A Broken Engagement, A Wake-Up Call Written by Sugawara Toshi (菅原とし)

 

[Started on this short story months ago and never finished. Had a desire to go back and finish it. Special thanks to くれぴい & 緑葉 for keeping me company through this ordeal!]

 

 

 

“Shiris. Allow me break our engagement.”

In front of me stood my fiancé, Christiansen val Fay Asfaria.

Shiny blond hair and green eyes. So handsome that if ten girls were present, all ten alike would blush and stare in fascination.

An authoritative man naturally overflowing with dignity. An excellent individual who personified the Prince Charming.

“I found someone else I truly love.
I am sorry, but I cannot marry you…”

Next to Prince Christiansen stood the Fair Maiden with her fluffy, golden hair.
With her hands joined together in front of her chest, she looked fragile as she stood nestled against him.

“Please forgive me, Lady Shiris.
Even knowing you were his fiancée, and that I would get in your way, I could not hold back my feelings for Prince Chris. I love him with all my heart.”

“Anna.”

“Prince Chris…”

That’s right. He’s my fiancé.

My eyes teared as I took in the figures of the two staring at each other in a blush, receiving a shock like never before.

(What is the meaning of this?)

After the shock, other emotions surged to the surface as well.

Withstanding the nauseating wave of emotions, I closed my eyes tight and clutched at my chest.
When I next opened my eyes, from all appearances, I had returned to complete serenity.

“I understand, Your Highness.

“Shiris?”

“W-why…? Shiris?”

The prince looked at me with blank amazement, as if he was puzzled.

If the engagement is easily broken off, then it fits your plan, doesn’t it?
Now you can truly marry the one you love.

“I do not believe we will ever meet again.

“Shiris!”

I left without a glance back.
This event was not what weighed on my mind.

I’ve remembered everything.

Everything was scripted.

The figures of the prince and the girl cuddling close together definitely came from the game, and it was one of the scenes from an event.

Even in the genre of otome games, this one was heavily discussed, so I decided to try it out while wondering what it would be like.

I thought it an extremely well-made game when I finished. The realistic appearance of the world and the scenarios were especially well done.
Even the characters who committed crimes were well-rounded, and reasonable motives were provided for their actions.

As Shiris vin Rhodevaite, I am what you’d call the bad guy, a wicked woman, a villainess–any of those terms would work.

However, upon the Heroine’s entrance, the Prince’s heart strayed from Shiris, and their engagement was canceled.
Everything was scripted.

In the game, I’m positive I was supposed to cry, clinging on to him as I denied his request.

Of course, that was scripted.

However, since I didn’t even cling to him in tears, that scenario was now completely irrelevant.
I returned to my residence at a quick pace, and as soon as went inside I informed my trusted, elderly butler.

“My engagement to Prince Christiansen has been called off.

Send a letter to the royal palace posthaste, detailing the particulars with a formal acknowledgment of the process, and signed on my behalf.”

“In a few days, I will return home.”
“Miss!”

The butler was the first to dissolve into tears, crying How pitiful, this will not stand! and the rest of my servants unanimously followed suit.

“Miss, you must send a formal protest to the royal palace!”

“But, Miss…”

“You must not even mention such a small matter.
If there is anything we can do to be of service to you, it will be our pleasure to do so.”

I was filled with joy.

But it was completely irrelevant now.
Because I’ve had my wake-up call.

 

 

I traced the path home, jolted by the carriage as it traveled over the highway.
The various formalities to leave the capital and my letter acknowledging the engagement’s dissolving were accepted with little protest; in return, I received a messenger bearing a formal letter of apology, and even a large sum of compensation money.

“Lady Shiris!”
“Welcome home, Lady Shiris!”

My people, from the common citizens to the guards, had come as far as the borders of my father’s territory to welcome me.
Filled with longing and happiness, I took the knight commander’s hand and climbed down from the carriage in an unladylike rush.

“Miss, it is good to see you return.”

“Miss…”

Tears leaked from the corner of the knight commander’s eyes.

He should’ve already known about it.

“My limited view from the carriage shows me the fief seems to be even more abundant than ever before.

Will you be able show me around tomorrow?”
“If you’re so decided, I can do it.”

I stopped breathing as his figure appeared from the other side of the crowd.
———Time itself seemed to halt.

“Darius.”
“Hello there, Shiris.”

A smile of old, unchanged.
I forced back the tears, which eagerly threatened to overflow, and put a hand to my chest.

 

 

 
 

Darius.

