58
Chapter 58
Ark's reaction made me a bit uneasy, but the Duke left, saying he would send a letter to the Academy with the time and location.
I was glad he didn't follow me back to the safehouse, but...
'Surely not. Not someone who seems so normal.'
'You can't tell just by looking at someone.'
'If you're going to keep saying ominous things, just shut up.'
When I returned to the safehouse and opened the door, the Imperial Princess was waiting for me.
"I was worried that something bad might have happened."
"Your intuition is sharp. I'm actually on my way back from seeing His Majesty the Emperor."
"Oh... my father?"
She looked completely startled.
"Rest assured, I didn't see him because of you, but rather because of the recent fire on Creta Island."
"But still, if my father takes an interest in you because of this..."
"I might not be able to avoid his attention entirely, but I handled it well enough, so don't worry too much. Let's head back now."
I took the uneasy Princess's hand and pulled out the warp device.
I laced our fingers together as usual and began channeling magic power, but then I realized.
I was much later than usual, and since Shine would have returned, I should have gone to the rooftop, but I forgot to change the coordinates.
I stopped the flow of magic, but the blue light emanating from the warp device had already engulfed the Princess.
We arrived in the familiar setting of the Princess's room, but oh my god.
"What? How... how? I'm sure I locked the door."
I came face-to-face with Shine.
Coming face-to-face was one thing—I could explain that away—but unfortunately, Shine was in her underwear, as if she were in the middle of changing.
"Instructor, what are you doing? Look away, right now!"
I immediately turned my head at the sharp warning, which was unlike the usual Imperial Princess Helena.
"Shine, what are you doing? I told you not to come to the room until I came to get you."
"W-well, normally you would have come by now, but you weren't back..."
"I had some business to attend to today, so I'm late. You should have waited."
"My clothes felt restrictive, so I was changing before heading out again... No, don't just blame me! I locked the door, so how did you get in? And Princess, why are you holding hands with that man?"
Come to think of it, I was still holding her hand.
I let go immediately.
"There's an artifact that transports people to a designated location for the Instructor. I had to hold her hand to move together, so don't think anything of it and just put your clothes on."
"Ah, yes."
After a short wait, the Princess told me I could look back.
I considered leaving first, but I had to make sure she kept her mouth shut.
"Shine! You know that was a mistake, right? The Instructor looked away immediately, so just let it go. It was an accident."
"Well, I didn't see anything, and there wasn't much to see anyway."
"...Instructor! You shouldn't say things like that."
What did I do?
"As the Princess said, today was an accident, so let's just move past it."
"R-right. The Princess needs to sleep, so please leave quickly..."
She avoided my gaze with a bright red face; does she actually consider herself a woman?
I don't know why she's embarrassed now, considering she tried to strip completely in front of me before...
"Do not tell anyone about the artifact. The moment I hear from someone else about the artifacts I possess, my help ends."
'Isn't that a bit too cold?'
'I have to be this firm.'
It's better than being vague and accidentally letting the warp device's existence be known.
The atmosphere dampened slightly, but Shine agreed, and the Princess also cautioned her, promising to keep the secret.
"I'll be taking my leave now."
Although there's one more person who knows, now that Shine is aware, I think I can transport her more conveniently.
I can go straight to her room instead of the back of the dormitory and take her in one go.
* * *
"Good morn... Instructor, is something wrong?"
"You have dark circles under your eyes."
"I didn't sleep well... now go eat."
I had a nightmare, perhaps because I spent the night thinking about the implications of Duke Dylan's request.
He appeared in a pure white tuxedo and proposed to me, claiming that he was the only one who could make my heart race... gosh.
When I refused, he suddenly turned into a savage and asked, 'Do you want to live with me, or do you want to die?' I thought I was losing my mind.
Since he was a level above me in both magic and swordsmanship, I couldn't even escape, and he forced me into a pure white wedding dress...
Ugh, just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous, so I stood up.
I threw away my leftovers and left the dining hall for the faculty office.
After arriving and doing some light paperwork, the voting began.
Fortunately, the result was as I hoped: it was decided that the exam range would be expanded.
I should tell the students to work hard since a single test will determine their grades for the entire semester.
I gathered the class materials and headed to the classroom.
