Gotcha!
Occasionally, there were times when I felt a pang of regret. I wanted to let off some steam about army stories, but I couldn't.
I wanted to turn those painful memories into old stories I could laugh about and talk about, but I couldn't hear 'me too' from anyone.
Actually, it made sense. The only crazy guy who enlisted as a private despite being a noble was me.
Still, the four of them had received some training, but that was it. Selena would enthusiastically join in and cheer me on, but in the end, she too had her limits, so it was just a bit disappointing.
Elise was an ex-officer, and even from a foreign army. Not to mention Lepia.
So, I was truly grateful for Lavrenti's existence. It was fortunate to have someone who shared the same memories.
“What a bunch of bastards. Why the hell did you poop in the trench you dug?!”
“Ugh. I had that experience too. Fortunately, I didn't step in it, but...”
“Anyway, the three squads of bastards. Look at how they're using the trench they dug themselves.”
Since a while ago, the Medal of Honor recipients. I occasionally meet with my direct seniors.
And they say that if you add happy memories on top of sad ones, someday you'll meet them in your dreams and be able to face them with a smile.
I think it's good advice. You can't be in pain forever. They probably didn't die for me to see this side of myself.
“If I hadn't done so well on the front lines, I would have really gone after those bastards and beaten them all up.”
“You must have known what your teacher would say and fought hard with gritted teeth, right?”
“Is that so? Haha, these kids. They knew how scary the real deal of the battalion was.”
Live well. Live happily. So that they can feel proud when they see it.
No matter how hard it is. No matter how much regret there is. Live. Because the days you regret are the past that your comrades pushed you into with their lives.
“By the way, Lavrenti was a sharpshooter, but it seems he was on the front lines a lot too?”
“We had some dangerous situations on the front lines. Every time, we ignored the upper command and fought with the soldiers.”
“...”
Wow. Our Lavrenti, you didn't look like that, but you had that kind of spirit. You didn't even listen to orders.
I think it's fortunate that this guy is incredibly good with a gun. If not for that, our upper command would have sent this guy to the rear immediately.
“Surprisingly, Lavrenti had that kind of spirit too.”
“Huh? Ah. This too was all learned from the teacher.”
“From me?”
When did I teach you that? I swear I never taught you anything like that!
“My teacher did it several times to save comrades, or even went to the enemy lines. I heard that from him and thought he was telling others to do the same.”
“Absolutely not. That's not it.”
That was just me not being sane at the time. Rather, it was a crazy thing from the perspective of my direct superiors.
Without listening to any orders, he would suddenly pop out and do hand-to-hand combat and save the kids without orders. But, of all things, he was the son of a count, so they couldn't just beat him up.
Thinking about it like this, it's really surprising that they left me alone. If it was me, I would have beaten him senseless no matter what.
“I realize again that Lavrenti is my teacher.”
“What are you saying. My teacher was my teacher from the beginning.”
“So, that means you really taught me without any reason?”
“You gave me a head start without any reason.”
Even if I say it's not like that, he won't listen now. So, just say so.
“By the way, teacher.”
As I was leaving the national cemetery, Lavrenti looked at me with a somewhat ominous gaze. ...That's not good, this.
“Did you handle the schedule to the Holy See well where you went with Senior Selena?”
“Eh? Yeah. I went well.”
“I see. Was there any incident?”
“Incident? There were many. As Lavrenti knows, I received several of those inexplicable lights or miracles, the four of them teased me a lot, and I received a blessing from His Holiness the Pope— Lavrenti?”
A strange gaze made me turn my head, and Lavrenti was looking at me. Ah, let me correct that. To be precise, there was a slight glint in his eyes.
“You don't have to hide it from me, teacher.”
“Huh?”
“It's really okay. I had already expected some of it.”
“No, so, which part...?”
“I talked with Senior Selena. Up to what point, can I promise?”
Wait, did he just say he promised something? Up to what point?
Suddenly, the first kiss I had with Selena in the Holy See comes to mind. Ah, um. The moonlight was really pretty.
“Let me ask again, teacher. Was there any incident?”
“...”
“It's okay. It's already agreed upon.”
It's agreed upon. Hearing that, a courage I didn't have suddenly wells up. I can tell, right?
If Lavrenti already knows everything, honestly answering won't get Selena to say anything.
“Kiss.”
“Kiss.”
