Book 4: Chapter 45


    Moms birthday huh Though I really want to jump on a horse and ride off to Castor to wrap this up, I cant do that with moms birthdaying up. My conscience wont let me after seeing mom hug me with such a blissful smile. This is the first time Im celebrating moms birthday. The next time is a year away.


    My ns can wait, but I dont want to see mom look disappointed. Castell is right. More presents dont add more meaning to it. What mom wants most is a birthday present from me.


    Uhm, so now I need to think about what present is most appropriate.


    Mom has personally cooked for me. While I was prepared to die, mom surprisingly cooked edible food this time. It tasted so-so, and most of it didnt require much work, but mom still looked at me with anticipation and nervousness. When I told her it tasted good, I noticed mom secretly wipe her tears.


    I presume they were the I made a meal for my son being sessful tears. Mom really tries to love me. She learnt to knit a scarf and learnt to cook. She has almost forgotten that shes an empress. In front of me, mom is really just a mom, ordinary and silly.


    From behind, Luna handed me a cup of tea and asked me: Your majesty, did you not already solve your issue? Why are you still worried? Are you worried about that kid?


    No, not that. Ive thought about what to do with Freya already. Im thinking about something else.


    I turned around to look at Luna who puffed her cheeks. Clearly she was unhappy with me bringing that girl back again. She looked at me and rolled her maid-uniform. In a soft voice, she muttered: You can just tell me what you are unhappy with. It is pointless to have another personal servant. And she is so young. Or is it that you like young girls, your majesty?


    I smiled helplessly as I looked at Luna and said: Didnt I already tell you that shes not my personal servant? Shes a girl from a noble family who got sold off after her family fell. I didnt take her in to make her my maid, but to help mee up with ideas. You can consider her a strategist. Though shes young, shes very smart.


    Is that how it is? But she is quite pitiful. Luna revealed a smile of relief


    I dont really understand why elves are so possessive. And shes not my wife or fiance either. Shes just my personal servant and yet shes angry because I found someone else. Luna looked at me and continued, Shes very young too. She mustve been yed with after being imprisoned as well. How pitiful. She was exhausted. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Looking at her makes me feel sorry for her.


    Yeah, but even so, she still maintained the calmness and eloquence of nobility. She didnt cry nor was she afraid even when she escaped her suffering. To the contrary, she thought about the next step. Based on that alone, I feel that Ive found myself a treasure this time, just like when I bought you at the market.


    I held Lunas hand. She smiled and held mine. She then looked at me as she said: Your majesty, you do not question yourself after this time, do you? You truly can bring happiness to others, regardless if it is me or Miss Freya, or Nier. We are all the same.


    I gave Nier happiness? I shook my head. Niers happiness is the empress. I didnt give Nier happiness. You shouldve said that I stole her happiness. But seeing Nier smile so happily when she held the children, I thought that maybe Nier might actually be very happy right now.


    So, your majesty, let us return to the topic. What are you worried about, your majesty?


    I smiled, spread my hands out and replied: Moms birthday present. I dont know what to give mom since mom doesntck anything. I think that others will be able to gift her anything that I can think of, so I dont what sort of birthday present could make mom happy, as well as being unique.


    Luna reacted surprised and replied: Her majestys birthday ising up? Jeez I did not even know But you should not be worried about this. Is what her majesty wants most and the only thing you can give her right in front of your eyes?


    I froze up. Luna extended a finger out, pointed at my chest and said with a smile: As long as it is something you personally make, it doesnt matter what it is, that to the empress will be a treasure.


    ================================


    Current time at the inner court.


    Nier, youre here.


    The empress sat on the bed and looked at Nier who was kneeling down with an expression that looked like she was smiling, and yet not. Nier lowered her head and replied: Yes, your majesty. I am very sorry for beingte!


    No, I dont care whether yourete or not because what I do care about is the most important thing. And that is, whether or not you are still loyal, Nier.


    Nier raised her head out of astonishment and quickly replied: Your majesty!! Of course I am loyal! I have no other master besides you! Of course, I am loyal to you, your majesty! That is true now and will not change in the future! I am a Valkyrie, so I am loyal to you until I die.


