/
Returning to the campsite, the servants were cleaning up after finishing the meal prep. Even if she had been around, she likely would not have been any help anyway, but she apologized out of regret anyway.
[ Valentia ] “I’m sorry I’m late.”
[ Lady ] “That’s alright.”
[ Lady ] “More importantly, Miss Valentia, the food’s ready.”
Against her expectations, they even prepared Valentia’s portion of the meal, keeping it atop the simple table along with the rest—consisting of a warm soup, tender meat, soft bread, and a few vegetables for garnish. It was a rather ordinary meal, but still luxurious for an outdoor camping trip.
This was also part of the reason why the commoner students loved the outdoor circuit. They were able to take a trip far out and enjoy delicious food made from high quality ingredients.
But unlike the nobles, the common students did not have servants who could take care of the meal prep for them, so that left it up to them. But it was still enjoyable nonetheless because those very ingredients were provided free and they had the rare opportunity to go outside and have a little fun.
[ Valentia ] “…..Thank you, Miss Aigis.”
[ Aigis ] “You know my name?”
[ Valentia ] “You are a fellow student.”
Aigis didn’t expect her to know her name, letting out a sigh with a somewhat embarrassed expression on her face.
There were some rumors going around about how Valentia looked down on others and ignored anyone that wasn’t herself, but she seemed a little different from that. Now that Aigis was thinking about it, Valentia was the first to say hello when they all got on the carriage, but they were the ones who ignored her.
[ Aigis ] “Don’t mention it. Enjoy your meal.”
[ Valentia ] “Yes. Thank you for thinking of me. And thank you both, Miss Lily and Miss Red, too—for understanding the situation.”
[ Lily ] “W, we’re all students, so we thought you might be doing some extra work, is all.”
Aigis was the daughter of a well known Count family, so it wasn’t all that strange for even the most indifferent of people to know her name. But Lily and Red were the daughters of Barons.
As Valentia sat down in an empty seat, the other ladies glanced at each other. A few seconds later, they called out to her.
[ Aigis ] “Miss Valentia?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes?”
[ Aigis ] “Are you close with Lord Lexus?”
[ Valentia ] “I don’t know if ‘close’ is the best way to describe it. We’re fine talking with one another, if that’s what you’re asking.”
[ Aigis ] “But you looked close.”
[ Valentia ] “If he did not come to speak with me, then we wouldn’t speak at all. Those who are close would not be like that.”
They all thought Valentia would be arrogant enough to boldly say she and Lexus were close, but instead she said something like that. But she wasn’t wrong. It was just surprising to them that she seemed to be wholly aware of her position in comparison to other women who occupied that space.
And once they realized that, the overbearingly negative air that hung across the group seemed to fade a little.
[ Aigis ] “You’re not in a relationship with him, are you?”
[ Valentia ] “Of course not.”
[ Aigis ] “Some people saw you two taking a walk together. Are you sure you aren’t close?”
[ Valentia ] “I am well acquainted with the dog that Lord Lexus takes care of.”
It was a little weird to say that she was ‘acquainted’ with the dog as if he were a person, but she kept that feeling back. If she were to be more specific, then it would be more appropriate to say that Lexus was taking care of her dog for her.
But if they were to ask why Prince Lexus was taking care of her dog, then she’d be in a bit of a bind, so she had no choice but to phrase things like this.
[ Aigis ] “Oh, the dog that you’ve been walking with?”
[ Valentia ] “Yes. That’s why we walk together in the first place.”
[ Aigis ] “What do you think of Lord Lexus, Valentia?”
[ Valentia ] “I think he’s a good person.”
Her feelings had no bearing on their relationship, so this was all she could say.
Their relationship was established as being solely reliant on the Prince’s whims. If not for that, it would not exist. Whether they liked her answer or not, the attitudes of her teammates softened a bit.
[ Aigis ] “Oh, we should have some fruit, too.”
She gestured to one of the servants, who started peeling one of the suggested fruits.
[ Valentia ] “Thank you.”
[ Aigis ] “He came all the way here, so what did you both talk about?”
[ Valentia ] “He just wanted to tell me that he wished to see me once the mealtime was over.”
[ Aigis ] “Oh, I see.”
With perfect timing, a man dressed in the attire of someone from the Imperial Palace came to their tent. His words were brief, asking to speak with Valentia.
[ ??? ] “Miss Valentia. Do you have a moment to spare?”
[ Aigis ] “Be safe.”
Considering everything, along with who this man was, it was obvious who had told him to come here to retrieve Valentia. Her teammates couldn’t hide the gloom in their expressions, but they let her go with well wishes.
[ Valentia ] “I will return soon.”
But as they made their exit, there was someone watching Valentia closely as she followed after that man. It was Permat with a sly smirk on her face.
*
* * *
*
[ Aigis ] “I suppose they’re not that close.”
Once Valentia was gone, Aigis took a sip of her tea.
The whole time this was happening, she couldn’t hide her curiosity. No one knew, but everyone wanted to know why the Prince was spending so much time with her.
Were they seeing each other? Or were they just friends? Even the Prince’s closest friends were keeping their mouths shut on the situation, saying even they weren’t exactly sure what was happening. This was an unusual circumstance, since normally the women the Prince went out with would waste no time in spreading the story around the Academy.
But this time, the woman in question was someone known for being a lone wolf, without a friend or close acquaintance to her name. Without anyone close to her, she didn’t have anyone to brag to even if she wanted to.
