Exchange Students (2)
Exchange Students (2)
Although the resemblance was uncanny, perhaps people from the Empire all looked alike.
Don't they say it's hard to tell people of other races apart? Though people from the Empire and our Kingdom didn't seem all that different.
More than that, I was surprised that exchange students had come from the Empire.
Although they weren't at war, relations between the Tsar Empire and the Carlos Kingdom were incredibly strained.
In fact, there weren't many countries on good terms with the Empire.
The only ones that could be called "friendly" were those that had practically become its vassal states.
After the fall of the Old Empire, they had unilaterally declared themselves its sole successor and started grabbing land left and right. There was no way other nations would like them.
The Carlos Kingdom had a duchy between them, and other countries were sandwiched in as well, so there weren't many opportunities for direct conflict. Even so, they still growled at each other across their short shared border.
And yet, an empire like that had sent exchange students.
On top of that, the Empire was a place that always boasted of being the absolute best.
A place that constantly bragged about its Empire Academy had sent students to our Royal Academy?
Was this a triumph of the Kingdom's diplomacy, or was something else brewing behind the scenes?
I shook off the thoughts that were starting to overcomplicate things.
It wasn't my place to worry about it.
The female student who had come with him introduced herself as well.
She was reasonably pretty.
She wasn't quite as beautiful as Balea, but she was pretty enough to catch the attention of the male students.
"I am Paula. My parents are viscounts with a small domain."
Her greeting was incredibly humble compared to the male student's.
She seemed like the pretty daughter of a country noble who didn't want to stand out.
She was completely different from the typical image of an exchange student from the Empire.
A few male students' eyes seemed to sparkle when they saw her, but for most of us, myself included, only the male student who had greeted us first left a lasting impression.
Besides, I was one of the few who had paid any attention to the exchange students from the Empire.
To the other students, the exchange students weren't what mattered.
The Grand Archduchess who had entered with them was far more important.
"I am Frida de Carlos. By my father's command, I have come to study abroad at the Royal Academy. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
Since she hadn't received her school uniform yet, the Grand Archduchess was dressed in a gown.
As she lightly lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied, the male students' gazes wavered.
Perhaps it was because a calm, delicate-looking beauty was greeting them with flawless royal etiquette, but the male students were completely mesmerized.
Was that frail appearance because of me? She had been fine a few days ago, but it seemed the aftereffects of using her ability still lingered.
"Balea seems prettier, but is it because of a different aura, or is it her title as Grand Archduchess?"
"Hmm. So in your eyes, Young Lord, I'm prettier? Sob, sob. Thank you. You're the only one for me, Young Lord."
Oops. It seemed I had spoken my thoughts aloud. When on earth had Balea slipped up next to me?
"I should go brag to the others."
What's more, before she had even finished her fake crying, she ran off toward the Princess, who was sitting nearby, saying she was going to brag.
As expected, the reason the rumors about me had gotten so weird was entirely because of Balea.
A tedious time followed.
That was because the Grand Archduchess, having finished introducing herself, sat next to the Princess and acted as if she knew me.
And it wasn't just a casual acknowledgment. Perhaps she was more exhausted than expected, because she gave me a long, lingering glare. It was more than enough to make the other students suspicious about my relationship with the Grand Archduchess.
Actually, even before the other students could suspect anything, the Princess was the first to grow curious.
After the liberal arts class ended and before the Knight Faculty class began, the Princess asked me at the training ground:
"Why did Grand Archduchess Frida look at you like that?"
Seriously, she told me to keep it a secret, yet she stared at me like that? There was no way others wouldn't ask.
Since we'd agreed to keep it a secret, I couldn't tell her either.
In the end, I had no choice but to play dumb.
"I have no idea either. She seems like a bit of an odd person."
"You shouldn't speak of the Grand Archduchess that way."
The Princess scolded me, but she had a smile on her face.
"As long as you keep it a secret, Princess."
"Hmm, is that so? Then I shall keep it a secret."
At my words, the Princess nodded.
I had definitely grown much closer to the Princess.
I even had the treasonous thought that I was starting to figure out how to handle her.
Even after barely dodging the Princess's questions, I couldn't get away from the other students in the Knight Faculty.
Senior Havier had spread the news about what happened during the dispatch class throughout the entire school that morning.
Although Senior Havier didn't know much about what I had actually done, what little he did know was more than enough to whip the students into a frenzy.
After all, I had captured imperial knights crossing the border alongside our knights, subdued rampaging mercenaries right in front of the Grand Archduchess and the Princess, and stayed behind alone at the rear of the carriage on the way back to face the enemy knights.
Even excluding the parts about killing Vid, finding the secret base, having an audience with the Grand Prince, and slaying the knights, none of it was ordinary by any stretch of the imagination.
"Class has started! Do you still think you're in the dispatch class? Everyone, snap out of it!"
Fortunately, Professor Katrin started the class, and my torment finally came to an end.
"Now, to see how much you've learned from your dispatch class, today's lesson will be sparring."
Woo. Woo.
As soon as Katrin finished speaking, the students immediately booed, but, as always, Katrin ignored their jeers.
Because of the vast gap in skill between me and the other students, I ended up sparring with Katrin once again.
Katrin asked me as she swung her sword.
"What exactly happened during the dispatch class?"
Oh, no. Surely not.
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
Why are bad premonitions never wrong?
Her sword never stopped, and neither did her questions.
