Vacation (1)
After finishing her report to Edward, Sisilia immediately went to report to Chiron as well. She left out anything related to the Demon King—that was Edward's domain.
Chiron looked immensely relieved once Sisilia had returned safely.
"You completed the mission perfectly, and without a single casualty."
After the relief came the praise. Chiron was proud of her.
"Since you kept your promise, I shall keep mine. Tell me what you want."
Sisilia answered right away.
"Gimme some pocket money."
"Very well. You've earned it this time, so I'll give you a generous 100 gold. *Roughly 100 million won."
As if he'd seen it coming, Chiron pulled a money pouch from his drawer and handed it over. Sisilia clutched it to her chest with heavy, panting breaths, hugging it like a treasure.
"Spend it wisely."
"Yes!"
"And don't blow it all on clothes."
"Yes!"
Chiron chuckled softly at Sisilia's beaming smile.
She looks just like any other girl her age in moments like this.
……It was also a scene he wished would last a little longer.
"Is there anything else you want?"
Chiron asked, secretly hopeful inside.
—I've realized how much my swordsmanship still lacks after this mission. Teach me more!
—I feel like my leadership needs work. Tutor me on commanding troops!
Chiron was, in many ways, a nagging dad.
"I'd like to request vacation leave."
"……Vacation?"
Chiron was disappointed—it wasn't the answer he'd hoped for—but the unexpected request made him double-check.
"You even know about that?"
"……According to the laws of the Liannen Kingdom, knights are entitled to 40 days of leave per year."
"That's not what I meant."
Chiron shook his head.
"You haven't asked for leave once in the past ten years."
"Even I want a break sometimes."
Sisilia said, staring off into the distance. Chiron's eye twitched. She was plotting something again. But……
"Rest is an important virtue for any knight. Go do whatever you want for a while. I'll give you a week."
Whoosh—Sisilia's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Chiron.
"Th-then……"
Chiron nodded warmly at her fidgeting posture. He was in a generous mood today—ready to grant most any request.
"……Could I have a little more pocket money?"
"?"
Isn't 100 gold plenty? By any reasonable standard?
"……What exactly are you planning to buy?"
Chiron scowled and glared at her intimidatingly. If she planned to spend over 100 gold on clothes, he'd confiscate everything she already owned. Sisilia was the perfect daughter in every way, but her extravagance was a problem. If he didn't curb it now, it'd spiral out of control later.
"Gifts for the newbie knights."
"…Gifts?"
"Yeah. They just joined up recently and got thrown into such a huge mission. Must've been tough."
She's already at the age where she thinks of that?
Chiron was impressed.
"Quite right. Rewarding your hard-fighting subordinates is the proper mindset for a high knight."
With that in mind, Chiron picked up his pen and scribbled something on a sheet of paper. He signed it by hand and handed it to her.
"……Can't you just cover it from your own pocket, Captain?"
But Sisilia looked uneasy. Chiron narrowed his eyes. He could read her thoughts plain as day.
"Rewarding the knights is something that comes out of the order's budget."
The budget wasn't the captain's responsibility. That fell to the vice-captain. Every expense for the Windsor Knights went through Edward's approval. The captain just made the requests.
Sisilia probably lacked confidence in squeezing a big sum out of Edward.
I need to prepare her for when I retire. Time to start pitting her against Edward.
Chiron had his deeper motives, but Sisilia just kept pouting.
I've worked so hard—can't you just give it to me? You're loaded……
"Or I could deduct it from your allowance."
"N-no, don't!"
"Then go talk to Edward. He'll approve that much, at least."
Sisilia dawdled, dragging her feet. Chiron sighed, and Sisilia finally scurried out of the captain's office after a wary glance back.
Still throwing tantrums like that…… The future looks daunting.
Then, Sisilia peeked back through the door crack.
"For real, no?"
"Want me to ban your allowance?!"
Only after Chiron's roar did she finally head to the vice-captain's office.
"No."
Edward didn't bat an eye.
"Go home."
"I strongly protest this unfair treatment."
"Sisilia."
Edward flashed a bright smile.
"I heard you returned all the supplies from that dungeon raid. So where did the mission budget go? You didn't embezzle it, did you……?"
Sisilia bolted like a rabbit. The vice-captain was definitely the villain.
**
But Sisilia was full of vim and vigor. She had a hefty 100 gold in hand, and today was extra special……
Date with Betty! Gotta spoil her rotten.
She had plans with Beatrice! She'd introduce her to a great dessert spot and even buy her some clothes.
She hadn't been waiting long in the plaza when a familiar voice called out.
"Lady Sisilia!"
Sisilia quickly checked her outfit as Beatrice came running from afar. Today's look: the "little sister out for a casual stroll" vibe! Ivory hoodie matched with shorts for that "dressed comfy but cuter for it" emphasis. The key was the loose fit hiding half her hands and the casually tied, protruding straps on the shorts. A simple but subtly pricey necklace added the finishing touch.
She was the hippest trendsetter in this medieval era, hands down.
"You're a bit early."
"Yeah. Casual clothes today, huh."
"Yep."
Beatrice spun around excitedly—it'd been ages since they'd gone out. It was just a simple dress, but…… somehow, it made Sisilia feel assaulted.
