Battle Arena
The following evening.
By the time the sun was sinking, Karen and Orion had reached the capital.
"Ugh, it's freezing. I figured it wouldn't be this cold here."
"You've been somewhere warm all day. Objectively speaking, this place is far milder than the Northern Continent."
The capital of the Ruthenia Empire sat dead center on the continent. Being inland, the snow Orion had grown so sick of seeing up north was a rare sight here.
"Now that you mention it, yeah. More importantly—there are a ton of people here."
"The Imperial Palace where the Emperor resides is here. Of course there are. People from every corner of the realm gather in this city."
Even the train station was packed shoulder to shoulder. The sky was darkening, yet the streets still thronged with people out and about.
"My Lady. We will go ahead and stock up on food and daily necessities. The remaining staff will clean the manor—it should take about an hour or two."
"Very well. I'll leave it to you. And there's no need to clean too thoroughly. We hardly use the place, and we only mean to stay a day or two. Just see to my bedroom and his."
"Yes, my Lady."
Karen issued her orders to the maids who had come with them. They moved out at once, crisp and efficient.
"Whoa. You've got a house here too, Boss?"
"It's common enough for a noble to keep a secondary residence in the capital. No need to make a fuss over it."
"Heh. Rich people really do think different. Got any others?"
"Yes. There's one more near the Imperial Palace. We'll head there tomorrow. The reason you and I came here is to have an audience with the Emperor, after all."
It didn't even surprise him anymore. Secondary residences in the capital—one by the train station, the hottest spot in town, and another right by the palace. So very like her.
"In any case, let's not stand around. Come along."
Karen cut through the bustling crowd with a serene, unhurried stride.
"Hey, wait up. Where are we going, anyway?"
"When one arrives in the capital, the first order of business is to tour the streets, is it not? I've noticed you craning your neck this way and that for some time now."
"Uh… I mean, sure, I'm curious, but it doesn't have to be right this second. You were dozing off on the train earlier."
No matter how fine the accommodations, a change of bed always left fatigue lingering. It wasn't just Karen—Orion felt it too. He'd slept soundly enough, yet the tiredness somehow refused to lift.
"Let's just head back and rest today."
"I woke the moment we stepped off the train. And we can't return to the manor just yet in any case."
"Why not?"
"The maids are cleaning it. If we go back now, we'll only get in their way."
"Ah. Fair point."
Nothing made you feel more awkward than watching TV while someone ran the vacuum. You'd stand up meaning to help, only to find there was just the one machine… ahem.
Orion nodded, and Karen's lips curved into a small smile.
"So wandering the streets until the time is right, then heading back, is the best course. Is there anywhere you'd like to see?"
"Hmm…"
Orion looked around. But how was he supposed to know what he wanted to see when he didn't even know what was what?
"It's so crowded I can't even tell where I'd want to go. I'll just stick with you, Boss. You've been here plenty of times—you know the place."
"Hmm. I don't know it that well myself. I come once or twice a year at most. Still, I should know more than you, so follow me for now."
With that, Karen pulled her hood low and set off.
Someone in the crowd caught sight of her.
"Hm? I could have sworn I just saw my dear friend…"
Alice Ruthenia, First Princess of the Ruthenia Empire.
She loved to roam. There was nowhere in the Empire she hadn't been, and her position often took her abroad as well. That restlessness had made running away from home a habit in her childhood—and adulthood hadn't changed a thing.
"Must you really go this far, Your Highness?"
"Obviously! My face and my guard knight's are both well known. If we don't do at least this much, we can't even walk down the street!"
Alice and her guard knight, Randolf, were strolling the avenues in full disguise.
"I understand, but if you wish to watch a match, could we not simply go through the proper channels?"
"Come on, Sir Guard Knight, you don't get it. If word gets out that the princess is watching, the fighters will freeze up. How are they supposed to move freely then?"
"I see. A deeper purpose, then."
"Yep, that's it. So I'm not letting this chance slip by!"
Alice burned with resolve. Lately, her duties as princess had kept her cooped up indoors. On top of that, the struggle over the right of succession had more than doubled her workload. In the end she'd snapped and bolted into the streets.
