ONE month had passed since King Glenreed put me in charge of analyzing and researching the Ringrard Empire’s new weaponized crest tool.
Time flew by unimaginably fast when the Bureau of Magic and I were putting our heads together for research.
Today, I was going to see King Glenreed at the palace for the first time in a month.
“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy, but there’s something we need to discuss.” He’d summoned me with that message.
Our servants waited outside, as this drawing room was to become a place of absolute secrecy. We were left there to speak alone.
“Thank you for coming, Laetitia,” he said. “Director Bodorey has had kind things to say about you. He told me your input has helped them make great strides in their research.”
“No, I’m not deserving of such praise.”
I wasn’t merely being humble. It was the utter truth I believed. The majority of my contributions came from my past life knowledge. But most of all…
The truth was that I felt reluctant to research weapons, even if I was doing it for the good of the country. The experience proved that I was much more cut out for developing things like recipes and cooking utensils.
“You said there was something important to discuss,” I began. “Would this be about the Ringrard Empire?”
“No, although they’re not entirely unrelated…”
He was hesitant to speak further—an unusual sight from the king. It wasn’t like King Glenreed to bring me here for an important subject, only to be lost for words when it came time to speak.
“If it’s not about Ringrard, it must be about Princess Ileze. Is that right?”
I’d been keeping one eye on Princess Ileze as I spent the past month working alongside the Bureau of Magic. Fortunately, she never tried to harm the Gardener Cats again, but she proved to be as much of a nuisance as ever.
“…Yes, you’re right. The princess is involved too,” he confirmed.
“Did Her Highness do something else?”
“She asked me to make her this country’s next queen.”
“What?” I completely froze for a full second. It was the last thing I expected to hear. “…I thought Princess Ileze was going to support Lady Fillia or Lady Natalie so that they would owe her favors, and that was why she was trying to diminish my influence in the country…”
“That was probably her plan at first.” King Glenreed nodded. “But the situation in the Maldion Empire has changed drastically. A war between them and Ringrard could break out at any moment, so they’re desperate to get Wolfvarte on their side. Ileze wants to become our queen and form an alliance between our countries, even if it means doing it by force.”
“……”
I was starting to get a clearer picture.
I felt my heart pounding in my chest louder than usual.
“You don’t want to make Princess Ileze your queen, therefore you’re eager to choose my replacement as soon as possible so that she won’t have any chance to scheme her way in. Do I understand correctly?”
Out of nowhere, my time as the figurehead queen was coming to an end. Desperately, I tried to soothe my unsettled heart. I set my mind to the task of working out the optimal solution—one that would be for the good of this country.
Lady Natalie didn’t trust her own family, and Lady Kate didn’t want to be the queen at all. I still had much to learn about Lady Fillia, but considering the circumstances of her family, she would be a difficult choice.
“Are you going to choose Lady I-Liena?” I tried my best not to let my voice tremble, revealing the answer I was led to.
But King Glenreed didn’t react. It seemed I was mistaken.
He kept his eyes on me, and then he slowly parted his lips. “…It’s you.”
“…Pardon?”
“I want you to be my queen for the rest of my reign.”
My brain was incapable of processing those words.
Me? The queen? For the rest of his reign?
I could comprehend the words, but not what they really meant.
“What are you talking about…?” I asked, my mouth dry.
“I meant what I said. Laetitia, I want you to be my official queen, not just the two-year-long placeholder.”
“But…I… I’m not from this country. The official queen has always been selected from the noblewomen hailing from within Wolfvarte…”
“These are extraordinary times. The Ringrard Empire is expanding at a rate never seen before, and tensions are rising all across the continent. I won’t be able to protect my country if I rely on traditions.”
“But…”
“I’ve already spoken to the other four candidates. Natalie and Kate gave you their blessings, and I-Liena said you’d be a suitable queen. Fillia didn’t say anything definitive, but she didn’t reject you either.”
“……”
I was happy to learn that the others wanted me to be the official queen. Yet my thoughts were still unable to catch up to my emotions.
“It’s not just the candidates either,” he continued. “The people who live in the palace, the residents of the royal capital, both human and beastfolk, they all know how hard you’ve worked for the sake of this kingdom. Even the poor reputation you first came here with, due to how your prior engagement ended, has been erased thanks to your efforts in your homeland. The only thing that can stop this is your own will.”
“My will…”
I looked to the ground and placed my hands on my chest. Then I mentally sorted out the factors in this decision—emotions, calculations, desires, duties, and obligations.
I loved this country.
It was full of kind people, delicious food, and fluffy friends.
I wanted to do whatever I could to ensure everyone could continue their peaceful lives. And yet…
“……”
I was only going to be a figurehead queen for two years. I’d drawn that line in my head throughout my time here. I loved Wolfvarte and its king, but those reasons alone didn’t feel like enough to justify becoming the queen.
“I want you.”
“…?!”
His Majesty’s sudden confession made both my mind and heart start to race.
“Wha…?!”
“Your kindness, your passion for food, your proud demeanor, that happy smile you get on your face when you interact with the Wolfvartian people. They’re all so rare and so radiant. I have faith that you can light a path to greatness for this country.”
When he finished speaking…
King Glenreed stretched his slender fingers out toward me.