One month after the Demon Subjugation Operation commenced.
Schneider announced that this operation was carried out under the leadership of the First Princess Epherna Grandeum.
With this, Schneider attributed all the credit to Epherna and proclaimed himself her loyal subject.
The last request of the Second Prince: to fulfill his wish to protect the Empire.
The Demon Subjugation Operation had not concluded after two months, which was longer than anticipated, due to attempts by the nobles to force their way into the Closed Sector and understand the situation, causing disruptions to the plan.
Thanks to this, one could say that the operation was completed without significant damage.
However. There was one exception.
“It’s already been a week… She hasn’t drunk a drop of water and has just been holed up in her room…”
“Where did Astra go? At least he should be here…”
“…!! Be quiet! Don’t you know why the princess is sad?”
“…Huh?”
The lady-in-waiting, who had just returned from vacation, was unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
As one of the attendants explained the details to her, she continued in disbelief.
“Astra is gone…? What do you mean…?”
Ern Astra. Who is he?
A man who achieved great feats as one of the leaders of the special forces.
A man who earned the title of Hero, one of only seven in a generation, recognized for his accomplishments.
While everyone kept quiet about it, he was confirmed as the future Empress’s consort.
He is dead? And they haven’t even held a funeral for him?
“I can’t give you the details. I only heard bits and pieces myself. Anyway, don’t mention ‘him’ near the princess.”
Crackkk!!
“…This is what happens.”
*****
Epherna stared blankly at the broken shelf.
Did I break that?
Why did I break it?
I’m not hurt.
But my hands hurt.
My heart hurts.
Why?
Why does it hurt?
At that moment.
Creak—
“…Your Highness.”
Someone entered. It was the lady-in-waiting who had recently joined the palace.
“Are you okay?”
“What’s wrong? Why do you ask if I’m okay?”
“You haven’t drunk a drop of water for a week… I was worried…”
“Have I really not gone outside for a week?”
Is she lying?
Gulp-!
…It seems that’s not the case.
…Then.
What was I doing that a week has already passed?
I don’t know.
Since I can’t remember, it probably wasn’t anything serious.
If it were something to worry about, it would come to mind eventually.
“I’m hungry. Has the chef not finished work yet?”
“It’s lunchtime, Your Highness.”
“Ah.”
*****
More than ten people, including the attendants, noticed the change in Epherna.
Although her outward appearance seemed fine and the attendants kept it under wraps, unease definitely lingered.
The worry that the future Empress might be suffering from a mental illness.
If one should say there was a silver lining, it was that the unease didn’t last long.
As long as they didn’t mention ‘him’, Epherna seemed normal for 24 hours and showed no signs of a breakdown.
Above all, Merien had returned.
“Chamberlain!”
The one most delighted by this was none other than the temporary head attendant.
Having learned much while assisting the head attendant, she couldn’t be happier about Merien’s reinstatement.
She had tasted much bitterness and difficulty over the nearly two years, and recently, it had been the hardest.
The fear that Epherna might break down at any moment loomed over her.
“Thank you for your hard work during that time. Where is the princess?”
“She is currently attending to her duties. Shall I call her?”
“It’s a servant’s duty to seek their lord, not the other way around. I will go.”
“Understood!”
*****
Merien knew Epherna best as someone who had served her closely.
She understood how large a part ‘he’ had played in her life.
To exaggerate a bit, he was Epherna’s ‘everything’.
So, it must not be brushed aside like this.
If she pretends not to remember and denies reality, what will remain for her?
Only the weight of her responsibilities and duties as a ruler would be left behind.
“Merien…? You’ve returned…?”
“Yes. Today was the reinstatement date, but I think you forgot.”
“Oh, no. I’ve been too busy lately. I was aware of it just yesterday.”
Epherna shook herself awake and stood up.
Since it had been a while since she last saw Merien, she thought they should have tea together.
“It’s okay. Please continue with what you were doing.”
“…Understood.”
It was true that there was much to do, so Epherna sat down in her chair.
“By the way, Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“Shouldn’t you prepare for a funeral?”
“A funeral?”
Whose funeral are you talking about?
Has someone so important died that I need to personally oversee the arrangements?