My father, the marquis, had an old sworn friend.

Father’s territory was a narrow and not very fertile strip of land located along the national border.

As the top brass, they jointly commanded the garrison, and my father and the margrave frequently traveled to and from the other’s homes.
They were close to each other’s families, and since we were close in age, it was natural that Darius and I were always together.

“Darius!

“I’ve had enough~ Let’s ride far away, Shiris~”

Geez! Let’s read it together!”

“Then just to here! If you actually read the first chapter, I’ll go horseback riding with you!”
“Fiiine. I give in.”

“Darius, you idioooooot.”

Stupid, stupid!”

“B-but, I don’t get it.

“I showed you my favorite gem, too! This is wrong!”

“Even though I told you to give them to me on my birthday, you brought the wrong ones. Darius, youuuu idiiooooot!!”
“Aghhhhh, don’t cry! You’re annnnoyin’!!”

“Darius, you’ve become so strong.

“Hah, I’m not that great.”

I won’t grow any taller. A shame, too.”

Sure surprised me the other day. When did you pick that up?”

“Hmm, so if I get hurt from now on, my medical fee will be waived? I’ve got it good.”

“Tch, cheapskate.”

Darius, a constant presence in my life.
Brother of my heart. My precious friend. The one I——

“You seem well.”

Darius held out a hand and guided me.
He cracked that unchanged smile at me.

“They started calling you the wisest woman in the kingdom, so I imagined someone wearing glasses with her hair pulled tightly into a bun.”
“Why, there are indeed such described beauties in the palace.”

No, I lied. He has changed.

His skin, tanned from the sun; and his big hands, rough and bony. Beneath his black mantle he wore a suit of silver armor.

Dark-haired and blue-eyed, his face in profile was even more masculine than before.

“Now that I’d like to see, a beauty in spectacles and a bun.”

“You just don’t understand.”

Darius let out a lively laugh.

It was always pities or sympathies. That was all.

“All men naturally love beautiful women.

“I wonder where your standard for beauty lies?”

“You still hold a grudge against me for pillaging your sweets in payment?”

It was his favorite phrase, coming out from time to time after that story about the medical bill I collected.
I automatically snickered, and his hand dropped to hold my shoulder with a strength so light I wasn’t sure if he touched me or not.

“Keep that expression as you go in.”

The door opened and I was met with the smell of medicinal herbs.

“Shiris.”
“Dear father.”

Darius gently pushed my shoulder.
I ran up to my father as he rose from bed.

“Father—”

“No, father.

“I have recovered significantly with the medicine you sent.”

A few years ago, father was injured in a minor skirmish during a border patrol, and his physical condition has been worsening over time.
My master said it was because his heart was weakening——as it has been ever since mother passed away.

“Shiris, it was a shame this had to happen.”

I was incompetent, forgive me.

“Shiris, it was you my thoughts turned to regarding the engagement. From now on we will not discuss the other matter.”

“I know how hard you worked to gain the support of the military. And of course, the hard-earned gold you made with your knowledge has been of great benefit to our fief.

“……………”

But there is no need for you to worry so. Compared to the past, my condition has vastly improved.”

“More important is you.

I will find someone perfect for you, do not worry. It will all turn out for the best.”

At the palace, I worked so hard it seemed like I’d spit out blood multiple times for two reasons: support from the palace military, and all of the rare ingredients I needed to make medicine but didn’t have the money for.
Yet, the result of my broken engagement and my tomfoolery was father’s death. And then—

(Nothing is okay.)

Wanting to cry the entire time, I desperately summoned a smile, and pressed a hand to my chest.

 

 

 

“I’ll show you around.”

I was surrounded by medicinal plants and herbs the next day when Darius came up to me.

“Oh, it’s you, Darius.”

“Sorry.”

“I see you’ve changed, however.

“Well, because it smells like medicine.”

That’s why I could only handle them in the cellar, and I applied fragrances while I was before others.”

“It’s not so troublesome once you get used to it.
This is my home, however, so I don’t have to here.”

I tidied the herbs and tools a little bit, untied my apron, and moved to stand next to Darius.

“Come now, I’ve kept you waiting. Shall we?”

“How else am I supposed to dress with you as my companion?”

Darius gave me a not at all painful poke in the forehead.

The moment we got on our horses and left the castle, the people started cheering and made way when they noticed us.

“Lord Darius! Lady Shiris!”

“So pitiful…”

Sad voices mixed in with the cheerful ones.

