Weeding Out the Weeds (5)
“Emperor Franz seems like a truly wonderful person.”
“He is indeed a wonderful person.”
An emperor ought to be.
Emperor Franz von Reichland was a war hero who had not only revived a declining empire but ushered in a second golden age as a great ruler.
In the end, do all girls long for heroes? Princess Lua included.
It had been the same when I moved in high society.
Political marriages were common among the nobility.
Many girls were forced into unwanted unions dictated by their parents’ interests.
To their eyes, knights returning with glory always looked far more dashing than fiancés who merely strutted on the strength of their family names.
That was why so-called “elopements for love” happened so often.
“One day, Your Highness will surely meet such a wonderful man as well.”
“Me? Do you really think so?”
“Of course. Provided you master the etiquette I teach you. If you remember everything I tell you, every man in the empire will gladly kneel before you and propose.”
“Every man in the empire… What are they like? I’ve heard imperial people are incredibly refined and dashing.”
This was the perfect opportunity.
A chance to plant dreams and ideals about the empire in this innocent girl who yearned for love.
“At first glance the empire appears to enjoy an age of peace and prosperity. Yet behind that facade, countless people are shedding blood and sweat even now to preserve it.”
“Sacrificing themselves for others… How admirable.”
“Imperial men never hesitate to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Sir Larau’s story is a perfect example. Sir Larau…”
This was the first time conversing with Lua had felt so enjoyable.
Until now she had never welcomed talk of the empire, and she had resisted learning any etiquette that was too empire-specific.
Seeing even the princess of Solea, a vassal state, behave this way made it clear the emperor’s decision to annex Solea before it was too late had been the right one.
But at this moment Lua was listening to my every word more attentively than ever before.
Honestly, I was thrilled.
“Then I have a question.”
“What would you like to know? Ask anything. I will answer everything I can.”
“Is it all right to love someone much older than yourself?”
“That is… quite a difficult question. Still, I believe that as long as both parties have the capacity and environment to love, age is irrelevant. Throughout history, those with power, authority, or wealth have married people of vastly different ages without issue. No one questions it.”
At that moment Lua smiled.
It was a sly smile I had never seen from her before.
“The only imperial man I know well is you, Teacher Igrem. What about you?”
“Me?”
“Yes. What if a woman much older or younger than you developed feelings for you?”
“I’m not sure. But since I am not without ability myself, if our hearts aligned…”
“Teacher.”
Lua cut me off.
This expression, too, was new.
She looked extremely serious.
“Don’t you understand why I’m saying all this?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to hear stories about imperial men?”
“Idiot.”
Suddenly Lua pouted and buried her face in the desk.
“Calling me an idiot! Such vulgar language. Of course, you’re still young, so it’s not strange coming from you, but never say that in front of anyone else.”
“You really are an idiot, Teacher.”
“Good heavens…”
Something about the atmosphere felt off.
Lua was an exceptionally clever child; there had to be a reason for this behavior.
I had been about to scold her, but I calmed myself instead.
“Your Highness, what on earth has gotten into you today?”
“I asked for stories about imperial men because I wanted to hear yours.”
“Pardon?”
“I like you, Teacher. It’s unfair that you made me say it out loud when you already knew. I hate you!”
After firing that lethal arrow, Lua began to sniffle.
For a while my mind went blank.
Only after some time did my thoughts begin to move again.
Was this child saying she liked me?
It might simply be the innocent remark of a girl who did not yet understand love.
But Lua was an exceptionally bright, well-educated princess of an entire kingdom.
If she truly liked me, this could be turned to my advantage in countless ways!
I needed to think calmly.
Yet the corners of my mouth kept curling upward.
It was fortunate Lua had her face buried in the desk; even I could tell my expression must look ridiculous.
To be loved by a princess!
Was the dream countless men across the world pursued about to come true for me?
This could benefit the empire, but if things went well I might even marry the princess and…
Sorry, my head.
Right now a hot heart mattered more than a cold head!
After wiping the cold sweat from my brow with a handkerchief, I carefully took both of Lua’s hands.
“Your Highness, I am grateful for your feelings. However…”
“Teacher Igrem. What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Lua’s voice suddenly turned cold.
She must have been disappointed that I did not understand her heart.
I deserved this treatment.
“I was wrong. Now that I know your feelings…”
“As Princess of Solea, I command you. Let go of my hands at once.”
