Ch.90Epilogue – Struggle, ESTL! (2)

“What? Are you serious?”

Lucia was startled by Eshtiel’s unexpected declaration.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and her voice trembled noticeably.

“The same Eshtiel who until two years ago called the Grand Duke’s surname ‘Ennader’… had someone she liked?”

“When on earth was this…?”

“Like I said, two years ago!!!”

“D-did I say that…?”

“Of course, you were so cute back then!”

“Ugh.”

Eshtiel recalled the morning’s incident when Lucia called her cute. The morning event when Tesha still treated her like a small child…

‘I’m still… short, I guess.’

It was an undeniable truth that she was smaller than other young ladies her age. That’s why Eshtiel had been extremely anxious lately. The fear of her growth plates closing was something that couldn’t be expressed in words.

For Eshtiel, who desperately wanted to become an adult quickly, this was a tremendous regret.

For Eshtiel, the standard of a proper adult woman had long been set by Serin.

Tall, strong, confident, with an alluring figure—from Eshtiel’s perspective, Serin had become the perfect embodiment of adulthood.

However, Eshtiel, who only possessed confidence among these qualities, had been suffering from low self-esteem lately.

“The word cute is… forbidden.”

“Why? You’re still super cute. Your eyes are so round, and your cheeks are so soft…”

“Anyway, please don’t say things like that. I don’t want to be cute.”

“My goodness, I’ve never heard such a privileged complaint before!”

“Lucia… you wouldn’t understand my struggles.”

“Yeah… of course not.”

How could she possibly understand? Lucia pondered.

From Lucia’s perspective, she couldn’t comprehend why Eshtiel was suddenly acting this way, but she was certainly privileged beyond measure.

Eshtiel attracted attention from people of all ages and genders just by walking down the street. Moreover, whenever she attended parties, young noblemen seeking her hand practically tripped over each other.

‘Well… even those ruffians act strangely gentlemanly in front of Eshtiel.’

They say it feels wrong to approach her carelessly, or something like that. Thanks to her brother’s influence, there were few scoundrels who harbored impure intentions toward her. At this point, she was treated almost like a saint.

In this situation, saying she didn’t want to be cute? Claiming she had appearance issues?

There was a limit to playing dumb.

For the first time, Lucia’s normally subdued violent tendencies began to surface.

“You… candy thief of the ballroom Eshtiel.”

“You still remember that?!”

“They still talk about it occasionally at the Academy.”

“I hate that!”

“What can you do? Unless you re-enroll at the Academy and beat down the rumors with your fists.”

“That… might be good.”

“…”

Somehow, it seemed like something Serin would do.

Eshtiel, whose judgment standards had somehow become skewed toward Serin, was genuinely tempted. Seeing this, Lucia shook her head in disbelief.

“Eshtiel, I really don’t understand you sometimes.”

“Hmm…”

In her mind, it had been an ideal response, but Lucia tilted her head as if it were completely wrong. Therefore, Eshtiel concluded that Lucia was the strange one.

Unaware of this conclusion, Lucia asked another question.

“So? Who is this person you like?”

“The person I like? I thought you would obviously know…”

“How would I know!”

Lucia leaned forward with interest written all over her face. She came so close that Eshtiel could see herself reflected in Lucia’s distinctive eyes.

Enduring the uncomfortably close distance, Eshtiel finally opened her mouth.

“The person I like is…”

◇

As the day was coming to an end at the Imperial Palace.

Shortly after parting with Lucia, Eshtiel received a summons from the palace.

Apparently, a messenger had been waiting for over three hours while she was playing in the streets. Thanks to that, Eshtiel had to complete only minimal preparations before stepping into the carriage.

Upon arriving at the palace, Eshtiel performed an elegant curtsy as if she had suddenly shed all childishness.

“I greet Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Welcome, Count Elenot.”

The Empress was waiting in the palace garden with tea and refreshments prepared at a table. Of course, candies with a tantalizing sweet scent were included.

