Academy Graduation.
Typically, one must complete credits over a three-year enrollment period to graduate, but royalty is exempt from this rule.
Royals can freely decide whether to attend the academy based on their circumstances or personal will, and they can set their own graduation conditions.
The royals who led the early history of Grandeum traditionally completed a one-year course of study. This practice has continued through the royal family and has even affected Epherna.
Despite being the only remaining member of the royal family in good health, Epherna managed to obtain her academy diploma amidst her busy schedule.
Now, she is feeling…
“…I’m going crazy.”
Clutching her pen filled with black ink as if it would break, she pressed her forehead.
She didn’t want to work.
She hated it too much.
With the upcoming preparations for the New Year’s celebration, establishing a system for the Eastern Principality’s business expansion, the creation of a parliament, and her soon-to-come coming-of-age ceremony.
In broad terms, there are three main tasks, but they encompass numerous other tasks, and the workload seems never-ending.
“I should have done this in advance!”
This was indeed true.
While all three tasks were things Epherna needed to lead and oversee, there had been ample time. They had been planned for at least a year.
If she had handled things during her time at the Academy, she wouldn’t have fallen so far behind…
“I shouldn’t have played around…”
She had played.
She had played very energetically.
Without thinking of the consequences, she had wasted an entire semester with the mindset of it being her last vacation!
Of course, it had been enjoyable.
She had gone to the sea for field trips, skipped classes because she wanted to sleep in, and even set off fireworks in broad daylight.
She had indulged in every form of escapism that she could enjoy without losing her dignity as a princess.
“Mister, you should have stopped me!”
“…?”
Ern, who had been folding paper cranes beside her, made a sound of confusion.
“What’s with that bear-like noise? I’ve never heard it before.”
“Oh.”
Putting down the paper crane, Ern straightened his broad shoulders.
Whenever he was concentrating on something, he sometimes made such noises.
“What did you say I should have stopped you from doing?”
“I played too much at the academy, and now I have so much to do. Mister should have given me some work.”
“How can I tell a kid who’s having fun to work?”
This semester was the last opportunity for Epherna to enjoy herself before becoming an empress.
Knowing her unfortunate childhood, Ern wanted to protect the joy of her youthful days.
And then.
“Even if there’s a lot to do, it will somehow get done, right?”
Although her tasks were piling up, Epherna didn’t say anything was impossible.
In other words, these were tasks that could be completed on time.
Even if she felt annoyed now, Ern knew she would soon be moving her pen quietly.
“Oh, right. About the Winter Blizzard.”
“Yeah.”
“I got a contact from the Kyne Special Forces. They confirmed it’s in the north.”
“…Really?”
Did they finally find it?
As Epherna murmured, she continued.
“There’s no need to wake up my brother anymore.”
Ern thought of the second prince, who would be sleeping.
The second prince wouldn’t wake up until Epherna received her diploma.
It was said he might not survive another six months, and the Emperor was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any moment.
Both of them still holding on was considered a miracle.
“And regarding Duke Tesran, it seems the Second Prince has broadened the scope of the weaknesses he has on him.”
“I thought that might be the case.”
“They say there were no other weaknesses to uncover.”
“That’s fine. It’s enough.”
Even four years ago and up until now, Duke Tesran had been unable to let go of his obsession with Epherna.
To be precise, he couldn’t let go of his obsession with royal blood.
Even though his lineage ranks right after the royal family in terms of blood quality, what could be the reason for his obsession with lineage?
“The rewards to be given to the Kyne Special Forces should be delivered directly by you. Given the significant tasks they’ve undertaken, they deserve at least that much.”
“……! That’s a bit….”
“Huh? Is there a problem?”
“No… it’s not that…”
It’s just a bit awkward to meet with the commander of the Kyne Special Forces.
But don’t get me wrong. It’s not just me; everyone who knows him feels the same way.
The Kyne commander… what’s the term for it, a quiet eccentric?
He has a personality that makes most people keep their distance.
He is exceptionally talented, having been appointed commander at an age similar to Ray’s. Given that the main role of the Kyne Special Forces is espionage and spying, he outperforms even the former commander, Valtean.
