First Act The Villainess’s Plot The hall is filled with articles of clothing in all the colors of the rainbow. Blouses made of silk, vests, trousers, cloaks—even accessories like cuff links and ties and shoes. All men’s clothing. It almost seems as if no one wants to go to the trouble of tidying them up, and there’s hardly any room to do so, even if someone felt the urge. The bureaus and the door to the dressing room have also been left wide open, and garments lie atop couches and chests in stratified layers. They’re all one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing made by Imperial Ellmeyer’s tailors and designers, who have put the nation’s prestige and their pride as artisans on the line and spared no effort in materials or design. “Master Claude isn’t fond of gaudy items, so we’ll keep the accessories to a minimum… Let’s see. What if he casually wore those diamond-studded cuff links over there?” The woman who’s issuing instructions while lounging on a sofa at the back of the room is Empress Aileen Jean Ellmeyer, mistress of the imperial castle. “What about these?” asks Aileen’s lady-in-waiting Rachel. Working quickly but taking the utmost care not to damage any pieces of clothing, the servants hold them out for Aileen to examine. “Yes, I think those cuff links would pair well with other shirts, too. That should be enough everyday wear. How many formal outfits will we need?” “Between the wedding, soirees, and balls, there are five occasions that will require formalwear.” “In that case, let’s go with seven, just to be safe. We’ll choose versatile pieces to err on the side of caution. Oh, but Master Claude is oblivious about these things. Master Keith will be there, so he should be fine, but…” Aileen’s husband possesses such matchless beauty that he could be mistaken for a work of art even if he were dressed in rags, so he has never paid any attention to fashion. The man can’t even change clothes on his own. Without Keith, his brilliant adviser, he’d end up spending every day in the same random outfit, donned effortlessly by magic. As Aileen ponders this, Rachel makes a suggestion: “If that is a major concern, shall we assemble several sets of outfits here in advance? Since you won’t be attending, Lady Aileen, there should be space in the luggage.” “Oh, but wait. It’s colder over there, isn’t it? Will we need fur cloaks and coats that can keep out the chill?” It would be poor form to become preoccupied with her husband’s appearance and end up letting him catch a cold. Rachel tilts her head. “I wonder. The Kilvas Empire may be in the north, but it’s midsummer. I assume clothes meant for early spring would be more than enough.” “But Master Claude will be staying for half a month, and I hear autumn doesn’t visit them over there…” “I see. I’ll check.” “Please do.” Gazing at the intense sunlight that streams in through the window, Aileen leans against the sofa’s armrest with a sigh. “Are you tired? How are you feeling?” Rachel asks. “No, I’m all right. Thank you.” Accepting a glass of fruit-infused water, Aileen takes a sip. Then she grumbles, “Honestly, simply sending him is so much work… I’m glad I no longer need to make preparations for myself as well.” She’s currently packing for her husband, who will be crossing the ocean to attend the wedding of the emperor of Kilvas in one week’s time. Both the emperor and the empress of Ellmeyer had originally planned to attend, right up until Aileen began carrying a child. They’d sent their response before learning of her pregnancy, and there was a good chance that any refusal they sent would not make it in time. Moreover, missing this opportunity would be an extremely unwise move diplomatically, as it could impact future ties between the two empires. They ultimately decided that Claude would attend by himself. An invitation to a wedding. At first glance, it seems like a simple occasion to celebrate, but Aileen suspects it’s likely also a full-fledged diplomatic affair that will determine international relations in the wake of the queen of Hausel’s passing. Rachel issues an order to refresh the pitcher of water, then pauses. “…Lady Aileen, you aren’t plotting something without telling me, are you?” The other woman is gazing at her steadily, and Aileen frowns. “I don’t have the slightest clue what you mean.” “Are you secretly planning to accompany Master Claude? With the excuse that you aren’t experiencing morning sickness…?” It’s true that her morning sickness hasn’t been as serious as what she’d braced for. In fact, it’s almost nonexistent. She hasn’t been able to handle the smell of butter, but that’s all. There have been no changes to her figure yet, and even though people have told Aileen that new life has taken root inside of her, it still doesn’t seem quite real. However, that and this are different matters. Aileen sighs. “Listen, Rachel. Even I can’t be a free spirit forever.” “That’s true… Still, you are you, Lady Aileen.” “Besides, I’m currently preparing to give birth to an heir. It’s an important duty for an empress. Are you implying I don’t understand that?” “Of course not. But this is you we’re talking about, Lady Aileen.” “Why do you doubt me so much?!” She grimaces. Aileen must admit she has pulled her fair share of reckless stunts in the past; she can’t deny that. However, she can proudly say it was all in the name of securing Claude—the demon king—his rightful place on the throne and winning happiness for herself. To delve a bit deeper into the matter, that ambition was only a necessity because of the preposterous fact that this world is the same world as an otome game she played in her previous life, Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens. Because knowledge of the game came back to her along with memories of a past life, Aileen embarked on a campaign to systematically tear down the death flags that threatened herself and her husband. As both the demon king and the final boss, her husband was targeted for a variety of reasons, while the villainess, Aileen, had been long dead by the game’s conclusion. She was forced to act recklessly to survive. However, all of that was resolved. As far as Aileen can tell, she cleared every game in the series. Fan discs aside, the plot of the sequels no longer lines up with the timeline of events that Aileen has seen. In theory, this world shouldn’t have any more connections with the original games… At least, that’s what Aileen believes. I won’t stand for anything else! Nothing decent ever happens…! Besides, she’s managed to survive and marry Claude; they’ve become emperor and empress, and they’re about to be blessed with a child. The Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens series was marketed as wholesome and designed for all ages. A husband who’s fathered a child can’t possibly be an object of romantic conquest or a final boss or anything like that in such a series…Aileen hopes. Probably. At any rate, Aileen no longer has any reason to be reckless. “I regret that I won’t be able to visit the Kilvas Empire, of course. It is where Master Claude’s