How a Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom

Book 15: Chapter 10.5

Intermission: Liscia and Maria

With the summit in Balm finished and the Balm Declaration on Medicine made, the people of the Kingdom of Friedonia, Gran Chaos Empire, and Great Tiger Kingdom of Haan were set to return to their own countries.

Normally, with so many leaders in one place, the host country would hold a banquet, and it would be taken as a chance to deepen relations between all present. But Souma, Maria, and Fuuga were all busy people, and they needed to return home to get to work on the Magic Bug Disease problem, so they had no time to spend a night in this country.

That said, it was still a rare opportunity, so time was set aside for fraternizing.

Souma and Julius were trying to help Fuuga and Sill get along.

In this case, all of our countries need to coordinate their efforts. There may be some resentment between you, and Im not saying you have to let go of it, but at least save it for after the disease is behind us.

For now, I intend to forget what happened in Lastania too.

While they had decided to coordinate, it hadnt been long since the two countries had fought, so there must have been some bad blood. This talk was to prevent any discord that could get in the way.

Fuuga and Sill nodded at what they were saying.

I know. Im the one who came to you about working together to fight the disease. Ill follow your lead completely, for now.

As for myself, Ive accepted that my comrades deaths were an inevitability of the battlefield.

Hearing this reassured Souma.

While the four of them were talking, Liscia was left with nothing to do. Julius was helping negotiate and Aisha and Naden were acting as bodyguards. And so, Liscia went off on her own.

I should take advantage of the opportunity.

There was someone Liscia badly wanted to talk to.

Madam Maria.

Why, Lady Liscia.

When Liscia called her name, Maria gave her a smile that was like a flower blooming.

Wow... Shes so incredibly beautiful...

Seeing that smile, despite being a woman, Liscia couldnt help but stop and stare in admiration. At a glance, she had assumed Maria would be a quiet beauty like Juna, but the vibe she gave off was totally different. If Juna shone like an idol, Maria shone like a divine piece of art. Liscia could see that they didnt call her a saint for nothing.

Im so happy to have this chance to speak with you directly, Maria said, snapping Liscia back to her senses.

Y-Yes! I am too. I met Madam Jeanne just once when we were little, and we played together, but...this is our first time meeting, right?

Jeanne has been an active girl since she was a child, so father would take her on his trips abroad. I was more introverted, so I tended to get left behind in the Empire.

Ah... I guess I was similar to Madam Jeanne. Mother always chided me for being so boyish.

Hee hee. You must get along swimmingly with Jeanne then. Having said that, Maria patted the seat beside her. Have a seat. We wont get this chance often. Lets have some girl talk.

Girl...talk?

Yes. Im an empress, and youre a queen, arent you? I dont have many chances to talk to women of similar rank who arent my own family. Id like to have a very normal, very casual chatlike two housewives in the city, or two women who are friends might have by the well.

U-Um... Okay. Liscia seemed a little tense as she took a seat next to Maria.

You neednt be so tense. It is quite all right to speak normally with me.

I-Is that so? Well, then you speak normally too.

Ohh... The way Im speaking now is a habit of mine, and it gives me personality.

I guess youre more like Juna, huh?

Oh my, Juna Doma! Ah, I suppose shes Juna Souma now. Shes just lovely, isnt she? I watch her educational program on the simple receiver Sir Souma sent me.

The empress herself watches that?

When she imagined Maria, the Saint of the Empire, enjoying watching Junas educational programswhere she acted alongside the strange mascot Little Musashiboshe got a little exasperated by how surreal that mental image was.

What is it? This sense of all the tension leaking out of my shoulders as I talk to her... Is it like when Souma says something ridiculous?

Oh, that reminds me, you sleep in your office too, dont you? Liscia asked.

Yes. Like Sir Souma does, right?

Mhm. Obviously, he does it less now that were married, but he used to sleep there all the time.

Hee hee, I guess Sir Souma and I make up the Office-Sleepers Alliance.

Oh, you can let me and Roroa in on that too. When I was helping Souma after we first met, I nodded off in the office, and Roroa often crawls into Soumas office bed after staying up all night working on economic policy.

Oh, goodness. How adorable. Maria smiled.

Incidentally, Liscia had slept in the office bed too, but she deliberately omitted that part. After all, that was her first, uh...special night with Souma, so she couldnt possibly talk about it.

Speaking of Madam Roroa, she was the Sovereign Princess of Amidonia, wasnt she?

Thinking this was her chance to change the topic, Liscia nodded. Yeah, thats right.

I see. And she brought her country along with her when she married Souma. What incredible courage.

Well, yeah, but...ever since she came to the Kingdom, shes been more of a goofball, really. Shes a mother now too, so I wish shed settle down, Liscia said with a shrug, causing Maria to chuckle.

Its good that shes full of energy. And you get along well as fellow queens too.

Roroa looks up to us like big sisters. And for our part, we dote on her as a little sister. Though, thats all calculated on her part. Shes conniving like that.

