“Would you please be my partner for the graduation party?”
His face, usually adorned with a practiced smile, was now serious, with a hint of nervousness as he gazed at me. I narrowed my eyes, suspicious. What was his intention? Mikhail Melrose… Grandson of Margrave Melrose, the chancellor, and a vital figure in the kingdom who would inherit both positions in a few decades if things went smoothly. As a high-ranking noble, he must have plenty of invitations, and he should know what it means to invite a woman of his age to the Magic Academy’s graduation party.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t jest.”
“I’m not jesting! I’m serious.”
“…………”
I am nominally the daughter of a Baron, a mid-ranking noble, but originally just the adopted daughter of a low-ranking noble, a Baronet. Whether it’s a whim or genuine, if he were to partner with someone like me, even the branch family of the Melrose House wouldn’t stay silent. The Melrose House… no, that chancellor might silence everyone around him to incorporate me.
“…Could you come over here?”
“Understood.”
Mikhail’s face lit up with joy at my words as he stood up. Although this was a path with few people, it faced the Royal Castle’s courtyard. If someone were to cross the courtyard, seeing him kneeling before a Royal Palace maid wouldn’t be good for him, to say the least. I stepped into the shadow of a pillar out of sight from the courtyard and turned back, looking up at Mikhail, who was more than half a head taller than me.
“So? What are you plotting?”
“I’m not plotting anything!?”
Mikhail panicked at my question, as I suddenly stopped speaking like a maid.
“Then why me?”
“That’s…”
As I moved closer, pressing him, his face, now looking down at me, turned away in a fluster. …Suspicious.
“S-Stop, I’m troubled if you get too close.”
“Troubled?”
As Mikhail tried to squirm away, I used the martial arts of a guard maid to push him against the wall, pressing my hand against his chest. For some reason, he made a strange face, a mix of complex emotions. Even as a Princess’s guard, it was quite disrespectful for the adopted daughter of a Baron to corner a high-ranking noble, but I had permission from the head of the Shadow Unit, his grandfather, to do certain things. Mikhail was technically family as part of the Shadow Unit, but like the traitor Grave, he might act unexpectedly due to his beliefs.
“It’s not like that, I’m not thinking of anything strange… It’s just…”
Mikhail averted his gaze from my glare and covered his face with one hand.
“I’m serious about everything. Believe me…”
“…………”
Judging from his demeanor, I didn’t think he was lying, and I pondered the meaning of his words.
“Could it be, you’re serious?”
“I told you I am!”
I didn’t think he was really serious. I still didn’t understand romance well, but I knew it in “knowledge.” That’s why I didn’t understand. Mikhail wasn’t being urged by his grandfather, nor was he trying to incorporate me as a fighting force, nor was he using Elena. He was really inviting an adventurer woman like me to be his partner. To be honest, I was happy that he recognized me as a person. I felt that I could trust him as an individual. But… the Melrose House was the very “nobility” I had been avoiding to defy fate.
“I think you understand, but I’m at the academy as Elena-sama’s guard. And I think you know what it means to have a Princess’s maid as a partner, right?”
“That’s… I understand. But I also understand that Elvan’s current state is not good.”
“…Yeah.”
Mikhail shifted his focus slightly, prompting me to continue.
“I… hoped as a friend that he would wake up. I admonished him with Rookwell many times. But it was no use. Like that Viscount’s daughter, Amor-sama and Nasanitaru-sama, no one listened from the beginning.”
“…………”
It wasn’t a matter of understanding. People prioritize the words of someone they like, and they deny and don’t acknowledge words that contradict it from the start. That’s why nobles need to gather a lot of information and make their own judgments. But… people only want to hear words that sound good.
“That’s when I decided. If His Highness intends to stand, I will support him.”
“…As the Melrose House?”
“At least, my thoughts and the head of the house’s thoughts align.”
I see… So, the Melrose House thinks it would be good for His Majesty if the Crown Prince recovered, but if Elena decides to “stand,” they will follow her. I thought so from the first time I met him, but he’s a man you can’t let your guard down around. In short, whatever his true intentions, he’s inviting me because he chose me as a noble partner in deciding which faction to join. If that’s the meaning, it’s easier to understand. Then there’s no need to hold back. Mikhail looked tense as I released him and created some distance, a faint business smile on my face.
“Then, Melrose-sama. I’m heading to the Knight’s Training Grounds now, so would you please accompany me for a bit?”
The first month of winter, with the end of the year approaching. As in previous years, the Royal Magic Academy’s graduation party was held at the Royal Castle. Only nobles of Baron rank or higher and their relatives could participate in the parties held at the Royal Castle. The most numerous, the lower nobles below the rank of Baronet, were probably having a casual time at the venue inside the academy, without being bound by status. Of course, lower nobles with fiancées from the middle nobility could also enter the Royal Castle, but they were still few in number and huddled in the corners of the venue.
I understood why the lower nobles were in the corners because Sera had told me. The dresses and formal wear of the upper nobility cost several large gold coins per piece. I think some lower nobles would push themselves for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, but even dresses worth several gold coins would still look inferior in this place. As I was thinking about this, Elena looked at me and smiled quietly.
“Let’s go, Aria.”
“Understood.”