mother was from, and this is his cousin’s wedding. I would like to go and give them my regards as his wife. However, if they knew I was expecting, they would no doubt feel the need to be extremely careful with me.” “On the other hand, it’s you, Lady Aileen…” “Wh-what exactly do you think I am…?! Th-that’s right; if I were plotting something, your husband, Isaac, would be my accomplice. You haven’t heard anything, though, have you? Isn’t that proof I’m not plotting anything?” “If it were for your sake, Lady Aileen, I’m confident Isaac would betray me as often as he had to, so I can’t believe him.” “My dear, don’t you think the way you trust your husband is rather odd?!” “You’re too kind.” “That wasn’t a compliment!” Isaac, Aileen’s right-hand man and business associate, is undoubtedly brilliant. However, when it comes to navigating the subtleties in relationships between men and women, he’s rather careless. Aileen never realized it would backfire on them like this. “In any case, I’ve decided that I shall trust Master Claude’s judgment on matters of public policy and will stay at home in his absence. Doesn’t that make me the epitome of a good wife?” Aileen holds her head high. Rachel gazes at her steadily, then smiles. Her eyes are filled with affection. “I understand. I will pack so that you may leave whenever you wish, Lady Aileen.” “You don’t understand in the slightest!” “What’s all this racket?” Rachel and the other ladies-in-waiting all bow their heads at once. Aileen glances in the direction where the voice came from, and then her eyes widen. “Master Claude, isn’t it time for your conference?” “We’re taking a brief recess. There was something I wanted to confirm with you…but it looks as if we should take this elsewhere.” “I will prepare a room for you.” Keith, who has been waiting just behind Claude, promptly turns on his heel. Claude scans the room from the doorway. “So what happened here? Don’t tell me these are all my clothes.” “That’s exactly what they are.” Claude starts to take a step into the room, then thinks better of it. There isn’t anywhere to walk, and the dreadful spectacle must have overawed him. Smiling wryly, Aileen rises to her feet, and then her toes lift lightly off the ground. It’s Claude’s magic, and it carries her right into his arms. “Don’t overdo it. I’d like to have tea, but how are you feeling?” Since learning of her pregnancy, Claude asks about her condition every time they meet. “No problems whatsoever.” “Really?” He glances at Rachel, who’s waiting behind her, for confirmation. The man is the definition of overprotective. “Yes. I am taking it easy, and there hasn’t been any trouble at all,” Aileen assures him. “I see.” Claude nods, but he doesn’t look very convinced. He lost his mother early from the combined stress of a difficult delivery and the anxiety of having given birth to the demon king. It’s understandable why he can’t help but be uneasy. Out of consideration for this, Aileen has been doing whatever she can to set Claude’s mind at ease. This is why she doesn’t demand he put her down, even when he carries her all the way to the room where they’ll be taking tea. “Good grief. There’s no need to pack all those clothes.” “Gracious, Master Claude, what are you saying? You are the emperor. Not only that, but it isn’t just any court noble who’s getting married—it is the wedding of the emperor of Kilvas, your cousin. It would be rude if you arrived unprepared, no?” “Still, there are limits. I’ve never even met this cousin. My aunt, my mother’s elder sister, already passed away.” “But I heard you’d met the emperor of Kilvas’s sister.” “…Yes. It was nearly twenty years ago, though.” “That would have been during the confusion over whether you would be removed from the line of succession. That’s a good reason, all on its own.” Claude tilts his head, glancing at her. Smiling at him, Aileen presses her cheek to his chest as he walks slowly, perhaps out of consideration for the people who are preparing their tea. “You must let her know that you are a splendid emperor now and living happily.” Aileen’s memories of that time are vague. She can’t deny the possibility that this princess from another land may have seen Claude as an unfortunate, unhappy crown prince. She’s heard rumors that, when the decision was made to disinherit him, there was talk of the Kilvas Empire taking him in. “If you don’t, she’s sure to worry,” Aileen says. After thinking for a moment, Claude starts coming around. “…I see. That might be true.” “You don’t sound very enthusiastic.” “That mountain of clothes is a bit…” “Oh, that won’t be all. We’ll be sending souvenirs with you as well.” “…I’ll leave that to you.” What a troublesome husband. Aileen giggles. Oh yes, I am the ultimate wife… What peaceful days. This is what Aileen has always dreamed of. Thanks to their outstanding servants and adviser, by the time Aileen and Claude arrive, tea has been laid out for them in style. Lowering Aileen to a sofa, Claude cocks his head. “I wish we could bundle you up from head to toe in something soft.” However, she doesn’t neglect to admonish her husband for his stranger ideas. “As I’ve told you, swathing me in fabric will protect neither myself nor the baby.” “But can we really be sure of that unless we try?” If she entertains this as something worth discussing, the sun is likely to set on them, so as her husband seats himself in front of her, she decides to distract him. “Now, what is it you wished to confirm with me? The packing is going according to schedule, if that’s what concerns you.” Claude pauses in the act of raising a cup of black tea to his lips. Aileen has picked up a fork, intending to help herself to some of the bite-size pieces of cut fruit, and her husband’s steady gaze makes her blink. Quietly, Claude begins, “I would like to confirm whether you genuinely intend to stay home.” “What?” “Are you plotting something?” One of Aileen’s eyebrows jumps. Claude is insinuating the same thing as Rachel, who’s serving them with a composed expression. Beneath half-lowered lids, his red eyes clearly convey his doubt to Aileen. “…It was you who told me to stay here, was it not, Master Claude?” “However, when you agree to my proposals, it’s normal to suspect that there’s something behind it,” her husband says in all seriousness. A vein stands out on Aileen’s temple. Holding her fork vertically, she viciously skewers a piece of fruit. “As I explained to Rachel a moment ago, I! Am! Pregnant! I am about to become the mother of imperial royalty!” “You, the mother of imperial royalty…?” “Why are you looking at me as if you can’t believe that?” “No, I am the emperor, and you’re having my child, so it’s a fact that you will be the mother of imperial royalty. That said…the thought of you meekly staying home in my absence feels extremely implausible.” “Exactly what do you think I am?!” “You deceived me during the Mirchetta incident, and my heart hasn’t yet healed.” Aileen chokes and falls silent. She can’t deny that Claude once left the imperial capital, telling her to behave, and instead she