184. [EX] SIESTA’S PROBLEM

– LATE LATE LATE?!

“The ritual is to be conducted today, correct?!” Princess Siesta raised the helm of her dress with her hand, and with her short legs, she walked as if rushing across the hallway.

“I believe so.”

“Mu.. I wished they would have called me earlier, Miss El, can you accompany me to the site?,” rubbing her still tired eyes, she said. 

“Your Highness, it would be unruly of me to partake in the ceremony wouldn’t it?” Miss El, Siesta’s personal maid and secret bodyguard followed behind her.

“I’ll ask the adjustants for a pardon, so please?” Siesta took the flight of stairs spiraling downwards.
“If you will it Your Highness.”

“Thank you!”

– Damn those people, disregarding my existence and forsaking my participation. I’m a saint, isn’t my presence needed to motivate the new heroes?!

===

When Siesta arrived together with El, the ritual was already undergoing its final rites. Siesta heaved a sigh of relief, she wasn’t late. A dozen mages, together with Master Sage Granzioze stood around the summoning circle, sweat poured down their forehead as they concentrated on the chant. 

Runes traced from the centre and spiraled outwards. From there, it ascended up the 5 pillars, glowing in a dazzling blue light.

Blue painted the sky, some clouds shading the sun. Autumn trees decorated their surroundings in orange and red. A light breeze blew.

Close by were more than a dozen knights including the two other princesses.

One of them was Her Highness Leillia Erudite, the first princess of Erudite Kingdom. Her soft light purple hair and dark blue irises, she wore a nice light yellow dress with shiny embroidery and jewels.

This prompted Siesta to look at herself, a shabby easy to move-in blue dress that she had to quickly put on.

The second princess was Siesta’s elder sister, Alytia Erudite, the second princess of Erudite kingdom. She was seen talking to Commander Peter. Today, she wore the ceremonial army uniform with a magic sword hanging from her belt. Light armour buckled to her joints while greaves covered her feet, her identity was known to most people as: the Princess knight

– don’t tell me Anee-sama forgot to remind me?! Even making merry with the commander?!

“Anee-sama~”

“Hm? Siesta?” her elder sister Alytia who noticed Siesta’s arrival turned to her with a smile.

“Anee-sama, why didn't you wake me up,” all reason broke and Siesta showed a cute puffy pout.

“Forgive me, I thought your sleeping face looked rather cute. I couldn’t bear to wake you up as you were sleeping so peacefully,” she pinched Siesta cheeks, commander Peter who saw that showed them a soft smile. 

“Today is however a very important day, it is necessary that I be present too!” Siesta huffed.

“You slept very late at night yesterday didn’t you? Sleep is a must for nurturing a growing body like yours.”

“But still..”

After the morning breakfast, Siesta decided to take a quick nap to make up for the sleep she lost last night. She had indulged in various stories in preparation for today. With no one to wake her up and the ritual conducted early afternoon, Siesta panicked when woke up late.

“Your Highness,” El interrupted.

On cue, bright blue light shot to the sky as runes descended upon them like snowflakes.

“”OOOoooo””

Such was the sound of awe the knights surrounded the parameter expressed. Siesta wanted to see the new heroes but she was too short. Too short as in– her height. For a 14 year old girl, this was all she could manage. No matter how she tried to tip tow, all she could see was the nape of the knights. It was frustrating.

She almost wanted to stomp on the ground when something lifted her up carefully from the waist.

“You’ve grown heavy,” Alytia said.

“Anee-sama is the same isn’t it?” Siesta retorted.

– Surely I’m not growing fat? 

“O’ heroes you have been summoned to this world, I am the Grand Sage Granzioze, I welcome your presence,” the sage said in a powerful and humble voice.

Siesta was amazed by the sight.

There were more than a dozen summoned this time, unprecedented. The previous record for this was 5 individuals. Not to mention, all of them wore similar clothes that could be treated as the rare ‘school clothes’. 

Normally, the summoned people would be the one to feel amazement, though rarely said, this feeling of awe was also reflected to the receiving party. Siesta couldn’t contain her excitement as she observed each male reincarnates one by one. 

All of them had black hair and black eyes. 

“A-amazing..”

“It seems we have summoned a number this time,” Princess Leillia said as if to grab their attention.

“Where are we?”

And as the record goes, one of them would take charge and ask this cliche question. Siesta gripped her fist in excitement, awaiting the time she would see the entire exchange play out in front of her eye..

– No.. that Princess is getting the first catch! No!! I must grab their attention else they would all be held captive by her sole beauty!

“Anee-sama, please let me down,” Siesta wiggled.

“I apologize for the sudden turn of events, the current location is the summoning circle of Erudite Kingdom, the capital of this world called Imagi. A pleasure to meet you all, my name is Princess Leillia Erudite, the first princess of this kingdom.”

“No way..”

“I thought we died?”

“Shit! This is amazing!”

“No, calm down, we have to analyze the situation here..”

“Mom and dad, forgive me, I have come to another world,”

“Wait, it’s this the time to complain how I still haven’t deleted the stash of porn I downloaded in my computer.”

“Buahaha! Ridiculous.”

“We’re reincarnated?”

“Doesn’t this mean we are forced to fight..”

“So there’s a demon lord we have to kill?”

“Demon lord? What demon lord? I’m not familiar with this genre of stories..”
Siesta, who was let down to the ground, tried to push the knights away to get a clearer view amidst their chattering..

“Excuse me!” Siesta said in almost a yell.

