Taming The Villainesses

(EP-329.1) Time Problem #2
329 – Time Problem #2

The entourage from Monarch City had finally arrived at the northern city of Sandora.

The procession, led by the queen and her distinguished guests, resembled a grand triumphal march, with an overwhelming number of carriages, soldiers, and knights passing through the city gates.

Crowds flocked like cotton candy to witness the spectacle. The knights’ armor gleamed in silver and gold, while the flags carried high by the bearers fluttered majestically in the northern winds. Even for someone like me, accustomed to such sights, the grandeur was truly awe-inspiring.

━Has Her Majesty the Queen arrived?

━I wonder what she looks like.

For ordinary people, a chance to catch a glimpse of Aira, reputed to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, was a rare lifetime opportunity.

And as if to prove this point, crowds of people kept on coming.

I managed to squeeze my way through and secured a relatively good spot near the front. Soldiers soon lined up on either side, maintaining order among the Sandora citizens.

Shhhh.

A crimson carpet was unfurled beside a halting carriage.

━Bow your heads and show your respect! Her Majesty Queen Aira, Tarantera VIII, approaches!

At the knight’s booming proclamation, adorned with a feathered helm, the crowd began to kneel one by one, bowing their heads. I also knelt lightly.

Thud, creak.

Finally, the carriage door opened, revealing first a pair of pristine white shoes and stockings. For a moment, her smooth legs drew audible gasps from the people.

“Sandora… it has been quite some time.”

A voice as clear as a crystal stream carried effortlessly over the murmuring crowd.

I instinctively raised my head, allowing myself to catch a glimpse of Queen Aira, who was as radiant and resplendent as an ice flower blooming in the summer.

━She’s even more beautiful than the rumors said.

━Truly befitting royalty! She’s so sophisticated and elegant—nothing like the girls from Sandora.

━She looks like the former lord, Isabelle-nim.

━Well, of course. She’s her granddaughter.

Half-closed, languid eyes.

Lips as delicate as lotus petals.

Skin smooth and pale as white porcelain, and hair as dark as ebony. Looking at her harmonious and flawless appearance, anyone would instinctively hold their breath.

I was no exception.

Somehow, seeing her felt both pleasant and a bit strange. It had been several weeks since I had seen Aira. It seemed like she had been doing well without me.

I felt a sense of pride, yet also a vague tinge of longing.

Was she fine without me now?

As Aira’s gaze casually swept around her, she turned toward the carriage and called out.

“What are you doing, Elganes? You should get down.”

“Wait a second! I’m wearing sandals. Why does it have so many straps—Alright, done!”

Shuffle, shuffle.

A pair of red-laced sandals emerged from beyond the carriage, followed by shapely, toned calves. Then, all at once, golden hair and a red dress appeared.

Her loose, unbound hair was a slight departure from what I remembered, but those blue eyes that wandered around were unmistakably familiar to me.

“More people came than expected.”

Her casual remark made the crowd stir.

━Who is that?

━I heard she’s Lady Lioness.

━The daughter of Reinhardt? I expected her to look rough and intimidating. But she’s prettier and more delicate-looking than I thought.

━Yeah. Especially that, you know… chest.

Noticing the focused stares, Elga lightly draped a red cape over her shoulders to cover her skin. That simple gesture seemed to diminish the surrounding energy just slightly.

Surely it wasn’t just my imagination.

Of course, Elga just spoke as if nothing had happened.

“Do you think Theo and the others are mixed in with this crowd somewhere? Or maybe they’re waiting at the city hall?”

Hearing her call out my name, I almost instinctively raised my hand and waved.

However, I couldn’t respond because children suddenly swarmed around them to hang wreaths on their necks or present them with abundant bouquets of flowers.

Banners reading ‘Welcome to Sandora’ fluttered everywhere, and people started cheering louder than the instruments playing.

Elga responded by raising her clenched fist high into the air.

“Long live Queen Aira! Long live Angmar!”

Her resonant cry stirred the crowd into a fervor.

━Long live the Queen!

━Long live Angmar!

Aira and Elga waved at the people. At that moment, even as an outsider, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of patriotism.

For the citizens of Sandora who had lived in this country from the beginning, the return of the Tarantera family, the original owners of the northern territory, must have been even more impressive.

Walking on the crimson carpet, they exuded confidence and magnificence, like true protagonists of this world. I decided to simply watch them from afar.

Sometimes, just watching from a distance didn’t seem so bad.

* * *

The triumphant procession, which had circled the city of Sandora, finally made its way toward the central city hall by lunchtime.

I stood at the front of the main city hall building, maintaining a clean and polished appearance, ready to greet the approaching carriages amidst the throngs of gathered citizens.

Mirna, Narmi, and Professor Stella were standing next to me.

Their slightly stiff and serious expressions reminded me once again that, when it mattered, they were people who carried themselves with dignity and composure.

Clunk. Creeeak.

The carriage door opened, and Aira was the first to step out.

Stella, the eldest among us, along with Sandora’s lord, lowered their heads respectfully toward her.