On that day where my brother went to the sacred church to meet Lady Momo, first thing in the morning, I was kneeling in front of the throne. My mother, who sensed my unusual ambiance, furrowed her eyebrows.
‘What do ask of me, son?’
‘I seek the truth, father.’
Still kneeling, I paused for a moment of breath, then continued talking.
‘I need the true history of the Coloflare Kingdom, father; what is the Sacred Church?; the saintesses?; the witches? I want to know the whole truth behind this country.’
‘Yello, you must be aware then, as to what knowing that shall mean?’
‘Of course, father.’
Slowly standing up, I turned my gaze to my father— Flareon, the Coloflare Kingdom King.
‘Your majesty, please appoint me as the crown prince.’
Hearing my words, my father paused for a moment to think, then exchanged looks with the queen.
‘We cannot afford to be overheard. Follow me.’
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The curtain behind the throne was rolled up, revealing a door whose keyhole was a magic stone. My father took off his choker and placed its jewel to the magic stone where the key should be placed, then the door opened on its own.
‘This is a room that is only available to the crown princes for generations. Right now, it can only be accessed through my choker.’
So that was the meaning behind the selection of national treasures. On the other side of the door is a stair that leads to the underground. Another door awaits on the furthest end and what lay behind it was a confined room with a magic circle drawn on the ground.
‘Father, isn’t this magic circle…!?’
‘Perfect for a confidential conversation, is it not? Sit down, son…, this will be a long talk.’
Father dragged a table and two single-seater sofas inside the magic circle. The room had a cupboard, refrigerator, and a magic stove, all complete, which made me guess that perhaps, the room is often used for complicated talks. As I sat down on the sofa nervous, my father was grinding something in the sink. This burnt-smelling aroma…
‘Coffee, father?’
‘So you knew. The capital is not accustomed to the taste yet, but it’s something the visitors from the south brought with them. It is helpful whenever I need to stay up late in my work. I do not know whether it will suit your taste but… you can put milk and sugar if you like.’
‘I am no longer a child, father… Uergh.’
I’ve heard of its bitterness from Lady Chloe through the observation conference of my brother. I drank it straight thinking that showing a childish palate would deprive me of the credibility for the succeeding conversation but…, what the hell is this? Dirt? After turning my eyes towards my father, he was barely holding back his laughter.
‘Do not push yourself. It takes time to get used to. Now then— before I talk about the secrets of the royal family, I need to ask you first. Yello, just how far do you know?’
Having been called by my first name, I straightened my posture and spoke of the recent events while obscuring the game elements.
‘When I heard of the empire’s movements within the Corundum Kingdom from my fiancée, I felt as though, they are inconspicuously making a move in our kingdom too. The sacred church seems to have complete confidence in the saintess’ capability to maintain stability, but sacred magic is not perfect. The danger that our kingdom faces is no longer limited to the miasma and monsters alone.
I thoroughly examined whether the Saintess truly has the strength to protect our kingdom for eternity. That was when I got information from the house that has made the highest contribution to the church, House Moonlight, that the empire has made contact with them. As well as how the sacred church changed the purchase of magic robes from domestic production, to the empire’s cheaper alternatives.
Finding their relationship with the church odd, I got curious as to why such a house, in spite of having the highest contribution to the sacred church, has produced neither a queen nor an ‘interim-saintess.’ I thought that perhaps, they were the descendants of the ancient witch. That led me to the hypothesis that the unfair treatment they continue to receive could possibly make them turn over towards the empire against us, instead.’
I kept on talking as I put milk and sugar into my coffee, trying to appear natural. My father just drank sipped his black coffee.
‘So that is the reason why you have viewed the empire as a problem since before. While they have not made any conspicuous movements, for now, they are eerily indirectly involved with the exportation of Himemomobana.
Did you read about the witch from the books of the sacred church?’
‘There were some points of the myth written in those books that bothered me, father. The sacred church refuses to accept the use of common magic while putting absolutism towards the sacred magic, but the description of the sacred bird summoning of the first saintess, as well as her sealing method of the witch, closely resembles that of common magic. It also suggests the existence of a god before the saintess.’
That’s what I want to know. Just what exactly is my country, the Coloflare Kingdom. As I said that, my father brought his cup back to its saucer and folded his arms.
‘What is the Saintess to you?’
‘Coloflare Kingdom’s Deity—or someone that the kingdom conforms to. To put it in simplest terms, she is the ‘authority’. I think of authority as something that provides the greatest impact on the economy, diplomacy, and national defense. Although, recently, it’s looking rather shaky in that regard.’
