Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2:

The royal capital of Nesland, Kamarilla. A metropolis of 8 million people that developed along the Selve River. The royal palace, the parliament, the supreme court, and the central government office. The city where many of the political powers’ central forces gathered was in second place in terms of population compared to Garfield, the central economic city, but was still a prospering city that had left behind numerous historical traces.

Within this city, at the central government office, the royal palace and the official residence of the prime minister stood as the two pinnacles of this country’s political influences, and were placed facing each other on the north and south sides of the Selve River.

Inside that central government office, in the official residence of the prime minister, Prime Minister Saion paced around the room, back and forth. Although he had a plump stomach, his face was well looked after, enough to conceal that his age was close to 60; he still looked as if he was in his forties. Though he was starting to lose his hair, it matched his subtle moustache quite well and thus, it was said that he had the air of a sedate and dignified gentleman.

However, right now, such profoundness was nowhere to be found and was instead replaced by restlessness that resembled that of someone who was about to pee himself and had finally found a toilet, only to find an “under repair” sign on its door.

“Still no news……”

He mumbled quietly to himself and flinched, closing his mouth.

‘What in the world is taking them so long?’

[Fledgling Hunt].

That was the operation codename for the Queen’s a.s.sa.s.sination, which had supposedly begun a while ago. However, a report of the capture of the Queen had still not come in.

‘Surely things haven’t taken a wrong turn.’

He nervously stepped on the high quality carpet that covered the floor.

‘No, there’s no way. The 300 bug soldiers that I received from that personcannot be easily dealt with.’

The normal, stipulated guns that the Queen’s royal guards were armed with could not even scratch their sh.e.l.ls, and there were 300 of these soldiers. There was no possible way for the other party to make a stand against them. The only thing that nagged at him was the possibility that she might have escaped through a secret pa.s.sage.

‘No, that’s impossible.’

Everything was thoroughly accounted for. All means of communication were cut, and radio connection was jammed. Even the customised bulletproof car that was prepared as an emergency escape method had been tampered with.

There was no possible way of successfully escaping.

At that moment, the door opened and his subordinate entered.

“Your excellency.”

“Ah, what’s the news?”

The Prime Minister stopped on the spot, hoping for the awaited news. However, his subordinate’s expression was not bright.

“That is…… It has been reported that she has escaped……”

Prime Minister Saion stamped his feet in rage. His moustache trembled violently.

“Say what?”

“That is…… It seems that her majesty has escaped by car……”

“That…… Are you telling me those idiots couldn’t even do that one thing correctly?”

“What should we do?”

The Prime Minister chewed on his moustache as he frowned and, in the end, declared defeat.

“Tch. We can’t leave behind traces that would lead to us. Withdraw.”

“Yes, your excellency.”

After sending back his subordinate, the Prime Minister entwined his hands and fingers together.

He had gambled his success on this plan, and yet the a.s.sa.s.sination of the Queen had failed. If things continued to go the way it was going now, his own life would be in danger for bl.u.s.tering to that person.

‘No. It’s too early to say anything for certain.’

He anxiously paced around the room, repeatedly clasping and unclasping his hands. It wasn’t over yet.

‘He said that they escaped by car, right?’

If so, a chance still remained. The 300 bug soldiers that he had borrowed was one thing, but he had another trap that he had prepared on his own. If that worked, the situation would be completely changed at the last minute.

The car that held both Kael and Yulia, or more accurately, the car that held all three including the backpack, sped straight down the road. Even though the road was situated atop a cliff that oversaw the ocean, the car drove at a speed that could well be 200 kilometres per hour. The bugs were no longer following them so they could have slowed down, yet the car kept darting forward.

The straight road came to an end, and a steep curved road appeared. They would really have to slow down now, yet the car continued rus.h.i.+ng forward.

Moreover…… It didn’t even turn.

It ran straight down the curved road, and inevitably crashed into the guardrail. The rails were standing quite firmly, but they scrunched and became uprooted from the force of the gigantic, bulletproof figure that was moving at 200 kilometres per hour. The connecting metals snapped and the car flew into the open air along with them. The car dived into the water, drawing a curve with its trajectory. A huge column of water erupted.

