Title: The Prideful Princess
Characters: Riliane, Allen, Maid (off-screen), Head Maid, Resistance Army, Sister
Do note that this story has some overlapping scenes with Len’s corresponding 4* side story! I highly recommend reading this story first before moving onto Len’s to maximise the waterworks! god their stories were so painful to get through
Once again, because words don’t suffice in expressing my gratitude, thank you Ylimegirl for explaining the Big Lore things going on here!
Part 1
???
Young Girl
…O my God, I have murdered countless people to this day.
Those who had disagreed with my views, as well as those who opposed me. I sent them all to the gallows.
I had been convinced that doing so was for the sake of the kingdom as well as to raise my authority as a monarch.
No matter how many selfish demands I made, no matter how much I'd wasted, no matter how many people I'd sent to the guillotine… There was none who criticised me.
I…
Young Girl
I was the one known by all… as the Daughter of Evil.
???
-Off with his head!
Slice
Riliane's Room
Riliane
Really, the cheek he has to challenge our1 decisions…!
"Think of the subjects"? Pah! That's something only that wretched Leonhart would say!
Hmm… Yet he's still a fool. Defying us despite his lowly status2…
Sigh… It seems that Leonhart won't be so easy to get rid of.
However… Despite his flaws, he is one of this kingdom's Three Heroes. What to do, what to do…
Bell rings
Riliane
Hm? It seems like it's teatime.
Knocking
???
Your Royal Highness3, I have arrived with your snack.
Riliane
Ohh, if it isn't Allen! Good, enter!
Door noises
Allen
Pardon my intrusion. This is today's snack - brioche.
May I pour a cup of tea for you?
Riliane
Please!
Right, Allen! Where and what were you doing this morning?
Allen
Huh, what I was doing? I was tending to the water fountain and the courtyard…
Riliane
Hm… Is that so. We wanted you to watch our renowned verdict!
Allen
Regarding that, I heard from the other servants that you managed to try a criminal once more.
Riliane
That's right! This, too, is part of our responsibilities as a sovereign-
CRASH!!
Maid's voice
AAAAAHH~! This is so baaaaad!!!
Allen
Ah…
Riliane
Oh ho? Isn't that Chartette4
Allen
Th-That seems to be the case… Your Royal Highness, I sincerely apologise, but may I be allowed to take my leave…?
Riliane
Alright. You may depart.
Allen
Thank you very much! Ah, please be careful while sipping your tea, as it is hot.
Footsteps, door noises
Allen
-Whoa… Chartette, what are you doing?
Maid's voice
What am I doing?! I was just cleaning the windows, yanno~!!
Riliane
…How peaceful.
A few days later
Knocking
Allen
Your Royal Highness, it is I, Allen.
Riliane
Enter.
Door noises
Allen
…Your Royal Highness? Did something…happen…?
Riliane
What a keen eye! We expected no less of you, Allen!
Listen, Allen! That wretched, irritating Leonhart-!!
He'd said that we have to open up our food stores for the subjects because they don't have enough food, you know?! Even though our meals are already as meager as they are right now!
Allen
…That is…
Riliane
And to top that off, did you know? He'd stolen the food from the royal stores without even seeking our permission.
Allen
That seems to be the case…
Riliane
How dare he ridicule us in this manner as the Captain of the Royal Guard…!
Allen
……
Riliane
Hmph! …Well, this will be the last time we will be irked by that man anyway.
Allen
Huh…? Um… What do you mean by…
Riliane
Allen, take this-
Allen
…I see that this bottle contains a piece of parchment.
Riliane
Take it out and read it.
Allen
Understood…
Rustling
Allen
……?!
Riliane
Surprised? Well, we suppose it's no wonder why.
Leonhart… He is revered as one of the Three Heroes. …We don't understand why anyone would, though.
Thus, unlike other retainers, his head wouldn't be as easy to lop off.
However, we came up with an idea. You see, if we can't publicly execute him, then why not have him covertly assassinated!
With your swordsmanship, even that can come true.
Allen
…Um, defeating the great Sir Leonhart of the Three Heroes with my swordsmanship is…
Riliane
Even without that frightful look on your face, we have a plan ready.
That man is fond of drink, correct? Perhaps we shall take advantage of that-
Allen
……
Riliane
And then, appearing as if we have conceded to his demands, we propose to make peace!
Allen
……
Riliane
He would then get so absorbed in the moment that we're sure he will drink the wine we prepare - oblivious entirely to the fact that it is laced with a numbing agent.
Allen
……
Riliane
This plan is a secret between you and us, just the two of us.
Allen
……Understood.
Young Girl
-I didn't understand anything back then.
I didn't know that at that point, the people could only consume meals that were even more pitiful than the feed that my beloved horse itself received.
Even worse, I was addicted to feeling so much pleasure from having anything I want go according to my wishes without sullying my own two hands.
……
Then, I extended my malice to the neighbouring kingdom of green as well.
Young Girl
When I found out that my fiancé had been stolen by another woman, I became so jealous that I could go insane.
I was so jealous, that I'd ordered the deaths of all women with green hair, like the woman who took my fiancé away. And then-
Footsteps
Young Girl
……! Someone…was here…
…Perhaps they'd overheard this.
But… My confession has yet to end.
O my God, please hear my sins…for just a bit longer.
Part 2
Riliane's Room
Riliane
Allen's not done yet…? …Did something happen on his way back by any chance?
No, he was able to assassinate the Leonhart himself. Killing a single woman should be a piece of cake.
…So long as that green-haired girl is gone, our dearest big brother Kyle5 should also return to us.
……
(We'd counted Allen to do this precisely because we trust him… but would it have been better to send someone else instead?)
Knocking
Riliane
…What is it?
Door noises
Head Maid
Your Royal Highness, it is almost time for the assembly to begin.
