29. Holy War.

“A… rival…?”

“That’s right. A rival.”

 

 

Spru’s words began to tremble.

 

“T-t-that can’t be! If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be easier to just kill me instead of going through all this trouble?!”

 

 

A scream bordering on desperation.

She was planning to serve her for life as the lord she believed in and followed, but hearing these words was too shocking.

 

 

“If it were a simple person, that’s what they’d do. But Onee-sama isn’t like that.”

 

 

Ayla trembled as if genuinely frightened.

Her acting is truly top-notch.

 

 

“What Onee-sama wants isn’t just getting rid of rivals, but erasing them completely from ‘Aran’s’ heart. In other words, Onee-sama’s goal is to make us harbor ill feelings and hate each other.”

“That kind of…”

“Because that’s how she can truly monopolize Aran.”

“I can’t believe it. Such… such words…!”

“You still have to believe it. All the circumstances are proof, aren’t they? Look at me! Onee-sama must have said bad things about me, right? Why would she do that? Because I’m Aran’s woman! She must have said bad things about Iliana Onee-sama too, right? Why would she do that? Because she’s Aran’s woman! She must have said bad things about Theodora too, right? Why would she do that? Because she’s Aran’s woman!”

“Ah…”

“Most of all, she only told you bad things about Aran, Spru-ssi, and put you in charge of the subjugated country. Why would she do that?”

“…To make us… fight each other…?”

“That’s right! The ruler of a subjugated country and the Great King of the subjugated country. How many things would they clash over? She intends to make you fight each other and erase you from Aran’s heart!”

“T-that kind of…”

“Onee-sama is the smartest of us four sisters, but the problem is that her direction is twisted.”

“Ah…”

 

 

Spru despaired.

Part of her wanted to believe in Huana and her smile, but Ayla’s words mercilessly tore that heart apart.

 

 

“Ah… but… Your Majesty has someone else she loves, right?”

“Who? Narcissi?”

“…Yes.”

 

 

Come to think of it, there’s Narcissi.

Although they’re both women, they love each other deeply, enough to spend hot nights together.

When Huana talks about Narcissi, she’s truly the epitome of beauty.

 

“Your Majesty loves Narcissi-geubun. There’s no way she’d have that kind of relationship with Aran.”

“Narcissi is Aran.”

“Neh?!”

“She’s planning all this, isn’t she? How could they have met properly? If Aran came as a man, you’d notice right away, or things could go wrong. So, she asked for understanding from Aran and those around her in advance.”

“Ah… no, but Aran is a man?? Don’t tell me she cross-dressed… but her voice is a woman’s voice????”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors about Aran Daewang?”

“What ki… Ah!”

 

 

Thinking about it, she exclaimed.

 

 

Right.

Aran’s feminization is already famous, even leaving behind sayings.

 

 

“That’s right. Aran can turn into a woman. So, the form she takes when she turns into a woman is Narcissi.”

“…”

 

 

Spru lost her words.

 

 

She wanted to protect the Huana inside her at all costs, but Ayla was launching too much of a fierce attack.

 

 

‘She’s almost completely 넘어왔네.’

 

 

Ayla wore a triumphant smile.

 

“Listen carefully, Spru. Actually, I knew everything about you. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything until now.”

“Neh?”

“And… Aran knows too.”

“Ah…”

“There’s no way she wouldn’t know. Narcissi is Aran, after all. She was so surprised when she first saw you.”

 

Come to think of it, she did have a pretty surprised expression when we first met.

At the time, I just thought it was because she was smitten with Huana…

 

 

 

Ayla suddenly grabbed Spru’s hand.

 

 

“The reason I’m talking to Spru-ssi like this is all because Aran told me to.”

“Aran…iyo?”

“Yes. Onee-sama had a nasty scheme, but… thankfully, I was able to see through it in advance. So, I’m moving like this to save Spru-ssi before you fall into an irreversible situation.”

“Ah…”

 

 

Spru was gradually falling for it.

Once she started doubting, there was no end to it.

 

‘Right. Come to think of it… Your Majesty said the Great Kingdom’s commoner school was a deception… but in reality, the people praised it highly, and the reason the nobles didn’t oppose it was because they were suppressed by Aran’s power. There’s no way Your Majesty wouldn’t know that… but to me…’

 

 

Doubt in all of Huana’s actions.

 

Finally, she found a decisive incident.

