Chapter 179 The Aftermath And The New Regime
This morning, out of the blue, a new queen was decided for Wareels by what Mother calls a "crane's decree." It felt almost like it was semi-forced, even for us bystanders.
It was so surprising that I thought my abs would ache. Rosalier-san was unusually clutching her stomach and laughing out loud.
The woman chosen is rumored to be the former third princess of Wareels Kingdom, and a receptionist at the adventurer guild Watterhill's Headquarters, Kumeiriana-san. I heard Rosalier-san mention her as 'Her Highness the Third Princess' one day, almost like she was having an argument. Since she's not the type to say uncertain things, I figured it must be almost true.
Kumeiriana-san was taken by force to wear a dress for the upcoming inauguration ceremony by the new Marquis Histozeira Regilade. It seems that childhood friends can be really strong in situations like this.
At the same time, Kumeiriana-san seems unable to refuse her requests because someone has some leverage over her. I wonder if something happened when she was young.
By the way, Viscount Regilade-san was appointed as the new Marquis, and Baron Geneus-san was appointed as the new Count. The Dog-Human tribe who had recently emigrated and lived under the castle were escorted back to Wareels by Geneus-san and his vassals. It was like a little evacuation drill, the big escape this time.
I asked Mother (Privia) about the whole situation and she told me the details. I wonder if Kumeiriana-san was really a princess.
"Kumei-kun is, to put it simply, a child born out of concubine. Do you remember the previous king I got rid of?"
"Yes."
"He was the one who made advances towards the maids, even though he was married. What was he thinking?"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously?"
In reality, the one who held the power was not the former king, Koitsuji, but the former queen, Ginedetta. The former king was more like a prince who married into the royal family, or more specifically, to a princess from the other side. Maybe they had some connection because of that. That's why Mother referred to her in that way..
"Her mother passed away, so she must have seen a lot of unpleasant things. It must have been a relief for her too, when she came to study with me and cried that night. When I listened to her story, it was quite a troublesome situation. She said that when she returns from studying abroad, she will either become a souvenir for the Marquis at Daioraden or marry that ugly Count. Of course, it's the latter, I think they called her the Sixth wife or something like that?"
"Seriously?"
"Seriously?"
"Kumei-kun applied for asylum that same day. I immediately sent her to Watterhill's place. It's a place where Wareels cannot reach, and nobody there even knows she is a princess. In less than a year, she became a bright and cheerful girl."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously?"
"Well, I didn't exactly raise her with the intention of using her as a replacement when the time comes..."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously?"
Mother always believed that this day would come. This darkness is really deep.
Above all, both me and Maya-chan were totally freaked out.
"By the way, is the Watterhill Guild okay?"
"Yeah, we got a report that the kids from your place are handling it fine."
"Oh, that kid is really talented. Even though she's older than me."
"Big brother, that girl being older than you is not good."
"Nice tsukkomi, Maya-chan, but I wish you'd ignore that."
Come to think of it, where is she going to imprison those hundred people? Is there a place like that around here?
"Mother."
"What's up?"
"Where are you taking the criminals you brought from over there, the ones you're going to imprison?"
"Oh, we had them waiting on the west side of the lake until this morning."
"I see."
"There was that temporary village for refugees, right?"
"Yes.... Oh."
"Could it be..."
Maya-chan seems to have noticed too. Maybe that tent village.
"That's right. Those without titles have to do forced labor there in exchange for the exiles who came. For now, maybe they'll be working on clearing land? Since they're still in temporary housing, I think it's good to have them build houses once the fields are ready."
"Wow."
"I see."
"As for the royal family and those with titles, at night they are imprisoned in Jamlabel-kun's basement. During the day, they have to use the soil mixed with the ashes of the Great Trout they have burned so far."
"Oh."
"Oh."
It seems like they just buried the fertilizer they worked so hard to make.
"That's right. They have to move the cleared farmland. It's really hard forced labor."
"Seriously?"
"This must be tough to endure."
"And , the workers in labor camps had access to the..."
"Ah, the ones who could use detox from the shrine?"
"Yes, they were removing the Oso (Dreadful element) from the harvested vegetables."
I thought so too.
"Eventually, our family's Magic Tools will be available here in Wareels too. After that, with more experience, I'm thinking of dispatching them to the Watterhill's shrine-less headquarters."
"Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Since neither I nor Maya-chan can be stationed permanently."
"Yeah, true."
"Sorry to trouble you both, but it would really help if you could commute between here and there for a while and assist with Oso poison treatments."
"Yes, Mother."
"Alright, alright, Mother."
Mother happily patting mine and Maya-chan's heads. With a thirteen-year age gap, it's just a margin of error for us, so I guess i'll just have to put up with being treated like children.
"So, Maya-kun."
"Yes, Mother?"
"It's just for a while, but..."
"Yes?"
"Except in emergencies, I'm thinking of entrusting Alesion to you."
"R-Really?"
"Of course, Tatsuma-kun will eventually go to where the Dragonkin live. But that's a story until Maya-kun gets a new running dragon."
Maya-chan suddenly embraces Mother. What's wrong, Mother?
"You know, I left Mylavirna alone, so I didn't notice it getting to that point."
"Oh, right. But that was, Her Majesty Queen Myla, well, I can't talk about other people's actions."
"Exactly."
Don't be surprised, even Maya-chan... I understand. Rosalier-san scolded me too. I see similarities between me and Her Majesty Queen Myla.
"I plan to settle down in this place for a while and watch over Ensgard and Wareels. So there."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I'm thinking of asking Tatsuma-kun to be the acting head manager, what do you think?"
"But, what if big brother messes up?"
"Hmm, do you think I'm okay for the job?"
"I don't think anyone will complain. After all, you're the guild's Saint-sama."
"Isn't Maya-chan the Holy Lady of the guild too?"
"But Maya is called that only in here, you know."
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