A Villainess Should Be Strong

"I see.. Thank you very much," Shirley calmed down and started to pick herself back up after taking several deep breaths. She locked eyes with Estelle. This very girl was the one that she was originally quite hostile to because she felt threatened. In the end, didn't she almost commit a heinous crime against the very person she admired?

Although she was also quite vexed since she was one of the bloodline's holder- making her suffer through rigorous practices just because of the blood she had, she did love the Goddess.

They talked back and forth, with Shirley launching simple questions around how this power should and should not be used. Estelle honestly couldn't care less with how Shirley was willing to abuse the energy because she only relayed a small portion of divinity enough to keep the esteemed Villarante name alive.

"I... I can't say anything else besides words of thanks," Shirley stuttered after receiving the guidance from Estelle.. The country was once again saved by this mysterious presence. In the stories, no one was actually able to speak in such close distance with the Goddess, but she of all people go the honor to do it.

"Also.. I am sorry, my Lord. Previously, I have thought about wrong sentiments towards you because I felt scared for my position," Shirley was honest with herself as she did not want to hide anything from Estelle any longer. She also addressed the child as 'my Lord'. She got down on her knees, showing her utmost respect.

It was as if Shirley's entire personality had been changed. She went from a vigilant person who kept a kind facade on the outside to an extremely sincere woman who kept begging for forgiveness left and right.

Although Estelle was somewhat uncomfortable with this exposure, she couldn't help but admit that it did feel somewhat satisfying. The fact that the lofty queen finally stopped acting like that. She was glad that she made the ultimate decision to reveal everything to Shirley.

"...Of course I understand. I am an outsider who suddenly popped out of nowhere and declared bold claims. I apologize, I deemed it necessary to stir some things up. It definitely isn't completely your fault in thinking that I was an eyesore," Estelle acknowledged, telling Shirley to hurry up and rise back up.

Shirley did so, but she couldn't stop apologizing and bowing to this child who was more than a head shorter than her.

After a few minutes, Shirley finally began to stop her antics.

"Uh.. If you don't mind sharing, exactly where are you going to go after this?" Shirley asked, drying off the last bits of the tears that spilled down from her eyes.

Estelle thought for a moment.

"...Vaitral, I suppose. The next step to my awakening is Vaitral," Estelle answered as her gaze hardened and turned more serious.

"What is this awakening you speak of?" Shirley was extremely curious about the matters of the Goddess, but she also felt like she would be trespassing too much into her idol's matters. "Ah! I did not mean to ask. I apologize, you can just ignore the question..." Shirley immediately retracted the question back, covering her mouth and keeping her words inside herself.

Estelle chuckled as she began to find Shirley's jittery acts as a rather cute thing.

"Don't worry about small matters like that, alright? I am willing to tell you," Estelle consoled the other party, who was feeling embarrassed of her impulsive decision to launch the question.

Shirley nodded, a bashful look present on her gorgeous face.

Estelle wondered how a person could change this much. Before, she didn't know what it was completely, but she was sure that Shirley was hiding something unpleasant behind her mind about her. Now that all of it had cleared up, Shirley was basically a different person altogether, and all of the impressions she had formed before disappeared into nothingness.

"Basically, to put it into simpler terms, my powers have been taken away and I have to do consecutive tasks to complete them back up. One of them is the matter of gathering vassals to secure my unstable power. This.. I'm not sure if you've heard of it before, but it's about the Constellation. The twelve candidates to protecting the world's peace." Estelle explained.

Shirley's eyes widened in shock after she heard the phrase The Constellation be spoken out.

"Yes, I'm aware of that concept. Are you saying that...?" Because of Shirley's newfound respect to Estelle, she spoke in a quite courteous manner. Too courteous for Estelle's own liking.

"Mhm. I am apparently the Constellation Leader," Estelle had no qualms and telling her all of this because the instructions that she conveniently received allowed her to share stories with Shirley, and that this matter was actually not something that needed to be kept secret.

In fact, it would be for the best if she could gain Shirley's support since she was indeed the Ruler of Alfheim, which was one of the countries she was trying to unite with peace.

Shirley went silent for a whole minute. Estelle did not interrupt the flow of the atmosphere as Shirley seemed to be thinking about something rather important.

Then, the Queen suddenly began to spoke again.

"That... It might be a bit too impolite for me to say this, but... Could I possibly become one of the Constellation members?" Shirley asked with a small voice.

"..Hm?" Estelle tilted her head, wondering if she had heard wrongly. She did expect for her to perhaps offer up a talented individual that would be willing to take the position up from her country, but she didn't expect that the Queen herself would be wanting the position.

"Is it impossible after all..? Right, there is no way that I would be accepted into someone as great as you's entourage.. Haa, this is quite saddening, but I have to accept it," Shirley lowered her gaze. She took Estelle's sound of shock as a complete rejection somehow.

[No, it's more like I should be the one asking that question. The Constellation members are supposed to be people who are just strong and influential, enough to keep the reins on the world.. but not exactly to the point of being a country's Ruler, right?] Estelle debated inside her mind.

"It's not like it's impossible, but... Are you sure?" Estelle shrugged. She wasn't unwilling to accept Shirley, because the woman would certainly be a massive help in this uniting the world farce.

The ruler of said country, especially one that is loved and revered by the public was a strong ally that she obviously wished to gain the trust of.

"Yes! It would be my greatest joy to be able to help you in your duties, my Lord." Shirley proudly stated, clasping her hands and smiling with delight.

"Then, I shall appoint you as the representative from Alfheim.. Wait a minute, I actually don't know if I'm even able to perform the ceremony now. I have the divine power, and gaining it should.. in theory, fulfill the criteria," Estelle thought for a second, checking her own conditions.

Divinity was inside her. It should be possible. Electing a member. It was a strange thing to think about.

Was it really time to start appointing members?

Shirley was such a good candidate taht she couldn't believe her luck. She would be a convincing public figure, and she could perfectly maintain the reins on Alfheim with the deeply rooted custom ingrained in the Alfheim citizens' mind.

It was out of her predictions that this woman would be so devoted to the Goddess she served that she was willing to lower herself to such a point.

[Whoever is the first member doesn't matter, right?] Estelle asked herself. After hesitating for a couple seconds, she decided that it shouldn't matter and coughed to clear her throat up.

She ransacked her mind to prepare for this ceremony.

"Shirley Villarante, on the basis that I am the Constellation Leader, and with the power bestowed in me, I declare you as the first member of the Constellation Order. As the representative of the country Alfheim, may you fulfill your duties with great honor and achieve large results along with the upcoming governors," Estelle tried her hardest to make up a convincing speech.

Shirley looked at Estelle with literal stars in her eyes, voicing out her worship.

"Will you accept?" Estelle asked, although the answer was as clear as day.

"Certainly, my Goddess," Shirley's eyes beamed with happiness as she replied.

And this very reply seemed to act as a literal trigger for an immense light to start showering their two bodies.

The election of the first member seemed to hold a much more significant impact than what she thought in the first place.

Looking at their two bodies, who were now connected by a warm blue light and some more stray bullets of light scattered around them. It was a very pleasing sight to behold.

Shirley Villarante, the Queen of Alfheim, the first member of the World's Constellation Order.