A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic
chapter-89

***Arc 5 The One Who Obstructed, Chapter 89 The Crescent (Chipped) Moon’s Cradle***

Please read the TL note for some explanation about the crescent moon used in this chapter.

The teachings of Leine's heaven passed down in the Holy Empire.

According to their belief, there exists a paradise in heaven created by God, the creator of the world, where perfect human beings----angels live.

They are untainted, beautiful, able to fly freely, and free from hunger and suffering.

Although she wasn't fond of their faith, she liked the religious paintings that depicted it.

"... It's almost noon."

Angels and their world, created as beauty itself.

There was something about them that drew her in, but----now she knew something more beautiful than that.

She stroked her smooth cheeks and tickled the tip of her nose as she quietly breathed in her sleep.

She wriggled, as if itching, and opened her eyes thinly.

The purple gem that looked like it was framed by silverwork, stayed still as it reflected her.

"Wafu...."

She rubbed up against her and kissed her while imitating a dog.

Her cherry-colored lips were incomparably soft, and the silver hair that touched her hand was so thin and soft that it tickled and flowed smoothly.

"... idiot"

When she gently pinched her cheek, she hugged her with a gentle smile.

Krische's smile was more beautiful than any angel in any painting.

"Nfufu... good morning~..."

"It's not early, but good morning."

The muffled voice tickled her ears, and Selene smiled and kissed back.

"There will be a meeting soon... will you be fine?"

"Yes, Krische will sleep again later..."

When Selene got up, Krische also got up from bed, and when Selene stretched, Krische also stretched, copying her

'Don't copy me', Serene laughed, and Krische laughed too.

The sun was at its zenith, shining through the tent and telling them that it was daytime.

It was already quite lively and noisy outside, but inside the tent, the air was clear and quiet, with only the sound of quiet laughter and the rustling of clothes.

"Can I have some tea, please?"

"Yes, is something sweet fine?"

"Yes, the same as Krische's is fine."

"...Okay"

Krische brushed her messy hair a little, put back the loose shoulder straps of her dress, and wrapped a blanket over it like a shawl.

Her gesture made her seem like she was a child of a good family, and now Selene looked like the more sloppy one.

Her education in the village must have been quite good.

Krische had always been particular about her appearance and cleanliness, but spending time with Bery had polished her even more.

She poured hot water into the pot and cup, warmed it up, then threw it once.

She took care of those little things that Selene wouldn't have cared about.

And she seemed to enjoy it, just like Bery.

A sight Slene never got tired of seeing.

Perhaps she liked watching her make tea even more than drinking tea.

Krische poured milk then the tea and put a lot of honey in it.

She nodded in satisfaction and invited Serene to the table.

To make the tea taste as good as possible.

No, it's probably to make her happy even just a little bit.

It was that kind of care, that kind of love that Krische learned.

"... It's delicious. I wonder if I've become a sweet tooth while I'm with you."

"Ehehe..."

As Selene stroked her head, Krische smiled happily and moved her chair closer, and leaned on her shoulder.

She's so close to the point where it's hard to drink, she just thought 'what spoiled child' and didn't mind it.

Krische was a bit of an idiot.

"How are Bery and Crescenta doing?"

"I received a message saying that they were allowed to have an audience.

"......Is that so?"

Selene smiled wryly at Krische's thoughtful face.

"They'll be fine. Kreschenta is smart and Bery is with her. They won't do anything reckless, I'm sure they'll be fine."

"... Kreschenta can be stupid sometimes, so Krische is a little worried."

"Well...... that goes both ways."

Selene was exasperated by Krische's older sister-like words and continued.

"Krische too, you can't sleep during the meeting, okay? Tomorrow you will be able to relax a bit, so be patient."

"... Krische isn't that much of an idiot."

Krische puffed up her cheeks, saying 'That's rude'.

"----ta-sama, Kreschenta-sama..."

Kreschenta was comfortable.

Luscious snacks, delicious meals, comfortable carriages.

All the elements that make a long journey painful have been removed by Berry.

Both meals and snacks were wonderful, and the carriage, which used to cause her a sore buttock, was made into a superbly comfortable space with the finest cushions called Bery and countless blankets.

The swaying of the carriage was like a cradle, and her thoughts were already focused and spinning at full speed on how to make the most of this situation----in other words, her intelligence had deteriorated to the point of being inferior.

"Wuuu..."

Kreschenta shook her body and expressed her dissatisfaction.

