The Annals of the Flame Kingdom (WN)

What the hell is going on in front of you?

In front of Liz, who was pulled apart by Erica and watched her blurt, she hurriedly opened the door and walked in, showing the face of Interior Secretary Marshall, and Foreign Secretary Julius. They both look strange and give a toast to Lotte, and Erica and Theon stare as they cry about their appearance. Kota, who entered the edge of his sight, is biting off his lips.

Liz thinks it's like watching a scene in a theatre, in such an unrealistic landscape.

What the hell is going on in front of you?

Step by step, the fact that 'Lotte passed away' is felt as a real feeling in Liz. "Um" Lotte. Killing wasn't going to kill me, floating at any time, scolding at times, angry at times, and still having the utmost love and smile for Liz, sweet Lotte, is.

What the hell is going on in front of you?

Lotte's not here.

Wherever you look, wherever you call, cry, trouble, anger, laugh. Whatever look Liz has on her face, happy, sad or spicy, Lotte Baumgarden doesn't respond to anything. When it comes to people dying, Liz finally understands it with a head that doesn't turn.

What the hell is going on in front of you?

At last, Lotte senses that she's not here anymore, and Liz thinks. What the hell is this whirling emotion from earlier?

- Sad?

That's right. Whenever I was born, Lotte Baumgarden was gone. That's sadly decided.

- Lonely?

That's right. Whenever I was born, Lotte Baumgarden was gone. I've decided to miss you.

- Hard?

That's right. Whenever I was born, Lotte Baumgarden was gone. That kind of thing is hard to decide.

- That's all?

That's not true. Sad, lonely, hard. But that's not all. That alone is a flurry of unexplained emotions. Liz finally came up with the answer to this emotion as she was about to be pushed away by that turbulence.

"........................... ah"

- In Liz's head, something, I could play.

"... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

The scream sounds indoors enough to rip my throat open. Everyone in the room flashed for a moment at Liz, who leaned over and scratched her mother's beautiful blonde hair.

"Liz!!

Erica stops her body at Liz, who put out her right hand to control her body, which she hastily tried to rush over - and breathes with 'Hiu'.

"Ri... no...?

Liz was laughing.

With her eyes open to her pupils, she laughed with a cramped grin, like she had failed to laugh with pleasure.

"... Marshall Secretary of the Interior"

"Yes!

Marshall, called upon with that smile, trembles with a victory. I haven't noticed Marshall like that - no, Liz kept smiling and saying things like that.

"Who did it?

"... what?

"Already, Marshall? It's dull. You had three days, didn't you? I hear who stabbed Lotte, did he grab her?"

"No... well, that's... that..."

"What is it? Haven't you grabbed it yet? Well, sure? The guard's jurisdiction is the police department, so it won't be your jurisdiction. But, Marshall? If you served the closest to Lotte's side as Secretary of the Interior, I would have thought you'd search for the killer, whatever it was, apart from anything else?

"Also, sorry! We're currently searching sharply..."

"Please find it by tomorrow"

- Yes.

"- Still got a foothold...?

"Until tomorrow. By tomorrow, be sure to find out who stabbed Lotte."

This emotion is - 'anger'.

"It's outside your authority, but this is a fate. I don't care what you do. I don't care what you say. I don't care what you use. I don't care how many people you use. It doesn't matter how much it costs. I don't care how many supplies you need. If we're going to find out who stabbed Lotte, we'll approve it unconditionally, no matter what."

The voice, gradually.

"... no matter how. Whatever the means! Life or death!! Just make sure you find out who stabbed Lotte! I don't mind my hands and feet! I don't mind my fingers! You can have one of your eyeballs! Whatever you do, whatever your condition, don't bring in the killer who stabbed Lotte before me by tomorrow!

But surely, loudly - like screaming.

"... hey... how about that?

"Didn't you hear me, Marshall? Reply!"

"... Oh, I'm afraid, Your Majesty! Regardless, we are in the possession of finding whoever stabbed Lord Lotte with all our might! But there are also limits to the draft budget and personnel! Even as a city guard...... it's impossible to hit all the personnel in the search for the killer!

To Marshall's words, Liz breathes deeply, as if taking a deep breath.

"… then rest for the time being at the King's Palace. Neither does Kingsguard need that much inside the Royal Castle. Leave only a minimum offering and hit the rest of us on the Larchia search. That would be enough personnel, wouldn't it?

"Heh, Your Majesty! If you do that, Larchia will not turn... the kingdom of Flame! It will stop functioning completely!