donned a disguise and passed herself off as a male student of the academy. However, that was then, and this is now. “At this point, I am the empress. I was still your fiancée back then; my position is different now.” “You, concerned about positions…?” “I-if anything comes up, I’ll discuss it with you, Master Claude. I am conscious of the fact that I am your wife!” “You, discuss…?” “May I pinch or slap you soon?” Aileen brandishes her palm at him, and Claude lowers his gaze, seeming distressed. This husband of hers is beautiful down to the tips of his eyelashes, and that movement alone is enough to make it seem as if he’s shouldered all the sorrow in the world. “No… You’re right. I suppose the current situation is different…” “Y-yes, you see? Now you may rest easy and leave it to me—” “Your brother, Prime Minister Cyril, is here.” Why has Claude mentioned her oldest brother now? Aileen’s face tenses. “I think he could stop you… Probably,” Claude says with some uncertainty in his voice. “It’s true that I have never bested my brother Cyril, but—!” “Also, your other brothers should be here by now.” “The way you take it for granted that I’m guaranteed to go out of control is quite— Wait. What?” Right as Aileen is about to launch an effort to correct her husband’s thinking, her eyes widen. “Bram and Michael are at the imperial castle?” “Yes, they said they wanted to say hello. I’m about to go speak with them. In preparation for attending this wedding, I had them survey the current state of the Kilvas Empire. It is a distant country, after all. It seems different from Ellmeyer in a number of ways… Particularly the demons.” “But the demons there should obey you, right, Master Claude?” “No. I checked with Father, and for some reason, there have always been some demons who do not side with the demon king.” In this instance, Claude isn’t referring to Pierre, the previous emperor, when he said “Father.” He means Luciel, the former demon king who’s often considered the god of demons. “That may be the reason why the methods the people of Kilvas use to defeat demons are different. They rely on the Valkyries,” Claude says. “The Val…kyries…?” I’ve heard that word somewhere before, Aileen thinks, and then a chill shoots through her… For example, in a game, there was a very similar… Claude takes a sip of tea; it seems to calm him down, because he elaborates. “In their language, the word means ‘warrior maiden.’ Kilvas uses exclusively female soldiers to combat demons.” “Female soldiers…” “The organization was created using technology supplied by the Queendom of Hausel. Not only that, but there also used to be rumors that revolution was brewing in their ranks.” “Revolution…” “My cousin’s fiancée is the young woman who was the leader of the would-be revolutionaries. In other words, this wedding is a political maneuver to head off civil war in Kilvas— What’s wrong?” “N-nothing!” Aileen sits up straighter. Everything is fine. The subject of the Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens series is the Maid of the Sacred Sword. The word Valkyrie doesn’t make an appearance. Valkyries who fight demons, a revolutionary leader, marriage to the emperor… That means it is sheer coincidence that all this sounds oddly familiar, and it is definitely only her imagination. It can’t be, can it?! As if she’d stand for that. Hiding her confusion, Aileen smiles at Claude, who’s watching her dubiously. “I-in that case, I’ll prepare to greet my elder brothers. If I commit some sort of error, who knows what they may say to me.” “…I understand how you feel, but why are your eyes darting around so much?” “No, nothing!! They’re not!!” “Are you sure you aren’t actually plotting something?” “Not even a little!” Pounding the table with her fists, she rises to her feet. Claude blinks at her, and she laughs. “Oh-ho-ho! I—I haven’t fallen so far that any plot I made would be this transparent.” “…I suppose that’s true.” What convinces her husband is decidedly insulting, but Aileen doesn’t have the energy to get angry about it. I’m not plotting. Nothing like it. On the contrary, please don’t make me plot. With that wish in the back of her mind, Aileen orders Rachel and the others to prepare to greet her brothers. Aileen’s family, the house of d’Autriche, has three sons. The eldest is Cyril, the prime minister; the second is Bram, captain of the Holy Knights; and the third is Michael, a diplomat. Aileen is the youngest child and the only daughter. Her brothers are all extremely brilliant, and they’re constantly busy. Even at Aileen’s wedding, they’d only stopped by briefly to give their regards. As a result, a rumor persists in certain quarters that her brothers are against her marriage to Claude; however, the truth is that they were speaking far too freely with Claude for Aileen’s liking, so she chased them out. Once, Aileen was unable to hide her frustration with her excessively capable brothers and rebelled. Her brothers meticulously crushed her in their own separate ways: by forcing her to witness a level of brilliance that brooked no argument, by looking at her as if she made no sense, and by cackling at her. It was a sad memory of her rebellious phase. If her husband ever finds out about that embarrassing past, she’ll never survive it. It’s worth noting that these siblings get along surprisingly well. Her brothers seem to trust that their little sister is very capable, and when she can’t accomplish something, they take care of it for her somehow. Besides, from what Claude says, Aileen’s brothers dote on her. If not, they probably wouldn’t have even considered becoming the vassals of a man saddled with a situation as tiresome as being demon king. I really don’t think my brothers would concern themselves with my decision, but… Her outstanding brothers could make any emperor look good. What’s more, Claude is just as brilliant, so there’s no way her brothers would run into any trouble. On the contrary, the ones having trouble are Aileen and Claude. In fact, Claude often frowns at Cyril, who manipulates state affairs as if by magic. In addition, Claude’s been dealing with her two other brothers today. The conference must have been quite tiring. That he’s bowed out of Aileen’s tea party using the excuse that siblings should have some time alone together seems to confirm those suspicions… No doubt Cyril has already caught her husband, wherever he’s made his escape to. Still, for today, Aileen is grateful that Claude isn’t here. Not that I’m plotting anything! As soon as Aileen enters the parlor, her brothers rise to their feet. Her second-eldest brother, Bram, is sharp-eyed and rather brusque, while her youngest brother, Michael, has dazzling hair that matches Aileen’s. It’s tied back today, and he’s wearing a smile on his androgynous features. The brothers may look and act nothing alike, but they’re actually twins. “How’ve you been, Aileen?” “Oh, Bram, that’s no good. You can’t greet her like that. Our little sister is the empress. Your beauty is as radiant as ever, Your Majesty, and being honored with an audience is an