Chapter 4 – Cavalry Charge
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Imperial Calendar, Year 431, Middle of February
A dry wind made its way into the boxed carriage through its window. A cold, freezing wind. It was difficult to actually keep the teeth from chattering due to the excessive coldness. Tilia was glaring at Countess Cheiron――the person sitting right next to the window――while embracing her own body. Probably having noticed the scowl, Countess Cheiron turned her eyes in Tilia’s direction.
But, she immediately lost interest and looked back out of the window.
Outside were cavalrymen with their bodies clad in white uniforms. Tilia could see ten of them through the window, but the unit protecting the carriage numbered over a hundred. If you included the vanguard, they reached a number of 150.
A white uniform is the proof of imperial knights――the most elite soldiers of the imperial army. Seeing how she was being protected by these people, the safety of her journey could be regarded as mostly set. Well, under normal circumstances, that is.
Unfortunately, this was a situation you would hardly call normal. After getting betrayed by Prime Minister Alkor, Tilia had been imprisoned in the imperial palace’s Lord Tower for more than three months.She had expected that she might have to spend her whole life in there or would get poisoned at some point, but after being told that they would have her get an improvement of her health through a change of climate, she was forced to change her clothes and tossed into this carriage.
Moreover, her guard protocol was handled by Countess Cheiron and her men. In short, there was no reason for Tilia to hold an optimistic outlook on this. Rather, she should be vigilant. Yet――
“…Cold,” Tilia muttered.
This caused Countess Cheiro to look her way once again. But soon after she tried to gaze at the scenery outside, as if having lost all interest again.
“I said it’s cold. Close the window.”
“It’s because you’re wearing something a bitch would wear.”
“It’s the dress you gave me,” Tilia answered testily.
“I thought I’d make Your Highness wear an outfit befitting a princess who’s going to be sold off to some unknown guy of questionable origin. I’d prefer if you could show me some gratitude for my overflowing kindness,” Countess Cheiron retorted with contempt.
“Sold off? Wasn’t I going to get a change of climate or something?`”
“It’s pretty obvious that this was just a lie, isn’t it? It was a means to expel Your Highness from the imperial capital. In the first place, you yourself know best that your own health is perfectly fine, I’d think.”
“Nngh,” groaned Tilia.
“Am I going to become someone’s wife?”
“Wife? What are you talking about?”
“That’s the meaning behind a princess being sold off, no?” Tilia asked back while being angry.
“Wife, eh? At most, you’ll be kept as a pet, don’t you think?”
“Ugh, whatever, I don’t want to hear it.”
“Come to think of it, did I already tell you about the day when Chrono and I slept together for the first time?”
“I told you, I don’t want to hear it.”
Countess Cheiron lightly shrugged her shoulders at Tilia raising her voice.
Suddenly her expression softened. It looked as if she was sad. No, more like she was pitying Tilia.
“Your Highness, you sure are pitiful. You won’t be able to offer your first time to Chrono. Oh well, it’s great that I could offer my first time to the person I love. Ah, so pitiful. Not only won’t you be able to offer your first time to the man you love, but it’ll be stolen by some unknown guy. Yep, call me, if you become pregnant with his child. Hahaha――ouch!”
Countess Cheiron ducked her head.
The girl sitting next to her had dropped the sword leaning against the bench. She was a bespectacled girl with her mostly flat body covered by a white uniform. Her hair was a brown that seemed to have grown light. Blue eyes were visible through the lenses of her glasses.
She was reading a book with a sullen expression.
Viscountess Eril Saldomenick――Captain of the 11th Imperial Knight Order.
“What are you doing?”
“…Lying is bad,” Viscountess Saldomenick mumbled. “…This carriage is headed for the Erakis March.”
“Chrono’s place, eh?”
Tilia breathed out in relief.
“Why did you tell her?”
“…I was chosen as overseer because you’re always like this.”
“Tsk,” Countess Cheiron clicked her tongue.
“But, do you think it’s really fine to feel safe?”
“That trick won’t work on me.”
“Good grief, Chrono has lost many men during the recent war. You think he will be able to interact with Your Highness in the same way as before? It’d be impossible for me to do that.”
“T-That’s…”
Tilia faltered. She knew that there had been a war during her imprisonment. But, it was something initiated by Prime Minister Alkor. It was unrelated to her. Or so she’d like to say, but――
“If Your Highness had done things properly, Chrono’s men wouldn’t have died.
“I would have done that if you hadn’t betrayed me!”
“Even if I hadn’t betrayed you, someone else would have. Right, Eril?”
“….Please keep me out of this.”
“What would you have done?”
Countess Cheiron kept going, although Viscountess Saldomenick had rebuked her in irritation.
“…Depends on the time and situation.”
“See?”
Countess Cheiron faced Tilia again while saying this in triumph.
※
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A hammering irritated her eardrums. It was rather grating. She tried to ignore it, but unable to endure the noise any longer, she opened his eyes. Once she looked outside the window, a garden sprawled. It was a desolate, ruined garden, but she remembered having seen it before.
At that point Tilia noticed that she was in the mansion of Marquis Erakis. And while at it, she also realized that she had fallen asleep.
This was far too careless with the enemy in front of her. She stared at Countess Cheiron. Thereupon, she got a broad smile back, before the countess looked outside the window.
Suddenly the carriage shook and dropped its speed. It became slower in steps, eventually coming to a full stop near the entrance hall.
So far as it goes, this could be labeled as a lucky break in Tilia’s eyes.
Either way, a workshop unknown to her had been erected in the garden and a big number of people were working over there.
Now that they had arrived close to the entrance hall, she wouldn’t have to expose her indecent appearance to those workers.
Viscountess Saldomenick closed her book and put it away into her bag. The bag itself was dirty enough that you wouldn’t expect it to be the personal belonging of a noble. She shouldered the bag and opened the carriage’s door.
A cold wind blew into the cabin, causing goosebumps to pop up on Tilia’s skin.
“…Arrived.”
“Bloody hell, all this sitting has made my body feel sore all over.”
Viscountess Saldomenick got off the carriage, followed by Countess Cheiron.
“Come on, hurry up and get out.”
“No need to tell me,” Tilia barked back at Countess Cheiron and climbed out of the carriage.
“…Cold,” she muttered while hugging her own body.
But, Countess Cheiron only cast a glance at her and snorted in contempt. Probably telling her to freeze to death for all she cared.
With a clack, the entrance hall’s door was opened. The one stepping out was a maid. Tilia had seen her many times during her last visit.
If I remember correctly, she should be called Alyssa.
Alyssa held the door open so that Chrono could step out. He was wearing his military uniform under his mantle. Moreover, he was wearing a necklace.
Maybe it’s made out of animal fangs? Then again, I don’t really know much more than that――
Tilia turned her face away. She had expected that they’d meet again with her wearing such an outfit.
“Chrono, I missed you.”
A soft, coaxing voice filled the place. It belonged to Countess Cheiron.
Tilia cast a fleeting glance at her. She walked up to Chrono with a nimble stride and entangled her arm around his. Tilia gasped. Chrono didn’t look unhappy about this at all. It was a shock for Tilia. As it was like being told that her having danced together with him during the ball and spent time with him at the academy had been meaningless, she felt pissed.
Chrono approached with Countess Cheiron at his side. Tilia reflexively drew back. The aura cladding Chrono was completely different from the last time they’d seen each other. Tilia guessed that he had grown as a person after overcoming mortal danger.
How about me? No, there’s no point in even asking.
Tilia hadn’t grown at all. Her growth had stopped at some point. And that’s why she was betrayed.
“…Tilia.”
“W-What?”
“Aren’t you cold?” Chrono asked her curiously when she replied with a shrill voice.
Her whole being flared up. But not because of shame, but rage.
“Don’t ask the obvious! Lend me your mantle at once!”
