Who Brings Happiness

Soira, thank you for watching over my store our other day.

And thank you for helping out on my farm. I do so appreciate it.

Oh, you don't need to thank me! It was my pleasure!

So many customers flocked to the store while you were in charge. It was such a pleasant surprise.

And strangely, the crops you tended to were the only ones not attacked by monsters. It must all be thanks to your lucky flag.

Teehee, you think?

I heard you received an award from the Knight Commander. You must be so very busy now.

Yeah... I've been absolutely swamped lately.

So I thought I'd sneak out and look for somewhere to take a little nap.

Hahaha! You may be a great knight now, but you're still the same old Soira, I see!

Then we shouldn't take up any more of your time. Have a nice nap, Soira!

I will!

Here should do it.

Huh? Where am I? Was I running away from something?

Soira.

Huh?! F-Father? What are you doing here?

You really are a lazybones, aren't you? Now come along. Time to go home.

I don't wanna! I'm done with training! I'm done with learning etiquette!

Soira. You are nobility. The time will come when you will need to protect your family...

Hey! Are you listening to me, Soira?

In the future...our family's traditions... Duties...status...

Hmmhmm...

Soira?

Ah!

Are you okay? You were moaning in your sleep.

Oh... It was just a dream. Trust my father to find a way to nag me in my sleep, too.

Your father?

Oh, it's nothing. Just had a weird dream, that's all.

Oh. I hear you've been busy lately. I hope you're not pushing yourself too hard.

Wouldn't dream of it. On that note, I'm just gonna rest my eyes a little longer...

Sleeping on the job are we, Sunshine Knight?

Sir Lakhesis! Such a compliment, thank you!

I-I wasn't complimenting you? But never mind that. I'd like to ask something of you.

Not another mission...

I need you to infiltrate somewhere.

As you wi, Wait. Did you just say "infiltrate"?

I did. I want you to infiltrate a meeting and find out what its participants are up to.

A meeting? What meeting?

A political event at Miglance Castle.

As I'm sure you know, now that we have transitioned to a civil government... Members of parliament have been helping get our government on the right track. The nobility, however... Wish for the government to pay more heed to expertise from the days of monarchic rule.

So, there is going to be a dialogue between the king and nobility about our current government. It will take place in the castle throne room, commemorating the birth of the new administration.

As interesting as that is, I'm not seeing why this meeting would need to be infiltrated?

Well, it's complicated. There are some nobles who really do not like this new form of government.

Though the Beast King is no longer a threat, there are still other concerns. Restoration of the palace, and the strengthening of frontier security, for example.

The nobles suggested this dialogue in order to find out what the king thinks about all this. In the castle throne room, wishing for peace and restoration of Miglance Kingdom.

As interesting as that is, I'm not seeing why this meeting would need to be infiltrated?

Well, it's complicated. A feeling of animosity toward the king seems to be brewing among some nobility.

Somebody may attempt something at this meeting. Something bad. I want you, Soira, to make sure no one suspicious turns up at the venue.

But this sounds serious! Shouldn't you put all your knights on guard, not just Soira?

​​Technically, this is a peace summit. We can't pack the venue with knights, it will only provoke the nobility. Our best option is to deploy a skilled knight not known to the nobles to blend in and keep watch.

Having skipped past ceremonies on the grounds that they are "boring," Soira here is the perfect candidate.

Hmm... A meeting of the nobility? Um... To be honest, I'm not that interested.

Don't say that! You're of noble birth yourself, so you'll be much better at infiltrating than any of us.

Huh?! Soira, you're nobility?!

Umm... My family is, yes. But I left home a long time ago. I'm not a noble anymore.

So you ran away from home? Why would you do such a thing?

Lots of reasons. Which is why I'd like to avoid this assignment if possible.

Don't be like that. Once this mission is over, I'll make sure you get lots of time off.

Really?

People are starting to get worried. They haven't seen you sleeping in the castle lately.

(I'd better keep quiet about sneaking into town for my naps then...)

Personally, I'm glad you're taking the right attitude to your work, but, well, you still need to rest. This mission is important. Do this for me, and you can take all the time off you like.

