Princess, That Weapon... Is That Right?

"So that's how it was?"

Contrary to Rachel's expectation that Yulia would never tell her, Yulia, over lunch, told her herself how she had come to attend the academy in Caipol.

"Yes. Please keep it to yourself, Princess."

"You've really... how should I put it. You've had quite a life, haven't you?"

Yulia let out a heavy sigh and put a piece of steak into her mouth. Rachel, who had been watching her steadily, spoke with her brows drawn tight.

"You're not like that these days, though. Honestly, if you were my little sister, I would have died."

"Haha..."

"I'd have died if you were my older sister, too, of course."

Shocked by the part where Yulia had spoken to her younger siblings—and again by the part where she had spoken to Deschamp—Rachel shook her head. Turning those words over, Yulia tilted her head and asked.

"It may be presumptuous of me, but then why is Greig..."

"That's what comes out of your mouth right now?"

"No. It's just a little strange."

"Tsk. Some kids don't get it even if you beat it into them."

"True enough."

"How about answering the question I asked, Yulia Edfolk. Is the water in Caipol somehow different from the capital's? Or maybe not. Looking at Greig, I'm not so sure."

At that, Yulia let out an incredulous little laugh and opened her mouth.

"The funny thing is, when I came here, most of the students didn't know me. Except Julbert. Rosaline only enrolled two years later."

"That's right."

"It put me at ease more than I expected. At first I only hated it."

"So you felt pressure from us."

"Yes. I suppose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I did. Once my mind settled, I threw myself into school life, and before I knew it the other students and the teachers all acknowledged me."

"I see."

"After two years of that, I realized I didn't need to show my feelings, and I didn't need to poke at anyone else's, either."

"That's only possible because you're the sort who actually takes the lesson."

"Those days piled up, and I suppose that's how I became someone the Princess could think of as acceptable."

"Acceptable is about as far as it goes."

Rachel said it playfully, wagging her fork, and Yulia smiled faintly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before going on.

"Even I can see it now. The me of those days... I think I only ever thought of myself. I used working hard as an excuse not to look around me."

"Did you talk to your siblings?"

"I apologized around last year, but I think it was only for form's sake."

"......"

"You said I've improved, Princess, but dealing with people is still hard. Truly, it's so difficult that I just try to keep my distance from everyone."

"You seem to manage just fine."

"I wonder. The way the young master treats me is completely different from how he treats Herbena, or Jane, or Skadi. Even with you, Princess, he only ever looks at ease..."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Especially with Jane. He smiles so brightly for her. The young master..."

"......"

Of everything Yulia had said, that caught Rachel off guard. Yulia Edfolk, of all people, fretting not over Herbena, but over Jane? She quietly put a bite of the pasta in front of her into her mouth and chewed.

A brief silence settled between them. Then Rachel, something occurring to her, was the first to speak, carefully.

"So what you're saying is that Blow and I look closer than you do, because there's less formality between us?"

"Something like that."

"Lately I've been wondering whether having no walls between people is really always better."

"What do you mean?"

"I've also come to think a little distance can be a good thing. Maybe it's because I've spent so long with you this time. Doesn't it simply mean the two of you keep a proper line?"

"......"

"That's how I see it. But if you really want those walls gone, there's more time ahead of you than behind. Couldn't you afford to take it slowly?"

Rachel said it, then snorted a little laugh. At that, the pace of Yulia's chewing slowed, and she muttered, barely loud enough to hear.

"Honestly. Why is that comforting. It's annoying."

She said it that way, and yet a full, unguarded smile rested on her face. Rachel hammed it up for her.

"Didn't I tell you I'm good with words, Yulia Edfolk?"

"You do have a way of touching the heart. I think I understand why your subordinates follow you so well."

"What are you talking about? The less I pay my subordinates any mind, the better they like it."

The moment she heard that, Yulia was entirely convinced, and could only nod deeply. Sensing the mood had loosened, Rachel—who knew Blow was meeting Deschamp at that very moment—slipped in another remark.

