! I mean, I’ll always be by your side to take care of you too.”

“I see… So we’d be able to live together then.”

“Of course. If it’s for your sake I’ll do my best to work and support us.”

“That’s true, I suppose something like that would be necessary as well.”

The lifestyle that Rei spoke of surely wasn’t a bad one. I was confident that if she was there to support me, any way of life would be fun.

“We could raise a dog.”

“I’d rather a cat.”

Just Rei and I, living a modest life.

“Would you like to keep a garden?”

“Yes, I think I’d like a flower garden.”

A peaceful life, very different from that of a noble’s.

“How many children would you like?”

“We can’t have children, you know that.”

“Well then, we could adopt.”

“I think I’d like two cute little girls.”

After replying to Rei’s frivolous questions, I left a momentary pause before I said,

“If it’s you, I’m sure that you wouldn’t do anything that would make me unhappy.”

Yes, that’s right, but that lifestyle is one that remains out of my reach.

“―se.”

“What was that?”

As I voiced my resolve, perhaps my voice had been too shaky. Unable to hear, Rei asked me to repeat myself.

“Claire-sama?”

“I said, I must refuse.”

I turned to face Rei and looked her in the eye. This time I managed to say it clearly. Her face as she looked at me in shock was oddly comical.

“What are you saying, Claire-sama! There’s no other choice for you to make.”

“No, there is. I can make the choice to perish as a noble, along with the old era.”

Rei, I understand what you and my father wanted. However, that is not how I’ve lived my life until now.

“No… But that’s pointless! I mean, no one will be happy if you do something like that!”

“Yes, I believe I’m aware.”

“Dor-sama… and I… We’ve tried so hard, all this time, so that you could―”

“Yes, and I appreciate that sentiment.”

As my heart, my feelings, became words, I could tell that my emotions were settling. That’s right… I’ve always…

“Wait… Please wait! Are you angry because Dor-sama and I did all this in secret? I’m sorry, I really am, but if I told you openly, Claire-sama, you’d―”

“I would have been unable to accept it, and refused the idea, I know.”

I’ve always… Loved you this much.

“Rei, both you and my father did all of this for me. I understand that, and I’m not angry.”

“In that case, why!”

“Because―”

Rei, I’m sorry.

“Because I am a noble.”

I could see that she was at a complete loss for words.

“As a noble, I’ve been allowed to live in luxury in order to fulfill my obligations should the need arise. The only reason that my countless selfish acts were allowed until now, was so that I could fulfill my duties here.”

“That’s why I’m trying to tell you that you don’t need to!”

“No, this is my final duty―as a noble, I must accept the choice that the commoners made.”

Rei. Now I know, this is not simply adoration or yearning. You are my first and my last love.

“Claire-sama… Please, let’s think this over… Let’s live together, in the new era… Please…?”

“I’m sorry Rei. This is the one plea that I cannot grant for you.”

“Please, I beg of you… Didn’t you promise…? That you’d never give up… Not until the very end.”

The days that I was able to spend with you have truly become an irreplaceable treasure to me.

“Oh, now that you mention it, something like that did happen. It feels so nostalgic.”

However―

“No… No, not like this… Claire-sama, don’t go…!”

“I’m sorry Rei.”

Untypical of her, she whined like a little baby. As she did, I gently placed my hand on her cheeks and―

I stole a kiss from her soft lips.

“In exchange for breaking my promise, I’ll offer you my first kiss.”

WIth that, I have no regrets.

“Goodbye Rei. I wish you the best.”

Leaving Rei there as she stood still in dumb shock, I left the room.

Rei.

Rei.

My beloved.

But unfortunately, I am unable to devote myself to love as openly as you are. I cannot live my life like you do. I won’t ask that you forgive me.

But, please, if nothing else―

“You must live on, in the new era.”

84. The Battle to Defend the Royal Academy

　※Told from Pipi Barlier’s perspective.

“The back gates are about to be breached!”

That report from one of House Cuglietto’s soldiers sounded more like a scream. Loretta offered a sharp rebuke in response.

“Hold strong! We’ll stop them here!”

At the Royal Academy’s back gates, Loretta and I had been positioned here to defend the academy.

The commoner’s once peaceful protests had finally taken a violent turn. They armed themselves with common knives, hatchets, and other improvised weaponry, marching toward the nobles district looting whatever they found on their way. They of course bore their fangs at the Royal Academy as well.

At the front gates, a large mob of several thousands of commoners gathered and were trying to force their way onto the premises. Right now, Loretta’s father―Count Cugletto himself―served as the acting commander and led the defense. Loretta had been assigned to defend the back gates, and I was to support her as her aide.

“Pipi, you know, you didn’t have to force yourself to come with me?”

Even though her expression was tense, Loretta still managed to flash me a smile. It was a kind gesture, and Loretta was very kind, but those weren’t the words that I wanted to hear.

“Hmph, Loretta, aren’t you the one forcing yourself right now? Just be honest and say you want me to stay by your side.”

“Urr…”

Loretta’s cheeks took a red hue as she found herself at a loss for words. Ever since the events at the music festival, I had become ferociously proactive in my approaches toward Loretta. It was clear she still held feelings for Claire-sama, but her response to me wasn’t an unfavorable one either. One day, I was sure that I’d steal her heart.

In order for that to happen, there was no way that I’d allow myself to die here.

“Hey, Loretta! Get your head out of the clouds, the soldiers are awaiting your orders.”

“Ah, you’re right. Squad three, proceed forward!”

House Cugletto’s soldiers took action the moment Loretta issued her command. While I thought that Loretta looked really cool right now, this was neither the time nor place so I chose to focus up.

“Death to the nobility!!”

“For our common freedom!!”

Even as I listened to the angry roars of the commoners, I continued to think. Would the era of nobility really come to its end? Yuu-sama had once said something that now sounded like prophecy, but at the time I simply thought that there was no way. The thought that a day where the commoners would overthrow us nobility had never once occurred to me. And yet, that very scenario was currently playing out as our reality.

(I suppose it’s fine if nobility lose their rank and title. I mean, my house, House Barlier, has already lost its rank.)

As a result of our dealings with Marquis Achard, House Barlier had already lost its title. The only reason we had not faced execution was because our contributions in actually capturing Clément had been recognized. My parents now relied on an influential connection in the territory that they had once ruled over. Even though we were originally nobles, my father had garnered good will and rapport from the way he had governed, so there were several merchants who were willing to help him get back on his feet. Until my father could settle into his new lifestyle, I was put under the care of House Cugletto.

That’s why I no longer felt any attachment to my lineage or nobility. However, Loretta was part of a noble lineage that stood at the top of the army meant to protect the nobles. I absolutely wanted to find a way to prevent her from losing her life in this revolution.

(In the worst case, perhaps I could make Loretta faint and take her away from the battlefield…?”

No, that wasn’t practical. At present, both sides to this conflict felt evenly matched. If Loretta were unable to take command, the revolutionaries would certainly break past the back gates making it near impossible for us to escape.

(Ahh~ Geez! Just what should I do!)

I mentally stomped my feet in frustration.

“There’s more insurgents! It’s no good! They’re going to break past us!”

“Krh…!”

I saw panic creep into Loretta’s expression. Considering the situation, it only made sense.

“Loretta-sama, please permit us to use offensive magic!”

“If we allow this to continue, it’s only a matter of time before they break through!”

“… Absolutely not!”

That’s right. Under Loretta’s command, the soldiers were forbidden from casting offensive magic. If we were able to use magic, perhaps we would still have a chance to win. However, she would not allow that.

“The commoners are what we should be protecting, not attacking! We must hold onto our position through strengthening magic and healing magic!”

Yes, all so that we would not fatally wound any commoners. At some point in time, Loretta had aligned herself with Claire-sama’s ideals. Or perhaps, it was our experience during our summer vacation where she had begun to think this way.

“It’s no good! The gate will be broken through!”

Just as that report was conveyed, the commoners managed to breach the back gate. Almost like a landslide, the commoners flooded through the gate.

The soldiers were now practically engulfed by the masses of commoners, and their weapons were just in front of us. Was this the end?

“Loretta-sama, please let us use offensive magic!”

“Absolutely not! If you take any pride in your nobility, uphold your noble obligations to the very end!”

When Loretta shouted those words, she had clearly made her resolve for the worst.

And then―

“Wonderful words.”

A sage-like voice could be heard as something like a fog rose to cover us. The fog very specifically moved to wrap around the commoners, causing them to fall to the ground one by one.

“!?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve just put them to sleep.”

“Christophe-sama!”

The voice belonged to Christophe-sama. With his wand in hand, he manipulated the magic fog and lulled the commoners into a slumber.

“You’ve really saved us, Christophe-sama!”

“You don’t have to be so formal, Loretta-sama, I am no more than but a viscount now.”

Only Clément, the head of House Achard, had been executed. Normally the entire house would have been, but for better or for worse, House Achard held a lot of influence in our kingdom’s politics. Rei said, “It’s just like how banks will never fully collapse.”, but I didn’t understand what she meant by her words. Regardless, House Achard was forced to change its head, and was demoted. That’s why Christophe-sama was now Viscount Achard.

“And… There’s more coming.”

“!”

Looking in the direction Christophe-sama pointed his wand, there was a group of commoners who appeared to be different from the rest.

“Adventurers…!”

That was how we referred to the various people who accepted and fulfilled requests on behalf of the adventurer’s guild. The majority of them were proficient in combat, which was made clear by the fact that none of them had been put to sleep by Christophe-sama’s fog. They must have set up some sort of countermeasure.

“Let’s get ‘em!”

“Yeah!!”

When the one thought to be their leader gave the command, ten or so of the adventurers rushed in. While there weren’t so many of them, their movements and teamwork were much more refined than the masses of commoners we were fighting to fend off before. They couldn’t overwhelm us with sheer numbers, but they were much more difficult to deal with than the commoners.

“Please, fall back, Christophe-sama!”

“Leave this to us!”

A young man and a young woman, likely very similar in age to us, forced themselves between us and the adventurers.

“No, you two are the ones who should fall back. This battlefield is one us nobles must stand on.”

“No!”

“We’ll be taking this chance to repay you for your kindness, Christophe-sama!”

This was something I only learned after the fact, but these two who had stepped in to protect Christophe-sama were two of the people that he had saved from Clément’s slave trade. While these two could have chosen to simply live their lives as commoners, in admiration of Christophe-sama’s character, they chose to follow him instead.

“Tch… Just kids, huh…”

The man standing in front of the rest of the adventurers spoke bitterly as he came to a halt. The man held a short sword, which was clearly weathered from years of use. I recognized him.

