Chapter 23

Chapter 23 : Even Good Medicine Tastes Bitter (2)

The next morning, in a quiet part of the Imperial Palace, as if yesterday’s commotion had been forgotten, Johan and Jesse stood glaring at each other, their hands on the hilts of their swords.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“I merely follow my master’s command.”

“Johan!” Jesse yelled, gripping his sword hilt.

“Give up, Sir Lady.”

“Aargh! I told you not to call me that!”

“Why are you getting angry about it all of a sudden?”

“Because of you, Her Highness Legina! And His Highness Theore! Even Una calls me Lady now! Do you know how much trouble I went through to bury that nickname?!”

…The two people were clearly facing each other with serious expressions, but the content of their conversation was somehow strange. Indeed, if strangeness was the criteria, the location where this conversation was taking place was also peculiar. It was happening right in front of the closed door of the Imperial Family’s exclusive training ground.

“Move, just move! Don’t you feel sorry for your friend?!”

“Well, who told you to leave such a first impression on our Princess?”

“Ah! That was a mistake! I’m reflecting, so just let me pass!”

Jesse was an excellent knight, an escort knight to the Imperial Prince, but his skill was slightly inferior to Johan’s. He could spar with him, but it would take a little more time to reach a decisive conclusion. The problem was that if they sparred here, the disaster that had grown inside would clearly descend upon Jesse.

“Lady! Hey! Why aren’t you coming in?! Aargh! Hey! Get in here, quickly!”

“Theore, my brother. Why are you running away so much? At this rate, we won’t finish before Sir Aaron arrives, will we? Come here, quickly.”

“No! I don’t want to! Aargh! And you keep hitting me!”

“Since you’re going to get hit anyway, why don’t you finish it all at once, like a proper troublemaker?”

“You’re the troublemaker! You old witch! Aargh! Lady, you damned bastard! Get in here and stop her, quickly!”

Inside the closed door, a harmonious moment between the Imperial siblings was unfolding in the training ground. Theore, constantly yelling “Lady” instead of Jesse’s name, threatening to not leave him alone if he didn’t come in immediately, and Legina, holding a club and smiling, promising to teach her brother the proper posture of a confident troublemaker.

Selma, who was watching them from inside the training ground, had already taken her stomach medicine and was now listening to Una’s consolation to “just bear it a little longer,” with her eyes squeezed shut.

“Johan, you damned bastard! Move it! Do you want to see me die?! If you don’t go in and stop her now, there’s no telling what His Highness Theore will do to me!”

“Our Princess wouldn’t kill her own brother, would she? And even if you go in now, there’s nothing you can do but get hit by our Princess’s club instead of His Highness Theore.”

“Ugh…!”

“Honestly… our Princess’s club hurts more than His Highness Theore’s kicking.”

Though I haven’t been hit myself.

Jesse fell silent at Johan’s subtle, trailing words. Theore’s screams were still audible from inside the door. Clearly, if he didn’t go in now, he would face big trouble after it was all over. But if he thought calmly…

“If you go in now, you’ll have to deal with our Princess’s club and then His Highness Theore’s anger afterward, won’t you?”

“…”

“But if you can’t go in now? Then you only have to deal with His Highness Theore’s anger, don’t you?”

“B-But…”

“You also have an excuse. What can you do when I, who am more skilled than you, received an order to stop you?”

He was frustrated, but for now, he had no choice but to concede. Besides, it was true that Legina’s clubbing, which specifically targeted painful areas, was more frightening than Theore’s immature kicks. And if he considered the dark bruise that would appear on one of his eyelids after the clubbing…

“Hey! Lady!”

Jesse hesitated for a very brief moment, then pretended not to hear Theore’s screams from inside the door and turned his head away. Yes, surely she wouldn’t kill her own flesh and blood? Of course, it would hurt as if he were dying, but it was best to accept it as growing pains.

And an hour later, the training ground door finally opened.

Aaron, who entered the training ground with the Imperial siblings’ escort knights guarding the door, first discovered Legina elegantly enjoying tea time under a parasol, which seemed out of place in the training ground, and Theore sprawling in the middle of the training ground, panting heavily.

“Though it’s spring, the ground is still cold. Lying down for a long time after sweating is not good for your health.”

“Tsk… This is because you… were late!”

It wasn’t Theore’s place to say that, as he had been habitually late since the first day of lessons. Aaron, ignoring him, subtly gestured to Jesse, who was looking nervously from behind him, and then walked towards Legina. He could hear Theore’s voice complaining to Jesse from behind him, but it was not his concern.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Welcome, my lord.”

Legina set down her teacup and greeted Aaron with a bright smile. Of course, her gaze remained fixed on his handsome cheekbones. When would she ever be able to look directly into that face, those eyes, and have a conversation…? Legina hoped that others wouldn’t notice that her gaze was slightly off, and invited Aaron under the parasol’s shade.

