"Well, hello there, Mirellia Q lromarc."
Into the Queen's room — which had been serving as her temporary refuge these past few days — stepped a young man who, by her own judgnt, didn't even look twenty.
Sharp, smooth facial features and piercing violet eyes — a shade far deeper and darker than her own. And even she, seasoned by years of political gas and international squabbles, felt uneasy under that gaze.
Remus said he was soone to be wary of. The Scythe Hero is just too unpredictable. That's what he told .
Mirellia cast a quick glance at his companion — a small, black-haired filolial girl. The Queen was already well-inford about the current companions of the Scythe Hero.
But the way he treats those around him makes it hard to draw a clear conclusion.
With a practiced motion, the Queen raised her fan, reflexively covering the lower half of her face. Years of courtly intrigue had their effect — she was far too used to hiding her true emotions, even with such a simple gesture.
"I'm very glad you agreed to co here, Nott-sama," she said, her tone slipping easily into the distant-yet-polite manner refined by years on the throne.
"How could I possibly deny myself the pleasure of seeing the beloved Queen in person?" he replied. She might have imagined it, but there was sothing mocking in his tone.
Up to this day, Mirellia hadn't had the honor of eting the unexpectedly summoned Fifth Hero in person. But many of her subordinates had. So chose to keep their distance, while others — like Remus — had managed to establish so form of relationship. Though the rchant still couldn't say exactly what kind.
Still... the fact that he's here gives so hope.
"You flatter ," the Queen said, shaking her head with a faint smile. "Especially when I've failed in my role as Queen more than I care to admit..."
"These things happen," he replied with a shrug, as if her failures were little more than a minor nuisance. "Most mistakes can be corrected anyway. That's what I'm here for, after all."
She might have imagined it again, but there was sothing too ambiguous about the way he said that. The way he spoke... she still couldn't tell whether he'd co to help — or...
"I... appreciate your support. And I promise, I'll do everything in my power to fix what my husband and daughter have done."
"Oh," the Scythe Hero murmured, his lips curling into another smile as he began slowly pacing across the room. "That's what I like to hear."
"I only intend to set things back where they belong," Mirellia said, shaking her head.
"So then... you don't believe all the things people are saying about right now?" Nott asked, still pacing, not even turning to look at her.
"I prefer facts to rumors, Nott-sama," she replied, her fan swaying gently in her hand.
"Facts, huh?" the Hero murmured thoughtfully. "Then allow to offer a few of my own. All of this, in my eyes, will rely pull you out of a deep deficit — and restore what, as you put it, should've been there in the first place." Reaching the window, he turned to face her, his lips curling into a faint smile that sent a chill down her spine. "But what are you willing to offer in return for my help?"
"I..." The Queen's gaze faltered, darting around the room.
She never would've allowed herself such a lapse before. Even with most of her face hidden behind a fan, she'd long since mastered the art of keeping her eyes under control. But recent events had worn her down ntally. Endless negotiations, impossibly complex and always under crushing ti pressure. Her elder daughter's foolishness and all the damage it had caused. The constant danger surrounding her younger child. The idiocy — no, the outright senility — of her husband, the only person she could've left in charge of the kingdom in her absence... And now this. This constant, invisible pressure from a being whose motives and intentions she couldn't grasp — paired with that very "unpredictability" Remus had warned her about...
All of it made the mask of the wise ruler crack — loud and deep.
"I..." Her voice trembled. "I'm willing to do anything, Hero-sama."
"Even clear the na of a murderer? If that's what it takes to save your life?"
"I don't... understand what you an, Hero-sama. My trusted people can easily disprove most of the rumors going around."
"But not all of them," he said, his fingers drumming lightly against the window ledge. "And do you know why that is, Your Majesty?" He turned away from the window and began walking slowly toward the Queen of lromarc. "Because they're true."
Both Shadows in the room tensed imdiately. As for the Queen — she managed to keep her outward calm, but that ant nothing to soone who could sense the flow of life energy itself. He felt it — a stab of fear deep within Mirellia.
'Unpredictable, huh?' Mirellia chuckled inwardly. 'But... sothing doesn't add up.'
