The Annals of the Flame Kingdom (WN)

Thousand Years Royal Castle Larchia.

Approximately a thousand years, including during the Flame Empire. It is a city that flourished as a central city, not only in the Kingdom of Flame, but also in the whole continent of Orkena. It's not like what's in Larchia. For example, the aspect as a commercial city is somewhat inferior to that of Solvania, the king capital of the Kingdom of Solvania, or Kato, where Maria comes from, and it does not reach the foot of Parsena from the point of view of attracting more tourists. It boasts a long history of a thousand years, but is nevertheless within the same Flame kingdom in terms of the number of historic buildings, giving way to Titanium, the Imperial capital of the former Titanium Empire, the previous dynasty of the Flame Empire. If you ask me, it's a 'halfway' city, but Larchia is still Larchia. It is a spiritual king's capital that shines brightly in the history of Orkena and is said to be 'the thing that controls Larchia controls Orkena'.

Looking over such a king's capital, Larchia, it looks like he wrote the letter 'Ten' in a distorted circle. The road extending north is called Larchia Boulevard, the road extending south is called Holy King Street, the road extending west is called Alex Street, and the road extending east is called East Street itself, centered on the Royal Castle of Larchia, which is located at a vertical and horizontal crossing. Commercial and government agencies are located around the longitudinal arteries, or the vicinity of Larchia Boulevard and St. King's Avenue, with the lateral arteries, along Alex Boulevard and East Tong, slightly inferior. The impression of a luxury residential neighborhood along Alex Street was strong, but the roads along the East Tong were also on the western side of the road, so the land was cheap and maintained the city's lingering downtown flavour. Not everything is this way, but this is the right image.

"... so?

Kota walks through Dongtong overlooking an outdoor shop lined up along Dongtong. The time was just a little past noon, and I spoke to Erica, who walked in a moody face next to herself as she finished lunch and held down her swollen stomach.

"Hmm? So - and Coata! Aren't you going to eat that?

"Arr? What is arr...... oh, is that skewered?

"I didn't just have lunch earlier. You can't eat anything that comes up on a boulder. Not that, the stall next to it! There's candy stabbed in the stick, right? The one with the little apple inside!

"Apple candy, is it? No, Mr. Erica? Still, there's a pretty good amount of guts coming."

"Sweet stuff is another belly, isn't it?

"... there's one over here, too, that word"

Listening to the words of Hota, who seemed a little frightened, Erica leaves Hota and heads to the stall. Often, Erica came home with a nicotine smile holding one apple candy in her left and right hand.

"Yes, Coata! It's my luxury. Shall we eat?

He bowed his head to Erica, who offered the apple candy on his left hand, and Kota received the apple candy and took a bite. Hota also followed its diagonal back as she licked the apple candy, which was surprisingly sweet, and leaned against Erica, who walked again towards the east.

"Hmmm! That's so sweet! It's delicious whenever you eat it, here!

"Has it been around for a long time, here?

"The stalls themselves are highly replaceable, but the lineup of what they sell doesn't change that much. Like accessories, sweetness, drinks, food? Sometimes there was a grocery storefront... well, that's more like it."

That's what Erica says and looks around. To follow that gaze, Kota also looked out over the streets along Dongtong, which gave the impression of being somewhat messy.

"... really, this place hasn't changed a bit from the old days"

"Because they used to come good?

"Right... was East Tong here for a while?

"Erica, you're royal, aren't you? Can you come so soon?

He is the daughter of His Majesty the King and the first princess. Image, Erica let Kota, who imagines being educated in brilliance within the royal castle, leak a tickle and a grin.

"Dear Angelica... Liz's mother has long been a pretty substandard queen, hasn't she? Ever since I was little, I've been like, 'All right, Erica! Explore Larchia! He used to take me out to the city."

"... is that okay, that? I think it has something to do with escorts."

"Larchia is safe, and not so worried... but, well, it's never something you can welcome with your hands up. Dear Angelica, I was always pissed off when I left. Especially to Lotte."

That's what I say. I laugh funny.

"'Don't do anything dangerous!' To the angry Lotte, 'said Angelica,' it's only by knowing what's going on down there that we can really do good governance! 'He said. As royalty, he said to treat the people not as first princesses, but as' people '." You'll be on guard when you know this one's royal, won't you? Well, there's no way you can ask the truth!' So, what time is it? 'What a fight with a drunk once, Master Angelica?

"... you sound like a thug general"

Or the old lord of Mido.

"To? General?

"It's nothing. Then you know what gardens look like."

"That's right. At least not long enough to show Cota around."

That said, one wink, Erica scowls another bite of apple candy. After the sweet vinegar flavour and aroma leaked exhalation that satisfied him to fill his mouth, he turned his gaze to Kota again.

"... I'm sorry I let you hang out."

