Tournament Intermission and the Main Rounds

The fierce preliminary rounds had ended, and a brief rest period stretched out before the main tournament began…

"You did splendidly, Schwarz."

With those words, Elis set her teacup of black tea down upon the table.

"I always thought someone like you would sail through the preliminaries with ease."

"You flatter me."

Well, I'm not human to begin with, so of course it was only natural…

Thinking that, Schwarz offered her an awkward smile.

He kept it from showing on his face, yet a prick of conscience troubled him even now.

Ordinarily he would never have been allowed to enter this tournament at all.

He was not a student of the Academy.

Yet the reason an outsider like him could compete in the Academy's festival martial arts tournament was nothing other than this: his personal records listed his age as fifteen.

In truth he was only eleven, but the only ones who knew that were Bernus, Melissa, a handful of others, and Milia herself.

"…"

"Hee-hee."

When he quietly turned his head toward Milia, she gave a low little laugh and flashed him a thumbs-up.

Normally, no matter that he was her personal servant, entering the Academy would have been impossible.

But the method Milia had used was simply this: she had falsified his age.

She had recorded the eleven-year-old as fifteen.

Someone once said that a lie is fine so long as it is never found out.

And so, having suddenly aged four years overnight, he had become both Milia's servant and an Academy student under the kingdom's law that children of fifteen must enroll.

Honestly… she has a real talent for putting people in awkward spots.

Schwarz let out a short sigh at the thought—just as Elis spoke again.

"Come to think of it, how did the two of you meet?"

"Huh? Why the sudden question…?"

Milia's eyes went round at the unexpected inquiry.

"Mmm… no matter how I look at it, the two of you don't seem like you met in any ordinary way. It feels as though there's quite a story there…"

As Milia tilted her head, Elis answered with eyes sparkling like a girl who had just been handed an intriguing tale.

"Mmm…"

At that, Milia made a low sound of consideration and looked to Schwarz.

Her gaze seemed to ask, What should we do? Schwarz gave a light nod and answered for them both.

"I never heard the full details myself, but Count Valentine took me in when I was abandoned in the forest. I became My Lady's servant to repay that kindness."

It was half-truth and half-lie.

Count Valentine had indeed taken him in—but only to make him Milia's pet.

That detail, however, was hardly important.

What Elis needed was an answer she could accept.

Whether it was true or not, so long as she found it convincing, it was more than enough.

"I see… I never knew there was a story like that."

Apparently satisfied, Elis nodded and took another sip of tea.

Watching her carefully, Milia shot Schwarz a quick wink; he answered with a silent nod of his own.

"Ah, one more thing I'm curious about, if I may?"

"Please, go ahead."

At his reply Elis narrowed her eyes, regarding him with an expression that seemed to ask whether she truly ought to voice the question.

The longer her silence stretched, the more tense Schwarz became.

Just what is she about to ask that she has to hesitate this much?

He was still watching her when the words finally came.

"That hair color of yours… is it natural?"

"My hair color, you mean?"

The question was so far from anything he had expected that Schwarz's eyes went wide.

All that hesitation… over hair color?

He nearly laughed out loud, but managed to swallow the sound back down his throat.

"Yes. I've never seen a color like that before."

Nearly four months had passed since he began living at the Academy, yet he could still feel the stares that followed him.

It only proved how unusual his hair was by the standards of this place.

"My hair color is natural."

"I see. It's truly a fascinating shade."

Elis's voice was full of wonder as she spoke to the calmly answering Schwarz.

"It looks just like the night sky when the moon is out."

"Exactly. The color of the early night sky. Looking at it somehow makes me feel calm."

Milia, sipping her tea beside them, chimed in; Elis nodded in agreement.

"…"

Schwarz had no idea where to begin objecting, so he answered with silence instead.

There was no need to spoil such a pleasant atmosphere.

"Oh! Come to think of it, do the two of you know about this year's tournament prize?"

"The prize? Isn't it the same as last year—a trophy and a ceremonial sword bestowed by His Majesty the King?"

Elis suddenly exclaimed and turned to them; Milia shook her head, eyes round with surprise.

"That's true as well, but this year's martial arts tournament actually has another prize attached."

"Another prize?"

As Milia tilted her head, Elis gave a soft little laugh and continued.

"In fact, this year's championship prize also includes a weapon forged of adamantium."

"A-adamantium?!"

At the same moment Milia shot to her feet as though she might leap into the air.

"I knew you'd react like that."

Elis smiled faintly, as if she had expected nothing less.

"I-I'm so sorry, Your Highness. The word adamantium just… I couldn't help myself…"

"It's quite all right. Adamantium is the dream of every warrior, after all."

As Milia sat back down looking embarrassed, Elis shook her head as if to say it was nothing.

