“…Yeah,” the demon king murmurs in agreement. Lilia leaves, carrying the infant. The Valkyries waiting outside quickly form up around her, and they all set off as a group. She won’t be able to do anything to the baby surrounded like that. “All right. Please wait here, Emperor Claude. I’ll go call the others. Diana, I leave this in your hands.” Diana nods, and Cattleya promptly follows Lilia out of the room. There are all sorts of things to do, but of course there would be. After all, today is the day they wrap all this up. Rebuilt under Kilvas’s leadership, the new conference room is quiet and more spacious than any of the others. Claude passes in front of its many windows, then seats himself at the very back of the room. Isn’t the chair farthest from the door where the most important person sits? Diana isn’t sure whether that knowledge is from this world or her previous life, but when she looks at the demon king—whose expression makes it seem as if he’s just finished a task—she finds herself speaking to him. “Don’t you have anything to say?” “By that, you mean…?” “To Cattleya.” Cattleya didn’t choose to crush either Ellmeyer or Kilvas; she’s purposefully trying to resolve things through compromise. The demon king must know how much hardship she has been through and how kind she is. If he doesn’t, Cattleya won’t get the reward she deserves. However, the demon king tilts his head slightly to the side, giving her a mischievous smile. “No, nothing.” “…Listen, you. It isn’t too late for us to pull out of this deal—” “Why are you here, by the way? I don’t need a guard.” “I’m not just a guard. Haven’t you heard? After Cattleya becomes queen, I’m going to be empress of Kilvas.” “That’s the first I’ve heard of it. What of Vica? Will you exile him?” “Yes. It’s not as if we could leave things in his hands. He’s spineless; he just smiles like a fool no matter what anybody says to him, and he never answers back. Who knows what he’s thinking— What?” The demon king is watching her steadily, and Diana glares back. She recognizes that gaze. It’s the impressed yet somewhat mystified look men give her when she says something. She’s sick of it. “…You aren’t afraid of Vica?” Claude asks. “Huhn? What about him is scary? Oh, because he’s the demon king? He’s just a self-absorbed poser who acts like he’s this solitary loner: ‘Nobody understands meeeee.’ Most demon kings are like that.” The two guards behind Claude choke with laughter. For just a moment, his gaze sharpens, but it softens almost immediately. “I thought Vica had strange tastes, but now I see. That makes sense,” he murmurs to himself. Apparently, that’s satisfied Claude, because he doesn’t say another word to her. Cattleya returns before the silence becomes too heavy, and the delegates from the other nations follow her into the conference room. The group also allows Vica and Ernst to enter without comment. Even if Kilvas votes against Cattleya, it’s only one vote. It won’t change the outcome. Not letting them vote in the first place would have made the rest of them look bad. Keeping procedures fair is what persuades people of the results. “By the way, Holy King, I hear my daughter imposed on your wife yesterday. She cheerfully went off to another tea party today, as well. A wild child like her…” “In the gazebo, isn’t it? Although today’s tea party isn’t being held by us, but by King Olgen’s wife.” “They must have too much time on their hands, since the inspection was canceled.” “Well, there’s nothing wrong with that, Grand Duke Hirikka. Nice, warm weather like this practically demands outdoor tea parties.” “I imagine we’ll get an earful if we keep them waiting too long.” All the heads of state except for Kilvas and Ellmeyer make a bit of small talk, but as soon as they’re seated, the room becomes quiet. It’s rather a majestic sight, seeing all seven of them sitting together. An uncharacteristic surge of emotion wells up inside Diana at the thought that she and the other Valkyries are the ones who are in control. “There are paper and pens for you to use to cast your votes. The ballot box is here. It’s empty, as you can see.” She shows them the interior of the box on the table. Naturally, they wouldn’t do anything dishonest, but this is all necessary protocol. “The only thing we have left to discuss is the specific voting method. Does anyone have any suggestions?” “What about using circles and crosses?” the holy king asks, as if he doesn’t really care. The neurotic Grand Duke Hirikka frowns. “That would let people make excuses afterward, saying things like, ‘I misunderstood’ or ‘That wasn’t what I meant.’ Not being able to abstain is another problem. Why don’t we write the name of the person we feel should be queen?” “I’m not sure on the spelling. I only know how the name sounds.” Although the chief of Gloss speaks the language fluently, apparently, he’s uneasy about his writing skills. The king of Maiz agrees. “I don’t know how to spell it, either. It would be helpful to have a note with the royal candidate’s name on it. That would prevent any written errors.” “This is how it’s spelled, isn’t it, Lady Cattleya.” Grand Duke Hirikka takes a small notebook and fountain pen out of his breast pocket. He must carry them with him wherever he goes. He writes something down, then shows it to Cattleya. Cattleya nods. “Yes, that’s correct.” “In that case, let me write it out a little larger so it’s easier to see… Here you are, King Maiz. And Chief Gloss, the shapes of our letters are the same, so I don’t think you’ll have any trouble.” “Thank you.” “Much obliged.” After waiting for Grand Duke Hirikka to hand notes to the king of Maiz and the chief of Gloss, the king of Olgen scans the assembly. “In that case, we’ll write down the name of the royal candidate we feel is suited to be queen. To abstain, leave your ballot slip blank. With so few people, true anonymity won’t be an option, but let’s make it that we aren’t required to sign our ballots. Then we’ll fold them in half and put them into the ballot box ourselves. How does that sound?” No one objects. Internally, Diana is feeling a little fed up by this farce, even if it is necessary. Paper and pens are distributed to each person. With only seven people, cheating won’t be possible, and it’s obvious what the answer will be. After all, there’s no name for them to write other than Cattleya’s. “Lady Diana, the registration is complete.” A Valkyrie she’s familiar with enters quietly and whispers in her ear. “You’re sure?” “Yes.” “Cattleya.” Cattleya glances in her direction, and Diana gives the okay sign, forming a circle with her thumb and index finger. It’s finally time. Cattleya draws a deep breath. “It looks as if everyone is prepared to cast their votes.” The demon king raises his head slightly but quickly looks down. “Does anyone have anything they want to say before we begin?” No one says a word. “In that case,” Cattleya says, and signals for them to start. As she speaks, the bell in the tower tolls noon. At the sound of the bell from the conference building, Roxane lifts her head. “…Will they be voting soon?” “If it happens on time, yes. Goodness, these sweets are divine.” The meticulously designed gazebo in the garden is spacious, yet difficult to spot from the outside. At night, it would probably be the perfect place for a clandestine meeting. It’s also a fitting location for their “homemade” tea party, to which all the noblewomen have brought cookies and pastries they baked themselves. The gentle breeze and liberating shade of the trees give a certain excitement to the secrets they can’t tell their husbands. The Valkyries are currently busy with the conference. The fact that they’ve managed to slip away without being challenged and are drinking their tea out in the open is proof that no one is even listening in. “Yesterday was surprise. Lady Roxane’s invite…ation.” “…What were you thinking, negotiating with her first? She might not even have understood you.” “Lady Audrey, you understimating—underestimate me!” “Still, I was a little surprised when I heard you’d already given your consent, Dana. If you wouldn’t mind, Lady Aileen, could you explain?” All eyes are on her as Aileen returns her cup to her saucer. Then, slowly, she begins to fill them in. I probably shouldn’t be the one to count the votes, Cattleya thinks, before handing the box with everyone’s votes in it to Diana. Then she waits, standing very straight. She realizes that they still have a long way to go, but Cattleya can’t suppress the thought that she’s finally made it this far. Now she and the others will be freed from the game’s ending, which is inevitably grim no matter what they do or how they do it. When they were players, that was a good thing. Even if she was never saved, Diana the protagonist lived with a desperate pride. In order to protect her little brother, the villainess Cattleya soiled her hands with evil deeds. Their hopelessness struck a chord with them, moving them to tears. They even felt that their lives would have had no meaning if they’d never encountered this game. Now, however, they feel something akin to resentment toward the production team, even though they practically worshipped them before. They actually wish