She replied in a doggy-like voice as if to say, she still wanted to sleep, but the other party was insistent, too.

Rubbing her cheek against Bery's chest, Kreschenta finally opened her eyes with a clear expression of dissatisfaction.

What she saw was the rigid petrified captain Ehran staring at her from the small window of the carriage.

Kreschenta, seeing that, also stiffened like a stone.

"...w-why didn't you wake me up?"

"E-erm... ahaha, um... I had a hard time waking Kreschenta-sama up. Looks like the lock on the small window was loosened by the vibration. I didn't mean to open it, but it opened on its own."

"Ugh..."

:

The center of the Imperial State----Nauthiana.

It was famous as a fortified city built on the back of a cliff.

The castle, which was built from the cliff face, functioned as a huge defensive facility and was equipped with countless catapults and numerous mechanical bows.

The castle town was also covered with three layers of castle walls, and countless waterways run throughout the city.

While Albenaria, the royal capital of the Kingdom was called the White City, Nauthiana was the City of Water.

It was a city of extreme functional beauty, pursuing practicality as a defensive position.

The news of the overwhelming victory over Marcellus' army arrived the other day.

The victory of Chrishtand's army, which could be said to have taken the whole enemy's army as prisoners----Krische's victory forced Zanalibea to grant him an audience, and a few days ago Crescenta finally resumed his journey.

And it was today.

The cavalry captain Ehran was about to tell Kreschenta that they would soon be in Nauthana, but Kreschenta was sound asleep.

She was sleeping peacefully, hugging Bery.

Bery tried to wake her up, but in some mischief of fate, Ehran tapped on the small window, which opened, and the tragedy happened.

Ehran, who had not expected to find the princess, whom he looked up to as his lord and master, asleep in the arms of a servant, was indescribably bewildered, but it was not surprising considering Kreschenta's age.

She was a girl who was not yet thirteen.

Her father, His Majesty the King, was killed, and she was driven out of her royal capital----her responsibility, which was incomparable to that of an ordinary person, was carried on her young shoulders, and she did her part without complaining on the long, harsh journey.

She couldn't be blamed for showing servants the affection of a mere girl in a place where no one can see it.

Rather, when he thought of her circumstance, it was truly heartbreaking.

Ehran, who had a deep sense of loyalty toward the royal family from the beginning, now respected her even more----but Kreschenta was the exact opposite.

She was groaning, 'Aaah, uuuh,' to herself that she had made such a foolish appearance.

"T-the image of a princess that I have created is..."

"Um, it seemed that he was rather moved, but..."

Bery, who was looking at Ehran's apologetic face and tear-filled eyes, said so with a wry smile.

But Kreschenta was not convinced.

"It's all right. Kreschenta-sama is usually too serious, so it will probably be easier for others to feel closer with Kreschenta-sama if you show your clumsy side..."

"It's not okay! Rather than a princess I just looked like an idiot!"

"My, puffing up your cheeks like that. Here, Kreschenta-sama, say aaaah."

"Nmu..."

It was a cookie made at the estate where they were staying.

Kreschenta was forced to eat it and was physically blocked from speaking.

Munch, munch, Kreschenta couldn't do vulgar things such as opening a mouth while chewing, and all she could do was glare at Bery.

After she swallowed it the next cookie came.

Kreschenta wanted to object, but the enemy was also a formidable one.

It was a stance that would not allow Kreschenta to counterattack at all.

Naturally, Kreschenta had no choice to not eat the cookie she was given.

She was truly a dignified royalty as she took the enemy's attack head on----the time it took for Kreschenta to calm down after being patted on the head and given a cookie was 4 cookies.

"... It's Argan-sama's fault."

"Yes, I'm sorry. It's my fault."

Bery, smiled and said without any guilt, Kreschenta who clearly expressed her dissatisfaction, swallowed her anger along with the cookie.

As her swollen cheeks were gently caressed and the air expelled, Kreschenta leaned her head against Bery and sighed, as if she felt it was ridiculous.

"Nauthana does not have anything like a royal residence in the capital, so please let me change my clothes here. Even a poor servant can do that much, right?"

"Fufu, leave it to me. What color should we wear?"

"Anything other than blue is fine. Blue is a sacred color in Arna, so avoid blue for decorations and use other colors...you understand right. Please don't disappoint me anymore."

"My, the kanmuri, right? Look, smile."

Bery chuckled as she lifted the edge of Kreschenta's mouth with her finger.

"...I understand. Argan-sama, you're toying with me right?"