“Such a wonderful lady, how did…”

“If she had become queen, she could have inherited the title as a member of the royal family.
And then, even though this fief is rock hard…”

“I’m hungry.”

I blinked as I turned to look at Darius grumble.

“It’s your fault I haven’t had my morning meal yet.”

You should have eaten before you came.”

Excuse me, ma’am.”

Give me that, he said as he pointed at a pastry in front of a shop, and the shop lady rushed over to hand it to him.

“I’ll pay.”

“You said it was my fault, right?”

“Then as thanks.”
“Don’t need that either.”

Darius handed a coin to the shop lady and turned back to me.

“Want some?”
“I do.”

I ate my half of the torn pastry, my cheeks stuffed. It was filled with walnuts, and very good.

“Delicious!”

“Thank you.”

Darius laughed as he said that a lady should just allow herself to be treated.

 

 

Our territory really has become more prosperous than when I left.

The fields are showing the results of many years of effort, all the land that could be cultivated has been cleared and crops were ripening far and wide.

“We’ve come so far…”

“I’m such a fool.”

The words suddenly popped out of my mouth.

“I was so stupid.
I didn’t say it was all a waste, but I was truly a fool.”

I want to believe it is no longer so.
I thought the words like a prayer, clutching at my chest.

“Idiioott. What’s foolish about you is the nonsense you just started spewing.”

“That is that, and this is this.

“What was that!”

I giggled.

 

 

Thereafter, Darius came to visit every day.
Every day, he came.

“Have you nothing to do?”

“But you come every day.”

It should be okay if I stop by for meals.”

“I saw them that time I brought you their greetings after you returned.”

“……………”

“I won’t tell for free.”
“Come back right now!”

What am I, a dog? he was saying when he suddenly stopped in front of the door and looked over his shoulders.

“Hey, Shiris.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll come at night.”

“Noontime you’ll be busy, right?”

Before I could ask him he meant, his figure had already disappeared out the door.

(???????

Well, I’ll probably know come morning.)

I was right.
The following morning, as soon as I woke up my maid changed my clothes and I stared at the dress in surprise.

“Isn’t this a ball gown?

“Miss, for the day, won’t you please wear this dress with the light purple flower designs?”

Anyway, my work clothes———”

“Shall we put on cosmetics as well? Good grief, m’lady, you don’t even put on rouge lately. A shame, it is.”

“Kyaaaahhh! You look wonderful, Miss! The very image of a goddess.

“Ah, not that one. It will be a disaster if mixed with the smell of medicine.

I meant! Forget that, about my work clothes———”

“Oh, no. Please leave this pendant where it is.

I meant! At any rate, my work clothes———”
“Kyaahhhh! You’re so wonderful, Miss, you’re already beyond expectations!”

 

 
 

“Happy birthday, Shiris.”

“Happy birthday to you, Lady Shiris.”

Once again, I was moved to tears, and I desperately put a hand to my heart as I held it in.

“Father…”

Well, a lot has happened, it’s understandable.

“Huh?”
“This way, Miss.”

When I exited into the hall, I found a crowd of people from the populace and our garrison.

“Happy birthday to you, my lady!”

In their warm wishes there was none of the usual heartrending cries or pity.
I was so happy, for the first time in a long while I could smile in front of everyone from the bottom of my heart.

 

 
 

All throughout the day it was a party.

During a break, the margrave and his wife even arrived.
After giving me a present and words of congratulation, auntie happily said this:

“I’m so relieved, Shiris.
Even though you just returned it was very brave of you to act as if nothing was wrong, but that made you seem all the more fragile, as if you might disappear somewhere. It was tragic, and I couldn’t bear to watch.”

Was I the reason for those painful, piteous cries?
No, I told myself, I had nothing to do with it. And yet I supposed I had hurt them.

“Dear aunt, I made you worry, but I’m fine now.”

I expected he would be here as well.”

Um, but, as for Seleos…”
“Ahh, not my younger son.”

The margrave had two sons.

But due to the gap in our ages, I haven’t spent as much time with him as I have with Darius.

“Seleos is currently doing mandatory participation in the training camp of the knights stationed on my lands,”

said the margrave with a distant look in his eyes.

(That idiot never went to see his parents.)

The only idiot here is that idiot, I thought as I drained my cup.

 

 

 

“Hello there, Shiris.”

Darius finally showed up once night fell.

I was sorting through the cards that had come with the gifts on the balcony facing the hall, and I frowned silently.

“You do realize climbing into people’s balconies is bad manners?