“Got it. Rio,” Chrono sent an eye signal to Countess Cheiron.
Thereupon the countess drew back from Chrono while looking as if it couldn’t be helped. For her to obediently follow that man’s orders was an unbelievable sight for Tilia.
“Master…”
“Please take care of it.”
Chrono curtly responded. Borrowing her hands, he took off his mantle.
“Give it back later, okay?”
“What do you take me for?”
Tilia grabbed the mantle and wrapped her body up in it. It was warm, causing her to sigh in relief.
“You shouldn’t have worn such a dress…”
“Do you think I’m wearing this dress out of my own choice?” Tilia rebutted while hiding her chest beneath the mantle.
It’s because Chrono had clearly stared at her boobs.
“Her Highness is wearing it because she likes it.”
“You stay silent!”
“Aww, how scary. So scary. Her Highness is so hostile towards me.”
Countess Cheiro hid behind Chrono once Tilia roared at her. Looking in Tilia’s direction over Chrono’s shoulder, she grinned.
“Both of you, stop fighting.”
“Now it’s also my fault!?” Tilia shouted reflexively.
No matter how you looked at it, the one at fault was Countess Cheiron. Yet――
“…Hurry up and go back wherever you came from.”
“Is that something you should say to your loyal retainer who escorted you all the way here while paying close attention to your safety?”
“Now, now, calm down, you two,” Chrono interjected once more.
“Ugh,” groaned Tilia.
‘Why won’t Chrono take my side? Aren’t we friends?
“Would it be better for me to go back?”
“You must be exhausted from your guard duty, so take it easy.”
Chrono let his eyes wander. Cavalrymen filled the garden.
“We will arrange for an appropriate inn.”
“As expected of you, Chrono.”
The cavalrymen breathed out in relief after hearing him. Meanwhile Countess Cheiron hugged his arm while happily commenting. Tilia groaned once more.
Maybe she aimed for this from the very start?
“Come to think of it, I heard there would be another Imperial Knight Order Captain with you…”
“Ah, you mean Eril, right? Eril?”
Chrono and Countess Cheiron scanned the vicinity. But, Viscountess Saldomenick was nowhere to be seen.
“Ah, there she is.”
Suddenly Countess Cheiron pointed at Viscountess Saldomenick. The viscountess was staring at a drainboard――or to be more precise, the paper stuck to it. Apparently, the unknown workshop was a paper mill.
Chrono and Countess Cheiron headed over to the viscountess. Alyssa followed Chrono like a shadow and thus Tilia had no choice but to follow them as well. The group came to a halt behind Viscountess Saldomenick. Countess Cheiron narrowed her eyes.
“You’re making paper?2
“Yep, as a means of job creation.”
“That’s quite a bit of paper, you’ve got there.”
Countess Cheiron closely scrutinized the paper clinging to the drainboard. One piece of paper was a square of one meter on either side. It didn’t seem overly user-friendly.
“We cut it in sixteen parts before selling it. Though we’ll make it even bigger, if there’s an order.”
“…How much?” Viscountess Saldomenick muttered?
“Hmm?” Chrono cocked his head to the side.
Thereupon, the viscountess faced Chrono, her eyes sparkling.
“…Price for paper.”
“Ah, the price. One sheet…umm, that’s the size after cutting the paper over there in 16 pieces…costs one brass coin.”
“――――gh!”
Viscountess Saldomenick gasped and quickly took out a leather bag. She turned it over, causing brass coins to spill out. In total, she had around 20 coins, Tilia guessed.
“…I’d like to buy as much as I can get with this.”
“Hmm,” Chrono pondered.
He’s probably considering whether it’s okay to sell it at the wholesale price.
“Oh well, whatever. Goldi!”
“What is it?”
Once Chrono called out for him, Goldi came running.
“This woman here――”
“Eril Saldomenick,” the viscountess whispered.
“Hmm?” Chrono looked in her direction.
“…I’m Eril Saldomenick…Viscountess,” she added as if having just remembered her own title.
“It sounds like Eril here wants to buy paper, but…”
“No problem, I’ll go fetch it, so――”
“…It’s alright. Will wait.”
Goldi flashed a broad smile at her and entered the workshop. Suddenly a wind blew past. Tilia sneezed , her body trembling.
Alyssa quietly spoke up, “Master…”
“Alyssa, lead Tilia to her room.”
“As you wish.”
Alyssa bowed respectfully and walked up to Tilia.
“Your Highness, allow me to introduce myself once again. My name is Alyssa and I am serving as Head Maid in this mansion.”
“Mmh, I know.”
“It is an honor. I have been appointed to be your maid during your stay here. Please forgive my clumsy conduct, but I shall do my utmost to serve you to my best abilities, so please treat me well.”
With those words, Alyssa bowed respectfully.
※
“This will be your room, Your Highness.”
Alyssa opened the door and Tilia stepped inside. Stopping in the middle of the room, she let her eyes wander. It was the same place she had used last year during her stay in this mansion. It came with a canopy bed, a dresser, a closet, a table, and a chair.
“…So this is going to be my room from now on, huh?” Tilia mumbled under her breath.
Looking at the mirror of the dresser, she almost felt like fainting. Her outfit was a lot more revealing and provoking than she had initially expected. Rather than a dress, it was more like a wide piece of cloth. The front part of the cloth extended from her shoulders, passed her breasts, and joined with the back part below her navel. Moreover, below that it continued into becoming a skirt, but the slits were way too obscene. The slits on either side reached above the string of her panties. And to top it off, the fabric was thin enough to make her nipples and breast shape clearly stand out.
Bitch――remembering the word which Countess Cheiron used to describe her made Tilia feel devastated. All her dignity had gone down the drain. No wonder that Chrono had been intently staring at her.
As if I’m going to wear this dress any longer! She violently pulled the closet open, just for her eyes to fly wide open. Tilia’s military uniform was hanging there. She wondered when it had been brought here. Timidly extending a hand, she touched the fabric with her fingertips.
It’s no dream.
She slowly took the uniform out. Feeling a prickling in her nose, tears started to overflow. She tightly hugged the uniform with a groan. As if she reunited with a lover after a long separation.
“…It’s my uniform.”
She remembered the moment when she was handed this uniform. Back then, she hated to be treated preferentially. A white uniform was the proof of an imperial knight. She had wondered whether it was really fine to crush the knights’ hard work to earn this uniform by getting it simply because she was an imperial princess. But, she couldn’t turn it down either.
That’s why she decided to become a person suitable for wearing this uniform. Thinking like that allowed her to not feel bad about having this uniform. She wanted to someday reach a point where she could wear it with pride. But, in the end she failed. And now she wondered just what she’d done wrong.
※
When Tilia entered the dining hall, Chrono, Countess Cheiron, and Viscountess Saldomenick were sitting around a table, enjoying an aromatic tea. Seeing them like that, anger welled up in her, considering how they had fun down here while she had just cried a little while ago. Somehow managing to swallow her rage, she sat down next to Chrono.
“Huh? What about Alyssa?”
“Apparently she’s got work to do,” Tilia answered while pretending to be calm.
Sitting opposite of her, Countess Cheiron grinned at her, “Already tired of the dress?”
“As if I’d walk around in such an attire all the time,” Tilia huffily retorted the countess’ teasing.
She glared at Countess Cheiron for the audacity of having put her into such an outfit, but the countess looked like she didn’t care. Tilia wondered whether she couldn’t get her revenge on this guy in one way or the other.
As she was brooding over this, she heard a clack. Looking in the direction, she spotted Shaela coming out of the passage connecting the dining hall with the kitchen. She was holding a silver tray in her hand. Apparently she hadn’t noticed Tilia yet.
“Thanks for wai――what, isn’t that the princess right there?”
“Anything strange about me being present here?” Tilia answered, but Shaela ignored her and put the tray down on the table.
