Chapter 10-  An exhausted princess is asked a ridiculous request

Have you ever worked in a company that is about to be bankrupt? Not only that, the president of the company is pretty sick and cannot really do much. The shareholders, board of directors, and department heads are doing their best to not let it bankrupt. You are the vice president and a talented one at that in fact very soon the next president, you can easily manage, communicate and do the jobs of the department heads, stakeholders and board of directors while doing your job, you are incredibly gifted for this job but even you cannot stop the fate of the company. Then there's this much more gifted person than you in the company that normally would have been vice president and is older than you and supposed to have been your senior at the company, but this person does whatever they like, is able to get permission to do any tasks and projects they wish and they always go in errands and tasks outside the main building. It's not that they are bad at communicating or being social or leadership they are just too lazy to do so. They could probably solve the problem of bankruptcy but they are on a business trip as they wish.

Well, a certain princess in a certain castle whose very small kingdom was going to be overrun by one of the biggest empires was feeling exactly like this. You can imagine how sore her shoulders must have felt from the stress, the agony and the frustration. When she cracks her neck, echoes can be heard from the castle, and even citizens close by go, ‘Oh, must be the crown princess. It's okay, we believe in you!’.

To have the full picture of how sore her shoulders are and to set up such a tale of an overwork incredibly gifted person to the point of despair for the country she loves and at this point thinks is just better just to tell her dear subjects, ‘ Why not a start a mass migration all of sudden to any neighboring countries and upset their status quo?’. Not that this could be done, especially with the current status quo of many countries.

There were countries that were raising their militaries. There were others that were invading others. There were others having hardcore border control and observing as neutral as they think they should give it up and just raise their military and start making alliances. There were others that did not care and still did as they please. Who could blame them, for the end was near. There was so much research and planning in the eschatology. Yes, precisely the apocalypse was coming. The time when knowledge of the dharma will be lost. Armageddon is coming. Doomsday is coming. Ragnarok is coming. The day of judgment. Before anything falls into total decay.

Of course, quite the exaggeration since only the world of man, and civilization shall perish. All because of the wrath of someone who cannot accept the past, cannot live in the present and dream for the future other than for everything to feel its wrath.

It is quite the tale. A tale of revenge, tragedy, love, and despair. But that is for another time. In its conclusion there was this great new black dragon, that all did was release its wrath and chaos to consume the world. The great dragon kings decided to put their differences at aside since none of them could defeat alone and they were almost basically prey to it. But they were not strong enough to deal with its wrath so they taught humans how to use dragon arts. One of the reasons was that the power was so great that humans would eventually die from overusing it. But after teaching them, they saw humans would die too fast or become full-fledged dragons that went berserk and needed to be taken down. They tried other races but they were just slightly better results and races close to them as powerful would not be a great choice. So they thought very well for so long. What about mediums to teach them? What was the greatest medium? At the time reading was just for a few, so the best medium that everybody enjoyed regardless of who was, was through song. They taught songstress dragon arts through songs without becoming their special warriors to avoid the failures of the past. Through so much trial and error as the wrathful one kept thrashing around, they found out when the songstress sang to someone of their choosing regardless of strength, it would have better results. In the end, as time went out with so much research small kingdoms came about through these methods.

But the age of gods was coming to an end, and deities, dragons, and many great ones decided to leave this world, for the faith of humanity was changing and humanity itself, the tools, knowledge, and civilization of man was changing. If this kept going eventually even man would reach such great heights that who knows what they could do. For that, after the great dragon kings, a pact created a mirror-like parallel world called the reverse-side world. After defeating the great wrathful one, with their warriors, they seal him away for his wrath could not be defeated but just contained. Since their kingdoms could influence eventually the so-called ‘mortal world’, they decided to take their small kingdoms to where all the mystical beings, beats, deities, and dragons, and so forth went to the reverse-side world.

A lot of mythical beasts came since ‘heroes’ were hunting them to extinction. Some deities, and supernatural beings prefer to be in the mortal world to watch over humanity to decline from its supernaturality and to see if their weapons will one day be too dangerous to control. Others love humanity too much and decided to be in the mortal world, others had too much pride and refused to admit humanity, and eventually went extinct. Others did not care, and thought, ‘Ah? Would it not be the reverse side that would be what you think your so-called ‘mortal’ world will become? Is there any reason to go?’. Of course, others thought humanity was too weak, and they needed to be protected.

