Ch.295Morning Meal

Truly, it was a hectic morning that left my head spinning.

Millia, who had cried herself to sleep, was sent back to her room with the help of the maids. They seemed curious about what had happened here, but I had no intention of telling them. As if it was anything good.

As for that Demian who was still sprawled out… well, that wasn’t my problem. Florence would take care of him. He’d probably wake up by afternoon.

After finishing the cleanup, mealtime was already approaching.

An intense hunger clawed at my empty stomach. I was hungrier than expected. Perhaps I’d moved too vigorously on an empty stomach? Either way, I needed to eat something.

…Though going to the dining hall in this state would be inconsiderate.

After enthusiastically beating Demian, my body was damp with sweat again, with training ground dirt sticking to it, making me look filthy.

Not exactly an appropriate appearance for dining with others.

I wiped my face and upper body with a towel from the training ground.

I sighed as the seemingly new towel instantly became stained.

I’d just bathed not long ago, but now… I’d have to wash again.

Not now, but later. I couldn’t even think about returning to the hot springs at the moment.

Just imagining the expressions of people bathing there if I walked in… the thought alone made me dizzy.

I only wanted to enjoy a hot spring bath early in the morning, but how did things get so complicated? This was all Demian’s fault.

Yes, that’s right. Demian was to blame. There’s being oblivious, and then there’s being excessively oblivious.

I handed the rag-like towel to a maid and left the training ground to return to my room.

…It was like walking through a field of thorns.

As I walked down the corridor, everyone I met looked at me with incredibly subtle gazes.

Though they kept their mouths shut like dead mice, probably sensing my discomfort… their reactions gave me a rough idea of how far those damned rumors had spread.

—-

In front of my room stood Ellen, Frider’s maid, waiting demurely.

Frider had invited me and several others to breakfast.

After asking her to wait a moment, I returned to my room and roughly wiped down the parts I couldn’t clean at the training hall with a damp towel.

Not as good as soaking in a bath, but at least I could say I’d washed.

I took out my uniform from the wardrobe, got dressed, and followed Ellen’s guidance to the Faelrun family’s private dining room.

I must have been the last to arrive, as familiar faces were already seated at the table.

Leonore, who started snickering as soon as she saw me, and Rain, who bowed his head as if deeply embarrassed to be seated with me.

And Frider, with a mischievous expression and gleaming eyes.

Judging by her healthy complexion, she must have slept well… though I wasn’t particularly happy to see her. She looked like she found my predicament absolutely hilarious.

“Welcome. You’re a bit late, younger prey hunter.”

“…Younger prey hunter?”

What kind of awful nickname is that? Did you come up with it…?

It gives me goosebumps just hearing it. I’d rather be called the Daffodil Goddess than… no, actually, I dislike both.

“Rumors are flying around the castle. I’ve heard that Ka’har marriage customs involve abduction… but isn’t it too ruthless to steal a friend’s lover right before their eyes? Especially someone two years younger.”

Wait, that false rumor spread throughout the castle in just a few dozen minutes? Beyond mere maid gossip?

Why is the transmission speed so fast? Do people in this castle have nothing better to do?

Seeing my expression contort as if I’d bitten into something sour, Frider grinned with obvious amusement.

“Ah… poor Millia…! Years of shared hardship and budding affection rendered meaningless, overwhelmed by the physical advances of a woman she’s known less than half a year! And to think that woman was someone she considered a friend…! How truly tragic. She’s lost both love and friendship! The pain of rejection and betrayal that child must feel…!”

Frider extended her hand into the air, speaking with exaggerated theatrical tones.

Her expression contained pure delight, as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

“…Stop it. It’s just a false rumor.”

It might be a joke to you, but I’ve been suffering because of it until just now.

If Millia were here, she would have had another episode. Thank goodness she’s sleeping.

“Hmm. Even Isabella wouldn’t do something so cruel. Indeed, you’ve proven yourself superior to that witch even in this regard, my lady!”

Leonore nodded and gave me a look of confidence.

Her lips were stretched into a smile that reached her ears.

What’s with you too?

Are you, of all people, allowed to make jokes about Isabella?

“Who would have thought that the Daffodil Princess, who has rejected countless men’s courtships without a second thought, would have a preference for young boys…! Pfft, ahahahaha!”

“I don’t have such preferences! It’s all because that bastard Demian barged into the women’s bath again!”

I tried to protest in indignation, but it was useless against the two women who had burst into laughter.

