The Beginning of White Spring (2)
Unified Era 97, March 1st — 10:03 AM
Near the entrance to the Grand Hall of the Sun
The official start time for the entrance ceremony was 11:00 AM. Though there was still about an hour left before it began, the area in front of the Hall of the Sun, where the ceremony was to be held, was already packed with people.
"Long time no see, Count Clamos."
"I never expected to run into you here, Baron Aison."
The entrance to the Hall of the Sun was so vast it could have passed for an outdoor banquet hall, and it had become a lively gathering spot for various attendees.
"Indeed. Congratulations on your daughter's acceptance. She's nineteen this year, right?"
"Yes. She barely made it. Both she and I are pure commoners, so we thought she'd be cut for sure, but she actually passed."
"Lucky break. If she'd failed, we'd have come all the way to the capital just to turn right back around."
"Hahaha. Unlike other academies, Orosol Academy posts its acceptance list about ten days early. No helping it."
True to its apparent plans for use as an outdoor venue, tables and drinks had been laid out generously for the attending parents on both sides.
"That's right. Because of that, Baron Jamut—who came up with me—was fuming until yesterday and ended up heading back."
"...Ah, yes, Lady Jamut is sixteen this year. Such a shame. She could have entered a year earlier."
The parents gathered at the entrance to Orosol Academy's grand hall had all passed through the main gate.
"Didn't your wife come with you?"
"Haha, I tried to bring her, but Viscount Pyram threw such a fit."
"Viscount Pyram isn't a parent, though...? Ah, I see. The limited spots for ceremony observers—you gave yours to Viscount Pyram?"
"Ahem. Keep it quiet. And it's not just me; most people here did the same."
Though each had used one of the two invitations allotted to new students for themselves, a few non-family, non-relatives, and non-sponsors had slipped in as well.
"What excuse did you use to get through? The knights at the gate were checking invitations, investigating people without them, and even logging names for those who had them."
"Said I was the godfather. Suddenly, Viscount Pyram became my sworn brother."
"How much did you get?"
"Hey now. ...One big one. That good enough?"
"One what? Heh. You took it in thalers?"
"Shh. Quiet down."
No one could say for sure how many of these so-called parents were truly parents—
"Enough of that. Let's talk about the new students."
"That's what interests you most, huh?"
"Of course. There might be a future daughter-in-law for House Aison, or a friend for my son."
At the very least, the legally admitted observers sipped from empty glasses while eyeing the cluster of new students.
"The one we really need to watch is..."
"If we're judging by status alone, it's Princess Naria Geo Nostrum."
In the center of the new students stood a golden-haired woman, ramrod straight with an unchanging expression, whom no one dared approach.
"She looks just like Carmen Morgania did as a child. The only difference is that a bit of Grand Duke Winchester's talent has manifested."
"They say she lost in the swordsmanship duel and got second place. Too bad. If she'd trained with the blade from childhood..."
"Word is she's already at intermediate knight level with the spear. That's way too late. But the princess's true value isn't that, is it?"
"The kingdom's sole princess."
The gazes fixed on Princess Naria carried various meanings, but they all shared the same undercurrent.
"I wonder who will steal the heart of that icy princess."
The princess's consort.
"If she becomes the royal consort and bears a son, that child would be Nostrum's next king."
"You aiming for that?"
"Why not? Our house may lack legitimacy, but if the princess chooses to marry me, who could stop it? Heh."
"Yeah. Heh, everyone here's probably thinking the same."
Becoming the princess's lover, maintaining the relationship through graduation, and becoming the royal consort—that was the path to becoming a brilliant sun.
A husband's ability? Even an incompetent king was still king; what did ability matter?
"Too bad your daughter isn't a son. Then you could aim for consort yourself."
"Haha. Thanks for the kind words."
Status didn't even matter. In Nostrum, what counted was the blood of the royal house, which already included commoner lineage.
Precedent: The hero who saved the nation, a commoner-born master with prodigious talent.
