Turning on her heels, Mujikka-sensei ca face-to-face with the convoy of the empire. At the forefront was an ethereal beauty, the imperial princess, and by her flank was Grafiya, one whom I had confronted last sumr in the Rising Star Event.
They're followed—which was my guesstimate—by a clique of mages, possibly the representative of each nation under the guidance of an adult.
I had heard today was supposed to be reserved for participants to take a look around the heart of the empire, so either they'd leave together with Yuglia's Royal Academy's participant, or the tour had already taken off, and this railway station happened to be one of the attractions.
I was with Justin-senpai, who happened to be giggling to himself, his face drawn in his signature mischievous expression. He whispered to as he pointed at Grayfia. She'd been hurling quite a glare for a while in our direction.
"*Whistle* It seems like soone has hots for you, Allen-kun! It's a gentleman's conduct to not keep a lady waiting, you know? C'mon, wave your hand... pfft!"
She must have heard him as a vein popped on Grayfia's forehead, and stepped out of the convoy. She closed the distance with Justin-senpai in a re jump, throwing a power-packed punch at him.
"Whoops!"
A dull sound echoed as the punch crashed on the upper arm of Justin-senpai.
"Do you have a death wish, Justin Lock? Wipe that smirk from your face, it's creepy."
"Uh-huh, you're just as sharp as I rember, Grayfia-chan. But are you sure you should be doing that? You know you just suddenly attacked a knight of a different nation. Rember, we're no longer students?"
...What, what's with that unexpected et up?
No wait, Justin-senpai had graduated at the top of his class from Royal Academy, and his prowess was widely known. They could have clashed in one of the New Rising Star Cup, I guess? They're barely a year apart, so they could've beco acquaintances soti there.
"Or perhaps... you're trying to use a ruse, and display you're no friend of ours to soone, hmm?"
Justin-senpai gave a playful smirk, and darted his eyes around, trying to capture sothing. Grayfia's brows twitched as soon as she heard him, and quickly retracted her fist.
"...Tch. Still as smug and insufferable as ever.”
Then, cutting between Grayfia and Justin-senpai, the Imperial Princess walked up to us with a leisure gait.
"Cease your antics, Grayfia. I hope you can pardon her reckless behaviour, Sir Justin Lock. And It's a pleasure eting you, Allen-sama. I'm Arish, the fourth imperial princess of reigning emperor Raul. It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
She pressed her palms together in a formal gesture, fingers interlaced, and gave a slight curtsy.
It was an old-fashioned knight’s salute—fitting for a princess of an empire that holds martial valor in high regard—and yet, with just that simple movent, she exuded a kind of grace a half-baked countryside noble like could ever hope to imitate.
"It's nice to et you, Your Highness Arish. It is a rare pleasure to be addressed so kindly by a princess of such beauty. I am deeply humbled.”
Justin-senpain returned the courtesy with a hand on his chest. I was totally clueless about etiquettes, so I quickly copied his manner, and chid in.
"It's a pleasure eting you, your highness. I'm Allen Rovenne."
Then, perhaps it was their signal, the remaining representatives closed up to us, introducing themselves in order.
Though the tournant had yet to begin, these were clearly national representatives, Each of them carried themselves with the kind of quiet confidence that only cos from true strength and experience.
Frankly, I had expected to stumble into a ferocious vibe, but it appeared my thoughts were no more than fignts of my imagination as I gazed at the quiet, harmonious exchange.
Or had I raised the flag? As soon the greetings were over, Grayfia-san uttered a monologue and murked the vibrant atmosphere.
"Tch! Look at how everyone's acting like a sheep, rising their tails. Pathetic. Hah, are you all blind or have you not seen the arrogance of Yuglia? The next one to end up on their chopping board might as well be your nation next."
It was like an ice wave had swept past us, freezing everyone on their spot when her ludicrous remark reached everyone’s ear.
"......What had I said earlier, Grayfia? Do not make repeat myself."
