Chapter 13: A Bridge to the Villa
AFTER the Zanto incident, I received request after request to escort Marlena, most of which didn’t involve wearing a maid uniform. Apparently, in the maidservants’ eyes, the fact that I hadn’t hugged Marlena back showed that I knew my place well, so they’d put in a good word for me.
It was an honor, of course, yet I couldn’t help but think that maybe a female knights order was the better solution.
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“BERN! Is it true that you made it onto Marlena’s marriage candidate list?!” Stern grilled me as we sat down at our breakfast table one morning.
Everyone’s eyes were suddenly on us. Kraut lifted his head up, gazing in our direction. Felzen stared at me, despite his knowledge that I was a woman.
“Where’d you get that from?” I asked.
“The maids from that one tour of inspection, they’re pushing for your addition.”
“They are? That’s not good…”
“Not good? Bern, that’s my sister you’re toying with! Rest assured, I’ve heard all about your relationship. You’re all she talks about!”
“Drop the overprotective brother act already, it’s hard to watch,” a classmate teased. “Besides, aren’t you getting engaged to some princess up in the north yourself?” There had been a rumor to that effect making the rounds recently. I’d felt a slight prickling sensation in my chest the first time I heard it.
Stern had vehemently denied it. “I turned her down!”
“But she’s not backing down, right? Plus, I hear she’s a real beaut.”
“So? She’s not my type, and if you think I’m marrying for political reasons, then think again!” Part of me felt bad for that princess. Part of me was also relieved. “But enough about me and more about this guy! Marlena said you two threw a little wedding ceremony! Was real happy about it too!” Stern barked, resuming my interrogation.
None of the other students were bothering to hide their curiosity anymore, all of them listening in on our conversation with perked ears.
I heaved a sigh. “We didn’t throw anything. Some small child gave her flowers, but that’s about it. And either way, Father wouldn’t allow it, regardless of what the king says.”
“What, is a member of the royal family not good enough for him?”
“No Eisberk is allowed to marry a member of the royal family. It’s a family rule.”
“It is?” Stern gawked at me.
There wasn’t an official agreement between the two parties or anything like that; the restriction was just something that our family, many years before, had agreed was necessary. I better clear up any confusion.
“Our family is the only noble family permitted to maintain a private army,” I began.
“The Cavalry Brigade.”
I nodded. “It’s why we don’t involve ourselves in politics. Why fight for political power when we already have military power, right? If any of us were to marry into the royal family, we’d risk getting accused of treason sooner or later. Besides, isn’t the prospect of civil war absolutely horrifying? We’re happy so long as Eisberk is in our hands. No reason to tread on thin ice.”
“Thin ice…” Stern was completely dumbfounded.
Felzen grinned. “The royal family has no sway over the Eisberks. While others vie for a single drop of the Milchstrasse’s power and influence, they see it as ‘treading on thin ice’.”
The mess hall filled with laughter interspersed with the occasional shout of pity. I understand you’re all crazy for Marlena, and don’t get me wrong, she’s cute, but that’s all there is to it.
“Marlena’s cute, charming—very charming even—but I couldn’t marry her even if I wanted to,” I said firmly.
“No Eisberk is allowed to marry a member of the royal family,” Stern repeated in a low voice, chewing on every word.
“That includes Elfen and Lilia.”
By that point, everyone’s interest had completely waned. I was relieved to have prevented any weird rumors from spreading. Felzen happily dug into his breakfast. Stern, on the other hand, seemed dissatisfied. Does he still not believe me?
“I don’t think Marlena likes me as a man anyway.”
“How would you know?”
“She likes it when I cross-dress, calls me ‘sis’. And I think of her as a little sister,” I said, hoping to calm him down, but the furrow in his brow only deepened.
“I don’t like this one bit,” he groused.
Felzen smirked. “Jealous much, bro?”
“No, I’m not!”
“You should try cross-dressing. Maybe she’ll call you sis too,” I jested.
“Not you too, Bern! Like I have a sister complex!”
“Whatever you say. Now eat, before your food gets cold.”
Stern begrudgingly bit off a mouthful of bread. “It’s not fair. I love you way more than she does.” His nonchalant tone made my heart stutter. After his initial confession, Stern heeded neither time nor place to declare his feelings for me. Everyone else just laughed it off as the usual Stern antics. “It’s not fair…”
“You’re still harping on about that?” I giggled at sulky Stern.
“Why does Marlena get to go on trips with you?”
“Political trips.”
“You never go on any political trips with me!”
“Why would I?”
“Bern! We have to go somewhere for summer break!”
“Aren’t you forgetting someone?” Felzen interjected.
Stern frowned. “My apologies, I should’ve made sure you weren’t around before bringing the topic up.”
“Either way, that’s a no from me. Dragging escorts around blows,” I said.
Stern’s pout intensified. “It’s our last summer break together. Come on!”
“No.”
“Please, Bern! I beg you!”
“Nope.”
“Then take me to Eisberk. I’ve never been there before, Bern. I’ll go incognito.”
“Noooo. Eisberk blows even harder. There’s nothing to do there.”
“Felzen goes on hunts when he’s there, doesn’t he?”
“Felzen’s no prince, nor is he incognito. Uncle Vulkan’s fine with sleeping in stables, are you?”
“Berrrrrn.” Stern refused to give up.
All of Eisberk knew my true gender, so letting Stern visit could end in disaster. What if one of the kids accidentally gives me away? No, out of the question.
“What about the Villa?” Felzen proposed.
Stern’s face lit up. “The Villa of Mirrors!” he exclaimed. “Of course! I wouldn’t even need to go incognito!”
“The Villa of Mirrors?” I echoed in excitement. The Villa belonged to the royal family. Located on an island in a lake, it was completely isolated from the shore. To reach it the Milchstrasses had to enlist the help of a knight of House Eisberk, who would erect a bridge of ice to span the water.
“You can get us across, right?”
“I guess.” I had been to the Villa of Mirrors once before. The whole family had gathered to cheer Elfen on while he created his first bridge across the lake. I hadn’t actually gotten to traverse it, just observed from landside. Elfen’s ice elegantly gliding over the lake’s surface had been a sight to behold. But can I pull it off?
“Don’t expect too much,” I cautioned.
“Just try not to send us for a swim, all right? You got this.” Stern grinned.