Everyone cheered at the news that the semester would end with one test, but they fell into despair again when they heard how extensive the range was.
"You can all get good grades if you pay attention in class, so don't be too afraid."
Perhaps because their entire grade depended on one test, the students seemed more focused than usual as I conducted the lesson.
Though they'll probably go back to normal in a few days anyway.
"Mixing the ash of Califrentin with crushed bayleaf can provide both hemostatic and analgesic effects. However, Berista must never be used with these two herbs as it causes side effects."
"What kind of side effects?"
"It'll be faster to show you than to explain. Trainee Leah, come forward."
I had the student who stepped forward roll up her sleeve and lightly pricked the back of her hand with a silver needle.
"Ouch!"
"First, let's try a mixture of Berista and Califrentin."
As soon as I applied the mixture, the wound healed instantly, but bumpy rashes began to appear on the back of her hand.
"In... Instructor."
"I only used a small amount, so it should subside by the end of class. Now, let's try mixing it with bayleaf."
I pricked the back of her other hand to create a wound and applied the mixture, causing Leah's eyes to lose focus.
"In... Instructor? I can't see."
The other students burst into laughter as she looked around blindly and fell on her backside.
"It causes temporary loss of vision and disorientation. Therefore, Berista must always be used alone."
Simultaneously, I used Cure magic to remove the effects of the medicine and offered my hand to help Leah up.
"Trainee Leah, can you see your handsome instructor's face now?"
"Ugh..."
"Yes..."
I sent Leah back to her seat—she was looking at me with a bewildered expression—and continued the lesson.
I stopped by the faculty office before lunch and found a luxurious envelope on my desk.
Sigh, my popularity is truly a burden.
Judging by the pink color of the envelope, it's definitely a love letter.
It's probably not a trainee, so is there another instructor interested in me?
Come to think of it, Ms. Rachel, the new instructor in the Swordsmanship Class, had been glancing at me.
I liked her because she was fresh and cheerful, but her way of expressing herself is a bit old-fashioned for a twenty-three-year-old.
I picked it up and flipped it over, only to find that, damn it, it wasn't from Instructor Rachel but from Duke Dylan.
Why on earth would he send a letter in an envelope like this and confuse me...
[Saturday, 12 PM. Come to Elcel de Mirage on Central Street.]
I was slightly surprised.
Because Elcel de Mirage is the most famous restaurant in the Empire.
It's the best restaurant in Beluga, receiving three Belchelin stars every year; it was founded by a top chef who served in the Imperial Palace for 40 years before retiring 160 years ago, and it's already in its fourth generation of history.
I heard that many current Imperial Palace chefs are alumni of Mirage.
Even the cheapest course meal costs 10 gold, making it an incredibly expensive high-end restaurant, and it's so popular that the reservations are backed up.
I've never been there myself.
I heard it takes over six months to get a table; the Duke's power really is impressive.
But I still feel uneasy.
I'm really looking forward to the food, but being invited to such a high-end restaurant makes me worry that my nightmare might actually come true...
No, it won't.
There's no way.
* * *
When I returned from washing up, Shine had already prepared the bedding so I could sleep.
"Shine, thank you."
Tomorrow is Saturday, which means I can learn from Roy starting in the morning.
"You're welcome."
"I'll turn off the lights. Good night."
"Um, Princess, I think I'll have to be away for a bit tomorrow."
"Is something wrong?"
"I received word this evening that my father wants me to visit the main house tomorrow."
"If the Duke summoned you, you must go. I guess you won't be able to train tomorrow then."
If Shine leaves, Rami will come instead, but although Rami has been my escort knight for a long time, I can't trust her as much as I do Shine.
"Ah, that shouldn't be a problem. I'll be back by the time you finish at the Academy and your training, so I didn't contact Rami."
"That's good, Shine."
"I'll return as quickly as possible and be waiting for you."
* * *
The day has finally arrived.
Normally, I would have been happy that it's a holiday, but today I have an appointment with Duke Dylan.
I haven't had any nightmares since the first day, but that ominous feeling hasn't disappeared.
I thought about washing up and grabbing a bite, but I had no appetite, so I used the warp device to go to the Princess's room.
"Y... you startled me."