“My apologies, Your Highness,” said a knight. He stood aside for her to pass.

“HA.. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

“Huh?”

The entire place fell silent at one person’s hysterical laughter.

“Sensei?” a female student called out in a voice mix in with confusion and fear.

Siesta observed how everyone had sat up, except for that lone man in the center. He wore clothing different from the rest, a suit of sorts.

Black hair with black glasses.

“No wonder.. what bull is this..” his arm shivered as he pointed at the sky. His status window?

“Sensei?” another student called out.

“Sir Hero, are you alright?” Princess Leillia took a bold step forward.

“Yeah, never better,” with his arms pressed to the ground, he pushed himself up. With a delirious smile on his face, she scanned the crowd.  

“O hero?” Leillia had already come down in front of him yet..

He wasn’t staring at her. He was staring straight at Siesta.

“It’s you,” he said.

“Me?” Siesta pointed at herself.

“Yes, you.”

At the intensity of his glare, she tumbled backwards.

Vision flashed past her eyes, visions of war, vision of death, vision of betrayal, vision of an empire no more. This person in front of her, despite meeting for the first time.. she knew somehow, his name–

Park Jiwon.

These visions were the effect of the unique skill she held, [Oracle], which was the only reason why she ended up a saint. 

“No.. I..”

Jiwon got up to his feet.

“O hero?” Leillia called out to him confused.

“I didn’t think we’d meet again.”

“Guards standby!!” Commander Peter yelled.

“Hey sensei! What’s wrong?!”

“Sensei, calm down!”

He reached out his hands towards a knight.

“Siesta.”

He spoke her name, in a tone so cold it sent a chill down the spine of those around him.

“Wha..”

As if there were a magnetic force, the sword held by the nearby knight flew into his hand. Brandishing the blade in the air, he bent his knees and shot forward.

Siesta closed her eyes in atonement to what was to come but.. instead, a strong impact resounded. The gust of wind generated caused her hair to flutter.

“PROTECT THE PRINCESS!!” Siesta’s elder sister, Alytia shouted in command.

“Haha, I’m glad you’re alive and well Alytia,” Jiwon said and kicked Alytia in the stomach, “It’s been two years?”

Aytia staggered a few steps.

“Huuhh.. Let me get this straight. I’m an irregular, I’ve come from the first world which had been dominated by the demon monarch.”

“W-what?”

– Why.. what exactly is this? Why is he aiming at me? Did I do something I shouldn't have? He mentioned the first world which meant perhaps it was one of those records where the heroes had gone through a simulation of life before. How does it relate to me then?!

“Demon.. Monarch?”

“First world?”

“Please accept my sympathy. Though you may have faced many trials that remain unseen, I ask of you to stand down, a discussion cannot be done unless both sides come into compromise,” Alytia commanded in a powerful voice, all other knights lowered their stance in preparation.

He thought through her words for a few seconds, “Sure. In exchange, let me talk to Siesta for a bit, privately,” he gazed at the lousy sword he held in his hand disinterestedly.

“I will not allow that.”

“No deal?”

“Another condition. Promise me you will spare her life. Though I may not understand what she did during your first life, my current sister has nothing to do with her.”

“I swear by the name of the God of Law– Thermis, that I will not kill Her highness Siesta.. for now at least,” Jiwon sneered.

“Don’t let him meet her, she’s going to die at this rate,” Commander Peter whiphered to Alytia.

“I know however, what choice do we have..” She grit her teeth.
“No.. I agree to it,” Siesta said, shivering.
“Sorry, I’ve been rash to kill you just now, had a nut screw in my head when I realized that you’re not the bitch I know. That said.. you do get what I’m trying to get at right?”

– This asshole, who does he think he is?!

“I- I understand. I will comply with your command..”

“Good. If anyone moves from this spot before she or I return, I will kill Her Highness, got it? Then, let’s go.”

“Huh?”

Even faster than she could voice her stupor, he had swept her up into his arms and made a dash towards the forest.
“SIESTA!!”

“Don’t!”

Alytia’s wanted to chase after them but Commander Peter held her back.

Slowly, their figures faded behind the dense forest of trees.

 ss2.

And in the next moment..

“Uwa?!”

“OUCH?!”

They tumbled.

Jiwon slammed into a tree.. but managed to throw Siesta aside to minimize her injuries.

“Owh.. owh.. I can’t believe I forgot the status difference.. “

“Wha- what do you intend to do to me?” Siesta jumped to her feet and was ready to run away at any moment.

“Let’s talk,” Jiwon got up after ruffling his hair.

Light poured in from above, revealing his face in an almost sauve vulgar glow. His hair was a mess. When he took down his glasses to check on it’s condition, revealing his bare face, Siesta’s heart skipped a beat.

He was different from the usual summoned heroes. His face did not resemble a Japanese, it had a beauty unlike those depictions drawn in the past scriptures.

“Looks like it’s not broken, great,” he heaved a sigh and put his glasses back on.

“What.. what are we going to talk about?”

“First of all, please forgive my conduct. It was unbecoming of me. I should have realized that you’re not the princess from my first life.. at least, not yet.”

“Not.. yet?”

“Your facade. I know that face you’re putting up isn’t the real you, give it up. It’s not going to trick me.”

– A facade? This is my usual self isn’t it?

Siesta tilted her head.

“Don’t tell me I got that part of you wrong,” he brought his hands through his hair, all his movements looked so refined. “Look, I want you to get me out of here ASAP. The demon lord this time isn’t easy to beat. The entire continent came under his rule at the end of my life, I’ll say that much.”