But today, my(?) demand's gonna be sky-high.
Confident in her outfit, Sisilia wasn't fazed. When Beatrice snuck a glance, she reacted like a vending machine dispensing compliments.
"Lady Sisilia, you're cute too!"
"Yeah. I know."
"……."
Beatrice gave an awkward smile.
"I've always thought this, but your clothes are kinda unique. The design, and the fabric itself looks so high-quality!"
Beatrice was a noble lady's daughter. Fashion sense was basic etiquette for her. So unlike the bland reactions from the knights, Sisilia got to bask in the grooming eye of a former active noble lady.
Beauty upon beauty—this was bliss.
"The capital really is different. How much do outfits like this cost, anyway?"
That one line made Sisilia's eyes sparkle.
How much?
The so-called "Sisilia Shorts Tracksuit Set Ivory Edition (sold separately)" was surprisingly tricky to pull off. In a medieval era without advanced textiles, it took about 20 kinds of magic just for synthetic fibers. Tailoring it was no joke either—they'd even dispatched a knight with the relevant Blessing from the order.
Abuse of authority.
Mass production? Forget it! So yeah, it was pricey.
"Around 100 gold?"
"Huh?"
Beatrice froze mid-thought of getting one herself.
"……You wear your mansion on your body?"
"Nah. The necklace is the expensive part. This alone's like 80 gold."
"Th-that tiny necklace?!"
Beatrice's voice rose. People stared, and she clamped her own mouth shut.
"Yeah. It's amantatium."
"……?"
"Shiny and pretty."
Ah, an artifact, right?
It has to be an artifact.
Beatrice forced herself to accept it, mumbling.
"Still, 20 gold just for the clothes. That's enough for a decent house."
Sisilia tilted her head, puzzled.
"There's houses you can buy for 20 gold?"
"……In my territory, 10 gold gets you one."
"In the capital, 20 gold won't even buy a shack."
"…!"
"Not even a doghouse."
"……!"
Beatrice, the country noble lady, was wounded.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
Anyway, she's so cute…… Like a walking doll.
Beatrice barely restrained the urge to pet her as they started shopping together. And after just five minutes, she learned……
"Haha! It's been too long since such a valued customer graced us. I prepared something special knowing the Sword Princess might visit! A cat hairpin artifact! Wearing it boosts cuteness by +10. Yours for the low price of just 4 gold! *Roughly 4 million won."
What a blatant scam! As if such an artifact even exists!
"Whoa, gimme two."
This girl has serious issues with money sense.
**
After twists and turns, Sisilia and Beatrice finally reached a dessert shop that seemed scam-proof. Beatrice collapsed into her seat, feeling more exhausted than from the dungeon raid.
Can't leave her alone for a second. Letting Lady Sisilia loose in the market district is a major crime.
She'd nearly gotten dragged off by obvious slave traders—most folks didn't recognize off-duty Sisilia, her vibe was totally different—and almost dumped her entire fortune on a shady rock peddler. She'd lived in the capital her whole life, yet had less common sense than Beatrice, who'd only been there two years. The capital wisdom that the naive leave with nothing but their underwear!
"Their strawberry parfait is the world's best."
"R-really? First time here, but……"
"Yup. Get one and we'll share."
Seeing Sisilia so excited made the ordeal feel trivial. Beatrice smiled as she watched Sisilia, whose order nearly filled the menu.
Then, Sisilia suddenly looked up and blinked.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot."
She rummaged in her pouch and handed over a cat-shaped hairpin—the one from the near-scam earlier.
Beatrice stared quizzically, and Sisilia offered it.
"Gift for you."
"……!"
For reference, she'd bought it for 8 shillings. *Roughly 800,000 won. The high-end craftsmanship made it pricey for a hairpin.
Beatrice took it in a daze.
"That's why you bought two……?"
"Yup."
Sisilia nodded with a blank face. Beatrice teared up, moved.
"I-I'll treasure it forever……!"
"No. Take it to the grave."
Beatrice's tears vanished. But she was genuinely touched. She carefully pinned it in her hair.
"Suits you."
"Th-thank you."
Beatrice bowed her head. She wanted to give Sisilia something back. But what could Sisilia possibly need? She had everything……
Only one way to repay her.
Repay with strength. It was something she'd desperately pondered since yesterday. But how? Getting stronger wasn't easy—if it were, everyone would be a Sword Sovereign.
Only one way. Have Lady Sisilia teach me.
The issue was shamelessness. Still, Beatrice's desperation overrode it.
"Um, Lady Sisilia."
Sisilia, happily eyeing desserts, tilted her head curiously. Beatrice tensed and spoke.
"……I want to get stronger."
"Okay. And?"
"If-if it's not too much trouble, could you teach me swordsmanship……?"
In that instant, the air changed.
Beatrice held her breath without realizing. Swordsmanship. The moment that word left her lips, the smile on Sisilia's face vanished without a trace. Her silver-blue eyes gleamed coldly. An icy gaze devoid of emotion. Something writhed deep within.
The stench of blood. Madness.
And in a flash, it was gone. Sisilia smiled happily and nodded.
"Sure. Sounds good."
Beatrice hiccuped. It felt like she'd touched something she absolutely shouldn't have.