Did that happen recently?
“Your Highness, please don’t ignore this.”
“What do you mean…?”
“You mustn’t forget that Lord Astra has passed away. Ignoring it is just avoidance, Your Highness.”
Epherna was only consciously ignoring it.
It wasn’t that she used any special magic or that she had developed a mental illness close to self-brainwashing.
She was merely maintaining a thorough disregard.
“…Ah, no. I just….”
Just what? What’s the problem?
Lightly, two slender hands were placed on her shoulders.
“Your Highness, don’t try to forget Lord Astra. Trying to forget won’t change anything. He is gone.”
What she needed now was reality.
Not something to be buried under.
“Ern. Ern Astra. Your Highness’s Personal Guard. The person you loved.”
Shudder—
Epherna’s shoulders trembled slightly.
A red light glimmered in her eyes that were wrapped in her hands.
Soon, wrapping her arms around herself, she began to shiver as if she were cold.
“It’s okay to hate him. It’s okay to be angry. But don’t forget him.”
“No, no, I don’t know that person…!”
“Your Highness, don’t ignore this. Even here, there are traces of Lord Astra.”
The bed where they lay together.
The vanity where she brushed his hair.
Epherna saw the faint shadow of him moving.
“Ah… Aah…! Aaaaah…!!”
Merien embraced her.
Gently patting her back.
Encouraging her to calm her emotions.
Slowly.
But.
“Aaaaaaaaaah…!!”
The wound left in her heart caused greater pain than its size.
The feelings a girl had for her unrequited love were beyond imagination.
Epherna clung to Merien, sobbing as if she were clawing at her back.
“How am I supposed to live… without him…!!”
He was someone she had loved for half her life.
One could say she poured all the emotional capacity a person could have into him.
He was someone indispensable.
Even if they didn’t share the same feelings, he should have been someone who was always by her side.
And now, he was gone.
She had lied to herself and ran away.
He had escaped to the inescapable place of death.
Her heart ached like this.
Even when she tried her best to forget, it hurt.
To live while remembering him.
It was so sad, and so infuriating.
She simply could not forgive him.
Even if he appeared right now.
She could never forgive him for deceivingg her, lying to her, and dying without her permission.
Thus, Epherna made a vow.
If she were to meet him in the afterlife someday.
No matter how much he begged for forgiveness with hands clasped together, she would never forgive him.
And one more thing.
She would not let him go.
Even if it meant keeping him imprisoned for a lifetime.
*****
Though I have said it repeatedly, I have never questioned my name.
Whatever my name was in the past, it is still in the past.
Since I live contentedly in the present, I have never sought to find out.
However, the trials that fate has greeted me with tell me to find my name.
Why is that?
There is no rising certainty.
Is it because I should seek someone other than my family? Someone other than Lea?
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”
After expressing gratitude to Duke Lemea, who had helped him until the end, Ern determined his destination based on the information he had gathered over the past two days.
The Kingdom of Emeladia.
To be precise, the place that “used to be”.
It is the most famous location where the dragon clan once settled.
Now, it is a place where the mages of the magic tower have built tall towers and are conducting various research, but if I can find even a tiny clue about my family, it seems right to go there.
“One last request, though.”
“I feel like I’ve heard this a lot already.”
“Still, you’ll hear it again.”
Clearing his throat, Simon continued.
“Never let Her Majesty discover your existence. And if by chance she does find out, then I know nothing about your existence.”
“Understood. I will make sure it doesn’t reach the North, so don’t worry.”
“And above all, you must absolutely obey Her Majesty’s words. That is the only way for you to safely live in this world.”
“…”
I thought to myself.
Why is he so worried?
Anyone would think that if I were discovered, the world would come to an end.
“I don’t remember how many times I’ve asked this, but you’re joking, right?”
“Does this look like a joke to you? Does it?”
With a stern expression, Simon continued.
“If the land that used to be the Kingdom of Emeladia is now the Katia territory, then while you’re there, you should ask Duchess Katia. Find out if there are any other ways for you to live in this land besides what I’ve told you.”
Only after adding a hundred more pieces of advice and warnings did Simon finally let me go.
