Yoz, Kei_kou here. I’ll be translating Flame for the time being.
Please do tell me if there’s anything wrong or if there’s some inconsistencies >.<
Judging from the title, this is just part 1. Part 2 and 3 is on the way.
Thanks.
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–The Royal Capital RARKIA ・ Royal Office
『… sigh … 」
The office in the Capital of the Flame Kingdom. The young queen of this 「Millennium Kingdom」- Elizabeth ・Aurenfert ・Flame - supported herself whith one arm on the table, while heaving a heavy sigh. She had long golden hair that reached her waist and snow white skin, and thus, to complement her skin tone, the dress that she donned had white as its base colour, with purple stripes that could be described as 'a Noble's colour'. The pair of bright sky blue eyes, immediately darkened. That sigh and expression of hers that completely contrasted with her delicate, 16-year old appearance, inadvertently made Prime Minister Lotte who had been reporting to her, furrow his brows
「… Your majesty, what was that? Please do hold yourself together. 」
「… I perfectly understand that my current appearance is unsightly. Continue, Lotte. 」
「… Then I shall continue giving the report. The Royal Capital Trade Union presented a petition yesterday. 」
「A petition? What more do they want as to require another petition? 」
「They said a lot of things that made a quite lot of sense at first glance … however, to put it bluntly it's actually just to reduce tax or be exempted from paying it. 」
Hearing the self-proclaimed「age after 60 is just an arbitrary number」- Lotte's young voice that was unbefitting of his age, the miserable looking queen immediately retorted while looking displeased.
「Dismissed. Absolutely impossible. We already reduced the tax last year, any lower and our country will perish. 」
「That may be true, but …」
「Furthermore, the support we have given them has far exceeded other trade unions. Tariff concessions, escorting the members to other countries to do trade, priority rights to the Flame Kingdom's embassy … 」
「Including the rights to issue new currency? 」
「That's true. Warn them, 『do not think that you'll get everything you want just by opening your mouth 』. 」 Even though he did not intend to emulate her actions, looking at the young queen pouting while sighing once again, Lotte who had been elected as prime minister since the last king also sighed inside his heart. In fact, Lotte had the same opinion. It's not that earning money is a bad thing; however Lotte himself also harbored the intent to give a scolding to the trade union for doing as they pleased under the protection of the country. However, doing so would most likely chase the trade union away, causing the country's entire economy to collapse. No can do.
「… Just tell the Royal Capital Trade Union, 『do your best 』.」
「… Understood. Let's pray that they will accept this reply.」
Whichever way you look at it, a prime minister not taking any action but naively praying for success … it won't work, will it? — Lotte scornfully laughed at himself, while flipping the pages of the report in his hand.
「Next up is … the report by the commander at the border of Westlia
「… What is it now?」
「He said, 『the number of foot soldiers are inadequate, please transfer some of the nearby local guards』. 」
「Westlia … Wasn't that the place General Starke is stationed at?」
「According to him, 『there's some unusual commotion happening at Westlia』, the newly elected prime minister there is part of the Eagle Faction after all. Sigh … it's not like the existence of the Eagle Faction is any news.」
「It's only our luck that the previous few prime ministers are from the Dove Faction. But is that a reason to increase the number of men? Doing so may unnecessarily provoke Westlia, so I reject his request. However …」
「I understand what your majesty is thinking about … it is General Starke, after all.」
「Is it because that was what the so-called 『clairvoyant』 General Starke said? … I understand. Then transfer half of the closest local guard to assist him. 」
「Did you say half? Then, the defenses of the royal capital will be …」
「After all, after breaking through the border of Westlia, it's a straight line to the royal capital anyways. The soldiers aren't just furniture to look at, it's nice to let them earn their pay for once. Prepare the necessary documents as soon as possible. 」
「Sir Rosan would be furious, wouldn't he?」
「… I will leave that matter to you, Lotte. I heard you both have quite a good relationship with each other. 」
Looking at the pleading eyes of the queen he was currently serving, Lotte sighed heavily, and helplessly stared back at her.「… It was very unfortunate meeting him. Also, your highness, as the queen of our glorious Flame Kingdom with great history and culture, please do not emulate those village girls.」
「Didn't your heart skip a beat? Won't you listen to the cute Elizabeth's … Liz's request? 」
「If I were to answer the question of the Elizabeth that is old enough to be my granddaughter … that is still wet behind the ears, how would my heart skip a beat? Does this count as disrespect towards the monarch? 」
「I could have chopped off your head and hanged it on the city walls for public display. Am I not charming enough? 」
「I would not dare, but when I think about it, who was the one that keeps cleaning up the mess that 『Her Highness Elizabeth』 makes?
By using Elizabeth's nickname before she was named queen —「Liz 」, Lotte used this chance to remind her of their relationship … He did not deny her being 「cute 」, nor was he going to reject her request, not that he had any intention to tell her that , of course. The reason he did so was not him being afraid of disrespecting her, but was to not let Liz be carried away.
「Leave the matter with Sir Rosan to me. After all, he is someone that will readily agree to anything after a few cups of good wine.」
「This somewhat worries me. Should a leader really have such work ethics? 」
「Those 「work ethics 」of his will turn him as strong as a bear and protect Your Highness from any harm during emergencies. Is that ok? 」
「… That may be true. Either way, we're finished once the enemy manages to invade the capital.」
「That may be so. Next, the matter that I would like to report is …」
Lotte flipped through the documents on his hand, and froze in shock after reading a few words. Seeing Lotte's rarely seen expression, Elizabeth — Liz's face was full of surprise and curiosity.
「… What happened? 」
「It's from the Royal Academy. It says that they managed to decipher a part on the 『Hero Summoning Ritual』 from the ancient texts.」
「… Hero … summoning…. ? 」
Hearing Lotte's words, Liz looked at him with skepticism.
「Is there even such a thing? It's the first time I've heard of it. 」
「It is also the first time I have heard such a thing. 『Hero Summoning 』 is only something you would find in storybooks and fairytales. 」
「… Magic itself already gives off the 『Fairytale 』 vibe, but even 『Heroes 』… 」
Liz clasped her head in her hands, shaking it in a hopeless manner, her soft golden hair also floated lazily along. Lotte perfectly understood her feelings.
「The Royal Academy may be excellent, but it seems some of them sure do some surprising things.」
「I don't think this is『some』. Furthermore, the people from the Academy made a proposal, 『we sincerely hope that Your Highness would be present to oversee the summoning ritual 』.
「Me? … It may be weird for me to say this but, isn't this proposal a little bit too reckless and risky? Or is it just my speculation? Is this actually ok? 」
「It's not like they have anything to lose. They don't want money, positions, glory nor reputation. All they want is an environment where they can concentrate on their research and also other fellow researchers that they can work together with. 」
「Their lack of greed is greatly admired … at least in this current situation. 」
Hearing Liz's words, Lotte nodded his head in agreement. They were discussion monetary matters moments ago, and that made this topic precious and valuable in comparison. Well, it couldn't be helped.
「… I understand. I leave the time and date to you. 」
「As you wish,」 Lotte said while lowering his head.
「Although the hero summoning will most likely fail, if this could lighten the load on Liz's shoulders, one could even call it a success on that part, 」 that was what Lotte thought.
… until that moment…