“And that is?”

“You’re not cute.”

Everyone today heaped praise on me.”

“I really don’t know how you managed to survive all this time.”

“Right. Obviously, I was waiting for you.

“Yeah, sure.”

Darius said the last bit with another painless poke at my forehead.

“Come on.”

You’re acting kind of fishy right now. You realize that?”
“Be quiet.”

It’s my second attempt, he was saying.
The suspicion gets worse and worse, I thought, and after a while I followed him.

“I didn’t think we’d go so far.

“We’re here.”

Without explanation, Darius dismounted from his horse.
I followed suit and got down as well.

Mm, was all he sound he made as he reached out a hand to guide me.

“…………………”

Under the moonlight and the starlight, only the field was shining.

Moonlight flowers.

A short-lived flower that blooms for only one night, and withers by morning.

They’re said to be quite a sight to behold when they grew gregariously.

“The second attempt, a success.”
“Yes.”

I brought a hand to my chest.

He brought me different ones, though.
But even though they were wrong, they were very beautiful.

“I never thought I’d be able to see this.”

When I said that, Darius sighed and a subtle smile floated at the corners of his mouth.
It was a smile of rarest kind, considering it came from him.

“Incredible, isn’t it?”

“Then say more.”

A giggle slipped from me.
I let go of his hand, and stepped into the faint light.

“It’s amazing. How beautiful.

Thank you——Darius.”

With each step, it seemed like starlight was scattering.

“I’ve always longed to see this.

Moonlight flowers appeared in it.

But even though I wanted to read it with you, you only wanted to go riding, and in the end, you never did read it.”
“I read it.”

I was trying to scoop the light of the moonlight flowers, and I turned to look at him.

“When?”
“After we quarreled about you leaving for the capital.”

I’m going to the capital, I said.

We had a big fight.
It wasn’t the usual childish, almost silly fights where words exchanged from the beginning would turn into a bonding experience and peace easily made.

“I see.”

“Moonlight stone.”

Popular folklore had it, the crystal of the light of a moonlight flower was said to be a moonlight stone.

Of course, it was just a myth.
A childish fairy tale.

“A moonlight stone is actually just a glass stone, isn’t it?”

“I did. In the pictures, the moonlight stone was clear blue and it glittered prettily.

How lovely life would be then? It was wonderful just to think of.”

“Huh?”
“Putting a hand to your chest.”

I stopped breathing, and my body stiffened.

I slowly loosened the strength from my hand.

“Yes.”

You didn’t have it when you were here.”

“I never knew.”

I looked up at his face.
The man who was always lively, or in a teasing mood, or slightly laughing wasn’t smiling at all right now.

“I never knew about your habit. Neither do I know this you who came back.
Shiris——”

For a moment, Darius fell silent, and a while later he quietly spoke.

“What would you have done if I told you not to go back then?”

“Right.

“I told you I wanted to learn more and improve my skills there.

“I knew that wasn’t a lie, but the truth is you were doing it for this land, for everyone, and for your father, weren’t you?”
“I’m not such a good person.”

A slight smile appeared in only his eyes.
It was wry.

“How like you. You probably think that saying I want to help, or I want to be useful is the desire to make yourself look good, the ego of someone who craves attention.”

“But it really was for our sake, no matter what you say.
That’s why I couldn’t say it back then. I couldn’t tell you not to go.”

That day.

Darius stood in the crowd of well-wishers who came to send me off and glared at me.

I simply stared at him——and watched as he hung his head in shame.
My last memory of Darius was his shoulders trembling, as if he was heart-stricken.

“I love you.”

“……………”

“What would you have done had I said that back then?”

“Well, even if I said it, it probably wouldn’t have stopped you from leaving.”
“No…”

He was right, it wouldn’t have stopped me.

“I thought of you as an important brother, a friend.

“I know.”

That’s why——I left for the capital like I was fleeing.
I studied so that I could escape. I studied and studied, trying to bite more than I could chew.”

Or else there would be no meaning in leaving.
I would have lost any reason for pushing away someone so dear to me.

“To the point that I was called gifted, and people began to say I was fit to be queen.

With myself. I was in love with the future of standing next to a handsome prince, of becoming queen, and of climbing to the top.”

If I reached it, I would wield great power.
Almost everything would be mine. To that extent, I desperately obtained the support of the palace military, ingredients to make rare medicine, and even bigger things to take home. Something even bigger than what I had pushed away.

“But love is nothing more than that.