 

 

“Come to think of it… when Narcissi visited before, I heard fighting sounds from Your Majesty’s room. Narcissi-ssi was crying, and… Your Majesty was comforting her… that was…”

“Yes. Aran found out about Spru-ssi, and she found out about everything Onee-sama was trying to do. So, she went to confront her, and that’s where they fought.

Onee-sama has fallen so deeply in love that she can’t live without Aran, so she had no choice but to promise not to do it again and comforted her.

Well… nothing changed in the end, though.”

“…”

 

 

Spru lowered her head.

Her face looked gaunt, as if she had been under extreme stress during this short time.

 

 

“Spru-ssi. Can you live without Aran? Arguing with that kid… growing apart… can you live like that?”

 

She quietly shook her head.

Aran is now her only remaining family.

 

 

When they first met, it was absurd, and they haven’t spent that much time together, but they’ve grown close in their hearts while drawing for a long time.

Now, she can’t find the driving force in her life without Aran.

 

 

 

‘Hoo… I somehow managed to coax her.’

 

 

Watching Spru sob quietly, Ayla wore a smile of accomplishment.

 

 

In fact, Ayla’s words were full of loopholes because it was such a sudden opportunity, but fortunately, Spru wasn’t in the mental state to point them out.

It was already a relief that she hadn’t fainted from being shattered to pieces.

 

‘Once you start doubting something, it’s over. The relationship between Onee-sama and this kid is over now.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ayla waited for Spru, who had been sobbing for a while.

When she thought Spru’s crying had stopped, she began to work in earnest.

 

 

“Spru-ssi. Why don’t we join forces to drive out Onee-sama?”

“…Neh?”

“I’m anxious. As long as Onee-sama is here, I don’t know when or how things will turn out, and Aran has to worry every time. Does Aran have a lot of women? Onee-sama is trying to get rid of all of them somehow, so for the sake of Aran and our happiness, we have to drive her out.”

“B-but…”

“Spru-ssi and I can do it if we join forces. You’re the ruler of a subjugated country! Do you know what the biggest advantage of being the ruler of a subjugated country is?”

“Gwuh, power…?”

“No.”

 

 

Ayla raised her index finger.

 

 

“It’s the report immunity.”

“Ah!”

“I don’t know why they made it, but Spru-ssi can basically not report for 1 year, with 2 extensions, for a total of 3 years. This is really amazing! On the surface, you pretend to argue with Aran according to Onee-sama’s words, but behind the scenes, you work together.

By the time Onee-sama notices, things will have already happened to the point of no return. You’re the only one who can do this, Spru-ssi. You’re the only one who can bring peace to Aran and our family!”

“Ah… is that… so?”

“Yes.”

 

 

Ayla grabbed Spru’s hand again.

 

 

“Spru-ssi. I’ve heard all about Aran and Spru-ssi’s hard lives. Aren’t you sick of it now? There are so many human trash like Estelle, and Aran and you get hurt every time because of those trash.

What about Onee-sama? Although she’s my own sister, Onee-sama is no different from Estelle. She always bullies the weak and takes it for granted.

Spru-ssi. You’re the one who’s going to end it. You’re the only one who can end it. The ruler of the subjugated country.”

 

Spru was deeply conflicted.

No matter what, she was the lord she had decided to serve until she died…

 

 

“Spru-ssi! Human trash must disappear from this world! That’s how you and Aran can live! Don’t you understand yet? Onee-sama is trash!”

“Ugh… but… but with what justification…”

“There is justification. Although Onee-sama is married, and I have no intention of rising to the top… there’s one sister left, isn’t there? We can highlight Onee-sama’s sins and put that child at the forefront to replace the throne.”

“Heop…!”

“How about it? Let’s end the world of trash now.”

“…”

 

 

Spru was conflicted.

She was conflicted for a long time.

 

 

And finally.

She shed a tear and nodded.

 

 

“Hehe. That’s right. Now, we’re going to clean up the human trash. All of it. Completely.”

 

Ayla quietly hugged her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Achoo!!”

“…Ah, really, what are you doing! That’s disgusting!”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

 

 

Aran accidentally sneezed towards Moe without realizing it.

I don’t have a cold, so why am I suddenly sneezing?

 

 

‘Is someone talking about me?’

 

 

 

“…I will continue with what I was saying. Currently, a total of 60,000 troops from the Western Continent are heading to the Holy Kingdom, and there are signs that the Holy Kingdom will raise a large army of 300,000.”

“Hmph… that’s going to be troublesome.”