"That's right. It's incredibly light, yet extraordinarily strong, and it even has the property of nullifying magic. Even famous blacksmiths might only get to touch it once in a lifetime—it's the stuff of dreams."

"Hmm…"

Schwarz made a low sound at Milia's excited tone.

He simply could not follow what the two of them were talking about.

Of course he possessed some knowledge of fantasy worlds from his previous life—dragons, orcs, goblins, magic, and the like.

But that was only the basics. Minerals like adamantium had never interested him in the slightest.

"Ah. Sorry—I got carried away talking by myself."

Noticing his expression, Milia turned to him with a look of sudden realization.

"Please don't mind me. It doesn't really concern me either way."

"Why not take a little interest? There's no law saying you can't win, you know."

At his indifferent reply Milia narrowed her eyes.

"With My Lady present, how could I dare…"

"You'd better give up any idea of going easy on me. If you don't fight properly, I won't let it slide."

Schwarz spoke half in jest; Milia snorted as if she found it not the least bit funny.

Of course he had no intention of holding back.

Knowing her personality, doing anything less than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his best in front of her would be a far greater insult.

A servant must never bring shame upon his master.

Whatever the outcome, Schwarz intended to give this tournament everything he had.

"You two really do seem close."

"We've grown up together since we were little. You could almost call him my little brother."

"…"

Look who's talking…

Schwarz thought it, but he was not so tactless as to say it aloud.

"In a way, I almost envy you. Being so close even without sharing blood…"

"…"

"…"

In that instant the atmosphere around them turned cold.

From her perspective it was half a complaint, half a quiet lament.

But to those listening, the subject was anything but light.

"Ah… I'm sorry. I ended up saying something gloomy without meaning to."

"N-no, not at all! I was the fool for bringing up something so thoughtless in front of Your Highness!!"

As Elis bowed her head lightly, Milia waved her hands in denial.

An awkward silence followed close on its heels…

It was the broadcast announcing the start of the main rounds that broke the silence.

"Already this late, I see."

"We should be going as well."

Elis spoke with a note of regret just as Milia rose from her seat.

There was a fair distance between ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Student Council office and the main hall where the finals would be held, so they needed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to hurry at least a little.

"Milia Valentine."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Yet Elis's voice calling her name made Milia stop and turn back.

"There is… one request I would like to make of you."

"Please, speak."

Elis could not quite meet her eyes, as though something troubled her. Milia felt a flicker of curiosity, but decided it was probably nothing serious and bowed her head.

"Previously you told me that if I ever needed you, you would come running at any time. Do you remember?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Of course I remember."

"Ever since then I have been terribly worried that I placed far too heavy a burden upon you."

"You need not concern yourself. Sooner or later I would have had to make that decision anyway."

As Elis let out a short sigh, Milia waved a hand dismissively.

Regret now would change nothing; the matter was already past, and it would have happened eventually one way or another.

For that reason Milia held not the slightest ill will over it.

"And so, after thinking it over carefully, I decided this would be the best way to lighten that burden of yours."

"What method do you mean?"

A vague unease crept over Milia as she asked; Elis answered with a face of pure, innocent sincerity.

"Milia Valentine. From now on, when we are in private, you need not use formal speech with me."

"…Pardon?"

Milia stared as though she must have misheard; Schwarz wore much the same expression.

"What?! N-no, even if you say something like that…"

The bolt-from-the-blue declaration left Milia so flustered she even stammered.

Her reaction was only natural.

Between the daughter of a count and a princess stood a wall that simply could not be crossed.

"Please, I beg you to withdraw that request…!!"

"This is a decision I reached after careful consideration. I would be grateful if you would not refuse it."

As Milia tried desperately to escape the situation, Elis spoke in a tone that brooked no compromise.

At that answer Milia turned to Schwarz with a face that looked ready to cry—but what could he do?

He simply shook his head at her in reply.

"…Understood. Your Highne— no. Elis."

In the end all Milia could do was let out a quiet sigh and resign herself.

"Understood?"

"Fine. I got it, Elis…"

"Wonderful."

When Milia answered reluctantly under Elis's narrowed, pointed stare, the princess finally nodded in satisfaction.

Perhaps the two of them are rather alike in how stubborn they can be? Schwarz thought as he watched the scene unfold.

"I should be going as well. Both of you, show me something splendid in the main rounds. I'll be cheering for you."

"Understood, Your Highness."

"Milia."

"Y-yeah… Elis."

Just how did things end up like this?

Milia felt like crying, yet she could not make such a spectacle of herself in front of Schwarz and Elis.

Swallowing the feeling deep into her chest, she watched as Elis rose and walked toward the corridor.

Before long the princess's figure vanished beyond the hallway…

"Haaah…"

"So even the great My Lady has someone she cannot refuse."

"Want me to punish you?"

As Milia let out a short sigh, Schwarz smiled; she clicked her tongue and glared at him in an irritated ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice.