Straighten Your Shoulders, Your Majesty the Great Queen - 6
“Christine, how is your body feeling?”
But Artel’s voice asking that question was bright and cheerful.
Even without needing to hear the answer, one could tell from the way she watched that Christine’s condition was at its absolute peak.
Noble.
It was a word that could only describe it. From the tips of her hair to the tips of her nails. The fact that she had been lying in agony just an hour earlier felt like something that should never have happened.
“......”
Yet no answer came from Christine.
Christine had not deliberately refused to reply. She simply had no time to spare for Artel’s words.
What explanation could possibly be needed for what had just occurred?
Jekiel…
Jekiel had not merely helped Christine. No, the word “saved” fit far better.
She wanted to deny it, to brush aside every reason he might have given, but his thin, trembling arm and his serious gaze buried all her doubts without mercy.
And there was one more fact that worried her far more.
A kiss… surely it helped with the recovery.
Yes. That was the single thought piercing through Christine’s mind like a blade.
Vampires did not recover life force through blood alone. The next most efficient method was sexual intercourse, followed by sleep in pitch-black darkness, and so on.
Among these, the relational aspect demanded the closest attention.
To raise life force through contact between vampires, one requirement stood above all others.
Love must be the prerequisite.
It was a condition that seemed almost inevitable.
If life force could be restored without any emotional foundation, why would the Seven Deadly Sins exist in the Demon Realm? Vampires would have devoured them long ago.
Christine’s face hardened into a rigid mask.
Love.
Love, she had thought.
Since the moment she was dragged into the Demon Realm prison, she had believed she hated Jekiel with every fiber of her being.
That must have been the case.
Perhaps the emotion of love and hatred had been driven into her heart like shards of glass. Yet even setting Christine’s own feelings aside, one more question remained.
Jekiel.
Do you have even the slightest feeling for me?
Truly? Do you truly have any such feeling at all? Even a little?
The engagement ring on the man’s left hand suddenly came to mind. Why had he worn it? Why had he appeared at the banquet to fan the flames around Christine? Why had he bitten his own arm to save her? Why had the kiss worked so perfectly?
She did not know the reason. But the result was undeniable. Christine was in better condition than ever before.
“Excuse me, Lady Christine?”
The following subordinates called out to her cautiously.
Only then did she realize she had been standing there dazed, having forgotten what she was even supposed to do.
Let the questions that could not be answered right now wait. First, the coronation must proceed.
“Christine.”
“Yes.”
“When we march, will you place your subordinates on either side?”
Normally she would have answered immediately with “It is fine.”
Placing subordinates on both sides while the Sin of Pride walked with the pattern engraved on her would suggest that her own power was not strong enough. But Christine hesitated.
Because of the single word Jekiel had whispered after the kiss.
- There is a traitor. When marching, place your subordinates on both sides.
- It does not matter if you do not. However, in that case, you must surround yourself with high-level shields.
“Huu…”
You are always like this.
You never explain the reason, only speaking words and acting in ways that leave me confused. Christine turned and studied the faces of her subordinates.
The subordinates looked at her like wide-eyed baby birds, unable to understand the situation.
From their expressions and eyes, it was impossible to believe that any of them could be traitors. Not even a little.
“It is fine. I will walk alone.”
“Understood.”
After that, a brief silence followed. The subordinates subtly pressed close to Christine, checking her accessories and posture with careful hands.
“Christine.”
It was Artel again.
“Yes.”
“What on earth is that man Jekiel thinking?”
I wonder about that too.
Christine barely managed to hold back the words she had been about to say casually. Artel, thinking Christine was angry, immediately lowered her head.
“I apologize. I realize I have been far too talkative today, to the point of being rude. But there are not just one or two things that concern me…”
“It is fine. Please continue.”
Artel breathed a sigh of relief at Christine’s answer and continued cautiously.
“Jekiel is not a person who acts on emotion. Someone like him willingly offered even one arm while healing you, Christine, and it is far too worrying what he might demand in return.”
“What he might demand in return…”
What he had taken as compensation was Christine’s first kiss. Nothing more.
No, perhaps it was not even appropriate to call it compensation. Thanks to that kiss, Christine was able to stand here now.
Christine asked anyway.
“Artel.”
“Yes, Lady Christine.”
“Then, in your opinion, what do you think Jekiel will demand as compensation?”
Artel’s expression grew grave, as if she had imagined something she truly did not want to imagine. She barely managed to speak.
“May I speak what I fear?”
“Of course.”
“I believe… that this time that man is after Christine’s eyes. I thought that at first.”
“You mean you have changed your thinking?”
“Yes. That is right. I felt I had to tell you, Christine…”
“What is it?”
Artel’s expression changed once more. It was no longer the look of someone who had imagined something unpleasant, but a mysterious expression of having recalled something completely incomprehensible.
