A Wish

Asella's crown was still clearly visible, buried against my chest. Her hair grew in a counterclockwise spiral. I imagined what might happen if I pressed the center—would the strands whirl around like a fan? Ah, what had she just said?

"You're talking about our engagement, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, for noble houses, it's the best way to signal an alliance. Even Georg had three fiancées for his concubine side-rooms, didn't he?"

"Two of them just got dumped this time. Guess they're no use now that he can't push his business ventures."

"I see. Imperial concubine engagements feel less like marriages to the royal family and more like contracts with the palace itself."

"Is political engagement such a flimsy promise?"

"That's the vibe in the Empire these days, I think. Things are probably different in other countries."

Asella frowned, clearly displeased by the idea.

"You and I... we got engaged without even knowing each other."

"That's true."

"Didn't you hate that?"

"Eh."

From my perspective, it was already set in stone, so there wasn't much to like or dislike about it.

"Did the princess hate it?"

"I..."

Asella turned her head slightly, glancing at me sideways.

"I didn't like it, but..."

"Most people wouldn't. 'Business engagement' sounds awful right from the start. It means your kids are just bargaining chips for the family."

"Yeah. I would never do that to my own children."

Her response caught me a bit off guard.

"Your own children? You think about stuff like that?"

"Huh? No, I haven't really thought that deeply about it."

Asella peeked at me nervously, then reverted to her usual tone.

"Anyway, what do you think? Rumors are flying that our engagement is just business."

"Yeah, that's pretty annoying."

I answered right away, and Asella drew in a sharp breath. Her cheeks were a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠little flushed—maybe from the cold.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Still, it wasn't pleasant knowing nobles were gossiping about us. Rumors twist as they spread. It was a hassle if the Moonlight Palace became fodder for idle chatter behind closed doors. Camilla's fault for not managing her reputation better.

I'd rather be seen purely as her personal physician. That way, when the time was right, I—and my family—could wash our hands of the imperial family cleanly. But if society was already buzzing about it, the timing might be a tad late.

"...Hmph. So you think that way too, young master."

"You get me."

"You're pretty straightforward, after all."

Asella shrugged.

"We need to make it clear to high society. That you and I aren't in a political engagement."

"Oh, that's a great idea."

I liked her thinking. A business engagement did no favors for either side's image. The Moonlight Palace would seem weak, borrowing the Gotberg marquisate's power, and I'd look like someone without any real say. Best if people saw me as just a subordinate working under contract for Asella.

"Young master, when's your birthday? You're an adult now, right?"

"Come to think of it, today's the last day."

A few hours from now, the year would end, and the new one would begin. Nineteen years old. The year I became an adult.

In the Empire, adulthood just meant old enough to marry. People started jobs as young as fifteen, and adventurers especially had plenty in their teens. Not some huge life milestone.

"Not long now. March. You just had yours a bit ago, right?"

"Yeah. Get me something better next year. Got plans for your coming-of-age?"

"Figured I'd just grab a meal with the healers at the Imperial Medical Office."

"Hmm..."

Asella smiled, like she was plotting something fun.

"We should throw a party at the Moonlight Palace."

"A party? That's a bit much. No need to go that far."

"Not grateful?"

"This humble servant bows to the gracious princess's kindness."

Asella was the type who had to act on her ideas to feel satisfied, so I accepted it meekly. She giggled at my bow and tugged my arm.

"Sleepy. I'm beat."

"The Second Legion's still fighting, though."

"Heike'll handle it. I'll just get the report later."

"I'm hungry."

"No appetite. The food on the expedition was awful the whole time."

"Aw, you still gotta eat properly."

"Then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠make me some tanghulu?"

After bubble tea, now tanghulu. Last time at the marquisate, I'd made it with seasonal strawberries, and she'd loved it. But no ingredients here.

"Can't."

"Hmph. Fine, then sleep."

Asella finally dragged me to the bed and flopped down.

"Fine."

No point fighting her stubbornness, so I lay beside her. We squeezed into the narrow spare bed, faces inches apart.

"Here, at least replenish some sugar. Candy."

I pulled one from my pocket.

"Mm..."

Instead of answering, Asella stuck out her tongue a little.

Making me do everything by hand, huh. I unwrapped it, and the sweet honey scent hit my nose. I brushed it gently across her tongue like painting. The honey melted, slowly staining the tip of her protruding tongue orange.

Asella seemed content with the sweetness and warm blankets; her eyelids drifted shut.

Time for me to cast stamina recovery soon, too.

I reached for another candy, but damn—a mistake. I'd given her the last one.

Going downstairs to the first floor for more...

Already under the covers, my whole body screamed laziness. I took the candy I'd been using for her and licked the other side.

"Huh?"

Asella's eyes snapped open at my action. She swallowed the saliva pooled in her mouth.

"Young master, why are you licking that?!"

"I wanted some too, and it was the last one."

"Even so, I'd already been eating it!"

"Just the other side. Didn't touch your saliva."

