Fake Cinderella

"Well, please wait here"

I bowed my head respectfully to an old man in a holy coat with plenty of gold and silver ornaments. He was introduced to being the administrator of the diocese in the royal palace, but since the colour of the holy belt he is wearing is the highest purple and the embroidery is gold, he is probably in quite a position.

(The people of the diocese are generally polite to me)

The diocese is a diocese, and it may find some meaning for my blood.

Two old men, similarly in formal attire, close the door in front of them at the signal of the old man.

The door, more than twice my height, was shut with a loud noise.

(... the night is here...)

I am left alone in a space closed to darkness.

There was no sense of wonder and fear.

(... a strange place...)

It was this place called during prayer in the basement of the royal palace.

It's the tallest ceiling in the building you've ever set foot in.

For a while, I got used to my eyes sitting on the table.

(It was a day when a lot of things happened)

Every day here was so dense and so many things, it seemed like I was on a jet coaster.

A little distracted, I don't know what it means even though it's happening in front of me.

(... maybe His Royal Highness Eol was leaping towards Nadir's place, wasn't he?

And they exposed it in front of me earlier hiding in His Royal Highness's office, making me be discreet.

(... how sinful would that be?

Disposition is also a very severe punishment if it is done according to the words "reduce the number of sins first".

Nadir's tone was too pale to be realistic.

When I think about that blurry, my eyes get used to it.

"Well... it's time to go"

When your eyes get used to it, you can maintain quite a sense of equilibrium even in the dark. I walk down a dark road not too wide as taught.

(... through this tunnel there is a garden. I spend the night in the east room of that garden)

That's my Jinsai.

The tunnel lasts for a while. I was told to proceed safely because there is definitely an exit on the main road, although it may seem long.

(I want a flashlight... yeah, this way, a candle or a lamp...)

But in Jiesai, it is decided to pray alone.

(So, similarly, I was at the north tower. My lord said he'd pick me up when it was time)

How do we know the time in this place? Or how does Your Highness come to pick you up from the north tower? Like, some questions come to mind and disappear.

Though I'll know tomorrow, I'd like a few more proper explanations.

(Nadir, you don't explain enough)

I guess there are a lot of things I can't explain. But I also feel like I'm neglecting to explain the minimum I need.

(Still, do you still walk...)

True darkness… In this darkness, where a glimmer of light cannot be shed, you cannot walk without touching the wall.

Because I can't even see my feet, I was going to have the illusion that I was floating in the dark.

(... Something strangely reassuring here...)

It was a strange feeling.

It's not a different place to find out. Rather, it's the first place I've visited today.

Yet the absolute peace of mind that crept up with the odd connections… it was completely different from when you were in His Highness's arms.

(This outfit, if someone sees you, you could be mistaken by a ghost)

In a simple white gown, white shoes, white ribbons tied to hair… the white monochrome outfit never melted into darkness even in this darkness.

"... ah..."

I saw a slight light at the end of my sight.

(... light...)

A glimmer of light plunges into the darkness, dropping white circles on the floor of marble and thoughts.

(sounds like a spotlight)

The fact that I found the light gave me an extraordinary increase in the speed of walking.

(... and cha-chan!

At that moment, when the toe of the shoe stepped on the edge of the circle or not, the vision hallowed and covered in a blurry white.

"... ah..."

Close your eyes reflexively.

(... I wonder what... now I was going to figure something out...)

Something flashed in the corner of my head, but it disappears into the light and only its contours linger in the back of my brain.

I felt like my feet were lagging, so I squatted on the spot.

How long has it been?

I think it was like a moment, and I think I've waited a long time.

He opened his eyes softly, accustomed to a little light.

"... wow..."

The admiration is spilling.

Because this is amazing.

What was spreading in the light was a garden on one side.

Blooming flowers, flowers, flowers… Everywhere I look, I am now filled with a platter of flowers.

"... it's like in a painting."

The twinkle leaks unexpectedly.

