As I sat at the head of the meeting room table, I could see the vassals lined up on either side. The past Siani Felicite and the present me receive the same gazes in the same space. Everything was the same, but the only thing that had changed was me. Is that why?
“Do you have any regrets?”
Suddenly, the conversation I had with Ananke not long ago came to mind.
Nothing has changed at all.
As soon as I returned to the duchy, I headed to the meeting room, thinking. Even though I survived the Sea of Ananke, everything about me was still the same. My appearance, my consciousness, my thought patterns, and even my lifestyle were exactly the same. Ah, of course, that didn’t mean nothing changed at all. Some of my memories returned, and above all…
“Ananke.”
-Yes, Almighty Goddess.
I could now summon Ananke and hear her voice.
“Look at this, isn’t it amazing?”
-Ah… yes, yes.
I could use divine power to some extent.
“How can I produce fire with just a slight exertion of strength?”
Actually, it was laughably weak to call it divine power. But from my perspective, who had never even handled magic in all those years, it was quite amazing.
-Since you, Almighty Goddess, created everything in this land, it’s only natural. However, you still need to undergo the process of internalizing and handling the divinity a bit more…
Just then, I heard Ananke’s voice in my ear again.
“Wow.”
Flames burst out from my fingertips even more fiercely than before.
How could I only now gain something so convenient and wonderful! If I had this ability from the beginning, I wouldn’t have needed to endure such grueling training that left blisters on my hands!
“What other abilities can I use with divinity? Rain and wind? Can I lift people too?”
-Hmm, you seem to be progressing faster than expected, so you will gradually learn through training.
Ananke said gently, as if afraid to tell me too much too soon.
“Ah, so you mean it’ll get much better with training. And I’ll be able to use abilities I never even thought of.”
-Yes. But since your past consciousness has disappeared, it will be difficult to return completely to your omnipotent state.
I could understand Ananke’s answer instantly. If I had joined hands with my past self in the sea, I might have possessed the power to destroy this world… I have obtained only half the power. Having directly killed Theia, who was both my past and a part of me, I couldn’t go back to that time.
-Do you regret it now?
“Not really.”
-Ahem.
Ananke cleared her throat as if my answer was too simple compared to giving up omnipotent power.
-Anyway, it seems you’ve changed a lot.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
-In the past, Almighty Goddess was a being made of love. You shared that love equally with everyone.
“Really? Well, that’s probably why the archangels betrayed and fell from her grace.”
I laughed shortly.
“The Theia of that time is dead.”
Suddenly, the past Theia and the past Siani overlapped in my mind.
“The current me was resurrected from hell, not heaven…”
Theia, who was broken by the wounds given by love, and Siani Felicite, who sat like a dead doll. Now, they are the disappeared past and beings I personally killed.
“I must live as I have changed things.”
Answering Ananke, I opened the door to the meeting room, realizing that the end was just another beginning.
“What do you mean…”
And now back, to the present.
“Princess, are you saying that you received an oracle from the goddess?”
The elder vassal shook his head, looking at me with incredulous eyes.
“Of course, I also highly regard and acknowledge the abilities Princess has shown so far.”
Acknowledge? Who is acknowledging whom right now? But before I could retort, the elder vassal continued.
“However, the power of elementalist hasn’t appeared in any noble family for a long time. And there’s a reason why the founding festival is called the ‘Ceremony of Summoning the Goddess.’”
“…”
“Every year, His Majesty personally oversees the founding festival, and all the priests and descendants, including the high priest, offer sacrifices and prayers.”
A strange anger flashed across the elder vassal’s face.
“Not once has the flame on the altar ignited.”
A long silence ensued.
“Moreover, if there really was the protection of the goddess, our empire and Eunomia would not have such divisions. In short!”
“…”
“The goddess is so incompetent and powerless that she can no longer rule this land.”
Even Aeron, who turned into a fighter as soon as he entered the meeting room, seemed unable to refute the experienced claim. However,
I threw my whole self to achieve peace, and what now?
My stance was different.
Incompetent and powerless?
