episode_0014

“Lady Beatrice, what do you think of this country?”

It was a sudden question.

I was admiring the artificial pond under the clear blue sky. The man in front of me took off his sunglasses and stared right through me. It was overwhelming.

“My thoughts?”

“Yes! I’m curious about your opinion.”

I didn’t know there were sunglasses in this fantasy novel’s setting. I guess when you’re a king, you can get all sorts of rare items.

“Oh, is Lady Dalia also seeing this for the first time? This is my treasure that I obtained with difficulty during my academic studies abroad. It’s something rarely seen even in the empire.”

The man, noticing my gaze, showed me the sunglasses he had been folding and continued speaking.

“Now that I’ve satisfied your curiosity, will you answer my question? Since you’ve entered the grand social sphere of the Imperial Academy, I hope you won’t form any mistaken impressions or falsehoods about my country.”

“…”

“I assure you, unfortunate individuals from powerful nations may try to denigrate our country. But I’ll prove, staking my name, that our Primera Kingdom is not just another country destined to fade into obscurity in history.”

“…”

I roughly understand his intention.

He’s worried that the daughter of a viscount, who has spent her whole life confined within the walls of a viscount’s estate, might despise her homeland after experiencing the wider world through the academy. Such talented individuals rarely advance to the Imperial Academy from the position of the Primera Kingdom.

In other words, I was summoned for a mental fortification and a dose of national pride.

“I hold this land, which our family has cherished for generations, dear to my heart. The Primera Kingdom is truly a beautiful land.”

“The land… yes! It possesses the most blessed natural environment on the continent. That’s why many nations have coveted it.”

“The royal palace and the capital feel especially beautiful to me. Your Highness.”

“My ancestors and your ancestors have protected this land, and now it’s our turn to protect it. I feel like I’ve already achieved a great feat just by thinking about you graduating from the academy and becoming a reliable knight.”

“No, someday this place will also be under the rule of the empire. Your palace will be no exception. I liked this country.”

“Smiling as he made plans for the future, the man in front of me, King Charles II, seemed satisfied with my agreement.”

“Soon, elaborately plated dishes began to be placed on the table with a white tablecloth. Charles gestured for me to eat first with the fork he held. It was too easy to play the role of a noble lady. I elegantly picked up the fork in the manner I had practiced beforehand.”

*

“At Charles’s suggestion, we strolled through various parts of the palace gardens. He explained each part of the palace to me, showing pride every time. I heard he was quite arrogant during his prince days, but seeing him cherish and value what he had, it felt different from arrogance. His overflowing pride must have seemed arrogant to someone.”

“Well, I didn’t dislike that kind of demeanor. A confident man always looks attractive anywhere.”

“Tack-”

“I lost my balance as I took a step with my high-heeled shoes. My ankle weakened, and I almost fell. Women’s bodies are indeed inconvenient. Especially when fully armed like this, in high heels and a dress.”

“Eek!”

“It would have been quite embarrassing if I had fallen flat on the ground, but fortunately, Charles wrapped his arms around my shoulders from behind and caught me.”

“Oh, I was lacking consideration. Dragging you around until your delicate legs gave out.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine.”

“I couldn’t think of anything to say in the moment due to embarrassment. Charles stared at me. I blushed and tried to avoid eye contact. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes because I felt embarrassed for being so awkward.”

“Your eyes are really blue. Like the sea.”

“…”

Time passed. I really dislike moments like this. One second felt too long. Charles released me and suggested that I should return to the empire to prepare for departure.

“Well, I should start heading back. You should also return to your territory and make preparations to leave for the empire.”

“Yes…”

I replied in a hoarse voice.

Charles smiled as he looked at my blushing face.

I couldn’t admit it. Even as the man I was before possessing him, or as the princess. I hated this feeling of loss. My face grew hot.

I wish he had stolen a glance at my collarbone revealed by the low-cut dress, asserting some dominance. But this man just stared straight into my eyes, making me even angrier. He consistently regarded me as inferior with an air of composure, as if flaunting his superiority.

Yes, I’m struggling like this because I’m playing Beatrice now. If I were still a man, I would have ignored all the nonsense you’re saying. If I were the princess, you wouldn’t be able to hold your head up so stiffly…

*

Before evening, Charles saw off Beatrice leaving the palace.

“Well, Lady Beatrice, I will often arrange such gatherings. Will you attend? Oh! Since you will be in the empire, I must come to visit.”

“The academy?”

“There are some events at the academy that even graduates participate in. When that time comes, we’ll see each other as seniors and juniors. I hope you won’t find it too difficult, as you do now.”

“….”

Beatrice’s face stiffened for a moment, but she soon brightened with a smile.

“If I have the honor of meeting Your Highness in a foreign land, I would be truly delighted!”

“In that case, I am fortunate. Please, do not forget that you are a proud noble of the Primula Kingdom, even within the academy.”

Charles took Beatrice’s hand and kissed the back of it.

“It is… an overwhelming honor.”

“Haha, take care on your way back. I hope the visit to the palace was satisfying.”

The carriage soon departed with a clatter. Charles turned immediately and headed for his study, watching the receding carriage.

Beatrix was looking at Charles’s back through the open window.

“Unlucky fellow.”