"I don't mind. Let the search for Lotte's killer take precedence over all government affairs."

"Sire!"

"... Marshall if you really don't want to? You may leave the King's Palace."

"Become!"

"Julius, are you in charge of the Foreign Office? Interior Secretary and concurrent duties, in the form of. Whatever you do, I'll give you your life, right?

"... Wow, I too will sit down against you, Your Majesty!

"... yes. You say to me... that you defy me, the queen of the kingdom of Flame?

That said, Liz stares at Marshall and Julius. With just a little fright in that gaze, they nevertheless turned a resolute gaze against Liz.

"... forgive me, Your Majesty"

"... only his life is forgiven."

"... ok"

That's what I said, one sigh.

"... I will not rely on you. I will take command myself. Marshall or Julius? Pack your bags and leave this royal castle now. If you can't hear my orders..."

"Come on, Liz!

"- What is it, sister?

To Erica's words, Liz turns a frivolous gaze. Looking back into his eyes, Erica continued her words.

"I know you're sad! But right? That's not why you can do anything!

"... isn't it okay to do anything?

To Erica's words like that, Liz twists her neck in the wind that she has no idea.

"... it's up to you to do whatever it takes, sister"

"Liz!"

"'Cause it's Lotte, right? Nobody else, Lotte Baumgarden, was taken from me forever, permanently, right? Lotte Baumgarden, who loved me more than anyone, who was my father, my grandfather, my mentor, who respected me more than anyone, who brothered me more than anyone, trusted me more than anyone, trusted me more than anyone, right? That lotte was stolen by the murder blade, wasn't it? Why should I shy away? Why do you have to be patient? There's no way you can admit that."

"Liz, you!

"Your sister doesn't know!

Liz's anger echoed as she controlled Erica's words.

"... your sister doesn't know! Take it from me, there's no way your sister would know how important Lotte was!

"... it"

"Your father, your mother, and Master Lieselotte have passed away, and your sister has gone to Terra, and still only Lotte has always been by my side! Lotte was the only one on my side! I would do anything for such a lotte! I can do anything! By analogy, to be cursed by an evil and outrageous king and future generations, you will surely avenge Lotte!

Liz's vision seeps through.

"- For Lotte's sake, I don't care how much stigma I wear! I reward Lotte! Because... because... otherwise... that's about all I can do... Lotte..."

Go on the spot petrified and cover your face with both hands, Liz. To that appearance, Erica exhaled small and placed her hand gently on its shoulder.

"... right. I know how you feel."

"... sister..."

"... you want to avenge Lotte? I feel the same way, don't I?

"... Yes..."

"But right? I'm sure Lotte doesn't want you to take any revenge?

"That's not true!

"Oh, I'm sorry. I don't... I don't think Liz wants me to take revenge on her until she's been stigmatized as a" treacherous and outrageous king "?

"... I don't know..."

"Really? 'Cause you said it, Lotte, didn't you?' Happy or not '. You said," Make it a country full of smiles, "right? Lotte, Liz. I loved you and this country. So I can't believe that Lotte wants her hatred until she stigmatizes Liz."

"... but... but... that's about all I have..."

"Yeah, I know how that feels. I'm sure we'll find out who stabbed Lotte. Of course, let the guards do their best, shall we? But right? Let's stop searching for the killer until we stop working for the King's Palace, until we stop what's going on in this country? I'm sure if I did that,"

Lotte said, "I'm sad."

"-! Sister!

"... yeah, yeah"

"... it's hard! I'm sad! I miss you! It's painful that Lotte won't look at me when Lotte Baumgarden isn't here anymore, laughing, scolding, angry!

"... yeah, right"

"Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate! I hate Lotte so much that I killed her with my own hands!

"... yeah, I know how you feel. But, Liz? I don't think Lotte wants that."

"But! But!

"Lotte loved the face you laughed at. Lotte's been protecting you from getting your hands dirty with blood, hasn't she?

"But! I haven't been able to give anything back to Lotte like that!

"That's not true. You're just laughing, and Lotte must be happy."

Just 'Grandpa Idiot', laugh.

"... cry a cup now, Liz. And starting tomorrow, again, show him Lotte's favorite smile. I'm sure that's what Lotte wants most."

……

"... right?

"... hey... sama..."

"Liz?"

"- Sister! Sister, sister, sister, hey sooooooooooooo!!

Burying her face in Erica's chest, Liz cries with a loud voice. Erica also zeroes tears out of her eyes as she strokes Liz's back so well. Such a sisterly touch lasted until Liz was tired of crying and sleeping. Tonton and Erica, who was gently slapping Liz on the back, stopped that hand movement and exhaled heavily.

