The day after meeting Aurora.
It was an incredibly busy day.
I started my day being woken up at dawn and busying myself with grooming.
To summarize my schedule simply, it involved going to a place full of royals and nobles, standing around for a while, and then heading back to my accommodation.
Throughout that schedule, the royal family explained what had happened, took time for mourning the deceased, and announced their support for recovery efforts.
However, the context was somewhat distorted.
First of all, it was declared that the royal family had defeated the witch.
On the birthday of Aurora Princess, she was cursed by the wicked witch, and after many attempts to remedy the situation, it was widely known that Aurora was freed from the curse thanks to my help.
The royal family added to that story.
They stated that upon discovering the curse was lifted, the enraged witch attacked, but the citizens and the royal family united to seal the witch.
It wasn’t a lie.
During the harvesting period, a beam did indeed shoot from the royal castle during the fight.
But the king cleverly twisted that, propagandizing it as if the royal family had sealed the witch. They claimed to have captured and defeated the witch who had caused trouble for centuries.
They glorified the harvesting period’s fight against the witch and instilled patriotism by saying that without their efforts, the witch could not have been defeated.
Above all, the rewards were generous.
Those who fought on that occasion, even if they came from the Brightshin slums, would have their names inscribed on a monument, and those who died would receive knight titles. Their families would also receive various benefits.
They boasted that this was the nation’s way to repay their dedication.
Hearing it, one might think they’ve become true heroes, but while they shower them with honors, the actual funds going into the national treasury are minimal, which brings back memories of the leader class in the first world shining subtly.
The honors handed out can even be tainted and recouped at opportune times, meaning they barely make an impact.
Some memories are beautifully neatly divided, one might say.
There’s a target for resentment, a victim, a dedicated individual, and a leader who mourns.
Moreover, all the dedicated individuals are dead, so there’s no need for anybody to witness the downfall of a hero because of some strange deeds.
The king actively promoted those who sacrificed for the country.
This was broadcasted throughout the kingdom via the media, and the news even reached the nearly isolated Bern City.
Ironically, this news flipped the hearts of those fighting in Bern City.
Including the harvesting period fighters, people there were absolutely furious.
While nothing from the incidents occurring in Bern City was revealed, the capital was showcasing the royal family’s victory over the evil witch.
Consequently, interestingly, the number of those suggesting surrender or giving up dropped.
Rather, there was an increase in those advocating to fight to the end. Even the Purpleshadow Society is preparing to establish a new government, rising above their original organizational framework.
It’s truly amusing.
On one side of the country, there’s a celebration of victory and a moment of mourning for the dead, while on the other, more people are planning a coup.
At least it’s fortunate that there won’t be indiscriminate oppression.
Unlike the second world, not all harvesting period individuals will be treated as bad guys.
This is because many citizens saw the harvesting period fighters battling the witch in the capital. Although it seems no one has witnessed the final blow from the Geomeun Gashinamu, just having seen them is important.
Even in a situation where they couldn’t use magic, using psychic powers to battle the witch must have left a strong impression on the witnesses.
However, there have been no eyewitnesses left to confirm, allowing everyone to simply believe that the royal family disposed of the witch.
In other words, the harvesting period in the capital is seen as the good guys. Even the Aurora Princess qualifies as a harvesting period fighter. So, it would be hard to frame all harvesting period individuals as villains based solely on that.
This means the most dangerous individual could turn out to be Victoria, the harvesting period fighter from Bern City.
I have no clue how things will unfold from here.
Oh, and surprisingly, Victoria had a rather easy day today.
The Royal Academy has been put on break for the week. Considering that most of our class attended the king’s speech, we can assume that all students from the Royal Academy are here.
Victoria crashed asleep in her room. She rushed to class, claiming she was late, but upon seeing the notice that said they were on break for the week, she returned to her dormitory and fell asleep again.
She slept soundly until late afternoon. And still with the sun above, she got out of bed, complaining of hunger, and went out to eat a massive meal by herself.
In the evening, she went to the Mechanical Puppet School, but after hearing that it was also on break, she trudged back to her dormitory.
Now that I’ve arrived at my accommodation, I’m reading a letter from my family and studying the Mechanical Puppet subject.
Since I don’t have a schedule today, I think I’ll visit her tomorrow.
*
The next day.
Although there was no need to attend school, I woke up at the usual time. After washing, changing clothes, and grooming myself as usual, I noticed something odd: the people looking after me were now speaking to me more warmly. Until now, they had looked at me with a sense of alienation, but that seems to have faded.
Saying it’s because I defeated the witch doesn’t really capture the essence; there’s no sense of awe.
Rather, they’ve been saying they don’t need to treat me with such care and that it’s fine to point out anything that needs addressing.
It seems they were possibly eavesdropping on the earlier conversation I had with the butler.
So when I corrected them a little, the young maids’ faces turned pale.
When an experienced maid asked if I had perhaps worked in a similar trade, it was genuinely amusing.
Before I could respond, the butler came in and shooed them away, which was fortunate because I’ve never had a job like that.