“Actually, Jekiel demanded compensation from us.”
“From us?”
“Yes. But what that compensation…”
“What is it?”
“No matter what happens, I will remain loyal to Christine. That is all.”
A trace of surprise appeared on Christine’s face as well, though she did not show it outwardly.
“Isn’t that strange? We would naturally be loyal, so why would there be any reason to impose such a condition? Doing things she would never normally do makes me even more worried than usual.”
“…We will discuss this later.”
“Ah, yes. I understand. I apologize.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled.
I don’t know. I don’t know. I truly cannot figure it out.
Why are you suddenly…
Hoo…
After calming her breathing, Christine allowed an expression befitting the Sin of Pride to appear on her face. The coronation was about to begin.
◈
Tap-tap-tap-
The steady steps of the Sin of Pride walking in front of everyone were precise and elegant.
That steady rhythm of shoes sounded exquisite and beautiful.
The queen’s face, chin raised as if she could look down on anything, perfectly conveyed the majesty of the newly inaugurated Sin of Pride.
A delicately crafted work of art seemed to move as if alive. It was hard to tell whether it was something moving or a painting of countless figures continuing endlessly.
If she had suddenly stopped walking and become trapped in a frame, it would not have seemed strange at all.
Clap-clap-clap-
Thunderous applause filled the banquet hall. A great celebration followed, so loud it drowned out every other sound.
Swoosh.
Someone held a dagger upside down in their arms.
After taking a breath, she looked at the Sin of Pride walking before her.
It was the most noble and beautiful back view. Like a cat hunting prey, she slowly closed the distance to that white back.
Tap-tap-
She continued walking straight ahead. Of course, she would not even think of looking back.
“Le Pharis Aller.”
Someone muttered it. The curse activated.
……?
But Christine kept walking. She was far too fine.
Her mind raced. If this continued, she would have no choice but to change the plan. She would have to kill her directly!
She immediately drew the dagger and stomped on the floor. She thrust it with all her strength into Christine’s neck.
Kakakakakak-!
No, she had tried to thrust it but failed. The dagger could not pierce the queen’s flesh as if blocked by an invisible wall.
Shield…?!
With a sound of “Hoo-eok,” the observers could not hide their shock. The applause quickly dissolved into murmurs.
At that moment.
Pop-!
The body of the one who had been aiming at Christine’s back froze as if time itself had stopped. Her posture remained fixed in mid-air. Like a stuffed insect.
“Ugh…!”
“Unfortunate.”
A voice cool enough to form no murmurs at all.
The one whose body was fixed was none other than Kiaru. Kiaru barely rolled her eyes to chase the owner of that voice.
“That curse is on me.”
“W-what?!”
Jekiel.
What came into view was Jekiel standing upright without losing his nobility while vomiting blood.
Everyone stared at him with wide eyes. Christine was no exception.
“…I do not understand.”
Tsk, he spat out a lump of blood and continued.
“Vivian is originally a cunning creature. But she is not stupid. She would never use such shallow tricks.”
One step. Two steps.
Jekiel approached Kiaru.
“I have been curious. Who on earth devised this stupid plan.”
The distance between the man and Kiaru was completely closed. Kiaru’s body fixed in mid-air was already drenched in sweat.
“It was not that difficult a problem. There was a stupid one who visited Vivian on the lying-down Christine to create an alibi.”
“Eh… how…?”
Kiaru’s body trembled violently.
But Jekiel paid her no attention. He turned his head and looked at Christine.
“Well, my guess is obviously not.”
“What?!”
“How is it, O Sin of Pride? All your guesses were correct.”
“Th-that cannot be! Christine, did she know everything from the beginning?”
Kiaru’s shout. Christine, standing still with a surprised face, finally blinked.
The gazes directed at her were not only those of the traitor. All eyes were on Christine.
Half the gazes held questions about whether she had foreseen the betrayal of her loyal subordinates and prepared for everything. The other half held awe at how amazing it was.
It was shocking enough that Kiaru had betrayed. It should have been normal to be shocked. But it was not.
In the middle of the commotion, the queen’s gaze was—
Again, Jekiel.
Directed solely at the man with a pale complexion. He had been helping Christine all along.
- If you are in crisis, I will definitely be by your side.
That was not good. The puzzle in her mind began fitting together on its own.
- I did not accept the divorce.
Stop. Stop. Stop. I want to stop thinking.
But at the same time, she knew. This thought would never stop now.
Her face burned. Her hands trembled.
Eventually she quietly grabbed her left breast. It was an unbelievable thing. It felt as if her heart, which was not even in her body, was beating.
But at that moment, Jekiel opened his mouth again.
“Everyone is waiting for your answer.”
A man who seemed to have difficulty even breathing. Christine saw in Jekiel’s red eyes—
“My queen.”
For a moment, she saw herself from fifteen hundred years ago.