"... good job, Erica. And His Majesty?"

"... because this kid has been in Lotte's care for a long time without sleeping either. You must have been tired of boulders. Coata? I'm sorry, can you speak to Emily outside? Bring Liz to bed."

After entrusting Liz to Emily, who came in, to make sure she went outside, Erica turns her gaze to Marshall and Julius.

"... you guys had a tough time too."

"No."

"That's not true."

"Liz...... I will advise His Majesty from me. It is no exaggeration to say that now that Lotte is dead, the operations of this country hang on the shoulders of the executives of your king's palace. As King Sister and First Princess of Georg Orenfeld Flame, the fifty-first king of the Kingdom of Flame, I count on your future work. Please support Your Majesty."

"... it's an unbearable word, Master Erica"

"... Compared to Julius Lotte, he is less powerful and less talented, but he does his best."

"Thank you very much. Discuss the future and make a contribution as soon as possible. And about Lotte's funeral. Please execute it grandly at the national funeral. Well... Lotte wouldn't really like to be flashy like that."

That said, Erica laughs just a little lonely. On Erica's shoulder like that, Kota laid her hands gently.

"... Erica, take a rest too. You're not even asleep, are you?

"... thanks. Let me do that. Liz won't be calm yet, and there's a lot to think about."

A painful look like I was forced to make a smile. In that appearance, Kota continued his words.

"- And excuse me!

Unexpectedly, the door makes a loud noise and opens. Marshall frowned at the sound of the king, his sister Wang, and his lack of courtesy in front of the heavy town of the king's palace.

"Rude! Where do I find this place?

"Ya, I'm so sorry to sit down! And, but in an emergency!

"Urgent? I don't know if it's urgent."

"Marshall, I don't mind."

Control Marshall with his hands, Erica turns her gaze to the official who came in.

"What's wrong?

For a moment, after saluting Erica, who was known to be the king's sister in front of him, the official corrected his residence and took over the words.

"It's a fire! There is a massive fire coming from 'East Street'!

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

"-What? Or fire!?

"Yes! The source of the fire is East Street! Fire extinguishing activities are currently being carried out by East Street packed guards, but due to the wind and the density of the outdoor stores, fire extinguishing activities will not be exhausted! As it is, the fire will reach not only East Street, but the Royal Castle!

"Nah!"

"We are also concerned about the deterioration of security as a result of the fire on East Street! The East Street Stuffed Guards are the only ones who can't handle this as soon as possible! He wants backup as soon as possible!

Talk that far, take a breath. The officials who came in glanced at Marshall, Julius, and Erica.

"Well... how can I help you...?

With that word, Erica, who was half-hearted, hurriedly opens her mouth.

"Marshall! Send a guard as soon as you can!

"Oh, the..."

"You must be the Secretary of the Interior!

He looks bitter at Erica's words, and Marshall continues his words in a way that seems difficult to say.

"... with all due respect, Master Erica. As His Majesty also said earlier, it is under the jurisdiction of the Police Department with regard to the maintenance of law and order in the city. I don't have the authority. With regard to the permits associated with the transfer of the Guardian, without his ruling… that…"

"Well, the chief of police! Call the sheriff!

"The chief of police is Ellis... he is currently travelling to the Kingdom of Solvania... to report the matter of His Excellency Lotte immediately, but the..."

From Larchia, Solvania is thirteen days away by high-speed carriage. Ellis, who is travelling to Solvania, still doesn't even know the facts of the Lotte assassination.

"There's no one here! Who can rule instead of Elise!

"… the internal regulations of the Wang Dynasty have divided the divisions between the directors of each bureau. In addition, the transfer of the guards falls within the primary authority, so this cannot be accepted without a ruling at or above the Directorate level. At or above the director level, it is natural that the acting authority will be the only person with a higher position than the director. The... one, that is."

The rationale goes hand in hand with the fact that, beyond the absence of a department director, the section director does not decide on behalf of the department director, but gives the judge to the officer in charge above him. And if it applies to an organization called Wang Fu, the positions of director or higher are those of deputy director-general and general director of Wang Fu, which means.

"... since His Excellency Lotte assumed the post of Chancellor, he has been concurrently appointed Director-General and Deputy Director General..."

That means no one's in charge.

