TAP TAP TAP.
Footsteps echoed sharply in the waiting guest room, each step deliberate and measured.
"Mr. Representative, it looks like you were thoroughly enjoying your stay in our city, considering you didn't bother returning after the birthday party ended," the Queen Mother said, her voice cool and controlled as she approached. She carried the machine device carefully in her hands, then placed it down—a little harder than necessary—on the table directly in front of Babkin.
TAANK!
The sound reverberated in the quiet room like a challenge thrown down.
Seeing the machine appear before him, Babkin remained completely impassive. His face showed no emotion whatsoever as he spoke. "My job is only to see the ceremony through to its completion. Why can't I relax for a while before that? I'm entitled to some leisure time."
"I suppose planning to actively disrupt the ceremony is also considered one of your official jobs, then?" the Queen Mother sat down gracefully opposite Babkin, her posture perfect despite the tension crackling in the air between them.
"Yes, that also falls under one of my assigned tasks," Babkin accepted his deeds readily, without shame or hesitation. "Considering the chances of the Princess actually succeeding are remarkably low, alternative measures must be prepared."
"Hmm, you're judging my daughter's capabilities a bit too early and too harshly, Mr. Representative," the Queen said calmly. She gestured to her servants with a subtle hand motion, ordering them to place refreshments on the table and then leave the room immediately, ensuring complete privacy for this conversation.
The servants moved quickly and silently, setting down tea and small plates before bowing and retreating. The door closed softly behind them.
"Perhaps I am judging early," Babkin acknowledged, picking up his tea cup with steady hands. "But I was specifically ordered to remove you as the Crown of this city of EIRS." He sipped the tea slowly, then continued speaking calmly, as if discussing the weather. "So my assessment seems rather accurate."
"Remove…" The Queen Mother's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm, that is quite a strong word to use against us, Mr. Representative. My family has taken care of the people here for generations—long before your Empire even knew this place existed. We only came under the Empire of Echor's control a few generations ago through political manoeuvring, not conquest."
She leaned forward slightly. "I don't think they have done nearly enough for this place to attribute themselves with these kinds of rights over us. We built this city. We protected these people. Not them."
"Well, that's true in theory," Babkin said, setting his cup down with a soft clink. "But this land officially comes under their jurisdiction now. Therefore, it is their full legal right to do anything they want here—including removing you."
He looked directly into her eyes, his gaze cold and empty. "And as a person who was APPOINTED BY THE EMPIRE OF ECHOR, you are obligated to follow every decision they make, whether you agree with it or not. That's how power works, Queen."
"Then why didn't I receive any so-called official order?" she demanded, her voice sharp and cutting. "If this is all legal and proper, where is my notification? Where is the royal decree? And what is the reason for removing me so suddenly? Why does it seem everyone is suddenly so interested in this lonely island?"
"Well, I don't know much about the specific details of that situation," Babkin admitted with a faint shrug. His tone was casual, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of something hidden. "But I can guess. You've clearly made quite an impression on them over the years—perhaps through your so called political maneuvering, or your… reputation. So I suppose they'd rather not go through the traditional, official route. Too much attention. Too many questions."
"Oh, how considerate," the Queen said with a sharp laugh, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I must feel deeply honored that you'd prefer I go silently!"
Her expression hardened, and her tone turned cold and furious. "So instead, you choose to harm little children to fulfill your duty? That's your alternative approach?"
"Hm, don't make me out to be a villain here, Queen," Babkin stated emotionlessly, his face like carved stone. "I don't personally care about things that are already happening in this world—the corruption, the cruelty, the endless suffering. But I can say for sure that I never directly harm innocents or actively encourage others to do the same if I have another way to accomplish my duties."
He leaned back slightly. "If I had genuinely wanted to harm your daughter, killing Princess Natalia would have been incredibly easy for me. I would simply have had to bring a trained warrior from the Empire of Echor, and then everything would have been over in less than a minute."
Babkin glanced at the machine sitting between them meaningfully.
"But you don't actively stop others from doing it, do you?" the Queen countered, her voice cold. "Letting a crime happen when you have the power to prevent it is worse than committing it yourself. Silence is complicity."
"How much longer will I live if I keep butting my nose into other people's stupidity?" Babkin asked, spreading his hands slightly. "I have to take care of myself first and survive in this world. I can't afford to think about others when I have a specific job to do and superiors I have to answer to."
