Genjitsushugisha no Oukokukaizouki - Volume 16 - Chapter SS3

Maria Visits the Senior Queens (Juna Version)

Good evening, everyone. I’m the Maria who’s decided to live for the people and her beloved family. Now that I was going to get married to Souma, I wanted to chat with my senior wives more so that we could live together happily. Tonight, I was appearing as a guest on a music program with First Secondary Queen Juna.

It was Roroa’s idea to hold a music festival where Juna Doma, the Prima Lorelei—pride of the Kingdom of Friedonia—and I, the Empire’s Singing and Dancing Empress, would appear on stage together. Clever, isn’t she? I was wearing my lorelei dress—which Jeanne had kindly sent from Valois Castle—for the first time in a long while.

The broadcast jewel always projected images from the present, so we only got one chance to get things right.

“Maria?” Juna called out to me as I was waiting in the wings, feeling the pressure.

The blue-haired beauty was wearing an outfit with a thin veil that managed to balance both elegance and sexiness. It was graceful, yet at the same time sensual. Even though we were both women, I found myself a bit short of breath when I saw how beautiful she was.

Juna smiled at me.

“Are you feeling tense?”

“Yes. It’s been a while since I’ve sung in front of people.”

“I understand. I’ve heard your schedule was always incredibly packed.”

Her eyes were sympathetic, her words compassionate. There was probably no one who rivaled her ability to read people’s hearts. Souma had told me that Juna had been there to comfort and support him when he was struggling more times than he could count.

Juna gave me a soft smile.

“Do you like singing, Maria?”

“Huh? Uh...yes. I do like it. I used to sing for Father and Jeanne when I was little.”

It was a distant memory, from before I had the weight of being an empress thrust on me. Back then, I just loved singing and wanted people to hear me.

“I think...that’s why I had so much fun with being a lorelei.”

“Hee hee, you’ll be fine, then.” Juna pressed both hands down on her chest over where her heart was. “Songs are one with the heart. First, they come from the heart of the singer, and then come to rest in the hearts of the listeners. And they’re passed down and spread.”

With her left hand still over her heart, Juna reached out and touched my chest with her right hand.

“Just have to do as your heart commands, singing the way you enjoy. Maybe it won’t be a song that everyone will love, but a song you enjoy will move more hearts than a song you don’t. That’s what I believe.”

“You’re right,” I hesitantly agreed, putting my hand over Juna’s on my chest. “You’re the Prima Lorelei, after all. I’ll remember your advice and sing my hardest.”

“Hee hee! It’s embarrassing when you make it sound like such a big deal.”

What a mature smile. It’s hard to believe she’s a year younger than me. I was starting to feel a little competitive.

“Sorry if I steal the spot of Prima Lorelei from you.”

“I’ve already withdrawn that battle. I’m not concerned with how people rank us.”

“Oh, and what if I stole your popularity with Sir Souma?”

“That, I’d get upset about.”

Juna puffed up her cheeks angrily. I was satisfied to have gotten an expression out of her that was more fitting for her age. Soon enough, her face morphed into an intense smile.

“I understand. I’ll take you on with everything I have.”

“Yes. Let’s fight fair and square. As loreleis, and as queens.”

We exchanged harmonious smiles.

“Um, I’m the one feeling the most worried here, you know?” said a timid voice from behind us.

I turned to see a cute girl in a lorelei costume.

“Juna? Who is this?”

“This is Miss Komari Corda. She’s currently the top lorelei in both popularity and ability.”

When Juna said that, Komari looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“Ohh... When you say that, Juna, being number one among the active loreleis really weighs me down. You’re still incredibly popular with the people after stepping back from the spotlight, and I’m going to be standing next to this lady who used to be an empress too. Try to imagine what it’s like, standing next to you two and being introduced as the current number one lorelei.”

Yeah. I could see where she was coming from.

“Is that really true?” I asked.

“Maria?”

Sure, Komari felt less like a finished product than Juna. But I felt as though that incompleteness might draw people in too.

“It’s not possible to empathize with someone you worship, because you’ve placed them in a different place from yourself. Juna and I can move people’s hearts, but the listeners can’t insert themselves emotionally into our performances. If anyone here can let them do that, it’s you, who’s on the same level as them.”

“Yes. I think that’s part of your charm, Komari,” Juna said with a nod, taking Komari’s hand. “Your incompleteness makes people excited to see what you’ll show them in the future. That’s something that we, having reached some level of completion, can’t do.”

“Lady Juna, Lady Maria...”

As Komari teared up again, Juna and I reached out to her.

“Come on, let’s go, Komari.”

“Everyone is waiting for us.”

With a sniffle, she said, “Okay!”

Now, let the music festival begin.