Hello.
My name was Nana. Nana Fougma.
I was a member of the Mercury Race, created specifically for the management of the Sun Castle.
At the time, I was stationed in Village Five under the orders of the Village Head. My specific mission was to gather intelligence, acting under the direction of Lady Yoko, the Village Five Acting Village Head.
I had no complaints regarding my post or my duties, but I did wish the chain of command was more unified. Though I believed it to be a remote possibility, I often wondered which of them I should obey if the Village Head and the Acting Village Head issued conflicting orders simultaneously.
"I should obey Lady Yoko, as she is the superior officer of this post."
"I should obey the Village Head, as he is the ultimate authority."
...I requested that the two of them discuss the matter. I hoped they would let me know once they reached a conclusion.
Now, regarding my mission.
I did not mean to boast, but I possessed a very inconspicuous appearance. I was neither too beautiful nor particularly plain—just a woman with an average countenance. Utilizing this trait, I blended into the village—or rather, the city—to gather information.
Initially, I worked alone, but I soon judged the scale of Village Five to be too vast for a single person. I eventually began working with the cooperation of local individuals I deemed trustworthy.
On that particular day, I had intended to make the rounds of the shops on the South Side of Village Five, but Lady Yoko stopped me. Apparently, because the weather in the Village of the Great Tree was expected to turn foul, the Village Head’s wives and children were evacuating to Village Five.
I personally felt that if the goal was to avoid a blizzard, evacuating to Village Four—the Sun Castle—would have been a more certain choice than Village Five. However, the Sun Castle was not yet equipped to accommodate such a large group. It was a pity. I made a mental note to suggest to Bell that we improve our reception facilities in the future.
At any rate, since they were evacuating to Village Five, they were to stay at the mansion. I understood the arrangement perfectly.
And yet, I wondered how things had spiraled so far out of control.
The Village Five Children had managed to get into a dispute with the Village Head’s children. I was forced to scramble to grasp the situation and settle the fallout. My stomach ached from the stress.
As for the cause of the trouble... I suppose it was simply a matter of terrible timing.
First, Lady Yoko had planned a meeting to introduce the Village Head’s wives to Village Five's Influential People. While some were already acquainted, many were not. Since the duration of the evacuation was uncertain, it was a sound plan to prevent future friction. Lady Yoko notified the influential figures that the meeting would take the form of a luncheon at her mansion.
The notification arrived that morning for a lunch held that very afternoon—an incredibly tight schedule—but the influential figures of Village Five were in no position to refuse.
However, these influential figures were not mere sycophants. They were individuals hand-picked by Lady Yoko to help govern, and they had earned their status through merit. They were highly capable. Thus, when they were summoned to the mansion, they brought their children along with them.
They likely hoped to get their children noticed by the upper echelon if the opportunity arose. At that stage, the local elites did not realize the Village Head’s own children were also present. Furthermore, they could not simply bring their children into the luncheon itself, as the guest list was strictly fixed. While a slight increase in numbers could be managed, it would have been an act of extreme rudeness to bring uninvited children to a formal event hosted by Lady Yoko.
Their plan was likely to have their own faces remembered during the lunch, and then, with a bit of luck, introduce their children as they were leaving. Even if the odds were low, they were the type of people to put forth every effort for even a glimmer of hope. It was that drive that had secured their current positions.
The majority of these figures had brought their children. These children were all acquainted with one another. They did not know me, but I certainly knew them. They were the leaders of the youth groups near the summit of Village Five. They possessed a strong sense of loyalty to the city and were expected to carry its future on their shoulders. I held expectations for them as well.
During the parents' luncheon, the children were instructed to stay together and play quietly. This was a measure to ensure no one family tried to gain an unfair advantage. The children, being well-bred, nodded obediently. I did not expect them to act out. There was absolutely nothing to be gained from causing a scene near Lady Yoko’s mansion.
Because of this, I allowed my attention to wander for a brief moment. I truly regretted that lapse in judgment. I had decided that the influential adults participating in the luncheon were the higher priority.