"What I'm saying is, why don't you try working things out with the Marquis a little, too."

"......"

"Honestly, even if your life in Caipol isn't a happy ending, the odds of a normal ending are pretty high, aren't they?"

"If I had to say, it's closer to happy. Thanks to it, I met the young master."

"Then wouldn't it be better to start untangling it? You know the Marquis's reputation better than I do—that he's a truly good man. And you can feel it just from the way he looks at you. That tenderness."

"And when did you look that closely?"

"Don't people only ever look, in others, for the things they don't have themselves?"

Yulia started to answer, then closed her mouth. Rachel snorted a laugh and went on.

"Is Marquis Deschamp still that hateful to you?"

"Honestly, I don't really know. It's just uncomfortable, and awkward, and only those bad feelings seem to be left, like dregs. I know it isn't rational..."

"You're human. It can be that way."

"When I meet my father, it feels like I'm looking at my own shameful past. So I just want to cover it up. That's all."

Even so, Yulia looked distinctly lighter than she had before she spoke. Rachel, who had finished her meal at some point, rested her chin on her hand and watched her, calling Blow's face to mind.

That Blow will have talked him around well enough on his own. All I need to do now is set the stage.

Thinking so, she smiled. Seeing it, Yulia asked.

"What is it? That sly smile all of a sudden?"

"Nothing. I've just found something I can pick at."

"Me?"

"No."

And with that, Rachel hummed as she drank her water. Watching her, Yulia could only tilt her head for a long while.

Having finished his talk with Deschamp, Blow was heading back to Restaurant Hills with Jane. Still shaken by what she had heard from him earlier, Jane looked at him as she spoke.

"So that's why Senior Yulia came to the Caipol Magic School."

"It was strange, wasn't it. She's that exceptional."

"She set every record there was to set. She's been pushed to second now, because of Herbena."

"Talk about the two of them long enough and you really feel how pathetic my own level is."

"Then is that the end of today's schedule?"

"No. I'll stop by Hills for a bit, then drop in on Herbena and the senior later."

"I'll come with you."

"I'd like that. But is it all right to leave Red Forest empty that long?"

"Linne is really good at it. And last night I finished brewing all the potions..."

Before she could even react, Blow flicked a finger against her forehead. Startled, Jane opened her eyes wide and complained.

"Young master? What was that??"

"Why push yourself. Keep that up and I might hand the first shop over to the manager of the second, too."

"I'm sorry."

"Please don't overdo it. All right?"

"I'll take it to heart, young master."

Even so, the tips of Jane's ears reddened a little, pleased that Blow seemed to be looking after her. After a moment's thought, he went on.

"I should stop by Senior Yulia first. Might as well have dinner."

"Today's going to be a day of thoroughly greasing our stomachs."

"It's like that every day."

"True. Melo's cooking has only gotten better lately."

"I really am curious where Melo's limit is."

"Then the dishes written in your notebook, too..."

"I'd like to ask her, but it's a bit much. Then Melo would have to know all of that dark stuff, too."

The mention of the notebook brought something to Jane's mind, and she asked him obliquely.

"The person you said you remembered—that was the convenience store owner, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. I keep thinking of him."

Something wistful came over Blow's face. Jane felt that whatever she said would be the wrong thing, and could only keep her mouth shut.

They walked hard, and before they knew it they had arrived at Restaurant Hills. The moment Hans saw him, he came rushing out of the kitchen.

"Young master!"

"Yeah. What is it, Hans?"

"You have visitors!"

When Blow stepped outside, some twenty middle-aged men and women—commoners, by their dress—were bowing to him politely.

"What's this?"

While he stood flustered by the unexpected scene, one of them stepped forward, rubbing his palms together, and spoke.

"Young master, starting this month, we'll bring the tax to you at the end of every month."

...And what kind of nonsense was this?

Blow narrowed his eyes, tilted his head, and looked at Jane. She only shrugged, as lost as he was.

