Akatsuki Translations

In the vast ranch surrounded by fences, a golden-haired girl held a state-of-the-art rifle in her hands. She appeared to be merely thirteen or fourteen years old, and standing behind her was a woman with a similar facial structure and chestnut-brown hair. 

The girl with the rifle took aim at a target visible a hundred yards away and squeezed the trigger. With the rifle capable of loading five rounds, she hit the target with three shots. 

“Well, isn’t that quite impressive?” -Woman. 

“But still, the recoil is too strong,” replied the girl, turning back to face the woman. The woman chuckled lightly. 

“That’s why I’m having you shoot, to make improvements.” -Woman 

Upon hearing this, the girl tilted her head. 

“I still think it’s wrong to have your daughter shoot a gun.” -Girl 

Indeed, that was true. However, the girl, who had managed to hit three out of five shots, was still a girl. 

“I need you to learn how to protect yourself, Nicolette,” said the woman, Beatrice, smiling as she gently stroked her daughter’s head. Nicolette looked delighted to receive her mother’s affectionate touch. 

△ 

Beatrice de Dalmor, or Beatrice of Dalmore, as her name suggests, is the princess of the Kingdom of Dalmor, a small island nation off the western coast of the continent. Her brother currently reigns as the King of Dalmor. 

Beatrice is a beautiful young woman with golden-brown hair and blue eyes. At the age of 18, she married King Laurier through way of a political marriage. However, at that time, King Laurier already had a mistress who had borne him two children. 

Nevertheless, Beatrice was married off because it served the interests of both the Kingdom of Dalmor and King Laurier. 

On the Dalmor side, Beatrice’s brother had just ascended the throne, and the kingdom was in turmoil. Dalmor and Laurier had a long history of animosity, but Dalmor, preoccupied with internal affairs, couldn’t afford to be at odds with Laurier at that moment. Therefore, they plotted to offer Princess Beatrice as a hostage to Laurier, temporarily suspending hostilities between the two kingdoms. 

On the other hand, in the Kingdom of Laurier, a country known for its technological advancements, they were facing financial difficulties due to excessive investment in technological progress. They desired the enormous dowry that would come with Beatrice’s arrival. 

And so, Beatrice married King Laurier. At the age of 20, she gave birth to Nicolette, who would later become the Empress of the Hainzel Empire. Despite being a child of the king’s mistress, Nicolette was still a royal offspring, a princess. Thus, she became the second princess. 

However, something unexpected happened when Nicolette was born. A poet who happened to be present at the time bestowed a prophecy upon her. 

Normally, prophecies are believed to be given by seers, but in a world where magic is not commonplace, openly claiming to be a seer would arouse suspicion. That’s why most seers posed as wandering minstrels. 

The prophecy given to Nicolette was, “This child will bring about the downfall of her father.” Upon hearing this prophecy, King Laurier became extremely fearful of Nicolette. 

Beatrice, although somewhat exasperated by her daughter being feared by her own father, also understood. After all, her own father had received a prophecy, and if they were to consider only her father’s prophecy, it had indeed come true. 

Nicolette carried the blood of Beatrice’s father, who was feared. As a result, she and her mother were confined to a monastery in the remote region of Lionne in Laurier. 

Beatrice, despite being the sister of the King of Dalimor, was still busy stabilizing her own country. Taking advantage of this opportunity, King Laurier sent Beatrice away to the monastery. In exchange, he married his long-time mistress and made her the new queen. Beatrice, who had never held any affection for King Laurier in the first place, simply wore an expression of exasperation. 

Now, Nicolette, who was confined in the monastery alongside Beatrice, was given the name “Nicolette” by Beatrice herself. This was because King Laurier refused to give her a name. It was Beatrice’s way of retaliating against King Laurier, who feared his own daughter with the same name as her father. 

Confined in the monastery, Beatrice began her studies. She had always enjoyed learning. She loved assembling things and derived great pleasure from tinkering with guns, which reminded her of her father. The sisters of the monastery turned a blind eye to the eccentricities of Beatrice, a noblewoman. 

Nicolette, influenced by her mother, who had a penchant for scholarly pursuits, also grew to love learning. When Nicolette turned 13, Beatrice immersed herself in research with her daughter. Recently, she even allowed Nicolette to test-fire the guns she had improved. With a natural talent, Nicolette quickly became skilled at hitting the target when taught by her mother. 

At first glance, it seemed that both Beatrice and Nicolette were enjoying their lives at the monastery. 

Nicolette carried a slightly oversized gun, following behind Beatrice. The monastery where Beatrice and Nicolette were confined was located in a remote region. It was quite large and housed sturdy, old buildings. It could be called their prison. 

