Intermission, pt. 2 "Queen's Homecoming."
While Naofumi was travelling around the frontier posing as a Whaler in training, Queen had already arrived in the Melromarc, and now was going to meet the King, Aultcray Melromarc XXXII.
Before she entred throne room, she met Melty Melromarc, her younger daughter. As she was told by the Shadow, the older sister Malty was trying to impose astronomicly high taxes when the same Shadow interrupted her. Melty is wearing wears fancy frilly clothes that merit her royal status which are also blue with various areas in white. She also has blue eyes and hair. Her hair is tied in two curly pigtails by two blue ribbons.
'Malty is just bringing trouble wherever she goes.' I thought as I walked up to my daughter. I then started a conversation.
"Mother." Melty immidedly said "I tried my best, but father's too stubborn." She ended with a saddened expression.
"I understand, Melty." I answered. "I will take it from here. thank you for everything."
Afet I said it, I pushed the Door open and walked into throne room. As I did that the King, my Husband, stood up along the rest of people present.
"Oh, you've finally returned, Myrelia." He called out. "Why so soon?"
"I tried to clean up the mess you've made." I replied calmly. "After all it is you who have allowed the summoning to take place."
"The Church of the Three Heroes said it's the best course of action to defeat the waves." He replied and added "The Other countries don't see that!"
'So your hatred for Shield Hero caused you to trust this Cult? Oh, how mighty you've fallen'
"Silence. I wasn't done.' I stopped him and added "I also plan to directly help in defeating the wave." I called out to him, and it stunned him.
"But, my Queen! You can't!" he said, voice desperate "We didn't even get to catch that infamous Knife of Melromarc, Daud! He might be out there waiting to kill you!"
"He's of no concern." I replied. "He didn't take any job recently, it's what my Shadows are saying. He might be too busy training his Assassins to do anything. There's also talk about his newest recruit. Apparently He is traveling around the country. One of the villagers descibed him as wearing a skull-like mask." I stopped and added "He may be behind Shield Hero's death."
"What?" He replied suprised. "His death is a blessing to us all. He had to die in my opinion."
"It is you who has approved the summoning of the Heroes when International agreement prohibited this." I stopped and looked at him. "You had a chance to stop the Whalers from killing the Hero and you didn't took it. It lead directly to his death. And because of that, Siltwelt is ouraged, and threat of war is hanging above us."
"What?!" He shouted suprised. "They want a war?! In these times?!"
"Yes." I confirmed it. "All it took was a Death of their Messiah to force them. Other countries won't interfere. We are left alone." I ended and added "And all of that is because of you. Try to defend yourself now."
He tried to respond,b but all he manged to do is to mumble something too quiet to listen. I then said, my voice steel.
"Then you are no longer proxy ruler." I summerised. "And my first decree is a Bounty after this Masked Felon and The Whalers. Whoever manages to apprehend him alive will be awarded with 50 gold coins. If someone manages to capture a Whaler, will be awarded with 35 coins instead." As I ended, the royal servants wrote it down and ran off to make it in motion.
"Then let us make preperations for the Wave all while looking for the Man responsible for Hero's death." I announced and everything calmed down.
"I hope you know what you're doing mother." Melty said it after witnessing it all. "We don't have much time both to find the culprit and to prepare for the Wave."
"That's why I made Bounty after Masked Felon a priority." I replied. " Such high reward will attract even Legendary Heroes to look for him."
"I see." She replied after hearing this.