Originally, the 'Chancellor' of the Kingdom of Flame is an honorary position held by the aristocratic class. It is the 'face' of the state, so to speak, and so that nobles do not scratch shame, thoroughly supported by an organisation called the 'King's Palace', but the front-line personnel in its practice are the bureau chief classes of the various departments that said the Internal Affairs Bureau, the Foreign Affairs Bureau. The deputy directors and general directors are only the "ascendants" of the King's Palace Twin Six, so to speak.

Lotte was the first civilian class in the kingdom of Flame and was a prime minister from the royal palace. It's also an administrative specialist, if I may say so, who has experienced deputy directors and general directors from all the directorates of the King's Palace. The Chancellor's abilities are more than remarkable. If you just press the seal of the ruling, you don't need a general director or a deputy director post to eat only salaries that are high in the habit of not doing a big job.

"... I don't know..."

"… Until now, His Excellency Lotte has been in Larchia if each director of the bureau is going on business trips, and he has been instructed to delegate authority for this purpose. Lord Lotte, even in the absence of the Director of the Bureau… that…"

Turn your gaze towards Chillari and Liz's exited door.

"... Your Majesty."

An authorised person receives a salary increase proportionate to that authorisation. Make that number unlimited, so that at least two people are in Larchia. It was Lotte who was really turning the King's Palace with critical personnel so as to avoid wasted posts such as Director General, Deputy Director, etc. It can be said that the flame kingdom of painful kitchen circumstances is unique. Or this may be called 'lack of crisis consciousness', which is not like Lotte, but there was also the view that if there were an anomaly in the kingdom of Flame where the director, who is an expert in Lotte, Liz and Home Affairs, was not present at the same time, which way the kingdom of Flame itself would cease to stand.

"... is this an emergency?

……

……

"... Marshall? Julius?"

"... just because it's an emergency doesn't mean you can do anything"

"... I agree with Marshall, Dear Erica"

"... cum"

Erica drops that gaze to the floor powerlessly in an attempt to glance at Marshall and Julius, who deflect her gaze.

Marshall and Julius are definitely excellent people. That is definitely a fact, beyond the fact that Lotte, who is harsh on both people and himself, has been assigned a position at the Director level. And the two of them have brought Lotte's Kaoru closer - and that is also the person who has received it long after serving in the King's Palace. Assuming one of them holds the position of chief of police, he or she can also prepare a full answer.

But all they can do is' that much '.

Even if I can prepare the perfect answer within my job description, I can't do any more work. So in this state of absence of Lotte, 'what can I do', I don't know that. Even if I do, I don't have the courage to do it. Everyone is afraid to take responsibility.

"... Marshall"

"... Yes"

"For your information... are you in favor of the transfer of the guard?

"... I wonder if there's only one way to move a guard from elsewhere if it's not enough with a guard stuffed in East Street. Guards are also trained to extinguish fires, and I was wondering if it would be best to move."

"... ok"

That's all you need to hear.

"... things need to be urgent"

So once, cut the words and turn your gaze indoors. Erica smiles at the look on her face, knowing it was out of place but kind of funny. For a moment, too, Erica inherited the word by immediately changing it to a serious look.

"- Send every street guard to East Street immediately. Also, send some of the Kingsguards to maintain security in the King's City and let them hit the guards."

Indoor time stopped.

"Oh, Master Erica!

The first person to speak out was Marshall.

"What? Is there a problem? Are you saying something wrong, me?

"Yes, no. The strategy is wrong… but the………, authority…"

"Erica Orenfeld van Flame commands as the name of Elizabeth Orenfeld Flame, the fifty-second king of the Kingdom of Flame"

"Well... and with all due respect, uh, Erica has such authority..."

"If the king is unable to carry out his duties, it's not like there's no precedent for a heir to the throne to take his place, is there? I am the number one successor to the throne of the Kingdom of Flame, and I have the authority to do so."

"Well, that's a story if you delegate authority over Your Majesty! Erica will never sit down when Her Majesty has delegated authority to her!

"Oh, already, May Fly!

Take control of Marshall.

"Liz will give you permission later! Anyway, don't give priority to firefighting and city security now!

That said, look indoors again, now look at them.

"If Lotte were alive, I'm sure she would say so! I'll take full responsibility! If Liz tells me you did something unsolicited, I'll skip it and get you up to the headstand!

What is Erica's word?

"I can't afford to be wasting my time arguing! Okay? If you do, just move your hands more than your mouth! Don't do everything you can to get as few victims as possible!!

It was a signal that marked the beginning of time for the battle of 'Another Daughter', which Lotte Baumgarden undoubtedly loved.