"But I have no interest in competing with you for son-in-law. Instead, maybe I'll aim for father-in-law."
"Oh? Who?"
"Noir Gibraltar, of course."
On the opposite side from Princess Naria stood a young man exchanging greetings with many students.
"Heh. You're after the young master of Gibraltar? But he's the second son."
"The eldest has essentially given up the sword, so the barony is definitely the second son's, no question."
"Huh? What do you mean? I heard the eldest..."
"No talent for the sword, but he's active in other areas. This side."
"...Gibraltar's spawning a commerce guild master? Tsk. No good. Anyone but Gibraltar's baron needs to be a Sword Master."
"That's why I want to see a Sword Master son-in-law myself. Told my daughter to stick to him no matter what. Heh."
Unlike the coldly impassive Princess Naria, Noir Gibraltar was approachable in conversation, drawing a crowd of new students around him.
"Speaking of, that white-haired kid next to him..."
"Probably a maid Gibraltar assigned."
Behind Noir stood a woman with short white hair, adorned with a blue hair accessory, silently guarding his back.
"She's in academy uniform... student clothes?"
"They got her to pass the exam just to keep the maid by his side."
"Not a manservant?"
"Maybe he likes women, or there's some other motive. Haven't confirmed yet, but she's got decent skills."
"At least a beginner knight. A maid who'd throw her life for her lord."
A retainer from Gibraltar.
"Surprising. I didn't think Gibraltar would pull that."
"Maybe advice from Morgania? Rumors say messengers go back and forth often between the queen and the margrave."
"An affair?"
"Can you even call it that with a husband like him?"
"...Heh. Watch your words. That's lèse-majesté."
"Just family talk. Family. You think I'd badmouth the royals on this soil?"
The observers glanced at one another. Some worked at the palace, but none were truly "royal people."
King Saint Geo Nostrum was absent. Despite it being Orosol Academy's opening day, he was down in Seirene Territory, too busy enjoying liquor shipped from the Empire.
"Speaking of, I don't see them."
"Them...? Ah, you mean the imperials? The crown prince is already inside the hall, I think."
"No, not VIPs. The exchange students enrolling this time."
Baron Aison smacked his lips.
"All ten supposedly stunning beauties. All seventeen years old, too."
"Ah, right. The highest status among them is..."
"The imperial granddaughter. ...Heh."
"...Baron? You're not thinking what I think you are, are you?"
"Haha. What thoughts? Ah, you mean my son as consort? Well, as a symbol of peace between Empire and kingdom..."
Whoosh.
"Gah!! My, my suit?!"
Someone brushed past, bumping shoulders; the glass tilted, soaking the suit in wine.
"Who was that! Who the hell...!"
Baron Aison scanned furiously around, but with the dense crowd, spotting the culprit was impossible.
"Th-this...! Did you see?"
"N-no. It, it might've been a mistake."
"Tell me! Who pushed me!"
"Something... gray passed by."
"Gray? A gray suit? Ugh, when I catch him..."
Baron Aison kept raging, hunting the perp, but time was short.
A voice filled the air.
Amplified by sound magnification magic, the staff's voice prompted the grand hall's doors to swing wide.
"Let's head in, Baron. I heard from a contact—observers have no seats on the first floor."
"What? Then where are we supposed to sit and watch?"
"...Second floor balcony. Go now or the good spots are gone."
"Grr...!"
As the doors opened, crowds surged into the Hall of the Sun.
10:57 AM. Just before the 11:00 AM ceremony start.
"Young master. Don't be nervous."
"Ah, yeah."
Noir Gibraltar sat in the center of the second row from the front, taking deep breaths as he skimmed the declaration before him.
"Just read this as is, right?"
"Yes. Nothing else. As valedictorian, just go up confidently."
"R-right."
Noir steadied his breathing. The Hall of the Sun's seating sloped upward like an opera house, making front-row sitters hyper-aware of eyes from behind.
"Young master."
"Yeah, I..."
"Wednesday."
"Right. Wednesday."
The white-haired woman, Wednesday, shot a glance backward before turning away.