unparalleled delight.” “It’s a pleasure to see you, Bram and Michael. There was something I wished to ask you today,” Aileen responds, smiling primly. Michael shrinks back in an adorable way. “Yikes. Isn’t that where you’re supposed to be all ‘No need to be so formal, my brothers’? Who says something so ominous right from the start…? I guess you’re my sweet little sister, so I’ll forgive you. Oh, I’d like iced coffee. A jelly dessert, too; something refreshing and citrusy. Don’t just stand there, Aileen. Hurry and sit down; you’re expecting, aren’t you?” “That’s right. How are you feeling?” Bram asks. “They wouldn’t have let her come if she wasn’t feeling all right. Any ladies-in-waiting too incompetent to stop her would’ve been evicted by Cyril ages ago. Oh, right, we bought you a present. You can eat dried fruit, can’t you? It’ll keep quite a while. We also picked out cute clothes for the baby.” While Michael chatters away, Rachel and the others hastily fill his request for coffee and jellies. Aileen reproaches her wayward brother with the best smile she can muster. “Thank you very much. Still, even if you are my brothers, I can’t have you making decisions about the infant on your own. You haven’t even discussed it with Master Claude.” “Well, that’s true. But Mother is unbelievably excited. It would be awful if she got to decide everything, wouldn’t it? There’s no telling what she’d give you. So I convinced her to let us do it. Or, what, could you have stopped her? Are you telling me you are happy to eat whatever bizarre variety of meat that might show up one day just because it’s supposed to give you stamina or whatever?” Michael asks pointedly. “……Thank you very much for stopping her.” “You’re very welcome.” Michael 1, Aileen 0. As sarcastic as Michael can be, he’s equally considerate. Incidentally, Aileen has never once beaten him in an argument, which explains how Michael talked her into a corner. As Aileen stands there trembling, a fretful Bram comes over, scoops her into his arms, and sets her down gently on the sofa. He may be gruff, but he always takes the safety of those around him into consideration. Quite fitting for the captain of the Holy Knights. “Are you in any danger? If you have enemies, tell me their names. Don’t hold back.” At the same time, Bram gives off this air of a man who lives on the battlefield. He’s constantly searching for strong foes. Aileen often hears the next candidate for captain lament that his training is “inhumane.” “This is the imperial castle, Bram. It would be a serious problem if there were enemies here. Please calm yourself,” Aileen says. “I see…” “Could you not look so disappointed? I have no desire to be anywhere dangerous. Besides, we just got back from Kilvas,” Michael says with a sigh. “Y-yes, that’s right! That’s what I wanted to hear about!” If Aileen lets this chance slip past her, there’s a good chance the conversation will be derailed indefinitely, so she jumps on it. “I’m told the two of you went to observe the Kilvas Empire.” “That’s right. Me and this big lump,” Michael answers readily, stirring his iced coffee with a straw. “Did you accompany Michael as his guard, Bram?” “Yes. They called me up while I was on a journey to improve my combat skills.” Aren’t you the captain of the Holy Knights, pride of Imperial Ellmeyer? she thinks, but she opts not to say it. The vice captain or a certain individual who’s angling to be the next captain is probably hard at work climbing the ladder. “I was coordinating our approach to the issue of Hausel with other nations when I got a message from some sort of squid demon, telling me to head to Kilvas. Seriously, I wish he’d send slightly cuter demons. The messenger said the demons on that continent might not be as friendly as ours, so I should meet up with this guy and take him along as a guard.” “H-how was it? The Kilvas Empire, I mean. I heard rumors about a revolution brewing…” “Why don’t you ask our uncute brother-in-law?” Michael asks. “…Master Claude is very busy!” Aileen says, a little worked up. “Making this report twice is a real pain.” “I am the empress, Michael!” “And I’m your older brother, Sister.” Michael gives a smug little laugh. Aileen growls in frustration, and Bram raises his head, looking keen-eyed and efficient. “I could tell you about the demons and Valkyries, at least.” “Could you? Please tell me what you know, Bram.” “I only saw them from a distance, but the demons looked powerful. It’s a pity they aren’t organized. The Valkyries, who have always protected the people in that land, were splendid, well-trained soldiers. That is all.” Her brother has talked about nothing but strength, and before Aileen can say anything, Michael bursts out laughing. “Could you have picked anyone worse to ask?!” “Better than you, Michael! You won’t tell me anything!” “If you can convince the Oberon Trading Firm to custom-make some souvenirs for me, I’ll think about it.” Isaac has already taken over the Oberon Trading Firm, but if Aileen leans on him, he’ll probably grant her brother’s wish. Asking Claude for more information would only make him suspicious, and who knows what might happen then. Plus, her brother will most likely be using the gifts on diplomatic missions. Convincing herself it will ultimately benefit the nation, Aileen nods grudgingly. “Very well. I’ll arrange it. However, if you don’t tell me anything worthwhile, I have no intention of keeping my word.” “We have a deal, then. What you want to know involves the demon king or the demons, right?” Scooping up a spoonful of jelly and popping it into his mouth, Michael begins, “Like Bram said earlier, there are demons in the Kilvas Empire. There’s a legend that demons who turned away from the demon king gathered there, but no one knows if it’s true. Granted, the things the demon king says really don’t seem to reach them.” “Is it safe to assume that means there are demons who won’t obey Master Claude?” “That’s currently under investigation. We should have our answer after my uncute brother-in-law goes over there. It may just be an issue of distance. However, from what I saw, the demons over there don’t resemble the ones we see in Ellmeyer.” “…Now that you mention it, you’re right,” Bram agrees. Bram is the captain of the Holy Knights, an organization formed to fight demons, and he has plenty of experience defeating them. If he says Kilvas and Ellmeyer have different demon species, it seems credible. “Can you be more specific? How exactly are they different?” Aileen asks. Michael launches into his explanation. “You know how most of Ellmeyer’s demons seem to have developed from animals? That’s not true over there. How should I put it…? They seemed like true monsters. The sort you’d expect to find in the demon realm. If I had to describe them, I’d say they resembled dragons… The fact that they all had roughly the same shape was another thing that made me wonder about their nature.” “True, their sizes varied, but there were no major differences.” Bram confirms everything Michael said. “…Does that mean only one species lives