While many were busy preparing for the festival, the fateful day arrived.
"Who do you think will come?"
"It's definitely one of the higher-ranking captains."
I was waiting for the guest in the castle room.
Today, the emperor's children would learn which knight squad would be assigned to them. The method was simple: the captain of the assigned squad would visit the room.
The Imperial Knights' squads were numbered, with lower numbers indicating more elite squads. In particular, the top three were led by the most powerful captains. To balance the forces, the top squads would be assigned to the underperformers.
"Please don't let it be Elna..."
"Again with that... She's a prodigy from the Amsberg family, who joined the Imperial Knights at eleven and became a captain at fourteen. Her luck is as good as it gets, isn't it?"
"It's just her skills. She's impossible as a person."
"Isn't she known for her good conduct and as a future leader of the Imperial Knights?"
"Her outward appearance is good, but the people and the knights haven't realized her true nature. I'll never forget the day I met her when I was seven. Do you know what she said to me when she helped me from being bullied?"
"What could it be?"
"'Weakling.' Is that something you say to a child who's been bullied? And then she made me hold a wooden sword for 'practice.' I was beaten down one-sidedly and from that day on, I had to avoid Elna. She instilled a fear in me! Anyone would think it's a terrible story! That woman is like a devil!"
I explained passionately to Sebastian, but he only shrugged, looking exasperated.
Damn! Why can't he understand!
Just as I was getting anxious, the door suddenly opened.
There stood.
"Who's the devil-like woman?"
A devil with a smile.
The moment I saw her, my face twisted. And then.
"Sebastian! Call the knights! A devil has appeared!!"
"Unfortunately, no one will come. The best knight is already here."
"Sebastian knows well, Prince Arnold Rix Aedler. Captain of the Third Knight Squad, Elna von Amsberg, is here to pay her respects. It's been a few years, but you seem well."
"Damn...! Is that sarcasm?"
"Of course. They say you're quite popular in the capital? They even call you the 'Washed-Up Prince.' How charming."
"Yeah, thanks to that. I'm having a great time."
We both smiled.
Even though we hadn't seen each other in years, we were childhood friends. We knew each other well, even as a prince and a noble's daughter.
After a while of smiling at each other, I frowned.
"Why are you here? I didn't call for you."
"Doesn't that mean I came on my own? Don't you get it?"
"I don't believe it..."
"How rude. It was tough, you know? I had to ask His Majesty to be your partner."
"Don't do unnecessary things! You'll get glared at by my older siblings!"
"Don't worry. You're not after the throne, are you?"
"That's not the issue! Ah, why are you always like this!?"
I know she means well, but her actions don't align with what I want.
In this case, if she had asked my father, I would have preferred her to go to Leo. I don't know if I would have been able to go to Leo even if I had asked.
At least, by coming to me, Elna has turned me from a mere participant into a top contender. This makes it even harder for me to move. Elna naturally draws attention. It's almost impossible to act in secret now.
It would be troublesome if she went to someone else, but it's even more troublesome that she came to me. It's not just a matter of compatibility; I really didn't want her to come.
"I'll make sure you win. I'll show those who call you the 'Washed-Up Prince' what it means to be humbled!"
"I don't need that..."
"No way. I've already declared to His Majesty that I'll make you behave. So, from now on, it's special training! Let's see how your horse riding skills have improved. Come on, to the training ground!"
"...Sebastian. My head is starting to hurt. It might be a serious illness..."
"That's serious. It's a major mental illness called a fake illness. It might be cured by training your mind and body."
I glared at Sebastian resentfully, but he was unfazed.
There were only a few days left until the Knight Hunting Festival. A few days of training wouldn't change much.
While thinking this, I was dragged to the training ground.
β β β
"Ow... It hurts..."
"I'm sorry! I'll be gentler."
The next day.
I couldn't move from my bed due to muscle pain, and Fienne was applying ointment to my back. My back was in a terrible state, stiff and immobile.
This was all because Elna had thoroughly trained me in horse riding. It had been a long time since I had wielded a sword or spear while on horseback. It was incredibly intense. I fell off the horse multiple times, each time hitting my back.
If this continued every day, I would die.
"Prince Arnold, Captain Elna said that today's training will start in the afternoon."
"Doesn't she know the word 'rest'?"
"True to her reputation as the reincarnation of a hero. However, Prince Silver is also said to have comparable skills. In horse riding, too?"
