More Handsome Than a Prince
Marquis Parma's face flushed bright red as he asked, "R-right now? Here?"
But there was something off about his tone. I kept my expression neutral and replied in a half-hearted drawl. "...Yeah, right now, right here."
At that, Marquis Parma instructed his butler to fetch his sword.
"Hm."
The marquis wielded the same type of longsword as mine, but its blade was a bit wider and longer—somewhere between a longsword and a bastard sword. As I examined it closely, he added an explanation.
"It's the sword passed down through generations of marquis."
"As expected..."
It was well-maintained but showed clear signs of use. A blue gem adorned the end of the hilt, shimmering with an iridescent glow. The mana emanating from it suggested it wasn't just any ordinary gem—it was a magic stone.
"Hmmm."
The sword was excellent, but it wasn't suited for the current Marquis Parma. Cooped up in his room and barely eating, his stamina was weak, and his strength lacking. Watching his arm tremble as he held the sword, I asked, "Don't you have another one?"
"Uh..."
His gaze naturally drifted to the butler, who bowed his head and said, "I'll bring a lighter sword."
Moments later, the marquis stood before me with a rapier in hand. I looked at him and said, "I'll play opponent for a bit, so come at me."
"...Pardon?"
The marquis's eyes widened in confusion. He didn't even think to assume a stance, just stared at me blankly.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, it's just..."
He hesitated, scanning me up and down. Was it because he couldn't bring himself to spar with a woman? Reading his mind, I let out a snort of laughter. As if this guy could even touch a hair on my head.
"I guarantee you, I'm way stronger than you," I said with a grin, sword still sheathed. "So block this with everything you've got."
"...?"
Clang! Our swords clashed in an instant. I swung, and he managed to block on reflex—but he couldn't withstand my strength. His sword flew far away, scraping across the floor with a sharp screech.
The marquis's eyes followed his flying sword in a daze. I pointed my blade at him again.
"Again."
His reflexes weren't bad at all, surprisingly. I'd had zero expectations, so I was reasonably satisfied. But the marquis clearly wasn't.
He picked up his sword and this time assumed a solid stance, having just felt my skill firsthand. The result, however, was the same.
"Again!"
"Ugh."
He groaned, clutching his numb wrist. I didn't love this Spartan-style training either, but there was no choice. I planned to drill him as thoroughly as possible before I left—so he'd never think of holing up in his room again.
"Tired? Wanna give up already?"
"...No."
Determination flickered in the marquis's eyes. Even a worm twists when stepped on, it seemed—I'd properly ignited his competitive spirit.
I grinned and said, "Block even once, and I'll praise you."
"...!"
His eyes widened in surprise at my words. For whatever reason, he lifted his sword with utmost seriousness.
* * *
"Yurina!"
I hurried over to Yurina, who had been waiting for me. In her cute pink dress adorned with white frills, she seemed to shine even brighter. I smiled at her in satisfaction. The heroine's beauty is truly top-tier. Electrifying.
"Lady Abigail."
"Wait long?"
"No."
Yurina smiled shyly at me, her cheeks flushing a lovely pink.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
I naturally offered her my hand. But since I was in uniform, it ended up looking like I was escorting her. Was this a bit weird? I glanced around—everyone was just walking along silently. So I decided to play it off.
We headed to the dining hall.
"You can't just start eating before the big sisters get here!"
As we approached, a lively clamor reached our ears. The kids had arrived first and were waiting. Some of the hungry ones were trying to sneak food, only to get scolded by the older twins.
"Did the sisters come?"
Seri greeted us with a beaming smile. The other kids cheered at the prospect of finally eating.
I gave an awkward smile and said to Yurina, "It's fine to eat first..."
Helping with Marquis Parma's training always made me late for meals, but Yurina faithfully waited. The kids had to wait too—how tough must that be for them?
Yet Yurina smiled brightly and replied firmly, "Of course we have to wait."
"...Haha."
I couldn't argue and took my seat. As always, the chair next to the head seat where I sat was empty—the exhausted marquis ate in his room after training.
"Alright, everyone, dig in."
"Yay~"
Normally, the temple priests would recite a prayer before eating. I glanced at Yurina, but she started her meal without a word. Was she being considerate? The north and south had different faiths, after all. I couldn't bring myself to ask and picked up my fork and knife to cut my steak.
That's when one of the kids who'd been staring at us called out innocently from the side, "Sisters, you look just like the prince and princess from the fairy tales!"
"...What?"
"Oh my."
Yurina covered her mouth, laughing. She seemed pleased to be called a princess. But me? A prince? Prince?
"Sister's not a prince," Yurina said gently.
