Of Course Mother Is the Best!

"All the fairies think so," Guiliniweier said, noting Riko's surprised expression. Recalling what he'd learned during his recent busyness, he continued: "It's one thing for ordinary fairies to say that, but when I went to Camelot to request aid, I heard the same from the high-ranking fairies there."

"Many of those high-ranking courtiers served Queen Morgan in her audiences long ago," he explained, "yet none claimed ever to have seen Morgan show the slightest warmth or care toward Bavanshi. All Britain's fairies know Morgan is indifferent to her daughter—at most she tolerates Bavanshi's habitual killings at court."

Riko's response came slowly: she lowered her eyes and murmured, "So everyone really thinks that way…"

"Not only everyone else, but Bavanshi herself feels it," Guiliniweier went on. "Whenever she hears fairies suggest the Prophet's Child might, in some sense, be Morgan's daughter, she flies into a rage and hunts down Altria for a reckoning—she even captured me and Altria back then. Do you know what that reveals?"

"What?"

"It reveals insecurity." Guiliniweier spoke deliberately. Riko's eyes widened slightly.

"It's simple: if her position as heir were unquestionable, she wouldn't care about such idle rumors. Suppose someone claimed another was more suited to rule New Darrlington—how would Bavanshi react?"

"Killing that person?" Riko ventured.

"Yes—but would she immediately drop everything and rush to find and slay them?" he pressed.

"No…" Riko realized.

"Exactly. Given her temperament, she would punish the offender out of resentment, but she wouldn't panic—because her rule is secure, she knows no one can easily replace her. If she can't find the challenger, so be it. But when she hears someone say the Prophet's Child is Morgan's true daughter, she senses her status threatened. She may even subconsciously realize Morgan doesn't truly value her, so she must root out any rival at once. Understand?"

"…I see." Riko's brow stayed furrowed, uneasy at this insight.

Guiliniweier nodded approvingly. He held up two fingers: "That's the first reason I believe Morgan is indifferent to Bavanshi. Now here's the second."

"…There's a second?" Riko asked, startled.

"If I lacked three reasons, how could I be confident you're not Morgan?" he replied. Riko fell silent, then composed herself: "Please continue."

"The second reason is Morgan's attitude toward raising Bavanshi," he said. "She's allowed Bavanshi to do as she pleases—slaughtering ministers, building a state-sponsored killing arena, all manner of excess—while Morgan never restrained her or helped her cultivate worthy supporters."

"Is that really a problem?" Riko asked.

"Isn't it? In human history, when an emperor lets a subordinate run rampant like that, it's usually because he plans to discard that tool later and clear them out. If it's one's child, it means from the start he never intended them to inherit." Guiliniweier shook his head: "Either Morgan treats Bavanshi as a disposable instrument, or she never truly hoped Bavanshi would succeed her."

"Or perhaps Morgan simply spoiled Bavanshi out of love?" Riko countered. "Fairies differ from humans; Morgan needn't fear death, so maybe she just let Bavanshi live freely under her protection."

"That's possible," he conceded, "but Morgan is now missing. Morgan surely knows how crucial she is to Bavanshi—Bavanshi's entire standing rests on Morgan's presence as her sole pillar. Once Morgan disappeared, Bavanshi's position became dangerously precarious—especially given Morgan left a proclamation allowing any fairy lord to claim the throne. That essentially set Bavanshi up for ruin."

Guiliniweier sighed: "Unlike the other two fairy knights, Bavanshi's power is weak—even among queen's knights, she may not have been granted a full suit of armor. She has no real faction or loyal supporters. With Morgan vanished, and her deeds having enraged all the realm, who wouldn't seize the chance to remove her? The only reason she still survives is that Morgan's disappearance is too recent, and Morgan's lingering authority deters immediate action."

"Honestly, if Morgan truly cared, she would have left Bavanshi stronger protections—some legendary armament or protective artifact. With Morgan's magical genius, that would have been easy. Yet I am nearly running New Darrlington now, and I see no trace of such safeguards left for Bavanshi."

Riko hesitated: "I suppose I serve as an insurance measure?"

Guiliniweier concealed his inward doubt and merely nodded: "If you say so… Now, on to the third reason." He raised a third finger.

"What is it?" Riko prompted.

"Three words: Beril." He spoke calmly. "You've cared for Bavanshi a long time—surely you know what sort of person Beril is."

"Anyone can see he's a monster," Riko admitted. "Bavanshi's reputation was bad, but she never built a killing arena until influenced by Beril. If Morgan truly valued her daughter, would she ever allow Beril near Bavanshi? Impossible."

