The Inauguration Ceremony
There was something currently drawing the greatest attention across the entire Ruthenia Empire.
The threat of magic beasts? The invention of some novel Magic Tool? The New Year’s festival soon to arrive?
Or perhaps the question of who would next shoulder the imperial throne?
It was none of those things.
The Agnes family, which had already drawn eyes once recently with the death of its previous head, was now the talk of the realm for a different reason: the great house that ruled the entire northern continent had hired a guard knight.
“I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard the Grand Duchess had suddenly taken on a guard knight.”
“Right? So who is he, anyway?”
“From what I heard, he’s an outsider. Someone who’s lived there since he was a child, apparently.”
“My goodness, really? That’s almost romantic!”
Some people were simply curious.
“Did you hear? The Agnes family has taken on a guard knight for the first time. You know—the outsider who supposedly beat Albert, the second son of the Alstein family.”
“Ah, so it was him. Hmm. If that’s true, his skill must be considerable… but even so, the Agnes family still feels a bit much for someone like that, don’t you think?”
“I feel the same. The news came so suddenly, and I can’t help wondering what the real reason is.”
Others found it strange.
“Oh my, I heard the Agnes family has taken on a guard knight.”
“Truly? Sigh… After the previous head passed, I couldn’t help thinking things looked precarious, and now it’s come to this.”
“I know. Lord Derek was so reliable…”
“What can we do? All we can do is trust them and wait.”
Some felt uneasy.
“What? They hired a guard knight? The Agnes family—who have never once taken one on?”
“Yes. The inauguration ceremony is in two days.”
“Oh-ho. Now that is an amusing bit of news. More importantly—how strong is he?”
“I couldn’t say. I’ve never seen him myself.”
“Hmm. Rather a good opportunity, then. I’m bored—let’s go take a look.”
“Yes. I’ll make the arrangements at once.”
And still others treated it as mere entertainment.
In this way, the meaning each person read into the inauguration ceremony was entirely their own.
And so the day of the inauguration arrived.
Inside a steam locomotive bound for the northern continent—
“Hmm, look at this. She was going to end up doing it anyway, so why put up such a fuss?”
Alice Ruthenia, First Princess of the Ruthenia Empire, sat with her legs crossed, leafing through a gossip sheet popular among the nobility.
“Oh? The one who defeated the second son of the Alstein family? The eldest is in the Imperial Knights, isn’t he?”
Her guard knight, Randolf, answered from beside her.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Though well past sixty, the old soldier’s presence was anything but ordinary. No one would ever dare question that he served as the princess’s personal guard.
“Could our dear guard knight beat this fellow?”
Alice asked playfully. Randolf gave a good-natured laugh.
“How could this old man possibly defeat a vigorous young one?”
“Oh, please. How many vigorous young ones have you cut down already?”
“They were all simply being considerate of this old man’s age.”
“Hmm. Sometimes our guard knight really is a bit of an oddball.”
“I thank you for the compliment.”
Alice made a faintly exasperated face and returned her gaze to the paper. There, roughly sketched, was the outsider’s basic information.
“It’s been a while, and I happened to have time free.”
That was what she said, yet the real reason Alice was heading north was pure curiosity. To her, this outsider was nothing more than a diversion.
Eight years ago she had found him interesting, but after news of him dried up, that interest had faded. Passing his information to Karen had been a diversion as well. It had simply happened that the information reached her mother’s ears, forcing her to look into him properly.
“Yes. That’s all it is.”
And yet… what was this inexplicable ache in her stomach?
Her close friend was famously particular. She was not the sort of person who would fall for something Alice had casually mentioned for fun. And yet that same friend had taken a liking to him?
It was starting to feel like she had handed over a lottery ticket only to discover it was the grand prize.
“Surely not.”
It couldn’t be.
If it were…
“I really would feel sick…”
One hour before the ceremony.
The inauguration was to be held in the central plaza of the Agnes Territory. Those involved were waiting nearby, since the distance from the mansion to the plaza was considerable.
“Hey—you said there wouldn’t be many people!”
Orion clutched the curtain in despair. A throng of tourists was pouring into the Agnes Territory by train. Did the nobility really have this much free time? He could not, for the life of him, understand what was so special about this inauguration.
“Heh heh. In all my years I have never seen so many visitors flock to the northern continent.”
