Editing Rakuin no Monshou:Volume3 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 3===
The prince’s proclamation of war against Taúlia had circulated inside Apta Fortress for half a day.

The place became a riot—or so one would think, but a large number calmly received this piece of news. Things were more or less due to turn out this way, and with the prince’s quick wit now revealed, they figured the prince must have worked something out.

''However,''

Vileena thought, 

''That is all because everyone believes reinforcements will be coming from the Solon capital.''

In her opinion, that probability was exceedingly grim. She had tried indirectly asking the imperial guards but couldn’t get any sure proof. In a week from now, Oubary Bilan, who will have finished suppressing the slave’s insurrection, was set to make his way to Apta, but by then it would be too late.

Further into the next morning, the forces Noue Salzantes led had at long last pulled out to return to their own country.

“Is there any message you’d like to give to his majesty or your mother?”

Just before he left, Noue had gone to Vileena to offer his farewells. Vileena thought over it a little, but shook her head.

“I had written them a letter before. That should be enough. If I get too unrelenting, I’ll surely get scolded.”

While smiling, Noue never lost the meek expression in his eyes. They unspokenly enquired, ''Is it fine for you to stay here like this?'' And all the more reason because she understood this that Vileena pretended not to notice it.

“More importantly, I trust father and mother in your hands.”

“I understand.”

That Noue was pulling back meant the outbreak of war with Ende was drawing near. Like previously, Vileena stood and saw Noue off, and once that ended, she strolled the fortress interior accompanied by Theresia and caught her target.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“W-What’s the meaning of what?”

Darting his eyes was the Imperial Guard, Shique.

“It may be presumptuous for a woman to speak matters of war, but the way things are now the chances of victory are slim. I’m sure Prince Gil is thinking of something, but would you happen to have any knowing of this?”

“Aah, no, the likes of me is not something he’d reveal his innermost thoughts to…”

“Stop lying,” Vileena declared assertingly. “Whenever that person sets something into motion, the few of you will unquestionably carry the brunt of the strategy. The ones he trusts most are you.”

The moment Vileena mentioned the word trust, she felt a slightly bitter emotion stir within her chest.

''I’m amazed she’s noticed.''

Theresia silently stood behind Vileena not showing any change.

''I had thought something was weird when the one she decided to catch was Shique.''

At a glance, he was a gladiator used to handling women, but before Princess Vileena, he was the one to stand most at attention. Vileena undoubtedly grasped this intuitively. He was awkwardly respectful towards herself, and couldn’t give her the cold shoulder. 

''That Vileena-sama could resort to this kind of device is proof she has become a splendid ‘woman’. Well, I can’t say there’s much appeal in taking it this far. It’s much more becoming of Vileena-sama for her to do this unknowingly.''

Sure enough, Shique was cornered speechless. Seeing Shique shift his sights in search of help, Theresia took a step forward.

“My, princess. You are troubling Sir Shique. Why don’t you let him off at that?”

Because she was prevented from cracking down on Shique, Vileena’s bounded destination was all but one.

Vileena stood still shortly, as she delved into that feeling of having finally getting closer to her purpose.

These past few days, or rather since she had come to Mephius, she had been conflicted with problems that ate away into her. Should she move as the Garberan princess, or the fiancee of Mephius’ crown prince?

Simply, what was it that she should do?

These all too burdensome worries felt more than she could handle, but after speaking with the Imperial Guard, Orba, that load somewhat lightened. And it was then that she had a revelation.

“At times like these Vileena,”

Suddenly, she could hear her grandfather’s voice in her ears. She had a revelation.

''I remember now!''

Her grandfather had said that ‘people stop being the self they were when they were born’. When she had the conversation with Orba, those contents had begun to resurface, but Vileena could now vividly recall it by word.

''Occasionally there are times when a person is created from shouldering a position. Even people that no one holds expectations from, when given the appropriate post, cheer up and fulfill them.   

Fulfilling them means carrying the necessary responsibility that comes with it.''



“That might be similar to acting someone’s life in a play.”

Her grandfather Jeorg Owell smiled at the young Vileena as she listened obediently.