Light shades of flowers… bright primary colors of red, yellow, orange and other large circles of flowers bloom.

(Or maybe this is a dream...)

At some point, he said he might already be asleep.

Because the flowers blooming here, they ignore the season.

The whole place is probably a spring flower, and your crimson rose should have been a winter bloom.

"... Ah, Rosephilia"

Light purple on thin red, white and cream… This little cute flower of seven flower pieces comes in different shades. It can be seen here and there all over the country because it is the national flower of Dardinia.

Easy to grow because it is easy to grow and resistant to cold weather. It is widely familiar because it is the flower of the encounter between the founding king and his queen, the princess of the fairy king.

(Speaking of which, I've only seen blue rosephilia in my room)

This blue rosephilia is also the most common in this garden.

Blue...... its colour representing the royal family of Dardinia.

(Speaking of which, there was also a rosephilia among the crests of Elzevelt)

Elzevelt's crest is the same double-headed dragon as the royal family.

(... does that mean the same blood?

I think of each crest on the back of my brain.

(Is the crown on the royal crest based on this founding myth that the Elzevelt crest depicts the Rosefilia crown?)

Incidentally, the northern Grachez has bows and arrows and winged lions, the southern Alhan has a trident and a sea dragon, and the western Ferdis has a sword and a unicorn as its crest. If you look at the crest, you'll know which gate it belongs to.

"By the way, where's Shia...?

It is a sea of flowers on one side as far as I can see. There's something white floating in the distance... hello, is that it?

Unexpectedly, my leg stopped.

(... that far, distance, how long is it?

If you gaze, a small island floating in a sea of flowers. There is a Shia with a white domed roof there.

"I wonder if we can get there..."

Yeah. We're getting there! and consolidate his determination, clenching his fist all the way.

It shouldn't have been sandals or heeled shoes that were worn with a sleigh. Though the color was white, these lace shorts are very easy to walk in with firm to the ankle.

"... I want to rest..."

But this place is blooming everywhere, and there's no place for me to sit.

Only this trail, laid with white, shiny stones, is where the flowers are not blooming.

In this pure white outfit, you can't just sit in the middle of it. It's closer than just now. Though it is... but... there is still a long way to go.

It was time I thought I'd sit here already.

"Lutia......"

I heard a voice. The voice of His Highness familiar to my ears.

"... Nadir?

I look around for a moment.

"Lutia...... good"

Simple outfit in the same white colour as me - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A loose shirt and a pair of trousers perfect for your feet. His Highness's boots were also white again.

Nadir, you hold me up as a matter of course.

"... is it your time already?

"No.... I used a little backgammon"

"Backgammon?

"Oh.... I thought you were in trouble..."

Wow, I thought. Then the feeling of thankfulness crept up, messed up with joy and happiness, and I felt full of not knowing what to do.

Nadir, you are my hero. Always, you come to help me.

"... Nadir..."

I didn't know what to say in words, so I hugged her.

"Lutia?"

"Thank you for picking me up"

"... no"

His Royal Highness Nadir tilted his neck a little, and gently stroked his back by holding me back as I cling.

"It is said that this is a 'garden of beginnings'. Even so, the founding king and the first queen did not meet here. From the underground during the prayers you went in, don't be a place where you dived further underground." "Plus, are you going underground?

"Oh. Royal palace on the surface. The basement is the ruins of the castle, and this place becomes even more underground of the ruins of the castle. The Royal Palace stands on the ruins of a multi-layered structure, but this is the bottom floor."

"It's not that down..."

Sure, it's underground during the prayers I came in, but it hasn't gone down to that bottom tier.

"... you ascend and descend during prayer"

"Huh?"

(I mean, is that whole big room an elevator? Huh? What's that awesome)

I see. I thought it rocked. Were you going down to the basement every room when you were trapped in that darkness?

"The same thing is also in the north tower. Only from these two places can we get in here."

"What's going on with security?

"Only qualified people can enter during prayer and the north tower.... and neither will pave the way to the underground only during the Founding Festival"

"What's a qualification?

