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“You’ve done more than enough, Regis. I can handle things from here.”
“What...!?”
“Does this sword look like an oversized arrow impaled in a sparrow? Or is it the legendary blade of an emperor!?”
Altina’s foot sank into the snow as she stepped forth, kicking hard against the ground beneath to press on.
The sword she held aloft wailed as it sliced through the wind.
“Hyaaaaaaaah!!”
It came down, the earth crumbling beneath it. The snow piled on the ground scattered in all directions. That was closer to the blast of a cannon than a sword strike, Regis thought. He swore he could still feel the tremors course through the ground. A wolf would be helpless against such force—that is, assuming the blow was even able to connect.
He was right. As the scattered snow cleared, it became apparent that the wolves had already retreated to a safe distance.
Altina took out the bread she had stuffed into her breast pocket and tossed it to the largest one.
“Here!”
The wind ferried it all the way over.
“You can have it! Go home!”
Wary as it was, the gray wolf sniffed the bread thrice before picking it up in its mouth and scurrying away. The rest followed, disappearing into the thick white fog of the flurry.
Regis slumped as the last remnants of strength left his knees. Altina thrust her greatsword into the ground and turned his way.
“Are you injured?”
“Hah... Well, my left knee hurts.”
“The one you hit with your own sword?”
“I was in a daze... I don’t quite remember.”
She gave a wry smile.
“Thank you, Alt— Wait, no. Princess Marie Quatre Argentina de Belgaria. Is that right, Your Highness...?”
“A bit late for that.”
“Hah... Talk about a sassy princess.” All he could do was sigh.
In an instant, an ear-to-ear grin had spread across Altina’s face.
“You really never noticed?”
“Well, I noticed your crimson hair and eyes. But Altina seemed a tad too long to be a nickname for Argentina...”
“It’s what my mother called me.”
“The princess was given the name Argentina after Claudette Barthélemy’s homeland. That land is lovingly referred to as Altina...”
“You knew that much, and yet you still didn’t notice?”
“It seemed so outlandish I immediately discarded the notion. The fourth princess is the commander of the fort I’m to be transferred to, and is of direct imperial descent. The very notion that she’d dress up as a cabman to greet some lowly officer on his demotion? I’m not nearly important enough for that.”
“I was walking on eggshells, thinking you’d found me out in the bookstore.”
“So that’s why the shopkeeper was acting so suspicious. Do you always do this sort of thing?”
“Dear God, no! If I did that, rumors would spread that the princess had lost her mind.”
“...I’m sure similar rumors are already going through town... There’s probably already some talk about the ‘Cab-Princess.’”
“Do you reckon it’s an improvement over the ‘Arrow-Sparrow Princess’?” She mulled it over in earnest.
Regis tilted his head.
“You said you don’t do this regularly... Then why do it for me? Do you have something against me?”
“Why would I have something against you?”
“No matter how you may sugarcoat it, I’ve committed blasphemy. My manners toward someone who had concealed their status aside, speaking out against the emperor is a heavy sin.”
“If you knew it was a crime, then why did you say such words?”
“Such conversations are almost as customary as everyday greetings among commoners.”
“Hmm.” Altina folded her arms and furrowed her brow. As any remaining tension dissipated, it became apparent their situation had only grown worse—the blizzard raged on, the sun was setting and the cold grew more severe.
“...Please don’t misunderstand. I have no resentment against you, nor do I intend to try you for treason.”
“Then why did you come?”
“I heard rumors you were a capable tactician.”
“You can’t be talking about me? I’m sure those rumors were embellished.”
“Possibly, but... I need the assistance of a scholar. Being talented isn’t enough; I needed to look into how he thinks and what he values.”
“And that’s why you dressed up as a coachman?”
“There are many things you wouldn’t say before royalty, are there not? I wanted to know your true feelings, Regis Aurick.”
“The only thing you learned today is that my enthusiasm toward military matters is almost nonexistent.”
“The same could be said about your skills with a blade.” Altina let out a playful laugh as Regis scratched his head in embarrassment.
All of a sudden, she cast her eyes to the distance.
“Ah... It looks like you guessed right.”
“About what?”
Altina listened intently. Regis strained to do the same, and after some time—
He could hear the sound of horse hooves kicking up the snow-fallen path. Her ears must be excellent to have heard that in the midst of conversation, Regis mused.
“...Ah, but isn’t there a chance they could be bandits or barbarians?”
“I can hear the clinking of metal armor, so that’s quite unlikely.”
“Y-You can hear that clearly?”
Just as she had predicted, around five mounted, lightly armored knights appeared through the blizzard. They dismounted their horses before her and kneeled.
“Are you all right, Princess!?” This call came from a bald, black-bearded man.
Altina nodded in response.
“Thank you for coming to get me. I’m fine... but our horse is injured.”
“I understand. Then my horse shall pull your wagon.”
“All right, then I shall leave it to you.”
With a change of horse, the wagon was as good as new. The injured one would be led behind them as they returned.
Two knights lifted Altina’s sword and brought it to the wagon. As Regis watched them briskly carry out their jobs, Altina approached. She held out a pale hand to the slumped-over soldier.
“Come on. It’s time to go.”
“Of course, erm, Princess?”
“Give it a rest already. It’s too late for you to start addressing me like that.”
“Ah, but I thought you were a cab driver back then...”
“Keep this up and you’ll dampen my mood. I said I would entrust you with the honor of calling me by my nickname. Are you going to make me a liar?”
“No, I...”
Didn’t you already lie by donning a disguise? he thought bitterly, but he couldn’t bring himself to say. Regis could still feel the cold sweat on his back. He’d thought he was in for it when he was demoted to the front lines, but perhaps he had come to a place far more outrageous than he had anticipated.
He looked once to the heavens before resting his fingers on the small hand presented to him.
“I’m usually pretty good at reading the mood, but... are you sure about this, Altina?”
“Of course!” her voice bounded, “Welcome to my border regiment, Regis Aurick. I’ll be working you to the bone!”