It carried slices of bread. Bread which had its upper part covered by melted cheese.
“You’ve cut corners, haven’t you?”
“That’s of course. I mean, I was in the middle of making dinner, so I’d obviously whip up something quick,” Shaele objected testily to Tilia’s mutter.
Viscountess Saldomenick picked up a slice of bread and stuffed it into her mouth in one go. She chewed it thoroughly before swallowing it all down.
“…Delicious.”
“That’s music to my ears,” Shaele smiled happily when Viscountess Saldomenick praised the food with a broad grin.
“Compared to that…”
“What’s with that look?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Shaela sighed for show. Tilia stared at her――
“Did you finally decide to wear long-sleeve clothes?”
“T-This is――――!”
Shaela crossed her arms as if to hide her chest. Her eyes were pinned on Chrono who was behind Tilia. Without being clear whether he had noticed her look or not, Chrono sank his teeth into the bread, breaking into an expression of bliss.
Shaela shyly asked, “H-How is it?”
“Mmh, it’s great.”
“I-I see.”
Shaela bashfully scratched her cheek as Chrono answered her with a happy face. Tilia could sense an atmosphere, which was hard to put into words, starting to float between those two.
Just what happened between those two――
“Which reminds me…,” Countess Cheiron said as if having remembered something while reaching a hand for the bread, “Could I have you keep your promise?”
“Wh―――――!”
Shaela widened her eyes in surprise, looking at Countess Cheiron. Chrono ate his bread――
“Not yet. But I’d really like to see you fulfill your promise soon.”
“T-That’s… Please give me a bit longer,” Shaela mumbled under her breath while Countess Cheiron picked up a slice of bread.
※
At night――
“Your Highness, please have a good night.”
“Mmh, good work today. Please take care of me tomorrow as well.”
“As you wish. Well then, please excuse me.”
Alyssa politely bowed and closed the door behind her. Tilia turned around and headed towards her bed. Maybe because she had just taken a bath or because she had sated her hunger with Shaela’s cooking, her gait was shaky. She climbed on the bed and crawled underneath the blanket.
“…So tired,” she mumbled while looking up to the ceiling.
Yeah, I totally wasted, she agreed with herself. Ever since her imprisonment in the Lord’s Tower, her thoughts had circled around steeling herself. Likely she had reached a limit. For this reason she also fell asleep in the carriage.
“Still…why didn’t Alkor kill me?”
It should make things easier to kill Tilia, if he planned to set up Alfort as the next emperor. Yet, she didn’t understand what he was planning by sending her to Chrono.
Did Chrono negotiate for my freedom? No, I doubt that. Chrono is no more than a single lord. He’s going to succeed territory in the southern borderland in the future, but you still won’t be able to call him a high-ranking noble with that. Maybe it’s for the sake of strengthening the relationship with the lord of the southern borderland? No, that cannot be it either. If he wants to strengthen the relationship, Alkor would need to have a good relationship with me as well. In that case――
“…A measure for when Alfort should ever run havoc?”
Tilia sighed. She felt like this was the most fitting answer here. Then she sighed once more as she believed he could have simply supported her as her prime minister, if he was going to do all of this anyway.
But, at this point in time, talking about this wouldn’t bear any meaning. Tilia closed her eyes, having decided to go to sleep. And likely because she was quite tired, she was immediately assaulted by sleepiness. Her consciousness slowly faded away――suddenly Tilia sat up.
“Wait, wait,” she muttered unconsciously.
That just now was all her imagination. She had no proof for any of it. The possibility that she had been sold as a pet, just as Countess Cheiron mentioned, wasn’t zero. Rather, she thought that this possibility was much more likely.
Tilia, the person who used to be first in line for the throne, willingly spread her legs for a rising neo-noble, indulging in unbound pleasure.
Spreading such a rumor would be enough to lower Tilia’s ability to unify the nobles under her. The old nobles would serve someone they considered to possess noble, pure blood, but that wouldn’t be Tilia. And to go even further, those people prioritized their own benefit. Even Leonhart, who held the alias of Holy Knight, didn’t help her.
“Ugh, for him to aim at destroying my dignity…what a terrible plot,” Tilia groaned.
Thinking about the things leading up to now, she felt like that dress might have been a part of that plot as well.
“No, wait. The other party is Chrono. Don’t tell me, Chrono has――gnnh!”
Recalling how he had stared at her chest, Tilia ground her teeth.
Now that I closely consider things, I have no choice but to regard Chrono as an animal who isn’t satisfied with just bedding a half-elf and Shaela, but he even put his hands on Count Cheiron, a guy. Can I really trust such a guy? I mean, even such a guy should have some humanity left in him. For him to make a make on his grieving friend――
Ahh! Tilia held her head because she had remembered that it had been her who acted like friendship had to last forever.
What a blunder. I unconsciously ended up justifying that lecherous beast inside my head. I lowered my guard, but in the end, I have no doubt that this lecherous beast will flaunt his instincts and assault me.
Tilia’s eyes darted around.
How is he planning to attack me? Is he going to sneak into my room deep at night? Or does he plan to assault me stark naked just like back then? Will I be able to resist? At that time, he restrained me without me being able to do anything.
“I’m sure, next time he’ll go all the way…”
Tilia swallowed hard and hugged her own body.
Terrifying. It feels like I was informed about an animal, which I considered to be completely harmless, to actually possess poison. At this point, I have no other future than getting assaulted by Chrono left anymore. No, she shook her head, even if that’s the case, I’m the daughter of Ramal the Fifth――Tilia Justicia Cepheus. Although I lost everything after getting betrayed by Alkor, it’s not like I lost all of my pride. That’s right. I should conduct myself sublimely to the very end.
With her resolve made up, her fighting spirit caught fire.
Come if you dare, Tilia declared in her mind while waiting for Chrono.
She waited.
And waited.
And then――the sun dawned.
“Eh?”
Tilia looked at the window, rubbing her sleepy yes. Light was pouring through the gaps in the curtains. She briskly rubbed her eyes, but the light didn’t vanish.
“H-H-How weird.”
Wasn’t Chrono going to assault me while baring his raw instincts as a lecherous beast? I had planned to display my nobility to him while glaring at him as he lay on me, and yet――
At that moment, a knocking could be heard. Someone was knocking on the door.
Finally, Tilia braced herself.
“Come in!”
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
Once Tilia spoke up, the door opened, revealing Alyssa on the other side. She gracefully walked up to the dresser and stopped.
“We will start with the face-washing. Afterwards, I shall comb your hair.”
“O-Okay, please do.”
Tilia got out of the bed and headed to the dresser. Probably because she was sleep-derived, she staggered more than she walked.
※
“Hnnh,” Tilia stifled a yawn while entering the dining room.
Countess Cheiron was already sitting on her seat. Tilia sat down on a chair while making sure to not look at Countess Cheiron as much as possible.
“How about you get some more sleep, if you’re sleep-deprived?”
“Aren’t you yourself lacking sleep quite obviously?”
Tilia cast a fleeting glance at Countess Cheiron. Her eyes were red. Moreover, she exuded an atmosphere of listlessness. Tilia couldn’t think of anything but her being sleep-deprived.
“You’re right, I definitely missed out on some sleep.”
Tilia lightly widened her eyes. She hadn’t expected Countess Cheiron to readily admit it.
What is she planning?
“Last night the mosquitoes were so damn loud.”
“Mosquitoes? During this season?”
“Yep. I feel sleep-deprived because of all the noisy, out-of-season mosquitoes.”
With those words, Countess Cheiron scratched her nape. And sure enough, her nape had several red spots.
“I guess there exist some commendable mosquitoes who would suck your blood.”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
Tilia widened her eyes once again.
Why isn’t she refuting my words? Far from looking offended, she seems to regard me with pity. No, maybe triumph? I don’t get it.
