「Nice to meet you… uhh, I… I am Pina Blanche, I don’t know anything and I’m sure I’ll cause you a lot of trouble, but thank you in advance for your cooperation. I’ll do my best!」
My harried feelings, which I had been anxious about until we met, were blown out of the water.
For a brief moment, I wondered what I would do if Will fell in love with the heroine. He said that there might be a compulsion for a game story or something.
But in fact, having faced「Pina」as a human being, I realized how disrespectful such an idea was. Even with Will and the others, acting a certain way, like a game, means you didn’t recognize their personalities.
I was ashamed of myself and promised myself that I would show them by my actions what I could not apologize for out loud.
Will and the others are also very concerned about the Star Maiden who suddenly find herself living in an aristocratic society. They asked for support for aspects of the project that they themselves couldn’t follow up on, especially aspects that only women would understand.
「Naturally, I accept… I’d like to say, but I’m not sure if support is all that’s required.」
「What do you mean?」
「As His Highness’ fiancée, I think it would be better if『I』was in charge of supporting Pina-san’s life in the main. The protection of royalty is important, but there is still a certain nervousness just because you are the opposite sex.」
「Indeed. I’ll be in charge, but Remilia might be more appropriate for the front. I know you’re going to be in the center of a lot of the actual work, can you do that for me?」
「Yes, of course I can.」
When I turned to face Pina-san, who was looking anxiously at Will and I as we exchanged clear faces, I removed my social mask and smiled as much as I could.
「I am… Remilia. Remilia Rose Graupner is a long name, but please call me Remilia. It’s nice to meet you too, Pina-san.」
「U–Uhh… Nice to meet you too!」
Will chuckles when she seems surprised at my sudden change in tone.
「Remy’s true nature is this way. You don’t have to be so rigid, Pina-san.」
「Yeah, because I’d love to start with a friend… because that was an outsider’s look. Don’t mind it.」
I explain my actions to Pina-san, who accepts my handshake with confusion.
「Going elsewhere…?」
「Yes, even Pina-san would have a different tone when addressing a child than when addressing an adult, wouldn’t she? Along with that, I don’t act like this to people I don’t know well enough to show my childhood friends, including Will, to them.」
When I said so, she nodded her head while holding my hand, as if she was satisfied. It’s really agonizing how cute she is just by nodding her head.
「That’s why, I wanted to say that Pina-san will learn many manners and language from now on, but there is no need to change the original Pina-san. I think it’s very unsettling to suddenly be called the Star Maiden. But in order for a person with such power to stay safe and protected from malicious intent, the protection of the state is inevitable, and in order to live under the protection of the state, it is inevitable that one must go out into the secluded places…」
Actually, my「going elsewhere mode」is based on the original Remilia-tan. This is also why I change how I address myself in social situations. I knew she was polite, cool, and the best「lady」they’ve ever had, even though I got it wrong in the game. Of course, I have no plans to do anything that would make me a「villain.」
I spend my time in public with the image of Remilia, who I am sure would have become such a wonderful girl if she had known just a little bit of love. But the original me hasn’t changed, and I’m not saying anything out of the heart.
I don’t know what the right thing to tell them would be. From Pina-san’s point of view, I think it sounds very selfish to be in a situation like this on the country side. But it is also an undeniable fact that the power of the Star Maiden has become known, and they need the cooperation of the person in question to protect them from malicious intent.
「…Somehow, I could understand. I didn’t know if my power was great or not, either, but it could be used for something horrible, I’m willing to study to make sure that doesn’t happen.」
「! Thank you… I know it must be very difficult with all the sudden changes, but let me help you as much as I can.」
When I said this, her expression, which had been stiff when she arrived here, finally softened and relaxed.
Ahh, she’s a good girl. According to the report of the official who brought the Star Maiden to the Royal Capital, she wasn’t so lucky with her family as she was in the game, after all. The protagonist had a not-so-happy childhood, which is a common setting in manga and video games, but when faced with it as reality, it makes one’s heart ache.
I’ll never be able to replace her family, but as a friend I hope she thinks it’s fun and we can spend time together.
Then of course we became very close. How well? Will sometimes gets jealous. He would look at us, always together, and say,「I think I was supposed to be your fiancée, wasn’t I?」Will was cool and cute at the same time, when Pina took care of me and we were alone for the first time in a long time, my face got so hot that I was almost in agony.
Such a kind-hearted Pina is still cute and hardworking, and as you can imagine seeing that she has only the elements to be liked, she is favored by various boys.
But they believe that「he is drawn to the name of the Star Maiden,」and he remains very timid in matters of love. I’m sure some of them have ulterior motives, but it’s easy to see that they’re attracted to Pina-san herself! I was so indignant that Will gasped and said to me,「You’re saying that?」I feel like I’m being teased somehow.
Not only that, but Pina understood the burden of being a「Star Maiden」better than anyone else. She was troubled by it. She don’t seem to think it’s easy to make friends, much less lovers, and she doesn’t try to have much interaction with each other.
She’s okay now that I and the lady knight guarding me are protecting her…
Of course, Pina is close with the kids in her class, but the only ones who seem to have forgiven her are me, and Marie.
Incidentally, Marie appears in the game as a helpful character who explains the system at the beginning of the game and tells us about the likability of the characters to be attacked. She is the daughter of the official who brought Pina to Royal Capital. Naturally, though, we have a friendship that has nothing to do with games.
Events that happened in the game and other things happened, but Pina doesn’t even seem to get into a good mood with anyone. When I asked her about her love life, she said,「Well, I’m not sure about that yet… and I’m having more fun with Remy,」which made me so happy that I lost track of the conversation. But I’d be shocked if Pina decided to go out with someone else, I’d be shocked that she「took my bestfriend」away from me… I was thinking that too.
Not only the events, but I also succeeded in crossing over to the Demon Kingdom at a much earlier stage, guiding them well with my knowledge of the original story. Thanks to that, we were able to establish a very good friendship with the Demon Kingdom, which was initially hostile to us in the original story. Like Remilia, I was able to save Angel’s brother, who would have lost his life in any route.
But Claude’s father ended up dying even though I helped him… What if that happens to Klimt-san, too, and although he has been purified, if the first madness happens to Angel as the game is played… I can never get away from my spell of anxiety about the compulsion of the game.
But Will saved me from feeling anxious all the time, even though I’m sure that every single problem that brings disaster is solved. He never denied any of my knowledge of the game, telling me he’d seen it in a dream.
「Then we’ll figure it out together. Don’t worry, I’m used to your recklessness, Remy.」
He said.
That’s when I fell in love with him all over again… I felt that no matter what happened, if I was with Will, I would be able to overcome it. For the first time, I felt that my previous life was completely in the past.
I was able to resolve my backwardness and purify the Fallen Creator God soon afterwards. Everyone was saved, including the demon tribe, and it was a happy ending.
I can finally move on, and everyone congratulates me and Will on our marriage, which makes me a little happy, but also somewhat embarrassed.
Pina is the main person in charge of the purification of the land, and because of her frequent visits to the Magical Realm,「I wonder if we might see a romantic relationship between her and Angel…?」I was thrilled, but she has no such feelings at all. I was the same. Tch.
Not that there are no problems at all, but I live as Remilia in a safe and peaceful world. I wonder if I can be a respectable queen who isn’t ashamed of Remilia. I hope so.
The soul or personality that was the original Remilia is probably no longer in me. When my child was born last year, I realized that the presence that had been with me since the moment I woke up in this world was gone.
But, you know, I somehow know. She is gone from me, but the girl who used to be Remilia is here.
「Lily, it’s a beautiful day and the wind feels good.」
「Yeah.」
When I hold her like this, I feel the same warmth as the presence that has been watching over me all along. Remilia, the former Remilia, whose life I took away from her, though not intentionally… I was still an unreliable mother, but I want to make her happy and love her as much as I have loved her twice in my life.
「So, that’s Williard’s daughter?」
「Yeah, I recently discovered it. It’s Lily. Isn’t she cute?」
Today, Angel-san, the king of the demon kingdom with whom we are allied, is visiting us.
He has particularly high magical power among the demon tribe, and although it has been eight years since the end of that purification journey, his appearance has not changed. But since the country is now at peace, the people in the entourage, including Klimt-san and Misery-san, are always talking about mates and future heirs to the throne.
Demons have a long life span, and although they say that their own will is important, he was the king of a country and I understand the concerns of those around them. He expected me to get along with Pina for a while, but I clearly denied that I could see either of them that way, and that story disappeared. According to Pina,「I can only think of him as an unreliable older brother.」
Pina now enjoys going around and solving various problems that arise there. She often receives letters from various countries, as she has made it her life’s purpose to help others. I was her proud best friend. I always look forward to receiving Marie and her activities as a royal attendant.
