A Very Lost Queen
Recently, Constance's days at Sharom Island's castle are lively yet steady thanks to her duties as ruler and the kitten she has taken in. But after it escapes one day, the pursuit leads her to mistakenly board an airship bound for parts unknown.
"Sharom—a treacherous domain overflowing with fearsome monsters."
"Towering over the island is the castle of a dreaded ruler said to terrorize all who visit..."
Claudia: That's how it was described in the travel brochure for the sightseeing ship we finally managed to attract.
Dorothy: Ugh, that's terrible for our image! They're making it sound like a horror attraction!
Claudia: Brand strategy will have to be addressed later.
Claudia: At the very least, I hope people come to know that this is a peaceful island...
Constance: Aww, you're too cute for words, kitty! Come over here! Mrow!
Kitten: Meow.
Constance: Hm? What is it? Do you want to play? Meow, meow!
The Two: ...
Dorothy: That wouldn't take long if we could show them this.
Claudia: I agree.
In truth, the monster capital Sharom is a peaceful nation ruled by Queen Constance where gentle monsters reside.
On a past Halloween, she took in a kitten entrusted to her by Wilnas of the Six Dragons.
Ever since then, with help from the maids, she has diligently cared for it whenever her duties allow.
Salria: Queen Constance, I brought the kitty's food!
Constance: Why, thank you so much, Salria!
A relative of Ezecrain, Salria began working on Sharom Island as a maid-in-training after the amethyst incident.
Dorothy: Salria, you're really starting to look the part of a maid now!
Salria: R-really? Compared to you two, I still have a long way to go...
Claudia: On the contrary—your composure while serving just now showed great promise.
Claudia: And in time, you shall grow into a full-fledged maid worthy of that uniform. Hee-hee, I very much look forward to it.
Salria: A full-fledged maid... I'll do my best to become one as soon as possible!
Constance: I know I keep saying this, but please don't overdo it, Salria.
Salria: This is nothing at all! I do this because I want to!
Salria: And it makes me happy when those I serve are pleased.
The Two: I understand.
I know the feeling!
Constance: (Somehow, Salria seems to be on a slightly different wavelength than Dorothy and Claudia...)
Claudia: By the by, Queen Constance, caring for the cat is all well and good, but please spare some concern for your own health.
Claudia: You've been staying in more lately, which means a lack of exercise.
Constance: Huh? What do you mean by—
Dorothy: Specifically, we're seeing a bit too much softness around your waist!
Constance: Hyaaah!
Constance: Hwaah... P-please don't pinch me!
Dorothy: Mmm, this simply won't do. A most unacceptable tummy!
Dorothy: You're a bespectacled crybaby queen with squishy traits—talk about spoiled for fun quirks!
Claudia: We'll need to devise a dieting plan to replace your runaway habits.
Constance: Hngh... How cruel... This is too much...
Salria: Queen Constance... Do you really run away that often?
Dorothy: Oh yes, absolutely! She's spent more time running away from the castle than she has inside of it!
Constance: I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!
Claudia: Jokes aside, our queen's increased presence in the castle as of late is most reassuring.
Claudia: I doubt the cat alone is the reason. Has something else changed for you?
Constance: Well, um...
Constance shifts shyly, then straightens her posture.
Constance: After the amethyst incident and speaking with Lady Heles on Alster Island, I've been giving my own situation some thought...
Constance: The monsters of this nation are kind and gentle, but for them to live peacefully, they still need a place to belong.
Constance: Like it or not, I am the queen until the next ruler is chosen... so I felt I had to do better. For everyone's sake...
The Three: ...
Constance: Um... why does it feel like the mood just changed? Did I say something strange again?
Dorothy: No, no! We were just so moved by how much you've grown that we froze!
Claudia: Queen Constance speaking like a true ruler... Is this... a dream?
Constance: I-is it really such a big deal?
Salria: How admirable, Queen Constance!
Dorothy: Uooogh! My desire to serve is overflowing!
