"This is… unexpected." Rozemyne said as she looked over the list of people who volunteered to join in the third Wave of Calamity battle.
She had fully expected a large number of people to apply and to have to find a way to decide who among them would go and who would stay to defend the homestead. But as it turned out, lots of her people were not at all keen on the idea of joining the battle.
While her Filolials and Library Rabbit Knights were all eager to prove their loyalty, and many of the orphans who chose to pick up the sword for this very reason had applied, the former gladiators were not so quick to run into battle.
Rozemyne supposed it made sense. Many of them had lost limbs and nearly died during their previous experience with a Wave. They were terrified of them beyond even the children who lost family to the monsters.
Well, so long as they worked as Adventurers, they would probably slowly recover from their trauma through the act of making monsters mundane to them. Otherwise, they could always take up a different kind of work.
In the end, Rozemyne had wanted 300 volunteers and received 204.
With only twelve hours remaining, she supposed they would have to do. She was already having problems with food reserved to help possible refugees, not to mention items to handle the possible siege on her city that could happen at any time. Her Rabbits were also hard at work trying to create the prototype for the teleportation seal for if Itsuki refused to face reality. She also had to work on modifications to turn the Schtappe sealing magic tool into a Legendary Holy Weapon sealing magic tool. Otherwise, what prison could hold him? She also needed to make sure it wouldn't be able to restrict her Schtappe, so it couldn't be used against her.
There were also a bunch of other last minute problems that were popping up. The unfortunate truth of being the head of the city's bureaucracy, everything is your responsibility.
"Milady, Lady Rishia wishes to speak with you." Indigo reported.
"Alright. Send her in." Rozemyne said, slightly surprised to hear that the girl had come for a visit, but more than welcoming the distraction. Rishia came into the room, looking slightly more nervous than usual, her eyes darting around as she didn't know what to focus on in the mostly barren office room. "Is something the matter, Rishia?"
"N…No. I mean yes! I mean… maybe?" Rishia said, jumping at being addressed.
"It's alright. Deep breaths." Rozemyne smiled softly at her, trying to be reassuring.
Rishia was a fellow bookworm, close in age to Rozemyne herself and super moe with how jumpy she was. Rozemyne was really fond of her. But even if they were on friendly terms, Rishia wasn't entirely stable and didn't like being in noble houses and castles. Being locked up in the dungeon of a perverted noble would do that to a girl.
Her situation reminded Rozemyne of Wilma. Though given everything she went through, Rishia was unbelievably brave, even if she didn't seem to think she was herself.
"Indigo, be a dear and bring some tea." Indigo did just that and Rishia enjoyed a cup of tea that was mixed with minor sedatives to help her calm down. "Alright, so tell me what I can do for you."
"...It's Lord Ren. Ever since the conference the other day, he's been acting strange." Rishia said as she fiddled with her cup. "He's been really irritable with people and he's had this angry look in his eyes."
"I see. So he hasn't gotten any better." Rozemyne said, having noticed what she was talking about while they were at the meeting.
His mannerisms and how he carried himself had changed, along with the look in his eyes and generally bad mood.
While Ren had a bit of a lone wolf reputation, that was more because of social awkwardness rather than a dislike of other people. He was an introvert, but he'd always been friendly enough with people who approached him, giving advice to Adventurers, even outside of his party, for how to maximize their own grinds.
He had changed, but at the same time, his eyes weren't as hard when it was just him, his party and Rozemyne. There was still a sharpness to them, and his language wasn't as polite as before, but he wasn't trying to push them away.
"A lot has happened in the last few days. Perhaps the stress is just getting to him." Rozemyne said, knowing the feeling. "Let's plan a party for him after this next Wave is over and see if we can't help cheer him up."
"You think that would help?" Rishia asked.
"I don't know. But sometimes, a reminder that there are people who care about you can make all the difference." Rozemyne replied with a smile, thinking of how even the barriers around Ferdinand's heart could be brought down by genuine compassion.
