Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy
Iris
While chatting with His Highness Julius about past events over tea, the sound of several footsteps ascending the stone staircase could be heard from downstairs.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, but Julius… Ah, I see, he arrived here first after all.”
“You’re welcome, Uncle and…”
Following His Majesty, led up the stairs by the hand was a Highborn woman, pale golden hair gathered neatly in an updo, wearing a refined, high-quality dress that was tasteful yet not overly extravagant.
She was rather tall for a woman and didn’t look out of place when standing next to the somewhat physically imposing His Majesty… and though her features were beautiful, her soft, droopy eyes and gentle smile gave off a more youthful impression.
Although she must have been in her mid-thirties, she hardly looked it.
We had been briefed about her beforehand. She was Anneliese Norglacier, His Majesty Alfgard’s wife and the queen of our country.
“Father, Mother, I’m really sorry… I just couldn’t wait to see Big Sister.”
“Although it’s not right to go ahead without permission… I can understand how you feel.”
As His Majesty Alfgard smiled at His Highness Julius, the Queen approached us slowly. When she reached us, she looked at Nii-sama and me in turn, then extended her hand toward us.
“…Truly, you two look just as you did seven years ago… no, perhaps you’ve grown a little?”
With that, she gently stroked our cheeks, as if confirming our presence. Then, in the next moment, she wrapped both of us in her arms.
“I’m so glad for your safe return. Welcome back, Irisria, Saulquez.”
Her heartfelt words left Nii-sama and me a little flustered, and we replied quietly.
Yes, we’re back.
“Is it all right to interrupt now, Your Majesty Alfgard, Your Highness Queen Anneliese?”
A girl’s voice suddenly called from the direction of the stairs.
Following His Majesty and Queen came a young girl with a somewhat assertive expression, but adorable nonetheless.
She had bright blonde hair, long enough to reach her waist when let down, tied into twintails on either side of her head.
Her outfit was a white robe adorned with frills, lace, and golden embroidery. It also bore a symbol resembling a combination of a cross and a circle—the mark of the Eirene Church.
“Ange! You’ve come too!”
“Um, I… Ahem. You seem to be in a good mood, His Highness Julius.”
His Highness Julius innocently and happily beamed at her. She blushed and looked a bit flustered, but she quickly regained her composure and bowed with a composed look on her face.
“And you must be Her Highness Irisria? I’ve heard much about you. They say you possess extraordinary healing abilities.”
With that, the girl in the pure white robe curtsied, holding the hem of her skirt.
“No… I’m painfully aware of my shortcomings every day. And you’re?”
“I’m Angelica, a devotee of Eirene-sama’s faith, and I’ve been honored with the title of ‘Saint’.”
“…Eh?!”
My eyes widened in surprise when Angelica-chan said that with a soft smile on her face.
The Saints are girls highly talented in healing magic, the pride of the Eirene Church.
I heard that those chosen to become Saints were taken from their families and lived a life of training and service at the Church’s headquarters… but I never imagined that someone so young could be among their ranks.
“Miss Angelica here is also Julius’ fiancée. Please, be kind to her.”
“Y-Yes…”
Fiancée.
That’s a word I was unfamiliar with back when I lived in Japan. But, of course, with royalty, even someone so young could already be engaged.
She looked to be around His Highness Julius’ age, perhaps a little older, but definitely not over ten. Despite her youth, her composed demeanor and the confidence in her role were evident.
Children in this world are truly remarkable. I can’t afford to fall behind.
I straightened myself, determined not to be embarrassed as the older one here.
“…I definitely won’t lose to you.”
“…Pardon?”
She muttered something under her breath.
When I looked at Angelica-chan, she was looking straight at me with a gaze that was filled with hostility.
…Of course. For someone who has been training since so young, it must be hard for her to accept someone who had just appeared out of nowhere like me.
I gulped as she scowled at me. It’s not going to be easy to befriend her, is it?
“Hey, Ange, you’re going to be busy with work soon, right?”
A helping hand came from nearby.
When His Highness Julius spoke to Angelica-chan, her cheeks quickly turned red, and her gaze started to wander.
…I can’t take it anymore, she’s just as cute as His Highness Julius.
I took back what I said earlier. She and I would be good friends in no time.
As I smiled softly at their interaction, she glared at me, as if asking what I was laughing at. Oops, sorry!
“Yes… The day after tomorrow, I’m going to have a meeting for my duties at the festival.”
“Then, why don’t we go explore a bit while we still have time?”
