My red ponytail hung over the nape of my neck as I knelt on the ground, looking at the shadow of my head cast against the carpet. My hair cast a rectangular shadow across my neck from left to right, as if it were a sword meant to decapitate me. The sheathed sword at my side felt ever so far away.
“That is quite a selfish request you’re making.”
So said the blonde noble before me, casually waving her closed fan in the air. Archduchess Berthold’s words caused my cheeks to run hot. I couldn’t say anything back. All I could do was bring my feverish face closer to the carpet.
Yes... Back then, I distanced myself from the princess. I distanced myself from her in her greatest time of hopelessness in her role as the Oracle Princess.
It wasn’t what I wanted. I returned to my family home to ask my father about monster floods at the princess’s request, and was ordered to confinement. An order from the head of the family was absolute to a daughter of nobility.
Precisely because my father was so stern, I didn’t remonstrate him for not wanting to defy His Majesty’s will. I found myself quite cold for thinking so, but didn’t resist his order.
I was secretly quite relieved when I heard that the princess went to Berthold to take a rest. Once that came to an end, I would ask my father to return to her side; that’s what I had decided.
However, by the time I returned to the capital, it was all over. I was left standing completely dumbfounded as I watched the Third Chivalric Order leave the western gate to deal with the disaster. The unthinkable was to happen: a monster flood in the west. A single misstep in handling it would have been a calamity that shook the entire nation, and the princess prevented it from happening.
In short, I wasn’t able to do anything. A knight who didn’t make it in time to reach the battlefield surely had no worth.
And despite that, the princess told me, “I asked something unreasonable of you.” How could I even look her in the eyes anymore?
“No matter the conditions or punishment, I shall subject myself to your will. I know full well that I am overreaching for a mere aide. But even so, please, I beg of you.”
However, I still couldn’t possibly afford to withdraw. The princess’s surroundings were going to become turbulent precisely because she had accomplished a great feat. That was something even I could understand, despite being fairly ignorant of politics.
Moreover, that man was now close to her. I recalled the scene of the celebration after the monster flood’s suppression.
Of all things, he served as the princess’s first dance partner. It was said that this was the idea of the princess’s new aide, Louisa. What exactly was she thinking? Even the princess’s guardian, the archduchess herself, apparently approved of it. In other words, I was the only one who recognized the potential danger that man posed.
“What do you think, Louisa?”
“I do believe she has a point. As the one managing Her Highness’s public relations, I do think there is a need for a guard at her side. We also cannot put our trust into a new guard trying to approach her at such a time. Having her return despite having run away previously may be better than that.”
Louisa looked at me with a meaningful gaze. I unintentionally put strength into my hand that was placed on the carpet.
“However, there is one problem...”
Louisa whispered something into the archduchess’s ear. And obstructed by her now spread out fan, I couldn’t hear any of it.
“You certainly have a point... Very well. Then let us ask Ricardo for his opinion regarding the approval of your reinstatement. We’ll make a decision following that.”
“That can’t be!”
My head reflexively shot up at the outrageous outcome. However, the two women before me were simply nodding as if it were a perfectly natural decision.
✦ ✦ ✦
I swung my sword in the garden of a mansion in the capital. I could feel my sweat fly into the air. My tied back hair swayed violently like the tail of a horse.
Under normal circumstances, this would bring peace to my heart. However, right now...
“To have! That sort! Of man! Control! Who this! Sword! Is dedicated to?!?!?!”
I slashed my sword at the invisible commoner before me, and a certain memory was brought back to me. The anxiety in my heart brought my arms to a stop. I looked at the tip of my sword, pointed at the ground, and muttered to myself.
“...There’s no way he’ll approve...”
That was because I thrust my sword at him before. Back when I saw him alone in the library’s archive with the princess, my hands drew my blade on reflex. There was in fact another schoolgirl together with them, but she was still that man’s employee. She couldn’t be trusted.
I can at least admit to his sheer audacity as a mere merchant to immediately step in front of the princess, though...
“No... Isn’t he just taking advantage of the princess’s kindness more and more lately? She’s even been going to that man’s shop, of all things. I’ve heard he’s gone as far as making her pretend to be a servant.”
The princess’s maid, Alicia, bore the same wariness towards that man as I. The story I had heard from her only stimulated my panic.
“If it’s come to this... Do I bow down and yield to that man, even if only just this once...?”
Just what will he demand of me? A bribe? Or depending on the circumstances, something far more wicked...?
I almost dropped my sword, and just managed to maintain my stance. No, a knight’s pride could never allow for such behavior.
✦ ✦ ✦
I hid myself like some manner of rogue in the filthy back-alleys of the lower-class district, looking at a somewhat dirty little shop before me.
The princess came out of the shop together with that man. They were talking about something by the door. The smile she pointed towards him just made him become more and more conceited.
And of all things to happen, the princess bowed to him. My hand reached for my sword on reflex.
It was already inevitable. If bowing my head is all it will take, then I’ll do it. I’ll show that I can endure a moment’s humiliation, or even more than that. I’ll charge into that shop first thing tomorrow morning.
✦ ✦ ✦
The day after I made my resolve, I was summoned by the archduchess.
She spread out her fan and casually waved it about, as my nervousness and anxiety tormented me.
“It seems that Alfina asked Ricardo about your reinstatement.”
My spine froze. Once more, I was made to know the shame of a warrior who didn’t make it in time for a battle.
“According to Ricardo...”
Just as I was about to scream, “Please wait a moment! Just give me a little more time!” the archduchess’s shoulders sank back.
“He said that it would be a relief to have you by Alfina’s side.”
“Wha—?!”
I was at a complete loss for words. What did she just say? It would be a relief? Me?
“It seems that little girl from the east is thinking up some manner of ruse, using the management of the Academy Festival as a pretext. Not only that, you are also able to attend the Academy... What’s with that befuddled look? Was your wish not just granted?”
I was only able to process about half of what she said. I looked up at the archduchess, still completely stiffened up.
“I’m sure she’s just surprised at how easily she was forgiven.”
“Well, even when he was dealing with me, he only ever looked at me as a target for negotiation. He surely didn’t even recognize Claudia as an enemy...”
“If I’m not mistaken, he even easily rejected talks of becoming my husband too.”
The archduchess and Louisa began laughing.
I don’t get it. All I’m able to understand is that he’s outrageously abnormal. He definitely cannot be underestimated.
In that case, there was only one path I could take as a knight. Now that I had been forgiven by Her Grace, I returned my sword to my waist and made my resolve.
I shall dedicate my entire body and soul to judging whether he is suitable to serving the princess during the Academy Festival. And if I determine him to be an evil influence... I shall take care of the princess, even if both he and I must fall.