She glanced at one of her most trusted Shadows — the one who had brought the Scythe Hero here. Right now, the girl looked genuinely shaken, as if she couldn't make sense of what was happening.
'...She wasn't expecting this. Which ans the Hero didn't show any signs of aggression during the journey. Gave her no reason to doubt him. And that much, I can trust my Shadow's judgnt on.'
Very few people in this world had the ability to sense soone's strength. Which ant no one here could say for certain how powerful the Scythe Hero really was. And if one were to judge based on the other Heroes... they might even be disappointed. But...
'If he turns out to be an enemy... I'm afraid this is where it ends for ,' the Queen thought, distantly.
Neither the Shadows nor the Queen herself had the ans to accurately gauge soone's power — but everyone in that room shared a single, unshakable certainty.
They wouldn't be able to defeat this Hero.
The stare between Queen Mirellia and the Scythe Hero had already lasted far longer than any normal situation would call for. Both Shadows were fully prepared to give their lives if it ant increasing the Queen's chances of survival. But then...
"You're all looking a bit too tense. Like you're just waiting for the right mont to trade your life for ti," the Hero said casually, and just like that, the oppressive tension vanished. His tone was suddenly back to light and carefree.
Reaching the desk where the Queen had been sitting monts ago, the Hero casually hopped up onto it and sat down.
"The situation..." Mirellia, for her part, was struggling to bring back the confidence in her voice, "...is indeed tense. Officially, I am under no imdiate threat. But as long as I remain on foreign soil — I am, in effect, a prisoner. And, as I've already said, esteed Hero..." Mirellia bowed deeply before the Scythe Hero, her face unreadable. "I ask you — please help . I will do anything you ask."
"I already agreed to help you at the very beginning of our conversation," the Hero said, tilting his head with a puzzled look. "Or did our little talk throw you off that much?"
"...Forgive . I am deeply indebted to you, Nott-sama. As soon as we return to lromarc — I swear, I will do everything in my power to support you fully."
Now, Mirellia had truly regained her composure — as if the tension from monts ago had never even existed.
"Getting you to lromarc won't be a problem. It'll literally take five seconds."
"I... heard that the Hero has the ability to suddenly appear in certain places."
The question of how many of the rumors surrounding the Scythe Hero were actually true — that was sothing both sides silently agreed to leave for another ti. The Hero didn't push the topic, and the Queen wasn't foolish enough to try and satisfy her curiosity in a situation like this.
"Yeah. All Heroes have a fast travel skill — most just haven't unlocked it yet."
"I see... But, Hero-sama, if I may..."
"Sothing else?"
"My younger daughter, lty... She's currently in Zeltoble, under the protection of the Pelgue family — whom you're already familiar with." At those words, the Scythe Hero's expression froze.
"Didn't you send her to the Shield Hero?"
"I... wanted to," the Queen said, her voice carrying strange undertones. "But... how do you know that, Hero-sama?"
"...I have my ways." Nott waved the question off. "So why did you change your mind?"
"The Shield Hero was subjected to persecution that went far beyond anything I had anticipated. I knew he wouldn't be accepted easily, but I never imagined things would get that bad. That was another mistake of mine."
"And Zeltoble — a rcenary-run country — struck you as the perfect place for a little girl?" For the first ti since their conversation began, the Scythe Hero's voice carried open mockery.
"It was you, Nott-sama, who influenced that decision," the Queen said, looking away.
"?" At that, the Hero felt a rather unpleasant chill creep down his spine.
"Yes. You see, Nott-sama... one of my trusted people assessed you as soone who... prefers girls on the younger side." Mirellia's eyes slid off to the side.
"..."
"And so, after weighing all the options, I sent lty to where you were. But due to certain circumstances, I decided not to introduce you to each other just yet."
Nott had nothing to say to that.
'I... am I repeating the Shield Guy's fate?'
"...To hell with it. What do you want to do now?"
"If I may ask," the Queen replied quickly, latching onto the chance to change the subject a bit too eagerly, "then first and foremost, I'd like to ensure my daughter's safety. Our political enemies may try to use her against — she is the crown princess, after all."