“As for what I did wrong during your first life..?” Somehow Siesta readily accepted how this person in front of her had met her before.

“You sided with the Demon Monarch.”

At those words, it felt as if a thorn had wedged into her heart, Siesta’s expression contorted.

– Me siding with the demon lord? No, Demon Monarch? This isn't the time to be denying his knowledge. If his conjecture proves true then I should take caution in this life. He was generous enough to share his experience with me.. but why?

“Why did you bring me here? It is not to only share your stories I believe?”

“Like I said, you sided with the Demon Monarch, killed everyone in your family and became the new queen of a kingdom under YOUR RULE. You may be young, but you’re damned intelligent. I’m hoping to get your cooperation if we’re going to kill the soon-to-become-demon-monarch demon lord this round. Understood?”

“Me? A queen?” Siesta’s voice quivered. She didn’t know if it was out of excitement or fear.

So their dreams did come true. Their wish to rule the kingdom– their wish to prove everyone else that they were capable.. in the first world that is.

“Keep this information to yourself, I want you to just say I’m some irregular who had a second chance in life and lost to the Demon Monarch. Tell the kingdoms to double down on demon lord related efforts. Don’t disclose anything further than this.”

“Then do you intend to ally with our kingdom?”

“I don’t care about this kingdom, do what you want, I just want to kill every last one of those damned demon lords.”

Siesta gave a silent reply.

“Now then, get me out of here, and I’ll journey by myself just like in my first life, I’ll come back when I need your help. That is the exchange for your life, got it?”

“Understood.”

“Now you’re looking more like the real Siesta I know.”

– the real Siesta? 

Though confused by his statement, she followed behind Jiwon as she worked her mind. Many things remain uncertain however.. This may be a chance to achieve their ultimate goal one again. Possibly, without relying on the demon’s power.

===

– Work again tomorrow.. I have to meet the high priest then serve in the ward. Afterwards I would have to visit the other churches and visit the children. Moreover, the need to furnish a report.. Uwa.. this has nothing to do with the heroes at all..

Siesta laid against her table, the shiny mirror in front of her reflected her depressed look.

Knock. Knock.
Taken off guard by the sudden visit, Siesta jumped. Quickly hiding the heroic novels she had into her drawer, she straightened out her nightgown before moving to the bed.

“Excuse me, Siesta, it’s me, your sister.”

“Miss El.”

Siesta’s personal maid who was together with her, nodded and invited Alytia in. At this sort of time, it would be unusual for a maid to be in the room. However, Siesta had requested so under the guise of loneliness, which wasn’t a lie. She wanted company, El’s presence alone could soothe her.

“Anee-sama, what brings you here?”

“I was worried about you.”

“Miss El, could you prepare some tea?”

“Right away Your highness,”

The maid left the room.

“Anee-sama, you can sit here,” Siesta patted her bed.

“So… What did the irregular say?” sitting down, such was the first thing Alytia asked.

“I was told to not disclose certain information regarding his first life. Though, many things remained uncertain. The probability of the demon lord ruling over the continent is high. He came to bring that revelation to me.”

“Which is to say that the demon lord won during this cycle?”

Siesta nodded.

The maid, El, returned with a trolley with tea and sugar cubes.

– Quick.

Alytia and Siesta talked about their various recent experiences. For a while they had been occupied with their work and rarely had the opportunity to talk to each other like this. It was only today, the excuse being to attend to the summoned heroes that they were dismissed from their routines.

Among the topics in their conversations, they talked about the heroes. It seemed the person Sasaki Ishida was the light hero, and another girl Nakano Rika was found to have a rare [Dragonewt] Unique Skill, it made the wyverns fond of her, and most probably allowed her to call upon the strength of dragons. And as day cannot exist without night, and light cannot exist without dark, strength cannot exist without the weak. The person Aoki Kaito had a Unique skill [Assimilate], the abilities strength lied in the ability to obtain strength through intake? His stats were as weak as a farm girl, there was a chance he could be another irregular.

The other heroes had powerful skills, but weren't much different from the norm.

“Understood. Then have a pleasant evening. If anything, do tell your elder sister about it alright?”

“Un, I will, thank you Anee-sama, love you.”

“Love you too, good night.”

Alytia lowered her head and left.

Siesta watched as her figure disappeared into the corridor.

– A facade.. the true me.. what did Jiwon-sama mean by that? I went to side with the enemy to achieve my goal.. the current me would’ve never wished for such a crazy outcome. How did I turn out that way? 

Siesta had a wish.. a dream.

She wanted to become the queen, the empress. No. It was their dream. It didn’t matter if either one of them became the empress.

As the third princess, her birth was unplanned for. She was born from a concubine of her father. The result of her existence aroused the jealousy of the current empress and other concubines.

The current kins in position to rule the kingdom amounted to 4 princes and 3 princesses. Though not a lot, there were still a healthy number of heirs to choose from. 

Siesta found herself fortunate to be born a woman, if she had been a prince, the envious eyes and pressure upon her would’ve been worse. As a woman, she was the absolute last in line to inherit the throne, as such, the worst treatment she had come to receive directly was a cold attitude from her surroundings.

That however, did not mean her mother was spared.

With news that Siesta’s mother had given birth to her, the other wives began to harass her mother. Perhaps they thought she did not deserve such a privilege from the king? The reasons were numerous and there were difficulties in identifying one.

