Chapter 11 – Have You Never Read a Romance Novel? (2)

“El. No need for pleasantries. You came here knowing everything, didn’t you?”

“It seems you were rather hasty.”

Neither of them yielded. Rank and status held no sway here; there would be no compromise, no negotiation.

Seras fired the first shot. “So? You expect me to simply step aside?”

Elhermina, as always, was impeccably composed. That regal serenity, however, hid a core of steel, a ruthlessness she seemed unaware of. Her mere presence, the weight of her lineage, her inherent perfection, was enough to make lesser beings tremble. Not out of malice, but simply… because she was.

“And what will you do if I refuse?”

“…What if House Estina pledges its full support to the Imperial Family, in exchange for… his hand?”

“A foolish question.”

“…My grandfather’s retirement is imminent. Don’t underestimate the significance of that.”

“Do you intend to succeed him? Leading House Estina as a woman… that’s no small feat.”

“I’ll relinquish my claim. To Cariel.”

What?

“Once my grandfather retires, House Estina will fully support the Imperial Family. This will benefit everyone. You, His Majesty, even Luelde and Ermina.”

“That’s easy to say.” But why? The Imperial Family actively sought to diminish the power of the nobility. A strong vassal was a threat, a potential challenge to their authority. Empowering House Brendiar would only destabilize the delicate balance of power, risking a return to the chaotic era before the Empire, a time of violence and distrust.

“I’ll put it in writing, if that will ease your concerns.”

“Your assurances are meaningless. You can’t fill the void your grandfather will leave. And Cariel as your puppet… that’s hardly a solution.”

“……”

“Though… his removal from the noble faction would destabilize their ranks. Divide and conquer. A clever strategy.”

“It won’t happen.”

“Why not?”

“I won’t relinquish Cariel for such a trivial reason.”

“Is that so?”

“You’re welcome to challenge me. Guiding and controlling one’s vassals is the duty of a ruler.”

This insane—

“But revealing your intentions so openly… it’s a dangerous gamble. You knew I wouldn’t give him up.”

“Precisely. That’s why I have to be… sincere.”

“Sincerity…” Elhermina paused, her eyes closing in thought. A long, unsettling silence.

“I understand.” She opened her eyes, her gaze sharp, piercing. “I was mistaken. This isn’t your grandfather’s plan. This is yours. You orchestrated this entire scenario, convinced him to agree. Sincerity, indeed. How… fitting.”

Seras sighed inwardly. It was always like this with Elhermina. A few words, and she had already dissected the entire situation, seen through the facade, grasped the underlying motivations. It was… exhausting.

“Very well.”

What? Very well?

“I’ve decided to take him as my husband. Therefore, if he wishes, I will permit… an unofficial relationship between the two of you.”

What?!

What was this… this… absurdity?

“Why that expression, Seras? My old friend. I respect you. So I’m offering a… compromise. Are you dissatisfied?”

“Are you serious? Are you out of your mind?”

“Such disrespectful language.” And yet, her expression remained unchanged, a mask of serene indifference.

“If he were a woman, or if we were men, this wouldn’t be possible. But he is a man, and we are women. So… this arrangement… it’s… feasible. I can’t give him everything he needs. Perhaps… you can provide what I cannot.”

“……” She was serious. This… princess… she actually believed this was a reasonable solution. A gesture of… goodwill. I knew her well enough to recognize the sincerity in her madness.

“So you’ll bind him with these twisted blood ties? You’re suggesting I… bear his… fatherless child?” The words were out before I could stop them.

“I didn’t suggest that, but… if you’re prepared to do so… I won’t object. It would strengthen our bond.”

She’s insane! Truly insane!

“Do you even have a heart? How can you say such things so casually?! And the Church! If they find out—! This is madness!”

“I won’t give him up. This is my… final offer. A necessary… compromise.” It was an ultimatum. Give up, or accept this… arrangement. In her twisted logic, it was a compromise. A concession.

“Seras. You remember, don’t you?”

“I…”

“I vowed to protect him, when he was sent away as a hostage. You witnessed that vow. And I intend to keep it.”

“You vowed to protect him?! And yet you’ve done nothing while he’s been suffering! Driven to the brink! What have you done for him?!”

Elhermina’s voice was firm, unwavering. “He’s strong, Seras. He won’t break. He may falter, but he will rise again.”

“Not everyone is a superhuman like you! How many people have you hurt with your arrogance?! Cariel included!”

“And what about your sins, Seras? Your sister, and my brother… they’re the ones who orchestrated his downfall. You defended them, didn’t you? Allowed their cruelty to continue, all in the name of… family loyalty?”

“That’s… that’s not relevant!”

“I waited, Seras. I gave you ample opportunity. I knew your intentions. I expected you to act. Atonement. Confession. An apology. Something.”

“Opportunity? You call this an opportunity?”

“If not, why would I make such a… drastic proposal now? I’m not so obedient that I would simply follow the Emperor’s or Empress’s decrees.”

If only… someone else could protect him… support him…

“I would gladly sacrifice… everything… for his happiness.”

“But who is there for him now, Seras?”

“……”

“Complacency. Negligence. Ignorance.”

“……”

“You only act when the fire is at your feet. How… careless.” She turned away, her dismissal absolute. “The moon has set, Seras. This is the dawn of a new era. If you feel wronged… blame your past inaction. The hourglass will not be turned.”

…….

……….

Alone in the quiet hallway, Elhermina walked slowly, her eyes half-closed in thought. As always. Let them whisper their affections, those countless admirers. Let them offer their love, their devotion.

“It will never compare to the love I hold for him.”

====

The rumors, the drama… it was all a distraction. The Demon King’s nightly torments, the endless cycle of death and rebirth… that was my reality. My nocturnal escapes for lute practice and fresh air had become less frequent.

So much had changed in just a few days. Engaged to Elhermina. Haunted by the ghost of the Demon King. It felt like weeks, months, even years had passed.

–Sleep deprivation isn’t conducive to healthy growth, you know.–

“You said stress relief was important.”

–Such is the irony of sentient beings.– Time is precious, and yet we waste it on frivolous pursuits.

“So… should I stop going out?”

–Your choice, little bird. I’m not your keeper.–

“……” A ghost of a Demon King, and the descendant of the hero who killed her. A complicated relationship, to say the least.

“You promised to teach me the lute if I survived your… training.”

–A small price to pay.– Whether you were training soldiers or slaves, motivation depended on incentives. Fear and pain were effective motivators, but…

–So much effort.– Cursing and tormenting someone was… tiring. Unless you were a sadist.

–I prefer guitars, anyway. Magic guitars. The distorted sound… exquisite.–

“Guitars?”

–You’ll understand someday. Though I doubt your Church would approve. Such… close-minded creatures.– Music, it seemed, was considered a demonic art. Though instruments and songs were commonplace, the nobility and the “refined” classes shunned them.

–Anything we do is considered evil. Such pathetic insecurity.– The Golden Demon King, I had learned, was considered a master of the arts among the demonfolk. The demon refugees who had integrated into human society were now at the forefront of artistic and cultural innovation.

A sudden, unsettling thought occurred to me. Was this… a cultural invasion? A subtle conquest through art and music?