“W-Well… um…”
Angelica-chan looked around uncertainly, and her eyes landed on His Majesty and Queen, who were watching them from the side.
Her gaze… was filled with both hesitation and a flicker of anticipation.
His Majesty and the Queen seemed to understand her feelings, as the former smiled and nodded gently.
Seeing that, Angelica-chan briefly flashed a radiant smile, but quickly composed herself and returned to a more formal expression.
“Ahem… if His Highness insists, I supposed I could join you…”
“Really? Great! Father, may I take Angelica and go explore for a bit?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Just be sure to return before dark. Angelica, please take care of Julius.”
With both His Majesty and the Queen’s approval, His Highness Julius happily took Angelica’s hand and escorted her down the stairs.
“Leonhardt, can I leave escorting those two to you?”
“Understood. Reiji-kun, you come with me.”
“Okay… See you later, Saul.”
Following His Majesty’s orders, Leonhardt-sama and Reiji-san also stood up, and before we realized it, it was just me, Nii-sama, His Majesty and the Queen left in the room.
After seeing off the two young children, the four of us resumed our tea around the table.
“Hehe, those two make such an adorable pair, don’t they?”
“I agree. That Angelica girl can’t be honest with herself, but against His Highness pushing her around so innocently, she doesn’t stand a chance.”
Nii-sama and I chatted, remembering the innocent exchange between His Highness Julius and Angelica-chan.
Just remembering about it brought a smile to my face.
His Majesty nodded at us, seemingly in agreement.
“Indeed… I’m glad to see that the two betrothed are getting along well. I have to be grateful for Miss Angelica for accepting my proposal even though she’s so young.”
“From the looks of it, their future seems to be secure, isn’t that reassuring?”
I said this casually, but…
“Right…”
His Majesty’s expression suddenly clouded over, and he began to speak gravely.
“I… I don’t wish that strongly for my child to inherit the throne.”
“…Uncle? What do you mean by that…?”
I had always assumed that His Majesty, who doted on His Highness Julius so much, wanted him to inherit the throne. But now, His Majesty’s face was tinged with anguish.
“…Of course, if Julius wishes to pursue it, I wouldn’t hesitate to support him with all my might. I’d teach him everything I know. But if he doesn’t, I want him to choose his own path, to live as he wishes.”
His Majesty smiled wryly, adding, “Still, with so few royal children in this generation, it’s not like that will be possible.”
“If that happens, the burden will likely fall upon you two. I apologize if you think I’m being selfish.”
“Please don’t worry about us. But may I ask why you feel this way?”
Curious about his hesitation, I tilted my head and asked. After a moment of deliberation, His Majesty began to speak.
“You know my background, don’t you?”
“Y-Yes… after your brother, the previous king Aureolus, ascended the throne, you became the commander of the Light Regiment, our elite unit of magic knights.”
The Light Regiment were the finest of Norglacier’s magic knights, chosen not only for their strength but also for their high level of education, manners, and even physical appearance. They were the face of the royal guard, an elite group dedicated to protecting the capital.
It was also said that His Majesty Alfgard, having yielded the throne to his brother Aureolus, fully dedicated himself to supporting his reign.
“And I would have been content with that. If my brother hadn’t gone missing, I would have dedicated my life to supporting him.”
With a heavy sigh, he continued.
“I’m just… not fit to become king.”
“No, I don’t think that’s true at all! Your Majesty is known as a just ruler, and the people hold you in high regard…”
“Yes, it’s a blessing that the people think so. But in their minds… I can never be as good as my brother once was.”
“That’s…”
I found myself at a loss for words.
He was correct. While studying the history of this country, I had frequently come across praises of the previous king’s achievements.
His Majesty Aureolus’ achievements were vast, even though his reign, starting at the age of eighteen, lasted only about fifteen years.
Among his greatest achievements was the completion of the transcontinental railway, which connected the royal capital with the Central Business District, the closest city to Acropolis. This project had been abandoned during the reign of his immediate predecessor—my grandfather—leaving it in limbo.
Despite his youth, His Majesty Aureolus’s talents were already drawing significant expectations from those around him.
However, his predecessor, jealous of the young prince’s reputation, assigned him the challenging and stalled railway project, sending him far from the capital.
Everyone pitied the young prince, believing the task impossible.
After all, standing in the way between the capital and the Central Business District was the “Forest of Snow Crystals”, a dangerous “Forbidden Zone” caused by the influence of the Wound of the World, the largest of its kind on the northern continent. Everything in the forest, including the falling snow, was made of sharp crystals, making it one of the most perilous areas. The original railway plan couldn’t avoid passing near this treacherous land.