A short 5 years after Siesta’s birth, her mother died due to illness.

Moreover, she learnt later that it was but a common cold. What exactly happened for her mother to grow so frail and weak? Siesta didn’t know.

Despised by many, with no support from the other cliques, it was only Siesta and her elder sister Alytia. The beginning days of their childhood were fraught with ridicule and despise. Alytia journeyed into the field of swordsmanship. Thousands of hours of effort, shedding blood and tears. She attained victory in heading the war between the previous Margrave’s territory and Erudite kingdom. She earned a reputation for herself, now known by the public as the Princess Knight.

As for Siesta, she struck fortune when people learnt of the Unique skill she had called [Oracle], which allowed her to peek into a person's fates.. otherwise, the fate of the world. The visions were unpredictable, erratic and sometimes confusing however.

Such was how Siesta began milinging with the church, building connections and tending to the public. Treating their illnesses with the magic and knowledge she knew.

These traits turned the sisters into jewels of the kingdom. It put them in a position that could not be overlooked.

One day, Alytia decided that they should aim for the throne, to avenge their late mother. Together, they would cooperate to get either one of them to become the queen of the kingdom– empress of the empire.

After all, their plan aligned with the 100 year cycle and coming of the heroes. This would open up a good opportunity to attain such a goal as the princes would be shaken as they also have to worry about the heroes taking the seat of the king. Though not always, it was very much a possible outcome. Furthermore, there were 20 heroes summoned this cycle, one of them was bound to fight for the position.

The sisters had to take advantage of that.

Though that was what they thought– Siesta found this method of attaining their goal to be.. wrong somehow.

 ss3.

Siesta elegantly brought a spoon of soup up to her lips.

“My apologies, but does the food today not suit your tastes?” Leillia, the first princess who wore a dress as beautiful as herself asked. The chefs who were lined up against the wall together with the maids froze at the remark.

The soup entered Siesta's mouth and slid down her throat.

The three princesses accompanied the heroes as they had a lavish breakfast around a wide long table. Crystal chandeliers hung from above, daylight leaked from the windows.

The mood was sullen, almost awkward even as the heroes tried their best to accustomed themselves to this sudden shift in lifestyle.

“No, the food is amazing, thank you,” Sasaki Ishida spoke up.

“Is there anything that troubles you all?”

“About that..”

“We want to know what happened to sensei. Sensei Park, why did he leave? What did he mean when he said that this was his second life?”

“It is as he said, this would be his second life. By the blessing of the Gods, he was able to return to the beginning of his journey and start over.”

“Your Highness Leillia, thank you for the explanation..” Sasaki Ishida said but.. his expression reflected that an unsatisfactory answer had been given.

“Your Highness Siesta, what did sensei tell you?” a girl spoke up, if Siesta remembered correctly, she was Nanako Rika, with the [Dragonnewt] Unique Skill.

“I believe my sister, Leillia has already explained what has needed to,” Siesta could see Leillia narrow her eyes at her skeptically, “As my sister had said, his first life ended up badly. As heroes, the ultimate goal is to defeat the demon lord. Even with the advantage in numbers, unprecedented in previous cycles, the demon lord had overthrown the reign of humans and himself became the monarch of the empire. I do not intend to be harsh, but I believe his wish for sharing this knowledge with you is to burn this awareness into your hearts as you work towards this goal.”

– Not just them, his words also reflect myself. I have to be wary of my steps.

Siesta still couldn’t believe she sided with the demon lord in the first life. 

“That means we have to train harder..”

“Do we really need to kill the demon lord?”

“Then did sensei just go out of the castle and live a life as an adventurer?”

“Heroes, please mind your manner of speech when speaking in front..”

“Miss El, it’s alright,” Siesta interjected.

– I suppose I should take advantage of this opening Jiwon-sama created for me. Quite a sly guy, I must say– to have not talked about it to his very own kind.

===

– Tired…

Siesta was in a carriage. She gazed out the window as her eyelids fell heavy.

– I should’ve slept earlier.. but that novel regarding the adventurer who had a second chance in life was just too good!

Siesta closed her eyes and dozed off, leaving a trace of consciousness to alert her when she returned.

Though there were horses galloping in front of the carriage, the carriage was a multipurpose vehicle that could be operated with the aid of a magic engine in case of emergencies. The magic engine was something that had already been developed during the previous cycles. It was only during the current decade did it become widely utilized.

The scenes of wide pavilions and mansion were soon replaced with the flat grounds of the castle's outer courtyard. You could hear the chirps of swords clashing and small magical eruptions as heroic yells were raised.

“Your Highness.”

“Ugh.. are we here already?”

“Yes, Your Highness. ” 

The carriage was spacious, so Siesta stretched her hands high in the air with a yawn. Such an act was unbecoming of a princess, though, this in front of El was normal. 

“Your Highness, please tidy yourself. You have a visitor, ”

At those words, Siesta’s body went rigid. She quickly regaining her senses tried to cover up her ungraceful actions.

The door of the carriage opened, and the face of a beautiful man revealed itself.

Bright blonde hair long enough to be tied into a ribbon at the back. His eyes shone in a deep crimson, on his face hung a noble-like smile. He reached out his hand to invite the princess.

This guy here was Siesta’s soon-to-be-engaged fiance. The decision was currently pending in the hands of the king, her father.

– Why did he have to appear at this sort of time?!

“Your Highness, It has been a while. It seems your beauty has grown more since the last time we met, hasn't it?”

– Don’t say something like that! It’s disgusting!

