Exile
After Ricardo and my duel ended in my victory, one of the rumors that had been circulating around Lutra vanished without a trace.
That was the baseless nonsense claiming that I, a man with no talent to speak of, had wangled my way into Lutra by leaning on my younger sisters.
No matter how loudly those brainless idiots shouted and spread their gossip, there had been too many witnesses to the duel between me and Ricardo that day.
Besides, Ricardo hadn’t even managed to land a proper blow on me, so everyone had no choice but to watch their mouths even more carefully.
Because saying that I had no skill and had only been admitted to Lutra through fraud was essentially the same as indirectly insulting Ricardo, the one who had been one-sidedly beaten in the duel.
“At last, even the other idiots are starting to admit how strong you are. So long as they’ve got eyes, they can’t keep spouting that dogshit forever.”
Cartesia was impressively foul-mouthed for an imperial princess.
I’d heard she’d lived only inside the Imperial Palace before coming to Lutra, which made me wonder where on earth she’d picked up language that dirty.
“So you don’t need to worry about anything anymore. The rumors about you have practically died down, the board has nothing they can pin on you, and most importantly, you’ve got me.”
“That’s certainly reassuring.”
Whether she hadn’t heard my mutter or was pretending not to, Cartesia clenched both fists and looked at me.
“Maybe in the past I didn’t know anything... and because I was stupid, I just stood there and watched while you suffered. But this time is different. This time, I’ll protect you. So... just trust me.”
“...This time?”
For a moment, I tilted my head, not understanding what she meant.
This time?
Had I ever been wrongfully accused over some rumor like this at another time besides now?
No matter how hard I thought about it, nothing came to mind, and when I frowned in confusion, Cartesia quickly waved her hands, looking a little flustered.
“N-no! I mean... Right! Ever since you enrolled here, people have been talking trash about you nonstop. Your background, your job, all that ridiculous crap. Maybe it’s late to say this now, but I really hated that.”
At her hurried explanation, I blinked.
What, so she’d actually been carrying around something that trivial in her heart all this time?
“Don’t worry about that. It wasn’t even completely wrong, anyway, and besides, it’s enough as long as you don’t think that way. I don’t really care what anyone else says, as long as it’s not you.”
Because in all of Lutra, the only person I could really call a friend was you.
The rest, at best, were just acquaintances I happened to get along with.
“I... I’m the only one? So, you only care about me?”
At my casual words, Cartesia stared at me and stammered as if she’d just heard something impossible.
What exactly had been so wrong with what I said for her to react like that?
Could she possibly be wincing at the fact that I was such a pitiful person I had no friends besides her?
“...What’s with you? Did I say something strange?”
“N-no... Th-that’s not it! More importantly, don’t you think it’s weird how quiet they’ve been lately?”
Cartesia briskly changed the subject, like someone who had something to hide.
“Them?”
“Your younger sisters. They’ve been strangely quiet, which isn’t what I expected. Those girls are absolutely not the type to sit still and behave.”
Looking troubled, Cartesia tapped her fingers against the floor.
“I think those bitches are the main cause of all this. So I figured they’d make some kind of move around now. Or... maybe they already have.”
As she muttered to herself with a grave expression, Cartesia seemed to notice my stare and glanced at me cautiously.
“...Sorry. I ended up insulting your younger sisters again. But I think they’re only putting on a front when they’re in front of yo—”
“I know. I know my younger sisters were the ones behind trying to get me kicked out of Lutra.”
“...You’re trembling, so you should be a little more careful... Huh? What did you say?”
“I know now. That my younger sisters aren’t on my side.”
In truth, it was worse than that; I’d already stopped thinking of those girls as family. But I didn’t bother telling Cartesia that.
I lifted my head and looked at her.
Come to think of it, Cartesia had been warning me for a very long time.
That my younger sisters were absolutely not people I could trust. That I shouldn’t place blind faith in them just because they were my sisters.
