A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic

n see it.

Rather, when he thought of her circumstance, it was truly heartbreaking.

Ehran, who had a deep sense of loyalty toward the royal family from the beginning, now respected her even more—-but Kreschenta was the exact opposite.

She was groaning, 'Aaah, uuuh,' to herself that she had made such a foolish appearance.

“T-the image of a princess that I have created is…”

“Um, it seemed that he was rather moved, but…”

Bery, who was looking at Ehran's apologetic face and tear-filled eyes, said so with a wry smile.

But Kreschenta was not convinced.

“It's all right.
Kreschenta-sama is usually too serious, so it will probably be easier for others to feel closer with Kreschenta-sama if you show your clumsy side…”

“It's not okay! Rather than a princess I just looked like an idiot!”

“My, puffing up your cheeks like that.
Here, Kreschenta-sama, say aaaah.”

“Nmu…”

It was a cookie made at the estate where they were staying.

Kreschenta was forced to eat it and was physically blocked from speaking.

Munch, munch, Kreschenta couldn't do vulgar things such as opening a mouth while chewing, and all she could do was glare at Bery.

After she swallowed it the next cookie came.

Kreschenta wanted to object, but the enemy was also a formidable one.

It was a stance that would not allow Kreschenta to counterattack at all.

Naturally, Kreschenta had no choice to not eat the cookie she was given.

She was truly a dignified royalty as she took the enemy's attack head on—-the time it took for Kreschenta to calm down after being patted on the head and given a cookie was 4 cookies.

“…
It's Argan-sama's fault.”

“Yes, I'm sorry.
It's my fault.”

Bery, smiled and said without any guilt, Kreschenta who clearly expressed her dissatisfaction, swallowed her anger along with the cookie.

As her swollen cheeks were gently caressed and the air expelled, Kreschenta leaned her head against Bery and sighed, as if she felt it was ridiculous.

“Nauthana does not have anything like a royal residence in the capital, so please let me change my clothes here.
Even a poor servant can do that much, right?”

“Fufu, leave it to me.
What color should we wear?”

“Anything other than blue is fine.
Blue is a sacred color in Arna, so avoid blue for decorations and use other colors…you understand right.
Please don't disappoint me anymore.”

“My, the kanmuri, right? Look, smile.”

Bery chuckled as she lifted the edge of Kreschenta's mouth with her finger.

“…I understand.
Argan-sama, you're toying with me right?”

“My, toying with Her Royal Highness what a blasphemous thing.
Fufu, though my intention is to take care to not let Kreschenta-sama got bored of the long trip…”

Kreschenta sighed again as she was once again hugged from behind.

“…
That's enough.
But be prepared.
One day when I get Onee-sama, I'll turn Argan-sama into a dog.”

“Oh my, that sounds scary.”

Bery took out a comb and lovingly combed Kreschenta's hair.

The hair was just a little disheveled, but it flowed smoothly and without resistance against the comb.

Her fine golden hair shone red in the light and was weightless.

Touching her hair, Bery thought that they were sisters after all.

She was gradually becoming more and more spoiled, just like Krische.

The two princesses seemed to overlap, and she looked at her lovingly.

“…
I like the crescent moon hair ornament.”

“A crescent (chipped) moon is not a good omen.
I don't like the name Crescenta.”

“I like it.
The moon's face shows many faces, but now it's the best.”

Bery answered with a smile.

“Because it's not perfect, it hopes for more and shines brighter every day——the moon is ever-changing.
The crescent moon is a shape that embraces the radiance of the future after all.”

“I'm sure my father named me for a different reason.
It's the name of a Cursed Child.”

Kreschenta said absentmindedly.

“If something is missing, you can throw it away at any time….
A royalty name must always be perfect.
There is not one other name left in the history books.
Most of them were probably burned away.”

A trivial word, a trivial meaning.

Something she was born with and something she could not have.

The girl must have been tormented by these things.

“Krische——crescent (chipped) moon, what a name.
I almost laughed.
We are like that wherever we go.
…Everyone says we are 'different with something missing (chipped)' when referring to us.”

'——That's why we want something perfect.'

Kreschenta said and leaned her body.

She was as light as a bird's feather.

“The birdcage that Onee-sama thinks of is very beautiful.
It's a perfection created by dividing the inside from everything else.
That world was filled with no cracks.
She's a bit of an idiot, however, we still want the same thing.”

She reached her hand into the void and grasped it.

The way she did so was comical, and the way she wished for what she couldn't get seemed endlessly earnest.

“…I'm going to throw away all the imperfections and make that birdcage together with Onee-sama.
It can't be helped, so I will let you in.”

“Fufu, thank you.”

She gently embraced her body and kissed her head.

“But, Kreschenta-sama”

“What is it?”

“There is no human being who is not lacking (chipped).
There are only people who strive to be like that.”

Even her beloved sister was not perfect.

She was just striving and trying to be that way.

That is why she looked so beautiful.

“Kreschenta-sama, Krische-sama, me and Selene-sama are all imperfect.
But I think that's fine.
If you think that the way it's missing (chipped) is beautiful, it will look beautiful after all.”

Krische, Kreschenta, Selene, Lazura and Bogan.

Everyone around Bery was a hard worker.

That way of being was indescribably beautiful, and it always looked shining brightly to Bery.

“Just like how I think of Krische-sama, the way Kreschenta-sama lacked (chipped) and the way she tries to fill it is admirable, and I think it is lovely and beautiful.
I don't think it's necessary or that you need to aim for perfection too much.”

“…That's just because you're a weirdo.”

“Fufu, it might be so.
……But I recently realized that in the end, I have to rely on someone to fill in the parts I can't fill myself, so I would love it if Kreschenta-sama would share it.”

She smiled as she finished combing Kreschenta's hair and put away the comb.

“Don't rush, don't overdo it, take it slow.
It seems to me that Kreschenta-sama is rushing, so I'm worried.”

“…………”

“Until Kreschenta-sama gets what you want.
Until then, when you are tired, you can always rely on me and be pampered.
Hmmm, it's like a snack between meals.”

Kreschenta put her hand up and, without looking at Bery, put her hand on Bery's cheek.

It was a caressing, confirming touch.

“…Seems like you're a servant who likes to preach.
To think that someone like you will be with me forever, my ears are likely to rot from your preaching.”

“I'm sorry.
It's my nature.”

“Don't think you can get away with just apologizing.
The stupid Onee-sama, may be happy with that, but please don't think it will work on me.”

The hand that hit her cheek was very gentle.

Kreschenta's ears were slightly red as she stubbornly refused to look at her.

Bery quietly smiled.

“By the time the audience is over, make sure the room is exactly the way I like it.
Then, well, I will forgive your rudeness just now.”

“Yes, certainly.”

“I had the worst wakeup experience because of you.
I'm going to sleep again until night, so you'll have to prepare properly for that.”

“Yes, Kreschenta-sama.
…As you wish.”

And so they entered Nauthiana.

It was a chilly but sunny day.