There existed a concept of 'uncomfortable situations' in the world.
Situations that were awkward, uncomfortable, and suffocating no matter
what you do.
Whenever such situations arose, it would be nice to avoid them, but the
problem was that uncomfortable situations usually had the characteristic of
being unavoidable.
Uncomfortable situations.
This was exactly how Solana felt right now.
It was quite rare for the 3rd Princess to feel nervous.
Wasn't Solana the one who could naturally smile without being intimidated
in front of countless believers and imperial citizens? Yes, she was such a
woman.
…She quietly looked at the women in front of her.
1st Princess, Ether.
2nd Princess, Hedera.
And herself, the 3rd Princess, Solana.
Even if only one appeared, it would be shocking, but all three gathered
simultaneously. They were sitting around a round table in the reception
room next to Jaekiel's infirmary room.
"…"
Awkward atmosphere.
The princesses were not hostile to each other, but that didn't mean they
treated each other with kindness either.
They had seen each other a few times in the past.
─1st Princess, report your growth.
─2nd Princess, report your growth.
─3rd Princess, report your growth…
When they were young, they would report their growth in front of the
Emperor.
Even this was only once every six months. They were blood relatives in
name only, and the princesses lived entirely different lives, merely
acknowledging each other's existence.
Moreover, the situation of gathering now was different from back then.
In the past, it was just quickly reporting their achievements and then
leaving. But now, the princesses gathered with a clear purpose.
The purpose's name was Jaekiel.
Thinking about it, it was incredibly surprising. Just one man could gather
three princesses.
"…May the Sun God's grace be with you."
It was Solana, the 3rd Princess, who broke the silence first.
"First, we were very fortunate. Thanks to using all kinds of elixirs, we
passed the crisis. Even more, we will soon receive Sun Water."
"You've worked hard."
Ether nodded.
"Oh, 1st Princess, you worked much harder. You even managed to obtain
Sun Water from His Majesty."
Solana responded with a bright smile as well.
"Anyway, having the 1st Princess acknowledge it makes me feel much
more at ease. Honestly, I was completely out of my mind until a while ago."
"It's not 'out of mind' but 'peace of mind'."
"Hahaha, you're right. Peace. Peace."
"Hahaha! At least my encouragement seems to have been worth it!"
The laughter of the two princesses mixed, creating a very warm
atmosphere.
No, in fact, it only seemed that way on the surface.
'What wolf of the snowfields, she's just a fox.'
Solana remembered very clearly.
The look of Ether staring at Solana during the treatment with eyes gleaming
like a predator.
The implication was clear. If Jaekiel was even slightly harmed, she would
tear off her limbs.
…Could that be called encouragement?
Meanwhile, Ether thought quietly.
"Does this girl think my memory is like a goldfish's?"
No, she accidentally spoke it out loud.
"…Excuse me?"
"No, it's nothing."
Anyway, 1st Princess Ether also remembered clearly.
After arriving at the infirmary with the injured Jaekiel, Solana looked at
Ether with very resentful eyes. She even kept muttering to herself.
Her attitude changed with just the news that Jaekiel's condition had
improved and that Sun Water had been obtained.
The two women smiled and looked at each other.
"The 3rd Princess's eyes are truly beautiful. As I remember, they were not
round but sharp."
"It seems the 1st Princess has achieved something in managing her energy.
As I recall, you couldn't suppress your killing intent well, hm."
Solana changed the subject first.
"Anyway, I think everyone here knows. The atmosphere on the continent is
unusual these days, especially because of the Demon Realm."
"Indeed."
"Is there anyone as excellent as the 1st and 2nd Princesses? I hope you
leave here soon and demonstrate your abilities. It's a matter of urgency."
"And you?"
Then Solana placed her hand on her chest.
"In my case, this is my duty. No matter how difficult, I must care for the
patients with responsibility and a sense of duty. While staying by their
side."
Solana emphasized 'no matter how difficult'.
"…"
And the other two princesses didn't like it.
Wasn't she saying it as if there was nothing she wanted, and she was doing
it just because it was her duty? Pretending this much…
In the first place, the bond between the princesses was not strong. In other
words, it was not strange at all for conflicts to arise for each one's desires.
The princesses were in higher positions than anyone and were even adults.
No one could stop them.
At that moment, a strange tension settled in the reception room.