Well, it would be nice not to have to hide my naps anymore. I guess, so long as I don't run into my father or his acquaintances... It should be all right...

Good. Then it's settled.

Whoa, I've never seen anyone motivate Soira like that before!

I guess we just have a good relationship.

The meeting will be in the throne room, and I have arranged your invitation. Now don't be late.

*sigh* I've gotta do this, if I want to take a nice nap.

Aldo, I don't want to do this alone. Will you come with me?

Sure. Let's go to Miglance Castle.

I thought we cleared the riff-raff out already! Shoo, shoo!

You think you can overshadow our members with your rude demeanor and dangerous weapons? We have no need of force in an equal forum. Now leave.

Doesn't look like they get along.

Yeah, the relationship between the palace and nobility can be pretty tense at times.

Why's that?

Umm, to put it simply...

The king wants everyone to be happy. But it's hard to keep an eye on everything all the time, right?

Yeah, I guess so.

So he appoints a noble to each region of the kingdom, to be his eyes and ears. But tensions appear over time. Maybe a neighbor has more land, maybe some get better treatment than others. Well, all these feelings of animosity and resentment often get turned onto the king himself.

Ah, I can see how that might happen.

Though some nobles really do work hard for their people, of course.

You seem to know a lot about this, Soira.

My father always used to drum this stuff into me.

Whenever I whined and complained, he always used to say to me...

"Showing weakness in an aristocratic society rife with conspiracies will only end in death... "To protect your people, show your authority."

Did you just imitate your father?

Yeah. Did it sound like him? Actually, I guess you wouldn't know, having never met him...

Sounds like you had quite a strict upbringing.

I did. So I learned to lance-fight in secret, and joined the Imperial Knights as soon as I could.

Wait, you only joined the Knights to escape your life as nobility? You really hated it that much?

Why else would I have chosen such a hard profession?

But wasn't the training difficult?

Yeah, well, I am more than willing to work hard if it means I won't have to work hard later.

Have you never considered just, y'know, working hard?

If I could do that, I wouldn't have disappointed my father so.

Huh?

No, it's nothing. Let's get ready to...

Eep!

What is it?

F-Father?

That's him?

......

His first time seeing you and he doesn't even stop to say hello?

It's fine, Aldo. I did run away from home, after all. It's only natural for him to be a bit cold toward me.

But...

Hm?

Didn't that guy seem a little suspicious to you?

Yep. I don't recognize him from back home.

I think something is going on here after all. Let's go check it out, Soira!

Hey, wait! I'm not ready yet!

What do you want?

I'm here for the meeting. I'm on the guest list.

As if. Only nobility, and the king himself, may attend this conference.

And you don't look like either to me.

B-But we have an invitation.

Right, Soira?

Huh? She's not here?

Don't you try to swindle me. Your invitation's a fake, no doubt. I don't have time for this.

Oh...

What is going on here?

Hm?

Is there some kind of problem with my guard there?

Guard?

Umm... I'm sorry, have we met before?

Have we met before? Well obviously! It's me, Soira!

Huh?! Ohhh! You looked so different, I didn't recognize you.

Teehee. Now follow my lead.

I'm sorry for all this trouble. My family tends to be a little overcautious. They insisted I bring a guard with me. I've asked around, and I believe we have the correct amount of invites. Is there some issue with them?

Umm... Well...

If there is a problem with my invitation, I should inform my family. What was your name?

Oh, no that won't be necessary! I'll check your invitation directly.

Everything looks fine here! Please, go on in.

Um, sure...

Then let's go!

Phew! That was a close one, Aldo!

Thank goodness you came when you did! But why did his whole attitude change like that?

Oh, well...

I was doing my very best to act like someone used to being given special treatment.

And that him messing me about would not be looked on too kindly.

Basically, it was all a bluff.

You got through on a bluff alone? That's pretty incredible.

I just did as I've seen my father do a thousand times before. But even though I have this trick up my sleeve, I hate using it. It's so exhausting.