As they walked towards the monastery buildings, passing by the expansive ranch, Beatrice turned to look at Nicolette. 

Beatrice and Nicolette had similar facial features. Anyone who saw them would think that these two were blood-related. 

However, Nicolette resembled Nicholas, the Crown Prince of Dalmor and Beatrice’s father. 

Nicholas, the Crown Prince, was a title he held, as he had passed away before ascending the throne. Beatrice’s father, who had been entrusted with a prophecy that would bring about a world-changing impact, died, leaving the rest to fate. He was not originally a strong person physically and had participated in battles against his own limits. 

Nicolette strongly resembled such a father. As you might have guessed, Beatrice loved her gentle father. He was an unconventional prince, but wise and kind, always sharing various stories with Beatrice and her brother. Legends passed down in the country, things he had witnessed himself, stories of their ancestors. 

Beatrice did the same for Nicolette. Perhaps because of that, she believed their mother-daughter relationship was quite good. 

“Nicola seems to be experimenting with rose breeding lately.” -Beatrice  

“I prefer things like chemical compound experiments.” -Nicolette 

Nicolette replied to the topic brought up by Beatrice. As evidenced by Beatrice’s improvement of the gun, she also enjoyed scientific experiments. However, there were various issues with conducting experiments at the monastery. If they wanted to experiment, they had to obtain permission and find a place where they wouldn’t involve others. It would be dangerous if they failed. 

For that reason, Nicolette’s current interest had turned toward plants. At this time, both Beatrice and Nicolette thought they would stay at the monastery, so they conducted patient experiments and observations. Nicolette focused on rose breeding, aiming to create roses resistant to cold weather. 

As they walked and discussed the progress of their experiments, they arrived at the monastery buildings. Just then, a young novice nun ran out from the side entrance. With her chestnut hair tied up and dressed in a black habit, she was Louise, currently fifteen years old. She was closest to Nicolette among all the nun apprentices, who was thirteen. 

“Oh, Nicolette, just at the right time. I was about to call for you.” -Louise 

Louise rushed over with a relieved expression. What could be the matter? 

“What’s wrong?” -Nicolette 

Nicolette tilted her head, and Louise took hold of her hand. Though Nicolette was undoubtedly the princess of Laurier, she had been living in this monastery for so long that she had no regal airs. As a result, she was rarely addressed by her title. Having grown up in the monastery all her life, she didn’t find it strange. 

“I’m making sweets for the Harvest Festival, but we’re short on manpower! Please help!” -Louise 

“I’m not that skilled, you know.” -Nicolette 

“But you’re more skilled than Lady Beatrice! Just cutting out biscuit shapes will do!” -Louise 

“Louise, that’s a bit harsh, you know. It’s true, but still.” -Beatrice 

Beatrice interjected, but Louise just stuck out her tongue and let it slide. 

“That’s why I need your help! We won’t make it in time for the Harvest Festival like this. Oh, Lady Beatrice, you can continue with your research.” -Louise 

Louise clearly declared Beatrice to be out of the equation. Beatrice, being denied so resolutely by a girl of the same age as her daughter, felt a little down. 

“Mother, please don’t be so disheartened. Here, take this,” Nicolette said, comforting her mother while handing her a gun. Beatrice accepted the weapon and smiled at the two girls. 

“Both of you, do your best.” -Beatrice 

“Yes! Let’s go, Nicolette.” -Louise 

“Okay.” -Nicolette 

Holding hands, the two of them ran off. Beatrice waved her hand at their retreating figures and let out a sigh once they were out of sight. 

Nicolette had been imprisoned in this monastery due to the prophecy bestowed upon her. She knew nothing of the outside world. 

For all of her thirteen years of life, Nicolette had never stepped foot outside the monastery grounds. It had been that way since she was born, so Nicolette didn’t find it unnatural. It was akin to a bird in a cage that knew nothing of the vast sky. 

As a mother, Beatrice longed to show her daughter the vastness of the world. Every time she saw Nicolette’s eyes shining with excitement as she listened to Beatrice’s stories, Beatrice lamented her own powerlessness. 

If only she had more strength, she might have raised Nicolette properly as a princess… Sometimes such thoughts crossed her mind. If only her father were still alive, things might have been different. She couldn’t help but feel that her son, Nicolette’s older brother, was not reliable. 

Nicolette seemed to enjoy her monotonous days in the monastery. She read books, translated scholarly texts coming from foreign lands, conducted plant breeding experiments, and continued her research. If Nicolette was happy, then it was fine, but she had never seen many people, artworks, or festivals. 

Of course, it was uncertain whether going outside would bring happiness to Nicolette. However, it was undeniable that Beatrice and her daughter were confined to the monastery, beyond the reach of their own power.