Living As the Villainess Queen

“I have no idea,” Eugene admitted. Flora and fake Jin were like oil and water. Predicting the outcome of Flora using that spell was impossible.

“That darkness within Flora…” Eugene had occasionally sensed a hidden darkness in Flora, but wasn’t that true for most people? After all, who didn’t have the capacity for negativity?

Eugene didn’t believe in universal moral categories. There were surely those born with a natural inclination towards good, and others inherently drawn to evil. But the majority, like herself and perhaps Flora, existed in a spectrum. They were simply people, more or less forgiving of their own flaws.

If only she could be as clear-cut as the fake Jin, who dismissed Flora as simply “evil.” It would be easier. Easier to write her off, to erase her from the equation.

Eugene sighed, her eyes returning to the notebook. Aldrit had promised to pass on the advice from the elder and update her on Flora’s reaction.

“Right,” she thought, a new resolve forming. “Flora’s voice matters. Until I know where she stands, worrying is pointless.”

[Your Highness.]

 Eugene acknowledged promptly, seizing her pen to respond. [Did you converse with her?]

[Yes,] Aldrit confirmed. [She expresses her intent to embrace the role of a shaman. Furthermore, she desires a direct audience with Your Highness, hence her presence with me presently.]

Aldrit cast a fleeting glance toward Flora, seated across the table, before composing his reply. [Indeed, Your Highness. I beg your pardon for the oversight. I should have sought Your Highness’s counsel beforehand.]

He released a weary sigh, recounting how he had anticipated a prolonged wait for Flora’s response after delivering the elder’s cautionary message. To his astonishment, Flora promptly declared her intention to assume the mantle of a shaman.

「Is it just a matter of my decision?」

「…We need to discuss it.」

「With those people in the underground caves?」

「Not with them…」

「Then who? Jin?」

「…」

「You have a way to communicate with Jin, right? That’s how you know what’s happening in the capital. Is this place somewhere within the kingdom? Mara said it’s all desert around here and we’d die in the middle of the desert if we tried to escape. Was that a lie?」

「No.」

Concerned that the Queen might be unjustly implicated in Flora’s disappearance, Aldrit divulged the existence of the notebook. Flora scoffed in disbelief.

「That’s worse than kidnapping me. She must have enjoyed hearing about my miserable state.」

「Mara did the kidnapping alone. I informed the Queen only after learning of the shaman’s notebook from the elders. Weren’t you the one who initially sought to harm the Queen based solely on that monster’s words?」

Aldrit’s emotions intensified as he spoke. His voice crescendoed until he realized his outburst, but Flora, unperturbed, remained silent momentarily before speaking.

「I want to talk to Jin. Right now. You need my cooperation, don’t you? I don’t think my request is unreasonable.」

There was no viable refusal. Aldrit escorted Flora to his abode, accessed the notebook, and contacted Eugene. He felt a pang of frustration at his clumsy management of the situation. Ṙ

It’s acceptable. In fact, it’s preferable this way, Eugene acknowledged, taken aback by Flora’s sudden appearance. Yet, given her contemplation of visiting the wanderer’s hideout, there was little reason to decline Flora’s invitation to converse.

[Aldrit, your assistance is essential. Only the registered user can operate the notebook, thus you must transcribe Flora’s words precisely. Please,] Eugene directed.

[Yes, Your Highness,] Aldrit affirmed.

Eugene hesitated, pen poised. Finding the appropriate opening proved challenging; a mere salutation felt inadequate. Then, a phrase surfaced in her thoughts.

[Even should you transition into a shaman, challenges persist. You understand the limitations of this spell, correct?] Eugene penned with a smile, opting for directness.

[I have a guess on how to solve that problem.]