Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Princess's Summons
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Grand trumpet blasts echoed through the air. Knights clad in resplendent armor filled the surroundings.
A herald appeared, rolling out a red carpet between them, and bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Clauvitz family head. Bertier Imperial Count, receive the decree!"
...None of that happened. Sorry. It was all just my imagination.
I'd heard that someone had come from the capital. More precisely, from the Imperial Palace. So I figured it would be something like that.
But what I actually saw was a single knight politely delivering a message.
And my father, receiving it, immediately replied that he'd give an answer right away.
"Hm."
Father checked the letter first, then shared its contents in front of the family.
"...The 2nd Princess is summoning you, Kael."
"The 2nd Princess is summoning me?"
"For now, yes."
For now. That "for now" said it all.
I could read between the lines. They'd chosen the 2nd Princess precisely because she was the least burdensome option.
No one would be so rude as to summon someone who'd just returned home and tell them to come back right away.
But if they were calling for me in the 2nd Princess's name anyway, there was only one reason.
In truth, someone even higher up wants to see me, but they want to keep it under wraps publicly.
It was something I couldn't refuse to begin with, but if that was the case, I had to go.
I considered leaving right away, but whether out of consideration or not, the letter included a note to "come at your leisure."
It didn't really mean to take it slow. It was code for departing the day after receiving the letter.
"You'll have to leave early tomorrow morning, Kael."
"Alexei, have Mother call you back."
"Yes. Leave it to me, Father, Mother."
Right now, I needed to soothe the person most upset about the situation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ How long had it even been since I'd returned home, and now I was heading back to the capital?
Our parents seemed understanding enough, but Kaya was not.
"This is too much! You know you only just got here yesterday, right, big brother?!"
Kaya vented her frustration from the garden bench, clearly struggling to accept it.
At least she wasn't throwing a tantrum like she did when she was little and demanding I not go. Small mercies.
"I know. I get it, but what can I do? It must be something urgent."
"Dad said it himself—nothing's more important than rest. You need to stay home and recover!"
"Can't I rest again after going to the capital and coming back?"
Kaya shot me a sidelong glance at my question, then shook her head.
"That's exactly why I'm worried. I don't think it'll be that simple, big brother."
"Hm..."
Honestly, I felt the same. This didn't seem like something that would wrap up quickly.
I'd met and greeted a few nobles on my way out of the capital.
So there was no way the palace hadn't heard about my departure.
A rough calculation of travel time would tell them exactly when I'd arrive.
The fact that they'd sent someone anyway meant it was urgent.
"I'm anxious, big brother."
"About what?"
"They didn't call for Dad—they specifically named you. The Imperial Count didn't get the summons, and neither did anyone with a title."
"Maybe they're giving me a big reward."
"Or maybe they're giving you a big job?"
"..."
Sometimes, my little sister's sharp mind was a real concern.
It would be great if I could just placate her with a white lie.
But from what I'd seen, that probably wouldn't work for the rest of her life.
"Kaya."
"..."
"I need to start getting ready, or it'll be trouble if I'm late. It's an imperial order."
"Five more minutes."
She stuck close to my side, refusing to let go.
Anyone seeing this might mistake us for some lovey-dovey couple dripping with honey and spilling sugar.
We couldn't have weird rumors ruining her marriage prospects later.
"I was going to keep it a secret until tomorrow, but..."
"Hm? What was that, Kaya?"
I hadn't caught it clearly, so I asked again, and she mumbled softly.
"I... I won them all."
"Won them all?"
"Our family's knights."
"Huh?"
"I beat them all in 1-on-1 spars. Everyone except the captain."
For a moment, I thought I'd misheard. Kaya beat who?
"You beat all our family knights?"
"Yeah."
"Excluding the captain... wait. Does that mean you beat even the vice captain?"
She nodded vigorously without a hint of hesitation.
There was no way she'd lie to me. Absolutely not.
Which made it all the more shocking. I was too stunned to speak properly.
I knew she'd been diligently training in martial arts since she was little, vowing to protect me.
Unlike me, who had no talent for physical pursuits, she was said to be making great progress.
The knights used to clap when they watched her swing a spear as a kid.
But Kaya was only fifteen now. Still just a girl.
