Convenient Coincidences
"Aren't you supposed to have work?"
The blunt question slipped out before I could stop it.
Esilla's expression didn't change a bit.
"What do you mean by 'work,' my lady?"
"You're the Imperial Guard Captain, aren't you?"
I waved my hand in disbelief.
"There was that incident in the underground sewers yesterday. You have to collect the remnants of the magic circle, interrogate the captured Black Moon cultist... How can you just be hanging around here?"
It was a perfectly reasonable question.
Esilla, who was practically responsible for the whole mess, wandering idly around the academy like this.
But she stood ramrod straight, unyielding as ever.
"I've already assigned those tasks to my vice-captains."
"To your vice-captains?"
"Yes. Collecting the remnants and the initial interrogation are straightforward duties that don't require my direct presence on-site."
Esilla continued in her calm, even tone.
"The Guard's organization is far more competent than you seem to think, my lady. It won't grind to a halt just because I'm away."
She wasn't wrong.
These were the Imperial Guard, after all. They wouldn't be so sloppy that everything fell apart without their commander.
But that didn't fully explain why she was here right now.
"Fine, I get that they're competent. So why are you here?"
Her lips paused at my question.
A brief silence, uncharacteristic for her.
She seemed to be choosing her words carefully.
Her green eyes fixed straight on me.
Then, as naturally as could be, she glanced obliquely downward.
"Coincidence."
"What?"
"I was just passing by and happened to spot someone who resembled you, my lady. I stopped to confirm."
Coincidence.
What a convenient word.
She just happened to see someone who looked like me and stopped. In this vast academy grounds, behind the old building on a secluded walkway where hardly anyone passes by—what were the odds?
"That's one hell of a coincidence. Timed like you were waiting for me since I left the dorm."
"A misunderstanding."
Esilla's reply was immediate.
Firm, without a hint of hesitation—but her gaze still avoided my eyes, lingering on the ground nearby.
She really can't lie for shit.
I decided not to press her flimsy excuse.
No point grilling her; the truth wasn't going to spill out anyway.
"Sure. Coincidence. That can happen."
I nodded nonchalantly.
"I'll keep strolling, so you go your own way."
I tried to step past her, deeper into the walkway.
Thud.
But the moment I moved, Esilla peeled away from the tree and blocked my path.
"Where do you think you're going, my lady?"
"For a walk, like I said."
"Perfect timing, then."
Esilla looked me straight in the eye again.
"You don't seem to have a particular destination, my lady. If it's alright with you, may I accompany you?"
"Accompany me?"
"Yes. After what happened two days ago, it would be safer for you to have me by your side than wandering alone."
Safer.
She sure knew how to whip up a perfect excuse.
But her real intent was obvious.
She still hadn't dropped her suspicions about me.
It was basically code for "I'm keeping an eye on you," but there was no real reason to refuse.
If I said no here, she'd just tail me secretly anyway.
Better to have her out in the open where I could keep tabs without the paranoia.
"Do whatever. I was just walking anyway."
"Understood."
Esilla smoothly fell into step beside me.
Precisely half a pace between us—close enough to shield me from any sudden threat without blocking my view.
And so, we began walking side by side along the old building's path.
Thud, thud.
Only our two sets of footsteps echoed through the quiet woodland trail.
The path behind the old building was a nice mix of dirt and gravel, crunching satisfyingly underfoot.
Esilla's stiff military boots added a sharp rhythm, blending with the lighter tap of my shoes.
The three sounds wove together into a discordant harmony that somehow clicked just right.
A warm breeze signaling the end of spring rustled the leaves overhead.
Shhh, the faint collisions tickled my ears.
The atmosphere was perfectly serene—but the presence at my back made it hard to fully relax.
She's really just shadowing me like this.
Esilla walked silently, a shadow without a word. I glanced back at her sidelong.
Late spring sunlight filtered through the leaves, sparkling on her red ponytail. Her face, usually so stern and cold, looked surprisingly pretty in the soft glow.
Straight nose, firm lips, sharp yet deep eyes. Her crisp uniform accentuated her restrained beauty without excess.
She stared straight ahead, posture impeccable, not a hair out of place.