Something you want to make your own, to do with as you like, and you want it to consider only you.
You come first, and your partner follows.”

By the time I realized that, everything had changed.

There was something else that truly loved me.

Something more important than myself.

At the time it wasn’t clear to me what it was.
My hometown? My family? But there was definitely something else.

For this reason, the game’s version of Shiris clung to what she had. She thought that even if something happened to her, she would try to become queen.

The question that slipped into her mind was, What in the world am I doing this for?
The thought took root.

“I’ve had this habit ever since then.

I took to wearing it to remind me of my reasons for being there.

Doing it encouraged me while I was in the capital…”
“You’re still doing it.”

I dropped my hand in surprise and Darius covered it with his own.

“You can’t let go of that habit, even now?
Or do you think that once you let go you can’t return?”

I slowly shook my head.
I didn’t know.

“You were probably thinking you couldn’t return, but…”

“What happens to the ones you left behind? The ones who believed you would return?
What happens to the ones who only wanted to chase after you?”

My eyes opened wide, and he bent down, as if to engulf me, and peered at me closely.

“Back then, even knowing it was useless, I thought of forcibly stopping you many times over.

When I heard you had become engaged to the prince, I thought it only natural if the woman was someone of your caliber.
That no matter how much it pained me, it was bound to happen. I told myself repeatedly that it was better for you to be smiling like an idiot than for you to be doing what I wanted.”

His eyes were very close.
How long has it been since he last looked at me from such a short range, I wonder?

“I thought I could forget you.”

His blue eyes.
The reason I started liking moonlight stones was because their deep blue color was very similar.

“I entertained the idea of becoming engaged to another woman.

But I couldn’t… No matter who, in the end, she wasn’t you.

“Darius.”

Was that hoarse voice my own?

He was looking straight at me.

“Shiris, you came back.

You returned and I noticed there was an invisible line around you, but there is no actual shape or reason for it. Leave it behind.

“I won’t.
I’m here…”

His eyes dropped.

When I saw it, it pained me as well.

“Truly?”

“I love you,”

Darius whispered hoarsely.
Shivers ran down my back.

“Shiris——I love you with all my heart.”

Darius put his forehead on my shoulder, as if he couldn’t resist.
I noticed the quiver in his breath, and shivers ran through my entire body once more.

“I lost my heart to you.

“D-Darius.”

As siblings, as friends——look at me,”

he whispered emotionally——as if he was pleading.

“———I’m begging you.”

I couldn’t bear it and squeezed my eyes shut.
Tears traced down my cheeks, overflowing.

I’m sure he noticed it.

And then, he slowly separated himself.

“You’re wrong!”

“You’re wrong, let me speak.”

I’m sor——”

“……………”

More than anything, more than anyone, the one I love is you, Darius.

Though I caused you such pain and pushed you away, the one I love more than anyone else is none other than you.”

Everything became clear to my in-game self while I was imprisoned.

And then I lost my energy and died in jail.

My reincarnated self realized everything the moment the prince broke our engagement.

In fact, I’m still wracked with overwhelming despair for realizing so late. It didn’t happen while sitting in jail, but the truth remained.

I’m sure, somewhere in the corner of my mind, I must have realized the one dear to me was Darius, I thought.
Much too late, that is.

“Once my engagement was broken, I came back immediately because I knew there was no point in continuing to cling to the capital. Although it wouldn’t hurt to have the support or the ingredients to make medicine, I thought it was enough with the money I continued to send home, which I had worked so hard to earn with my healing skills and medicine.

However, if I help with my acquired knowledge, I believe I’ll have slightly different ways of doing things.”

The condition of the fief really had become better than before.
There were things I wanted to try with these lands as well.

“But the simple truth was——yes, the truth was…”

I bowed my head, unable to look up.
Tears dripped onto the moonlight flowers.

“I missed you, Darius.
I wanted to live on the same land as you.”

When I started to believe destiny existed, that was what came to mind.
Nothing else but that.

“We had that quarrel and after all this time I was finally returning. I thought there was nothing I could do if you treated me coldly. Even if you hated me, I deserved it. I wouldn’t find it unusual either if you suddenly had a wife and child.

you greeted me with a casual hello.
At that moment, do you know how happy I was?”

It really seemed like I would start bawling right then.
This is enough, I’m truly content, I thought.

“When everyone else looked at me with pain and pity in their eyes, you alone acted normally.

Almost like it was the past, and I was so happy.”

The conversations I had with him and that very behavior of his had healed my heart.
He healed the wounds I hadn’t even noticed were there.