She fit the princess role perfectly, but I swallowed the rest and forced a smile. The kid puffed out her cheeks.
"Nuuuh, she is."
"She's not."
"She isss."
"She's not, not."
It felt childish even to me, but I bickered with the kid over nothing. As I kept denying it, she grumbled. Watching her, I chuckled—then my eyes met Yurina's across the table.
"Yurina?"
"Ah."
Whatever she was thinking while looking at me, her face turned beet red. She quickly dropped her gaze to her plate.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"...".
Didn't look like nothing. For now, I pretended not to notice and kept eating.
Then Pel, lounging at my feet, spoke in a bored tone. [Maybe because you're wandering around in that uniform.]
"What's wrong with my uniform?"
Pel used telepathy that only I could hear, so I muttered back quietly. Uniforms were so comfortable. In a dress, I couldn't wield a sword or chase the marquis around the training grounds without weird looks.
[To kids' eyes, that's the kind of uniform only 'princes' wear.]
"Well, fair point, but..."
I started to retort but shut my mouth.
[Hm?]
"Nothing."
I stuffed a big piece of steak into my mouth and chewed.
After our usual noisy mealtime, Yurina and I headed back to our rooms. Then one kid grabbed the hem of Yurina's dress.
"Sister! We wanna play outside!"
"Now? The sun's about to set..."
Yurina murmured, troubled. The north had short days. Still, the kids' eyes sparkled with energy.
"Pel, play with them a bit."
[...What?]
Pel raised the corner of his eye unenthusiastically. But at my words, the kids were already swarming him expectantly.
"The big doggy's gonna play with us?"
[I'm not a dog. A wolf.]
Pel grumbled about how many times he'd said it. I chuckled watching. He pretended otherwise, but he liked it.
The kids, who initially feared Pel, were now dying to pet his glossy black fur. Soon, under the castle knight's supervision, Pel and the kids headed to the front yard to play.
"Come back quick."
"Yess~"
Yurina waved and approached me.
"How was the marquis today?"
"Same as usual."
He'd failed to block my sword even once again and shuffled off crying. No need to tell Yurina that.
I stopped by Yurina's room for tea.
"...You'll have to leave soon, right?"
I looked up from my steaming cup.
"Yeah. You've finished your pilgrimage, so back to the temple?"
"...Yes."
Yurina looked uneasy for some reason. When I tilted my head, she hesitantly parted her lips.
"Um, I want to take the kids to the Lumine Temple."
"What? The northern kids?"
I asked in surprise, and she nodded.
"Most are pitiful ones who can't go home. I won't force them—just if they want to."
"Hm..."
I rubbed my chin, troubled. I planned to send kids like the twins back to family or relatives who could care for them properly, and the rest to a decent orphanage. But was it okay to leave northern kids, who likely couldn't awaken divine power anyway, at a southern temple?
They'd grown attached to Yurina, sure, but...
"Is that no good?"
"It's tricky."
We were close now, but after returning to the temple? As a saintess, she'd have duties—she couldn't personally tend to every orphan. Northern kids would face discrimination down south. Would they end up resenting the day they were sent? Resenting Yurina for bringing them?
My thoughts darkened.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
"Sis, Yurina sis! Look at this!"
"We found it in the front yard!"
"...Oh my."
One of the rushing kids held something out to Yurina.
"A four-leaf clover. Quite rare."
"Hehe."
"It's a good luck charm!"
Then they started bickering.
"I found it!"
"I picked it!"
"That's stealing! Bad!"
"Hehe, no fighting."
Yurina laughed, and the kids stopped instantly, grinning sheepishly.
"Okaay~"
"...".
Yurina soothed them and sent them off with the maids, clutching their dirty hands. Exhausted from play, they shuffled out sleepily.
"Hehe, finding this with grubby hands."
"First four-leaf clover I've seen."
"Really?"
Yurina's pink eyes sparkled. Watching, I could feel how precious this moment was to her.
She handed me the four-leaf clover as if to show it off closely. I gazed at the tiny thing, then smiled.
"...About the kids, I'll think positively."
"Really?"
Yurina asked, startled.
"Yeah."
"Thank you so much. Truly."
She grabbed my hand, joyfully. Her eyes, like clear rose quartz, shone brightly.
"I'll do great. I mean it."
I looked deeply into her beautiful eyes. Yurina, the original heroine with her pure heart—she'd surely care for the kids well.
I smiled back at her.
"Um, and..."
"Yeah?"
Yurina fidgeted with her teacup, hesitating. As I stared, wondering what else, her fair face turned scarlet.
And her words were shocking.
"I think you're cooler than any prince, Lady Abigail!"
"...Cough!"
Her sudden confession nearly made me spit out my tea.