The Grand Archduchess's Decision
The Grand Archduchess's Decision
After the chaotic second day had passed, ordinary days followed.
The Princess and the Grand Archduchess occasionally met to share tea and refreshments, but going outside was completely out of the question.
With so many watchful eyes around us, it was difficult for me to approach the Grand Archduchess personally.
The Grand Archduchess also seemed to have something on her mind. Balea, meanwhile, strolled all over the royal palace making acquaintances, as if networking were her true calling.
After a few days of this, I was finally able to meet up again with my seniors, who had been dragged off elsewhere.
Fortunately, there was a day off in between, so both of them came to the royal palace to deliver an interim report.
After first reporting their progress to Viscount Daniel, the two seniors gathered in my room.
Was it because only the three of us had come to the Duchy?
After a few days apart, the seniors treated me much more casually than before.
Senior Havier had always been informal, anyway, but Senior Benjamin also treated me like a younger brother he was comfortable with.
"No, wait, isn't there way too much of a difference between our rooms?"
"It's really nice. The single room in the quarters where I'm staying is pretty cramped."
"If it were just cramped, that'd be fine! The frontline quarters don't even have single rooms. I'm staying with the knights in a filthy lodge! I'm already being treated like the youngest errand boy!"
My condolences to Senior Havier.
Having experienced the military in my past life, his plight didn't feel like someone else's problem.
This was precisely why I had never even considered joining the Kingdom Army or the Royal Knights Order.
After rambling on about the room for a while, the two seniors turned their attention to Viscount Daniel.
Havier was the first to speak, slumping into a chair.
"We reported to the Viscount just a moment ago, right? Man, the Viscount is ridiculously fussy."
Recalling what had happened just moments ago, Havier wore a repulsed expression.
"I don't even know how many times I had to redo my report because he said I wasn't reporting properly. But how am I supposed to know the deployment of the Duchy's army or the knights' inclinations? I told him everything I knew as best I could, but he didn't seem satisfied at all."
"For you, Senior, today's report is the end of it. I have to see the Viscount every single day."
Hearing Senior Havier's complaints, Senior Benjamin let out a sigh that was uncharacteristic of him.
"Wow, that must be rough."
Havier offered his sympathy, but it didn't seem to help Benjamin much.
"He's both competent and meticulous, so the pain is doubled. Now I think I finally understand why superiors ought to be lazy."
Benjamin drained the tea in the cup before him, then held it and sank into thought for a moment.
"By the way... um, it looks like he's doing way more work than I expected. I knew he hadn't come just to supervise the dispatch class, but this goes far beyond that."
There was something in his tone that suggested he had more to say. Leaning forward, I asked him:
"What is it?"
"Would we even understand if we heard it?"
Havier chimed in with a quip from the side, but fortunately, Benjamin didn't stop talking.
"It's not certain, but it seems he's negotiating something with the Duchy. He seemed to be moving around secretly, without letting anyone know. But it doesn't feel like an official negotiation, so..."
"Did your dog nose kick in again? You need to be careful—you got warned by the Headmaster back at the Academy for doing exactly that, remember?"
"I know. But I could tell just by reading the room. It seems negotiations are underway between pretty high-level figures, but since it's a secret negotiation and isn't being conducted through any official channels..."
He was speaking in circles, but I understood what he meant.
"What Senior means is that the Duchy and the Second Prince's faction seem to be negotiating in secret, right?"
At my deduction, Benjamin widened his eyes and stared at me.
"Huh? Uh... yeah. It does feel like that, but..."
Looking between Benjamin and me, Havier let out a heavy sigh.
"No, wait, how on earth did you connect the dots like that?"
Grumbling that he was the only idiot around, Havier looked at Benjamin and spoke firmly.
"We have to pretend we know nothing. It's none of our business as students. If things go wrong, it might not end with just a warning."
"I stopped caring too, since the whole thing felt strange. Besides, as time passes, the negotiations seem to be getting murkier anyway."
"For someone who stopped caring, it sounds like you kept listening in."
Benjamin scratched his head.
Hearing Benjamin's words, it seemed Havier had something to add as well.
"Come to think of it, things on my end were pretty strange too."
He continued with a serious expression.
"It seems the number of people illegally crossing over from the Empire's side has surged."
But it didn't seem like much of a big deal. In my past life, illegal border crossings had been common.
"Isn't it just that smugglers have increased because of the taxes?"
I nodded at Benjamin's suggestion.
In my past life, I'd seen plenty of people willing to cross more than just borders to avoid paying taxes.
This place wouldn't be much different.
"Would I even bring it up if that were all? If there's a smuggler who can clear a three-meter wall in a single jump, I'd love to see them."
Uh-oh. Then that changes the story.
"And I suppose someone who crosses the border while avoiding the knights' notice is a smuggler too?"
If Senior Havier's words were true, this was no ordinary matter.
"You mean highly skilled individuals—people with knight-level prowess—were secretly crossing the border."
When I said that, Havier slapped his knee with his palm.
"Exactly! That's why the Kingdom knights and I figured it out while standing guard at the border as part of the dispatch class. Ordinary soldiers would never have noticed."
"Wait, couldn't it have been like that all along, then?"
"Is that so?"
At Benjamin's counterargument, Havier tilted his head in confusion.
In the end, Havier just shrugged it off, but I couldn't simply brush his words aside.
I had witnessed a remarkably formidable figure who had come from the Empire with my own eyes.
Had that person come using exactly the same method?
But I couldn't fathom why they would pull off something like that at this particular time.
