Volume 2 – The World Sneered
Three days until the coronation ceremony.
Ami seemed sad since the morning after parting with Cutie the previous day.
She was impudent with her, but she still had tears in her eyes when Cutie was leaving, so she had also gotten quite close with her.
Out of consideration, Mary asked Ami if she wanted to rest for the day, but she shook her head to say no.
She said that she wanted to do everything she could while she was still alive.
The repair work in the royal capital still continued.
They had to return the citizens whose houses were still standing back to the town before the coronation ceremony.
At the same time, they were also setting up temporary tents outside the royal capital.
The residents were living there, with the ones who had their houses destroyed taking priority.
It was hard to say ‘fortunately’, but the damage was contained within the royal capital.
The productive capacity of the surrounding villages was intact, so there were no food problems.
Hygiene was a problem, though.
They were putting priority on improving the living conditions to stop people from complaining about a coronation ceremony being held despite the citizens suffering.
Most of the rubble and corpses were cleaned up by the second day, and other various errands increased.
Mary, Calaria and Ami’s powers were not needed as much now, and they had more free time compared to the previous day.
They returned to the castle to rest.
Mary was walking in front in the center when Edward approached from the throne room.
He was probably not getting much sleep, as there were dark shadows under his eyes and his gait was heavy.
“……Mary, we need to talk. Come over here.”
Edward spoke in a deep voice.
It did not seem like this was going to be a pleasant talk, and Calaria stepped out in front to ask him:
“Can I join as well?”
“No, I want to talk with Mary alone.”
“Without Philias either?”
“Yeah, just the two of us. I want to talk as siblings.”
Calaria glanced over at Mary.
She wanted to join them out of concern for Mary’s tired spirit.
But this squaring of accounts was needed for Mary as well.
“I understand. I’m sorry you two, I know I said I wanted to spend time together.”
“No worries, we’ll wait as long as you need.”
“I’ll play with Calaria!”
“I don’t think you can play around, but feel free to use my room.”
Calaria and Ami left and headed for Mary’s room.
Edward then guided Mary to the dining hall where the damage was little.
♢♢♢
Edward and Mary sat facing each other across a long table.
Edward spoke first.
“I actually wanted to talk yesterday, but…… Sorry, I think I would have been mean to you yesterday.”
“I’m just glad you managed to calm down.”
“You want to speak ill of me for being so incompetent too, don’t you?”
“I know too well how bad it feels when people abuse you for being incompetent.”
“……Sorry.”
“You never directly did that to me, brother.”
“Still, I’m sorry.”
Edward considerably looked down on Mary for being unable to use sorcery despite having the blood of Henry and Blair in her veins.
Edward himself had to live modestly like a commoner because he was the child of a mistress.
So, since he was strong in sorcery, this actually meant that he could never live a normal life.
Someone like that could not help but look down on someone from the royalty who possessed no magical powers.
On the other hand, however, this was also definitely because of his own ‘apprehensions’.
“Father was always more concerned with you and Francis than with me.”
“My sister came first, though.”
“That’s certain.”
“I was always secondary. My sister had more charm than anyone, and was more talented than anyone else……”
“I’m sure no one would accept me as king if Francis was still alive.”
“I think so too. Even Philias would have given up on the idea.”
“I heard she also tried to curry favor with Francis as well.”
“I’m sure Francis saw through her and distanced herself from her.”
Philias’s mask was quite thick.
However, Francis was always even better at ‘seeing through’ things.
She possessed the arcana of Star without anyone knowing about it, so it was quite the divine power.
“We’re going off topic. Anyhow, father never cared about me. So my mother was my only real family even after they got married.”
“So you resent me for killing her now that you’ve calmed down and thought about it?”
“I don’t know. I don’t feel like shouting at you. I shouldn’t vilify you either. I’m sure mother would never be released from the arcana of World or whatever if she didn’t die. So, I still don’t understand how I should feel about it.”
“I get that. I killed my mother and father. To release them from World’s control. But I still feel guilty, and…… I also feel like I took my revenge. Even though I know that World might be the reason for how badly they treated me all this time.”
“I see. It’s almost similar to what I feel.”
“Yes, it’s not as simple as just feeling relief after killing them.”
“We’re each other’s only surviving family. We’re supposed to support each other.”
“But it’s not as if we can just let go and be on cordial terms with each other…… That’s what you’re trying to say, right?”
Brother and sister.
If only that was the only thing between them.
But there was the right of succession, their different mothers, parricide – there were a lot of obstacles between the two.
It seemed foolish even to think about getting over all these things and becoming close siblings.
“I feel the same way. And if we both remain in the kingdom, there will certainly be those who try to utilize that enmity between us.”
“I see you’ve thought this through.”
“Brother, did you think that I would want to remain in the kingdom and ask for an important position? I already told Philias that I plan on leaving after the coronation ceremony.”
“No, that’s not it. It’s just that I feel guilty if you’re leaving because of me.”
“There will be backlash if the people think that way.”
“You’re right. You leaving voluntarily…… is the best way to settle things peacefully. I’m sorry to make you the villain.”
Edward seemed guilty as he spoke while looking down.
Mary purposefully spoke to him in a firm tone of voice.
“Brother, do you understand?”
“Understand what?”
“It’s going to be very hard to get the country back on its feet now. Not just because of the royal capital, but also Captis. The two biggest companies, Majoram and Pupa, and the army have been greatly hurt. This is the time you will be targeted, both from within and outside the kingdom. There’s signs of internal discord in the empire neighbouring us, and turmoil has been increasing ever since father’s time. In fact, I almost want to ask you if you’re sure you’ll be alright after I leave.”
“Well…… All I can say is that I’ll do my best.”
It was a very unreliable answer.