Just moments later, an explosion happened underwater and a column of fire surged up. Nothing came up to the surface.

The Prime Minister satisfactorily laughed at the report that arrived approximately thirty minutes later.

“Hahahahahahaha. A black Thunder Bird crashed into the guardrail and fell into the ocean on 1872 Sallium Route?”

“Yes, your excellency.”

“Heavens, this is a grave matter. There are only a few cars of that model in this whole country. Could it possibly be the car of her majesty, who had been out of reach after leaving for a vacation?”

“It may be so.”

“My heavens. An emergency search should be conducted. Concentrate the police force in that area and ensure that her majesty is safe.

“Unterstood.”

“However, the parliamentary a.s.sembly is a national public affair, so it should not be cancelled just because of her majesty’s absence. Announce to everyone that it will still be held as scheduled, even if her majesty does not return.”

“Understood.”

It was only then that the Prime Minister relaxed into his chair.

‘Tampering with the car that was prepared in the vacation castle was worth the trouble.’

Since it would be too obvious that it was an a.s.sa.s.sination plan if the car had blown up right away, he had made it so that it would drive normally for a while and then break down – which turned out, thankfully, to be a success. After all, his faction and its allied factions took up 172 out of 299 seats in the parliament. The vote would be no problem if only that d.a.m.ned kid didn’t interfere.

‘Finally……’

The budget that was being wasted on the medical fees of pests that did not contribute whatsoever to the country’s economy could now be used on the delayed construction work. Tomorrow would be a meaningful day, marking when this country took a step towards the right direction.

‘The land that I invested in two years ago will finally make some money.’

He had been tied up for longer than he had expected. He did not think, when the previous King died, that the kid would be so stubborn.

Money was one thing, but he had been truly anxious since the deadline for the construction ordered by that person had been approaching fast.

“I should pull out the wine that I’ve been saving.”

The following day, at the national a.s.sembly, the Prime Minister appeared on the platform, showing the news reporters a grief-struck face. The just under 300 members of parliament sat in front of him in the shape of a fan. Since the news that the Queen has gone missing had spread across the whole kingdom, tension uncomparable to any other occasions filled the a.s.sembly room. The reporters, who were standing off to one side, whispered to each other in a low voice, speculating on how the political situation would turn out.

“Does this mean that the Prime Minister will now rule supreme?”

“Who will be the King now…?”

“No, we don’t know for sure if her majesty has pa.s.sed away.”

“But, there is no reason to state that she is missing if she is alive.”

“It seems…… There might be a crisis. If her royal highness pa.s.ses away as well, they’d have to look to the collateral family line for an heir.”

The absence of the young, yet not typically young, queen was creating a giant hole in the balance of the national a.s.sembly. The Prime Minister held up the microphone and opened the conversation in a grave voice.

“This situation, where her majesty, who was on vacation, has gone missing and indications of a certain accident have been found, could certainly be called a crisis. I, of course, agree that nation-wide effort should be put into the search for her majesty. However, looking for her majesty is a separate matter; it is also the case that there is a mountain of bills to take care of. Her majesty would not want us to ignore our national affairs just to search for her.”

“Even so, how about we just delay it for at least another week?”

Though the Prime Minister internally scoffed at the suggestion made by MP Marco of the opposing party, he kept a dignified face. Delay it for a week? For whose benefit?

He was already at loss because his money had been bound to the empty land for two years. Yet they want him to drag it for another week? Moreover, the young queen would not return ever again.

“My, even the const.i.tution states that, should the Queen be absent under any circ.u.mstances, I, the Prime Minister, am to lead the regular parliamentary a.s.semblies.”

“That is true, but……”

“With the authority that the const.i.tution presents to me, I hereby announce the beginning of the regular parliamentary a.s.sembly of the first half of the year 2012.”

The opposing party could no longer raise any objection to the one-sided, but lawful, announcement made by Prime Minister Saion.

