Waking from the Dream (2)
Judy’s voice shot up so sharply it revealed exactly how stunned she was. “You’re trying to become a vassal for our family?”
“Shh…!” I quickly covered her mouth with my hand and glanced around. We had drawn a few eyes, but everyone soon returned to what they had been doing.
“...I want to keep it a secret for now. I haven’t decided which family I’ll join yet. I’m only asking you first.”
Judy pushed my hand away and spoke in a much lower voice. “...You seem to forget this sometimes, but we’re a rival house…! I know I shouldn’t be the one saying it, but… wouldn’t it feel humiliating to enter our family and take orders from us?”
“It only has meaning because it’s the Ice family, Judy.”
“What?”
“Since we’re hostile toward each other… I could be useful if any problems arise. I’d act as a bridge for communication between House Freister and House Ice.”
“.....”
“To exaggerate a little, my presence might even prevent a war in the future. No matter how much the twins feel ashamed of me and refuse to see me as a Freister, they’ll still talk to me. Whether I persuade the twins or convince Duke Ice, I could step in when conflicts grow too intense, couldn’t I?”
“...”
“And if we’re talking about humiliation… having my efforts completely ignored by my own younger siblings is already quite painful.”
Judy crouched down, elbows on her knees, and let out a long sigh.
“Even if you say all that, it still sounds like you’re living for the twins in the end.”
“....Well, I just can’t bring myself to hate them. But staying close keeps hurting me. My mood’s been terrible lately.”
“...There’s no bigger pushover than you.”
“.....Think whatever you like.”
Judy squinted against the bright sunlight as she looked up at me. “...Do you act like that toward everyone you care about?”
“Hm? Act like what?”
“...Like how you treat the twins.”
“......”
I scratched the back of my head. “I don’t know.”
Judy scratched her head the same way and murmured, “.....Our house is always open to accepting vassals. But… you’re a Freister. I can’t be certain.”
“....Is that so?”
“Yeah. So I’ll send a letter to my father.”
I was surprised by how readily she agreed. I had brought it up half hoping for this outcome, but the fact that she would willingly write to Duke Ice touched me.
“...Are you sure that’s all right?”
I asked once out of courtesy. Judy gave the faintest smile and answered, “....If it’s Father, it will be.”
“......”
I said nothing more. I simply thanked her and patted her shoulder gently.
When class ended, Knight Commander Hoslo stopped the entire group. Whenever he behaved like this, it meant something significant was about to happen. The first time we received an announcement. When the jousting tournament was held. From experience, I knew another event was approaching.
Hoslo climbed onto the platform, received a list from one of the training assistants, and studied it carefully. He scanned every student with his eyes. Not understanding what was happening, we could only exchange nervous glances.
“What could that be?”
My own curiosity grew as his gaze passed over me. When I asked Judy, she simply shook her head, equally clueless.
After a long silence, Hoslo lowered the list and spoke.
“Listen up! Several weeks have passed since we began training. I see many of you are still inexperienced, but there are also quite a few promising talents.”
At his voice the students straightened at once, bodies rigid with discipline. No one even dared glance sideways. That was how deep their respect for Hoslo ran.
“The promising ones have forged their fundamentals through blood and sweat. Such individuals have no need to waste time in a place like this.”
“...Huh?”
I listened intently, hoping he wasn’t about to suggest something crazy like kicking people out of the class.
“Don’t be nervous. In most cases you will still be lacking and remain here. However, I will call two names. These two will begin practical training immediately.”
A strange feeling came over me as I looked at Judy. She was already looking at me. We both instinctively knew who would be chosen. After all, the two most outstanding students in this class were us.
“Caiden Freister! Judy Ice! Step forward!”
At Hoslo’s call we walked to the front of the platform. He reassured us once more.
“...Don’t be tense. Although I called it practical training, your bodies will actually have an easier time.”
Once we stood on the platform, Hoslo placed a hand on each of our shoulders and said, “The two of you will now begin escort duty training.”
“Escort duty?”
“It is one of a knight’s most important roles. Continuing basic training here would only waste time. Gaining real experience is far more valuable.”
Judy sent me another questioning glance. I already knew what she was wondering—because I had the same question.
“....When you say escort, who exactly would we be guarding?”
Hoslo answered as if it were obvious. “The student council members, of course. Who else?”
Even after a full day, Asena had not calmed down. The sight of Caiden dancing with Daisy refused to leave her mind. As night deepened, the rage in her chest only burned hotter. It was a fire Caiden had briefly extinguished. She had wanted to say something to him that same day, but his sweet coaxing had made her crumble. When he held her, apologized, and kissed her while begging for forgiveness… Asena could not refuse him.
But this incident was the fault of two people. Caiden was Caiden, and Daisy was Daisy. She threw open the door to the student council room. The loud bang drew every eye.
“Asena, next time please try to enter a little more quietly—”
Student Council President Lucil Hober began, but Asena ignored her completely. She walked straight toward the girl who had stolen her beloved brother and the man she loved at the ball.
