[Interlude] Bright Hill - 1

I am Veronica Adams.

The empress who rules this empire. My father, the emperor, has long been known to have a frail constitution, making it uncertain whether he could continue his duties.

Since last year, his health has deteriorated, and it's been judged increasingly unlikely given his age.

Due to the judgment of ministers aiming to prevent a decline in the emperor's prestige, it was decided that I should ascend the throne promptly, gaining experience as the new emperor while the previous emperor was still alive.

In other countries, only male heirs are recognized as monarchs, or only men are allowed to become rulers. Why, then, is it possible for a woman like me to become emperor in this ancient great empire?

No, perhaps that's where the reason lies—something that's been passed down since ancient times.

But since I have a younger brother, wouldn't it be better for him? He's still quite young, but I've thought about this for a long time. There's nothing left to do but accept it.

I collapsed onto the bed, my long hair spreading out widely across the sheets.

Fortunately, today was a session where I listened to stories from ordinary citizens and adventurers. Since I just needed to listen openly, I'm not particularly tired.

I, who have no freedom due to constant duties, enjoy hearing stories from adventurers.

A world unknown to me, a world without the freedom I lack, a world without rigid rules and formalities—easy to live in, one I deeply admire...

But my butler and guards disapprove of me getting too close to adventurers. It's not just adventurers, though—I'd love to speak with anyone, anyone at all.

I suppose I'm just not cut out to be an empress...

It's pointless to dwell on such thoughts. It's early tomorrow, so let's get some sleep.

Today is the ceremony known as the Hunt.

It's a traditional imperial ritual in which the newly crowned emperor defeats a sub-beast. It serves to demonstrate the strength of the new emperor.

That said, I have no fighting ability at all—living as I do within the palace walls.

Therefore, the guard will accompany me for protection, and trusted adventurers will bring back the sub-beasts alive.

I'll pretend to attack them, while the adventurers handle the actual finishing. If that's the case, what's the point of holding the ceremony at all?

I do have my thoughts, but I can't really leave the castle much, and being like an adventurer is actually kind of exciting. Still, I'm afraid of the monsters, and there's word that royal investigators have been prowling around lately.

Rumors around town suggest war is imminent, but from the perspective of the imperial capital, it's already been raging intensely. This time, we've had to bring along many more soldiers than usual.

We really need to find a way to avoid it.

I can't help but think about the ceremony, yet my mind is overwhelmed with thoughts of war.

I ride in a large carriage out of the imperial capital. Waving back at the people waving from outside, I gaze at the long line of mountains stretching beyond the city.

The base of those mountains is our destination this time. The range is known as the Jiet Mountains, a chain that separates the Empire from the Kingdom.

This area is relatively safe, and many herders and farmers live here.

Apparently, monsters sometimes target livestock just grazing in the fields. To protect the animals from these creatures, garrison soldiers are stationed here and regularly eliminate the monsters. That’s why the surrounding area remains safe.

We’re now heading toward a larger village that currently oversees this region.

We're traveling in a large wagon with many people, so our movement is slow. I'd love to try the magic tricycle mentioned during the previous citizen party—it was said to allow long-distance travel at a fairly high speed while carrying cargo, right?

It would've been much easier if we'd used that... But the ministers insisted tradition was important. Such rigid thinking is quite troublesome.

As the sun began to set and the outside turned red, we finally arrived at the countryside.

A typical village centered around livestock farming and agriculture. Peaceful and quiet. A nice place, indeed.

Since there's a vacation home here, we'll be living here for a few days.

After finishing our meal, I wait alone in my private room for time to pass. It's too early to sleep, but with nothing particular to do, I gaze out the window.

A view outside unlike any I've seen before.

If I turn off the light in the room, I can clearly see the lights outside. The vast, unfamiliar nature bathed in moonlight appears fresh and strikingly different. Yet within that vast grassland, there's a single cluster of artificial light.

It's the campsite of the adventurers who followed us.

Starting tomorrow, they'll set out to explore the sub-beasts. Once they've captured one, the ceremony will begin. According to the minister, it usually takes two or three days. Until then, we're left with nothing to do.

Since we've gone to such trouble to come to a place we usually can't visit, can't we at least go for a walk?

I'll ask the butler tomorrow. Though, he usually refuses something like this.

I figured I'd ask anyway, and surprisingly, he allowed me to go outside—accompanied by guards. Quite unusual for him.

Anyway, my wish has come true. Let's go with joy.

It was pleasantly sunny outside. I borrowed a fine horse from the village and slowly rode through the nearby area.

The breeze blowing past felt wonderful.

I'm glad I worked hard to learn horseback riding. The guards accompany me as usual. The guards never say much—only what's absolutely necessary.

The female guard who's always present stays close by but rarely speaks.

I have several guard knights with me.

Among them, there are two female guard knights. This time, one of them is the usual expressionless knight. The other, by contrast, is surprisingly lively—so much so that she hardly seems like a guard knight at all.

She keeps her hair neatly tied back and always wears heavy armor, yet moves with such grace that the weight seems entirely unnoticeable. Not only is she highly skilled with a sword, but she's also said to be capable of using magic. Truly an exceptional talent.

She's serving as my guard, given her strength and shared gender... but she hardly speaks at all.

The minister, who's also the captain of the troops, at least engages in conversation... I wish she'd talk a bit more, really.

Ahead of us, the adventurers I hired who haven't yet gone to capture the beast are moving forward to check the safety of the path.

I heard the capture of the sub-beast is being handled by a strong party. Apparently, they're going alone because they work well as a team. I think it'd be faster and better if we all explored together, though?

Wasn't there someone among the adventurers ahead who cleared a dungeon found near the Empire before? Their name was Alex... was it?

That was the one with the large axe, wasn't it? Since it's such a rare chance, couldn't we try to hear their story? Let me see if there's an opening.

But I never managed to talk to them once.

Even during lunch break, I was on guard duty far away while eating under the shade of a tree, and when I returned, I was still on guard duty far away—there was never a chance to talk. I had really hoped to hear a story from an adventurer, but it's a pity.

Around two days later, a sub-beast that had been captured alive was brought in. The ceremony is about to begin.

Next post is scheduled for the 14th.