He sipped his tea again. "And even if I did waste my time trying to stop every bad thing, what would be the actual use? There is no end to people like that—cruel, selfish, power-hungry. They're everywhere. Even you can't stop all the evil things happening in your own city, despite your best efforts and all your resources."
"TSK! But you still have to try!" the Queen Mother said forcefully, clenching her hands into fists on the table. Her face grew serious, passionate. "You can't just give up on doing the right thing because it's difficult or because you can't save everyone!"
"Try? Haha—like you've kept trying all these years?" Babkin scoffed, his voice cutting. "And look where it's gotten you. Now even your own people want you gone. The nobles are restless, the merchants are nervous, and the citizens question whether you can protect them."
He leaned forward, his expression darkening. His eyes turned cold and predatory, like a wolf eyeing wounded prey.
"Tell me, Queen… why are you so stubborn about this? With all your accumulated wealth and political influence, you could live comfortably anywhere in the world. You can buy a nice estate somewhere peaceful, far from politics and danger. Yet you absolutely refuse to leave this place. Why?"
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I can't allow this to continue. Now other players have come from all over the world—and fools like Kane who supposed to be working with me—are trying to interfere and stir up chaos. I won't lose control of this city. It's my job, my responsibility, and I will see it through to the end."
He leaned even closer, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper that sent chills through the air. "Even if it means I have to personally kill you to accomplish it."
The Queen Mother remained completely unfazed by the threat. She didn't flinch, didn't blink, didn't show even a flicker of fear.
"I have lived long enough to no longer fear death, Mr. Representative," she said calmly, meeting his predatory gaze with steady eyes. "When you've seen what I've seen, survived what I've survived, death loses its power over you."
She smiled slightly. "And as for my 'why'—isn't it actually quite simple? Why not? If I possess power, resources, and influence, then why shouldn't I use them to help people who need it? Why shouldn't I fight for what's right?"
Her voice grew stronger. "People like you, who live only for yourselves and your own survival, will never truly understand what it means to serve others. You'll never know that feeling of purpose that comes from making someone's life better."
"Hmm, Queen, it's admirable to want to serve others—truly, it is," Babkin said, his voice becoming dangerously relaxed. "But that noble philosophy is only applicable if everything is going in your favor, if you have the luxury of idealism."
He gestured around them. "Right now, things are not really in your favor at all. Your political position is weak, your daughter can't perform what's needed, and powerful forces are moving against you."
His voice took on a lecturing tone. "And do you know what happens when a person tries desperately to be good despite everything falling apart around them? THEY DESTROY THEMSELVES AND TAKE THEIR CLOSE ONES WITH THEM INTO THE GRAVE!"
He leaned back in his chair, speaking slowly, almost philosophically.
"There are countless examples throughout history of people who set out to do good, even while their own families suffered because of their choices. To me, that's nothing but stupidity—selfishness dressed up as virtue."
He paused, his voice growing colder.
"For a few fleeting moments of fame, just to be called a 'hero,' they abandon their own blood for the sake of strangers—people who will barely remember them once they're gone. The world will call them a 'good person' for a year, maybe less, before moving on and forgetting entirely."
Babkin's lifeless eyes fixed on her.
"The old saying, 'Good people suffer the most,' isn't a joke or a proverb to make you feel better," he said quietly. "It's a warning."
The Queen Mother listened patiently, then responded with conviction.
"Well, I do agree with parts of your reasoning, Mr. Representative," she said slowly. "But you got one crucial thing wrong, and that is this: THEY DON'T DO IT FOR FAME OR RECOGNITION."
She leaned forward, her voice growing passionate. "Do you honestly think they can't see their own people suffering because of their choices? Do you think they're blind to it? Do you think they don't know that people constantly take advantage of their kindness and generosity? Do you think they're stupid enough to believe people will remember them fondly for a long time after they're gone?"
Her voice rose. "Do you think they can't see the anger and frustration in their own family members' eyes when sacrifices have to be made?"
She slammed her hand on the table softly but firmly. "You see, even after knowing all of that, even after seeing all the pain and consequences, they still decide to be good to others anyway. And THAT IS THE TRUE PINNACLE OF HUMANITY! That's what separates us from people like you who sits silently at one corner and watches the world burn!"
The Queen's eyes blazed with conviction. "They don't do it for fame or personal satisfaction or to feel superior. They do it just because IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! It's that simple!"
"They could easily run away from their responsibilities. They could live a much better, easier life somewhere else. Everything would be perfect and comfortable for them if they just abandoned everyone else," she continued. "But you see, some people are simply born different from others."
She met Babkin's gaze unflinchingly.
