episode_0010

What kind of absurd situation is this in the middle of the night?

I was desperately holding on and giving a basic explanation, but it’s just awkward when someone sitting in the spectator seats licks their lips and leans in, saying, “Hey, what’s this? Looks fun?”

Come to think of it, did she not leave…? I thought she’d just watch for a bit and then go, but surprisingly, she stayed.

“I thought you’d find something like this basic explanation boring.”

“Well, that’s true, but watching the two of you seems fun? It’s more novel to see something in front of me than just reciting lines from a book, don’t you think?”

That might be the case, but could you save that for after we’re done? You’re killing the mood.

For now, let’s call the match a draw and wrap it up. As I returned, the princess, who had been watching, blinked at me.

“Why did you stop?”

“Even if you said you’d just watch quietly, suddenly jumping in is distracting. It breaks the flow.”

“True.”

Agreeing with me, the Margrave walked over from the other side.

Given that our lord is also a battle maniac, it seems even he was quite flustered by the princess’s sudden action, judging by his unusually firm tone.

“Moreover, we even showed you our private conversation with a vassal. Yet, abruptly interrupting is hardly proper etiquette.”

“Oh my…”

For a moment, the princess’s eyes regarded the Margrave with a puzzled look.

That expression made me uneasy, as if an argument might break out, but thankfully, after a pause, her response was an apology.

“I’m sorry. I was too hasty. Next time, I’ll think before I act. Please forgive my rudeness, Margrave Ruticia.”

Surprisingly, she admitted her fault and backed off, leaving me at a loss for words. The Margrave, too, awkwardly replied.

“…Very well. Since you’ve apologized, I’ll accept it.”

Of course, even with apologies exchanged, the awkward atmosphere was unavoidable.

The court jester would usually step in to lighten the mood, but there was no jester here.

The only thing present was a single baron suffocating in the stagnant air.

He quickly opened his mouth.

“So… Your Highness, you must’ve experienced all this long ago. What exactly seems so fun to you?”

Unlike our Margrave, who just charges in without thinking and lacks accumulated experience, the princess has quite the illustrious record.

Frankly, given how she handled the troops last time, she probably doesn’t even need these basic tips.

“Hmm—.”

In response to my skeptical question, Charlotte snorted lightly, then with a lively expression, clasped her hands behind her back.

With light steps, she took a few paces.

Soon, before my eyes, a rippling golden curtain and the meticulously crafted amethyst within it draped over me.

“Well, I’ve never experienced sharing research or teaching each other outside a lecture hall before. Plus, studying alone is boring, don’t you think?”

“…That doesn’t seem like the whole reason.”

At my strained reply, Princess Charlotte didn’t answer immediately. She simply bound me with her violet rose vines and smiled faintly, like a hermit.

‘She’s watching… staring right through me…’

The princess, who had been gazing as if trying to project her inner thoughts, briefly closed her eyelids.

This is dangerous.

Because if I don’t do something soon, it feels like I’ll be dragged around endlessly.

‘Honestly, at this rate, I’ll just keep getting pulled along…’

Truthfully, the reason I’ve been brushing off her burdensome actions isn’t because I’m some masochist who enjoys being dragged around.

She’s the Emperor’s daughter, but that’s all—she has no authority or right to command me. If I really didn’t want to, I could just refuse.

I’ll respect her for her lineage, but there’s no reason to indulge her beyond that.

Yet, the reason I can’t just cleanly cut her off… Well, partly for our lord’s dignity, but mostly—

It’s probably because of that stupid thing I did last time still weighing on my mind.

The princess’s handkerchief.

That thing I borrowed just to wipe my sweat.

Without thinking, I blurted out a request, not realizing what it meant for a lady to offer her handkerchief—no, a piece of her clothing. And thus, the disaster unfolded.

‘She herself doesn’t seem to think much of it beyond teasing me… But it still bothers me…’

As much as I’d like to downplay its significance, there’s always the chance she might take it seriously someday. That’s just how those in power are.

So, I’ve been treading ambiguously all this time, but it’s becoming clear this isn’t the right approach.

“Then, how about this, Your Highness?”

“Did you come up with a good idea?”

“Time’s almost up anyway. Curfew’s soon. Even if we do more here, it won’t last long. Right, my lord?”

“Of course.”

Our Margrave, who seemed to be pondering how to intervene, nodded.

“—But since you’ve made the suggestion, how about this? Why not develop it into a long-term gathering?”

“A long-term gathering…?”

“Let’s call it a study group. Or a research club. We could occasionally hold mock battles too…”

“!”

At the third phrase, the princess’s eyes lit up.

Of course. That’s what she’s after.

‘A classic dopamine addict.’

Based on what I’ve heard from the professor, Lady Erna, and other rumors, plus my own experiences, the princess is that type of person.

She only wants to do what’s fun and hates everything else. It’s just that her idea of fun is tactical games.

And for some reason, she’s got an excessive fantasy about me.

So, to change the current one-sided dynamic, I’ll have to use this as my trump card.

“However, holding mock battles daily isn’t realistic.”

“Why not?”

“I need time to prepare too. I’m just regurgitating what I’ve read from books, so to be a worthy opponent for you, I’d need to study before each session. You wouldn’t want me to repeat the same moves every time, would you?”

“That… is quite persuasive.”

In short, I need time to research builds too. This way, I naturally create a justification for limiting her dopamine supply.

In essence, the ‘dog-training method.’

An overly happy or full puppy has no room for growth and won’t learn.

You have to reward them little by little so they’ll endure the hardship for it.

“Hmm, but. Assuming that’s the case. Baron Hevel would obviously prioritize Margrave Ruticia… Would Baron Hevel even have time to spare for me?”

