Tearmoon Empire Story

- Oh, always, here's the guy...

"You don't have to worry about this. It's okay......"

In front of her, Emeralda was remembering as she looked at Meer with a troubled grin.

That was five years ago now.

It was an event at a tea party at the Duke of Greenmoon's house.

Emeralda was just a little nervous that day.

Because the Empress Mia Luna Tiermoon was due at the Tea Party that day.

Make Her Royal Highness's Tea Party debut in her own mansion. Ever since it was decided, Emeralda was at her father's and well prepared.

The tea party went on and on.

Meer, who looked happy with the delicious cake, laughed nico upbeat at the maid who brought her replacement.

"Oh, thank you. Um, Mr. Nina. Also, when you're done eating, please replace me."

Meer who speaks that name well. Apparently, he heard the maids exchange and remembered their names.

Emeralda unwittingly laughs at that attitude as if she was proud of it.

I'm sure Her Royal Highness the Young Princess doesn't know how to do that, because I thought so...

I thought I had to teach you as an older sister.

"Dear Meer, noble people can't remember the names of civilians. So don't call me a maid."

"Oh? Why is that?

Today, she tilted her neck and Meer said.

"Why shouldn't I call you names?

"It's..."

Emeralda, for a moment, thought about it,

"That's because I or Meer are precious blood thinkers. Because he who stands above the people. That's the tradition of nobility..."

That's the foundation on which Emeralda stands. It's her common sense, so to speak.

but......,

"That sounds silly."

Her Royal Highness the young princess cut it off and threw it away in just one word.

"It's easier to remember your name, but why, do you have to do that?

The words were shocking to Emeralda. Too shocking......

For being too shocking......,

"Because, you know, you're not going to be very old with us. I don't care how many cake replacements you ask for, you don't seem to say no. It's easier to call your name when you ask..."

So much so that I missed hearing the slightly arrogant words afterwards.

For a long time, I have been the meer of the righteous.

Make it eight years old, this intention... like an episode where you'll see a single scale of Empire wisdom later, like it's not...

Anyway, Emeralda was moved by Meer's words.

Because the words (other than what I missed hearing) coincided exactly with Emeralda's chest.

Keep the maid's name in mind and nominate a familiar maid to take care of her.

Have them play and talk to each other.

Thank you if you do something, and apologize if you do something wrong.

How can you not do that when it's so much easier and more pleasant?

What's the reason you shouldn't do that?

Emeralda asked her father the question of her birth.

But it's a troublesome smile that came back.

"That's what nobility is, Emeralda."

The answer is not satisfactory in the end... But that sort of thing, Emeralda understood.

I don't need to be convinced. Because it is, it is.

It only became the chain that binds Emeralda.

The noble prince is a sturdy chain that shapes Emeralda and binds her.

And... that's why I admired it.

To Her Royal Highness the Young Princess, Meer Luna Tiermoon, who is not tied to that chain.

"Hey, Mr. Emeralda..."

Even before the precious words of the first emperor, the founding fathers of the venerable Tiermoon Empire, to be bound…, Meer's attitude remains unchanged.

I say you don't have to worry about it.

Even before the mighty authority that Emeralda would even give up resisting, Meer would not waver.

Always, yes.

It's always the same.

A man with free wings not tied to the chain of noble common sense.

Emeralda thinks it's out of common sense.

I criticize you for not being queen, for treading on imperial authority and tradition.

But the truth is, all the time... all the time.

- Oh, yeah. I was...... I admired you, Meer...

Emeralda remembered.

I admired Meer, and that's why I've always wanted to be my best friend standing next to Meer.

Emeralda knows. I'm not really Meer's best friend or anything.

I've always wanted to be my best friend, but... I couldn't be.

Because, like Meer, I can't be free.

The chain that binds Emeralda was much thicker and more robust than expected.

She knew painfully well that she didn't have the courage to cut it off.

I'm sure I don't deserve to be Meer's friend.

Such a give up has always been on Emeralda's chest... but...

"Would you please choose your friendship with me, your best friend, instead of being bound by a covenant of the past to serve your loyalty to the First Emperor?

Meer steps in lightly. Easily, it betrays Emeralda's common sense.

Being such a light best friend...... tells me to choose friendship with myself instead of loyalty to the first emperor......

That's what Emeralda can do, I call it.

There's nothing to it, even a naughty grin......

But...,

"No... I can't."

It was a word of denial that fell zero out of my mouth.

Is that because of the noble gesture that binds her?

Or did the authority of the First Emperor subdue her?

No, it wasn't.

Those chains had all melted and disappeared when Meer reached out to me.

But at the end of the day, there was something left.

Something that made Emeralda hesitate to take Meer's hand, it was the little thorn that pierced her chest.

The dream event that wasn't enough to take, that day, the regret of not fulfilling that promise while inviting beaten Meer to a tea party.

I don't know when, where, or how, but the feeling that I betrayed Meer......

Though it never seems like it really happened, but the pain that lingers in my chest is real.

That doesn't allow Emeralda to be named Meer's friend.

"I betrayed you, Mia…"

Zero falling is a confessional word.

"Ha? Was there such a thing?

To Meer, who leans his neck slightly, Emeralda continues.

"I invited Mia to a tea party and couldn't keep her promise."

I don't know what the hell I'm talking about..., Emeralda gets spooked unexpectedly.

They told me about my dream, and I thought Meer would just be in trouble too...

But...

"Right... If so..."

Meer didn't laugh. On the contrary, you look so serious..., after thinking about something...,

"I would love a sweet cake."

It was an unexpected word that came out of my mouth.

"Huh?"

Unexpectedly, it was an emeralda that blinked my eyes, but breathed in the words that followed shortly afterwards.

"Yeah, cake. I'd love a very good cake. So... when you get off this island, why don't you invite me to a tea party?

Meer said.

That's where I pledge my allegiance to the Empire.

Look straight at Emeralda......

"Loyalty to such a new empire, not to the old empire to destroy the continent, but to the peace of all its subjects and to do everything in their power to do so"

That's when Emeralda noticed on the pretend.

On his own cheek, a suddenly hot Shizuku drifted off.

- Are you crying? Me, why...? There's no reason anywhere to cry......

That's the promise of a distant day.

Dreams and disappeared sad promises without being fulfilled.

- That's just a dream... Mia, you don't know that. But...

Emeralda stared at Meer.

On that face, I wonder why, Emeralda..., I thought I saw Meer in that dream.

It looks like Meer is giving me that opportunity to..., fulfill my promise then... So.

"Yes...... My dear Meer, I will definitely invite you. We invite the best confectioners to prepare the best cakes…"

Emeralda took the hand offered.

Hands of your irreplaceable best friend.

By the way............... the time is already at night at this time.

Meer, who skipped meals in the morning, noon and evening..., was very... hungry.

Well, so, there's nothing to it...