"No, I don't mind that..."

"Time, you got it? 'and Erica came to visit Kota's room shortly after lunch. I rubbed my stomach off the royal castle and followed Erica, who walked all the way east.

"... So my lunch appointment for today is to explore Larchia?

I don't remember Kota taking a slow exploration after coming to Larchia. I'm not saying I don't have a job to do in a hurry, but I don't have a problem crushing about half a day this afternoon... and it's a continuing encounter-and-negotiation with big class people even in Larchia: Lotte, Ferber, Carl, and the Becker and Roat families. He is also a carefree opponent of the common people from the roots with the father of a medium-sized trading company and the mother of a supermarket cashier part, and in that sense this kind of downtown emotional Dongtong is just as good as breathing in the atmosphere that was at his height.

"... yeah"

Erica shook her head from left to right to Kota, who thought so. Erica opened her mouth again, smiling bitterly back at Kota with a surprised look on her face.

"... you said you wanted me to go out with you, right? I wanted to go with you."

"Not a walk in Larchia?

"And a walk in Larchia..."

Take a breath.

"- Mother's, to the grave, right?

◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

"... it was my tenth birthday that I received from your father the title and territory of Duke of Rondo de Terra. Of course - well, you may still not be an adult, but you're more than 10 years old, aren't you? There's no way you can rule your territory, and at first you sent a bureaucrat from the King's Palace to rule in my name."

A slightly taller hill just ahead of us as we pushed through the East Tone. Before climbing the hills to the extent that sweat seeped, there was an open meadow and - and a small stone in the middle of that meadow, even around the tibia of Hota.

"I heard Rondo de Terra say it was a country town, and I heard it was never financially rich in a city by the sea. Emily was very angry when she heard Terra was the one who received it." I don't deserve Terra or anything like Erica to be revealed in Her Majesty's First Princess! 'That's what I said and I was angry... but I was actually quite happy. "

Funny to say so, Erica laughed, looking back at Hota as she gently placed the flowers she bought at the dewstore next to the five dewstores where she bought apple candy in front of the central stone.

"That... right?

Erica's eyes shake. Should I say it or should I say it? Erica opened her mouth as if she had decided to respond by staring into his lost eyes.

"... that... I hated your mother - yeah, 'I hate', isn't it... well, it was' bad '"

"... you don't like it, do you"

"My full name, Erica Orenfeld van Flame's" Fan "is short for Viscount van der Fend. Even if it's noble, it's not that high of a title, is it your mother's home?

Take a breath.

"... me, the 'side room' kid, right?

"Yes."

"Your father loved you. Liz admired me as a sister, too. Originally... it's not strange to be a 'political enemy', he loved me, the 'daughter of the side room', even Angelica, who is a regular room... and I think"

"Do you think"

"I don't even know how people feel. But at least I loved Master Angelica, and Master Angelica called me 'Sweet Erica!' She always hugged me. So... maybe I'm complacent, but I'm sure Angelica loved me."

I don't even think Master Angelica can do that 'belly art', and one bitter laugh.

"... I'm sure I was happy inside the royal castle. I had a father I loved, an Angelica I loved, a sister I loved… I must have been a very happy child."

……

"... but... I was drawing a 'line' somewhere. I couldn't help but be glad that your father loved you, that Angelica loved you, and that your beloved sister loved you... but I was still drawing the line."

- I must not be loved and 'past'.

"My mother said that she loved me and that it was too much, that it should not be like dividing the kingdom of Flame. 'Never be too sweet'." It would be nice if you were a pretty girl. But you're too cute a kid. Your Majesty said, 'Don't be such a child that you think you want to inherit Erica' even if you make a mistake... 'Give me your identity' huh? Honestly... you know, I thought your mother was' neglected '. "

Erica tells that just a little bit lonely. Such Erica's words gave rise to boiling emotions from the bottom of Hota's belly.

"... it would be rude to say this to Erica's mother... but not to a young child"

The 'anger' emotion. That's what Kota says and shows, holding something that little Erica doesn't have to live in with her elbows up, or her mother who forced her to do it. Emotions similar to those of Erica when she was a young child, who was moved to anger at her mother for forcing her to take that attitude of "live by looking at the complexion of an adult," Erica smiled and smiled with joy.

"... thanks"

"No... nothing to be thanked for."

"I'm thankful that someone is angry with me on my behalf. Well, you're not gonna take a tragic heroine for granted, are you? Because I was too happy to take the heroine of the tragedy. Just."

That's what I'm going to say, Erica. Kota urges Erica to continue with just her gaze, which shows a chilling glance. I gained momentum in that gaze, or Erica slowly continued to say.

