Was the Chief Satisfied?
The banquet that crowned the end of the expo schedule concluded without incident.
"Mar, I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to do that on purpose..."
"It's all right. Young Master Karl was only granting my request, wasn't he?"
Except for Margeta's thoroughly trampled feet, that is. I had been careful—so careful—and still I ended up stepping on them several times. I had leaned my weight backward the entire time, struggling not to put any real force into it.
If I had stepped down properly even once, it would have been a full-scale disaster. Margeta's foot would have broken, and the news that the Audit Department Chief had assaulted a duke's daughter would have upended high society. After that would have come the enraged Iron Blood Duke, followed by a relay of visits from the Ministry of Justice hovering in the wings.
"I'll be more careful next time so this doesn't happen again."
"My, is that already a request to be my partner next time?"
"If Mar is willing to have me."
Seeing Margeta smile as if she rather liked the idea, I felt a wave of relief. Fortunately she did not seem truly angry. Of course I was entirely in the wrong, so I would have had to accept her anger with humility if she had shown any.
Out of guilt I offered to escort her back to her quarters, but she refused with strange firmness. It was not the polite refusal one gives a few times for form's sake—she truly meant it, which left me rather flustered.
"I'd like to walk back at a leisurely pace by myself."
Well, if she said so, what could I do? I wanted to see her home because I felt sorry, but forcing someone who refused would have been even stranger.
"I've been quite the boor today."
"I enjoyed myself. I hope it was a pleasant time for Young Master Karl as well."
"I enjoyed it too."
As I watched Margeta's retreating figure after she gave a slight bow, Luise, who had been standing behind me, suddenly hurried toward her.
Hey, I said not to run.
She wasn't exactly running, but what was the difference? Still, she seemed to have gotten the hang of it this time and reached Margeta in one piece, then whispered something. Since I could only see their backs, I had no idea what was said.
They exchanged a brief conversation, bowed to each other, and parted ways, so it did not seem like anything unpleasant had been discussed. Luise's expression as she returned was not dark either.
"What was that about?"
"I had something to tell Senior."
Seeing her giggle, she clearly had no intention of telling me what it was. Margeta had not looked upset either, so it must not have been anything problematic. Luise was more than capable of judging that much.
"Let's head back as well. Everyone worked hard."
Once Margeta was out of sight, I spoke to the club members who had been clustered behind me. With the major event that was the expo finally completely over, my head felt clear.
Exam period was coming soon, but that had nothing to do with me. An advisor did not take exams, so I would be able to take it easy for a while.
I managed to walk far enough that Karl was no longer in sight, as naturally as I could manage.
"It huuurts..."
Once I confirmed there was no one around, my legs gave out on their own. Enduring until now had truly taken everything I had. How regretful it had been when Karl offered to see me off in that situation. I had no confidence I could last until the dormitory, so I had refused with tears in my eyes.
When I slipped off my high heels, my feet appeared, red and swollen. The pain surging from them made tears well up, yet at the memory of what had happened in the banquet hall a laugh slipped out.
The first time Karl stepped on my foot I found it amusing—so even Karl made mistakes. But when it happened a second and third time it was no longer amusing at all. Because I remembered something I had overheard once before.
There was a story that some young masters, when dancing, would deliberately step on the feet of a young lady they disliked while pretending it was an accident. When I first heard it I thought, what undignified noble would do such a thing, and if a young master went that far, how lacking must that young lady have been—and I let it pass.
Yet when that ridiculous story happened to me, I cannot describe how flustered and hurt I felt. I was happy just to dance with Karl. I had waited for this moment, enduring all this time. Was I the only one who was happy? Did Karl truly dislike me?
All sorts of thoughts rose up and I nearly cried, but when I saw Karl's expression I could not help but laugh. His eyes were darting about in panic; he clearly did not know what to do. I could see him carefully trying to make sure it hurt me less.
He just can't dance.
It was simply the mistake of a beginner who had never danced before. The fact that Karl did not dislike me, and that it seemed to be his first dance, made me so happy.
I am Karl's first.
His first partner. I was the one who shared Karl's first dance. Not anyone else—this Margeta Barenti was the first.
Hehehe...
"Heeheehee... Ah."
In a moment of carelessness I let out an undignified laugh. No one was watching, but out of embarrassment I cleared my throat and looked down at the small jar in one hand.
"If you apply it to the sore spot, you should feel better."
Just earlier, Young Lady Luise had approached and handed me the medicine. Medical personnel were stationed in a corner of the banquet hall for any emergencies, and she seemed to have received it there.
"Actually, my brother obtained it, but he said he was too embarrassed to give it to you himself, so he asked me to pass it along."
A lie.
