Selene didn’t even have the mood to keep playing with her fan right now.
Originally, in this “role play,” she was quite fond of her costume and its little accessories.
“What on earth is going on now…? Hey… stop playing dead, Vlad! At the very least, you have to tell us who did this to you!”
She reached out to shake Vlad, but “Royal Highness” stopped her.
“He’s concentrating on regenerating his damaged organs right now, don’t interrupt him. And if he had seen that person’s face, he would have told us already.”
“How can you stay so calm? We’ve been discovered! That person can crush the lungs of a Magus successor from afar… which means he could do the same to us right now!”
“Right. But I think he wouldn’t just crush our lungs. He’d probably blow our heads or hearts into a pulp.”
“What are you talking about…? Have you lost your mind?”
Selene looked at “Royal Highness” in disbelief.
“No, I’m not insane. I’m telling you, since that person exists, there’s nothing we can do. If we run now, we’ll be crushed. If we continue with the plan, we’ll still be crushed.”
“You can’t possibly mean…”
“So I choose to wait and see, and then continue with the plan.”
“Ha, hahahahahahaha!”
Hearing this, Aoke let out a thunderous laugh. He had always seemed taciturn and quiet, but now he was high-spirited and exhilarated:
“I thought those two were crazy enough already, but it turns out, Your Highness, you’re the real lunatic! Hahahahahaha!”
Selene was already numb. She could only stare blankly as these two maniacs carried on their utterly absurd conversation.
“You truly are King’s only heir. If my clan hadn’t demanded I participate in the ‘Successor Battle,’ I would never have chosen to stand against you.”
“Thank you, Aoke. But as I said from the start, you only need to treat me as an equal opponent. And to fulfill the Regent’s wish… I will do everything in my power.”
Feeling it was pointless to keep listening, Selene staggered up and walked toward her own compartment in the suite.
“Selene, the door isn’t that way. If you want to run, that’s the wrong direction.”
“Whatever… arrange things however you like. I’ll cooperate.”
“You forgot this.”
Selene caught the fan that “Royal Highness” tossed to her.
“Practice well. From what I’ve seen, at least when you wave the fan and act the part, you look convincing enough. When you go to invite the Sword Saint, she probably won’t turn you down.”
“…Crazy woman!”
Selene slammed her door shut. In the dim room, only Vlad’s dream-like groans remained.
“…Looks like they’ve started communicating telepathically again. For such caution and madness to coexist in one person, and even infect those around them… heh.”
The maid standing outside the suite door smiled as if recalling old memories, then melted into the night and disappeared without a trace.
…
……
………
“Sis, Vera sis!”
Someone was calling her. The only one who would call her that way was that child.
“What are you doing, sis?”
That child should be right behind her—realizing this, Vera didn’t turn her head.
Anyway, this child clung to her like a shadow from dawn till dusk, always within sight. Right now, the only thing that mattered was focusing on the sword in her hand.
“Practicing the sword.”
“You practice swordplay all day long. Don’t you ever rest?”
“I don’t have time to rest. The Demon King’s army is stirring on the northern border; I’ll have to face them on the battlefield sooner or later.”
“Sis… aren’t you tired?”
“No. If you’re tired, why not go rest in your room?”
“Ugh…! Sis, you’re so mean. You’re already so strong!”
A dissatisfied huff came from the girl. Vera felt her sword slow and grow heavier for a moment, but her heart was happy.
“Thank you for the praise. Now, go rest. You’re a distraction when you’re here.”
That was the truth. Whenever she was being watched, her heart would fill with joy.
It dulled her sword, slowed her hand—her late teacher had warned her against indulging such feelings.
“But! I have something important to tell my amazing sis! It’s great news!”
“If you’ve got something to say, say it. Don’t beat around the bush. I thought you were here to pester me again.”
“Hehe… Sis, you won’t have to work so hard at sword practice much longer! Because the Holy Maiden and the Sage have successfully summoned the Hero! He’s the strongest in the world, right? He must be stronger than you, so maybe he can fight in your place—”
“Huh—?”
Why did I make that sound? Vera was at a loss for words with herself. The moment she realized it, she found she couldn’t stop speaking—because all of this had already happened in the past.
“Sis?”
“The Hero… you mean the Hero from the legends of the Holy Nation? The one who’s been summoned four times, but only the first ever fought the Demon King to a draw?”
“I think that’s how the legend goes. The one summoned this time is the fifth Hero; I saw the ceremony from far away.”
“How come I didn’t hear about this?”
“King called for you to attend the Summoning Ritual! But you made an excuse that you were practicing swordplay… so he took me and big brother instead.”
“I think I remember… No, that doesn’t matter. You say he’s stronger than me—is that true?”
“I—I don’t know! I haven’t seen you two fight. But I heard the Sage say that person’s total magic power is higher than hers…”
“What good is just strong magic? Even if he’s stronger than the Sage, is he stronger than the Magus and the Demon King? Where is he?”
“King held a banquet for him earlier; I think now he’s resting somewhere in the palace…”
“You know where he is?”
“I do, but…”
“Stop stalling. I’m going to find him. Lead the way!”
“Uuu… Okay.”
Now that I think of it, if only I hadn’t rushed off to see that guy out of a moment’s impulsiveness?
Though perhaps he could never have escaped his fate as a Hero—he would have ended up on the battlefield somehow, and I’d have met him again somewhere else…
But at least then I wouldn’t have been his teacher. We wouldn’t have formed this hateful, twisted bond.
“Lian, Lian, Lian, Lian, Lian…”
Vera slowly climbed out of bed, put on her crisply pressed uniform as usual, and placed her cap before the mirror.
“Lian, Lian, Lian, Lian, Lian… ah, it’s crooked.”
With bleary eyes she checked her appearance in the mirror, then straightened her cap—
“Today is the Crown Festival… I’d better check my to-do list again.”
Gazing at the date marked on the calendar, Vera’s eyes cleared once more.
Ah, memories.