they’d reincarnated into Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens—a game they’d ridiculed as being all flowers and rainbows. Of course, everything isn’t wonderful there, either. The Maid of the Sacred Sword has lost to the demon king, and for some reason, lots of villainesses are throwing their weight around. I could have done it well, though. That frustration ends today. Hausel’s queen holds the highest rank in both Valkyrie of the Magic Lance and Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens. Once Cattleya becomes the queen of Hausel, she’ll practically have the world under her thumb. Since she has knowledge of both games, she’ll be able to succeed where others failed. She won’t fall from grace like Lilia Reinoise has or lose to the demon king the way Amelia Dark did. She won’t be run out like Aileen Lauren d’Autriche, either… “Hey! What’s going on here?!” Diana’s shrill voice pulls Cattleya’s attention back to the present. The ballot box has been opened, and seven ballots—complete with fold marks—have been removed. Her name is written on them…or so she thought. “Who is Aria?!” Diana yells. “‘Aria Jean Ellmeyer’…?!” Cattleya’s eyes immediately go to Claude. He isn’t looking at her anymore. “I thought Lady Dana had caught on, you see. She realized I set off the chapel’s mechanism intentionally.” “Yes, she heading—headed straight for it! It was like she know!” “Then, after the confusion with the alarm, it must have been clear to the rest of you that Lady Cattleya and the Valkyries didn’t truly have control over Hausel. Not in the way the queen once did.” “Yes, indeed. There may have been no danger, but they didn’t even turn off the alarm. However, that isn’t definitive proof.” Carol’s voice is gentle, but her smile seems to be testing Aileen. It isn’t wise to be careless around a woman who’s managed to remain neutral. Aileen returns her smile, undaunted. “I am aware of that. However, you must have begun to suspect that someone with the blood of the Maid of the Sacred Sword is required to make Hausel move. That means the worst-case scenario for all of you would have been for Lady Cattleya and the Valkyries to win over Ellmeyer.” No one responds, but the silence tells Aileen she’s correct. “Even if every nation wants control over Hausel’s knowledge, you must have sensed great danger in it. If not, you would never have responded to the call for a conference to decide on a new queen. After all, there was no need to wait for a conference: You could simply have occupied Hausel’s territory.” There were countless opportunities for that before now. “You can’t ignore suspicious movement in Hausel. You’d also like to deal with the refugee issue. That said, it would be problematic if Hausel returned with that sort of power at this point. If a queen were to be chosen, you’d want it to be someone who would benefit you, even in a modest way, or at the very least not disadvantage you. No doubt you all shared that feeling. Although I’m not certain about the king of Olgen, who was the first to ally himself with the Valkyries…” Aileen glances at Audrey, who primly sips her tea. “Everyone was carefully watching Lady Cattleya and the Valkyries. Would it truly be all right to make Lady Cattleya queen? Would it harm your nations in any way? They certainly did move things along skillfully, shielding themselves with the wisdom of Hausel, but they played a poor endgame.” Each misstep was trivial. They likely never even notice they had made any. Dana chuckles innocently. “We often get mocking—mocked. Lady Aileen, I understand…you study language. But they do not. I know…they have contempt. A present for Mother, who does not care for dresses. They don’t know, don’t even try. They not interested in Island Republic of Gloss.” For one, they clearly lacked respect for other cultures. “I wasn’t pleased at having the first dance interrupted, you know… The young may see it as outdated—a dull, useless custom, but those who don’t learn from tradition or the past are bound to repeat old mistakes.” They had also shown a lack of understanding about old customs. “It’s less complicated than that, isn’t it? We are queens and princesses—women in positions that differ from their own. They underestimated us, considering us mere decorations controlled by our men. Even now, they don’t care what we’re doing.” And they had open disdain for their roles. “I am the queen consort of a new country. They’re welcome to belittle us as a small, weak nation with no traditions. However, it is for that very reason that we are very cautious about how we treat those who extend a helping