SS #36 Regina Bayer (2)

“The Founding Anniversary Celebration?”

When Regina’s eyes widened as she asked, the Young Count Bayer—Gale—smiled brightly and repeated himself.

“Yes, the Founding Anniversary Celebration. It’s a day to commemorate the founding of the Sailun Kingdom each year.”

“No, Brother, I know that. You can tell just by the name. I have common sense, you know?”

“Ahem.”

Embarrassed by his younger sister’s logical counterattack, Gale let out a dry cough, and everyone gathered near the fireplace smiled faintly.

Five people were gathered in front of the fireplace in the Chase County estate—or to be more precise, in Amber and Aidan’s room.

Gale Bayer, the Young Count Bayer and one of the Ten Sword Masters, the Wind Wolf.

Adelia Bayer, the Young Countess Bayer and the de facto head of Bayer Industries, the Golden Yaksha.

Amber Bayer, who was hugging Regina from behind like a doll with a bright smile, and Aidan Bayer, who was hugging a pillow instead of Regina.

And finally, Regina Bayer, nestled in Amber’s arms, her cheeks flushed red from the warmth of the fire, Amber’s embrace, and the heart-pounding news she had just heard.

Gale and Adelia, having just returned from a dinner meeting with influential figures from Bayer Industries, were in the middle of sharing various news with the children.

“Anyway, this year’s Founding Anniversary Celebration is going to be very special.”

“Is Crown Princess Daphne finally ascending to the throne?” Amber asked, picking up where Gale left off. Gale was momentarily flustered but soon smiled and nodded.

“Yes, Amber, you’re right. An official notice came down stating that Crown Princess Daphne will ascend to the throne during this year’s celebration.”

Daphne D. Sailun.

One of the two children born to the First Queen Consort Justia F. Sailun, and the eldest daughter of the royal family.

Although she had been running the Sailun Kingdom as its de facto ruler for several years, she was still only the acting monarch, not the true queen.

But it seemed she would finally take the throne at this year’s Founding Anniversary Celebration.

“It took longer than I expected. It wouldn’t have been strange if she’d been coronated at any point, right?”

Crown Princess Daphne’s legitimacy was perfect, and she had no rivals.

Her brother, Prince Dion, born of the same mother, Queen Justia, was a fervent supporter and confidant, so he could never be an enemy. Meanwhile, Princess Darian, born of the Second Queen, had already married into a powerful noble family, effectively making her no longer a royal.

“That’s exactly why. Since she could ascend at any time, there was no need to rush, right? His Majesty the King is still in good health.”

As Aidan finished Amber’s thought, Regina looked at Gale as if to ask, Is that so? Gale gave an awkward smile and nodded.

“In any case, this year’s Founding Anniversary Celebration will be held on a grand scale. Invitations have been sent to nobles all across the kingdom, and…”

Gale trailed off, looking at the children with eyes full of anticipation.

He expected them to wait for his words with sparkling, eager eyes.

But that wasn’t what happened.

Amber and Aidan looked as if they already knew what he was going to say, and Regina just gave him a slightly reproachful look, as if to say, ‘Stop dragging it out and just tell us already.’

But in that very moment.

Just as Gale’s shoulders slumped in unwitting disappointment and a hint of hurt, Adelia shot the children a look, gesturing with her eyes and chin. At the Golden Yaksha’s warning, the children began to offer soulless reactions.

“Dad, hurry up and tell us.”

“I’m curious, Dad.”

“Brother, I’m curious too. Huh?”

Aside from Amber, who was also skilled at foxy acting, their performances were disastrously wooden, almost like they were reading from a textbook, but the effect was tremendous.

His spirits restored, Gale laughed heartily and pulled invitations from his coat.

“Invitations have arrived for both the Bayer and Chase count families. So, let’s all go to the royal capital together.”

The royal capital.

The Founding Anniversary Celebration.

A family trip to the capital.

It was all exactly as they had predicted, but hearing it confirmed still made the children’s excitement begin to rise.

This was understandable, as they had rarely ever been on a trip.

“If we’re going to the capital, are we taking a carriage?”

“We’ll have to, right? And it’s not just us; the entire Bayer and Chase families are going, so we’ll need several carriages.”

At Gale’s answer, Regina quickly began to count on her fingers.

Even excluding the Grand Count Bayer and Yuna Bayer—their father and mother—who were away on a journey of love, if both the Bayer and Chase families were going, it was bound to be a large group.

‘Uncle Arthur, Edward, Sylvia, Brother Gale, Sister Adelia, Amber and Aidan, Bella, and me.’

Just counting the members of the Bayer and Chase families, there were nine of them.

If they added maids like Luna and the knights who would escort the party, the number would easily swell to several dozen.

“It will be incredible to see all the nobles of the kingdom gathered together. Isn’t this the first time since the 300th anniversary that they’ve all gathered like this?”

Gale nodded again at Aidan’s question.

The 300th Founding Anniversary Celebration.

Three hundred years was by no means a short time.

For a single nation to have lasted for three centuries was a rare feat.

Unfortunately, the Sailun Kingdom’s 300th Anniversary Celebration was more famous for another reason.

Duke Hoguk’s Rebellion.

The Tragedy of the Royal Family.

A horrific incident where Duke Hoguk, a hero who had saved the nation, colluded with demon worshippers in an attempt to assassinate the entire royal family, including the king.

Fortunately, the king’s assassination was prevented, but the royal family and the capital suffered immense damage.

