Later, when Karen heard her parents’ reaction through Von Neumann, she wept. Von Neumann gripped Karen’s shoulder firmly with his wrinkled hand and said.
“I’m telling you to let go of any lingering attachment. So steel your heart and don’t look back.”
Thus, seven years passed. Leaving home at fourteen, now at twenty-one, Karen was still a young woman whose girlish features hadn’t faded from her face, but her status was no longer that of a girl fleeing from home.
―The real power in the administration, Countess Karen Prime von Montreal.
Later, when Karen heard her parents’ reaction through Von Neumann, she wept. Von Neumann gripped Karen’s shoulder firmly with his wrinkled hand and said:
“I’m telling you to let go of any lingering attachment. So steel your heart and don’t look back.”
Thus, seven years passed. Leaving home at fourteen, now at twenty-one, Karen was still a young woman whose girlish features hadn’t faded from her face, but her status was no longer that of a girl fleeing from home.
―The real power in the administration, Countess Karen Prime von Montreal.
In the centralized state of Leahian, a title was truly a measure of one’s proximity to the queen.
Though it didn’t come with land, it included a residence in the capital and a provincial castle, along with a salary and vacation days.
The ‘Montreal’ title Karen received was one of the most prestigious castles, reserved for only the most elite.
As she prepared to leave, the butler managing the Montreal residence bowed and greeted Karen.
“Are you going to the palace?”
“Yes.”
Karen always wore a white shirt, comfortable black slacks, and a black jacket.
Her hair was always tied up high, and she entered the palace with nothing but her ID hanging around her neck.
This outfit, known as the ‘Karen Look,’ was practically the official attire of the administration. Every morning, it wasn’t uncommon to see officials in black pencil skirts or slacks streaming into the administration.
As she boarded the carriage, Karen told the butler.
“Master will have to dine alone today. I might be late.”
“Understood.”
A young countess at twenty-one. Given her success, it was only natural that envious glances followed her wherever she went.
But the envy remained just that because Karen possessed the intellect befitting her position.
No matter how much success depends on academic, regional, and blood ties, when someone is this capable, no amount of obstacles from rivals can prevent their rise.
However, life is unpredictable.
‘What important words does Her Majesty have to say?’
Forgetting that her life, too, could become as tangled as anyone else’s, Karen rested her chin on her hand and relaxed in the carriage.
At that time, she couldn’t even imagine the bombshell the queen was about to drop on her.
On a beautiful summer day, Karen alighted from the carriage and was guided by an attendant to the royal office.
Queen Soneti was beautiful as always. Her hair was still casually loose, and her crown was crooked. Yet, she exuded an undeniable presence.
Feeling the gaze of her cold, black eyes, Karen cautiously knelt on the floor and offered her greeting.
Even after years of facing her, the queen’s gaze still carried an overwhelming pressure that was hard to bear.
“Your loyal servant, Countess Karen von Montreal, greets Her Majesty the Queen.”
Above Karen’s head, a voice, as if swatting away a fly, spoke indifferently.
“I’m not going to be queen anymore.”
…What?
Karen’s shoulders froze like stone at the unexpected statement.
Life is Unpredictable
The Kingdom of Leahian, ruled by Queen Soneti, who became a transcendent being at a young age but refused to become a god, choosing instead to remain human. Yet, due to her abilities, she is called a living god.
In the Green Glass Garden, the heart of Leahian, a woman stood facing the wind.
She was 172 cm tall, not particularly glamorous but with a slender, elongated figure.
Her freckled face and sharp, cat-like eyes sparkled fiercely, and her red hair shone like a blazing flame under the sunlight.
Who was this woman?
She was none other than Countess Karen Prime von Montreal, a young scholar and politician recently rising as a power figure in Leahian.
Currently, Countess Karen Montreal was not in her right mind.
Her usually sharp eyes were dull, and her shoulders, which seemed like they could confidently bump into passersby, were slumped.
She was absentmindedly replaying the words she had heard.
“I am tired of everything now. I am annoyed. I no longer want to help those who bring everything to me.”
The living god looked down at Karen with eyes that only a god could possess, and tilted her chin lazily.
“I’m not going to be queen anymore.”
‘What on earth is she saying?!’
To Karen, it was like a bolt from the blue.
It was only natural. A country ruled by a god—that was both the nickname and identity of Leahian.
Karen parted her trembling lips.
“But why all of a sudden…?”
However, she had to close her mouth after speaking.
‘Right. That’s what a god is.’
Humans seek gods with their earnest desires, but to a god, they are just one of the myriad things they created.
The dire problems humans face are merely one of the dead ends in a maze game with obvious answers to a god, so it’s only natural they don’t feel the need to save them.
Whether one sits in despair at that dead end or finds the strength to discover a path is entirely up to the individual.
Thus, to be a true god, one needed generous love.
A sense of pity for the endlessly ignorant humans, a compassion to alleviate their suffering even a little.
Once, Queen Soneti had such feelings. She loved Leahian so much that she didn’t ascend even after opening the gates of heaven, choosing instead to become the living god of this country.
But twenty years into her reign, her eyes were filled with a reptilian coldness, devoid of any emotional fragments.