"... when I was little, I honestly resented your mother. Your mother always gave Liz priority over me, and she was adorable... and you don't like her yourself ~ do you? I think...... 'You're my mother!' Or 'Your mother prefers Liz to me!' Sometimes I thought. So... just for a moment, I didn't like your mother."

Erica talks that much and shows it again by doing the "chira" earlier, as if she had been tested without confidence.

"... you think Coata too? 'You're a nasty kid'... you think so?

"I don't think so. Rather, I take it for granted"

The child, who was afraid to be scolded, makes a grin of relief appear with a gentle palm on his head. Erica opened her mouth again, with the grin cast by Kota's words and tricks.

"... thanks. That's what I've been raised to say since I was born, so I was confused every time I got everyone's favor. He said he should be happy to be loved, but still not overjoyed. I wish I could have acted like I didn't like you... but I'm still happy, 'to be loved'. That's why I was so sweet about the situation. I really need to draw the line right, but I still want to be loved... and by the time I celebrate my ninth birthday, something terrifying has happened."

"... are you afraid?

"Master Angelica pressed my stepchild on your father." Be sure to make Erica, the first princess, the next king! '"

……

"Dear Angelica is a noble identity that strikes the king and sister of the current king of the Kingdom of Larchia. By contrast, my mother, Lieselotte, of a small territory of the kingdom of Flame, which is also only the daughter of the High Viscount. Even if it isn't, I'm not going to succeed King Flame because of how old I am, apart from Liz, who is Angelica's child in the main room. Dear Angelica, aren't you the one who doesn't know the finesse of the area?

That's what I said, sigh.

"... maybe it was a rip-off that I lived to see people's 'complexions'. of her own daughter while she was born as the firstborn son of the king and had the right to a glowing crown over her head...... well, the poor girl who permanently lost that right in her own daughter's 'fault'. Poor girl, sweet, sweet 'pretending' and not stuffing more than a certain distance somewhere in her mind. A pitiful girl who seeks the affection of her real mother and it is hard to say that she is bathing it all together. And yet, still, I want everyone's 'love', such a... sad girl. That's what I must have seen in Angelica's eyes."

"... it"

"He was a ruinous man, but at the same time a wise man. I feel sorry for me, and I think you did it for me. I was very happy with that sentiment, and I appreciate it..."

- Still, I was confused.

"He said he broke your mother's dictation. Don't stand out, they told me not to be too much loved, but this happened. So… I was delighted when I received my territory and title."

Now I'm free.

Now that I am loved and never 'too',

"- Now... I won't be 'neglected' by your mother"

"... Erica"

"When I was twelve, I left Larchia and headed for Rondo de Terra with Emili. As you know, life was never easy, the finances of the territory were a fire train... but I had fun. I think to myself how extravagant it is not to look anyone in the eye, not to shy away from anyone, but to be able to just act the way I want... but I was still happy."

……

"I worked hard for myself, trying to make the territory better. Liz told me, 'Please come back once in a while', but for various reasons I did not return to Larchia to encourage the government with Terra. It wasn't all good, it was more bad... but I was going to work on it vigorously."

There were plenty of failures, too, but Erica shows her tongue out. I see Kota smiling bitterly at the look of it, spinning the words without any feelings.

"... only once did your mother come to see Terra. I didn't do anything with Liz, I was alone. Oh, of course there was an escort... but there was only two of us in the family, and that was the time."

Just a little, lay your eyes down.

"But... because I wasn't being honest. I asked my mother, 'What are you doing here?' That's what I said. 'I'm all right by myself now. Please, Mother, you don't have to worry about me."... Yes, you did. "

……

"... when I was fourteen, your father collapsed. And then soon, Master Angelica too. Returning to Larchia for the funeral, I saw Liz still behaving with her sobbing eyes... next to her, her mother leaning against Liz's shoulder. I still remember feeling mildly disappointed by the habit of slapping my mouth like a real parent and child."

It's like redemption.

"Then again, I stopped thinking about going to Larchia. I've been purely busy... but I'm sure somewhere in my heart I didn't want to see my mother walking with Liz. My mother kind of stopped being my mother... I feel that way"

The wind blows out for a while so as to block Erica from talking.

"... as after your father and Angelica, your mother died when I was fifteen."

Erica continued her interrupted story as she held her hair against the wind with her hand and waited for the wind to stop.

"Until your mother died, I didn't know how your mother was. You have a weird cough, you tend to lay low, your fever hasn't dropped for a long time, nothing. It seems Liz has spoken to your mother many times." Dear Lieselotte, let your sister come! I heard from the doctor later that he couldn't handle it anymore. "

……

"But your mother never tried to call me. 'Terra is now an important time. If you have time to be involved with me or something, that kid should make Terra better than she is now. That child has a duty'. Liz cried and apologized. I'm sorry, I said. I can't, but I should have called your sister, and she said... cry, cry. Weren't you crying more than Master Angelica was when she died?