Both of them probably already guessed the truth of the matter, but were just teasing me for fun!

Even Rain was slightly smiling with his head bowed.

I couldn’t beat them up like I did with Demian…!

In the end, I could only sigh, unable to do anything.

Fine, laugh all you want. Better to laugh than scowl, I suppose.

“I mean, I know it’s a false rumor. But both Demian and you are so funny…! How did things even get to that point…!”

Once Frider started laughing, she couldn’t stop.

Indeed. How did it come to this?

“And not only did you fail to explain, you even disappeared with Demian. It’s like you’re begging people to misunderstand.”

…Right. It’s all Demian’s fault.

Of all things, he had to blurt out nonsense about it being his “first time,” which shocked me so much my mind went completely blank.

“Thanks to the Duchess of Faelrun ordering everyone to keep quiet out of concern for your reputation, you narrowly avoided having to enter into an engagement with that boy. Unless perhaps that was what you wanted all along…?”

“As if that could be possible…!”

What a horrifying thought.

Marriage to Demian? That would make all three of us—me, Millia, and Demian—miserable.

Wouldn’t it turn into some kind of blood wedding?

“Seeing how disgusted you look… the saying ‘strong denial equals strong affirmation’ suddenly comes to mind. While passionate romance rumors are inappropriate for an unmarried lady, and it’s not even true, I did my best to silence the gossip for your reputation’s sake… but was that unnecessary?”

Frider shrugged and smiled.

It was obvious she didn’t really think it was unnecessary, but was just trying to tease me until the end.

“No, I should thank you for that. Thanks to you, such false rumors won’t spread further.”

Though it seems they’ve already spread widely… but since the Duchess herself has declared it a baseless rumor, it shouldn’t spread any further.

“Is that so? Well, people might not talk openly about it, but…”

Frider tilted her head and let her words trail off.

The corner of her mouth was still curled into a smirk.

So she’s saying that while people might not discuss it openly, they might continue to spread it behind our backs…

What a depressing thought.

—-

Putting aside the unfunny joke I’d become, we began discussing future matters in earnest while enjoying the breakfast brought by the maids.

After all, there were far more serious and important topics than my trivial… yes, trivial incident.

Topics like the size of the reinforcements to be dispatched from the mainland, and when they might arrive.

“The Imperial Army… probably won’t come. They’ve already dispatched two legions, and the remaining legions are likely overwhelmed just maintaining stability within the Empire.”

“…Sir Leonore. You’ve been using honorifics with me, but there’s no need for that in private. I’ve heard you stepped down from your position as royalty… but we’re not strangers, and honestly, it feels a bit awkward.”

“…If that’s what the Duchess wishes.”

Frider’s words seemed quite unexpected to Leonore, who tilted her head slightly and blinked.

“I should thank you for your generous consideration. It’s much more comfortable for me to speak casually too. Though I know I should adapt now that I’ve shed my identity as an Imperial Princess… perhaps because I lived as royalty for over a decade, I find it surprisingly difficult to use honorifics now.”

“I can imagine.”

A smile spread across Leonore’s face as she looked at Frider.

She had the same expression when I spoke casually to her.

For Leonore, who appreciates confident and unpretentious people, Frider’s attitude must have been quite satisfying.

“Anyway, so the only troops that can come to the north are my father’s forces. If they maintain their full strength, it seems possible to drive out those Werebeasts… But when will they arrive? Have you heard anything?”

Unfortunately for the anxious Frider, both Leonore and I could only shake our heads.

“I wouldn’t know. I was practically dragged here as soon as I heard the news, so how would I know about Faelrun’s marching speed or when they departed from the Benes territory? You probably don’t know either, do you?”

“That’s right. All I heard was that Leopold’s army was returning to the mainland after their victory in Benes territory.”

“That’s vague…”

Not a satisfactory answer, it seemed, as Frider furrowed her brow and lightly tapped her lower jaw. Leonore merely shrugged.

“…This is just my speculation, but the reinforcements might arrive much later than expected. The suppression battle in Benes territory must have been no small conflict. The insect horde covered the entire city. Even for the Northern Army, marching all the way here right after such a battle wouldn’t be easy.”

I arrived in almost three days, but that was because I rode horses like consumables, feeding them stimulants and pushing them to their limits.

Unlike them, I had also been resting on the mainland beforehand.

It’s realistically impossible for an army of thousands to move that way.

So, it might take much longer than anticipated for the Duke of Faelrun’s reinforcements to arrive.