“It has been a while, Sir Belfort.”

“Your Highness, may I?”

With a smile, Siesta took his hands and got off the carriage. Oh how she wished she had worn gloves!

“What brings you here during such a wondrous evening?”

“I came to see how Your Highness was doing. Is Your Highness not sleeping well these past few nights?”

– Uwa! Disgusting! He noticed that?!

“Thank you for your concern, I am still well and healthy.”

“Your Highness, understand that your health is of priority alright? Is there something troubling Your Highness?”

The two walked towards the castle, his hand held her’s, she had no way to pull away. 

Furthermore, they were doing such a display in front of the other heroes amidst their training.

– He’s doing this on purpose isn’t he?

It’s as if he wanted to tell all those here that she belonged to him, what bullshit.

“Duke Belton, I can continue from here myself, I’m glad that you have come to visit me.”

“Your Highness, at least allow me to accompany you for today. His Majesty, Your father, has invited me for dinner,” he said, with a triumphant smile.

– Whwhwhw.. wha.. WHA.. WHAT?!! NO NO NO NO, this can't be happening! There’s no way I’m accepting this man, absolutely no way! Sure, he is handsome and has all the qualities of a man, with many meritorious deeds awarded under his belt, most girls would swoon for him– however! There’s absolutely nothing between us! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! I won’t accept this!!

“Excuse me, Your Highness, could I talk to you for a second.. Sir Belton was it? I apologize but may you allow me a few minutes with her?”

The person that asked this was Ishida. The light hero.

He had noticed how Siesta was struggling.

“What is it that you wish to know?”

“It’s about the Irregular in our group.”

“An irregular? Is he or she related to Her Highness? I haven’t heard such a news?”, Sir Belton turned to Siesta, she flinched a little.

“Yes, that is what happened sir. It seems the irregular is fond of milady,” the one to reply to that was El.

– FOND? Don’t say such absurdities!!

Siesta kept those words to herself and bit her tongue.

“What is it you wish to ask? Excuse me Duke, could I have a moment with Hero-sama,” Siesta said in haste to prevent any more sparks from flying.

“If Your Highness wishes, I have no say in the matter. Please be quick, His Majesty must be waiting.”

– Otou-sama waiting?! What’s going on? Did he really decide to marry me off to this man?! That jest!!

Siesta fled together with Ishida to a parlor, away from view of the open courtyard.

“Thank you,” Siesta said after checking the trail behind.

“So it’s really that after all.. you don’t like him right?”

“I would rather have nothing to do with the duke,” Siesta grounded her teeth as she spoke.

“He’s a duke?”

“Yes. That asides, what else do you wish to know? Make it brief, one question.”

“I thought Your Highness had been told to not share any more info?”

“I will judge the scope of the question in regard to the limits Jiwon-sama had imposed before giving a suitable reply,” not that he really said anything. 

“Then what about this, what happened during his first life? This life is the second one right?”

“Which is it you wish for me to answer, the former or the latter? Make it clear.”

“T-the former then.”

“To expand on what I’ve said before, the demon lord, or as he had referred to as the monarch of demons, had conquered the world. Unprecedented, he died and came to bring the news. It’s a chance for us to rewrite the future.”

“Then.. everyone died?”

“It wasn’t told anything in regards to..”

– I saw Ishida-kun in my vision hadn’t I– Ishida? Ishida Sasaki? Sasaki-sama? HOw come I was using his f-first name? Could it be that we were familiar with each other during our first life?

“You survived..”

– No, he didn’t only survive.. he was my spouse?! How could this be?!

Siesta shivered to the realization. This man in front of him was his in a way– her ex-husband.

“What’s wrong?” Ishida asked, noticing how Siesta’s eyes rounded in shock.

“N-nothing. If that is all then I will take my leave.”

“Your Highness.. no, you must be busy. Understood,”

Siesta left without turning around, the turmoil in her heart only continued to grow.

– What in the world? How did I become Queen? How did I marry the light hero? These.. these aren't mere visions are they? Or could it be that my memories of the previous life would return as time passes..

 ss4.

The air was tense. 4 people sat in the dining hall. With most seats being unoccupied, the king, at the seat furthest away while Siesta, Alytia and Duke Belton sat at the opposite end. El, Siesta’s personal maid stood at a position behind Siesta, Alytia didn’t need a personal maid as she herself was a knight. There were other maids as well, but they stood a distance away. The prime minister wasn’t here.

The food served was well plated and had been served in proper order and created with the highest quality of ingredients yet, Siesta could taste none of it. To her, it was worse than the bread being served out at the churches to feed the poor.

This mood and Belton’s smile.. 

– I want to puke.

Siesta desperately held back the pains in her stomach. It was rude to not finish the food given, she had no choice but to force it down.

“Sir Duke Highland, you may speak your thoughts.”

Highland was the house name, Belton was his first name.

“Your Majesty, many thanks for the meal and this opportunity to speak in your presence. I am humbled by your generosity to spare a meal together.. or should I skip the formalities? What’s up with the distant speech? I had thought we met a fortnight ago?”

It wasn’t that Duke Belton was being rude, rather, he and the kings could be said as partners in crime. They were close, close to the point where they were drinking partners.

“Please do, I prefer it that way.” the king smiles.

– Uwa.. no, no, NO!!

“Your Majesty, I feel that this engagement between us should not proceed,” Duke Belton announced.

– Eh? What?

“Hm..” the king closed his eyes and took in a breath.

