“Why do you strive to become so strong?”
Edward Windsor.
I remember the words he once spoke in the past.
Back then, they hadn’t been on bad terms. Cecilia had followed Edward quite closely.
After he returned from the western front, he asked with a look of disillusionment, which left an impression of strangeness.
“……To protect people.”
Cecilia answered truthfully.
At the end of the day, even if her purpose is to be praised by newbies, isn’t protecting newbies also about protecting people?
“I used to think the same.”
Edward looked as though he had gone through a great deal.
“A trivial reason.”
Thinking back on it now, Edward seemed to have changed from that point on.
His kind smile had become feigned, and his always-complimentary words had turned sharp.
“Suddenly, I wonder why I’m remembering that.”
Cecilia in front of the mirror tilted her head slightly.
Could it be because the ten years of waiting are finally about to bear fruit?
It feels like there are many distracting thoughts.
“…….”
Cecilia, with an expressionless face, checked various things.
“Weather OK.”
“Face condition OK.”
“Reputation work OK.”
“Object of affection OK.”
And by the way—
“Lunch box OK.”
Of course, it was granola.
“Alright, let’s give it a shot. Opening preparation.”
Today is the time to confirm the achievements of the past ten years.
“Haah!”
Clang—!
Sharp sword strikes come and go. Edward relentlessly pressed Hiter with a tyrannical swordsmanship.
“Hitler has improved a lot, hasn’t he? Especially the deputy captain has skills enough to protect the newbies.”
This is the training ground of the Windsor Knight Order. Set in an open space in front of the headquarters, anyone can freely participate in duels.
“What do you think of them?”
Kairon, standing nearby, asked while observing the duel.
Cecilia replied simply.
“They’re both impressive.”
“Can you win if it’s purely swordsmanship?”
“Hiter is mediocre, but with Deputy Captain Edward, it seems like I’ll lose. I’m still a child after all.”
“……”
Cecilia quietly stood, watching the duel. The match concluded quickly, as Edward’s merciless thrust had passed over Hiter’s shoulder.
Flame!
A faint flicker of fire. Hiter belatedly activated his blessing, but it was already too late. In fact, even if it had been timed correctly, in a real combat scenario, he would have died.
“Edward is famous for being an environmental destroyer.”
Hiter is the owner of the forest’s blessing. His attribute is completely opposite to Edward’s fire blessing. In fact, since a while ago, the smell of burning trees had been spreading. It’s an exaggeration, surely.
“Isn’t that pushing it? Deputy Captain.”
“One cannot hold back when fighting a Sword Emperor.”
They sheathed their swords. Edward gave a satisfied smirk, seemingly pleased with the session. Several knights approached him.
“Deputy Captain, let’s go next.”
“How about a bet? This time, I’m sure I can win.”
The knights’ eyes shone as they spoke.
In the Windsor Knight Order, knights do not shy away from sparring with the strong.
They know it’s the shortest path to rapid skill improvement.
Therefore, after a sparring session with a high-ranking knight ends and knights gather around is so common that it can be considered part of the daily routine at the Windsor Knight Order.
“Let’s eat lunch soon, guys. I’ll spar with you all later.”
“You promised.”
“Don’t forget, I’m first.”
“Of course.”
‘Even so, that lecherous prince is quite popular. Why is that?’
Even though she said that, the truth was, she already knew the answer.
Edward has a good reputation. Better than Cecilia, actually—no, beyond Cecilia.
If Cecilia is merely a cute mascot, then Edward is the ace that represents the Windsor Knight Order.
No matter how you look at it, the difference between a Sword Demon and a Sword Monarch is vast.
Though Cecilia preferred being a mascot to being an ace.
“Hey Hiter, let’s grab lunch.”
“I just found a stunning diner that’s worth the name ‘perfect.'”
“Looking forward to it.”
‘This is the moment.’
Cecilia loves watching duels.
However, today she wasn’t just here to watch.
There is more important business.
“That’d be inconvenient.”
Right after sweating post-training.
In a time when many people are watching.
Then comes the smiling swordswoman.
‘Hmph.’
This could be considered the male ideal. She had been waiting for this moment.
Cecilia held out a bundle containing a beautiful granola lunchbox with both her hands.
“Lunchbox.”
“…!”
“Huh!?”
The nearby knights were startled, some literally slumping to their knees, having lost the strength in their legs.
“L-u-nch-box?”
“Cecilia?”
“Did you know she could do that?”
The murmurs spread among the knights of Windsor.
Even though they were witnessing it in real time, they couldn’t believe it.
An immediate conclusion was drawn.
“k*ll him.”
“Declare Deputy Captain Hiter as an enemy of the Windsor Knight Order.”
Knights immediately grabbed their iron spears.
In the midst of this intense and ferocious atmosphere, Edward pondered seriously for a moment.
‘Is someone trying to assassinate me?’
But, fortunately, such an event did not occur—one specific person ensured that didn’t happen.
“…!”
“Captain!”
“Are you alright!”
Kairon’s mouth was quivering.
His dilated pupils fiercely wavered, almost denying the reality in front of him.
And soon—
“The captain is acting strange!”
“If he loses consciousness here, he’s dead—!”
He turned to stone.
Regardless, Cecilia admired her own homemaking move.
