Chapter 13: Queen
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Namiya's mind was constantly bombarded with thoughts, and the idea of giving up crept in again and again.
Yes, she was just an ordinary person — an orphan, nothing more. By chance, she happened to be the last to carry the royal bloodline, but… she never wanted this.
All she wanted was to remain ordinary. A simple girl, with a simple life.
The thought of surrender made her chest ache. Namiya fell silent for a long time before finally raising her head. A trace of determination flickered in her eyes.
"I… I am willing to play the role of Queen…"
Her voice trembled slightly, tinged with fear. She understood what her words meant. From this moment onward, she would bear an unimaginable weight, one that would last for countless years.
The Namiya in the mirror smiled softly at her.
"Why accept it? This was never your responsibility."
Perhaps because the decision had already been spoken, Namiya began to calm. Though her tone still carried fear, her panic slowly ebbed away.
"I… I don't know. I just don't want my aunt's house to disappear. I don't want the people in my village to lose their homes. If I refuse… if I run away… they'll all suffer. They might be left homeless."
Namiya was still Namiya. She had no grand ambitions, no lofty ideals. She was just a kindhearted girl.
The reflection gazed at her, lips parting as if to say something — but in the end, she swallowed her words.
Namiya, meanwhile, began to ramble, almost as though confiding in the mirror to release the tension inside her heart. She spoke about her childhood — catching fish in the river, playing in her aunt's courtyard, the small and ordinary joys of her life.
One memory after another spilled out, simple things, yet precious.
As she spoke, smiling faintly, she lifted her hand and brushed her cheek. Her fingers came away damp.
She was crying.
"Namiya…"
The reflection whispered her name, watching the girl who smiled through her tears.
And then, with resolve, the mirrored Namiya spoke:
"Namiya, it's time for you to go back."
"…Mm. I… I understand."
She quickly wiped her tears away with trembling hands. Looking at her reflection once more, she asked in a small, reluctant voice:
"Can I… can I see you again?"
"Perhaps… if fate allows."
"I will see you again," Namiya said firmly, almost like a vow.
The reflection was momentarily speechless. Then, with a faint nod, she smiled.
The next moment, the mirror shattered, and the dream dissolved.
Namiya awoke, sitting upright on her bed, dazed. The pillow beneath her head was soaked through with tears.
She looked down at her hands, then hurried to the tall mirror across the room. She stared at her reflection, searching desperately. But now, the only figure in the glass was her own.
"Play the Queen…"
She whispered the words to herself. Then, as if making a decision, she wiped her face dry with her sleeve. Looking into the mirror, she lightly patted her cheeks until her expression steadied.
The confusion from her dream faded, replaced by clarity.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The muffled sound of a maid rapping at the door startled her.
"Your Majesty, may we come in?"
"Ah… ah! W-wait a moment, I'm coming!"
Still unaccustomed to the strange title, she responded quickly, then checked herself in the mirror once more. Only after confirming that nothing was amiss did she murmur under her breath:
"For this country… you must work hard."
She moved to the door and opened it. Several maids were waiting, arms full of items — robes, jewelry, and even a crown.
"Your Majesty, it's time to prepare."
Namiya nodded stiffly. At once, the maids bustled in, guiding her through the motions of washing, dressing, and adorning her with all the trappings of royalty.
By the time she returned to her senses, she was no longer in her room. She stood upon a grand podium, overlooking the capital.
A crown rested upon her head. A magnificent robe cascaded over her shoulders. A scepter, heavy with symbolism, lay in her grasp.
Her delicate features, framed by regal garments, radiated unexpected majesty. What had once been confusion now seemed to lend her an aura of aloof indifference.
And yet, her heart was trembling.
Moments ago, she had simply been dressed, directed, and led here like a doll. Now, faced with the vast sea of citizens below, her legs wavered beneath the gown. Her fingers tightened around the scepter. Her face paled.
She was terrified.
But then, she remembered the vow she had made — to accept the responsibility, to play the Queen.
She drew in a deep breath, whispering to herself inside her heart:
"Don't be afraid, Namiya. Don't be afraid. Isn't this just acting? Just play the Queen. Calm, steady, don't let them see through you… Calm."
Her racing heartbeat slowed. Lifting her chin, she looked down at the crowd. She recalled the confident tones of her townsfolk back home, and imitated them. Clearing her throat twice, she forced her voice out.
"Cough, cough…"
The murmuring in the plaza below immediately hushed. All eyes turned to her.
"Greetings, everyone… From today onward, I am your Queen. I hope… I hope we can live in harmony, and together, make this country stronger."
It was a short, simple speech, but it drained her. It was the best she could manage.
Yet murmurs began to rise from the crowd.
"This Queen… doesn't seem very majestic. She looks ordinary, doesn't she?"
"'Get along well with us'? That doesn't sound like a Queen at all."
The whispers carried up to her ears. Namiya's lips went pale again. Fear coiled around her heart. What if they discovered she was a fraud? What if the gods destroyed everything?
Her body trembled, her breath caught — until a sudden fire lit within her chest.
"Silence!"
Her voice cut across the plaza like a blade. Though her body still shook, her eyes burned with fury as she glared down at her people.
"As subjects, you dare to question your Queen? I wished to treat you with kindness, but it seems you do not value it! Very well. If benevolence fails, then I shall speak to you in the tone you desire!"
The square fell deathly still. Those who had whispered shrank back, trembling, afraid of punishment.
Then, as though on cue, praises erupted.
"This is a Queen! Majestic and unyielding — our country is saved!"
"Ha, she was testing us before! Of course the Queen must be strong. This is how a ruler should be."
The wave of adulation rose and drowned out all doubt.
And through it all, Namiya kept her expression steady, showing no trace of her inner turmoil. In that moment, she truly looked the part of a majestic Queen.