‘Shakey, you say?’
‘The main cause of the engagement dispute of my brother and Lady Chloe was the love affairs of the “True Saintess,” recognized by the sacred church. She had hopelessly allured not only brother, but even his associates, one after another, making the hearts of the retainers, not only the House Moonlight, grow distant to the royal family. Do we still suppose to stand fine regardless, so long as we have the saintess?
Presently, the saintess, Momo Palette, has still yet to make clear to whom she had set her hearts on, and in the worst-case scenario, may even leave the country. A lone woman bringing danger to the country; I believe such are more aptly called as ‘temptress.’
Placing the spoon in the saucer after mixing the condiments, I took a single sip. It was more palatable than before so I was able to drink it somehow. As frustrating as it is, my palate is still that of a child.
I cannot just readily speak doubt about the saintess even as a royalty. I know the authority of the Saintess, the first, being our deity herself, but having blind belief could avert one’s gaze from the truth. If you think carefully of Lady Momo’s words, they are all questionable in nature.
‘Yello, you meant to say that, Momo Palette is a villainous woman rather than a saintess.’
‘We must put aside which is evil for now, father. I heard about it from my fiancée, the Riqum ducal lady, but I assume that father is aware that the first princess of the Corundum Kingdom, her highness, Juliet, was proposed to by her childhood friend, Romeo. However, recently, a relative of the young man was discovered to be a believer of the new faith and is propagating the faith, asking for funds to procure the magic drugs, ‘princess,’ and was in debt. Due to that, some are voicing concerns that the young man only approached the first princess for money.’
It was the same romantic circumstances of the first princess that Canaria talked about earlier in her letters, being more romantic than Locke’s crossing of borders for the sake of being able to support Lady Momo. My fiancee was quite shocked about it. I only thought that perhaps the concerns were well-founded. The main problem is that it will be a marriage between a royalty and a commoner.
‘What does that have to do with our kingdom?’
‘Momo Palette is a commoner, father. If our first prince were to have been known to awaken his true love to a commoner and married her, that will send waves towards our neighbor, the Corrundum Kingdom. They will send a message that one can overcome the difference in social status for as long as they have love in their arms.’
‘Did you not just speak of the authority of our kingdom’s saintess? It is also indispensable for Momo Palette to be adopted by an aristocrat before being welcomed by the royal family. The circumstances between the two cases are different.’
Father was right. There is likely no connection between the two things happening to both countries. However, the two unrelated incidents can become connected through speculative minds.
‘The particulars of the engagement are also attracting attention from the other countries. The first prince, the primary crown prince candidate, married a commoner-born saintess. That would not be such a problematic thing to our kingdom.
But how would that look from the Corundum Kingdom’s perspective? A future king marrying a commoner lady; The wish of the first princess had come true in their neighboring ally. She will likely use it as convenient precedence.’
There are growing sentiments that perhaps, the sins of Romeo’s relative are entirely unrelated to him and that the betrothal of the two is fine so long as they are happy. That may have been true if you view Princess Juliet in her individual capacity and not in her authority as a princess.
However, being so quick as to set aside the authority that has protected them ever since, just speaks of their shallow attachment to their kingdom. Handing over their princess to a commoner that is likely under the influence of the empire without even considering what has been protecting them; what impression would that make in fifty or a hundred years? The Coloflare Kingdom wouldn’t be able to wash its hands of it either.
‘A prince is still a human. They also hurt all the same; they also fall in love, right?’
The person who audaciously speaks of such things is the “authority” of our kingdom. Speaking of royalties in their individual capacity; the lady is saying that the country may be damned, for the sake of love. How do I suppose a lady like her will save my kingdom?
‘Your majesty, our old methods of protecting our kingdom are nearly reaching their limits. I desire the strength that would render me capable of stopping these waves, at once.’
As I appeal to him with a grave face, my father looked back at me without saying anything and leaked a sigh. The sorrowful ambiance that he emits makes me confident that he will accept my request.
‘…You have grown, Keith. You are truly, no longer a mere child.
Yello, do you love this country? Do you wish to avert its dissolution?’
‘O-of course. This is the country I was born in, there is no way I would not love…it.’
My assertation had grown weaker at the furthest end. My father’s eyes are probing my resolve. However, his eyes were cast down, without even the slightest hint of bewilderment.
‘Would you still think the same after hearing this story… Very well, I shall tell you then; the darkness of the royal family.’