If they asked how I had that knowledge, it would be awkward.
Anyway.
As I went outside, the butler silently saw me off, which definitely signifies that the king holds a favorable view of me.
If it were surveillance, they would have asked for my destination whenever I left. Yet, no matter where I go or how late I come back, they never ask any questions.
Initially, I thought it was just the butler’s disposition, but now it seems more likely they’re allowing me to go freely as I please.
I must have been wearing tinted glasses due to misunderstanding Merryweather.
As I left my accommodation, I reflected that I wish someone were smart enough not to jump to conclusions without making someone else a harvesting period fighter.
I headed towards the dormitory where Victoria lives.
If I turn left at the entrance of the accommodation, I directly come to the main gate of the Royal Academy.
Entering through the main gate and walking along the road, I would reach two buildings on the left.
One is the dormitory, and the other is the student dining hall.
They are so close that the aroma of food wafts up to the dorm rooms during meal times, and Victoria once mumbled that it’s impossible to skip meals.
Upon entering the dormitory building, the first floor has a spacious area filled with chairs and tables where students who feel bored in their own rooms gather.
Today, I see students sitting around. They have a TV, and they’re all watching it.
Glimpsing at the screen, it’s a special broadcast about Maleficent and various materials explaining what kind of witch she was.
As I paused to watch, memories of Maleficent flared in my mind with an ‘Ah, that’s not it’ feeling before I floated upward.
The first floor has various facilities, and starting from the second floor are the students’ rooms.
I stood in front of a door and knocked.
After some time, a disheveled Victoria opened the door.
“Bell?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
I stepped into Victoria’s room, which was quite messy. Her sleeping area was neat, but in one corner, there was a chaotic pile of gadgets and machines smelling of iron and oil.
That was the Mechanical Puppet I took home from the Mechanical Puppet School yesterday for studying.
“It’s a mess.”
“It’s a mechanical puppet; it can’t be helped~ Unless I get another room, the only place I can do this is here. So please don’t throw it away!”
“I won’t throw it away.”
Victoria looked at me suspiciously.
“Really? My mom once said something similar before she threw everything away. Although it wasn’t mine; it was my dad’s.”
“It’s for studying, right?”
“Ah, yeah. That’s right.”
Seeing Victoria give an awkward smile, I pointed to the bathroom.
“Go wash up first.”
“Yes, yes, since it’s a day off, I won’t get hurt by just lounging around.”
Victoria grumbled as she grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom. After confirming that, I picked up a letter from her desk.
It was a letter from Beatrice.
It mentioned that it seemed we’d both be busy, so we shouldn’t think of coming down. There was no mention anywhere in the letter regarding the incidents happening in Bern City.
Upon reading this, Victoria joyfully wondered if her father, Morris, began working again, but this letter probably doesn’t suggest that.
But even if Victoria were to go down, there’s not much she could do.
The royal family has not mentioned her separately, perhaps thinking they’ve already given her everything she needs.
Getting into the Royal Academy is quite challenging.
Furthermore, it takes about four days to travel one way from the capital to Bern City. If we take the airship like last time, it takes less than a day, but otherwise, it takes considerable time.
We have to consider whether we’re at the level where we can send a letter, or if the situation is dangerous enough that they’re telling us not to come down…
“Ugh, that was refreshing. What are you looking at?”
“A letter.”
“Oh, is it from your mom? Sounds like she’s busy. It’s unusual we haven’t seen each other lately, but since I’m out, they must have both gone to work.”
That’s right. Morris and Beatrice. They both love Victoria tremendously. So I know that even if they are busy, one of them will take time out to be with Victoria.
I heard it while cooking in the kitchen with Beatrice.
Victoria seems to know that too.
Seeing from Victoria’s perspective, I understand everything she feels, but I can’t read her thoughts. The only moment I gain memories is when I become a harvesting period fighter.
So I ask if she read what was happening to them between the lines of the letter.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not a child, so would I sulk over something like this? But it’s kind of unlike my mom not to write anything about you. Or did you also receive a letter?”
I shook my head. To my knowledge, I’ve never received a letter.
“Are they really busy?”
They probably aren’t busy with work. A few memories flicker cautiously. Wishing there won’t be any responses.
I realized upon seeing those memories.
Yes, if they wrote anything about me, they might end up receiving a letter.
And unless there’s a guarantee the letter would reach Bern City, it’s better to send one with no response.
Ignoring it like this, I already made a statement to Highpion King. For the sake of consistency, it won’t cause any tangling of words to bring up this question here.
It sounds frustrating to say, “Why didn’t you mention it?”
“Victoria. On the day we first met, like the moment you screamed, I faintly heard shouts from the south.”
Disregarding Beatrice’s consideration, I hint to Victoria that something might be happening in Bern City.
I watch as her expression hardens, and I hand her a pen.
“I’m worried.”
So I encourage her to ask.
Soon, Victoria nodded her head and sat down to write a letter.
Now, how will this letter turn out?
Thinking about what future it may lead to, I sat behind Victoria and waited.