“Please take care of us, you two.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
One reason why the lower nobles were intimidated was that the Royal Knights guarded the venue, and not only influential figures such as the Chancellor and the Grand Commander of the Knights, but also His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen Consort showed their faces. Other members of the royal family might also show their faces, but that was almost optional. The work of the royal family was diverse, and the Second Queen, Elena’s real mother, was probably scrutinizing the information gathered from the nobles in another place, in place of the Queen Consort, who could only attend ceremonies in other places. It was rare for the Second Queen to show her face in a place where the Queen Consort was originally present… but it was more appreciated now.
“First Princess Elena is entering!”
The venue fell silent for a moment and then immediately buzzed as we entered through the royal family’s door. Perhaps it was the Queen Consort’s whim, but she had entered with His Majesty before us and slightly lifted herself from her seat when she saw us. The reason why the attendance of royal family members other than His Majesty the King was optional was that this place was primarily for the young people graduating from the academy. That’s why a reason was needed to participate, and the Crown Prince, who had not received the “education” to find that reason, had not yet emerged from the Royal Palace even after returning from the dungeon. And the two “friends” that the royal family had placed as close aides to supplement his shortcomings were here now.
Mikhail Melrose, the grandson of the Chancellor and of the great noble Melrose House.
Rookwell Dandole, the son of the Grand Commander of the Knights and of the great noble Dandole Family.
The nobles in the venue were confused by the fact that the two close aides, who should have been influential figures in the world when the Crown Prince became king, were accompanying the First Princess Elena. His Majesty the King, who knew this, did not move a muscle at Elena’s actions, but the Queen Consort, the Crown Prince’s real mother, did not understand what was happening and sent a gaze to His Majesty, who only returned a slight look of pity.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Queen Consort, I hope you are well.”
“Very well, Elena. It is a celebration. You should enjoy it to the fullest.”
“Understood. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Elena finished talking to His Majesty and ignored the Queen Consort’s gaze, which seemed to want to ask something, and took the hand I offered as she turned around. I and Elena did not participate as Mikhail and Rookwell’s partners. I participated in my maid uniform, and I was the one who escorted Elena here. This time, Elena was participating not as a graduate’s partner, but as a “master” for the two graduates she had newly welcomed as close aides.
The purpose of this time was to fulfill the desires of all of us. Mikhail and Rookwell wanted us as partners, but Elena thought it would be a bad move to decide on a fiancée in the current situation, so she first fulfilled only half of Rookwell’s desire.
If I become Elena’s close aide, my desire to protect her will be fulfilled, and even if I’m not her fiancé, I’ll be seen as the closest man to her. From there, whether to take the Princess or the Crown Prince is a matter for the Dandole Family.
Mikhail, whom I encountered on the way to the Knight’s Training Grounds to convey this, was also taken to Elena’s side. I am also participating as a lady-in-waiting to the Princess, but as close aides, it wouldn’t be a problem if we were seen as being friendly.
And Elena made it known to many nobles that she had welcomed the two as close aides, demonstrating her “political power surpassing the Crown Prince” by gaining control of the two families, who were heavyweights in the nation.
She ousted Elvan from the position of Crown Prince and showed the nobles that she would be the next Queen.
“…If you don’t understand this meaning, then royal education is indeed important.”
The only ones who couldn’t understand Elena’s softly muttered words in this place were the graduates from middle-ranking noble families and the Queen Consort. Because vast knowledge and education are necessary to lead the people, the Crown Prince’s fiancée is chosen from childhood.
“Now then, shall we go? To our ‘battlefield’.”
“Yes.”
In the center where the graduates were hesitant, Elena danced with Rookwell, and I danced with Mikhail. The main players in this place are the two graduates, but the higher-ranking nobles don’t see it that way. And the two of them, having seen Elena’s stance, decided to serve Elena of their own volition.
And my desire… to make it known to the nobles that “I” am on the Princess’s side, was fulfilled.
After a while, His Majesty and the Queen Consort retreated to the depths of the castle, and the nobles gathered in their factions to discuss something. Rookwell and Mikhail also left the scene to talk with their family members, and in a seat for high-ranking nobles that everyone kept their distance from, Elena suddenly opened her mouth.
“…Aria, is this alright with you?”
“Yeah.”
I am the “bait” to gather those who are targeting Elena.
Nobles who can gather information to a certain extent should have noticed me. The Dragon Slayer thing will eventually be known, but I was wearing a magical tool that hinders appraisal, which I received as a reward for that purpose.
That’s why I think Elena is worried about me…
“It’s okay.”
“…I believe you. More than anyone.”
Elena quietly nodded at my words, which were just a single sentence.
From now on, not only the Aristocratic Faction, who will realize that Elena cannot be made a puppet, but also some of the Royalist Faction who support the Crown Prince, and even foreign countries that aim to weaken the kingdom, will target her.
I will eliminate all enemies who target Elena. Until then, I have no intention of losing to anyone anymore.
Even if this body is stained with the blood of my enemies—.
The dark and gritty part is finally over!
Well, it will continue to some extent, but with this, Aria can finally move (meaningfully).
It was not a sweet graduation event.
In the Otome Game, if you choose Mikhail or Rookwell, this is where the ending is.
Next time will be the second-year part.
Thank you for your continued support.