EP 34 – Last Room on the Left(7)
Erina was visibly tense. She was looking at her belly. A small life was stirring inside her womb. Elves, who are attuned to the spirits, were sensitive to even the slightest movement. That’s why she was certain that she’s pregnant.
Erina was currently standing in the hallway of the Elf Kingdom’s palace. Those passing by had to hold their breath at her regal presence as the kingdom’s princess. Beyond the door in front of her was the queen of the kingdom—her mother. Today, Erina had to convince her mother.
“Come in.”
After a long wait, the door finally opened. The queen’s guards saw the princess’ face and saluted. The princess responded in kind and entered the room. Queen Ahildern Selina of the elves boasted beauty that defied the passage of time.
Her long golden hair, emerald-green eyes, and slightly fuller chest than Erina’s made it clear where the princess inherited her stunning looks. With her head held high in regal dignity, the queen addressed her guards.
“Leave us.”
Once the guards exited, Erina followed the age-old tradition, kneeling on the floor to pay her respects to the queen. The queen gave a small nod to acknowledge the gesture. Only after this formal greeting could the conversation between mother and daughter begin.
“Have you been well, Mother?”
“I have, Erina. My beloved daughter, have you been well yourself?”
“Yes, Mother.”
Selina’s gaze toward Erina was soft and affectionate. She deeply loved her daughter and was prepared to do anything for her. However, her expression soon turned stern as she began to admonish her.
“But to abandon your duties as a princess and flee the palace—what reckless behavior! Do you have any idea how worried I have been?”
“I apologize, Mother. It’s just… I wanted to choose my husband.”
Selina’s expression softened a little as Erina lowered her head. After all, her daughter had returned unharmed, and the joyous news of the Demon King’s death had also reached the kingdom. With such good tidings, a brief act of rebellion could be forgiven. In a gentler tone, Selina began to soothe her daughter.
“Very well. I understand your feelings. I, too, once believed in my youth that I could only be happy if I chose my husband myself. However, we are royalty. Royalty must unite with the strong, so we can bear children more powerful than any other. If we are not strong, if we do not shoulder this responsibility, then who will lead our elven people?”
“You’re absolutely right, Mother. That’s why I’ve chosen a husband who is unmatched in strength.”
“You’ve chosen a husband?”
Selina’s lips briefly twisted before returning to normal. Who could possibly have won Erina’s heart so decisively that she was taking such initiative? Though Selina spoke of duty and responsibility, she was still a mother. She absolutely could not tolerate her precious child getting involved with a fool.
“Very well, who is it? Where did you meet him?”
“The hero who defeated the Demon King, A.A.”
“A.A.?”
Selina’s expression revealed her surprise at the unexpected revelation. The hero who defeated the Demon King could produce a great offspring who would lead the next generation of the Elf Kingdom. She was quite pleased with Erina’s choice.
Of course, the thought of giving her precious daughter away was bittersweet. But hadn’t they already discussed the possibility of securing the hero through marriage? Selina felt a mixture of sorrow over losing her daughter and joy that Erina had chosen such a remarkable partner. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Selina asked calmly.
“Indeed, the hero who defeated the Demon King is undoubtedly strong. There’s no dispute about that. But why do you look so uneasy?”
However, Selina felt that Erina was strangely anxious despite her overall positive response. Like a child hiding a mistake, she insistently avoided Selina’s gaze. So sensing there was more to the story, Selina gently coaxed her.
“I won’t be angry. Speak freely.”
“Well… A.A. is a woman…”
“What?”
Selina felt a sharp tension in the back of her neck. The elf princess who was supposed to be the heir to the kingdom liked a woman. It was unthinkable. But as Erina’s mother, Selina couldn’t bring herself to say that it was nonsense.
“Erina, have you forgotten that we have to rule the kingdom for generations? How can a woman bear children? Are you planning to sever the entire royal bloodline in your generation? If you’re thinking of sacrificing the history of the kingdom for love, then I have no choice but to oppose this marriage.”
Selina spoke as gently and tactfully as possible. Yet, with every word, Erina flinched as if she’s pierced by needles. Finally, she stammered out a response, almost defensively.
“Th-that’s why A.A. is searching for an elixir to become a man… That…”
“There is no such thing. And even if there were and they’re now a man, what certainty is there that he’ll have normal sexual function? Erina, bring me a proper man. I cannot permit a marriage to a woman.”