Yeah, you really didn't seem like you back there.

This dress doesn't hurt either. It says loud and clear that I'm a noblewoman.

It sure is pretty. I'm surprised you had it with you.

Yeah, me too.

You are? But it's yours? Surely you knew you had it?

Well...when I ran off to join the Knights, I found it in my bag. Along with the family's lucky flag.

So your flag was an heirloom? I never knew that.

Actually, come to think of it. What even is it?

My flag? Good question.

I don't know, to be honest.

Yet you always take it with you?

Yeah. The one thing I do know about it, is that it's supposed to bring you good luck.

But as for why it brings good luck... There, you've lost me.

If you don't know, I guess nobody knows?

Nope. All they've ever done was scold me. For my table manners, my studies, everything.

And to top it all off, I ran away from home. Father would have been so much happier if he'd been blessed with a more capable, respectable daughter.

I'm sure that's not true. Not that I'm in any place to talk about other people's families.

Nope. The flag and this dress are both so cumbersome, they probably just wanted to get rid of them.

Why would they want to get rid of such nice things though?

Sure, it's pretty. But I'm not used to dressing this way. The frills keep getting tangled up in my skirts! Ugh!

Now enough of the chit-chat! Let's get infiltrating.

I'm not used to you being proactive about work...

Well, I've gotta be if I want to slack off later.

Ooh, looks like it's starting. Hurry, Aldo!

Ah!

S-Soira, are you okay?

Ugh, I forgot about that. You really can't run in these fancy dresses. It's also hard to get back up again. Gimme a hand will you?

Umm, sure. I'll be right there.

Thanks! You're a real lifesaver!

Even when you're dressed differently, you're still definitely you underneath.

Well, yeah. People don't change so easily.

*sigh* I've always been bad at parties. You think this'll work?

Judging from your performance before, I think we'll be fine. Let's go.

It's absolutely packed in here!

I wonder where your father and that suspicious man went.

I don't see 'em anywhere... I've got such a bad feeling about this. I think we should go look for them.

What was that?

It's starting!

Ooh...

Oh no! Now we can't move around!

Thank you all for coming here today. I believe that all of us here wish for a better future for our country and our people. That is why I would like to hear your honest opinions about how our government should be run. Please, pay no heed to social hierarchy here. This is an equal forum for full and frank discussion.

About frontier defenses...

The bridge reconstruction...

Things are getting heated in here. I know you said that the palace and nobility don't get along, but they all seem to be on the same page now.

I'm as shocked as you are. I've been to a lot of such meetings over the years, but this is the first time I've seen them so cordial.

It must all be thanks to the way King Miglance acts.

What do you mean?

People tend to like it when others trust them, even if it's someone they dislike. They probably appreciate the fact that His Majesty has been open to hearing what they think.

I guess he is pretty open-minded.

When we first met, he never scoffed at what I told him, even though it sounded completely unbelievable. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was pretty incredible in itself.

Yeah, exactly.

When I first met King Miglance, he was like a warm ray of sunshine.

Sunshine?

Yeah! King Miglance is like a big ray of sunshine, and Mufilleux is like a tiny little one. They made me feel so warm and relaxed, like I belonged there.

I don't really get loyalty and the like, but I do remember thinking...

That I sorta want to protect that sunshine.

That sounds like loyalty to me.

So to you, a knight's job is to protect that ray of sunshine?

Yeah. I may have only joined up to get out of my miserable home, but that's why I stayed.

Hm?

Aldo! over there!

It's him! What's he doing over there?

Oh no! King Miglance!

Eep!

Tch!

A blade? The very nerve! What have you to say for yourself?

Ngh!

Soira, are you okay?

Yes. But!

Yeah, he was after King Miglance, all right. Why, though?

Looks like you saved me from quite the predicament there, Soira.

Your Majesty!

I-I didn't do anything! I-I just tripped up on my dress and...

And that was what blocked the enemy and gave me the chance to notice his blade. But it's not over yet. I would pursue him myself, but I must protect my guests from any other assassins that may still be here.

Don't worry! I'll pursue him!

