Seitenshi

Her shoulder-length white hair shimmered softly in the sunlight.

Her eyes were a pale purple, clear and bright, but with a tired, dull look, as if she hadn't slept well for a long time.

Wearing a gorgeous white gown with swirling floral patterns on the bodice and a cherry blossom-shaped skirt, she showcased the exquisite details.

She had ribbons on her shoulders, a heavy badge on her chest, and white stockings covering her legs.

She wore a white top hat decorated with rose-shaped ornaments and long opera gloves.

The Seitenshi.

The ruler of the Tokyo Area.

It must be said that she is quite good-looking.

Moreover, it reminded her of the Holy Queen.

Both are supreme rulers, both are mere figureheads.

Because Higashino Makoto has seen Tendo Kikunojo's memories.

He knew that this Seitenshi was being deliberately cultivated by him as a decorative figurehead in order to gain favor with the entire nation.

However, Higashino Makoto still cannot accept a ruler who is merely a pretty face.

However, the other party was kind after all, and also pretty.

Therefore, Higashino Makoto did not take any strong measures.

After all, beautiful women do have special privileges with him.

She turned around, her red eyes looking at Higashino Makoto.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto?"

"It's me."

"You were recommended by Aide-de-Campus; he said you are very capable."

"Yes, that's right."

"He said you're a distant relative of his, someone who came back from overseas."

"Yes."

The Seitenshi looked at him, his red eyes flashing with a complex light.

You don't look Japan.

Higashino Makoto was too lazy to comment.

"Humanity is on the verge of extinction, and we're still worrying about this?"

The Seitenshi's brow furrowed slightly.

"Mr. Higashino Makoto, you're talking strangely."

I don't like beating around the bush.

She remained silent for a moment.

"So, what brings you here?"

Higashino Makoto looked at her, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.

I want to help you.

"How can you help me?"

"I'll help you pass the Gastrea New Law, and help those Cursed Children."

The Seitenshi's fingers tightened slightly.

"Why?"

"Because I like it, because I can't stand it."

What do you dislike?

"I can't stand seeing those children treated like monsters. I can't stand seeing adults taking their anger out on children. I can't stand this country being so rotten."

Higashino Makoto has no fondness for this country.

If it weren't for those Cursed Children, if it weren't for memories of past lives.

He simply couldn't be bothered with this mess.

The Seitenshi looked at him, his pale purple eyes swirling with complex emotions.

She was a proponent of this bill herself, so naturally she hoped to have more supporters.

However, this Mr. Higashino seems a bit unreliable.

The Seitenshi turned away from the window and walked to his desk to sit down.

The white gown swayed gently with each movement, the cherry blossom pattern on the hem gleaming softly in the sunlight.

Her fingers crossed lightly on the table, her posture as dignified as a portrait.

Those meticulously designed portraits that conform to the image of the ruler.

"You said you wanted to help me. Do you know why the Gastrea New Law has been stalled?"

"I know. Because you're just a pretty face, nobody listens to you. Tendo Kikunojo doesn't want it to pass, so it won't."

The Seitenshi's fingers tightened slightly.

"You really are..."

"Let's get straight to the point. People often say that, after all, I don't like beating around the bush."

She looked at him, her red eyes swirling with complex emotions.

That was the sting of having one's most sensitive spot touched.

"You're right."

Her voice was very soft.

"I am indeed just a pretty face. My assistant, Tendo, tells me how to speak, and I speak accordingly. He tells me how to do things, and I do accordingly. He tells me which bills can pass, and I propose those bills. He tells me which bills cannot pass, and I don't propose them at all."

"But you mentioned the Gastrea New Law, which is something he didn't want you to mention."

The Seitenshi remained silent.

She lowered her head, looking at her fingers crossed on the table. White opera gloves covered her skin, but couldn't hide her slightly trembling knuckles.

"... This is the only thing I've insisted on."

Her voice was very soft, so soft it was as if she were talking to herself.

"Those children, those Curse children, they did nothing wrong, they were just born with Gastrea genes. They were abandoned by their parents, rejected by society, and treated like monsters. They lived in the outskirts, ate food scavenged from garbage dumps, and wore tattered clothes thrown away by others. When they were sick, no one treated them; when they were injured, no one cared for them; when they died, no one remembered them."

She looked up at Higashino Makoto.

Tears glistened in those pale purple eyes.

"I want to help them. But I don't know how. I introduced a bill, and it was rejected. I introduced another, and it was rejected again. I tried to persuade those members of parliament, and they said Your Highness was right to your face, but then they turned around and voted against it. I tried to seek public support, but most people felt that those children were a threat just to be alive."

She paused.

"So I failed, time and time again. I even started to doubt whether I should have introduced the bill in the first place. Maybe those congressmen were right, maybe those children really shouldn't be treated as human beings."

Higashino Makoto looked at her, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.

"Are you done talking?"

"That's all."

"Then I'll say it."

He sat down opposite her, his long, silvery-white hair slipping down his shoulders, his dark robe gleaming dimly under the fluorescent light.

Have you ever considered why your bill failed to pass?

"Because the people don't trust the Cursed Children. Because those children have Gastrea genes in their bodies, and once that exceeds fifty percent, they will turn into monsters. Because those red eyes remind those who experienced the Gastrea Wars of those man-eating monsters. Because..."

"Because you are using kindness to combat fear and anxiety."

Higashino Makoto interrupted her.

"Kindness can't defeat fear, not even in a hundred years. Because fear is a human instinct, while kindness is the result of social education, and instinct is always stronger than education. That's why your bill won't pass. It's not because those legislators are bad, not because the people are stupid, but because you're asking them to love what they fear. They can't do it."

The Seitenshi's lips trembled.

"Then... what should we do?"

Fight fear with fear.

Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his golden eyes gazing at the ceiling.

"You tell them that if this bill isn't passed, something even worse will happen. They'll be scared, and then they'll agree."

"What's even more terrifying?"

"I don't know, but you can make it up. For example, research suggests that Cursed Children are pushed to the limit, they will collectively transform into Gastrea. Or that other countries are improving the treatment of the Cursed Children, but Japan is the only one abusing them, which will damage its international reputation. Or..."

You're asking me... to lie?