“But even during those joyous moments, I suppose I was scared.

That’s why I would definitely——the words definitely couldn’t come from me.
I continued the habit I had developed to hold back my tears and suppressed my feelings—”

“Enough.”

My face was suddenly lifted.

He looked as if he might be in pain after all.

His lips landed on mine repeatedly.
Strongly, passionately.

He embraced me powerfully; and lovingly, tenderly, he caressed the back of my neck, my arms, my hips, and my back.
Darius pressed me down on top of the moonlight flowers, his expression pained——when he looked at me as if he might cry, I no longer knew what to do.

“There is no one as beautiful as you,”

he whispered, as if he was making a plea. Slowly, unhurriedly, he brushed my cheek and forehead, and simply stared at me.
My own arms circled around his body like they were seeking something, too.

“The truth is, I’ve always believed that———”

 

 

 

 

“What’s this?”
“A second attempt.”

Darius was kneeling in front of me.
I wondered why he looked so noble.

“I was actually supposed to do it that night after showing you the flowers.”

“Hush.”

Darius lost his smile and looked at me solemnly.
I lost all words as I stared back at him.

“Shiris vin Rhodevaite, I love you with all my being.
Will you do me, Darius Walt vin Krauverg, the honor of marrying me?”

I let a moment sink in before saying simply,

“Yes, I will.”

As proof of my acceptance, I put my hand on his.

“For some reason, such a gentlemanly way of proposing didn’t make my heart throb at all.”

“This is my second one.

I’ve heard you speak like that since we were young, so I can’t get used to you speaking like this.”

“But it’s fine. All that’s left is you not breaking the engagement.”

My parents and your father are already making arrangements.

“What’d you say?”

“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?”

Of course, on the condition that I had to win your heart, so don’t be mad.”

“Don’t you think quick preparations for the ceremony is better?

“You even made my father an accomplice. He’s found the perfect partner in crime in you, and what do you have to say about that?”

“Seleos being away at a mandatory training camp smells fishy as well.”

A disagreeable chap who would get in the way of someone’s romance.”
“It’s not romance, it’s true love.”

Darius silently raised a brow and took my left hand.
He smoothly slipped something cold onto my ring finger.

“In the center is a moonlight stone, flanked by blue jewels.”

“Because it holds a lot of meaning for me. It’s the jewel I used up all of the money I got from selling my sword back then to buy. There, now. Don’t cry.”
“I won’t.”

A moonlight stone was just a glass stone. But the blue jewel was an authentic gem.
What must he have felt as a child when he made the preparations to buy one for me? The thought made me tear up.

“Hey. Didn’t I say not to cry?”
“I’m not crying,”

I said. After wiping the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand, I looked up at him.

“Say, without any of the mannerisms of a noble, try it once more?

“Oh? Challenging me again?”

“Hmm, not for free, huh?
Then I guess I don’t mind having a try.”

His eyes burned feverishly as he looked at me. Darius bent to send a rain of kisses on my cheeks and forehead.
His proposal was sweetly worded, and so I gave him the reward I promised.

My answer to his proposal.
The secret I had guarded about the tiny blue jewel—on the pendant nestled in my chest.

 

 

 

Ahh, I think I am a wicked woman after all.

In that ending, Darius inherited his father’s title, raised an army, and destroyed the kingdom.

———Even then, he wouldn’t allow them to die, and tortured them mercilessly in jail.

And that he went that far because he mourned my father.
But that wasn’t how Darius actually felt…

If he knew, I wonder what sort of expression he’d make?

No matter what happened, he would always love me.
And I would do whatever it took to prevent him from losing his smile.

 

 

The 7th king of the Kingdom of Asfaria, Christiansen, was known as a lustful king and he had a total of 32 concubines.

The woman who became the next candidate for queen was of low status, and she was not equal to the task.

Throughout his life, the king was never blessed with a child of his own blood, and the Fay Dynasty ended with him.

Marquis Rhodevaite’s daughter Shiris returned to his territory, and she married Margrave Krauverg’s eldest son, Darius Walt vin Krauverg.

The son-in-law of Rhodevaite made a name for himself as a general that would live on for generations. Darius rose to such great fame, his name was always listed among the top three generals of history.

This academy increased its number of departments later, and what is left now is a university ranked at the top of the world.
It is said that the beginning of prosperity in the territories of Krauverg and Rhodevaite began here.

General Darius and Marquise Shiris had a very happy married life, and their names became synonymous with great love.