Chapter 203 - 3-7
The days passed in a flash, and about a month had gone by since the new term at Torsova Academy began. The middle school trial classes I had been worried about were proceeding peacefully, with no major issues so far.
Furthermore, the plan for my temporary stay at the palace had moved forward smoothly. My father had been quite reluctant, but with my mother's advice, it was decided I would live at the palace for just two weeks starting today.
The room I would eventually occupy as the Crown Princess was currently undergoing renovations and furniture was still being arranged, so for this stay, I would be using a guest room near Louis-sama's quarters.
I immediately began organizing the luggage I had brought with Sarah, who was staying with me. Once we had finished and I had changed my dress, Sarah, who had stepped out for a moment, returned with a letter in her hand.
"Ojou-sama, a letter has arrived from the Queen."
"From the Queen? I wonder what it is."
Since returning from the Kingdom of Orta, the Queen and I had developed a relationship where she regularly invited me to tea parties.
I had worried she might shut herself away after the incident with Madam Banks, but the Queen had changed because of it. She began to actively participate in social circles she had previously avoided. Furthermore, she was reportedly relearning her studies from scratch.
The change in the Queen that surprised Louis-sama the most was her relationship with His Majesty. Within the palace grounds, the living spaces for the King and Queen were in the Main Building and the Detached Palace, located far apart. However, as soon as the Queen returned from Orta, she moved into the Main Building, and since then, the two had been sharing their daily meals whenever possible.
At first, the Queen had looked haggard and exhausted, but lately, she said she liked the person she was becoming, and her expression had grown much brighter.
Even though Louis-sama claimed he wasn't interested and didn't care about the changes in his parents, he seemed somewhat happy about it. The life in the palace, which had once been dark and walled-off, seemed to be feeling a gentle new breeze.
"Ojou-sama, I've prepared the paper knife."
"Yes, thank you. ...Let's see, the content is... ah, it's about today's dinner party. She says she's looking forward to seeing me."
"Today is a buffet-style party where guests from other countries staying at the palace are also invited, isn't it? Shall we fix your hair?"
"Thank you, Sarah."
"Which hair accessory would you like? Since your dress is a pale pink today, how about the Morganite barrette?"
"Yes, that orange-pink hue is lovely. Let's go with that."
At my response, Sarah nodded with an "Leave it to me" and quickly began styling my hair into a half-up look with braided sides. Watching her skillful hands, I thought idly about today's dinner party.
Lute-sama and Princess Margaret will be attending today. Louis-sama has tried to probe them several times since then, but we've gained nothing.
On the contrary, everyone was being charmed by Lute-sama's pleasant demeanor and beauty, and his popularity within Dutoit was soaring. Considering their influence, this wasn't exactly a welcome development.
Furthermore, while today was billed as a casual dinner party and wasn't a formal social event, the King and Queen would still be attending. Not only the two from the Tratia Empire but also other international students from neighboring countries were invited. That was why I couldn't afford to let my guard down.
I stared at my anxious-looking eyes in the mirror, praying that today's dinner party would end peacefully and harmoniously.
Entering the venue with Louis-sama, the melodies of violins, cellos, and a piano echoed through the hall, and buffet-style dishes were beautifully laid out.
Since the purpose of this dinner party was purely for interaction, the venue was a cozy small hall rather than a grand ballroom, making it easier for everyone to converse. Several semi-private sofa areas partitioned by curtains were set up along the walls, but the party was primarily a standing affair to encourage mingling.
I went around greeting the international students one after another, asking about their time at Torsova Academy and their life at the palace. Everyone said they had no major problems so far, but they did share some things they found inconvenient from an outsider's perspective.
While Louis-sama was talking to someone else, I stepped away to get a drink. I took a flute of sparkling wine from a passing attendant and was scanning the hall when a voice called out, "Rachel-san." I turned around.
There stood the Queen, wearing a gentle smile.
"Rachel-san, it's been a while."
As the hosts of today's dinner party, the Queen and King had looked busy welcoming and entertaining guests, so I had planned to speak to them later. I hadn't expected the Queen to approach me first.
"Lady Queen, thank you for the lovely letter earlier."