“The man from that time in Euclid…”

“So we meet again, House Barlier’s lil’ lady.”

“If we’re gonna fight, I’ll take you on.”

“Nah… Well, I’m normally not very picky when it comes to my work… But―”

The man took a heavy looking pouch out from his pockets and tossed it back to the man who appeared to be their leader.

“Hey, what’s the deal?”

“That’s three times the agreed reward. Good enough, yeah? Since I’m breaking our agreement.”

As he said that, the man gave a disinterested laugh.

“Bastard, you really intend to turn your back on a job you accepted!?”

“Ya never said the job involved killin’ kids, fuckin’ fool! As an adventurer, I get to choose my work!”

Following the man’s lead, the other adventurers too, stopped one by one.

“You know they’re nobles!”

“Yeah, duh. But you know, this lil’ lady here may be a noble, but she’s one that’s got promise. She shed tears for my fallen comrades ya know.”

“That must just be an act!”

“Ya really think a noble would really barf their insides out just as an act? Would ya?”

When the man turned back to ask, Loretta awkwardly looked away.

“Are you going to pull back?”

“Just a temporary ceasefire. I’d rather not have to spill blood either.”

The man responded to Christophe-sama’s question as he sheathed his sword.

“But… Really, to me it looks like this revolution is ‘happening’, yeah?”

“… Yes, it does seem so.”

While we somehow managed to get through this battle, what the adventurer was saying was that it seemed the war was already lost.

Before long, the academy was forced to surrender to the revolutionaries, and any with noble lineage were confined within the academy under their direct supervision.

“… I wonder what will happen from now on…”

“As long as we stay alive, I’m sure things will somehow work themselves out.”

When Loretta let her anxieties slip, I firmly squeezed her hand. As I did, I made a vow within my own heart, that I would live on, no matter what.

85. Resolve

“Claire-sama, we’ll have you wait here.”

“Alright… Thank you.”

Following one of the revolutionaries, they brought me to the old House of Lords’ second office building. It was a very old building with a lot of history and had been declared as one of the kingdom’s historic national treasures. When I entered the room I had been guided to, I saw the silhouette of someone very familiar to me.

“Claire…”

“Father!”

When my father stood from the sofa, I rushed to his side and hugged him.

“I’ve been so worried about you!”

“I’m sorry.”

As I clung to his chest, I wanted to cry, but this wasn’t the right time.

“Alright then, you two please wait here. If you need something, just ring the bell.”

With that, the revolutionary that escorted me left.

Having been an office building for the kingdom’s House of Lords, the room’s fixtures weren’t all that bad. However, as it was an abandoned building, dust had accumulated in a variety of places and the furnishings looked as though they had been hastily carried in. The mismatch of the luxurious fixtures and cheap furnishings made it hard for me to settle down.

“If you’re here, does that mean things didn’t go well with Rei?”

My father very cleverly masked his question. What he was asking was just how close I had gotten to the truth.

“Until the very end, Rei tried to achieve the plan that you and her had put into motion. The reason that I’ve come here is for my own pride and dignity.”

“… You’re so foolish.”

Having understood everything from my choice of words, my father’s face momentarily twisted in pain before once again tightening his embrace.

“As a noble, I am very proud of your decision.”

“Thank you.”

“However, as a father, I have no choice but to scold you. You should just live your life freely.”

The words my father said as he hugged me were covered in bitterness.

“But father, this is the only way I know to live.”

“I’ve forced a difficult way of life on you.”

“No, father. I have accepted that I am a noble. This is the way things should be.

I felt no regrets that things had turned out this way. I couldn’t say that every moment of my life was happy, but I knew that I was very blessed. Being born as a noble in a wealthy household, having a wonderful father I loved and respected, blessed with friendships, and―

(I was able to… Meet you.)

Rei.

My love.

The fact that I must leave her side, leave her to fend for herself, was perhaps my only regret.

“Oh hoh~ You nobles are just so damn righteous, huh?”

Without even a simple knock, the door swung open and a cheerful voice that greatly contradicted the air in the room, reverberated.

“Cardinal Lily…”

“Just call me Alter. I’m rather different from Lily.”

Saying that, Cardinal Lily―or rather Alter―let out a sarcastic laugh that Cardinal Lily would never normally do. Alter was an assassin sent by the empire who had operated in secret with a black mask. Her true identity was an alternate personality that Salas had artificially created within Lily using his magic.

“Alter, there’s no need to explain. In the end, they are about to die.”

“Salas… You…!”

“Dor, I’m disappointed. To think that I’d have to watch such a talented politician such as yourself disappear from this world.”

“As if you really mean that.”

My father scoffed at him, Salas remained cool and laughed.

“No, not at all, I truly do mean it. But well, I can’t deny that the thought of someone who had always gotten in my way disappearing is… Refreshing.”

“Salas, you’re about to sell all of the people of this entire kingdom just to further your own ambitions. Do you understand that?”

Even as Salas mocked him and laughed, my father maintained his sincerity as a politician. If it were possible, he’d prefer to stop Salas’ foolishness, even now. Rei had already told me that my father was the one who put this kingdom on track for a revolution, but it seemed neither of them considered that the Naa Empire might try to take advantage of that.

“I don’t give a damn about the people. I participate in politics for my own sake. Whether for Bauer’s royalty or for the Naa Empire, I will manipulate everything as though it was on the palm of my hand.”

“… You scum. The fact that I let you roam free until now, until things got to this point, is my greatest mistake.”

“Fufufu, say whatever you’d like. I mean, there’s nothing that you can do now. Or what, will you and your daughter challenge me here and now?”

Salas looked at us with his red eyes, clearly mocking us.

“Why you―!”

“Don’t, Claire. It’s a cheap taunt. If Salas was alone it would be one thing, but his human subject there will be tough to deal with.”

“Kukuku, your praise delights me.”

In response to my father’s words, Alter bowed like actors do at the end of their show.

“So, Salas? What do you plan to do, hand us over to the Naa Empire?”

“No, your heads do not hold nearly that much value. As figureheads of the old era, I will make an example of both of you by sending you to the gallows.”

The gallows―hearing that word, it finally clicked internally. I was… Going to die.

“Oh? What’s wrong Claire?” What, after coming all this way are you scared of dying?”

Having to tolerate Salas’ sneering was insufferable, but he was exactly right. I suddenly felt scared of death. As it would be an execution, it was unlikely that they’d let us die peacefully. In the best case, they’d behead us, or in the worst case, they’d coat us in oil and light us aflame. When I imagined how painful that might be, I was unable to stop myself from shaking.

“Hah, you put on a brave face but you’re just a little girl… Alright then, I’ll give you a chance.”

“A chance?”

“Yes.”

Ever satisfied with himself, Salas gave a broad smile as he continued.

“If you become one of my little puppets, just like Alter here, I’ll allow you to live.”

“Wha…!? That’s absolutely ridiculous!”

Presented with such a dreadful choice, I could only respond with indignation. No matter what the offer was, if it meant having to do Salas’ dirty work, I would never accept.

However―

With my very life weighing on the other side of that scale, I couldn’t deny that the proposition sounded just ever so slightly tempting. That truth, very deeply hurt my pride as a noble.

“Fufufu, is that so. So you won’t. In that case, I have no choice. Both you and your righteous pride as a noble will be exterminated at the gallows.”

Salas laughed as though he enjoyed this situation from the bottom of his heart.

“… Dad, that’s pretty vulgar.”

When that short whisper escaped Alter’s lips, I understood. Salas never even had the smallest intention to spare either of us. He just wanted to toy with his nemesis, and his nemesis’ daughter and find joy in their suffering.

“Talking to you is nothing but a waste of time. Leave us.”

“Oh? Is that the attitude you should be taking? What happens to Claire is entirely up to me you know?”

“Claire is my daughter. No matter what might happen to her, she has formed her resolve.”

“Hah, you say that but it seems she’s scared to die.”

“There isn’t any human who isn’t scared to die. However, to be noble is to be able to find meaning in death.”

My father’s words suddenly reminded me.

It was true that I was scared to die. However, what if my death wasn’t meaningless? In my death, the commoners would be able to truly feel that this was the beginning of a new era. Bauer would be able to establish a new form of government, and the commoners would likely experience better living conditions than before.

And, Rei would be one of those commoners too.

Through my death, Rei would open the door to a new future. Rei was a very capable individual. In this new era, I was sure that her abilities would be in great demand. She would surely become a star.

When that thought passed my mind, my body stopped shaking.

“Oh? Little lady, don’t you know it’s disgraceful to fake your composure?”

“Say whatever you’d like. One day, I know that someone will come to pass proper judgment.”

I thought perhaps that someone might one day be Rei. If it was her, surely she’d find a way to put an end to Salas’ rampage and perhaps even save Cardinal Lily. As I considered such a future, I noticed that my feelings had completely settled.

“… Hmph, how boring. Well, I suppose it’s fine. Let’s go, Alter.”

“See the both of ya later. Don’t do anything hasty, ya hear me?”

Salas and Alter both left the room.

“Claire, are you sure you’re okay with this? If it’s just you, I’m sure you could―”

“I’m sure, father. I’ve made my resolve.”

I truly did feel okay with this. I couldn’t say that I lived a long life, but I believe that I did all that I could and lived to the standards that a noble should. Besides―

(Finally… I’ll be able to go and apologize to my mother for what happened on that day.)

Perhaps my mother would be angry that I died at such a young age. However, I had no doubts that my mother would praise me for martyring myself for the sake of my noble ideals.

“… Is that so… I’m sorry.”

My father hugged me once more.

After that, nothing happened for the next couple of days. At times, Salas would come to meddle with us, but neither my father nor I gave him any ground. I simply did my best to maintain a calm heart and mind, so that I could accept the death that would come.

However―

“She’s here! It’s Rei Taylor!”

That was, an event that lasted a mere ten minutes or so, that would rattle my resolve.

86. Crossroads

“Rei…?”

It wasn’t as though I actually saw her, but even just hearing someone say her name put my heart into disarray. I thought that I had already given up. I thought I had already decided. I decided that I would martyr myself, yes, for the sake of this new future in which she would live. I decided the few days that I had left in my life would not overlap with the future that she would create.

And yet―!

“Rei… Rei came for me!”

For the past while now, I had trouble forcing food down my throat. I hadn’t been able to sleep very well either. Every night, I dreamed of the happy days that I once spent together with Rei. Both my heart and body were so worn that my true desires, which I had been trying so hard to suppress, couldn’t help but overflow.

I nearly broke down the door to try and escape.

―However, before I could, I saw my father gaze at me with a forlorn smile. At that moment, I felt the emotions surging within me instantly go cold.

