Volume 10 - CH 9.1

Bonus Story: The Happiest Queen of All 

It happened on a day when Sir Souma’s coronation and wedding to Liscia and the others was closing in. 

“Cian, Kazuha. Grandmother is heeeere,” I said, peeking into their crib. 

“Dawoo?” asked Cian. 

“Ayee!” squealed Kazuha. 

As our eyes met, Cian’s face froze with his fingers still in his mouth, while Kazuha moved her arms and legs around excitedly. 

They were different reactions, but both very babyish, and so cute. I brought my hand to my cheek and stared at them, charmed. 

“Oh, goodness me, your children are cute,” I cooed to my daughter. 

“Mother...” Liscia, who was beside me folding baby clothes, said with a somewhat wry smile. “It’s true these two are cute, but what’s with this ‘Grandmother’ business? You’re not Excel, you know?” 

“Oh, what’s the harm? Being called Granny makes me feel old.” 

Liscia had given birth to Cian and Kazuha before turning twenty, and I had given birth to Liscia in my teenage years, too. That was why I was still just shy of forty. 

(Author’s note: The year is slightly longer in this world, so by Earth reckoning, she would be slightly over.) 

I giggled at the look of exasperation on Liscia’s face and told her, “In another twenty years, you’ll know how I feel, you know?” 

“I’d... really rather not think about that.” With a sour look on her face, Liscia put the folded clothes into the dresser. 

There was a knock on the door, and when Liscia answered it, one of the maids, Carla, came in. 

“Liscia. The master wishes to speak to you regarding your dress for the ceremony.” 

“Souma does? Okay.” Liscia looked over at me. “Sorry, Mother, could you look after the children for a while?” 

“Certainly,” I smiled. “I wouldn’t want you to keep our son-in-law waiting. Take care.” 

Liscia smiled back and left the room. 

Carla, who had taken her place as a result, saluted and said, “Give me any command.” 

I answered her with a smile, then returned to peering at the babies in their crib. 

“It’s... like a dream,” I whispered to myself so quietly that Carla couldn’t hear. 

I was twelve when I first gained a proper understanding of my magic. 

I, who was born to the King of Elfrieden and his third primary queen, lost my mother at a young age. I was raised by my adoring father, and became quite the little tomboy as a result. 

I was unfortunately gifted with a talent for martial arts and horse riding, so I joined the castle guards on rides, and spent my youth covered in constant scrapes and bruises. 

One day, I had heard there was a wild horse in the stables that wasn’t used to people, and convinced myself, “I will break it in!” 

Ignoring the attempts of my maids to stop me, I tried to ride the horse. 

“...!!” 

That was when it happened. 

Suddenly, “memories” that were much too vivid flowed into my head. 

Of me, recklessly mounting the wild horse. 

Of me, calming it, despite some resistance. 

Then of the horse, going wild the moment I got full of myself and let my guard down. 

Of me, thrown from the horse, falling head-first to the ground. 

Intense pain, the ground appearing much too close, and a spreading pool of my own blood. 

That vision spread inside my head, and I had a realization. 

These were my memories. The memories of a future “me” who had gotten on that horse. 

“...Let’s not do that, after all,” I whispered. 

I decided against riding the wild horse, returned to my room to the relief of my maids, and lay face down on my soft bed. 

Up until then, I hadn’t known what my magic was. 

This was common for those with dark magic, which was any magic that wasn’t healing light magic, and that didn’t belong to the four elements: fire, water, earth, and wind. 

Because dark magic as a category was special, and often included magics that could only be used by one individual, it wasn’t uncommon for that person not to understand it all that well. 

However, after my experience that day, I understood mine clearly. 

“The power to send memories back to my past self when in mortal danger.” 

That was my personal magic. 

It was an ability that, when faced with a threat to my life, allowed me to send regrets such as, I should have done this back then or I never should have done that to myself as I stood at the branching point that led to that future. 

My impression, having received the memories of that future “me,” was that it was like I, myself had made that decision, and time had rolled back from that future to the time I was in now. 

However, I also had the sense that it wasn’t my own future. 

I had not, after all, made that decision yet. It was like being shown the result of an entity that was identical to myself making the decision I was about to make. 

In addition, because of the requirement that I had to be facing a threat to my life, it was also an ability I could only use once in my life. Because the odds were high that death would await me not long after I sent the memories. 

It felt like a divine revelation or a sixth sense when I was on the receiving end, but when I was the sender, it would be like leaving a will to my past self. 

When I realized that, it made me shudder. 

It was fine to be the receiver. But when I thought of being the sender, I felt nothing but fear. 

It was also difficult to explain this power to others, and if I was not careful, they might think I had gone crazy. 

I wanted to know if I could send memories to people other than myself, but this was a magic that came with risk to my life, so I couldn’t test it. 

Unable to talk with anyone about this magic, I got depressed. 

Whenever I thought about receiving more memories of my life being in peril, I couldn’t be as rash and reckless as I had been before. 

When those around me saw how ladylike I had become, they welcomed it, saying, “I know she is only the daughter of the third primary queen, but maybe she’s begun to recognize her role as royalty.” 

All I could think in response was, You people have no idea what I’m going through. 

“Sigh...” 

When things got like this, I couldn’t muster the will to do much of anything, and I spent a lot of time staring off into space. 

I spent my days gazing out the window, looking at the flowers in the garden, and so on. 

Then, one day, it happened. 

I was wandering through the garden in a daze, and I heard a voice. 

“Hmm, I see, I see.” 

I poked my head out from behind a hedge, and there was the old gardener and a young noble enthusiastically talking about something. 

“That is why you need to prune the flowers during this season,” the gardener was saying. 

“I see,” said the noble. “You’re teaching me a lot here.” 