As she cocked her head in confusion, food was placed in front of her nose. It was a simple meal consisting of bread and soup. Once she looked next to her, she found Shaela standing there.
“Princess, it’s time to eat.”
“Fine, I shall take you up on that.”
Tilia corrected her seating posture and reached a hand for the bread.
※
As Tilia walked through the corridor of the marquis mansion, she spotted an elven and dwarven maid in front. The elven maid had one eye covered by a patch. Probably having noticed Tilia, both stopped and lined up along the wall.
“A good morning to you, Your Highness!”
“A good morning to you!”
“Mmh, good morning.”
While returning the greeting, she admired them for having become so maid-like in such a short span of time. Tilia stopped and looked at the elven maid. Maybe out of nervousness, the maid straightened her back.
“Who’s using the third floor?”
“Your Highness, Lord Chrono, and Countess Rio,” the elven maid answered loudly.
“What about the second floor?”
“You will find the servant’s rooms and our nap rooms on the second floor.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
“Of course, Your Highness! Please excuse us.”
The two maids bowed and quickly left the place. Tilia thought back on the design of the mansion, noticing that most of the rooms apparently remained unused.
I couldn’t gather any significant information despite having spent quite some time. No, Tilia shook her head, this sort of plain effort is important. Someday this knowledge should come in handy.
“…I’ve run out of things to do.”
It might have been different during her time of acting as proxy lord, but right now Tilia hadn’t much more to do other than getting ready for Chrono’s attack. Thinking that she should gather information on her enemy――Chrono, she went upstairs.
“Chrono, are you here?”
Tilia opened the office’s door and stopped moving mid-motion. It’s because Chrono was passing a parchment to the half-elf.
“Layla, congratulations on your graduation.”
“T-Thank you very much.”
The half-elf hugged the parchment while looking deeply moved.
As Tilia cocked her head in confusion, not understanding what sort of graduation they were talking about, Chrono looked her way.
“Tilia, is something the matter?”
“Back at you, what are you doing?”
“Layla has been studying under me since last year, but she’s very quick on the uptake, so I’ve already run out of things to teach here. That’s why I thought it’d be nice to have a graduation ceremony for her.”
“I see… So, what’s that parchment?”
“A graduation certificate, or rather, a written testament of what scholarly abilities she possesses, I guess?”
“Is something like that necessary?”
“I think it’s important to give things a form. It serves as commemoration and once she quits the army and tries to find a new job, any employer will feel safer, if she got a certificate issued by a lord, right?”
“…I see,” Tilia agreed after a little while.
She hadn’t been overly aware of it, but she guessed the military academy conferred Knight peerage to its graduates for the same reason.
“Anyway, do you have any work?”
“Ah, that’s why you came here.”
Chrono spoke up as if having finally realized what was going on.
“No, nothing in particular. If you like, how about you try asking Mr. Sitter?”
“No, that’s not necessary. I just asked whether you had some work because I’m bored, but it’s not like I want to work to such an extent. What’s with that face?”
“Nothing,” said Chrono while revealing a complicated expression.
It looked like the expression after having swallowed a bitter bug, but the mild version of it.
“Tilia, what are you going to do from now on?”
“Do you mean in the future with ‘from now on’?”
“In regards to your schedule today.”
Chrono replied with a sigh.
“I plan to walk through the marquis mansion.”
“The workshop is dangerous, so make sure to not get close to it, okay?”
“Yep, I know,” Tilia nodded and left the office.
※
Everyone sure grew a lot in this short time, Tilia thought as she strolled through the mansion while recalling the scene in the office.
In comparison to them, I…, a gloomy feeling spread inside her.
Once she passed the entrance hall and went outside, she could hear hammering. The dwarves were swinging their hammers in the workshop. She could also see steam rising from the paper mill. All of this made her actually feel that things had become quite busy around here during the time she was away.
“Hmm?” Tilia came to a halt and looked around herself.
She could hear the hard sounds of things clashing against each other. She turned her eyes in the direction of the sound. Next to a flowerbed Fay and a young boy were exchanging blows with wooden swords.
“…That’s quite good,” muttered Tilia.
But her assessment wasn’t directed at the boy’s sword technique, but Fay’s teaching. Unfortunately, the boy’s sword play didn’t have any points worthy of notice. His basics were at the level of “well, he’s getting there.”
The boy stepped widely forward, closing the distance while repeatedly moving his body a bit. It should be expectable, but Fay showed no reaction to those feints. She only moved after he thrust out his wooden sword. Dodging the attack with a fluent motion, she swung down her wooden blade.
Tilia could only see her attack as spiritless slash, but from the boy’s perspective, it was different. He blocked the blade with a frantic expression, causing a clack to reverberate. He tried to push back Fay’s sword, but he couldn’t. Not to mention their difference in physique, the gap in technical ability was far too wide as well.
“Kuh,” groaned the boy in frustration and tried to open a distance between them.
But Fay had likely expected that development. She thrust her sword forward, matching the boy’s retreat. He opened his eyes in surprise.
But, Tilia knew this wasn’t anything to be surprised about. It was pretty obvious that things would turn out like this, if you retreated straight backwards. Because of this, you’d usually fall back sideways or diagonally to the back.
As she watched the boy in expectation, wondering whether he still had any moves left to turn around this situation, the boy crouched down. Tilia assumed he had judged that it’d be impossible for him to avoid the attack. It was an unsightly approach, but she felt like commending him for his resolution to see this fight through.
The boy launched his next attack from that posture. It was a sweep that seemed to crawl across the ground.
“Hoh,” Tilia uttered.
He’s thought of something quite interesting. I don’t know whether it’ll work, but you’ll need to close the distance to hit that boy while he’s squatting like that. It’ll also lower the speed of sudden attack.
Fay kicked the ground, covering the boy in a shower of sand.
“Aiie!”
The boy squealed in an odd way. Once the sand cleared, Tilia could see the boy’s fingers stuck between hilt and ground. With Fay stepping down on the hilt.
“Master! I give up! I give up!”
“You sure lack backbone,” Fay answered while taking his foot off the wooden sword.
“Please go a bit easier on me. I thought my fingers would break.”
“I have been holding back more than enough. You are my sole pupil, even if you are scheming to supplant me. If you ran away, people would call my teaching qualities into question.”
“Master, you always say more than necessary.”
The boy stood up and dropped his head in disappointment. Tilia walked up to the two while clapping her hands.
“Oh, Your Highness, it has been a long time since we last saw each other.”
“Heeeh, this person is…”
Fay stretched her back and saluted, but the boy scrutinized Tilia curiously.
“You are being too haughty,” Fay rebuked him.
“Even if you tell me that, I’ve got no clue of manners and such,” the boy said and pursed his lips, apparently pouting.
It made Tilia unintentionally reveal a wry smile.
“Don’t mind it.”
“Are you sure?”
“There’d be no end if I got angry about each and every little thing done by a child. Besides――”
“So you are saying it’s OK to interact normally with you, now that you’ve lost your authority, right?” Fay blurted out bluntly.
“Ugh!” Tilia groaned.
Certainly she did lose her authority alongside her right to the imperial throne, but she wondered whether there weren’t any nicer ways to say this.
“How do you know that I’ve lost my authority?”
“Captain Rio has made it public.”
“Argh, that blasted man――!”
Tilia gritted her teeth.
“Oh well, sometimes such things will happen as long as you are alive.”
“It does have a lot more of a persuasive impact, if you say this as someone whose family fell into ruin, Master.”
“Tony, it has not fallen yet,” Fay looked at the boy called Tony, whispering.
“Master, you’re a simple cavalryman, so isn’t it okay to regard this as your family already being ruined?”
“No, it is not! You are wrong!” Fay raised her voice.
“How?”
Tony tilted his head, looking confused.
“I work and get paid properly.”
“I don’t even know how to answer, if you tell me something so obvious,” Tony sighed deeply.