That's what I said, bitter laugh.

"... that's when I got a flat hand on my cheek."

"... flat-handed, is it?

"'Fine, Liz. Your mother told you, didn't she? Terra said it was important. Because I'll be home as soon as the funeral is over'... that's what you said. Then Liz hit me in the flat hand crying... and I got mad." What does your sister know about Master Lieselotte! '.' Do you really know how much Master Lieselotte... 'Mother' loved 'Sister'! 'Right. "

Turn the bitterness into a self-derisive grin, one sigh.

"... it's ironic that for the first time since your mother died I've known 'The Real Mother'. On the day I traveled to Terra, I was crying at the castle gate so that I couldn't see her, I wrote a letter for me and still worried about not being able to send that letter, and the day before I visited my territory, I showed Liz's room the clothes she had put together for me... coming home from Terra and feeling very depressed."

……

"Liz was reading Terra's income and expenditure report, pretending she wasn't interested, but still looking through her income and expenditure report, narrowing her eyes if the numbers were bad, and nibbling at the edge of her mouth just a little bit if it was any good... Liz, I loved seeing a mother like that... she told me that."

A muscle in Erica's eye butt, tears.

"... your mother kept me away for my sake. We were close... but I'm going to be the 'Tane of the commotion'. Don't be such a contender, like splitting up the Flame royal family... when you do, think I'll feel hard for being loved too much, and don't be like that on purpose."

Wiping his tears, Erica crouched in and placed her hand on the central stone.

"... Neither did I.... Because your mother wasn't honest either. I heard that your grandfather bit your father and your mother a lot when he was proposing to you. At the end of the day, he said, 'Go to your wife on your own!' She was worried about her mother until the end of her yelling habit... and I'm sure it's the Fandelfend family's blood that's not honest."

It's a pain in the ass, but laugh.

"... your mother is a member of the royal family so to speak of side rooms. There's a body in the royal mausoleum."

"... So what's this place?

"Liz was cutting my mother's hair in one room. That's what I buried here. It's a despicable place... because it's a place where no one comes"

……

"When I come to Larchia, I always try to stop by. Don't tell Liz or Emily... it's just me and your mother, it's a special 'place', here."

That's what I said, I'll show you around on the spot with my hands wide open.

"... it's an honor to invite you to such a special place"

"Right. It's an honor, Coata. We're the only ones who know this place. You can't talk to anyone, can you?

Having said that, she laughed with tea glare, and Erica glanced at the view from the hilltop, pointing to the far east, the sea that she could finally see with her eyes gazed.

"Viscount van der Fend territory is visible to the east. Where Mother Was Born"

Now take your gaze west.

"It is the Rondo de Terra that looks west. Where I... your mother's" beloved daughter "is. Father and Angelica in the royal mausoleum, it's nice to be with the three of us, but sometimes your mother is born... and I wonder if it looks like your daughter's face. In the royal mausoleum, I'm sure there are too many 'things in the way' to see my face."

Talking that far, Erica hands on her own mother, Leezelotte's grave. To imitate it, I ask only in my heart, happy that Kota, who crouched next door in silence, closed his eyes with his hands together.

- Hey, Mother.

- Rondo de Terra, it's developing really well, isn't it?

- Thanks to the guy with the sleepy face next door!

What do you think of this man?

- Right. Excellent, dependable, and occasionally just a little mean.

- My... darling, people.

-... Hey, Mother. I've got someone I like!

- Master Angelica said I was going to marry someone I liked...

- From your mother's point of view, what do you think of this man, Coata?

- Will you agree? Disagree, or, hold? Oh! By the way, I'm not giving it to you, am I?

-... listen to me. What, somehow, your mother feels for you.

- Don't you dare say that? But... I'm sure your mother doesn't disagree with my choices.

"... Hey, Mother?

- So... is that okay?

- I'm going to say something terrible... will you forgive me?

- of the development of Terra... because it is necessary for the Kingdom of Flame.

"... I'm sorry, mother. You're on your own, but forgive me, okay?

That said, Erica opens her eyes. With all due respect, Erica looked at Kota.

- Still stupid, Erica is.

I wonder why.

- Do as you please, Erica. I'm supposed to be on your side at any time, right?

I thought I heard my mother's voice, including a laugh.

"-!"

Empty ears, I guess.

Or maybe it's an illusion in line with Erica's wishes.

"... thank you, Mother"

But it's true that the voice that resonated in Erica's ear is her mother's voice, and that's why Erica gets the power from that voice.

"Hey, Coata?

"Yes?"

"You know what?

Lost is for a moment.

"I - even if Erica Orenfeld van Flame is no longer Erica Orenfeld van Flame"

Will you stay with me? and.

Erica's voice echoed the open meadow and disappeared.