It seemed that the old man with the pruning shears was teaching the young man, who seemed to be a noble, about gardening as he worked. The young man was better dressed, and likely of a higher status than the old man, but he was enthusiastically taking instructions from the old man. 

I snuck closer to the two of them, and observed that man. 

He was likely somewhere between eighteen and twenty years old, and had a somewhat exhausted look about him, making him seem older than his years. His face was average and lacked impact, and though he seemed kind, he didn’t look like he would be able to move up in the world in future. 

Patting his own lower back, the old man said to the young man, “Is that all you wanted me to teach you? Was it any help?” 

“Yes! Thank you for your tutelage,” the young man said happily. 

It looked like they had finished their conversation. 

The old man left to move on to his next task, and the remaining man sat down. Producing some paper and a portable pen with its own ink bag, he began to write something down. 

I approached the man and asked him, “What are you doing?” 

“Just a moment,” he said, writing without looking up to see who was addressing him. “I’m taking a summary of what I heard just... Huh?!” 

As it suddenly hit him that someone was talking to him, he jumped a little. He looked kind of silly like that. 

“I’m sorry to call out to you so suddenly,” I said. 

“Oh, no, it’s fine... Wait, Princess Elisha?!” The man quickly got to his feet, and bowed to me as hard as he could. “That was incredibly rude of me, not realizing I was speaking to a princess!” 

“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m the one who crept up on you, after all. But, setting that aside, what is it you’re doing here?” 

The man put a hand on his head as he looked up. “Well, the truth is, gardening is a hobby of mine. When I saw this beautiful garden, I wanted to hear what the person maintaining it would have to say, and I had him teach me some things.” 

“Gardening... is it? Even though you’re a man?” 

“Oh, you see, my domain is out in the mountains, in the middle of nowhere, but we have a lot of land and a large yard, so I took up gardening. It seems I’m a little clumsy, and I come up short in both martial and political pursuits, but, let me tell you, when it comes to gardening, I have some confidence... Just kidding.” 

With that, the man let out a weak laugh. 

He felt so unreliable. 

It seemed my first impression, that he wouldn’t be going far in life, wasn’t wrong. 

“Ahaha... I’m weird, aren’t I? I know that.” He may have sensed what I was thinking, because the man said that with a wry smile. 

Seeing the dejection on his face, I kind of felt bad about it. Maybe it was because I’d seen all the people in the castle with glaring ambitions. I’d gotten into the habit of appraising everyone I met. 

“But you’re fine that way, aren’t you?” I said without intending to. “There are plenty of knights and nobles who pride themselves on their martial ability, or their cleverness. Having one laid-back noble like you around isn’t going to make the country any better or worse.” 

“Princess...” The man’s eyes widened. 

I smiled at him. “I think you should just be yourself. With all the schemers in this world, I find it comforting to know there are people out there like you, too.” 

“You are... too kind.” The man placed his hand over his chest and bowed his head.

Three years passed, and I turned fifteen. 

My father, the King of Elfrieden, passed away. 

In order to build a nation that could oppose the massive Gran Chaos Empire on the western side of the continent, my father had fought wars to expand the country’s territory. He had annexed a number of small and medium-sized nations to the north, carved a large swathe out of the Principality of Amidonia’s territory to the west, and held repeated clashes with the Republic of Turgis in the south and the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago in the eastern sea. 

This rapid expansion bred friction, and our country came to contain the conquerors and the conquered, the plunderers and the plundered, the killers and the killed, all at the same time. Those seeds of unrest rapidly grew when my father died without designating an heir. 

Who would become the next king and inherit the country? 

Because the country had grown so large, there were many who raised their hands. 

Internal struggles inside the royal house intertwined with the intrigues of the knights and nobles, and the sparks grew larger. 

Then the seeds of unrest germinated. 

“If that house is siding with them, our house will join their opposition.” 

“We can never forgive that person, so we won’t join the faction they support.” 

Like that, the upper echelons of society divided into camps, and those camps came to oppose one another. 

These sparks very quickly fell my way, too. 

“Choose a fiancé, they say...” 

I looked at the portraits of suitors piled up on my desk and let out a sigh. 

I was the daughter of the third primary queen, and had more than a handful of half-siblings who were above me. I was around tenth in the line to the throne, and with my mother already deceased, and without the backing of any families, I should never have been involved in the succession crisis. 

That was why, initially, I had been left sitting on the sidelines. 

However, as the conflict had intensified, a number of successors had died under suspicious circumstances (most likely assassinated by rival claimants). Now I could no longer remain uninvolved. 

I was an insignificant girl with no backers, but I still bore the blood of my father, so there were those around me who were starting to think they should bring me into their camp for whatever little benefit that would bring. Or maybe thinking that... in order to keep me from being taken by another camp, it would be better if they just did away with me. 

It was around this time that my magic started to activate often. 

I would be about to drink tea, and see an image of myself suffering for it. 

I would be walking on a balcony, and see an image of a chandelier falling. 

I would be traveling in a carriage, and see an image of myself surrounded by armed men. 

Those were surely warnings from a future “me.” 

When I awoke, I was in bed. 

It seemed one of my maids had heard my scream, rushed to my aid, and cared for me. 

I told the maid by my side, “Thank you, I’ll be fine now,” then left my room, thinking about the visions with my still-muddled head. 

They had come from many futures in which “I” had made the wrong choice. 

One “me” had gotten engaged to a man from an accomplished military family. 

He was an impressive warrior himself, and his followers were strong. I had hoped that a man like that would be able to protect me. 

However, he’d taken advantage of his military prowess, acting in a prideful way that stood out and made more enemies. In the castle, full of both allies and enemies, those actions had cost him his life. In the end, he’d been deceived with surprising ease, and killed before “we” could even be married. The memory ended with “me” and his servants at enemy swordpoint. 

