281 - Chapter 16: Prologue
――A dim, cloudy sky.
Central, where snow was falling, was strangely quiet despite being the capital of the Kingdom of Vanseim. There were few young people walking the streets. In particular, there were few young men. It wasn't simply that people weren't going out because of the snow.
The number of lights leaking from the buildings was also small. Even though it should have been the main thoroughfare of the royal capital, several shops had closed their doors and posted notices.
It was surely cold outside the window, but that didn't matter to Celes, who was watching the outside from within her room. Using a magic tool for heating, the room was warm. The rapier in her left hand was crafted such that the decorations on the scabbard and hilt resembled a staff.
From a yellow orb embedded in the hilt, a voice spoke toward Celes, who was staring out the window with a smirk.
"Repeated wars and heavy taxes. How does it feel to see the insects working for you wasting away?"
Unlike the blue orb held by Lariel, the yellow orb contained only one consciousness. It was the yellow orb where the records of Agrissa—who had inherited part of Septem's memories and plunged the continent into hell—were engraved.
"It's wonderful. But seeing them become this exhausted in such a short period..."
Celes looked down with a sorrowful expression. Her golden hair flowed in loose waves, hiding her face as she looked down. Radiant hair and sorrowful blue eyes—however, the corners of Celes's mouth slowly curled upward, forming a vulgar smile.
"...They really are insects. To think they'd be on the verge of ruin at this level, while calling themselves the capital of Vanseim. I wish they'd entertain me more."
Agrissa was somewhat exasperated. Not by Celes's current appearance. After all, Agrissa herself had once been called a beauty who could topple nations. She was an existence who had inherited Septem's painful memories and wielded power for her own sake.
"It's far more enjoyable to torment them slowly, as if savoring the torture. Well, you are still young. It's a good thing to have more composure in your heart. Still, watching Vanseim perish like this is quite entertaining."
Watching Central lose its vitality day by day seemed enjoyable for Agrissa as well. After all, they hadn't just been enemies in the past.
Vanseim had once been under Agrissa. In other words, they were regional lords and nobles who had obeyed Agrissa. While receiving her benefits, they had betrayed her once the tide turned.
When having conversations with Agrissa, Celes used a room on the top floor of the castle. She allowed no one to enter, enjoying the conversation with only the two of them.
Celes smiled and spoke as if remembering something.
"That's right. Father will be returning from his territory soon. I have to prepare a welcome. Mother stays by my side, but Father has work, so he can't be with me all the time."
At her age, it was a time when one might find their parents bothersome or detest their father. However, Celes held affection only for her parents. Agrissa felt the same.
"That's true. Your father is busy. My father was a low-ranking court noble, but he did various things for me... I kicked out my siblings because they were in the way, but after entering the inner palace, I gave him a position and repaid his kindness in various ways."
Parents were special—however, brothers and sisters were different. This was a sentiment shared by Celes and Agrissa. All of this was influenced by the memories of the Goddess.
"A party, and then I'll prepare gifts... I have to get a new dress for Mother too!"
The way Celes spoke happily was more like a child than someone voluptuous. Then, a knock sounded at the door. When Celes gave her permission, Bart, an automaton, entered.
He was a butler-type automaton with the appearance of a beautiful young man. His red hair and blue eyes were very lovely. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was human.
"Celes-sama, the eastern army of Vanseim has been defeated. It seems it was a crushing blow. The Imperial Guard was also wiped out. I heard Captain Bread also lost his life. There were tens of thousands of casualties."
Upon hearing the report, Celes smiled at Bart.
"Is that so? But I don't care about such trivial things right now. Father always said that there are always winners and losers. More importantly, Father is coming to Central. To see me! So, I must welcome him grandly. Bart, will you make the arrangements?"
She seemed uninterested. Bart wore an exasperated expression. If anyone else did this to Celes, torture would begin on the spot. However, Bart was an automaton. He was capable at his job and a favorite toy for Celes.
"I thought you would say that, so I have already made the arrangements. However, the national treasury is in a dire situation?"
Due to a luxurious lifestyle and the continuation of large-scale wars, the treasury of the great power Vanseim was in terrible shape. But Celes didn't care.
"Father is more important than that! I'm going to grandly welcome Father, who is doing his work and killing the insects who don't obey me!"
To this, Bart said,
"It is affecting the ceremonies of Vanseim. His Majesty the King and the other members of the royal family are eagerly awaiting Celes-sama's participation."
Celes tilted her head.
"Eh? I'm not attending any such thing. Why would I do that when Father is coming? Unbelievable! Absolutely do not let Rufus into my bedroom!"
Bart shrugged. He countered Celes's words.
"You have never let her into your bedroom, have you? As far as I know, and as I have heard, that has never happened. You say such things while letting your own favorites into your room."
Celes made a face as if she were angry. It was an angry expression that looked calculatedly cute. Because Bart was an automaton, such rude behavior was permitted.
"But... once I took it from that woman, I lost interest."
Laughter was heard from within the orb.
"The fun is in the taking. Indeed, that's a common story. Though, currently, there is something I desperately want to take as well... though I feel I could keep that one by my side for a long time."
Ignoring Agrissa's voice, Celes left the room happily, saying she would throw a party for her parents—.
"The fun is only until you take it, right..."
The voice coming from within the orb was that of the Third Head.
The Kingdom of Lufence—a room in the castle where repairs were progressing had now become my office. General Broa had used it originally, but he pushed the work onto me, saying he had soldier training and such.
