Chapter 95
On the way back to school, I kept patting Tomato’s head.
“It’s okay, it’s okay…”
But honestly, that was more for myself than for him.
That presence I saw smiling at me earlier—it had to have been the Cardinal Dragon.
Is it still targeting me? If so, did Kai come up to the capital earlier than expected just to find me?
Though Kai’s green eyes didn’t seem much different… could it be the right eye behind the eyepatch…?
Even after I unpacked the rest of my things in the dorm and sat through my morning classes, my head was filled with worry.
Seraphina looked at me with concern.
“Sol, you don’t look well. What’s wrong?”
“Ah… no, I just woke up too early today. I’m tired.”
But I also had something to ask.
“Seraphina, you got slapped at the banquet, right? Sorry… I shouldn’t have dragged you there.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I talked it out with Lady Fine. Giving up a cheek and making someone repent—it was the best banquet ever.”
It looked more like an exorcism than a conversation, but…
Seraphina smiled brightly. She really didn’t seem to hold a grudge at all.
“You’re amazing. If it were me, I’d have repaid a slap with a slap.”
“Since the day I came of age, I swore these hands would serve God. I don’t want to reproduce meaningless conflict.”
“…Then what about romance?”
“Hm?”
“Like wanting to hold hands with a handsome guy… haven’t you ever thought about something like that?”
I’d shoved picture-perfect “romance-fantasy male leads” like Elber in front of her countless times, but she showed no interest. That’s why the question slipped out.
Come to think of it, even in the original story, Seraphina only got close to Elber in the very late stages. Before that, she never swooned over his looks or swordsmanship. She just muttered things like, ‘Who’d take home a guy whose morals and mentality are completely wrecked?’
Wait… could it be that Seraphina just isn’t interested in normal humans?
Seraphina tilted her head.
“Well, I’ve never really imagined it concretely.”
“You’ve never read romance?”
“I have! Like a knight presenting a rose to a lady at a lance tournament! Or standing against an army for the sake of her justice—that’s nice too.”
“That’s way too grand. I mean something more realistic.”
“Like what?”
“Like holding hands, or hugging tightly…”
Facing her face that looked like a saint’s statue, I couldn’t bring myself to bring up kissing. The words filled my mouth but got cut off through self-censorship.
“Or, leaning against a wall while he puts his hand beside you, saying ‘look only at me’—you know, a kabedon. Of course, not forcefully.”
“Hm.”
“Or sharing one pair of gloves, or going on a countryside date together when it suddenly rains, and you hide under a narrow eave… his shoulder slightly wet…”
“You should just carry an umbrella.”
“The point is not having an umbrella! Anyway, haven’t you ever imagined something like that with a cool guy?”
“No.”
A clean-cut answer.
How the heck did she even get a romance arc in the original story?
Before I could stew in the thought, Seraphina suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Uh? Seraphina, don’t tell me—you’re not trying to practice with me, are you?”
“No. Let’s go to the temple.”
“…Why?”
“Judging by your expression, it looks like your head’s full of indecent demons.”
What? Did I hear that right?
“W-what demons?”
“The fact that you’re asking back shows you understood but are embarrassed. Let’s pray together and regain a pure heart.”
“Hey, hey, Seraphina! What about that is impure?!”
How the hell did this girl end up as the romance-fantasy heroine?!
Ignoring my cries, Seraphina dragged me with her prayer-hardened arms into the chapel.
Though honestly, I doubted we’d be having a particularly “pure” time.
When we stepped into the elderly chapel, scheduled for cleaning today, I heard a familiar, irritating voice.
“Eek! W-what are you doing here?!”
It was Freyja Fine, daughter of General Fine, glaring at me in shock.
Ah, right. She’s been sentenced to do volunteer work here for a while. The Duke works fast.
Seraphina rolled up her sleeves.
“Sol, I’ll fetch the candles. Feel free to pray. Lady Fine will just be cleaning—don’t mind her.”
“Got it.”
As Seraphina left the chapel, Freyja stared at her retreating back like an abandoned puppy. Naturally, I stepped right into her line of sight.
“Hello, Lady Fine.”
“Ugh…”
“My, you can speak, yet you won’t answer? Is this girl in front of me a broom instead of a person? Should I toss you in the storage room?”
“Your mouth is filthy! Fine, I’m the very un-fine Lady Fine! You must’ve gone home and sweet-talked His Grace and had a nice rest, huh? Lucky you!”
“I couldn’t sleep from dancing with Elber.”
“…”
“Don’t worry, nothing happened after that. My brother just escorted me to school this morning. The dawn roads, with just the two of us, were beautiful.”
Freyja’s face flushed red.
“You insisted you were only siblings, but now you’ve realized hidden feelings?”
“I realized the joy of teasing you.”
“Grr…”
“Face reality. You’re not strong enough to take me on. And since you screwed up and got caught by your father, you can’t even rely on family backing anymore.”