"Now, may the Sun God's grace be with you."
Solana chanted the slogan once more.
"Let's wrap up today's meeting here. I hope you all stay well, and if
possible, go far from the capital and make a name for yourselves…"
But at that moment.
"I'll take care of the Auditor from now on."
Ether and Solana's heads turned simultaneously.
Hedera, who had remained silent, spoke up.
"I'm too busy and don't want to, but as the Tower Master, I must take
responsibility. Taking care of the Tower Auditor is naturally included. I'll
take him."
"…"
Solana and Ether's eyes narrowed simultaneously.
'This woman is also not in her right mind.'
"Crazy dog."
"…Excuse me, you said it out loud again."
No matter what Ether and Solana said, Hedera just savored her tea with her
eyes closed.
"The Tower Master retrieving the Tower Auditor and returning is a perfectly
reasonable thing, isn't it? I don't see the need for the three of us to occupy
the reception room and have a meeting."
"It's not about reason right now…"
…Why are you suddenly like this again?
Solana barely swallowed that question.
"Hm…"
"Hmm."
Soon, only the sound of groaning filled the reception room.
They were by no means ordinary. They were princesses.
They were of an age where they had to take responsibility for their words
and actions, and their innate birth was extraordinary. Their strength had also
grown, so if they fought once, the repercussions would be enormous.
A mere brush could be fatal.
Knowing how immense their influence was, they all hesitated to act rashly.
Then Ether swept her bangs over her forehead.
"The 2nd Princess's Ascension Ceremony is near. She wouldn't have time
to care about the Tower. Then naturally, the Teacher would suffer from
overwork. It's an unacceptable situation."
Then Hedera immediately frowned.
"The Ascension Ceremony has been prepared steadily and is going very
smoothly. I can take care of welfare and other things as much as I want with
my discretion. You know my way of handling things."
"I do know. The way you neglect the Tower."
"…"
A brief silence passed.
Hedera set her teacup down with a loud sound.
"But why is the 1st Princess so confident?"
Hedera looked straight at Ether.
"The person who recklessly fought and injured my Tower's Auditor, that's
you. Thanks to you, my Tower has suffered tremendous damage."
"…"
Ether frowned.
…Look at this?
…She's pretending to be angry because of the Tower, too?
Ether remembered the expression Hedera had at the entrance. It was
definitely not the face of a woman simply worried about the Tower's
damage.
It was truly the face of someone worried about Jaekiel.
"Of course, I know there's some deception, but your power is dangerous, so
it's right to stay away from the Auditor. What do you think, 3rd Princess?"
Hedera threw the ball.
Solana quickly caught it.
"I don't entirely agree with the 2nd Princess. Telling her to just stay away is
rough. But I do agree that the 1st Princess should leave soon. Her power is
needed in the north."
Solana cleverly used Hedera's words to push Ether away, but didn't ally
herself with Hedera either. The tactical battle between the three was already
fierce.
"The 1st Princess must leave because she is too great. Only the 1st Princess
can protect the north."
"Hmm, that's also a reasonable point."
Hedera glanced at Solana but nodded first. It was easier to deal with Ether
first.
She was confident in a one-on-one with Solana.
A brief silence passed inside the reception room.
The tension was so tight it seemed it would snap at any moment.
"I understand."
Finally, it was Ether who broke the silence.
She nodded.
"I understand everything you are saying."
"Finally, you understand."
"Yes, you're saying my sin against the Teacher is too great. So I should
disappear. That's what you mean."
Ether's lips twisted oddly.
"Oh, come on? We're saying this with good intentions."
"Set aside your emotions. This is logical advice."
Solana and Hedera each said a word to Ether.
At the same time, they were sure. They had pushed out one person.
At that moment, as they thought so…
"Since I seem to have committed a sin that I must repay for life, I will atone
by marrying the Teacher."
A shocking statement was brought up.
"…?"
"…!"
Various symbols spread across Hedera and Solana's faces.
"I, the 1st Princess of the Empire, will give my status and body to the
Teacher who has nothing. I will wash his feet every day and even bear his
children and raise them with devotion."
"…"
"Oh~ My life is empty~ I have committed such a great sin that I must live
as a man's wife~"
"…"
Solana and Hedera simultaneously licked their lower lips.
This monster who seemed infinitely low in intelligence.
She was by no means ordinary.