(If I were to leave, my father would be left here alone)

Of course I did recognize that was what he himself wanted. But I simply couldn’t bring myself to allow my father to die alone like this.

“Father, together―”

“That is something that I cannot do.”

As though he had already predicted my next words, my father interrupted me.

“Why not!?”

“The commoners must realize that the times have changed. In order for them to truly realize that, they need a symbol. A symbol that the curtains have been called over the old era.”

My father was saying that he was that symbol.

“You really are loved, Claire.”

That was what my father said as he stood at the windowsill, looking outside. The tone he took is difficult to describe, but sounded like a complex mix of exasperation and hope. When I approached the window, the scene I saw outside was just as I had imagined.

“Rei…”

Rei had come here alone. Alone, she had covered her entire body with different magic artifacts engaging multiple members of Salas’ private army all at once. Her face was almost ghastly, and the spells she cast were much more potent than anything I had seen her cast before. Almost as though everything that once limited or inhibited her had been removed.

“Claire, it’s still not too late. You understand that, right?”

“…”

His gaze still fixed on the scene outside of the window, he cast only his words toward me. I of course knew what he was trying to say, but I couldn’t give a proper response. After a sorrowful sigh, he continued.

“I wasn’t able to do it, but I believe it is a good thing if you can live a life filled with love. It is more than enough that I alone disappear along with the old era.”

I felt his gaze shift to me and turned to face him. That was when I saw my father with an expression that I had never seen him show to me before.

“Father…?”

“Looking back, I don’t think that I was really ever able to be a proper father to you.”

“No, that’s not true…!”

“No, I know it is. Ever since I lost Milia, my only priority has been to bring an end to the aristocracy.”

I wasn’t sure what the intention of my father’s words were. Why would he say something like that now? It’s not that I was trying to say that the words came too late… I had never once held a grudge against my father.

“In order to do that, I have sacrificed so many things. Justice, my ideals, my money, my pride―and among all of those things, my one and only dearly beloved daughter.”

“Please, father, stop. I understand. I’ve never once doubted that you loved me.”

That was just how much he spoiled me growing up. I myself knew that I was a selfish little lady, and that it was precisely because my father loved me so much that I was allowed to live that way.

“You know, Claire… Until now I’ve always treated you as a noble should treat his daughter, but really, I’ve never had confidence that I loved you as a proper father.”

“No…!”

“Without so much as a second thought, I involved you in my schemes, planning to sacrifice the very child to whom I am connected by blood. I mean, even Rei, a complete stranger, rebuked me for that.”

This was the first time I had ever heard my father show such weakness. He had come to question whether or not he had loved me enough, whether or not his cause was great enough. In all likelihood, such doubts had plagued his mind from the very beginning of his plan. And yet, unable to consult anyone, my father bore it all alone, until this very moment here.

“Father, I ask that you please take a step away from the window.”

“… Claire?”

“Hurry.”

“A-, alright.”

While he appeared confused, he quickly did as I asked.

“…”

―Rei, thank you so much for coming.

―I’m so glad that I was able to see your face one more time before I died.

The only reason Salas had not stripped me of my wand… Was likely because he planned for things to turn out this way from the beginning. Even as that thought passed my mind, I raised my wand high into the sky.

“Claire, what are you!?”

“Oh light… Magic Ray!”

Four beams of light surged forth from House François’ emblem melting through the glass and burning the yard beneath. Just beyond those marks, Rei stood still dumbfounded. She was looking at me. It seemed that she had realized it.

She realized that I was here.

And, she realized my intentions.

“Claire…”

“Father, I have made my decision.”

As Rei collapsed to her knees, Manara-onee-sama appeared by her side. I spoke those words as I watched Onee-sama carry Rei in her arms and escape.

“As Claire François, beloved daughter of Dor François, the Finance Minister of the glorious kingdom of Bauer, I declare that my life shall end here, in the 11th month of Kingdom Era 2015.”

When Onee-sama had fully disappeared into the horizon, I turned to face my father.

“Father, you were the best noble and the best politician that Bauer has ever seen.”

“Claire…”

“And, Dor François, as a father, has shown me the deepest love possible, and was the best father that I could have ever asked for.”

“… Claire”

My father once again held me tight.

“To be able to die with my nobility is my pride. That pride was inherited from none other than you, my father, and my late mother. That pride is my treasure, and it is priceless.”

“Alright, I understand… Really, I do.”

It appeared as though I was able to convey what I had wanted to. With all of my love for my father, all of my resolve as a noble, and everything else that made me who I am today, I returned my father’s embrace.

“You truly are Milia’s child.”

“Of course. Once this is all over, let’s go and apologize to mother together.”

When I said that, for a moment, a truly brief moment, I thought I saw my father’s face twist in pain. But the very instant I thought I noticed, my father was already back to his usual expression, brimming in dignity. Was it just my imagination?

“You’re right… We both have to apologize to Milia.”

“Yes. However, mother is very kind, so I’m sure she’ll forgive us.”

“… Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”

Just downstairs, Salas’ soldiers seemed to be in quite the panic. I later learned this was because Rei had come so close to saving me, so much so that she defeated not only Salas’ soldiers, but had come close to defeating Alter. In his panic, Salas had personally come to declare that he was moving up the day of our execution.

I no longer held any regrets.

Now that I’d done that, I was sure even Rei knew that she must give up on me. I’m sure that I conveyed my resolve. I also now knew that Onee-sama had come too. Though Rei may have lost me, I was sure that Onee-sama would get her back on her feet.

With this, I could be at ease and let the curtains fall.

It wouldn’t be until later that I found out just how wrong I was about all of this. However, at this time, I had no way of knowing what was to come.

87. Behind The Scenes 1 ~Manaria Sousa~

　※Told from the perspective of Manaria Sousa.

What awaited me when I returned from my time as an exchange student in Bauer was the family feud I was long fed up with. Questions like who would succeed the throne, which political faction would result in the sweetest nectar, and other such trifles… Those things seemed to be all that filled the heads of these so called nobles. It was clear they had long ceased to care about the people.

I don’t believe that you could make the claim that I had a sincere personality, but I was aware of my status as royalty. I had never taken much interest in politics, but I believed I still possessed the bare minimum amount of love a royal must hold for their kingdom’s people. And, even from my perspective, the Sousa I saw when I returned, was… unbearable.

―If left the way things were, the kingdom would surely collapse.

Sensing impending peril, I reluctantly announced my candidacy to succeed the throne. This wasn’t something that I wanted to return to, but if I left things as they were, the people would suffer. As someone with a royal lineage, if there was something that I could do, I wanted to do everything within my power.

『… But… Just what is it that I can do?』

Having been exiled, it only made sense that most people refused to support me at first. The scandal over my sexuality and womanizing, which had previously only been dealt with internally, was leaked to the public by an opposing faction. This put my campaign in a difficult spot, and for a while, it remained that way. Even so, without losing heart, I steadily and earnestly advocated for policies that truly would benefit the people of my kingdom.

“Manaria Sousa, I take it? This is who I am.”

The tide began to turn when I accepted an interview from the largest news press in Sousa. Until now, they had only published articles about the candidates leading the race, but one younger reporter reached out to me to request an interview.

The reporter’s name was Bettina Ermini. She was one of the few female reporters in an industry still primarily dominated by men. When I met her, her black rimmed glasses and disheveled hair worried me, but those worries were short lived. She afforded me no space to be able to even consider them.

『I will be straight to the point. Are you an enemy to womankind?』

Bettina did not soften her questions on the account that I was a noble. Contrary to what her appearance suggested, she maintained a sharp eloquence throughout the interview causing me to re-evaluate her. Among the many reporters who simply wrote fluff pieces of no value, she was one of the few pursuing true journalism. With her own eyes and through her own pen, I felt that she sought to shed light on the truth.

Her questions were many and varied. She, of course, inquired about my previous scandals, what kind of politics I wanted to conduct, how I envisioned Sousa’s future, and much more. The interview continued for five and a half hours. During that span of time, she never once let up. It took my all, both body and soul to keep up with her.

Looking back, I don’t believe that I had ever spoken about myself in such detail to anyone in that way before. The number of questions that involved my personal life and such details were by no means few. If she were just asking these questions out of curiosity, I would have declined to answer. However, I knew immediately that wasn’t the case. I could tell that she truly wanted to learn about me so she could judge my character for herself, without relying on prejudice.

『Exclusive Interview: Manaria Sousa’s Character and Visions for the Future』

Bettina’s article caused big waves. This was possibly the first time I, Manaria Sousa, as one of the kingdom’s royalty, was properly seen by the kingdom’s people.

Right after the article had been released, public opinion of me remained split. However, I was certainly under the spotlight. This meant the number of people looking at and evaluating my policies had increased as well. From then on, I diligently promoted myself while also collecting public feedback. By quickly incorporating the feedback that I felt required immediate action to my policies, I could see the public sentiment shift toward me.

I really hadn’t thought this far ahead. At first, I simply thought I might find a hint for what to do next. But this should have been obvious from the start. Even then, my actions achieved a greater effect than I could have anticipated. The thought brought shame to me as royalty, but it was clear that Sousa’s ruling class, until now, hadn’t even been capable of doing something this obvious.

The kingdom’s people were simply disgusted at the kingdom’s royalty and nobility who seemed incapable of this introspection. Support for my campaign and my policies spread, and my adversaries who only seemed capable of touting my past scandals steadily lost ground.

After a few months, the one who inherited the crown was none other than me. It happened so quickly and easily, that I couldn’t help but feel that it was anticlimactic. However, this was unmistakably the choice of my kingdom’s people. The number of people who opposed my policies were not few, but they all gave up and left the kingdom. It was clear that this country was tired.

At first, the thought of taking responsibility for an entire kingdom was heavy, but after assuming my responsibilities, I found it surprisingly rewarding. I doubt that I would ever give birth, but I found taking care of my kingdom just as, if not more, interesting than raising a child. Of course, I knew that such a remark would cause backlash, so I’d never say that out loud.

For a while, I concentrated my efforts on internal reforms to the kingdom’s policies, until an… Unexpected report came my way.

『My queen! There are reports that the volcano in Bauer Kingdom has erupted!』

As our kingdoms were in an alliance, I quickly drafted plans for relief missions to Bauer. However, when I heard that Bauer’s nobles had set up their own provisional government, I felt that things may be too risky. The nobles there ignored even the kingdom’s own royalty, and shaped policies that abandoned the people. It had even come to my attention that the one leading the efforts was none other than Dor.

Something just didn’t make sense. Even so, I did not have the luxury of discerning his true intentions. After all, there were clear signs that the Naa Empire was lurking in the shadows. Preparing for the very worst, I decided to rally Sousa’s troops and rush toward Bauer.