She needed a refresh—badly. Alice nodded to herself, alone in her conviction.
"Sir Guard Knight. Let's go!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Their destination was already set.
A thrilling match held only once a quarter. The place commonly called the fighting pit—the Battle Arena.
Similar contests popped up in other regions often enough, but the Battle Arena in the capital of the Ruthenia Empire was on another level entirely. Top-tier fighters from across the Empire gathered there, and even foreign warriors sometimes timed their travels just to enter.
Alice quickened her pace, beaming. Then, through the crowd, a familiar face flickered past.
"Hm? I could have sworn I just saw my dear friend…"
"Perhaps you were mistaken, Your Highness."
"Was I? Come to think of it, she did say she'd come visit Father sometime."
"Then it may well have been her."
"Ah, whatever. If she shows up at the palace, I'll say hello then. Oh no—the tickets are selling out!! They're selling out!!!"
Orion followed Karen into a grand, imposing building.
"What is this place?"
"I've never been myself, so I couldn't say for certain, but I've heard it's a fighting arena. They hold matches once a quarter, so I thought we'd have a look."
"Whoa. And we just happen to show up on the day? Kind of wild."
"Life has its coincidences. Come, let's go in."
Inside, the building was deafening. Cheers rolled through the air in waves, the heat of the crowd almost physical. The structure itself was a colosseum pure and simple—circular, with the arena at the center and spectator seats ringing it all around.
"What about our seat tickets?"
"I bought them on the way in."
"Okay. Lead the way."
Orion trailed after her. There were a staggering number of seats; he was just starting to wonder whether they'd ever find theirs when—
"Here we are."
"Whoa."
They had arrived at the very front row, close enough to practically taste the action. And not only that—it was a private box that looked ruinously expensive at a glance. A rectangular container of modest size sat there, and from inside it one could watch the matches in comfort.
"I get that you're loaded, but isn't this a little much…?"
"Pocket change to me. Besides, I'm told the soundproofing is excellent. I cannot abide noise."
"Ah. In that case, fair enough. I'm just here tagging along with you anyway, Boss."
Orion dipped his head in a small bow of thanks.
"I'll enjoy the show."
"Good. Let's go in at once. Truth be told, my head is already starting to pound."
"Oh—right. Let's get inside, quick."
They ducked in without delay.
Just as she'd said, the rectangular box shut out every last voice from the stands. By contrast, the sounds from the arena itself came through crisp and clear. Some kind of Magic Tool must have been regulating the outside volume—a clever little device.
"This is a seat made for nobles, all right."
"So it would seem."
Plush sofas and chairs you could sink all the way into. Tables set at just the right height for eating while you watched. There was one problem, though.
Orion noticed it and asked carefully,
"…Can people outside see in here?"
"I'm told the interior isn't visible from the regular stands. Strangely enough, however, those using these boxes can see into one another's."
The colosseum was circular. There were roughly ten of these VIP boxes in all. That meant the ones immediately to either side were out of view—but everything else was on full, shameless display. Just like right now.
"Hmm. I was told these were couple's seats. So that's what they meant."
Exactly so. In the VIP box straight across, a couple was locked in each other's arms, kissing without a shred of restraint. The same scene played out elsewhere. Affection was running so rampant that Orion had no choice but to drop his gaze.
"…Heh. This is something else."
"These are the only two-person seats available. You'll simply have to endure it."
"Well, I can ignore it if I try. I'm just wondering why anyone would design it this way."
"As you yourself have said, nobles are eccentric to a one. Plenty of them must have tastes like that. A fondness for voyeurism, for instance."
"Holy shit."
So that was why the soundproofing was so good. More to the point—what kind of sense of chastity did this world even run on?
Orion, a Confucian-minded man at heart, hadn't wanted to know a single thing about it. And yet a whole new world had just opened before him.
"Sit. It looks as though the match is about to begin."
"Okay. They say the best entertainment in the world is watching a fight. I'm actually looking forward to this."
"I have little interest myself, but if something is popular, there must be a reason."
"Right, right."
There was one thing you couldn't skip at a time like this.
"Ah—before that. Mind if I order some food?"
"As you please."
"Nice! There was a snack vendor outside. Be right back."