“Then as the first item, let us discuss the special bill to redirect the budget for medical welfare into the development of Mount Louvre.”

One of the privileges of the chairman was his influence on the order in which the bills would be discussed. When Yulia had served as the speaker, she had utilized that to put off discussing most of the bills suggested by the Prime Minister’s party until the end. However, as she was absent now, the Prime Minister immediately brought up the bill that he had been waiting and waiting for.

As predictable words continued in the a.s.sembly, the opposing parties gathered for a moment to exchange their opinions.

“Tch.”

“What should we do?”

“Realistically, there is no way to stop the bill from pa.s.sing, is there?”

“Just where in the world is her majesty?”

“Considering how the events are unfolding, I’m starting to wonder if she has been a.s.sa.s.sinated.”

“Shh, watch your mouth.”

“Anyway, right now, the Prime Minister definitely has over half of the votes.”

“Meaning we have no chance once the voting starts, huh.”

“Even the Gaverine Party seems to be wavering, due to the absence of her majesty. Since it seems like the Prime Minister is moving on to the final negotiation, if things continue the way they are going now, the bill will be pa.s.sed with over 200 votes.”

“Is there truly nothing we can do?”

“Rather, now that things have come down to this, how about we just consent to this and hope for concession on a few other bills?”

“Is that our only option?”

While the exchange took place, the Prime Minister moved the vote forward at lightning speed.

“Now, since there has been enough discussion, we will immediately enter the voting stage.”

“Hold on, what do you mean by enough? There has only been three speakings for and against!”

“There should be no problems, since the main points have been discussed in those three speakings. We should be efficient, since there are more than a few issues we have to cover in this meeting.”

Prime Minister Saion answered triumphantly. No matter what anyone said, this country was his, now that the child queen was dead. Though, he would have to make extra sure that the next king was more obedient and ignorant. Still, no matter who was throned next, they would not be able to bother him as much as this Queen had. He was finally free. This country was finally in his hands. Other political opponents would not be a problem as long as that person had his back. The only shameful thing was that he would have to wait until night in order to have celebratory drink.

At that moment, a clear, sweet voice rang out from behind the chairman’s seat that he was sitting on.

“A diligent att.i.tude befitting a prime minister of a country. I see no inadequacy in thee becoming a role model for others.”

Speaking objectively, it was a beautiful sound that would not lose to the sound of the Angel’s Bell, which had been created by Artisan Rubréc as an offering to the cathedral. However, to the Prime Minister, it was a voice that was the very cause of his hyperacidity and dyspepsia.

The Prime Minister’s body stiffened. His moustache rose up and sagged down. Without a doubt, she should have been dead. Yet, why could he still hear the voice that turned his dreams into nightmares and caused him stress-induced enteritis? Was it an auditory hallucination? It probably was. It had to be.

The Prime Minister turned around, his body frozen stiff.

‘It…… It can’t be!’

It had been reported just before the a.s.sembly that they had found the frame of a black Thunder Bird that had sunk and exploded.

G.o.d, why are you abandoning me!

Despite his internal cry, Yulia was standing there when he turned around.

“Her Majesty the Queen has arrived!”

A beat later, the salute of the a.s.sembly Hall’s Captain of the Guards echoed throughout the room.

“May the G.o.ds protect Her Majesty the Queen!”

Whether with joy or with curses, the members of parliament said that in chorus, kneeling for the time being. The Prime Minister was no exception. Yulia did not look too well.

Her expensive silk dress was creased and stained all over, and there were a few blemishes in her hair, here and there.

That body of hers was scratched, as if showing how rough her trip had been, and it seemed like she was exhausted after being repeatedly drenched in sweat.

However, such things didn’t matter.

A diamond was still a diamond, even when dripping with mud; it was the same for her.

“I could not possibly dream of delaying the sacred a.s.sembly that will decide national affairs, and hence could not dress more appropriately.”

That one statement was enough. No accessories or embellishments were necessary for the royal gleam to surround her.

Her upright body was small but daring, and her dirty silver hair that she had combed back once to shake off dirt served to emphasise her natural sparkle.