–What d-did he mean?

Duke Belton had just asked to annul the engagement? 

The king tapped his fingers on the table for a moment of ponder. He then opened his eyes and stared straight at him.

“I am of the same opinion too. Do you not have any hard feelings?”

“Your Majesty, I believe your daughter should seek someone else. I prefer a marriage built on love, please forgive me on that note.”

“I will accept your request. It does save me some trouble, I was thinking of canceling the engagement plan myself.”

“Heeh.. that’s brutal.”

“That’s life,” The king guffawed at Sir Belton’s words.

Siesta heaved a sigh.. but soon felt goosebumps all over her body.

– What? Otou-sama called upon this rare dinner to cancel the engagement? No, there must be something deeper to this..

“My daughter Siesta,”

“Y-yes father?”

“You have a letter.”

“A-A letter?”

His Majesty beckoned El over and handed over a letter. She gracefully received it before passing it to Siesta, having traversed the length of the entire dining table.

Alytia who had been silent this whole time looked at the letter with genuine curiosity.

“Open it and tell me what your opinion of it is.” 

“Understood.”

Siesta swallowed her saliva and slowly removed the beautiful wax seal holding down the flap of the envelope. The emblem was of a peculiar rose, which was representative of Toren Kingdom.

– This is.. A LOVE POEM?!

Written by Prince Kyoshi, the second prince of Toren kingdom.. the last time they met was a year ago when she went to Toren Kingdom as an ambassador. During that period, she was told of the situation of the demon kingdom being built nearby and the risk it possessed. 

She also got to know the prince and princesses of the Toren lineage. Recalling this, Siesta couldn’t help but remember that girl with the velvet hair playing in the courtyard. Though she had personally not approached her.

The memory was fuzzy somehow. Where was her elder sister? How could she, a child, go alone as an ambassador? Siesta shook her head realizing that it was besides the point.

– The point here was that this was from Prince Kyoshi and.. 

“Congratulations Your Highness Siesta,” 

“Belton, you’re being disrespectful,” His majesty admonished.

“You’re the one being disrespectful, Your High-ness. I’m merely stating my opinion.”

– The point here was that..

Among all of them, the one who was surprised wasn't Siesta herself.. It was Alytia.

– This was Anee-sama’s first love..

===

“Anee-sama.. I-I will do my best to annul the engagement.”

“Siesta, it’s alright. I told you already.”

Her armour clanked as it hit against each other. It was clear from her gait that she was furious.

“No, it’s not alright.. it’s anee-sama’s first love, I can’t just let it turn out this–”

“Just accept it. There’s nothing we can do about it anymore. You said it yourself,”

A harsh tone came through Alytia’s voice, causing Siesta to freeze on the spot.

“You said you will gratefully accept it didn’t you?” with a piercing gaze, she spoke.

– That was out of formality!!

Alytia turned around and continued down the corridor, disappearing from sight. Siesta gripped her fist.

– What have I done? 

Siesta said she would prefer a trial period with the prince before being officially announced as his fiance.. 

– Should I have phrased it differently? Should I have rejected it? 

Her legs were shaking.

“Your Highness,” El called out, but Siesta didn’t hear it.

Prince Kyoshi would be visiting the various kingdoms, serving as the ambassador to pass on the message regarding the demon lord. In approximately a month’s time, he would arrive to Erudite Kingdom.

Siesta could imagine it.

Her elder sister abandoning her, that fake smile on her face, the pain and anguish kept hidden inside her heart. All that effort she put in and.. for one of her dearest wish to drop in Siesta’s court without even a need to lift a finger.

How much had Alytia prepared put since that time she met him? To make herself a woman worthy of his hand..

All of it, all her efforts..

It was wasted on Siesta.

Her knees gave way, she herself didn’t know why it happened. She was washed over by this all too familiar feeling of sorrow and fear of her sister’s presence suddenly disappearing from her life.

“Your Highness!”

===

A few weeks have passed since then. Vision had appeared but gradually subsided. Every now and then she would still pick up on things that seemed to click. It was like watching a movie replay in real life, causing a sense of deja vu.

– I thought we had made a vow to become empresses together?

Siesta had tried to search for Jiwon’s whereabouts, thinking perhaps he knew the  answer to her questions–  the outcome of the engagement. But tough luck, he was as elusive as a phantom.

It was night, Siesta couldn’t sleep so she got out of her room, unnoticed and proceeded to make her way to the outer courtyard. 

It would be great if some assassin came to take her life. After all, her existence brought misery to the world in her first life. Since it happened once, it could happen again. 

– I thought we only had each other left..

With unsteady steps, she walked into the forest. She came to the structure of the summoning circle.

Alytia slowly disappeared from her life, just as the vision had foretold. She would always busy herself with the training of the heroes and never sat together with her during meals. 

More so, the other day when the heroes were to explore their first dungeon together, she left not a word of goodbye. 

– Wasn’t it you that said that we wouldn’t leave each other’s side?

She never liked Prince Kyoshi. She never intended to get engaged to him. It wasn’t her choice. Was the world really so cruel to her? To force such a result? Why wasn’t there peace? Why do problems appear all the time?

It was unfair. Cruel even.

Siesta sat on the cold hard stone, blankly, she set her sight towards the center of the stone spiral. Cobblestones adorned with runes arranged in concentric circles, the definitions of each rune had already been lost to history, left undeciphered.

Where exactly did this summoning circle originate from? Nobody knew.

Actually..