"Tax? What do you mean?"

"Until now we've been paying tax to One-Armed Jackson, but we heard you sent him off for good."

"I wasn't the one who sent him off, but that's how it turned out."

"Then it seemed only proper to give you the tax we used to pay Jackson."

"Hm..."

Just then Blow's eyes found Skadi—he had no idea when she had arrived—watching him with the corner of her mouth twitching. It wasn't a question that needed thinking over. He answered them at once.

"There is no tax."

"R-really?"

"Tax is something you pay only to the Emperor."

The moment they heard him, color rose in every face. One old man among them came forward and seized Blow's hand.

"Thank you, truly! The rent was overdue, and even paying the interest was more than we could manage..."

"Hearing that, I wish I'd dealt with it sooner."

After that they lined up one after another, each offering him a word of thanks. Then one thin middle-aged woman among them carefully raised her hand and spoke.

"You won't be protecting us, will you, young master...?"

"Protecting you? What do you mean?"

"There are two more organizations in the back alleys. One-Armed Jackson was one of three..."

"The city watch doesn't handle it?"

"They just gloss over it every time."

"For now, I'll have a word with the watch. If anything strange shows up before it's resolved, tell me."

"Ah! Truly?"

"If it really won't do, I'll handle it myself, within reason."

"Thank you, young master!!"

As he listened, Blow found himself thinking of Herbena and Yulia. When Rachel had dismantled One-Armed Jackson's family, both of them had looked faintly disappointed. If anyone bothered him again, he need only go groaning to the two of them. In any case, the thought that he had done a good thing warmed him, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Well, well. Now you're the lord of the back alleys! Blow Deblique."

Skadi, her tone thoroughly teasing, poked his shoulder with a bright voice.

"They need to know when to stop. Tax, of all things. What is this place, some den of outlaws... never mind. Forget it."

"I've thought it over carefully, and honestly the Blow Family is the scariest of them all. If you look at the lineup."

She said it while waggling both eyebrows. Blow briefly considered his own people, then snorted a laugh.

"True. We're practically at the level of taking a whole city."

"Spoken like the lord of the back alleys. Pretty vicious."

"Don't you do your share too, Skadi?"

"Wahaha! I can handle ten of them at once, easy!"

The two of them turned their eyes to Jane, who had been following in silence. She waved her hands as if the very idea appalled her.

"Please, leave me out of it."

"Why? Even when Blow went on a rampage, you charged right up onto the training ground with me. Like the lady of Red Forest!"

"I told you to leave me out. And what lady? I'm no lady of the house!"

Perhaps embarrassed by the word, Jane shouted with her whole face gone red. But the redder she got, the more they wanted to tease her, and Blow and Skadi launched a joint campaign. By the time they had teased her so thoroughly that her cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish, they had arrived at Hotel Edfolk.

"Yes! Steak time!"

"Ugh. I'm just going to have a salad."

"Just order it and give it to me. Well-done."

"You could just order two yourself."

"That's embarrassing."

"The way you're talking today is a little irritating, I'll give you that."

"Because I want to."

As if his words only amused her more, Skadi giggled and stuck her tongue out. While they bickered over the dinner menu, Marchen came over and greeted him with her eyes.

"Both of them are in the practice room. Would you like to go together?"

"Please. I was curious what Princess Rachel has been teaching them, and how."

"I will guide you at once."

Having answered, they made their way toward the training hall. For some reason, the closer they drew, the more a brutal boom, boom of impact reached them.

"Is that the sound of explosion magic?"

"No. That sounds exactly like a hammer coming down."

Skadi nodded as if he were right. Then Marchen, who had been walking ahead, looked back and added in a suggestive tone.

"When you see it, I expect you will be quite surprised."

With her words the practice room opened, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the sight spread before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them, every mouth fell open.

There stood Yulia, breathing hard, leaned against an ornate battle-axe—a long haft crowned at either end with blades like the wings of a great black butterfly.