Chapter 92

I—Euphyllia Fez Palettia—felt alone without my familiar source of warmth by my side. Glancing up at the night sky as the moon rose overhead, I breathed a sigh. The day had passed so quickly, yet it seemed to grind to a halt when I had nothing to occupy me. It was obvious enough why I felt this way. No doubt because the person I wanted wasn’t lying next to me. “…Anis,” I breathed, whispering the name of my beloved. But there was no response. Even I recognized how she had become like an obsession to me, but that knowledge didn’t make it any easier. On nights like this, I felt so lonely that I couldn’t sleep. It was while in this state that I heard a soft knock at the door. “Come in,” I called out. “Excuse me, Lady Euphyllia,” Ilia said as she stepped foot into the room. In her hands, she was holding a tray with an assortment of necessities for preparing tea. “We’ve both had a hard day, haven’t we, Ilia?” “You must be exhausted, Lady Euphyllia. Allow me to brew you a cup of tea.” “Yes, that would be wonderful.” Sharing a cup of tea with Ilia—yes, that would help bring some comfort. Without Anis, my days barely tasted like anything. But I still had others to support me. Halphys was helping out as my assistant in Lainie’s absence, while Marion paid me regular visits from the Ministry of the Arcane. On top of that, my stepfather and stepmother continued to advise me on a great many things. Yes, I had so many people whom I could trust and rely on. Yet my heart continued to ache in Anis’s absence. The constant work did help me forget my worries, and I was even thankful for my father’s reckless actions each time he visited. …But I couldn’t afford to hold onto familial affection. I had almost allowed myself to bond with him—I was too weak not to—and that was something that I couldn’t possibly allow in my new position. “Here you go, Lady Euphyllia.” “Thank you, Ilia. Take a seat.” “Very well.” We sat down over tea, each of us bringing our cup to our lips at the same time. Relishing the scent and mellow taste, I sighed. I loved silent moments together like this. It was a chance for me to catch my breath. Of course, it helped that it was Ilia sitting with me. Since becoming queen, I had learned just how precious it was having someone to whom you could entrust your innermost thoughts. I quietly sipped my drink, watching her. She remained as calm and as collected as ever, but I could sense something different about her in the small details of her mannerisms and bearing. “You look tired, Ilia.” “…Is it that obvious?” “No. Your makeup is a little heavier than usual today, that’s all. I’m sure most people wouldn’t notice.” “…Please forgive my sloppiness.” “There’s no need for that. I know how difficult this must be for you, Ilia. It’s hard when you don’t feel up to meeting new people.” At present, we were working to bring more maids into the detached palace’s regular staff. Originally, Ilia alone had managed the household affairs. While she now had Lainie on hand to assist her, I was calling her away with increasing frequency to advise me. Until now, there had only really been the four of us, so Ilia might have been expected to manage alone. But our situation had changed. Anis had emerged from the shadows to assume important duties in her new royal capacity, while I had acceded to the throne as queen. Nothing stayed the same forever. Change was inevitable. Deep down, we all understood that. It was the same here in the detached palace. Comfortable though things were now, it was clear that our arrangements would need to evolve. Considering all the changes still over the horizon, we would need someone to support Ilia in her work. Without help, the burden on her would simply become too great. “We’ve been bringing in potential staff on shifts…but are you finding it difficult to manage?” I asked. “It is daunting, to be honest…,” Ilia answered with a forced, almost distracted smile. Normally, she would never make such an expression. “I’m not a particularly social person,” she added. “I can see that.” “You might say I was blessed, being placed in charge of Lady Anisphia. Perhaps I leaned too heavily on my good fortune, and the time has come to pay the piper.” “We couldn’t possibly let you go, Ilia. Please don’t worry.” “Yes, I understand. If I can’t build my own staff, you’ll end up needing to replace me. Though I would be left with nothing if it came to that…” “If you truly can’t manage, I can bring in someone else to manage affairs in the detached palace.” “Of course. If it comes to that, I will ask you myself.” Ilia fell silent, taking a long sip of her tea. Her soft sigh seemed to fill the room. “…I know I’m a sorry sight, Lady Euphyllia, but I can’t stop myself.” “…Ilia?” “I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my