Without understanding why, Tilia’s heart was stinging.
“In the first place, on what basis do you judge that it is ruined?”
“You’re getting help from Lord Chrono.”
“The lodging house for the cavalrymen is male-exclusive, so it cannot be helped.”
“That’s still no reason for his assistance to continue.”
“Ugh, I haven’t been told to get out, so it is OK!”
“Got it. Master, your family hasn’t fallen into ruin.”
“As long as you get it, it is fine.”
Fay nodded in satisfaction, but Tonya was clearly just fed up with this discussion. Tilia was sure that a guy like him had likely learned about the irrationality of this world.
“Still, won’t it be alright to not aim at becoming Lord Chrono’s lover, if your family is still doing fine?”
“So you don’t get it after all. Good grief,” Fay shook her head lightly.
“What do I not get?”
“I am aiming to become his lover for the sake of restoring the Muhlifain family. By acquiring the Cad Earldom, Lor Chrono’s territories have grown to three!”
“Three? Don’t you mean two?”
“Three is correct since he is going to inherit the Chrohford Barony in the future! The barony lies in the empire’s south! That means I will also have a chance to become landed nobility if I become his lover!”
“Just what are you teaching to a child? Besides, try to hide your ulterior motives a bit, won’t you?” Tilia retorted.
“Tony…wades through a complicated life, so it is OK.”
“It’s not like my life’s that complicated just because I was abandoned by my parents,” he murmured, but Fay apparently didn’t hear it.
“But, Lord Chrono already has six lovers, you know?”
“Six lovers!?!?” Tilia yelled back in shock.
“Lady Layla, the landlady, Lady Elena, Lady Arided, Lady Deneb, and Lady Rio.”
“S-So many?”
Tilia swallowed hard after Fay’s careless comment.
Just what the hell happened to Chrono’s body? Doesn’t this make him a genuine beast of lust?
“To be honest, I don’t think you have much of a chance, Master.”
“That is because your thinking is too shallow. I am currently taking lessons from Lady Elena.”
“Hoh, what kind of lessons?”
“We go shopping together and we eat together.”
“…”
Tony fell silent, and Tilia could feel him. There were no lessons to be found in any of those actions.
“Master, you’re splitting the bills, right?”
“Of course.”
“…Then it’s fine.”
Tony breathed out in relief after hearing Fay’s response. Apparently he had been worried about something other than Tilia. But that worry in itself made Tilia wonder what splitting the costs meant.
“For this reason, it is equal to me having already won.”
“I doubt things will go that smoothly, though,” Tony replied with a sigh.
“It is equal to me having won!” Fay raised her voice to repeat her claim.
“I have already grasped Lord Chrono’s night attendance schedule.”
“Something like that exists!?”
“It was thrown a bit into disorder thanks to Lady Rio, but it is alright.”
“Countess Cheiron?”
Tilia bent her head in confusion, but then she suddenly gasped. She had finally comprehended the reason for Countess Cheiron’s lack of sleep. Last night she slept with Chrono.
“Curse you, Countess Cheiron!! Gugigii――i!,” Tilia screeched.
※
At night――
“Have a good night, Your Highness.”
“Hmm, you did good work today. Please take care of me tomorrow as well.”
“As you wish. Please excuse me then.”
Alyssa bowed respectfully and closed the door.
Tilia wanted to go to sleep just like this, but she suppressed her drowsiness and pressed an ear against the wall. She thought she could hear footsteps, but unfortunately that didn’t prove to be true.
Oh god, she offered a prayer in her mind――
“Guaah!” Tilia yelled.
Her hearing, now strengthened by her divine art, picked up thunderous roars――Alyssa’s footsteps. She hurried to take some distance from the door.
Of course, she also paused the hearing enhancement. If she hadn’t done that, she might have writhed in pain from her own footsteps.
Tilia covered her ears with her hands and reinforced her hearing with divine arts once more. This time it seemed to be alright. She quietly pressed her ear against the door. Alyssa’s footsteps had become distant.
But, suddenly the sound quality changed. Tilia guessed that Alyssa must be heading downstairs right now.
Tilia stopped the reinforcement and opened the door. She let her eyes wander, but found nobody. Thus she quietly closed her door and advanced through the hallway while making sure to not produce any footsteps.
The hallway was dim. And she immediately understood the reason. Half of the magic lamps were off. However, she struggled to understand why they’d do something like that.
No, right now I should focus on my objective.
Tilia’s objective was to obtain information on Chrono. If she knew the schedule of his night activities, she’d be able to sleep peacefully, and if she knew Chrono’s true character, she’d be able to deal with him calmly whenever push came to shove. If she was to know him and know herself, she wouldn’t need to fear the result of a hundred battles――
In other words, it was a precaution.
And on top of that, she didn’t like the expression of Countess Cheiron.
Chrono’s room came into sight. He was probably still awake, Tilia guessed. Light seeped into the hallway. Tilia entered a close-by room. She had already confirmed that this room wasn’t in use right now.
While paying attention to her footsteps, she walked up to the wall and then strengthened her hearing again.
After a while she could hear a clack. Apparently someone had visited Chrono’s room.
『…Shaela, nice of you to visit』
『Well, I did promise it to you』
Apparently Shaela was the one visiting the room.
『Come in, come in』
『No need to hurry me that much』
Shaela answered with an appalled voice to Chrono’s cheerful invitation. After a rattling, a creaking could be heard. Tilia assumed Shaela had sat down on the bed.
『Aren’t you sitting a bit too far away?』
『That’s just your imagination』
『Well, I just need to close the distance anyway… I wanted you to visit much earlier, you know?』
『What are you saying? Last night you had your fun with Countess Cheiron, didn’t you?』
Shaela sullenly responded to Chrono’s sulky complaint.
That’s right, Tilia agreed. It’s wrong of Chrono to blame Shaela, despite sleeping with a guy.
『I mean, you didn’t visit and that’s why. Why did you stay away?』
『T-That’s… I was busy』
『And here I had worked hard for your sake』
『For my sake, you say…didn’t you just follow orders?』
『It was for your sake. I wanted to protect you』
『――――gh!』, gasped Shaela.
『By the way, why are you wearing long sleeves in the marquis mansion?』
『’C-Cause I’m sensitive to cold』
『Really? Isn’t it actually that you didn’t want to be seen as a woman by me?』
『T-That’s not it』
Shaela refused the claim, but her voice was revealingly shrill.
『――――nh!』
『Yeah, just as I thought, it’s totally worth it to fondle your boobs』
Shaela gasped while Chrono was talking with a very serious tone.
『D-Don’t call them boobs』
『Okay, what should I call them instead?』
『Ng….just go with chest. CHEST』
Shaela answered after moaning coquettishly.
『You see, I’ve got a request…』
『What more would you want to request of me?』
『I’d like you to insert him between your chest』
“『Between my (her) chest?』”
Tilia and Shaela’s voices overlapped.
Inserting between her chest? Tilia looked at her own chest. If pushed from both sides, it’ll produce a deep cleavage. Okay, looks like inserting it there would actually work. Still, inserting what?
Suddenly last year’s incident crossed her mind.
In short, inserting that between them, huh?
『Insert it in my chest and then do what?』
『That’s of course, rubbing him――――』
『T-T-T-There’s no w-way I’d be a-a-able to do something l-like that, right!?』
Shaela sounded clearly flustered. Because Chrono’s voice had become inaudible halfway, Tilia couldn’t hear the important part. Either way, it was already a good result to just know that Shaela had been told to put it between her chest.
『Eh? Did you never do this for your husband? It’s relatively normal, though…』
『I-I-If it’s with my h-husband, I d-d-did it』
It was unclear whether she spoke the truth, but Tilia assumed it to be 90% a lie. Shaela’s voice had become very quiet towards the end, and if she had done it before, there would be no reason to become so flustered about it.