“They wear a mask that is the ‘post’, and do their best to perform the most suitable personality. They might laugh at you thinking you’re doing a monkey show, especially in the beginning. They might call you incompetent. No matter what the mask, given the necessary time to play it out, they will grow used to wearing it. Before they know it, their surroundings will also grow used to it. The more they get used to it, the more naturally they and others will perceive it. They’ll grow more and more into your role. By then, the mask will have become a part of the person’s face.”

“Then what will become of the flesh on that person’s face?”

That was when she was 11 or 12—if she remembered right, that was her age at the time. Towards his granddaughter who asked him impertinently, Jeorg laughed with a “Hm?”

“Will the flesh on the face disappear? Will it be replaced with the mask?”

“There are those where it does disappear,” Jeorg said without any signs of deceit. “There are also those who can skillfully wear both their skin and flesh, conflicted over which is the real them. Take for example, Vileena.”

“Yes?”

“I am the previous Garberan king.”

“Yes.”

“And I’m also Ainn’s father, as well as your grandfather.”

“Yes.”

“Which is the real me?”

“Both of them are real.”

“That’s right.” Jeorg made a wide smile and placed his hands over Vileena’s shoulders. “Having you say that both are real to me makes me really happy. But even I wasn’t born wearing the mask of ‘king’. At the beginning, I was also confused by this mask I was half-forced into putting on. There were also relatives who pointed fingers behind me saying it didn’t suit me. I could even feel the flesh on my skin slowly disappear bit by bit, and that also terrified me.”

“Yes.”

Vileena also made a terrified face and felt her grandfather’s cheek with her finger.

“As for whether I can skillfully use both the flesh and mask, I do not know. No, at some point, the mask started becoming my flesh. Should I say that they’ve fused together to become one, or that one of them was torn apart without me knowing, I still do not know at present. Say, Vileena.”

“Yes, grandfather.”

“You’re also my granddaughter, Ainn’s daughter, and Garbera’s princess. You might be someone’s best friend, and someone’s enemy. Before long, you’ll become someone’s lover, someone’s wife, and someone’s mother. Each time they add onto your face, you mustn’t turn away. It’s fine to think, it’s fine to be lost, but you mustn’t never run.”

Having her father say this to her with a stern face, Vileena also stiffly nodded.

“If there ever comes a time when you no longer know which is your real face, as you anguish, anguish, and grieve. At that time, Vileena, look into the mirror and do ''this''.”

Saying this is Vileena, her grandfather pulled his finger over one eye and stuck his tongue out.

“Once you do this, the mask will naturally come undone and you’ll feel yourself seeing the real you.”

Vileena had been surprised for a moment, but she immediately broke into a giggle and wrapped her arms around her grandfather’s neck and hugged him.



“Princess?”

Theresia called out worriedly to the princess who had stopped walking.

“A mask...”

Vileena had since been pondering, that wasn’t it her halfway position her half-hearted self? That as well, was one such mask. As long as one desired it, they could remove it at any time. And yet, at some point, her face had been usurped by the mask.

The only thing remaining then, was her resolve. Would she bear her fangs as Garbera’s princess playing the poisonous snake sent into Mephius, or would she resolve to bury her bones as a Mephian princess.

“I, Vileena, cannot decide on either.” Speaking her honest thoughts, Vileena faced her unseen grandfather and spoke. “However, everything is clear to me. There is one thing I ''want'' to do right now.”

“Princess? Princess, is something the matter?”

Theresia had finally felt uneasy that something might have happened, when Vileena quickly began walking off.

Just as Theresia thought she was retreating to her bedroom, Vileena stopped in front of a large dresser and took a deep breath in.

“Blehhhh.”

Pulling down one eyelid, she stuck out her tongue as far as she could. Theresia, who had finally caught up to her mistress, in the face of this scene nearly toppled over. Vileena nodded.

“Yup.”

“What do you mean, ''yup''?”

“Okay, I understand.”

Next was to commence something similar to a surprise attack. She was abiding by her grandfather’s maxim, that speed is most prized in battle.

Prince Gil was at the fortress’ first floor in the western study. Vileena suddenly appearing had startled him, but he regained his composure.

“So you came to scold me again?”

He asked with a bitter smile.

“Am I making such a scary face?”