There were so many ideals, and so there was the world and its shadow, the reverse-side world, that quite frankly also had humans. For some reason, these humans were much more lustful than the ones in the other world and well they reproduce with so many species as they could. And so humans were known for their love to reproduce and continue their species in whatever way possible. When a species has trouble with their population birth rates, they always go to humanity, since humanity will gladly help out.

Of course, many factions came into this reverse-side world. The most powerful beings were the dragon kings, the others would be the great bright fairies. They are the ones that keep order from large immigration from the reverse-side world to the ‘mortal world’. They are too bright to see what they look like, but since they called themselves fairies they are called the great bright fairies. And so...

-'' Crown princess! Crown princess!”, an elderly man that was more like a bear beast, a trait of man but more traits of a bear that happened to be one of my generals spoke to me with concern.

-” Yes, I’m listening”, I said with a bright smile, that clearly everyone could tell how exhausted I was. Yes, I was so bored that I was half listening through the important conversation. I called it important but although it is, we are going in circles, everybody is so desperate and going at each other for our current predicament. That is why I do not want to call them out because they need to release some of their tension. Lately, these meetings have been more of that than on how to deal with our current predicament. They are needed after all, we cannot make our citizens feel this ship is going down. I mean, they know but somehow I have kept this sinking ship staying at float and have everybody from going nuts. I might be a bit too conscious of my gifts but I’m an incredible genius. I have to be, I’m more synchronized with our guardian, the true king more than anyone. So I’m the main priestess too. I relieve everyone from their worries. Not only that I’m great at politics, economics, management of multiple departments, and great at communication at all levels. I’m the best at the job. Not only that, but because I have the best synchronization with the guardian, I am the best renowned ice spirit user in the whole kingdom.

There is no better genius for this current predicament than I! Is what I would like to say, but I have an older sister. When you hear the terms older sister and crown princess you think the older sister is the crown princess. I’m the crown princess not because I’m much more talented but because I’m much more responsible. My older sister is much more talented than I, nay the whole world! But she is such a big goofball! She loves stories too much to the point she would go to extreme terms in order to get them. That is why our guardian and the rest of our nation decided to be me, they needed not just talent and hard work but responsibility and devotion towards our country. So I have a big sister that could probably make this despairful situation into one that seems like it's not such a big problem. So here I am, giving a small summary in my head that somehow went back to the very foundation of this world. That is how bored and exhausted I am, but these meetings are necessary. We do indeed eventually make progress and actual work but we need to release our tension, even I, the crown princess, were a monologue to myself. You... do not do that? How can you live with yourself!? Come one everybody when they are bored at least at one point goes back to the foundation of the world and recites until the present. Anyone has done that at least twice or thrice.

-”AH! If it was not for the stupid brat that try to seduce our crown princess when she went as a diplomatic emboy!”, said an elf that is slightly in his mid-30s and looks wise. As expected elves live for much longer like 300 years, so he is around 100. But even so, I find this issue irritating. These meetings for a short while serve to release tension but they always go on this useless topic. It is useless because everybody knows it's useless. It's not because it's in the past but because the empire used this very petty tactic to declare war. They know it, I know it, the enemy knows it. Of all the excuses to use a ‘legitimate’ invasion of someone, this is one of the most pathetic ones! If you are going to invade, just do it you evil bastards! And if you are going to come with an excuse at least make it kind of believable and reasonable but to make this your reason, is like screaming to the world, ‘We are sorry but time coming closer, and we do not know the deadline for the wrathful one and we were just too lazy to come with an excuse te-hee!’.

-”Those imperial bastards! How is our crown princess at fault! There is no way she would take an interest in that sorry excuse for a man”, said angrily another general. He is so fluffy like the bear general. I like fluffy things, somI often make my fluffy subjects carry me on their backs. Unfortunately I have not such bliss, since I fall asleep on their fluff as they carry me. I cannot just randomly fall asleep in this situation, such despair. And such a great time too! My older sister is not here! She is always pranking me! One time she for a whole month made me believe my sense of taste was dysfunctional by switching the flavors of sweet to sour, salty to spicy, and even went as far as to make me think whether the meat I ate tasted like fruits and vice versa. And once she messes with the fluff...is too horrifying to remember...I cry everytime when I think about it to the point that even my crazy older sister promise to never mess with the fluff ever again.

