Volume 3 Chapter 1 Part4 (1/2)
After Juna finished her singing, it was Pamille’s turn again. Since we still didn’t have enough songstresses, we decided to have each one sing twice for this broadcast. I chose the moment Pamille’s turn ended and Nanna began her second turn to drag Aisha somewhere people couldn’t see and the broadcast couldn’t pick up.
“W, what’s wrong Your Highness. We’re still on air though?”
“I told you I’m uneasy about something this broadcast, right? I’m talking about what comes after Nanna”
I tried to say as calm as possible to the bewildered Aisha.
“When the next stage begins, I’ll be counting on you as my guard”
“Wha!? No way, is Juna plammmmmmmpphhhhh”
I used my hand to cover Aisha’s mouth that was about to yell out loud in the middle of a broadcast. Once she’s properly calmed down I shook my head”
“Not Juna. After Nanna and before Juna’s second performance, there’s a singer coming in between”
“Mmmmpuh … I, I haven’t heard of this!”
“I told you, it’s a sudden thing. It was decided suddenly right before the broadcast. If I told you before it happened you’d have all your attention there and flub your lines”
“Grrrr … I can’t really deny that”
Aisha seems to be aware of it herself. She mumbled. I plopped my hand on her head.
“Well if the worst happens I’ll be counting on you. Since you’re a presenter you can’t carry your greatsword, but should I get you some small weapons?”
“No, in that case I’ll fight barehanded … wait is she really that dangerous!?”
“Well … if it goes like I thought then it won’t be a problem. This is just a precaution after all”
“Precaution, is it … understood. I’ll protect Your Highness with my life”
Aisha thumped her chest with a thud. She looks really reliable in times like this.
Now then, will a demon or a snake come out …
When Nanna’s second turn ended, there was a relaxed atmosphere around the audience in Amidonia. They were genuinely enjoying this musical performance. Judging from the sequence it would be Juna Doma’s turn next so they were wild with antic.i.p.ation to listen to her voice again.
Then the next moment that atmosphere was instantly blown away. There was a woman displayed on the broadcast. She was about forty to fifty years old. She was nearly two meters tall, and was obviously muscular even through her military clothes. She had a stern face and swept-back hair so one could rarely recognize her as a woman at first glance. In fact, only the Amidonians realized that she was a woman, the Elfriedenians tilted their heads in confusion, “Why is there suddenly an old man there?”
Next to her, Soma and Aisha appeared. Soma was wearing a presenter-like wide smile but Aisha had a guarded look on her face, watching the woman. Soma then said:
[Now then, we have a guest performance today. Margarita Wanda 1 from the Princ.i.p.ality of Amidonia. While the defense army was leaving Vannes, she stayed behind in order to make sure the civilians were unharmed as promised”
The citizens of Vannes nodded. That’s just like Wanda, they thought. Even in the Princ.i.p.ality of Amidonia where a woman could not so easily become prominent, she was a heroic woman who rose to the rank of lieutenant general with her bravery and leaders.h.i.+p. The citizens feared her valor and stern looks but she was a trustworthy person with good character. However, that was exactly why it was strange. Why was that Wanda standing on the stage together with Soma.
[Wanda is here as a prisoner of war, but because of the reasons for her capture, she was confined to house arrest. When she heard about our broadcast today, she bid herself, “I want to sing as well”]
[……]
Soma said cheerfully but Margarita was quiet. Noticing the stark difference in temperature between the two, the citizens of Vannes felt chills up their spines.
“Hey … what’s going to happen?”
“No way, is Wanda trying to use this chance to kill Soma”
“No, well, Wanda wouldn’t do something underhanded like that …”
“But look at the Dark Elf’s face. She’s obviously on guard”
“Soma looks tense as well, even though he’s smiling”
Even though it happened in the royal castle a distance away, the audience in Vannes were able to notice the restless air. In that kind of atmosphere, Soma continued presenting with a smile.
[Now let’s hear it for Margarita Wanda with … “Beyond Gordoa Valley”]
When the audience heard that name, the air around the audience froze. “Beyond Gordoa Valley” was the national anthem of the Princ.i.p.ality of Amidonia. She was going to sing it in Vannes that was under occupation, and she was going to sing in front of the occupying king, Soma. The Amidonians instantly noticed the meaning in that. Margarita was even resolved to die. As Soma and Aisha left the stage, solemn music began playing. Then finally, Margarita began singing.