She hadn't even seen combat, much less reached adulthood.
And yet, this same Kaya had defeated every knight in our family?
Even the vice captain, whose skill was on par with or just below the captain's??
"For real? You really beat the knights up to the vice captain?"
"Yeah."
"They didn't—"
"No way they went easy on me, big brother."
True enough. These weren't ordinary fighters—they were knights who'd fought alongside Father on the battlefield.
No matter that she was their lord's daughter or a young lady; they couldn't hold back.
Far better to give their all and offer advice afterward.
"That's insane..."
"That's all you've got?"
She shot me a glare. Of course it couldn't end there.
A fifteen-year-old girl beating full-fledged knights wasn't an everyday feat.
"Our Kaya's a genius. A total genius."
"Hehehe."
I ruffled her hair, and she melted into a puddle, not knowing what to do with herself.
She looked just like a puppy. Or no—a cat that only came to me?
Ah, but don't get the wrong idea. I'm not treating my sister like some pet.
"At this rate, you'll become the empire's greatest spear wielder."
"Hmph! If I'm going to help my future Imperial Count brother, I need to be at least that good."
"Just staying by this brother's side helps me plenty, Kaya."
Of course. Family's the kind of existence where just being there is enough.
I couldn't do that in my past life, but this time was different. I could change it.
They wouldn't sacrifice for me—I'd protect them.
I'd do whatever it took, genius strategist or not.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "We should head inside soon, Kaya. If we're leaving at dawn tomorrow..."
"You go ahead, big brother. I'll come in after a bit."
Kaya flashed a bright smile and gently nudged her brother's back.
Kael tilted his head at her words but soon nodded.
She wasn't a five-year-old anymore; at fifteen, telling her to go to bed early was just nagging.
She'd handle herself. She was old enough, and it was about time she did.
Still, he warned her about the chilly night air and told her to come in soon before heading inside first.
"..."
Kaya watched her brother's retreating figure for a moment, then turned her gaze to the night sky.
"Haa."
Her heart felt heavy. The lie she'd told gnawed at her, driving her mad.
To Kael, of all people. The one she loved most in the world.
She shouldn't have. Being honest would have been so much better.
Beating the family knights? True. Beating the vice captain? Also true.
But that's where she stopped. There was more to say, and parts she should have denied.
"Empire's greatest spear wielder..."
She murmured the words Kael had just said.
"Miss, how... how did you get this strong, and so quickly?"
After defeating the vice captain, Kaya had secretly sparred with the knight order captain.
The final result was the captain's victory. But to him, it felt no different from defeat.
After all, he'd barely edged out Kaya—a far junior, half his age—in a close match.
And she'd even chosen to fight with a spear, not her main weapon.
"Incredible. To have this level of skill at fifteen... I can't believe it."
"I didn't hold back. I gave it everything I had."
"But Miss, why do you insist on using the spear?"
"If it hadn't been a spear, I would've lost that spar."
"Isn't your true talent in the sword?"
Indeed. Kaya Clauvitz—the girl who showed her brother only spear techniques.
Her real prowess lay in the sword, enough to defeat anyone.
Few knew this truth. Only two people in all of Bertier Imperial County.
One was the knight captain who'd sparred with her. The other was the Bertier Imperial Count himself.
So why hide it? Why show Kael only the spear?
Big brother Kael is decent with the sword too. I don't want to take that pride away from him.
Generations of Clauvitzes, active in the military, had exceptional physical abilities.
Kael, by contrast, was only slightly above average.
Not weak, but not overwhelming. His martial skills hovered around average too.
His swordsmanship was at least quite good, though. He took quiet pride in it.
And Kaya, watching from up close, didn't want to touch that.
So she picked up the spear instead. It was more than enough to stand by Kael's side.
Sword or spear—it doesn't matter. For big brother Kael, I'll use whatever.
Gazing at the distant moon and stars, Kaya smiled faintly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "All prepared, young master!"
"Good. But are you sure you're okay, Alexei? You just got here and haven't even rested."
"I'm fine. If anything, the palace? My heart's about to burst! Hahaha!"
Tell me about it. Mine felt the same.
How long had it been since returning to the family estate? And now I was off to the capital again.
The difference this time? My final destination was the Imperial Palace.