Dorothy: I feel like I could even tackle the mountain of paperwork we've been putting off!
Salria: You mean in the archives? I'll help too!
Claudia: No, Salria. You are still a normal girl, and not quite a proper maid...
Claudia: That workload would be... prematurely lethal.
Dorothy: Leave that to us! Please take care of Queen Constance in the meanwhile instead!
Fired up with maidly spirit, the two rush off like the wind, leaving Salria staring after them with shining eyes.
Salria: A-amazing!
Salria: I'll go make fresh tea! Since they entrusted this to me, I'll brew it as best as I can!
Constance: Haha... This castle has grown quite lively.
Kitten: Myow.
Constance: Oh? You want to sit by the window? In the mood for sunbathing?
Kitten: Meow!
Constance: Oh my—slipping out through the window gap? How nimble!
Constance: ...
Constance: Ah!
Now on the other side of the window, the kitten sprints away—
Constance: Oh, n-no... W-w-w-w...
Constance: Waaaait!
Kitten: Merow!
Constance: Wait!
Constance: Hrgh... Wait for me!
Monster 1: Gyaos. (Oh, it's the queen.)
Monster 2: Kyee! (Screaming as dramatically as ever, I see.)
Monster 3: Ki-ki... (No attendants? That way leads to the docks.)
Constance: Pant... Wheeze... I finally caught you...
After chasing it for some time, Constance finally corners the kitten in a dead end.
Constance: You're not hurt... Thank goodness. Come on, let's go back to the castle.
Constance: Wait a second... Are we in...
Constance: The cargo hold of an airship?
Broadcast: Attention, please.
Constance: Eep!
A cheerful bell rings as a broadcast echoes through the speaking tube.
Broadcast: Thank you for choosing Bluebird Sightseeing today.
Broadcast: Did you enjoy today's tour, "Shocks and Thrills! Close Encounters of the Monstrous Kind," featuring the sights of monster capital Sharom?
Constance: Wh-what kind of a tour name is that? Our monsters aren't scary at all!
Broadcast: The vessel will be departing shortly. Please be aware that we will experience some minor turbulence.
Constance: W-wait, seriously? It's already moving!
Broadcast: Have a pleasant journey!
Constance: Aiiieee!
The airship carrying Constance disappears into the distance.
This Is Your Home
Salria panics when Constance goes missing, and the initially calm Dorothy and Claudia quickly realize this is no ordinary disappearance. As the maids prepare to search for her, Constance manages to disembark from the airship on an unknown island.
Cephalomancy Castle looms over Sharom Island, the homeland of gentle monsters.
The peaceful calm of the afternoon is shattered by a girl's high-pitched scream.
Salria: Waaah!
The Two: What's wrong!
Salria: S-s-something terrible has happened! Queen Constance...
Salria: Queen Constance is nowhere to be found!
Dorothy: Oh, what else is new?
Claudia: A bit of excitement never hurt anyone.
Salria: How can you be so calm!
Dorothy: This makes, what, the thirtieth time she's escaped through the window?
Claudia: Thirty-second, actually. But it feels different this time.
Claudia: Would she really run away right after giving us such a moving speech?
Dorothy: Well, this is Queen Constance we're talking about.
Claudia: True enough.
Salria: (Whatever happened to trust!)
Salria: Ah! N-now that I think about it, the kitty is gone too!
Dorothy: What? You should've led with that!
Claudia: Yes, it changes everything. This doesn't seem like the queen's typical escape.
Salria: Um... I don't really understand the differ—
Claudia: Listen carefully. Queen Constance's usual disappearances are acts of fleeing from responsibility.
Claudia: And that cat was taken in from another party—one could say it, too, is a responsibility.
Claudia: Which means that if this were a true escape, the cat should have been left behind indoors.
Salria: Um... Could she have run away together with the kitty?
Dorothy: That would mean dragging the cat into a spectacular self-destruct! She doesn't have the guts for that!
