- Lily's PoV -

I would be lying if I'm not afraid.

The beating of my heart accelerated and getting louder. It was difficult to keep my usual composure so I silently crossed my fingers beneath the table while sweats ran down my hands. Gulping down, I cleared my parched throat.

"Umm..." My tongue slipped, and the words I wanted to say faded from my mind. "This, this is an honor... To meet you, Your Majesty..."

"Oh, what could you be talking about?"

Despite that, the black-haired girl smiled. That immaculate expression carried warmth like a doll would. In fact, I was mesmerized by it. Even though I have heard of the rumors circulating around her... Most of them... Weren't pleasant for my ears.

B-but... This pattern... I think, I have seen it before. I was taught about it by a teacher during the etiquette class. Let's see... What would Mister Alain say?

'When one diverts the topic or deny the truth, there lies a heavy secret only few can pry open...'

"Un. I think that's correct," I nodded murmuring. "The-then... Who... Might you be?"

With unbending composure, the girl acknowledged my question this time. She waved a hand first.

"You can call me Sola. Even your guardian calls me that."

H-huh...? Uncle Franz did...? I tried to know the truth but the Minstrel who took me in merely laughed. Why...

"Lately, a lot of things happened around here Lily," he said, "and by some random chances, I met the lady here. She's one heck of a girl, you know?"

What... W-What casual way in giving an impression!

"My my, I did nothing much, Franz. In fact, it was your intrusion that helped solve my problems."

Eeeeeh?!

"Well, I can't deny that my awesome skills brought an end to those pesky pests. Are you in love with me now, Miss Sola?" My uncle winked.

Her high--Sola replied with a flirtatious laughter. It was... It was bewitching.

"Surely you jest," said she, "but my impression of you has risen. Thus, I will not deny that you have attracted my attention."

"Oh, really?"

"Only a little bit though."

Ah. Now he's deflated... Uncle, I didn't know you have the courage to act so audacious like this...

"Still..." Miss Sola's gaze landed on me. "You have unusual hair and eye color."

Uh...?!

"Ah, don't you worry. I don't mean ill will but you can look around."

Look around...? Obeying her words, I saw nothing strange from the Adventurers minding their own businesses. There was nothing wrong, except...

"A-ah..." I made a sound awkwardly. "I... Could it be about how there are more humans than those that are not?"

I wasn't sure of my answer's credibility. Even so, the black-haired girl laughed which meant I was wrong.

"That would be incorrect," she said, "while Raumia is not too accepting of other races, it still welcomes visitors from foreign lands. However, the kingdom never have a good reputation despite what it is capable of. Thus people such as you are a rare sight from us who were born and lived throughout our lives here."

...I... I see... So that is what she meant... I thought for sure, that my secret was...

"Ah... Sorry, Miss, but Lily has been troubled by this very often so can we let go of this topic?" Uncle requested.

The girl nodded, acknowledging his request. It was baffling as she immediately agreed and switched the subject right away. It didn't feel as if Miss Sola was a noble at all even though she's...

"Then, may I ask another question to you, Miss Lily?"

H-huh... Again...?

"Though it's not really unrelated with you, but judging from your uniform... You are a student from the Academy, no?"

"...Ah... Err... Yes. Yes, I am..."

Miss Sola once again nodded. But her smile grew thin and solemn as if she was thinking about something else. What was it? The windows of her soul couldn't tell me anything at all even though I tried my best in observing her every action...

"Well," she began, somehow putting emphasis on that very word. "How is your life in the academy?"

"...Huh...?"

"I am curious, you see. I have never been outside for most of my life. Even now, what little freedom I have does not increase and instead, decreased."

Unbelievable isn't it, Miss Sola shook her head, exasperated. There were no lies present in her words and I realized that uncle could only nod. D-Do the two know each other even before uncle rescued me...? This is so confusing...

"So, will you tell me your story?"

"Ah... Uh... I don't... Have much time. Can I... Keep it simple...?"

The girl nodded, and I heaved out a relieved sigh. Truly, I was thankful because if her Majesty took interest in visitors such as me, doesn't that mean she'd be interested with my all of my seniors...?

...But it wasn't like we have anything that could pique her interests as a ruler, right? Maybe other than Mistress Charlotte's relationship with her older brother...

"Well? Time is precious. Would you like to start soon?"

"Eh? Ah, y-yes!"