“Butler… is this really right?”
Edward, butler of the Agnes family. The merciless passage of time was written on his face, and his back was so bent he leaned on a cane.
“It means the Agnes family is still standing strong. Better to have interest than none at all.”
“No, I’d honestly prefer none at all…”
Edward smiled kindly.
“It is all right. Nothing in this world lasts forever. Even this day, when measured against a whole life, is but a fleeting moment. There is no need to be so tense.”
“This too shall pass—something like that?”
The old man’s eyes lit up.
“Ohhh!! How did you come by such philosophical words!! This old man is deeply moved by Lord Orion’s wisdom!!”
“Uh… well, that’s an honor, I guess.”
Orion was scratching the back of his head in embarrassment when—
Knock, knock, knock—
“I shall enter.”
Heily stepped into the room.
“Oh, Secretary. That outfit suits you incredibly well.”
Instead of her usual maid uniform she wore a clean, sophisticated suit. They said beauty completed any fashion—and she truly looked as though she would suit anything she put on.
“Thank you. You look splendid as well, Lord Orion.”
“Ahaha, do I?”
Orion laughed awkwardly. He knew she was only being polite, yet hearing it to his face still made him feel strangely self-conscious.
“Is there something you needed?”
“The head of the house said the ceremony will begin shortly, and that any unfinished preparations should be completed beforehand.”
“Ugh… I don’t suppose I can just refuse to do it from here?”
“I am afraid my own power will not be enough to help you with that.”
He sighed. According to the butler, all he had to do was walk the red carpet and kiss the back of her hand. Doing it in front of so many people, however, made his stomach twist.
“Then I’ll just… visit the restroom first.”
“Yes. Please let me know once you have finished and are ready.”
Orion left the waiting room with a heavy sigh. The place was occasionally used for speeches to the territory’s people; the corridor was lined with small chandeliers and expensive paintings.
“The restroom was this way, right?”
He wandered, turned a corner—
“Ah!”
—and came face to face with a blonde woman.
Wasn’t this area off-limits to anyone but staff? She was probably here to help with the ceremony. Thinking as much, Orion simply gave her a polite bow and made to pass by.
“Wait!”
“??”
She stopped him. Resting her chin on a V of fingers, she looked him up and down as if thinking, Doesn’t look like much.
“You’re the one becoming the new guard knight, right?”
“Excuse me?”
Out of nowhere?
Her small hands began poking and prodding at him.
“Hmm. Looks are decent enough, build’s not bad either… but is that all? Hmm.”
What on earth was this woman going on about? She had the air of a noble, so he couldn’t exactly shove her away.
“If Karen chose you, there must be something…”
“Pardon? Who’s Karen?”
“What!? You don’t even know that!? Your master—”
A voice cut in from behind them.
“That is my name.”
It was Karen.
“Huh? Boss, your name is Karen? I thought it was Agnes.”
“That is the family name. You become my guard knight and you do not even know my given name?”
“Everyone just calls you Lord or Head of the House. How was I supposed to know?”
“Hmph. You should have asked.”
“You never said it yourself, so why should I go asking? Besides, I’m not particularly curious about you, Boss.”
“You little—! Every time you open your mouth it’s nonsense. Could you not, just once, say something flattering?”
“I believe people should be honest. I have no desire to say things I don’t mean.”
“Tch. Do as you please.”
As if just remembering, Orion pointed at his own clothes.
“More importantly—what is this outfit supposed to be?! I’m a knight, not some host at a host club!”
Objectively speaking, a knight ought to wear heavy armor and an iron helm. Yet right now Orion was dressed in a white shirt, black suit, black necktie, and polished dress shoes. Nothing about it looked remotely knightly.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, but outwardly there seems nothing wrong. What is the problem?”
“These days do people fight bandits in suits?”
“Hmm. So you intended to clank around after me in cumbersome armor every time we go outside?”
“Uh… well, no.”
“Hmph. Then stop complaining. Besides, I am told this is how everyone dresses these days.”
“Oh? Trying to show off how fashion-conscious you are?”
“Better than falling behind the times.”
While the two of them bantered back and forth, someone had been completely forgotten.
“You two… why are you so close…?”
Alice stood staring blankly at their exchange. Both of them answered at the exact same moment.
““Where do you see that?!””
Huh??