No matter how much I brushed it off, the faint traces remained like stains, so I ended up receiving a set of the knight order’s uniform from the dressing room and changed into it.
Even though I’m not officially part of the Empire’s knight order, since I’ve been granted the title of knight, giving me a uniform isn’t a problem, they said.
Even though it was a sudden request, the dark blue uniform the maids helped me put on fit quite well.
Except for one spot.
“My chest feels a bit tight…”
“Must be nice, huh?”
Freide teased.
Nice? What’s nice about it? I said it’s tight.
“Knight order uniforms aren’t tailored, so that’s why. But since I’ve received the uniform, I can get it altered to fit perfectly later.”
“I doubt I’ll have to wear this again after today.”
“Well, when you go to the north, you’ll have to wear it, right? If you go there dressed as usual, you’ll freeze to death.”
Of course, going to the north in thin clothes is something only a madman would do.
The academy uniform I took off was to be neatly laundered by the royal maids and sent back to the academy.
It’s not like I only have one set, and it’s not something I wear often anyway.
Though lately, I’ve been wearing it more frequently.
Returning to the banquet hall, I looked for Prince Leopold.
The prince was sitting on a sofa on the second floor, chatting with Duke Bien’s daughter.
A man in his late twenties hitting on a sixteen-year-old girl…
Honestly, it’s a bit hard to watch…
“Then I’ll go meet Prince Leopold for a bit, Nigel, you be Freide’s friend for the day.”
“What? A friend for the day? What’s that!”
“As you wish.”
Leaving the fuming Freide with Nigel, I headed to the second floor.
—
“Have you been well, Prince Leopold?”
“Hmm? Isn’t this Princess Ai-shan Gi-or? Long time no see. Is this the first time since the award ceremony?”
“Prince Leopold? Who is this knight?”
Duke Bien’s daughter tilted her head and looked at me.
Her deep brown curly hair swayed softly.
With puppy-like, gentle eyes, she looked even younger than she actually was.
She wore a simple silver necklace and a cream-colored dress, modest for a duke’s daughter.
Even if Claire is like that, this girl’s courage is something else.
Even though the veil hides her gaze, the chilling aura still faintly emanates.
“Ah, come to think of it, you haven’t met Miss Adelaide. This is Princess Ha-shal-leur Ai-shan Gi-or of Ka`har, also known as Baroness Medyan.”
“Ah! The one who stopped the beastman…! I mean, the princess who received the military medal for stopping the beastman attack!”
Adelaide, as the girl was called, clasped her hands together in admiration.
Did she just try to say “beastman devourer” and then subtly change her words?
“Ha-shal-leur Ai-shan Gi-or. You can call me Ha-shal-leur if you wish.”
“I’m Adelaide de Bien. Nice to meet you, Princess Ha-shal-leur.”
I placed my hand on my chest and bowed slightly to her. Adelaide smiled brightly.
Hmm…I’m getting more and more suspicious of Leopold being a pedophile. Surely not.
“So, may I ask what brings you here?”
“…It’s not something to discuss here. May I request a private audience?”
I glanced at Adelaide and cautiously spoke.
It wasn’t something to bring up in front of a young girl.
“Hmm…If it’s a long conversation, it might be difficult. I can’t leave Miss Adelaide waiting alone.”
“I’m fine. Since the princess came alone, it must be important. I don’t want to interfere with Your Highness’s matters.”
Her voice was kind. Leopold, you’re quite the charmer.
This girl seems completely smitten with you already. A genius at seducing young girls, aren’t you?
“It won’t be a long conversation.”
“Those who say that usually end up having the longest talks…But fine. Miss Adelaide, I’m truly sorry. I’ll be back as soon as possible. And Sir Hector, please look after Miss Adelaide for a while.”
Leopold sighed lightly and bowed slightly to Adelaide.
Adelaide smiled and shook her head, indicating it was fine.
“As you command.”
The royal guard answered briefly and stood beside Adelaide.
“Then, follow me. The back balcony should be fine.”
I followed Leopold to the second-floor balcony.
—
Stepping onto the balcony, unlike the earlier silence, various noises could be heard.
The secretive whispers of nobles.
The sweet, sticky confessions of lovers…no, wait, that sounds like an affair…?
Anyway, those kinds of sugary, romantic declarations.
And the moans coming from beyond the garden.