“A.A. was originally a man. So….”
“It’s very strange that someone who was originally a man became a woman. But now they are a ‘woman’, aren’t they? And there’s no guarantee they can return to being a man. Whether they can continue the lineage or not, and whether they are stronger than anyone else. These are the only two things that matter to me. So why did you choose a woman and break my heart like this? Do you think I’m opposing this marriage because I hate you, Erina? Some things just can’t be.”
“Th-then… if I were to have a child… would you allow me to marry a woman? Mother?”
“A child…?”
Selina felt the world darken before her eyes again. Since A.A. was originally a man, it was possible that during that time, they had conceived a child. But when she thought of her own daughter getting pregnant before marriage, she felt dizzy. She had never raised such a reckless child.
“So, is the child the hero A.A.’s?”
At those words, Erina averted her gaze. Selina felt her breath catch in her throat, but she managed to regain her composure. On second thought, Erina hadn’t explicitly said she was pregnant. Perhaps she was asking if she could marry A.A., if she had a child with another strong man.
“If you do get pregnant, you should marry the father of that child. A man strong enough to gain the approval of the elf princess and share a bed with her deserves to be treated as such. But your words suggest treating a man worthy of the world’s respect as nothing more than a stud. How can you say such a ridiculous thing?”
“B-but… if the other party agreed, wouldn’t it be okay?”
“Why do you keep talking as if you’re pregnant? Don’t tell me…..”
Selina stared at Erina with a horrified expression. Erina rubbed her belly and avoided her mother’s gaze. Selina felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck. Her vision dimmed, and her breathing grew shallow. Leaning against the throne, she clutched her forehead and let out a wail.
It was the worst day of Selina’s life.
“Oh, my… Oh, my… My precious daughter… what happened, the daughter I cherished so dearly… Oh, no…”
“Mother!”
As Selina leaned against the throne, on the verge of fainting, Erina tried to approach her with a panicked expression. But she waved her hand to stop Erina from coming any closer.
“Stay back! Oh… Erina, how could you do this? How could you drive a stake through your mother’s heart? Do you think I oppose your marriage out of hatred for you? Do you really think I would be happy if you just brought me a child?”
A single tear fell from Selina’s eye as she leaned against the throne. Seeing her mother’s tears made Erina’s heart ache. Selina reached out and stroked Erina’s cheek, and said.
“It’s not too late to fix this. Tell me, who is the father of this child? Who is the man you gave yourself to?”
Erina hesitated. Should she reveal Lucius’ name? If she said Lucius of the Peta family, Selina would definitely agree to marry him to her. But if they got married and had a child, she would be betraying A.A..
Just imagining A.A. looking at her, pregnant and married to Lucius, broke Erina’s heart. Even if it meant driving a stake into her mother’s heart, she couldn’t bring herself to name Lucius. Erina was resolute in her decision.
“I… I don’t know.”
“W-what… What did you just say!?”
Selina leaned back against the throne once more, screaming. The shock that had stifled her breathing moments ago was now replaced by anger.
“What do you mean you don’t know? Are you trying to tell me some angel descended from the heavens and gave you a child?”
Erina racked her brain, trying to come up with a plausible explanation. How could she say it without being suspicious? What could she say to stop Selina from searching for the child’s father and simply allow her to marry A.A.?
“Well… there was a strong man in the party that defeated the Demon King, so I seduced him…”
“E… u… uuack… ah… ugh… ack…!”
Selina clutched the back of her neck and finally collapsed. Only then did Erina realize she could have just said the father was dead. If she claimed the father had died, Selina would have no choice but to accept it. Erina said to Selina, who was groaning and clutching her head.
“P-Please don’t worry, Mother. That man… he died while fighting the Demon King…”
“Enough… I can’t think straight right now. Go back to your room.”
Selina’s voice was filled with grief and rage. Bowing her head deeply, Erina left the room in silence. For a long while, Selina remained leaned against the throne, struggling to contain her fury. Then, she suddenly raised her head and shouted.
“Guards! Guards!”
At her command, the royal guards emerged from the shadows almost instantly. Their imposing golden armor radiated a sense of authority. Selina shouted in anger.
“Where are the ones responsible for failing to protect the princess when she ran away!?”
“They’re in prison.”
“Cut off all their heads!”
And so, on that day, innocent lives were lost in the Elf Kingdom.