One “me” had gotten engaged to a man who was an excellent schemer. 

He’d hatched plots to eliminate members of opposing factions. However, he’d earned the resentment of many, lost their trust, and eventually suffered betrayal, falling at the hands of his own companions. 

That memory ended with “me” getting caught up in the same incident. 

One “me” had gotten engaged to a man who was in the largest faction at the time. 

That faction currently had many members and was overwhelming the opposition, but when all the other factions were gone, it would fracture due to an internal power struggle, and that would turn into an endless quagmire. 

This might have been the future where the most blood was shed. 

That memory ended the same as the others. 

One “me” had tried to flee the conflict. 

If the outcome would be the same no matter who I married, I’d decided I would choose to marry no one and go into hiding. However, for someone like me without the backing of a family, hiding in town had been the only option. 

In an environment without the security of the castle, I had been quickly discovered, and because of the atmosphere of suspicion, I’d been assumed to be plotting something and viewed as a threat. 

That memory ended as I was about to be disposed of for being a troublemaker. 

The choices of all the other “me”s didn’t lead to bright futures, either. 

Even in the futures where I would narrowly survive the succession crisis, after all the blood that was shed, the Kingdom of Elfrieden would not be able to unite as one. The invasions that followed, the attacks by monsters, the scheming of nobles, and the uprisings by the people would all work to weaken the kingdom. 

Ultimately, the memories of every “me” seemed to end with the castle burning. 

Ten or so of those sorts of visions raced through my head. 

It was like time had been wound back over and over, but I could still tell that the memories were not my own. 

I was forced to witness the outcomes of the choices that those “me”s who were not me made. 

As I remembered those scenes, I rushed into the washroom and threw up. 

When my stomach was empty, I collapsed powerlessly on the spot, leaning against the wall for support. 

“I... can’t do this anymore.” 

Those were the words that slipped from my mouth. 

Ten times I had failed. 

There might be some disagreement on whether that number was a lot or a little, but it was more than I could bear. 

Even if I received the memories, I was still only myself. 

Even if I made a decision, failed, and passed on my experience to the next “me,” that didn’t mean I could return to the past. It would be the end for the me who had failed. 

The next “me,” or the “me” after the next “me,” might reach a happy future. 

But she wasn’t me. 

I could only become happy here, in this world where I was. If I failed, death awaited, like it had for all of the “me”s so far. 

When I thought of it that way, I was terrified to even choose. 

It was frightening that the memories I’d received all cut out right before death. I was sent to the brink of death again and again, without knowing what death was like. 

To make an analogy, it was like there was an infinite number of ropes hanging in front of my eyes, one of them tied to a sword hanging above my head, and I was watching the ropes be cut one by one. I lived in fear of the sword that would eventually fall and take my life. Even if it didn’t fall this time, I could never relax. 

I felt cornered, and hugged my knees. 

No! I don’t want to make any more choices! 

If nothing I did would work, I would do nothing. 

My heart was completely broken.

From then on, I spent even more of my time staring off into space. 

I was wandering a maze in which I could see no exit, and I had reached a dead end. I lacked the will to resist fate, and I was simply waiting for the inevitable end to come. 

Thinking and fretting over it only made it more painful, so I did everything I could not to think about it, and would spend my time lying out in the sun. 

I think, by this point, my thought process was already that of an old woman. 

Then, one day, when I chose the garden for my dazed wandering... 

“Please! I’m begging you!” a man’s voice cried. 

“I hear you, but I can’t...” 

Two men were talking. 

I poked my head out from behind the hedge, wondering what it could be about, and saw a man in his early twenties bowing his head to a still-young (his mane was short, so he looked young) lion beastman. 

The beastman man sounded troubled. “Raise your head, Albert. There are things I can’t do, even for you.” 

“Please, do something, Georg!” 

Georg... Oh! I remembered. 

That lion beastman was Georg Carmine, the eldest son of the House of Carmine, one of the three ducal families which controlled this country’s Army, Navy, and Air Force. I remembered him having come to the castle with his father, the current head of the house, back when my own father was still alive and well. 

The other man, Albert, on the other hand... Who was he? I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where. 

He was still young, but his exhausted face and beard made him look older than his years. 

“Please, Georg! Let me meet with your father, at least!” Albert begged. 

“I’m telling you, I can’t.” 

They were arguing over something, but their informal tone implied a friendship that had lasted many years. 

Albert had a more bureaucratic look to him, so it was surprising to see him on good terms with someone from the House of Carmine, who were the representatives of the military officers. 

Georg started pulling at his mane. “I owe you, and I do want to be of help. But the Duke of Carmine is my father now. My father and his men are following Duchess Walter’s direction to not get involved in the succession crisis. If the three branches of the military get involved, the crisis will spread throughout the entire country. They’re each clamping down on their own subordinates to ensure that doesn’t happen.” 

It seemed Albert’s request had something to do with the current crisis, and, though it pained him to do it, Georg was refusing whatever-it-was. 

It was true that if the three forces got involved in this conflict, it would only invite more chaos. 

I felt it was a given that Duchess Excel Walter, who had supported this country for many long years, would take steps to keep them under control. And if Duchess Walter strongly opposed getting involved, her son-in-law, Duke Vargas, would obey her. Meanwhile, if the two other houses were opposed, Duke Carmine would have to be, too. 

I felt like reason was on Georg’s side. 

However, Albert was not ready to back down. 

“This isn’t a request for him to support anyone! I just want him to provide protection to keep somebody from being harmed!” 

“And I’m telling you that doing so could be interpreted as intervening!” 

Georg pressed Albert’s shoulder. That was all it took to unbalance him, and the man took a few steps backward before falling to his knees. 