"Alright but… I've never planned a party before." Rishia admitted.
"Don't worry. It doesn't need to be a formal party. But if you like, we can do it together." Rozemyne said, more than willing to push aside some of her work for this. She'd completed all of the emergency stuff anyways, and Melty was dealing with Motoyasu, since it would be a bad precedent for Rozemyne to have the authority to oversee another Hero.
So the pair discusses the various arrangements, like location, food, entertainment and party games. They made a list and sent it off with Indigo to be ready by the time they got back from the Wave.
"Thank you. I hope this will help Lord Ren get back to his old self." Rishia said, seeming much more upbeat afterwards.
"Don't mention it. I'm looking forward to it too. And I'm glad you seem more relaxed as well." Rozemyne said, before showing Rishia a look of genuine concern. "Are you doing okay?"
"I… Um… Mn…" Rishia's head drooped a little. "Sorry. I don't want to worry anyone, but… It is hard to believe that I'm really going to be fighting in the Wave."
Rozemyne smiled understandingly at her. "You really are brave."
"Hieee? Me? Brave?" Rishia said, looking shocked. "I'm… I'm not brave at all. I'm so scared that I couldn't even sleep last night."
"Neither did I." Rozemyne chuckled, getting a look of disbelief from Rishia. "But bravery isn't about not being afraid of something that you know is dangerous. That is foolishness. Bravery is knowing something is risky, but not letting that make you freeze up or run away. The fact that you are here, now, wanting to remain by Lord Ren's side, is incredibly brave."
"T…Thank you." Rishia said, her cheeks turning pink. "Um… Lady Rozemyne, what do you think of Lord Ren?"
"What do I think of him?" Rozemyne said before thinking about it for a moment. "He is different from the people I'm used to. Nobles where I am from aren't generally known for their strong sense of ethics when it comes to protecting the weak. But he is lacking in social and management skills necessary to do so effectively. He is a hard worker, but generally too focused on raw power, and while he is familiar with basic combat tactics, he generally leaves strategy to others, though he won't admit it. He is a good person and worthy of being called a Hero, but he has room to improve."
"I… see." Rishia said, surprised by the analytical response.
"...You like him, don't you." Rozemyne said, her smile suddenly becoming more conspiratorial and teasing.
"W…What!?" Rishia said, her bright red flush being enough of a confession. "I um… I… I know I'm not exactly worthy of him." Rishia said as she bit her lip, not understanding how cute she was. "I know I can't become his true wife, but if… if I could be a part of his harem, I'd be fine with that."
"Ah… Oh." Rozemyne said, startled.
"Are you… opposed?" Rishia asked, sounding worried. Pologamy wasn't that common in this world, with most nobles just using mistresses, but Heroes almost always had harems.
"Sorry. It is less that I am opposed to the idea of a man having multiple wives, and more that I have seen it not work out too many times." Rozemyne said. "Nobles in my country often took multiple wives, but those wives were usually taken to forge alliances and to placate different factions, not out of love. And since different wives would be from rival or even enemy factions, the result is everyone being miserable. I had a step-mother who was involved in a conspiracy to kill me and a half-brother who I wasn't allowed to even speak to because his mother was from an enemy faction."
"Oh… I see." Rishia said, looking dejected.
"But those were all marriages based on politics, and between enemy factions. I think that if everyone was friends, then it would all work out." Rozemyne said, thinking about how she and Hannelore might have both ended up married to Wilfried. If that had happened, she was sure the two of them would have been able to remain close friends and raise their children together with a love of books.
"R…Right. So long as we can all be friends." Rishia said, smiling back at Rozemyne and seeming relieved for some reason.
Rozemyne couldn't understand why.
"Greeting, Lord of the Spear. I am Schnee, the Scholar Rabbit Division's jack of all trades. I'll be your overseer. Nice to meet you." The gray haired Crystal Library Rabbit said with a two fingered salute. Like all of their kind, they had the appearance of a young child with rabbit ears and a black stone in the middle of their forehead. But their androgynous features and voice left Motoyasu confused. Their clothes didn't give any hints either, despite the short sword at their waist.
