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Side Story Part 8

Marine nodded arrogantly.

「Thank you so much! 」

Overjoyed, Alexis smiled helplessly as he began to climb the stairs leading to the higher ground.

Marine followed after him silently, all the while lifting the hem of her skirt, worried that it might get torn otherwise.

After reaching the top of the nearby hill, Alexis looked back in the direction that both of them just came from. Marine also followed suit.

From where they were standing right now, they could easily see the entirety of the Magic City of Elam.

The sun was about to set, and the western sky was being colored in the shade of crimson by it. Clouds of various shapes were floating in the sky, and the city was gradually melting together with the rapidly encroaching darkness.

「I love the scenery in this place at this time of the day. I mean, just look at the Grand Cathedral over there. 」

Alexis said as he pointed his finger towards a building that had every right to be called the symbol of the Mages Association with a glowing expression on his face.

Against the light of the setting sun, the unique silhouette of the Grand Cathedral was standing out even more than the rest of the city’s buildings.

「This short timeframe of the day is the only time period when light and shadow are melting together in perfect harmony, and this gigantic city becomes one with the nature around it. Just being able to see such a magnificent view with my own eyes makes glad that I was born and can live in this world. Ah, but meeting you made me even happier, of course! 」

「Oh really now? Even though I heard that you were planning to take your own life just because I told you that we’re not going to see each other ever again? 」

Marine asked while glaring at Alexis.

「I admit, there was a certain point where I thought that there was no point in living anymore if I won’t be able to see you and marry you anymore. That is precisely why I went to that street where you’ve found me. I wanted to cheer those children up, and through that, cheer myself up as well. 」

「You wanted to… cheer yourself up? 」

Marine asked while tilting her head quizzically.

「Yes, I wanted to cheer myself up, because whenever I’m singing with the children like I was before, I can just forget all the hardships plaguing me at the current moment. It’s true that at first these children only wanted the money that I was handling out to them, but right now that is no longer the case. They are genuinely looking forward to singing with me, their eyes are filled with life and they’re always greeting me with a smile whenever I come here to see them. 」

「That’s precisely why I said that what you’re doing in nothing but charity…」

Marine was about to say something in addition to that, but the young master from the Ducet family stopped her from doing so by shaking his head to the sides.

「In order to call it charity, that’d have to be simply handing away your money or other items. People who’d have received such charity would certainly be grateful for it, but there would be no actual joy behind their gratefulness. If you want the people to be truly happy, then not only their material needs, but also the spiritual needs of their hearts must be satisfied.

「Satisfying the hearts of the people? That is not one of the Lord’s responsibilities. 」

Marlene was still puzzled about what Alexis was talking about, but she still retorted his statement anyway. However, thanks to his words, she discovered that her own mind has began to waver, whereas normally she would’ve been convinced that she was the one who was in the right the entire time.

「I don’t think so. Rather, I think the most important thing That the Lords should be doing is to make sure that their subjects feel the sense of fulfillment in their hearts. I also think that the government that’s going to forget about such an obvious principle is going to be doomed to make their subjects unhappy from the start. 」

「That kind of thing is… 」

… not going to happen, is what Marine wanted to answer here, but for some reason, even though she had the words she wanted to say, she couldn’t squeeze them out of her throat.

Once again, what Alexis was saying was nothing more than wishful thinking of a dreamer. In reality, a certain dose of strictness with one’s subjects is always going to be required for a proper governance.

It is exactly thanks to such strictness that the Kraische family was capable of building a powerful nation and expanding the influence of the Factory Alliance, and eventually it will enable them to spread the Alliance’s rule onto the entire continent.

(My father will rule the continent with his rationality. Of course, that’ll mean that he won’t be able to make all the people happy, because thinking that something like that is possible is the very opposite of rationality.)

Marine gazed at the scenery that Alexis proclaimed to love so much and told that to herself in her heart.

(But, why do we even think that something like that is impossible? Even if we won’t be able to keep things that way forever, then as long as we continue to make genuine effort towards reaching it, we’ll keep getting closer to it…)

Alexis said that making sure that their subjects feel fulfilment in their hearts is the true purpose of the Lord’s governance over them. Marine repeated those words of his to herself in her mind over and over.

(Governments themselves don’t exist just for the purpose of being strict, but without a clear purpose, governments will become little more than the empty shells of their former selves, and fall to corruption as a result. Moreover, a Lord who’ll abandon the notion of making their subjects feel fulfilled may one day start to extort the money and their belongings and lands from the people to further their own goals…)

Horrified by that thought for some reason, Marine involuntarily hugged her own shoulders.

Noticing this, Alexis took off his jacket and puts it over Marine’s shoulders

「Thank you. 」

It wasn’t that she was feeling cold, but Marine accepted his favor anyway. The scent and warmth of Alexis then enveloped Marine. In that moment, she felt as if her own heart’s desire has been fulfilled.

(I see… so that’s it.)

Marine felt as if all the pieces of the puzzle just came together in her heart. Then she put her hand on Alexis’s shoulder.

「I’ve decided… 」

Marine put her hand on Alexis’s cheek and she turned to face him… and then she quietly joined her lips together with his.

「What did you decide on? 」

Alexis asked after their lips parted.

「That I will be your Empress. 」

Marlne said with a quiet determination rising in her heart. The moment she said those words, she felt that the courage welled up from within her heart.
It is the courage to fight. She was sure that it will be a long battle, but it’ll definitely be a battle worth fighting.

「Looks like I’ve fallen in love with you too, so there’s nothing I can do about it.

can’t help it. I don’t know how many years it will take, but I’m definitely going to help you realize your dream., so don’t change your mind about it and wait for me. 」

「Marine! 」

Alexis let out a cry of delight and hugged Marine tightly.

「Of course I’ll wait for you! And there’s no way I’ll change my mind. You’re the only one who can make me feel fulfilled! 」

The two of them pressed their lips together again and remained motionless for a long time. Their two silhouettes became one against the background of the setting sun, and were slowly enveloped in darkness…

The Shadows that served each of them were watching from a distance as the two youths confirmed their love for each other.

「Lady Marine, I’m glad so glad… 」

Layla let out a joyful voice while shedding tears.

「That’s good. But the real trouble is about to begin… 」

Irvin said gruffly.

「First thing’s first, what should I report to the Chief Chamberlain? 」

It was scary just thinking about it.

「We’ll all become new Arts for the Chief Chamberlain for this. 」

Cammy tapped Irvin on the shoulder to comfort him.

「The Shadows of the Ducet family will also fully cooperate with you. 」

Noelia then asked Irvin for a handshake.

「It’s too early for that. But once we’re all settled, I’ll contact you. However, it might take many years, just like the young lady said.

It’s not what the young lady said, but I don’t know how many years it will take.「

「Okay. I’ll be waiting to hear from you then. By the way, would you like to celebrate with me tonight? I would also like to talk with the two of you all night long as well. 」
Then, five years later, Marine Kraische and Alexis Doucet were finally going to get married in the Grand Cathedral in Elam…

… but then the tragedy happened.

『The End」