Hygiene first, always. Asella gaped at me, incredulous, then glared.

Yeah, stealing food from someone mid-bite was kinda rude.

"Want the rest?"

I offered it again. Her face flushed crimson, brows furrowing.

Right, it was gross. My bad.

She shoved my hand, stuffing the whole candy into my mouth, then buried her face in my chest like she'd seen something she shouldn't.

Falling asleep early in the evening meant even after a long nap, it was still dawn when I woke. There was a notification in my status window.

The most dangerous barbarian tribe, the Rock Clan, had been completely eradicated. The bad ending they triggered was gone.

No. 67 was an unexpected bonus. Nice surprise.

The Reckless Charge bad ending happened early on if Asella marched the knight orders—including the hero party—before they were ready. Like facing the first mid-boss without finishing the tutorial. Of course, she'd probably sent them in expecting defeat.

Maybe seeing the knights fight up close this time had taught her the terror of the battlefield. Either way, good for me.

And that same Asella had spent the night with her hair a messy tangle in my arms. She woke rumpled, rubbing her eyes. I couldn't match her head maid's skill, but I brushed her hair simply, and we decided on a quick outing.

Bundled in multiple coats against the cold, we climbed to the fortress roof.

"It's freezing. Young master, it's still pitch black—did we have to go outside?"

"That's exactly why we should. Here."

I offered my hand, escorting her up to the battlement. Asella took it silently, standing beside me to gaze at the view.

"The Moonlight Palace banners fly over every fortress. The subjugation was a success."

"...Yeah."

Asella breathed out white mist, surveying the scars of battle. Knights cheering victory, refugees sighing in relief. The heat of it all still lingered vividly.

"Obviously. Who do you think I am?"

"Of course, the flower of the Württemberg imperial family, the peerless genius Princess Asella."

"Exactly."

Asella giggled, turning to me. A cool breeze tousled her lush golden hair. Strands soaked in darkness began to sparkle, finally gleaming true gold.

"Ah, there it is."

I pointed between the eastern mountains. The black sky regained its blue hue as a pure white sun peeked out.

"...Hmph."

"New Year's sunrise. In my homeland, they say it brings good energy all year."

"The north has folklore like that, huh."

"Yep. And if you make a wish, it comes true."

"That's stupid. You grab what you want yourself—no one's granting wishes for you."

Asella scoffed, but soon the sunlight stole her gaze, and she fell quiet.

"Gotta wish before it's fully up. See? Halfway already. Sunrises are shorter than you think. Blink and it's—"

"Jeez, be quiet for once."

She snapped irritably, so I shut up. Once the sun rose fully, Asella turned away indifferently. As she headed to the stairs, I leaned out and asked,

"What'd you wish for?"

"Didn't make one. What about you?"

"Hey, telling someone else means it won't come true."

To erase every bad ending and reach a good ending. No one to hear it, but I whispered it in my mind.

Hearing that, Asella pouted, lips jutting out.

"Then it's a secret for me too."

Back at the palace, Asella's routine resumed as usual: duties, studies, socializing, magic. She hadn't achieved war-hero feats, so no dramatic welcome was expected.

But feeling the palace's everyday normalcy so starkly made her truly grasp the expedition. She—and her knights—had been in the thick of life-or-death battle. Ras had nearly died for real.

Not a fun experience.

The palace's peace existed because of that battlefield.

I wonder if Heike's used to this feeling.

One lesson: knowledge couldn't beat experience.

Battlefields would probably make Asella hesitate from now on.

Not a bad result.

Rescuing the refugees in one go and wiping out the barbarians left Heike with no room to complain; he handed all credit to the Moonlight Palace. The official report to the emperor would favor her. Blücher would vouch for it—no room for doubt. A clean win.

Hate to admit it, but...

Ras's contributions had made this subjugation a perfect success. She'd used his treatments in negotiations with Heike, he'd suggested the strategy, and he'd played a decisive role in letting Tanya fell the chieftain.

A subordinate's merits were the lord's glory. All good for Asella.

...But I don't like others recognizing him.

She didn't want to see Ras swelling with pride from praise elsewhere. One lord's approval was enough for a subordinate.

As Ras's feats grew, Asella felt growing anxiety that she couldn't monopolize him.

She just hadn't defined the emotion clearly yet.

Heh, but I've got this.

In her room, Asella opened the mana-locked drawer—only she could. Important documents stayed here.

She picked up the neatly placed sealed letter in the corner.

Only I can grant what Ras wants most.

The thought lifted her lips slightly. He'd begged her to use Geas, after all. Not really, but her memory twisted it that way.

Trivial for her, but his deepest wish. To fulfill it, he'd serve her loyally.

Wonder what's inside.

She wanted to open the envelope, but it was sealed tight. Her Geas ensured no lesser mage—or even her—could without his say-so.

Hm... He did earn big this time.

Maybe grant this little wish. She could extract double the price. That sounded fun.

Asella chuckled to herself, scheming mischievously.