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Before I knew it, the day had gone dark and I situated myself across my friends. Dinner was served, and I watched with amusement as Anise and Alia bantered between each other. They were incredibly close as always.

"Hnn? Lily, you look like a mess. Did something happen?" The pink-haired girl asked.

"Huh... Ah, well... No? I don't think so?"

Aside from my strange meeting with the Queen in disguise, that is. Uncle didn't seem like he noticed so either he was playing dumb or he truly didn't know at all. I found it ridiculous as well.

I mean... Her Majesty was the same age as me, right...? But she was educated better than me, and she had lived her life until now as a noble. Her mind must be working in a different realm.

But. I recalled her lofty smile. She talked more often than what I believed a noble would. She was also acting very casual, melding in with the commoners even though she was well above them. The more I reflected upon my meeting with her, the more I...

"Umm... Can I... ask both of you something...?"

The two adventurers-turned-students raised their heads. They had similar expressions: showing a pair of blank faces. I would have laughed at the thought of them being secretly siblings but I didn't have the mood for it.

"Sure! What's bothering you, Lily?"

"It is rare for you to ask something. I wonder what do you have in mind?"

I nodded, thankful for their cooperation. But I wasn't sure so I lowered my voice when I asked them.

"What... What do you think of the nobles?"

There was a suffocating silence. I was almost afraid to know why I asked such question when we were surrounded by people who could be members of powerful blue blooded families. Even still, the two girls exchanged glances and their eyes were reflected in my red eyes.

"I don't like them." So said Anise.

"They are not worth of the troubles." Her friend added.

"The boys are all simple-minded that they act like beasts in heat." The pinkhead fighter raised a finger.

"And the girls are too busy worrying about their own beauty, gossiping if not wooing men with riches." The Aqua Mage Alia sighed.

"Well, some are different than the rest though." Anise crossed her arms.

"But beside them, I don't have any desire to associate myself with everyone." Alia shook her head.

"The only down-to-earth people are like Charlotte but they're way too raaaare," her friend shrugged. "And I prefer boys like silly Leon."

"Indeed. Charlotte is an exception," the blue-haired girl agreed. "Though her younger brother is annoying."

Anise snickered. For some reasons, a voice within my head told me to escape right this instant now...

"Heh he...! You're not being honest, aren't you, Alia?"

"I know," Alia nodded. "I despise him."

"Geez! Aren't you being cold, you little dishonest lass!" And Alia's cheek was poked.

Once. Twice. Thrice... Uh, Miss Anise, aren't you being obnoxious now?

"Stop. Poking. My cheek. Anise." Alia warned.

"Nope! Not until you confessed your love!"

There was a snapping sound like a torn rope.

"Ah."

That evening, a water pillar broke through the dining hall's ceiling and a student flew far to the sky.

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After taking a bath, I studied in my room, burning the midnight oils with zeal. Pages after pages were read, and my hand jutted down vital information that may be put in next week's exam. The quill danced, but I held myself back from putting too much strength in it.

My roommate had long slept in. She was a senior, but she loved having nothing to do. Apparently, today's lessons were bad enough that when I returned, I found her curling herself like a cat not on her own bed. Though I was upset, I realized that she might have truly been exhausted.

It was probably due to how a number of teachers took a leave which caused the others to work twice than normal. Some of the teachers had high pride or standards so it wasn't a surprise when they set aside teaching to simply giving a pile of assignments and homework. After flipping yet another page, I frowned as a wall of text greeted me.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"I can't concentrate..." I groaned, meeting the dark ceiling with my now ruby eyes.

Letting go of the quill, I covered my eyes with my right forearm. The coldness of the table stuck itself into it and only then I realized that my face was hot. Maybe I... Overworked...?

"...But..." From the gaps in the darkness, I found the book and notes I have written so far. "I can't... Give up now..."

I... I have been left alone, everything that I have lost in that fire. I always heard the laughter of the Demon when I dreamed the blazing nightmare where the people that I knew vanishing from my life for eternity. It was frightening. And I could do nothing else but to cry in despair.

The one who saved me from that nightmare was her. It was always her. I remembered her lustrous golden hair, her desperation and relieved sigh upon finding me, and she extended a hand to me, helping me to find some safety. Without minding herself she jumped into the spiral of violence, paving a path like the lode star in the darkest of the night.

