32
Chapter 32
I know this isn't a dream, but I can't for the life of me understand what's happening.
Why on earth has the Imperial Princess, who should be heading back to the palace after break, come to my house?
"You don't have to... Ah! Since we're outside the academy, it's only right that I show proper respect. Please, stand up."
"Thank you."
Even looking again, she is definitely the Imperial Princess.
But why?
Even though we're at the same Belliard Academy, she's a Magic Class trainee and I'm a Ranger Class instructor.
We had absolutely no reason to cross paths.
"I know we're in the South, but it feels even colder since we're near the coast. May we step inside to talk?"
"Oh, I didn't think of that. It's modest, but please, come in."
"Thank you. Shine, let's go inside."
Thank goodness I cleaned up beforehand.
"It's clean, but it's quite shabby."
The escort knight standing beside the princess grumbled.
It's a house where a man lives alone, so of course it's lacking, but to say it so bluntly... how rude.
"Shine, that's rude! I apologize on his behalf."
"Oh... no, it's fine. He's not wrong. Since I live alone, it's lacking in many ways. Please, have a seat."
I brought two wooden chairs from the dining table in the kitchen and placed them near the fireplace.
"You said you live alone, yet you have two chairs?"
"Ah, I have them for when I have dinner with the village chief and his wife who live nearby. I have one more, but they're all the same, so I'm sorry these are all I have."
"It's alright. I didn't announce my visit, so this is fine."
"One moment, Your Highness."
He took a handkerchief from his pocket and spread it over the chair.
I had just wiped it down while cleaning, but he's being fussy—I guess that's just how escort knights are.
"Sir Knight, please sit as well."
"I prefer standing, so do not concern yourself with me."
He could have just said that from the start.
I had taken off my prosthetic arm to go to sleep, so I had to struggle to carry those chairs with just one arm.
"Shine, stop trying to act tough and just sit down."
I sat down only after the princess urged me, and then the knight took another handkerchief out and spread it for me.
He said it was clean earlier; does he have a germ phobia or something?
"Baronet Bio, this has been bothering me for a while, but what on earth are you wearing in front of Her Highness?"
"Oh, I was just about to go to bed. I'll go change right away."
...Seriously, who told them to come at this hour?
"Is there anything to drink?"
You'd think he owned the place.
The princess is staying quiet, but that knight is truly obnoxious.
First telling me to change my clothes, now asking for a drink... he's really going through the whole list.
"I'll prepare something once I've changed."
I took a kettle from the kitchen, filled it with water using magic, and placed it on the fireplace hearth.
"I'll be back in a flash after I change and will finish the preparations."
I went upstairs and quickly changed my clothes.
I had just come home and was looking forward to a good night's sleep; I can't believe this chaos.
I came back down, took tea leaves and a tea set from my subspace, poured the boiled water, and brewed the tea.
"This is a blend of Karuzia and Osine leaves. I've just returned today, so I apologize that I don't have anything better prepared."
"Not at all. I'll enjoy it."
"Please wait a moment. I've never heard of either of these plants."
The knight pulled a small container from his pocket and took out a silver needle.
"Excuse me."
He dipped the silver needle into the princess's tea to check for poison, but of course, nothing happened.
I wonder how she's managed to eat at the academy; he's really overdoing it.
"My Shine lacks flexibility, so I hope you won't take it to heart."
"It's fine. Karuzia is a herb common in the mountains behind Seinti, and Osine refers to the young leaves of Lifria."
"I know Lifria. It's a tea we often drink at the Imperial Palace, though I've never heard it called that before."
"That's because I was an instructor for the Ranger Class."
"Rangers study herbology, right? The scent is wonderful. It feels warm and as if all the chill is vanishing."
Of course it is.
It's a high-grade tea—not worth its weight in gold, but certainly worth its weight in silver—which is why I've been savoring it in small amounts.
"I'm glad it's to your liking. By the way, Your Highness, may I ask you one thing?"