Most of all, her eyes that were wise and keen – the vigor emanated by those silver pupils, which seemed to see through everything, forced even the slyest, oldest politicians to bow.

“I wish for thy generous understanding.”

The voice, clear and sweet but powerful, filled and spread throughout the a.s.sembly hall. That one sentence, empowered with such charisma and dignity, exerted pressure on others, despite it being a request.

She did not need any decorations; her very existence was that of a Queen.

The heads of the members of parliament bowed down even further.

“We are much obliged.”

Yulia once again looked at the Prime Minister. The way she haughtily lifted her head up and looked down at him was confident and aloof, as if saying: I knew all about your petty conspiracy.

“I truly commend thee for leading the a.s.sembly in my place during my absence. Prime minister, I praise thy splendid effort.”

Although she was clearly aware that the other party had been behind her a.s.sa.s.sination attempt, she simply complimented the Prime Minister. She did not use any sloppy blaming words or anger, only her cold and elegant smile. Her tone of voice did not even have a touch of wavering emotions and was so perfectly concealed that a third party would not possibly think that she was, in fact, being sarcastic or furious. Her poise was unlike that of a child, and the perfectly suppressed emotions created a truly fearsome pressure.

“However, I shall take over now, so thou may return to thy seat.”

Her outright words that would not allow any objections seemed gentle at a glimpse, but were actually sharp. A drop of cold sweat formed on the Prime Minister’s forehead as her words bit into his neck.

“I…… I am much obliged.”

The Prime Minister answered, holding back a scowl. He stepped down from the chair, gritting his teeth.

“I see that the first bill is about the special law for budget redirection from medical welfare to Mount Louvre development.”

“That is correct.”

The Prime Minister clenched his fists as he replied. He didn’t know how she had survived, but nothing would change. A bill that was under consideration could not be altered mid-discussion. Whether it would be rejected or pa.s.sed, a vote had to be held. Although a Queen’s authority was mighty, it could not stand above the law. That was this country’s ground rule.

Also, should there be a vote,

‘The ballots for the bill have already been secured. Even that queen would not be able to do anything against this bill.’

“Most certainly. We shall discuss this bill until lunch. As soon as the afternoon meeting starts, we shall vote.”

Kael dumbfoundedly stared at Yulia, who had dominated the national a.s.sembly while overpowering the cunning old members of parliament, and was now sitting in the chairman’s seat with that tiny body.

Though he had thought that she was full of n.o.ble and elegant grace since the first encounter, to think that she had such spirit to overwhelm the parliament. She was not a mere eight-year-old kid, but a legitimate queen.

‘Just…… how many different faces does this kid have?’

He recalled, one by one, her expressions that he had witnessed from the end of the escape until now.

Inside the car, after they had shaken off all of the bugs and was driving soundly for a while, Kael felt a sudden premonition.

‘The car’s sound and movement changed?’

It seemed that Yulia, who was concentrating on driving, had not noticed, but he could sense it. He did not know anything about cars themselves, but a cacophony was mixed into the regular breathing of the engine.

“Yulia.”

“What is the matter?”

“Did you change how you’re operating the car?”

“No, I am in cruise-control.”

At that answer, Kael unbuckled his seatbelt without hesitation. He then grabbed her, opened the car door, and jumped out. He rolled on the dirt next to the road, wrapping his arms around Yulia so that she wouldn’t be hurt.

“Ah?”

While Yulia, taken aback, let out a short moan before she pressed her lips back together, the car rushed forward on its own, crashed into the guardrails, and dived into the sea.

“What art thou possibly thinking? We still have a long way to go!”

Yulia puffed out her cheeks like a squirrel that was holding a handful of chestnuts in its mouth and pounded on his chest with her fists. Kael explained, accepting the hits that felt like a weak ma.s.sage from the perspective of the person getting hit.

“It felt like there was a problem with the car.”

“What dost thou mean by that?”

Just as Yulia started to interrogate him once more, an explosion erupted from the sea. Yulia, who had turned and seen that, dropped her mouth open before closing it.

