Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Silua Intrudes During the Date(?)
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The restaurant was noisy. With not just the freshmen but students from every year crowding in at the same time for meals, it was only natural.
Elric had claimed a spot in a quiet corner. The original 'Elric' wouldn't have favored a seat that drew people's eyes.
Fortunately, Princess Irene seemed fine with it too and sat in the chair Elric pulled out without a word. He took the seat across from her and glanced at the menu on the table.
Houser Academy's meals came in two main styles: buffet, where you served yourself from prepared dishes, or course meals ordered from the menu.
"What would you like?"
"I'm fine with anything. Whatever Young Lord wants."
"Hmm..."
Her words instantly brought to mind lines from women in his past life that had echoed through the ages.
'What do you want to eat?'
'Anything.'
'Hmm... How about some soup and rice then?'
'I don't really like soup and rice. Something else.'
'Then... pork cutlet?'
'That's too heavy. Something else!'
'W-well, then spicy rice cakes?'
'Ah~ I'm not in the mood for spicy today.'
'What do you want then?'
'Hmm, just anything for me!'
...Surely Irene wasn't like that. Elric broke into a cold sweat inwardly and cautiously suggested,
"Hmm, how about the A Course? It seems pretty standard."
"Sounds good. Let's go with that."
Thankfully, Irene accepted his choice without complaint. Elric sighed in relief to himself and called a servant to order two A Courses.
"......"
"......"
And then there was silence. The original 'Elric' hadn't been one to start conversations anyway, and Irene, while expressive, seemed the quiet type by nature.
...Or so Elric thought, at least.
'A Course! He picked the one with my favorite sirloin steak! How is he so thoughtful?'
They said great men often ignored women and acted aloof, but Elric really was the perfect husband material!
She was fangirling wildly inside her expressionless face.
"......How were your classes today?"
In the end, Elric spoke first. The silence felt awkward, and since he'd been the one to suggest eating together—and she was a princess, after all—he figured he should lighten the mood.
"Hmm... They were good, I think. Actually better than my royal tutors, so I was pretty satisfied personally."
"Oh, does the palace not have anyone better than the academy professors?"
"That's right. Teaching isn't a high-status job to begin with, but academy professors have prestige, honor, and plenty of research funding."
"Oh... I didn't know. I figured the palace would have some impressive people."
No matter how you sliced it, weren't palace salaries higher? And the connections too. Elric nodded at the new info.
"That's fine. You can learn from now on."
"Pardon?"
"Yes?"
'What am I supposed to do with that knowledge...?'
He wasn't going to become royalty or anything.
At Elric's reaction, Irene tapped her cheek.
'Hmm, not very interested in his wife's family situation...?'
Of course, they weren't even engaged, let alone married, but Irene jumped to conclusions on her own.
Yeah, a duke's family could be like that. Neither she nor Elric were heirs anyway, so they might not care much!
Come to think of it, what path would Elric take? Researcher, probably? With his achievements, places would throw money at him to come...
'Still, it'd be better for him to get support from his own empire's palace, right?'
Good, she'd talk to Father about it. He'd approve such a request. Future son-in-law with a bright future as a master mage—perfect privately and publicly. Irene nodded in satisfaction.
"I see. Let's do that then."
"Pardon?"
Elric blinked at Irene's out-of-context words, staring at her. What was she muttering about?
'...Did I say something weird?'
Reviewing the conversation, it had just been casual chit-chat. Where had that come from?
"B-by the way, how was swordsmanship class?"
"Swordsmanship?"
Irene's eyes sparkled at Elric's question.
"It was great. Do you know Professor Evan Knia, the first-year swordsmanship instructor? He used to be a mercenary who roamed the world, slaying monsters and keeping the peace. Apparently he joined Houser Academy a few years ago. Our Sisly palace kept courting him, but he turned us down and came here. I'd been counting the days to his class, and get this—he's teaching first-years! Even in the first lesson, I learned so much."
She showed no aversion to a former mercenary despite being a princess. Quite an unusual worldview for this world.