”Ah, you aren’t. Last time’s was more...should I say that it’s because you’re being discourteous.”

“I’ve done some learning. Should I vent my emotions on the prince, I’ll only be effortlessly driven away. Anyone opposing the prince has ended up like that.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“From your appearance, I assume you have something in mind. I take it you can win against Ax Bazgan?”

Her perfectly open question had Gil renewing his expression. Returning the book in his hand back to the shelf, he answered back.

“We’re at the disadvantage if the enemy prolongs the war. I don’t know how much reinforcements to hope for after all. So I provoked them.”

“You seemed to have talked to Noue this morning about something.”

“Yeah.”

Although Gil Mephius—Orba was a bit hesitant, he had experienced firsthand the worries and unease Vileena harboured from the time he came in contact with her as the masked gladiator Orba. He understood the reason why she, while afflicted with those worries, had come here. So he honestly answered her.

“I’ll make Ax ally us within three days. After that, I’ll have our forces hurry to Garberan territory, as promised.”

“Prince…”

For a moment, Vileena felt the breath squeezed out of her and then she looked at the prince.

“I’m repaying the debt to Noue. And also, I can’t bear the thought of being threatened by a gun and taken hostage by you.”

“But then won’t you earn your father’s displeasure if you do this on your own?”

“I was originally the incompetent prince. I’m already prepared for my share of scolding.”

At some point in time, Theresia had offered a single bow behind Vileena and excused herself. Vileena, not realising  this, stepped up closer to the prince. 

“It looks like I keep piling onto the questions, but still, making Ax swear allegiance in under three days is somewhat challenging. Do you have a plan?”

“I do,” the prince replied straightforwardly.

Vileena’s gaze further met his.

“Then, can I in any way help?” Vileena asked.

Orba couldn’t hide the surprise on his face.

“The princess will? Don’t you hold any doubts on my plan?”

''Now'' you bring that up? her face said. Vileena smiled thinly.

“During Ryucown’s subjugation and also Zaat Quark’s rebellion, I knew nothing. No, even if I had known, I who held doubts towards the prince, would have refused to take your hand.”

“...”

''And everytime after when I came to find out about it, I’d regret having you treat me as a child.''

As she reflected on this, her mind was painfully calm.

''But now I realize the reason I was treated as a kid was because I really, didn’t know anything. The prince is always wavering, worrying, and handing down his decisions where I don’t know it. What vexes me isn’t that he kept it secret from me—yes, it must have been because I couldn’t be of help to him.'' 

''That’s why right now, I want to help the prince. That’s how I feel. There’s a part that also wants to do it for Mephius and Garbera, but more than anything, those are my clearspoken feelings.''

But what Vileena actually spoke out, was this:

“This time, it’s a matter also concerning Garbera. Just this time, I’ll entrust everything to you and offer my services.”

She said, chest out, chin up, exerting her excellence. Orba couldn’t stop that wry smile from forming.

“So as I was saying, if I were to help you, feel free to tell me to do anything. This time, I won’t disobey or scold you. I’ll move as you say.”

''She’s really a changed princess.''

This too, Orba had felt at this late hour. Thus, as she would when she tries poking her head in quarrels, Princess Vileena’s cheeks blushed and her eyes shone vividly.

And then those eyes began to quickly waver.

“As I thought, it’s no good.”

“No, hold on.”

''She’s making a face like a child that’s picked up a new toy.''

Orba quickly erased the smile that seemed to form around the corners of his lips. The princess as well, had not said this for play. In fact, he could see her commendable determination and resolution surrounding her. 

“Fine. I’ll also have you take a part in the battle plan.”

“Will you really?!” Vileena’s face lit up in the bat of an eye. Then what is it I should do? Use an airship to scout the enemy? Or maybe disturb them? Or should I act as decoy and distract…”

“Okay, Okay, hold your horses.”

Orba held his hand up to restrain Vileena, whose excitement was getting ahead of her.

“Then tomorrow morning, I’ll have the princess depart from Apta. Take ten imperial guards with you. Then head for Birac…Whoa, hold it, you said you wouldn’t scold or disobey me. This is a crucial part of the plan. Won’t you take my word for that, Princess Vileena?”

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