(EP-200.2) Flower Aira #1
200 – Classroom Flower Aira #1
It was a young man. He looked like a mercenary with a scruffy face, scarred gaiters, and armor lined with iron plates.
"I apologize for intruding. We'll immediately clear the way, so please forgive me…! Let's go, Sarbina. Quickly…!"
The man's eyes were filled with terror. It was a gaze often seen in Angmar. He seemed to be from Angmar, and perhaps, aware of Aira's reputation.
"The one called Sarbina, speak your business. There must be a reason for blocking this Queen's path, isn't there?"
"Ah, thank you. First, let me explain about my village…. Ah, Tollejie…."
The girl named Sarbina was stuttering a lot. However, such a passive attitude was understandable.
If I were asked to speak in front of someone like Caesar or Emperor Nero, my nerves would also be on edge. To step forward on such a subject needs a compelling reason.
Sarbina was unable to speak. With her silence, the gazes of those around her seemed to be filled with even more anxiety and worry. Yet, it was Aira who spoke first.
"Tollejie. It's a small, quiet village, surrounded by birch trees, located in the north. Specialties include small tomatoes and olives."
"… You know our village?"
"That is a silly question. Who do you think I am? I am the Queen. If it's from Angmar, I know even the smallest pebble."
I didn't think Aira knew the name of a small village.
It was a bit of a fresh shock for me. As a ruler, it could be said that it was normal, but Aira was a little special.
With that said, if I, who had been watching Aira by her side, was surprised, then the young lady from the rural village looked even more startled.
Her eyes went round, as if she was about to burst into tears from immense emotion.
Unlike moments ago when she seemed to be groping for courage, she began to lay out stories that seemed to have been kept inside her heart.
"Our village borders the big barrier. Because of the recent rumors of monsters crossing over, everyone was terrified."
"However, even when we requested additional reinforcements from the big city, they were short-staffed… But then, the Lioness army came and supplemented the security of the barrier. I heard it was the Queen's order…."
I roughly understood. They are from a village that bordered the massive barrier to the north. But recently, the security of the wall had begun to crack, which caused worry among the residents. Ṟ𝔞ɴọβĘs
There was such an episode in the original.
The story of the dark army flooding in from a hole in the dam. Despite requesting reinforcements, it fell on deaf ears, as everyone was occupied by the civil war.
Not long ago, Aira dispatched additional troops to the barrier. The villagers seemed grateful for such act. After all, they could protect their homeland and their village's safety.
"They say there was actually a breach in the barrier. It's terrifying to think what would have happened if they hadn't found it, so… thank you, Your Majesty…."
"No need for thanks. I did what was expected of me as the Queen. So, you just need to remain loyal to me as you have been~."
Aira lightly passed the prostrating Sarbina.
In the eyes of those who had been watching in anxiety, there seemed to be a hint of relief. Honestly, I felt the same. To think Aira would show such compassion…
If it was back when she was sitting on Angmar's throne, she might have trampled over the head of the rural girl who blocked her path without even bothering to listen to her story.
"Aira-nim, that was a queenly act. This story will be on the lips of the people of Angmar."
"Why do you say that as if it's something new? Haven't I always acted like a queen?"
Aira seemed unaware of any change in herself. In that aspect, she wasn't much different from before. But even that was enough.
"Then let's hurry, it's getting hot. We can cool off in the classroom."
"I don't feel like there's anything to learn there, though."
Just seeing Aira alive and vibrant in this place made me confident that everything I'd done so far wasn't wrong.
Aira, you just needed to remain like a flower blossoming on the ice, as you are now.
No need to soil your white clothes with mud.
No need to grasp a fearsome blade in your hand—.
Just sleep lazily and bask under the sun, receiving the admiring gazes of people. For that, I…
"Theo, there's a dog squirrel over there. Is it friends with Keongkeong?"
Looking at the face vaguely smiling while pointing at the tree, suddenly, I once again realized…
I had become the servant of the wretched queen.
And without any excuses, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't escape that fact.
It felt like some kind of magic, as if Aira, who was a Rank 7 Archmage, had cast a spell on me.
… Of course, I was no fool, I knew what to call this "magic".
But for now, I wouldn't name it. I'd just leave it blank.