Someone is angry
In a situation where someone else is feeling depressed, the door opens and a pointed gaze is directed at them.
I left Mr. Rio outside for a moment and went inside the conference room.
A blood-stained table covered with a medallion with a familiar pattern…
The smell of blood rising from under a high hood covering something
“Please explain the situation.”
"It's exactly as you see. Of all the people who went there, the youngest one was the only one who was so scared that he hid. He brought it."
“………”
“No matter how many times I ask him what happened, he just keeps repeating that he just wants to go home. It’s brave of him to have brought that all the way here.”
As someone who has experienced countless wars,
I know this isn't a common experience, but it's questionable whether a normal human could truly prevail against such a monster.
No matter how much they train and how much stronger they are than ordinary people, there are monsters who are said to be able to perform such strange magic.
“Where is the vice-captain?”
"Something happened at the refugee camp, and since we couldn't communicate at all, I sent the deputy commander. He'll probably be back soon."
“I have an urgent message to convey, so please assemble all the vice-captains and captains immediately, and assemble all knights by evening, except for the bare minimum.”
After hearing what I said, everyone started to hurry out of the conference room.
When the clanking sound of armor stopped coming from outside the door
I gently lifted the tent that had been covering something on the table.
“Even in death, you don’t think about putting down your sword.”
If you're stupid, you're stupid, and all you know how to do is use your body, so you firmly believe that you've been doing well so far.
I never saw the fool who said he was happy just by seeing people smile again.
Whether his people were more precious than his own life, he held on to the sword that was first bestowed upon him by the princess, even as his body was cut apart.
I came back here with only one arm.
My teeth are chattering.
“I regret not buying you a drink.”
What could be more difficult than letting go of someone you've known for a long time?
It's not like I slept comfortably, and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been until the very end.
I too feel like I'm going blinded by revenge against the monster that made this person like this.
“Someone dying… no matter how many times I experience it, I never get used to it.”
But that doesn't mean I should be ruled by my emotions.
I just hope that someone will come along who will carry on this person's will.
“Even though you didn’t achieve what you wanted with the misery of death, I hope you can now put what you have left behind and rest in peace…”
“The rest is for the living.”
Even though he only has one arm, did he hear my voice?
The strength in his hand gave out and he let go of the sword he was holding.
“Goodbye, Briuhel.”
I sent one person away.
Whose turn will it be next?
It could be my turn, or it could be one of the many people out there.
***
“Is everyone here?”
Although we urgently summoned a group of people at the level of captains,
Looking at it this way, it really seems like everyone has endured the passage of time as a tradition, and there isn't a single person who doesn't have a certain strength.
“First of all, before we get started… Even if you have something urgent to say, please wash up and go.”
“You said it was urgent!!”
“Yeah!! Aren’t there more urgent matters than washing up right now!!”
“It’s going to get dirty anyway, so I can just wipe it off with water later.”
So these fools are really… … .
I didn't want to gather them all in one place like this, but given the circumstances, I guess I have no choice but to move on.
“So, why did you call us here so urgently, Head Maid?”
The leader of the northern wall was the first to raise his hand and explain why they were gathered here.
“To put it simply, this applies to everyone here.”
It may be easy to think
When I actually tried to say this, even I, who usually controls my emotions so well, started to tremble a little, but I said it anyway.
“Is there anyone who would be willing to sacrifice their own death for the Princess?”
It's a concise statement that tests loyalty.
But this isn't a test, it's a story so serious that it wouldn't be strange if half of the people here... no, everyone died.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“That’s what I came here for in the first place.”
"If it weren't for this place, I would have been searched for on the streets already. Would you sacrifice your life for the Princess? I've thought about that since long ago, Head Maid."
“We were the ones who saved your life in the first place, Head Maid.”
These are also people who have been with me for a long time.
It was a half-expected answer, as he was the person who laid the foundation for establishing this northern region.
“Then, to put it a bit more broadly, if you were to ask your subordinates to sacrifice their lives for your majesty, would you do it?”
“………”
“………”
“………”
I didn't think much of my own life,
When I asked him if he could sacrifice the lives of his subordinates who were following him, the air in the conference room became heavy for a moment.
“If the head maid is saying that, then the situation must be quite serious?”
“I wish I could end this by saying it’s serious.”
“It’s so bad that it’s beyond words.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll leave.”
In this heavy atmosphere, there was one person who expressed his opinion.
But that doesn't mean there won't be people who mock him.
It is not possible to look favorably upon someone whose loyalty you have firmly believed in for so long crumbles.
“Don’t look at me like that, everyone. I, too, have dedicated my life to the Princess for years, even decades, just like you.”
He placed the small dagger hanging from his waist and the medal the princess had personally bestowed upon him on the desk.
"You can't sacrifice our children to their deaths without a plan, just in the name of sacrifice. And the one who recently arrived is barely an adult? I'm not as cold-blooded as you, driving even such a child to their deaths in the name of loyalty."
“And… I guess I’ll have to watch over my daughter until she grows up.”
As expected, there is nothing that can weigh a person's life.
With the determination not to accept death here, even if it means giving up everything I have worked for so far.
I left the conference room where I was sitting and went outside.
“Maid… Are you really serious?”
“I am not a person with the leisure to sit here and lie to you all.”
“Are you really saying that there is no solution for the princess?”
“If you had, you wouldn’t have gone this far.”
“If everyone here were to leave, what would you do then?”
“Do you think your Majesty has ever turned her back on the enemy?”
“……There’s nothing to say about that.”
Everyone seemed to be starting to get a little agitated, and the lively atmosphere from before disappeared without a trace.
They look like they are seriously contemplating, and they just touch the medals and daggers they received from the princess.
***
"how is it."
“The results are not very good.”
“To some extent.”
“Three of them returned them on the spot, and the rest said they would think about it.”
“Okay, tell them you’ll wait until tomorrow for an answer.”
“Okay, then.”
As time goes by, I feel like I'm starting to feel cornered.
There doesn't seem to be an escape route, but that doesn't mean there isn't a right answer.
“It’s really frustrating that we have no other choice.”
How hard must you have worked with such a delicate body? You must have told me to rest on the sofa for a while.
Perhaps unable to endure that moment, Rio collapsed on the sofa, unable to maintain his balance, and fell asleep.
“Emily.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“Are you okay?”
“This is my home. Who would abandon their home and leave?”
“You can always rebuild a house, but you only have one life.”
“That means they cherish this place to that extent.”
“You’re stupid.”
“Will only the princess do it?”
Today, the day came to an end again without me being able to come up with a proper method.
“Just rest for today.”
“Okay. Then Rio too.”
“No, just leave it alone.”
“Okay, I understand. Then….”
There was a quiet sound as Emily looked at me just before she left the office.
“The hallway is quite quiet, so I recommend you try to keep your voice as quiet as possible, Your Majesty.”
“Haha… You’re good at joking.”
"Are you kidding? How can you possibly think this is a joke when you've had a similar smell coming from both of you since you returned from your trip?"
“…………”
“Well, I guess I figured it out by smell, but I hope other people don’t find out.”
“You really have fun joking around.”
“This is no joke.”
-thud!
Emily left the office after saying her last words.