Bitter vs Sweet (1)
Blow, who had only just clawed his composure back, bowed to Deschamps before anything else.
"It is an honor to meet you, Marquis. I am Blow Deblique, second son of Baron Deblique."
"So you're the one. Partnering with our Yulia."
"Yes."
Deschamps's eyes narrowed. He looked Blow up and down.
"Your mana. Hmm..."
His brow drew tight, and a thoroughly displeased look settled over his face. Before Blow had gone to the other world he had never trained properly, and after his return magic had stayed an afterthought the whole time, so of course his mana was a wreck. Deschamps, besides, was a man with the great name of one of the 6 Great Mages attached to his own. A pool like Blow's was never going to please him — not unless Blow had been someone on Hervena's level. He had no excuse to offer on that score, so he held his silence and waited for whatever came next.
Deschamps's gaze shifted, this time to Rachel, standing at attention at Blow's side.
"And why were you here, Princess Rachel?"
"Ah, I'm an investor in Blow Deblique as well! I came to talk about that — and to have dinner while I was here!"
"You? Investing?"
"Yes, that's right!"
"Hmm. As I thought. You decided after seeing our Yulia."
He asked it as if the answer were obvious. Rachel's reply was something else entirely.
"If Yulia hadn't been there, I would have partnered with Blow myself."
"What?"
Rachel drew the line clean and true, and Blow felt a quiet gratitude toward her. The words must have carried real weight. The look in Deschamps's eyes, and in Bjorn's as he regarded Blow, eased, if only a little.
"Unexpected. So. Have you signed a contract with this Blow Deblique?"
"No. The details are still under negotiation!"
"Hmm..."
"He may not look it, but Blow is sound, and there's something fresh about him! It's almost as if he lived in another world."
Blow felt a sharp prick of alarm, and decided he would not say a word.
"Even if he does look a little like trouble."
No one answered. Silence settled over them.
Even so, Rachel had bought him a little room to breathe. Blow cleared his throat and offered a careful suggestion.
"For now, would you care to step inside, and continue the conversation there?"
Bjorn said nothing. Deschamps only hummed. The two glanced at each other — and in that moment the door of Hills opened a crack, and Melo slipped quietly out. Strange as it was, the stiffness in both their faces loosened, just a little.
Melo stopped before them, bent at the waist in a proper bow, and spoke each word with careful, slightly trembling clarity.
"H-hello! I'm Melo, head chef of Hills! I-if you would grant me the honor of cooking for the Marquis and the Duke, I'll do my very best!"
Bjorn started, and looked at Blow.
"Head chef...? That child?"
"Yes. At present, Melo is in charge of the kitchen here at Hills."
"She is! You'll be amazed once you taste it. Melo is an extraordinary cook!"
When even Rachel added her voice, Melo's mouth drew a bright arc, and she spoke again, this time with confidence.
"Thank you, Princess! If you leave it to me, I'll give it my heart and soul!"
"A cute little thing like that, a head chef."
Deschamps, who had been gazing at Melo, let a smile spread across his face. As if in agreement, Bjorn gave a nod so slight it might have been imagined. They were the faces of fathers raising daughters. It showed.
"Well. If the little head chef insists so earnestly, how about we share a meal?"
"It would be an honor, Lord Deschamps."
"Been a long time," Bjorn said. "Five years, hasn't it."
As the two stepped into Hills, Rachel's trusted aides, Haghia and Sophia, bowed with perfect courtesy and spoke as one.
"We greet Marquis Deschamps and Duke Bjorn!"
"Faces I haven't seen in a long time."
"Thank you for remembering us."
"Sit."
"Yes."
Settled at the table, the two of them began to pick over the interior of Hills, detail by detail. Blow leaned in and whispered to Jane, who stood nearby in a daze.
"Jane. I think I'm going to have to brief them later. Bring the settlement for the subscription service and the potion bottles."
"Ah... yes, Young Master."
"Bring Linne, too."
"Then I'll have to lock up Red Forest for a bit."
"I don't think that's the problem right now."
"That's... true."
Jane stole a glance toward Bjorn and Deschamps, then nodded, her face drawn tight with nerves.
He sent her out the back, stepped into the kitchen, and raised a thumb at Melo.
"Nice work, Melo. Perfect timing. Thanks to you, that went smoothly."
"Hehe, Sister Megan told me to!"
Megan stood nearby with the faintest smile, as if she had only done what was obvious. Blow gave her a thumbs-up as well, then looked back at Melo.
"Still. Going out there and speaking to them yourself couldn't have been easy. You did well."