“Good heavens, for it to explode like that just because it fell into the water…… Did thou know this would happen?”

“Not the specific details.”

Kael shrugged.

“So he also tampered with the car. As expected of the Prime Minister. A formidable person.”

As if she had forgotten how fl.u.s.tered she was before, Yulia locked her fingers, making a melancholy smile. Her small, slender hands intertwined, creating an unsettled atmosphere. Her clear, huge silver eyes sank. Those eyes were composed, yet gloomy. That gloom was quite deep, unfitting for her young face.

“Hmm, what shall we do? There will not be many cars around here.”

“Then, do we just have to go to bigger streets where other cars are driving?”

“That is correct, but we will have to walk for a good 50 kilometres. I suppose it cannot be helped, although time is tight.”

“ Alright. Then, hold on tight.”

Kael lifted Yulia up by her waist and supported it with his arms.

“Aah! What discourtesy, holding an unmarried virgin in thy arms without her consent!”

Yulia once again flounced her arms and legs. She hit his chest with both of her hands, one following the other, while kicking his sides with her foot. Her fierce resistance, which had not been seen until now, could very well be called a full body ma.s.sage. Though, she lacked the strength to actually loosen his muscles.

“…… You realise that you were in my arms when we were escaping from the bugs, right?”

Kael protested, finding her belated complaints absurd.

“That was holding me by thy side, and this is actually being held against thy chest. This is a special pose that is only for married couples or solid lovers.”

A faint red hue, similar to the color of a semi-ripe peach, settled on her cheeks, and her eyes dropped slightly.

“ …… Ah, fine.”

Kael sighed and moved Yulia onto his back. Acting like a woman when she was only eight. She was only female biologically, so what meaning was it supposed to have?

“Then piggyback is fine, right?”

“Not completely, but I shall allow it, since it is an emergency.”

“Then hold on tight.”

Kael pulled her legs forward while holding onto them, wrapped both of her arms around his neck, and began running.

They pushed through the air, and it whooshed across their skin as wind. It was only about one fifth of the car’s speed of a few hundred kilometres per hour, but directly experiencing the speed gave it much more impact.

“Uuh.”

Yulia held onto him more tightly, as if she was afraid that she might fall. Kael continued moving forward in this manner, covering the whole 50 kilometres in an hour, and reached Highway 39, which was connected to route 1872. Like she had said, there were other cars driving along the road.

“Phew.”

While drenched in sweat and panting, Kael let Yulia down on her feet.

“If it’s this much, haaaa…… time’s been saved to some extent, yeah? Hoooo.”

“Splendid. Thou definitely overpower the general maintainable running speed of a human.”

“Even so, compared to that car thing, hooo… not even a quarter, hoooooo.”

“As thou said, ‘tis a very subtle power. To be a 5th-cla.s.s demon, I mean.”

Yulia agreed to Kael’s words. When purely discussing the power of his body, it was stronger than that of a human. However, if one was asking whether that level of power was incredibly strong, the machines that were made for individual uses had the upper hand.

Not weak, but not worth putting one’s soul on the line to summon. It was only about that strong.

However……

“However, it is thou who narrowed down the distance that would have taken up a whole day at my pace. A person dying in the desert only needs a cup of water to be handed to them, not some faraway lake.”

Yulia lightly patted his thigh. Her touch was gentle and rhythmic. Moreover, her words were dignified, but the smile that spread on her lips were full of affectionate warmth. She looked as if she was happily petting a big dog.

As her small hands continued to stroke him, his thigh muscles tensed up rather than relaxing, making Kael flinch momentarily.

‘Ugh. Get a hold of yourself.’

What was he doing, feeling pleased from a kid’s touch? He wasn’t a dog.

“Pristine, towel.”

“Here.”

The bag opened and a pristine white towel popped out.

“Here, wipe thy sweat with this.”

“Thanks.”

Kael wiped his face and hair with the towel, regaining his breath. While he did so, Yulia shouted at the pa.s.sing cars.

