Villar's Tears
When His Highness Ryutis first chose to remain at the Academy rather than return home, I thought the sky itself was falling. And when I learned it was not even his decision alone—that it had been cooked up together with the other key figures—I was certain the ground had opened beneath me.
Is this hell?
I had not lived a saintly life, but neither had I lived one so vile that I deserved to be cast into the pit. So what was this? What crime had I committed to be sentenced to hell while still breathing? I had been planning, at the very least, to catch my breath back home over the break.
The news threw the escort forces of the other three nations into chaos as well. They had been looking forward to going home and handing over their duties—and now they were not allowed to leave?
"Sir Villar! What is the meaning of this?"
"His Highness is staying in the Empire? That is absurd!"
The first to storm in were the Armein personnel. Being the closest, they arrived the fastest, of course.
They've lost their minds.
Only a few days ago these same people had been consoling me, cheering me on. Everyone else would finish a clean handover over the break and wash their hands of the whole affair—while I was stuck with the post until graduation.
And now the ones who had soothed me with every kind word were charging at me in a frenzy. Apparently the thought of ending up like me had blinded them to everything else.
"Enough."
I understood, and yet I could not understand. How dare they raise this much of a ruckus over something like this in front of a man already locked in for three years?
"It is His Highness Ryutis's will. Is it not a knight's virtue simply to obey?"
"Sir Villar, but—"
"It is the will of the royal house."
At those words, the mouths of everyone who had come to protest snapped shut at once.
We were knights of Armein, a proud kingdom of knights. And among them, we were the Royal Guard—the best, and we knew it.
The sword of the royal house, serving closest to the throne and upholding its will. Knights who lived on that pride could not defy the will of a prince of the blood.
Their heads already knew as much. Their hearts simply could not yet swallow the sudden disaster that had befallen them.
"Then what of the escort rotation? I was told the selection in the homeland had already been completed."
In the silence, one knight found his voice.
He was right—the successor roster was finished. Personnel our homeland had poured blood and sweat into choosing while we were stationed at the Academy would all go to waste if they never took our places.
Dumping them back into their old posts with a casual you'll rotate next time would tangle everything sideways; leaving them on indefinite standby when manpower was already stretched thin was a nightmare of its own.
"We are in contact with the homeland. They are looking for a solution—stand by."
Thanks to that, the homeland was scrambling for answers as well. This was not some trivial matter; the prince's safety hung on it.
At any rate, I sent the protesters away with orders to wait. Having spent their heat on one round of complaints, they left with relatively little fuss.
"Sir Villar, I would like a word, if I may."
"I wonder whether Brother might spare us a moment of his time."
And just what were you people doing here?
The second visitors were the representatives of the Uven Alliance and the Holy Kingdom. They had to be in crisis themselves—so why had they come?
This was not a problem three nations' representatives could solve by putting their heads together. The proper course was for each of us to contact our own homelands and search for a way out.
"It's fine. Come, sit."
Still, I could hardly turn away people who had taken the trouble to come, so I received them.
And before long I regretted that choice. I should have sent them packing even if they had arrived walking on their hands.
"Even as one who does not know His Highness Ryutis well, I can see he is a true knight. Always bold, always upright—a man who stands at the front."
Hey, you bastard—I hear your prince led this whole mess.
"I think so as well. I almost envy Sir Villar for serving such a man."
Why don't you keep your prince under better control?
They had not come to deliberate. They had come to complain.
Damn it all.
As if they had time to spare. As if they could afford the luxury of a leisurely protest.
"His Highness Ryutis's valor is truly a model for all knights—but he is more than valor alone. He is a wise man who knows how to walk side by side, not only how to lead alone."
So what about your own prince and your saint-candidate? You're all in this together, aren't you?
With nothing left to say, the conversation stalled. Ryutis may have taken the lead, but without Prince Later's and Tanian's consent it never would have been possible. There was far too much shared ownership to pin the blame on one man.
And they had come to the wrong place to protest. I was nothing more than a victim with no responsibility for any of this. Infighting among fellow victims—it was enough to make one weep.
In the end, the three nations' representatives only wounded one another and broke off. It was despairing. Above me, His Highness Ryutis committed his latest eccentricity; below, they raised hell; beside me, they demanded answers. Was there anyone unluckier than I?
"While the Baking Club is in the Imperial Capital, they will be staying at my estate. For the break, it seems they will remain in the Capital rather than at the Academy."
"...That is astonishing news."
There was. Right under my nose.
After the closing ceremony the Inspector, who had been away, suddenly made contact. The words he delivered with a smile left me lightheaded—and at the same time filled me with involuntary pity.