Looking back now, her advice had been nothing short of perfectly sensible.
It was only that I had ignored the counsel offered for my own good, because all I wanted was to believe in my family until the very end.
If I’d accepted Cartesia’s advice sooner, would my future have changed?
In that sense, Cartesia was the only ally I could trust in the present.
Because she had always stood by my side, offering nothing but advice and warnings meant for my own sake.
While I was thinking that, Cartesia blinked at me as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing from my mouth.
“...What’s wrong with you? Your reaction is way too different from normal. You... usually really hate it when people badmouth your sisters.”
At her words, I let out a bitter smile.
“No, it’s just... I finally came to my senses, even if it’s late. And Cartesia, there’s something I want to say to you personally.”
“S-something you want to say to me personally?”
At once, her face stiffened with tension.
She took a long breath, as if bracing herself, and then repeated the motion as though steadying her heart.
“...Okay. Now it’s fine. I’m all right. No matter what you say now... I’m confident I won’t waver. So say it quickly. Whatever it is... I’ll listen to all of it.”
It was a little strange how tense she looked, as if she had steeled herself for something in her mind, but there was no reason to drag it out, so I told her in detail about the conversation Letitia and Lobelia had in the infirmary that day.
At first, Cartesia couldn’t hide her disappointment, as if what I’d brought up wasn’t what she’d expected at all. But once she understood the seriousness of it, her face also hardened.
“...I see. So that’s how it was. I wondered why it had been so quiet compared to before... and now I know they were scheming behind the scenes like that.”
“That conversation between Letitia and Lobelia. Do you think what they said was realistic? How likely is it that everything will unfold exactly the way they’re plotting?”
At my question, Cartesia lightly furrowed her delicate brows.
“Unfortunately, it looks like things really will go the way those bitches planned. As you know, our older brother is the classic small-minded type—ridiculously proud for someone with so little ability. If those girls whisper something in his ear, there’s a very good chance he’ll fall for it like an idiot.”
Honestly, I’d already reached the same conclusion as Cartesia. It was suspicious enough that the clever Letitia and Lobelia couldn’t manipulate Ricardo—who had nothing in his head but stubbornness—however they pleased.
“If our older brother throws pride to the wind, then things are going to get very messy. In one sense, you’re basically backed into a corner. Assaulting an imperial royal... Those fucking girls really know how to spin a plan.”
As Cartesia clicked her tongue softly, I asked her,
“But didn’t you say last time that the result of a rightful duel was something even the Emperor couldn’t touch?”
“Normally, yes. At least, that’s how I’d handle it. But if harm is done to an imperial royal’s body... for example, if an imperial royal is made to bleed, then that’s an exception. Because harming royalty can also be interpreted as challenging the dignity of the imperial family.”
Only then did I understand what Cartesia was trying to say.
Normally, no one could object to the outcome of a lawful duel agreed upon by both parties. But if Ricardo ignored public opinion and humiliation and went so far as to pin the charge of assaulting royalty on me, then I’d be helpless.
“So does that mean I have to get expelled from Lutra according to their plan? Because if I struggle, it’ll all be pointless, so I should just leave quietly without any resistance at all?”
Being expelled from Lutra itself wasn’t such a big deal, honestly.
But that day, I made a decision.
I would no longer think of my younger sisters as family, and I would no longer let them toy with me as they pleased.
So no matter what it took, I had to stay in Lutra and avoid expulsion.
I wanted to escape one thing above all else: leaving Lutra on my own two feet after being made to dance in those girls’ plan like a loser.
That was... the last shred of pride I had left.
“.....”
At my words, Cartesia looked deep in thought.
Then, after a moment, her face turned bright red as she looked back at me.
“...There is just one way. A way for you to get out of this.”
“What is it?”
Cartesia couldn’t even bear to meet my eyes. She lowered her head and, in a very small voice, said,
“...Do you maybe have any intention of marrying me?”