"Just like you—someone who refuses to care about others and thinks they are trying to avoid pain in their life, yet still can't find real happiness or human connection—there are people on the opposite end of that spectrum. People who can't turn away from suffering, even when doing so would make their own lives easier. They're not driven by logic or gain; it's simply who they are. They're built differently—wired to feel, to act, to help. And no matter how much pain it brings them, they'll never stop being that way." Her voice softened slightly. "And trust me when I say this: THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY GRATEFUL TO THEM. People whose lives were changed, who were saved, who were given hope when they had none, not all but surely some of them truly thinks best of their benefactor."
"You don't need to observe their every single action throughout their whole life to determine whether those people are truly happy to see you or not. You just have to look deep into their eyes for one honest moment. Then you'll know—you'll absolutely know—whether what you've done for them truly makes them happy or not and whether they truly respect you or not."
The Queen's voice grew quiet but powerful. "And that happiness, that genuine gratitude shining in someone's eyes, will heal all the pain in a person's heart from all the betrayal and harsh words and sacrifices. It makes everything worth it."
She locked eyes with Babkin, her gaze piercing. "TELL ME, MR. BABKIN IOSIF—CAN YOU SEE HAPPINESS WITH YOUR EYES? Have you ever looked into someone's face and seen genuine joy for you? Or is the world just empty to you?"
TWITCH TWITCH
Babkin's eye twitched involuntarily—barely noticeable, just the slightest movement—but his face remained otherwise completely emotionless. Like a mask carved from stone.
A long, heavy silence filled the room. The air felt thick, suffocating. Neither of them moved or spoke, locked in a battle of wills and philosophies.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Babkin spoke.
"Even so," he said quietly, his voice flat and cold, "it doesn't change the fundamental truth of the situation. A stubborn, kind-hearted person will eventually bring about their own downfall—and they'll drag their loved ones down with them into destruction."
He looked at her directly. "In your specific case, your absolute refusal to let go of this obsession with serving others, combined with your daughter's clear incompetence and inability to perform what's required, will be the very thing that destroys you… and everyone close to you."
"Your idealism will get them all killed." Mr. Representative spoke with sharp gaze in his eyes.
"I would rather face my demise doing the right thing than hide away in some comfortable corner and have nightmares every night about 'what ifs' and 'if only,'" the Queen Mother replied firmly, her voice unwavering. "I'd rather die standing than live kneeling."
"And regarding my children—I trust them with all my heart, completely and absolutely," she continued, her voice filled with maternal pride. "We mothers have taught them to be good people and to do good things in this world. If they eventually decide they don't want to walk on that difficult path anymore, if they choose something easier, then I would be happy to step back and let them live their own lives."
Her eyes blazed. "But until my kids don't give up on themselves, then their mother's job is to trust them with each step they take and guide them toward a better future. That is the sacred job of a parent, and I INTEND TO KEEP DOING IT UNTIL MY LAST BREATH!"
The Queen Mother sat up proudly, looking down on Babkin with absolute confidence. "You think my daughter will fail at the ceremony. But I, QUEEN MOTHER OF THIS CITY, TRUST MY PRINCESS WITH MY WHOLE HEART THAT SHE WILL SUCCEED! She's stronger than you think. Stronger than even she knows."
Both of them stared at each other intensely for a long, tense moment. The air between them crackled with opposing ideologies and unspoken threats. Neither one said anything further, but volumes were communicated in that loaded silence.
The battle of wills continued wordlessly for a while.
THUMB!
The door suddenly burst open harshly, slamming against the wall.
"Oye, Mr. Representative, let's go!" Kane barged inside loudly, his voice grating and impatient. "Did you manage to get the machine from these people?"
He looked around and saw Babkin and the Queen Mother staring intensely at each other across the table. His eyes landed on the device sitting between them.
"Oh, you got it. Good. Let's go then," Kane said dismissively, waving his hand. "Leave these ignorant, stubborn people to their delusions. The day that bitch Princess fails publicly at the ceremony, I'll make them all see hell. I'll destroy everything they've built. Let's go!"
Kane turned around roughly and pushed aside the waiting servants who'd been standing respectfully by the door, nearly knocking one over before stomping out of the room.
Babkin slowly stood up from his seat, his movements careful and deliberate. He picked up the machine device from the table and walked toward the door. He went away without saying a single word to the Queen Mother, without even a glance back.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
"Um, Queen, we're sorry we couldn't stop him from barging in like that," the maids who'd been pushed aside bowed deeply in apology, their faces showing embarrassment at their failure.