    Alright.


    The empress smiled. She raised her arm up and a sword dropped down in front of Nier. Nier looked at the sword nkly. It was the long-sword Nier removed. She clenched her teeth. She removed the sword her majesty gave her and swapped it for the sword his majesty gave her. That mustve meant that she no longer wanted to be a Valkyrie from her majestys perspective.


    The empress put one leg over the other, looked at her and nonchntly said: Kill yourself, Nier.


    Your majesty


    Nier raised her head as she trembled. She looked at the empress and stuttered. She looked at the sword on the ground and reached her hand out to pick it up with her shaky hand. Valkyries have no right to refuse. If the empress gave the order to kill themself, a Valkyrie had to kill herself. It was time to disy her loyalty and bravery.


    Whats wrong? Tana,e here.


    Your majesty!


    A Valkyrie walked up to the empress. The empress smiled and hugged her, and then stroked her head. Next to her ear, she softly said: Tana, kill yourself.


    Roger!!


    That was the first time Tana received a hug from the empress. She was so excited she was shaking all over. She drew her long-sword from her waist with an ecstatic smile and thrust it into her own chest without any hesitation. Blood spurt forth from her chest. She rolled off to the side with a blissful smile. Her blood from the wound in her chest and heart sprayed her blood all over the floor.


    See that, Nier?


    The empress walked up to Niers side. Nier lowered her head while still gripping the sword tightly as she trembled. The empress looked at her and asked with a smile: Do it, Nier. Kill yourself. I order you to. Shouldnt you follow my orders as a Valkyrie? Or do you have something you cant let go off?


    I I


    The empress looked at her and thundered: Do it, Nier, I order you to!


    Dont tell me you have feelings for my son! I already told you, you cant develop feelings for my son! You are just a Valkyrie! If you dont have any feelings for him, stab the sword into your chest right now! Hurry up!


    Nier slowly drew the sword. She clenched her teeth tightly as she raised her head. The empress saw Niers face covered in tears and frowned a little. Nier looked at the empress and quaked as she raised the sword up to her chest while her eyes were filled with despair and unwillingness. She looked at the empress and took in one deep breath before closing her eyes. Her two hands holding the sword handle were shaking intensely as if she was going to snap the sword by shaking it.


    *ng!*


    Yes! Your are right! Your majesty! I care about his majesty! I want to live! I want to stay by his majestys side! His majesty helped me! I want to always stay by his side!


    When the tip of the sword reached Niers chest, her hands could no longer grip the sword. She dropped the sword and cried loudly as she knelt on the ground.


    I I do not know if this is me liking his majesty. But being by his side makes me feel very rxed. I like going out with his majesty too. I want to see more of the world with his majesty as well! In short in short, I want to look at his majesty for longer! So I do not want to die! I want to live!


    You are a Valkyrie!


    I am his majestys bodyguard now too!


    Nier raised her head. Her eyes carried determination and resolve. Her face covered in tears was distorted like a devil from hell. She looked at the empress and shouted, forgetting her status.


    The empress looked at her nkly and said nothing for a long while. Nier didnt lower her head either. She kept her eyes on the empress while shedding tears.


    Forget it


    The empress let out a long sigh. She then sat to one side, crossed one leg over the other and looked at Nier as she said: My son will definitely get angry if I kill you. My birthday ising up, and I dont want my son to be angry. Rise, Nier. I trust you a lot. You are also the Valkyrie I am most proud of. But Ive got one final job for you. Take this letter to the churchs headquarters. Once youe back, I shall agree to the matter with you and my son. Of course, thats if he epts you.


    Your majesty


    Nier slouched onto the ground like she was letting out a sigh of relief. But a secondter, she used the wall as support to stand up. She gave the empress a deep bow and in a loud voice said: Thank you, your majesty! I shall serve you with my life!


    Leave now then. Stay on standby.


    Roger!


    <strong>*Checkments for something cheeky*</strong>