She sounds wonderful. Id love to speak with her at length sometime.

That sounds fine to me, but what would you talk about?

How to thrust your country off on someone else.

The Empire?! Id feel bad for whoevers on the receiving end of that...

You would? Normally, people would be happy to rise to the highest rank of emperor... Thinking thats an imposition shows you really are Sir Soumas wife.

Well, Ive seen the pressure Soumas under. So I can also understand why youd want to push that off onto someone else if able to.

It really helps just to hear you say that...

There was a sense of solemnity in the air.

Liscia clapped her hands, trying to change the mood.

Oh, thats right, you perform as a lorelei like Juna, dont you? Liscia asked.

Maria nodded. Yes. There were a lot of requests from the people, so I still do it occasionally.

Thats amazing. I could never.

You couldnt? But youre so pretty. Im sure youd be popular.

No, um... I was told my singing would inspire a reverse march...

A reverse march? Like...the troops going back the way they came?

Liscias cheeks flushed red.

Pfft! Ah ha ha ha ha! Maria burst out laughing. It was so rare for the empress to laugh out loud that Souma, and a lot of other people, turned and stared.

Nothings happening over here, okay! Liscia shouted, forcing them to look away. Youre laughing too much, Madam Maria!

I-Im sorry. Hee hee. When you said reverse march, it just struck my funny bone... Maria wiped the tears from her eyes as she apologized. Oh, goodness me. I dont think Ive laughed this much all year.

Well, good for you, Liscia replied in monotone.

Hee hee. My, dont look at me like that. Oh, right, speaking of songs... Ive been learning the songs of your country, particularly those from Sir Soumas old world, during our broadcast meetings.

Hmm? You have?

Liscia stared blankly at her. The broadcast meetings between the Kingdom and Empire were generally handled by Hakuya and Jeanne, and Liscia was often absent when Souma held meetings with Maria, so she had no idea theyd been doing that.

Maria smiled and nodded. Yes. Of all the songs Ive learned, I liked Katyusha the best.

What language is that? Something from Soumas world?

He said it was a foreign language to him too. Its not a bright and cheerful song, but singing it makes me feel more energetic somehow.

Hmm... Whys that?

Who can say? I wonder. It seemed Maria was unsure herself. Hee hee. This is fun, chatting like this.

In the middle of their peaceful chat, Marias smile suddenly vanished.

Madam Maria?

I think about it sometimes... If I hadnt given the Kingdom the option to pay us subsidies, and instead insisted on having the hero sent over, what would my life and the Empire be like now?

If wed sent Souma to the Empire back then, you mean? Liscia asked, and Maria silently nodded. After thinking about it a little, Liscia shook her head vigorously, saying, No, no, no, no, I dont want to think about it. I cant imagine that the antiquated, history-filled country that is the Kingdom couldve overcome all the troubles that we were facing back then without Souma. It would have slowly worn us down, and wed be dead by now, wouldnt we? Besides, without him, Id never have met the people he hired, and Cian and Kazuha would never have been born.

Yes, youre right. Its natural for you to think that in your position, Lady Liscia, Maria replied, affirming everything Liscia had said. Thats exactly why I think about it. Obviously, its all just possibilities, but I think there was a future there. Where Sir Souma became my partner, and we reformed the Empire, gathering comrades, and building a vibrant country... That sort of future.

Madam Maria...

I might have been a mother too, you know?

Er, I dunno about that. It feels kind of weird.

Liscia had complicated feelings about it, but Maria chuckled. Was she teasing her there, at the end? Liscia looked at Maria then let out a sigh.

You know, if were talking about being partners, I think you and Souma have a perfectly fine partnership as is. In fact, when I first saw you two talking over the broadcast, it was weird how much you were on the same page.

Oh! Is that right? Marias eyes widened. She must not have expected to hear that.

Liscia put a hand on the back of her own neck, awkwardly explaining, You come from different countries, and your positions are different. Because youre negotiating, you need to try to read the other person, so you cant have too much fun, but cant act hostile either. Its a complicated relationship, but you and Souma seem strangely able to understand one another sometimes.

Ohh... Jeanne has said that to me on numerous occasions. When she listens to Souma and me talking, she feels left out.

I...kind of get that. I mean, thats just me being jealous though.

Oh my, Maria said, blinking. You just come right out and say it.

Its natural for me to be jealous when the person involved is so important in my life. So I learned a long time ago, I need to accept it, not force it down.

You truly are wonderful, you know that?

Maria smiled peacefully. Liscia smiled back.

Hey, Liscia. Its about time.

Souma, who had been talking over on the other side of the room, called out to her. He presumably meant it was about for everyone to return to their respective countries.

Im happy we could have this talk, Lady Liscia, Maria said, extending her hand.

I hope well have the chance to continue in a more relaxed environment sometime.

Yes! I long for the day.

Liscia took her hand, and they exchanged a firm handshake.