"By all means."
"May I ask why you've come all the way to my home in the middle of nowhere at this hour?"
"Ah, I almost forgot. I heard you're not returning for the new term and are quitting after this semester?"
Hmm, did the dean tell her?
Then again, I should have expected this since I told Amelia.
I'm slightly uneasy, but I've already officially retired.
"That's correct. I've always been in poor health, and I overexerted myself teaching May this time."
"Is that so? It's been over a month since Greeta ended, yet you haven't recovered? You must be quite ill."
Her tone is gentle, but I feel as though there's a hidden meaning.
"Haha, as you age, recovery isn't as fast as it is for young people. Moreover, I've always had physical ailments..."
Since I had my prosthetic arm off, I lightly shook my shoulder, and the empty right sleeve fluttered.
"Ah, that's right."
What was that?
Most people look at this with pity, but the princess's gaze isn't pitiful at all.
"Apologies. It's unsightly, so I usually wear my prosthetic and cover it with long sleeves and gloves, but as I mentioned, I was preparing for bed..."
"It's fine. I'm not the type to care about things like that."
...my anxiety keeps growing.
"I see. But I wonder how my resignation relates to the reason for your visit..."
"I've come to request your tutelage."
Tutelage?
"I'm bewildered that you're suddenly asking for teaching. Weren't you in the Magic Class, Your Highness?"
Why would an ace who made it to Greeta want me?
The princess even won the magic department in this Greeta.
The overall champion, who fought the winners, was Duke Dylan's youngest granddaughter—May's opponent—but the princess put up a remarkably close fight against such a natural disaster.
A 4th Class Master at the young age of eighteen.
Of course, as a 5th Class Master, I'm one class higher, so there's nothing I couldn't teach her, but I just don't understand.
Since there are 6th Class Wizards among the academy instructors.
There's even the dean, who is rumored to be close to becoming 7th Class.
Given her status as the princess, she could learn from any of the imperial wizards, so why me?
"I'm not looking to learn magic."
"Then... do you mean you want to become a Ranger?"
An imperial family member as a ranger... it doesn't fit at all.
Why would she want a profession that's considered inferior to knights or wizards?
Some places, like the Principality of Dmitri, value them more due to the geography, but even there, rangers never stand above knights or wizards.
"I have no intention of becoming a ranger. I just want to get stronger."
Want to get stronger?
That sounds like something a sixteen-year-old boy in the throes of puberty would say, not a beautiful princess.
"If that's your reason, then I'm afraid you've come to the wrong person. It would be far better to ask His Majesty for lessons from the dukes or court wizards..."
Did I say something wrong?
Helena suddenly frowned.
"My father won't grant my request."
No way.
He seemed to care for her quite a bit, even going as far as calling in the Intelligence Agency during that underwear thief incident.
They say children never truly understand their parents.
I suppose the princess is no exception.
"You look like you don't believe me. It's true. My father and I made a bet."
"A... a bet? What kind of..."
"I'll tell you everything once you promise to teach me, Instructor Bio. Please, help me."
I saw a flash of sincerity in Helena's eyes, but I ignored it and lowered my head.
"...I don't have the ability to do that."
"Aren't you being too humble? You turned May, who claimed to have no talent, into a sword expert in less than a month."
"May's starting level was low, which is why her progress was so rapid. As Your Highness knows, the higher the level, the harder it is to break through to the next stage."
"I heard you taught her using a secret technique. I'm willing to pay whatever price is necessary. Just tell me what you want."
Forget the price—I just want some goddamn rest!
"As I mentioned before, I wouldn't be of much help to Your Highness..."
"I'll be the judge of whether Baronet Bio is helpful or not."
The boldness in her tone reminded me of the Emperor I had met before.
The Emperor was far more domineering and majestic, but I guess blood will tell.
"I want nothing other than rest. I believe I mentioned this from the start, but I'm exhausted, both physically and mentally..."
