After which Higan and I got back, we were thoroughly scolded as expected. To be honest, it was our first time fighting like that, fist-to-fist.

I don’t think that’s how siblings fight but what do I know? I never had a real sibling before.

However, through that, I was able to understand Higan a little more and I was able to squeeze out what I truly feel for her at the moment. It may change in the future but right now, I am satisfied just being a friend, a sister, and someone precious to her.

After that, we stayed for another day just to look after Higan who fell ill. Asteria never resurfaced again and Hibiscus and Casablanca wake up as they are without the interference of the gods inside their bodies.

Because The Elven Queen Hinoki Prasiolite cannot vacant herself any longer due to prior arrangements and their new plan to excavate a hot spring, they left together with the twins. She told me to visit regularly but I don’t know what’s regular to her.

Mimi and Fang got into a fight again with Mimi running away while crying. They are called Guardians of the Forest but they act like a child.

At this point, it’s better to call it quarrel than fight because of how oddly they treat each awkwardly.

Soon after, Senya, Mimosa, and Fang returned to the Fairy Forest, not before Senya parting me with words.

“Asagao, about Alstroemeria’s condition.”

“Hmm, yeah…what about it?”

“Have you found any clues to bring her back?”

“Ahh…not yet. I’m even started thinking that she’s better that way…”

“Don’t give up?!”

“Ah! I’m just kidding!”

“Anyway, since none can still distinguish the cause of her regress in age, why not seek her master in Ki? She trained Ki under someone in the Path of Shiva so they might have a clue of what’s happening to her.”

“I asked her once and it seems that Miss Cecille knows where’s their temple but there will be some difficulties venturing towards that place.”

“How about Lady Violetta’s warp?”

“It seems to be a place she has never been before and the place…isn’t exactly ideal for her at the moment.”

“I see, I understand. However, consider that they are our only clue left.”

“I’ll try consulting Miss Cecille about it.”

And so, they departed while leaving those words behind. As for Mimosa, she left tons of medicine for Higan since she feels like she is responsible for what happened to her.

Then, the time for us to return to Astlan Castle has come. Izuna is seeing us off in front of the portal that Violetta summoned together with several servants bowing to us.

“Umm…where’s Higan?”

“She’s resting in her room. Well, she refuses to come and said that it’s really unneeded to see you off since she’ll be visiting really soon. Really…what a rude child.”

“And yet, you are smiling for that rude child, Lady Izuna.”

“Yes, after all, she has grown. It’s all thanks to you, Asagao. Though I wonder, how long would it be till you start reciprocating her love for you.”

“That’s…”

“Fufufu, Lady Mimosa told me that she can do something about you two having an actual child of your own. The question would be who will drink the potion?”

“What?!”

I can feel my face paling from what Izuna said.

“That’s interesting. Maybe I should have a deep talk with Lady Mimosa about tonics and such one time. I bet we can share knowledge with each other.”

“Yes, Lady Violetta. She said she learned a lot from you from just conversation alone.”

“Ho? Now I’m more thrilled. I wish to see their vault of knowledge in the Fairy Forest. I wonder what kind of experiment we can come up with?”

“Fufufu, please do tell me the results of your collaboration.”

I heard something dreadful.

A collaboration between Mimosa and Violetta?

It just gives me shivers.

Mimi is grinning ear to ear from Izuna’s implication about that potion. Possibly because she herself can change her own gender at will. Topaz and Alstroe are just tilting their heads and if they ask me a question about it, I doubt I can give a precise answer.

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I can just make a troubled smile when Alstroe tugs on my clothes together with Topaz.

“Violetta…let’s go...”

“Are you perhaps embarrassed about this conversation?”

“Yeah, I am! Why do you look so pleased?!”

“Oh, nothing. I just remembered you saying to me that since your body is unlike everyone else, you won’t experience menstruation because you are perpetually fertile, right?”

“I’ll say this bluntly, I am not interested in pregnancy…yet…”

“Yet?”

“I mean no!”

That’s a lie.

I’m really interested. I’m really piqued not just with pregnancy alone but also with the process. I’d be more of a hypocrite if at least I deny it in my mind.

I can’t hold on to anymore to the shred of a man inside my heart. It will just easier for me to accept myself for who I am now. It’s just that I am still a little reluctant to other things such as the intercourse itself.

In the first place, this body can’t even reach a state where I am aroused. That’s why I think I am lacking some solo action with this.

Acknowledging my complaint, Violetta also bid farewell and all of us enters the warp while Izuna is waving her hand.

And then, after several minutes since we arrived…

“Hmm!~ Ah, this is it! This is what my body has been looking for! This fragrance, this softness, this warmth, this is what I’ve been craving for a while.”

“You sounded so perverted…”

“This is roughly how I really feel happy from leaving me alone here. Fill my energy with your little sister charm, Asagao.”

“I really don’t mind though but, why do you need Alstroe here too?”

“Hmm? Pseudo little sister.”

“You really are…”

That’s right.

Ashfon immediately nabs me out of my room as soon as I lay down. He brought me in his office together with Alstroe and lay us on his lap together as he works.

“My, Your Highness’s working pace sped up!”

Ishtar exclaimed as Ashfon truly moves like a breeze as he does his work on the desk. He already laid out the trap for Alstroe as he also laid down a tray of sweets before her, lots of lots of sweets.

