Declaration of War: Bianca Eisenberg

Bianca Eisenberg. The sole daughter of the Liannen Kingdom's one and only grand duke. Yet her reputation left much to be desired.

"Lady Bianca, well... she's kind of..."

"Rowdy, right?"

"You'd think someone of a duke's standing would watch her manners."

Bianca's uniquely prickly personality felt downright alien to the refined young ladies of Terezia. Back in the northern lands of Eisenberg, though, she was known for her surprisingly gentle demeanor. Especially that northern twang of hers—"sawayo~"—which struck everyone as a bit rustic. The prejudice followed her even to the academy.

"Hmph. How boring."

Left alone once more, Bianca didn't mind a bit. If anything, she inwardly sneered at the noble girls shunning her. Vicious little jackals who could only badmouth others behind their backs. She had zero pity for such pathetic creatures.

"Ah, lunchtime!"

"Let's grab some food. I hear that new dessert spot's super popular."

"You get the certification?"

"Sisilia's stamp of approval, you mean? Of course. These days, no dessert shop's worth a damn without it."

Lunchtime. As the others chattered noisily on their way to eat, Bianca remained behind by herself. She was fine ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with it.

...Though it felt a tad lonely, maybe.

"...Guess I should go eat too."

Bianca dragged her reluctant feet along. For some reason, every passing noble seemed to be mocking her solitude.

"......"

She stared at the ground. Should've never come to this damn academy.

Truth be told, when she'd first heard about the academy's opening, Bianca hadn't cared. As the daughter of a grand duke—and heir to Eisenberg—she'd already received all the education she needed before arriving in the capital. She had no real need for more schooling, so why had she bothered coming here?

Right. I remember now.

Bianca halted. A memory flashed by.

-If Bianca comes, it'll be a huge help.

Sisilia's invitation. That's right. She'd come at Sisilia's personal request.

Bianca gnawed on her fan. Stuck me here and hasn't shown her face once?

Thinking of that smug, flawless face made her blood boil. She kicked a stray pebble with her heel. Next time I see her, I'll deck her. A real knight would dodge it anyway.

"Huh?"

"Gasp—"

"My goodness."

Just shy of the main gate, a commotion erupted among the commoners. Bianca scowled and looked up. She was in no mood. Whoever it was, they'd get an earful.

"It's Sisilia!"

"The vice-captain!"

"So cool... and..."

"Adorable!"

Bianca's eyes twitched. The source of the uproar was none other than—Sisilia.

"Sisilia! Are you here to teach us?"

"No invite for a guest lecture that I heard of!"

"You're always welcome, Sisilia—"

"Ahem. As vice-captain of the Windsor Knights, even Hertz, seventh son of Count Hamburg, acknowledges you."

...Why's she here? To see me...? No. She's busy. Probably here for Headmaster Chiron.

Bianca ducked her head preemptively, lest Sisilia spot her. If their eyes met and Sisilia just walked past without a word... that would be humiliating.

"Well."

Sisilia spoke without batting an eye amid the crowd.

"Sadly, I'm not here for educational purposes today. Though I hope there'll be a day for that."

"Kyaa!"

"She said 'someday'!"

"When? Promise us!"

"So what brings you here today?"

Sisilia smiled brightly. Looking straight at the bowed Bianca.

"I'm here to meet a friend."

"Ch, a friend?"

"Sisilia has friends?"

Sisilia's expression soured.

"...That's a bit rude."

"Ah, s-sorry. You're just so amazing... You live in a different world from us."

"Of course, as a knight, I fight to protect your world. But I do have personal time. The Windsor Knights have great benefits."

"...Great benefits, huh."

"Maybe I should join the Windsor Knights?"

"You? Get real."

Then one student raised a hand eagerly.

"Who's your friend? Professor Layton? Or—Professor Gilast?"

"Idiot, it's Headmaster Chiron."

"But Chiron's her dad. Is your dad a friend too?"

Sisilia asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Why are all your guesses professors? I'm just seventeen."

"W-well, because Sisilia's on a professor level—"

"Your friends are professor-level."

"Levels don't matter for friends. Mine's just a normal lady."

"Whaaaa?!"

Sisilia Windsor. The haughty Sword Princess's friend was at the kingdom's academy? That tantalized every student there.

"Who is it?!"

"Tell us, tell us!"

Getting close to Sisilia was incredibly tough. Opportunities were rare. She rarely attended social events, and her icy demeanor made even approaching her a challenge. But through her friend? Buddy, you could actually befriend Sisilia!

"My friend is..."

And Bianca's eyes shook. Sisilia had appeared beside her, grasping her hand and dropping to one knee. The cape fluttered at just the right angle—terribly romantic.

"Bianca Eisenberg."

"!"

"Long time no see, Lady. Or rather."

Sisilia smiled faintly.

"Bianca."

Wh-what the hell, using my name like that!

As Bianca's cheeks burned, Sisilia lightly kissed the back of her hand.

And gave it a little lick.

"?"

Bianca glared coldly down at the madwoman.

"Still tastes good."

"......"

**

"So, what brings you here, pray tell?"

Bianca said primly. But the subtle uptick of her lips betrayed no real annoyance.

"I came to ask a favor."

"...What. So not here just to see me."

