SBTMK Chapter 29

"Nobles are bloodshot-eyed trying to dig up weaknesses however they can. Their own children will inherit the family name and title regardless, but it seems they think their own positions are being stripped away."

"They're probably afraid Your Majesty's power base keeps growing bit by bit. Afraid they won't be able to do anything at all anymore."

"That's true. There's probably that, too."

"So the conclusion is that Your Majesty needs my support right now?"

At Neyra's pointed question, Simen huffed out a short laugh.

In Haenkan, an Archmage's authority stood nearly as high as the High Priest's.

Their magical power was several times that of an ordinary person, and its force was formidable. There were even noble houses that followed and served an Archmage before they served the Emperor.

An Archmage's support cast a fine influence on imperial power—it naturally brought the support of the nobles who followed her, after all.

"So then……"

"……"

"This was all a bribe, wasn't it?"

Neyra looked over the appetizing desserts and cut her eyes sideways.

"Not exactly, but…… I can't really deny it either. If it put you in a bad mood, I apologize."

Simen blinked, his face briefly startled.

"I'm joking. Just—will you call me over more often even when there's nothing in particular going on? You only ever seek me out when something like this comes up, and it makes me a little sad, sometimes. I miss the old days."

Simen let a faint smile show.

"Fine. From now on, let's have meals together more often, too."

"That's a promise."

Neyra replied with a prim expression and took another bite of cake.

"……And I'm always on your side. You can say anything to me freely."

At her words, Simen's expression visibly eased.

Neyra met the gaze turned toward her and found her face warming before she could help it.

"Thank you, always, Neyra. It's reassuring to have a good friend nearby."

Good friend. Neyra smiled faintly at the words. There was nothing else to do but smile.

If being tied to Simen even this way meant she could be a little closer to him, that was enough.

Neyra, worried her feelings might show, quickly changed the subject.

"I've wanted to meet this Flora, actually. I've heard so much about her."

"You'll like her too, when you see her."

Simen's expression, gentle as he spoke of Flora, was unfamiliar.

What was this—this feeling of having seen it before?

Neyra stared at him for a moment, then tilted her head slightly.

It wasn't that she had no desire toward Simen at all.

It was only that, since her academy days, Neyra had always stood in the shadow of Kanna, daughter of a distinguished house, and had never once let her personal feelings toward Simen show.

Everyone had said Simen would marry Kanna. It was a reasonable thing to say, since the two had actually been engaged. Neyra had thought so too.

Even now, broken engagement and all—she'd always assumed he'd marry her in the end. That belief. Never once shaken.

After all, it was standard practice for those who carried the noble blood of an imperial or aristocratic house to use marriage politically.

Even without loving Kanna, her family would add great strength to Simen's power.

"Your Majesty."

"Hm?"

Talk of the Emperor's marriage had been circulating lately.

Thanks to a noble who had stopped by and unloaded both gossip about the woman named Flora and a great deal of grumbling about the Emperor's marriage, she'd learned a great deal.

Simen had once kept a woman of slave origin frequently at his side, and it was over that matter that he'd broken his engagement to Kanna.

Because of it, rumors had also sprung up that the Emperor had lost himself to wine and women.

Even now, she was well aware that he met with that woman often outside the palace, but perhaps because she'd never seen the two of them together with her own eyes, some doubt had crept in.

Wondering whether that woman was really nothing more than a "shield" to delay his marriage.

Neyra didn't want to believe the rumors about Simen.

The Emperor she'd seen was nothing more than a young man more diligent than anyone, obsessed with reform so his people could live better lives.

He'd need to continue the imperial line, and the people around him would keep pressing him, so he'd have to marry eventually—but he genuinely seemed to have little interest in romance.

So she'd thought, once, that perhaps love simply wasn't a very important thing in Simen's life.

When you're pining after someone, you end up thinking all kinds of stupid things.

"I have something I'm curious about."

"Go ahead. Speak freely."

And that Emperor had taken a woman into the castle.