Salria: W-well, that's a really intense way of putting it!
Claudia: In short, the queen is a kind person. I cannot imagine her doing such a thing.
Claudia: If this is not another escape, then the real question is what happened.
Dorothy: Maybe the kitty ran off, and she chased after it out of the castle?
Claudia: I hope it's that simple, but we have to consider the worst.
Claudia: We depart at once—no, we mobilize. Prepare yourself, Dorothy.
Dorothy: Roger!
Salria: I-I'm coming too!
While the maids begin preparing to search for Constance...
Constance: Wh-wh-wh-what should I do... I boarded an airship without permission or fare...
Constance: If the crew finds me, I'll be strung up, steamed, boiled, and torn limb from limb...
Constance: Ah... D-did it stop?
Broadcast: This vessel will remain docked for a short time to resupply.
Constance: N-now's my chance!
Constance tumbles off the ship while clutching the cat.
Constance: Sigh... I somehow managed to get off before being discovered...
Kitten: Meow.
Constance: Um, so...
Constance: Where... are we?
This Is Your Home: Scene 2
Unable to find a way back to Sharom Island, a lost Constance encounters a young boy sheltering an injured monster from the local militia. Touched by the boy's kindness, Constance thanks him—only for the militia to appear.
Having been swept away to an unfamiliar island, Constance heads into town to gather information.
Constance: U-um... Excuse me...
Constance: Do you... happen to know where Sharom Island is?
Nervousness keeps her voice from carrying, and no matter who she tries to speak to, no one notices her.
Constance: (If I can't make it back, what am I to do?)
Constance: (It's bad enough being stranded, but I have this little one to worry about too!)
The urgent need to return home is a fear Constance has never known before.
Though she is well-versed in slipping away, she has never once tried to make her way back on her own.
Constance: Ah... Er... What should I do...
Kitten: Meow.
Constance: Hyah? I-I'm so sorry!
Youngster: 'Scuse me, I'm in a hurry!
Constance: It's just one thing after another...
Kitten: Mrow!
Constance: Huh, k-kitty? Where are you going?
The kitten slips free from Constance's unsteady arms and runs after the boy.
Constance: Please wait!
Chasing the kitten, Constance arrives at a massive tree on the outskirts of town.
Kitten: Meow!
Youngster: What's your deal? Want some meat? You're a needy one...
The boy is holding dried meat, and the kitten seems to have caught its scent.
Constance: Um...
Youngster: Whoa!
Constance: Eek!
Youngster: You're the one from before... Is this your pet?
Constance: Y-yes, that's right!
Youngster: You're not from around here, are you.
Youngster: Once it's done eating, take your cat and go.
Constance: (Ah... I've upset him... Why am I always like this...)
Constance: (Wh-what do I do... Help me, Dorothy, Claudia, Salria!)
The boy, framed by the great tree behind him, continues to glare at Constance.
???: Gwoo.
Youngster: Idiot!
Constance: Huh? That sound just now...
Youngster: Damn...
Youngster: Can't be helped... Don't tell anyone, okay?
The boy steps aside, exposing a hollow in the great tree along with the monster within.
Monster: Gwooh.
Constance: This child is...
Youngster: The militia's been all fired up about wiping out monsters lately.
Youngster: I found this one collapsed and covered in blood near the foot of a barren hill...
Constance: W-wiping out monsters? Is that why you're hiding it?
Youngster: It's not like I like monsters or anything.
Youngster: But somehow... looking at it, I just felt sorry for the poor thing...
Constance: ...
Kitten: Mrow.
Monster: Gwoo.
The kitten and monster show interest in each other and begin to play together.
Youngster: S-see? It plays with the cat. It's been calm this whole time... That means it's different from other monsters!
Youngster: But it's still growing. It gets bigger every day.
Youngster: When I brought it here, it was small... At this rate, it won't be long before I can't hide it anymore.
Constance gently places a hand on the slumped boy's shoulder.