『It’s fine then, isn’t it?』
『G-Got it. It’s been a while, so I might not be able to do it well, though…』
『I don’t mind』
“Landlady,” groaned Tilia quietly. “Why did you have to lie――no, act tough at such a point? This will just allow for things to go as Chrono wished.”
A rustling could be heard
『……H-How is it?』
『Soft and comfortable. Could you move them for me?』
『L-Like this?』
『Yep, that’s good. No, it rocks』
『I-I see』, said Shaela while sounding somewhat happy.
She had completely fallen for Chrono’s trick. But, if she herself was happy with that, it posed no problem. Still, Tilia couldn’t tell from the sound alone what they were doing. And there were limits as to what her imagination could compensate for. After a while――
『Ah, Shaela. Stop now』
『You sure?』
『Yeah, as expected, the first shot…』
Rustling could be heard once more. Tilia rubbed her thighs together. Something was building up inside her.
『…Shaela』
『W-What? Why are you grinning so broadly?』
『Excuse me for disturbing』
『Okay, but what do you mean?』, Shaela asked while raising her voice.
『Do you still love your husband?』
『I-I do. I-I still love my husband』
『And that’s why excuse me for disturbing』
『A-Aahh』, Shaela answered.
It didn’t take that long for her voice to change into heavy panting.
※
———— End of Part 6 ————
In the morning Tilia entered the dining hall as if dragging her body. Her eyes were bleary and bloodshot. Even though it’d have been fine for Chrono and Shaela to quickly finish, they went at it forever, leading to Tilia being completely sleep-derived.
Countess Cheiron tilted her tea cup. Tilia guessed from her fresh expression that she had slept well.
“…Your eyes are bright red.”
“I couldn’t quite fall asleep,” Tilia said with a deep sigh and sat down on a seat further away from Countess Cheiron.
“Your Highness, here you go.”
“Ah, thanks,” she thanked Alyssa who had dished out breakfast on the table in front of her.
“Do you know why the Head Maid is carrying the food?”
“I do. Most likely it’s Chrono’s fault,” Tilia answered sullenly.
“I see, you get it,” Countess Cheiron widened her eyes as if to express her admiration.
Seeing that expression, Tilia felt slightly gratified.
“Is it going to rain today?”
“It’s not like I’d know, right? Humph,” Tilia snorted and reached a hand for the bread.
※
At night――
“Your Highness, please have a good night.”
“Ah, yeah. Good work. Please take care of me tomorrow as well.”
“Umm, are you alright?”
Just when Tilia thought Alyssa would bow politely and close the door behind her, the head maid timidly called out to her.
If she had to be honest, she was anything but alright. She had tried to reduce her two days’ worth of lack of sleep with a nap, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t fall asleep.
“I guess I’ve been missing out on sleep, probably because of the unfamiliar environment.”
“Ah, that’s… If you like, I will call a doctor for you?”
“No, it’s not so bad that I would need a doctor. Yep, really.”
“Is that…so?” Alyssa furrowed her eyebrows, appearing to be troubled.
No, she must be worried about me.
“Please do not push yourself too much. I do not know what happened at the capital, but I am certain that Master is your ally, Your Highness.”
“Hmm, I know.”
“Well then, please excuse me.”
Alyssa bowed deeply and closed the door after her. Tilia pressed her ear against that very door, reinforcing her hearing with her divine art.
The footsteps faded away and then the sound quality changed as the footsteps went downstairs. Stopping her hearing enhancement, Tilia went out on the corridor. The rest was just like yesterday. She moved through the corridor while making sure to remain soundless and slipped into the room next to Chrono’s bedroom.
“…Who’s going to visit today?”
After pressing her ear against the wall, she enhanced her hearing. Chrono was apparently working. She could hear the sound of a quill scratching across paper.
After a short time, a clack could be heard.
『――I came to get my pillow』
『Welcome, Elena. I’m in the middle of work, so sit down and wait』
『That’s what I’ll do then』, Elena said angrily.
A little while later, a creaking could be heard. Tilia assumed that Elena sat down on the bed. Afterwards only the scratching of the quill resounded.
Just how long is he planning to keep working?
Just when Tilia started to feel fed up――
『Say, how long are you going to work?』, asked Elena impatiently.
The quill’s sound stopped all of a sudden.
『You want it that bad?』
『No, you’re wrong!』
『No helping it then~』
Elena had raised her voice, but it didn’t seem to bother Chrono at all. He gave one the impression of being timid, but Tilia judged that he had apparently become bold after accumulating experience as lord.
『Okay, turn your ass my way』
『We’re going to do it all of a sudden?』
『If you’re unhappy with that, we can start from a kiss?』
『Kissing is out of the question!』, Elena shouted.
Chrono sighed, 『We already did it during the ball, so what difference does it make to do it a second time?』
『I told you before, but I hate the idea of being kissed or having my chastity taken as a slave』
『Hmm, so you’re actually aware of being a slave』
『That’s, well, so far as it goes…I do have it. Awareness of being a slave』, Elena mumbled under her breath.
『Alright, then point your ass my way』
『Why!?』
『You’re aware of being a slave, right?』, Chrono calmly responded to Elena raising her voice.
『Well, I do feel like you could describe me as a master who honors the opinions of his slaves』
『Ugh, I got it. In return, nothing else, okay?』
『I know. I’ll use your butt as usual』
『Don’t call it using!』, Elena barked, but she didn’t seem to have any intention to against him.
The bed’s creaking could be heard several times.
Still, what does he mean by using her butt? Tilia cocked her head in confusion. Maybe he means it literally.
『Okay, I won’t hold back』
『W-Wait a second, you plan to put it in right away?』
『You said you don’t want to start from kissing, right?』
『That’s right, but…』
『Ah, being a master, who honors his slave’s opinion, is such a chore』
『Ugh, I got it! Here, just use it!』
『Alright, this time I’m going to start for real!』
『――gh!』, Elena groaned with a hoarse voice.
Tilia guessed that Chrono really didn’t hold back.
『It’s tight. As expected, must be because it’s been a while~』
『Guh, you, kno――ow!』
『I’m going to open it up again』
『Y-You’re…really the worst!』, Elena spat out.
For a while, her hoarse grunting could be heard, but as time passed on, it transformed into a bewitching moaning.
※
In the morning Tilia entered the dining hall while staggering. Given that things ended relatively fast last night, she managed to get back to her room quickly, but she couldn’t fall asleep. As she kept tossing and turning in her bed while holding her abdomen, morning arrived.
Countess Cheiron and Viscountess Saldomenick were already eating their breakfast.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m simply lacking sleep,” Tilia curtly answered Countess Cheiron’s worried question and took a seat slightly away from the other two. “Didn’t you hate me or something?”
“I hate women who court Chrono, but I also dislike seeing Chrono sad.”
“…I see,” muttered Tilia.
While she was feeling dead tired, Shaela placed breakfast in front of her. Probably because of her lack of sleep, she didn’t have much of an appetite.
“Time to dig――wait, you look like you’re sick.”
“Don’t worry. I’m just lacking sleep.”
“No helping it then. We’ll prepare lighter for you then.”
“Please.”
“I’ll give this here to Eril-chan. Do you mind?”
“No, I don’t.”
Shaela placed Tilia’s share of breakfast in front of Viscountess Saldomenick. In response, the face of the viscountess bloomed into a smile.
“…Thank you. Your food is delicious, Landlady.”
“Haha, thanks.”
Tilia watched the two while reeling.
※
At night――
“…Your Highness.”
Alyssa stared at Tilia with a deeply worried expression.
She timidly spoke up, “Your Highness, as expected, I think it would be better to have a doctor examine you…”
“No, well, I’ll consider it if this keeps going on for another two or three days.”
“But――”
“Sorry, but please let me decide it myself.”
