Chapter 15

This is the second part of today's story.

Thank you as always. I will post again tomorrow, at around the same time.

Sirius began his story from the beginning.

Sirius's mother entered the harem along with her cousin, a marquise's daughter. Neither of them was particularly enthusiastic about it. They knew the king was infatuated with the queen and that they would be neglected. Still, they came, thinking it was for the best for a country without an heir.

Sirius's mother soon became pregnant. The healer who examined her said, "I can sense two magical pulses. It's twins."

When this news was brought to the king, he said something strange.

"Let it be known that each of the two concubines is pregnant."

The king cited reasons that were hard to accept, such as "In some regions, twins are despised." While it was true in some areas, the country as a whole did not discriminate against twins.

Probably, the king was angry that his beloved queen could not bear a child, while a concubine he did not particularly like became pregnant quickly. Or perhaps he no longer wanted to share a bed with the second concubine. There must have been some real reason behind his decision.

When Jules and Sirius were born, the king, upon learning that the first prince, Sirius, had brown hair, said again,

"I cannot announce a prince with brown hair as the first prince.

Let the younger one be the first prince."

However, Sirius's mother came to regret hearing about these whims of the king.

When the twins turned five, their magical power was assessed. Jules's magical power was a low "Great," while Sirius's was "Special Great," a rare level.

The national deity had bestowed the appropriate magical power for the first prince to become king. However, it was too late. It was impossible to make the second prince, born to a concubine, the crown prince.

Noel, who had heard the story, couldn't help but mutter,

"The king is hopeless."

"That's not a good thing to say."

"Then I'll just scream it in my heart."

"Ha ha."

Sirius gently touched Noel's hand, who was sitting next to him.

"Noel.

Even though I'm like this...

Would you stay with me?"

Noel's cheeks flushed at Sirius's words.

—Is this... a marriage proposal?

Sirius's eyes looked a bit anxious, perhaps because Noel was hesitating to answer. The answer was already decided. Noel returned the grip on Sirius's hand.

"Yes."

She smiled, her cheeks blooming with joy. Sirius also smiled, relieved, with his usual gentle smile.

—I really, really like you.

Even if the king rejected Sirius, and even if the country did not choose him, Noel would choose Sirius. There was no hesitation.

"I will always, always be with you."

Sirius hugged Noel and kissed her hair.

"I love you, my Noel."

◇◇◇

On the day the academy entered summer vacation,

Robert was in Professor Theo Michelle's laboratory.

"My brother is successfully cultivating love with Miss Noel... according to the report from his guard," Robert told the professor while elegantly tilting his teacup.

"His Highness's guard is quite polite.

Do you really need such a report?"

Theo frowned.

"Of course, I do. Royalty has no privacy.

This way, my brother has a successful shackle."

Robert looked pleased.

"Noel has no lingering attachment to this country, right?

Her adoptive father is in the empire."

"Don't say such ominous things."

Theo frowned in displeasure.

"Why don't you just ask him straightforwardly to be the king?"

"Of course, I did.

Though, in a somewhat roundabout way."

"That's the problem, isn't it?"

"Brother Jules asked straightforwardly."

"Hmm...

Well, His Highness Sirius is the pure successor chosen by the national deity. His will is the will of the national deity.

Perhaps the national deity has abandoned our country."

Theo shook his head in resignation.

"That's why he's trying to do something about it.

It's an unexpected stroke of luck that the cute curly-haired boy is holding him back."

"Noel might be thinking of leaving the country with him..."

Theo looked into the distance.

"Sir Theo.

Please cooperate a little!"

"First, can't we do something about that dim-witted queen?

The king has been quite calm lately."

"He's not feeling well."

"Yes, I thought it was about time.

It seems to have worsened."

"It's the same symptoms as the short-lived kings of the past.

A disease that causes suffering and death.

It seems he has finally realized that he is suffering from an incurable disease and its cause."

"Well, it's too late."

"Yes. The queen will suffer the same fate."

Robert smiled brightly.

◇◇◇◇◇

The captain of the royal guard was replaced.

He had been criticized as "incompetent" for a long time, and it was about time.

For several years, he had made it mandatory for the royal guard knights to participate in swordsmanship tournaments, but most of them failed in the preliminary rounds. This year, only two new recruits made it to the second round, which was the best result.

Despite annual calls for improvement, it was said, "The current captain is no good."

The captain was the queen's uncle.

He was appointed captain because the king accepted the queen's strong recommendation.

The captain, who tried to capture innocent students at the queen's whim, was demoted to a border guard.

The queen was summoned to the king's private room.

The king was sitting comfortably in an armchair.

The king's health had been poor for over 20 years, and the disease had started 30 years ago.

It had only gotten worse.

"Please, don't cause any more trouble."

The king said this in a weak voice.

"But, but, she insulted Sariel's fiancée."

Queen Flora made a pitiful expression and pleaded.

"That's a lie from you and the Vionne family.

I don't need any more lies.

I know the truth."

"Lies...?"

"If you continue to cause trouble for the palace, I will have to take action.

I can no longer endure your whims.

But I have one last thing to do.

I can no longer pay attention to you."

The king's eyes were vacant.

Flora felt a cold sweat run down her spine.

"Do you no longer love me?"

"Flora.

I shouldn't have loved you.

I granted your wish to become queen.

In truth, I should have given the throne to my brother.

By making you queen, I betrayed the national deity.

This disease is my punishment.

I have tried to be a good king and make amends.

But what the national deity values is not just a king who can handle the duties well.

I cannot afford to make a mistake in choosing the crown prince.

Such a mistake cannot be forgiven.

If I do not choose the king the national deity seeks, my body will be torn apart in agony."

"How can a god be so cruel? It's wrong!"

"You are foolish, to have made such a foolish woman my queen."

The king smiled bitterly.

"Your Majesty..."

Flora looked at her husband in disbelief.

"This is the kind of country it is.

If you didn't like it, you shouldn't have become queen.

You could have been a queen in another country.

I made a mistake."

"No, no, I didn't make a mistake!"

"You were a mass of selfish desires.

I shouldn't have granted such wishes.

You have criticized the ancestors who protected and built this country.

But what have you done?

Have you risked your life for the country?

Have you done more than just desire beautiful dresses?

Do you have the right to curse the deity who has protected the country?"

"Y-Your Majesty... I just... wanted your beloved prince to be the successor..."

"My love is meaningless.

I only sought a pretty young lady as a wife.

Can I entrust the country to such love?

It is only natural that I have lost the national deity's blessing and my magic.

This disease is the truth.

The deity has simply removed the blessing.

It is only natural, as I am not fit.

The misfortunes that have befallen your family are also due to this.

You said the deity was wrong.

So the deity removed the blessing.

It is only natural.

You will continue to live with misfortune.

You will stumble and fall in unfortunate places.

You criticized the national deity while trying to become the queen of the country the deity has protected.

You will receive your punishment.

I will too.

We sought love... or so we thought.

Love may be the only thing left.

But that is all.

If you say love is noble, you should not have sought the throne or power.

It is your own doing.

If you seek what is not fit, you will receive punishment.

The punishment of losing all your good fortune.

That is what you sought.

Accept it."

"No... that's impossible.

Your Majesty is weak from the illness.

I will do something. I will call a healer..."

"It's an incurable disease.

Don't worry about it.

I am better off being ill.

The pain in my body makes me feel better.

If I receive punishment, perhaps the afterlife will be a bit better.

You are pitiful, but there is nothing I can do."

The king gently closed his eyes, signaling that the conversation was over.

After that, no one listened to any of the queen's commands.