Author: Sasaki Ichiro	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Tanaka	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

#An Excerpt from the Diary of May Bell, Empress Oliana#

The world changed that day.

The Void Mist vanished, leaving behind only untamed wilderness. Many lives have been born since then, yet those we lost never returned. Even so, the continent’s population fell only to sixty percent of its peak. For lack of better words, it was a favorable outcome.

The Void Mist had begun at the heart of the continent and spread at terrifying speed, swallowing everything in its path. That we survived was thanks to adventurers from every nation, volunteers who gave everything to the rescue effort, and, above all, the decisive support of Imperial Crimson. They crossed every boundary of ethics, race, and society, igniting the spirit of humanity more fiercely than anyone else.

In retrospect, the continent has not seen a quiet day since. The nations suffered devastating collateral and financial losses, and individuals lost everything. For years, border disputes never ceased. Citizens starved without proper aid, and revolutions erupted across almost every country, led by angry masses against rulers who had saved their own skins while abandoning their people. Then came the invasion from the Archipelago Alliance.

Yet none of it prevailed under the shadow of Imperial Crimson. “I dislike resorting to force… but alas.” Though Her Majesty would complain, her stern expression said otherwise. Her intervention, carried out with her Demon Generals, kept society standing when it was at its last breath. Without her, the aftermath would have left scars lasting for centuries, and civilization would have needed at least a hundred years merely to return to its starting line.

That said, she had initially wished to leave humanity to its own course, insisting that others must not grow too dependent and that sacrifices were sometimes a necessary evil. To her dismay, I am human, and moreover, a publicly acknowledged realist. It is beyond my creed to take such slow, cautious measures. In my view, anything that can be used must be used. How could I ignore the existence of a silver bullet of her caliber?

At times, I resorted to sarcasm; at others, I blackmailed her emotionally. There were even secret deals between us that could never be revealed. One way or another, I used every tactic to bring her into the field, and within ten short years, the world achieved the peace it had so long needed. I may be blowing my own horn, but I truly believe I accomplished something exceptional.

To be clear, Her Majesty is not usually such a pushover. I merely had the perfect plot convenience—little Shion. He is the star of her eyes, and she is the picture of a doting parent. This led me to discover the perfect magical phrase: “Your Majesty, do you not wish for Shion to grow up in a peaceful world?” To this day, I remain astonished by how easily her attitude changed at those words. If anyone deserves the credit, it is certainly him.

As many know, Shion is the child Her Majesty carried with her on the day the Void Mist was banished. His appearance caused a great stir among the people of Imperial Crimson, with many speculating he was her illegitimate son. Though she explained he had been parentless, suspicion lingered, and in time Her Majesty formally adopted him.

To be blunt, Her Majesty is unmarried, inexperienced, and the textbook example of a naive, sheltered lady. I know it is ironic for me to say so, but I had assumed she would rely on a wet nurse. My expectations were completely overturned. “Hehe, he’s such a clingy boy. He never rests in anyone’s arms but mine. I have to let him nurse at my chest—even though I cannot lactate—before he’ll allow others to feed him. He finds comfort in it, as if he were my own child. I think my breasts may even be growing from it. You should see him when he sleeps beside me, he’s so adorable.” Whenever it is about little Shion, her face softens into a rapturous smile, the perfect image of a doting parent. They are almost always together.

For her admirers, however, it was nothing short of hell. Their jealousy was palpable, yet how could they compete against a child? I can only imagine their pillows soaked with tears each night. On a related note, Archduke Christoff remains unmarried. Each time he meets Her Majesty, he proposes marriage, and though his sincerity is plain, her favor never falls on him. All her attention is monopolized by little Shion. Personally, I wish he would find a proper wife and secure an heir to continue his lineage, but my words never reach him.

On the matter of succession, just the other day I was crowned as the Empress of the Graviol Empire. At the same time, I advanced my plan for world unification with the proclamation of «True Imperial Crimson».

On the current continental map, the northern region has been designated as a protectorate, its governance split between the Eastern Graviol Empire and the Western Amitia Republic. The southern region is overseen by the Cres Freedom United Nation. Altogether, the Imperium—known as the True Imperial Crimson—has adopted a policy of “reign but not rule,” essentially a hands-off approach. Unless faced with a truly serious crisis, they refrain from interfering in society, preferring to leave troublesome affairs to the locals.

That said, every so often Her Majesty or one of the Demon Generals grows bored and causes a stir. At present, however, all attention is fixed on the exploration of the Dark Continent and the vast central jungle known as the Great Tree Sea, more popularly called the “Forest of Darkness.” They cooperate with adventurers while occasionally competing against them, and for now, we can say that this era enjoys a semblance of peace.

As for me, I married five years ago and am now the mother of two. My husband is Lord Elmer, once of the Vindaus royal family. I’ve been told he was a close friend of Archduke Christoff since their military academy days. Life does take curious turns, does it not?

In Amitia, King Collard and Queen Chloe are said to have seven children already. They are doting parents, keeping pace with Her Highness in devotion. In fact, they share even closer ties, as Queen Chloe once served as little Shion’s wet nurse. This makes Princess Jill, their eldest daughter, and Shion foster siblings. The two are apparently very close, almost like members of one extended family.

Speaking of foster siblings, Lady Asmina’s relentless pursuit eventually led to her marriage with Representative Revan—now formally titled the leader of Cres—over a decade ago, a union many had long foreseen. Yet I hear Revan’s old habit of vanishing has not faded; he often disappears under the pretext of training with the former Beast King. Still, Lady Asmina is not one to be underestimated. With her notorious ‘Asmina Dragnet,’ their game of hide-and-seek keeps Cres unusually lively, a spectacle the citizens view as a seasonal festival.

That said, perhaps it was thanks to such reckless efforts that he finally succeeded in awakening the armaments once gifted to him by Her Majesty. This feat earned him the official title of “Beast King.” Upon hearing the news, Her Majesty eagerly attended the coronation, declaring with delight, “Let’s see just how strong you’ve become!” The result, however, was that the ceremony had to be postponed until Representative Revan could stand again. Frankly, I am left speechless at the entire ordeal.

I would say all of these were the signs of peaceful times. The real matter troubling us, however, concerns little Shion—though at fifteen now, perhaps Crown Prince Shion would be the proper title. It is not the name itself but the weight behind it that has become our headache. For reasons unknown, Her Majesty has consistently hidden her identity from him, choosing to live in semi-seclusion within the depths of the Forest of Darkness. I strongly suspect the crown prince still has no idea who either of them truly is.

“It is love—pure and simple love. I only wish for him to know a life filled with love, free of the burdens of rank and title.” This was Her Majesty’s explanation to me. Sometimes I cannot help but wonder: is this not just one of her whims taken too far? Or is it only my doubt speaking?

Then again, if both live peacefully, who am I to—

⇐ Previous

Next ⇒

⌈ Index ⌋