"My, toying with Her Royal Highness what a blasphemous thing. Fufu, though my intention is to take care to not let Kreschenta-sama got bored of the long trip..."

Kreschenta sighed again as she was once again hugged from behind.

"... That's enough. But be prepared. One day when I get Onee-sama, I'll turn Argan-sama into a dog."

"Oh my, that sounds scary."

Bery took out a comb and lovingly combed Kreschenta's hair.

The hair was just a little disheveled, but it flowed smoothly and without resistance against the comb.

Her fine golden hair shone red in the light and was weightless.

Touching her hair, Bery thought that they were sisters after all.

She was gradually becoming more and more spoiled, just like Krische.

The two princesses seemed to overlap, and she looked at her lovingly.

"... I like the *crescent moon* hair ornament."

"A crescent (chipped) moon is not a good omen. I don't like the name Crescenta."

"I like it. The moon's face shows many faces, but now it's the best."

Bery answered with a smile.

"Because it's not perfect, it hopes for more and shines brighter every day------the moon is ever-changing. The *crescent moon* is a shape that embraces the radiance of the future after all."

"I'm sure my father named me for a different reason. It's the name of a Cursed Child."

Kreschenta said absentmindedly.

"If something is missing, you can throw it away at any time.... A royalty name must always be perfect. There is not one other name left in the history books. Most of them were probably burned away."

A trivial word, a trivial meaning.

Something she was born with and something she could not have.

The girl must have been tormented by these things.

"Krische------crescent (chipped) moon, what a name. I almost laughed. We are like that wherever we go. ...Everyone says we are 'different with something missing (chipped)' when referring to us."

'------That's why we want something perfect.'

Kreschenta said and leaned her body.

She was as light as a bird's feather.

"The birdcage that Onee-sama thinks of is very beautiful. It's a perfection created by dividing the inside from everything else. That world was filled with no cracks. She's a bit of an idiot, however, we still want the same thing."

She reached her hand into the void and grasped it.

The way she did so was comical, and the way she wished for what she couldn't get seemed endlessly earnest.

"...I'm going to throw away all the imperfections and make that birdcage together with Onee-sama. It can't be helped, so I will let you in."

"Fufu, thank you."

She gently embraced her body and kissed her head.

"But, Kreschenta-sama"

"What is it?"

"There is no human being who is not lacking (chipped). There are only people who strive to be like that."

Even her beloved sister was not perfect.

She was just striving and trying to be that way.

That is why she looked so beautiful.

"Kreschenta-sama, Krische-sama, me and Selene-sama are all imperfect. But I think that's fine. If you think that the way it's missing (chipped) is beautiful, it will look beautiful after all."

Krische, Kreschenta, Selene, Lazura and Bogan.

Everyone around Bery was a hard worker.

That way of being was indescribably beautiful, and it always looked shining brightly to Bery.

"Just like how I think of Krische-sama, the way Kreschenta-sama lacked (chipped) and the way she tries to fill it is admirable, and I think it is lovely and beautiful. I don't think it's necessary or that you need to aim for perfection too much."

"...That's just because you're a weirdo."

"Fufu, it might be so. ......But I recently realized that in the end, I have to rely on someone to fill in the parts I can't fill myself, so I would love it if Kreschenta-sama would share it."

She smiled as she finished combing Kreschenta's hair and put away the comb.

"Don't rush, don't overdo it, take it slow. It seems to me that Kreschenta-sama is rushing, so I'm worried."

"............"

"Until Kreschenta-sama gets what you want. Until then, when you are tired, you can always rely on me and be pampered. Hmmm, it's like a snack between meals."

Kreschenta put her hand up and, without looking at Bery, put her hand on Bery's cheek.

It was a caressing, confirming touch.

"...Seems like you're a servant who likes to preach. To think that someone like you will be with me forever, my ears are likely to rot from your preaching."

"I'm sorry. It's my nature."

"Don't think you can get away with just apologizing. The stupid Onee-sama, may be happy with that, but please don't think it will work on me."

The hand that hit her cheek was very gentle.

Kreschenta's ears were slightly red as she stubbornly refused to look at her.

Bery quietly smiled.

"By the time the audience is over, make sure the room is exactly the way I like it. Then, well, I will forgive your rudeness just now."

"Yes, certainly."

"I had the worst wakeup experience because of you. I'm going to sleep again until night, so you'll have to prepare properly for that."

"Yes, Kreschenta-sama. ...As you wish."

And so they entered Nauthiana.

It was a chilly but sunny day.