"...I... Was I able to help, even if by a little...?"

I didn't know. I wouldn't know. It felt like something has changed, but was it for the better? Uncle Franz and my roommate told me that I was a genius but have I done anything worthy of that praise so far?

I had been taken in by the traveling minstrel, growing up properly like any child would, and then given the opportunity to achieve something that surpassed what my grandparents could ever hope for. By enrolling in this Academy, I have, by my own will, changed myself for the sake of fulfilling my dream.

"My dream..." Then I was reminded of what I sought for. "...I want to help..."

My Savior. My guardian. My friends. I wanted to help them all and live happily. I just... I just wanted to share my happiness with everyone, spending my days like I did before the Demon invasion arrived. A time where I didn’t have to worry about the future and enjoying myself in the present.

But... the more I learned, the harder it became to envision such future. I never knew that to sustain myself would require enormous efforts, money and resources. I didn't even know that nobles possessed their own obligations with limited freedoms in accordance to the rules of the kingdoms they lived in. For all that I wished for, I only realized how small and foolish I was once I began my study for the first time in life.

It made me doubtful. I wondered what Anise and Alia would do after we graduated. I wondered what Mistress Charlotte would do once she finished her study. What would happen to the classmates that I have grown fond of? And then... I… what should I do once that time arrives?

"...Uuu..." I moved my hands, covering my face as I bent down. "I don't get it..."

There were so much more to the world than I ever thought of. The world that I once knew was just a small, insignificant part in comparison to what the rulers of many countries concerned themselves with. And by understanding that, I have tried to find a way only to be driven to a corner.

"...Someone... Should I... Ask for help...?"

I learned from a teacher that there was so much to what a person could do. I think her reasoning behind that phrase was because of our limitations as individuals, and the restrictions we imposed upon ourselves; regardless of it coming from our own decisions or simply due to the circumstances surrounding us.

...I don't think... I have understood it as much as the teacher did. But maybe... Just maybe...

"I... I guess. I guess I should ask for help."

Turning off the spirit flame, the magical ember that was the only source of light in the room, I left the chair, heading to my bed. Coming into my view was my roommate sleeping quietly, a peaceful smile adorning her angular face. I smiled, then noticed the peeking moonlight through the thin curtains.

Walking to the windows, I slid the fabric to the side a little. Beyond the glass in the frames was a patch of dark grass fields, the dining hall, and further beyond it was a corridor connecting to the male students' dormitory.

Recalling what I have gained so far... My heart lightened and the worries that I had eased up, even if it was only for a little. It wasn't enough to completely relieve me from my problems, but it was enough to alleviate them. I wonder why? Everything seemed different whenever I tried to take a step back and look over it all. But I guess, that too didn’t matter.

Hence I looked up to the night sky, praying to the twin goddesses protecting us from the dark taints of the world. I didn’t know if the Gods would hear my voice. I didn’t even know if they existed because all I heard and knew were not indications of them living among us mortals. Yet I prayed, and I wished for one thing.

"When everyone is here... I hope… I can discuss this with you all."

I pulled back the curtains, slipping into the dark room once again. Haziness caught up and I yawned, rubbing my eyes from blurring. Perhaps it was time for me to sleep as well, so I did, and I dreamed.

Where once existed a small town surrounded by thick walls of stones, I returned from the outside with my friends, the duo Adventurers telling me their adventure while my Savior walking in hands together with her loved one. Parting with them, I traversed through the bustling street, stepping aside from a slowly moving carriage’s path and greeted by a shopkeeper who always gifted me with a basket of ripe fruits.

Making a beeline, I soon met my guardian Franz singing a melody in front of our home, people surrounding him and cheering as a fantastic tale of life, heroes and love was woven out. He saw me, patted my head and took a fruit, munching on it with a refreshed grin. I enjoyed the feeling until I heard a door creaking open and I was met with the smiles and warm gazes of my parents.

I rushed to them, hugging them both with my arms. I laughed as they returned the gesture in a similar manner, the pleasant warmth and scent of aired tunic filling my heart. I smiled.

It was a sweet dream.

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-Luna's PoV

"Welcome back, Your Majesty. How was your day?"

Greeting me with a courteous bow, the head maid leading the housekeep servants was graceful and loyal in gait. She even waited for my return by standing outside the palace like a stone statue, a gargoyle. I must say, my father's handiwork certainly tuned her well, loathe as I am to admit how she lacked most of her original awareness of self.