"So I'm supposed to bring her to lromarc first? Your Majesty, I'm not used to playing these verbal gas. Just tell what you need done." The Hero sighed in irritation, rolling his eyes.
"...Forgive . I suppose I've grown too accustod to constant political maneuvering... Ahem. What I want is for you to bring lty to lromarc once I'm already there. It's too dangerous to leave her alone in the city, but while you go to get her — I'll have ti to stabilize the situation."
There was noticeably more confidence in Mirellia's voice now. Despite the burden on her shoulders, when it ca to politics and control within her own country, she had no equal. The mont she began to act, all her allies would rally, giving her their full support — and her enemies would be forced to retreat and wait for a better day.
But all of that was only possible... if she made it ho alive.
"Alright. Do you need ti to prepare?"
"Just a little."
"Great. In that case, I'll be waiting downstairs," the Scythe Hero said, turning to leave with his companion — who hadn't spoken a single word the entire ti. In fact, she hadn't even moved. Only at the very end, from the doorway, did she glance back at the Queen's face before following after the Hero in silence, her expression unchanged.
Once the door closed, the Queen let out a long breath and sat down right where she stood.
"Your Majesty!" Both Shadows rushed to her sides without hesitation, trying to help her up.
"It's fine. It's just that this was all... too much. Ha-ha," Mirellia let out a soft laugh. "Looks like I really am getting old."
"Your Majesty..."
"I'm used to dealing with people who hold great power. But now I realize — until today, I've never negotiated with soone who... possesses true Power."
Rising to her feet and taking a mont to collect her thoughts before preparing for the journey, the Queen gave one last look around the room that had served as her refuge these past few days.
"Let's just hope he really is on our side," Mirellia said, her gaze locking onto the face of the Shadow responsible for locating the Scythe Hero. "And as for you, my dear... I have quite a few questions."
***
Yeah, that was... intense. A hell of a performance, if I do say so myself.
What ca over , you ask? Well, I have an answer. But first...
"...That woman looked very tired," Night said as we made our way down to the first floor.
"Yeah. Not surprising, considering everything she's been through these past few days."
And ... I took advantage of it. Took advantage of her exhaustion — both physical and emotional — to shatter the mask of the 'Queen' and get a glimpse of what Mirellia Q lromarc was like as a person. Maybe it was a bit crude, a bit harsh and direct, but... what can I say? There wasn't much ti, and I needed to make a decision right then and there. So I chose the 'stress test' approach.
It took the Queen no more than twenty minutes to prepare. Once she'd inford everyone she needed to about her departure, I simply — and unceremoniously — warped us back to lromarc. To one of the safest and least conspicuous places I knew.
"Holy crap!"
Uncle Blacksmith — and who else could it have been — jumped, sending a mug flying from his hand. It hit the ground with a clatter as he stared wide-eyed at the sudden flash that lit up the middle of his shop. The flash, of course, was us.
"Kid! I swear, one of these days you're gonna give a heart attack. You can't just—" His gaze suddenly locked onto the figure standing to my right. "Oh... Please forgive , Your Majesty." He imdiately stepped out from behind the counter and dropped to one knee.
"No need for that, Elhart," the Queen replied with a faint smile. "Though I must say, I didn't think you two were that well acquainted..."
"Who else am I supposed to go to for gear if not the best blacksmith around?"
"Kid, you..."
"I see. Well, that's a sound decision," Mirellia nodded. "Now then, Nott-sama — I can handle things from here. As I said earlier, I ask you — please take care of my daughter."
"That didn't sound quite the way you ant it to..."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Hero-sama."
Sighing, I waved her off and headed for the exit. For so reason, the teleport cooldown had dropped to just forty minutes. Still not short — but enough ti to get our thoughts in order and prepare.
Chances were, sowhere along the line, I was going to end up facing that Archbishop and his strange pseudo-Hero Weapon. So...
"Night."
"M?"
"Don't ever do what you did in that ruined village again."
The girl looked into my eyes for a long mont, her expression unreadable. Then she lowered her head and stared forward again.
"...Alright."
It was ti to bring this Chapter to an end.
Reviews
All reviews (0)