Bianca pouted briefly. Sisilia tilted her head at her.

"Isn't asking a favor for Bianca the same as coming to see her?"

"Enough of that. Get to the point."

Is it time?

Makes sense. Sisilia thought simply and cut to the chase.

"I hear Eisenberg has ties to the Empire."

"Well, can't deny that."

The Eisenberg Duchy encompassed all the northern territories the Empire had ceded to the Liannen Kingdom long ago. Naturally, they were quite close.

"So, how much influence does Eisenberg have over the Empire?"

Bianca smiled meaningfully and snapped open her fan. It gave off total scheming-villainess vibes from a novel, making Sisilia's heart race.

"Might I ask you something instead?"

"?"

"How far should I go?"

Utter confidence that she could do whatever Sisilia wanted. Like a billionaire handing over a blank check.

"Not a hard request at all."

Bianca agreed readily after hearing it out. Luckily, it fell within her authority.

Sisilia bowed in thanks. As she turned to leave—

Bianca clutched the hem of Sisilia's cape.

"A-already leaving? I know you're busy, but..."

Bianca fidgeted, her face flushing crimson.

"H-have you eaten?"

Only then did Sisilia read her mind.

Cute.

Sisilia beamed.

"Come to think of it, it's lunchtime already. I know a great place. Want to join?"

"Hmph, if you're insisting so politely, I suppose I can't refuse."

And so Sisilia ended up eating with Bianca too. A delightful time.

"...Baguette?"

Though her menu-picking skills were abysmal.

**

The results of Sisilia's small request to Bianca came swiftly. The day before the demons were due, a piece of intelligence arrived in the kingdom.

"Excellent maneuvering, Sisilia."

It was news that greatly pleased Edward Windsor.

As a hegemon, the Empire couldn't ignore such a critical matter. They extracted tribute from surrounding nations—not quite colonies, but a strict liege-vassal dynamic between states.

Liannen Kingdom was the exception. For now, they were allies.

"I never imagined you'd think that far ahead on international relations. ...I knew you were sharp, but not this sharp."

But not out of true alliance. They'd simply overlooked it while Liannen handled the troublesome demons. Voices calling for "Liannen to pay tribute" had always simmered.

And now, Sisilia had leveraged Eisenberg to spread a few rumors.

Simple rumors. But deadly ones. No hegemon leaves a potential surpasser unchecked.

Especially with that prince who'd once stolen Sisilia's cake, gotten beaten to a pulp, and slunk home.

Above all, imperial pride wouldn't tolerate it. Hostility toward Liannen spiked higher than ever.

"The Empire will likely overplay their hand. That gives us justification. Justification to abandon them—"

If the Empire stirred trouble amid worsening public opinion, the kingdom's view of them would sour just as badly.

But—

Edward felt an odd dissonance.

Is Sisilia's real goal just to turn imperial opinion against us?

Perhaps this was merely the tip of the iceberg. Some vast conspiracy lurking beneath the surface. Just laying the groundwork.

Edward pondered. Was Sisilia truly following his lead without question?

"Heh. Overthinking it."

Edward chuckled wryly. Absurd as it sounded—that the cake-beating incident wasn't mere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠venting, but Sisilia's calculated long game.

Meanwhile—

"Rumors, surely?"

"How could those country bumpkins surpass our Empire?!"

Imperial palace. Central noble council chamber.

Before the ailing emperor, ministers debated heatedly.

"No, it's plausible. The Holy Nation sent masses of clerics and holy knights to the kingdom once. One of their boasted Seven Luminaries got utterly crushed by a single female knight."

It was outrageous to the nobles.

"Obvious nonsense! A Seven Luminary's at least Sword Master level. Losing to one knight?"

"Execute this conspiracy theorist at once, Your Majesty!"

As outraged nobles caused chaos, Emperor Laior V slowly raised his hand.

"Cough. Silence."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Liannen's national power is not to be dismissed."

Emperor Laior V was a relic of the previous reign. He'd coldly analyzed Liannen and reached his verdict long ago.

"Years of war with demons have made them battle-hardened. Their soldiers aren't negligible."

"Your Majesty! They're still a puny kingdom, not even a quarter our size!"

"Indeed! No match for the Empire!"

The Empire has no fine talents.

Laior V's face clouded with worry. Sycophants obsessed with petty power and face. Their "advice" was always disastrously shortsighted.

...We've kept the peace so far, but it's time for checks.

Contrary to the nobles' bluster, Liannen wasn't dismissible. The Empire had turned a blind eye to their growth because they served as a fine bulwark against demons—and centuries of war stifled national progress.

No better chance than now. Liannen will surpass the Empire.

Yet Liannen had overcome every adversity, blooming forth. Cut the bud before the flower.

That was how the Empire had dominated the world.

"Send an envoy to the kingdom."

(For reference, Queen Lydia assessed Emperor Laior V thus: Typical previous-era emperor. Better than before, at least.)

A ruler with some brains and wise judgment. In peacetime, none better. But in chaos...

He was a dark monarch who couldn't even rise to tyrant.

"Young nobles, fifty in number. Sex slaves, five hundred. Pure gold, one thousand marks in tribute. If they refuse—"

Laior V decided.

"Deem them enemies of the Empire and declare war."