"Lots of girls eyeing you. Don't forget: Gibraltar men don't until adulthood..."
"I know. Obviously. I'm not an idiot."
"Yes. Heed the margrave's words, and Young Master Grey's."
"Of course. Father sent me here because I promised everything..."
Noir held up an open hand, thumb included.
"Six years. Even if I date, six years."
"...Here's hoping no major incidents in your three academy years."
"Wednesday. Um... why'd you follow me to the academy? Brother's orders?"
"Young Master Grey's orders are orders, but for me, serving you closely is an opportunity. For big money, big power."
Wednesday stroked the number "45" on her blue headband and grinned.
"Details later."
"...Ah. Yeah."
Now it was 11:00.
"Magitech voice amplifier, test. Ah, ah."
A pale brown-haired man ascended the podium.
"I'm Hex Romana, student affairs director, presiding over the ceremony. Pleased to meet you all."
Viscount Hex Romana. Whispers rippled: "Isn't he foreign minister?" "Law office, right?"
Who knew the man held all three posts?
"Before we begin, a quick rundown of the order and guidelines."
On the first floor, 290 new students sat in assigned seats. The front ten were empty; the second floor buzzed with observers.
"Silence once the ceremony starts, please."
Even those lowering voices held their breath, awaiting the empty seats' owners.
"Let the entrance ceremony begin. First, thanks to our new students and guardians here."
Viscount Hex bowed ninety degrees.
"As you know, Orosol Academy was funded by the Tersian Empire. Under the banners of peace, future, and harmony, it's an open institution where Nostrum honors the imperial family's wish for their students to learn alongside ours in the capital."
Snap.
Viscount Hex snapped his fingers; the mana stone lights on the hall's ceiling dimmed.
"Give a big round of applause to welcome them."
Light sparkled only at the first floor's center; the firmly shut doors of the Hall of the Sun swung wide.
"Exchange students from the Tersian Empire, entering."
"Hello~~~!!"
"......."
Her voice rang through the hall without mana.
"So glad to meet you all~~!!"
Silver-white hair swaying, a woman in academy uniform with unusual eyes waved both arms down the aisle.
"Whoa..."
All eyes locked on the imperial exchange students. The nine following were handsome and beautiful, but viewers gaped or stuck out tongues at the lead woman.
"......."
"What is it, young master?"
"B-big trouble..."
Noir averted his eyes from Astasia, who brushed past and took the front row seat before him, glancing back.
"If brother hears them whispering..."
"Next."
Viscount Hex's voice filled the hall instantly.
"Introducing the academy's overseers and esteemed guests gracing us."
Flash.
Viscount Hex extended a hand; figures emerged behind the podium.
"Chancellor Winchester, overseeing Orosol Academy. Queen Consort Carmen, who graciously donated the land for its founding. And His Highness Hapsburg von Tersian of the Tersian Empire, who traveled far across the continent."
The three stood with overwhelming presence.
"And..."
Yet among them, one spot seemed empty.
"What? Another VIP?"
"Who could stand with those three? It was always three."
"Who even...?"
Curiosity buzzed. Even Crown Prince Hapsburg von Tersian eyed the empty spot beside him, scanning the hall.
Clack, clack.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
"Unable to attend in person, but representing the Gibraltar margrave house."
Before Viscount Hex finished, a young man emerged from the shadowed curtain, leaning on a cane.
"Grey Gibraltar."
A deep maroon coat near blood-red. Gripping a gray cane that felt oddly out of place, the gray-haired youth stepped to the podium.
"Head of the Orosol Academy Scholarship Foundation."
Passing behind Grand Duke Winchester, then Queen Consort Carmen.
"Overall supervisor for the imperial exchange students."
Swish.
He paused briefly behind Crown Prince Hapsburg but soon passed to take the final VIP spot.
"Chairman of the [Gorge Foundation]."
His crimson suit and coat—evoking Crimson Gibraltar—fluttered as Grey Gibraltar faced forward with a sharp smile.