110. The Returning Student Suffers a Heart Wound
After the freshman welcome party, a small change had come over Lepia.
“Hey! Another fun and lively day! Let’s go listen to the lectures, Lepia!”
“Let’s go. Lepia.”
Right beside her stood an elf exchange student and an Empire student.
“Ah, I see. Eloise. I get it, so please put that down… Hieeek!”
Lepia hadn’t been confined to the room but didn’t engage in much physical activity either.
So, keeping up with Eloise’s lively spirit—who was also a former soldier—and Lavrenti’s movements, who was a sharp shooter but still a well-trained soldier, was quite a hardship for her.
“A little slower! Slowly… Kyaah!”
This wasn’t just walking together; it was like special forces on both sides grabbing her arms and running.
At this point, she could have just asked them to let go, but Lepia didn’t.
Since they were secretly wary of her, there was reason to lower that guard, and unlike the thought of being lonely alone, being with someone made her feel somewhat okay.
“Hmm. Lepia. Seeing you like this, your stamina seems too low.”
“Y-You guys say such unbelievable things! Hic! Hic!”
“No. Lepia. You’re really too weak.”
“So, you two just… Please! Please stop!”
...Even so, dragging her around during non-lecture times was a bit too much.
After being tormented by the two all day, Lepia finally managed to return to her room.
“See you tomorrow, Lepia!”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Hiiik...”
They were trying to get close, right? They weren’t trying to bully her now, were they? Really not?! She barely managed to suppress the words that kept swirling in her mind.
But if it was a misunderstanding, the other side might feel hurt. And honestly, compared to the ‘them’ she met recently, this was better.
'Foolish ones. Do they think their sister wouldn't look that far?'
Even though far from being a knight, she was close to the royal family as the second princess. Lepia knew this well. She had even considered siding with her several times.
If she had been better at politics and power, she might have.
'...Right. Speaking of which, a delegation from the home country is coming in a few days.'
Until recently, she thought it was a sudden visit. There was no reason for Lasquer to send a delegation to the Empire, nor any important event.
But thinking about what happened at the freshman welcome party, recalling the people and conversations, it seemed like she might be one of the reasons.
It was dishonorable. Not knightly. Not someone to lead Lasquer. These were the reasons they wanted to choose her over the second princess.
Factually, it was absurd; if they were going to choose her, they should have supported her from the beginning. But suddenly like this? Was this a provocation?
Doing one thing and then changing mind was already dishonorable. Not knightly. When such people brought up reasons, she felt less like teaming up.
'More than anything, I just wanted to live without caring about anything else.'
She thought she should tell the second princess about this fact if possible. The problem was, what direction her disposition would take if she did.
She needed to know this for sure to move. At least, she had to match words with the second princess to somehow escape the aftershock a little.
She should contact the delegation once to see if she could pass something to her sister through them. While Lepia was pondering, the next day arrived.
“...Eh?”
On this day too, the news brought by Eloise and Lavrenti made her exclaim.
“What does that mean?”
“I don't know exactly, but Karl became one of the personnel welcoming the delegation from that side?”
“Did you talk to Master about something?”
No way!? It couldn't be! They had heard about the delegation coming only recently!
Lepia blinked, and without realizing, slowly looked out the window at the sky.
*
The delegation sent from the Kingdom of Lasquer finally entered the Empire. After diligently moving, they arrived near the capital, where personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed them warmly.
“Welcome. Delegation members. We've been waiting.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Actually, it didn't feel that sudden. A delegation should have been informed several months in advance, giving time to prepare.
But Lasquer informed this only a month ago, so from the Empire's perspective, it was subtly hinting ‘What are you doing now?’
'To put it bluntly, even if the Empire prepared inadequately on purpose, we Lasquer wouldn't have anything to say.'
It couldn't be helped. They had finished domestic matters but the confusion hadn't ended yet.
