This is Sein Lorelai Arch Angelus. This is her—no, this is me, now.
I can't even describe how much of a beauty Sein Lorelai is. Perhaps, deadly beautiful was the right description. She was an androgynous beauty, like a Greek royal princess that could easily be mistaken as a prince. With long jet-black hair, fair white skin, and a perfect jaw line, I can see both feminine and masculine beauty at every angle I pose. On top of that, I am also considerably taller for my current age. According to Archer, I am going to be 16 in 174 days, which means when the story begins I will be 25 years old. The fact that I saved this young Sein from dying, I am a little excited about what I would look like in my early adult years.
My God.
I still can't believe this is going to be my reflection on my entire life. I look like a painter's muse. The heavens must have taken their time molding this face to perfection. I can see why Archer is always flustered every time I face him.
What's even more fascinating is that I also have heterochromia, which may look magical in this world, but this actually only means that the cause of this condition is from trauma or perhaps congenital. A golden eye on the left and a red-brown eye on the right.
Also, unlike the body that I had in my past life, Sein, or rather, my physique in this life, is in great condition. It doesn't even have a low stamina, which makes it even better. And although I tried my best to avert my eyes and be as ignorant as possible, I couldn't help but take a peek at it.
I once read a omegaverse world manga, where a woman is an alpha, and they have the actual genitalia of a man. I can't. I just can't anymore with this whole fantasy world. I know this is a matriarchal world, but I did not expect that even motherhood was men's responsibility.
Damn, does that mean I can actually get a man pregnant? How weirdly fascinating is that?
"Pardon for my disturbance, my lady. I'd like to inform you that your bed is ready." Archer said behind the door. I flinched back to reality and made myself wear an old bathrobe quickly. Because I am in my early puberty stage, I don't know what might happen to me, and I just really hope that I don't get into a rut like what those omegaverse manga tell.
Since it was a last-minute plan to sleep in one room, Archer and I will be sleeping on two different couches while the twins will be on the bed in the Master's bedroom of this castle. As soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, Archer immediately handed me my night clothes.
"Here are your clothes, and uh—are you sure you can sleep on the couch? It might be uncomfortable for you, Lorelai."
"I'm fine, don't worry and thank you for my clothes," I said, smiling at him.
"No—I mean, yes, you're welcome."
Archer sounds flustered. Too bad I can't see his face since there's only one candle lit. If there's no electricity, then how do they light an entire kingdom? I assume it has to do with magic. It's quite disappointing that we didn't even get to have an electricity here.
After that, I went back to the bathroom and changed into my night clothes. Every single thing in this castle is just too old and worn out. My pajamas back then were even more decent than this one.
When I finished, I stepped out of the bathroom and laid myself down. I held out the sword on the table and put it beside me. Archer then went to the other couch and quickly arranged his sheets and pillows. "Are they asleep already?"
"Oh yes, they are."
"Archer, would it be OK if you could tell me more about the seasonal hunt that will be held tomorrow?"
"Yes, of course," he answered, and blew the candle out. I heard the squeaking sound of the couch, which means he probably laid down as well.
"Since it is a miracle season and the hunting location is outside our border, tomorrow's seasonal hunt is open to the public and not just to the nobles, so it's going to be a hectic event."
"Right." My vision adjusted from the darkness and the moonlight passing through the window, allows me to see Archer's face clearly. I turned my body toward him and listened to him attentively.
"The event will be held in two different forests, the Creek Forest and the Red Forest. The Red Forest is a vast and mountainous forest where most of the rare and dangerous beasts dwell. Since nobles would rather hunt in the Creek Forest, they didn't interfere with the Queen's decision to let the citizens of the empire participate in this event, and the citizens didn't have any problem with it since they have always been hunting in that area," he stated, looking at the dark, gloomy ceiling of this room.
"Does that mean the seasonal hunt for nobles and citizens will be held in two different places?" I asked. It's obvious how there is discrimination when it comes to status, just like in my world.
