Gibraltar's Invitation (5): The Blade Aimed at the Kingdom Sharpens Still
The Empire had long sought to devour the Kingdom, researching day and night how to conquer it. There were many reasons. The Empire's lands were harsh for habitation, plagued by constant orc and goblin invasions, and contaminated by the pollution from developing magitech. For various such motives, the Empire had tried to seize the Kingdom, and as one long-term tactic, they had attempted to drain away its manpower.
"Revenge against the Kingdom that abandoned me."
They welcomed those who couldn't grow in the Kingdom due to discrimination. Bastards born of spies who couldn't inherit noble titles, those whose parents were murdered by corrupt nobles and fled to become Empire knights, or even those who achieved some success in the Kingdom but were overlooked due to prejudice and scouted by the Empire.
Their reasons varied, but one thing was the same.
All of them were fueled by hatred and rage toward the "Kingdom that abandoned me."
Lady Mente—later one of the Empire's Sword Masters who crossed the canyon—was no different. She was a head taller than me. Her official height was undoubtedly 139cm.
"Hey, young master of Gibraltar. What are you staring at?"
She had a complex about her small stature, and in the Kingdom, she would never grow taller.
"My apologies, Lady Mente."
"Why? Curious if I really have a curse?"
Beneath her sharp, sarcastic tone lay thick inferiority.
"Or do you think the curse is an excuse and I've just stopped growing? Figure you'll be looking down at me once you're five years older, huh?"
"Lady Mente."
Viscount Hex Romana, who had come with her, scolded her.
"Keep your promise. No causing trouble, remember?"
"But he's staring."
"He's the son of the Margrave of the Border, the eldest son of Gibraltar. He's ten."
"Ugh...."
He seemed like her escort, but it was highly likely Lady Mente had insisted on coming as his guard herself.
"It's fine, Viscount Hex. I was just looking because I was glad to meet someone Father had often spoken of. It seems to have caused a slight misunderstanding."
"Th-the Margrave... spoke of me?"
Lady Mente's ears perked up.
"What did he say?"
"He said your swift sword, bursting from that small frame, strikes like lightning, and the careless will be pierced by it."
"Hmph. Well, if the Count evaluates me that highly... hmph."
Now she puffed up with pride. She'd nitpicked my comment about her size, but since the source was my father, she lifted her chin haughtily.
"Remember that well. I'll be the next Sword Master."
"An honor, my lady."
"...You're a bit unexpected."
Lady Mente glanced back slyly. The next carriage hadn't arrived yet, leaving a gap before I had to greet the following guest.
"Viscount, you can head in alone, right?"
"I'd die without her."
"Still hung up on that slap from fifteen years ago?"
"I'd die."
The maids, unfamiliar with Viscount Hex and Lady Mente, whispered as they watched us converse.
Why's that kid talking so casually to her? An outsider might think that.
"What, even if I look small, I can block the Margrave's single strike."
"And right after, he'd swing again to tear your cheek."
Even with her striking green hair and petite build making her easy to recognize, to those who knew nothing, she might seem like an arrogant self-proclaimed knight kid.
"Scaredy-cat. Hmph, still afraid of the Margrave, Viscount Hex? Even though you're older."
"What does age difference matter? Lady Mente."
But the perceptive would realize from who held the conversation's reins.
The External Minister using honorifics with Lady Mente.
"Don't bring up age."
"Oh right, I forgot to ask."
"Sigh, Lady Mente. What now with a ten-year-old?"
"Young master. How old am I—?"
Lady Mente asked with sparkling eyes. She wore a plain white shirt and a skirt covering from waist to shins, but the sword at her hip looked quite old.
"Hmph. Already eyeing people up? But can you guess right?"
"Yes."
Considering all possibilities, there was only one answer.
"Seventeen, aren't you?"
"......."
Lady Mente's lips twitched. Her irritated face instantly filled with a smile.
"Viscount. See? I still look seventeen."
"You've not grown since ten, so looking seven years older is doing well, isn't it, 'senior'?"
"Shut it."
Lady Mente tried to kick Viscount Hex's shin. He easily sidestepped, and I averted my gaze with a light chuckle at their skit.
"Ha. Young master of Gibraltar. Too bad, wrong answer. Guess the Margrave didn't mention my status."
"Only your swordsmanship. If we form a new knight order in Gibraltar, you're someone we'd want to recruit."
"......."
Lady Mente gaped in surprise, and Viscount Hex behind her frowned briefly before masking it.
Overthinking politically.
It was just casual talk with Father. But those in the capital, the royal city, always overinterpreted such words.
"The Margrave wants me for his knight order. Haha, interesting. But I'm Morgania's for now?"
"You're a Nostrum knight. When pointing your sword at the Empire, does family matter?"
"Interesting. So the Count said that."
Lady Mente patted my shoulder, eyes twinkling.
"Thanks, young master of Gibraltar. This was fun."
"Likewise, Lady Mente. But...."
I made a face as if about to be rude, barely holding back a gesture.
"Haha, curious about my age? Hmph, asking a lady's age is terribly rude."
"Not seventeen... then twenty?"
"Ting~."
Lady Mente's lips nearly reached her ears.
"Not telling. Hehe."
She ruffled my hair wildly with one hand.
"I'll head in first. Viscount Hex, I'll tell them you're coming, so follow later."
"Please take care. The reason you brought Lady Mente specifically...."
"Got it, got it. Bye."
Lady Mente pointed at me and Viscount Hex alternately as she passed through the mansion door.
"Seems you have something to discuss with the young master of Gibraltar, so I'll go ahead."
"Thank you for your consideration, Lady Mente."
Viscount Hex bowed to her, and I bowed back with lingering curiosity.
And then—
"Her Majesty said you were more thick-skinned than her, but seeing you today, you're even more so."
"A viscount using honorifics with a ten-year-old isn't ordinary either."
For the solemn Viscount Hex, I signaled a maid for a light beverage.
"I know you don't drink alcohol, so water it is."
"......."
His eyes said, How do you know?
"Ah. Feel free to speak casually to me."
"I couldn't. Her Majesty said to stay sharp around you, as if facing the Margrave himself."
"That cautious with a mere ten-year-old kid?"
"Seeing it firsthand, I understand more. Taming Lady Mente like that. Worried you'll steal many girls' hearts if you come to the capital."
"Really?"
The summoned maid arrived, and I handed him a glass of plain water.
"...You really giving me just water at a party?"
"This is from me. Father said not a drop of alcohol for Morgania folk."
"Isn't that defying the Margrave's orders?"
"Think the Gibraltar heir can't handle that much? And this is outside the hall."
I tapped the stairs where I stood.
"If it's uncomfortable, speak casually first. I don't like elders using honorifics with me either."
"...Fine. Casual it is. Whew, words are casual, but it feels more awkward."
Viscount Hex took the glass and wet his throat lightly.
"...No poison, right?"
"Come on. Even uninvited, we wouldn't poison a party guest."
"Harsh. Thought this would substitute for an invitation."
Viscount Hex reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out two elegantly wrapped letter envelopes.
"Red for the Margrave. Gray for you. No need to say who wrote them