With a contorted face, she took out a handkerchief and tapped her hand repeatedly.

Seated at his study desk, Charles took out a piece of paper from the drawer. After staring at the paper for a while, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

“Phew, Beatrix….”

This is what was written on the paper thrown onto the desk:

-Count Dalia and his wife Blair have long been concerned about not having a child.

[Excerpt from a noble trends report at the Imperial Court Ball in the 198th year of the Empire]

It is now the year 207 of the Empire.

Can a couple troubled by infertility suddenly have a child?

Not easy.

Assuming they do, can a child become an adult in 9 years?

Impossible.

Excluding impossible scenarios leaves only the truth. That’s how Charles thinks.

“Who are you…”

The remaining possibilities told the truth to Charles. Beatrix was not a legitimate child of the Dalia family.

Charles thought of the Count and Blair. Both had brown eyes. In contrast, Beatrix’s eyes were blue.

Adopted daughter. But it’s strange.

Was there really a need to hide that fact?

Historically, nobles without children often adopt heirs. Therefore, there is no need to hide it. There is even less need to uphold the lie of being a legitimate child.

“Did they take in a child of low birth?”

Charles immediately denied it. Beatrix, whom he met today, would certainly not be of low birth. Unmistakable grace and nobility revealed in every gesture cannot be created in a short time. It must be innate.

Above all, her beauty was so fatal that it even shook the king himself.

Shall, who had survived in the usual battlefield like an ice floe, found it easy to hide his thoughts, but today it was particularly difficult to maintain composure. It required more effort than usual.

Beatrice didn’t notice, but Shall was consuming a lot of attention today.

“I should probably meet her a few more times.”

Adopted child, noble status, reasons to be hidden.

Shall had been trying various deductions by combining the information he had obtained so far. But it was insufficient for now. He could only come up with speculative inferences. Therefore, there was a need to get closer to Beatrice.

He thought it was a rational judgment.

At first, he was interested because she was the successor of the important power of the Dalia family, a prominent family in the kingdom. She might encounter the wider world through the academy and could even leave her homeland.

As someone dreaming of the kingdom’s revival, this was unacceptable to Shall. His intentions hadn’t changed. However, her enigmatic presence and the feeling he actually received when facing her further captivated Shall’s interest.

Perhaps Shall had fallen into a dangerous trap for the first time in his life. A trap that he simply couldn’t escape from. A trap that the creator might not even be aware of.

I finished the last dinner with the count and countess. I will leave for the academy tomorrow.

Thanks to realizing the power as a noble, training with Blair became easier, and I could now pass as a knight. After all, knights were beings who handled mana.

Utilizing my eyes enhanced by mana to read the strengthened body and the world, I quickly understood Blair’s teachings. Blair was amazed at my improving swordsmanship skills day by day. Now, I could imitate the level of swordsmanship shown by the Beatrice in the novel.

Yulia also entered the academy with me. As befitting a royal princess, she was accepted into the Imperial Studies Department, where students with extraordinary minds gather to dream of civil service.

Apart from common subjects, we probably won’t encounter each other much in the curriculum. Still, just knowing that she would be in the academy with me made my heart feel much lighter.

“Was there anything unusual about the investigation of the heretics in the Kingdom?”

“No, there were no survivors, and the buildings were completely burned down.”

“You’ve worked hard. The Alliance is satisfied with my conclusion.”

I leaned back in the soft chair and took a sip of the drink in my glass.

The pleading faces of the heretic investigation unit members flashed before me. There was no mercy from me.

When I had killed those who attacked the territory, I was filled with rage, but in the Alliance, I committed murder in a clear state of mind.

Ending lives with my own hands wasn’t exactly pleasant. But it was something that had to be done. They didn’t deserve to continue living.

The worried faces of Viscount and Blair were visible. It seems they are concerned about sending me to the academy.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“What?”

“It’s written all over your face. You’re worried about me leaving for the Empire, aren’t you?”

“….”

The suddenness of my words caught them off guard. Perhaps they were embarrassed to reveal their true feelings in front of their master. But in my eyes, they looked like parents who couldn’t sleep due to worrying about sending their daughter far away.

“Yulia will be with me, so it’ll be okay. Please prepare here until I return. For the revival of the royal family.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll write letters often.”

I smiled brightly. I wanted to reassure Viscount and Blair.

“Oh! And…”

“Do you need anything else?”

“Shall… investigate about that man, Charles. He might become an awkward opponent.”

“Should I kill him?”

The Viscount asked firmly, as if waiting only for the order to kill Charles.

“No! That’s not what I meant.”

“….”

The Viscount seemed somewhat disappointed.

And so, the final night in Dalia Territory was passing. I returned to my room and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. All the lights were off, so it was dark. I couldn’t tell if my eyes were open or closed.

Tomorrow, I will finally enter the time frame of the novel I read. Surely, in the first chapter, the protagonist Karl met Beatrice in “Basic Self-Defense” class…

I recalled the blond handsome man I saw in my dream. His sword aimed at me. I felt a stirring in my chest.

“Karl Meiner….”

Unknown emotions crossed over.

Anticipation? Worry? Excitement? Anxiety?

I don’t know well. It was a night like the one before setting off on a journey, where sleep doesn’t come easily.