kscans

Chapter 5 - The Gods' Oracle ~Getting Started, Part Two~

"Hyaaah!"

"Taah!"

The clashing wooden swords were deflected. It wasn't a prolonged struggle, but a single exchange of blows, and it was Chihaya who fell to his knees.

"The match is decided!"

Dorfen shot his arm straight up.

"Hah, thank you for the match."

"Grr, I lost again!"

"Chihaya-sama, you have forgotten your closing remarks."

Three months had passed since the twins began visiting the Knight Order. They had grown skilled enough to spar. The first month was spent on practice swings every day. Starting with frontal strikes, then horizontal sweeps, and diagonal slashes from the upper left and right. They continued with nothing but practice swings until they had completely mastered these forms. And finally, the follow-through for each. They would swing with all their might at a straw bundle that would absorb the impact. The straw bundle, hung from above, was about the same size as the twins. At first, they were knocked back by the impact, but they gradually got the hang of controlling their strength and became able to follow through cleanly.

It took three months to get to that point.

The Little One gazed sentimentally at her small palms, where the hands that had stung with every strike no longer did, and the raw blisters had hardened into calluses.

It takes this long just for the basics, huh. But they say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Yep.

The knights around them stared in astonishment at the twins, who were doing their post-training stretches while rotating their shoulders.

Seriously, what incredible concentration.

Because they knew nothing of proper swordsmanship, they absorbed the techniques honestly. For someone who had started with their own style, it would take at least half a year just to correct their form. Their improvement was a result of their complete ignorance. And it was also the fruit of efforts unthinkable for a child.

If they continued their training like this, they would undoubtedly become first-rate swordsmen.

Such promising futures♪

Perhaps one day they would stand alongside the Knight Order. Painting this pleasant picture in their minds, the knights all found themselves smiling without realizing it.

Even Commander Harold.

"Perhaps I should seriously consider recruiting them."

Harold's murmur, which slipped out as he watched the twins earnestly engaged in their swordsmanship, was somehow picked up by a palace attendant and eventually reached the ears of the first prince, Wilfe.

Of course, it was a given that this would lead to an unexpected, twisted turn of events.

"Jorje Count's daughter! What is the meaning of a young lady practicing swordsmanship!"

Appearing before the twins, who had run over with a now-familiar pace, was a boy with light purple hair and golden eyes. It was Wilfe, who had become the Crown Prince.

Ugh. This feels like trouble.

After three months of running, not only Chihiro but Chihaya as well had grown accustomed to it, and they no longer needed to take breaks along the way. Dorfen, too, was now running alongside them instead of walking briskly.

The Crown Prince stood defiantly at the entrance to the Knight Order's training grounds. The surrounding knights wore thoughtful expressions, unsure of what to do.

"What is your business, Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

Dorfen stepped between Wilfe and the twins, blocking his path as he tried to approach them. Facing a muscular, active knight, Wilfe looked up at him slightly and yelled in an annoyed tone.

"I came to issue a warning upon hearing that a daughter of a noble family is frequenting the male-dominated Knight Order. What's more, I hear she is even learning swordsmanship! A young lady should have plenty of proper accomplishments to pursue! If she has time for this, should she not be practicing needlepoint or something?!"

Why do I have to listen to this from you?

The Little One found herself staring into the distance.

As if to voice Chihiro's thoughts, Dorfen answered with a sigh.

"The two of them have already completed all their studies. According to their tutors, there is nothing left to teach them."

"What?"

That's right. Since all the knowledge and skills from her previous life had been carried over, there was nothing for the current Chihiro to learn. And Chihaya, who had always been with her, had learned by doing and possessed a level of knowledge and culture nearly on par with Chihiro's. With a perfect example right next to him, and aided by a child's ability to absorb information, a plausible rumor had begun to spread among the educated that the Drago family twins were prodigies.

Unaware of this, Wilfe's eyes darted about.

"Even so, for a young lady to be…!"

As the Crown Prince tried to say more, a shadow loomed up behind him. Sensing a dangerous atmosphere from the shadow, Wilfe cautiously turned around.

"What exactly are you doing?"

There stood a broadly smiling, yet dark, Romel. Beside him was the Knight Commander. The two of them were staring at Wilfe, who had come to the Knight Order's training grounds without even an attendant, with sharp, critical eyes.

"Well, you see, the Jorje Count's daughter is…!"

All his earlier momentum gone, Wilfe began to stammer out an excuse. Romel let out an obvious sigh and twisted his lips into a stern expression.