“Lua!”
I raised my voice.
There was a limit to how much rejection one could tolerate.
This had gone too far.
If Lua liked me, I needed to train her to my liking from now on.
Lua struggled to pull her hands free, but no matter how hard she tried she was still a child.
She could not easily shake off the grip of an adult man.
If I let go now, it would only spoil her later.
“Stop it!”
“I already know you admire me. What’s the point of saying that and then acting like this?”
“Kyaa! Guards! Guards!”
Lua’s sharp scream.
At the sound, my mind went blank.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong! Wait, what?”
The guard who rushed in drew his sword without hesitation.
“Release her hand at once, you insolent wretch!”
“Insolent wretch? Did you just call me an insolent wretch? How dare a lowly guard speak that way!”
“Guard, this man molested me!”
“M-molested? Molested?! Lua, there’s a limit to how much I can overlook!”
I could not let Lua go now.
If I released her she would only make things worse for me; instead I had to hold on and persuade her.
The future was one thing, but right now my life was on the line.
Lua’s hand was my lifeline. The moment I let go, I would…
“Urgh!”
Suddenly an immense force yanked me away.
I lost my grip on Lua and tumbled across the floor.
Lua used the opening to hide behind the guard.
“Guard, arrest him immediately!”
As the guard approached my fallen form, countless thoughts flashed through my mind.
What was happening? How had it come to this?
I was Igrem von Debaucher, a noble whose manners and etiquette were respected in imperial high society.
I had made a name for myself there, reading people’s hearts with uncanny precision…
A girl’s heart, of all things.
* * *
“A-are you sure this is enough for you to recover?”
“Of course. Though I think we’ll need to stay like this a little longer.”
After successfully completing her mission, Lua demanded another reward.
She wanted me to hold her tightly on my lap along with a fluffy doll.
I had not counted the minutes, but I knew quite some time had passed.
Any ordinary person’s knees would have gone numb long ago.
It was fortunate I was no ordinary person.
Nothing destroyed a person’s social standing faster than the accusation of sexually harassing a minor.
Especially when the perpetrator had been recommended by a foreign ambassador and the victim was a royal princess.
On top of that, the ambassador in question was already imprisoned for attempting to assassinate a prince.
The chain of incidents was already grave enough to justify a declaration of war.
“Still, you must have been terrified. You did well. I’m glad the plan worked.”
“I only did exactly what you told me to, Brother.”
“What in the world am I making my only little sister do? Using a honey trap on an eleven-year-old…”
“But that means he saw me as a woman, doesn’t it?”
Lua’s expression was triumphant.
“That part’s true. You’re going to become the most beautiful girl in the world.”
At the compliment, Lua beamed.
From the side, Master watched me with a broad grin.
Why are you looking at me like that right now, Master?
“Because you’re truly my disciple.”
That doesn’t sound like a good thing. Weren’t you famous for being a playboy? The moment Kyle figured out I was connected to you, he tried to kill me on the spot.
“This brat. I helped because you asked, and now this.”
According to Lua, Igrem had refused to let go of her hand.
I had expected the cornered man to resort to violence, which was why I had asked Master for help.
If Lua ended up in danger, he was to rescue her.
So Master had not only pulled Igrem away from Lua with magic but hurled him across the room.
“Brother, you did something, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you had someone helping you.”
“Right, I did. You caught every detail.”
“That person must have helped me.”
Both Master’s and my eyes turned to Lua at once.
“Why do you think that?”
“Magic happened right in front of me. Igrem was gripping my hand tightly when suddenly his body floated up and he rolled across the floor.”
Master? If you went that far…
“Why? Did I do something wrong? You’re the one who revealed yourself first. Besides, the guy deserved it. An adult man treating a child so roughly.”
Typical playboy.
“I can hear you. You meant for me to hear that, didn’t you?”
This was partly Master’s fault, but the biggest reason was Lua’s sharp eye for instantly recognizing magic without a second thought.
Since I had already confessed to Father and Sien anyway, there was no harm in telling Lua as well.
“You’re right. You saw correctly. I asked that person for help. I’m stuck inside my room, after all. So I requested they watch over you in case something happened.”
At my words, Lua stared at me quietly.
Tears had already welled up in her eyes again.
“Why? Why are you about to cry again? Did I do something wrong…?”
Lua shook her head vigorously and wiped her tears with her sleeve.
“No. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just grateful.”