The mountain of documents before me consisted of reports from Lufence and Beime, and complaints from Adele-san. There wasn't enough manpower. Merchants wouldn't listen. Residents were noisy about money—it was practically nothing more than grumbling.
I was looking at such documents, but not even Monica was in the room. Governing Beime, split into North Banseime and South Banseime. Furthermore, Lufence—I wanted to hold my head in my hands at the overwhelming lack of personnel.
The Seventh Head spoke up now.
"Well, normally people invade because they think they have enough people for territorial disputes, or that they can govern after a victory. If a proper group of vassals were assembled, it would be possible to gather manpower and govern by relying on kinship ties."
Because I had clumsily acquired a large territory, the manpower shortage had become severe.
"...It's harder after you take it."
Once the succession of fierce battles ended, there was much to do, such as post-war processing and new governance. Moreover, Beime was a land ruled by merchants and the Adventurers' Guild—it wasn't accustomed to governance where a ruling class normally existed.
The door opened, and there was Rianne-san, bringing additional documents accompanied by two Valkyries. Her face was smiling, but she also looked a bit tired.
"Now, Lariel-dono... here are seconds. Please process them rapidly."
The Valkyries began creating new piles one after another on the desk prepared for the documents.
"Ah, by the way, these are urgent."
Rianne-san placed a small pile in front of me. When I looked at her face, she opened her mouth, perhaps sensing what I wanted to say.
"I should mention that I have already skimmed through them. This number is what remains after excluding unnecessary ones. Now that you've become a ruler, you understand that corresponding responsibilities and duties arise, right? ...Also, if you were to rule the entire continent, the workload wouldn't end at this level. You should prepare an efficient method of governance starting now."
I could only nod at Rianne-san's words. From within the orb, the voices of the Third and Seventh Heads could be heard.
"As expected of a princess who knows how to govern a nation. She must have all sorts of know-how."
"On a serious note, the manpower shortage in the rear, or rather the practical side, is becoming severe. Lariel, you... if you get the continent, you'll need to prepare a method of governance that can be passed down, even if you have to do it by force."
Governing a country through a hero—there are aspects that make it easier due to fame. However, problems arise when trying to pass it down through generations.
"...At this rate, I'm going to experience the hardships of the First and Second Generations simultaneously."
The First Generation, who built a village where there was nothing.
And the Second Generation, who refined the village left by the First to ensure those who followed could continue.
The Third Head spoke as if impressed.
"You noticed. If those two were here, they might have given surprisingly interesting advice. Well, it would be impossible for us."
Rianne looked puzzled, so I said "It's nothing" and tried to dismiss her. However, Rianne did not leave.
"Come to think of it, I heard this before entering. There's quite a gap after Lariel-dono's growth. I heard a rumor that you've made a move on the former Saintess?"
"Eh, from whom! I mean, I haven't made a move..."
Rianne was looking at the Valkyries, who had started tidying up the office after placing the documents.
"You two!"
The two Valkyries placed their hands over their mouths.
"Master, it was just make-believe. Make-believe. We were provided with maid uniforms and got excited, so we just spoke the rumors aloud. It just so happened that Rianne-sama was there, otherwise, no one else was."
The Valkyrie with expressionless black hair and red eyes used the core of a maid-type automaton that was originally Monica's sister. Because of that, she seemed to have a strong attachment to maid uniforms.
Rianne laughed through her nose.
"I wondered what was happening when you suddenly started gossiping in my room. Well, it seems it's a notice for everyone. It's convenient, isn't it? This is quite a strength. If you station Valkyries in various locations, you can obtain information immediately."
I sighed upon hearing that.
"I feel like it's only possible because it's me. Even if this can be used for governance, it'll only last until my generation. So, if possible, I want to find a way to govern without using this."
They were capable automata, but there were problems. The current communication with distant parties was realized using my skill [Connection], otherwise, such interactions would be impossible.
Also, the number of cores was fixed, and even if mass-produced, the current number was the maximum—even Damian couldn't create cores.
Rianne nodded several times as she looked at my face.
"It is good that you are thinking about the future. Though, that's all talk after you win. However, it's no longer a time to think only about military power. You also need to prepare bureaucrats who can handle administrative work. Since there's a lack of talent, it might be good to seek them from outside the nobility. Rather than searching for talented individuals, supplementing with numbers is more important for us right now."
I reached for the urgent documents and, while skimming through them,
"I understand. Proceed with the education. Since you're telling me, you've already made preparations, right? However, in the future, I'd like you to check with me first."
Rianne had a slightly surprised expression.
"...That's not fun. I was planning to surprise you. Ah, that's right."
I looked up, wondering if there was still more, and Rianne had a serious expression.
"I haven't asked who you'll make your primary wife. Could you decide soon?"
As I dropped the documents with a stunned expression, the Third Head's happy voice could be heard from within the orb.
"That's right. I've been waiting for this kind of talk. Only the Fourth Generation would be happy with a plain work scene, I've been waiting for this kind of topic!"
The Seventh Head also spoke in a serious tone.
"To think that the one to break the equilibrium where everyone was checking each other and unable to move would be the princess of Fanbayle... However, I thought Galleria, Lusworth, or perhaps the Queen of Cartaphus would move. I was careless. I feel as if a bomb was thrown from an unexpected place."
The Third Head seemed to feel the same.
"Me too. I thought this girl would move once she built a certain faction. Well, it's fine if it gets messy, but assassination is a no-go. Lariel, be careful about that."
No, if you put it that way, isn't that the same as saying anything is permitted as long as you don't kill? Or rather, have they gotten used to it recently? The two of them are looking forward to my romantic disasters.
...These guys are the worst.