Inauguration Ceremony (2)
The moment Leon learned Karen's true identity, his face drained into pure shock.
"You should have told me that first!"
"I was about to, until you started spouting nonsense."
"Still…"
"Besides, that hair color belongs solely to the imperial family. Did you not even know that?"
"Oh. Is that how it works?"
Come to think of it, he had never seen hair that shade of gold out on the streets. It had glittered so much he had half-suspected something, and now he was kicking himself for not being more careful.
"Anyway, Boss, you've got to do something. I really don't want to get executed."
"Did you do something to my dear friend?"
"I didn't do a thing. I didn't even touch a speck of dirt under her nails."
"Then there is nothing to worry about."
"No, in situations like this, aren't people usually supposed to scream, 'Please kill me, Your Majesty!!!'?"
"Just what have you been watching to fill your head with ideas like that… Enough. Be still."
Karen looked thoroughly fed up.
That was when Alice, who had been staring blankly, finally spoke up.
"Ahem, ahem. It's fine, it's fine. You there, Guard Knight? Don't worry about me. I don't mind at all."
Leon gave a polite nod to show he understood.
Karen tilted her head, the look on her face clearly asking why that loose-lipped fool was suddenly keeping his mouth shut.
"My friend is rather merciful for someone of her station, but she is still an imperial princess. Should you not at least show proper courtesy?"
"I'm just really shy around strangers."
"You never run out of excuses, do you."
"Hey, the way I see it, keeping my mouth shut is probably more helpful right now."
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, you may have a point."
"Right? I'll head off first, so you two catch up."
Leon bowed politely to Alice and took his leave.
The moment he was gone, a spark lit in Alice's eyes, and Karen knew at once that every ounce of that curiosity was about to come pouring down on her.
"So, what brings you here? I never heard word that you were coming."
"Hmm~ We're friends. What's the big deal? It's no fun if you announce you're visiting a friend's house ahead of time~"
"Hmph. As if you have ever visited before."
"W-well, that's true, but you came to see me once, so as a friend I ought to return the favor at least once, right~?"
It was never going to be a reason that simple. She never would have come if there had been no inauguration ceremony.
Karen knew that perfectly well, but she let it slide.
"By the way, that man—he's the outsider I told you about, right?"
"He is."
"Ooh. You barely reacted back then, but it looks like he grew on you?"
"His strength alone is considerable."
Alice's lips curled into a sly grin.
"And what else?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, come on, you know. From where I'm standing, you two look pretty close."
Karen's brow furrowed.
"It is nothing more than an employment arrangement. As you said yourself, we merely signed a two-year contract."
She let out a sigh and pressed a hand to her forehead.
"I am learning firsthand that every capable person is an eccentric. Day after day, my head aches."
Alice narrowed her eyes.
Hmm.
For someone who talks like that… haven't those two known each other less than a week?
Doesn't that just mean they get along?
The plaza of the Agnes Territory.
In summer, clear water would have been leaping from the fountain, but unfortunately it was winter, so other decorations had taken its place.
A long red carpet cut straight through the center, leading up to a dais dressed in bright floral arrangements. All around it, seats and tables stood in neat abundance, divided by rank.
In the commoners' section, chairs were lined up in orderly rows. In the nobles' and honored guests' section, round tables had been placed here and there so people could converse at ease.
Ordinarily, a setup like this might have sparked friction over differences in status—but this was the Agnes Territory. The odds of that happening here were vanishingly small.
When noon arrived, people began filing into the venue one by one.
"Ugh, there are seriously so many of them."
Leon muttered under his breath, shooting Karen a resentful look that clearly said, You told me not that many people would come!
"My apologies. Even I did not expect this many to attend."
Leon groaned. Her straightforward apology left him with nothing to say.
"…Can't be helped, I guess."
Just then, the butler Edward approached.
"My lady, it is time for you to take the stage."
"Very well. Let us go."
As she followed him, Karen called back to Leon.
"I will go ahead. Come out when the time is right. You know where to wait, yes?"
"Yes. See you later."
When the hour arrived, someone stepped up onto the dais.
It was Karen—the host of this inauguration ceremony, and the lord of the Agnes Territory.
She wore a heavy dress woven of black and crimson, a look that emphasized intensity over elegance, perfectly suited to a territorial lord.
The commoners who had been waiting in silence, and even the nobles who had been chatting among themselves, all fell quiet and waited for her to speak.