According to Will, who has now become a close friend of Angel-san’s, this goodwill diplomacy was also suggested by Angel-san in order to get away from his preaching. Klimt-san seems to have nailed him saying,「While you’re at it, go find yourself a wife.」
It seems that Will, who was already done talking about his work and was now completely parentless, invited me to a private setting to brag about his daughter. Angel-san is very relaxed. I think he’s too used to it, he’s really just a normal brother who came to a friend’s house.
「It’s been a long time, Angel-san, and this is my daughter Lily, who will be the first princess.」
「Uuh…」
「This child… was still in the belly of you when we last came to this country. Time flies.」
I approach them and turn to face Lily, who was holding her in a heap for Angel-san to see. Lily looked up at Angel-san with interest and held out her tiny palm as if seeking something to touch.
「Oh, I wonder if Angel-san likes her.」
「?! No… I won’t allow it, Angel! I won’t let Lily to be your wife!」
「Calm down, Williard, she’s just a baby. What are you talking about?」
「Lily is just a baby, but she’s already so adorable! It’s no wonder some of us are as mesmerized as Angel…!」
「I’m sorry Angel-san, Will, he does this to every man who meets Lily these days. He let you meet her on his own because he wants to show off our daughter.」
「That’s a total pain in the ass… how would I feel about a baby like this?」
Will, who was dexterously whispering angrily so as not to wake Lily, was taken aback when Angel-san pointed a finger at him, and Lily squeezed the tip of his finger.
「Oops…」
「Angel, you… You dare mess with my little girl!」
「Don’t sound so weird, I just got held in a finger by a baby.」
「Will, calm down. Lily is almost twenty years away from getting married. I’m sure Angel will still have this beauty and youthfulness 20 years from now because he is a demon. Oh, Lily is going to be a gorgeous beauty, and it might be a good match for her.」
「?! Lily!! I’ll never marry you off! Angel, how long are you going to keep touching her!」
「I’m the one holding your finger. No, Madam, don’t try to stir up Williard, either.」
「Fufu!」
I found it funny that Angel-san was complaining to Will while he was being careful that Lily might cry if he forcefully untied her, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I’ll leave Will’s lament about the age difference out of the story. Because it’s the person who chooses. It doesn’t matter who it is, as long as it’s someone Lily truly loves. As long as they make her happy, that’s all that matters.
I was watching from the outside, as I spoke to my daughter inwardly, “you’re troublesome father, isn’t it?”
「…Mi, Emi, what’s wrong, are you okay?」
「Nhn… huh, Brother…?」
「Were you having a sad dream?」
「Eh?」
「Because you’re crying?」
When I touched my face at my brother’s words, my cheeks were chapped, as if I had been crying in my sleep, as I had been told.
「Were your dreams scary?」
「I don’t know… I forgot… but it was kind and happy… but I think it was a sad dream.」
My brother wipes my face with a handkerchief.「You’ll catch a cold if you sleep here,」I woke up and found myself at the root of the biggest tree in the garden. Flowers are scattered all around. Right, I wanted to make a flower crown for Mama, so I asked the gardeners to let me pick some flowers… I think I fell asleep while I was making it.
「The flowers… I was going to make a crown for Mama…」
「You’re a little crumpled up, so I don’t think you can do the crown anymore. You’re thinking of making dried flowers. If there are two of us, we can use the magic to take away the water and dry the laundry at the same time, so you can make it.」
「! Okay, I’ll do it!」
After my brother helped me make beautiful dried flowers, I decided to go to Misery-san’s and get a glass jar that I didn’t need. I put it in there, sprinkle some scented oil, put a ribbon on it and give it to Mama. But I wonder if there’s enough for one person, I’ll make one for my brother who made it with me… And if there’s any left over, I’ll make one for my Papa too.
「You’re not sad anymore?」
「? What?」
「The dream I talked about.」
「Hmm… I forgot about it!」
「I see. Well, that’s good.」
I walked away with my hands buried in the little flowers on my handkerchief after my brother had patted me on the head with a wisp of his hand.
I was so excited to see if all three of them would be happy to see me that I had already forgotten the feeling of the dream that was still there when I woke up.