Seeing that, Georg pityingly said, “If anything, I’d like to ask you not to involve yourself in the conflict any further. You’re a good guy. As your friend, I know that.” 

“Georg...” 

“But you’re weak. So weak that you stumbled when I shoved you just a little. You lack the power to overcome this crisis, and you’re too softhearted to bring others down. That’s why I’m telling you, if you shut yourself up in that mountain domain of yours, you can stay out of this.” 

Albert hung his head in silence. 

Georg placed a hand on his shoulder and said, “So back off, Albert.” 

“Georg... I still...” Albert grabbed the arm of the hand Georg had placed on his shoulder. “I still want to save her! I want to save Lady Elisha!” 

Me?! Why?! 

For a moment, I didn’t understand what he’d said. He wanted to save me? I didn’t know who he was, so why was he so desperate? 

Thankfully, Georg asked exactly the same thing I wanted to know. “Why go so far for Lady Elisha?” 

“Because she told me, ‘You’re fine that way,’” Albert said in a tortured voice. “I’m a mediocre man, with less power, wisdom, wealth, or influence than anyone. I’m so boring that, if asked if I have one thing I can be proud of, it’s my skill at gardening. But she told me, ‘You’re fine that way.’ She also said, ‘I think you should just be yourself,’ and ‘With all the schemers in this world, I find it comforting to know there are people out there like you, too.’ I felt like those words saved me!” 

It’s him... 

I finally remembered that day. That man. 

The one I had met in this garden and spoken to a few years ago was Albert. And all because of that short conversation, he was desperate to help me. 

Upon learning that, it hit me hard. I had forgotten that we’d even talked, yet this person had remembered an off-hand comment I’d made, and was trying to save me. 

Looking back, I realized this man had been in the memories I’d received from the other “me”s, too. No matter what position “I” was in, no matter who “I” had gotten engaged to... 

“Now is not the time for infighting!” 

“Can’t you put your weapons down and talk this over?!” 

“The royal house will be destroyed at this rate! Please, reconsider!” 

I’d witnessed him visiting many factions, trying to make such appeals to them. 

Of course no one would listen to a man with no power, yet he had been left alone because there was no way he could become a threat. Even “I” had taken no notice of him. 

But he had done it all to protect me. 

How foolishly, meaninglessly, and ridiculously honest he must have been. 

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my cheeks. 

It felt as though my heart, frozen by the memories I’d witnessed, was beginning to thaw. 

When I was wiping away my tears with my sleeve, Georg told Albert with a pained look, “I really can’t help you in my current position.” 

“I see.” Albert slumped his shoulders. “That’s that, then.” 

Georg helped him up to his feet. “I want you to remember this. I pledge to do my utmost to help you when I inherit the House of Carmine. Even at the cost of my life.” 

“Georg...” 

“So don’t be reckless. Don’t make an ingrate of me.” 

Once he said that, Georg clapped Albert on the shoulder and then left. 

Albert, who was left behind, stood there in silence, watching him until he was gone. 

I waited until I was sure my own tears had dried, then came out from behind the hedge and walked over to Albert. 

“Sir Albert.” 

“Huh?! Princess?! How long have you been there?!” 

“Quite some time.” I smiled at the surprised man. “Um... thank you for doing this for me.” 

“N-No! I’ve been of no help... In the end, I couldn’t even get my friend Georg to aid me.” 

“It sure is tranquil out here, isn’t it?” 

I was staring out the window at the scenery during a rocky carriage trip. 

Albert’s domain was in the countryside, centered around a farming and dairy village in the mountains. While the carriage bounced along the country road, we passed ox-drawn carts. 

There was a pastoral scene, unlike anything in the castle, spread out before me. 

“I’m getting a little excited,” I said with palpable anticipation. 

Albert smiled wryly. “I can see that. Though I am not sure we have anything that will entertain you, princess.” 

“Albert!” I grabbed him by the beard and pulled out a few hairs. 

“Yes...? Ouch!” 

“You’re going to be my husband, so drop the formal language, and don’t call me ‘princess.’” 

“O-Okay. Elisha.” 

Albert begrudgingly nodded as he rubbed his chin. The fact that he couldn’t take a firm stance against me, even though he was about five years older than me, spoke to an inborn timidity. That said, I was gradually beginning to see that as part of what made him cute. 

“Oh! What a pretty river,” I said, enchanted. “Do you think there are fish in it?” 

“Yes. When fall comes around, they’ll be quite plump indeed. Georg and I often went fishing there when we were children. Georg was always quick to get bored and resort to catching them by hand, though.” 

“Fishing! That sounds nice. I’ve never done that before, so, please, take me.” 

“Of course I will.” 

While looking at the country scenery, which seemed unaffected by the murderous atmosphere in the capital, I chatted with Albert about nothing in particular, saying things like, “What’s this?” “What’s that?” 

It was a lot of fun to simply do that, and I felt my original, more active personality coming back to me. 

That kept up for a while. Finally, before I knew it, we had arrived at Albert’s mansion. 

It was small for a noble’s manor, but in this land, with its lack of other buildings nearby, it still had a certain presence. 

When we passed through the little gate in a wall that wasn’t going to provide a defense against much more than wild animals, the well-kept gardens were right before our eyes. They weren’t the size of the royal gardens, to be sure, but they were a good match for the compact space, and they came off as being in good taste. 

“The gardens are wonderful...” I sighed in contentment. “Did you do all this, Albert?” 

“Yes. I made these gardens as a hobby.” 

“They’re incredible. Well done.” 

“It’s embarrassing when you praise me so freely.” 

Albert laughed bashfully, but I really did think his gardens were wonderful. 

