Dawn Departures
The next day. The first to leave the villa was none other than Ebnis.
"Well, it was a decent vacation, all things considered. I had a pretty good time, more or less."
"You mean the meat you tried to take that wasn't even fully cooked?"
"Ugh! Argh! I couldn't help it! I was hungry...!"
She turned beet red, clearly embarrassed even by her own standards.
"Ah, anyway, I've got work to handle by afternoon, so I need to head out early."
As we climbed up to the platform, servants were loading luggage onto a waiting carriage. A roaring lion with a golden mane—the Repelheit crest boldly emblazoned inside a red flag on a lavish carriage.
"What, seeing the carriage you used to ride around in makes you want to hop back on?"
"You ride it plenty yourself."
"Hmph."
It was 6 a.m., dawn just breaking. Pretty early, so aside from me and Reina, everyone else was still lost in dreamland.
"Sub-marquess, at least have some breakfast before you go..."
"It's fine, Reina. I want to eat at home."
Well, if she insists on eating at home.
That carriage would now race nonstop to the Rothschild territory at the heart of the west. Then Ebnis would dive straight into handling the marquisate's duties in the Repelheit Marquis's absence—estate management, ball attendance, heir training, vassal meetings, you name it.
All while squeezing in personal training and studying for the second semester. And she's doing it all alone as a seventeen-year-old first-year academy student.
Truth be told, she must've had to steel herself quite a bit just to come to the sea.
"...What're you staring at?"
"Nothing. So from now on, you'll be handling the territory duties?"
"Yeah, pretty much. The marquis doesn't handle any official business at all, does he?"
"What a piece of trash."
"...There are ears everywhere. Watch your mouth, Adrian."
"No thanks. It's not my family anyway."
Anyway, that's how it is. Even empty words wouldn't paint the Repelheit Marquis as a good guy. What parent dumps all the official duties on their seventeen-year-old kid and jets off for a vacation?
And it's not even a proper vacation, as he himself said.
"...You're doing what I used to do now. Good luck with that. I'll be wandering around, savoring the sweet freedom handed to me."
"Saying that to someone who's stuck in an office all vacation? Are you making fun of me right now?"
She crossed her arms, let out a deep sigh, and shook her head as she climbed the steps. Then she glanced back at me.
"Don't cause any trouble when you get back. Make sure I don't hear your name popping up."
"No thanks."
"Ugh, seriously!"
I do plan on causing trouble. And you'll get a front-row seat to it yourself.
But spilling it now might make her foam at the mouth mid-work, so I'll show up in person when the time comes.
"Sub-marquess, we need to depart now. Leaving at this hour gets us there by morning."
"Got it. Well, I'm really off now. See you second semester, Reina. And you too, uh..."
Uh? Uh what?
"Uh... uh... uhhhhh... ughhh!"
She clenched her fists, trembling.
"So don't go getting killed by someone else! If you do get killed, I'll be the one to kill you!"
With that, she bolted into the carriage without looking back.
"...Who’s killing who here?"
I muttered, and the carriage set off. After watching it and the flag recede into the distance, Reina spoke up.
"Shall we head in? You need to get back to Salenium Academy too, Adrian."
"Yeah, let's."
I turned first, but Reina lingered on the platform.
"What's up?"
I asked, and she shook her head with a wry smile before coming down.
"Nothing. Let's go."
We woke everyone for breakfast. Now it was time for everyone to part ways.
"...Adrian? You're staying here another day?"
"Huh? S-Senior, aren't you heading back with us?"
"Adrian? Is that for real?"
"Adrian's staying... Can I stay too?"
"...Senior, this isn't dangerous, is it?"
Everyone fretted, but I shook my head.
"I've got some in-depth talks to have with Alpren von Wolfgang. Looks like I'll need another day or two here before heading back."
"Yes, Alpren and I have important matters to discuss."
With Alpren chiming in beside me, the other four reluctantly nodded.
"Alpren, then can I stay another day too?"
"No. You need to head back to the main estate, sis."
"But I don't wanna..."
"Go on ahead. I'll follow soon."
This villa belonged to Alpren anyway, so Reina got the boot.
Everyone boarded their carriages.
"I'll head back soon, so wait for me. Until I arrive, focus on whatever training you feel you're lacking."
The four nodded and their academy-bound carriages departed first.
And next, Reina.
"...Shame we can't spend more time together when we finally had the chance."
"Nobles have noble duties, Reina."
"I know that."
She hesitated in front of the carriage, so I asked,
"Not going?"
"Just a sec."
Then she suddenly grabbed my wrist tight.
"...Reina, what the—"
"Adrian recharge."
What the hell is that...?
And more importantly, it hurts...
She clung to my wrist on her own terms before darting into the carriage.
"Take care heading back, Adrian."
"...Reina."
"Yeah?"
"If something utterly infuriating or absurd happens, just hold out for a little while."
"What do you mean, Adrian?"
"...Think you can manage?"
She looked puzzled for a moment but nodded.
"If you're saying it that seriously, yeah. Got it."
"Then I'll come rescue you for sure."
"Yeah. Hehe, I believe you."