“I…understand,” Alyssa squeezed out.
After bowing deeply, she closed the door after her. Tilia pressed her ear against the door and strengthened her hearing. The footsteps grew distant, before eventually changing their sound quality. This was the sign for Tilia to start acting. She left her room and sneaked into the room next to Chrono’s.
After a short while――
『『Yahoo, Lord Chrono!』』
The door of Chrono’s room was slammed open, followed by a set of cheerful voices. Arided and Deneb’s voices.
『Today it’s you two again, huh?』
『Uhehehe, you say that, but it’s pretty obvious that you’ve been looking forward to it』
『Somehow I kinda have a very complicated feeling about this』
One of them was all gung-ho, but the other one didn’t seem overly eager. Wondering in her mind what they were planning to do from now on, Tilia focused her attention on the neighboring room.
『…I suppose I’ll have you two service me first off』
『Lord Chrono, you kinda like that, don’t you?』
『Okay, I shall star――』
『Wait a second there』
『What do you want?』
『You stepping forward here kinda feels like you intend to topple your big sister』
『That’s a false accusation』
『I’m kinda aware of it. Deneb, you kinda worked hard at studying. You looked at the mirror while practicing the right angle and you also bought slightly expensive underwear』
『What about it?』
Yep, yep, Tilia also didn’t see what was wrong about this. Just why is she so vigilant?
『We’re twins, so I kinda feel a strong will from you to overtake me through a character change…by becoming slightly cuter, more stylish, and more capable』
『You have a persecution complex』
『I’m sure you kinda asked yourself what angle to take to look the cutest while practicing in front of the mirror』
Tilia could hear a groan. Apparently Arided hit bull’s eye with her remark. But, Tilia could fully understand the desire to have the person you love look at you.
『Nah~ That’s no true』
『This late in the game you――』
『Service me together, you two…』
『『Okaaay』』
The two stopped quarreling once Chrono interrupted them with a fed-up voice.
Tilia heard footsteps. Next she straightened her back, focusing on the voices and sound audible from the next room.
※
In the morning Tilia entered the dining hall while staggering. Countess Cheiron and Viscountess Saldomenick were already eating their breakfast. Countess Cheiron placed the bread on her plate and looked in Tilia’s direction.
“You couldn’t sleep yesterday either?”
“Ah, yeah, that’s right.”
Once Tilia responded with a half-hearted answer, Countess Cheiron sighed lightly. Last night was somewhat long and even after she came back to her own room, Tilia couldn’t fall asleep.
She sat down on a seat away from Countess Cheiron. Probably because of her lack of sleep, she felt dizzy from just sitting down.
But, all of this yielded her something worthwhile. She had grasped the night-crawling schedule and she also understood what Chrono might do to her. All preparations were in order.
“Kekeke,” chuckled Tilia.
However, for some reason Countess Cheiron looked at her with eyes full of pity――
※
At night――
Alyssa was staring at Tilia while putting her hands together as if praying.
“Your Highness, please, please allow a doctor――”
“No, I’m fine.”
“No, no, right now you are not fine at all. Please let a doctor――”
“I’m really okay,” interrupted Tilia.
I’m truly alright. Today my days of lacking sleep will come to an end. I’ll show my dignity as imperial princess to Chrono.
Alyssa bit on her lips, apparently suffering, and then spoke up after having resolved herself, “If you are still deprived of sleep tomorrow, I shall inform Master of it.”
“I don’t mind.”
“……Well then, please excuse me,” Alyssa groaned and closed the door behind herself.
Tilia crawled into her bed while feeling somewhat guilty. She waited for Chrono in a cheerful mood. She wait, waited, and waited even longer, but――Chrono didn’t show up. Reluctantly she sat up.
“H-How weird. Isn’t today the day when Chrono should be visiting me?”
Weird. Very weird, Tilia scratched her head. Suddenly a terrifying thought crossed her mind. She couldn’t quite believe it.
“Don’t tell me…my charm as a woman…”
She was about to say “might be too insufficient,” but faltered.
No, that cannot be. Didn’t he ogle my breasts previously? Maybe I should keep waiting like this? No, she shook her head, I’m in this state because I’ve been waiting.
“Ah,” Tilia unconsciously raised her voice.
She felt like she reached enlightenment.
That’s right. I waited too long so far. Because I believed I’d become an empress someday, I worked hard and failed to grasp the hearts of those around me. No good. At this rate, I’m just going to repeat the same mistake.
Tilia got out of her bed and left her room. Fortunately the corridor was empty. Arriving at Chrono’s room, she reached for the door knob.
Suddenly another hand was put on hers. Startled, she lifted her face――
“…Fay.”
“Your Highness, good evening to you. What a coincidence.”
“Coincidence? You say it’s a coincidence that you’re wearing such an obscene dress?”
“It is my lucky negligee which I had Lady Elena check for me,” Fay whirled around on the spot once. 1
The hem of the negligee gently floated up, revealing underwear made out of lace.
“Your Highness, you are wearing quite plain clothes, are you not?”
“Ugh,” Tilia looked down at herself.
A simple negligee covered her body. The fabric wasn’t see-through and the amount of frills was negligible.
“The contents matter.”
“Your outfit also matters.”
“Ugh,” Tilia groaned once more.
Groaning, that’s all she could do. But, given that Fay reached for the door knob once more, Tilia grabbed her hand.
“What is it?”
“Hey, what are you planning to do?”
“Obviously spend the night with Lord Chrono.”
“I-Isn’t it still t-too early for you? You need to get rea――”
“Your Highness, you are very naive. No matter how much you prepare, it will never be enough.”
“――――gh!” Tilia gasped.
No, she suffered a shock. And at the same time she accepted Fay’s words.
It’s definitely as she says. No matter how much I prepare, it’ll never be enough. But――
“B-But, a-aren’t you preparations lacking t-then?”
“Experience is the best teacher.”
“…Experience is the best teacher,” Tilia parroted quietly.
She felt her heart drop as she had a hunch that she might actually lose out in resolve here.
No, what’s the point in admitting defeat before the fight even started? I’m going to struggle. Pride is something you win after fighting for it.
“…It’s not like you love Chrono or anything like that, right? In that case, yield――”
“I love him.”
“What’s good about him?”
“The way he looks at me. Humph,” snorted Fay.
Tilia reflexively widened her eyes. She had thought that Fay was only thinking about reinstating her family, but she seemed to have put proper thought into this.
“How about you, Your Highness?”
“M-Me? Mmh, I love him,” Tilia answered while averting her face.
Her cheeks were burning and she felt way too embarrassed. She likely wouldn’t have been able to say something like this, if she wasn’t in front of Fay.
“…I will go back for today.”
“You sure?”
“Somehow I feel like it is better to yield the opportunity to you. See you.”
Fay saluted and left. Tilia watched her go in a daze and then shook her head lightly.
Now’s not the time to space out. She’s given me such a precious chance.
“Alright,” whispered Tilia and entered Chrono’s room.
Thereupon――
“Huh, Tilia?”
Chrono turned around, just to pull a silly face. Tilia silently headed to his bed. There she sat down and looked at Chrono.
“Work?”
“Say whatever you want, but I’m still the lord after all.”
Chrono faced his desk again and started to move his quill. The scratching of its tip on the paper filled the room.
How awkward.
Tilia felt offended from attitude being no different from usual.
“Come to think of it…”
“W-What?” Tilia asked with a shrill voice.
She corrected her seating posture, expecting that the lews beast would finally reveal his true colors, but――
“I heard that you’re sick. How is it? Are you okay?”
“No need to worry about that.
“Wouldn’t it be better to visit the hospital at least once?”
“No, it’s okay. It’ll soon get better.”
“I see,” muttered Chrono.
His quill started to move again. The scratching of its tip on the paper filled the room. Probably because of the monotonous nature of the sound, Tilia was assaulted by sleepiness. Unable to resist it, she lay down on the bed and dozed off just like that.
