Chapter 103
Ainhardt Berger, a member of the Second Unit of the Imperial Guard, was a tall, handsome man who would turn twenty-six that year.
With deep golden hair and a dignified, finely chiseled face, he had everything going for him: looks, family background, and swordsmanship. The ladies of the Empire adored him and called him the 〈Golden Knight〉.
This time, he had been selected for the prestigious assignment of guarding Princess Tsetsilia and had accompanied her on her visit to the Kingdom of Riddle.
His assignment today was to guard the corridor leading to Princess Tsetsilia's room inside Auzaerhorn Palace, their residence during the visit.
Ainhardt's beauty was a match for that of the splendid palace. With a sharp expression and perfect posture, he stood in the corridor, dutifully guarding the lovely princess.
He cut a dignified figure worthy of the Golden Knight who captivated the ladies of the Empire.
"... Hmm."
After cautiously surveying his surroundings, the Golden Knight Ainhardt Berger leaned over and whispered to his junior, Kirchner.
"Hey, Kirchner."
"Yes, sir. What is it, Berger-dono?"
"The Kingdom of Riddle has a lot of beautiful women. It's great."
"..."
Kirchner's cold stare did nothing to faze him.
Ainhardt spoke with a serious expression, as though he were reporting information gleaned from observing the enemy.
"I saw an incredible beauty among the maids earlier. She was tall and wore glasses. I only caught a glimpse of her profile, but I bet she'd be the type to transform completely once she took off her glasses."
Kirchner, a serious-minded man one year younger than Ainhardt, looked exasperated and glared at him sidelong.
"What happened to that beautiful secretary-dono assigned to the Third Prince, the one you were so smitten with until recently?"
"Prepare to mourn: the Third Prince wasn't summoned to the castle this time. Naturally, that beautiful secretary-dono couldn't come either. I was so grief-stricken that I rolled around on the floor at a drinking party, and the margrave-dono who had been drinking with me looked at me like I was garbage."
"..."
The aforementioned Margrave Henrick Blanke's "I wish His Majesty would execute him" had been quite sincere.
"What an utterly unromantic bunch," Ainhardt muttered under his breath.
Princess Tsetsilia, his charge this time, was certainly beautiful as well, but she was not his type.
Ainhardt's type was a strong-willed woman with powerful eyes.
"It's a shame I won't get to see that breathtaking beauty, Bridget-jō, but there is still hope! Apparently, a young woman from among the Seven Sages is coming to guard Tsetsilia-sama this time! Her name is 〈Silent Witch〉 Monica Everette-chan, and she's nineteen!"
The fame of the 〈Silent Witch〉 had reached the neighboring Shvargalt Empire.
She was a young hero who had become one of the Seven Sages at the tender age of fifteen and repelled the Black Dragon and the Curse Dragon. They even said that the Black Lion Emperor held her in high regard.
"My guess is that Monica Everette-chan is a cool beauty with black hair, a tall figure, and narrow, sharp eyes. The sort who acts all aloof and looks at men trying to court her as though they're garbage."
"Could it be that you like being treated like garbage?"
Kirchner looked at him as though he were garbage, but Ainhardt merely clicked his tongue—tsk, tsk, tsk—and wagged his finger.
"It's about making a strong-willed woman fall head over heels for me... while secretly wanting to be under her thumb! You understand, Kirchner!"
"I don't."
"... Um, excuse me."
A faint voice came from a short distance away. When they looked over, a small girl was peeking halfway around the corner of the corridor, fidgeting shyly.
She had light brown hair braided and tied up, and a plain-looking face. She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen.
She wore a navy-blue robe and carried a staff, so she was probably a palace mage. Judging by her age, she was likely an apprentice mage.
With a movement he had perfected, Ainhardt swept back his bangs and smiled at the girl with the refreshing charm befitting a guardsman admired by everyone.
"Hello, miss. Are you here on an errand for someone?"
"Um... I heard that Tsetsilia-sama had finished getting ready..."
Ainhardt tilted his head, wondering what Princess Tsetsilia finishing her preparations had to do with this girl coming here.
After this, one of the Seven Sages, the 〈Silent Witch〉 Monica Everette, the Mage Count, was supposed to come for an audience with Princess Tsetsilia.
"Aha, I see! You're the 〈Silent Witch〉-dono's apprentice, aren't you? Your master told you to come check on Tsetsilia-sama's mood, right?"
"Huh?"
"They say the women of the Empire are hot-tempered, and if you have an audience with a noble person when she's in a bad mood, nothing good will come of it. But rest assured. Tsetsilia-sama is a gentle, kindhearted princess, as calm as moonlight. I've never once seen her throw a tantrum."
"I-I see..."
The girl murmured her acknowledgment, then moved her mouth as though she wanted to say something, glancing at Ainhardt from time to time.
Surely this shy-looking girl was fidgeting because she wanted to learn the name of the handsome young guard officer.
