Even Brushing Sleeves is Fate
"Well, that figures," Alan thought.
Ever since arriving in the Imperial Capital, talk of the Shuren Chronicle had been pouring out nonstop. Even when he disguised himself and wandered around incognito, he heard it everywhere. There was some positive buzz, but mostly negative reviews.
He didn't pay it much mind, though. Innovation always came with growing pains, and the fierce backlash from the establishment was like a spiteful postscript tacked on top.
"My homeland is a distant land in the far east, far removed from the Western Empire. The mere fact that you've taken an interest in such a place fills me with joy. When I heard that the author of the Shuren Chronicle was from the Sword King family... from the Mueller Ducal House, the sword of the Western Empire... I was utterly astonished."
Alan felt the blood drain from his face. It was as if thousands of eyes— not dozens or hundreds, but thousands—were piercing him like arrows from every direction. He felt like he might faint on the spot.
This is insane...!
"I was surprised. To think there's someone in the Western Empire who understands Kun'Rung."
"I hope this exchange program benefits me, Kun'Rung, and both our nations greatly. Ah, and..."
Lin paused briefly, her gaze flicking toward Alan. Amid the massive crowd, her eyes— sparkling with amusement— seemed to pinpoint him as if she'd known exactly where he was hiding. The princess from the East had found him. It felt suffocating.
"Alan Edgar von Mueller. Thank you. I wish you continued good health. That's all."
With a smile, Lin stepped away from the microphone enchanted with amplification magic. Alan's vision went dark.
I'm screwed.
His academy life felt like it was getting thoroughly tangled before it even began.
"...Meia."
"Yes, Young Master."
"My stomach hurts so bad I feel like I'm gonna die..."
The moment the entrance ceremony ended, Alan bolted from the grand hall like he was fleeing for his life. Back at the inn he'd reserved near the academy, he collapsed onto the bed, looking pale and sickly. As always, his expressionless maid, Meia, was right by his side.
"Shall I fetch something soothing for your stomach?"
"Just give me some water... If I don't drink anything, I really might die."
"Right away."
Meia left briefly, and soon there was a knock at the door.
"Alan! You in there?"
"Bro...?"
It was a familiar voice— his brother, Albert Eling von Mueller.
Meia's voice followed. "Young Master Albert, excuse me."
"Meia's here too. Come in."
"Thank you."
The door opened, Meia entered with a tray, and Albert followed. Alan greeted his brother from his sprawled position on the bed.
"What's up, bro...?"
"Word's already spreading that your entrance ceremony was a spectacle. They say Kun'Rung's princess put a huge spotlight on you."
"...My stomach's churning."
Albert burst out laughing at Alan's reaction.
"It means your novel's that famous. Something to be happy about. Even Kun'Rung's princess read it, so it must be pretty damn good."
"It's just the noise marketing working."
"Deliberately stirring up controversy to grab attention? Isn't that just a sales tactic?"
Maybe cultured nobles really were on another level. Albert picked up on "noise marketing" right away.
Alan groaned and sat up. He downed the water Meia handed him in one go and set the glass aside.
"It's not just for sales, bro. It applies to anything on the market."
"Does that relate to the backlash from the imperial literary circles?"
"Yeah, their outrage helped spread it everywhere by rebound. If those old fogeys hadn't attacked my novel so openly, it wouldn't have blown up like this."
This was true. The novel published under Alan's name might have faded into obscurity without drawing eyes. He hadn't even promoted it. He could've leveraged the Mueller name to advertise everywhere, but he didn't. It was an experiment: how far could a debut novel from an unknown author without promo go?
But the person who discovered it at the bookstore happened to be a noble connected to a literary giant in the empire. The noble passed it along without suspicion, and that sparked the whirlwind. A terrifying butterfly effect.
"Anyway, what about sis?"
"Alice? She took a dungeon subjugation request a while back and left. She'll be back soon."
"She won't get hurt, right...?"
"Hurt? Alice?"
Albert snorted with laughter. "I won't lose to anyone else, but Alice? I got no shot. Get the picture now?"
"That good?"
It wasn't strange for Alan to question it. Albert was a third-year at the academy, Alice a second-year. Both trained directly with their father, Duke Mueller, and were considered top-tier swordsmen in the Mueller family. Alice was exceptional too, but Albert was generally rated higher.
Yet here was Albert admitting he couldn't beat Alice.
"That's her level. Don't worry. She didn't train sloppily enough to come back injured. Mueller knights aren't raised weak."
Except you, Alan, Albert added with a grin.
"So, what's the real reason you're here?"
"Can't a brother just check on his little bro? I came to see your entrance ceremony. But by the time I got there, the grand hall was in an uproar."
He added that it was several times noisier than Alice's ceremony and continued. "Heard Kun'Rung's princess called your name out directly?"
"My stomach hurts, bro."
"Haha, I get it. If a princess or prince called my name on entrance day, I'd react the same."
It'd be shocking even if it were the empire's own royalty, but Kun'Rung's? That was the kicker. Albert said, leaning on his sword,
"That's actually why I came. Seems Their Highnesses the prince and princess are interested in you."
"Huh?"
His head already throbbed from Kun'Rung's princess spotting him— now the empire's prince and princess too? He'd been dreading running into her again. Alan's face crumpled like he'd been stung by a scorpion, making Albert laugh.
"Don't freak out. It's pure interest. Our family doesn't mingle much with that crowd, so maybe that's why."
"So I'm the freak they're curious about?"
"Kinda. Plus, both Their Highnesses are fascinated by Kun'Rung. You know about relations between Kun'Rung and our empire?"
Alan shook his head. Kun'Rung in the Eastern Empire and the Western Empire Tyranto. He'd only recently learned Kun'Rung wasn't just a region but the empire's name, centered around the Kun'Rung area.
Albert explained. "The empire's upper echelons are hyper-focused on Kun'Rung's princess coming to the academy. Their Highnesses are watching closely."
"And that involves me how?"
"The one interested in you is the Eastern Empire's princess."
Alan frowned slightly. "They're hoping to improve ties through me or something?"
"Something like that, yeah."
"You're overselling it, bro."
"Just saying." Albert shrugged. "Expectations are high anyway. Your debut novel's making waves. Dad'll love it."
"My stomach hurts."
"Haha, enjoy it. Whining won't change anything."
"True, but..."
Dorm assignments came next— probably another hell. Alan sighed. "...Debuting at the academy sure was flashy."
"Good is good. As a Mueller, you were gonna draw eyes anyway."
Alan scratched his cheek. Fair point. As the duke's son, people would try to cozy up, or at least take notice. Plus, with his name as Shuren Chronicle's author spreading, more eyes on him. Meaning threats could come from anywhere.
What a mess.
Unaware or uncaring of Alan's inner turmoil, Albert just grinned. "Stomach better? Let's grab food. I know a great spot."
"Ugh."
"Up you go."
Staying holed up wouldn't change much, so Alan got up.
"Never thought we'd meet here."
Alan inwardly screamed at the sight of the red-clad beauty, Lin, standing before him.
Why is the Eastern Empire's princess at the exact restaurant my brother picked for dinner?!
She approached with a natural smile, but Alan felt the murderous glare from her bodyguard, Shen, behind her. Straight out of a wuxia or fantasy tale— the loyal knight or guard protecting his lady, eyes screaming approach and die.
"There's a saying in Kun'Rung: even brushing sleeves is fate. Why don't we share a meal?"
Alan broke into a cold sweat.
...I'm screwed.