On that day where my brother went to the sacred church to meet Lady Momo, first thing in the morning, I was kneeling in front of the throne. My mother, who sensed my unusual ambiance, furrowed her eyebrows.
‘What do ask of me, son?’
‘I seek the truth, father.’
Still kneeling, I paused for a moment of breath, then continued talking.
‘I need the true history of the Coloflare Kingdom, father; what is the Sacred Church?; the saintesses?; the witches? I want to know the whole truth behind this country.’
‘Yello, you must be aware then, as to what knowing that shall mean?’
‘Of course, father.’
Slowly standing up, I turned my gaze to my father— Flareon, the Coloflare Kingdom King.
‘Your majesty, please appoint me as the crown prince.’
Hearing my words, my father paused for a moment to think, then exchanged looks with the queen.
‘We cannot afford to be overheard. Follow me.’
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The curtain behind the throne was rolled up, revealing a door whose keyhole was a magic stone. My father took off his choker and placed its jewel to the magic stone where the key should be placed, then the door opened on its own.
‘This is a room that is only available to the crown princes for generations. Right now, it can only be accessed through my choker.’
So that was the meaning behind the selection of national treasures. On the other side of the door is a stair that leads to the underground. Another door awaits on the furthest end and what lay behind it was a confined room with a magic circle drawn on the ground.
‘Father, isn’t this magic circle…!?’
‘Perfect for a confidential conversation, is it not? Sit down, son…, this will be a long talk.’
Father dragged a table and two single-seater sofas inside the magic circle. The room had a cupboard, refrigerator, and a magic stove, all complete, which made me guess that perhaps, the room is often used for complicated talks. As I sat down on the sofa nervous, my father was grinding something in the sink. This burnt-smelling aroma…
‘Coffee, father?’
‘So you knew. The capital is not accustomed to the taste yet, but it’s something the visitors from the south brought with them. It is helpful whenever I need to stay up late in my work. I do not know whether it will suit your taste but… you can put milk and sugar if you like.’
‘I am no longer a child, father… Uergh.’
I’ve heard of its bitterness from Lady Chloe through the observation conference of my brother. I drank it straight thinking that showing a childish palate would deprive me of the credibility for the succeeding conversation but…, what the hell is this? Dirt? After turning my eyes towards my father, he was barely holding back his laughter.
‘Do not push yourself. It takes time to get used to. Now then— before I talk about the secrets of the royal family, I need to ask you first. Yello, just how far do you know?’
Having been called by my first name, I straightened my posture and spoke of the recent events while obscuring the game elements.
‘When I heard of the empire’s movements within the Corundum Kingdom from my fiancée, I felt as though, they are inconspicuously making a move in our kingdom too. The sacred church seems to have complete confidence in the saintess’ capability to maintain stability, but sacred magic is not perfect. The danger that our kingdom faces is no longer limited to the miasma and monsters alone.
I thoroughly examined whether the Saintess truly has the strength to protect our kingdom for eternity. That was when I got information from the house that has made the highest contribution to the church, House Moonlight, that the empire has made contact with them. As well as how the sacred church changed the purchase of magic robes from domestic production, to the empire’s cheaper alternatives.
Finding their relationship with the church odd, I got curious as to why such a house, in spite of having the highest contribution to the sacred church, has produced neither a queen nor an ‘interim-saintess.’ I thought that perhaps, they were the descendants of the ancient witch. That led me to the hypothesis that the unfair treatment they continue to receive could possibly make them turn over towards the empire against us, instead.’
I kept on talking as I put milk and sugar into my coffee, trying to appear natural. My father just drank sipped his black coffee.
‘So that is the reason why you have viewed the empire as a problem since before. While they have not made any conspicuous movements, for now, they are eerily indirectly involved with the exportation of Himemomobana.
Did you read about the witch from the books of the sacred church?’
‘There were some points of the myth written in those books that bothered me, father. The sacred church refuses to accept the use of common magic while putting absolutism towards the sacred magic, but the description of the sacred bird summoning of the first saintess, as well as her sealing method of the witch, closely resembles that of common magic. It also suggests the existence of a god before the saintess.’
That’s what I want to know. Just what exactly is my country, the Coloflare Kingdom. As I said that, my father brought his cup back to its saucer and folded his arms.
‘What is the Saintess to you?’
‘Coloflare Kingdom’s Deity—or someone that the kingdom conforms to. To put it in simplest terms, she is the ‘authority’. I think of authority as something that provides the greatest impact on the economy, diplomacy, and national defense. Although, recently, it’s looking rather shaky in that regard.’