failings lately,” she said, staring off into the distance. Unsure of what to say, I settled on watching her a little longer. After a moment, she turned my way, her expression bitter as she smiled awkwardly again. “At the beginning, I wasn’t deemed worthy of serving as Lady Anisphia’s personal maid. Since then, everyone around me seems to be making strides. You’ve become queen, while Lainie has grown immeasurably… And here I am, in the same place as ever.” “That isn’t true, Ilia.” “It is. It is… I know you all need me here, but when I see you all, there are times when I feel like I can’t keep my jealousy under control. More and more, lately, it seems.” “…Ilia.” “Don’t you feel afraid, sometimes, Lady Euphyllia?” “…Of what?” “Of being left behind. I do. I’m scared that everyone else might move on, and I’ll become nothing more than a memory… That thought terrifies me.” “You’re worried that we’ll go off somewhere without you?” “You can’t say it’s beyond the realm of possibility. I’ve been on this world a little longer than you and the others, Lady Euphyllia.” Ilia kept her tone light, but she couldn’t hide the shadow that had fallen over her eyes. Covering her face with her hands, she leaned forward, turning her head slightly. “Even if we keep going about our lives as we have…I’ll no doubt be the first of us to leave this world. I dread that future. I’m just a regular human with no extraordinary gifts, while in addition to being a vampire, Lainie is blessed with talents enabling her to serve by your side.” “Ilia, you don’t need to worry about that…” “It doesn’t frighten you, Lady Euphyllia? To imagine a future in which Lady Anisphia passes on before you do?” I caught my breath at this question. I let it out slowly, smiling bitterly. “It does, yes. It hurts to imagine such a future. But…” “But…?” “But I’m sure Anis wouldn’t give up on me.” Maybe I sounded a little smug as I said that, but I didn’t mind. Anis loved me. I knew we’d always be connected. It was thanks to that belief that I could contemplate a happy future, even if Ilia struggled to do the same. If I ever felt like giving up, Anis would always be there to pull me back. “The weight of the future is terrifying when you’re in love,” I began. “What might inevitably happen one day, and what you are going to do about it. We might be cruelly torn apart. After all, the future is never certain.” “…That’s true.” “So if you don’t want to have regrets, you need to stamp those thoughts out. Although you do have another option, Ilia.” “I do?” “If you want your bond with Lainie to last an eternity, you could always ask her to turn you into a vampire.” Ilia looked up, then away again. She seemed torn. “…I can’t say I’ve never considered it.” “No?” “I still don’t have an answer…” “But?” “…It’s true that I can’t stop thinking about it…” Slowly, she focused on me and smiled, but that smile was still conflicted. From another angle, her tears would have been especially easy to see. It was the kind of smile that suggested deep pain and distress—but also relief at finding a ray of light. It was the most beautiful expression I had ever seen on her. “I want to spend more time with you and Lady Anisphia. That’s why I want to be someone capable of standing up for herself. I want to believe—truly believe—that I belong here.” “…There’s nothing more important than that. Please, Ilia. I would like to continue to rely on you.” “Thank you… Please don’t tell Lainie about all this. To be entirely honest, I wonder whether there isn’t an alternative to becoming a vampire myself.” “Oh? Why is that?” “If I become a vampire, I wouldn’t be able to offer her blood anymore, would I?” she said with a mischievous grin. I couldn’t help but break out into a smile. “You truly love Lainie, don’t you?” “Just as you love Lady Anisphia.” “I see.” “…I wish I could say that I deserve her.” “Hang in there, Ilia.” Stay with us. I look forward to us spending a great many years in each other’s company. I knew that it was a cruel thing to wish for, to force this on others—I only hoped that I could be forgiven for wanting it. Night gave way to dawn and the coming of morning. As usual, it was time to begin another day of my political duties as queen. Ilia came to wake me, and I had to turn my attention to getting ready. Later, while hard at work fulfilling my royal obligations in the castle, I received a visitor. “I’ll get it,” Halphys offered, having temporarily taken over as my secretary in Lainie’s place. “Thank you, Halphys.” As she went to receive our guest, her voice betrayed a hint of surprise. “Oh? Ilia?” “Ilia?” I repeated, looking up from my work. The figure entering the room was unmistakably her. Her face was a little more tense than usual. Had