Were they a tomboy or a tomgirl?
"I'll be in your care." Motoyasu said before nervously asking the question. "Sorry to ask but… are you a boy or a girl?"
"Hm… Because Lady Rozemyne didn't create us with genders in mind, all Crystal Library Rabbits ended up as hermaphrodites. Some of us just self-identify as male while others female. I don't particularly care either way. So just think of me as which one makes you the most comfortable." Schnee replied with a shrug.
…Motoyasu would choose male then.
"I can't believe this. I am to be the next Queen. Why am I to be bossed around by this animal?" Malty grumbled angrily. She and Lesty had been complaining ever since Melty had declared that they would be cut off from royal funding outside of the essentials.
Elena seemed to be more relieved that they weren't all going to be executed as criminals and was more than willing to put up with whatever she had to in order to earn that pardon, even if she was a little lazy.
Motoyasu was still in somewhat shock, which got worse as he received more details of his crime.
Not only had he embezzled 15 billion yen worth of public funds, he'd done it from the country's emergency funds. That money was supposed to have been used for relief money for refugees, the widows and orphans of fallen soldiers, and to help provide food for those affected by the rampant famine.
He might not have been aware of what was going on, but that didn't change the fact that he had committed a really heinous crime. The fact that the country was willing to give him a clean slate was a relief to him.
"Next Queen? From what I heard, your mother disinherited you." Ren said from where he stood behind Princess Melty, along with two Shadows and a pink haired female knight. There were also several more rabbits and that boy with the angel wings.
The fact that they were all there in case Motoyasu and his party did anything violent was lost on the Spear Hero.
"I… I was not!" Malty shouted indignantly.
"Regardless, you will all be expected to file reports related to any expenditures you need through Schnee." Melty said as she pushed forward a stack of papers. "I have also instructed him to assist Lord Motoyasu in his education. Schnee will be teaching you to read and write in our language, as well as political theory and law in order to help you not make the same mistakes again."
"I see…" Motoyasu said nervously, not liking the idea of being back in school. But when he received the papers for filing for expenditures, he was surprised to find it was written in Japanese. "Wait, why is this written in Japanese? I thought no one around here knew how to write in it?"
"All Crystal Library Rabbits know Japanese." Schnee said in Japanese, which surprised the Spear Hero. "You can fill those out in your native tongue and I will translate them for you. Though my Lady has requested that I teach you to read and write in this world's language as well."
Motoyasu was floored by this. Why did the rabbits know Japanese?
"Since the Wave is fast approaching, we won't keep you any longer. Schnee will take you to a supply room that Lady Rozemyne has prepared containing resources that would be useful in strengthening the Holy Spear. She has given her permission for you to take what you need, but please be aware that she paid to have those gathered herself. Don't stain her generosity by taking more than you need." Melty said sternly, before dismissing them.
Motoyasu gave a sigh of relief as they left. Somehow, dealing with that child was a lot more stressful than dealing with a King.
"Living a life of luxury was fun while it lasted." Elena said as she walked with her hands behind her head.
"Are you just going to give up that easily!?" Malty demanded, throwing a heated look at Elena.
"Mm. I was going to be staying with Motoyasu anyways, so just giving up on the extravagant parties is easier and cheaper than paying my portion of the debt." Elena said. "Sorry Princess, but my family cannot question a Chancellor appointed by the Queen. I wish you the best of luck though."
Elena didn't say it, but she had kept track of what she had spent, and her portion of the debt was 148 gold coins. Still a stupid sum of money, but her family was extremely wealthy and her parents adored her. So she could just pay her way out of this if things looked bad.
Plus, they had enough influence to be able to plead for mercy with the Queen, playing off her involvement as just not being able to resist Malty's authority, lowering the amount that they had to pay.