“…My father left the throne and this country with my mother for similar reasons when he was forty. I will be that age in five years.”
Karen was slightly stunned by Queen Soneti’s words.
The fact that the woman before her, still vibrant and beautiful as if in her prime, was already past thirty-five.
‘Does a transcendent being transcend time as well? By what mechanism?’
A purely scientific curiosity arose, but now was not the time to dwell on such trivial curiosities.
The fact that Queen Soneti intended to abandon the throne was a far more significant issue.
Just like when she first summoned Karen to the throne a few years ago, the queen’s blue eyes seemed to see through Karen’s innermost thoughts.
“So, within the five years before I leave the throne, you are to ‘create’ a new king who will perfectly govern this country.”
Karen swallowed hard.
It was an absurdly enormous command. To create a king for a country? Wasn’t that essentially entrusting the fate of the nation to Karen?
“Your Majesty, may I dare to ask a question?”
“What is it?”
“…Why me?”
Karen knew she was intelligent. But governing a country wasn’t something that could be done with intelligence alone.
Karen led the administration, but not everyone in the administration followed her with their hearts.
In fact, sometimes someone with a gentle nature, even if less intelligent, was more suitable for practical matters than someone like Karen.
So why was she chosen? She wasn’t even a native of Leahian.
At Karen’s question, the queen’s lips curled slightly. It was the first time Karen had seen something resembling a smile on her face, and it spread confusion across Karen’s face.
Soon, the queen spoke, but what came was not an answer, but a question.
“Recently, across the river in a country called Chersha, a political system called ‘republicanism’ is trending, isn’t it? I heard that instead of a king, all citizens vote to choose their leader. What are your thoughts on this, Countess?”
Karen had already heard about this.
At first, she thought the idea was quite interesting, and then…
“I am against it.”
“Why is that?”
“The fundamental premise that many people can choose a good leader is incorrect. It is based on the idea that the opinions of many are correct, but in reality, the majority of the populace are ignorant and lack the insight and character suitable for an ideal system.”
Karen had previously debated this with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and had been criticized for her opinion being too radical.
Nevertheless, Karen did not alter her opinion. She saw no need to hide the sharpness of the truth.
The queen tilted her head at Karen’s opinion. Her jet-black hair flowed over her rounded shoulders.
“While the majority may be ignorant, can’t they be educated to have the common sense and attitude suitable for a political system?”
“I am also against that. It is easier to create ignorant but blindly voting individuals through the tool of education than to become a perfect person who wins the favor of many intelligent people. Someone will educate to mass-produce such ignorant people to seize power.”
“Is blind voting possible?”
“If a fictional enemy is created, it is sufficient. For example, a monarchy like Leahian would be good. If they claim to save the people of Leahian who are deceived by a false god, wouldn’t they be sufficiently agitated?”
“……”
The queen did not respond to Karen’s words. A drop of sweat slowly trickled down Karen’s face.
‘Was it too harsh to speak candidly to the queen?’
But it was the truth. Even after Chersha became a republic, dissatisfaction with the changed system would continue to erupt.
And eventually, the sword would be aimed at the ‘ignorant people’ maintaining the surrounding monarchies, as Karen clearly saw.
There is no more justifiable excuse to maintain a regime and demand the sacrifice of the people than war.
How much time had passed? The queen’s perfect lips slowly parted.
“Your opinion is correct, but nevertheless, the world will flow towards republicanism. That is the ‘trend.’”
The queen’s voice, reciting a predetermined fate, was so monotonous that it sent chills down Karen’s spine.
She continued, looking down at Karen with her inorganic eyes.
“That is why it has been decided that ‘you’ will bring the next king.”
The queen straightened her posture again. Whether she was in a relaxed posture or standing upright, the queen’s imposing presence remained unchanged.
Her fingers tapped the armrest at a steady rhythm like a pendulum.
“This country is an ideal place. The people are good, they do not commit even the slightest wrongdoing, the officials are not corrupt, and whether they do their job well or not, they do it diligently. Do you know why?”
A free, good, non-discriminatory, and prosperous Leahian.
An ideal country like no other in the human world.
Karen already knew the reason. But for some reason, she felt a thorn in her throat when trying to answer.
“Because Your Majesty… is a god.”
At Karen’s answer, the queen smiled brilliantly. But contrary to the enchanting smile, the words that flowed from her lips were chilling.
“Then can you see what will happen to this country without me?”
“……”
A silent shiver ran down the back of Karen’s neck.
Karen fundamentally did not trust the saying that human nature is good.
However, the ruler of Leahian was a god, and because she was a god, she knew everything.
People did not commit evil deeds for fear of being punished by the god, and officials did not pursue their own greed.
But in a country without a god, would their greed, desires, and wicked hearts remain quiet?
“The next king must be greedy, cunning, and clever. Someone who has had little and clings to everything that comes into their hands. Only then will they not lose this country to corrupt politicians and opportunistic republicans.”
The queen recited the facts in a monotonous voice. And with a vivid gaze, as if holding a knife to Karen’s neck, she said:
“If you do not want to lose what you enjoy, you must choose such a person well.”
Karen, who had seen numerous tragic precedents in history of how intellectuals were treated in turbulent times, could only keep her mouth shut.
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