BBYW Vol. 4 Chapter 56 (WN)
Chapter 56 – A Heart Devoured
“NOOOOO!!! MILLIA!! TEP!! Why!? Why did you do this!?”
I had just sworn that I would become Queen to protect them. So, why did this happen to them?
It was…unbelievable.
“Hohoho…I am glad to see that you are satisfied with the offerings, Your Majesty.”
“What are you saying!? Why did you do this to them…!?”
Furious, I yelled at the head cleric — at the old woman responsible for the murder of the two people dearest to me.
I tried to stand up from the throne and grab her…but all strength left my legs, and I found myself sitting back down.
“Eh…ah…?”
Unable to move, I just sat there, puzzled.
My only remaining family and my childhood friend, the man I loved, had been killed. In spite of that, all feelings of anger slipped out of my head and heart.
The storm blowing in my heart quickly turned into a calm tide.
“Hades, the divine relic that summons the forces of the underworld…feeds on the user’s emotions. The Queen is thus presented with such offerings, to stimulate Her emotions, and feed more energy to the relic.”
The wretched woman came next to me and gently put a hand on my shoulder. That very instant, I felt a surge of hate burn in my heart, but it was promptly absorbed by the necklace and melted away.
The person that murdered my loved ones was so close to me, and yet I could not even muster enough strength to move her hand from my shoulder.
“Rage, hate, resent more…your heart will protect this country. This is a necessary sacrifice. The former Queen, as all the Queens before her, they all offered their hearts for the sake of our kingdom.”
“Nh…gh…!!”
I could not even let out a growl. I was there, on the throne, just gazing at the remains of my dearest ones, stuffed into golden boxes.
I wanted to yell in anger. I wanted to wail in pain.
However, those emotions too were simply drained by Hades.
“Well then…Your Majesty. It is time to use your powers. Summon our kingdom’s protectors from the underworld!”
“……………”
I wasn’t even able to think. I did as I was told, and put my right hand forward.
As I did — a pillar of sand rose from the ground, and instantly took human form. A few seconds later, in the Hall of Queens there were dozens of undead soldiers.
Witnessing the appearance of the Holy Guards, the high clerics cheered.
“Ooh!! She summoned dozens of them at one time!”
“Marvelous! The Queen’s divine blessing surpasses even the former Queen!”
“Our kingdom will be safe and prosperous once again! The sun will never set on the desert!!”
“…………”
The cheers of the clerics brushed past me, empty.
My eyes, gradually becoming hollow husks, still shed tears, but I didn’t even know what emotion caused them.
(Nothing…matters anymore.)
I had no one left to protect.
The country I loved rose on the sacrifice of generations of queens. It was a rotten, vile castle of sand.
And now — I too was to become one of those sacrifices.
(A country like this…who cares what happens to it…)
My emotions stolen away, I was about to cast away my empty heart as a whole.
Just then…a voice resounded inside me.
“Is that… what you truly desire…?”
(Eh…?)
The sudden echo of the female voice made my hollow eyes blink.