Constance: Thank you, truly, for your kindness and for seeing the truth with clear eyes.
Constance: This monster child truly seems to have a gentle heart.
Monster: Gwoo?
Youngster: D-don't just say stuff like that. How would you even know?
Constance: Because I—
???: Found you at last.
Youngster: ...!
Without warning, heavily armed adults carrying guns, spears, and torches appear before the boy.
This Is Your Home: Scene 3
Hiding in fear, Constance is confronted with the harsh truth: Beyond Sharom Island, many people despise monsters. When the kitten is threatened, Constance steels herself, steps forward as the queen of monsters, and saves both the monster and kitten.
Militia Captain: Humph... It's grown quite a bit, hasn't it.
A man who appears to be the group's leader calmly steps toward the boy.
Militia Captain: We're fortunate that things haven't escalated. Hand over the creature for everyone's safety.
Youngster: How did you find this place...
Militia Captain: During the purge at the barren hill, we let a small one get away.
Militia Captain: We heard there was a reckless child who fled with a monster in his arms, so we came looking.
Youngster: Damn it...
Youngster: Miss, please! Take it and r—
Youngster: Huh? She's gone!
Constance: Aiieee...
Startled by the sudden appearance of the adults, Constance escapes to the shadows where she freezes.
Militia Captain: What do you think you're doing? Monsters are not animals.
Militia Captain: They burn fields with fire, foul marshes with poisonous breath, and deceive people with cute appearances...
Militia Captain: Such creatures grow many times their size in just a few days.
Youngster: ...
Militia Captain: How disgusting. Just having something like that exist on our island is repulsive.
Listening from behind the tree, Constance bites her lip and holds her breath.
Constance: (This is how people outside see monsters...)
Constance: (I knew it... but still...)
Youngster: Please. Let it go.
Youngster: This one's different. It doesn't go anywhere... It's gentle! S-so—
Militia Captain: Hm...
Militia Captain: This is pointless.
Youngster: Guah!
The militia captain coldly pushes the boy away.
Constance: Eep!
Militia Captain: We'll exterminate it here. Everyone, ready your weapons.
Youngster: N-no! Stop! Please stop!
Constance: (Wh-what do I do, what do I do, what do I do!)
Constance: (At this rate, the boy and monster... But those people have their reasons too... Oh, what do I do!)
Militia Captain: Fire!
Kitten: Myaaow!
Militia Captain: Whoa!
In that instant, the kitten leaps out from the hollow and attacks the men.
Militia Captain: What the heck? Get off me!
Kitten: Mew!
Constance: ...!
Constance: (I see... I'll do it. I'm the only one who can.)
Constance: (Because I am...)
Militia Captain: ...!
Militia Captain: Why is the sky darkening?
Constance: I am the queen of monsters!
Constance: She who rules over creatures astray!
Militia Captain: Queen... of monsters?
Youngster: Miss?
With overwhelming magical power, Constance manifests darkness, lightning, and a massive suit of armor as she reveals herself in grand fashion.
Facing the shaken men, Constance weaves her words with all the authority she can muster.
Constance: You, too, have things you must protect. To that end, destroying monsters may be unavoidable.
Constance: But there is one thing I wish you to know.
Constance: Just as people seek peace, there are those among our kind who seek it as well!
Militia Captain: Eek!
Militia Captain: P-please forgive us! Anything but lightning!
Constance: Huh? S-sorry...
Constance: Wait, what am I saying!
Constance skillfully manipulates her armor and grabs the monster from the hollow.
Constance: This child is—ahem... By my decree, this child shall come under no harm. Is that clear?
Militia Captain: Y-yes!
Cradling the kitten as well, Constance calmly departs for the forest.
Constance: Huff... Huff...
After dispelling the darkness and confirming she is not being pursued, Constance hides among the trees.
Constance: Maybe I overdid it a little... But I had to... Ugh...
Youngster: Hey there, Monster Queen!
