The Princess (1)
After the debutante ball ended, Dante had assumed Sara would dive headfirst into high society. What did social activities for 14-year-old noble ladies entail? Tea parties at a friend's house! Shopping trips to the department store with friends! Boat rides with friends! Exchanging gifts with friends! And so on. He'd figured she'd throw herself into all that girly fun. After all, that's what the debut ball was for.
"But why are you always stuck at home?"
"…"
Sara pursed her lips and pretended not to hear. Deep down, she knew it too. Her debut ball had been... half a disaster! She'd gotten into a huge fight with a lady she'd never met before, and in the second half, she'd trailed after the princess like some kind of security blanket(?), leaving no time for deep conversations with the other ladies.
Sure, they'd all said things like, "O ho ho ho~ Lady Sara Aision~ I'll contact you later, see you next time~" as they parted ways. But contact? Fat chance. No one had reached out to Sara at all!
"I... I'm going to a tea party later, okay?"
"Ah, with Charlotte, right? She's such a good friend, still hanging out with you."
"…"
Sara's only friend was still just Charlotte... Well, actually, there was one more.
"Here, take this."
"What's that?"
"A letter from the princess."
"!"
Esilia, the princess. Excluding Charlotte, she was the only lady who regularly contacted Sara.
"She wants you to come play at her villa?"
"... It's an order."
Dante wasn't sure what Esilia really thought of Sara. But Sara definitely found the princess intimidating. He could kind of understand. For an ordinary noble, getting chummy with someone that high up never ended well. You'd just get dragged into politics later.
She's friends with the princess, so she must be a supporter!
...However.
Dante knew why the princess kept approaching Sara. Sara had no idea what conversation her brother had exchanged with the princess. It had all happened behind closed doors at the debut ball.
'She promised to be your friend.'
The princess had promised to become Sara's friend.
'She keeps her promises pretty well.'
Because of her promise to Dante, the princess frequently reached out to Sara.
"Sigh. Guess I have to go."
"Yeah. Bring back some waffles."
"It's always waffles... I mean, no."
"?"
"Bring your brother too."
"Me too?"
The princess had only promised to befriend Sara. She never met Dante one-on-one. That was only natural. Dante was a healthy 15-year-old young lord. Princess Esilia was a fresh 14-year-old girl. If the two of them met privately? It would draw every eye around them. One slip-up, and a scandal in the papers would spell headaches for both. (Messing with the imperial family was insane, but journalists were mostly insane anyway.)
So, whenever the princess summoned Dante, she always included Sara. It was like Dante came as a set menu with Sara whenever she met her "friend."
'It's been a while since she called.'
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah..."
She was finally going to a friend's(?) house, something she'd longed for. But Sara's face wasn't bright at all.
Of course, Dante didn't mind. Their relationship was still awkward, but he trusted time would smooth it out.
Dante and Sara boarded a carriage bound for the princess's villa.
"Wow."
The princess's villa was stunning. Vibrant roses climbed the walls like tapestries, filling the air with a thick floral scent. It brimmed with passion and vitality, a mansion that perfectly captured Princess Esilia's essence.
"Sara~ My friend Sara~!"
"Princess!"
The dazzlingly beautiful platinum blonde girl waved as she welcomed her guests. Princess Esilia.
"Come on, when it's just us, call me Esilia~"
"B-but how could I..."
A faint smile faded from Esilia's lips. It was a subtle shift, but Sara shuddered and apologized.
"S-sorry...!"
"Aww~ I'm trying so hard to be friends with you, Sara~ But you don't even notice. I might get hurt, you know?"
"E-Esilia... ma'am. I'm sorry."
"Just Esilia. Drop the formalities."
"...Esilia. Sorry..."
"Sigh. You're so bright and bubbly with Charlotte. Why are you like this with me? Is this what they call bullying?"
Esilia chuckled and issued a casual command.
"My friend Sara. Go inside first. I need a quick word with your brother."
"O-okay. I'll head in."
Sara entered the villa first. The princess led Dante toward the garden.
"Did my sudden summons surprise you?"
"Not at all. I'm always prepared to answer whenever you call."
Dante replied politely, and Esilia covered her mouth, giggling.
"Wow. Your parents raised you well, huh? Polite nobles like you are rare. A model for the aristocracy~ Dante~"
"I am honored."
"Hehe. No wonder the old emperors were surrounded by sycophants~ You know it's flattery, but sweet words make you want to keep them close anyway?"
Esilia fanned herself, hiding her smile as she began her tale.
"The reason I called you today is to fulfill our previous promise."
"Yes. Thank you for befriending Sara, Princess."
"I'll keep my promise~ So Dante, you have to keep yours too."
Dante nodded. They had formed a kind of contract. In exchange for the princess becoming Sara's friend and her backing—Dante would lend her his magic.
"Your magic was truly fascinating."
At the debut ball, Dante had won the duel using the Noon Fairy. Plenty of spectators had watched, but no one knew exactly how he'd secured victory.
It was only natural. Imperial citizens were largely ignorant of bug magic. Even mages from the Magic Tower were the same. No one could master every spell in existence, no matter their specialty. That's why there were [majors]. Like how professors didn't know everything.
Besides, the Noon Fairy was an exceedingly rare and valuable bug even in the New Continent, Bangkatoria.
"I asked the Magic Tower mages how you won."
"…"
"~No one could answer!~ Some guessed poison, or that you'd planted venomous bugs beforehand~ But no one could explain it precisely~"
Bug magic was exceedingly rare. Princess Esilia gazed at the mage before her, eyes sparkling.
"I won't pry into your methods. But... as my subject. And as your sister's friend. I trust you, Dante."