I had been watching the whole time where Karl was and where he was going. There had been no time for Karl to go get medicine. But I accepted it without a word. Her junior's thoughtfulness was so endearing that I pretended not to notice.
It was because she was worried I might be upset about being stepped on repeatedly by Karl, or beyond that, simply that I might be suffering from the pain. Even the consideration of coming alone without telling the others and handing me the medicine was impressive. I also liked that she gave the credit to Karl rather than herself.
Yes, that much was only proper. If she was a young lady Karl had spent time and care looking after, she ought to show that kind of bearing.
I suppose I can forgive today's events after all, Young Lady Luise.
Being held in Karl's arms—that I could specially forgive. After all, I would spend my whole life being held in Karl's arms. I could afford that much generosity.
...First I should apply some of the medicine. Today was happy, but this really hurt too much. Still, it was good.
The regular report that returned whenever I had almost managed to forget about it.
"If you get a blade stuck in your neck while walking down the street, just accept that it was bound to happen."
"……."
Somehow I ended up telling him even about the disaster at the banquet hall, and faced with the minister's reaction I had nothing proper to say. Truthfully I was thinking the same thing.
"You coldly rejected the youngest daughter he raised so carefully, and now you've gone and stepped on her foot as well? Can the duke's daughter even walk on her own two feet? Even if the Iron Blood Duke kills you, the Ministry of Justice will rule it not guilty."
"I still stepped carefully..."
"If you were careful, you shouldn't have stepped on her at all. You've been walking around hearing people call you a madman, and now you've really gone mad."
Every word was so accurate that I could not refute him this time either. If Margeta had shed even a single tear on the spot, the Iron Blood Duke's knights might already be at the Academy by now. Terrifying thought.
"So then, what about today's matter?"
Seeing me keep silent, the minister changed the subject. By today's matter he meant that, of course.
"I purged the traitors in accordance with the imperial decree."
"You think I asked because I don't know that? Why did a man who had been doing things properly suddenly invent some half-baked custom and stick to it, only to now shove the principles forward?"
"His Majesty the Emperor wished it. When His Majesty mentions the imperial decree, the mandate of heaven, the great purge, and the sweeping away, how am I supposed to hold out?"
"As if."
The minister reacted as if he had heard something not even worth calling words. But again I could not refute him.
"I clearly told you. The Audit Department has to move strictly by the book if you want no trouble later. If you create some weird custom out of so-called mercy, you're only going to make yourself tired."
If it was a custom you were going to break with your own hands before even two years were up, why bother making it in the first place.
The minister's added words stabbed into my chest like a dagger.
"Just so we're clear, I'm not blaming you for following principles this time. That's what the Audit Department is supposed to do. What I'm blaming is why you created a custom you would set up and ignore as you pleased."
"I apologize."
"This damned fellow is only quick to apologize at times like this."
The minister let out an irritated sigh and glared at me as he spoke.
"His Majesty the Emperor was also pleased with this handling. Even inside the Audit Department they were puzzled by the sudden return to principles, but there was almost no resistance."
"That's fortunate."
"If you had returned to principles after careful thought, that would have been one thing. But looking at the executives' reactions, it doesn't seem so."
At those words I quietly lowered my head. The minister already knew everything and was cleaning house.
"If you're going to move under the pretext of doing it for those kids, then think about what those kids will say when they see you, and move accordingly."
"...I will keep that in mind."
"You useless brat."
And so the regular report ended.
Not long after, contact came from the Minister of Palace Affairs as well. This time it was to convey the Emperor's words.
Nothing particularly remarkable. The Emperor's words could be summarized as: "You've been doing things that don't suit you, but it seems you've come to your senses again, and that is satisfying." Yes, he must have been very satisfied. The blade he had been worried might have grown dull had performed its role once more.
"A true famous sword is one that can be used for a long time. It is fortunate that the Audit Department Chief seems to know that as well."
Right before hanging up, the Minister of Palace Affairs' remark was also blatant and simple. It meant "I'm glad you've returned to your role."
When I lay down on the bed, my head grew complicated. I had thought it was the only thing I could do. I had thought that since it was a custom I made, there would be no problem if I ignored it for a while. I had thought that because I handled it thoroughly, my frustration was relieved.
"If you're going to move under the pretext of doing it for those kids, then think about what those kids will say when they see you, and move accordingly."
It seemed that had not been the case after all.
The fact that the minister's words still lingered in my ears meant it had not been the case.
Damn it.
I really still seem to be a little brat.
"Is calling me 'big sister' that hard? Seeing how shy you are, you really are still young!"
"Stop spouting nonsense and get out. The section chief is looking for you."
At this rate, when Hecate told me to call her big sister, was there really a need to refuse until the very end?