"And how did the Grand Archduchess end up studying abroad here?"
Well, I was involved in that, and there were things she needed to hear, but it was difficult to tell her everything.
Besides, this wasn't the place to talk about it. I decided to tell her privately later.
Even though I promised to tell her later, the questions kept coming.
How was the scenery of the Duchy, what was the situation at the border, what kind of artifacts were sold at the street stalls...
She bombarded me with so many questions that she eventually asked something utterly absurd.
"Don't tell me the exchange students from the Empire have something to do with you too?"
No fucking way!
I did kill several imperial knights in the Duchy, but would the Empire really send exchange students because of that? There's no way... right?
Terrified as my imagination ran wild, I withdrew my sword.
Before I knew it, class was over.
Today's spar was the most exhausting one I had ever experienced.
Having to constantly answer questions while fighting was nothing short of torture.
"Well then, let's save the detailed story for when you come to my house this weekend."
So everything we just talked about was only the brief summary?
There were things that shouldn't be made public, but there weren't that many.
Even so, I also had a reason to visit Professor Katrin's house.
"At that time, could you lend me the sword and shield?"
"Lend them to you? I don't know about the shield, but the sword is a family relic, so I can't just hand it over easily."
It would be better if I could borrow them for a few days, but I wasn't that shameless.
"No. I just want to try using them in the training ground in your basement, Professor."
"Well, that much is fine. But why the sudden request?"
"Because I think I can show you something interesting."
Even if I didn't acquire a new ability, there was still something I could show her.
The shield's ability that I had unleashed with the greatsword.
I was incredibly curious to see what would happen if I unleashed it with an actual shield.
As class wrapped up, Professor Katrin made an announcement and offered the students a word of concern.
"As you can see from the schedule, during the second semester, there is a period when students of the Knight Faculty support the Inherited Ability Faculty."
The students' expressions darkened. In particular, those who had no domains or were children of nobles from remote regions looked even gloomier.
"It will be a difficult time for everyone, but since it's a time when you'll face the harsh reality of being a knight, I hope you all overcome it."
"Yes."
A lifeless response echoed back. Professor Katrin gave me one last look.
Indeed, as a 'bastard,' I would probably face far worse issues than landless nobles or those from remote regions.
I had certainly spent the first semester too comfortably. I hadn't even felt much of the prejudice against 'bastards' that I was supposed to experience in the capital.
Now, it was time to face reality.
A few days later, wearing my uniform with the Academy standard sword at my waist, I gazed out at a garden filled with beautiful, blooming flowers.
The chatter of ladies enjoying refreshments drifted into my ears, while the gentle scent of flowers and tea wafted into my nose.
To anyone watching, it looked like an incredibly peaceful and leisurely time.
What's more, this was during academy class hours.
Anyone would be absolutely thrilled to waste class time like this for free.
The students enjoying tea over there looked exceptionally pleased.
Under the pretext of interacting with other nations, they could gossip with their fellow students, force a student they disliked to stand guard, and talk behind his back.
If I were in their position, I would probably be delighted too.
Unfortunately, my current position was merely that of the guard they were so eagerly badmouthing.
Just as Katrin had said, and just like the stories I had heard, today I was getting a bitter taste of what it meant to be a landless escort knight.
While the Knight Faculty spent its time training on the assumption of combat, the Inherited Ability Faculty received a wide variety of instruction beyond just fighting.
They studied finance and estate management alongside the Administration Faculty, and trained to develop their own inherited abilities.
But those inherited abilities were incredibly diverse, extending far beyond combat.
Aside from identifying artifacts or concealing one's presence, they included truly varied abilities, from building rapport to being exceptionally good at calculations.
To cultivate such varied abilities, they had no choice but to engage in a range of activities.
And to prevent any potential danger during those activities, the Knight Faculty provided support.
Just as knights protected nobles with inherited abilities, the Knight Faculty protected the Inherited Ability Faculty.
It was a long-standing tradition, and those accustomed to the system took it for granted.
But as time passed, this too became riddled with loopholes.
The diverse activities meant to develop their abilities had devolved into tea parties for gossiping, just as I was witnessing now.
And the Knight Faculty's support for escort duty had turned into a tool for mocking students they didn't like.
Having become a major issue maker in various ways, I had naturally become their prime target.
Honestly, if their backbiting hadn't reached my ears, this time meant to mock me might have been nothing more than a boring waste of time.
I considered closing my ears even now, but their aristocratic sarcasm was so remarkably creative that I couldn't bring myself to tune it out.
As I eavesdropped on their insults, an interesting remark caught my attention.
"I heard Young Lord Joachim is a famous knight even at the Empire Academy. They say you could easily become a knight even without academy training?"
"Then, did you come to our academy because you have nothing left to learn?"
"It is not to that extent. However, I do wish to see the skills of the Carlos Kingdom's knights."
"Then this is perfect. There are rumors that the 'bastard' Alex, who is standing guard over there, is quite skilled. Why don't you try sparring with him?"
Oh, her skill at steering the conversation was no joke.
Is she an ability user in that field or what?
No matter the outcome of a duel with a student from the Empire Academy, it wouldn't end well for me.
That was certainly a trap worth setting.
The boy who had come from the Empire stared at me.
No matter how I looked at him, he bore a striking resemblance to that guy Vid.
In any case, I had every intention of playing along with their little scheme.
No matter how it turned out, I was going to make sure this tea party was completely blown to pieces.