something happened? “Please forgive the intrusion, Lady Euphyllia. We’ve received an emergency pigeon.” “A message? Don’t tell me something’s happened to Anis?” Urgent news for me? Anis’s face immediately leaped to mind in my worries. I could only pray that she hadn’t encountered any trouble on her trip. Ilia shook her head, alleviating my fears. “No, it isn’t from Lady Anis… It’s from Master Algard.” “Algard?” That was an unexpected name. We had agreed to keep in touch as part of our vampire investigations, but I wouldn’t have expected him to reach out with an urgent alert. Ilia handed me Algard’s letter, and I rushed to check its contents. As I took in what it had to say, I gasped aloud. “…Your Majesty?” “Ilia, Anis’s schedule has her due to return here today, yes?” “It does. Why?” “As soon as she arrives, she must fly directly to the eastern frontier. I will be joining her, so see to all the necessary preparations. We’re needed as soon as possible.” “At the frontier? Has something happened?” “It’s a matter of great importance, one that I must see to personally. Halphys, summon my stepfather with all haste. Ask him to handle all necessary political affairs while I’m away.” “U-understood!” Halphys answered, hurrying from my office in search of the former king. Ilia frowned with worry. “What did Master Algard say? You said it was serious…?” “It seems that an unexpected situation has arisen on the frontier. If true, this information could prove invaluable. It all seems to be developing faster than we imagined.” “What is?” I took a moment to catch my breath and calm myself before responding. “The vampire situation.” “…Vampires…?” “A vampire has crossed over the border—in flight, it seems. She was being pursued. Algard and his people have offered her their protection.” Earlier, shortly before Euphyllia received that urgent letter… I—Acryl—breathed in a lungful of fresh forest air before slowly exhaling. It had been raining for so very long, but the skies were finally beginning to clear. It felt good, breathing the fresh air in a renewed forest. “You look happy, Acryl.” “Al!” Al had called out to me, accompanied by a group of knights and adventurers. Ever since that boisterous, uninhibited woman—Anisphia was her name—had come to visit us, the number of people on the frontier had been increasing. According to Al, they were busy making preparations to further develop the area. I could not grasp all the details, but I understood they wanted to safely gather the blessings of the spirits. To do that, they had to first hunt monsters. That was why the knights and adventurers were with us. Al was leading the group on a hunt, to familiarize them all with the forest. “Just so we’re clear, we’re splitting into two parties. The knights will escort the group, while the adventurers will scout on ahead,” he explained. “Don’t do anything to risk your lives, and if you find yourself unable to handle any monsters, retreat, and leave them to me and the knights. There’s no point throwing your lives away before we manage to bring a little more entertainment to the frontier.” “Ha-ha-ha! That’s very true, Your Highness! You’re a worldly man, I see!” exclaimed one of the adventurers. “Poverty is a virtue, but people need entertainment to keep their spirits up. Besides, what use is earning money if you don’t have anywhere to spend it?” Al answered. “I couldn’t have said it better myself! Good food, good wine, and good women! That’s what we need more of! I’m sick and tired of all the monsters out here in these hinterlands!” “If you wanna spend your coin, you’ve got to earn it first! So you’d all better earn as much as you can!” “Gotta be ready for when this place gets a little livelier, eh?” “You hear that, boys? Guard your lives, but earn your keep! We’re gonna have ourselves one hell of a hunt today! Ready yourselves!” The adventurers entered the forest in high spirits, their spirited shouting echoing all around me. They were so boisterous, so simple. I couldn’t help but heave a sigh. “Men are simple creatures,” I remarked. “I can’t really say anything to that. You watch after yourself, too, Acryl,” Al replied. “I shall, and you as well.” Well, it was time to hunt. I would be moving alone. It hadn’t been long since I joined the people here. Yes, hunting together as a group would help create a sense of unity. At the same time, however, many people remained ill at ease around a Lycant. It was probably better that I observed them in their everyday lives a little more before I joined them on the hunt. I had been able to talk to them a few times back at the mansion, and I had even practiced fighting without weapons. I hoped I wouldn’t have to wait too much longer. With that in mind, I made my way through the forest. I proceeded