Chapter 144

“I invited a guest and left him standing outside. Let’s go in and continue our conversation.”

Estelle said, pointing upward with her finger.

“The view from the second-floor balcony is wonderful. Tea tastes especially nice when you’re overlooking the pond.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

By the time I escorted the princess back to the front of the villa, a cart had just arrived.

“Perfect timing.”

“What is it?”

“A gift I prepared. Would you like to take a look inside?”

“A gift? You didn’t have to go that far…”

Despite her words, Estelle’s face lit up with unconcealed joy.

After all, when you’re cooped up in a house for days on end, anything becomes a welcome distraction.

Unable to rush the workers carrying the box, Estelle shifted from foot to foot in anticipation. The moment she saw what the gift was, she let out a gasp of admiration.

“Wow, it’s such a beautiful model. It looks just like this villa….am I right?”

“You have a sharp eye.”

“The more I look at it, the more fascinating it is. May I touch it?”

“It’s yours now, Your Highness.”

The model, a miniature version of a four-story building scaled down to about human height, was impressive in size alone.

On top of that, it was intricate and luxurious in every detail.

The cream-colored structure, with each tiny brick faithfully reproduced, was carved from ivory, and its surface was dusted with pearl powder to give it a soft shimmer.

Beside the palace, a pond had been rendered in blue enamel, with a layer of glass over it to create the illusion of rippling water.

It was a work of art that invited admiration the more one looked at it.

“There’s a little secret hidden in this model. Would you like to try and find it?”

“How did you know I like riddles too…?”

Realizing that the model palace wasn’t just a piece of art, the princess’s eyes lit up like a child who had discovered a new toy.

If not for the dignity of her position, she might have actually started jumping up and down.

Instead, she eagerly walked around the model palace.

“Oh! There’s a small handle at the back of the palace. Is it a wind-up key?”

“You can try winding it.”

Click-click. Clack.

As Estelle wound the key and released it, a clear, cool metallic melody filled the air.

Delighted like a child, she exclaimed,

“A music box!”

“That’s right. I’m glad you like it. I thought it might get a bit lonely here, so I prepared this as a gift.”

“What a lovely melody.”

Mesmerized, Estelle listened intently to the sound of the music box, then let out a deep sigh.

Folding her arms, she turned to face me.

“Hmm… With this level of thoughtfulness, I can’t help but acknowledge it. You pass. For today, I’ll let you borrow Josephine.”

“Such boundless grace. Thank you.”

Playing along, I gave a mock bow, and she burst into laughter.

Just then, Josephine returned.

“What are you two talking about that’s so amusing?”

She had changed into a neat outfit and tidied up her hair. A faint scent of soap lingered around her.

“Josephine, you’re back? Look at this! The Baron gave me this model as a gift. It even plays music!”

“Your voice echoed all the way down the hallway, Your Highness. I can’t remember the last time I heard you laugh like that.”

“Well then, the two of you should head upstairs now. Josephine? Thank you for lending me the Baron for a while.”

Josephine looked puzzled.

“You’re not coming with us, Your Highness?”

“I should step away so the two of you can enjoy some time alone. That was the deal I made with the Baron, after all.”

“But I’m Your Highness’s bodyguard. And… a deal? What do you mean by that?”

“I’ll be right next door, so you don’t need to worry about protection. Just make sure you come running if I scream, alright?”

“Of course… Yes, understood. I’ll do that.”

Whether she was secretly pleased to be alone with me or not, Josephine gave a reluctant nod, pretending to be hesitant.

With that, the princess led us to the second-floor balcony overlooking the pond and quietly slipped away.

The servants brought warm tea, and a gentle breeze rustled our hair.

The sun was beginning to set, and in the glow of the twilight, a soft blush seemed to bloom on Josephine’s cheeks.

When our eyes met, she shyly looked around before finally settling her gaze on my hand.

“Ah! There it is….our rings.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I didn’t lose it. I just sent it for repairs.”

“Hehe.”

Josephine lowered her head and her lips curled into a smile. She was clearly pleased.

She looked absolutely lovely like that.

As we gently tapped the backs of each other’s hands with our fingertips, enjoying the warmth of the moment—

Clack!

A door suddenly creaked open.

Not the one to our room, but the balcony door of the next room.

Someone casually strolled out and took a seat.

It was, of course, Estelle.

As Josephine and I stared at her in disbelief, Estelle waved cheerfully.

“Oh, the weather’s so nice….I thought I’d get some sun too. Don’t mind me. Please, carry on.”

“……”

Estelle winked mischievously with one eye.

She was truly a girl who couldn’t be stopped.

***

Of all places, Estelle had to come out to the balcony right next to ours and instead of facing the pond, she deliberately sat facing us.

It was practically a declaration that she intended to observe Josephine and me as we spent time together.

She didn’t even bother to hide it. Every time Josephine and I exchanged a few words or tried any form of physical contact, Estelle would chime in from the neighboring balcony with subtle interjections.

“Oho.”