As Siesta closed her eyes to ponder.. to cry. Quietly, alone, she sobbed. Tears filled her eyes as emotions rushed out from her chest. She wanted to scream, she wanted it all to stop. She wanted a solution to this mess.

As if her wish was answered, the place seemed to brighten up a little. She opened her teary eyes slowly.

– Are the runes.. glowing?

It was a faint light, but it was obvious that the runes were pulsing. Every throb the light grew brighter, more intense.

– Wait… wh-at is going on? Is something going to happen here?

Siesta got off the stone and ran around the stone monument to hide. Peeking from behind the structure, the light had now reached the point where the surroundings would be lit as if day.

She could escape to the castle, but something inside of her told her to stay.

Then it happened.

 ss5.

Siesta had to squint her eyes at the sudden burst of light.

– What is this?! More heroes?!

Siesta slapped both cheeks to assert that this was not merely a dream.

– How could this happen?  For wasn’t a summoning ritual.. how did these people get summoned?!

There were four of them, each had an odd countenance.

Three girls, one boy. The girl with the short hair and the boy had black hair while the others two did not.

“Could this be the summoning circle? There is.. Noel. I’ll be going somewhere for a bit, I’ll make sure to return.. Excuse me, what brings you here?”

“HHIKKH!?” Siesta held her hands to her mouth to suppress her scream.

The velvet haired girl had just appeared behind her.

– T-teleportation magic..?!

The girl tilted her head, Siesta distanced herself.

“My apologies for the surprise. Could you be a Princess from Erudite Kingdom?”

– Erudite Kingdom? No, to begin with, she was familiar.. this girl, have I met her somewhere before.. NO WAY…

Siesta shuddered.

– Wasn’t this the girl from Toren kingdom? No, she’s different. 

Siesta backed herself against a wall and shrunk down.

She got down into a squatting position. They continued to stare at each other.

“Oh.. my.. gawd. This is fantasy!” A girl with short hair said in excitement.

“Noel, what should we do about her?” The velvet haired girl turned to the male.

“Um.. do you know who she is?”

“3rd princess of the capital kingdom Erudite, Princess Siesta..”

– Eh.. did you not just ask for my identity just now.. HOW DID SHE KNOW?!

“Oh right, she is a princess, and oh! She’s also a saint?!” Nine said. 

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to corner a princess like that? We should give her some space..” the white haired girl was a demi-human.

– No.. I thought summonings circles are supposed to summon heroes, or could it be used as a teleportation circle? I can’t jump to assumptions, there must be something to this..

“You’re not wrong.. however, it was as if she had been waiting for our arrival..” 

“Uh.. what should we even do about this..” 

“Liliath, maybe you don’t need to stay close to her?”

“If you wish.” 

“Oh yeah, can she understand us? Isn’t there supposed to be a difference in language?”

“I believe she can understand you, English is similar to the language we use here.”

Such conversations broke out between them.

“G-greetings.. hero-sama?” Siesta tried to speak.

“Mm.. Noel, are we heroes? I’m pretty sure Bleu said we’re not that right?”

“Yeah, I think so too but.. we came from the summoning circle so..”

– I was ignored.. Ugh..

“Could I ask why you are here?” the demi human asked with concerned eyes, her silver hair was gorgeous.

– Finally!

“I apologize for the sudden encounter.. I-I surely did not expect to meet O’ hero-sama..”

“Uh. Even her speaking manner is weird, just like Liliath,” the short-haired girl commented.

– Uwa.. what did she just say?!

“You know, maybe we should really direct our focus back to the person in question. Anyways, we’re going way too out of topic. Um, nice to meet you, I'm Noel.”

“I am Liliath, a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness Siesta.”

“You can call me Prune.”

“And I’m Nine. Nice to meet you Princess Siesta. So what brings you here? Assuming this is all but a chance encounter.”

– No way.. for the heroes to introduce themselves before me.. what a disgrace. As a princess shouldn’t I have been the one to guide them..

“I sincerely apologize. I..”

“There’s probably some reason to all this. Is this a trap? Will the guards come?” 

“No. No! I swear by my life that this is but a mere coincidence.. I didn't think it would come true..” Siesta panicked.

“Could you elaborate on that? What do you mean come true.. don’t tell me you can predict the future to an extent?!” 

– How did she know? Though in a sense it was different from predicting the future.. the visions were still part of the [Oracle] skill… Could it be that..

Princess Siesta gripped her dress and looked down to the ground.

“Please.. I beg you. I...”

– They too came from the first life?

“I don’t want to get married to him..”

“Okay, GG. End of story, she’s ded, let’s go..” the short haired girl turned around and walked off.

– Eh?

Siesta stared, dumbfounded.

The conversation between them progressed with Siesta slowly unraveling her worries and intentions.. the velvet haired girl, Liliath said.

“Noel.. there are royal knights coming.”

“Shit, what do we do now..”.

They started to panic.

– the knights were coming? How so?

“I got it, Princess, open your status window. Just think of it and it'll appear,” the person Noel said if he had just come up with a solution.

– Just think of it? A status window? Isn’t such a thing exclusive to heroes?

“What did you do?” 

“We’ll keep in touch– I added a messaging function to her system, we need to escape now right?”

“Wait.. I don't understand how this operates.. ha..?” Siesta was stopped by the appearance of her own limited UI mid-way through her sentence. She only needed to think of it.

Though it lacked the so-called status numericals, there were other exotic things within the panel that Siesta didn’t understand.

“Your Highness!” 