But her gaze always seemed to linger on my shoulder or back.
She used to look at me like I was vermin or filth.
Maybe our relationship had improved a little, at least.
I couldn't stand the suffocating silence any longer and broke it first.
"Esilla."
"Yes, my lady?"
Instant response, like she'd been waiting.
"I've noticed this before, but... are you always this quiet?"
"I only speak when necessary."
A textbook, rigid answer.
I let out a dry chuckle and toed a small pebble on the path.
It rolled into the grass with a roll roll.
"Then, one necessary question."
"What is it?"
"That Black Moon cultist we caught in the underground sewers yesterday. What's the status?"
I felt her gaze shift to my profile.
I kept my eyes forward, feigning casualness.
"He's detained in a special cell in the underground prison."
Her voice dropped a notch.
"His right arm was severed, so we only staunched the bleeding and provided minimal treatment to prevent shock. He's conscious, but not yet fit for interrogation."
"I see."
Whatever happened after capture wasn't my concern anyway.
They'd make him talk eventually.
That's what knight orders specialized in.
"The interrogation is one thing,"
Esilla stopped walking.
I halted naturally and turned to her.
Her green eyes bored into me.
"But the on-site investigation uncovered a few anomalies."
"Anomalies?"
"Yes. The remnants of the destroyed magic circle... and the carcasses of the magic beast wolves scattered around."
Esilla took a step closer.
For some reason, the pressure radiating from her felt heavier.
"The magic circle showed clear signs of disassembly from pure mana backlash. We can attribute that to the first-year magic department student who was with you, my lady."
Her eyes flicked to the restraint collar around my neck, then met mine again.
"But the wolves' corpses were different."
"..."
"Their heads exploded from the inside out. Not wounds from standard elemental magic or physical strikes."
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly without thinking.
I clenched my fist to hide my fluster.
"Additionally, the investigation team reported traces of faint mana residue on-site."
Residue left at the scene could only mean one thing.
"Traces of black magic."
The moment the words left her mouth, it felt like even the forest wind held its breath.
My throat burned.
Of course traces were left—I'd spammed skills like crazy back there.
But I hadn't expected her to bring it up directly.
Did she suspect me?
Or was she already certain and testing the waters?
My mind went blank.
What the hell should I say? "Uh, um..."
I bit my lip and averted my gaze.
"C-Couldn't it be a coincidence?"
The worst excuse tumbled out.
"What do you mean by that?"
"W-Well... maybe the black magic traces were already there by coincidence... or they found them coincidentally during the investigation..."
Even as I said it, I felt pathetic.
Coincidences on top of coincidences causing all that?
Insulting Esilla's intelligence had its limits.
I trailed off without finishing.
I'm screwed.
If she pressed further here, I'd be exposed.
If this got back to the crown prince, my cushy house arrest was over.
I'd end up locked in the deep prison, unable to do a damn thing about demon kings or whatever.
Back to that underground hellhole, maybe.
I waited, sweating bullets, for her verdict.
But...
"..."
Esilla didn't press me.
A faint sigh escaped her sealed lips.
"Coincidence."
I flinched at the word from her mouth.
The sharpness had faded from her green eyes, replaced by softness.
"Yes. Understood."
"Huh...?"
"I'll report the black magic traces on-site as pre-existing residue."
She said it matter-of-factly, her voice free of doubt, as if it were gospel truth.
"The beasts' cause of death can be logged as an accidental explosion from the unstable magic circle."
I doubted my own ears.
Esilla was covering for me.
Swallowing my blatantly full-of-holes excuse whole.
"You're... really going to report it like that?"
"No one at the academy questions the Guard Captain's report."
She stepped back to my side.
"Of course, just this once."
She whispered softly into my ear.
"Because I know it wasn't malicious on your part."
My heart plummeted.
She was already convinced I'd used black magic.
Yet she'd chosen to look the other way.
"Why...?"
The question slipped out unbidden.
She hated me so much before.
"Why cover for me?"
Esilla didn't answer right away.
She turned her gaze to the end of the forest path.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Her voice was low.
"It was a coincidence."
"..."
"I just happened to decide to believe your excuse. Nothing more."