"Not entirely, since nobles will still send some of their finest knights to hunt for them in the Red Forest," he said.
"I think it's much better that they are not in the same place to hunt, since I'm thinking of joining the hunt."
"Come again, my lady."
He—he almost heard me.
I turned behind my back and hugged the cold-covered sword. "I said, it'll be much better that they're not hunting in the same place, since it would be troublesome for both of them. You know the status between citizens and nobles."
"Right, you have a point," Archer said.
If I want to know more about this world, I should go out and explore outside the castle, so in order to do that, I should take part in this upcoming hunt. "We should go and watch the seasonal hunt with the twins."
"Are you for real? I mean, wouldn't that be dangerous since we'll be encountering other nobles?"
"I didn't say we'd go to the Creek Forest. We're going to the Red Forest. I think it'll be much more fun there," I said.
"The twins will be delighted. It had been a while since we all went out of the castle. Then, I shall prepare early for our belongings!"
I nodded in agreement. I can hear his small giggle of excitement. It really must have been a while for him to be that excited. I can't wait for tomorrow's seasonal hunt and to get to know this world of novel. Let's see how magical the world of fantasy is.
Third Person's POV
I've worked hard. He thought.
The gossip between servants and other concubines could no longer affect him. He may not be the king's favorite consort, but he wields power as the kingdom's second-most powerful royal. Since the day he awakened his power, he has been immune to humiliations, rumors, and betrayals.
Queen Atlanta Arch Angelus awakened as the blessed child that has the ability to see the future. A rare blessed child to ever exist in the last centuries. Everyone, including the Gridania Temple, has long forgotten the existence of the prophet. A prophet is a holy human favored by the Goddesses of Fate who was bestowed to have the Ifa divination, a divine power that can foresee the future and can act as the messenger of the Gods. The day he awakened as the prophet was the day his life had drastically changed.
A heavy burden he embraced.
It could have been very beneficial to his position and to the King. However, a vision he unexpectedly dreamed made him decide to hide his awakening from the world. Queen Atlanta dreamed about the child of the prophecy. However, the Queen is conflicted as he himself never knew what the prophecy really stated. The only thing he knew was that this child, according to his vision, could wield a sword.
"How far along is the preparation?" Queen Atlanta asked.
Lowering his head, his most trusted advisor, Duchess Carlisle of Achilles, answered, "All is well, your majesty."
"It has to." The queen demanded.
Queen Atlanta did his best to convince the King about the preparation of the hunting activity, and as soon as he was permitted to do so, he proceeded on organizing the entire event himself without any of the other royals' help. The hunt will be held in two locations. Aristocrats will be hunting in the Creek Forest, and commoners will be hunting in the Red Forest. Also, outsiders from other friendly neighboring kingdoms are welcome to participate in the seasonal hunt.
Creek Forest was known for its beautiful green forest and was a favorite spot for nobles to explore and hunt. Meanwhile, the Red Forest is the complete opposite of the Creek Forest. It is one of the most vicious forests known to the entire kingdom. Not only do wild animals and monsters inhabit the forest, but poisonous plants and spirits are also seen in that forest. Unlike the beautiful green forest, the Red forest is a dark and foggy forest. Despite the danger, the citizens of the kingdom still hunt the area, and for them, the Red Forest has been part of their lives. Without that vicious forest, they couldn't provide food and medicine for their families.
Therefore, organizing the hunting event made it easier. Queen Atlanta is confident about the successful commencement of the event.
Sipping on his hot tea, Queen Atlanta had already foreseen a few scenarios of what would happen during the miracle season, and for him, it was a blessing in disguise. And so he used the opportunity to look for that child; royals, nobles, commoners, outsiders, knights, servants, and even peasants—whoever can get the Queen's attention and impress him with their skill in wielding a sword shall be allowed to become one of his Blessed Knights.
"Our only objective is to find our newborn blessed knights, Carlisle. Believe in the Goddess of Fate."
"You are the father of the great Deborah Kingdom. Thus, all is well. The grace and the power of the Gods be upon you, your majesty."