His estate?
The Baking Club held not only His Highness Ryutis, but Prince Later, Tanian, and even an Imperial prince. And he was going to put people like that up in his own house?
For a moment I pictured the club camping out at my estate. Hideous. No human being should have to endure that.
"The Capital's security is thorough, so you need not worry about the escort. It may not be possible for everyone, but perhaps a few of you might take this chance to rest."
"I am grateful for your consideration."
I bowed my head slightly as I answered. Bringing the full strength of all three nations into the Capital rather than the Academy would be impossible—but some of us, he was saying, could manage it.
Perfect timing. The homeland had already decided to rotate at least a portion of the personnel; sending those who could not enter the Capital home would fit exactly.
And once the replacements entered the Empire, the ones already in the Capital could return in a second wave. The selection process would not be pleasant, of course—but better than nothing.
Somehow the Empire is the better option.
Among the three nations stuck in the same position, we had left each other nothing but scars. And yet it was the Empire—where the staring contest should have been fiercest—that was cutting us some slack.
Was this how it was supposed to work? Relief and bitterness twisted together into a strange feeling.
"The Empire will take special care of the guests' escort as well. I hope Sir Villar can spend the break with some peace of mind."
At the Inspector's words, I found myself studying his face without meaning to.
More than me...
You look like the one who needs peace of mind.
A mouth set hard as stone, and dark circles grown deeper still. Whatever the Inspector's authority or reputation, it was heartbreaking to see a young man only a few years older than my daughter looking like that.
If he had been some deaf, headstrong wastrel I would not have cared—but I had learned he was a decent counterpart to negotiate with, and that made it hard to ignore him.
"You have my thanks once again."
I would handle the three nations' affairs as quietly as possible. That was the greatest consideration I could offer him.
Once we arrived in the Imperial Capital, time passed with surprising calm.
Travel stayed confined within the Capital; there were no trips to other regions. The one time we left the Capital at all, it was only to the Inspector's own domain. Compared to what I had feared, the schedule was uneventful.
The worst of it had been the time before we ever reached the Capital. The protests of the party stranded by His Highness Ryutis's decision, the unexpected shift from Academy garrison duty to Capital garrison duty under the agreement, selecting who would go home first—
Not something I ever want to do twice.
It had been awful. Without my years of experience handling affairs in the Royal Guard, I would already have collapsed.
The Inspector's hope that I might rest easy had not been empty words; my worries over the escort lightened somewhat. Near his estate I could sense an uncommon presence.
Imperial forces, no doubt—for escort and surveillance both. There was no hostility, so I pretended not to notice. If I protested and they pulled out, I would only be the one to lose.
I would have liked that unidentified power stationed at the Academy as well, but that was a useless fantasy.
The return is almost here, and my mind is wandering.
I sighed and scrubbed a dry hand over my face. Even this Capital stay—slightly more peaceful than the Academy—was ending. Yes: times like this, the days always flew.
Knock, knock.
"Sir Villar. It is Ludwig."
"Come in."
While I was still nursing a wistful grudge against the merciless clock, a knock sounded, followed by Sir Ludwig's voice.
"The second rotation has entered the Empire."
"Is that so."
I nodded at Sir Ludwig, who stated his business the moment he stepped inside.
Everything was proceeding as planned. Now that they had entered the Empire, they would reach the Academy before the opening ceremony. We would return one day before the second rotation arrived at the Academy ourselves, so we would be able to receive them properly.
"However, Sir Villar."
Sir Ludwig, holding several sheets of paper, hesitated in a way that was rare for him, unable to continue.
Strange. If it had been anyone else I would simply have waited—but Sir Ludwig was famous even in the homeland for his cool head and clean handling of business.
"...The roster for the second rotation."
Still hesitating, Sir Ludwig passed me the papers and withdrew at once.
Something's wrong.
I did not know what, but if it was enough to rattle Sir Ludwig, it was no small matter. Of course trouble would break on the last day of the Capital schedule. My luck was bottomless.
I scanned the roster quickly. Whatever the problem was, it was probably in here. What in the world could—
What?
Had I misread it?
A name that had no business being on that list stared up at me. I checked it again, and again.
Ferosa Garineli.
Yes. I had seen it correctly.
Why...?
Why was that child's name here?
She should have been training hard on the estate—a little girl who was not even twenty yet.
Life abroad had been lonely enough that I had missed my daughter, yes. But that was the longing of a man who wanted to escape this hell and go home—not a wish for his precious child to step into the hell herself.
For a long while I could only stare weakly down at the roster.
How many people in the world are unluckier than I am?
I was fairly sure the answer was fewer than one.