The First Weekend (1)
A week had passed since my enrollment at the Academy.
With no lectures on the weekend, I could finally attend to my duties as butler. The man covering for me was the previous butler candidate from before I arrived—less capable than I was, perhaps, but seasoned enough to handle the weekday work with distinction.
Rising early to review the weekday records, then spending the day caring for my lady: that was how a happy day ought to begin.
Or so it should have been…
“Oh my, Frey. It’s the first weekend, yet your face looks so gloomy.”
My lady spoke while savoring her meal. I hastily wiped the worry from my expression.
“It’s nothing, my lady. I suppose the fatigue of my first week at the Academy has simply caught up with me.”
“Is that so? Well, I’ve heard the rumors.”
“R-rumors?”
“That Frey is causing a stir in every lecture. One of my friends attends the Academy as well, you know.”
“Ah… well. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a stir.”
“You’re one of the two people who broke Professor Violet’s magic, aren’t you?”
“Ugh.”
The image of Iren’s triumphant grin flashed through my mind. The thought that I would have to leave my lady’s side that afternoon just to meet her left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Whether she sensed my feelings or not, my lady continued with perfect innocence.
“They say no freshman has ever broken Professor Violet’s illusion magic before. And you dismantled it in just two minutes. As expected of you, Frey!”
“My lady, forgive me, but that is incorrect.”
“Pardon?”
“Breaking it itself took ten seconds. The rest of the time I simply spent admiring the illusion.”
“Oh, really? I heard the other person escaped in one minute. Do you suppose they were the same?”
“No. That can’t be. That person used the full minute to break free.”
“Pfft.”
“My lady?”
“No, it’s nothing. More importantly—didn’t you say you had plans this afternoon?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Have a good time, then. I’ll be rolling around in bed all day.”
She yawned widely. I dabbed away the tiny tear that had escaped with a handkerchief and spoke gently.
“Did you stay up late reading again last night? Building knowledge is fine, but you must take care of your body.”
“Mmm… but the book was simply too interesting.”
“Haa… very well. Still, you mustn’t overdo it.”
“I know.”
After several more hours of attending to my lady, I set out for the streets of the imperial capital.
The place Iren had designated was a famous dessert shop in the capital—a mad establishment where the cheapest items started at five silver coins and the expensive desserts demanded gold.
As butler of the Katram Ducal House I received a salary that would make most people envious, yet even I hesitated to set foot in a shop reserved exclusively for nobles.
To choose such a place for a meeting… as expected of a princess, her palate was refined. How elegant my lady was by comparison, with her preference for simpler things!
Unwilling to give her any excuse to pick a fight, I arrived thirty minutes early.
And there, in front of the shop, stood a head of blue hair I had no desire to grow familiar with.
“You arrived thirty minutes early? Is a man allowed to be this late?”
It was Iren, dressed in light, refreshing clothes. Even her nonsense left me momentarily speechless.
Hair that sparkled in the sunlight, clear eyes that seemed to hold the condensed vitality of the sea itself—the carefully adorned figure of Princess Iren set my heart pounding.
It was absurd. In all my life my heart had never once reacted to any woman other than my lady!
Was she casting some charm magic? If so, I needed to break it at once.
“Hello? What’s wrong? Did the joke upset you?”
“Ugh—such magic won’t work on me!”
“What magic? Just come inside already.”
With a sharp tug she seized my hand and pulled me toward the shop. Yet just before we entered, a thought flashed through my mind.
“Wait a moment. Is Her Highness the Princess here without a single escort?”
“And?”
“What kind of reckless behavior is this? If you’ve been living in seclusion until now, there must have been a reason.”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. My identity is thoroughly prevented from leaking outside the Academy.”
“Prevented?”
“Look. None of the people on the street are paying us any attention, are they?”
Come to think of it, she was right.
If the empire’s Third Princess had appeared, the street should have descended into chaos—yet no one was looking our way.
And this morning, when my lady mentioned the two people who broke Professor Violet’s magic, she had never said anything about the princess being remarkable. She had simply called her “the other person.”
“Then… does that mean I…?”
“You’re quick. My identity mustn’t be exposed by something as simple as a form of address, right?”
I swallowed hard without meaning to.
“You’re telling me to do that?”
“Yes. No one here knows my name, after all.”
Princess Iren was demanding that I call her by name!
Even Duke Katram—the current pinnacle of the empire beneath the emperor himself—could not directly address a prince or princess by name. And I was nothing more than a butler, a collateral branch member even under my false identity. This was not something I could do!
“No, even so—”
“What, can’t you do it? I already gave you permission.”
“Even if you did, how could I possibly—”
“Ha! So this is the level of the Katram Ducal House. Unable to fulfill even such a simple request.”
She covered her mouth with her hand, yet her eyes made her intent perfectly clear. Iren was openly mocking me.
Insulting me was one thing. But insulting the ducal house that sheltered my lady was unforgivable!
Fine—come what may!
“All right. Let’s go, Iren.”
“Huh?”
I reversed the grip on her hand and strode into the dessert shop. Drawing on a butler’s long experience, I seated her in a comfortable spot.
Then I sat directly across from her, opened the menu, and pointed out the selections. I had never visited this shop, yet I knew every variety of confection by heart.
“Do you like sweet things?”
“Y-yes. I do.”
“Then I recommend starting with scones, followed by cream puffs and Victoria cake, paired with Farsan black tea—the tea that dominates the Farsan region. Waiter?”
“Yes. Are you ready to order?”
“Bring these out at ten-minute intervals. Include a teapot so we can pour the tea ourselves. Serve the tea lightly steeped, together with the scones.”
“Understood.”
Once the waiter left, Iren blinked at me.
“I’m surprised. You’ve suddenly become so polished.”
“I’m a collat—well, a branch member. I have to be versatile just to survive.”
“Then, versatile branch member—call me by name one more time.”
“Call you what?”
“My name.”
Iren grinned at me. After spending a week with her, I had come to realize this princess was overflowing with mischief.
“No.”
“Even though you’re already speaking so casually?”
“This is for the sake of the disguise. Calling your name is only necessary when the situation demands it.”
“Hmm. Is that so? Fine. I’ll let it slide for now.”
Soon the scones and tea arrived. Iren asked,
“Why specifically request scones with lightly steeped tea?”
“Have you ever tried Farsan black tea?”
“Yes. It had a refined taste.”
“Then eat a scone and try the Farsan tea as it is now.”
I poured the tea into her cup. She looked at me with open skepticism.
“Farsan black tea pairs better with much sweeter desserts than scones.”
“Once you taste it, you’ll change your mind.”
Without altering her doubtful expression, Iren ate a scone and then took a sip of tea.
Her narrow, prim eyes suddenly went round. As if she could not believe it, she took several more sips.
“Farsan black tea can taste this refreshing?”
“That’s exactly why it’s considered the finest. Ordinary tea leaves become weak if under-steeped and too strong or bitter if over-steeped—they only reveal their true flavor at the proper point. But Farsan black tea boasts a variety of fantastic aromas and flavors depending on how long it’s steeped.”
“I never knew that.”
Apparently pleased, Iren eagerly sipped the tea alongside the scones. Watching her, I found myself a little dumbfounded. To think the empire’s princess could look this delighted over something so simple.
While she ate with gusto, I finally voiced the question I had been holding back for days.
“There’s something I want to ask.”
“Sure. I’ll tell you anything.”
“The reward you were going to give me for the bet—that was an Elixir, wasn’t it?”
“Oh, sharp. How did you guess?”
“The person I hold dear. You already know who that is.”
Iren grinned. Of course. She had already investigated that thoroughly.
“That’s right. Aylin Katram, the current direct descendant of the Katram Ducal House.”
“You also know that Lady Katram’s health is poor. That’s why you intended to give me an Elixir?”
“Yes. One bottle of Elixir would cure her illness completely.”
“But it’s a potion only the imperial family is allowed to drink.”
“I can smuggle it out if I want. As long as I don’t get caught.”
“……Haa.”
She truly did as she pleased. I had suspected it, yet to think she had genuinely intended to hand over an Elixir.
The Elixir was a panacea handed down through the generations of the Valencia Empire’s imperial house. It was said to cure every illness in the world, and indeed no emperor of Valencia had ever died of disease.
If such a thing entered the open market, its price would skyrocket—and worse, the materials required were so rare that even the imperial family would run short. Thus the law decreed that only the Valencia imperial family could use the Elixir. Violating that law meant capital punishment.
Regretting that I had lost the bet was secondary; did she not even consider what would happen to her if she were caught? Or was she so deeply loved by the emperor that she expected to be forgiven almost anything?
“I would prefer you not drag me into dangerous affairs.”
“No guts, huh? What happened to the boldness that called the other noble heirs ‘underlings’ at our first meeting?”
“There are simply modes of speech required by certain situations.”
“How clever. I really do want you as my attendant.”
“And after that?”
“Naturally, I’d want to lock you away in my heart.”
“Quite possessive, aren’t you?”
“I come from a family full of possessiveness. That’s how the founder of the empire built it in the first place.”
That was true enough. Without desire, how could one conquer other nations and found an empire?
Viewed that way, the imperial bloodline could be said to have inherited an enormous capacity for possession.
“And it’s partly your fault, too.”
“What?”
“I only suggested we meet this weekend. Yet here you are already treating me so well.”
She tapped her teacup lightly.
“This is the first time I’ve had Farsan black tea that pairs so perfectly with scones. Thank you.”
“I simply can’t bring myself to treat someone I’ve met carelessly. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Even that tsundere act of yours is cute.”
Iren smiled brightly.
My heart pounded again at the sight. Damn it—there was no sign of charm magic!
Was I truly reacting to her? Frey, the love you have for your lady is already insufficient! You can’t go looking elsewhere!
“……Don’t say strange things.”
“But I mean it. Oh, the cream puffs are here.”
The cream puffs arrived, and this time Iren poured her own tea, bouncing her feet in delight.
“They go together so well! It’s only been steeped ten minutes longer, yet the harmony between the tea and the cream puffs is moving!”
The joyful Iren also ate the Victoria cake that followed with great relish.
After that we were too busy eating to talk much. Once we left the shop full and satisfied, Iren pointed down the street.
“Shall we go sightseeing around the city now?”
“Just so I know—how long do you plan to keep me today?”
“My, why are you pretending not to know?”
She leaned in and whispered right against my ear.
“Until the very end of the day, of course.”
“Haaaa…”
It was going to be a truly bothersome weekend.