From Trash to Villain Master of Card: With Harem of Evil women-Chapter 50: The Queen Who Doesn’t Exist
War Room — Midnight
The emergency meeting was the tensest Kaito had ever convened.
And that was saying something, considering everything they’d been through.
The four queens were seated. Drake and Gorman as well.
Aria observed from a corner.
Kaito unrolled the Council parchment.
"The deadline is ten weeks," he began. "At least that gives us some breathing room."
Gorman exhaled with relief.
"That helps a little."
Kaito nodded, but his expression didn’t improve.
"The problem isn’t the time. It’s the requirement."
He read aloud.
"You must bring your official Queen as witness to your legitimacy before the Council."
Silence.
"And further down: ’A king without a recognized queen is not a legitimate king under continental law. He will be treated as a warlord or criminal.’"
Adelheid was the first to speak.
"Warlord?"
Kaito nodded.
"If I go without an official Queen... they won’t take me seriously. And if they don’t take me seriously..."
"You’ll be declared a continental enemy," Lilith completed.
"All kingdoms can legally attack you," Drake added flatly.
Gorman rubbed his head.
"Commander... why didn’t we know about this before?" Adelheid asked.
Kaito looked directly at Gorman.
"That’s exactly my question."
Gorman visibly shrank.
"I... we didn’t think the Queen issue would matter so quickly. We were still building."
Kaito closed his eyes.
"Gorman. You’re my political advisor."
"Yes, Commander."
"Whose job is to anticipate exactly this kind of problem and awkward situations with my queens."
Gorman swallowed.
"...Yes, Commander."
"We’ll talk later."
Gorman nodded with his head completely lowered.
Kaito looked at the four queens.
"I need an official Queen. Any... suggestions?"
What followed was inevitable.
---
Adelheid stood up.
With perfect dignity despite still needing a cane to walk.
"Obviously me. I’m your Supreme Commander. My position is the closest to yours militarily."
She approached Kaito.
"And... we have history, Commander."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"History that none of the others have."
Kaito felt the heat rising to his own cheeks.
But before he could respond, Lilith rose with the elegance of someone who had been a queen before the others were born.
"What a... physical argument, Adelheid."
She walked toward Kaito from the opposite side.
"The Council is politics. Diplomacy. Words."
She leaned slightly toward Kaito.
"And I, my king, am the only one in this room who masters all three perfectly."
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"Do you really want to present yourself to the Council with a sword... when you need a tongue?"
Adelheid looked at her.
"And presenting yourself with poison isn’t any better."
Lilith smiled with artificial sweetness.
"At least I can hold a conversation without wielding a weapon."
"At least I have the stature of a queen," Adelheid replied.
Lilith blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Adelheid straightened completely. Five foot nine of Prussian discipline.
"Stature. Of a leader. Imposing presence."
She looked Lilith up and down calmly.
"Something needed to represent a kingdom."
Lilith raised a perfect eyebrow.
"Interesting argument coming from someone who needs a cane to walk currently."
"While I..."
She straightened slightly, adjusting her dress with a movement that was completely deliberate.
"...don’t have that problem."
The silence lasted two seconds.
Then both looked at Kaito simultaneously.
Waiting for a reaction.
Kaito stared at the ceiling with philosophical despair.
Gods. Help me.
Naporia had been watching with arms crossed and irritation as she glanced at her own chest and then at Adelheid and Lilith’s clashing like water balloons.
Now she approached the table.
"This is ridiculous."
She planted herself in front of Kaito.
"I won more battles than those two combined. I lead the assault forces. And I represent better than anyone what Neudämmerung is."
She pointed outward.
"A kingdom that fights. That doesn’t give up. That wins even when on its knees."
She looked Kaito directly in the eyes.
"Is there anything more representative than that?"
Kaito internally admitted it was a reasonable argument.
But then a chair scraped.
Everyone looked.
Valeria had stood up.
With her usual empty expression.
She walked toward Kaito with measured steps.
Stopped in front of him.
And then, as if she’d just remembered something, looked at him.
And copied exactly what Adelheid had done: she straightened to her full height.
Then copied Lilith’s movement: adjusted her armor with something that tried to be elegant and sexy but sounded like metal against metal.
Then crossed her arms like Naporia.
And spoke with a completely flat voice.
"I am also a valid option."
Absolute silence.
Then Naporia burst out laughing.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Valeria looked at her.
"I observed persuasion strategies. And implemented."
Adelheid covered her mouth with her hand.
Lilith closed her eyes with an expression of dignified suffering.
Kaito didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"Valeria... you said you didn’t care about going to the Council."
Valeria considered for a moment.
"I don’t care about the Council. But if you’re choosing, I want to be the chosen one."
"Why?"
"Because it would be a relevant function."
