Chapter 44: Harness Part 1
by fnovelpia
“Ah, Mother!”
Stella shouted unintentionally, but it wasn’t just because she felt rebellious.
To her, “Mother” was a strict, frightening, yet admirable figure she respected deeply.
She was a woman who had worn the authority and dignity of the Blaze royal family, which had lasted for over five hundred years, like her own skin, and had always upheld the behavior fitting of that status.
So, although she was frightening, Stella respected her for the same reason.
To see her mother make a wrong decision.
No.
To put it more bluntly, she didn’t want to see her make such a foolish decision.
If this were to be compared to something modern, it would be like a boy seeing his invincible superhero struggling for the first time, or a girl realizing that even celebrities could be evil.
In reality, Stella was only sixteen.
‘If she were in Korea, she would be a first-year high school student.’
***
“When I sent you to the academy…”
But the current head of the Blaze royal family had betrayed Stella’s expectations.
“I hoped you would associate with famous and talented individuals from all over the world. But instead, you only spent time with a maid, and allowed her to become so arrogant!”
“…Mother.”
Stella felt deep sorrow.
It was her own mistake to mistake Ellie for a mere maid.
But seeing her mother, the one she had respected, make the same mistake was difficult.
“Please, enough.”
“What do you mean by that? Let me ask you in return. If there were another person you formed a bond with, show them to me.”
“…Mother.”
Stella thought.
If the Stella from before meeting Ellie had felt this level of disappointment, she would have cried in heartache just from that.
Then, she would have blinked her eyes to hold back her tears in front of her mother.
After all, someone born to inherit the throne of a royal family that had reigned for centuries would have to do that.
“Please, enough. As a child, it is hard to endure seeing my mother make a mistake.”
“…What did you say?”
Tears rolled down Stella’s cheeks.
She didn’t wipe them away, letting them flow.
She had learned from Ellie that tears weren’t something to be ashamed of.
“The girl came here and met many precious children, but the most remarkable of them all is the one whom you, Mother, would have considered rude and unworthy of my friendship.”
“Friend…?”
Ellie, too, realized for the first time that she was a student.
Her eyes widened.
She turned to apologize, but Ellie was already gone.
“Ah, how did she slip away so quickly?”
“Don’t worry too much. She’s a mischievous child.”
“…Does that mean she hid on purpose because she knew I was going to apologize? Was she trying to trick me?”
“The queen?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“…Ha.”
It was definitely fitting to describe her behavior as mischievous.
“Is that girl really a commoner?”
A commoner was someone of lower status, not nobility.
“Yes, Mother, didn’t you hear? This year, a commoner entered the academy.”
“…Come to think of it, yes. I didn’t expect to run into her so soon.”
“You are lucky.”
“Is that good luck?”
Stella chuckled softly.
The queen blinked.
It seemed like her daughter had suddenly grown during the time they hadn’t seen each other.
“Shall we take a walk for a moment?”
As the mother and daughter walked through the academy grounds, Stella talked about the days she had spent since arriving here.
Most of the stories were about Ellie.
Anyone who listened could tell just how important Ellie was to Stella.
And then came the unbelievable anecdotes.
Before entering the academy, she had competed with the duke’s heir and won.
She had gathered other students to protest against a professor.
She had dueled and defeated that professor.
She had signed a contract with a famous wand master to receive the best wand, with the payment to be made by the royal family.
“Besides that, she became the top student in the school during the midterms, made her four friends rank from 2nd to 5th, got me this necklace, and even visited the dean’s office. The last one is more of a daily occurrence, though.”
“…All of that happened between her admission and now?”
“Yes.”
Stella smiled mischievously.
It was the smile she had learned from Ellie.
“Mother, you’ve been out of touch with the world’s affairs, haven’t you?”
“Stella.”
However, instead of scolding her, the queen sighed deeply.
“…That seems to be true.”
Their walk around the academy was nearly over.
“Mother, may I say something before we return?”
“…Go ahead.”