"I'm totally used to it now!"
Well, of course she was. Skadi came every day, and Yulia, and Rachel besides. Blow picked up the menu at his side.
"Are you taking the order yourself, Young Master?"
"Have to. Everyone, put in a little extra care today."
"Yes!"
The answer came back bright and forceful, and it put the strength back into him. Blow drew a long breath, then finally started toward the table where Deschamps and Bjorn sat.
While Bjorn and Deschamps were taking their seats at Hills, the sparring hall of Pétrus Hall at the magic school was between bouts of its own. Hervena, Cindy, and Skadi had been deep in practice, and had paused for a short rest. Hervena was in the middle of telling Cindy what had happened at the Black Bridge Gathering.
When Cindy heard what had passed between Blow and Rosalyn, her eyes went round.
"You're saying Blow said that to Rosalyn?"
"Yes."
"Man. No wonder Rosalyn was so quiet in afternoon class today. I'm starting to respect the guy."
"If even Rosalyn goes quiet, the school will be downright peaceful."
"Probably. But why do the fun things always happen when I'm not around? It's honestly unfair."
"Still, this duel is happening in front of everyone."
"You think that'll be fun? They're all just going to be watching you and Senior Yulia anyway."
"Which is why, Senior, if you beat Senior Yulia, that would be the interesting part, wouldn't it?"
Hervena said it as if it were nothing. Cindy let out a hollow laugh.
"As if. I'll just get through the first round, and do my best in the second."
"Really? I think you could beat someone on Senior Yulia's level."
"Yeah? Why?"
"She's very... how do I put it. She fights like a model student. I don't think it would be that hard, honestly. Three times out of ten?"
"Thirty percent? That high..."
"Don't try to over-plan it. I think you could pressure her from the start, if you think back to the last time Senior Yulia fought Rachel Campbell."
"Hmm... but is it all right for you to talk like that? I thought you were practicing with Senior Yulia too."
"No. We only did it once or twice, and that was it."
Since the fireworks, Hervena had barely spoken with Yulia at all. Yulia drawing closer to Blow kept catching in her eye.
"I've got the first round to think about anyway. Oh, right — Hervena, what are you going to do? Your opponent is Greig."
"There was plenty I wanted to do, but the Young Master told me to stay within the lines. And Rachel is in the city right now, too."
"Ah. That does make it awkward."
"So I'm thinking. How to smash him— no. How to handle it."
At Hervena's ominous smile, Cindy snorted and got to her feet.
"Then think it over while you practice with me tonight."
"I can't. I have assignments then, and other things to do besides."
"Hmm? You've got the mind for homework? The duel is right in front of you."
"Well. I don't really see why I'd need to prepare all that hard."
Hervena said it with a shrug, and Cindy shook her head, looking thoroughly fed up.
"Fair enough. Do me a favor and drop your guard a little. If I somehow make the finals, maybe I'll get lucky and beat you."
"Hmm..."
"And stop making that face, like it's ridiculous!"
Hervena burst out laughing, as if the reaction amused her. Cindy, meanwhile, turned and spoke lightly to Skadi, who had been sitting through it all without a word.
"Skadi. What about you? What do you think?"
"Uh... huh? About what?"
"What, were you spacing out?"
"Sorry. What were you talking about?"
"Hmph. So the great Cindy Whiteglass's duel doesn't worry you at all, does it?!"
"Sorry, sorry. I had something on my mind."
Cindy caught the strange current running between the two of them, tilted her head, and asked.
"What, did you two fight?"
"Huh? No!"
Skadi answered at once. Hervena said nothing.
While Cindy was still wondering what to say, Hervena rose.
"Let's practice again."
"Hmm. Yeah. Fine."
"Right! Not a second to waste, so we'd better hurry! Haha!"
There was a duel to prepare for. Cindy decided to focus on that, and to shove the unease those two had given her into a corner for now.
She had just gotten up to continue when a hurried knocking rang through the hall.
"I'll get it."
Skadi opened the door. Rowbedi stood there, white as a sheet.
"Senior."
"Hmm? Rowbedi. What's wrong? Your face..."
"It's..."
He was tense in a way that didn't suit him at all, and Skadi could only stare, puzzled. Rowbedi swallowed, then spoke, careful and quiet.
"The Grand Duke has come to Hills."
"Huh?"
"To put it plainly — Duke Bjorn Hetaya is at Hills, right now..."
"WHAT?!"
Skadi's eyes flew wide. Forgetting even to answer, she tore off outside.
The two who knew who her father was gave a start, and looked at each other.