And so, after many twists and turns, we made it to Bauer, but both the provisional government and the revolutionaries were unsure how to handle our appearance. The revolutionaries had the Naa Empire backing them, so I could make sense of that, but Dor’s provisional government also appeared to be in disarray. I decided to meet with Dor in person.

Then, I witnessed the start of the revolution.

Dor was captured by the revolutionaries, and Claire soon surrendered to them as well. Things simply didn’t add up, and I only grew more perplexed the more I learned.

『This doesn’t make any sense.』

It didn’t make sense that Dor would accept this dishonor. That Dor would toss Claire out to the wolves. And above all, that Rei hadn’t stepped in to prevent any of this.

I decided to carefully gather information. Then, I finally caught up to Rei as she came to rescue Claire. Rei fought valiantly. However, in the end, Claire was the one who rejected her. And that was when I finally clued in.

―This had all gone according to script.

It was likely Dor who had written the script. Or, perhaps it was a co-authorship with Rei. Regardless, Dor and Claire had likely willingly given themselves up for their chosen cause, and… Rei had opposed that―and been rejected.

『…』

As Rei stared at the broken window on the second floor of the government building, she fell to her knees. She had lost herself.

『Over here! Provide Alter-sama with your backup!』

『Don’t let her leave alive!』

There was no time to dawdle. Claire had reacted in that way to even Rei. Even if I were to try to convince her, I doubt the result would be any different. For now, I thought our best option was to retreat.

『…』

When I held Rei in my arms, she was surprisingly light. I couldn’t help but wonder just how many burdens she had continued to carry within her frail body. Dor had really put her through the wringer.

『…』

I brought Rei back to the tavern my Sousa army established as a base of operations, but she had yet to recover. Considering the circumstances, it was understandable. She truly loved Claire from the bottom of her heart. The one who forced her to realize that, was none other than I. At that time, I thought that was for the best, but now that things have turned out like this, I had no choice but to admit perhaps my efforts had backfired.

It took a couple of days before Rei came to her senses.

『Manaria-sama…? Why are you here?』

But she still hadn’t returned to her usual self. Her eyes were clearly dyed in despair. It was evident just how important Claire was to her.

―If I were to be honest and confess now… I did feel just a little tempted to try.

If I were to take advantage of Rei’s weakened heart, perhaps this time I would be able to make her mine. Rei really was an attractive lady. The words I said when we competed over the Love Scales were by no means a lie.

―However… I knew it wasn’t truly possible.

This Rei, who had lost Claire, was no longer Rei. Claire’s existence had practically already become part of her personality. That was just how irreplaceable Claire was. Say that I were to try and take advantage of Rei in her current weakness. In that case, I believe that it would be possible that she’d become mine. However, the moment she did, that Rei would be nothing more than a husk of her old self. The Rei I love, is the Rei that loves Claire, she loves Claire so much that she just can’t contain herself.

―Good grief, she really is nothing but trouble.

So, I decided to once again light Rei’s fire. I just narrowly succeeded, and Rei once more found the will to steal Claire back. Truly, what a sinful girl. I thought I had a chance, but to think that I’d again be made to play second fiddle.

But well, that was how things should be.

Besides, as royalty, sooner or later… I would be forced to give up on a personal romance anyway. That’s why, this was for the best.

If possible, I pray that my beloved and the girl I consider my precious little sister, can hold hands and bear witness to the beginning of a new era.

88. Behind The Scenes 2 ~Lene Orso~

　※Told from the perspective of Lene Orso

Exiled from Bauer, the reality that awaited my Onii-sama and I in Appalachia was a difficult one. Making use of one of the connections that the Orso family had traded with before its collapse, our family was able to make a living through trade, but my Onii-sama and I had been disowned. We weren’t allowed to rely on them any longer.

『Lene, just a little more, let’s keep doing our best.』

『Okay…』

Considering what we had done, our punishment was only appropriate… But we still needed to make a living. Through our earnest appeals, Onii-sama and I found a tavern that allowed us to stay as live-in staff. The owner was a stern man that was at times difficult to please, but also kind at heart. I doubt that Onii-sama or I would ever forget the kindness he showed taking us in when we had nowhere else to go.

At the tavern, Onii-sama worked as wait staff and took care of clerical work while I took my place in the kitchen. He always had a gentle disposition, meaning that he was a good fit as wait staff. He quickly adjusted to his new job, and I too earnestly focused on my own duties.

『… I’ll write you a letter of introduction.』

Before long, the tavern’s owner connected us to our next job. Our original agreement was only to stay and work with him until we managed to save up a decent sum and live independently, so the fact that he connected us to our next workplace was a huge blessing. On top of that, the place he introduced us to was one of Appalachia’s most renowned high class restaurants. I felt that how we performed at this next job would likely decide our lot here in Appalachia.

When we first began, we both quietly carried out the various tasks we were assigned. First, we needed to understand how the restaurant functioned and how its staff ran it. However, that was just the bare minimum, our starting point. I felt a sense of ambition.

This restaurant ran a monthly competition where any of the staff could submit their own recipes to be considered for the menu. That was my aim. I decided that this would be my chance to make use of the recipes I received from Rei-chan.

『What marvelous flavors…!』

『I’ve never eaten anything like this before!』

The dish I had prepared for the competition was stir-fried shrimp and broccoli, with a mayonnaise based sauce.

This dish that used mayonnaise, which still had only ever seen use in Blume, one of Bauer’s finest establishments, received high praise. The recipe was accepted for use in the restaurant’s menu, and I was tasked to take care of the most important steps in preparing it.

After that, our unbelievable streak of luck continued.

My dish, stir-fried shrimp and broccoli with mayonnaise was an instant hit. Various people came to the restaurant just to eat it. Among those people was one particularly wealthy man. His name was Edgar-san, he was well known as a gourmet and had plans to one day open his own restaurant that would live up to his ideals. Edgar-san approached me with an offer, saying that he would be willing to sponsor us should we choose to open our own restaurant.

It all sounded too good to be true. In fact, at first I thought that may be a scam. As part of his clerical work, Onii-sama had been studying Appalachian law, so I had him look into Edgar-san for us. We quickly found that Edgar-san was a famous gourmet, and that he hadn’t just made this offer to us, but had a track record of investing in chefs, many of which had gone on to run famous restaurants. Onii-sama and I decided to accept Edgar-san’s offer.

『Lene. It looks like this is where it really begins.』

『Yes, Onii-sama.』

We decided to name the restaurant Frater. It was an ancient word in the Bauan language that meant, “siblings”. We thought of using the word that meant, “lovers”, as well, but we both prudently decided against it. We would not forget our sins, but instead work to overcome them―those were the feelings we put into our restaurant's name.

Making use of the recipes Rei-chan entrusted to me, Frater very quickly rose in popularity and became a famous restaurant. Within that, the recipe that gained the most popularity was one that served as a dessert, crème brûlée. This recipe was one packed with fond memories shared with Rei-chan and Claire-sama. The fact that it was the primary recipe that launched our restaurant to success felt like nothing less than destiny to me.

Another huge contributor to our profits was a magic artifact that Onii-sama had invented for cooking. This too was an idea that was born after talking to Rei-chan when we were still in Bauer. By using this artifact, it was possible to create large quantities of food without the need for large amounts of staff. Using this artifact, we mass produced crème brûlée that were then consigned and sold at other shops. This also served as advertising for our restaurant. At the same time, we further developed the idea of magic cookware for general use and sold those artifacts as well. Onii-sama was making great contributions to our success.

And then, just one month after Frater had gotten on track, Onii-sama and I both returned to Bauer. We returned because we heard of Mount Sassal’s eruption, as well as some unpleasant rumors that circulated in the aftermath.

Having been exiled from the kingdom, we normally wouldn’t be allowed re-entry. However, we received a notice from a group within Bauer that called themselves Revolutionaries, requesting financial aid. Something strange was happening in Bauer. Unable to hold myself back, we agreed to offer financial aid so that we could return to Bauer under the pretense of signing the contract.

『This is just…』

『Terrible…』

Returning to the royal capital for the first time in a long time, the sight we saw was far gone from the beautiful city that we had once known. There was of course, a lot of damage that had likely been caused by the eruption itself, but what pained me the most was how lifeless all of the people were. Seeing the damages first hand, I offered much more than the revolutionaries originally requested. I felt that I simply could not leave things the way they were.

At first, I planned to contribute out of my own savings. Onii-sama however, asked me to wait.

『The reason that we’re both alive now is thanks to King Rousseau’s kindness. The King has passed, but I would like to help in repaying that kindness now.』

So, it was decided that Frater as a whole would offer financial aid.

This decision led to a rather unexpected result. First, appreciative of our large contributions, the revolutionaries extended their warm welcomes. That, in and of itself, was to be expected. What came as a surprise was that they offered us detailed reports of their operations. A certain detail in one of those reports caught my attention.

―The capture of Duke François, and his daughter.

When I saw that, I felt as though I was about to faint. The revolutionaries were trying to overthrow the aristocracy. If things were left as is, Claire-sama’s life would be in danger.

It would be simple to rescind our contributions, but at this stage of things, even without Frater’s financial aid, the revolutionaries had secured enough funds to operate without any trouble. In that case, it may be best to remain within the revolutionaries and monitor their activities.

An impatient frustration continued as the days went by. Even though Claire-sama may lose her life, there was nothing that I could do. I could only watch as time passed and the situation developed.

And then, just this morning, I received a letter from Manaria-sama.

“Rei-chan!”

“It’s been a while, Lene. And… I’m sorry.”

The moment we reunited, Rei gave a deep bow and apologized. She explained how she had always been hiding the truth, and apologized for being unable to stop Claire-sama.

“Rei-chan, if you couldn’t do it, I doubt anyone else could.”

“But…”

“Besides, it’s not like you’ve given up, right?”

“… Yeah.”

As Rei-chan gave a silent nod, her expression was brimming with determination. She was determined―to take Claire-sama back no matter what it took.

“Then, let me help too, please? Let’s take Claire-sama back together.”

“Thank you, Lene.”

Just like this, even as Onii-sama and I cooperated with the revolutionaries as Frater, we personally helped Rei in her plan to save Claire-sama.

“…Claire-sama…”

The one who will forever be my master, who I deeply love and respect. I was easily able to understand just what she wanted to achieve by perishing in this revolution.

However―

“I… Want her to live.”

Considering that I had once betrayed her, I knew that I had no right to say something like this. But even so, this wish came from the bottom of my heart.

“Let’s do whatever we can. You’re with me, right Lene?”

“Of course!”

I wasn’t alone. Rei-chan and Manaria-sama were with me―and of course Onii-sama too.