As for me, it’s my royal duty to support the king so I don’t have much complain.

There’s a stack of paper in front of me and there are more on the floor and overall, if you stack all of them, they are three times taller than me.

That’s true when we first arrived at noon, however, upon dusk, it decreased drastically towering as the same as my height.

“How was it, Asagao? Incredible, right?”

“Yes, you did your best.”

“Right? Praise me more, Asagao!~”

I slightly tilt my body backward upon his yearning for my words, however, I didn’t do as he wanted. I just gave him a smile from the bottom of my heart and extended a hand towards his head strokes it.

“…Asagao?”

“Mere words such as praising won’t actually describe how hard you work and diligently. You made your subjects happy with a comfortable life and struggles to reduce the percentage of poverty. Your continuous progress to establish a firm trade of towns, villages, and cities and effort to eradicate illegal activities such as slavery. All of it doesn’t just need to be warranted by my praise alone but to all the people you govern.”

“Ah…that’s…”

I made quite a speech that made him flap his mouth.

But, whatever anyone says, even he left his post for quite a duration, he is now doing his best to make up for his people. He could selfish but knows what to prioritize. Although initially, he is bad at interacting with people close to him, right now, he is slowly showing a bright color to everyone.

As such, I at least want him to recognize himself with the words I just said.

After collecting his calm, he broke out in a sincere smirk.

“So you've always been this considerate of me, Asagao. I don’t want this coming out of my mouth but, you are definitely better than before. As if, you’ve grown from a child to a lady.”

“It doesn’t really make me comfortable when you put it like that. I just…learned how to put effort on things I need to do.”

“You are even less pessimistic than before too.”

“We’ve been through so much. Tackled so many problems and woes and now, we’ve attained another time of peace.”

“Yeah…”

With soft gentle gaze, Ashfon peers into my eyes as I look up while leaning on his body. Even though my body is supposed to be around twelve years old now, he is still quite tall.

Even though I said peace, there’s a pressing matter about Flow attacking Mimosa and Higan. But since Flow perished in a skirmished against Hasu, there is nothing more to discuss.

In the end, Higan firmly declined to talk about anything regarding Flow’s goal.

On that note, the temporarily revoked Higan’s position as the Beast Queen and repatched it again to King Folga. This is what they discussed for Higan’s future. The position will be once again transferred to her when she reaches the age of twenty-one years old.

“Fonfon.”

“Hmm?”

“What happened to the congregation by the way? What did Priscilla say regarding my claim on the center continent?”

“Still going about that, huh? Truth be told since you got the majority of the votes, it is said that next month, a construction will be commenced as soon as possible. She also stated that she will be your treasurer and demanded Violetta to hand over your wealth that you inherited from your master. And…there’s this proposal of hers that’s been going through my mind.”

“Proposal?”

“The City Academy. She wanted the participation of every leader since she wanted to make the Center Continent a melting pot of every race and a vast trading post.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea too.”

“Yeah, but Priscilla also told me that she is waiting for your decision.”

“Hmm? Decision of what?”

“…Asagao…the name of the continent. We just can’t call it Center Continent forever, right?”

“Ah, yeah. I’ll give it a deep thought.”

I immediately ponder for a name.

But…of course, I can’t come up on the spot. It’s not like I am compelled to give one right away.

I have something to do too in the meantime. Since Ichirou and Hasu were able to retrieve the soul, they are staying over at Gria’s castle together with Shouko.

Wait…

Now that I put some thought on it, I am actually out of things to do.

“Fonfon.”

“Hmm?”

“Is there any work for me?”

“Work? You are doing your work now by being my precious little sister who fills my love meter at its highest!”

“There’s a limit of how I’ll tolerate your nonsensical speech.”

“Ahahaha! Don’t pout! I was actually beginning to think that I need to do some city inspection but as you can see, I am still occupied. How about? Why don’t you do that work for me?”

“I think there’s no problem with it.”

“As for your escort…I can’t let Violetta walk around in her condition. Lily and Edelweiss are busy with the patrols and constant battle with magical beasts. A lot of the soldiers and knights are helping out in various cities and are even doing delivery work…”

“I think I can recommend someone who is well known and familiar.”

“Oh, who are you referring to?”

“I vouch for Miss Cecille.”

“Ah, the receptionist from Nanab Harbor town.”

“Yes, since with that, I can also bring Alstroe with me.”

“I was thinking she is going to be your substitute for my fluffy meter.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Your big brother is sad.”

Seriously…

“So, are you going to accept the job?”

“Yeah, I will.”

“Well then…”

Ashfon stretches his hand on a draw to his left and there, he pulled out a stack clipped papers. He glances over the name of the title and nodded to himself before laying it down in my lap.

“This is…?”

“The lists of Cities, towns, and villages. Each of the Cities is governed by a noble and also, listed on the same cities are their specialties, populations, gross income, taxes list, census and many other more. A Town is governed by a mayor and a village is governed by someone who they selected as chief and all of those have same criteria as a city.”

Eh…?

This is…?!

This is as thick as a phone book…

“Um…isn’t this…?”

“Yes?”

Ashfon brimmed a smile towards me which made me pale a little.

However, I felt like I bit something too large for me and now, I can’t swallow it. Also, Ashfon’s smile feels like it’s indicating something…

I…I can’t turn it down…