But that didn't matter. Passing by her, I waltzed into the place where everything had begun, a place that had landed on my lap with so much ease that I found it ridiculous at times. My elder brother was never ambitious being. He was rightfully just but he hid it under a sour and cruel mask; hence the reason why he renamed himself as 'Fei Cruelheart.'

Imbecile. Has he never noticed that his name carried a profound meaning? I always thought that he was a fool but only that decision regarding his name could I ever be so upset with.

"How childish." I muttered in a single breath, directing myself to the royal palace's bath, knowing and dismissing the presence of the maidservant behind me to the back of my mind.

Upon reaching there, as expected, no soul was in sight. But still I looked at the carved pillars in circular formation, the marble flooring, the wide pool of hot water and the fountain from which the natural resource burst forth. I smelled a sharp scent only existing in volcanic areas but here, the intrusion to one of the underground water channel which brought this all up.

For all that I could fault my ancestors with, only this facility could I ever appreciate in earnest. A novelty designed by working to death a Summoned Hero who appeared a few hundred years ago.

"Your Majesty," the servant addressed me, and I nodded. "Very well."

As she approached me and stood behind me, the woman with viridian hair loosened the ribbon keeping the dress hugging my body. The fabric loosened, falling to the floor and after a few minutes, I was fully undressed. Once the boorish task was done, I sank my feet into the bath; warmth coursing into every inch of my body.

It wasn't until I was in the middle of the bath near the fountain did I stop walking. The bath was wide, but it was also built with height in mind. The water was reching to my knees and so I sat down, soaking my body in the hot spring.

Ah, I remembered how I was conceived now.

This place brought up unpleasant memories. As the one who gave birth to me had never once intended to bear my life, a doubt prevailed when I investigated my deceased father's belongings. I found what his hobby was and soon realized how disgusting humans could be. The previous king... Ah, no, the usurped king two lines before my reign was, for the lack of better words, a horny rabid dog.

"Your Majesty? Is there something wrong?"

I looked to the side, discovering that the head maid too had changed and was wearing bathing outfit. It consisted of two pieces of silken underwears wrapping her ample chest and slim waist, though I seemed to recall that Maria possessed no value of decency when she served under my father, as proven by the marks and scars ravishing her beautiful pale skin.

But... Hm... While I am being tended, perhaps it is wise of me to entertain myself.

I scooped my hand up and the woman began cleaning it with a clean cloth. "Ah, yes... Maria, would you like to hear my rambling?"

"A tale, Your Majesty?" She wondered callously as she devoted herself to her task in cleaning this impure body.

"Indeed. I do believe that I should recollect my knowledge of my predecessors and learn from their mistakes."

The slender fingers flinched, and I smiled sweetly as a trace of emotion surfaced in Maria's gem-like eyes. It wasn't much, truly, but at least I could pleasure myself from her sufferings now.

"My older brother the second Prince was... A short-sighted fool. Ambitious, but never a material fit to be a ruler," I began. "He was a brute who tried too hard to gain our father's approval. He even assassinated the crown prince, our eldest sibling simply because he did not become the successor."

Bless him, for he had opened the door for me. I could never stand as equal with my siblings. We were first made as weapons and thus a hierarchical bond was made from the moment of our creation.

I, as the holder of Envy, was the weakest and the most useless. I had no worth for I held no talent due to the defiled blood I carried from my mother.

"And yet my older brother's atrocity paled in comparison to what my father did," I said, chuckling. "I do believe you can entertain me why, right, Maria?"

"...I... I would not dare to speak ill of your father, Your Majesty..."

Ah. Lies. So much lies, born from fear and traumatic experience. If I remembered what I was taught with from my tutors... I met her gaze and tilted my head.

"Speaking ill of the monster who violated you and turned you into this?" I laughed. "Maria, have you forgotten that he is gone? No one, not even I will stop you from deriding a scum who could only find joy from breaking the bodies and souls of many, many maidens."

The head maid could only stare at me, her lips parted open as if grasping for air. And yet they closed, and she averted her eyes away.

"I... Someone as low as I do not have right to do such blasphemous act. My words will only sully your hearing, Your Majesty."

Ah. So she backed away at the last second. Looks like for all of her trained obedience and destruction of her dignity as a woman, this woman could not escape from the clutches of the past. I watched her squirming yet she did not stop cleaning my body.