With a quiet, but authoritative tone, Arish-san rebuked Grayfia-san for her conduct.
Well, she wasn't entirely incorrect. After all, it's a fact Yuglia had been taking remarkable strides in bringing up national strength.
The present king—King Patrick had been a man of brilliant tactic, earning the recognition as a wise king by the rest of nations for his performance in solidifying Yuglia's internal structure, while he also nded the fractures caused by his predecessors’ aggressive territorial expansions, restoring order and stability across the kingdom.
Ever since his coronation, King Patrick never once showed a desire for dominion over other lands, and from my understanding of his character, I could make a good guess that he would rather skip the war if the situation permits at all. However, the neighbouring nations might not share the sa sentint.
It wasn't just the empire. Many more nations had begun to watch Ygulia with growing unease.
"Nevertheless, your speech can benefit from more tact, grayfia-chan. After all, isn't this kind of occasion a perfect occasion to make more friends than enemies? Keeping a balance of the forces is quite an important aspect."
Justin-senpai flashed a wry smile, though grayfia-san's response remained re scornful huff.
“Hmph. Spare the platitudes. You think playing nice on the surface actually turns enemies into allies? Negotiation only works when both sides have equal footing. If you're the weaker one, you're not negotiating—you’re submitting.”
Well... her words were rough, but I could catch the gist of her implication.
It's true that no one would entertain the word of a powerless leader, and definitely not when they're locked in a power struggle. But in the end, it’s still people—representatives of those nations—who sit at the negotiating table.
Though, let the emotions get the better of you, and you risk provoking a vain war. In the worst case, ignorance could also turn a neutral power into an enemy, and upset the entire power dynamic. That's why maintaining good relations, wherever possible, is always the wiser path.
As I mulled this over, tilting my head slightly in thought, Grayfia-san suddenly shot a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
"And you're in this too, Allen Rovenne! What was with bowing and scraping like so bootlicking rchant! Where’s your pride as a descendant of the Dosperiar bloodline, one of the Original Five, for crying out loud?!"
What? For a quiet minute, I had no inkling what caused her to train her outburst on , but once I saw through it, I only shook my head in response.
"...No, I do not have any pride. I'm whom my parents raised to be—Allen Rovenne, the 3rd son of so hinterland viscount."
She had lived long enough to have her value, and I wasn't going to be so boorish moralist, trying to correct her, but in the sa vein, I would never shift my values to anyone.
Perhaps she was right, and my ancestors were so super hot-shot, but that was all there to it. The praises wouldn't make great just because.
grayfia-san gnashed on her teeth when I firmly refuted her words. A veil of mana floated around as she gave an intensive glare.
But I didn’t flinch. I had no intention of backing down. I wouldn’t compromise on that—nor would I bend to soone else’s expectations.
Before I knew it, we were locked in a silent standoff, tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Then, just as the atmosphere was tightening to a breaking point… the master of provocation himself broke the silence.
With a firm hand on my shoulder and a voice full of irreverent glee, he spoke.
"Hey, you shouldn't try to pick a quarrel with everyone you found, you know? There's always heaven above heaven, and... or you will find yourself in tears much like last ti, eh? I an by Allen of course... pfft!"
Hey, don't gag over the situation. You're only pouring oil in the fire!
Unsurprisingly, everyone found themselves in an awkward situation, aware of the happening, and looked away.
"I-I didn't cry, alright! And no, if we fight again, it will be my win no doubt! But if you're inclined to insist, try now, you perverted bastard!"
Grayfia's face went bright red like an apple as she blaze in fury, and the control of her mana—which she had been operating with precision—turned erratic.
"W-What're you saying, Justin-senpai? Obviously, it was grayfia-san who'd won. And even then, whatever happened that day was re trick of wind, an accident if you may—"
"Oh? So I reckon you've made a full proof plan against Sylph, do you? Still, I am not sure I would be so bold if I had been dressed that way... go Allen, try her defense out!"
"Good heavens, can you stop pouring oil on the matter, Justin-senpaig? What was the test even supposed to be for?!"
