Posts from Sakuramoria Auto-translated

/If we're being serious, it's not a certainty. The most obvious, but not the only possible, pitfall: Nemuri might be lying. For example, while Futaba tries to win over the king with affection, the king's sons might arrive, point a finger at Futaba, and shout, "Poisoner! She tried to kill her husband, tie her up!"/

That way, the son will seize power and ignore any secret orders from the king. And it's in her interest for the situation to result in a division, so that she can secure a future for her children. Assuming, of course, that she loves them.

What are you all doing, rushing in to divide the belongings of your classmate?

Anyway, Vare will get some good loot there.

/I don't understand... It's written as if Futa bequeathed school property to us: two classrooms each, three units of default weapons from the warehouse, a kaoris in the yard, and a piece of the statue of Levizia./

But all the good stuff will go to Vare anyway.

/ You get it./

- So, what am I supposed to do with you now? You thought you could blackmail me? - Futaba muttered, pacing around the room and examining its furnishings, occasionally glancing at the old man. - Your sons did me a favor. Let them take the spotlight; I don't mind. Less of a headache. But did you really have to involve my students in this? ... Stopping in front of her portrait, which the king had painted a couple of months ago, she imagines its approximate effect on the wall of the NAILS dormitory. - You know how hard Nira worked on this competition? I was so happy when she brought the plans for approval. She would sit there for two hours, double-checking every budget, even though it made my head spin just looking at them. Not because I didn't trust her, but out of respect for her work. Yes, I didn't like her at first, but that was a long time ago, and a lot has changed since then, especially after leaving the cave. And for those couple of weeks, her eyes regained their sparkle. And so did her friends'. Are you aware that Cassin's father tried to take her by force, like an animal? I can't blame him for that. After your and Carvia's crimes, I would have done the same in his place. But somehow, it was resolved. You know, I've thought many times since then about writing him a letter, but I couldn't decide what to write. Neither a scolding, nor an accusation, nor a reconciliation, nor an apology from the crown - nothing seems sufficient. One way or another, people were just starting to adapt... This competition was very important to us. We turned the page on suffering and entered a normal new semester. We showed team spirit. And then... For a few seconds, Futaba tries to compose herself, but fails and furiously kicks a pillow. - I just want to slap that damn bald head... And the bald head of your gloating son... And most of all - I want to slap you in the face, - the queen gives her unconscious body a sweeping slap. - Well, are you satisfied? You old fool. Collapsing to her knees next to the bed and resting her forehead on its edge, Futaba looks at the floor - her tears are soaking it. - It's not fair... We tried so hard... We organized everything... We decorated everything... We sold tickets... And you, you monsters, ruined everything... - a fist hits the bed frame. - It's not fair... - another hit. - It's not fair... - *boom* - You bastards... - *boom, boom, boom* - Her hand lost feeling and fell limply. - Citizens were killed... No matter who they were... Guess who? Me, of course. Just like last time. And our beloved granddaughter, the apple of our eye. Is that what you wanted from her? ... Although, what can you expect. You're like my own father. You two would get along. Taking a convulsive breath, the queen gets up and sits on the bed, staring at the body for a long time, regaining her composure. - And now, these blockheads are accusing me of your crime. And the crime of your milkmaid. Isn't that funny? You really covered your tracks well, didn't you? "Supermind from Sakuramor," - running her fingers over the mark on the old man's cheek, which she had made earlier, she can't help but add an ironic and mocking tone. Sighing, Futaba breaks off her monologue and sits in silence for a while, looking at the body. Then she smooths his hair, adjusts his pajama collar. - Get up, - she says in a whisper, leaning close to his ear. - And take responsibility for your negligence. She seals this phrase with a kiss on the forehead of the two-hundred-and-twenty-year-old mummy.