“Please just wait, Claire-sama.”

Silently igniting the same determination that Rei held within my own heart, I awaited “that day”.

89. Behind The Scenes 3 ~Misha Yule~

　※Told from the perspective of Misha Yule.

Of the late king’s three descendents, the one furthest removed from the revolution was unmistakably Yuu-sama. She had long discarded her rights as a successor at the kingdom’s Harvest Festival. As a result, even after the kingdom was divided between the provisional government and the revolutionaries, she had maintained distance between both parties.

『Looks like Claire has decided to take action. I’d like to do what I can to help.』

Claire-sama―likely along with Rei―told us that they wanted to run an independent kitchen to help people who were struggling. Deep down, I wished that they wouldn’t drag Yuu-sama into this mess… I mean, for so long she had been forced to live as the opposite gender, and she finally found the opportunity to live her life in peace. I didn’t believe it was too selfish of me to hope that they’d just leave her alone.

However, Yuu-sama saw straight through me, and with a smile,

『Misha, don’t make that face. I may have discarded my rights to the throne, but it’s not as though I’ve given up on living for the people of this kingdom.』

Yuu-sama told me that she herself wanted to do this. While Yuu-sama had a tendency to speak in roundabout ways, this reminded me that she was royalty and her upbringing had instilled those values in her.

The kitchen itself all went according to plan. The church that we hosted it at was already planning to distribute meals through the winter, so the people there already knew exactly what to do. The primary issue remaining was our available resources, but perhaps through some sort of connection, Claire-sama and Rei took care of that issue for us.

Unfortunately, not long after that, the situation got much worse. Many soldiers abandoned their post and changed sides.

About half of the provisional government’s army chose to side with the revolutionaries, and the opposing factions clashed in civil war. As a result, the public safety of the capital took a turn for the worse. The rations that each government offered stagnated, causing the impoverished populace to flood to us. I suggested we pause our own kitchen until things calmed down, but Yuu-sama refused to.

『Right now, the ones suffering the most are the ones who aren’t on either side, the people who are powerless and the most vulnerable.』

Yuu-sama insisted that we continue running the kitchen precisely for those people. As a former noble myself, I too understood the concept of noblesse oblige. However, what Yuu-sama was trying to accomplish went well beyond the concept that I knew.

―Or perhaps, this was simply what it meant to be royalty.

If the revolution continued to intensify, the people may choose to direct their fury at not just nobility, but royalty too. Even so, Yuu-sama didn’t seem the least bit concerned over that possibility. The same could be said about Sein-sama. The revolutionaries currently exalted him, carrying him on their shrine, but he did not let that get to his head and still chose to do what was in his power for the people. I didn’t know if Rodd-sama had survived, but had he been here, I’m sure he would have done the same. Watching the kingdom’s royalty live for the sake of the people, I too felt the need to reflect on my own character.

After some time, we were cut off from the monetary support that Claire-sama provided us. I couldn’t contact Rei either. If we didn’t have the resources, we’d have to close our kitchen. Just when we were at our wit’s end, Manaria-sama and Lene appeared.

『You’ve done well to hold out this long. From here on, I’ll provide what you need.』

『Misha-sama, it may not be much, but I’d like to help as well.』

Manaria-sama delivered us the supplies she had brought from Sousa, and Lene contributed large sums of money that she had somehow earned. With this, it looked like we would be able to continue operations. And―

He was covered in wounds, but with that same reassuring and reliable smile, Rodd-sama had returned to us as well. As it turns out, he had been caught up in the eruption. While he managed to stay alive, he had lost one of his arms. He very clearly needed to rest and give his body time to heal. However, thanks to the care he received from the village he had gone to help, and his fierce pride as royalty, he had managed to bring himself here.

Later, Rei managed to regroup with us as well, so now, if Claire-sama would return to us too, we would have reunited the members of the Order of the Academy. It would have been rather nostalgic.

『Leave the soldiers on each side to me. They’re running hotheaded, but I’ll cool them down.』

『I’ll expose Salas’ sins for what they are. Rei, could you put all the information together? Include Dor’s achievements and contributions as well.』

『I will.』

『Well then, I guess I should be the one to stall Alter then. I assume she’s under some sort of spell, so I’ll make quick work of that with Spellbreaker.』

The day before the public executions as announced by the Revolutionaries, we discussed our plans to prevent it. Everyone was desperate to save Claire-sama and Dor-sama. We weren’t just doing this for personal reasons. Of course, everyone gathered here was grateful for various things that Claire-sama and Rei had done, but that wasn’t all. It was because we felt that people like Claire-sama and Dor-sama would remain necessary in the new era. The era after our aristocracy, the era of the people.

―… There’s nothing I’ll be able to do… Directly. However, I’ll be watching over all of you.

We received a message from an anonymous sender. Though he wasn’t here with us, it was clear that Sein-sama was out there fighting his own battles.

Having finished our preparations, all that was left was to wait for the next day.

　◆◇◆◇◆

“Come to think of it, when we were little we often napped together like this didn’t we.”

“Yes, and it was so much trouble trying to wake you up.”

It was nighttime. We were staying at the Sousa encampment. There weren’t enough beds, so Rei and I were sharing one.

“Rei.”

“Mm?”

“Just thought that you might be feeling anxious.”

It seemed Rei was having difficulty falling asleep, so I asked her. I thought perhaps talking about it may help her.

“Yeah, you’re right, I am feeling a little anxious.”

“Yeah…”

“But what I’m worried about the most is just how I can overcome Claire-sama’s own resolve.”

“That’s true, that does sound like quite the challenge.”

Claire-sama had changed. When we met again at the academy, Claire-sama was just a snobbish and selfish noble. However, the Claire-sama right now had become a good old fashioned noble. One and the same as Dor-sama, someone I regarded as the ideal noble. With her pride high in her heart, she chose to meet her end out of a sense of obligation. It didn’t seem like it would be easy to force her to change her mind.

“Just try being selfish―that’s what Manaria-sama told me, but…”

“Manaria-sama said something like that?”

“Yup. But I don’t quite get what she’s getting at.”

As she spoke, Rei wore a wry smile.

“That’s true. I mean, until now, you’ve been nothing but selfish toward Claire-sama.”

“Right? But according to Manaria-sama, I’ve somehow got it all wrong.”

“Hm…”

Just what could she have meant by that? Rei wasn’t the type to mask her true feelings. Of course, when necessary, she has proven that she was capable of masking the truth… Like this time with the plans she had with Dor-sama. However, she was the complete opposite of the kind of person that couldn’t convey their true feelings to the person they loved. Rei had taken any and every chance that she could to whisper her love into Claire-sama’s ears.

Ah, but―

“Rei. You know, you might be just a bit too self sufficient.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sure that’s a result of your experiences in your past life as well, but you know, I don’t think I’ve ever really seen you lose your composure.”

And I felt the same way about Claire-sama too.

“I think love might be… Something more shameless.”

“… What do you mean?”

“When you both came to Yuu-sama requesting our cooperation with the kitchen, deep down I actually wanted you both to just leave her alone and let her be.”

“Woah, quite the confession.”

“TPO.”

When I snapped back at her, Rei awkwardly apologized, urging me to continue.

“Rei, no matter what’s come your way you always manage to remain calm.”

“Wha, I don’t really think so though.”

“Right, I’m sure it doesn’t seem like that to you. But that’s what it looks like to us. Perhaps one reason why Claire-sama thought that it would be okay if she sacrificed herself for this revolution… Was that she thought you’d be okay even on your own.”

“…”

When I said that, Rei went completely silent.

“Rei?”

“I never considered that.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, no. I just never imagined that was how other people might have seen me.”

Rei scratched her cheek.

“If I’ve somehow upset you, I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s a huge help. Just as I’d expect from you Misha, I’m blessed to have a friend that understands me so well.”

“Right, right, in a good mood now, huh.”

“Teehee.”

When I saw Rei back to her usual antics, I thought, “Ah, she’s fine now.”

“Alright, let’s get to bed. It’ll be an early morning tomorrow.”

“Right. Good night Misha, and thank you.”

“Good night, and you’re welcome.”

　◆◇◆◇◆

And so, we had arrived at the morning of the public execution.

“Are you ready, Rei?”

“Yup. This time I’ll make sure Claire-sama knows just how worthless I am as a human being!”

“You’re gonna what now?”

In response to Manaria-sama’s question, Rei’s weirdly confident words got a laugh from Rodd-sama. Of course, Yuu-sama and I, as well as Lene and Lambert were here too.

“Well, just watch. I’ll rescue my princess, not with grace, but by making an absolute mess of myself.”

“Rei-chan, you’re not making sense.”

Rei was deliberately over the top in her cheer. It seemed she really was back to her usual self. The distinct energy I felt from her now was familiar. It felt just like when she had first enrolled into the academy and declared she would bully Claire-sama to get her attention. At the time I wondered just what had happened to her, but the words I had for her now were very different.

“That’s just like you. Go for it.”

90. Coming Together

“And so, the court of the public is in session!”

As though he were an actor on a stage, Salas dramatically declares that court to be in session. My father and I were both in formal wear with our hands tied behind our backs. The reason we had been given formal wear and not rags, was likely to further spur the commoners’ hatred.

“Dor François and Claire François who stand here before you today are both nobles who have abused their status and exploited you all!”

Salas spoke as though he had never once done anything to be guilty of. I internally accepted that I was dying so that the commoners could welcome a new age, but I did feel frustrated that this man would be leading it.

“And that’s not all! Behind the backs of the royal palace, they made use of our kingdom for their own personal profits! They bear heavy sins!”

Salas’ words fanned the flames of the commoners’ anger. I did not think the commoners were heartless. Considering how the nobility had treated the commoners, this much was to be expected. I knew that, and I had prepared myself for it.

The trial continued. Salas read off the charges against my father and I, one by one, declaring us guilty of all of them. At the end, he asked my father if he had any objections.

“None. I have always lived for the kingdom. If the kingdom should perish, so should I, along with it.”

My father chose to play the jester to the very end. If his name were to be recorded into history, those records would likely not reflect well on him. Someone like my father, who truly loved the kingdom so much, may be recorded as one of history’s greatest villains. When I considered that, it all just seemed to be too much.

“The sinner admits to their guilt! We will proceed to the execution!”

At Salas’ command, his soldiers approached. It was finally time.

Somehow, it felt both long but also short. I suppose that was the life I’ve lived. My life had its ups and downs, but now they were all but memories. For some reason my fun memories flashed before my eyes.

“Do you have any last words?”

As the executioner prepared, that’s what they asked.

“No. I have no regrets. Go on.”