Riliane
…Got it. Wait a moment.
At any rate, the war with the green kingdom will be the topic in question once again, correct? Allen has already left to kill the female target anyway, so we don't really care how the talks go, but…
…No, as a fine queen like Mother, we have to conduct ourselves appropriately.
Young Girl
-I was truly so foolish at that time.
As I started the war with the neighbouring kingdom, I was delighted solely at the prospect that the one I loved would return to me.
But…
The commoners' anger and displeasure towards the Daughter of Evil's tyranny finally hit its boiling point.
Angry people noises
Resistance Army
"Have a taste of our rage!!" "Turn the blossoms of evil to dust!!!!"
Angry people noises
Allen
…How is the flavour, Your Royal Highness?
Riliane
It is perhaps a little too sweet. We prefer brioche with lighter flavours.
Will we… be killed?
Allen
That's…
Riliane
…Allen.
Allen
…Yes?
Riliane
Would you…hold our hand? They are trembling…so, so much…
Allen
Alright.
Rustling
Riliane
Why is it that…when you hold our hand, we can feel so at ease?
Allen
……
Riliane
Allen, we… I…
I wanted to be like Mother - my gentle and noble Mother.
Mother never showed weakness to anyone. She held herself with so much strength. And she was heralded as a strong monarch.
That's why I also…didn't flatter anyone, and I wanted to be stronger than I could ever be…
Allen
……
Riliane
Allen…
Allen
Yes?
Riliane
…Thank you.
Allen
Huh…?
Riliane
You stayed by my side to the very end. Up till now, you did anything for my sake.
So I wanted to express my thanks in our final moments.
Allen
……
Your Royal Highness, if you would allow it… May I request that you grant a wish of mine?
Riliane
…A wish?
Riliane
Now that we're like this, Allen and I really do look identical…
Allen
Indeed.
-You can probably safely escape from the palace with your current look.
Riliane
Huh…?
Allen
Riliane. Escape using the secret passage behind the fireplace.
Riliane
W-Wait…
Allen
I've made your horse, Josephine, wait for you outside. So go someplace far away, where the resistance army has yet to reach-
Riliane
Wait!!
Don't be ridiculous! If they figure out that I'm not in the palace, they'll immediately pursue after-
Allen
It'll be alright. After all-
Your Royal Highness is right here, you see.
Riliane
No… You can't! It's pointless! No matter how alike we may look, we're still different people in the end! You'll be found out instantly!
Cloth rustles
Allen
Don't worry, because we are twins - you're my older sister. So no one will ever find out for sure.
Riliane
Huh…tw-twins…? Allen and I?
Allen
Yes. I am your younger twin brother. You… don't remember, do you?
On the other hand, I could never forget you.
Riliane
Allen…
But… But… That's exactly why! You'll be killed if you remain here, you know?!
Even though Allen…did nothing wrong…
Allen
No, I'm also an evil child. Because if you are indeed the Daughter of Evil, then I am the Servant of Evil.
Although… As a servant, I can no longer do anything for you.
Riliane
Allen…
Allen
Now, leave, Riliane.
Riliane
No… I don't wanna…! Allen…!!
Secret passage moves
Riliane
…Allen… Don't go… Let me out!
Knocking
Riliane
Sob… I…don't remember anything. I need to know…more about our past…!
Allen's voice
…Farewell, Riliane. Live, and keep smiling.
Footsteps
Riliane
Ah… Ahh…!
Stop! Don't go…!!
I'm begging you… Don't leave me alone…please…
Sob… UwaaAAAAHHHH!!!
Ocean waves
A Beach
Young Girl
……
Sister
Heave-ho… I've kept you waiting, Rin.
Rin
…Is that sapling the friend you spoke of?
Sister
Yes, I was planning on returning it to the forest in my hometown. Could you assist me, Rin?
Rin
I would, but…
Ocean waves
Rin
Could you keep my identity a secret? You overheard the confession I made, right…?
I was the one…who made your dear friend6 die…
Sister
…I will, because I was determined to cease my resentment.
Hey, Rin? It's lonely being left alone, separated from my friend.
That's why I would like you to join me.
Rin
…Okay. Got it.
Footsteps
Rin
(Because solitude feels lonely.)
-Allen, I will live on here.
Allen… I wonder if we could meet again…someday, somewhere…
If we could, then when that time comes…let's play and chat as much as we can.
Notes
- Whenever Riliane is performing her duties/acting in official capacity, she uses archaic speech patterns (notably, using じゃ instead of だ often, and お主 instead of 君 or 貴方), and the personal pronoun わらわ (warawa), which is supposedly used by females as a humble way to refer to themselves. Like the Evillious translations for the light novels, I chose to use the Royal we to denote these instances. She uses 私 (watashi) when she drops the formalities. (Return to text)
- Leonhart was stated to have rejected the elevation of status to noble after his heroics, so he technically only is: 1. A member of the celebrated Three Heroes and 2. Captain of the Royal Guard. Riliane uses 一介の貴族 (lit. a mere noble) to refer to him and it felt kinda “huh” to translate that exactly so I took some liberties with this. (Return to text)
- Allen always refers to Riliane when they are perfoming their duties as リリアンヌ様 (Riliane-sama), so I used the term of address for princesses (according to yaboi Google, it’s Your Royal Highness) for these instead. He also uses more polite honorifics and 私 instead of 僕 while speaking to her in official capacity. (Return to text)
- Chartette is a maid, although her title is stated as chamberlain here. (Return to text)
- She calls him Kyle-niisama, and no, they aren’t blood-related. (Return to text)
- The Sister in question here is actually Clarith, who was close to Michaela, the “daughter of green” whom Kyle fell for, and Riliane became enraged with jealousy over. (Return to text)