Courage, Great Queen - 1
“Vivian.”
Christine muttered softly. Vivian, who was casually leaving the bedroom, was only clicking her tongue.
“How is he?”
“Of course he's fine. I erased the curse.”
“...Eh?”
“Was the voice small? I erased the Sin of Envy's curse that was on Jekiel's body.”
An invisible question mark appeared above Christine's head.
Christine was the one who had asked Vivian to check on Jekiel's condition, and it was an undeniable fact.
However, even though she hoped and expected her to erase the curse, she hadn't asked for it.
The Sin of Envy, Vivian, is a being who sits on the throne of sins separate from her title as the Lord of the Lamia race. She's in a position to restrain Christine.
No one in the Demon Realm would resent Vivian for leaving Jekiel to die. Perhaps most would praise her for making a politically rational judgment.
From Christine's perspective, it would be surprising that Vivian, who envies everything and acts selfishly, erased Jekiel's curse.
Still, if she erased the curse, there was a first thing to say.
“Thank you.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Vivian frowned as if she didn't want to hear such words.
“Say that to Jekiel. I only erased it because of her actions.”
Jekiel's actions. Christine recalls the past.
- I cannot accept this divorce.
- You are my fiancé.
- She will be by your side.
It wasn't only Vivian who was impressed by his actions.
The one most impressed was, of course, Christine. She gripped her left breast again.
Except for the huge lump of fat, there's nothing in her hand. Even if she digs inside, there's nothing.
But even so, something was throbbing in Christine's heart. There was something beating quickly and strongly.
“So, what business do you have with me? You didn't come here just to say that one sentence.”
“That's...”
Christine was a bit flustered as if pricked to the quick. But she doesn't show it on the surface.
“If you have business with Jekiel, just go into the bedroom now. But wandering around like this means you have business with me too, right?”
“Yes. That's right.”
“Then get to the main point right away. Just because you're a snake doesn't mean your personality is always slow. Tsk tsk.”
“Yes.”
If she can talk about the main point, it was actually what Christine wanted. Christine gave a slight bow first.
“However, as the Sin of Gluttony, I ask.”
“I'll answer as the Sin of Envy.”
Just that one line makes the atmosphere in the room much more serious.
After taking a breath, Christine carefully opened her lips.
“I heard that Jekiel asked the other Sins not to touch me. Is what I heard correct?”
“If it's that kind of talk, I definitely heard it too. Tsk tsk.”
The queen's expression becomes mysterious.
“And I also heard that the other Sins easily accepted that proposal.”
“It wasn't difficult. As always, Jekiel brings exactly the conditions I want.”
“I thought about it a lot to say this, but in fact, I have never instructed him to do such an action.”
“Tsk tsk.”
While clicking her tongue, Vivian just listens. Christine continues.
“Of course, I am aware that it is a situation advantageous to me. I also know that keeping my mouth shut is the best. However, I must know this. What conditions he set, and with what heart you accepted them.”
Vivian's eyes narrow vertically.
“Wait a moment. Since I'm a cold-blooded animal, my thinking is a bit slow.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Vivian, who was leisurely clicking her tongue, closed her eyes for a while and thought about something.
After about five minutes, maybe more. Only then did Vivian open her mouth.
“Sin of Gluttony.”
“Yes.”
“First of all, I don't know what the other Sins were thinking. And that Jekiel acted so arbitrarily, I've already noticed.”
“If you know what the Sin of Envy was thinking, that's fine. Since that side is the most difficult.”
“Yes. Then what is the Sin of Envy?”
“The Sin of Envy...”
Several options come to mind. I have to come up with the best answer to get the desired answer.
Should I answer honestly or say something pleasing? The consideration wasn't long. Honestly speaking is the best weapon I can do in this situation.
“In terms of cunning, it would be the best in the Demon Realm. An existence that doesn't hesitate to lie and betray, and does anything if it benefits herself.”
“That's right. Exactly. Tsk tsk.”
Vivian nods her head.