“… For the people’s justice.”

Without looking, I could tell the executioner had raised their sword. Closing my eyes, I internally spoke my final words within my heart.

―Farewell, Rei.

Just at that moment―

“OBJECTION!”

There was no way. A voice I shouldn’t be able to hear, a voice I should never have heard again… Echoed through the area.

“!?”

Snapping to attention, I turned to face the direction the voice had come from. There I saw one frail girl, without a worry for appearances, climbing over the fence. There was no mistaking it. That was Rei.

“Guards, toss her out.”

“Wait.”

When Salas pushed on with the execution, one man spoke up to stop him.

“That person has made great contributions to the revolutionaries. I will not accept any cruelty toward her.”

“You say that, but Lambert…”

I had not at all realized until now, but that man was Lambert who should have long been exiled from the kingdom. I was surprised by how much he had changed. Though his appearance hadn’t changed very much, the way he carried himself made him look reliable and sturdy, like a huge tree. Despite my confusion, the situation continued to develop.

“I have an objection! The one who exploited this kingdom’s people and brought forth disaster is not Dor-sama, it’s someone else!”

Rei raised her voice as loud as she could. I thought I’d never have a chance to hear it again. Her beautiful voice that resounded as clear and beautiful as a bell. Just hearing it made my chest feel tight.

“What a foolish thing to say. If not Duke François, who else is there to bear this sin?”

“We will reveal that now… Lene!”

“Yes.”

In response to Rei’s call, Lene appeared. Why? First Rei, then Lambert, and then Lene. None of these people should be here, and yet they kept appearing one after the next.

“Dor François-sama did not betray our kingdom, in fact he is a real patriot.”

Leading with that, Lene gave a detailed account of all of the things that my father accomplished politically, as well as his contributions to the revolutionaries themselves.

“For example, Claire-sama, Rei Taylor and Cardinal Lily went around arresting corrupt nobles. Behind the scenes, Dor-sama offered them support and direction.”

Lene spoke boldly and confidently, starkly different from the Lene I once knew. Just what had she been through for these few months that we’d been apart?

“Regarding the contributions to the revolutionaries, they were done under the name XX and began around the time the group first came together as the resistance.”

No, that wasn’t the point. What I wanted to know was, why was Lene here and what had she come to do. The scene before me continued to unfold, everything was happening so quickly, so suddenly and I was having trouble keeping up.

“In truth, Dor-sama is a true patriot. He had always worried for this kingdom’s future.”

“Absolute rubbish! Even if he had done those things, he’s the one who went behind the palace’s back to form the provisional government!”

“You sure are one to talk, Salas.”

A very clear alto voice cut off Salas’ pedantics.

“Yuu-sama… Why are you here…?”

“I’ll return those words to you, Salas. You’re the true culprit.”

Yuu-sama’s declaration spurred the crowd.

“Salas-sama? The culprit?”

“Just as I’d heard, Yuu-sama must have gone mad!”

“But, you know, it doesn’t really look like that―”

The crowd was clearly perplexed. But strangely Yuu-sama’s voice somehow echoed through their confused clamor clearly.

“He―Salas Lillium―is the one who really betrayed our kingdom, selling it out to the Naa Empire, and trying to claim the kingdom for his own!”

Yuu-sama’s criticism sharply pierced Salas, putting the crowd in quite a stir.

“Just what are you saying, Yuu-sama. I see, so you have gone mad after all. Please, return to the monastery where you may rest at ease.”

“We already have evidence… Rei.”

“Yes.”

In response to Yuu-sama, Rei took something in the shape of a card out of her pocket.

“We have Salas’ secret agreement with the empire recorded here! Listen everyone! You mustn’t let Salas fool you!”

Using Misha’s wind magic to amplify the recorded audio as much as possible, Salas’ crimes were exposed to the public.

“… In that case I suppose I have no choice.”

Salas retrieved a whistle from his chest pocket and blew loudly. The sharp noise broke through the crowd's clamor, and a group of men answered his call. They were likely Salas’ personal hires.

“Suppress them.”

Salas gave them his order―and right after he did so,

“No way we’d let you just have your way.”

Alongside those intimidating words, an explosion cut off the private soldier’s advance.

“Guess I’m just a little late, but you know, the hero always arrives late.”

With a stereotypical manly grin, Rodd-sama, who was previously thought to have been missing, made his appearance. His right arm was missing, but the grand way in which he carried himself as royalty had not changed at all.

“Hey, Salas, quit your pointless struggle. Most of your men have already submitted to me. Just call it a difference in our charisma.”

“Gr… You’d really defy death just to get in my way…”

Salas gave Rodd-sama a glare, but Rodd-sama simply laughed at him.

“It’s not over yet! This won’t be where I meet my end, Lily!”

“Ahー, so it does turn out this way in the end, huh.”

As though she had given the shadows in a dark corner of the court shape, Alter emerged. She wore her daggers on her hip with black armor that seemed to be made of leather, and a black cloak on top.

“Kill Dor, Claire, and the princes! So long as they aren’t here to get in my way, I’ll be able to force things my way!”

“Ya really make it sound so simple… But well, I’ll do it~”

Though she made her displeasure clear, Alter brandished her daggers all the same. I could see the poison dripping from the daggers’ dark gray tips. Her strength was not to be underestimated, but perhaps in the current chaos―just as I had that thought gallantly rushing in was of course―

“To think that you’d force something so cruel upon just a girl… You should be ashamed, Salas. Spell Breaker!”

Manaria-onee-sama. She now stood blocking Alter’s path.

“Stop! Don’t come out! It’s not ‘your’ body, this is mine!”

The anguished cries sounded as though Alter and Cardinal Lily were fighting for control.

“Lily-sama, come back to us!”

“Rei…sa… ‘STOP IT!’”

With her knives in her hands, she rushed forward and made it just in front of Rei. Just as I prepared myself for the worst and was about to close my eyes, right before me, Rei was the one to take a step forward and hug Cardinal Lily. Cardinal Lily’s body spasmed wildly before she collapsed like a marionette who’s strings had been cut.

“Lily… Did her best…”

Leaving only those words, Cardinal Lily lost consciousness.

“Lily-sama has abandoned you too. This is where it ends, Salas!”

“Gr… Damn you, damn you…!”

Rei pointed her wand toward Salas.

“Rei Taylor! Look into my eyes!”

“!?”

Salas had not yet given up. Casting his Suggestion on Rei, he tried to control her like he did Alter.

“Muahaha, I’ll make you my second Lily―”

“Like I’d let you.”

The one who spoke was Onee-sama. When I looked, Rei had returned to normal as well.

“I wouldn’t fail to dispel a spell that I’d already seen twice. Don’t underestimate me.”

This time, it was Onee-sama who pointed her wand at Salas.

“This time, it really is over for you, Salas Lillium.”

“~~~!”

It had finally come time for Salas to pay his dues. He was arrested by the very soldiers that were under his command.

“… What? So wait, what happened?”

“Who was wrong, who was in the right?”

“Just who should we be executing?”

Unrest spread like wildfire through the crowd. It started as small grumbles, but it quickly grew into a rumble.

“QUIET!!!”

One voice, far louder than the rumble of the crowd echoed through the area. In just a moment, silence returned.

“I see, so it looks like Salas really was a crook. But you know?”

The one who spoke was Arla Manuel.

“Even if that’s true, that doesn’t mean we’ll just act like our revolution hadn’t ever happened.”

The woman who stood as the symbol of the revolution.

91. The Future

“We didn’t go out of our way to start an armed revolution just because of this guy’s manipulation, we had our own reasons.”

While you couldn’t really claim that Arla had a beautiful voice, it was still able to draw people in. That was similar to what my father possessed―a natural charisma.

“The damned nobles never once even considered our well being. People actually died of starvation! Regardless of how we got here, those two right there are here representing the nobles, yeah? Well, there’s something we call responsibility, and don’t you think it’s time they own up?”

Unlike Salas, Arla had nothing to feel guilty about. I felt that it would be difficult to counter the points she made.

And, more than that―

“The aristocracy should just GET OUTTA HERE!”

“KILL THE NOBLES!”

“Glory to the revolution!

Arla’s words had once again ignited the flame of the revolution within the people. Rei was doing her best to shout above the crowd and call for their attention, but it didn’t seem that any of them were willing to lend their ears. But then,

♪ー

Within the cacophony of the crowd, one silent but audible sound reverberated. At first, it seemed as though that sound too would be drowned out, but just like a wave recedes before returning with more force, the sound steadily but surely overwrote the clamor. The source of the sound was Sein-sama’s harp.

“People of Bauer. Just one chance is fine, could you listen to what this girl has to say?”

His deep baritone had already taken on the characteristics of a true king. The people―and even Arla herself, sank to silence, ready to listen.

“Rei Taylor, speak.”

“Right. Your Majesty, I truly appreciate that you’ve made this opportunity for me.”

Thanking King Sein, Rei once again called out to the people

“My beloved fellow citizens, may I ask what it is you wish for?”

Her words began gently, steadily. I could tell that she chose her words carefully, and that she put the utmost attention to her tone and body language as well.

“Did you wish to kill the nobles? No, I don’t think that was it. A peaceful and stable lifestyle… Isn’t that what you earnestly desire?”

I could see hesitation once again spread among the people. It was undeniable that many were still vehemently antagonistic, but little by little, there were more who genuinely considered what Rei had to say.

“Until now, Dor-sama and Claire-sama are the ones who truly strived for our peace and safety. Do you really intend to kill them?”

“We, the people―!”

“Please, don’t erase yourself by using, ‘The People’, like that…! What’s your name?”

When Rei asked for the man’s name, the man who just shouted fell silent.

“How about you? The one who was about to toss a stone? Or you? Right next to them?”

“Urk…”

“What I want to hear is what each and every one of you thinks. Each and every one of you has their own name, and has walked their own path. Do you, as an individual, truly want to kill Dor-sama and Claire-sama, here and now?

This time, no one seemed to object. Rei’s words made excellent use of the human psyche. By asking what each of their individual names were, Rei aimed to remove them from the mob mentality they had been absorbed into.

“There absolutely are many nobles who never cared to even look back at us commoners. However, I can assure you that these two are different.”

It was clear that the commoners were listening, and I knew why―

“If we really were to execute these two here and now, would you be able to take pride in that? Would you be able to proudly tell your children what you’ve done? Could you really hold your chest high and say, with confidence, that this revolution was just?”

Because I was the one who taught her how to talk this way.

“Claire-sama! You’re not off the hook either!”

“… Eh?”

Surprised that she had turned the focus of her speech to me, I’m sure that I was stunned.