Her not jumping ship was less because she couldn't, and more because she knew that the other two were going to jump first. If they left and she stayed, she'd be able to make a better case that they were forcing her to play along. Plus… Motoyasu was pretty handsome and knew how to show a girl a good time.
He was an idiot, who did stupid things, like challenging the Shield Hero to a duel, but a man didn't have to be smart to be good in bed. If Malty and Lesty left, she'd have him to herself for once. And if his name ended up cleared, being a lover of a recognized Hero would still be in the cards, maybe even his true wife.
That was the whole reason she agreed to something as dangerous as being a Hero's companion in the first place (both because of the Waves and because of the psychopath Princess). That and the aforementioned good looks.
Elena watched, hiding her smile as Malty and Lesty complained loudly and talked back when Motoyasu tried to calm them down, so distressed by the idea of spending time at a second rate inn to keep up the act of even liking him.
All she needed to do was stick it out, then she'd be living the easy life.
"Are you sure it would not be best to keep Malty under house arrest?" Eclair Seaetto asked after the Spear Hero and his party had left the room.
"Even if she tricked him into committing a crime, there is still a physical attraction between them. Right now, we don't want to create unnecessary bad blood between us and Motoyasu. If allowing my sister to walk free until she shows him her true colors is what it takes, then fine. We know where she is and the entire country knows what she did. That is good enough for now." Melty said, though part of her agreed with the knight.
At her mother's urging, she'd used her position as Chancellor in order to have Eclair released from her unlawful imprisonment and was keeping the woman by her side as a guard.
She was the daughter of the Queen's right hand man, who died during the first Wave… Rather suspicious, considering how strong he and his guards were in comparison to the monsters. So Eclair was trustworthy enough to be kept close to the future Queen. Her mother wanted Melty to have a good relationship with the woman.
"I see. I guess that makes sense." Eclair said with a sigh before looking out the window at the city of Alexandria. "I was imprisoned for only a few weeks, but it seemed like the world has left me behind."
"...I'm sorry. It must be hard on you." Melty said, feeling for the woman.
The land that Rozemyne had bought was the former Duchy of Seaetto, Eclair's homeland, the land she was supposed to have inherited from her father. For it to have been taken away and sold while she was unlawfully imprisoned…
"She's certainly done an amazing job, hasn't she?" Eclair said, her voice trembling slightly. "It makes me feel foolish, having run off chasing slavers rather than helping people to rebuild. What kind of landlord would I have been anyways? I won't have been able to help anyone at all."
"You were distressed by your father's death and not thinking clearly. I'm sure if you had time you would have gotten your priorities in order." Melty said, trying to reassure the woman.
…She wasn't actually so convinced.
Eclair was a beautiful woman and an excellent Knight, to the point where Rozemyne requested her assistance in training her retainers, but her governing skills were… abysmal.
The woman had blushed a pink as deep as her hair when Melty asked for her opinion on some trade agreements that Rozemyne had let her manage as practice and she couldn't make heads or tails of it. It was just basic stuff of deciding on the amount and cost of an annual lumber deal, but Eclair didn't know what any of it meant. The idea of her trying to rebuild an entire territory when she lacked the knowledge of how to purchase basic building materials would be laughable if it wasn't so frightening.
"If Lady Rozemyne was a tyrant and I could hate her for taking my family's legacy away, this would be easier. Instead, I am just left thinking that the people are better off with her instead of me." Eclair said with a sigh.
Melty felt bad for her, as while it was clear that Eclair was loved by the people of the territory because of the things that her father did for them… no one exactly wanted her to replace Rozemyne.
Melty wanted to do something to help her, and resolved to talk to Rozemyne about it, after the Wave was through.
They only had a few hours until the clock struck midnight once again.
Schnee is supposed to be Justus, Ferdinand's attendant, unofficial scholar and unofficial knight who occasionally cross dresses and pretends to be his sister in order to go places where guys aren't allowed.