“.....Daisy.”
“...Yes?”
“Come with me for a moment.”
Asena stared at Daisy with a rigid expression. The two faced each other inside the bathroom. Daisy, unaware of the reason, simply watched Asena’s mood.
“Asena, if something unpleasant happened—”
“Daisy.”
As if she could not even bear to hear her voice, Asena cut in the moment Daisy opened her mouth.
“...Yes?”
“From our last conversation, it seems you still don’t understand, so I’ll make myself perfectly clear.”
“...About what?”
“Do not get close to my brother. Caiden Freister.”
“......”
Daisy blinked. “I thought I already told you there was nothing good about becoming close.”
After slowly digesting Asena’s words, Daisy fell into brief thought before voicing her doubt.
“....Asena, why do you hate your brother so much?”
“What?”
Asena’s cold reply came quickly, yet she felt her composure cracking.
“...At the ball you prevented him from speaking with others. You badmouth him behind his back. You even try to stop him from making friends. Why do you torment Caiden like this?”
“....I came to warn you, not to chat.”
Asena took one step closer. But Daisy refused to yield to the pressure and continued.
“...He seems like a genuinely good person. From what I saw at the jousting tournament, he works incredibly hard. In my eyes he looks admirable, so why do you hate him so—”
“—Daisy. Shut your mouth.”
The air grew even colder. Daisy felt the atmosphere shift the instant the words left Asena’s lips. Deciding not to provoke her further, she closed her mouth.
“.....Do not ask for reasons. Simply do not get any closer. That was a warning.”
“....Asena, I understand, but this time I wasn’t the one who approached Caiden.”
Daisy had no desire to assign blame, yet she still felt some resentment. Caiden had been the one to ask for the dance. Caiden had been the one to approach. Asena, however, refused to accept it.
“You could have pushed his hand away when he offered it.”
“...And ruin his reputation?”
“That is not your concern.”
“......”
Without realizing it, Daisy found herself thinking how truly pitiful Caiden was. It was so obvious that he cared for his sisters, yet they did not seem to return that affection. At least Kirsi had been seen hugging him a few times, but even she spoke ill of him behind his back.
Suddenly Daisy thought that Asena truly resembled the snake on House Freister’s crest.
“....Daisy. I don’t want to repeat myself.”
“......”
“...If you ignore this warning, I will make your life difficult. Remember that.”
With light words carrying undeniable weight, Asena turned and left.
Caiden, standing with Knight Commander Hoslo and Judy, watched Asena and Daisy enter the student council room. Asena walked in with a stiff expression, but froze when she saw him.
“.....Brother.”
“Hello.”
He smiled and waved. He even gave a small wave to Daisy beside her, but Daisy only returned a light bow.
Asena approached with quick steps and stopped in front of him.
“...Why are you here…?”
“..One moment.”
Caiden glanced at Hoslo, silently asking for a more formal atmosphere. This was not the time for sibling conversation.
Student Council President Lucil Hober spoke. “Asena. I was about to mention it earlier, but from now on there will be escort practice conducted by outstanding students from the Knight Department.”
“Escort practice…?”
“Yes. From now on, one of these two knights will accompany you in all your activities.”
Asena’s heart began to race at the unexpected news. “…Brother will be protecting me from now on?”
“That’s right. As escorts, they will guard you from the moment you leave the dormitory until you return. We received protection last year, so this year it is your turn. In truth, being escorted is not entirely comfortable.”
Hoslo interjected. “Exactly as she said. Do not assume it will make things easier. If these two perform their duties well it may be fine, but they are still young knights. Their clumsy behavior might cause trouble for the student council instead. I ask for your understanding on that point.”
Hoslo showed proper knightly respect to the council members. Yet Asena stopped listening halfway through. She had never imagined receiving such a gift. She would be able to stay with Caiden constantly from now on. The student council had been full of complaints about having to keep distance from him—aside from the small benefit of entering his dormitory. It was precisely because they were the student council that this opportunity had arrived.
She had to fight back the smile threatening to form. Many things would become easier. She would no longer need to feel anxious when he was away or force herself to speak badly of him. The warning she had given Daisy today had just become unnecessary now that Caiden would remain right by her side.
“Now, Caiden. Greet your lord first.”
At Hoslo’s command, Caiden stepped forward. He slowly approached and stood before Asena. Her body twitched with the urge to reach out to him. He spoke.
“Asena.”
“....Yes.”
Caiden’s head turned slightly toward an empty corner. What lay in that direction was only a desk.
“.....?”
Asena followed his gaze, and sudden dread exploded inside her chest. What he was looking at was a single flower Daisy had received from someone; it had already begun to wither.
Caiden said, “....I will take on the duty of escorting Daisy Hextor.”
For a moment, Asena felt as if her breath had stopped.
“....What?”
Caiden was quietly considering that not only the Ice family but the Hextor family might also be a good choice.