I never imagined that the moment I looked away, those children would find the Village Head’s children—Alfred-sama and the others—playing near the mansion and start an argument. The nature of the dispute was simple... a collision of misunderstandings.
"You lot! Who gave you permission to play here? This is Lady Yoko’s mansion! State your names!"
"Hello. I'm Alfred. I'm playing here because my parents told me to. Yoko-san knows about it, too."
"What did you just call her?! It’s Lady Yoko to you!"
...It was a clash born of total ignorance regarding each other’s status. To put it in perspective, it was as if the child of a low-ranking vassal had behaved arrogantly toward a crown prince. And because Alfred-sama had given his name, the fact remained that he was the son of the Village Head. Ignorance was no excuse. It was the fault of those who did not know. That was simply how the world worked.
This was precisely why Lady Yoko had planned the introductions in the first place.
Alfred-sama attempted to settle the matter peacefully, but he lacked experience in such social dynamics. It was no longer a problem that could be resolved by him simply bowing his head. To be blunt, his humility was counterproductive. The look in the eyes of the children standing behind Alfred-sama was truly frightening... especially Lady Tiselle’s.
Technically, I was Alfred-sama’s ally. However, considering the long-term interests of both the Village of the Great Tree and Village Five, I decided to side with the Village Five Children in that moment. I did so discretely, of course.
First, I disguised myself as a maid and stepped in.
"Young masters, what seems to be the trouble?" I interrupted the conversation. "Young masters of the city, a meal has been prepared for you in the Dining Hall of the Assembly Hall. Please proceed there at once. Alfred-sama, Tiselle-sama, Urza-sama, Lilius-sama, Rigul-sama, Ratte-sama, Torain-sama, and Nart-sama—a meal has been prepared for you on the second floor. I shall guide you."
While splitting the two groups up, I subtly provided information about Alfred-sama’s status. The children of Village Five were intelligent; they should have realized who they were dealing with based on the stark difference in treatment. The second floor of the mansion was Lady Yoko’s private area. Alfred-sama was someone permitted to enter that sanctuary.
...It seemed my efforts were in vain. They didn't realize it. The Village Five children simply turned and headed toward the Assembly Hall.
I was stunned. Did they really not catch the hint? This had backfired completely. My plan was for the local children to offer a full apology before the groups parted, which I would have supported to settle the matter as a minor incident.
Wait—their complexions finally turned pale. They had realized. Thank goodness. They immediately turned around and began sprinting back toward us. It was a wise decision, but they were a moment too late. Alfred-sama and the others—myself included—had already stepped inside the mansion. Their time had run out.
I felt for them, but if they had continued the argument out there, the worst-case scenario might have seen every one of those local children executed. Avoiding that outcome was a success in itself. I could at least appreciate that the Village Five children were honest enough to inform their parents of what had happened. Those parents were currently clutching their stomachs in agony, but that was better than being kept in the dark.
Upon hearing my report, Lady Yoko held her head in her hands. I couldn't blame her; I would have done the same in her position. After all, the children of her boss and the children of her subordinates had just engaged in a verbal brawl.
The simplest solution would have been to fire all the parents involved. However, these were the influential leaders of Village Five. While replacements could be found, they were Lady Yoko’s functional limbs that she had spent considerable time training. She likely felt they were too valuable to throw away. Deep down, Lady Yoko was a kind soul.
The method the kind Lady Yoko chose was to offer an immediate apology to the Village Head. The Village of the Great Tree was currently sealed off due to the weather, but that would be no obstacle for her. I wished her luck.
I wanted to leave it at that, but before she departed, there was one more report... and it was not good.
It seemed that everyone except for Alfred-sama and Tiselle-sama had launched a raid on the hangout of the Village Five children. From the perspective of noble society and maintaining face, their actions weren't necessarily wrong, but was this really normal behavior for ten-year-olds?
I began to wonder what kind of education the children of the Village of the Great Tree were receiving. I was merely curious, of course. It wasn't as if I harbored any desire to become their teacher.