With that, she boarded. And off it went.
Any eavesdropping servants had been cleared out, leaving just Fromen the butler, me, and Alpren on the platform.
"Butler, you made it?"
"Yes, arrived urgently this morning."
"What was the message?"
"'I'll pick a dress without anyone knowing.'"
I see.
"Kuh... kuahaha."
I couldn't help but laugh.
She's coming. To the ball for western nobles' unity... an unannounced imperial showing up...
That's already a funeral for them.
"And we sent the secret letter to the Gail heir as planned?"
"Yes, he says he'll move at midnight tonight."
"Good. Then we sync up and join him there."
This is gonna be
"...a total shitshow."
For real.
I can't wait to crash it.
And that midnight.
"Run!"
Two shadows dashed out through a secretly opened castle gate. They crossed the deep moat, pushed through tall underbrush, sprinting relentlessly toward the forest ahead.
"...Hila, over here! Just reach that forest ahead! Hang in there a bit longer, even if it's tough!"
"Y-Yes, young master!"
A man leading the way, hand in hand with a woman running behind. His attire was flashy noble garb, hers simple servant's clothes.
Soon...
Bwoooooong!
A massive trumpet blared, and a knight plus several soldiers burst from the gate.
"No way, we were already spotted?!"
"Young master, you go on without me—"
"No way. I won't abandon you. Just focus on running!"
The pair bolted for the forest with all they had, but couldn't outpace the mounted knight and trained soldiers.
And above all.
"Kyaa!"
"Hila!"
The woman tripped on a rock, and the noble man whirled around.
"No, young master! Leave me and go!"
"Never!"
The noble swallowed hard, drew his sword from his waist, and stood before her, pointing it at the mounted knight among those encircling them.
"Father! ...Please, grant your permission for my marriage to Hila!"
"Absolutely not! You must marry the Wolfgang lady! It's our family's only shot at revival from ruin!"
Wrong. Words won't get through.
His sword tip trembled. Is this it? The end like this? Crumbling away...?
Just as 'Gail's eyes drowned in despair.
Synchro.
Burst.
Sssshriiik.
A strange sound, like the wind itself tearing.
And then.
"Gahk!"
"Euk!"
"Kwek!"
"Guk!"
"Aek!"
In under five seconds, the encircling soldiers—and even his father—rolled their eyes back and collapsed. Gail's face went pale.
Thankfully, none dead. Struck vital points for instant knockout.
Undeniably a master at work.
"Wh-who are you?!"
Then.
"You're Gail, and that lady is Hila, correct."
Someone approached from afar. Dazzling golden hair shining like moonlight. Half his face masked, a dagger in hand. Flanked by two gray-haired men in black robes, tanned skin, identical looks.
"N-no way... Y-you're..."
Gail's voice shook.
And soon.
"You're...!"
"Mm."
"The anonymous benefactor from the secret letter! You came to help us! Hila, we... we did it! We succeeded!"
"Ah! Young master!"
It turned to cheers. The two embraced, sobbing.
The man watched, then spoke lowly.
"You held out well. Beyond that forest lies a land of freedom where your love—divided by status—can be permitted. Don't waste the chance I've made."
Gail and Hila wept in gratitude.
"Understood. Thank you! Truly, thank you! We'll never forget this kindness!"
The masked blond man. Gail etched his savior's image in his mind and headed for the forest.
No matter the unknown world ahead—as long as he had Hila with him, nothing could stand in their way!
"Clean work. Non-lethal, of course."
"They'll wake in exactly 72 hours. Anything else?"
"Nah, that's it. Good job. Might call on you again soon, so stay ready."
"Got it."
"Signal, we'll be watching."
They melted into the darkness and vanished. Alpren and Fromen the butler emerged slowly from the nearby bushes.
"...Who were they?"
"The assassin group 'Griner.' Famous for transcendent success rates in targeted hits and ambushes. I have ties, so we transact."
"Hah..."
Fromen let out a sigh, at a loss for words.
"How on earth did you come up with this scheme...?"
"I already knew. Third-year 'Alin von Gail' has rejected every marriage proposal, it seems. Turns out it's because he secretly vowed to marry his servant Hila."
Canon info from the original.
Dropouts from Salenium aren't common past first year. Especially a third-year with just one year to graduation—they grit their teeth and finish, not quit. They've invested time and built something.
But one character boldly drops out in third year. Reason? Hilariously, to pursue his love.
"...That's why."
"Yes, when the Wolfgang marriage talks hit, it must've felt like fire on his feet. Become his anonymous backer, nudge cleverly... I'm just exploiting the setup. But now's what matters, Alpren."
"Yes, Adrian."
"Can you lock down info here completely with your resources? No leaks at all. We need Gail appearing normally at the ball two days from now."
Alpren gazed at the Gail castle, then said,
"I can manage two days. Gail's a knightly house—no magic comms. For messenger birds or letters, I can fake them myself via trusted aides. Not a huge house, so doable for me."
What an all-purpose tool.
"Perfect. Let's head back. Time for final prep."
"Yes."
"Understood."
I removed the mask and turned. One day left till the ball.
The plan was racing toward its climax.