Granting that Simen's eye for these things was sharp enough that he'd simply seen her latent potential, there was, apart from that, a visible attentiveness that went beyond what was necessary.

He hadn't done anything directly toward Flora in front of her, but the expression on his face right now was telling her everything.

Watch someone long enough, and it becomes easy to read what their expression is pointing to.

"You may find this rude, but I'd ask you to take it graciously."

That unfamiliar expression on Simen's face. She wanted to know the reason for it.

"Does she—that woman—mean something else to you, by any chance?"

Right after lunch on the fourth day of vacation.

Flora hugged her full stomach and savored the peace of it. Warm sunlight poured in through the open window, and the breeze that blew past tickled her cheek.

Just as the pervasive calm was starting to pull her eyelids gently shut—

A knock at the door broke the stillness.

Flora rose from the bed, answered with a short "Yes," and the door opened.

"Lady Flora!"

The visitor was Lugaria.

"Lugaria."

"Have you been well? Is your body all better now?"

"Yes. I've been well. What about you, Lugaria?"

The sight of her wearing a sword and training uniform now felt thoroughly familiar.

The days of the maid's dress felt like something impossibly distant.

"Oh, me? Same as always. Training and getting scolded."

Lugaria puffed her cheeks with air, wearing an expression that said she was thoroughly sick of it.

"The scolding is probably from Commander Erne, isn't it?"

"That's right. That guy."

Lugaria scrunched her face—ugh—eyes narrowing in disgust.

And yet there wasn't the slightest hint of dislike or genuine complaint in it. If anything, the gesture seemed to drip with affection.

"But what brings you here at this hour?"

Lugaria usually came in the evening. But it was barely past lunch now, so Flora found her visit a little curious. Had she been given the day off, perhaps?

"Ah! I came today under orders. His Majesty told me to bring you along."

"What? His Majesty?"

At her words, Flora's drowsy mind snapped fully awake.

Her heart, which had lain quiet as if dead for some time now, seemed to have started functioning again.

"Yes. Let's go!"

Flora pushed down the flood of thoughts pressing in on her and followed Lugaria out.

They left the lodging and headed toward the castle, chatting about this and that along the way.

When Flora mentioned joining the White Knights, Lugaria abruptly wore an expression on the verge of tears.

"Right, that! I was the only one who didn't know! Only me. Even our seniors, who have nothing to do with you at all, already knew!"

"I was going to tell you, but there wasn't a chance."

"Well, that's fair enough, I suppose. A few days of afternoon training and I'd pass right out the moment it ended. There wasn't time to visit."

"……"

"Well, I was a little hurt, but only for a moment. Congratulations on joining! From now on I'll come visit the White Knights' lodging. But wait, where is it, again?"

Lugaria tilted her head.

"Yes. Come often."

"I want to see you in your training uniform as soon as possible!"

Before long, they'd arrived at the now-familiar castle.

But Lugaria didn't lead her inside. Instead, she guided Flora elsewhere.

"Is His Majesty in the garden?"

"Seems that way. I only came because I was ordered to by the Commander, so I'm not totally sure!"

It was a garden no one entered without permission.

Seeing that the Imperial Guard knights weren't stopping them, it seemed the matter had clearly been arranged beforehand.

The two of them walked deep into the garden. Erne came into view in the distance.

But Simen wasn't beside him.

"Commander!"

Lugaria greeted Erne first, beaming brightly.

Flora watched her with something like awe.

It seemed remarkable, being that at ease around someone who radiated killing intent so constantly, so casually.

Erne looked down at Lugaria with cold eyes, then turned his gaze to Flora.

The moment their eyes met, Flora felt her spine go cold for a moment.

He really is frightening. She'd thought she'd gotten used to smiling at people by now, but in front of Erne, the corners of her mouth stiffened and refused to move at all.

Flora bowed quickly to escape his gaze.

"Good day, Commander Erne."

Erne looked down at Flora, greeting him, without a word.

He still didn't particularly like her, but he kept his manners by giving a slight nod.

Watching her Commander do this, Lugaria wore an expression of considerable admiration.