-”Your Highness! It's okay you do not have to remember the ploy! It was all those evil bastards doing!”, said one of my human generals. He is always seducing women, as expected of a human. Human libido is too powerful, it cannot be stopped! He, one of the people I admired when I was a kid, made me realize from watching him, humanity is too dangerous. He is a few older than me, around 6 years older.

-“Your Highness”, another general.

-”Your Highness”, and another general.

-”Your Highness”, and another general.

-” It's okay...young child...it's okay to weep but...remember you are the pillar to this nation”, said our benevolent old guardian.

-” Your excellency, you are awake, how fare thee?”, I say with the utmost respect. Seriously old man, why are you in the meetings? You do not have to force yourself, you are in critical condition, I will give you a report like I always do. Your main duty is to sleep a ton and be in the best condition you can, since my incredible yet irresponsible older sister is not here, you are our only shot against the fire dragon king. Heck, she and you are not even a match. If we only had a dragonkin with us! But Arias is not easy to raise, even though I am not at the level of an Aria and I really try. If push came to shove I thought I would give my final song to my sister and make her a dragonkin, and maybe she should take down the old powerful dragon. A lot of people were against the idea since you know, me being the crown princess and all. But even so that is not an option I was not able to make a final song. You cannot be half-assed otherwise your dragonkin would be not that strong. I do not want to sacrifice myself for a very petty song. Really strong Arias, are beloved by guardians, man, and the world. There are also talented spellcasters and in singing of course. And they have to be passed down sonatas of previous Arias. Great lineage in Arias is incredibly important to make the best dragonkin they can. Dragon arts are not something you can easily pass down, you have been a great medium, and even then you can fail.

“Quite well...thanks my beloved child....do not worry...I can see hope in the end”, said his excellency very gently. Thanks for the encouragement but do you remember our plight old man!? I know you have a skill in divination, but even I know it's not 100% accurate, and you have been confusing your dreams and divinations lately.

“Is that right our excellency”, I said trying to sound hopeful and with the utmost respect, for our guardian is indeed worthy of respect. Our dear beloved guardian who founded this kingdom anew, and this snowy mountain kingdom doom to fail, he helped it flourish after its previous guardian gave up. He is from Athabaskan mythology. He is a Wedingo, a being of ice, a half man and half beast. They have ancestral insights, but they are malevolent creatures that are man-eating that broke taboos. But our guardian is not like that or more like not anymore. Once I asked, and he said while crying, ‘ I once did certain things out of despair, and fall into my wrath, when I realized what I did, it was too late, I left my home in penitence when I arrived in this kingdom...I do not remember how long ago. Well, it matters not, I decided I will atone by helping the people of this kingdom for the actions I commit in my homeland can never be taken back, I can no longer go back. I decided to exile myself from my beautiful homeland, for I went too far.’

-“I saw a man that was no beast.....no hero, not dragon......yet he fought otherworldly like a monster even more than I”, said our tired guardian. I was a bit surprised to hear of such a being.

-“Umm...is he friend or foe?”, said one of my generals, a beautiful witch like me. Witches have bodies with so much charm, it charms both males and females. We have bodies that make men lunatics and make them howl at the moon. It can be a tad annoying. I have a bit of blondish hair, a bit of brother, and lighter like falling snow at sunrise, with red highlights. My dear general has greenish hair like the leaves of an evergreen tree so beautiful. But of course, another trait my sister has us beat, no witch is beautiful as her. She has made even me howl at the moon. She has the best proportions yet is not too outrageous. She has a great height (I’m a bit conscious of my height, I’m taller than most females and some men). She has fiery red hair like the sun at dawn. She has beautiful green eyes that seem like they were a mix of beautiful herbs. My eyes look a bit like diamonds. My witch general’s eyes are a bit more reddish like rubies.

-” Hmmm, good question.....I do not know...I see him doing what he pleases....he dances at his own tune.....a demon too dances at its tunes as steam comes from its really hot heart burning more than hell itself....a very bad match for me......There is huge chaos...A phoenix dances with master of swords....and a bunny girl....hmmm..”, trails off the old man. Hey old man stop thinking things you should not! If you are giving a divination do it right! You are too old for that!. “Yes...yes...hmmm...then a witch...master of.......zzz...zzzz....zzzz....zzz...”, he does not finish as he falls asleep.