Suddenly her visual field became darker, causing her to open her eyes. Chrono was standing next to the bed, peering into her face.
Finally, huh? It’s going to happen at long last, right?’
Her body stiffened up.
“…Tilia, go back to your room if you’re sleepy.”
“I’m not sleepy or anything,” she answered while wondering why the lewd beast wasn’t baring his fangs at her.
Asking herself what she should do, she turned over. The hem of her negligee was turned up.
It’s quite embarrassing, but if it’s this…
Chrono looked at her legs and extended a hand.
“That’s quite immodest.”
Saying so, he fixed the negligee.
This much won’t work, huh? No choice.
Tilia hooked her finger on the collar of her negligee and pulled it away.
“Argh, this room is really hot.”
“You think so?”
“W-Won’t mosquitoes start to buzz around here out of season?”
“Hoh, mosquitoes come out at this time of the year as well?”
It’s about you, Tilia retorted in her mind.
Chrono yawned. Tilia raised her body slightly, expecting him to make his move any moment, but――
“Tilia, I’m tired, so go back to your room,” Chrono said.
As might be expected, this pissed her off. No, she had her pride as a woman hurt by this.
For him to do nothing despite me approaching him to such an extent――
“Come on, hurry.”
“Got it,” Tilia got out of the bed and spoke up, “…Chrono.”
“Wh――ghaa!”
Chrono turned around, just to scream curtly. Tilia held her forehead. She intended to kiss him, but ended up head-butting him instead. It hurt quite a bit.
Chrono retreated while holding his face.
I won’t let you get away, Tilia grabbed Chrono’s arm and tossed him on the bed.
“Ghuh!”
Probably because he landed on his back, Chrono coughed violently. Seeing this as her chance, Tilia climbed on the bed and pinned down Chrono.
“I was…waiting!”
“F-For what?”
“You! I’ve been waiting for you since the day when Countess Cheiron spent the night with you! And yet…and yet you’re telling me to go back to my room!?”
“Even if you tell me something like that… Ah, sorry. It was my bad,” Chrono muttered something like an excuse, but when Tilia glared at him, he quickly admitted to being in the wrong.
“Okay, we’re going to do it then.”
“Do what?”
“What you’ve been doing with your lovers!” Tilia shouted and drew back atop Chrono.
She placed a hand on his pants――and pulled them down alongside the briefs since it was too much of a chore to take them off normally. Tilia turned her face away from his dick.
She might have said this and that, but she felt very embarrassed. Wondering why, she suddenly remembered Fay.
I see. This is the reason why she wore her lucky negligee. In short, wearing a normal negligee makes him feel guilty. Games have to take place on equal ground after all.
“Uuoooohh!”
“Hiii!”
Tilia roared and tore off her negligee. Chrono shrieked lightly.
“How about this!? Now we’re equal!”
“Thou arest mad! Her Highness, thou havest gone mad!”
“I haven’t gone mad!”
Tilia pinned down Chrono once again as he tried to escape. Now she was mounting him. Chrono’s dick was touching her. That fact and the feelings welling up in her made her body tremble. As she moved her body back and forth, Chrono became hard.
“C-Chrono, we’re doing it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am!”
Tilia took a kneeling position and pinched the string of her panties. And just like that she stopped moving. She felt like she forgot something. No, somehow it was more like…she was making some sort of mistake. Probably because she was sleep-deprived, she couldn’t gather her thoughts.
“Umm, Tilia?”
“It’s nothing. Alright, let’s get started!”
Tilia untied the string of her panties. At that moment, she felt like she heard a battle cry.
※
Imperial Calendar, Year 431, Middle of February
Tilia and Chrono’s armies faced each other on a snowy field. The one launching their attack first were Tilia’s troops. Both armies clashed, dyeing the snow crimson. At first it looked as though Chrono’s army would be overrun, but albeit being mediocre, General Chrono had a lot of experience in leading armies. He rearranged his army and shifted to counterattacking.
Due to this, the overall battle situation tilted towards Chrono’s side. Despite having seized the initiative by gathering intelligence and getting a head start, it was Tilia’s first time to lead an army. Her knowledge and experience was naturally lacking. And given that, it’d be too difficult for her to keep the initiative.
Chrono’s army gained momentum and attacked Tilia’s army fiercely. Tilia’s army was forced into a purely defensive battle, barely hanging on. As this situation went on, General Tilia noticed something: Chrono’s army was missing the offensive power.
On the other hand, Tilia’s army had a trump card. It was the striking power called cavalry charge. Tilia’s army started a fierce counterattack. Tilia’s army launched a ferocious counterattack and thanks to the cavalry charge, Tilia’s troops pushed Chrono’s armor into a bad position in no time. When Tilia’s army relaxed on the attack midway, Chrono’s forces didn’t miss the opportunity to start a counter offensive. But, lacking the decisive force, Chrono’s army was continuously being overrun by the cavalry charge.
※
“What’s wrong? Are you already finished?”
“Sorry, please give me a break.”
Once Tilia stopped moving to peer into Chrono’s face, he admitted his defeat. Tilia felt deeply satisfied by the fact of having obtained victory. After all, victory is always a sweet nectar.
“I can go on for a bit longer, you know?”
“It’s impossible for me.”
“What a helpless guy you are,” Tilia got off Chrono.
She got embarrassed by the sound caused by this action, but Chrono apparently didn’t notice it. Laying down on the bed, she cuddled up to him.
“It was wonderful. How did it feel for you?”
“Like having a plane used on you.”
“Plane?”
“It’s a carpenter tool to shave the surface of lumber.”
“You’re really the worst!”
What a jerk! Even though he’s stolen my virginity, he’s comparing it to wood being whittled down!
Chrono sighed and turned his back on her.
“Dad, it’s just as you said. She’s beyond me to manage,” he mumbled under his breath.
Tilia hugged Chrono from behind.
“Chrono, don’t you want to have another go?”
“…It’s already morning.”
Tilia looked at the window. Light was pouring into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Just as Chrono said, it appeared to be morning.
Time sure passed quickly.
“No choice then. I guess I’ll sleep then,” Tilia closed her eyes while glued to Chrono.
※
On the next day Tilia stood in the garden of the marquis’s residence. She was seeing off Countess Cheiron. In reality, she didn’t want to see her off, but since Chrono told her to do so, she reluctantly came along.
Chrono and Countess Cheiron were currently flirting around.
“Hey, how about you head back anytime soon now?”
“Chrono, Her Highness is bullying me. Don’t you think she’s terrible?”
“I’d really like you two to get along a bit better,” Chrono breathed out lightly, looking up to the sky.
Not a single cloud was to be found up there.
“I regret doing this, but I have to head back to the capital.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“…Hurry up and go back.”
Countess Cheiron exchanged a long hug with Chrono so as to show off to Tilia. Then she got on the carriage, opened the window, and looked at the two.
“Watch out that you won’t be discarded by Chrono at least, got it?”
“That’s my line.”
“Really? I think anyone will get tired of eating the same food all the time, no matter how good it might be.”
“Go home!”
“Hahaha! Feel free to enjoy your short springtime!”
The carriage started to slowly move with Countess Cheiron’s laughter as background. Tilia scrutinized the ground, looking for a stone, she couldn’t find any reasonable-sized stones in her proximity. Seeing Countess Cheiron’s carriage pass through the gate, Tilia stamped her feet.
At that point, she noticed Viscountess Saldomenick standing nearby.
“Why are you here?”
“I have been assigned as Countess Cheiron’s overseer and at the same time as Your Highness’s watchdog,” Viscountess Saldomenick muttered.
Tilia wondered whether it was really okay for her to reveal her duty as watchdog, tilting her head in confusion, but there was no one here who could answer her.
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Translation Notes: