The day after meeting Aurora.
Today was incredibly busy.
I started the day by waking up early and getting ready.
To simplify the rest of the schedule, I went to a place crowded with royals and nobles, stood there for a long time, and then returned to my lodging.
Throughout the whole schedule, the royal family explained what had happened, held a time of mourning for the deceased, and announced that they would offer restoration support from the royal family.
But the context surrounding all of this was somewhat distorted.
First, the royal family took credit for defeating the witch.
On Princess Aurora's birthday, she was cursed by an evil witch, and after various efforts, it was through my help that Aurora was freed from the curse—this fact is already well known to many.
The royal family added their own twist to the story.
Once the curse was lifted, the enraged witch attacked, but the citizens of the capital and the royal family united to seal her away, they claimed.
It wasn’t a lie.
When the Harvesters fought, a beam of light did indeed shoot from the royal palace.
But the king cleverly twisted the narrative to make it seem as if the royal family had sealed the witch. They proclaimed that the witch, who had done evil for hundreds of years, had been captured and defeated.
In doing so, they glorified the Harvesters who fought the witch, claiming that without their efforts, the witch could never have been defeated, stirring up patriotism.
Most notably, the rewards were generous.
Citizens who fought there, even if they were from the Brightshin slums, would have their names engraved on a monument, and those who died would receive knightly titles. Their families were promised various benefits.
They touted this as the nation’s way of rewarding their dedication.
On the surface, it sounded like a great victory. Honors were lavished, but the amount of money taken from the national treasury was minimal, which brings a slight gleam to the memories of the leadership class from the first world.
Even the honors given could be tainted at the right moment and reclaimed, leaving only a small sum to fill the national coffers.
Some memories are so perfectly divided that they’re almost beautiful, with clear distinctions of blame, victims, heroes, and the leaders who offer condolences.
Moreover, since the heroes who sacrificed themselves are all dead, no one has to witness their downfall.
The king more actively promoted those who had sacrificed for the country.
This was broadcast across the kingdom through the media, and even in the nearly isolated Vern City, the news reached there.
Ironically, this news flipped the minds of those fighting in Vern City.
Including the Harvesters in Vern City, everyone there was absolutely furious.
While no reports came out of Vern City, the capital was boasting that the royal family had defeated the evil witch.
Curiously, the number of people surrendering or giving up decreased.
Instead, the number of those who wanted to resist to the end increased. The Purple Twilight Association, even beyond a faction, was preparing to establish a new government.
It’s truly fascinating.
On one side of the kingdom, there’s a victory celebration and a time of mourning for the dead, while on the other side, people are growing in number, planning a revolutionary uprising.
The only relief is that they likely won’t impose indiscriminate repression.
Unlike in the second world, not all Harvesters will be treated as bad people.
This is because many citizens in the capital saw the Harvesters fighting the witch. In the end, no one seems to have witnessed the last battle where the witch was struck by the black thorns, but still, the fact that they saw it is important.
Moreover, since the Harvesters fought the witch using psychic abilities in a situation where they couldn’t use magic, it left a strong impression on the witnesses.
However, no one saw the whole thing, so everyone simply believes that the royal family killed the witch.
In other words, the Harvesters in the capital are good people. Even Princess Aurora is a Harvester. Therefore, it’s hard to call someone a bad person just because they’re a Harvester.
That makes Victoria the most dangerous. A Harvester from Vern City.
I’m not sure what will happen from here.
Ah, and surprisingly, Victoria had a rather comfortable day today.
The Royal Academy had a school holiday this week. At least, since most of our class attended the king’s speech, we can assume all the students of the Royal Academy were there.
Victoria collapsed on her bed like she was dead. She ran to class, saying she was late, only to find a notice that the school was closed this week. So, she returned to the dormitory and went straight back to sleep.
She slept soundly until late afternoon. Then, while the sun was still up, she got up from bed, complained about being hungry, and went out to eat an enormous amount alone.
In the evening, she went to the wind-up knight school, only to hear it was closed as well, so she lazily returned to the dormitory.
Now, when I arrived at my lodging, I read a letter from my family and began studying for the wind-up knight course.
I didn’t have a specific schedule, so I’m thinking of visiting tomorrow.
The next day.
I didn’t need to go to school, but I woke up at my usual time. Then, as usual, I washed up, changed my clothes, and got ready.
Strangely, the people taking care of me seemed to be more friendly and spoke to me more warmly. Up until now, they had been looking at me like I was some sort of alien, but that gaze has mostly disappeared.
It’s not because I defeated the witch that they’re treating me this way, though, there’s no sense of awe.
Instead, they say things like, "You don’t have to be so considerate," or "If you need to point something out, feel free."
They must have ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) heard what I said to the butler before.
So, when I made a small correction, the young maids turned pale.
It was hilarious when an older maid asked if I had worked in the same profession.
Before I could answer, the butler came and ushered me out, which was a relief. I’ve never had a job like that.
If they ask why I have such knowledge, it’s a bit embarrassing.