“Kh!”
“And it’s not like you can beat Seraphina either, right? Honestly, no one in the capital has stronger mental fortitude than her.”
“Ghh…”
“Is ‘grr’ the only tough-sounding word you know?”
“Gr… shut up!”
Freyja looked ready to cry, but in the end she couldn’t argue back and just started cleaning.
Seems like she decided not to pick fights anymore. Fine by me. I didn’t come here to pray anyway—my mind really is pure, thank you very much!
“By the way, Lady Fine. I’ve got a few questions.”
“I’m busy.”
“Answer and I’ll shorten your volunteer service.”
“…Ask.”
“There’s a lance tournament in September, right? Your father’s the host, isn’t he?”
Right now, my biggest threat is that tournament. I need to deal with it.
“Father co-hosts it with the mayor.”
“When do preparations start?”
“July.”
“That early?”
“Of course. There’s plenty to do, starting with weeding out entrants through horseback and lance tests.”
“They even test?”
“You can’t have someone who can’t ride entering and putting on a falling-off-the-horse show. We’re not barbarians here to watch people die.”
“Fair enough.”
She puffed out her chest with pride, like a true warrior’s daughter.
It was a reasonable process. But…
“Are entrants selected only by skill?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, what if a villain got in? He could suddenly charge at an important royal guest.”
“Ugh, horrific! Why would you even say that?!”
“Because it could happen. If I were a rebel, that’d be my chance.”
“You’re the one who sounds like a villain!”
Even while yelling, Freyja crossed her arms, realizing it was a fair concern.
“Still, it should be fine. Entrants compete under their family name. It’s their family’s honor on the line.”
“I see.”
“And besides, if someone tried that, they’d be a pincushion before they reached the stands. The best knights are gathered there.”
That was persuasive. But the problem is, in the original story, a real terror attack did happen.
The Duke may have stirred things up behind the scenes, but who actually carried it out? A spectator? A knight? A staff member? Maybe several at once.
Ugh, why did the author gloss over that part and leave me to suffer?
After some thought—
“Let’s just not hold the tournament.”
“…What?”
“Can’t you ask your father to cancel it? In return, I’ll get your volunteer duty lifted.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Why?”
“I just don’t like its existence.”
“That’s only you! People come to the capital just to see it!”
“Not my problem. Well, forget it if you don’t want to.”
I turned my head away.
Of course I knew my request was absurd.
…Freyja’s angry breathing softened, and her voice turned more subdued.
“Why do you hate the tournament so much? Never seen one?”
“Nope.”
“If you watch once, you’ll change your mind. It’s amazing! The winner gets a pure-silver sword symbolizing justice from my father, and a pure-gold rose from the mayor to present to a lady!”
“I’m not the one who’d get it, though.”
“You’re so selfish!”
That’s not for you to say.
“…So, a lot of people come to watch? Then they’ll need plenty of staff.”
“Yeah, I heard they hire hundreds temporarily.”
“So even commoners benefit. No wonder you can’t cancel it. Fine, I’ll ask something else.”
Her face brightened.
“What is it?”
“As General Fine’s daughter, you help with preparations too, right?”
“Why would I bother with that hassle…”
“You will. And give me updates now and then.”
“…Ugh, it stinks of sweat…”
“So you’re saying you’ll go with my original request then? Canceling the tournament?”
“That’s not it! Fine, I’ll do it, okay?!”
If you want someone to grant your request, first make a big one they’ll refuse, then slip in a smaller one. Classic negotiation.
By the time we finished our talk, Seraphina had returned.
“Sol, your face looks brighter! You must’ve chased away the demons from your heart!”
“Yeah! Prayer really cleared my mind. Lady Fine and I were just discussing temporary economic stimulus measures!”
“As expected of you, Sol—you’re amazing!”
Beside us, Freyja wore a face that screamed I can’t believe I’m stuck with these people.
Get used to it. This is how it’s going to be.
The weekdays passed peacefully.
Tomato didn’t show any unusual signs since then. He just dozed on top of my head all the time.
When it got hot, he burrowed deep into my hair, the coolness making me laugh.
Seraphina was cheerful too.
“See? Cleaning improves with practice! Lady Fine’s wrist snap while mopping has gotten pretty good!”
“That’s nice.”
“Next, I’ll have her clean the cathedral. A bigger space will boost her confidence!”
I couldn’t tell if Seraphina was kind or cruel.
Leaving behind a resigned-looking Freyja, we walked out of the chapel.
Before I knew it, it was Friday. Students headed out to enjoy the weekend. Some had lovers visiting.
Not that it mattered to me…
…Wait, did my thoughts just manifest?
Between the chapel and the dorm stood the visitors’ building.
And right in front, holding bouquets, were two familiar faces.
Why were Elber and Kai standing there together?