“This is an emergency! I shall procure thy car. The price will be specially rewarded to thee generously, so cooperate!”

Rather than signaling by doing something like waving her arm, she proudly kept her hands on her waist and raised her voice. She was filled with a sense of confidence and seemed to believe that the cars should come to a stop in front of her just by her vocal demand.

Of course, despite her command, none of the cars stopped to accommodate her. They merely continued to rush forward, while even exceeding the speed limit.

“I don’t think anyone will hear you while driving at high speed with their windows closed.”

Yulia flinched. Her ear, which was surrounded by strands of her hair, slightly tilted backwards before returning to normal. It was so subtle that it wasn’t visible. She put her arm back down, knitting her eyebrows together.

“Tchh. Thy comment is correct. I have overlooked that factor.”

That expression of hers was oddly cute, making Kael lightly scratch his cheek.

“However, for a situation like this, I have prepared a plan B.”

She remarked and laughed, regaining her confidence, and tucked up her skirt. Her thin leg, which had been hidden underneath it, was revealed. Neither her calf nor her thigh possessed a mature woman’s curves, but they had their own child-like tenderness and defenseless cuteness. Her pale skin that seemed soft, squishy, and warm made Kael feel like he wanted to touch them.

‘…… I couldn’t possibly actually touch it, though……’

Kael shook his head for a moment to shake off the unnecessary thoughts. It was only afterwards that he became curious as to why she was doing what she was doing.

‘What’s she doing? Is she planning to run on her own legs?’

It would be faster for him to just keep giving her a piggyback while he was running. Sure, he was a little exhausted, but he was confident that he could go much faster than a tiny kid.

However, Yulia didn’t run. Instead, she stretched her leg and placed in on top of the guardrail. The great hards.h.i.+p of separating her legs to that extent nearly revealed her underwear.

“Wha, what are you doing?!”

Kael pulled her leg down, fl.u.s.tered.

He couldn’t see it. No, he hadn’t seen it. He did not see anything white that had cat patterns imprinted on it!

“I have seen in movies that males stop their cars and let the female ride if she does this.”

“…… Hey, I think that’s a skill that’s limited to beauties.”

Kael mumbled without certainty. He wasn’t confident, since the era had changed, but during the era of his first contract, carriages only stopped when a ‘beauty’ used such tactics.

“What didst thou just say? Does that mean that I am not beautiful?!”

Enraged, she pointed at him with her index finger. The way she sulkily grumbled was just like a pouting eight-year-old would.

“The problem doesn’t exactly lie there……”

Kael, who had nearly stopped sweating, felt one more drop roll down his forehead.

‘Though I think that skill would be super effective in about ten years’ time.’

Right now, it was a little bit…… sure, she was beautiful, but it was the beauty of a child, so wouldn’t it be even more of a problem if there was actually somebody who fell for it and stopped the car?

“We have no other plans.”

“Yeah, true. But still, that’s……”

“Now shut thy mouth.”

Yulia held up her hand into a fist, as if to warn him.

“No, even if you tell me to shut it, I really don’t think such a plan would……”

As Kael ignored her and continued on, Yulia repeatedly hit his stomach with her fists.

“For heaven’s sakes, shut. I said shut!”

Since it did not even tickle him, let alone hurt him, Kael closed his mouth, dumbfounded. Only then was Yulia satisfied, and she rolled up her skirt once more. Her soft, tender leg revealed itself again.

“Don’t interrupt, unless you are going to suggest a plan C.”

With great effort, Yulia replaced her leg on the guardrail.

“No, even so, this is a little……”

Just then, a freight truck stopped at the shoulder of the road. A slightly chubby, middle-age man who seemed to be good-natured popped his head out of the window.

“Eii, are ya siblings stranded ‘ere?”

“See, did I not say that it would work just fine?”

Yulia bragged as she turned back to Kael, bobbing her fingers.

‘No, it really seems like he stopped out of pity, since we look so shabby.’

When he saw her smiling boastfully, Kael decided to hold back his internal reb.u.t.tal.

“I commend thee for stopping, citizen. Dost thou recognise me?”