‘Shakey, you say?’
‘The main cause of the engagement dispute of my brother and Lady Chloe was the love affairs of the “True Saintess,” recognized by the sacred church. She had hopelessly allured not only brother, but even his associates, one after another, making the hearts of the retainers, not only the House Moonlight, grow distant to the royal family. Do we still suppose to stand fine regardless, so long as we have the saintess?
Presently, the saintess, Momo Palette, has still yet to make clear to whom she had set her hearts on, and in the worst-case scenario, may even leave the country. A lone woman bringing danger to the country; I believe such are more aptly called as ‘temptress.’
Placing the spoon in the saucer after mixing the condiments, I took a single sip. It was more palatable than before so I was able to drink it somehow. As frustrating as it is, my palate is still that of a child.
I cannot just readily speak doubt about the saintess even as a royalty. I know the authority of the Saintess, the first, being our deity herself, but having blind belief could avert one’s gaze from the truth. If you think carefully of Lady Momo’s words, they are all questionable in nature.
‘Yello, you meant to say that, Momo Palette is a villainous woman rather than a saintess.’
‘We must put aside which is evil for now, father. I heard about it from my fiancée, the Riqum ducal lady, but I assume that father is aware that the first princess of the Corundum Kingdom, her highness, Juliet, was proposed to by her childhood friend, Romeo. However, recently, a relative of the young man was discovered to be a believer of the new faith and is propagating the faith, asking for funds to procure the magic drugs, ‘princess,’ and was in debt. Due to that, some are voicing concerns that the young man only approached the first princess for money.’
It was the same romantic circumstances of the first princess that Canaria talked about earlier in her letters, being more romantic than Locke’s crossing of borders for the sake of being able to support Lady Momo. My fiancee was quite shocked about it. I only thought that perhaps the concerns were well-founded. The main problem is that it will be a marriage between a royalty and a commoner.
‘What does that have to do with our kingdom?’
‘Momo Palette is a commoner, father. If our first prince were to have been known to awaken his true love to a commoner and married her, that will send waves towards our neighbor, the Corrundum Kingdom. They will send a message that one can overcome the difference in social status for as long as they have love in their arms.’
‘Did you not just speak of the authority of our kingdom’s saintess? It is also indispensable for Momo Palette to be adopted by an aristocrat before being welcomed by the royal family. The circumstances between the two cases are different.’
Father was right. There is likely no connection between the two things happening to both countries. However, the two unrelated incidents can become connected through speculative minds.
‘The particulars of the engagement are also attracting attention from the other countries. The first prince, the primary crown prince candidate, married a commoner-born saintess. That would not be such a problematic thing to our kingdom.
But how would that look from the Corundum Kingdom’s perspective? A future king marrying a commoner lady; The wish of the first princess had come true in their neighboring ally. She will likely use it as convenient precedence.’
There are growing sentiments that perhaps, the sins of Romeo’s relative are entirely unrelated to him and that the betrothal of the two is fine so long as they are happy. That may have been true if you view Princess Juliet in her individual capacity and not in her authority as a princess.
However, being so quick as to set aside the authority that has protected them ever since, just speaks of their shallow attachment to their kingdom. Handing over their princess to a commoner that is likely under the influence of the empire without even considering what has been protecting them; what impression would that make in fifty or a hundred years? The Coloflare Kingdom wouldn’t be able to wash its hands of it either.
‘A prince is still a human. They also hurt all the same; they also fall in love, right?’
The person who audaciously speaks of such things is the “authority” of our kingdom. Speaking of royalties in their individual capacity; the lady is saying that the country may be damned, for the sake of love. How do I suppose a lady like her will save my kingdom?
‘Your majesty, our old methods of protecting our kingdom are nearly reaching their limits. I desire the strength that would render me capable of stopping these waves, at once.’
As I appeal to him with a grave face, my father looked back at me without saying anything and leaked a sigh. The sorrowful ambiance that he emits makes me confident that he will accept my request.
‘…You have grown, Keith. You are truly, no longer a mere child.
Yello, do you love this country? Do you wish to avert its dissolution?’
‘O-of course. This is the country I was born in, there is no way I would not love…it.’
My assertation had grown weaker at the furthest end. My father’s eyes are probing my resolve. However, his eyes were cast down, without even the slightest hint of bewilderment.
‘Would you still think the same after hearing this story… Very well, I shall tell you then; the darkness of the royal family.’