“I believed, with all my heart, that you, Mother, were the wisest person in the world.”
It was an abrupt statement.
But it was also a natural thought that a child would have for their parent.
“Whatever you said, I believed it was always right, and I thought I had to do everything you told me to. If I failed, I would have believed it was my fault.”
“Then, does that mean you no longer think I am wise?”
‘Because she had seen a world larger than the kingdom and met people greater than herself?’
“No, that’s not it. I still respect you, Mother. It’s just that I now realize you are also just one human being with countless limitations.”
So.
“I apologize. My child was pleased by the mistakes of her parents.”
But.
“Because of that, the girl has gained the strength to break free from the shackles and stand on her own.”
“Was I a shackle to you?”
“Please do not worry. Truly, it was the girl herself who placed that shackle upon herself.”
All children start from ignorance and blindly trust their parents, but there comes a time when they must break free from the limitations of their parents.
Some pass through it so smoothly that they might not even realize it, while others succeed only after a fierce battle with themselves.
For Stella, that moment was now.
“So, Your Majesty, please remain as the great pillar that supports me in the future, just as you have always done.”
She smiled gently.
“I will now walk my own path.”
***
A silence followed.
It was only when they arrived at the carriage she had come in that Stella’s mother spoke.
“I sent you here.”
A sigh.
“I think it was the right decision.”
“I believe so too.”
“Her name was Ellie, right? I will remember that name, so you should stay close to her in the future.”
“Do not worry. I have always planned to do so.”
“And when you meet again, tell her I apologize for today.”
“Yes.”
Stella held back a laugh, as she clearly imagined Ellie’s mischievous giggle.
“I will do so.”
Entering the dorm, instead of going to her and Ellie’s room, Stella headed for Isabel’s room.
She knocked and opened the door naturally, and the others were already gathered, doing some new game.
“Ah? Did your mother leave?”
The girl who had been the topic of conversation with her mother asked.
Stella couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“Hehehe…”
“She must have left, right?”
“Yeah, she left. She asked me to tell you that she’s sorry for what happened earlier today.”
“Hehehe. I’ll accept the apology.”
Clea asked.
“What did Ellie do again?”
“What do you mean? This time, I’m just a victim.”
“That’s even scarier… Did you maybe knock down Lord Blaze?”
“Please, seriously don’t ask that.”
Sitting beside Ellie, who grumbled, “Do I really look like such a tactless person?”, Stella spoke.
“Ellie.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“…Why suddenly?”
“It may seem unexpected, but calling it sudden is inappropriate.”
Stella felt relieved.
Before she naturally spoke those words in front of her mother, she hadn’t realized it herself.
The one who had been limiting her with the title “Your Majesty” had been no one else but herself.
“Ellie.”
Everything was thanks to this wonderful and great girl.
She was truly grateful.
That this girl had chosen her.
That she had made her her friend.
“I must ask for your understanding. From now on, I may act in a way that might seem embarrassing.”
“Eh?”
Stella kneeled on one knee before Ellie.
She took Ellie’s hand, lifted it, and placed the back of her hand to her forehead.
“May the blessings of the stars be upon your path.”
It was an old, very old greeting and blessing.
Though its meaning was sincere, it had become outdated due to how long it had existed.
Like how traditional Joseon-style greetings would feel out of place in modern Korea.
She understood that, so she asked for understanding.
However, to convey her true feelings now, this was the only way that came to mind.
As a child from an old family, she revived an old blessing.
“And may I always be by your side.”
Stella had made up her mind.
She would continue to walk this path with this girl.
That was her path.
She would stay by Ellie’s side, forever.
Blaze, the Duke, Stella’s mother, muttered alone in the carriage heading towards the institution.
“…Ellie.”
She closed her eyes and thought of her daughter.
The Queen loved her daughter, Stella, but despite that, she was still not someone she could fully rely on.
For instance, she was still scared of sleeping alone at night.
Stella probably thought that her parents didn’t know about it, ‘but how could they not?’
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