I practically leapt in to shut him down before he made things worse.
That whole thing was accidental! And yet sohow I got a reputation for being a skirt-lifting nace in front of VIPs of other nations!
She’s probably wearing sothing safer now—shorts or sothing—but that doesn’t change the optics! Just imagining the scene again is already too much. If anything worse happened, I could kiss any chance of getting a girlfriend away, at least in this continent.
But in response to Justin-senpai’s cheap provocation, Grayfia-san just grinned—a bold, defiant smile—and planted her feet, arms thrown wide as if to say co at whenever you like.
“I would've wanted nothing else. Allen Rovenne, you\re definitely going to regret this. Hehehe."
"F-Fia, do no tell you've broken the seal on—"
Beside her, the Imperial Princess seed to have an inkling as she spoke the line straight out of an 8th-grade syndrom's fantasy, her face bright red like a tomato. It seed to have brought up everyone's attention, and they all quietly watched with baited breath.
"Wow, look at that confidence. It appears you've so tough competition, Allen. Co on, it's ti to show off!"
◆◆◆
Soon, Justin-senpai and I were escorted to the awaiting carriage by princess Arish. The carriage was ant to drop us at the guest house his majesty was staying at.
The carriage itself was drawn by two magnificent horses, their coats shimring with well-bred luster. I had heard so say that the nobles of the empire weren't very much fond of cars.
Imperial warhorses, many of which were magically breeded through a strict guideline, were famously high in quality. The Empire's cavalry, backed by the steady supply of these enhanced beasts, had earned a reputation for being one of the strongest on the continent.
Naturally, in this society, the kind of horses you own—and how many—speak volus about your status and influence. And the military saw these tireless, power-packed monster-horses as superior to any three or four-wheeler mana-machines, at least this was true in the current scenario.
Besides, when it cos to rough terrain, long-distance travel, speed, raw power, and even maintenance, mana-vehicles were still far behind.
Well, *for now*, that is.
I wasn't surprised. In fact, even in Yuglia, those who believe the advancent of mana-vehicles could supersede the role of horses in the army one day were in minority. So indifference was to be expected from the empire when they'd hailed as one of the best in cavalry.
On the way, Justin-senpai did most of the talk with Arish-senpai, much of it revolving around art, history and so on.
He skillfully avoided anything overtly political, yet every phrase carried subtle undertones—an elegant verbal fencing match, where veiled anings and gentle prodding revealed quiet insights into each side’s capabilities. It was diplomacy disguised as small talk, the kind that only true masters could pull off.
I only watched them quietly, astonished at their eloquence of touch. Despite how casual he was with his words, I was gobsmacked at his expertise in leading around the conversation, even though the barbs within words were so quietly veiled in nonchalance.
That said, not everyone shared the sa feelings, or were even displeased with current status-quo, like grayfia-san right in front of . She hadn't uttered a word since we boarded the carriage.
And no, I didn't let myself be swept up in the instigation of Justin-senpai, and firmly refused to follow through.
But grayfia-san? She had been completely rolling in Senpai's palm, and for a mont, I had even wondered if she just wanted soone to flip her skirt. She kept taunting , like 'what, got the cold feet now, Allen Rovenne?', but a true gentleman doesn't fight back.
However, my refusal just continued to take a hamr to her spirit, and at the end—'Today's one's design is quite plain, you know? Though Arish's one is more bolder,' she even began to give comntary over the imperial princess's underwear design. Of course, she imdiately faced the wrath of Arish-san's embarrassnt, her scolding, 'Is this supposed to be the conduct of the forr public morale committee president!?.' reducing her to tears.
And yet, sohow I was at the receiving end of everyone's reproach. I didn't get it, and neither did I know what to say without making the situation even more awkward...
*Sigh*... anyway, I was here for sightseeing, right. I turned my gaze to glance at the flowing town's scenery.
T/N - Changing Princess na. Arichi —» Arish.
Reviews
All reviews (0)