‘…Right. He’s skilled and has made contributions, so it’s only right he gets that level of treatment.’
It’s uncomfortable, but there’s no help for it.
I felt tears of blood welling up inside me.
*****
I’ll say it again, the Kyne commander, Beir, is an eccentric.
He’s a bit slow and thinks differently from normal people.
“Hehe… thank you….”
“Right. Keep up the good work from now on.”
After reciting his achievements and awarding him medals and honors in front of the entire Kyne Special Forces, Commander Beir approached me personally.
As we chatted about various things, I sensed it was time to part ways and we exchanged farewells.
“Yay yay… I wish you luck too, Sir Astra….”
“Thank you. Well then, I’ll be off.”
Ugh. I need to get out of here quickly before I go crazy.
As I turned my back.
“Wait, wait, wait, Commander!”
Beir grabbed my hand.
He placed something hidden in his fist onto my palm.
“I’m so grateful… Hehe… it’s a small gift.”
“Really? I don’t know what it is, but thanks anyway.”
Beir giggled creepily and turned to run away.
“…”
At this point, I was glad it was over.
Thinking that, I opened my palm to find the corpse of an insect, covered in blood.
“…Well, this is a decent trade-off.”
When the weather is nice and his mood is particularly good, Beir goes around gifting people insects.
Not just any insects, but rare species you’d only see in extinction guides, sometimes even with limbs removed, presenting them as treasures to take care of.
Each time, we force a smile and discreetly throw the insects in the trash.
When he later asks where we put the gifted insects, we have to say we preserved them nicely.
Otherwise, it becomes too much to handle later.
Whoosh!
I burned the blood and the insect with magic and quickly stepped back. If I got unlucky, I might end up seeing a corpse of a person instead of an insect.
*****
After confirming the location of the Winter Blizzard, Epherna assembled a party to seize it.
Although she hadn’t decided how to wish for it yet, she judged that gathering was the priority.
Other essences, aside from the Winter Blizzard, were also prepared.
Achaz, the Forest Elder with the Spring Leaf.
Epherna Grandeum, the princess of the Grandeum Empire with the Summer Sun.
Temur, the king of the Urgan tribe with the Autumn Wind.
They were currently residing in the imperial palace.
The palace was the safest place in the current empire.
Now, they just needed to retrieve the Winter Blizzard to make their wish.
“…”
Epherna stared at the list of the party members written on the pure white paper.
The Imperial Knights under Darion, along with the elite shamans who came to the empire with Achaz.
And.
Astrape, Triaina, Kyne. The three secret special forces that had proven their achievements since the war.
The means to be dispatched to the wide northern closed sector may seem few.
However, if the numbers were recklessly increased, it could hinder the elites belonging to the party.
“Have you decided on a wish?”
“No. Not yet.”
Preparation to seize the Winter Blizzard was nearly complete, but Epherna still hadn’t precisely defined the content of her wish.
This was because she learned from yesterday’s conversation with the Gods of Time and Space that it would be impossible to completely erase the source of Evergreen from the world.
If the religion of Evergreen were to be erased from the world, at least a hundred years of time could be gained. If that happened, there would be no hindrance to Epherna’s reign.
However, as long as the head of Evergreen is not killed, Evergreen will inevitably resurrect.
This leaves the possibility of the world being destroyed in some future generation.
If she wishes to strip the Evergreen leader of their immortality, she would be able to kill them. If she succeeds in killing them, Evergreen wouldn’t plague the empire even in future generations.
However, even if the leader dies, Evergreen would remain in the present to torment her.
Should she secure the near future firmly?
Or should she take an uncertain gamble for future generations?
Epherna was currently contemplating between these two choices regarding her present self and the future generations.
No matter what choice Epherna makes, I will gladly follow.
If she wishes for peace during her reign, she will seize the Winter Blizzard, even if it means exterminating all the monsters in the north.
If she is willing to sacrifice for future generations, she will risk her life to kill the head of Evergreen and suppress the remnants.
So.
“Think it over until the end.”
It’s okay to hesitate. It’s okay to fall.
There will be as many opportunities as you want.