“Norma, who was treated as a monster trapped in the underground castle, became the crown prince of Meteora and a king of a kingdom. Who made that happen?”
“…It was you, Princess.”
“Yes. I did it.” I turned my gaze sharply to Irik in the middle. “But at that time, didn’t everyone tell me? That I was just playing around with those pretty Norma?”
“But that was something the late royal princess had already left behind…”
“If it weren’t for me, the late princess’s will would never have come to light.”
I didn’t know what my expression looked like as I looked at them now.
“In other words, no one here expected that I would be envisioning a distant future in the underground castle.”
Judging by their reactions, it seemed quite ominous.
“That is what the will of the goddess is.”
It was the moment when the meeting room fell silent.
“Also.”
“…!”
With a cracking sound, the elder vassal’s fountain pen was crushed. In the past, I would have had to walk all the way there and snatch it directly to break it. This is indeed the best. Now, just glaring with intense eyes, it broke like that.
“My father was very merciful, so he could endure until now.”
I stared at the shattered fountain pen. Even the fingertips of the vassal holding it were trembling, turning pale.
“If you dare to act like a sneaky rat in front of me again…”
I knew his fountain pen could record voices. And that it had been transferred to the Grand Duke Benio family for a long time.
“It won’t end with just this level of humiliation.”
This was also the result of divine power.
“Sir Les will be stripped of his title and expelled as of today, so you don’t have to follow my words.”
“P-Princess!”
“Everyone else, follow my words.” With that, I stood up from my seat. “All of Felicite will attend the founding festival.”
Since no one would dare argue any further, the meeting would end here.
“By the way, Sir Les.” As I was about to leave, I paused for a moment. “Since your time in prison will be dull, take the opportunity to thoroughly read the history books again.”
“Princess! P-Prison, it’s all a misunderstanding! P-Please give me a chance to explain!”
“If the goddess ever returns, it won’t be to bestow mercy and blessings upon us, but…”
His pale face was quite amusing.
“It will be to deliver judgment.”
I felt it was worth coming back.
* * *
Even after returning to my room, there was still work to be done. It was almost as if I had been desperate to work all this time!
{My chief aide made it themselves. It’s a special course targeting newlyweds.}
At the same time, the emperor reflected in the video sphere in front of me spoke. With the opening of the resort destination was imminent, it was the most urgent and important issue, regardless of treason or anything else.
“A high-class dinner presented by the imperial chefs and a concert by the imperial musicians…”
But looking at the promotional plan they made, my expression naturally hardened. They say they’re targeting newlyweds, but what is this? It’s more like a family trip.
“Your Majesty, this is a schedule suitable for family or group travelers.” Recalling my memories as Reliana, who ran the number one travel agency, I explained. “If the target is newlyweds, it is better to plan romantic activities such as a paddle boat experience on the clear blue sea, private fireworks, or lantern launching on the beach at night.”
{Oh?}
“And the most important thing is not the concert or anything like that, but the hotel.”
{…Hotel?}
“In even a small mansion, the bedroom shared by a couple should be the most beautiful and perfect space. It is of utmost importance to newlyweds.”
{Hmm, that makes sense.}
The emperor nodded in agreement.
{Then why don’t you personally go on a preliminary inspection, Princess?}
Huh? For a moment, I was speechless.
“Your Majesty, I’m still single, not even engaged, so what do you mean?”
{You can get a husband!}
“Where would I suddenly get a husband from?”
Just as I was trying to force a smile, the emperor continued.
{I will make one for you!}
“What…?”
What is this now?
Just then, the ring on my finger began to glow.
“They say sharing a bedroom makes you a couple.”
Suddenly, the space before my eyes changed.
Good grief. I wondered why the emperor was suddenly spouting nonsense and making me flustered.
“Then it’s possible for you and me too, Master.”
“…You.”
“Being apart even for a moment…”
His gentle smile directed at me seemed to completely captivate me.
“It’s very difficult, Master.”
Before I knew it, I had been teleported to Redian’s bedroom.
Those Rixon guys…
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