Riko fell silent, recalling Bavanshi's ruin in the third simulation.

"In sum, Morgan has been indifferent to Bavanshi in ways you, Riko, exceed in concern. I heard high courtiers say Bavanshi seldom had private time with Morgan—if Morgan cared, she would have spent more moments alone with her daughter. Yet she did not."

This time Riko offered no rebuttal; she stood quietly, head bowed. After a pause, she sighed: "…You're right: Morgan truly was indifferent. She was an incompetent mother."

"Are you all right?" Guiliniweier asked, noticing something off in her demeanor.

"Pardon me," Riko said, looking distant. "As you said, Morgan never cared for Bavanshi; certainly I cannot be Morgan." She met his gaze with hollow eyes: "To be puzzled by such simple truths… I apologize. I must return to my duties as maid and continue caring for Bavanshi." With a hint of resignation she bowed and hurried away. Guiliniweier watched her go, noting her steps lacked their usual poise, as if she'd suffered a blow.

"How strange… Did my words affect her?" he mused, stroking his chin.

He briefly entertained a dreadful thought: Could Riko actually be Morgan? But he dismissed it: if she were Morgan, his earlier criticisms would have earned him a swift fatal reprimand. He had to shake off the notion.

"I must focus on New Darrlington's crises," he resolved. Yet he wondered why he felt he'd forgotten something vital.

Later, returning to the castle, he saw Bavanshi sitting alone on her bed, lost in thought. Guiliniweier recalled his conversation with Riko and felt pity for Bavanshi.

"Bavanshi…" he called gently.

"Mm?!" Startled, Bavanshi looked up at him, then sank back into disappointment when she saw it was only Riko's colleague.

Riko lingered nearby, torn between comforting her and maintaining her maid's role. She finally approached: "My lady, may I assist you with anything?"

"It's you, Riko…" Bavanshi murmured gloomily. "I have a question."

"Please ask."

"Did I do something wrong?" Bavanshi said, dejected. "When I asked Guiliniweier to teach me how to kill, he seemed very angry and simply left. Did I err? He appeared disappointed…"

"And why did you ask him how to kill?" Riko inquired after reflection. "Why cling to killing? Do you truly enjoy it?"

"I… I don't like it," Bavanshi admitted, shaking her head. "Killing is exhausting, and my fingers hurt… I don't like it."

"Then why did you ask?" Riko pressed.

"Because it seemed Mother would be pleased," Bavanshi confessed. "The first time I killed someone, Mother patted my head. It felt so warm, I was so happy. I wanted that again, so I killed again. But afterward, Mother never held me again… Riko, is it because I'm bad at killing?"

"How could that be—?" Riko began, then paused, recalling Guiliniweier's insights.

Bavanshi continued quietly: "Beril is good at killing, and Mother often discusses complex matters with him—but not with me. Perhaps Mother is disappointed in me because I'm useless at killing—so she disappeared?"

Riko was silent at this.

"But I don't understand," Bavanshi went on. "Guiliniweier doesn't seem to like killing either, yet he's so capable. When he scolded me, he spoke of many things I couldn't grasp. Why?"

Riko's heart ached: "I'm sorry, Bavanshi."

"Why apologize?" Bavanshi looked puzzled. "Riko?"

"I… I'm not good at teaching," Riko confessed, eyes downcast. "I should have realized this earlier, but no one reminded me. I don't know how to explain these things clearly. Perhaps you should ask Guiliniweier—he would be a good teacher."

"You're right," Bavanshi said. "After all, you're only a maid. It's unfair to burden you." She shook her head: "He seems angry now; I'll ask him later."

"Bavanshi…" Riko suddenly called softly.

"Yes?" Bavanshi looked at her, then a bit wistfully: "What is it?"

Riko spoke gently: "How do you view your mother, Queen Morgan? Do you think… she's a good mother?"

"Why ask that?" Bavanshi frowned. "Is it not obvious? Mother is, of course, the best mother in the world. No one could be a better mother than her!"

Riko's shoulders sank: "Excuse me—that was a needless question."

Bavanshi brightened slightly: "Still, if Mother would just smile at me more often, that would be better. When she was here, I rarely had private time with her… I regret that."

Riko sensed something in Bavanshi's tone and face. As Bavanshi awaited a response, Riko steeled herself.

Bavanshi then noticed: "Riko? Why do you look like that?"

Riko's eyes flickered with unshed tears, but she gently forced a smile. "Nothing, my lady."

Bavanshi's question hung in the air as Riko concealed her own turmoil, resolved to continue serving, while Guiliniweier pondered the fragile truths uncovered and what urgent matters he had yet to recall.