The Queen Mother stopped staring at the empty seat across from her. She stood up gracefully and smiled warmly at her servants, her expression softening. "Don't worry about it at all. It's not your fault—that man does whatever he wants."
Her tone shifted to concern. "Tell me, where is my daughter right now? Was everything okay with her meeting?"
The Queen started walking briskly toward the Princess's room, her steps quick with worry.
"Umm, she's okay overall," a Queen Expert Guard suddenly materialized out of nowhere, appearing like a shadow beside the Queen. She reported everything in a low, swift voice. "Just some annoying little device took control of her mind for a brief moment during her meeting with him."
"Hmm, that's probably the same tool that was used on those Crowns who attacked me at that time," the Queen said, her voice laced with concern and barely suppressed anger. "Do we not have a counter tool for that kind of mind control?"
"We do have a counter device for protecting an individual person, yes," the Queen Expert Guard spoke while walking behind her Queen like a silent shadow. "But unfortunately, we don't have anything that works for protecting large crowds yet. That tool is difficult to get by."
Sigh… "Just give the individual counter tool to Nat then," the Queen ordered firmly. "She needs it more than anyone right now."
She didn't speak anything further, her mind clearly racing with thoughts and worries. She walked faster, finally arriving at the Princess's room. She entered alone, leaving her guards outside.
"GAAHH!!! FAST! FAST! BEFORE ZACK COMES HERE, I HAVE TO CLEAN EVERYTHING FROM MY BODY!" Nat's voice rang out frantically. "GAAHH! HURRY, EMMY! I CAN STILL FEEL HIS DISGUSTING HANDS-ON ME!"
Nat was running around the room wildly, jumping in visible agitation, grabbing things frantically as she got ready to take a bath. Her movements were almost manic.
"Ara, my, my, what is this I'm seeing?" the Queen Mother said with amusement, smiling warmly as she watched Emmy and Nat dancing around each other in chaos. "My Princess is ready to bathe even before I reminded her to! Did the sun rise up from another direction today or what? This is unprecedented!"
"MOTHERR!! YOU CAME!" Nat spun around, her face lighting up. "LISTEN, LISTEN! You know what? Zack and I are officially together now, heheheheh! Like, really together! You know, you know, I'm so incredibly happy today!"
She rushed close to the Queen Mother, speaking so fast her words tumbled over each other. "But then that bastard Kane ruined my good mood! Ugh! Anyway, anyway, I'll tell you the whole detailed story afterward! Right now, I need to—"
Nat started to turn away, but the Queen Mother grabbed her arm firmly.
"Geez, calm down for a moment!" the Queen Mother spoke seriously, holding Nat in place with a gentle but firm grip. "First of all, when were you and Zack not together? You've been attached to him for years."
She looked into her daughter's eyes. "Second, before you go get purified, I want to ask you something important!"
Seeing the seriousness in her mother's face, Nat quickly understood what she was worried about. She addressed the unspoken concerns immediately.
"Don't worry at all, Mother," Nat said, her voice becoming calmer and more assured. "Zack will definitely treat Uncle Jorri. Even if I tried to stop him, he would still insist on coming to help. And don't worry about his health either—Zack told me himself that his life isn't in any danger. His mind just got cracked a little from overusing his abilities, hehe. See? Isn't my Zack so good and kind?"
Nat's expression turned playful and competitive. "Tsk tsk, my lover is going to save your lover! Mother, doesn't that make my Zack objectively better than yours lover?"
She smiled sweetly and hugged her mother's hand affectionately.
Hearing this reassurance, the Queen Mother finally felt the heavy weight on her shoulders lift slightly. The tension in her neck and back eased. Then, she reached out and grabbed Nat's ear playfully, tugging gently.
"Ara, are you actually competing with your own mother now?" the Queen spoke in a mock-harsh tone, though her ears were visibly turning red. "And he's Uncle Jorri to you, young lady, not my lover! Show some respect!"
"OUCH! OUCH! MOTHER, THAT HURTS!" Nat protested, though she was smiling. "Everyone knows—literally everyone in this entire palace knows how much both of you love each other! It's the worst-kept secret ever! Don't worry, your two daughters fully support your relationship!"
Nat smiled hard, patting her chest confidently like she was giving her blessing.
"SHU SHU! Don't speak such nonsense!" the Queen Mother said, releasing Nat's ear. Then she reached down and spanked her daughter's backside gently but firmly.
THUUP!