We sat down in a roofed terrace between the gardens and the mansion. Staring into the sunlit gardens from the shade there, the contrast of light and shadow felt very tasteful. 

“This is the perfect place to relax,” I told him. 

“We can relax all you want. Now seems like a good time, so would you like tea?” 

I nodded, so Albert had one of the servants prepare it. 

When we were drinking tea here in the seats of this terrace, time seemed to flow at a more relaxed pace. 

“Whew... I’m starting to get sleepy.” I yawned. 

“It’s a warm, sunny day, after all. You must be tired from traveling, too. It’s the perfect situation for dozing off. It’s all right if you go to sleep. I’ll wake you when the sun starts to go down.” 

“Hee hee, it’s a luxury to be able to use our time like this.” 

I took him up on his kind offer and did just that. 

The pretty garden, the warm atmosphere, and Albert’s gentle smile made my heart and body feel like they might just melt away. 

How long had it been since I’d felt so at ease? 

If I could have a wish, it would be for these good days to last as long as possible... I thought as I drifted off to sleep. 

I’m sure, somewhere, I must have thought it was an impossible wish. However, contrary to my expectations, those dream-like days continued. 

It seemed that the bloody struggle continued unabated in the capital, but it never extended to this domain. 

I learned this later, but apparently my marriage to Albert worked in my favor. 

Albert was known for being mediocre and without ambition. 

When the factions saw me throw away my family name to marry a man like Albert, they must have seen me as lacking ambition, too. They might have thought, “If she has such a poor eye for men, that little girl is not worth worrying about.” 

There was also Albert’s well known friendship with Georg. If they carelessly acted against someone with connections to the House of Carmine, they would be in trouble if Duke Carmine intervened. 

It was possible Georg made sure talk of their friendship spread far and wide. That would have been the most he could do to help his friend Albert. 

Perhaps those were the reasons why I, who had demonstrated that I was of little threat by marrying a mediocre man, and who was also difficult to act against, was being left alone for the time being. 

Thanks to that, I was able to spend my days relaxing here in this land. 

In fall, we went out to fish. 

“There... Got it! I caught one, Albert!” I grinned. 

“You’re good at everything you do, Elisha. I can’t catch a thing.” 

I usually helped Albert with his work, but on days off we would go fishing together like this, or enjoy a picnic in the hills. 

“What shall we do on our next day off?” I asked him. 

“It should be just about time of year when we can pick mushrooms in the back hills. Do you want to go?” 

“Mushroom hunting! If we manage to pick a lot, let’s share with everyone.” 

“Hmm. I do need to give Johan the hunter something in return for the venison.” 

Our relationship with our subjects was good. It was a small domain, so we had to interact with the people without regard to status. When we went out like this, people wouldn’t hesitate to call out to us. 

“While we’re at it, why don’t we roast them in the garden?” I suggested. 

“Ha ha ha, there’s an idea,” he laughed. “I’ll call all the townsfolk.” 

And so, as we spent our days in peace, at some point, I stopped thinking about my life being targeted. I was able to believe that tomorrow would be another day just like today. 

After surviving a harsh winter, animals would go looking for mates in the spring. In the same sort of way, my relationship with Albert deepened, too. 

It had been a lifestyle of resignation, where I thought that if I couldn’t change my fate, I at least wanted to spend time at his side, but at some point, I began to feel I was happier than the other “me”s who hadn’t chosen him. 

“Albert,” I said, “I’m glad I came here.” 

Albert gently hugged me around the shoulders.

About a year had passed since I’d moved to this land. 

Rumors on the wind told us that bloody incidents were unfolding in the capital frequently. 

When I say “rumors on the wind,” I allude to the fact it took considerable time for news to reach such a remote location, and when it did, it came by word of mouth. 

By this point, I didn’t care what happened in the capital anymore. 

After that, a little more time passed. 

Gradually, news of incidents in the capital stopped filtering in. Had the succession crisis finally settled down? ...Not that it mattered much to me. No matter who took the throne, no matter what faction won, it had nothing to do with us. 

Besides... I had something more important going on than that nonsense. 

As I was relaxing in the living room with Albert, I mustered up the will to tell him. “Darling.” 

“What is it, Elisha?” 

“It looks like we made a baby.” 

“...Huh?” The book he was reading fell from Albert’s hands. His mouth hung open, an amusing look on his face. 

While I was chuckling, Albert came back to his senses. 

“A baby... Our baby?!” 

“Oh, my. Do you doubt my fidelity, darling?” 

“Not at all! I see... I see!” 

Albert stood up vigorously and hugged me, then, as if that weren’t enough, he lifted me in the air and spun around. Honestly, he was too excited. 

“Thank you! Thank you, Elisha!” 

“Hee hee, you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself,” I chuckled. “Don’t thank me until it’s born safely.” 

As soon as Albert settled down, we sat on the sofa. 

“If it’s a boy, I hope he’ll be energetic and brave, like his mother,” he said. 

“Hee hee. If it’s a girl, I hope she’ll be gentle and quiet, like my husband.” 

We talked about the future of our as yet-unborn child. 

I think that was the peak of our happiness.

Then it happened. 

One of the three dukes, Duchess Excel, came to visit.

“Lady Elisha, I have come to ask you to inherit the throne of the Elfrieden Kingdom,” the beautiful, blue-haired beauty of the sea serpent race said, and then knelt before me. 

For an instant, my mind was so blank that I couldn’t tell what she had said. 

While Albert looked on with concern, I barely managed to speak. 

“The throne... you say?” 

Why now, after all this time...? Why was that word coming up? 

“A-Anyway, please, come in.” Acting on my dazed behalf, Albert invited Excel to come in to the living room. 

We sat down on the sofa, and when all three of us (mainly me) had calmed down, Excel explained the events that led to this point, and the current state of the country. 

