Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut:Volume 6 Prologue
Prologue – Memory with my Older Brother
I, Airi Arcadia, had always found this unbelievable since childhood.
It was something that happened when I was still a frail little girl.
Nii-sama (Big Brother), Lux Arcadia, had the rights to inherit the throne. But then, he was neglected by the rest of our family because he was only the 7th prince, the youngest one.
I suppose, even members from the other imperial families looked down on Nii-sama for this fact.
All that had happened while the Arcadian Empire was still ruled by the old Emperor.
Back then, when I was young, I could tell that the environment we grew up in was a harsh one.
However, all of Nii-sama’s concerns were directed at something else entirely.
“You’re feeling all right? Is there anything I can get you?”
Those were the questions that he always asked bedridden me.
That was shortly after Mother died in the carriage accident.
The shock from that event had worsened my sickness.
It was a sad time for young me.
“Call for me if anything happens. When you are feeling better, let’s go play in the park!”
His gentle smile always put my mind at ease, but because I was still feeling tortured by the many emotions that came after mother’s death——
“Nii-sama, please leave me alone…”
Why did I say that? I still regret it to this day.
“In two months, I’ll be going to the Count at the border… Even if you keep spending your time on me, Nii-sama, you won’t achieve anything by doing so.”
The sadness from being forced to leave the family due to father’s orders...
The sickness that was slowly eroding my body...
In this helpless reality, I could only feel desperation and sorrow.
Under these circumstances, I made that remark.
I thought that even Nii-sama would get angry when he heard me say those words.
"I really can’t stand talking to you, especially since that’s how you feel about me."——Was what I expected to hear.
I also expected him to shout at hopeless little me who had refused his kindness.
However, Nii-sama just smiled awkwardly:
“Sorry, Airi, I made you worry.”
He then softly stroked my hair.
“But, don’t worry. I will find a way.”
“……!—— I’m sorry, Nii-sama. I-I’m s-sorry… ”
Tears came flowing from my eyes.
He lifted sobbing little me close, and hugged tightly.
“So, don’t worry. You don’t need to cry anymore.”
His gentle voice penetrated my mind, freeing me from my worries.
In my cold, dark world, this was the only thing that brought peace to my mind.
(…but, why?)
I've wondered ever since.
When I was still in the palace, mother and me were regarded as ordinary “women” living with Nii-sama.
Even if he had no rights or power, as long as Nii-sama complied with the royal court and treated mother and I coldly, then Nii-sama wouldn’t be looked down upon by the rest of the royal family……
Indeed, Nii-sama was different from the others.
How was he different? I honestly couldn’t describe it in words.
But why didn’t Nii-sama abandon me?
Since childhood, I have never been able to him ask that, and I—
“—Airi, are you feeling all right?”
“…It’s nothing… I always feel all right.”
I answered Nii-sama coldly.
“Okay, but if there’s anything you need, please tell me immediately.”
Nii-sama smiled gently, and his footsteps slowly faded into the distance.
Recently, I felt as though I had been making Nii-sama worry about me again.
Whenever we met, I always avoided eye contact and refused to talk.
The reason for this, was in the pages of the ancient texts I’m now holding.
Its contents differed greatly from our conventional knowledge.
It was recorded there that the beings that were called the Lords (Creators) of the Ruin bore the name Arcadia. The same name as us, the Imperial Family of the Old Empire.
Our Family had been founded by three famous Imperial Princesses:
The First Imperial Princess - Listelka Rei Arshalia
The Second Imperial Princess - Aeril Vi Arcadia
The Third Imperial Princess - Hayes Vi Arcadia
……Yet, there were no traces of their names within the actual texts from that time.
I had poured through many of the Old Empire’s family genealogy and history books, but their names simply didn’t exist.
A few decades ago, the world confirmed the existence of the Ruins for the first time. We also learned about the prosperity of the Arcadia Empire centuries ago.
So, there was a possibility that such a Lord did exist. There was a girl named Hayes who was trying to destroy us from the darkness.
This situation had left me confused and uneasy.
“Who are we, Nii-sama……?”
That question, which I had whispered many times, wasn’t heard by anyone else’s ears and disappeared into the void.