"GAH! Are you my mother or Zack's mother?!" Nat yelped, rubbing her bottom and backing away dramatically. "Why are you acting like my mother-in-law already?!"
She hid behind Maid Emmy, who stood perfectly straight and proper, silently witnessing the entire domestic drama unfolding before her.
"FINALLY! THE MOTHER-IN-LAW HAS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE!" Maid Emmy roared internally, her face remaining professionally blank while her mind went wild. "NOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN?! WILL SHE ACCEPT THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW?! OR WILL THERE BE AN EPIC TUSSLE FOR WHO BECOMES THE NEW BOSS OF THE HOUSE?! COMMMEE OONNN! SHOOWW MEE MOORREEE DRAMAAAAA!"
Her internal excitement was reaching fever pitch.
"Don't you know I'm the Queen Mother, hehe?" the Queen said with a warm smile. "I'm a mother for everyone in this kingdom, not just you! Now go away and clean Zack's clothes properly when you take them off. Don't just throw them away carelessly like you do with your own clothes."
Her expression became more serious, more tender. "Take care of him well, Nat. And remember—whatever happens, whatever difficulties you face, always TALK WITH HIM HONESTLY AND TRUST HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART. Communication and trust are the foundation of relationship."
The Queen Mother turned away gracefully and walked outside her room closing the door.
"OKAY, MOTHER!" Nat called out happily, smiling sweetly. "I will! I promise!"
She muttered the words again slowly, letting them sink in, then skipped away toward the bathing room in pure happiness, humming a little tune.
"GAHH! WHAT! THERE'S NO ACTION BETWEEN THE LOVER AND MOTHER-IN-LAW?!!" Maid Emmy screamed internally, her face remaining perfectly composed. "WHERE IS MY EPIC DRAMA?! GIVE ME MOREEEE! NOOOOO! THE WRITER IS SO STUPID AND BORING!!!"
She shed some theatrical tears internally, her heart breaking with disappointment. Then she sighed and started cleaning up the small mess Nat had made in her frantic preparations.
"Ah—here! Clean these clothes of Zack! I don't have time to deal with this right now!"
Natlia suddenly poked her head out of the bathroom, panic and excitement written all over her face. Before Emmy could respond, Natlia casually tossed the clothes toward her.
Emmy didn't even blink. She caught them perfectly, giving a small nod.
"Geez, what a mess this girl makes," Emmy muttered to herself as she worked. "I feel like I'm so busy these days, and why not? It's all because of that SHAMPOO BASTARD!"
She picked up scattered clothes and folded them. "Because of him and his weird ideas, my work has literally doubled! His stupid concepts about meeting animals in some kind of travel show—what's so fun in that anyway? Humph, boring and pointless. I'm absolutely sure no one will buy any tickets for his stupid ride thing. Who wants to see that?"
Emmy continued grumbling as she straightened furniture. "And those clothes he designed, tsk tsk, so bad and tasteless. Made me wear those awful outfits at that time. I looked ridiculous."
She paused in her cleaning, a small smile creeping onto her face despite herself. "But… I have to admit, the little ones were looking SO INCREDIBLY CUTE in their outfits, HEHE. Maybe that's the only genuinely good thing about his whole idea."
Maid Emmy stood up, having finished the cleaning. She looked outside through the window, watching the sky change colors as evening approached. Slowly, thoughtfully, she walked over and stood near the window. She reached out and opened it wide, letting the soft evening wind rush inside.
The breeze rustled her neatly tied hair and made her maid uniform flutter gently. It felt cool and refreshing against her skin.
"Phewww," she breathed out, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation. "I guess… I guess it wasn't completely terrible. These days are little fun."
She opened her eyes and looked out at the city below. "Shampoo Bastard, I'll trust you this one time with your weird ideas. So make sure to let the whole world see my little ones' incredible cuteness. Make them the stars they deserve to be."
Maid Emmy smiled sweetly, genuinely, as she rested for a bit in the peaceful silence. "And then maybe—just maybe—I'll pray that someone will actually buy some tickets for your stupid ride, hehe."
The soft wind continued to touch her face gently, carrying the scents of the city, making her feel a momentary warmth in her chest. For just a moment, standing there in the quiet, she allowed herself to feel hopeful about the future.
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END OF CHAPTER
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AUTHOR BLABBERING
While fixing this chapter, I had instrumental music playing in the background—one of those moments where the world goes quiet and the story gets loud in your head. It made me wonder… what kind of music do you read to? Or are you a brave soul who enjoys pure silence? 👀
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