Naporia pointed at her.
"You can’t want something just for function!"
"Why not?"
"Because...!"
Naporia stopped, observing Valeria’s chest which despite the armor could still be distinguished, and Naporia just thought another rival and with no real argument replied.
"...Just because."
Valeria nodded.
"Compelling argument."
Kaito stood up.
"I need to think."
And he left the room.
Aria followed him.
---
Garden — Minutes Later
The night was cold.
Kaito sat on a stone bench, head in his hands.
Aria sat beside him.
"You have a huge problem."
Kaito laughed bitterly.
"Thanks. I hadn’t noticed."
Aria smiled faintly.
"Choosing one means rejecting the other three. And they’re not... exactly emotionally stable."
Kaito looked up.
"Suggestions?"
Aria thought for a moment.
"You could... marry all four."
Kaito spat out the tea he’d just taken.
"WHAT?"
Aria looked at him innocently.
"In some kingdoms it’s legal. Four wives. One king. Problem solved."
Kaito coughed, wiping his mouth.
"I’m seventeen years old, Aria."
"Eighteen in two months."
"THAT DOESN’T HELP!"
Aria laughed.
"It was a joke. Mostly."
Kaito looked at her with a desperate expression.
"Look, I’m not saying I hate the idea, but I feel like we don’t know each other well enough, even Adelheid."
"And the fact that they’re showing so much interest without having had peaceful moments is strange."
"Seriously? You don’t have a real idea?"
Aria genuinely considered.
"Honestly... why don’t you tell them to choose among themselves?"
"How?"
"A competition. They demonstrate who’s most suitable for the specific role of Queen at the Council."
Kaito frowned.
"And if they kill each other?"
Aria shrugged.
"They have enough control not to do that."
Kaito considered.
"It makes some sense. The Council requires more than just power. It requires diplomacy, strategy, public presence."
He looked at Aria.
"You think it’ll work?"
Aria looked directly at him.
"No. It’ll probably blow up in your face."
Kaito sighed.
"But it’s the least bad option."
"Exactly."
---
The Next Day
The four queens tried to convince Kaito individually.
No coordination between them. Without knowing it.
And the result was exhausting.
Adelheid arrived first.
She found Kaito in his office reviewing documents.
She sat before him with perfect posture.
"Commander. I need to speak with you seriously."
Kaito set down the documents.
"Go ahead."
Adelheid didn’t lower her gaze.
"You have to choose me."
"Why?"
She leaned slightly forward.
"Because I’m the one who’s been with you longest. Since Dreisburg."
Her voice lowered.
"Because I know you better than anyone. I know when you’re doubting. When you’re tired."
She touched her own wrist, where Kaito’s gauntlet had briefly marked her another time.
"And because the kiss I gave you... wasn’t an accident."
Kaito felt heat in his face.
"Adelheid..."
"I’m not asking you to decide now. Just to remember that there’s someone who’s been at your side for months."
She stood and left with impeccable dignity.
Kaito exhaled.
"Okay."
Thirty seconds later, Lilith entered.
Of course.
She slid into the chair Adelheid had occupied as if it were a personal throne.
"My king."
Kaito looked at her.
"Lilith."
"You need someone who can navigate the Council without causing an international diplomatic incident."
She smiled.
"Adelheid would say something militarily correct but politically explosive."
"Naporia would say something brutally honest and probably cause a war."
"Valeria would cause terror just by looking at the ambassadors."
She leaned forward.
"But I... I can make them see you as a legitimate king. Not as a threat."
Her golden eyes held Kaito’s.
"Because I know exactly what to say, when to say it, and who to say it to."
She paused.
"And because, my king, I want to be at your side. Not just for function."
Kaito processed that.
Lilith stood, brushing his shoulder as she passed.
"Think about it."
And she left.
Kaito stared at the door.
How long until...?
The door opened.
Naporia.
No beating around the bush. No preamble.
"If you don’t choose me, I’ll choose myself."
Kaito blinked.
"What?"
Naporia sat, crossing her arms.
"It’s simple. You need a Queen. I’m the strongest in the kingdom. The logic explains itself."
"Naporia, the Queen also needs..."
"I know she needs diplomacy," she interrupted.
Kaito stopped, surprised.
Naporia continued.
"I’m not stupid. I know I’m not the best with words."
Her expression softened a millimeter.
"But I would try. For you."
Kaito looked at her.
Naporia held his gaze without blinking.
"More than I’ve tried for anything that isn’t combat."
She stood.
"Think about it, mon général."
And she left.
Kaito leaned back in his chair.
Exhausted.
Three visits. Three arguments. No solution.
The door opened again.
"Oh no," he murmured.
Valeria entered.
She sat.
Looked at him.
"If you choose me, I’ll be a perfectly functional Queen."