You will?

I heard he was headed toward Serena Coast. Good luck out there.

Oh! Aldo, wait one moment!

What is it?

This is my father's handkerchief.

What's it doing here?

Come to think of it, I haven't seen your father since before the meeting.

But...

Right now, our only priority is to catch this assassin.

You're right. Let's go to Serena Coast.

How dare anyone point a blade at His Majesty? We must find them and see them punished!

And for an assassin to be there at the meeting, it doesn't bear thinking about! Where did he even go?!

Looks like they haven't found him yet.

Father... Please don't be involved...

Found him! Over there!

We've got you now!

Planning to sail away, are we? You really think we'd let the man who threatened His Majesty escape?

Pfft. You are but ants to me.

There he is!

Huh?

But why...

What are you doing here, Father?

......

I remember you from the meeting! What are you, an accomplice?

You're the one who invited this assassin into the venue, aren't you?

Say it's all a lie, Father... I don't want to hurt you... But as an Imperial Knight, it is my duty to do so...

I won't make any excuses. It is far too late for that.

Oh...

However...

Call for help! They're...

Agh!

Darn it! The magic must've stopped working against him!

So you pretended to be under our spell? You're a sneaky one, ain't ya?

Gah!

Father!

What have you done to my father?

Nothing. I just took a little advantage of his position and authority, that's all. So that we could take our revenge.

You're...

Gwaagh! Don't you lay a finger... On my daughter...

Don't you know when you're beat, old man? It's a little too late to be worrying about your daughter. It's this foolishness that allowed us to put you under our spell in the first place.

You took advantage of his feelings?

Release him from your spell this instant!

It's too late for him. He is in the palm of my hand, primed and ready to sink his teeth into the king's neck. The greater the emotional weak spot, the more loyal the puppet. He'll lose his mind soon enough.

B-But... I thought you gave up on me.

I could never...do such a thing...

Really?

It's me who wasn't good enough, not you.

All I ever cared about was making you fit in with a closed-minded society. I never considered what you wanted. Whenever I hear of your renown in the Imperial Knights...I am filled with such shame.

Our family was too small-minded for you. As was the nobility. As was I. I held you back.

The shadows are getting thicker!

I'm sorry, Soira. I'm so very sorry.

Stop, you've got to stop talking! The more you say...

So this is the price I pay for fighting the spell? I am no longer strong enough to be your puppet. But I have no more regrets. I have said my parting words to my daughter. I will get my own back!

Father!

Guh!

You really can't be too careful around that one.

What a fool. No puny human could hurt us, no matter how desperate they are.

Finish him off if you like. But he is still useful to me.

How about a deal, child of man?

......

Handle those knights for us, betray them, and we'll leave your old man behind.

Wh-What?

We're more powerful, but a fight will still hurt us. If we're to escape, we need to stall them. After this sweet little father- daughter reunion, are you really prepared to never see him again?

Tsk...

Soira?

I didn't realize until now. That the warm sunshine I craved was beaming down on me all this time.

Soira, no!

Deep down inside, I knew. I lacked the confidence though, so I tried to ignore it. Why does bearing my lucky flag give me courage? Why does wearing these delicately sewn clothes please me so? You've been praying for my happiness the whole time.

Stop... You mustn't fall to sin as I have, my daughter!

Aldo. Can I leave my father to you?

Huh?

Heheheh. Do your worst. Do you even know how to use that lance, little girl?

I get by. I've spent a lot of time napping in the warmth of the sun.

Huh?

So I know all too well... The dazzling glare of the sun as it peeks out from behind the clouds.

Whoa?!

It can be quite intense!

Gwaaah!

You...

Aldo!

I'm on it!

So that's what she meant...

Teehee. I was never going to turn on my fellow knights. Thanks for realizing right away.

Soira, I'm so sorry.

Yes, yes, but can we leave that for later? There's a lot I want to say to you, too.

But before that...

We have to deal with them!

Don't be fools. No matter how many of you there are, you are still no match for us.

