kscans

Chapter 86 - Episode 5, Part 1. The Exchange Student

"Well, so the anko is coming along smoothly then."

"Yes, you can look forward to it," I told Alfina. It had been a while since we’d last walked the path to the library.

"So, what about the crystal?"

I asked about my greatest concern. If a calamity were to strike, we wouldn't have the luxury of making sweets.

"There's still no change. As long as this continues, we'll have to keep watching. However, since we've confirmed it's stable, I've been able to free up a little time."

"I see. Nothing happening is for the best. You aren't overworking yourself, are you?"

"I'm fine. It's just..."

Alfina closed her mouth for a moment and glanced at our surroundings. Come to think of it, the students seemed particularly noisy today as well.

"Could it be that princess again..."

"No, I think the news is probably spreading. I'm sure my aunt will speak to you about it eventually, but... an exchange student is coming from the Empire."

Alfina whispered in my ear. It was the kind of action that could spawn a whole new rumor in real time, but we didn't have time to worry about that.

"An exchange student? Could the Third Princess's recent inspection have been..."

I had a bad feeling. If a princess came to look things over, then the person arriving would be of a corresponding rank. The image of the dark-clothed prince flashed through my mind. No, he's probably a different age. How is the Imperial family structured again?

"I'm told it is Her Highness Princess Lisabet, the Fourth Imperial Princess."

An imperial princess, and the fourth one at that...

"She has actually already arrived in the kingdom. However, she isn't scheduled to attend the academy for another ten days or so."

A spy or a diplomat? The question was pointless. There’s fundamentally no distinction between the two. At best, it's a matter of diplomacy leaning toward espionage, or espionage leaning toward diplomacy. In that case, the biggest concern was...

"What is her relationship with the Second Prince's faction?"

A simple enemy wouldn't be so bad. The real problem is an enemy who allies with people on our side. Needless to say, that's the standard. This is why I hate dealing with people.

And I couldn't let my guard down precisely because she was a woman. Taking a cynical view, it was possible they sent a woman specifically to get close to Alfina.

"...It seems the Second Prince recommended Princess Doriustia for the role of hosting the imperial princess."

So he is involved. The Third Princess is in charge of the Fourth Imperial Princess. It seems normal in terms of diplomatic protocol, but a recommendation from the Second Prince surely has an ulterior motive.

The Third Princess is growing impatient with the current situation where Alfina gets all the attention. The Second Prince's faction is taking advantage of that. That's the picture that's forming in my mind.

"My aunt's policy is that if Princess Doriustia is handling it, we should leave it to her and stay as far away as possible."

"I agree. I think that's the best course of action for you, Princess Alfina."

I suppose I'll have to gather information on them in the meantime.

"............That includes you too, Ricardo-kun."

True, I'm sitting on a mountain of information that must not be revealed. I nodded. But Alfina's expression remained clouded.

"I must consult with Mia about this..." Alfina said, as if muttering to herself. Huh? Didn't she mean, "Please consult with Mia"?

"I'm glad the bean jam is coming along well."

"We'll be able to taste it after our meeting with the Sage today, won't we? What you said earlier, Ricardo-kun, has made me even more excited."

"Yes, please look forward to it."

Trying to change the atmosphere, I gave her an emphatic promise. At that level of quality, I could confidently start spreading the word.

"If you're that confident, Ricardo-kun, I'm very much looking forward to it."

"Well, I barely did anything. Those two, and Sherry, did all the hard work."

"...Sherry?"

"Y, yes. Ah. I mean the girl from the Belmini Company," I added hastily.

"...No, I know who you mean."

"Oh, you do? I only just learned her name the other day, hahaha."

Of course she does. Unlike me, normal people remember the full names of their acquaintances.

"That does sound like you, Ricardo-kun. Then again, it sounds exactly like you..."

"I'm not sure I understand. Anyway, the bean jam is a treat for after we finish our complicated discussion about the magic veins."

I looked at the Head Librarian's office door. Mia and Noel should already be inside. The new element of an exchange student had made this side of things even more complicated. At the very least, I needed to organize my information and set my priorities before she officially arrived.

I checked my notepad. Several tasks were written in large letters. I still couldn't get used to how difficult the pens in this world were to use.

Click.

Just as I was running through the plan for today's meeting in my head, the door to the Head Librarian's office opened in front of me. An unfamiliar female student emerged.

Who's this here? I couldn't really say that anymore. This was the Grand Sage's office, after all. In my old world, it was like the office of a Nobel Prize-winning professor. Though the man himself was always lamenting how much of a hassle it was.

The student was a beauty with an oval face and long, dark purple hair. I'd never seen her before. I knew neither her first name nor her last. On reflex, I checked her sleeve cuffs. There was no embroidery, nothing.