Constance: Urk!
Youngster: Thanks. You were amazing, miss.
Constance: Ahh, so it was you! You startled me...
Hearing the sudden timidity in Constance's voice, the boy smiles slightly.
Youngster: You laid it on a bit thick. A monster queen wouldn't sound that scared.
Constance: Ah, well, I really am the monster queen... even if I did exaggerate some parts.
Constance: There's an island called Sharom where only peace-loving monsters live. I'm its ruler!
Youngster: Huh? Pssh, yeah right... Like that kind of place actually exists.
Constance: B-but it's true!
Constance: This child would be living freely too if we were in Sharom...
Monster: Gwoo...
Youngster: Yeah? Then where is that island?
Constance: Well... I don't actually know how to get back myself...
Just as Constance's shoulders slump in despair...
???: Queen Constance!
Constance: That voice...
This Is Your Home: Scene 4
Dorothy, Claudia, and Salria show up in search of their queen. Seeing the maids, the boy accepts that Constance is a true queen and entrusts the monster to her care. As the four set off for Sharom Island once more, Constance carries herself with newfound dignity.
Salria: Queen Constance! You're all right!
Constance: Mmph!
One after another, the maids who serve Constance appear before her.
Dorothy: It really was you, Queen Constance! Thanks to your magic, we found you right away.
Claudia: We have come to retrieve you. It is a relief to see you and the cat unharmed.
Dorothy: Though it seems you've been through quite a bit.
Monster: Gwoo?
Constance: Phew... I'm sorry, everyone...
Constance: The kitty ran off, so I rushed after it, and then I—
Dorothy: Really now! You should call us right away whenever something dire happens!
Claudia: Feeling responsible is admirable, but there is no need to shoulder the burden alone.
Salria: That's right! We're here for you! We want to help when you're in trouble!
Constance: Th-thank you...
The boy, who has been watching the exchange in a daze, finally opens his mouth.
Youngster: M-maids...
Youngster: If you have maids, then maybe you really are a queen...
Constance: Wh-what kind of standard is that?
Youngster: You said earlier that if the monster went to Sharom Island, it could live freely. Was that true too?
Constance: Yes. Very much so.
Constance: If you would allow it, I would like to take this child back to Sharom.
Youngster: ...
Youngster: Maybe this one really is just special.
Youngster: I get what those people were saying... It probably doesn't belong on this island.
Constance: Yes...
Youngster: So... Okay.
Youngster: I'm trusting you with it, Monster Queen.
Constance: Thank you! I'll take full responsibility.
Constance: Please come visit Sharom someday! It's a wonderful place.
Youngster: For sure!
After exchanging promises with the boy, Constance and company board a skyskimmer for their return trip to Sharom Island.
Kitten: Meow.
Monster: Gwoo...
Salria: I'm glad the kitty made a new friend.
Constance: Agreed! Oh, how adorable they are!
Dorothy: Seeing Queen Constance so cheerful, even though she's being brought back to the castle, is a first for me.
Constance: I never imagined I'd be happy to be taken back...
Claudia: On most runaway returns, you sob quite loudly.
Constance: Come to think of it, how did you all know which island I was on?
Claudia: I'm afraid I can't share the details.
Dorothy: Just know that we had our own adventures on the way.
Constance: Huh?
Dorothy: If you knew how we tracked you down, you'd definitely try to outsmart us on your next escape!
Constance: Nooo! I won't run away or sneak off again!
Constance: Probably...
As their timid master tilts her head uncertainly, the maids share a faint smile.
Claudia: At the very least, let us trust in your resolve as queen.
Claudia: That you stood up for a monster, despite your fear, is more than enough.
Dorothy: We look forward to what's to come, Monster Queen!
Salria: We're cheering for you!
Constance: That's good to hear!
Her voice now seems to carry a bit more weight and authority than before.
With gentle smiles, the maids watch their queen, in whom a newfound dignity has taken root.