there, perhaps?” Aileen’s brothers don’t answer her question. They may not have seen a large enough sampling or learned enough about them to be able to say with certainty. “In any case,” Michael says, speaking up again, “since the distant past, Kilvas has relied on a cadre of women who specialize in fighting demons to keep them at bay. Those are the warrior maidens, the Valkyries. And the creator of this elite fighting force was none other than the Queendom of Hausel.” “The Queendom of Hausel…” Aileen frowns. Michael nods, looking grave. “Apparently, after they undergo surgery in the Queendom, they’re armed with magic lances and then sent to fight demons.” Magic lances. Surgery. Warrior maidens. These words evoke flashes of a certain title and its art in the back of Aileen’s mind, but that’s probably just her imagination. It has to be. For now, she should focus on more immediate concerns. The Queendom of Hausel declared war on the Ellmeyer Empire because Claude, their emperor, is the demon king. After taking on Ellmeyer, the Queendom lost and subsequently collapsed. At present, it is essentially a failed nation. “Incidentally… If the Queendom of Hausel was supporting Kilvas’s imperial family, and Ellmeyer defeated the Queendom, does that not put us in a rather awkward position…?” Aileen’s concerns are growing. “Well, that’s a bit complicated. Earlier, you mentioned a close call with revolution. The Valkyries are the ones who were responsible for that. They’re making excuses now, saying it was only a misunderstanding, but I suspect they were just shy of rising up in open rebellion.” Michael scoops a spoonful of jelly out of his glass. “The revolutionary army insists that the Valkyrie system was nothing more than the Queendom experimenting on humans: turning women into weapons. The general claim is that the Kilvas imperial family has been selling out its citizens in return for the Queendom’s support. ‘This is unforgivable. Valkyries, now is the hour to rise up and transform this nation,’ or something to that effect.” “…Regardless of what the truth is, how do they plan to deal with the demons?” Aileen asks this while thinking of the concerns of the common people of Kilvas. Michael doesn’t turn a hair. “They won’t be a problem. If the Valkyries overthrow Kilvas’s imperial family and eliminate the Queendom, the demons will disappear. After all, they’re being sent from Imperial Ellmeyer, home of the demon king. And they enter Kilvas via the Queendom. What more proof of that do the Valkyries need when Kilvas’s current emperor has black hair and red eyes? That makes him the same as Ellmeyer’s demon king, and yet he can’t make the demons withdraw—because the demons are secretly communicating with the demon king.” Aileen’s eyes widen, and she puts a hand to her forehead. “…And he is Master Claude’s cousin, isn’t he?” “Right. But here’s where it gets really complicated. The Valkyries got furious and attempted a revolution, but before they could do away with their imperial family, the Queendom of Hausel fell. Not only that, but it was the Kingdom of Ashmael and Imperial Ellmeyer that took it down. The revolutionary army raised its fist, but it no longer had anything to strike.” Michael eats another spoonful of jelly. “There’s no knowing whether the fight between the Valkyries and the demons was really human experimentation, joint research between the imperial family and Hausel. The most important thing is that Kilvas can’t make Valkyries anymore. Hausel’s gone, and while they exported completed ‘products,’ they wouldn’t let the technology leave the Queendom.” “But if Hausel hadn’t fallen, those revolutionary Valkyries might have attacked us next, correct? That is rather complicated.” “Well, I for one am glad we took the wind out of their sails. And all of that is what’s behind this wedding.” Apparently the motives surrounding this event are more diverse and tangled than Aileen first assumed. “Now that you mention it, he is marrying the young woman who was leading the revolutionary forces, isn’t he…?” “The princess, Emperor Kilvas’s elder sister, is a Valkyrie. So they had someone in common.” So Claude’s cousin is a Valkyrie princess? Oh, the villainess—no, no, no! With his spoon still in his mouth, Michael goes on, sounding bored: “It’s a perfect match for both sides: an imperial family whose authority is so weak, they were a step from being deposed, and the leader of the Valkyries, a group with an abundance of energy but no direction. That princess is a clever one. Recommending the Valkyrie who led the revolution as a wife for the emperor of Kilvas isn’t something just anyone could think of. I hear she’s extraordinarily capable on the battlefield, too.” In other words, the leader of the revolutionaries, a nobleman’s daughter who became a Valkyrie, is marrying the emperor on a recommendation from the emperor’s elder sister, a fellow Valkyrie. With a buildup like that, she could easily be the heroine of an otome game. No, that isn’t what we’re focusing on here! This sounds like a certain game, but it didn’t have Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens in its title. It wasn’t part of the same series, and it wasn’t a spin-off. That means this shouldn’t be possible. This is the world of an otome game called Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens, so there’s no way a different game can force its way in. It shouldn’t be possible. “In other words, this wedding is an important turning point where we’ll see whether the imperial family and the revolutionary Valkyries can join hands and avoid civil war,” Michael concludes succinctly. “Like a broken engagement event that raises a death flag?!” Aileen is verging on panic. “Huh?” “N-no, it’s nothing—” “Lady Aileeeeeeeen!” The voice that suddenly reaches Aileen’s ears makes her lightheaded. Her brothers also look startled when the doors fly open. Bram hasn’t moved, but only because there are technically no enemies to confront. “L-Lady…Lilia…” Aileen barely gets the name out. The heroine has arrived. Like Aileen, she has memories of her past life. With a smile so bright that it could convince people spring has just arrived, she comes right up to Aileen, pressing so close that it’s almost hard for Aileen to breathe. “Lady Aileen, I just heard! Why didn’t you tell me right away?! Honestly, you’re so mean! I have no interest in diplomacy, but if this is about the Kilvas Empire, that’s an entirely different matter!” “Y-y-you… You’ve evaded your guards again…” “Oh—I might be pregnant, Lady Aileen! I came for a medical exam.” Lilia just casually dropped a bombshell, but she keeps rolling along. “I can’t believe myself! I thought there really were no more sequels. If there was anything at all, it would just be a fan disc. I was so sure of it that I got careless and overlooked another possibility! We’ve lost our All Ages rating, so I thought it couldn’t happen. Plus, if I really am pregnant, I assumed I wouldn’t be the protagonist anymore, and that made me a bit sad… What a blind spot. Not only that, but the wedding means the game is in full swing, and it’s about to heat up! The fight’s just beginning!” “Wait! Please don’t say anything else!” A nasty chill turns into goose bumps that spread all over Aileen’s body. She’s turned pale, and Lilia stares at her blankly. “Wait. Lady Aileen, haven’t you played that one? Valkyrie of the Magic—” “Lilia! Why would you run in your condition?! Please think before you act!” Cedric, the younger prince and Lilia’s husband, dashes into the room. And not far behind is Marcus, the one in charge of watching Lilia. The room has rapidly grown noisy, but the words Aileen can’t afford to hear still echo in her ears. That’s right. Valkyrie of the Magic Lance. Yes… That was the title. Aileen’s pondering whether that’s better or worse than a fan disc is, for her, just another attempt at escapism. In her previous life, Aileen lived in a country called Japan. Science and civilization were far more advanced there; at the same time, it had neither demons nor magic… None that were publicly acknowledged, at least. Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens was only one of countless otome games sold in Japan. As a fairly serious gamer, Aileen played more than a few of them. That was all, though. The world Aileen has reincarnated into belongs exclusively to the otome game known as Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens. “Don’t talk about impossible things like other games. You’ve stopped being the player and decided to live your life properly, haven’t you?! Not only that, but you may be expecting!” Aileen strikes the table with her fist. Across the table from her, Lilia laughs a little. “Don’t worry. I’ve decided I’ll give birth on the exact same day as you, and we’ll raise our children as twins. They’ll be our children, Lady Aileen. I can’t wait.” “Stop that. Don’t be creepy. I really do feel sorry for Master Cedric! Besides, if you’re pregnant now, I’m definitely a month further along…!” “I believe I can do it! It’s me, after all.” “Well, I believe that is absolutely not going to happen!” No one interrupts Aileen and Lilia’s incessant shouting. Aileen’s brothers are nowhere to be seen now. Cedric insulted Aileen and the rest of the d’Autriche household when he broke off their engagement. Given Lilia’s and Marcus’s involvement, it’s not surprising that Aileen’s brothers loathe the lot of them. The moment Michael and Bram saw the trio’s faces, they left without so much as a good-bye. Aileen has no plans to forgive Cedric, Lilia, or Marcus, and she certainly doesn’t consider them close friends, but Cedric is her husband’s half brother. Not only that, but because Claude is still childless, Cedric and Lilia are currently Ellmeyer’s crown prince and princess. Pretending they don’t exist isn’t an option for Aileen. She assures Cedric and Marcus that she’ll speak with Master Claude on their behalf and manages to convince them to leave Lilia in her care. It was quite rude of Cedric to doubt her, so of course she won’t actually give her husband an explanation. If anything, Aileen hopes Cedric gets a good talking-to about Lilia going out without permission yet again. Never mind that. I have more important things to worry about! Lilia was apparently an even more hopeless otome fanatic in her previous life. This means she has more game knowledge, Aileen can only presume. They certainly aren’t on such good terms that they would casually congratulate each other on their pregnancies. “You’re always such a square, Lady Aileen. We already have all this game knowledge. We might as well enjoy it, or we’ll miss out. So getting back to what we were talking about—” “Don’t. I don’t want to think about it yet. Stop.” “You need to accept reality, Lady Aileen.” “It is extremely aggravating when that’s coming from you!” she yells. Telling herself to calm down, Aileen inhales deeply. Rachel and her other ladies-in-waiting are still in the room, and this conversation probably makes no sense to them, but none seem even a little fazed. They simply continue working silently. They’re certainly well trained, but it’s also entirely possible that they just consider Aileen and Lilia as members of the same strange species. After taking a sip from a fresh glass of fruit-flavored water, Aileen composes herself. “Okay, don’t get the wrong idea. I absolutely do not want to hear about the game. I’m simply appraising your manners.” “Oh…?” Lilia laughs. Using the motions Aileen has taught her in the correct order, she elegantly picks up her cup. The gesture is beyond reproach, and Aileen tsks in irritation. Lilia might have mastered some things, but what she chooses to talk about makes her sound nothing like a crown princess. “Wanting to talk to me means you do remember something, right?” “…Only to the extent that it sounds like a story I may have heard once.” “Even though the name of the country is exactly the same?” “As a rule, I don’t remember things like that with any confidence…” Character names were one thing, but unless the names of regions and countries were unique or she had an intense memory associated with them, Aileen never bothered to remember every last one. Only the most intense players remember every proper noun that comes up in a game. “Meaning you haven’t played through it? In that one, instead of the story splitting depending on your affection levels, you just get more choices and branch points after the first playthrough. The basic story doesn’t change, but choices you didn’t originally have show up in your second playthrough, and you find out what actually happened during different events. There’s a mystery-solving aspect to it.” “Wait. I thought I told you I haven’t acknowledged that’s what this is yet.” “Oh, come on…” “I mean, it can’t be, right? It’s a different game! A fan disc or a spin-off would be one thing, but it’s not even part of the same series. Why would it appear in this world?!” “Hold on. I thought you knew, Lady Aileen? Both games had the same dev team.” “Huh?” Aileen makes a foolish noise that’s rather unbecoming for an empress. “It was the company that was different.” Lilia quietly sets her cup down and smiles. It almost seems like she’s doing it out of spite. “Still, it was pretty well known that the team behind Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens also worked on Valkyrie of the Magic Lance.” “E-even though the company was different?” “The devs apparently argued with the higher-ups ever since the first Regalia. Management forced them to change to completely different specifications, and they told the devs to not include sci-fi or battle elements because they weren’t popular in otome games. On top of that, they one-sidedly declared, ‘This game won’t sell,’ and slashed the budget midway through development.” “…But it did sell fairly well, didn’t it?” The series had five numbered installments, and fan discs were released as well. As the villainess, Aileen had issues with the way they’d thoughtlessly made her death a sidenote, but she acknowledged that the voice actors and the art were good. They created that husband of hers, the demon king whose