However, she was wearing a bracelet with the black luster of obsidian.

I moved to let her pass. But the student stopped in front of us. In front of Alfina, to be precise.

"Might you be Her Highness Princess Alfina?" the student asked, placing her palms together before her chest.

There's no "might" about it. There can't be a student who doesn't know Alfina's face. Or...

"Yes. Um..."

"A pleasure to meet you. I am Lisabet. I will be studying at the Royal Academy from today."

The student, who called herself Lisabet, broke into a smile at Alfina. I instinctively took half a step forward.

"My apologies, Your Highness Princess Lisabet. I had heard you would not be attending school for a little while longer."

"That is true. But I thought I would pay my respects to the kingdom's famous Grand Sage. Hehe, though I must admit I also wanted to try on this uniform as soon as possible."

The Imperial Princess let a smile grace her beautiful face. Her demeanor was far more approachable than that of the Third Princess. Paying respects to the renowned Fulsy before officially attending the academy. I see, a sort of courtesy call.

Wow, she seems nice, that's a relief... As if!

Looking at the office door, I felt a cold sweat run down my back. What in the world did they talk about in there? What did she see?

"To think I would be able to meet Your Highness Princess Alfina as well, my trip has truly been worthwhile. The saintess of the prophecy, who has saved the kingdom from crisis time and again with your magnificent power. Your fame has reached the Empire. I have held you in the highest esteem as someone truly admirable."

Lisabet said this with the look of a fan meeting their favorite idol. I could tell Alfina was taken aback. It was a bit of an exaggeration, but the assessment wasn't wrong. But Alfina isn't used to being praised.

Looking troubled, Alfina glanced over at me repeatedly. Hey, wait a minute...

"...In truth, the military achievements belong to His Highness Prince Craig, who is also the Knight Commander. What is said of me is merely an exaggeration," Alfina said, biting her lip slightly. I let out a sigh of relief.

But Lisabet turned her gaze to me.

"By the way, is this gentleman Princess Alfina's..."

"Forgive my late introduction. I am Ricardo Vinder, a merchant who has the honor of doing business with her Highness's patronage."

This explanation always worked best. Everyone at the academy knew I was close with Alfina, but people see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear, so they accept that.

"Is that so? You seemed so close, I simply assumed... you were lovers."

"O-Of course not..." Alfina's cheeks flushed.

That was a comment that could get her arrested for lèse-majesté if not for something like diplomatic immunity. No, she was testing us, trying to gauge the relationship between me and Alfina.

I know their interest is in the Oracle Princess. Being close to her makes me a secondary target. I have to be careful. My goal of building a general trading company is still distant, but I've long since become a general trader of secrets, not just suspicions.

"Are you walking around the unfamiliar academy grounds all by yourself?" I feigned surprise. If some crazed commoner decided to stab her, it would become an international incident.

"The Empire and the Kingdom have been at peace for fifty years. I have nothing to worry about."

No, no, as they say, you train an army for a hundred years for a single battle. That's the mindset you need to maintain peace into the hundred and first year.

"You must be tired from your long journey to the Royal Capital. My profession also requires me to travel by carriage, and even a few days on the road is exhausting."

I changed the subject. At this point, I might as well try to probe her a little, too.

"Not at all. I was surprised by how comfortable the Kingdom's roads were," Lisabet said with a carefree expression.

Not a hint of being flustered. Which made her intentions completely unreadable.

"Well, I must be getting back, or my attendants will start to worry. Princess Alfina, today has been my good fortune. I will only be here for half a year, but I hope we can get along."

Lisabet extended a hand to Alfina. Alfina took it.

"The pleasure is all mine. I look forward to it, Princess Lisabet," Alfina replied with a smile.

Well, there's not much else she could say. Then again, in Alfina's case, she's probably half sincere.

"It was Ricardo Vinder-dono, wasn't it?"

Lisabet extended her hand to me as well. While there were exceptions, this would be unheard of in the Kingdom. I had no choice but to reach for it, intending to take it respectfully...

"!"

Instead, she gripped my hand with both of hers. Are you a convenience store clerk!?

"I'll be in your care as well, Ricardo-dono. I'm not yet used to the academy, you see," she said with a beaming smile. It's devastatingly effective when a beautiful woman does it. For a moment, my guard almost dropped.

"Th-The honor is mine, Your Highness Princess Lisabet," I managed to reply.

Lisabet quickly released my hand and, without looking at me again, gave another nod to the surprised Alfina. Alfina returned the nod awkwardly.

Without a moment's hesitation, Lisabet turned and walked away down the hall.

Damn, how many times did she surprise me? Round one is a complete loss, isn't it?