hand to us from on high.” Their attitude during negotiations was also quite questionable. “Most of all, the tragic lack of observational skills they displayed in deciding that Lady Aileen was inconsequential defied belief.” “Thank you very much, Lady Audrey.” “That wasn’t a compliment. This is why you can never afford to let your guard down around Ellmeyer for even a moment.” Audrey scowls, making her look like a strict private tutor. However, if she hadn’t persuaded her husband, it would have been impossible for the seven nations to reach a unanimous decision. “And you, Nina? Why you decided?” “…When I visited Kilvas for the wedding, I invited Empress Diana to tea, saying that I wished to discuss border defense. She didn’t come. Later on, a polite letter addressed to my husband and me arrived from Emperor Vica. Even with his country in turmoil, he’d gone out of his way to apologize for the fact that he was only able to institute temporary measures and that he hadn’t been able to attend the discussion. The idea that Diana is more suited to rule than someone like him is simply ridiculous.” The duchess gently returns her cup to the saucer, then gives a soft smile. “Isn’t that the answer to everything?” Since Nina always comes off as flighty, a faint smile from her is a powerful thing. If Aileen ever needs someone to underestimate her again, she’s sure she’ll want to model her behavior on the duchess. “—May I request an explanation?” Cattleya has been careful to keep from trembling, but the end of her sentence still sounds unsteady. “An explanation?” The king of Maiz cocks his head in a deliberate way. “We wrote the name of a royal candidate and voted. Is there some sort of mistake?” “Don’t play dumb!” Diana roars. Cattleya hasn’t regained enough composure to stop her. “You senile old fart! Why didn’t you vote for Cattleya?! Who’s Aria anyway?!” “That’s the sort of thing I mean, young lady. What do you think a neutral power is?” The force behind the man’s wrinkled smile startles Diana, and she shuts her mouth. “You threatened us and said we should think about what would happen if I didn’t vote for Miss Cattleya, didn’t you. That is the sort of opponent neutral powers must crush first and foremost.” “W-we didn’t threaten you. We just said she’s suited to be queen…” “And that’s another thing: You’re far too oblivious of how your actions appear to others. It’s just scary; how are we supposed to go along with that?” the holy king says, sounding disgusted. Grand Duke Hirikka pushes his glasses up with a sigh. “In the first place, how could someone who doesn’t even take border issues seriously govern a nation?” “Border issues…? Wait, you can’t mean that business about the bandits, can you? Something trivial like that can wait. We were about to decide on a new queen for Hausel. That’s clearly more important!” “In that case, you’re bound to neglect our nation as ‘something trivial’ as well once you’re queen.” I didn’t mean it like that, Cattleya thinks. But she can’t get the words out. “There’s no comparison between you and Vica. Even if he postponed the issue, he still sent his prime minister to us with various proposals that would allow us to pursue the bandits. Vica and his right-hand man are still young, which makes me uneasy, but I’d much rather trust them than let you rule.” Up until this very moment, Cattleya has been careful to avoid looking at her younger brother, but now she does. He isn’t looking in her direction; instead, he’s smiling at Grand Duke Hirikka. “I may be inexperienced, but I shall spare no effort.” “It’s both unsettling and terrifying for the emperor of Kilvas to be so humble. And I, on the other hand, will take care to remember that you could crush a buffer country like mine without trouble. Also, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t go near my wife with that face.” “I have heard what a devoted husband you are, Duke. I really don’t think a slim, mild-mannered man like me would capture your wife’s interest.” “Of course not.” The duke is a doting husband? Even though he speaks and acts as if he’s making fun of his wife…? Diana is completely flummoxed. More than anything, the casual way these two are speaking to each other means this isn’t their first conversation. Come to think of it, Cattleya’s brother hasn’t tried to speak to her even once. Which of them is avoiding the other? “What about you, Gloss?!” Diana turns the conversation toward the rough-looking ruler of the ocean nation, who folds his arms and cocks his head. “We’ve never had much interference from either Hausel or Kilvas, so it wasn’t an easy decision for us to make. But Duchess Nina’s made friends with my daughter…” “Th-that’s your reason?!” “It’s very important, I’ll have you know. If a country has someone we can talk to in it, that means we can negotiate with them.” The king of Olgen is nodding along in agreement. Diana scowls at him, and even Cattleya clenches her fists. “You…you’re the one I understand the least. Why?” “It’s that side to you, as my fellow delegates have all been saying.” This from the man who’d smiled and told them, “How reassuring. How marvelous. I’d be honored to cooperate with you.” She’d never believed him. Diana had also never thought he wholeheartedly supported or understood them. There was no trust there; they were simply using each other. That’s something she’s sure about. However, even so, this turn of events has come as no small shock. That’s the part that doesn’t make sense to her. “Reflect on your behavior. What sort of attitude did you take with us?” “We could have attacked you! Is this any way to repay our kindness?!” “Simply put, no one likes you. That’s why you’ve been excluded, just as you tried to do to others.” Diana is left utterly speechless. As is Cattleya. “King Olgen, that’s taking it too far.” The quiet voice draws Cattleya’s attention. “There are other major reasons. You’ve been craftily recruiting Valkyries from every nation and taking their women away. It’s a problem too serious to overlook.” “They’ll probably just refuse to understand and say that the women who’ve volunteered to become Valkyries do so at their own risk.” “Possibly, but we shouldn’t veer too heavily into emotional argument.” “Such composure… I’d expect no less from a nation that’s been a great power for centuries. I, on the other hand, find myself in trouble because my wife’s always in a bad mood.” “Mine has run away from home. We all have our troubles.” Claude gives an elegant smile, everyone’s eyes fixed on him. “However, let me express my gratitude to you for your cooperation and understanding. Would you convey my thanks to your ladies as well, since they were the ones who listened? I’ll be sure to visit and pay my respects properly later.” ““Don’t you dare,”” Grand Duke Hirikka and the king of Olgen reply without missing a beat. They’re all so comfortable with one another. That opening ball had to have been the first time they’d spoken properly, so why? Do they understand each other just because they’re men? Is this another mocking, patriarchal gesture toward women? It’s absurd. But Diana can’t even bring herself to laugh. “…Did you…lay the groundwork…for this?” Cattleya asks, finally managing to calm her breathing. She keeps her eyes fixed on Claude. A moment later, she realizes he didn’t have the opportunity. She’s been determined not to let things play out the way they did last time, so she’s had guards keeping an eye on him ever since she proposed that he give her his daughter. However, if Claude’s pulled one over on her, then there’s still…still—what? “…All right. We’ve listened to your answers.” Diana seems calmer now; her voice is hard. “But who’s Aria? Don’t tell me you made up an imaginary candidate. You’re saying she can compete with Cattleya? Even though she doesn’t have the power of a Valkyrie and can’t use Hausel’s facilities? That’s right, Demon King. Making your own daughter a royal candidate, then driving her into a corner—is that really something a parent would do?” “Excuse me. I’ve brought him, milord.” The demon king’s adviser enters the room, cutting off Diana’s lecture. Apparently, he slipped out at some point. In the uproar over the results of the vote, she didn’t even notice. The blond individual who appears next leaves her speechless. Diana lets out a mutter that’s almost a groan. “Cedric Jean Ellmeyer…” The name of the classic hero of Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens. “Excellent timing, Keith. Cedric, you should probably thank the assembly,” Claude prompts. “Right. Gentlemen, you have my deepest gratitude for selecting my daughter, Aria, as the next queen of Hausel,” Cedric begins eloquently. How…? I thought he was imprisoned in Ellmeyer, since Lilia lost. Ignoring Cattleya’s confusion, he bows deeply in Diana’s direction. “And the Valkyries as well. Thank you for accepting Aria as a royal candidate.” “Huh—huhn?! What’s… What are you—?” “I hear the candidate registration was completed without issue.” Diana is speechless. Then that baby wasn’t Claude’s daughter, but… She feels the urge to burst out laughing rising within her. What on earth was she looking at all this time? “Now that Aria has been approved by both the Valkyries and the intercontinental conference, I am certain that the people of Hausel will accept her as well. With everyone’s guidance, my wife and I will raise her into a magnificent woman. May Hausel and the world be blessed with peace.” I’m so sorry. Forgive me. Lilia has resigned herself to the day when she’ll say those pitiful words to her daughter. That is her responsibility, after all. The fact that she no longer has the power to protect her child and her husband, and that the Valkyries have taken advantage of the Queendom of Hausel, is all because she failed—both as the heroine and as a player. She won’t be the one who pays for it. Her daughter and those around her will pay that price. Could anything be more wretched than that? I tell you what, though, Aria: Your father is pretty incredible. He chose a future that had even the slightest glint of hope and freedom over a life of constantly being protected and having things handed to him. The hero who was merely a prince has firmly decided to become a husband and the father of a queen. He didn’t run from his duty but is trying to take responsibility. In which case, Lilia can’t do any less. She’ll teach her daughter that even a life that doesn’t go the way you want is entertaining. She’ll raise her into the sort of child who laughs and says that inconvenience is true freedom. Lilia softly kisses the cheek of her daughter, the new royal candidate. Then, before anyone notices, she hands the child over. At this point, no one will suspect a thing. “Please take care of her.” The brilliant official from Ellmeyer who’s infiltrated as an apprentice Valkyrie returns her nod without a word. Letting go of her daughter is as scary as she expected. She can trust this woman, though. After all, they’re friends. Probably. Still, “the League of Heroines” just fits better… She feels a little sad at the thought that, one day, it won’t be around anymore. “All right, Lady Lilia. This way,” a Valkyrie calls out as she watches her daughter being taken away. Lilia follows, but she’ll have to cleverly slip away at some point. This may be Hausel’s undersea facility, but they’re in an extremely shallow area. The stairway that led them underground was near the academy where the royal candidates once gathered, so it’s probably more of a school facility than anything. However, the academy has a teleportation device to allow the queen to secretly come from the palace chapel to check on her daughter. It’s likely that it’s also connected to this place, where the royal candidates are registered. She’ll search for a door to the chapel, then get herself a weapon capable of fighting a magic lance. Then, finally, she’ll make her way to the ruins of the palace. In Valkyrie of the Magic Lance, that’s the site of the event where the sacred sword shows up. Faced with a sword that swallows up any power—both holy and demonic—and all life, Diana the heroine makes her decision. Will she move forward with the person she’s chosen or start everything over? Come to think of it, I wonder if Amelia foresaw this future. The futures Amelia knew about were the so-called “standard routes” in Regalia of Saints, Demons, and Maidens. As Lilia is still thinking about that, she stops in her tracks. She’s spotted a heroine through the corridor window. It’s Sahra. Her startled eyes stare right back at her. Lilia wonders briefly whether she’s been captured by the Valkyries, but she’s wearing a white lab coat. She’s in the medical room. Either she infiltrated with Serena, or Serena put her up to this. Lilia can’t help but laugh. Of course; that’s how it would go. In the game, the Maid of the Sacred Sword can get help from the Saint of Salvation and the Daughter of God—Serena and Sahra. There’s no way she could lose to the heroines of another game. That’s why Amelia had left them alone. It’s a simple observation to make. “Yow-ow-ow-ow, owwwwww!” “L-Lady Lilia? What’s the matter?” “My stomach hurts really, really bad! I need medicine! A doctor—! Owwwww!” Lilia crouches down in the corridor, hugging her stomach. A little flustered, the Valkyrie calls into the medical room. Foolish, good-natured Sahra comes out immediately, looking pale. “A-are you all right?! Where does it hurt? Hold on…!” “I’m going to take out everybody who’s here. Help me,” she whispers to Sahra. The other woman lets out a rude little shriek, but then nods timidly in response. That’s reassuring. Serena will likely catch up with them as soon as she’s taken Aria somewhere safe. The League of Heroines is back. This is why she can’t stop playing, even now that she’s a mother.
Chapter 153
25 min read