Her face was hidden, but Dante could picture her smiling.
"You showed me your magic, so now it's my turn to reveal my abilities~"
Just as Dante had demonstrated his bug magic victory, Princess Esilia intended to show him something in return.
"Let's head inside before Sara gets bored~"
"Yes, Princess."
Dante followed her into the villa. Like its rose-adorned exterior, the interior was gorgeously elegant. Wallpaper blending crimson and gold. Intricately wrought silver candelabras and landscape paintings by renowned artists. The maids paused their work, bowing until the princess passed. Truly, the lady of the house.
"You've arrived."
"Yes! This is Lord Dante Aision. And Dante? This is Mila Cedrun."
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Dante."
Dante sized up the lady named Mila and knew instantly.
'Her knight escort.'
Her short, practical hair and sturdy build suited action. She wore a dress for now... but her sharp eyes and rigid demeanor screamed knight.
"Mila? The guests?"
"All assembled."
"Sara's next to me, right~?"
"Yes."
"Great! Let's go, Dante!"
The maids opened the doors, revealing a vast, empty room like a ballroom. Slightly over ten ladies sat at tables of three or four. At the head table, right beside the princess's seat, Sara sat with a look of utter dread.
"Alright! With the last guest here~ Shall we get started?"
"…?"
The princess clapped sharply. One lady rose. Dante was mildly surprised upon recognizing her.
'Why is she here...?'
Sara wasn't the only one invited to the princess's villa. Lady Talain Raquelra of Count Raquelra had received an invitation too.
"Lady Raquelra?"
"Yes! Princess!"
Called by the princess, she bounded onstage eagerly.
"Ready~?"
"Yes! I'm ready!"
Lady Raquelra beamed with anticipation, purely thrilled at the invitation. But the princess's next words shattered her expression.
"Then let's begin the Rose War~?"
"...Pardon?"
"Mila! Show this valiant Lady Raquelra your skills!"
"Yes."
Mila approached the stunned Lady Raquelra.
And—SLAP!
Without hesitation, she struck the lady's cheek.
"...Wh-what...?"
"Your turn, milady~"
The princess settled into the head seat, smiling radiantly.
"Come on, time to play the game?"
"…"
All the ladies watched Mila and Lady Raquelra. Sara, beside the princess, squeezed her eyes shut.
SLAP! SLAP!
In the beautiful, opulent hall, only the gruesome sound of ripping cheeks echoed.
Lady Talain Raquelra of Count Raquelra, scion of a naval powerhouse with some clout in the west. Yet here she was, a battered mess.
SLAP! SLAP!
'Keeping her promise, huh.'
Dante had a rough idea of what was happening. The Rose War. Astonishingly, a venerable "sport"(?) passed down from the empire's founding era.
The Rose War, simply put, was women's boxing. Men held boxing matches at gentlemen's clubs all the time. Fistfights were eternally popular. The Rose War was its feminine counterpart. No men allowed. Only ladies from prestigious noble houses could participate. There were tournaments, prizes... it was officially a sport. Sort of.
But... it had been famous only in the founding era. Five hundred years later, it was a relic. What sane lady would enter a slapping contest? Back then, in an age of machismo and violence, it symbolized women's fighting spirit. Now, it barely survived in remote villages or obscure traditional events.
That forgotten sport was being revived here, in the princess's villa. By her command.
"S-sorry! Princess! I'm truly sorry! For so boldly upsetting you...!"
Lady Raquelra wailed. Princess Esilia fanned her mouth.
"I don't know why you're apologizing so much~ This is a sport~ Sport~"
"Spare me! Please...! I lost! Okay?! I lost!!!"
"You haven't lost yet! The blood of the naval house Raquelra cries out~ Get up and fight."
"Princess...!"
"Show me your spirit, Lady Raquelra. Or do you plan to disappoint me?"
"...H-huh, huuuh! Waaaaaah!"
Her opponent, Mila Cedrun, was indeed a true knight. She pummeled Lady Raquelra mercilessly. No excuses, pure brutality.
"Hng~"
Sara paled, but Esilia yawned boredly, idly waving her fan.
"GyaAAAAH-!!!"
Lady Raquelra screamed, but the princess ignored her.
Then.
"Ah~ Shall we go eat~?"
"Yes, Princess!"
"I wondered when you'd say that~!"
She snapped her fan shut and rose. The ladies swarmed her like they'd been waiting.
"H-huhuuuk..."
Leaving Lady Raquelra collapsed and sobbing, the princess and ladies headed for lunch.
"Sara~ My friend Sara~"
"…"
"Hungry, right? I prepared something delicious! Let's eat together~!"
"Yes! Lady Aision, the chef here is amazing!"
"What do you like, Lady Aision?"
The princess glanced back.
"Lady Raquelra~?"
"…"
"Join us for lunch!"
"...I-I think I'll... head home..."
"Aww~ It's lunchtime already? Don't go yet~ We have to keep playing~!"
"…"
Lady Raquelra trembled. The princess watched intently. As did her attendants.
Dante grasped the dynamic instantly. The princess reigned supreme over all empire ladies. Punishing Lady Raquelra—who had caused a scene at the debut ball—as an example reinforced order between royals and nobles.
At the same time, she neatly honored her promise to Dante.
"…"
For a moment, Dante's eyes met Lady Raquelra's. But he looked away. It was all her own doing. A lesson in what happens when you rely on power and status alone.
...Probably.
"Dante Aision!"
The princess approached, whispering conspiratorially.
"I kept my promise~"
"…"
"Your turn now?"
"Please speak."
"You promised to lend me your magic, right?"
That afternoon, Dante followed the princess to the imperial palace.