‘How could I be this cute and lovely?’
But at least on the surface, her posture was perfect.
“Because it’s a promise.”
“Th-that’s right.”
Edward was rarely flustered, but he obviously was now.
He hadn’t thought she’d bring it out in front of everyone. In fact, if he recalls,
‘The promise was definitely that it had to be a secret from the captain.’
…Then wasn’t she breaking the promise by doing it openly?
“Please enjoy it.”
“…Thank you, Cecilia.”
Edward smiled faintly.
Thinking about it, this wasn’t all bad.
Had he been worried about knights charging recklessly? Kairon looked so shocked that he was still in statue form. He’d crumble if you nudged him.
Edward loudly spoke, making sure Kairon could hear.
“Wow, Cecilia even prepared lunch. It’s so precious, I doubt I can eat it.”
“Please eat it.”
“Of course.”
“Right here?”
“Yes.”
Cecilia nodded resolutely.
The best option here—laying out a picnic blanket on the lush green field, sitting elegantly, and feeding him—had to be saved for the newbies.
To Edward, the standing lunchbox offering on the parade ground was the limit.
“I’m curious about your reaction.”
“A quiet place would be fine for reactions…”
Cecilia placed her hand on her hip and pouted.
Edward reluctantly unraveled the wrapping with a troubled expression.
A cute rabbit-shaped lunchbox greeted him.
Edward’s face dropped slightly.
“Your taste hasn’t changed since you were six.”
“Please respect my taste.”
“…Alright.”
‘In the end, this is a joy. I never thought she’d feed me such a lavish treat.’
Apparently, even Cecilia’s usual lack of perception could be helpful sometimes.
If she could legally annoy Kairon like this, the standing lunchbox was always welcome.
“Feeling something wobbly, it’s a stew, right? Cecilia, what’s the menu?”
“Open it and find out for yourself.”
“I’m quite looking forward to it.”
All the knights of the Windsor Knight Order were focused intensely, eager to see what the meal contained.
Truly, what are the culinary skills of the swordswoman?
“Wh-what?!”
“What on earth is in there!”
Unlike the fussing knights, Edward’s expression was solidly frozen.
Knights near him also reacted similarly.
The admiration for the cute sister of the knight’s guild who gave away lunch boxes had washed away completely.
“What is this, Cecilia?”
Edward asked as he looked at the soggy, milk-soaked granola.
“Granola.”
“That… I can see, but—”
“Please try it. It has flavor.”
“….”
Edward cautiously ate a spoonful of the mushy granola with a suspicious look.
‘Truly remarkable.’
The taste was exactly as expected—no deviation at all.
“…It’s dry.”
“That’s the point.”
Cecilia looked immensely proud.
However, just then, Cecilia noticed something she had completely forgotten.
‘Good heavens, what a mistake.’
She hadn’t paid attention to Kairon. Watching his daughter present a lunch box as a tribute to another man right in front of him…!
‘At least I noticed in time, thank goodness.’
There’s no need to worry.
It’s not too late yet.
“Captain’s lunch is also available.”
Cecilia mentioned as she thought about the lunch for Beatrice.
It was a gift for Beatrice, who had worked hard. But this time, it appeared to be inevitable.
“I… am…”
Kairon quickly pulled himself together.
“I’m fine.”
He was rather relieved.
‘Judging by Deputy Captain Edward’s expression, there’s no doubt his affinity has skyrocketed.’
Cecilia ascended the stairs confidently.
‘With this, the first condition of the opening preparation—making the lecherous prince an ally—is cleared.’
Edward might be one step removed from politics, but his influence cannot be ignored.
He had plenty of power to easily interfere with Cecilia’s perfect opening preparation plan.
Moreover, Edward was a counterbalance to Cecilia’s beloved protege. In that sense, it was fortunate that their relationship had been repaired.
“Knock, knock. May I come in, Betty?”
Cecilia politely knocked.
Soon, Beatrice, looking completely exhausted, opened the door.
“It’s your office from the start, Miss Cecilia…”
Beatrice had grown thinner while she was away.
But her cuteness was something Cecilia could guarantee.
Cecilia smiled and held out the lunchbox.
“Good job. This is your reward. Betty has worked hard.”
Beatrice was startled.
In fact, she had even used the blessing of the light through the window to peek inside the lunchbox. She saw it—numerous granola bodies crying out for help, drowned in milk!
“I-I’m okay. I had breakfast.”
It was a lie.
Beatrice hadn’t eaten since yesterday, due to staying up all night.
“Is that so?”
Cecilia sat at the table without hesitation and opened the lunchbox.
“Huh?”
Beatrice, still groggy, was genuinely surprised.
“Normal lunchbox…?”
“Calling it normal, that’s rude.”
“No, that’s not what I meant… Waaah.”
No room for discussion. Cecilia skewered a sausage with a fork and gently fed Beatrice.
As soon as the food entered Beatrice’s mouth instinctively, she chewed it. Her eyes widened.
“Even more delicious? Miss Cecilia, aren’t you supposed to be bad at cooking?”
Cecilia, chewing on an egg roll, casually replied.
“Huh? I’m quite good at cooking.”
“…Eh?”
Beatrice was genuinely curious.
Then why make something like the granola lunchbox…?
He should’ve accepted the lunchbox…