beauty could ruin entire nations. “It sold like hotcakes. That just made the resentment grow during the production of the second game.” “Wh-why would that happen…?” “From what I hear, the development team planned to set the sequel in Hausel, right from the beginning, and they wanted to do the Regalia 4 story in Regalia 2. However, since Regalia 1 sold so well, the higher-ups ordered them to also set the sequel in an academy. The first two entries in the series are both school stories, and 2 follows 1 chronologically; there were a lot of similarities, right? And Serena, the heroine, idolized the Maid of the Sacred Sword.” Regalia 3 was set in a harem, and although Regalia 4 was also set at a school, the focus was decidedly the royal test. Compared to them, Regalia 1 and 2 had a lot more in common. “That’s mostly the stuff of rumors. Still,” Lilia continues, “after Regalia 2 was released, the development team went independent and set up their own company, so I doubt the stuff about fighting with management is a total lie.” “You really know a lot about this…,” Aileen says, trailing off. “When I like a game, I at least check to see who made it, obviously. Games aren’t cheap, you know. Besides, Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens was specifically called out as the Valkyrie of the Magic Lance development team’s flagship work in promo material.” Was that a thing most people did? Compared to Aileen, who only ever checked the art and the voice actors at most, Lilia was apparently the type to gather as much information as she could before deciding whether to purchase a game. “But even if the development team was the same, it’s still a different game, isn’t it?” “How naive can you get, Lady Aileen?” Lilia tuts, waving a spoonful of jelly from side to side. “As I said earlier, they fought with upper management. Then both games 1 and 2 sold well, in ways the development team was unhappy with.” “U-unhappy…” “Valkyrie of the Magic Lance was a creation born from their despair—the Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens that the original development team actually wanted to make.” “B-but that doesn’t mean the world is the same!” “Incidentally, the same illustrator did the character designs!” “……” “The dev team even ended up in court with their former company, which sued them for plagiarism.” Aileen buries her face in her hands. Lilia continues cheerfully, “Both the game system and the story were different, so the original company lost their suit. Valkyrie isn’t set at a school, and the tone of the story is more refined than Regalia 1. Still, the character distribution and design were strikingly similar. While the exact same names weren’t used, occasionally there’d be bits of background info that made you think, ‘Oh, this could be Ellmeyer, and that could be Hausel.’” “…You’re talking about the mastermind behind the revolution, right?” Aileen asks timidly. Lilia nods. “Yes. The country ruled by the demon king, and the blue country a queen controls with her predictions. It feels like they turned Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens into the villain, doesn’t it? And that perfectly matches up with reality, no?” Strictly speaking, Imperial Ellmeyer did depose the Maid of the Sacred Sword and is currently ruled by the demon king, while the Queendom of Hausel was undoubtedly a blue country—a country of the sky—which a queen ruled with precognition. “It can’t be… Are you suggesting that because the world no longer aligns with Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens, it’s triggered the start of Valkyrie of the Magic Lance, which it does resemble? That’s why, even though that game is different, the setting has overlapped…with this reality…” “It’s thanks to all that hard work you put in to warp the game, Lady Aileen. I think you should be proud!” Aileen doesn’t find this the slightest bit amusing. Planting her elbows on the table, she dredges up vague, distant memories. “…If I recall, in the first ending with the hero, the revolution in the Kilvas Empire succeeded, but the demon attacks didn’t stop. Correct?” “Right, because Hausel and Ellmeyer were the root of the trouble. On the second playthrough, your stats carry over, and you dispatch troops to Hausel and Ellmeyer.” “And win, I assume, if the game progresses as expected.” “Mm-hmm. Ultimately, the heroine becomes empress of Kilvas and tries to unify the continent in order to rid it of conflict.” In other words, if everything plays out according to the game, Imperial Ellmeyer will become a battlefield. Aileen is on the verge of collapsing to the floor in a shattered heap, but something abruptly occurs to her. “No, wait. Hausel’s already been defeated…and this is absolutely, positively a different game, isn’t it?! Even if the character designer was the same!” “Oh, well, yes. The country names were camouflaged as well; they were technically just ‘the demon king’s country’ and ‘the queen’s blue country.’” “And none of the same characters appear. At least, they didn’t on the first playthrough; I’ve done that!” “That’s probably because the dev team changed companies and didn’t have the rights, so they couldn’t openly use the same character names, don’t you think?” “You don’t know that for sure, though! In that case, the mastermind might be someone else!” Lilia stops scarfing down jelly and considers this possibility. “They did hide the queen of Hausel’s and the demon king’s faces in the game. Those were definitely their silhouettes, though, and that makes me think there’s no mistake. If they’d been different characters, the dev team would have come up with new character designs and given them names. You could practically feel the hatred oozing from the way the developers deliberately made them duplicates and then denied it.” “Ngh… Still, we don’t appear in the game! This has nothing to do with the game; this is just reality! Even the wedding is a political one, meant to prevent civil war.” “Oh, the heroine initiates the revolution at the ceremony! The ‘revolutionary in a wedding dress’ still image was really good.” “As I said! It won’t be like the game—” “Lady Aileen, are you sure you want to let the demon king go by himself?” Lilia’s probing question shuts down Aileen’s attempt to deny her claims. “They’ve invited both the queen of Hausel and the demon king to the ceremony, haven’t they? That’s exactly what happens in the game.” “The queen of Hausel, Lady Amelia, is gone. It won’t be the same.” “But the demon king’s attending. After that first playthrough, Kilvas considers him the final boss and mastermind, and he’s just sauntering over there of his own accord.” With the spoon in her mouth, Lilia shoots Aileen a sidelong glance. There’s nothing well mannered about the way she’s eating now, but Aileen doesn’t have the spare energy to point this out. This world isn’t a game; it’s her life. However, her life to date has made Aileen understand very keenly that she can’t afford to ignore the game’s events. In the first place, without the memories from her previous life guiding her, Aileen would