"Baronet Bio Rain, are you refusing the princess's request right now?"
The female knight, who had been silent until now, stood up and threatened me.
"Shine, sit down."
"But this man just flatly rejected Your Highness..."
"Do you want me to say it twice?"
"I'm sorry."
"You should apologize to Instructor Bio."
"I... I'm sorry."
"Properly."
"I am sorry."
She bowed her head deeply. I calmly told her it was fine, but inside, I was quite shocked.
I had sensed a bit of boldness and dignity when she said she'd be the judge, but that just now was truly chilling.
I thought she was just a pretty, kind model student who happened to be great at magic...
Whatever else she may be, she's definitely not some delicate flower grown in a greenhouse.
'Roses have thorns. Be careful, or you'll end up led by the nose.'
I know that.
"According to May, whom I tutored for nearly a month, you never once showed any signs of being ill. Is that not true?"
Now she's speaking informally.
I guess since being nice didn't work, she's decided to play hardball.
"As an instructor, how could I show a trainee my weaknesses?"
Helena frowns again.
She seems determined to get that secret technique somehow, but not a chance.
The princess is impressive, but she's no match for me.
"Is there truly nothing you want? Wealth is an option, and I heard you're still unmarried, so a marriage into a good family—no, you don't seem like the type for that. How about a beautiful slave? I can even get you an elf if you'd like."
...What did I just hear?
No matter how I look at it, those aren't words that should come out of an eighteen-year-old girl's mouth...
"Your Highness? It is illegal to keep demi-humans as slaves."
Slavery for demi-humans like elves and dwarves had been banned long before Princess Helena was even born.
"Isn't that law essentially dead? I know they're still traded secretly among nobles."
I'm so baffled I almost snorted.
"Are there such people? I have no intention of breaking the laws of the empire."
Who does she think I am to try this nonsense on me?
I don't want an elf slave, but even if I did, she'd probably just change her tune and stab me in the back.
"I've been waiting for you to say that. You know, refusing a request from the imperial family without a valid reason is a violation of Imperial Law, Article 17, Paragraph 22."
She says this with a beaming smile; did I let my guard down too much?
It wasn't about the elf; she just wanted to lure me into saying I follow the law.
"Baronet Bio Rain? You have to stick to your word, don't you?"
"I believe I already mentioned that my health is poor."
"Still with that excuse? Fine, I'll assign you the imperial wizards and the empire's finest physician."
...There's no way out.
"Why on earth are you doing this to me!"
I'm genuinely aggrieved.
I've spent the last semester suffering in the capital for some royal recommendation and haven't even been back for a full day.
"Did you just raise your voice at Her Highness?"
I did it without thinking because I was so frustrated, but the female knight stood up and actually drew her sword.
"No, it's just that I'm so frustrated..."
"I'm the one who's frustrated. Baronet Bio Rain, just what gives you the right to be so arrogant? Are you not also a citizen of this empire?"
Sigh. For some reason, the princess isn't stopping her this time.
Is raising my voice really that big of a crime?
And a citizen?
I spent ten years working like a dog for the Intelligence Agency; isn't that enough?
What more does she want from me?
"I spent over ten years risking my life for the Beluga Empire. I even lost an arm in the process; don't you think this is going too far?"
"Isn't that why you're receiving a pension and a title?"
For a moment, I was so worked up I almost shouted that I'd give her all my pension if she wanted to try losing an arm.
That escort knight Shine—or whoever she is—doesn't fit with me at all, maybe even more than Amelia did.
"Both of you, stop. Blue Mist, will you really not do it?"
I was truly shocked.
How does the princess know my identity?
I was flustered, but the words that followed were even more shocking.
"Why so surprised? I was honestly too embarrassed to bring this up, but you're the real culprit who stole my underwear!"
She snaps at me, her face flushed bright red.
Haha, I think my life is ruined.
And ruined quite spectacularly.