A Princess's Plea for Survival
I spun a web of truth and lies for Orca. When it came to sensitive questions—like how exactly I had made a contract with the devil inside her—I glossed over them with vague excuses. After all, I couldn't exactly tell her, “Actually, I came from a world where you guys were just characters in a video game, and I'm here to help my favorites.” I had no desire to be treated like a lunatic. Instead, I spun a tale about how I had learned these things through another Devil Possessed I had met in the past.
I wasn't sure if I should call it a stroke of luck, but Orca actually bought my half-baked lie. I'm seriously worried about your future, Orca. You're way too naive for someone who looks so fierce...
"Oh, Teach. What are we doing for dinner? Are we eating in the counseling room again today?"
"We should."
"You sure work hard."
How many days had passed since our visit to the Holy See with the two of them? Surprisingly, absolutely nothing had changed in our relationship. It was all because Orca had swallowed every single one of my lies hook, line, and sinker.
"Well, I'll be back in a bit."
"...Um, Orca."
"Yeah?"
"No, it's nothing."
"What is it? Don't leave me hanging like that. Out with it."
"...Why are you still staying here?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Orca's expression hardened as she stared at me. Ah, maybe my phrasing was a bit off.
"I mean, you know you don't actually need to sleep in the counseling room anymore, right?"
"...Oh, is that what this is about?"
"It's just been on my mind a little..."
Why on earth was Orca still hanging around the counseling room? I had already explained almost everything to her. I told her that the devil wouldn't try to take over her body anymore, and that she didn't have to sleep in the counseling room. Things like that. After all, the main reason she came here in the first place was to get some sleep. While it was a shame I hadn't managed to help her make any friends yet, her biggest problem had already been resolved before the prologue even began. I had planned to let her go, feeling glad that we'd spent enough time together to help her build some social skills. Yet, for some reason, Orca was still practically living in the counseling room.
"What, is that it? Teach, am I a nuisance to you?"
"No, it's not that... I just thought it might be uncomfortable for you."
"But I sleep here because it's comfortable."
"Pardon?"
"This place is way better than the Academy's student dorm beds. I don't really want to sleep over there."
...Ah. The Academy dorms were run for commoner students. On the other hand, the counseling room was meant for everyone, commoners and nobles alike, so Veronica had furnished it with the most luxurious furniture possible. Naturally, the Academy wouldn't spend a fortune on beds for commoners. It wasn't like the dorm beds were so bad that students would complain, but... Orca had been eating and sleeping here this whole time. Even if she used to sleep on the bare ground, she had grown accustomed to the expensive, plush bed in the counseling room.
"The dorm beds feel weirdly uncomfortable. Honestly, I'd rather sleep on the floor with some newspapers spread out. ...But if you're telling me to get out, I'll go."
What kind of teacher could kick a student out after hearing that? I take back what I said about her being naive. She was surprisingly sly.
"...I guess I have no choice then."
"Yay."
Hearing that half-hearted cheer, I was absolutely certain. Even if I had told her to leave, she would have found a way to stay. A sigh escaped my lips.
"...Teacher Ophelia, are you in?"
"Ah, Stella. Hello."
While I was talking with Orca, an unexpected visitor barged into the counseling room. Why is Stella here? She only visited twice a week on a strict schedule. Today definitely wasn't one of those days.
"Teacher Ophelia, I have something to consult you about."
"Pardon?"
"I need the skills of the person who managed to tame even that wild beast."
"W-Wait a moment. If you want to talk, we can do it here..."
"No, we cannot. This is a highly sensitive matter. I cannot allow anyone else to overhear."
I cast an anxious glance at Orca. She had looked rather uncomfortable the last time I spoke with Anastasia.
"Go ahead. ...Actually, I'll just step out for a bit."
"A-Are you sure you're okay with that?"
"What's wrong with a counselor doing their job? I'll go grab some food. I was getting hungry anyway."
Orca's reaction was quite different from what I had anticipated. Realizing she would be in the way of my conversation with the princess, she stood up to make a graceful exit.
"Hey, Princess. Don't go causing trouble for Teach."
"...Hah."
"Well, I'm off. ...Oh, if it isn't Leo. Hey! What are you doing out here?!"