“Think about it! Let’s say Bauer once again becomes peaceful and everyone’s able to live happily… If you die here Claire-sama, just who is going to restore Dor-sama’s honor after he sacrificed himself to bring about that peace!?”

“T-That’s…”

She struck me where it hurt. I had never even imagined that Rei would one day come down on me like this, leaving me at a loss for words.

“Does being a noble mean that you must die for another’s crimes despite that you, yourself, hadn’t done anything wrong!? Is dying a dog’s death what a noble’s pride is about!?”

“Wait, Rei. Please, listen to what I have to say―”

“Honestly, to hell with dying for something of a moment’s pride and honor! Instead, you should live, even just a moment longer, for me!!”

“… But, I…”

I thought that as a noble, it was simply my fate to die here for the sake of the commoners. To allow the curtain to fall on the era of our aristocracy. However―

“Even just this once! Let me be selfish, you DUMMY!!!”

Hearing Rei shout at me like this for the first time, I felt my heart tremble.

“D-Dummy… You…”

“Dummyy! Claire-sama, you dummyyy! Waaaaah!!!”

“R-Rei…”

Rei was… crying. Yes, that Rei. She had always been almost annoyingly calm and collected, no matter the situation, almost always making a fool out of me. That Rei was now in absolute shambles, sobbing. Watching as the tears messily streamed down her cheeks, I could no longer contain myself.

Just what is it that I’m doing here, Claire François? The love of my life is crying right in front of me, don’t I see that? What use am I if I hesitate at a time like this. Are my arms just logs? What is it that I need to do, here and now?

―I must rush over and wipe the tears of my beloved!!!

“You know… If you’re gonna have your little lover’s quarrel, do it somewhere else.”

Arla’s voice returned me to my senses. When I looked in her direction, she had a complicated expression as though she had just eaten something bitter.

“Hey, someone come and take this girl away.”

“No! Never! I’ll never leave Claire-sama’s side ever again! If Claire-sama is going to die, then I will too!”

“W-Wait, Rei―!”

“Ah, goodness! Alright, alright, I get it already so shut up already and stop crying. It doesn’t look like we’ll be executing anyone anyway.”

“… Eh?”

“Just take a look.”

In response to my confusion, Arla pointed toward the people.

“Well… I guess we won’t have to worry about the nobles torturing us anymore.”

“I uhm, Claire-sama actually saved me once.”

“Me too. The noble I served was a bad guy, and when I lost my job, Claire-sama is the one who connected me to my next one―”

The flow of the conversation had changed. Arla cut the rope that tied my hands and with a distant look, continued.

“The people have begun to think for themselves. From now on, I doubt they’d need me to rein them in and lead them around either.”

“Arla…”

“I’ve brought down the aristocracy and achieved my goal. It’s not my place to worry about what comes next. We don’t need to kill all the nobles, I mean most of them will die if left to care for themselves anyway.”

Arla went on to say we may even see the old nobility beg or borrow money from commoners. She gave a hearty laugh, pleased by the thought.

“Alright, just go. The curtain opens on our new era, you shouldn’t welcome it looking so glum.”

“… Thank you.”

With that, I dragged Rei, who was still a sobbing mess, with my and left the trial.

　◆◇◆◇◆

“… Good grief, you know, you’re really so…”

I dragged Rei to a nearby park and made her kneel on the grass there. Rei didn’t seem to be happy with the situation, but not that I cared.

“You’ve caused so much trouble for so many people… Do you even feel the least bit remorseful about that?”

“U-, uhm… Claire-sama? Considering the flow of events here, shouldn’t you be thanking me for what I’ve done, and apologizing to me…?”

“Just what nonsense is that!”

“Uhm, right, it was nothing!”

“Really Rei, you’re always just so reckless―”

And so, I began lecturing Rei. Of course, I only did this because I was too embarrassed to tell her how I really felt. In truth, I really just wanted to hug her, and as soon as possible.

This wasn’t all about Rei either. The fact that everyone gathered together like that for my sake… Truly made me so happy that I could barely hold it back. If it weren’t for my pride as a noble, the thought that I had to keep myself together before Rei, I’m sure that I’d already have curled up in a ball to cry as well.

“… Don’t be so harsh on her, Claire.”

“Sein-sama…! No… I mean, Your Majesty.”

The one who put a pause to my antics as I tried to bluff my way out of my own embarrassment was His Majesty Sein.

“Do you no longer need to attend the trial?”

“… Well, considering all that happened… It’s been put on hold. Originally the trial was only something Salas put out as a way to make an example out of the two of you.”

His Majesty stated that the new government hadn’t ever really cared for it. At that time, as though Rei had just remembered, she spoke up.

“Right, Your Majesty, I almost forgot to thank you for what you did earlier.”

“… For what?”

“Your harp. It was very impressive.”

“Yes, it really was. It really got everyone’s attention.”

“… That wasn’t anything that warrants such praise. I just do it as a distraction.”

Despite his wonderful technique, to His Majesty, his skill in the harp wasn’t something that he saw value in.

“Who was it that taught you how to play the harp?”

“… My mother. When she was still alive, while she was bedridden.”

“Oh, I see. Ah then―”

As though struck by epiphany, Rei put her hands together and said,

“Your Majesty, you’re still loved by your mother even now.”

Sein-sama's eyes opened wide. As I wondered what might be the matter, tears suddenly began to flow from Sein-sama’s eyes.

“Y-, Your Majesty!?”

“K-King Sein, what’s the matter!?”

“… It’s nothing. It’s nothing, just―”

―I see, so my mother had always remained by my side.

Those words escaped his mouth as though he was just talking to himself, reflecting on their significance. This was the man whom I had always admired. Now that I had fallen in love with Rei, it was clear to me that my feelings for him had never gone past that admiration. However, that I saw him as someone precious to me hadn’t changed. It relieved me to see a bandage applied to a scar he’d carried for so long.

“…”

My father stood a short distance away. With an expression that held lingering regrets, but at the same time held relief, he watched over us. Looks like I’ve survived yet again―I could almost hear him saying that. I understood how he felt, but I was sure that we had survived for a reason. There was meaning behind all of this.

“Rei, Claire, you both did great. Just as I’d expect from the two of you.”

“Claire-sama, it’s been a while!”

“Onee-sama! And Lene too!”

Having been able to reunite with people who I never thought I’d meet again, I felt happiness well up from the bottom of my heart. Perhaps Lene felt the same way, as we hugged each other tight, I saw a sparkle in her eyes. As a result, I felt myself tearing up as well.

“Feeling jealous, Rei? In that case, just say the word and I’ll prepare our wed―”

“No.”

“Thought you’d say that.”

Despite being rejected yet again, Rodd-sama was roaring with laughter. His cheerful and optimistic demeanor hadn’t changed in the slightest. I was sure that he’d continue to forge his own path, never yielding or giving in.

“Rei-san… Claire-sama…”

“Lily-sama.”

Former Cardinal Lily approached us with both arms held securely by the soldiers who had arrested her.

“I just wanted to… Apologize.”

“No, please, Lily-sama, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

“That’s right, all of the responsibility falls on Salas.”

Alter, the second personality within her was something that Salas had created. In a sense, Cardinal Lily was the victim here.

“You may say that, but there’s no way that the things Lily has done should be forgiven. Lily will await the judgment of the people.”

She appeared firm in her resolve. In that case, what I should offer her was not an half-hearted consolation, but rather,

“Very well. In that case, make sure that you atone.”

“Claire-sama, you don’t have to be so―”

“Then, once you’ve repented and atoned, make sure that you come back to us. We’ll always be here waiting for you.”

“―!”

In response to my words, Cardinal Lily began to cry.

“Thank you so much, Claire-sama. One day, let’s fight over Rei-san again.”

With that, Cardinal Lily was taken away. I didn’t know her crimes would be judged, but I wished for the best.

“But damn, we really have quite the group here, huh.”

Rodd-sama looked at the people gathered here and whistled. Now that he mentioned it, this really was quite the group. Three members of Bauan royalty, Manaria-sama, Lene and Lambert-sama, and even Misha had come.

“That’s very true. Claire-sama and Rei, you both really are blessed with connections.”

“No Misha, that’s not quite it.”

Yuu-sama gently corrected Misha’s emotional remark.

“Everyone gathered here has been saved by Rei and Claire in some way. Everything that Claire and Rei have done until now, has finally taken shape in this way.”

Yuu-sama’s words entered deep within my heart. Mother, are you watching? Ever since I met Rei, we’ve been able to do so much together. There were times where I forgot myself in what I was doing, and was perhaps too reckless, but even I, who had always been so selfish… Have been able to make so many friends.

“Hey, Rei, go on! Didn’t you have something to say to Claire now that you’ve reunited?”

As Onee-sama seemed to be teasing Rei about something, I was pushed from behind. I took a few steps forward to regain balance, and before I knew it, I was right in front of Rei. Rei seemed to be embarrassed about something.

“Ah… Erm… Claire-sama?”

“W-What is it?”

“No… Uhm, actually it’s nothing…”

“How indecisive… If there’s something you want to say to me, just say it.”

You never know if a day might come where you’ll have regretted not saying it… As I urged Rei on with those words, they were actually directed toward me as well. After all, I had only just barely survived. There were certainly words that I needed to convey to her as well.

“Claire-sama!”

“Alright, so what is it?”

As I once again took a curt tone to hide my embarrassment, Rei held onto my shoulders with her hands.

“Please, would you marry me!”

It took quite some time before my brain could even process the meaning behind the words that Rei had just said. Then, the moment I understood, I couldn’t stop myself from going bright red. The people around us whistled and cheered us on.

“J-, j-just what are you saying, here, and in public! The proper etiquette is to wait for the right time, and the right mood when we’re alone…!?”

Having never considered she might propose to me, I didn’t know how I should react. But really, it was all so simple. All I needed to do was say yes and nod, that was enough. But even now, I still couldn’t bring myself to be honest with my feelings.

“Oh, so that’s what I need to do? In that case, give me a redo!”

“S-Sure? Just this once, I’ll make an exception and allow it.”

“No, not that.”

“Eh?”

Even as I remained confused and embarrassed, Rei pulled me close and took my lips. For the second time in our brief exchange, my brain ceased function. Everyone around us fell silent.

“I really hated that our first kiss had to go how it did.”

Rei spoke with a playful smile, as though to say she had finally gotten revenge.

“G… G-, goodness! You’re… really, truly, utterly, so…! Rei, you’re just so Rei. Your head is just so Rei, really…!”

“My name’s suddenly become an adjective!?”

As I returned to my senses, I realized that I was repeatedly hitting Rei one hand after the other in a frenzy. Rei looked at me with a face as though she understood, so she just stood there accepting it all. This… Even though… She’s just Rei!