"Nothing else?"
Valeria considered.
"I can also learn protocol. And memorize ambassador names."
"And...?"
Valeria frowned slightly as if trying to remember something.
"And... I’ll be at your side. Because that seems... important for the role."
Kaito looked at her.
"Valeria. Do you actually want to be Queen, or are you just following the others?"
Long silence.
"Both options."
Kaito sighed.
"Thanks for the honesty."
Valeria nodded once and left.
Kaito rested his head on the desk.
"Four villains," he murmured. "Why did I think this would be easy?"
---
Government Hall — Afternoon
Drake and Gorman found Kaito staring into space.
Drake placed a glass of water in front of him.
"You look dead."
"I feel dead."
Gorman cleared his throat.
"Commander, we know the situation is complicated, but we need to make a decision."
Kaito looked at them.
"In Avernor, how did they handle things like this?"
Drake replied.
"Clear hierarchy. The king had one queen. No ambiguity."
"Here, the four are equal on paper."
Kaito rubbed his face.
"What if I don’t choose anyone? What if I go to the Council alone?"
Gorman and Drake exchanged glances.
"The Council won’t take you seriously," Gorman said. "It’s ancient law. A king without a recognized queen is a warlord, not a legitimate monarch."
Drake added.
"And a warlord has no diplomatic rights. Only rights of conquest."
Kaito tapped the desk softly.
"There has to be another way."
"Is there?" Gorman asked genuinely.
Kaito thought for a long time.
"...I can’t think of any."
Drake leaned back in his chair.
"Then choose."
"Who?"
"The one who’s best for the Council specifically."
Kaito shook his head.
"If I choose directly, the other three won’t accept it. It’ll be internal war."
Gorman nodded slowly.
"So...?"
"I need the decision not to come solely from me."
---
Meeting of the Queens — Night
Kaito summoned the four.
When they were all seated, he spoke.
"I’ve thought about it. And I don’t have an answer."
The four looked at him.
"But I came up with something."
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
"If I can’t decide alone... let the trials decide."
Naporia leaned forward.
"Trials?"
Kaito nodded.
"A competition. Several categories that a Queen needs to master."
"Combat. Oratory and diplomacy. Strategy. And connection with the people."
He looked at each one.
"Whoever wins the most categories... is the official Queen for the Council."
Silence.
Lilith was the first to speak.
"If you can’t decide... you’ll let them decide?"
Kaito nodded.
"Exactly."
Lilith smiled slowly.
"I admire the intelligent cowardice."
Kaito looked at her.
"Intelligent diplomacy."
"Whatever you say."
Adelheid stood, leaning on her cane.
"A tournament then. Good. Strategy and discipline will be key."
She was confident in that.
Naporia smiled widely.
"Combat. That’s already decided."
Lilith folded her hands on the table.
"Oratory and diplomacy. My natural territory."
Valeria looked at the three, then at Kaito.
"I’ll participate because you ordered it."
"But?"
"No but. I’ll just participate."
Kaito sighed.
"Does that work for everyone?"
The four nodded, though each with a different expression.
Adelheid: determination.
Lilith: calculated confidence.
Naporia: genuine enthusiasm.
Valeria: functional indifference.
"The tournament will be in four weeks," Kaito announced. "Enough time for you to prepare and for the people to find out."
---
Main Plaza — Next Day
Kaito announced the contest publicly.
The effect was immediate.
The people who had been dealing with weeks of hard labor, funerals, and reconstruction...
They needed this.
An event. A competition. Something to celebrate.
Betting began in less than an hour.
In the market, an old merchant already had a chalkboard.
Naporia: favorite in combat.
Lilith: favorite in diplomacy.
Adelheid: favorite in strategy.
Valeria: favorite in... nothing. But bets existed.
Kaito watched from the balcony.
Aria approached.
"The people are excited."
Kaito nodded.
"They needed something after the war."
Aria looked at him with an expression he already knew.
"Kaito. This is going to blow up in your face."
He exhaled.
"I know."
"At least one is going to get angry."
"I know."
"Probably two."
"I KNOW, Aria."
"And Valeria might literally destroy something."
"I KNOW!"
Aria smiled.
"Good. Just wanted to make sure."
Kaito looked at her.
"Any useful advice?"
Aria thought.
"When you announce the winner... make sure you have an emergency exit."
Kaito laughed despite himself.
"Thanks. Very useful."
Aria laughed too.
"That’s what I’m here for."
The banners waved.
The kingdom was alive again.
And in three months... the Council would come.
Kaito had a lot of work ahead.
But for the first time in weeks, the atmosphere in Neudämmerung wasn’t one of war or reconstruction.
It was anticipation.
Life.
"Well," he murmured to himself. "At least there’s that."