carefully, keeping watch for signs of prey and carefully searching for changes in the forest. It all seems the same as last time… Huh? All of a sudden, a faint scent tickled my nose. After taking a few careful sniffs, I frowned with worry. …Blood! Where?! A lycant’s nose is sharp, which meant that the source of the scent might yet be a long way off. I gave the forest my full attention. Had anything changed? Then, listening carefully, I detected a faint rustling in the distance. It was coming from the same direction as the scent of blood. And blood was not the only scent on the wind. Monsters fighting? Or fleeing? The air seemed restless. I crouched down, then sprang upward, crossing from branch to branch as I delved deeper into the woods. The stench of blood became thicker as I approached the signs of life—so thick that I began to feel increasingly on edge. I hope I am wrong about this… I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. Then, masking my presence, I approached the source of the smell. They were wolves, though given their huge size, they had to be monsters of some sort. The blood-stench on these creatures was enough to make my head spin. There had to be five, maybe six of them—each one constantly sniffing the ground as if searching for something. I was familiar with normal wolves, but the sight of these creatures filled me with apprehension. There was no life in their eyes. This sense came from years of experience confronting all sorts of beasts and monsters. I knew precisely what was in front of me. After all, those lifeless eyes were also bloodred. My body trembled uncontrollably, and sweat ran down my back. I stifled my breathing, fighting desperately not to make a sound. Slow, deep breaths… No doubt about it. It’s them…! Why? How? They weren’t supposed to be here…! I held my breath, struggling to hide my growing alarm. At that moment, the wolves raised their heads. Did they notice me…?! I readied myself to leap to the ground at a moment’s notice—when the wolves bolted off in the other direction, without so much as a glance my way. After they were gone, I retreated back the way I had come. Once I had gained enough distance, I pulled a small whistle from my pocket. I was supposed to blow it in the event of an emergency. So I did precisely that, a high-pitched sound reverberating throughout the forest. Al soon appeared. He was running toward me, and the knights were not far behind. “Acryl?! What’s going on?!” I braced myself, on high alert. “Al! Watch out for any wolves around here! They’re actually monsters!” “What? Why?” he asked with suspicion. Once I was close enough, I whispered in a low voice so only he could hear: “I spotted monsters that should not be here… The kind vampires use.” “…What? You mean the type you were forced to fight while you were held captive by them?” “They stank of blood, and they had the same eye color. Be careful. They’ll keep coming back—you can’t kill them. As soon as you think you’ve finished them off, they recover. One false move, and you might die.” “All right. I’ll make sure everyone knows. I know it’s dangerous, Acryl, but can you scout on ahead? The knights will probably draw too much attention to themselves.” “I was about to tell you that. We need to find out why they’re here.” “…Could they have tracked you this far?” “…I don’t know.” “All right. Don’t overdo it. We’ll stick together from here on out. Knights, follow us at a distance. If Acryl or I get into a fight, back us up,” Al instructed the escort. “Sir!” the knights called back in unison. And so we pushed forward as a group. The thick stench of blood lingered all around, so I had no difficulty following the wolves’ tracks. After a while, we spotted a commotion up ahead. The smell of blood thickened, and I could hear the wolves howling in the distance. I glanced at Al, who had likewise turned toward me. After we exchanged nods, I searched the area ahead of us from the cover of the trees. I soon found a woman breathing heavily, encircled by the wolves. She had already sustained several bites and injuries; she was bleeding from her arms and legs. Her hair was dark blond, and her crimson eyes twitched with fear as she stared down the wolves. A surge of suppressed memories rose up in my mind, and I caught my breath. The stifling stench of blood in large puddles, pieces of flesh lying all around. And among the faces staring coldly down at me was hers… “Are you all right, Acryl?” Al whispered, grabbing me by the shoulders. “Ah! Al…” The wolves were snarling, waiting for another opening to attack, while she attempted to fight them off with her magic. I must have lost myself for a moment. Shaking off the lingering remnants of those painful memories, I returned my attention to Al.