"Prince Arnold specializes in ancient magic. His physical strength is below average. His skills in horse riding, swordsmanship, and modern magic are all mediocre because he has been slacking off in training. Fienne."
"Is that so? I thought adventurers were all physically strong."
"Most of them are... But I use ancient magic to compensate for my low physical abilities, and I don't do anything that would build my strength."
"Even when traveling without using transfer magic, it had been a while since I went to the Duchy of Kleinert. During that trip, I used ancient magic to enhance my physical abilities. Without ancient magic, I would be a 'weakling' as Elna says."
I had no energy to argue with Sebastian's sarcasm.
Lying face down on the bed, I sighed.
However, Sebastian asked me in a slightly brighter tone.
"It's all about perspective. This is a good opportunity for you, even if it's tough for you."
"Maybe..."
"What do you mean?"
I decided to explain it simply to Fienne, who looked confused.
There was no need to say much.
"Elna is the strongest knight. So, even if I win with her, no one will think it's because of my strength."
"That's right. As Fienne said, if Prince Leonard can't win, Prince Arnold winning is the most certain. However, it would have been unnatural for Prince Arnold to win suddenly... But the strongest card has come to us."
"I see! It means Prince Al can show his true strength!"
"Even if I do nothing, Elna will do as she pleases and win. She's that outstanding. As long as I don't hold her back, she's almost guaranteed to win."
"His Majesty must have given Elna to Prince Arnold, expecting him to hold her back."
"The result is a team of the empire's strongest knight and the empire's strongest adventurer. His Majesty probably didn't expect this!"
While Fienne spoke excitedly, I got up and put on my jacket.
There were only a few days left until the Knight Hunting Festival. I had to prepare.
"In the worst case, I'll win and won't let the position of ambassador go to anyone else. But the best outcome is for Leo to win."
"Why? Even if Prince Al becomes the ambassador and builds connections with foreigners, it will ultimately benefit Prince Leo, won't it?"
"Even so, it's better for Leo to be chosen as the ambassador. Many influential people will be watching."
"Are you just saying that because you find the ambassador's role troublesome?"
I involuntarily flinched.
Sebastian sighed at my reaction, and Fienne followed suit.
"Prince Al... You don't have to give so much to Prince Leo."
"Huh? Give?"
"I understand. You're trying to give it to Prince Leo for his sake."
"Hmm... Fienne, you seem to have a misunderstanding. The prince in front of you is a pure trouble-avoider."
"You can't hide it from Fienne... It's an old habit. I always end up giving things to Leo, like the throne."
"Of course! It's admirable as a brother, but it's not good to go overboard. Prince Leo will be sad, too."
I used Fienne's misunderstanding to escape Sebastian's nagging.
Sebastian frowned at my trick.
"It's not right to deceive a woman."
"I'm not deceiving her. I just let her misunderstand."
"It's all about perspective. You'll get scolded by Elna again."
"Is she my mother or something?"
"Having a close childhood friend is enviable. I don't have anyone I can call a childhood friend."
"It's just troublesome. Especially with her, she's always meddlesome."
"Oh? What's so meddlesome?"
A voice came from the door.
Elna was standing there, smiling, but with anger marks all over her face.
For a moment, I averted my gaze, overwhelmed by the fear she had instilled in me, but since she showed no sign of leaving, I reluctantly spoke.
"Don't you think it's meddlesome to come here uninvited...?"
"How rude. I heard you were suffering from muscle pain, so I brought ointment."
"I had someone a hundred times kinder apply it, so I'm fine."
"Oh? Is that the blue heron princess over there?"
"A, yes. Nice to meet you. I'm Fienne von Kleinert."
"I'm Elna von Amsberg. I didn't expect to meet you in the 'Washed-Up Prince's' room."
Elna smiled at Fienne, but it was a different kind of smile from the one she showed me. It was a manipulative smile.
"Al, did you feel mocked?"
"It's just your imagination."
"I hope so. Well, let's go."
Elna grabbed the back of my neck, where I was lying on the bed.
Confused by the sudden action, I tried to protest, but Elna explained with her usual smile.
"You said you were fine, didn't you? So, it's training time."
"What!? That's not what I meant! Ow! Stop it!! I'm injured!!"
"Muscle pain isn't an injury. Move and it will get better."
And so, just like yesterday, I was dragged off to training.