“… If you don’t make me happy, I’ll never forgive you.”

“””… Eh?”””

Rei’s voice, and the voices of those around us overlapped.

“L-Like I said, if you don’t make me happy, I’ll never forgive you!!”

“…”

“W-What, come on, say something…”

After just another breath, everyone around us exploded in celebration. Embarrassed, I couldn’t look anyone in the eye. It was then that Rei took my hand and made a run for it.

“Where are we going!?”

“Somewhere, anywhere! I’m sure that we can go anywhere… If we’re together!”

The future. That was something that I had long given up on. You could say that, to me, it was like a blank canvas. From now on, I suppose that I will be drawing on that canvas. However, there was one thing that I could be sure of.

As I drew on that canvas, Rei would always be right there by my side.

Epilogue. She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner!

“Hmmm~ So, Claire-sama, that’s what you were thinking back then.”

“Hmph, I’ll return those words right to you, Rei. It’s unfair you’ve never told me about any of this until now.”

A few months had passed since the revolution. The two of us had relocated to the capital’s outskirts, settling into a peaceful and humble lifestyle. Today I found out that Rei kept a diary just like I did, so we thought that it might be interesting to reach each others’ diaries. As we reclined on chairs out on our terrace, we both read at our own pace.

Rei’s records of the past year or so were rather different from my own. When the two of us had first met, I saw Rei as nothing more than a nuisance, but it appeared that she truly had always been deeply in love with me. When I thought about how I treated her back then, I felt so embarrassed that I just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. It’s quite something that she didn’t grow sick of me.

“So, Claire-sama, what was it that you found the most surprising?”

Rei suddenly asked something like that. I didn’t have an immediate answer, so I took some time to think before responding.

“Hm, I think it was the plans you worked on with my father. I mean, didn’t all of that happen only shortly after we first met?”

“Ah~ Yeah, that, huh. It was pretty fun scheming in the background and making sure you didn’t find out.”

She said that with the expression of a cheeky little prankster. The whole situation had been quite the ordeal for me, having been kept in the dark, but considering my own personality I had no choice but to say that Rei and my father made the right decision. Since I myself was aware of that, I couldn’t really chew her out for it now.

“How about you Rei? What surprised you the most reading my diary?”

According to Rei, she had some level of foresight to the events that would have happened. That foresight apparently included me, as well, so perhaps there wasn’t anything that had really surprised her.

“There were so many surprises that I don’t even know which one to talk about.”

“Really? That many?”

“Yes. I mean think about it, Claire-sama, even right after we met you had already strayed from the path of the Villainess.”

“D-Did I really…?”

According to Rei, she had expected me to be far worse, far more heinous than I was. Instead, I was a virtuous person who truly cared about her friends, so her expectations had been betrayed in a positive way.

“Pipi-sama and Loretta-sama really weren’t just your little underlings, huh.”

“They are both my best friends! Calling them underlings is rather rude.”

“I’m sorry.”

I recorded some of the things that happened to Pipi and Loretta in my diary as well. For Rei, who hadn’t really held a good opinion of either of them, it appeared those records had become something for her to reflect over. As Pipi and Loretta were my best friends, it would be problematic if Rei’s misunderstandings remained unresolved. Ideally, it’d be best if they could all get along with one another.

“Your entries during the Amour Festival were also very interesting.”

“Ah! Didn’t I tell you not to look at that section!?”

“Wait, you mean that wasn’t just /j?”

“What do you mean, just what is ‘slash J’, even supposed to mean!?”

Though it had allowed Rei and I to come closer together, just remembering what had happened at that time was enough to turn me bright red. It was all so embarrassing, I wish I could just take those memories and seal them away, never to see the light of day again.

“But wow… I mean I thought I already knew, but maybe I’m more loved than I realized.”

“That’s right, you brick headed…”

“Sorry.”

When I insulted her, Rei returned a troubled smile.

“It was interesting seeing it from the perspective of your growth as a noble as well.”

“Oh stop that. When we first met, I really was so immature… I don’t even want to remember.”

At that time, I had only seen commoners as things that I must rule over. I felt no guilt even seeing impoverished children, and I really knew nothing about the world. I felt that it was my greatest failure as Dor François and Milia François’ proud daughter.

“But what’s important is that you learned and matured, right? Now you’re even being hailed as the Maiden of the Revolution!”

“Stop that too. You know that all of the groundwork for that was done by you and my father. All I did was follow the tracks that you two had set for me.”

I hadn’t fallen so far that I’d consider others’ achievements as my own. This wasn’t about whether I was a noble or a commoner, it was about my pride.

“But hm… There were some peculiar entries too.”

“Peculiar?”

“Claire-sama, did you really have a roommate?”

“No…? I had always lived in that room alone.”

I thought I had received special treatment, as I was under the house of the duchy.

“That’s what I thought, but according to your diary, you should have had one. A girl who you would have known so long that she was essentially one of your childhood friends.”

“There’s no…”

There’s no way something like that was possible. The number of people who had stayed by my side for a significant amount of time were numbered. If we didn’t count my family’s head maid or Lene, Pipi and Loretta were all I had left. I didn’t have anyone that I would consider a childhood friend.

“But you know, you have it written, right here. Her name was… Catherine Achard.”

“Catherine… Achard… Perhaps she was a relative to Viscount Achard…”

As I thought the name didn’t ring any bells. But, hm, what was this feeling? The moment I heard her name, I felt my heartbeat accelerate.

“Catherine? Ah right, that girl.”

As I struggled to see if I could dig that name out from the recesses of my memory, a familiar voice suddenly called out.

“Manaria-onee-sama!”

“Hey Claire. I’m glad to see you’re doing well too, Rei.”

This was our first reunion since she had come to our aide months ago. But unfortunately, right now, I didn’t have the emotional space to simply take in the joy.

“Onee-sama, did you know her? This, Catherine, character.”

“Yup. I did. She… Hm, well… Was a girl with a rather tragic fate.”

“You can’t mean to say…”

“No, that’s not it, she’s alive. However, I don’t think she’ll ever come to visit.”

It was clear that Onee-sama knew something, but wasn’t sure whether or not she should say it.

“The reason that she, along with any of your memories of her, have disappeared, are likely a result of her strong will. Personally, I think that it’s best that I respect her will.”

“But―!”

“Yes, Claire, I know what you want to say. If she’s your childhood friend, you’d want to remember her.”

Onee-sama stopped me as I tried to stand before continuing.

“There’s just one thing I want to confirm. Your memories with Catherine-chan include an event which could be very painful. It is also possible that, recalling that memory, would make you hate her.”

“…”

Onee-sama’s eyes showed she was serious. She was worried for me from the bottom of her heart. Over Catherine, who may have just been another person she knew, she was prioritizing me.

However―

“Even something painful, can be a valuable experience.”

“Claire…”

“I don’t believe I’ve experienced any wound that I would have been better off forgetting. NO matter how cruel or tough the memory may be for me, it should be a part of who I am. I mustn’t simply allow myself to forget something like that.”

I believed that memories were precious because not all of them were happy.

“I see… In that case, I’ll say no more. I’ll restore your memories of Catherine-chan.”

Onee-sama used her spellbreaker on me and Rei. The moment she did, the memories I had forgotten assaulted me in waves.

“Claire-sama!”

“I-, I’m alright. Just a little dizzy.”

I was about to fall off of my chair, but Rei came in to support me. That was just how vast the memories that I had lost were.

“Catherine… Why…”

“If you’ve gotten your memories back, you know, don’t you? Catherine wasn’t able to forgive herself.”

In the past, she had approached my mother as an assassin, and to save her, my mother sacrificed herself. Onee-sama reminded me that Catherine had always suffered that truth. And while it may have been a truth, it was only one side of the truth.

“I… Must go and look for Catherine.”

“I’ll come with you, Claire-sama.”

“Good grief, I thought this might happen.”

With that, Onee-sama held out a piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

“Catherine-chan’s current address. Right now, she’s living in Appalachia.”

“Onee-sama, I love you so much!”

When I leaped in to hug her, Onee-sama accepted me with a smile. Rei didn’t seem all too pleased, but there was just no helping it.

“If you’re going to meet her, you should hurry. She never stays at one place for too long.”

“Well, it’s decided then, we need to get ready. Rei, call Mei and Alea for me.”

“Yes, I’ll grab them now.”

And so, Rei and I were on our way to Appalachia by carriage. When I thought that I’d soon be able to meet Catherine, I felt as though my emotions were boiling over.

“You sure seem happy, Claire-sama.”

“Well, of course. Catherine is like a sister to me.”

“... do you?”

“Mm?”

I couldn’t hear her very well, so I urged Rei to repeat herself. Then, quite uncharacteristically, Rei’s face went bright red and,

“You don’t… Hold any romantic feelings for Catherine-sama, do you?”

That was what spilled out.

“Rei.”

“Mhm?”

“You wouldn’t happen to be jealous, would you?”

“Why yes, that’s exactly right, you darnー!”

Rei suddenly began slamming her head into the carriage walls.

“Stop that! You’ll hurt yourself!?”

“Ugh… I hate how small minded I am… But this is all Claire-sama’s fault for being too cute…”

“Just what nonsense are you on? Like I said, Catherine is like a sister to me, no more, no less.”

But really, she gets caught on the smallest details sometimes… But…

“But… Fufu, having my girlfriend feel jealous over me surprisingly isn’t such a bad feeling.”

“Claire-sama’s evil, wicked!”

“Say whatever you’d like. But I see, so Rei felt jealous of Catherine, hmm…”

“Hmph!”

When I teased her, Rei began to sulk.

“I’m just kidding. Rei, you’re the only one I love.”

“Mmph.”

“Oh you… Cheer up already, maybe this will do it.”

I held Rei’s cheeks with both hands and leaned in for a kiss.

“You aren’t fooling anyone, you can’t win me over with just a kiss!”

“Alright then, what do I need to do to cheer you up?”

“… A lap pillow.”

“… Alright, come.”

“Yay~!”

As I lightly tapped my lap all the while making my exasperation clear, Rei ecstatically lay herself down.

“Is this really what you want?”

“What do you mean! In this big wide world, I’m the only one who has the right to rest on Claire-sama’s lap!”

“Well… I suppose that may be true.”

“You can’t offer your lap to Catherine either, okay!?”

Even as she emphasized her demands, it was clear her mood had already recovered. She truly was kind of like a child.

(Fufu… She’s so cute.)

I watched over her face as she steadily sank to sleep. As I saw her off into dreamland, I had a sudden thought. Hmph, even though she’s just Rei… To think she’d have the gall to steal my heart.

She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner!