“Oh maaaaaan, why?! I acted on my own without consulting anyone! Again!” I cried to myself as I rode the carriage home.
In a soothing voice, Iori, who was sitting next to me, said, “Calm down, Friede. I think it’s a good idea as well.”
“But I haven’t even talked to my parents about inheriting the family name! Mom’s gonna be so mad!”
“You were likely going to be the successor anyway. Or were you planning to pass the title down to your unborn sibling?”
“I mean, you’ve got a point, but... Aaagh! If we do things this way, people will think the Aindorf family is monopolizing authority within the Demon Army after all!”
Iori shook her head and said, “If everyone in your family suddenly removed themselves from positions of power, that would make people uneasy as well. I think this is an acceptable compromise.”
“Stop arguing and just let me complain...” I grumbled. Man, I know you’re enjoying this. I can smell it on you.
Iori gently patted my head with a small chuckle. “I’m sure Ryuunie will be happy to have you as vice-commander. You’re the current vice-commander’s daughter and the Aindorf family’s successor. Besides, everyone trusts you after you solved the mystery of the Windswept Dunes and slew that dragon. Plus, you graduated top of your class from Meraldia University.”
“You can’t just list my successes and ignore all the times I failed! Sure, if you lay it out like that, it makes me look like some kind of hero, but I’m not that amazing!”
To be honest, Iori sounded so convincing that I was starting to believe her... Maybe I really am the best person for this job.
I poked the fingers Iori held up while pointing out my achievements and said, “I guess I do know a lot of people in the Commonwealth Council since I’ve been helping them out with odd jobs. And I spent some time as a trainee officer in the Demon Army, so I could probably mediate between the two of them pretty easily.”
“Exactly. You’re friends with influential people from all the neighboring nations, so you make the perfect diplomat. And right now, you’re free since you have no other job. Who else meets all these conditions?”
“No one, I guess...”
Between all my friends, they fulfilled all those conditions, but I was the only one who fulfilled all the criteria on their own. I was also the only one without some sort of job already. No way... How did things end up like this...
Iori grinned and said, “Don’t worry, Friede, I’ll be there to help you out. I can be your vice-commander.”
“If you say that, I’ll really start counting on you, you know?”
With Iori’s help, I might actually be able to handle this role. All my other friends would probably help too if I asked. Dang it, now I have even less reason to refuse. This is a conspiracy! It has to be! Everyone conspired to make me a vice-commander! I hate you, Mom! I hate you, Dad! I pressed my forehead against the carriage window and rubbed it against the glass.
“How did it end up like this...?”
✦ ✦ ✦
After Friede left, Ryuunie visited Woroy in his office.
“Uncle, did Friede come to see you?”
“Yep, just as Myurei’s letter said. She already left though. What an interesting girl, eh? Just like her old man, she really doesn’t want to be seen as a hero.” Woroy looked out the window. “No one will blame you if you choose not to become the next Demon Lord, Ryuunie. You’ll regret it only if you force yourself into a position you don’t think you can handle. Remember, even Veight refused to become Demon Lord. He certainly won’t fault you for saying no.”
“Are you sure about that? Hmm...” Ryuunie folded his arms and lapsed into thought.
Woroy turned back to him and said, “I still intend to respect your decision whatever it is, but I must say, Friede’s determination convinced me. So I have a proposal for you, if you’re willing to hear it.”
“Gladly, Uncle.”
✦ ✦ ✦
As I expected, I got in trouble with my mom when I got back home.
“You can’t just decide to be the next successor of the Aindorf family without consulting anyone!” she scolded.
“I’m sorry...”
“Many of my relatives have a legitimate claim to the family headship. We’ll have to discuss this with all of them first, you know.”
“Yes, I’m sorry...”
Mom let out a sigh, but then she smiled and said, “But I doubt any of them will be against it. Everyone has high hopes for you, after all.”
“They do?”
“Everyone on the continent has heard about your achievements,” mom said with another sigh. “No one wants to become the family head over you because they’re worried it would make them look arrogant. That’s why no one has stepped up to try and become my successor.”
“Oh...” I murmured. “Then...I guess I’ll just have to take over as the next family head?”
“I’ll speak to everyone for you. I’ll be around to help, so you don’t need to force yourself to learn everything at once.”
“Okay!”
Honestly, I didn’t want to deal with family head responsibilities, but I was the one who proposed this plan, so I had to follow through.
“By the way, where’s dad?”
“He went to Rolmund in secret to visit Empress Eleora to inform her that you and Ryuunie will be the next vice-commander and Demon Lord.”
“How did he know I was going to take his place before I even told him?”
“Myurei’s letter mentioned that you might offer to become the next vice-commander. Your dad wants to get everything taken care of as soon as possible so I don’t have to worry during my pregnancy.”
“Hwuh?!” I gasped. Myurei figured out that I’d offer to be vice-commander?! He really is way sharper than he looks!
“Lotz is a scary place...” I said.
“Just so you know, the viceroys of all the other cities are just as terrifying. And unlike Myurei, they won’t be looking out for you.”
“Geh...”