When Eshtiel’s gaze momentarily fixed on them, the Empress let out a soft laugh.

“The Count hasn’t changed at all, which is nice.”

“I-is that so?”

The Empress meant it as a friendly joke, but for Eshtiel, who wanted to become a dignified adult as soon as possible, it was devastating.

The Empress, who could strongly sense people’s emotions, quickly noticed Eshtiel’s mixed feelings.

“Oh my, I’ve misspoken about the head of the esteemed Count family who has established her own household. Please forgive me.”

“No, not at all.”

Eshtiel shook her head vigorously. Her snow-white hair fluttered like a blizzard, slipping between the knots of her dress. The Empress leisurely admired the sight.

“Shall we get to the main point now?”

“I’m listening.”

“Hmm.”

In Eshtiel, the Empress saw Rahilt. Though they weren’t blood siblings, the two clearly resembled each other. That was another reason why the Empress was fond of Eshtiel.

Soon, the Empress began to speak.

“Today, there was a consensus to establish an organization for maintaining security in the capital. If launched, it will likely be called the Military Police.”

“Military Police…”

“Basically, we’ll draft knights from the imperial family, but… they lack the necessary expertise. After all, how can those who have only honed their martial skills find and arrest criminals?”

The Empress had a point.

Currently, the force responsible for the capital’s security is called the Security Force. However, while they’re adept at responding to reports and catching criminals in the act, they lack the ability to handle cases that have already occurred.

In fact, the number of unsolved major crimes was gradually increasing.

“After such deliberation, the alternative we came up with is the Pinwheel Knights of Count Elenot’s family. We want to incorporate some of them into the Military Police to establish its foundation. As you know, the origin of the knights, the Pinwheel Mercenaries, started from…”

The bottom of society. People from the dark underworld.

They were essentially a group of individuals who received pardons solely because of Rahilt’s existence.

Although they’ve now been integrated to blend seamlessly with mainstream society, their past deeds don’t simply disappear.

The Empress conveyed this reality by letting her words trail off.

“Those who understand the nature of such people are those who have lived among them. That’s why I arranged this meeting to seek your cooperation, Count. What do you think?”

“… If it’s for the safety of the imperial citizens, what wouldn’t I do?”

It was a proposal that secured both justification and practical benefits. It was so from the perspective of the imperial citizens, and also from the Empress’s viewpoint.

Then, what about the practical benefits for Eshtiel and the Count Elenot family?

Eshtiel slightly pushed back her hips and straightened her back. Then, she faced the Empress with an even more refined posture.

Following this, with a social smile that had become second nature to her, Eshtiel said:

“Then, shall we start by discussing the salaries of the Pinwheel Knights who will be drafted, Your Majesty?”

“Hoho, let’s do that.”

For the Count Elenot family, the Military Police was clearly a kind of business venture. As the head of the family, Eshtiel had to calculate how much it would benefit her family and its members.

It was time for the studies that her brother and Rodrick had drilled into her to shine.

And so, the two women engaged in a deep conversation about the newly established Military Police for a long time.

◇

[It’s late, so please stay at the palace tonight.]

This was the invitation Eshtiel received after finishing her conversation with the Empress. Since the pale moonlight was indeed gently illuminating the palace, Eshtiel gladly accepted the Empress’s offer.

“Haah…”

She exhaled after just finishing her bath and changing into light attire.

“The palace really is… nice after all…”

Bath additives that smelled so luxurious they seemed excessive, attentive bath attendants, massages that completely relieved the day’s fatigue, and even the provided clothing was so smooth it felt like walking on thin ice.

“Would you like a cup of cocoa, Count?”

“Yes, please.”

“You should speak comfortably, Count. It makes us uncomfortable otherwise.”

“But… I’m not used to it…”

Eshtiel was still a sixteen-year-old girl. It was difficult for her to speak informally to anyone other than the servants and knights of the Count’s residence. Especially to palace maids who were much older.