From what she told us, the succession conflict had ended in the elimination of almost the entire royal family. Though the chaos had been limited to the capital, maneuvering to recruit members into factions and pulling them from others, betrayals, scheming, and deceit had run rampant, and much blood had been spilled. 

That had bred further resentment, resulting in interminable tit-for-tat violence. The contenders all became suspicious, and in many cases, both sides killed each other, or even members of their own side. 

It may have been inevitable that this would lead to the near-elimination of the royal line. 

The reason it was only a “near” elimination was because I had survived. 

That was the reason Excel was here. 

“But I’ve already married out of the family, and cast away the Elfrieden name,” I tried to protest. 

Excel silently shook her head. “The only one remaining in the direct royal line is you, Lady Elisha. If someone outside the House of Elfrieden were to name themselves king, the chaos would spread further. Neighboring countries like Amidonia and Turgis are already making unsettling moves. In order to quell the chaos, I need you to ascend the throne.” 

“But... I...” 

I was at a loss for words, and Albert put his arm around my shoulder. 

“From what Georg told me, the three dukes won’t be getting involved in the issue of who succeeds the throne, right?” Albert asked. 

“...Yes. That was the case, at least. It was because we were doing all we could to keep our own forces in line, so as not to expand the chaos. However, at this point, Lady Elisha is the only royal left. There can be no division now, so the three dukes and our forces will put our lives on the line to protect and serve Lady Elisha.” 

When she said that, Excel knelt on the ground and pressed her head to the floor. 

“I am aware that you two have avoided the conflict, and were living in happiness here. I also know our request will destroy that. However, if the country falls into chaos, it won’t be long before the fires spread to this land.” 

I could understand what Excel was saying. I understood it, but... 

“If I return to the castle, what will happen to Albert and this child?” I brought my hand to my not-yet-apparent belly. 

Excel’s eyes went wide. It seemed she hadn’t known. 

She bowed her head deeply once more. 

“I beg your apologies for troubling you at such an important time! Of course, the child and its father will both move to the castle, too. I swear we will protect all of you. In particular, Georg, who assumed the mantle of the Duke of Carmine the other day, is prepared to throw his own life away for you.” 

“Georg took over as head of the house, did he...?” Albert whispered to himself. 

I closed my eyes in meditation for some time. 

...No memories are coming, huh? 

I had thought a future “me” might send back the result of a decision I’d made here, but there was no sign of that happening. Did that mean this decision would not be fatal, or had no other “me” managed to reach this point yet...? I couldn’t be certain. What I did know was that I had to make a choice. 

The choice I should make is... 

I thought, and thought... then looked at Albert. 

“Darling. Will you stay with me, no matter which choice I make?” 

Albert gave me a big nod. “Of course! We are husband and wife, after all.” 

Hearing his response, I made up my mind. 

The choice I made, after having seen what became of all the other “me”s up until this point, was... 

“Very well. Let’s return to the castle.” 

“Ohh...!” Excel cried in relief. “You have my gratitude, Your Majesty.” 

“However...” I held up a hand to stop her before she could bow again. “Once I have ascended the throne, I will entrust all of my rights as king to my husband, Albert.” 

“Wha?! That means...” 

“Yes. With my assent, Albert will rule the country as king.” 

“M-Me, rule the country?! That’s impossible!” His eyes wide with shock, Albert vigorously shook his head. 

...Sorry to get you involved, Albert. But this is an absolute necessity. 

“With all due respect, I have to agree that is not possible,” Excel said. “For one thing, if he is not of the Elfrieden royal line, I doubt the people will accept him.” 

However, my resolve did not falter. 

“I have inherited the blood of the royal house, as will this child. Albert, who is my husband and the father of this child, should be able to serve as a temporary king until the next generation.” 

“No, but... again, with all due respect, I cannot imagine Albert has the qualities required to be king...” 

Excel seemed pained to tell me this, but I shook my head silently. 

“Duchess Walter, the Royal House of Elfrieden has shed too much blood. That is the result of ugly internecine violence. That is known by our retainers, and even by the people. The Royal House of Elfrieden has lost their faith. Am I wrong?” 

“I... believe it is as you say.” Showing some hesitation, Excel finally acknowledged what I was saying and nodded. 

“Even if I were to take the throne now, I couldn’t bring the country together,” I told her. “More than anything else, that is because of the royal blood which is my claim to the throne. Even if I took the throne, the people would feel uneasy, and it would gall those who backed other candidates in the succession crisis. I couldn’t unite the country in times of crisis. Because the royal house has lost its power, if there were further division among our retainers, the country would truly be finished.” 

Excel listened to me silently. 

I probably was convincing. That was because I had seen it through the eyes of a future “me.” 

Even if one faction survived the conflict, the resentment it gave birth to would have lasting repercussions. Unable to unite in the face of crises like natural disasters, monster attacks, and foreign invasions, the castle would burn. 

That would be the same, even with me as the queen. 

“I understand what you are saying, but... why would you make Sir Albert king?” Excel asked. 

I gave a direct reply to her obvious doubts. “Because Albert will be a king no one hates.” 

“A king no one hates?” she repeated. 

“Yes. If he were a wise king, that would please our loyal vassals, but the corrupt ones would find it restricting, and eventually bring him down. If he were a powerful king, he could eliminate those corrupt vassals, but I suspect the royal house currently lacks the power. If we act carelessly, it will lead to resistance and civil war. In the opposite case, if he were a king who pleased the corrupt vassals and pushed away the loyal ones, the country would go to ruin.” 

She was silent. 

“What this country needs right now is a king who will not be hated by loyal vassals or corrupt ones. Only a ruler the loyal retainers will want to help, but the corrupt vassals will see as easy to manipulate, can keep the country alive.” 