Ainhardt nodded knowingly and put on the kindest older-brother smile he could manage with his handsome face.
"I am Ainhardt Berger, known to people as the 〈Golden Knight〉. This is my junior, Kirchner."
"Um, uh... I..."
The girl had been hiding half her body around the corner and shyly twisting her fingers, but eventually she stepped out as though she had made up her mind.
Up close, she was even smaller than he had imagined. However, the robe and staff she wore were both top-quality.
In particular, the staff, which was nearly as long as she was tall, was extravagantly decorated. Come to think of it, wasn't a mage's rank determined by the length of their staff in the Kingdom of Riddle?
"I am 〈Silent Witch〉 Monica Everette... I'm sorry I'm not a cool beauty."
Ainhardt let out an involuntary "Whoa."
Apparently, she had overheard the conversation between Ainhardt and Kirchner.
In the Kingdom of Riddle, the Seven Sages served as advisers to His Majesty the King. Ainhardt had said whatever he pleased about one of them. He had no grounds to complain even if she had him beheaded.
As Ainhardt muttered, "I really screwed up," Kirchner gave him a cold look.
"Good for you. The captain will get to treat you like garbage."
"That's a problem. The captain-dono isn't my type."
After replying to Kirchner in a low voice, Ainhardt turned an impossibly splendid smile on the 〈Silent Witch〉.
His personal rule of thumb was that, when cornered, the best thing to do was smile your way through it.
"〈Silent Witch〉-dono. Our exchange just now was what they call an Imperial joke. If possible, please don't tell my superior..."
"Um, please don't worry about it... People often tell me I don't seem much like one of the Seven Sages..."
The 〈Silent Witch〉 really did not seem bothered, and waved her hands back and forth.
She was a good kid. A very good kid, but it was hard to reconcile her with the title of one of the Seven Sages.
(Could this tiny girl really have repelled the two great evil dragons?... This has to be one of those rumors that grew extra fins and a tail.)
While harboring doubts about the rumors he had heard, Ainhardt placed a hand theatrically over his chest and cried out in an overwhelmed voice.
"Oh, little goddess. You are my savior. Thanks to you, I won't have to be scolded by the captain-dono."
"Um, the audience..."
"I'll escort you. This way."
As Ainhardt led the way, the 〈Silent Witch〉 quietly breathed in and out, pursed her lips, and straightened her back.
She looked like a child about to give her first recital, and Ainhardt secretly wondered whether such a tiny girl would really be all right as a bodyguard.
＊ ＊ ＊
The audience with Princess Tsetsilia, whom Monica had been assigned to protect.
For this occasion, Monica had practiced her greetings over and over at the Albright residence.
Upon entering the room, Monica set her staff down at her feet and bowed her head.
"I am Monica Everette, one of the Seven Sages—the 〈Silent Witch〉. Welcome to the Kingdom of Riddle after your long journey, Tsetsilia-sama."
She had managed to deliver her greeting without stumbling. The first step was clear.
The problem was what came next. What would she say if Princess Tsetsilia turned out to be talkative and asked her about one thing after another? Monica had discussed this in advance with Raul, Ray, Frieda, and the others, wracking their brains to come up with all sorts of possible conversations.
(If she says she wants to see flowers, I'll take her to the flower bed planted with the new variety Raul-sama recommended; if she says she wants to go shopping, I'll consult the commander of the Royal Guard...)
As she rehearsed the prepared material in her head, she heard the soft rustle of fabric.
"Nice to meet you, 〈Silent Witch〉-sama. I am Tsetsilia Charlotte Phoebe Belshvaik Creving... Please raise your head."
Her voice was delicate and lovely, like the chiming of a glass bell.
Monica raised her head as instructed.
Princess Tsetsilia, standing before Monica, was a fragile-looking princess with straight silver hair and a slender, delicate figure that seemed as though it might break. She wore a pale purple dress adorned with beautiful lace.
The dress was not unbecoming, but compared with the colors and designs favored by young women, it looked considerably more subdued.
(So this is... the Black Lion Emperor's younger sister...)
She was the exact opposite of her brother, who overflowed with so much vitality that he seemed unable to fit inside a human frame.
Tsetsilia pinched the hem of her skirt and gave an elegant bow.
"〈Silent Witch〉-sama. I will be in your care for some time."
"Y-yes!"
"..."
"..."
The conversation came to a halt. It was a little awkward.
Monica discreetly observed Princess Tsetsilia from beneath her bangs, careful not to be rude.
Princess Tsetsilia was also looking down with an air of vague awkwardness. Apparently, she was not a very talkative person.
Monica couldn't very well make conversation with a princess of such high birth when nothing needed to be said.
When Princess Tsetsilia fell silent, Monica naturally had no choice but to remain silent as well.
"..."
"..."
After that, the two of them remained together in painfully awkward silence until it was time to move on.