never have considered marrying Claude. “But…without the sacred sword, they can’t defeat the demon king! Master Claude won’t be in dange—” Lilia interrupts Aileen. “They’ve got a sacred sword over there, too.” Aileen’s heart freezes when she hears that. “Even though the title says Magic Lance…?” “It’s a hidden element. You have to fulfill a certain condition to make it show up. It’s ‘the ultimate weapon that can take out even a human demon king in one attack. ’” That completely ruins the game’s title. Aileen groans. “If the developers matched the details of this game’s setting, the sacred sword shouldn’t work on humans…! Why would they upgrade that and nothing else?!” “Maybe it was one of the development team’s original ideas. I bet the company complained about having a protagonist who could hurt humans in a game aimed at a female audience and watered it down. This is spite, pure and simple. As a result, that overlapped brilliantly with reality as well. After all, the real sacred sword passes judgment on humans, too.” Lilia is cackling, but Aileen doesn’t find any of this the least bit funny. “On top of that, Valkyrie presents itself as sophisticated and refined, but it’s really just tragedy porn. I really doubt either side is going to get a happy ending. Just give up and accept reality already, Lady Aileen.” “…You’re just trying to toy with me again. You won’t fool me.” “But Valkyrie of the Magic Lance was a story created by the developers—the gods—in order to make up for Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens, you know?” If one views the game as the world and the development team as gods, then what Lilia is saying makes perfect sense. “In order to save the Valkyries, the heroine, Diana, wins the help of the hero, Ernst, and the Valkyries themselves. She slays the final boss and his sister, who tries to protect him—that would be Emperor Vica and Cattleya, the villainess—through a revolution. Then she exposes the wicked deeds of the powerful nations Hausel and Ellmeyer, wins back her freedom, and leads the world to true peace… While being completely self-absorbed and generating countless sacrifices.” “……” “The wedding event is a route branch point. Exactly how it plays out depends on the route, but it’s also the event where the heroine declares the start of the revolution. Shouldn’t you see it for yourself?” Balling her hands into fists, Aileen raises her head. She forces a smile, trying to appear as elegant as possible. “I won’t fall for that.” “Hmm.” “I am an empress now. I can’t act recklessly because of something as childish as a game.” “Hmm.” “In addition, I am expecting. I’ve already begun thinking and living like a virtuous wife and good mother…” “Hmm.” “There will be no more plotting!” Which is why she decides to declare it boldly to her husband’s face. “Master Claude! I am accompanying you to the Kilvas Empire!” “What?” Her husband is seated at his desk when she walks in to make that declaration, sweeping back the long train of her dress in a dashing gesture. He stares at her blankly. Drawing herself up to her full height, Aileen crosses her arms. “You don’t mind, do you? We’d originally planned to attend together. Our hosts are already expecting me, so it shouldn’t be any trouble.” “But we’d just decided that you wouldn’t attend because of your pregnancy…” “What of it? Are you telling me I should seclude myself? That would be detrimental to my health!” “Being abroad isn’t the same as being at home. What if something happens?” “In that case, you will simply have to do something about it, Master Claude. Pushing all the responsibility onto me like this—are you aware that you are going to be a father soon?!” “I’d like to be, but your leap in logic was extremely strange.” “You mustn’t just stop thinking like that. It’s all right: You are my husband, Master Claude. You can make the impossible possible!” Claude shuts his mouth. While everyone around them is simply stunned by her reckless argument, Aileen continues modestly, “I am going to be a mother soon. I understand that what I am saying is unreasonable. I promise you I won’t do anything dangerous.” “Considering your track record, I have no reason to believe you.” Although those around them are still dazed by Aileen’s sheer momentum, her husband is calm and unyielding. With an irritated tch!, Aileen changes tactics. “Something recently occurred to me, Master Claude. Family ties!” Claude looks puzzled, and Aileen pounces on the opportunity to push harder. “It is your cousin’s wedding, Master Claude. Won’t that make it my first meeting with your relations?!” “…My father and my grandmother are technically both alive and well, you know.” “Goodness, are you certain? I believe the cold over there is quite harsh.” “As the demon king, I can say that my parents are definitely in good health in the demon realm.” “Your parents can’t be publicly introduced to others, and of course that is not their fault, but as your wife, I’ve always longed to form good relationships with your human relatives! I’ll send them seasonal gifts and go to greet them formally…” “You?” “After all, so far, your relatives have always opposed me and treated me harshly.” Aileen smiles brightly, and Claude falls silent. It’s true that most of his immediate family have tried to either eliminate Aileen or drive a wedge between them. She’s sure he won’t be able to be too heavy-handed here. “When that thought occurred to me, I was unable to contain myself. Please let me come with you.” “…You never intended to listen to me, did you?” “Oh, I can’t wait to meet your family!” Claude frowns but says nothing. His adviser and guards watch them both with bated breath. Sighing, Aileen calls to the lady-in-waiting behind her. “Rachel.” “Yes, Lady Aileen. The preparations have all been made so that you could make your suggestion at any time. You may depart whenever you wish.” She’s demonstrating that whether Claude agrees at this point or not, it won’t change what she does. Claude’s face goes blank. Although it was a still, cloudless midsummer day just a moment earlier, a strong wind abruptly rattles the windows. It’s probably less confusion than wordless intimidation. Aileen only giggles. “You will take me with you, won’t you? Or would you prefer a repeat of Mirchetta?” “……What are you plotting?” “Why, nothing at all. I originally intended to thoroughly enjoy myself while my husband was away.” This is completely true, but Aileen believes it’s more convenient if he gets the wrong idea. Considering his experiences to date, Claude will probably want to keep Aileen where he can see her. In fact, as he looks at her, there’s an ominous, suspicious light in his eyes. “On the other hand, life grows stale without a little plotting between couples, no?” Aileen smiles at him with the expression of a woman who’s been plotting all along. She’ll use anything at her disposal, whether it’s how little her husband and those around them trust her or her game knowledge. If she can’t do at least that much, she’ll never last as the wife of the demon king.
Chapter 132
49 min read