"Allow me to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to every one of you who has joined us for this inauguration."
Karen lifted her skirt with graceful poise and bowed to the audience before her. That alone was enough to draw a thunderous round of applause.
When the clapping subsided, she raised her head and swept her gaze across the crowd.
"I see a great many familiar faces. I had intended to keep the ceremony brief, but with so many of you here, I felt I ought to say a few words."
Her remark drew warm laughter from the audience.
"First, regarding the progress of the magical beast subjugation. Of late I have heard no small number of anxious voices. As the one who stands on the front lines, I give you my word—there is no cause for concern."
She gestured toward the knights and the guild members as she continued.
"Those people are giving everything they have to hold the line. What is there to fear? Every last one of them is fearless and valiant. I am deeply proud that they are the people of my territory."
Most of them scratched their heads, looking bashful. Given the region's character, the majority of the men were large and solidly built—so seeing them act that way only made the audience laugh again.
"I have compiled a detailed report and sent it to the Imperial Palace, so you should be able to review it before long. I trust you will look into it yourselves, and with that, I shall move on."
Karen surveyed the crowd once more and spoke again.
"Now, the matter of the guard knight that everyone has been so curious about. From what I have heard, the rumors surrounding him have grown rather unruly."
A murmur rippled through the audience.
Karen's voice rang out, firm and clear.
"However! Whatever thoughts you may be harboring, I can declare this much with certainty. He possesses more than enough ability to wear the honor of a knight of House Agnes."
At that, the murmuring died down.
"Therefore, I trust there will be no underhanded schemes or insults of any kind."
And so the inauguration ceremony began in earnest.
Huh. Guess she felt bad about earlier.
He never would have expected her to say something like that. He almost teared up a little.
Leon was listening to Karen's speech from behind a door—or more precisely, a door that had been built specifically for the ceremony's entrance sequence. On either side of it stretched a field of pure white snow.
More importantly, it's freezing out here.
Holding an outdoor event in the dead of winter… Heating devices had been set up on both sides of the audience seating, but none of that warmth reached where Leon was standing.
His fingertips trembled. Tension gripped his face, and cold sweat ran down his back in rivulets.
The moment he stepped through that door, countless eyes would be on him.
The knights and the commoners were fine. Word of his bout with Albert had spread far and wide among the order, so their opinion of him wasn't the absolute worst. As for the commoners, no one was likely to openly defy their lord, Karen—so that was the same story.
Truthfully, he didn't care what any of them thought. Just the knowledge that he was about to be stared at was enough to tie his stomach in knots.
It reminded him of giving presentations back in school.
"—He shall now enter!"
Edward's voice carried through from the other side of the door.
Alright. Just this once.
Leon steeled himself and pushed the door open.
A flood of stares poured over him. Naturally, not a single cheer rose to greet him.
In that heavy silence, Leon walked forward.
Uh… which foot am I supposed to lead with?
In reality, he wasn't paying their gazes any mind at all.
Somehow he managed to shuffle his way up to the dais.
Was I supposed to climb the stairs?
He tilted his head, pondering, until Karen's eyes alone delivered a silent command.
Just kneel right there!
Okay.
Leon dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
Click.
Click.
The sound of heeled shoes descended the stairs, then traveled along the red carpet toward him.
Just as the hem of Karen's dress entered his field of vision, Edward's voice rang out.
"Leon, Guard Knight—do you swear to devote your full loyalty to your master as the sword of House Agnes?"
"…I swear."
"Very good. Then, as a sign of your oath and submission—the pledge."
The pledge?
There's more?
While he was still wondering, something rapped sharply against his forehead.
He looked up, startled, only to find her frowning face—and realize that "something" was her hand.
—What are you doing?
—You said "pledge," so I got confused. If you'd just told me to smack a kiss on the back of your hand, I would've gotten it right away.
—Enough talk. Hurry up. My hand is freezing.
—Yes, ma'am.
Their entire exchange passed in nothing but glances.
Leon took her hand with careful reverence.
It was pale and slender. No—why was her hand this white?
Smack!
She rapped his forehead again.
Leon clicked his tongue and brought his lips forward with a sullen look.
A true gentleman never made another person uncomfortable. In moments like this, the appearance of the gesture was enough.
He adjusted down to the millimeter, stopping just short of actual contact—
Thwack!
—and took a blow loaded with genuine feeling.