“That’s…”

A sharp question. Frankly, I can’t deny that. My lord comes first—no one else takes precedence.

The Margrave, who had been quietly listening, took over the answer.

“If we’re talking about forming this group… Wouldn’t you also have time to spare for me, Your Highness?”

“Me… for the Margrave?”

“Whether it’s the professor, Baron Hevel, or Your Highness, I’m in a position to learn from all of you. Baron Hevel would naturally have more time to prepare that way. Right, Baron Hevel?”

“The Margrave has made an excellent suggestion.”

As I agreed to the neat three-way alliance, the princess snorted again, “Hmph.” After a moment of thought, she raised her head and answered.

“If both of you agree to form this group, may I add three conditions?”

“Of course. Please go ahead, Your Highness.”

“The first condition is for Margrave Ruticia, Albert. I hate repeating myself, so when we’re doing this, you must focus completely.”

Well, the first one’s a standard request. That means the main points are the second and third…

“The second is for Baron Hevel. From now on, once this group starts, you must never lose to anyone else besides me.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You have to take responsibility. The responsibility of having beaten me.”

Since when did that become a thing? As I tilted my head in bewilderment, the princess crossed her arms and stared at me intently.

“Baron Hevel. I… really, really hate losing.”

‘I could’ve guessed that without you saying it.’

Recalling past events, I looked at her, and she was staring right through me again.

“But you humiliated me not once, but three times in front of the faculty. That’s an irreversible trend.”

“Haha…”

‘Three times…? So she did mind the handkerchief incident…?’

But regardless of my thoughts, the princess raised a hand to her chest and declared:

“And if a Baron Hevel who did that loses to someone else, it means I’ve lost to them too.”

“Winning and losing are part of life, so there’s no need to worry about that…”

“No, I do worry!”

With unwavering resolve, Princess Charlotte took a few steps toward me and said:

“Understand? Until I beat you three times, you must remain undefeated. Until then, the right to defeat you belongs solely to me! In other words—”

And with unfiltered intensity burning in her eyes, she proudly declared:

“Until then, you alone are qualified to be my rival! Because—I’ve never lost even once until now!”

Her bold declaration first brought this frivolous thought to mind:

‘What if you lose to someone else again…?’

But I wasn’t foolish enough to actually say that out loud, so I voiced a question I’d been curious about.

“That time during our mock battle—you deliberately brought people along because you wanted to defeat me in front of them, didn’t you?”

“Of course, that’s right.”

“Then isn’t that your own fault…?”

“Of course, it is. And for having that intention, I’ll apologize belatedly.”

I blinked for a moment, then sighed softly and replied.

“Well, it’s in the past, so it’s fine. I don’t particularly enjoy losing either. So, I’ll accept your condition.”

Not that anyone enjoys losing, but when she puts it that way, I might as well play the cool guy.

A rival, huh.

I rolled the cringe-worthy phrase around my tongue. And thought:

…What a ridiculous woman, this dopamine-addicted princess.

“Then, what’s the last condition?”

I closed my eyes briefly, then looked at her again. Perhaps surprised by my easy acceptance, she blinked in turn.

“Ah… You’re agreeing?”

“A mere baron has been given something to exchange with a princess, even if briefly. What fool would refuse?”

“I suppose that’s true…?”

More importantly, it’s a chance to avoid being dragged around illegally. Since she called me her rival, I can push back a little harder now.

Now that I was staring back at her, the princess fidgeted with her lips, hesitating to speak. This must be something even she finds hard to say.

“—Then, the last one… Baron Hevel, can you answer me honestly?”

“What is it?”

“By any chance… You don’t resent me, do you?”

“…Huh?”

At the unexpected question, I blinked. The princess’s fingers, which had been excitedly raised, now fidgeted nervously under the gentle curve of her chin.

“I mean, well… I can tell you’re uncomfortable. You even changed departments because of it.”

Isn’t it a bit too late for regrets, Your Highness…?

‘So she does have a shred of conscience…’

Well, because of her, I did end up switching departments and dealing with annoying things—that much is true.

But if I think about it, nothing was fundamentally twisted or broken because of her.

“You asked for honesty, so I’ll say it: Where I am now is entirely my choice. Everything else was just a trigger. It’s true that interacting with you was awkward, but that’s mostly because I didn’t know how to treat you.”

In the end, it was just that our first encounter was too steep.

“Then… Can I keep talking to you casually like this?”

“…As long as you don’t push too hard?”

“Giggle. Just kidding. If it was just a trigger, then so be it.”

The princess nodded, as if a condition had been resolved.

“Then, does anyone else have conditions?”

“None here. Margrave?”

“Just… don’t pester me too much.”

“Then it’s settled… We’ll discuss the details tomorrow!”

Seemingly thrilled that things were working out, the princess turned on her heel with light steps. But then she paused and glanced back at me.

“Oh, right, and… Let’s not lie to each other, okay?”

With those meaningful words, she left briskly. Though her words lingered in my mind, the Margrave’s voice soon pulled my attention away.

“Somehow, this turned into quite the event, didn’t it?”

“Tell me about it.”

“Actually, being the princess’s rival might’ve elevated your status above mine. Maybe you can drop the formalities now?”

“Please don’t tease me…”

I replied with an awkward laugh. Though, I do feel strange about it…

That cringe-worthy phrase—rival.

A worthy opponent.

Well, it might be fun.

And the opportunity for a rematch with that rival came much sooner than I expected.

Because it happened the very next day.

“Next! Werner! Charlotte! Take your positions at the empty spot!”

Our military strategy professor, Claudio Montecuccoli, who calls out noble names without hesitation.

During his practical class, the two of us were paired together.

‘Why does this keep happening…?’

Luck must be real. Probably with the prefix “bad.”