– This voice.. Miss El?

“Yes, teleport. Teleport!” 

“Princess Siesta-sama, may I wish a future encounter.”

– NO! I should bring them to the castle..

“W-Wait!?”

They disappeared before Siesta could do anything.

“Your Highness, where are you?!”

“I-I am here!” Siesta quickly got up from the structure and came into their presence.

“You..” El was furious, as if she was about to rip her apart.. but breathed a heavy sigh to cool her head. Surrounding her were a troop of knights, “Your Highness,” in a cold voice she said.

“U-understood. I apologise for the trouble.”

“Please reflect on your actions. The kingdom could’ve gone on lockdown if we hadn’t found you.”

“I will reflect on this, sorry El..”

“Good, now let’s go,” El’s expression softened as she led Siesta back to the castle.

===

“Princess! Look! Look! I caught a baby octopus!”

“Let me see!”

“Kyaa!”

The children were busy playing around in the backyard. Siesta was sitting on a wooden stump.

“Oh, how cute.”

“Ehehehe, it’s cute right?” the kid stoked the bubbly head of the octopus that clung to his finger. Siesta showed him a soft smile.

“AAHHHH!! Mother octopus! Mother octopus!” another kid yelled out.

The baby octopus on the first kid’s finger popped off and flew to the larger octopus. With a squish, they disappeared to the sky. The disappointed sounds of the children rang.

– Where did they come from?

Siesta returned to the book she held in her hand. That book did more to served as a proxy than was the real material she was reading– the books in the UI.

This morning, the 4 irregulars had called her through this status system she learnt was referred to as a UI. It had an usual name but considering its origin and exoticness, it would be wrong to call it otherwise.

After the call discussing the matters regarding the engagement, Siesta thought she would, as they advised, wait till the moment where Prince Kyoshi would arrive before coming to a stout conclusion. 

– What was the point in panicking?

This was what came to mind after bawling her feelings. Was it that she needed someone to hear her or was it the carefree aura those irregulars had around them?

– Moreover.. the possibility of Liliath-sama associated with Prince Kyoshi..

Siesta could use that as a hinge. After all, Liliath talked as if she knew the prince in person. Liliath may very well be the person she saw that time.

Siesta understood she could do nothing about the engagement. No, she could, which was to practice patients and control herself. It would be easier to prepare for the fateful day with calmness than to panic and worry.

– I had shown something unsightly to the irregulars hadn’t I..

Siesta sulked, the children looked at her curiously. They wondered what was bothering the princess.

On that note, Liliath had introduced Siesta to a number of books, most of which she thought were revolutionary, more so when she realized how these were books from their world– the world where the heroes had come from..

It was forbidden knowledge..

She felt the fog in her mind clear up because of the scripture.

===

– No matter how strong the mind is, it is impossible to block out external influences.

“I will have to agree with this...”

– Those in our surrounding will influence us.. the culture, the people. If around me are those who are constantly holding high expectations, I too will stray towards such a path. People will feed into each other, thus it is important to select who you associate with.

“Should I avoid the second and third prince?”

– To put it otherwise, do nobles realize how mixing among nobles, they risk running themselves into misery? For the sake of protecting the house, for the sake of inheriting the title, such a concept did not exist in the hero's world. It was an unnecessary worry.

“This is something everyone understands isn’t it? How come it sounded like a profound insight?”

– This wish to maintain their status would only drive this perpetual cycle of dissatisfaction.. no, such is the fate of the world isn’t it? No, it would be too presumptuous of me to assume humans don’t aim for something.

“But if I don’t actively face this people I wouldn’t be able to..”

– Reach the throne. Do I sincerely wish to sacrifice this for the sake of that? Was this gold really worth the sacrifice? Was this the reason why I sided with the Demon Monarch the life before?

“Your Highness, are you not feeling well?” El whispered.

“Hm?”

Siesta blinked.

She looked around the hall of the church, the sisters were looking at her with a confused expression.

Siesta didn’t only speak out loud, she was also staring at the air with changing expressions. She was in the midst of a luncheon. It was akin to reading a book during a meal except that.. to the others, she was hallucinating.

“Ah, no, no, I’m fine, thank you for your concern Miss El,” Siesta made sure to take note of her actions.. rather, wouldn’t it be nice if she could be herself? To stop caring about others' opinions as they only weigh her down? 

Perhaps becoming an empress was worth less the trouble she would have to face after all..

– No, no.. my mind is going awry. Focus.. focus..

The door shook open.

“You Highness, forgive me for the interruption; could you come to the church assembly with all due haste?” a man wearing priest-like clothes called out to her. He held a scepter in hand.

“Is it of urgency?” Siesta replied. 

“It's something that cannot be discussed here.”

“Your Highness,” El called out.

“Then I shall see to it.”

Siesta left her half eaten meal and followed the priest. El accompanied Siesta, they reached the gate of the assembly.

The priest placed both hands on the door. 

“Father Toue-sama, what news would require my presence?” Siesta asked, seeing the hesitation in his eyes.

“Your Highness, the God of Fate has disappeared.”

– A God.. disappeared?

Siesta never realized this, but the skill [Oracle] had stopped functioning a week ago. If Nine were to check her status, [Oracle] would’ve been greyed-out. 

This Unique skill was a fragment of the power bestowed upon by the God of Fate,which meant that..

“My dearest apologies, Your Highness.”

The fact that she felt relieved– when tension and worry should’ve been the right response shocked her more than the news itself. 

She was no longer a saint.