They must be in prison right now, but I wondered if I could meet them if I went to check.
I wouldn't have anything to discuss even if we met, but...
Right then, Benjamin broke some news about them.
"Ah, right. You know those mercenaries who caused a scene when you went out with Her Highness? It seems they were all released. Someone from the royal palace came over and threw a fit, but the perpetrators just looked at them with faces that said, 'Where is that dog barking?'"
What? All of them were released? After all the trouble we went through to lock them up?
"Wow, the Duchy is absurdly chaotic, huh."
"Well, thinking about it, the people at the royal palace were the ones who suddenly invaded decades ago and became the masters. The locals who were already here would naturally resent them."
At Benjamin's words, Havier let out a heavy sigh.
"Hey, watch your tongue. I can't cover for you here."
Listening to their conversation, it didn't seem like Benjamin was being dragged around by Havier; rather, Havier seemed to be constantly helping Benjamin out whenever he caused trouble.
Is this why they say you need to observe people's relationships closely?
Seeing the seniors sprawled across the bed and sofa as if they were out of things to talk about, I fell into thought.
Although I had already uncovered the information I wanted from the two—about the 'inherited ability User who can repair damaged artifacts'— not canceling our scheduled appointment had truly been a good move.
As expected, there was plenty of news to hear besides stories about the Grand Archduchess.
The Viscount's movements, the Empire's intrusion, and the Grand Archduchess's inherited ability.
There were still many things I didn't know and couldn't make sense of, but at least I knew what had to be done first.
Seeing that the imperials we'd thrown in prison had been freed, this wasn't a situation where I could take a cautious, long-term approach.
Even if it meant breaching decorum, I intended to speak directly to the Grand Archduchess.
Although our visit to the Duchy was an excuse for the dispatch class, we couldn't skip the dispatch class itself.
I only had to act as the Princess's guard, but the Princess also had duties to fulfill as part of the dispatch class.
The Princess had to take lessons from scribes on the Duchy's unique administration, customs clearances, and commercial affairs.
As expected of a genius beyond her years, the Princess wrapped up her lessons quickly, and a few days before the dispatch class ended, I was able to meet the Grand Archduchess again.
I accompanied the Princess, and we met her in the same drawing room where we had first met the Grand Archduchess.
"Welcome. Word that Her Highness knocked out the scribes has reached even here."
At the Grand Archduchess's words, the Princess's cheeks flushed red.
"Because I wanted to see the Grand Archduchess as soon as possible..."
Was that why she broke her seal?
I'd wondered why she was being so unusually enthusiastic, but the reason turned out to be far more maidenly than I'd expected.
For that very reason, Balea had been tied down by the scribes until now.
The Princess and the Grand Archduchess chatted happily, paying no mind to whether I was there or not.
Though only a few days had passed since their last meeting, they acted as if they'd been apart for months.
Thanks to that, I couldn't find an opening to interject.
I even drew on my mana to make the world move in slow motion as I watched for an opportunity.
Meanwhile, the moment when the conversation finally came to a halt arrived.
It was the moment the Grand Archduchess intentionally paused the conversation.
The Grand Archduchess wore an expression as if she had made up her mind about something.
Whatever she'd decided, this was my chance either way.
"I have something to say..."
"I intend to study abroad at the Carlos Royal Academy."
I didn't even get to finish my sentence before the Grand Archduchess spoke.
Though I'd only just gained the chance and had already lost it, all I could do was stare blankly at the Grand Archduchess.
"Really? Young Lord! Grand Archduchess Frida says she's coming to our Academy!"
The excited Princess told me with a bright face.
I was completely flabbergasted.
"By the way, it seemed like you had something to say..."
"No, it's nothing."
At the Grand Archduchess's question, I shook my head vigorously.
I had something to say, but now I don't.
The Grand Archduchess had just said what I wanted to ask her, so what could I possibly say now?
I didn't know what thoughts had led her to bring that up, but if I said the wrong thing and jinxed it, that would be bad.
Still, I felt I needed to check whether there might be any obstacles.
"But I wonder if the Grand Prince will give his permission..."
At my remark, the Grand Archduchess replied with a confident look.
"He will grant it. He has never refused one of my requests. I rarely make them, but he'll definitely grant this one."
Yet despite the Grand Archduchess's firm assurance, I felt a little worried.
The next day, in the Grand Prince's office.
The Grand Archduchess told the Grand Prince her decision.
"I want to go to the Carlos Royal Academy."
"Not the Empire?"
At the Grand Archduchess's words, the Grand Prince's expression turned peculiar.
"Yes. I don't want to go to the Empire."
"Why did you make that decision?"
"Aisha is at the Royal Academy, and judging by the students who came with her, there's a lot I could learn from them. Besides, I don't know anyone in the Empire..."
"Is that all?"
His permission didn't come as easily as she'd expected.
He seemed quite different from the father he had been before falling ill, but the Grand Archduchess wasn't discouraged and continued speaking.
"After what happened in the shopping district a few days ago, I thought long and hard about many things—about where I should go for the sake of this country, Father, my brother, and me."
"And the Royal Academy is the conclusion of those thoughts?"
"Yes."
At the Grand Archduchess's words, the Grand Prince briefly closed his eyes.
After a moment, the Grand Prince opened them again.
"Playing it that way could be quite entertaining too. I'll convene a meeting, so wait and see."
After receiving a positive response, the Grand Archduchess withdrew from the King's office.
After the Grand Archduchess left, the Grand Prince broke into a smile. It seemed he had been dealt a pretty good hand.