Above all, during the time when she didn’t have an impressive status, her brother Rahilt emphasized manners, making it hard for her to speak informally to elders.

“Then shall we keep it a secret for now? I’ll bring the cocoa right away.”

“…”

Nod.

Instead of struggling to respond verbally, Eshtiel nodded. The palace maid, with a smile at this adorable effort, handed her a sweet-smelling mug.

Eshtiel immediately took the mug and took a sip of cocoa.

“Whoa… delicious.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Again, instead of answering, Eshtiel gave a beaming smile that attacked the maid’s heart. Witnessing this radiant smile, the maid desperately resisted the urge to pat her head and just fidgeted with her fingers.

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock.

“Oh? Who could it be at this hour?”

The maid expressed confusion at the knock from outside. Then, a thunderbolt-like voice penetrated from outside.

“It’s me.”

“Gasp…!”

In an instant, the maid’s face turned pale. This was because the identity of the person waiting outside was none other than…

“C-Crown Prince Your Highness!”

It was Tesser Literion, who had been appointed as Crown Prince years ago.

“Q-quickly, let me help you put on an outer garment, Count! Crown Prince, please wait a moment…!”

“Okay.”

Tesser replied briefly. Meanwhile, the maid moved busily, her eyes darting around.

“What would be good… an outer garment that matches what the Count is wearing…”

“Anything is fine…”

“How can you say anything…!”

For a while, the maid continued her not-quite-disrespectful outburst. After a moment, a dramatic compromise was reached between the maid and Eshtiel, and the unexpected guest was able to enter the warmth of the room.

“Eshtiel.”

“Brother Tesser!”

“Sorry for the sudden visit. Mother told me you were here as a guest and ordered me to see your face.”

“Mmm, no. There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

While the two exchanged brief greetings, the maid tactfully closed the door and moved away from the room.

“How have you been lately, Eshtiel?”

“Me, um, I’ve been super busy? Really, extremely…”

“As expected of a proper family head now.”

“Hehe, I guess so…”

Eshtiel’s lies flowed smoothly without batting an eye. The girl who had been complaining of boredom to Tesha just this morning had long since disappeared.

“What about you, Brother Tesser?”

“I’m similar. I need to prepare to ascend to the throne at the appropriate time, and just today, I had to discuss the establishment of the Military Police.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Come to think of it, you visited the palace for the Military Police too, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You’ve grown so much.”

“You too.”

Eshtiel’s words weren’t just simple humility.

Tesser had become a twenty-two-year-old young man this year. He had long shed his awkward demeanor, and the unique dignity of the imperial family surrounded him. Moreover, his large frame and face, which particularly resembled the Empress, were extremely attractive.

Calm and serious. A nobility that couldn’t be casually invaded now existed in Tesser.

‘Nice…’

He’s always a pleasure to look at. Eshtiel grinned for no reason and openly fixed her gaze on Tesser.

“… Your stare is uncomfortable.”

“So what if it’s uncomfortable?”

“Distributing your gaze is an important element in social interactions.”

“Oh come on, between us…”

Eshtiel thought Tesser was quite shy.

They weren’t just ordinary acquaintances, so what did it matter?

It had been like this for a very long time.

“Hey, Brother Tesser.”

Therefore, it wasn’t surprising at all when earth-shattering determination flowed from Eshtiel’s lips.

“When are you going to marry me?”

“…… Huh?”

Tesser froze as if he had been hit by a petrification spell. Regardless, Eshtiel waved her hands and blushed slightly on her cheeks.

“Oh my, why are you being shy? I’ll be of age soon.”

“No, wait. Eshtiel.”

“Yes?”

“That… um, I’m not sure where to start correcting this, but first…”

The question Tesser asked next was enough to shatter Eshtiel’s peaceful preconceptions.

“Why would we get married…?”