How foolish. Ah... Such a foolish creature, bound by fear and twisted affection given by your previous master. Even your loyalty to me was simply due to you being unable to flee from the nightmares that stole your future. A broken doll, indeed.

"Then allow me to tell you how I was conceived then," I said, looking back at the reflection of myself on the water surface, "On a certain night in this place, the man who was my father called for the service of a woman. One with no upstanding background or even abilities, but skillful in pleasuring men."

Those who could not sustain themselves by their lonesome were destined to do anything, even selling their bodies and souls to the wicked. It was not uncommon though Raumia, being a Holy Kingdom it was, looked down upon dirty jobs that warranted the harms of someone or oneself.

That did not mean they could not exist. On the contrary, I dared to say no government could stand for centuries without making use of the loopholes in the rules, and turning a blind eye to the crimes they have committed.

"The man was fond of... Women from different lands. They enticed him like a nectar was to a bee. Or perhaps I should say a drug to an addict?" I shook my head. "Either way, a harlot was summoned to indulge him... And he made use of her as much as he wanted, even if the woman was no longer conscious."

Placing a hand on my chest, I stared at myself, the soaked dark hair giving off white color, and the black eyes staring at me was carrying no light. How funny that it reminded me of a broken husk who committed suicide by hanging herself.

"Unfortunately to the poor harlot, the king took a liking to her origin. Because she was a visitor imprisoned by the situation, she had no choice in the matter and became his royal concubine." I snorted. "To tell the truth, I cannot fathom why would men find a liking in being surrounded by the opposite sex, but perhaps it is simply due to their animalistic instinct that they indulge themselves in depravity."

Madness. If one were to act like animals, then what are the differences between man and beast?

Fortunately, I was never born as a human. The curse latching on this kingdom would never allow the founder's descendants live a fortunate life. It was a divine punishment for touching the forbidden, a consequence for a taboo broken.

"Well. As a result, the harlot-turned-concubine began her life in this palace... And suffered throughout her entire life."

Now, then... Feeling the cloth wiping my legs and tracing a line to my back, I took a look to the faraway ceiling. As always, an open atrium existed so that one could witness the majestic form of the [Sacred Sword] floating above the palace.

A divine sword of illusion was there, hanging in the sky with the twin moons slowly consumed by the tides of black clouds. it was an outstanding artifact with no peer, a spell woven by a great wizard... And all of it was false truth.

"Tell me, Maria. How many do you think will pray that a Hero will come and pull out the legendary sword?" I abruptly asked. "How many are praying so that the Hero will once again appear to save the kingdom from destruction?"

The maidservant did not answer immediately. She settled herself by my side, her presence being the only one that I could sense in the vicinity.

Excepting the guards standing outside and stationed in places that are not privy to my side-project, the security of this palace was always guaranteed... Though ultimately not because of them..

"Our people have long yearned for it, a figure that was capable of saving everything like a living God." Maria answered. "The Vagnalos and the Lagnaris are made for the sake of creating the Hero, and the Tree of Abraxas is the anchor to all the souls needed to fuel the dream of the founder."

Ah... Yes. To think I almost forgot about it. How silly of me, now. The entirety of this kingdom is nothing but an experiment ground. All the lives that it held did not matter as long as the three gears sustaining the core of the kingdom existed. There would never be an end to the cycles of bloodshed, betrayals and tragedies as long as they remained.

"But... Has the Key landed on our hand?"

Maria shook her head. How disappointing.

"Not yet," she then said as if trying to coax me. "Abraxas has certainly issued orders but with the loss of powerful Vagnalos and Lagnaris during Your Majesty's generation, it will take more than a month to bring it here. In addition, there are strange movements sighted around the martial noble families, and the common people are growing restless."

"I see. Such a shame that I will be unable to meet the woman my foolish brother fell in love with."

In a proper meeting, that is.

But regardless, it was still my turn to act so I would not allow any mistake to be made. The stage has been set, the actors have been introduced, and the curtains have been drawn. Now, all that is left is...

"I can't wait," I muttered, giggling as the pieces had all gathered together in my hands. "I cannot wait to see a Hero be reborn. Time is ripe for it. With this, the founder's eternal pursuit will come to an end..."

And I will finally obtain what I wished for, just like my elder brother did.