Crazy Britain:They’re All Raising Me

In the midst of a hazy stupor, Nokkneri had a dream.

In that dream, she achieved the wish she had long desired.

She led the northern fairies in a counterattack against the southern fairies, defeating all the southern fairies who became her enemies.

Even the impenetrable fairy kingdom's Iron Wall—Woodworth, the Clan Leader of the Beast Clan, who had killed her several times with unmatched strength in previous simulations—had to surrender under her overwhelming military advantage. She captured him alive and threw him into a dungeon, even forcing him to make a contract with her, becoming an important tool in her subsequent rule of the fairy kingdom.

Then, after sweeping across the entire Britain and completely bringing the country under her control, she finally fulfilled the wishes of the previous queen, Mab, and became the queen of the Fairy Kingdom.

And her achievements didn't stop there. During her long reign, relying on various magical tools and the assistance of trusted subordinates, she thoroughly controlled the rebellious fairies, restrained those who indulged themselves, disciplined them, and made them obey the law, turning them into good, law-abiding citizens.

The Fairy Kingdom prospered under her reign, with the people settling down and leading happy lives. She personally created a country far better than the one under Morgan's rule, and the fairies bowed to her respectfully while humans revered her with genuine love. Together, they gave her the title of:

The Eternal Queen.

However, in that dream where all her wishes were fulfilled, Nokkneri felt no joy.

Because her dream had completely slipped away from her... and she knew, no matter what, that shining light, like a star, would never shine on her again.

She had lost her lover.

So, no matter what achievement she had, no matter how her subjects worshiped her, praising her achievements with extreme admiration, she could no longer smile sincerely.

Her lover was dead.

He died before her wish of becoming queen was fulfilled.

She had never imagined that, before her wish came true, her dream would shatter first.

Sigh, it's just a man, right? And a man who couldn't keep his word. Let him go, you'll find someone better than him in the future.

Someone had once advised her this way. She also hoped to think as that person had suggested because then her world wouldn't be lost after the star fell, and she could still find another shining star.

But after that, her long life had become so dim.

Yet, even though fairies theoretically have eternal lifespans, their souls are not immortal. If they were, the previous queen Mab wouldn't have passed away, and Nokkneri wouldn't have had the chance to become the new northern queen.

After countless years had passed, after enduring the wear and tear of time, she finally reached her limit.

If she were to die like this, the Fairy Kingdom she had maintained with her own efforts would probably collapse in the blink of an eye after her departure.

She realized this, but was helpless.

After all, the next generation of the royal clan was always born slowly. She herself was born nearly a thousand years after Mab's death. So, what about her successor?

After her successor was born, what kind of mess would they face?

Or, perhaps, before her successor could be born, those fairies would have long played themselves to death?

Forget it.

None of that mattered anymore.

She had devoted so many years to this Fairy Kingdom, and now it was time for her to rest.

But before she could sleep forever, a scene flashed involuntarily through her mind.

It seemed she had suddenly returned to thousands of years ago, back when she wasn't yet the Eternal Queen, back when she was still defending Edinburgh, back to the day when Woodworth was about to lead an army to besiege the city.

She also returned to the day when that person opened the hall door:

"Nokkneri, I am here to say goodbye."

It was the day he came to bid her farewell.

Nokkneri tried hard to open her eyes, which were starting to grow cloudy with age, and studied the young man before her.

To be honest, after all this time, she could no longer remember his face, nor could she even recall his voice... But when that memory resurfaced, she instantly recognized him.

Even though his face in that memory was blurred, too blurry for her to clearly see his face or eyes.

She listened attentively to the young man's farewell, hearing him explain why he had to leave, urging her to continue holding Edinburgh, and telling her that what he valued most in her was her wisdom and rationality.

After he said all that, he turned and, with determination, left to attend the deadly feast, never to return.

At that moment, she could have done something. She could have used her contract with him, used her influence over him through the Paru ball, and forced him to stay.

Why didn't she do that? Why didn't she stop him?

Keeping him there just to prevent him from going to his death, to make him choose the right path and stay by her side in the future.

But this is only a dream, a dream that belongs to you. Don't you have the courage to make him stay, even in the dream?

She opened her mouth.

But in the end, she only shook her head and softly said to his back:

"Come back alive."

Then, she saw him pause for a moment in place, before slowly turning his head:

"Yes, I will fully carry out your orders, my master, my queen."

At that moment, it seemed a light shone from outside the door, casting on him, and his profile disappeared into the shadows, making his already blurry face even harder to make out.

Then, Nokkneri heard him say:

"—Your command, my fate."

Afterward, he pushed open the large door and walked out with steady steps.

Only Nokkneri, now old and frail, remained in the hall, staring at the open door, lost in thought.

After a long silence, she remembered her reaction afterward.

At that time, it seemed she had made up her mind. She had decided to defend Edinburgh from the attack of the Three Clans Alliance and Woodworth's forces, waiting for his return.

But... that person had lied.

"Really... Men's words are nothing but lies."

She gently lifted her head and gazed up at the dark ceiling.

"For so many years, after receiving my forced commands, you're the only one who could disobey them..."

"I did as I promised and defended Edinburgh."

"But... where are you? Wasn't it said you would definitely return alive?"

With this regret, she slowly closed her eyes.

Her predecessor, Mab, perhaps before passing away, harbored this same feeling of loss as Nokkneri felt now?

In the year 8345 of the Northern Era, Nokkneri, the Eternal Queen of the Fairy Kingdom, passed away in her throne.

Contrary to what her subjects believed, her last thought before her death was a wish to return to the past.

To return when she was still young, when he was still alive, when nothing had yet changed, and when she could still stand by his side.

And with that, the dream ended.