"For example, during prayer, some of the high priests let in"

"So what about the north tower?

"You're part of a direct royal family."

"Is there anyone who can get both in?

"It's me and you."

"Huh?"

"You are the Princess of the Key. There's no place you can't get in."

I see. Is it physically a key to say 'princess of the key'?

"What do you do here?

"For once, we are supposed to give thought to the story of the founding king and his queen and pray to the goddess"

"What?

"Prosperity and further development of this country, something like that... right. Maybe on this night, we'll all be ready."

"Ready..."

- Ready. That's what I need too.

Ready to stand next to this one.

I'm ready to be the queen of this one.

I am prepared to protect this person and this country.

(... yeah. It's okay)

I thought so surprisingly lightly.

I have already decided to walk with Master Nadir... and live with him. Because now it is.

"... well, that's a formality"

"What ritual will this Jisai be?

"What, what?

"I mean... is it for the crowning ceremony, or for the Founding Fathers' Festival?"

"Both. If only for the Founding Festival, you as a maiden will only enter between prayers. If the maiden role is not the princess of the key, there will be no ascent or descent during prayer, nor will there open the way to this place. Tomorrow morning, at the hands of the priests, the prayer room will be opened and all we have to do is give the sword that has been given to the king"

"What do you do in my case?

"There's nothing in particular I have to do. … but I would like to confirm the ancient heritage here"

His Highness's eyes shine brightly.

"Heritage, is it?

"That's right. There are several variations in that story, also known as founding mythology. The anecdote of the royal sword Rufanazato was added in future generations. Therefore, of course, the sword used for the ritual is also made for future generations. But was that a complete addition to future generations? I think the sword came from the beginning."

His Royal Highness begins to speak as if he were a fish who had obtained water.

"The founding king got his sword from the princess. It means two things"

"What are the two things?

"One is that we got the sword materially. The other is that he was given command of the force held by the princess. Especially that I got command, which was huge. Because the princess's force would have been part of the elite of the empire at the time"

"Why do you think he's elite?

"The validation of the Empire's history books shows that the core of the princess's knights would have been the Kingsguard. An Imperial Kingsguard is an elite among the elite. The majority of the nobles of the East are their descendants."

(Dardinia's obsession with blood muscles seems to be causing it around as well)

"What happened to the material sword? At that time, the line that this ring supposedly given together has decayed is thin given that it still remains. Then it must still be there somewhere. … I believe I have it here"

"Why here?

"Because it's the safest place"

"But there's no hiding place."

You won't have to hide it. And, His Royal Highness pointed to the stone statue.

The kneeling knight and the princess who receives it - there was indeed a sword at the knight's source.

"... Ruthia, touch me"

Reach out as they say.

When I touched it, the sword shined white and light, and the light emitted like a flash.

(This light, earlier... is similar to the light when we arrived here...)

When the light subsided, a sword was left there.

"Master Nadir... this..."

"Oh......"

His Highness said it himself, and he looks kind of very strange.

"... I've always wondered and made a lot of assumptions. But when that hypothesis is proven so well, it feels too blunt and strange."

I slipped through His Highness's arms and took the sword. I lifted it with both hands, thinking firmly, and offered it to His Highness.

"Go ahead, Nadir."

His Highness looked at the sword with a shine, then took it with his right hand.

Check the weight and make sure it cannot be pulled out of the sheath even if you try to pull it out.

"... ritual, do you want to do it for real?

A real sword is nothing like the current treasure sword. The sheath doesn't have any decorations either, it's very plain,

(If this sword is real, it's right to do it with this sword)

"Right. Shall we?"

His Royal Highness Nadir was also very motivated by my suggestion.

"... if we do the ritual with a real sword, can we do something special... let's see each and every one of them"

It's strange because it makes me feel cheerful when I look around at His Highness holding a sword that I've got on Shia's bench, flipping over and checking the letters and sculptures, or glancing at the jewels that are being worn.

At this time, we did not know that an anomaly had already occurred.