Henry II, the First Queen, the Second Queen, and the Third Queen.

And Crown Princess Daphne, Prince Dion, and Princess Darian.

Aside from those seven, the rest of the royal family was virtually annihilated, and tens of thousands of casualties occurred in the capital.

But the 300th Anniversary Celebration was not a history of defeat.

On the contrary, it was a history of victory.

‘The Fantastic Couple!’

Yuder Bayer and Cordelia Chase.

The heroes who saved the nation by executing Duke Hoguk and protecting the royal family.

And they weren’t the only ones.

There was Count Bayer, the Sword Saint of Wind, who stopped the Fallen Sword Saint who had betrayed them alongside Duke Hoguk—the First Sword, Rune Proud.

Count Chase, the Red Storm, who prevented the collapse of the royal palace.

Seryu of the Seven Kill Sword, who single-handedly stopped a powerful demonized human.

And the Great Hero of Paragon—the Vampire Lord Belkian, who repelled the zombies and protected the capital.

The demon worshippers’ plot was thwarted, and the royal family was saved.

The Sailun Kingdom was victorious.

“You and Mom were amazing too, Dad. You’re even in the history books, right?”

As Amber spoke with a soft chuckle, Gale laughed bashfully, while Adelia gently closed her eyes, as if reminiscing about that day.

Gale the Wind Wolf and Adelia the Golden Yaksha.

It had been a fierce and intense battle.

A battle so fierce that it wouldn’t have been the least bit strange if both of them had lost their lives, not just one.

But instead of recalling the desperation and intensity of that day, Adelia thought of better memories.

The memory of her reunion in the capital with Gale, whom she had eagerly awaited.

Everything she and Gale had shared in her mansion.

And a few days after the attack, the passionate kisses and the hot night she shared with Gale after he was finally revived.

It was a memory from over a decade ago, yet it felt as vivid as if it had happened just yesterday.

“Adelia.”

“Darling.”

As if they were thinking the same thing, Gale gently wrapped an arm around Adelia’s shoulder, and Adelia leaned into his embrace, her eyes glistening.

The children, witnessing the two rapidly sinking into a world of their own, spoke in low voices.

“It’s like they’ve completely forgotten we’re here, right?”

“I wonder if we’ll get a younger sibling this time?”

“The mood is nice, but maybe we should interrupt them and get back to the main topic?”

Regina, Amber, and Aidan spoke in turn.

But Gale and Adelia, seemingly oblivious, only exchanged dewy-eyed gazes.

So Regina closed her eyes for a moment and imagined.

The journey to the royal capital.

Everyone she would meet there.

And the stories she had heard about the capital and the 300th Anniversary Celebration.

‘I wonder if they still hold the Sword Banquet?’

Cordelia had said that Yuder competed and won in a really cool way.

‘I want to compete too.’

Regina Bayer was a direct descendant of the Sword Saint of Wind, the Grand Count Bayer, and had been personally taught the Sword of Wind by him.

Regina loved the sword.

She also loved eating delicious food and playing games with Amber and Aidan, but her favorite thing was the Sword of Wind.

‘Because the wind is always free.’

And she really, really loved her grandfather’s famous quote.

Of course, being only thirteen, she hadn’t reached a very high level, but that didn’t mean her skills were poor.

Regina had a talent for the sword.

If she continued to grow at this rate, she was certain to reach the level of a Sword Master before she turned thirty.

‘I want to see the ball, too. I’ll have to go, right?’

The night of the ball that Yuder had described several times as the day the entire world bowed to Cordelia’s beauty.

Because Cordelia was just so pretty.

She was a real goddess’s avatar, a real angel, just… truly amazing.

‘But if I go to the ball, who will I dance with? Will I dance with Aidan?’

No, she would dance with many people, but she felt like she needed a partner.

A partner.

Several faces flashed through Regina’s mind, but for some reason, none of them seemed to meet her standards.

‘Ugh… it’s all my brothers’ fault.’

She had been born to find she had two incredibly impressive older brothers.

Her second oldest brother, in particular, was practically the most wonderful man in the world.

‘Anyway, I’m so excited.’

Besides the dancing at the ball, there were so many places to see in the capital.

‘And there are all sorts of pilgrimage sites for the Phantom Thief Pink Bomb.’

The Rogue Master, Pink Bomb.

Her period of activity was the shortest among all the Rogue Masters in history, but thanks to her impressive—no, shocking—phantom thief name, her incredible feats, and her pretty costume, she was the great thief of the century who still had many hidden fans, even now, nearly a decade after a new Rogue Master had appeared.

‘I can’t wait to go.’

She wanted to see the ‘children’ of the Hresvelg family, too. She wanted to see Yuder and Cordelia, and there were so many things she wanted to do with everyone.

“Alright, time for bed, you three.”

“Yes, off to bed now.”

“Hmph, I guess we have no choice. We’ll be understanding.”

“If possible, I’d like a little brother, please.”

Half-listening to the Bayer family’s conversation, Regina found herself being carried in Amber’s arms and, before she knew it, fell into a deep sleep.

And one week later.

The royal capital.

“Aunt Regina.”

At the clear, lovely voice behind her, Regina’s face lit up. She turned around, and upon seeing the face she had been hoping for, she smiled brightly and shouted.

“Yuria!”

Yuria August Bayer.

It was a secret from Amber and Aidan, but Regina’s favorite niece was standing right there.

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Translated By: Meher (RaidenTL)

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