Epilogue
MARIA watched Caim go to make sure he returned to his encampment. When he had gone, multiple figures emerged from the surrounding trees.
“Lady Maria,” said Chrom, the captain of the Black Knights. “Don’t you think you phrased that in a way that was a bit too favorable to yourself?” As he and his subordinates came out from among the trees, they looked uneasy. They had been ordered to escort Maria and had been lying concealed nearby in the unlikely event that they were needed.
“If this reduces the enemy’s strength, then isn’t it all for the best?” Maria retorted. “His Majesty is a generous man. He will forgive my silly remarks graciously and with a smile.” In sharp contrast with Maria’s earlier expression, she looked perfectly composed.
“Well, that’s true…”
“More importantly, we must return to camp quickly. His Majesty is expecting the good news.” Without waiting for Chrom to reply, Maria turned in the direction of Farune’s camp and began walking.
For Maria, the current situation was an opportunity. Queen Frau was pursuing the Vulcanian army. Second Princess Carmilla was commanding the Dorssenian army. Third Princess Cassandra was on standby in Farune. And finally, Fourth Princess Sheila was occupying Thracia. In short, none of Mars’s consorts were anywhere near him. Plus, Mars was surprisingly chaste, so he didn’t even have any female servants.
There’s no one to get in my way now. If I can establish a relationship between us while I have the chance, power will be mine for the taking. He gave Kiel to Lady Frau. Lady Carmilla has Dorssen. I don’t really know about Lady Cassandra, but he’ll surely give Vulcan to Lady Sheila. Becoming one of Lord Mars’s consorts always comes with a country! What divine providence! I’ll have relations with Lord Mars, and then I’ll graciously accept Eyland as mine!
As Maria thought these things, she chuckled to herself. She would never have a better opportunity than this. She would have been a fool to let it slip through her fingers.
“Wait for me, Lord Mars!” she said into the forest. “Your saint is coming to be with you!”
Meanwhile, Mars had shut himself up alone inside his tent. His life had been under constant threat ever since childhood, so he didn’t like for there to be people nearby—excluding his consorts, around whom he could let down his guard.
Suddenly, Mars was overcome by an indescribable chill.
Hm? That’s weird, I don’t sense anyone nearby, he thought to himself. Though I do get the feeling that something dangerous is coming. But the battle is coming up, so, maybe I’m just nervous?
He decided to retire to bed early—oblivious to the truth behind his concerns.
✦ ✦ ✦
🍖🍖🍖
FRAU attentively watched it all through her crystal ball. Everything was going according to plan.
As a dutiful mother and Mars’s faithful wife, she had to make him the world’s greatest king. She could always be of service to him with her magic, but he also needed people to support him in other areas. Maria was one of those people. In the future, she would be a great help in the religious dimension of his rule—though Frau never would have expected her to have such an entertaining personality on top of that.
Frau was aware that she wasn’t normal. She didn’t understand love. She liked Mars, but she didn’t know whether she was giving him enough love. After all, love had no form; it wasn’t something you could see.