Yet, after being appointed to the task, Aurelius succeeded against all odds. He made various revisions to the plan and even secured the cooperation of the Cyclops, a notoriously difficult race, to which Master Nephilim belonged.
His Majesty Aureolus’s work on the railway was completed before the transcontinental line was finished, as he ascended to the throne with overwhelming support after the previous king fell ill.
However, the project was already so thoroughly planned that construction continued smoothly without him, and soon the long-awaited railway for the people of the capital was completed.
The removal of a major bottleneck in transportation led to easier access in and out of the capital, thus a boom in tourism. In anticipation of this, urban development had been progressing in parallel, resulting in significant economic benefits, increased employment, and more fluid distribution of goods.
In addition to this, His Majesty Aureolus also initiated the development of the national counterintelligence agency, promoted the advancement of magical technology, and revised the military’s standardization of magical equipment. His contributions were diverse, and their impact is still felt today.
He was revered as the “Sorcerer King”, wielding magical power so great that it was said he could even sever dimensions.
During the battle against the Death Serpent, he led the frontlines and was the key figure in his defeat, earning overwhelming support as the most powerful ruler.
“The day when I surpass my brother would never come… I understood that better than anyone, and fairly early on. That’s why I decided to take up military duties and support him as his aide. But in the end, with my brother’s disappearance, I became king in his place. Fate is rarely so accommodating.”
“My dear…”
“At that time, Anne, I truly caused you so much trouble. When I proposed marriage to you while you were still a young princess, you had no plans of becoming queen. Yet, you’ve handled the sudden responsibility of being my queen so well, and I am truly grateful.”
“No, from the moment I decided to be your partner, I resolved to follow you wherever you went. It was never a burden to me.”
His Majesty and the Queen, a couple who have been together for many years, gazed at each other, lost in their own world.
Nii-sama and I sip our fragrant tea, feeling as if we’ve added too much sugar.
“…Ahem, please pardon us.”
His Majesty, having finally returned to the present, took a sip of his tea and continued, somewhat embarrassed.
“In the end, I am a king who can only ‘protect what already exists.’ Unlike my brother, I can’t foresee the future of the kingdom or move things forward with new ideas.”
That was His Majesty’s assessment of himself. It was probable that he was underestimating his abilities, but pointing that out wouldn’t likely reach him.
“No… From now on, anyone who inherits this kingdom will face the same inevitable comparisons. My brother… your father, Irisria, was just that kind of person.”
“Your Majesty…”
To have had such an exceptionally talented predecessor meant enduring relentless comparisons from those around him.
His Majesty Alfgard must have always been subject to such comparisons as he ruled the country. The weight of that burden is something we can hardly imagine. And now, knowing this all too well, perhaps he was reluctant to let his young child walk down such a thorny path.
“My dear, you mustn’t always take such a pessimistic view.”
“Hmm? Oh, yes, you’re right. I didn’t mean to sound like I was putting pressure on anyone.”
In the suddenly heavy atmosphere, the Queen gently chastised her husband and placed her hand softly on mine.
“You too, Irisria, may often feel negative because of your lineage… but that’s only one side of the story. It also means your father was a remarkable man, worthy of great respect.”
“Your Majesty… Thank you for your kind words.”
Her words were a reminder that it’s okay to take pride in the blood that runs through me.
I nodded to show her my understanding.
“I may be young and it’s presumptuous of me to say this to Your Majesty, but… I think protecting what already exists is a difficult task in itself. So, I consider Your Majesty, who strives to protect the entire kingdom and maintains its stability, to be a king worthy of great respect yourself.”
“Yes, indeed… While His Majesty Aureolus might have been an exceptional ruler, I feel that you’re the person who I should aspire to be like, Uncle.”
Following Nii-sama’s earnest words, I too expressed my admiration for His Majesty Alfgard.
A benevolent king who, despite the heavy responsibilities, continued to strive for the people.
And yet, he was still someone who deeply cared for his family’s future.
Even if he wasn’t gifted with extraordinary talent, he is undoubtedly a great king deserving of praise.
“Is that so… Is that really how you two feel…? Thank you. I’m sorry for burdening you youngsters with such complaints.”
His Majesty Alfgard, seemed relieved, his shoulders loosening as he bowed his head. When he raised it again, there were faint tears at the corners of his eyes, but the smile on his face was one of true peace, as if a great weight had finally been lifted from him.
APM - Translation 