Chapter 201 - 3-5
"So this is... the Kingdom of Dutoit!"
The young girl, her large eyes wide with delight, let out a cry of joy the moment she stepped off the carriage, looking around excitedly. With her hands clasped tightly in front of her chest, she twirled on the spot, causing the many frills of her dress to flutter like a blooming flower.
I took a step toward her, pinching the hem of my skirt as I sank into a curtsy.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Rachel Marcel. If you find anything inconvenient during your stay in this country, Her Imperial Highness the Princess, please do not hesitate to consult me."
When Louis-sama sent the formal acceptance for the Imperial students, the Empire replied almost instantly, as if they had been waiting. The response stated they would depart the Empire on the earliest possible date our preparations allowed.
The Empire was clearly exerting pressure, acting as if they held the superior position and Dutoit had no right to refuse. It was an arrogant and selfish way to behave. It felt as though they were intentionally denying us time to prepare, which only deepened my suspicion. Originally, Louis-sama, as the Crown Prince, was scheduled to receive the students. However, a message arrived just yesterday saying they had shortened their travel time and would arrive a day early. Consequently, I had to stand in for Louis-sama.
I had been incredibly nervous until the moment the carriage arrived and the door opened, feeling toyed with by the Empire's methods. But seeing the girl who leaped out—Her Imperial Highness the Princess—acting so tomboyish, my tension vanished, replaced by sheer astonishment.
The Princess was twelve years old, set to enter the first year of the middle school division. She gave the impression of a very innocent, youthful girl. After gazing at the palace for a while with sparkling eyes full of expectation, she turned back to me, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Her orange twin-tails, tied high, bounced in an arc just like her movements.
The moment our eyes met, her large pink eyes sharpened into a glare.
"You're the Marquis's daughter, the Crown Prince's fiancée, aren't you? I know all about you."
"Pardon?"
"I'm going to strip away that mask of yours!"
She pointed a finger directly at my face, her adorable features twisting into a scowl as if she were facing an arch-enemy.
"My... mask?"
I repeated her words, but I couldn't quite grasp what she meant. I stood there, dumbfounded. The Princess crossed her arms and turned her head away with a huff. Her behavior was so childish that I was more lost for words than angry.
"Now, now, you mustn't say such rude things. This lady is to be the future Queen, after all."
A sweet, soft tenor voice came from behind. I turned to see another figure stepping gracefully from the carriage. A boy... no, a young man. He approached with slow, measured footsteps that clicked against the ground. As he drew closer, I noticed he stood a full head taller than me.
"Lady Rachel, thank you for coming to meet us. We shall be in your care. I am Lute Calria, from the Tratia Empire. I am Princess Margaret's cousin."
Lute Calria-sama. His wavy, milk-tea beige hair swayed as he narrowed his grey eyes, which seemed cold at first glance but now held a soft warmth. He was the son of the Grand Duke, the younger brother of the former Emperor. Since he was entering the second year of the high school division, he should be sixteen, but his composed aura made him seem older.
"Young Lord Calria, welcome to the Kingdom of Dutoit."
"'Young Lord' is so formal. Please, feel free to call me Lute."
"Then, Lute-sama... please call me Rachel as well."
The change in address seemed to please him, as his smile deepened. He possessed a beauty that felt somewhat mystical and cold, different from Theodore-sama's. Just standing there, he looked like a masterpiece of a painting.
If he were a woman, he would surely be called a beauty that could topple a nation. Even as a man, his beauty is ruinous. Above all, those grey eyes have a mysterious charm that seems to bewitch the heart.
I returned his smile, but in the next instant, Princess Margaret jumped between us, cutting off our gaze.
"Um, Her Imperial Highness...?"
She glared up at me intensely, just as she had before. Lute-sama placed a light hand on her shoulder.
"Now, Margaret. You're troubling Lady Rachel."
"But, Brother Lute!"
"You're the one who threw a tantrum because you insisted on studying abroad, aren't you? Behave with proper etiquette."
Their interaction was more like real siblings than cousins, suggesting they were very close. Rebuked by Lute-sama, the Princess started to protest with "But" and "However," but Lute-sama let out a deep sigh and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"I understand your talk of Foresight, but you must act like a princess. Otherwise, I'll have to report your behavior to His Majesty the Emperor."
"N-not that! Anything but that!"
"Then you know what you must do, don't you?"
Wait... what did he just say?
Lute-sama's voice was low, and unfortunately, I couldn't catch everything. However, I was certain I heard the word 'Foresight.' Furthermore, the moment Lute-sama mentioned the Emperor, the Princess's face went pale, and her shoulders shook so violently it was pitiful to watch.
Despite the change in her, Lute-sama remained perfectly calm, smiling pleasantly as he looked at her.
"Lady Rachel, I apologize. ...Come now, Margaret."
"...Ugh."
The tomboyish energy from before had vanished completely. The Princess covered her mouth with a trembling hand, shrinking into herself as she let out a faint groan.
"Lady... Rachel. I apologize for my... rude behavior."
"No, please do not worry about it."
I didn't know the power dynamics between the Princess, Lute-sama, and the Emperor whose face I had never seen. But Margaret, who seemed so strong-willed and sheltered, had started shaking at the mere mention of the Emperor's name. And then there was Lute-sama's cold gaze beneath his pleasant exterior.
There is something hidden behind their masks.
Especially Lute-sama's eyes, which looked like polished glass spheres set into a doll's face. They were terrifying, as if they could see through anything. Of the two, Lute-sama was likely the one I needed to be most wary of. Suppressing a shiver, I forced a smile onto my face.
"You must be exhausted from your long journey. Please rest well today. From tomorrow onward, I will show you around the palace, the capital, and of course, Torsova Academy of Magic."
"Then we shall take you up on that and rest for today. Thank you for your kindness."
"Of course. I shall take my leave now as well."
I signaled to the palace attendants waiting behind me, and they stepped forward to guide the guests. Lute-sama treated them with polite respect, showing no sign of arrogance. He even smiled and spoke to each attendant who tried to take his luggage. They looked startled at first but quickly returned his smiles with delight.
Incredible... he must be very skilled at winning people's hearts.
"Well then, Lady Rachel, I look forward to our time together."
Lute-sama, who had turned to follow the attendants, stopped for a moment and looked back. He gave me a soft smile, as if he were standing in a warm patch of sunlight, before turning away and continuing on his way.
Once they were gone, I let out a long, relieved breath.
That was only a few minutes, yet I'm exhausted.
It was a strange tension, like facing a bear in a cage for hours. Even knowing it wouldn't attack, the fear remained. So those were the guests from the Empire. Just thinking about what was to come made me feel quite gloomy.