“...And you’re saying that’s Sir Albert?” she said slowly. 

“Yes. The reason I wasn’t caught up in the conflict must have to do with his personality. He is incompetent and harmless. That is why no one has paid attention to us.” 

Excel sighed and said, “What you describe is practically a puppet, isn’t it?” 

“Yes.” I nodded. “In the current situation, I don’t believe the country can be maintained by anyone other than a puppet king. That is just how deep our country’s wounds run. We need time for them to heal.” 

I looked straight into Excel’s eyes. 

“Even if we cannot eliminate the corrupt vassals, if we rule by listening to the loyal ones, the situation shouldn’t degenerate too easily. We will have the loyal support of the three dukes, right?” 

“Yes, of course.” 

“Then, as I’ve said, Albert is the most suitable king for this country right now. Let us maintain the status quo, buy time for our wounds to heal, and leave improving the situation to the next generation.” 

I brought my hand to my belly. 

Excel slumped her shoulders in resignation. “Put off seriously rebuilding the country until the next generation?” 

I chuckled a bit. “For a member of a long-lived race like you, it’s not that long, is it?” 

“I understand,” she said regretfully. “Very well. We three dukes will support Lady Elisha and Sir Albert. I would have preferred to leave the throne to you, who can think this far ahead, though.” 

Thus, we returned to the castle, and Albert became king with my assent. 

Though there was some resistance to the idea, the three dukes who were in charge of the three forces gave us their full support, and because Albert wasn’t self-righteous and would listen to anyone’s opinions, there were no major sparks over it. 

Time went by, and the country did not get better, but it did not get much worse, either. You could say Albert was doing a solid job of maintaining the status quo. 

As for me, I gave birth to a girl not long after returning to the capital. Albert gave this girl, who cried with great energy, the name Liscia, taking the overall sound of her name from my own. 

Liscia grew up smoothly, without any major illness, and before I knew it, she had become the same sort of tomboyish princess I once was. 

“If it’s a girl, I hope she’ll be gentle and quiet, like my husband.” 

It seemed my wish from that day had not come true. 

She grew attached to Georg, who came to visit from time to time, and took an interest in the sword. 

When she went out to play, she received an endless number of cuts and bruises, making me worry for her as her mother, but, well, if she would just grow up healthy, that was good enough for me. 

However, as we spent our peaceful days, unexpected events like the appearance of the Demon Lord’s Domain, the invasion of massive numbers of monsters, and the flow of refugees from the ruined countries of the north caused the slow decline of the country. 

Until the day when he was summoned.

In the middle of the burning castle, I remembered all this. 

Had the threat to my life brought back the memories? 

The hero summoned from another world, Sir Souma Kazuya... Albert had mishandled his treatment of him. 

He’d made him the prime minister so that his revolutionary policies could get the country back on its feet, but he’d been unable to protect him against resistance from the nobles, and been forced to relieve him from his post and drive him away. 

The result was that our loyal vassal who supported him, Georg Carmine, had died in the burning of Randel, along with Sir Souma and our daughter, Liscia. 

Now we, too, faced our ends at the hand of a noble insurrection. 

The nobles had hated Sir Souma, but the people had supported him, and driving him out had pushed the people away from us, leaving us isolated without support. 

If we had trusted him more, and given him more authority, things might have gone differently. 

However, thinking about that now wasn’t going to help. 

I decided that the least I could do was confess to Albert about my magic, and send our memories back to “us,” around the time we first met Souma. So that the past “us” wouldn’t have to arrive at this future. 

It was my first time sending another person’s memories (it was my first time sending my own memories, too), but I feel like it worked. I could be confident the “me” who received them would reach a different future. Perhaps even a world in which Liscia, Sir Souma, and the others wouldn’t have to die. 

When I thought about that, it lightened my heart a little. 

“I’m sorry, Elisha,” Albert apologized. “This is all because of my folly.” 

I shook my head. “No. I’ve had more than enough happiness. Meeting you, giving birth to Liscia. More than any past ‘me,’ I can say with pride that I was happy.” 

The fact that I was facing a crisis to my life, and had just sent my memories to the past, was proof that I was the first to have reached this point. 

That meant I was the first to have chosen Albert as my partner. 

I was the first to have loved him, and the first to be loved by him. 

I was also the first to give birth to Liscia, and the first to know the happiness of family life. 

Even if the “me” that I sent my memories to would have a more wonderful future than my own, none of that would change. My life was fully satisfying. 

“I’m glad I met you that day,” I told him. 

“Elisha...” 

In the middle of the flames, we embraced one another. 

“Lady... Lady Elisha!” 

“Huh?!” 

Hearing a voice, I came to my senses, and found Carla looking at me blankly. 

“What’s the matter?” she asked. “You seemed out of it.” 

“No, I was just thinking about a different ‘now.’” 

Looking at Cian and Kazuha’s faces, I remembered the memories I’d received that day. 

Based on our memories from that day, Albert had been able to give our son-in-law the throne without making the wrong decision. The country had been rebuilt after the transfer of power, to the point where it was actually greater than before, and we could now look upon our grandchildren’s faces. 

If I thought of it that way, I had to thank the “me” who had sent these memories. 

I must be the happiest of all the “me”s so far. 

“Come to think of it, when I said I would be going ahead to help out and see these children first, he pouted a little,” I chuckled. “He said I wasn’t being fair.” 

“Of course he would. Sir Albert’s been left all alone in his domain.” 

“Hee hee, what a troublesome grandfather you have, Cian, Kazuha.” 

As I spoke the children’s names, they both turned and stared blankly at me. 

“Oh, gosh, you’re both so cute. I wish I could just drag you back to the mansion like this.” 