And so those who were the first to acquire the latest rumors were the ones who warranted the most attention.
Though honestly, when they first asked her about it, they didn’t think she would answer them so clearly. Her unexpectedly soft confession to how things were was enough to shock them.
[ Lily ] “It was expected. She’s very different from the women Lord Lexus normally sees.”
Lily nodded, saying something similar.
With dark brown hair that sometimes looked grey in hue and an expression that was always stiff and gloomy, she rarely spoke and was always quiet. She wasn’t social at all and her family was only a barony.
The only thing honorable about her was that she was the top student at the Academy.
[ Lily ] “But someone like that……I don’t think is bad. She knows where she stands.”
[ Aigis ] “That’s true.”
When Aigis quietly agreed, Lily responded again.
[ Lily ] “I like how she doesn’t misunderstand his kindness.”
[ Aigis ] “I agree.”
[ Red ] “Definitely. Many other women would easily become mistaken just because the Prince uses kind words.”
[ Lily ] “But he really is handsome, you know.”
[ Red ] “Yes. When he suddenly appeared behind us, I thought my heart would fall to my feet.”
[ Lily ] “Same. It was my first time seeing him so close.”
After seeing Lexus up close like that for the first time in their lives, the ladies’ mused enthusiastically. Though he was someone who was comfortable to be around for everyone, they were still feeling very energized since they got to see him face to face.
[ Lily ] “But I suppose Miss Valentia truly is an Iron Maiden. I don’t know how she manages to keep her expression unchanging when he talks to her.”
[ Red ] “I guess she doesn’t have any sense of aesthetics.”
Red glanced at Aigis. Aigis’ attitude was somehow both kind and somewhat rigid, so she was a little confused on how she should be speaking.
[ Aigis ] “That’s too much to say, Miss Red.”
[ Red ] “Oh, I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”
[ Aigis ] “But that might be the case. Perhaps that’s how she manages to be so calm.”
At first, Red thought she might’ve spoken out of turn, but then Aigis agreed with her, making Red feel a little relieved.
After their meal was finished, the clouds that were once teetering on the edge of the horizon were creeping over the field where their camps were held. The once clear sky was filled with darkened clouds, the plumes increasing with every passing minute.
What’s going on with the weather, everyone collectively thought. But as that question came up, rain started to fall.
[ Aigis ] “Ah, it’s raining.”
Rounded water droplets left circles atop their table, as well as on the fabric of their dresses.
[ Lily ] “All of the sudden? We should head inside.”
[ Red ] “This is why I dislike the Academy, making the circuit happen on a day like this.”
The ladies cleared their space, standing from their seats and settling inside the spacious and luxurious tent. It was large enough to hold several cots, as well as a table and a set of chairs.
Sitting back down, they continued their chat.
[ Lily ] “Still, the rain isn’t all bad.”
[ Aigis ] “Yes. The sound of rain falling on the tent is very lovely.”
[ Red ] “I hope this is the extent of it.”
Drinking warm tea with the sound of rain against the outside of their tent made for a lovely atmosphere, and so they kept up their casual chat about the rain. But as they were conversing, that was when someone’s shadow was growing just behind the entrance.
[ ??? ] “Excuse me.”
[ Aigis ] “Who is it?”
[ Dottir ] “I am Dottir, a servant of Lord Lexus.”
Red stood up and went to the entrance, slowly opening it up to see who was outside. It was a different person from before.
[ Red ] “You shouldn’t stand out in the rain like that. Come in for a moment.”
[ Dottir ] “I cannot enter a space meant for ladies.”
[ Red ] “But it’s raining. We’ll leave the entrance open, so please. Come inside.”
[ Dottir ] “Then I will thank you for your consideration. And this is for you. It is a gift from Lord Lexus as thanks for allowing him to borrow your teammate for a while.”
The man entered the tent and presented them all with a luxurious looking box, lined with golden leaves. They were not particularly close with Lexus, so it was obvious why he was presenting them with this. Still, they could not deny the good feelings that came with getting a gift from the Prince.
[ Aigis ] “Oh, it was nothing.”
[ Dottir ] “You are all such fine ladies, so I assume you will not bring the Prince shame by rejecting this.”
[ Aigis ] “Then we will accept it with grace.”
Inside the expensive looking box was an assortment of snacks meant to be taken with tea. It was a sensible gift, considering they were partaking in tea now, but it was not a lasting gift.
If it were a more permanent object, there was always the chance they would use it for bragging rights. And no doubt it was difficult for the Prince to suddenly prepare a gift for the three of them on such short notice. He must’ve realized they would be logically drinking tea after their meal.
[ Dottir ] “Where is Miss Valentia? Lord Lexus wished to spend some time with her.”
[ Aigis ] “Miss Valentia?”
The three ladies glanced at each other.
[ Aigis ] “If you’re looking for her, someone already came to get her.”
[ Dottir ] “I’m sorry? What do you mean?”
[ Aigis ] “A servant from Lord Lexus came by earlier.”
[ Dottir ] “Someone else did?”
The man’s face stiffened.
All of them suddenly had the dawning realization that the person from before was a little suspicious. And that perhaps something was terribly wrong.
[ Aigis ] “Then the person from before……”
Then there was a flash of light, and before long, in came the rumble of thunder and lightning, cracking across the entire vast field.