"I-is that so."
More than that, Elric stammered in surprise at her reaction.
What was this? The aura of a total fangirl? Elric eyed Irene, who was suddenly chattering away, and nodded along blankly.
"I got to see his swordsmanship up close today, and I could tell why he's a legend. It was amazing."
"If the first-year instructor is that good, the upper-year ones must be even better?"
"Of course! The second-year swordsmanship prof next year is..."
Irene gushed excitedly about her major, and Elric nodded appropriately. He didn't know much about swordsmanship, but his family—minus his mother and him—were all swordsmen. He'd picked up bits here and there.
Watching his reactions, Irene was pleased once more.
'Oh my, he knows my interests so well and listens so nicely—truly perfect!'
How could such a man exist? Irene's mind filled with pink fantasies.
'He's a genius mage, I'm a skilled swordswoman—our kids would inherit both talents, right? Or maybe one each. Hehe, doesn't matter. I'd raise them with love anyway!'
She was already thinking of children. Visions of a daughter and son with Elric's and her hair, eyes, and features danced in her head.
'What to name them? Son: Airic, daughter: Elrin? Oh, mixing our names is so romantic!'
They could start a new house together. Or no house at all, no nobility—even that would be fine. As long as it was with him.
"Elric! There you are!"
As Irene's fantasies ran wild, a boisterous woman's voice rang out. She slammed her bowl down with a thang! and wedged herself between him and Irene.
'...A woman?'
Irene's lips tightened at the sudden intruder. Sure, a great guy like him would attract women—that was expected—but this was too fast!
"Why are you hiding in the corner? I looked everywhere!"
But Irene's expression softened instantly. Her rival—future lady of the house—wasn't some other woman...
It was Elric's family. His older sister and sword-obsessed nut—no, technique fanatic Silua Raishion plopped down with a grin.
"Ah... Hello, Older Sister."
"Hello, Older Sister."
Elric gave a slight nod, while Irene politely clasped her hands in greeting.
"Oh? Haha, Princess? Eating with my little brother?"
"Yes. Young Lord invited me to lunch, Older Sister."
"Hoo, my brother made the first move...?"
Silua shot Elric a teasing look loaded with meaning. He barely stopped himself from shaking his head.
'No, it's not like that. It just happened...'
But 'Elric' didn't explain trivial things. Especially not in front of family—he had to be careful. Elric stayed silent.
"By the way, 'Older Sister' sounds nice."
"If you like, I can call you that for the rest of my life."
"Oh, really?"
Irene and Silua hit it off quickly, chatting away. Probably because they were both swordswomen.
'...Women are impossible to understand.'
They'd been strangers at the academy, so it wasn't like Silua saw her often, yet here they were bonding. Women were mysterious.
"By the way, Elric!"
"Yes?"
Elric, quietly savoring the appetizer from their arrived course while the two chatted, looked up at Silua's sudden call.
"I heard. Couldn't wait and stirred up more fun, huh?"
"Pardon?"
Fun? What fun? Elric racked his brain.
"Lost to the principal at the entrance ceremony, got your magic wrecked by Professor Asel Hershe in class. See? I told you—magic alone won't cut it."
"No, that's..."
Of course! How was a new student supposed to beat the principal or a prof?
"Hehe, Elric, remember what I said? If you get beat up at the academy, what would I do?"
"I didn't get beat..."
"Lunch break's plenty long. Means eat up and straight to special training!"
'No way that's what it means!'
Elric paled. The thought of that endless chase here too made him lose control of his expression.
"Don't hurt him, go easy, Older Sister."
Irene said casually to Silua, who nodded vigorously like it was obvious.
"Of course! How could I hurt my brother? Just fun training!"
'Save me!'
And so, the moment the course ended, Elric was dragged by Silua to the training grounds.
"Have a good trip, Young Lord."
'Oh, like a wife seeing her husband off to work? Hehe, good—time to learn how to support him early.'
'No, stop her!'
Irene and Elric's contrasting reactions crossed in the air.