"We will hear the rest in your quarters."

Though he didn't grab the fifteen-year-old Crown Prince by the scruff of the neck, Wilfe's tragic expression made it seem as if he had been, as he was escorted away by Romel.

…Déjà vu.

Something similar happened before, Chihiro thought with a wry smile as she watched the two of them trudge away.

"Honestly, you. What were you thinking? What about helping with your official duties?"

Following behind the trudging Wilfe, Romel spat out his lecture in a thoroughly exasperated tone. But Wilfe turned back as if to argue.

"But, Uncle! A young lady practicing swordsmanship! What is she thinking? The Jorje Count's daughter is a candidate for Theo's fiancée, is she not!"

"Your Highness!!"

Romel subtly glanced around and, after confirming that no one but Harold was present, looked down at Wilfe with a gaze so cold it could freeze.

"Your Highness. Are you an idiot?"

"What?"

"What do you intend to do if someone hears you say that! It is still only in the discussion stage! Do you not understand what would happen if it became known to others that a count's daughter is being considered over the daughters of numerous dukes and marquises!!"

And that was the truth. The Jorje Count's twin children, rumored to be prodigies, had received many marriage proposals from nobles. While not a few shunned them because their father was a chef, their mother was a former princess. There was no question about their lineage, and her son, the heir, held future promise, so there were nobles attempting to secure them early.

And naturally, his sister Chihiro as well.

But the choice lay with their parents, and the Jorje Count and his wife had refused all offers, stating that they would let their children marry freely.

Normally, an offer from a house of high rank could not be refused. A similar unwritten rule existed in medieval Earth. The lower in station had no room to object, an absurdity where they could only obey. In Arcadia as well, many countries had the same unwritten rule.

However, in Frontier, a nation of laws renowned throughout the world, such a ridiculous unwritten rule did not exist. Of course, it had in the past. But the idea that commoners and nobles were the same, that they were all people to be protected, had taken root. A law was in place guaranteeing freedom to those who paid their taxes and fulfilled their duties.

Therefore, even the royal family was equal before the law. They could not act unjustly.

In this particular case, that was a blessing.

"Do you understand? The Jorje Count's daughter is still a child of three. We do not know what will become of her. She may or may not become a candidate for Prince Theodore's fiancée."

Pausing for a moment, Romel looked at Wilfe with serious eyes.

"In such an ambiguous situation, how do you think she felt when you, his elder brother, suddenly started yelling at her?"

Wilfe tilted his head with a puzzled look.

"When she has a formal introduction with your family as Prince Theodore's potential fiancée, and she sees you, the one who yelled at her before, there. Do you not think her impression of you will be the absolute worst?"

Understanding the meaning of his words, the color drained from Wilfe's face.

"You may have looked down on her because she is a child, but if she were a young lady of your own age, would you have yelled at her so condescendingly?"

Wilfe shook his head from side to side. Of course he couldn't do such a thing. No matter how low her station, he should treat a young lady with courtesy. That was the way of royalty.

Thinking that far, Wilfe finally realized his blunder. Romel gave his nephew, whose face was rapidly freezing over, a look of exasperation.

"Do you understand now? That you have given a bad impression to a young lady who is only a potential candidate, and interfered with Prince Theodore's marriage prospects. Furthermore, that you risked spreading word of something that is still only in the discussion stage. This is a royal marriage. If a careless rumor spreads, the damage will be irreparable."

Many nobles adhere strictly to the hierarchy. They do not forgive those who break the rules. If the opportunity for a marriage with the royal family, which the high-ranking nobles expect, were to be snatched away by a count's daughter who came out of nowhere, they would not remain silent. That is why the King and Queen are proceeding with caution. Romel could not welcome it, but he could not stop it either. Once the world recognized that Chihiro was worthy of being a princess consort, things would likely begin to move.

And that probably wasn't in the too distant future.

Well, if it comes to that, the Little One herself will handle it however she sees fit, and for Romel, his cute niece would be returning, so he has no complaints.

But still.

Until her own intentions are clear, I must protect her peace! From people who pull these kinds of stunts out of left field!

Romel's lecture, a perfect mix of public duty and private affection, went on and on, and just like his previous blunder, Wilfe was left hanging his head with tears in his eyes.

And so, the Little One, at the center of the storm yet protected by those around her.

It may be the prelude to the main festival, but while enjoying the chaotic days, the Little One is as energetic as ever today♪