“You must be careful of the sunlight, my lord. It’s an enemy of skin aging.”

“I don’t particularly care.”

“It’s also important to take good care of what you have and preserve it. I’ve told Selma, so you should receive some Nogmit tea. It’s good for skin beauty.”

“Skin beauty?”

“I just think your beauty needs to be protected at a national level, you know.”

It sounded like a joke, but it was sincere. Well, of course, it was a gift to show those around her that she was completely smitten with him, but it genuinely came from her heart.

“I even wrapped it up.”

“You must have prepared it lavishly.”

“If possible, please return using a crowded path, my lord.”

Aaron, realizing Legina’s purpose in preparing the gift, nodded obediently and then fell into thought for a moment.

“My lord?”

“How many people do you think will focus on the gift instead of my face?”

“That’s why I wrapped it big. Please carry it carefully as you return; you might not be able to see where you’re going.”

“It’s fine.”

Selma, who had been listening to their conversation, frowned. Even after taking her stomach medicine, her stomach was burning and aching. And now, a headache was pounding. They looked like a picturesque pair from a distance, but why on earth was the conversation they were having…!

“Madam Signy…”

“Una, is that truly my Princess?”

“Take a deep breath, take a deep breath!”

Una grabbed Selma’s shoulder, her face contorted in distress. Meanwhile, Legina, who had risen from her seat and stretched with a big yawn, regardless of the chaos, had her gaze fixed on Theore. Seeing the force behind his kicks aimed at Jesse, she felt today’s sword lesson would be fruitful.

“Has it been quiet since you returned?”

“My uncle was a bit noisy, but it was fine.”

“Really?”

Legina, recalling Egil’s face from the banquet yesterday, nodded. She had intended to meet the Emperor early this morning to request a delay in his return. However, whether it was due to yesterday’s events or some other reason, the Emperor refused to meet, so she couldn’t make the request.

“…And the Margrave, has he completed his regular report?”

“He has completed it, but it seems he has no intention of returning immediately.”

“Huh? Why?”

Legina, who had unconsciously raised her voice, snapped her head around so quickly it made a sound, averting her gaze from Aaron’s face. In her surprise, she had looked directly at Aaron’s face. She needed to get used to that face as soon as possible, but every time she saw him, her heart pounded even more; it was maddening.

“He says it seems interesting.”

“…Interesting?”

“He didn’t elaborate.”

Egil had entered the Imperial Palace as soon as the sun rose this morning and had a private audience with the Emperor. It was a routine report, not urgent, but its conclusion was different from usual. He requested additional troops for the border. The surprised Emperor asked if there was a problem with the barbarians in the east, but Egil laughed heartily and asked the Emperor for permission to stay in the capital for a while, saying that something interesting seemed to be happening. If anyone else had said that, they would have been punished, but Egil was a Vestein. Furthermore, his accumulated merits, diligently built up over time, prevented the Emperor from scolding him, forcing the Emperor to accept Egil’s shameless demand.

“Yes, I see.”

That’s a relief. Legina swallowed her unspoken thoughts and stroked the handle of the club at her waist. It was a grateful club that brought her peace just by its presence.

I don’t know the exact reason, but I’ll think positively. Thanks to this, I don’t have to beg His Majesty, and isn’t that great?

Actually, that was the part she liked best. She had no desire whatsoever to waste her precious time begging the Emperor. Legina believed that the time she allotted to the Emperor—the early mornings spent making medicinal tea from Danilan flowers—was more than enough.

I’ve stopped the assassination attempt, but I don’t know when or how they’ll try again, so I need to keep making him drink the medicinal tea regularly. Otherwise, I’ll have to live that exhausting life again.

Her goal in this life was, above all, to defeat the traitors, enthrone Theore, and then leave the capital. To live a leisurely life in a place completely unrelated to politics! Legina recalled her goal once more and walked to the center of the training ground.

It was time to begin the lesson. As she approached Theore, who was panting in the middle of the training ground, she felt his piercing gaze. She found the irritation and venom in his violet eyes, which resembled hers, immensely satisfying.

“Theore, my brother, how can you have such poor stamina?”

“Shut up…”

“Your perseverance in refusing to give up resisting until the end, it’s truly admirable. Be sure to maintain that attitude.”

“…You crazy old witch…”

“Let’s start with a light warm-up.”

Aaron, who had followed Legina to the center of the training ground, was about to begin the lesson when a servant ran swiftly towards them and bowed to Legina and Theore. Legina tilted her head, checking the cuff of the servant’s uniform. The gold-embroidered vine was a mark that only the Emperor’s personal attendants could use.

“Greetings to both Your Highnesses.”

“What brings His Majesty’s attendant here?”

“His Majesty wishes to see both Your Highnesses and Sir Aaron here, after your sword lesson today.”

– Mochinuna.