60 Epilogue: The Royal Title Succession

Somewhere, inside a castle, created by enormous trees that reaches a height with the clouds and boasting a diameter of a small lake, sits a Queen on her throne.

Before her is a small girl, roughly the age of fifteen, kneeling down on her right knee and is holding a meticulously crafted spear with her left hand.

The girl, with her hanged head down, waited patiently for her Majesty's words as she…

??: "… Zzzz…"

… falls asleep.

Queen: "Raise your head, Miurel."

Hearing the dour voice of her queen, she jerked, it is as if a bubble of snot popped and wake her up somewhat. Her drooping beastly ears that are atop her head perked, as if to search for the source of the voice.

With her eyes half-closed, she blinked a number of times before remembering what she is currently in at the moment.

Miurel: "Ahh… Yeah?"

Queen: "… I highly advise you to consider the time and place, young lady. I cannot tolerate you sleeping before such an important matter."

A strict tone escaped the Queen's lips as she tries to reprimand the little girl in front of her.

In actuality, it is the usual scene for the people present in the throne hall, hence they not need to worry.

However, circumstances are circumstances. One must abide by the event and follow the current necessity. It is a tradition and their culture.

Miurel: "Mm. My bad. … I'm listening."

She rubbed the corner of her eyes with her free hand and stretched the other. Doing so, the obviously huge spear compared to the owner was brought up in the air, as if she is merely holding a stick. Not only her body is that of a small and slender girl, her behavior makes it all the more surprising that she can wield such a huge weapon with utter ease.

Miurel: "I'm good to go. *yawn*"

Queen: "… *sigh* … Heed, everyone!"

Per the loud voice of the Queen, the chancellor, the guards, the minstrels, the leaders, the maids, the attendants, and the spectators – everyone who is present in the hall perked up in attention. They gaze at the splendor of their Queen, who in return, graced her people with dignified presence.

Queen: "Hereby and forth, I, Mirelle Frederica Faunalia, will confer a Title to this lady and, from now on, will carry this responsibility as its bearer. … Miurel."

Miurel: "Okie, okie."

Miurel wobbly stood from her place and silently walked towards her queen. Queen Mirelle, on the other hand, had her head cast down, shivering from a feelings she had been bottling up.

Seeing the spectacle, the spectators became worried about an incoming rage from their Queen, which may end up in something that would leave a bad taste in their mouths after they leave the premise.

Nonetheless, they could only hope for the best.

Mirelle: "… Miurel."

Miurel: "Yes."

Miurel once again knelt down on her right knee and bowed her head down. The Queen stood up from her throne and…

*shing*

She pulled an elegant and artistically designed sword from its golden and leather scabbard. The blade glittered from the light of the sun that passes through the large windows of the hallow tree.

Mirelle: "Miurel Rei. I bestow upon you, my blood and my flesh. Offer yours and thou will be my kin."

Miurel: "Uu… I hate this part…"

Holding the hilt of the sword, with the blade pointing to the ground, Queen Mirelle held out her left hand and reached for the blade. Miurel did the same with her left hand.

Miurel: "… I hold out my heart, to join yours as a kindred."

Mirelle: "The left hand governs the heart, it holds the bearer of the blood. With this…"

Mirelle gripped the blade without a second thought. Miurel hesitantly did the same just below her queen's hand, followed by the sound of flesh being cut by a sharp edge.

Blood dripped down from the wound on their palm, cut by the blade of the sword. The Queen's blood dripped down until it reaches Miurel's hand. Upon doing so, the blood of the Queen slightly glowed for an instant and they turn the sword upside down.

Then, it's Miurel's blood's turn to drip on the Mirelle's hand.

Miurel: "It hurts… Uu…"

Mirelle: "Endure it."

Miurel: "Uu… I hate you, Mother."

Per Miurel's word, Mirelle's shoulder jerked for a bit. But she instantly returned her composure and proceeded with the ceremony.

They removed their hands from the sword and placed each other's hand on each other.

Mirelle: "Hereby and forth, you will be known as my daughter, Miurel Rei Faunalia."

Miurel: "Certainly."

Tears forming in her eyes from the pain, Miurel forced a smile that seemed like a weird grin, as she is not used to smiling.

Chancellor: "Cheers to our new princess!!"

With those words of enclosure, their hands glowed ever so brightly.

Out from it, a huge glowing Crest of translucent light appeared above the two, gracing the audience with a presence of authority.

The Royal Insignia.

An Insignia signifies the bearer of the race's future. It is held by the ruler of the race and is encrypted in their blood. Only the ruler and someone they allowed to, can manifest the race's Insignia.

Miurel: "*sigh* Finally done."

Brightened with the light from the Faunalian Royal Insignia, a loud round of applause from the spectators was heard all over the hall, celebrating the newly created bond of the strongest warrior of their land with their own noble queen.

…

..

.

The spectators have gone home, every attendants and maids have left for their own respective works, the guards returned to their stations, and only the Chancellor of the Queen, the Queen herself, and Princess Miurel are now left inside the now empty hall.

The Chancellor of the Queen has just finished treating their wounds with the skill Heal, and now, Miurel is just bitterly stroking her hand to relieve her of the pain even the slightest as possible.

But then…

Mirelle: "… Miu…"

Miurel: "Hmm? Wah??"

But without waiting for Miurel's words to finish, she found the Queen jumping at her with her arms open wide.

Mirelle: "Miiiiiuuuuuu~~!!!!"