"It's only for a short while, but since we'll be living in the same place for a bit, let's have tea together sometime."
"Yes, I would love to. By the way, where is His Majesty?"
His Majesty had been right by the Queen's side until just a moment ago. But now she seemed to be alone.
"Ah, that man... look, he's over there talking to the students."
As I looked around, the Queen pointed toward a corner of the hall. There stood His Majesty with two male students who had come from the Kingdom of Orta and the Principality of Junom for the high school division. Both students were sons of high-ranking nobility, but their faces were twitching in front of the King.
"He says he's trying to be friendly. But with such a sharp gaze, he's surely terrifying them."
The Queen's voice as she explained this was quite cheerful. Not long ago, she would always darken her expression and show visible tension whenever His Majesty was mentioned. But now, there was no tension in the way she looked at him.
"You seem to have become quite close with His Majesty."
The Queen's eyes widened in surprise, then she lowered her brow and smiled bashfully.
"...I caused you a lot of trouble, Rachel-san. It seems I had quite a misunderstanding of His Majesty. Because I was always running away, I never noticed his subtle kindness and consideration. I thought he didn't give me any roles as Queen because I was ignorant and incompetent."
Even as she spoke to me, the Queen's gaze repeatedly drifted back to the King.
"But I didn't know he was actually worried about my weak constitution, or that he thought he should do the work himself because I was poor at socializing and the duties of a Queen. ...No, I didn't even try to know. Not his awkward kindness."
The Queen, who used to turn pale just by meeting his eyes, was now talking about the King with such a lively expression. I was surprised by the change, but they must have had a deep conversation after returning from Orta to bridge the gap between them. The Queen's tone when speaking of him seemed so calm and certain.
"I still find him scary at times, but I find his clumsiness just as endearing."
"I see. I'm sure His Majesty would be happy to know how you feel."
"...Thank you, Rachel-san."
The Queen's bashful smile looked very much like Louis-sama's.
"Well, I think I'll go to His Majesty's side. Those boys must be bewildered by their conversation with him."
"Hehe, yes. That would be for the best."
Watching the Queen walk toward the King with a light step, I felt that their relationship would continue to change for the better.
"Rachel."
A tone just as soft as the Queen's. However, the tenor voice, lower than hers, sounded sweet to my ears. I turned to see Louis-sama's smile deepening.
"Louis-sama, are you finished?"
"Yes, I've managed to greet everyone once. The only ones left to talk to are... those two, I suppose."
Those two.
Louis-sama was looking toward Lute-sama, who was surrounded by a crowd of people, and Princess Margaret, who was at a table full of food, happily eating roast duck she had neatly arranged on her plate. Just then, Lute-sama turned his head, noticed us, and after excused himself from the people around him, he began to approach.
"Prince Louis, thank you for inviting us today."
Lute-sama stopped in front of us, wearing a friendly smile.
"Not at all. How is your life in Dutoit? Please let us know if you find anything lacking."
"That won't be necessary. Everyone is so kind and peaceful. It's a world of difference from our country."
Lute-sama gave a small chuckle with a hand to his mouth, but his words felt like they held some hidden meaning.
"And how is Torsova Academy?"
"Well, it's only been about a month since we started, so I'm still just trying to get used to it."
"I hear you're the talk of the female students."
At Louis-sama's lighthearted comment, Lute-sama lowered his brows and gave a troubled smile.
I had heard the same rumors. Lute-sama had a ruinously beautiful appearance that seemed unapproachable, yet he was a perfect gentleman who was friendly and easy to talk to. For an Imperial prince—someone normally impossible to even speak with—to smile and talk so casually... it was no wonder people were swept off their feet.
"How embarrassing. Everyone is just being kind to me since I'm not used to a foreign land. Truly, the people of Dutoit are very kind."
"As the Crown Prince of this country, I'm happy to hear that. Please consult me anytime if you have any trouble."
"Thank you. I will certainly come to you first if anything happens."
Despite the pleasant conversation, both of their smiles felt like perfect masks. I felt a dry laugh escape me as I tried to keep my own smile from twitching.