-”Tch, damn it, old man, at least finish!”, said in an irritated gloomy voice, a young boy with his right eye covered by his bangs. A coward by nature, extremely intelligent, a recluse as his goal, but failing but being lovey-dovey by the best wife in the whole kingdom, as every single time, people say, ‘She is too good for you!’, of course, the loving wife really dislikes this and sends them a glare; forget knives, the very grim reaper, nay something hotter than that and torturing. For some reason a lot of people describe this glare as the reviving Naraka from Chinese mythology...why so detailed and focused on such things, I do not know? But I learned from this housewife that housewives are just angelic-cute-like beings but also deadly scary and you should not anger them. Will I become a wife like that someday, I wonder?

From what you can tell, I’m very well-versed in many cultures and so is our kingdom. Well, the ‘mortal world’ has many mythologies that the reverse-side world accepted a long time ago....also it has influenced us a lot with their traditions and cultures and entertainment even though there is not much interaction between us.

-” More respect, boy! Do you want me to make you leave right at this instant?”, says one of the most patriotic generals I have, he is a giant jackalope. He is one of the strongest in the kingdom....and the fluffiest! He hits the table with ferocious fury, and before having any ill tension in the room, I stand up.

-” That is enough! We are in front of his Excellency and I! I am the crown princess and the high priestess! I will not condone violence or disputes in this hall, especially when we are discussing such important matters!”, I say so majestically and authoritatively, gosh I am so cool!

-” My apologies, highness!”, says apologetically with the utmost respect from my fluffy general.

-”Yeah, same, your grandioseness!”, says so pathetically, apathetically, sarcastically hypocritically, and while being condescending, my cowardly friend. He also has a high resonance with our old guardian. Unfortunately, he is really bad at spells and spirit magic. He also has a very average mana. He is not an excellent warrior and a great coward. But he knows when to retreat and at what periods are the best. He is also a great tactician or more like a schemer. He is a great scout, and good at delaying and spreading information in the battlefield, and is able to command a very good platoon. So in conclusion someone who may be viewed by others as incredibly pathetic is incredibly useful due to how he twistedly grew up. I will not recommend following his example. I call him my friend because I always ask for his point of view. It is so cold, so gloomy, with not much trust for others. Because he does not trust others easily he is always getting information, masquerading as others, and hearing the conversations of others while scouting. He is so twisted, I do not know why I like him. I don't know why his platoon likes him. I do not know how his wife fell in love with him, it does not make sense! Such a loving wife, the very best wife, and yet she falls for him? How does that happen?

Many others do not like him as you can see, he can be disrespectful, bad-manner, gloomy, distrustful, edgy, and well, he always brings the mood down. But no one can deny he is very hardworking, great at following up, and does every job to its very best. If only he was more, cherry, social, and good nature, all the girls that secretly like him would be more forward towards him. Or maybe not, with such a great loving bride, there is no contest, and his number one hobby besides trying to be a recluse is spoiling his wife. So there is no contest in the first place.

By the way, I may not have mentioned him before he is human, he is around the same age as me, and he has pale white skin, with black hair. His hair might have seen black as the darkest night but he has a few white hair from overstress, and not just because of our current situation he has always been like this. His eyes are brown, like honey, they may be beautiful, but the dark shades on his eyes from overstressing himself and not sleeping as much kind of ruin his good looks.

Eh? I’m giving him too much detail compared to the others. Is it not obvious? I really like him, I am one of his fangirls, who won’t confess for three things. One his personality is way too bad. Second, I have to marry someone great in status, talent, and beloved by the people, and third. The other two do not matter at all, he loves his wife too much, and well, she is way too amazing, even I fall for her when I see her. Even my sister whose beauty is even greater falls for her. One of the reasons my cowardly prince is not in great terms with my sister. She loves to take the time he has with his wife so she can be with his wife instead. Also he thinks she has an awful personality and is like a calamity magnet. Well, he is not wrong; he has been a victim of the calamity magnet multiple times. Although this brings another good trait about him. He has not howled at the moon for her, and well for me either. Or maybe he has done secretly but does not want us to tease him?

My cowardly prince is so stressed out. He is trying to come out with the greatest tactic, also he is incredibly cowardly so he is just thinking so many bad scenarios right now. I cannot blame him, nobody knows what exactly to do. I should start with that, after all it's not like everybody knows some of the steps that the story of how the powerful terrifying empire declares war on us, a very small kingdom while using a very petty excuse.