♪[Beyond Gordoa Valley] (Amidonian National Anthem)
Spreading beyond the mountains
Of Ursula where the sun was born
Is the land of our forefathers
The land whither we will once return
March the war-horses
Over the mountain of corpses of your brethren
March ye brave warriors
And be one with the soil beyond Gordoa
Her husky voice wove into a powerful song, giving the Princ.i.p.ality citizens gooseb.u.mps along their backs. Margarita’s song forced the citizens of the Princ.i.p.ality to realize anew that they were Amidonians. Even the citizens of Vannes. It was like a wave of cold air to the budding flower of Elfriedenian [Freedom] Soma was putting on show, making the bud close back.
(What an intense song …)
I was listening to Margarita’s song at the side of the stage. When the song began the soldiers around the venue stirred, but because they were ordered to “stay in their seats no matter what happened and listen to the songs,” n.o.body made an uproar. It wasn’t hard to say why everyone stirred. After all, she was singing to “attack the Kingdom of Elfrieden”. The land “beyond Ursula where the sun was born” referred to the former Amidonian territory (and current Elfriedenian territory) east of the Ursula mountains.
She was saying to march horses and soldiers there. Which means the anthem urged for the crossing of Gordoa valley and into Elfrieden. … how should I put this, do you even have to go that far, or something. The tenacity of a military nation that even its citizens is impressive. While I was thinking that, Aisha asked me in a hushed voice.
(“Your Highness. Is this alright? Her singing this kind of song“)
(“… Well, this is well within my expectations“)
I answered in a quiet voice with my arms folded.
(“An officer of the enemy nation suddenly said she wanted to take part in a music show. The reasons would probably be to [use the broadcasts to incite patriotism among the viewers], or to [take the chance to get close to me and strike]. I took the liberty of examining her character beforehand, and I predicted her to be a frank person, but in the latter case I would be counting on you, Aisha“)
(“You knew!? Then shouldn’t you not let her sing …?“)
(“Because I knew, I could prepare countermeasures“)
While we were having that conversation, Margarita’s song ended. As the song ended, Margarita sat down hard on the spot. We then walked up to her.
“This is to show the backbone of an Amidonian. Now go ahead and take my head”
She said so and straightened her back. … I knew it, she did this with resolve to die. She had probably even considered that she would be killed on the spot. In truth, if I finished Margarita off here the broadcast would’ve come to nothing. Which was why I said ‘with a smile’.
“Why? You have a good singing voice”
Hearing the unexpected answer, Margarita widened her eyes. … apologies to your resolve, but I’m not going to fall for that.
“You have a good voice, sounds well suited for R&B. I’d really like you to do a cover of [Ano Kane o Naras.h.i.+ta Anata] or [Snake Eater] in j.a.panese”
Hearing me say that so lightly Margarita glared at me.
“… I sang the Amidonian Anthem you know. If you let this reckless act pa.s.s you’ll undermine Elfrieden’s authority you know?”
“Don’t call it a reckless act when you’re the one who did it, and then so what? There’s no law in Elfrieden that says you can’t sing another country’s national anthem. We’re not in Amidonia anymore”
I looked away from Margarita and turned towards the Royal Broadcast orb.
“What is a good country. The answer doesn’t come that easy. But at least, I think a country where you can freely sing songs is a good country. Fun songs, sad songs, songs of love, songs of the country, songs of other countries, war songs, anti-war songs. A country where you can sing any song is a good country, that’s what I think”
I then stretched the palm of my hand to the orb and said.
“What do you think, ladies and gentlemen of the audience?”
There was a tower in the west of Vannes. The inside of the grotesque moss-covered spire was turned into a prison, where high ranking criminals (n.o.bles, knights, or above) were imprisoned. But even if it’s a prison for high-ranked prisoners, it was far from a suite room, and only had a plain jail room inside. During Amidonian rule, political prisoners were kept here. Those who subvert the state or those who ‘were going to’ go against the will of the nation.