In the dim light of the bedroom, and with Moecchi Starlight’s barely perceptible breathing, he resembled a marble statue or a lifeless mannequin, similar to those the students had seen in the tower of trials, but with Futaba’s presence and her words, bright colors reappeared in the king’s dull eyes. The king’s sudden awakening came with a deep, painful breath and a subsequent groan. - Futaaa! - Almost reflexively, the old man embraces his wife tightly, as if it were a natural position for their bodies. - How glad I am to see you again! - Tears of great joy appear in the king’s eyes. - This dream felt like an eternity... - He kisses her on the cheek, then on the lips, then on the forehead. - But I never doubted for a second that you would free me from this nightmare! - *Kiss, kiss, kiss*. - My beloved... Even though I was unable to respond to you, I heard everything... And I am angry! I will not forgive those who caused your tears! Tell me how you want me to deal with the scoundrels, and I will do it!

- I see... - breaking free from the old man's grasp, the queen points an accusing finger at him. - Tell the truth! There was no fairytale dream, it was just another one of your tricks. That's why I thought the story about the rosebush sounded like nonsense.

Moechi Starlight looked like a soulless mannequin.

He looked like one.

- Well, what's wrong? You really saved me from oblivion...

"Well, well," Futaba sighed, but since he was sticking to this version, she decided to let it go.
For the next half hour, she meticulously recounted the events of the past few weeks, starting with Gideon's meeting with Rhododendron, continuing with the chaos that unfolded at the festival, and ending with the accusations leveled against her in Caladium's letter (but without listing the insults).
"First and foremost, I need to get my students back. If they are unhappy with something – and I suspect there are many such things – they can say so directly and, if they wish, leave the school through official channels. I will not hold them back; it is their right. Until that is done, all of Caladium's talk about 'protection' is meaningless, and I have no reason to trust him. The simple fact is that the students disappeared without explanation after the mass turmoil and deaths orchestrated by your sons. Until there is direct information about the missing students, they can be considered kidnapped.
Secondly, someone must answer for these deaths. Specifically, the organizers. I believe that for an ordinary person, such actions should be punishable by the highest penalty, but I cannot demand this for your stepchildren. At the very least, because they are close to Levia, and I don't want to upset her, and at most, because they are not ordinary people. But they still organized an attack in a place where innocent people gathered, on the territory of my school. I will never forgive them for this. If I were their mother, I would beat them with a belt until they couldn't sit down for a week.
And thirdly, it turns out that I am being considered a witch who has seized some power, is planning evil deeds, and even killed one of the students. Those two fools even had the audacity to make some kind of open move, and how many more are hiding in the shadows, ready to strike at the school again at any moment? It's time to dispel these misunderstandings within the family. I don't know how, but it must be done. And preferably in a way that doesn't lead to a bloody feud, understand? I didn't care what people said about me personally, as long as it didn't affect my students. In recent months, I have only been trying to sort out the mess left behind by you, Carvia, and Mandragora, to stabilize and smooth things over, but I am tired of maneuvering. With each new incident, I ask myself the same question: why don't I reveal the true nature of what happened at the school to the children, then submit all the necessary resignation papers, and tear NAILS apart brick by brick?"

which was organized by your sons.

— Our sons, — corrected the king.

- Well, yes... - The king was at a loss for words. On the one hand, he felt sorry for Futaba, and on the other, he was angry at his rebellious sons. But mostly, he was just too lazy to deal with all these intrigues – he was already too old for this kind of nonsense, and all he wanted was to cuddle with Futaba under a blanket for days on end. - So, do you want me to execute them? We can do it publicly, as an example to others. Or we can strip them of their titles and banish them from the country? If that's not enough, I can let you spank them with a belt... Whatever you want, but one thing won't change: you are the queen of this country, and our child is its future ruler. By the way... what day is it today?

- Are you really ready to execute your sons just like that, without a second thought? Now I understand where they got all this from... - she sighed and handed the king a calendar from the nightstand.

- Why without any hesitation? You are my priority. - Looks at the calendar. - Oh, it's almost October. Let's call Nemuri; maybe she can already determine the gender of our child... And we can choose a name together.

- Go ahead and call. But maybe you should have a drink of water first.