But Edward continued speaking, and he was not trying to make excuses.
“I certainly feel uneasy. But me becoming the king was also my mother’s dream. For that, even someone pathetic like me just may be able to get through this without breaking.”
These feelings were even stronger now that his mother had died.
Edward put his hand over his chest and faced his feeling of loss.
Mary spoke quietly.
“Even if you do break, I think Miss. Philias will force you to come back.”
“Haha…… I wouldn’t like that, so I’ll do my best.”
Edward bitterly laughed.
Mary also laughed with him.
They did not completely empathize with each other.
They just mutually understood that they could not get along with each other.
So they were fine with this much distance.
After recognizing this, the hazy feelings they had for each other cleared up a little.
♢♢♢
The siblings finished their discussion, and Mary headed straight for her room in the castle when she left the dining hall.
She returned to the entrance which still had traces of the previous battle, and went up to the second floor.
The room at the end of the corridor was Mary’s room, which she used until her marriage with Romeo.
Incidentally, Francis’s personal room was also next to it.
When Francis was still alive, Mary often visited her room at night and slept together with her.
She walked ahead trying to move on as she yearned for Francis, and Calaria left Mary’s room to welcome her when she heard Mary’s footsteps getting closer.
“Sorry to make you wait. Was it boring?”
Calaria did not respond to Mary’s question.
The door closed shut with a slam.
Then, she moved closer to Mary and hugged her tight.
“Miss……. Calaria?”
Calaria hugged her so tightly that it almost hurt a little.
She felt desperation from it. And a sense of determination.
It was not mischief, nor playfulness; Calaria was ‘serious’.
So Mary also hugged her back.
“Did something bad happen?”
“Cutie did something yesterday, didn’t she?”
“Huh!?”
Mary was shocked by these unexpected words.
“Y-Yeah…… W-We were…… alone, but……”
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. The reason we were drawn to you amidst all the fighting.”
“M-Me?”
“You really are a devilish woman. But, I think that when someone’s danger is in life, they seek feelings of affection.”
It was similar to the suspension bridge effect1.
That may have indeed been the case.
They built a deep relationship as they entrusted each other with their lives.
However, why was she talking about that here and now?
“I don’t understand what you’re feeling uneasy about, but-”
“You feel uneasy too, don’t you?”
“……What do you mean?”
“Mary…… Can I kiss you?”
“Huh? Please wait, this is too sudden – hnnm!”
Calaria forcibly took Mary’s lips.
Mary was utterly confused.
But she knew that Calaria wanted her.
She was happy to be wanted.
She was never needed before, so she wanted to meet these demands now.
It was the same with Cutie the previous night.
Indeed, Mary was always starving.
But the reason these girls loved her was-
(It happened when they felt that their lives were in danger……?)
Was that not what Calaria said?
Their lips touched.
Calaria held Mary’s cheeks and looked at her with wide open burning eyes while breathing heavily.
“Mary, I…… I……”
“It’s alright. Please don’t worry. I love you too, Miss. Calaria. We’ll always be together.”
“Yeah…… And I love you, Mary.”
“Let’s travel together.”
“Yes, just the two of us.”
“Let’s share our sorrow and joy.”
“Yes, if we do that…… we can get through it.”
“Miss. Cutie will help us out too. I know we can defeat World. So, there’s nothing to be worried about.”
“……Yeah.”
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
“Nothing…… Nothing……”
Calaria buried her face in Mary’s chest.
Mary was usually the one being doted on, so this joy felt fresh for her.
The two had some temporary peace of mind until Ami ran out of the room and intruded.
♢♢♢
That night, Mary left the castle, and met someone introduced to her through the lieutenant general.
The people had not returned to the royal capital yet.
A completely black man emerged in front of her on a deserted alley, and kneeled.
“You’re from the intelligence department, yes?”
“Yes! I heard there’s something secret you need help with. What do you desire?”
“16 years ago. The World Destruction plan was carried out in Pupa’s research institute. I want you to find out who was present there. The certainty of the information isn’t that important. If they remain, even the private diaries of the researchers who participated would be enough. At any rate, can you just get me some documents about what happened 16 years ago?”
The man hesitated a little after hearing Mary’s order.
“Are you worried about something?”
“Actually, yesterday, Lady Calaria also asked the same thing of me.”
“Miss. Calaria? She didn’t say anything about that to me earlier……”
They were together until just a short while ago.
If Calaria had something on her mind, Mary wished that she would share it with her.
The reason she had not done so was……
“Princess Mary.”
“Y-Yes.”
“I apologize for my rudeness. Could you refrain from informing Miss. Calaria about this?”
“Why? Isn’t it better if we cooperate if she wants the same thing?”
“This is by her request. She wanted me to directly inform you about the investigation results, and not her.”
He sounded distressed.
He probably did not know why Calaria requested this either.
So, he must have thought that it would be difficult to convince Mary.
“……”
She froze up for a while, as if time had stopped.
The soldier looked on with a worried expression.
Then, Mary’s cheeks stiffened, and she made a calm facial expression before speaking again.
“Alright, I understand.”
It was a short answer.
As if time had not stopped just now.
The soldier expected to be faced with disapproval, so this felt anticlimactic for him.
“Is there a problem?”
“N-No. Thank you.”
“One more thing. I have another request to make of you.”
“Please feel free to give me any order you’d like.”
“Could you get it done before the coronation ceremony? Even the morning of the day is fine.”
“Yes, I will get it done.”
He seemed to be confident that he could get it done in time, thanks to Calaria making the request in advance.
They finished talking, and the soldier from the intelligence department left.
Mary, left alone, seemed lonely as she muttered to herself.
“Miss. Calaria……”
She firmly clenched her fist and a drop of blood flowed from the palm of her hand.