“Whoa…! Ugh… Hah… Ah, my back.”
After stretching, I rubbed my sore lower back.
“…Hehe, I’m sorry.”
“I can’t sleep without hugging a pillow when I’m asleep… So, I’m sorry about that.”
[Thanks to Lady Eliaernes, I slept well! Thank you!]
I shot a glare at the kids who had been sleeping in the same room all week.
If it was just sleep, I wouldn’t have to glare. But why were they such terrible sleepers? Whenever they felt cramped while sleeping, they’d still cling to me.
On my left, Yurasia hugged my head; on my right, Stella held my waist; and underneath, Pina wrapped her legs around me.
Plus, it was midsummer.
Even with the cooling artifact running, it’s still summer. It’s a hot season, after all.
In such a season, with Yurasia and Pina, who are especially hot-bodied, sticking to me… I ended up all sweaty.
After enduring it for so long, I wanted to shove them off, but looking at their brightening faces and peacefully sleeping expressions, I couldn’t bring myself to do it… Tsk.
In the end, I just slept like that, and now my whole body is sore.
If I could move around a bit, it might loosen up, but I promised not to train until vacation, so I couldn’t do that either.
Of course, there was no muscle loss… Not that it would matter for my body, but still, I did some basic exercise just in case… But the soreness accumulated over a week wouldn’t just go away with some simple workout.
“Forget that, just pack your things quickly.”
“Aren’t you packing?”
“I won’t be gone forever. And besides, I have things I’ll use at home.”
Even if my belongings weren’t at my family home, it didn’t matter. I have essential supplies in my A-Space Pocket that I could survive with for a month if I ended up on a deserted island.
[By the way, is it really okay for me to go with you?]
“Yeah. I told you beforehand, so feel free to come along.”
“Me, too?”
“Of course, would I just take Pina and leave you behind?”
“Uh… That’s not it. We’re friends, after all… Hehe…”
Suddenly, I tidied up Stella’s hair, which was sticking out as she giggled alone, and adjusted Yurasia’s attire…
“Why can’t you tie your tie properly even now?”
I straightened Yurasia’s crooked tie, smoothed out her slightly wrinkled collar, and adjusted the folds of her cape that was draped over her shoulder.
“Hehe… Thank you!”
“Honestly, I don’t get why they made the Knight Order’s uniform so uncomfortable. It should be easy to wear and move in. It’s all just for show.”
Today, Yurasia wore the Knight Order’s uniform instead of the Academy’s uniform. Since the vacation was over, there was no need to wear that outfit, and now she was returning to her identity as a knight of Eustetia.
In fact, since she was my personal guardian knight, she didn’t need to wear the uniform, but our honest and upright Yurasia insisted on wearing it anyway.
“But since it’s a special day, it’s okay to wear it even if it’s a bit uncomfortable, right?”
“With almost ten years of wearing it, you still can’t tie your tie properly? Doesn’t that mean there are issues with the clothing? Plus, wearing this stuffy outfit means you can’t react in an emergency. Clothes should be easy to manage and comfortable to move in at the end of the day.”
They clearly have never lived in Gebihenum to make such clothes.
Tsk tsk, I clicked my tongue as I scanned Yurasia’s outfit.
But still, since she’s dressed like this…
“It does look pretty. Maybe it’s because she’s a good clothes hanger.”
“Eek… Hehe! Am I pretty?”
“Fewer than one in ten would say no?”
“Other people’s opinions aren’t important! What about you, Young Lady? Am I pretty?”
“You’re pretty enough for Yurasia.”
“Heehee…”
Yurasia, who had been fidgeting, started giving my shoulder playful slaps.
“You’re pretty too, Young Lady…”
“I know.”
I nodded indifferently and pinned a cherry blossom brooch to Yurasia’s left chest before turning away.
That’s when I noticed Stella’s silly expression.
“Why do you look like that again?”
“Me?”
“What about you?”
“Am I pretty?”
“Is that even a question?”
“What?! So you think I’m pretty without even asking?! Haha! I know! I know!”
“Wipe the gunk from your eyes and say that.”
“Ugh…!”
Stella, in a hurry, hid her face and rubbed her eyes vigorously. Next to her, Pina, who had finished packing, smiled brightly.
“Pina, you are… um… Pina is Pina!”
I placed a Baumkuchen in Pina’s hand and started walking.
“Let’s go.”
