The Emperor's Warning
"……."
For a brief moment, silence once again filled the room. I merely rolled my eyes around, trying to grasp the intent behind the question, while the Emperor waited leisurely for my reply.
"Answer His Majesty's question, Astria."
……How was I supposed to answer when I didn't even understand what was being asked? At the words of the man beside the Emperor—presumably the Chancellor—I swallowed my frustration and calmly chose my words. Since I couldn't clearly discern the Emperor's motive for asking, I had no choice but to speak only the truth.
"I believe we are simply ordinary academy seniors and juniors, Your Majesty."
"……Ordinary academy seniors and juniors, you say."
The Emperor repeated my words, mulling them over. In that instant, I realized my answer had been wrong and lowered my head, wetting my lower lip with my tongue.
……No, how could it be wrong? That was the truth. The complaint rose within me, but I couldn't voice it openly.
"I shall ask again."
I could only feel frustrated in silence.
"What is your relationship with Princess Achillea?"
What answer was I supposed to give here? Perhaps the Emperor was simply misunderstanding. Was he assuming I was her lover just because she had asked me to escort her? The thought crossed my mind, but the Emperor of the Empire was no fool. He wouldn't jump to such a conclusion based on that alone. That meant there was something I didn't know. But no amount of thinking would solve it.
"……Your Majesty."
So at times like this, I had to confront it head-on.
"Speak."
"I am merely a loyal subject of Your Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Crown Princess. Nothing more. I beg Your Majesty to understand with your boundless generosity that this is the only answer an ignorant person like me can offer."
"……Hmm."
The Emperor let out a small hum at my answer and fell silent. The Chancellor beside him also waited quietly for the Emperor's response. In a way, my words could be taken as "I don't know what you're talking about, so deal with it," so I waited quietly through the silence.
"I……"
Though it felt long, the silence hadn't actually lasted that long when the Emperor spoke again.
"I was merely curious as to how you became Princess Achillea's partner."
"……."
"No matter how I look at it, I cannot understand why Achillea was so insistent on making you her partner."
Insistent? Hearing the Emperor's words, I realized that the thing I didn't know was precisely this.
……No, couldn't she just do it if she wanted to? Of course she would need the Emperor's permission, but had she thrown a tantrum over it? 'That' Achillea?
My mind was in chaos. The Emperor still demanded an answer, and I couldn't understand Achillea's intentions either. But I couldn't keep my mouth shut forever, so I slowly opened it.
"I once saved Her Highness the Crown Princess from danger. I believe that is the reason."
"Leonhardt's doing, I see."
This was another minefield, but I trusted the Emperor. What Leonhardt had done was clearly unforgivable. He wouldn't punish me for it. Still, I couldn't be one hundred percent certain, so I quietly lowered my head.
"Even so, I still cannot understand."
"……."
Fortunately, the Emperor didn't seem inclined to nitpick about Leonhardt's incident. However, that didn't mean he understood everything else.
"But it seems you don't know the reason either, so it would be absurd for me to say more."
"……."
"I will be watching you. If you ever harbor thoughts of using Achillea to harm the Empire……"
Suddenly, a chill ran through me, forcing me to lift my head and meet the Emperor's eyes. Feeling as though someone was telling me to do so, I looked into his clear blue eyes. Within them was a cold, emotionless……
"I will erase you."
A faint killing intent lingered there. Even if the Astria Count family had helped make Achillea the Crown Princess, this was a warning not to overstep. I slowly lowered my head again and answered.
"On the honor of my house, such a thing will never happen."
"I believe your words."
It wouldn't happen. I would never have such thoughts. But the moment I heard the Emperor's warning, my body trembled with fear. It was a ruler's warning that an ordinary person could do nothing about. Even if I had harbored such thoughts, it was an order that would force me to fold them away neatly.
@
"……You don't look well. Are you all right?"
Fortunately, I returned to my seat just in time and gave Achillea an awkward smile at her words upon her return. Achillea, who had been studying my pale face, chuckled and patted my shoulder.
"If you're that worried, trust me. I've received a thorough education in the imperial palace, after all."
Thinking I had frozen from tension, she gently patted my shoulder. Letting out a small breath inwardly, I could only nod. Looking toward where the Emperor sat behind Achillea, I closed my eyes for a moment before opening them and turning my gaze away. He was definitely watching. I hadn't done anything suspicious, but for some reason, the chair I sat on felt like a bed of thorns.
"Now then, it's about time."
At Achillea's words, I came to my senses, stood up, and carefully extended my hand to her. Achillea took my hand as if it were natural and spoke playfully.
"No comment on my dress?"
"……You look beautiful. What dress wouldn't suit Your Highness the Crown Princess?"
"For flattery, that was quite eloquent. I like it."
Holding Achillea's hand as she flashed a playful smile, I slowly turned and headed toward the banquet hall. Even though it was a corridor where no one's gaze should reach, I couldn't help but feel that someone was watching me from somewhere, my nerves entirely focused in that direction.
"Your Highness."
"Hm?"
"There's something I'd like to ask."
As we slowly walked down the corridor together, I opened my mouth. The Emperor's ears were surely listening, but I had to ask. After all, the Emperor's eyes and ears would be everywhere in the Empire. Perhaps it would be better for the Emperor to hear the answer from Achillea's own mouth.
"What is it?"
Achillea tilted her head curiously at my serious tone and asked back. Taking a deep breath, I slowly spoke.
"Why did you choose me as your escort, Your Highness?"
"……Didn't I already explain that sufficiently?"
Achillea paused for a moment before answering. I shook my head slightly and pressed for an answer.
"I feel like there's more to it than that, so I'm asking."
"………."
Achillea fell silent. I also didn't press her further and walked slowly down the corridor. Since the protagonist of the banquet, Achillea, had to enter the hall and take her seat before the dance time could begin, there was no need to hurry.
"Well……"
After a brief silence, Achillea spoke. All my nerves were focused on her. With an ambiguous expression, she moved her feet, seeming to choose her words carefully.
"I wonder why."
It wasn't a question. Instinctively realizing this, I simply kept my mouth shut and walked alongside her. Passing through the long corridor and descending dozens of stairs, we finally made our way toward the distant entrance of the banquet hall. The closer we got to the entrance, the slower Achillea's steps became. She seemed to be pondering alone.
"If Your Highness doesn't wish to say……"
"You……"
My words, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to," were cut off by Achillea's voice. Her red eyes looked at me for a brief moment. I also looked at her, waiting for her next words.
"If I said……"
"……."
"That I developed an interest in you, would you believe me?"
……How could I believe that? Achillea was someone who never took interest in anyone. She had never felt curiosity or joy. But separate from that thought, I had no choice but to believe her words. And so, I had no choice but to answer.
"Of course."
"……I see."
"How could I possibly doubt Your Highness the Crown Princess's words?"
At my playful reply, Achillea burst into laughter and stepped ahead of me. The reason I had no choice but to believe her words wasn't just because……
"Let's go."
It wasn't only because Achillea's earlobes had turned bright red.