She wrapped her arms around Miurel and rubbed her face against Miurel's, crying and sobbing all the while. Her hug was too tight, enough to cause Miurel to have difficulty in breathing.

Miurel: "I-I can't breathe… Uu… Motheeer…"

Mirelle: "I'm sorry, okay?? M-Mother didn't mean what she said earlier, okay?? Ah! But I meant that you are now officially my daughter, okay? I'm so happy that you're really my daughter now! You were so cute earlier! The way you almost nodded off during an important even makes you so… Uuuu…!! CUTE! I'm just sorry for being mean! You won't hate Mother, won't you? Won't you?? Don't hate meeeee, pleeeeeeaaaaaaase…!!"

Uncharacteristically of a noble queen, Mirelle did not mind her surroundings and expressed her distress about her earlier attitude towards her daughter.

Chancellor: "Her Majesty, mind your behavior. We may still have some visitors in the premise."

Unable to bear what she witnesses, the chancellor approached the two after returning the first aid kit to its place and reprimanded the unbefitting actions of her queen.

Mirelle: "But Alisha! My daughter may hate me!!"

Alisha: "*sigh* It's a real wonder how this country progresses with you on the top… I'm getting a bit… No. Very worried."

Miurel: "I-It's the usual anyways, Ms. Alisha. Uu. I can't breathe…"

Miurel, on the other hand, just pats her mother on the head as a means to comfort her. Upon being done so, Mirelle's eyes instantly sparkled with relief and hugged her daughter even tighter.

Alisha: "You can drop the 'Ms.', Princess."

Miurel: "Ugh… Same to you. That really sounds off for me… It's creepy. Then as the princess, I order you to treat me as usual."

Alisha: "… Mother and daughter… *sigh*… The elpoan falls not far from the tree, as they say."

Alisha placed her hands over her head in exasperation. Giving up with her reprimanding, she deemed it as it's something ordinary by this time.

Mirelle: "Ehehe~ You hear that, Miu? We're mother and daughter, she said~ Mother and daughter~"

Miurel: "Yes, yes Mother. She sure did. Now I want to read, may I go now?"

Saying that, she tries to unbind her mother's hands around her and pushes her away.

Mirelle: "Alisha!! What am I going to do?? It's just been for a minute and Miu's already being cold to me!!"

Alisha: "… *sigh* You sound like a wife getting ignored by her newlywed husband…"

*knock* *knock*

Hearing a loud knock from the huge door made with wooden and metallic materials, Mirelle reluctantly but immediately let go of her daughter and straightened her back.

Mirelle: "*cough* … Enter."

It's almost as if what she was doing earlier was just a dream.

Guard: "Your Majesty! I have a report!"

The guard ran with haste and knelt down before her queen.

Mirelle: "Granted. Out with it. Tch. Intruding with our precious time."

Sounding a bit spiteful, Mirelle waited for the report of the female guard, who is now almost shivering in fear because of Mirelle's obvious annoyance.

Alisha: "Your Majesty."

That's why, Alisha called out to her with a strict voice, implying that she must do her job properly, and ended it with a single stern glare.

Noticing that, Mirelle cleared her throat with a cough and fixed her facial expression into a more appropriate one.

Guard: "W-Well then… Uhm. Three visitors have been halted at the gate due to the lack of permit and certificate of identity. One male with a long and black hair. He appears to be a woman in any angle, but he insists that he is a man. He is estimated to be around the age of 25 years. One female with a red hair, who is estimated to be around the age of 14. And another female, along with the man, albeit younger, has a long black hair. They all appears to be Faunalias, as well. We have already confirmed it visually and by checking their ears and tails. What shall we do about them?"

Miurel: "…!! I'll go straight to them!"

Uncharacteristically for Miurel, she jumped from her feet and rushed towards the guard, who is left baffled by the sudden reaction.

Mirelle: "Miu? Is there something about them that you know?"

Miurel: "Just leave them to me, Mother! Please!"

Mirelle: "… M-Miu is asking something from me… and with great fervor, not to mention… Aahh… B-But…"

Queen Mirelle trembled from her complicated dilemma, to which Miurel not even being concerned.

Alisha: "I'll be attending as well. Will that be fine for you, Your Majesty?"

Mirelle straightened her back once again, hearing more of her chancellor's strict and implied voice.

Mirelle: "V-Very well. Permission granted. However, Miurel. You must return by the setting of the sun."

Miurel: "Got it, Mother. You're the best. Love you. Come on, Ms. Guard! Lead the way!"

Guard: "A-Ah… Princess…! Wait for a while!"

The door closed and both Alisha and Mirelle was left in the hall.

Mirelle: "Ahh… She's so precious… My heart is already melting…"

Alisha: "You seem so happy, Mirelle."

Mirelle: "Of course, I am. Having a daughter like her is a dream come true. What about you? Never thought of having a family sooner?"

Alisha: "I'm more than worried about you than my own personal matters, you see. If left alone, who knows what will happen to the whole Faunalian race."

Mirelle: "Hey, that's rude. Let me remind you that I'm doing my job as the queen properly."

Alisha: "Says the doting parent who can't get ahold of herself before her people."

Mirelle: "Alisha!!"

Alisha: "Hahaha."

…

Leaving the hall to follow the princess, Alisha gripped the hold on the documents on her arms.

Alisha: "How can I create my own family? The only person for my heart is so busy with her daughter, I cannot imagine her looking at me instead."

…

..

.

Epilogue End