To ordinary people, it would be too faint to notice…but with my keen hearing, it was all too clear.
Those in heat. They must not be married if they’re doing it in such a place. How lewd.
“So, what is it you wish to convey?”
“There are three things, but since you have someone waiting, I’ll keep it brief.”
First, I had declined Isabella’s invitation, which had officially put me at odds with the Ernst faction.
“That’s good news for me. The nobles who support me have been suspicious of your actions, Princess. But now that this has happened, it’s better for us.”
“You never know how Isabella might show up, so it’d be wise to be extra cautious from now on.”
“She already sent Lady Sigmillus to try and seduce me.”
“Hmm? If men don’t work, she sends women. Clearly, that’s the kind of idea she’d come up with… but seducing a princess? Is that even possible for a person?”
Leopold looked utterly baffled.
Well, of course, it failed, but…
Asking if it’s possible for a person? Should I take that as admiration or something?
The second topic was about the atrocities committed by Isabella.
The lewd and unsettling story of brainwashing women to strengthen Ernst’s faction.
Because of this, it was hard to bring it up casually in Adelaide’s presence.
“An unforgivable act. No wonder…!”
Leopold’s expression darkened severely.
He openly displayed a deep anger that I never thought I’d see on his face.
“…But who did you hear this from?”
“Directly from Princess Leonor. There’s no concrete evidence, but… it seems to be true.”
Leopold stroked his chin, even though he had no beard.
“Hmm… It’s frustrating, but without evidence, it’ll be hard to confront her. Still, this is highly valuable information. I should advise Lady Adelaide to avoid contact with those people as much as possible.”
Well, Adelaide would be the perfect target for Isabella.
If she could corrupt and bring Adelaide to her side, Leopold’s position would be severely weakened.
“You seem quite fond of Lady Adelaide?”
“She’s the daughter of Duke Bien, the Elector. She’s a lady far beyond my reach.”
I can’t tell if it’s political judgment or genuine affection.
For me, the former would be better, but… that girl probably hopes for the latter, right?
In this world, sixteen is old enough to marry anyway.
It’s not my place to comment.
“Hmm… I suppose so. Anyway, there’s something I’d like to ask regarding this matter.”
“A request? Go ahead.”
“I want to get Princess Leonor out of there. If that’s not possible, at the very least, I want her to be safe and unharmed after everything is over.”
That woman suits wielding a sword proudly far more than disappearing as a victim of execution.
Leopold’s expression grew serious, as if it was a more difficult request than expected.
“A tough request… If we bring down Ernst and expose Isabella’s crimes, Leonor, being of the same bloodline, will inevitably be implicated. Everyone will want to cut off all ties.”
“That’s why I’m asking Your Highness. Will it be difficult?”
If things go well, you’ll become the Emperor, right?
Even if the Emperor’s authority has weakened, surely you can manage that much?
“I understand your desire to save Leonor, but has she agreed to this? Has she directly said she’ll betray her mother and Ernst to join my side?”
“Well… no.”
In a situation where the winner isn’t yet decided, it’s unlikely she’d betray her own flesh and blood to join us.
“Then it’s impossible. So, if you can, tell Leonor this: if she wants to survive when I win, she should join my side now while the situation is still undecided. If she does that, I’ll consider it.”
Despite his gentle and kind appearance, his response was colder than expected.
“…Understood.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a better answer, but there’s no other way.”
Well, it was an unreasonable request anyway.
I can’t expect more than this for now.
“Then, what’s the last thing you wanted to discuss?”
I lowered my voice as much as possible, trying to sound as serious as I could.
It was something he needed to keep in mind.
“Be careful of Isabella. Even more than you are now. Not just her power, but her very being.”
“What do you mean…?”
I couldn’t go into detail about the witch.
What I know is only a fraction of the truth.
I know what kind of power she can wield, but I don’t know how she gained it.
And if he asks how I know this, I have no answer.
Even Leonor doesn’t know this part.
…Would Ernst know?
Even if he does, there’s no way for me to confirm it.
So, in the end, I could only speak vaguely.
“Perhaps she’s hiding some unknown power. It’s just my intuition, but… when I saw her, I felt a strange sense of threat.”
“If it’s the princess’s intuition, I’ll take it seriously. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Fortunately, Leopold seemed to trust my words.