The summer vacation began a month early.
*
At the Academy’s main gate, there were countless people.
Servants in different outfits, parents in ordinary clothes, foreigners of different skin tones.
Everyone had come to pick up the Academy students.
Since everyone in the world knew about the recent incident, commoners, nobles, and foreigners alike must have come to pick them up in person.
And among them, the most eye-catching was the procession of the Knight Order, adorned with blooming cherry blossoms engraved on their armor, filling the view.
The Eustetia Knight Order.
At the forefront, I spotted a familiar face.
“It’s been a while, Young Lady.”
“Yeah. It’s been a while.”
“Yurasia and Stella. And… it’s nice to meet you for the first time.”
“Ah, Sara! Hello!”
“Ah, hello…!”
“Eek…”
Before coming to the Academy, I could say she was the person I spent the most time with.
She looked at me and smiled quietly.
I returned her smile brightly.
“I missed you, Sara.”
At my words, Sara’s eyes widened.
Then she opened her mouth in surprise- only to break into a bright smile that followed mine.
“You seem… to have changed a lot. It looks like you enjoyed your time at the Academy.”
“I can’t say I’ve changed, but it wasn’t boring. So, did you not miss me? Was it just me who missed you?”
“Hahaha… Not at all. I missed you too. The absence of the Young Lady in the Red Pavilion felt quite empty.”
“Even with all those people in that big house, it’s still empty.”
I chuckled softly as I followed Sara’s lead.
Tap- Tap- Tap-
With each step I took, countless knights straightened their posture. Many students turned to watch us with wide eyes. Professors and citizens alike couldn’t take their eyes off us, dumbfounded.
It was understandable.
In the Empire, aside from the royal family, no other knight order could boast such a presence except for Eustetia and van Chaser.
However, van Chaser wasn’t active for the defense of the North, so the only knight order one could see in the system is Eustetia.
Of course, today seemed to be a bit excessive.
Even I thought it was unnecessarily flashy.
Under normal circumstances, I would have ground my teeth in disgust, but today, I accepted it quietly.
My dad had chosen not to come in person but sent the order, and there was a need to show as many people as possible.
“Everyone’s got a hard time in this heat.”
I walked down the path opened by the knights while making eye contact with each of them.
[Lady Eliaernes looks even more stunning than usual!]
“…So you really are the Duke’s daughter…”
“That’s not something a marquess’s daughter should say, is it?”
Stella, looking gloomy among the knights, clung tightly to my clothing.
Meanwhile, Pina, happily munching on a Baumkuchen beside her, watched with bright eyes, while Yurasia followed closely behind me with the same expression as the other knights.
“Wow, sis, you look amazing…!”
[Yurasia looks like a grown-up… (admiring squirrel)]
“Puhuh… Thank you.”
Yurasia, who had an expression that was not her usual goofy smile but a proper one, quickly composed herself.
“Wow, it’s huge…”
[This wagon seems bigger than the house I used to live in!]
We stood in front of a wagon that clearly belonged to Eustetia as we handed over our baggage to the knights.
“Oh, sis, aren’t you coming along?”
“Eek…?”
“Huh? I will go separately beside you.”
“Really…? Then I guess there’s no choice… wait, Eliaernes. Why aren’t you riding with us?”
“I need to have a chat with Sara. For now, you all go ahead. I’ll switch over later.”
Stella, cautiously checking around, whispered.
“…Why? Are you planning to take a different route to prepare for an ambush or something?”
[Wow… If that’s true, I’ll play the bait role! (dependable squirrel)]
“What nonsense are you spouting? Didn’t I tell you not to show weird books to the kids? What’s this now? A spy novel?”
“…No, it’s not?! Wh-what are you talking about?!”
“I’ll be riding in the wagon directly behind you, so don’t worry about useless things and get on. If you need anything, tell the coachman.”
“Okay… I understand. I’ll definitely switch over!”
Waving my hand, I closed the wagon door Stella got into and climbed aboard the one with Sara.
“I’ve heard you’re perfectly fine without a scratch, but now that I see you face to face, I feel more at ease than before.”
“I’m fine, see! Not a single scar.”
I raised my arm over my head and showed her the inside of my clothing to emphasize my unblemished state.
“Not just you, but the head of the family has been quite worried as well.”
“…I can’t help that.”
“Make sure to see the head of the family right after you arrive at the Red Pavilion.”