“I might be lying now. The Jekiel behind me might be suffering from extreme poison and, while talking to you, might be buying time to meet death.”
“That would be so.”
But Christine could be sure that such a thing would not happen.
The aura of Jekiel felt from behind Vivian is quite good. If she was suffering from poison, she wouldn't feel such an aura.
“Thinking about it, that is a good method too. Removing competitors is efficient.”
“This is what I'm asking. Why, Sin of Envy.”
The next words don't need to be put into her mouth.
Vivian, who only acts in ways that benefit her and envies others, healed Jekiel. Helped Christine. Isn't that an absurd thing?
Even if I set aside the other Sins, I had to find out about Vivian's intention. She is a woman as deadly as poison and also unpredictable.
If I shape poison into a living creature, it would be exactly Vivian.
“Do you think I did something strange? Tsk tsk.”
“Yes.”
“No, I acted as usual. As myself as ever.”
“You mean healing Jekiel is more beneficial to you too.”
“That's right. Well... it's like an investment.”
“Investment?”
Vivian nods her head. Christine's head tilts.
“How does healing Jekiel benefit you? It's definitely a grateful thing, but we will not be able to trust the Lamia race in the future. Because you are that dangerous.”
“Tsk tsk!”
Vivian clicks her tongue loudly. It was her habit when she was happy.
“I don't invest only in political things.”
“Then?”
“How important stress management is for a snake. I'm a woman who knows how to invest in things that can make me happy. Why, it's unexpected?”
Christine's tilted head probably won't be raised again.
What fun is there in Jekiel becoming healthy and Christine taking her place on the throne of sins? Not some other person, but Vivian.
“I can't believe it, but there are things in this world that I can't even envy.”
“Would it be okay if I ask what that is?”
“Tsk tsk.”
Vivian twists her body. She secretly sticks to Christine's side and whispers into her ear.
“Noble heart.”
Noble heart? Christine listens quietly.
“A heart towards others that won't be broken even by death.”
- You are my fiancé.
That word hits her ears again. It echoes like thunder.
Christine bit her lip for no reason.
“From whom did you see such a heart? From me? From him.”
“Good. Very good. I wanted to hear such words from you.”
Vivian let out a decadent smile. But Vivian's words are not over yet.
“However, Christine.”
Vivian's expression becomes more serious than ever, as if she will tell one absolute truth. Her vertically narrowed pupils are very sensitive.
“Learning that from now on is your job. You have to figure it out yourself so that my plan doesn't go wrong.”
“My job...”
The best Christine can do is face Vivian with eyes full of doubt.
And towards such Christine, Vivian smiles brightly.
“Do you know why Jekiel lost his heart?”
“I don't know in detail.”
“While you were in prison, what that guy did.”
“Of course I don't know.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Vivian's smile widens.
“You will know someday. Right?”
“Of course, someday I will know.”
“Yes... someday you must show it to me. Show me such a noble emotion that I can't even envy. I want to see it with my own two eyes. Something like that. No, after seeing Jekiel's actions this time, I'm sure. I will definitely see that.”
“Nobility. What is nobility...”
“Well, even that, you'll have to figure it out yourself now.”
Christine nods her head.
Another doubt arises, but as Vivian said, it is a problem that Christine must figure out.
First, she knows the reason why he healed Jekiel. With that, it's done.
“Thank you for today's words. Please take care of me from now on.”
Christine extended her hand.
“Tsk tsk~”
Vivian clicks her tongue happily. But she doesn't hold Christine's hand.
“Handshakes are done.”
Vivian, who has distanced herself from Christine, slightly opens the bedroom door.
“Go in and talk a bit.”
Through the open door, the large bed in the bedroom begins to be seen.
The bed was not empty, and a man was sitting and just staring out the window.
Ah. Again, this feeling.
Without their eyes meeting yet, the moment she sees his figure, a tingling sensation starts from inside her chest again.
By the time she feels her face getting a bit hot, the man slowly turns his head.
“You are my fiancé.”
At the same time, their eyes meet.