Anyway.
When I went outside, the butler silently saw me off, and it made me certain that the king really did treat me favorably.
If they were keeping tabs on me, they would have asked where I was going. But no matter where I went, or how late I came back, no questions were asked.
At first, I thought it was just because the butler was doing his job, but now I think it’s more likely that they just want to let me do whatever I want.
I must have been wearing tinted glasses, misjudging Merryweather earlier.
I thought if only I had a little more intelligence, I wouldn’t misunderstand anyone like I did with her, but now I’m on my way out of my lodging toward the dormitory where Victoria lives.
If you turn left at the entrance of the lodging, you’ll immediately find the Royal Academy’s front gate.
Entering the front gate, walking a bit along the road, and then turning left, there are two buildings.
One is the dormitory, and the other is the student cafeteria.
They’re right next to each other, so at meal times, the smell of food wafts into the rooms, making it impossible for anyone to skip a meal, as Victoria had once muttered.
Entering the dormitory building, there’s a large space on the first floor, a place with chairs and tables, where students who are bored in their rooms gather.
I see students sitting there today as well. And there’s a TV, and they’re all watching it.
Glancing at the video coming out, it says "special broadcast," and it’s showing various materials about what kind of witch Maleficent was.
As I watched for a moment, Maleficent’s memory glinted with the feeling of "oh no, that’s not it," and it shone as it rose up.
The first floor has various facilities, and from the second floor onward, the rooms where the students live are located.
Standing in front of the door, I knocked.
After a while, Victoria, with her disheveled hair, opened the door.
"Bel?"
"Yes, it’s me."
I entered Victoria’s room, where she seemed startled. The room was quite a mess. Her sleeping area was clean, but tools, iron, and smelly machines were scattered in one corner.
These were the wind-up machines she had gotten for study at the wind-up knight school yesterday.
"It's dirty."
"It's a wind-up machine, so I can’t help it~ If I could get another room, I’d move it, but this is the only place I can keep it. So, please don’t throw it away!"
"I won’t throw it away."
Victoria gave me a suspicious look.
"Really? My mom once said that and threw everything out. Though it wasn’t mine, it was my dad’s."
"You’re studying, right?"
"Ah, yeah. That’s right."
Seeing Victoria laugh awkwardly, I pointed to the bathroom.
"Go wash up first."
"Yeah, yeah. Since it’s a day off, I can relax a little."
Victoria grumbled and took her clothes into the bathroom. After confirming that, I picked up a letter from the desk.
It was a letter from Beatrice.
It said that since both of them would likely be busy, not to think about coming down. Nowhere in the letter was there anything about the events happening in Vern City.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
After reading this, Victoria was happy, thinking that her father, Morris, had started working again, but it’s more likely that the letter isn’t about that.
But even if Victoria went down, there’s nothing she could do.
The royal family has not mentioned Victoria separately, as if they intend to downplay or ignore her role.
Perhaps they believe they’ve already given Victoria everything she needs.
Entering the Royal Academy is quite difficult.
Moreover, it takes at least four days one way from the capital to Vern City. It would take less than a day by airship, but if not, it’s a long journey.
Should I think it’s time to send a letter or consider the situation too dangerous to even send one...?
"Ah, that feels good. What are you looking at?"
"It's a letter."
"Ah, from mom? She must be busy. I’ve never seen them both so busy, but that was because they had to come in because of me. Now that I’m out, they’re both probably working."
That's right. Morris and Beatrice both love Victoria dearly. Even when they’re busy, one of them always finds time to be with her.
I heard it when I was cooking with Beatrice in the kitchen.
Victoria knew too.
I see things from Victoria’s point of view and know everything she feels, but I don’t know her thoughts. The only time I gain memories is when I make someone a Harvester.
So I ask if she’s been able to read between the lines of the letter.
"Are you okay?"
"I’m not a kid, am I? Why would I be upset about something like this? But it is a bit like mom not writing anything about Bel. Did Bel get a letter too?"
I shook my head. As far as I know, I’ve never received a letter.
"Really busy?"
The "busy" could mean not work-related. Some memories cautiously flicker. It’s something they hope for no response.
I realized it after seeing that memory.
That’s right. If they wrote about me, they might end up receiving a letter.
And there’s no guarantee that the letter will even make it to Vern City, so it’s better to send a letter without expecting a reply.
Ignoring this wouldn’t work, though, because I’ve already said something to King Hipion. For consistency, asking this question now will prevent complications later.
Saying things like "Why didn’t you tell me?" would only cause discomfort.
"Victoria. The first day we met. Just like when you screamed, I hear faint human screams coming from the south."
Throwing Beatrice’s consideration into the trash, I let slip that something might be happening in Vern City.
Seeing Victoria’s expression freeze, I handed her a pen.
"Be careful."
I encouraged her to ask.
Soon, Victoria nodded and sat down to write the letter.
Now, how will this letter turn out?
Predicting what future this might lead to, I sat behind Victoria and waited.