In such a situation, if the Empire suddenly withdrew its neutral stance and intervened in Lasquer's affairs, no one could guarantee how the situation would develop.
So, the newly appointed second princess hastily decided to send a delegation to the Empire. To ask their will and receive a promise not to intervene in Lasquer's affairs.
The Empire would also have anticipated this. Given the speed of information collection from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Special Intelligence Agency, they must have read the situation to some extent.
Whether they would make exact demands was unknown.
Yet, seeing them accept it like this, perhaps there was nothing to worry about—the head of the Lasquer delegation turned his gaze to a young man standing beside the Empire's relations.
“...Excuse me, if it doesn't bother you. May I ask who you are?”
He didn't seem to be from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Why did she think that? No matter how she looked, there was a strong feeling of a highly skilled warrior.
Even if he fought against Lasquer's proud knights, there would be no problem, or perhaps even stronger.
“Nice to meet you.”
And at the moment the introduction came from that young man, everyone in Lasquer was shocked.
“Karl Adelheit of Friedrich County.”
Friedrich County. The moment they heard the name, the delegation head and the escort knights all recalled one man. A man who had shown unbelievable martial prowess about 20 years ago.
Some called him ‘Baba Yaga’ the strange title, but most of Lasquer remembered him as such.
Knight Crusher. The kingdom's nightmare. The ghost of Friedrich County.
“...Pleased to meet you. I see you've met the famous Medal of Honor recipient.”
Why was this man here? Even if he was a Medal of Honor recipient, if he was from Friedrich County, the Empire shouldn't not know about the tense relationship with Lasquer.
'No way.'
Was the Empire trying to take a different stance towards Lasquer? Through this young man, to convey the Empire's will. To show hostility again anytime?
The delegation head's worries were not unfounded. The words that young man named Karl had spoken were never just a noble's mistake.
“It seems these are the knights escorting the delegation. Hmm. Just looking at you, your presence is impressive. I heard that you will stay here today and enter the palace tomorrow. If possible, I would like to spar with the knights here. How about that?”
It was unbelievable. A military clash with the delegation for any reason. Even if it was a ‘friendly match’, it was clearly a very awkward situation in the current state.
Yet, the Empire's relations smiled awkwardly and didn't stop him. Rather, they looked at the delegation and asked ‘Is that so? What about you?’
Something was off. There was no reason for the Empire to show this. This was an insult and disregard to the delegation that came for diplomatic purposes. But they were saying that?
'Did something make them unhappy? What exactly happened?'
While the delegation head was thinking hard, the first to move were the escort knights.
“...It's a bit sudden, but if the opportunity arises and there's no problem between the two countries, we would like to accept the friendly match.”
“I see. Ah, by the way, the Empire has no problem.”
Clearly. There was something the other side didn't know but made the Empire very unhappy.
Otherwise, the Empire's relations couldn't show such a face!
The delegation head tried to stop the knights. For now, situation assessment first. But the problem was, the opponent was Karl Adelheit's person.
'These people!'
In the knights' eyes, there was a strong desire to spar and win. To erase the past defeat. To escape from that nightmare. To somehow get rid of the humiliating and shocking moment!
If they backed down here, it would be troublesome in many ways. Opportunity to ask about the Empire's situation, and complaints from their own knights.
Finally, after much deliberation, the delegation head had no choice but to nod.
“Understood. Then, the format of the friendly match...”
“How about a winner stays on system. In a duel, the winner fights the next opponent.”
“Good. Then, the personnel limit is...”
“That's up to Lasquer. Two, three, or more. Whatever you like.”
Thud—
Karl, who had thrown his coat on the ground, spun once.
Following the Gganf, mad for honor. Really, when would my peaceful life come?
While returning from the battlefield to his original life, in the academy, that wouldn't do.
Then, the ordinary returning student who had just returned from war and was happy would suffer a heart wound.
“Ah. By the way, it's just me from the Empire.”