“If the heir to the throne suddenly vanishes, there will be a huge uproar, so please don’t,” Carla said. 

“I suppose I’ll just have to visit regularly, then. About twice a week.” 

“If you leave the house that often, won’t Lord Albert end up sulking again?” 

“He can come with me,” I said. “Staying the night would be nice, too.” 

“If you come and spend the night twice a week, you’ll be at the castle more than half the week, won’t you? I thought you two had left the castle to prevent sowing the seeds of strife?!” 

It was cute the way Carla felt the obligation to respond to everything, so I giggled. 

Ohh... I really am happy... 

In the middle of the flames, as we prepared for the end, I heard two voices echo. 

“Father! Mother!” 

“Are you both okay?!” 

When I looked up, there was a young man and woman rushing to our side. 

Why? How am I able to see these two? I thought in my dazed mind. They were supposed to be dead. 

Were we seeing phantoms? Or, with our deaths approaching, had they come to take us to the other side? 

“Liscia! And Sir Souma!” Albert had a shocked look on his face, and called them by name. 

When I heard those words, it woke me up. It wasn’t just me; Albert could see them, too. 

That meant what I was seeing before my eyes was the undeniable reality. 

Liscia rushed over to my confused side. “Thank goodness. You’re both all right.” 

“Liscia, you’re alive?!” I exclaimed. “I was sure you’d died...” 

“Duke Carmine got us out,” Liscia said painfully, grasping at my sleeve. 

It turned out that while Randel was burning, Georg had bought time for the two of them to escape. 

“I want you to remember this,” he had once said. “I pledge to do my utmost to help you when I inherit the House of Carmine. Even at the cost of my life.” 

Sir Georg, you kept the promise you made that day, I thought gratefully. You risked your life for Sir Albert, and you saved Liscia and Sir Souma’s lives. 

I closed my eyes in thought for a moment, and then asked something that had been bothering me. “But how did you two get here? The castle is surrounded, and on fire.” 

“Ahh... That would take some explaining, so let’s save it for later,” Sir Souma told me. “First, we’d better get out of here.” 

I heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching. 

A cute, petite girl with long, black hair, antlers that were larger than Excel’s, and a black lizard tail growing out of her bottom rushed into the room. 

“This is bad, Souma! The fire’s spreading fast. We’ve gotta get out of here, quick!” 

“Got it, Naden,” Sir Souma said. “Okay, you two, come this way.” 

Sir Souma led us out onto the balcony. We were able to get some fresh air there, but the rising smoke made it hard to see the situation around us. This place was high up in the castle, too, so even if we got outside, there was no escape from here. 

However, Sir Souma said, “It’s okay,” with a laugh. “All right, we’re counting on you, Naden.” 

“Roger that... I’d rather not let anyone but my partner ride me, though.” 

Once she had said that, the girl called Naden jumped over the edge of the balcony. 

That’s dangerous! I thought, and tried to run over, but Liscia caught me by the wrist and stopped me. 

“To sum things up quickly,” she said, “when we escaped Randel, we disguised ourselves as adventurers and headed for the Empire. Souma figured if we went to the Empire, which wanted the summoned hero, they would protect us, given the right conditions.” 

“Then, on the way there, we met a messenger from the Star Dragon Mountain Range.” 

The Star Dragon Mountain Range? I thought, befuddled. The independent domain of the dragons, ruled by Mother Dragon? 

“The messenger told me that the Mother Dragon, Madam Tiamat, wanted to meet me. Then we were invited to the Star Dragon Mountain Range, and we met her there.” 

As I watched, Naden grew, becoming a massive, long, black creature. Her face resembled a dragon’s, but I had no idea what manner of being she was. 

Touching the creature’s body, Liscia added, “She’s Naden Delal. The dragon Souma formed a contract with.” 

“Well, there’s still some time before the Contract Ceremony, so it’s just a provisional contract for now, though,” Sir Souma added, scratching his cheek. 

A dragon...? Really? 

“Geez! You can talk about all that later, can’t you?!” I heard Naden’s voice echo inside my head. 

This creature... the black dragon... was talking, so did that mean this dragon really was Naden? 

“It looks like the sight of me has the soldiers down below making a fuss,” she added. 

“We’d better hurry then, huh?” Sir Souma said. “Okay, everyone, get on Naden’s back! There’s nothing to tie us down, so everyone will have to hold on tight to each other, and not let go!” 

Following Sir Souma’s directions, we got on Naden’s back. Liscia held on to Sir Souma, Albert held on to Liscia, and I clung to Albert. 

“Okay, go for it, Naden!” Sir Souma ordered. 

“Roger that!” 

Then, in the next moment, Naden rose into the sky. 

The burning castle shrank away beneath us. The capital was going off into the distance. 

“Sir Souma, where do you plan to go now?” Albert asked. 

“We’ll head for Lagoon City, and join up with Duchess Walter,” Sir Souma answered. “We’ll have Duchess Walter announce Liscia’s survival, and reassemble the currently scattered Army. Those officers deeply respected the late Duke Carmine, and they hold Liscia, whom he loved like a daughter, in high regard. That’s why they broke when they heard the two of them had perished, but when they learn Liscia is still alive, I believe they will gather once again. Duchess Walter and Duke Vargas support the royal family, so the three forces will come together.” 

“It’s not just me,” Liscia added. “Those corrupt nobles hated you, Souma, but you had the support of the people. If they know you’re alive, it will embolden the people.” 

The two of them hadn’t given up. I felt something rising in my chest. 

The passion of these two youths, whom I had thought were still just children, brought tears to my eyes. 

I could believe the future would go on. 

I tightened my arms around Albert’s waist. 

Hey, “me” who I sent my memories to. 

It looks like, even after sending my memories, life goes on. 

Like I thought, I really am the happiest.