"Ah, Orca. Hello. I was just on my way to the counseling room. Is Teacher Ophelia—"
"Never mind that! Let's go eat! Food!"
"Whoa?! W-Wait...! Please don't pull me...! Ah, ahh! I'll walk on my own! ...What are we eating?"
"Let's get crab. And you're paying."
"What?!"
For a moment, Stella and I just stared at the doorway where Orca had essentially kidnapped Leo and dragged him away. What in the world...?
"Seeing that only increases my confidence in you, Teacher Ophelia."
"Pardon?"
"Just what did you do to tame that wild beast into such a gentle lamb?"
Uh, I don't think she's a gentle lamb by any stretch of the imagination... Did she not just see Leo getting dragged away?
"...Well, that is not what is important right now. I shall get straight to the point, Teacher. I believe the Imperial Family is behind the terror incident."
"What?"
What on earth was this crazy girl talking about?! Startled, I quickly scanned our surroundings. No one heard that, right...?
"You need not worry, Teacher. There is no one around. The soundproofing in this room is quite adequate."
"W-What are you saying all of a sudden?!"
"...Hmm, was I too hasty?"
Scratching her head awkwardly, Stella brought over one of the chessboards from the counseling room and set it up on the desk.
"Very well. Let me explain. First, as everyone knows, the relationship between the current Imperial Family and the Church is extremely strained."
"..."
"There are various reasons, but... as anyone can guess, it is due to a struggle for power. Do you remember the incident that occurred barely ten years ago?"
She had called this a consultation. Instead of a counseling session, I found myself in the middle of a history lecture, and I couldn't hide my bewilderment. However, I quickly calmed down as I realized this was simply Stella's way of communicating.
In a way, this girl has the most disastrous communication skills of them all. While the other kids had no trouble holding a normal conversation but struggled in other areas, Stella struggled with the very act of talking to someone. Born as a princess, she was far too accustomed to speaking down to others.
"If you are referring to the war, yes. I am well aware of it. That was also Instructor Ian's motive for the terror attack."
"Indeed. But there is a hidden story behind that incident."
"A story?"
"The Emperor is gravely ill. He is barely clinging to life at this very moment."
Huh, is that so? I was completely unfazed, as I already knew this.
"...You do not seem surprised?"
Oops. I had let my guard down and failed to react. I had heard this story so many times that I had zoned out.
"Ah. Ahem. Well, I was just so shocked that I lost my words..."
"...? Well, fine. At any rate, the Imperial Family is currently highly unstable, both internally and externally."
I quietly observed Stella as she continued her sudden explanation. Seeing her like this, it seemed Stella's main quest had finally begun.
"The conflict with the Church remains unresolved, and the Emperor is hovering between life and death without having designated a successor."
"This sounds like a story I've heard many times before."
"Indeed. History is full of such cases."
An organization with a dying leader who hasn't named a successor, facing a powerful external enemy. In such scenarios, cracks are bound to form. Even the Imperial Family was no exception. In fact, it was likely even worse. A chaotic situation like this was precisely when people began to wonder who would seize power. It bred ambition, making people harbor dangerous thoughts as they wondered, “What if it could be me?”
"So, what is your reason for suddenly telling me all this?"
"I wish to seek your counsel. I trust your lips are sealed, Teacher?"
"...I think you might be overestimating me."
This was strange. I didn't recall spending that much time with Stella. Where on earth had I built up enough favorability for her to confide in me like this?
"The Devil Possessed, the Watcher, Aileen, and even that promising knight aspirant. They all seem highly satisfied with you. Is that not proof enough?"
There was no way. Stella was not the type of person to be easily swayed by the opinions of others. She was someone who had to see and judge things for herself to be satisfied. While she wasn't completely indifferent to public reputation, the matter she was bringing to me was incredibly grave by the standards of this era. This was no trivial affair, so for her to share this with me... At that moment, my eyes caught Stella's arm. It was trembling violently. As if she were terrified of something.
"So, what kind of counseling do you want?"
"How can I survive?"
Stella asked me with an air of confidence. Yet, in stark contrast to her proud posture, the nature of her question was desperately pathetic.