“Quite bold.”

“Wow, you’re really going that far?”

It would be a lie to say I didn’t laugh whenever Josephine froze up in embarrassment at each of the princess’s remarks.

Eventually, as Josephine looked over with a pout, Estelle would feign innocence and say,

“What’s the matter? I told you to pretend I’m not here.”

“Still, watching us like that is a little…”

“Oh come on, can’t I even watch? It’s not like it wears anything out. Anyway, you’re doing great. Just keep going. Don’t forget the technique I taught you last time, okay?”

“Your Highness…”

With Estelle now offering real-time romantic coaching, Josephine finally let out a deep sigh.

In the end, I decided to rescue Josephine from this impossible situation.

“Why don’t you just join us, Your Highness? We can all talk together.”

“Can I? I was trying not to intrude, you know, give you two some space. But if you insist, Baron, I suppose I have no choice.”

Say what she might, it was clear that Estelle had been bored out of her mind, cooped up in the villa.

And so, the three of us ended up sitting together.

Naturally, it was Estelle who led most of the conversation.

“Baron, you’re a mage and also a professor at the academy, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“I heard the academy doesn’t only teach magic.”

“That’s right. There’s the Knight Department and the Theology Department as well. Together with the Magic Department, the three make up the academy.”

“The Magic Department teaches magic, and the Theology Department teaches the doctrine of the Eternal Church of Aeon, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Then what exactly does the Knight Department teach?”

“They teach pretty much everything required of a military officer. From all kinds of weapons training and hand-to-hand combat, to tactics, strategy, leadership, and military operations.”

“And they learn arithmetic too. Anyone who doesn’t understand the importance of supply lines is unfit to be a commander.”

That was Josephine’s added explanation.

Estelle asked,

“Did you graduate from the academy too, Josephine?”

“No. I was taught directly by my father. But since the skills required of a warrior are fairly universal, I could make a good guess.”

“They learn way more complicated things than I expected. I thought it would be more like… mastering some profound sword techniques or something.”

“Of course, swordsmanship is important too. Without the skill to back you up, it’s hard to earn the respect of your soldiers. And on the battlefield, individual strength can often make a real difference.”

“And for those who fight, the sword is inseparable from who they are. There’s a reason it’s the first weapon people think of when they hear the word ‘weapon.’”

At my words, Estelle nodded.

“I think I get it. There’s something captivating about swords, you know? Actually, after watching Josephine train, I once begged her to teach me how to use one.”

“Did you really?”

“I gave up after an hour, though.”

“That’s quite impressive, actually. The Josephine I know probably became the most serious instructor in the world the moment a sword was involved.”

“Oh, totally. You talk like you were there watching it happen.”

It was only natural.

As a player of Candela of Judgment, the swordsman you encounter most often is Josephine. And she’s also the most skilled fighter in the entire game.

It was inevitable that she would end up as a kind of mentor.

She was known for holding others to the highest standards when it came to swordsmanship, which could be a bit much at times. But even so, Josephine was a good teacher. She genuinely liked and supported those who worked hard in silence, even if their skills weren’t perfect.

Then, as if revealing the reason behind all the questions about the academy and swordsmanship, Estelle asked her next question.

“Baron, have you ever imagined something like that? Working at the same place as your lover, for example. Josephine is an excellent swordswoman. Don’t you think she’d make a great instructor at the academy too?”

Estelle’s eyes gleamed mischievously as she asked.

Realizing what kind of answer the princess was fishing for, I decided to play along.

First, I shook my head.

“That wouldn’t do.”

“Why not? I feel like Josephine would be really good at teaching swordsmanship.”

“Oh, no doubt about that. But most of the students in the Knight Department are male. If Josephine were to teach swordsmanship, I doubt half of them would be able to focus.”

Just as I expected, Estelle burst out laughing.

“Are you saying you’d get jealous because everyone would be staring at Josephine for being so pretty?”

“I meant I’d be concerned about a drop in academic performance.”

By now, Estelle and I had both developed a taste for teasing Josephine, and the one who always reacted the most dramatically to our unchecked banter was, of course, Josephine herself.

As we spoke all these shameless things right in front of her, she turned red, clearly flustered and unsure how to respond.

“It’s… kind of hot, isn’t it? Must be the summer heat.”

Josephine flapped her hand like a fan.

While Estelle was busy plotting what to say next to fluster her again, a servant from Isola Palace arrived, looking for the princess.

“Your Highness, a visitor has arrived.”

Estelle tilted her head.

“A visitor? But I wasn’t expecting anyone today. I can’t think of anyone who’d be coming either.”

“I tried to turn them away and suggested arranging a visit for another time, but they insisted they’re personally acquainted with Your Highness and refused to leave…”

Before the servant could even finish speaking, the uninvited guest appeared.

“Oh, come on…I told you, Estelle and I know each other well. It’s fine.”

The moment I recognized who it was, I quickly composed my expression.

A sharp-eyed, slender woman with a poised and elegant air.

It was Carina Valpenera.