“Yeah. Kiss.”
“Did you just kiss?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
With my confirmation, Lavrenti keeps looking at me with 'Hmm.' Then suddenly mutters, 'Thank you for the honest answer, teacher. Thanks to you, I got one good position.'
...Wait a minute.
“Lavrenti? You don't mean...”
The feeling is strong. This is like the feeling of a sentry dozing off for a moment and the captain coming out for patrol!
“You don't mean it was a lie?”
“...”
“Hey! Honestly tell me! Was the agreement with Selena or whatever, all a lie?!”
Then Lavrenti secretly avoids my gaze and answers!
“Originally, in the battlefield, it's about deceiving and being deceived, teacher. You know that, right.”
“No!”
“Anyway. You kissed Senior Selena too. Thank you for the useful information.”
“Hey!!”
Damn! Gotcha!
*
Everything between the Empire and Lasquer was settled. Private unpleasantness and public cooperative system. In between, Lepia had to feel tension and relief alternately.
Honestly, thinking about it even now, my heart still flutters. She came all the way to me who came to study in the Empire and made such a proposal. Is she sane?
Still, it was fortunate that the Empire tolerated it, and if they had immediately cut ties with Lasquer and demanded explanation, there would have been no way in the home country.
“If it hadn't been for Senior Karl, it might have really happened...”
The Empire used the Medal of Honor recipient, Karl, to subtly reveal their discomfort. Fortunately, the news reached Lasquer too, and they expressed regret as well.
After that, the Empire sent a congratulatory delegation for Lasquer's king ascension and demanded a 'payback' in a way, and Lasquer accepted the bill with a roundabout expression of recognizing the Empire's superiority.
Additionally, the fear of the 'Baba Yaga' that was slowly being forgotten was still confirmed to be alive.
Anyway, with this, two things were clear. One is that Lasquer is no longer a strong nation to counter the Empire. It has become just a friendly neighboring country.
And the other is. Lepia herself now really has to cut almost all ties with her home country.
Honestly, there was nothing difficult. There was nothing regrettable. Lepia knew herself well.
A coward. A princess who has no royal bloodline or spirit. Therefore, the princess status was just a heavy shackle, so it was better to cut it off quickly.
So, she abandoned the princess status. After the study abroad period, she decided to continue staying in the Empire. The home country also accepted that part and even provided some help.
However, the worry was, how would the Empire view her. That was the problem—
Thud! —
“Hyaak?!”
“What are you doing, Lepia! Are you letting go of the reins this far?!”
“...Ah. Ah! S-sorry!”
Surprisingly, it was okay. Her motives, rather, accepted Lepia even better than before.
That was because by giving up the princess status, the distance disappeared. Or because among the first-years, the rumor 'That Lepia seems to have a weird relationship with Senior Karl Adelheit?!' was circulating.
Anyway. Lepia got up from her seat and walked to the beach.
“...”
Warm sun. A vast sandy beach spread out below. And the sea with a blue light.
A sight hard to see in the home country. There was a sea, but the North Sea was much colder and the waves were rougher than here. It could almost be said that every day was stormy.
At first, I felt a bit regretful that I didn't go to the Holy See with Karl. But looking at that sea. And seeing myself getting closer to my motives. That regret faded, leaving only joy.
“Lepia. Lepia.”
A female student approaches Lepia who is dipping her feet in the sea water.
“Did you hear the news?”
“News? What news?”
“That a miracle descended in the Holy See this time.”
Miracle? First time hearing it. No, originally, did a miracle even exist? I thought such stories were just rare legends passed on to the clergy.
“It's not just a miracle, but in front of the Pope and the entire cardinalate and all believers. During the Great Feast of All Saints, Senior Karl was praying and suddenly a light shot out to the senior!!”
“...Eh?”
Wait a minute. Who? Who did the light pour out to? Lepia asked back without realizing she was surprised.
“Who? Who did a miracle descend on?”
“Senior Karl! What, didn't you get a call from Senior Karl?”
“W-why would there be such a call to me—
“Because Lepia seems close to Senior Karl!”
Misunderstanding. It's not close at all. It was just that we got entangled by chance. Lepia explained with a panicked look. Because if strange misunderstandings piled up, it would be bad.
But—
“Ah. Junior Lepia.”
“Eh?!”
Right that evening. Lepia and her group exactly ran into Karl.