The North PacificBoard

The following is a flashback.

September 7th, 2042
Midford Estate
09:10, Alyssa’s room

“Happy birthday to you~
Happy birthday to you~
Happy birthday, happy birthday…
Happy birthday to you!”

The singing was then followed by applause as Alyssa woke up to the singing of her parents- Mary and Reinhart- alongside her tutors and constituents. A very prestigious cake was in front of her on a table, with two candles sculpted to look the numbers “1” and “3” lighted up, awaiting to be extinguished.

It was Alyssa’s 13th birthday. She was happy and smiling brightly as she saw the cake. Mary sat down next to her daughter in which the latter gave her a great big hug.

“Make a wish, Alyssa.” Mary smiled and caressed her hair.

Alyssa went closer near the candles and closed her eyes.

I wish that my family will stay together, always happy was her wish. After that, Alyssa blew the candles in which everyone in the room clapped. “Mommy? Where’s the food at?” she asked, in which some of the people laughed.

“She’s hungry, Mary.” Azusa elbowed her, chuckling. Mary laughed. “It’s on the dining hall, honey. Waiting for you. Come with us,” she smiled.

Azusa carried the tray with the cake to the dining hall as the audience in Alyssa’s room exited, making their way there to eat all the food that the staff of the estate cooked, under Mary’s directive. As they all made their way there, the fragrant scent of food wafted around. This made Alyssa more enticed to eat.

Shortly after, they all entered the hall. The maids welcomed them, most especially Alyssa.

“Happy birthday, Lady Alyssa,” they greeted.
“Thank you~” Alyssa replied. She was then given the privilege to sit on the position where her parents should be. However, today was an exception to her, because it is her birthday. She was happy to sit down on it and began to eat after being served upon. To her, it was the best day ever. She felt so happy, she kept a smile all day that her little brother Wolfgang was scared.

After eating breakfast and the food, Alyssa went outside and played with her little brother. They were so exhausted as they played for hours and slept on the gazebo, being tired and all.

September 7th, 2042
Midford Estate
21:10

Arguments erupted in the room of Mary and Reinhart. They were shouting and exchanging profane words at each other, with Reinhart finally snapping and throwing the woman on the wall, causing her to have a laceration on her left temple, and a few bruises. Reinhart was then seen exiting the room in anger, with Mary crying.

Alyssa, who had returned to her room after dinner, was asleep. Thankfully, she was not awakened. Back in the room, Mary took some stationery and wrote a letter. She was crying as she did so, wiping tears as she had to finish it. After a few minutes, she received a message on her phone which really took the final straw. She had finished the letter and put her phone down. Mary opened the bedside drawer. Inside it was her service pistol, specifically a 9mm. With no hesitation, she aimed it on her bleeding left temple, and closed her eyes.

She muttered one last time.

“I’m… sorry…”

Silence filled the estate until a loud gunshot was heard. This awakened Alyssa, who, coincidentally, had a nightmare. She panted and took her teddy bear. Still a child at heart and was awakened by the noise, she walked slowly to the room of her parents. Alyssa then was bothered by the smell of gunpowder and the door slightly opened.

Alyssa reached for the door and pulled it open. “Mommy…?” she asked. The room was dim and the noxious smell of gunpowder wafted around. It also had the smell of blood. Alyssa approached towards the bed and opened the lamp to see the most horrifying sight in her life.

“M… Mo… Mommy! MOMMY!!” Alyssa shrieked.

There she was- Mary, lying down on the bed, still partially warm. She wasn’t moving. The pistol was on the floor, obviously used. Mary looked like she was asleep, with a gunshot wound on her left temple, still bleeding profusely. Her white hair was stained with a lot of blood. Alyssa began to cry and held her left hand, still warm.

“Mommy… wake up… Mommy… You can hear me, right?” Alyssa sniffled. She shook Mary, hoping she would wake up. However, as she held Mary’s left hand, it started to become cold and heavy. The Supreme Commander, and Alyssa’s mother was… dead.

Alyssa cried loudly. Azusa, who heard her shriek, entered the room and was horrified on what she saw. “My God… Mary…” she muttered. She quickly called for an ambulance and other servants entered to try and provide first aid. After that, Azusa picked up Alyssa and the letter on the ground, bringing her back to her room.

“Mommy’s gone! Mommy’s gone!” Alyssa whimpered.

Azusa was silent. She hugged her to comfort the child. Azusa then gave the letter to her. “Stay here, alright?” she told Alyssa. “Don’t come out.” Alyssa nodded and closed the door, crying. She then read the letter… in which she cried more. She hugged her teddy bear, crying on the floor until she passed out.

Outside, Wehrmacht assets and paramedics arrived, entering Mary’s room. They were horrified at the sight, but they removed Mary quickly and hoped she was still alive. By the time she was taken to a hospital, however, she was dead on arrival. The following morning, the estate became a crime scene, and off-limits to everyone else. The news spread quickly-

Supreme Commander Mary Catherine Midford commits suicide, nation in mourning

-- and the Stratocracy was in mourning. Days ago, however, peaceful protests to demilitarize the nation erupted, but were peaceful enough that Mary promised to change the state. With her gone, it was all up to Azusa and the two now-orphaned children of Mary- Wolfgang and Alyssa.

Alyssa drastically changed. As she and Wolfgang were taken away under the tutelage of Azusa, she despised her father and was tormented for many years by her loneliness. The loss of her mother severely did a number on her persona.

On her 18th birthday, she was proclaimed as the Empress of the Illuverendian Empire. She visited her mother’s grave, and shouted something.

“I will avenge you, Mother. I will avenge your wrongful death!”