No, we knights are always stronger when we have something to protect. We protect each other in battle. We work to protect the same thing. That makes us so much stronger than we ever could be alone. We are one sun.

Let's go! We will shine our light on those that need saving, on the places that need protecting!

How is this possible?

We're here to help!

Shall we capture these beasts?

Grrr! Nooo!

Wh-What's going on?

The rocks are going to fall!

Soira!

Fa...ther?

There was more to that speech? Why am I only remembering this now? I guess that means... My lucky flag wasn't the only thing protecting me.

Soira!

No! This can't be happening!

Soira, tell me this is all just a big joke!

You called?

S-Soira? Y-You're okay?

Looks like the rocks just missed us. Pretty lucky, right?

I can hardly believe it myself.

You're both safe? My, that was ridiculously good luck! Was this your lucky flag at work?

Lucky flag? Now, we do indeed possess such an item, but it does not have the power for such feats.

I-It doesn't? Then... What caused that gust of wind? Why was the assassin blocked in when you fell?

I-I wasn't aware of any such things happening.

Teehee. Perhaps all the thoughts held in my lucky flag gave me strength.

When you care about someone, that feeling can turn into power.

You may not have been with me in person, Father, but you've been protecting me my whole life.

Soira... I left it far too late to tell you. But I've never been good at this sort of thing.

You are a full-fledged knight, Soira. You have no need of my assistance.

Really?

I will be punished for this, most severely. I may never see your face again.

......

We can't let that happen!

This wasn't your fault! They were using you like a puppet! You and Soira saved the day!

My crime was to fall under their spell in the first place. For that, I must accept my punishment.

Father...

We have arrested the beasts. Would you escort your father back?

Very well.

The beasts still pose a threat, so we will escort them to the castle as soon as possible. But your father won't resist. You can take your time.

Thank you.

Okay, Father, Aldo. Let's go.

Of course.

I see you've brought your father, as promised. Wait here.

Sure.

Thank you for this, Soira.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, I would like to express my sincerest apologies. My foolishness put lives at ri...

Now, now, I'm used to an assassin or two. Besides, your daughter's good fortune certainly served me well.

So here's what we're going to do with you.

Eep.

You will now serve the country, working under the supervision of my Imperial Knights. Are we understood?

Really?

W-Wait a moment! I assumed I'd be getting the death penalty!

Well if that's what you want, I will consider it of course. But I doubt they'll agree to that.

They? To whom are you referring, Your Majesty?

The knights who escorted the beasts here pleaded with me to show you leniency.

Oh!

Only a few of the knights, and of course myself, know that you fell into the beasts' hands. Some may have seen you and the beast leave the castle, but we could just say you were taken hostage. What I mean to say is, everyone concerned will forgive you. Myself included.

B-But Your Majesty! If I am not punished to the full...

Naturally, you will not be forgiven automatically. But I recognize that blame cannot fall entirely on you. We have a national defense problem. We failed to detect a beast in our midst.

And we cannot solve this problem simply by punishing the perpetrators of this one crime. Which is why...

I would like you to retain your noble status, and keep an eye on what the other nobles are up to. With your contacts and in-depth knowledge of aristocratic society, you are uniquely placed to do this. But it will take dedication. Are you willing to accept?

Th-Thank you, Your Majesty! I will most gladly accept your offer!

Good. Then we must make arrangements for your departure at once.

Soira, you shall act as liaison between the Imperial Knights and your father. Understood?

Y-Yes, Your Majesty! I will give it my very best!

I am glad to hear that. You are about to be very busy indeed. I hope you're ready.

I'm ready, Your Majesty!

Oh?

What is it, Soira?

It's just... As glad as I am that it all worked out in the end... I can't help but feel like I'm forgetting about something.

Soira, there you are. How did the infiltration mission go? I would have been there with you, but I was called away on urgent business.

Oh! My time off!

That's an odd way to greet someone, but okay. I'll give you your time off.

N-No, that's not what I meant. I just accepted a big job from His Majesty.

From the king himself? What an honor, Soira! Congratulations!

But! I don't want honor! I want time off!

When am I gonna get to nap now?!