“Yeah… got it.”
“Still, if you use ‘that’ I told you about before, you won’t get into too much trouble.”
“…It works quite well, yes.”
“Did you use it with anyone other than the head of the family?”
“Well… not much. Just… a little?”
“Very commendable.”
“Was it really something commendable…?”
Seeing her expression, the usual emotionless façade mixed with a quiet smile, I felt relieved.
And… having now reached the 6th Rank, I could see a glimpse of Sara’s prowess.
I had tried to gauge it before, but I failed each time.
She had hidden it so thoroughly.
But now, I could see it.
8th Circle.
The same level as Samaela, who I faced and utterly crushed in the labyrinth.
After all, Adelia did say that even her eyes couldn’t pierce through Sara’s defenses, so it wasn’t surprising…
“But… why is Sara working at Eustetia? Wouldn’t it be better to go somewhere else?”
“If it were another maid, she’d bow her head immediately and plead for forgiveness for her very existence upon hearing that.”
“…You know that wasn’t my intention.”
“Of course. I’ve been looking after the Young Lady for 17 years, so I can throw out silly jokes like this. Hehe.”
Understanding my question’s intention, Sara shook her head with a deeper smile than before.
“It’s my happiness and joy to serve the Young Lady. So please refrain from such questions.”
“I really… can’t understand my family.”
“Everything is arranged for you, Young Lady…”
Pausing for a moment, Sara chuckled softly as she continued.
“The provisions made to protect you may soon become unnecessary. You reached the 6th Rank in less than half a year. If the head of the family saw this, there would be a banquet.”
“A banquet? No way… You mean my dad doesn’t know I reached the 6th Rank, right?”
“…Did you just call him… Dad?”
“Yeah. Ah…”
Sara blinked.
I did too, and then I closed my mouth.
“Gasp… No, um… Father…”
“The reason the head of the family seemed so particularly cheerful before has become clear.”
“…Don’t tease me.”
“I have never teased you even once.”
“…Anyway, my… my father doesn’t know I’ve reached the 6th Rank yet, right?”
“Yes. He does not know.”
“A surprise gift would be just right.”
Chuckling, I tapped the pocket hanging at my waist.
“Expect a gift from me too, Sara.”
“…Do you have a gift for me?”
“Yep. I’ll give it to you at dinner tonight.”
“It’s an honor.”
Sara bowed her head, and soon the wagon started moving.
Clop- Clop- Clop-
Tap- Tap- Tap-
The sounds of hooves and the procession of the knights were heard.
I kept my mouth shut for five minutes.
“Can we do it now?”
“Yeah.”
As the distance from the Academy increased, snap- Sara snapped her fingers.
The sound that had been coming from inside the wagon disappeared.
Likewise, any sound that could escape outside began to echo within.
Once I confirmed my ears felt muffled, I spoke.
“I counted fourteen, how about you, Sara?”
“Three disguised as citizens, two as merchants, four as beggars, and five posing as Imperial knights. Total of fourteen, correct.”
“Looks like we didn’t miss anyone.”
Fourteen. The number of those monitoring us.
I can’t tell if they were sent by Anton or from the side branch. But the ones posing as Imperial knights must definitely be from Anton.
In fact, this works out perfectly.
Since we called for the knights to show them off.
“Shall we take care of them?”
“…Why do you ask such things?”
“If you give the order, I’ll deal with them right away.”
“Ha… Then Sara would be accused of being a terrorist and executed immediately.”
“If it is your command, I will follow.”
“There’s no way that’s happening.”
“Honestly, I was a little scared too.”
“Scared? What do you mean?”
Chuckling, Sara handed me a pitch-black envelope.
“This is the information you asked for.”
“Even if you don’t look at it, I’ll tell you everything later, so don’t worry.”
“If you don’t trust me, you don’t have to say anything, but first let me give you the highlights before reading it.”
I opened the envelope. Inside were about a dozen sheets of paper.
I had already commissioned Ophelia for information on one side, but since it wasn’t entirely reliable, I’d also asked Sara for help.
Movements of the Holy Kingdom.
The twelve cardinals except for the archbishop traveled to the demon realm around February 28 seven years ago. We have thoroughly verified this with testimonies from those around them, ensuring its credibility.
“When did they return?”
“On August 10 of the same year.”
The cardinals who went to the demon realm returned to the Holy Kingdom two days before the Sacred returned to the holy land.