However, it seemed Louis-sama had no intention of keeping the conversation superficial forever. He invited Lute-sama and me to a semi-private sofa area partitioned by curtains. The sofa was soft as I sat down, its velvet fabric changing colors in the light. Three flutes of sparkling wine were placed on the low table.
Louis-sama crossed his long legs and clasped his hands over his knee.
"By the way, the Tratia Empire must have much more advanced education than our country. Why did you decide on this exchange program?"
Lute-sama kept his smile even at Louis-sama's more probing question, though he dipped his brow slightly.
"It's embarrassing to say, but I'm sure word has reached this country as well. About my cousin."
Lute-sama's 'cousin' could refer to Princess Margaret, but his statement clearly pointed to her brother—Lute-sama's other cousin, Emperor Alec Tratia.
The Emperor of Tratia, known by the epithet 'The Madman.'
"I hear he is a young emperor with extraordinary abilities."
"Yes, that's correct. His Majesty Alec was already on the battlefield when he was the same age as Margaret is now. He performed numerous military feats from a young age and, despite being the fourth son, he claimed the position of Crown Prince."
"...The same age as Princess Margaret? That means he was on the battlefield at twelve."
Unbelievable. A boy whose body wasn't even fully developed was on the battlefield. And he performed military feats?
Noticing the bewilderment on our faces, Lute-sama gave a troubled smile.
"In our country, might is right. No one without power can stand at the top."
Might is right. Having been born and raised in Dutoit, I couldn't fathom how a great nation could survive on that alone. But Lute-sama's grey eyes as he said it were pure yet bewitching; if I didn't keep my wits about me, I felt I might be drawn into his logic.
For some reason, when I looked directly into those eyes, my own thoughts became hazy, and what Lute-sama was saying began to sound like the only truth.
"I might be seen as criticizing my own country by saying this... but it is truly a terrifying place. A world of taking or being taken from. The weak are eliminated, and only the strong survive. Of course, what is taken is one's home, one's country... and one's life."
"You mean sacrifices are necessary for national prosperity?"
"Isn't it the same in any country? A single strong person stands atop many weak ones. Of course, if the strong person is at the top, the weak are protected. That is why people seek an Emperor with even greater power."
Perhaps because it was a great nation, it was difficult to rule without overwhelming power. That clarity was its strength. Strength could give people a dazzling light even while it terrified them. Though if used wrongly, it would surely plunge the entire country into hell.
Still, Lute-sama seemed to be one of those captivated by that light, even while knowing the danger of His Majesty Alec's radiance. Indeed, his tone when speaking of the Emperor was calm yet held a certain affection.
"Oh, that's right. The reason for the exchange program."
Lute-sama looked bashful, as if he had let the conversation drift. But in the next instant, he looked at me with a dead-serious expression.
Wait, what?
"It is for the sake of the country, of course. I came to see if there is such a thing as destiny."
"Destiny?"
Lute-sama's steady gaze locked onto mine. I tried to look away, but an unknown force prevented me from doing so. I couldn't escape his eyes, and a cold sweat broke out on my skin.
"Rachel? Is something wrong?"
Louis-sama, noticing the change in me, placed a hand on my back. But I couldn't turn away from Lute-sama, who was smiling as if nothing were wrong, nor could I answer Louis-sama. Like a frog stared down by a snake, I was frozen, unable even to move my body.
But then—
"Ah! That's him!"
A young girl's startled cry reached my ears. With that as the trigger, I was finally able to move my body again. I broke eye contact with Lute-sama and took a deep breath. The fog that had clouded my thoughts began to clear.
At the same time, my heart wouldn't stop thumping wildly, and I pressed a hand to my chest.
"Rachel, are you alright?"
"Y-yes."
I managed to nod to Louis-sama, who was looking at my face with concern.
Did Louis-sama not notice Lute-sama's strange behavior? What was that just now?
I stole a glance at Lute-sama. He, too, was wearing a worried expression, as if concerned for me after I had suddenly clutched my chest and looked down. Regardless, I was grateful that someone's voice had broken the spell. I looked around to see whose voice it had been.
There, I saw the Princess, her eyes sparkling with excitement.