"It's not the first time, yet you're surprised. Where is the Princess?"
The Princess was gone, and only Shine was there.
"She went to eat a moment ago. Roy told her to eat breakfast before coming."
"I see. Then I'll come back later... where are you going?"
Unlike usual, Shine wasn't wearing leather armor, but simple casual clothes.
She was also packing things into a small bag.
"It's none of your business."
Look at her.
She's been so obedient lately that I haven't had to put her in her place, so it seems her old insolent side is starting to creep back.
"Why is it not my business? If you're gone, when I come back later..."
"I'll be back by then. And there's no one who would enter this room without permission even if I'm not here, so it's fine."
"Is that so?"
With those words, I strode toward Shine.
"W... why are you doing that?"
"It's been over three months, so isn't it about time I got my reward?"
Simultaneously, I lightly pressed the back of my right hand twice.
Making it feel like a prosthetic arm, my right arm stiffened as I stroked Shine's cheek.
Shine shuddered with a terrified expression, but she didn't pull away.
"N... no. The Princess will be back soon..."
"Didn't you say she just went to eat? Then I think we have plenty of time."
.......
I wrapped my left arm around Shine's waist and lifted her up.
"Kyaah! What are you doing?"
She's heavier than she looks.
Maybe it's because she's a knight?
Then again, she is quite tall for a woman.
I was about to put her on the bed, but the canopy was in the way, so I turned around and laid her on the Princess's bed.
She really doesn't fit this—pink bedding and a canopy of all things...
"T-this is the Princess's bed..."
"What of it? I can just clean it up with magic."
She trembled, and as I drew closer, she squeezed her eyes shut.
She looked like she was about to cry if I did any more, so I decided to stop there for today.
This should be enough to keep her well-behaved for a while.
"I'm hungry. I'll come back after eating."
I used the warp device the moment I spoke.
After lounging around for about thirty minutes, I went back to find that Shine had already left, and only Princess Helena was waiting for me.
I heard Shine left as soon as the Princess returned from her meal; she must have found it awkward to face me.
"She was in such a hurry, which is unlike her, and her face was so red. I'm worried something bad might be happening at home."
"I doubt that's the case."
She probably just ran away to avoid me.
After escorting the Princess, I returned to the Academy.
I considered sleeping more, but fearing I might be late, I practiced my mental cultivation method.
By the time I finished training, about an hour remained until my appointment.
I pulled a high-end navy suit from my subspace.
I usually hate the Academy uniform because it feels restrictive, but Mirage has a dress code that requires formality.
Of course, since I was with the Duke, they wouldn't kick me out for my attire, but there was no need to draw unnecessary attention.
I left the Academy and took a moving carriage, arriving at the restaurant after a twenty-minute ride.
[Elcel de Mirage]
It was a three-story building with a gorgeous gold sign.
It seemed large enough to hold fifty people per floor, yet it's impressive that reservations are still so difficult.
'Ark, what time is it?'
'It is 11:40.'
Twenty minutes early; I think I've arrived at just the right time.
As I approached the entrance, I saw two employees wearing neat brown suits, possibly their uniforms.
"Welcome to Elcel de Mirage. Do you have a reservation?"
"I didn't make one, but I was told that Duke Dylan Andres did."
"Ah, you are the Duke's guest. He has already arrived and is waiting for you."
I was surprised.
I thought I was early by arriving twenty minutes prior, but he had beaten me to it...
"I will show you the way."
I followed the employee inside.
As expected of a place with such a long history, the atmosphere was very antique.
Wow, they even have a magic elevator in a restaurant.
It truly is the finest restaurant in the Empire.
I was a bit surprised when I stepped off the elevator on the third floor.
While the first floor looked like any other restaurant with tables and chairs scattered about, this floor had long hallways and doors, like an inn.
Are these private rooms?
"The Duke is in Room 1."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Please, go right in."
I knocked twice and opened the door.
"Oh, Baronet Bio, welcome!"
Duke Dylan stood up to greet me warmly, but I was too shocked to speak.
'Why on earth is she here?'
That was the question on my mind.
Shine was sitting next to Duke Dylan.
She was wearing a flowy dress the likes of which I'd never seen, with a tiara perched on her head, and a deep scowl on her face.