If someone bowed to you, it was customary to bow again in acknowledgment. This wasn’t absolutely required, but in my country, where people tended to be strict about following proper manners, failing to return a bow would inevitably cause a scandal over your boorish manners.
“…Huh?”
The man’s face made it clear that he had no idea what I was talking about.
How strange…
“The emperor did tell me that I could have a look whenever I liked, but perhaps I should’ve sent word in advance to receive permission? In that case, maybe it would be best for me to meet with the commander-in-chief first…”
It seemed I should’ve directly contacted the commander-in-chief, a large tiger tribe beastperson who held the highest position of authority in the Linus Imperial Army.
Even if I request a meeting now, he probably won’t be available today, though.
I’d thought that it would be fine to just approach whichever lieutenant was on duty at the time I arrived, but apparently, I’d been naïve in assuming this person would know who I was and that I’d been given permission to visit.
I assumed it would work as seamlessly as my “royal palace all-access-pass” back home, but I guess I’m not as widely known here.
Just then, someone I recognized came out of the office.
“Lady Nefertima, what are you doing in a place like this?”
“Unit leader!”
I was certain he was a unit leader but couldn’t remember which unit of the private guard he was in charge of. Maybe Theo’s private guard?
“I was hoping to observe the soldiers’ training session but didn’t think to obtain the commander-in-chief’s permission in advance…” I said.
“Oh, if that’s all, then don’t worry—you don’t need to get permission. We received a notification that other than the wyverns’ barracks, we are to show you around all of the other army facilities whenever you wish.”
Huh? So, I have an all-access pass after all? If they received the notification, then why does this lieutenant not seem to know anything about it?
I tilted my head to the side, unable to reconcile what I was hearing with the situation.
“I’m certain the lieutenant was just hesitant to allow a noble young lady to get too close to a bunch of rowdy soldiers out of a concern for your gently bred sensibilities,” the unit leader speculated generously.
I see…
Reading between the lines, I’m assuming this guy didn’t bother remembering my name when the notification came, and when he saw me, he just assumed I was a busybody aristocrat come to amuse myself at his expense?
“Treat Lady Nefertima with the utmost care. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself answering to holy beasts and elemental spirits,” the unit leader warned the lieutenant.
I don’t think that will make him like me any more…
“Lady Nefertima, don’t hesitate to tell me if you have any issues. And when you want to visit the wyvern’s barracks, I recommend you arrange it with the commander-in-chief ahead of time.”
“Thanks for the advice. I’ll definitely do that!”
I thanked the unit leader, and he returned to work, leaving me in an awkwardly tense atmosphere, alone with the lieutenant. The lieutenant did apologize briefly for the misunderstanding, though, before quickly herding me into the office.
Maybe he’s not of noble birth and clawed his way up to this position entirely through merit. That would explain why he seems to have a disdain for the nobility.
The internal power struggles in the Linus Empire were too sticky. If I wasn’t careful, I risked being sucked into them.
“All of the people in this office are members of the division in charge of guarding the imperial palace,” he explained.
“There sure are a lot of beastpeople, huh?”
“While it’s true that there are a lot of beastpeople in the army, there are also many humans who despise beastpeople, even though our long history of victories in battles with other countries is largely dependent on their strength.”
Hmm, so there is a discord between the species after all, huh? Is that why there appear to be more humans than beastpeople in the division in charge of protecting the imperial palace?
“In that case, there must be even more beastpeople stationed in other places, right?” I asked.
“…You seem very concerned about beastpeople, my lady. Is there some reason for that?”
“A reason? Only that I want to make friends with them if possible…”
If we become friends, they might agree to let me touch their ears and tails! Not to mention, there are lots of things I don’t know about beastpeople, so I would love it if they could teach me.
“…Not many aristocrats would say that they want to make friends with beastpeople.”
“Really? But the emperor himself said that species is irrelevant to a person’s social status in the Linus Empire.”
The style of bowing they used in this country was designed to reflect that.
Not to mention, I’d read in a book on the history of the Linus Empire that the beastpeople played a large part in the founding of the country and its survival through the Age of Turmoil.
“A few beastpeople are among the nobility, but most are commoners. It seems the general sentiment is that humans look down on them for being crude and aggressive.”
“What need is there to pay any mind to people who say such things? The country you and your soldiers protect is made up of all its citizens. I think it’s enough to be sincere to those citizens,” I said.
Honestly, I would’ve liked to suggest the imperial army follow my country’s lead and refuse to take orders from the nobility entirely. Since I knew that wasn’t possible, I settled for urging him to ignore unkind comments.
“It’s been a long time since anyone said something like that to me.”
“So there was someone else who said the same thing?”
“Yes, the man who is now emperor. There was a time when I refused to accept any promotions because I knew that the higher in rank I climbed, the more my common birth would be held against me. But His Majesty told me not to waste my time listening to what the aristocrats have to say and instead focus on listening to the voices of the citizens to help ensure they can live in peace.”
Way to go, Emperor Celiunos; that was really cool of you! But wait… This also means that since I’m technically an aristocrat, he shouldn’t listen to anything I say either, right? That won’t do!
“In that case, I can see why you were unwilling to let me in earlier despite my protests…”
He’d ultimately let me into the building because the unit leader had vouched for me, but if the unit leader hadn’t shown up when he did, I probably would’ve been turned away.
Just as I came to that conclusion, Spica spoke up, addressing the lieutenant directly despite that as a mere attendant—and a low-ranking attendant at that—protocol demanded that she keep her thoughts to herself. “Lady Neema treats everyone with respect, no matter their species. She doesn’t look down on anyone, regardless of whether they’re a beastperson or even a monster.”
“Spica, it’s his right as the person in charge here to determine for himself whether or not to admit outsiders. I’m grateful for your willingness to come to my defense, but please stand down for now.”
To be honest, I was happy that Spica had my back, but when it came down to it, this office was off-limits to outsiders. The right to decide who would be permitted entrance was squarely in the lieutenant’s hands. Even though the emperor had decreed I could visit, if the lieutenant determined it was dangerous for me to be here while they were training, the emperor wouldn’t force the issue, and I had no intention of pushing my luck.
“…I’m sorry.”
Spica had apologized, so now it was my turn to apologize on her behalf, as it was only fitting given I was her employer.
“Please forgive my servant’s rash words.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I can see how much she values and respects you as her mistress.”
Spica’s tails wagged in response to the lieutenant’s words. He took in her response with a faint smile. Something told me that the lieutenant took people’s unfair judgment of beastpeople to heart.