Akatsuki Translations

“You’re too slow! Have I not told you that even a slight delay in reaction can cost you your life in real battle?” -Zenobia

“I-I’m sorry…”

In the palace training grounds, Zenobia was conducting training for the White White Lily Knights, all the while hurling rebukes.

At the helm of the White Lily Knights, a corps composed entirely of women, stood Zenobia de Ctesiphon. At the tender age of seventeen, she was entrusted with leading a knight corps, and her capabilities were unparalleled.

Her long golden hair, tied back, reminded one of a horse’s tail, and as she swirled her sword with it flapping behind her, she looked like a Valkyrie straight out of mythology.

“Kyaa!”

The female knight who was dueling with Zenobia let out a feminine scream as she fell on her behind. Zenobia had seized an opening and swept her opponent’s feet out from under her. The longsword, which the knight should have been clutching, slipped from her hand and clattered onto the ground.

“What are you dawdling for?! Do you think your enemy will wait for you to regain your footing? Pick up your sword now!” -Zenobia

Despite Zenobia’s stern admonishment, the female knight remained collapsed on the spot, unable to move. Her knees and shoulders were shaking, and it seemed unlikely that she could stand up again. Observing this, Zenobia’s brows furrowed deeply, and she opened her mouth to say something.

“With suc――”  -Zenobia

” ――Now, now, calm down Zenobia. It’s indeed too harsh to train a new recruit from morning till noon. Frankly speaking, I think the other members are also on the brink of their limits.”

Interrupting their conversation, another female knight stepped in. Looking up at Zenobia with her emerald eyes, she conveyed with her gaze that she wouldn’t back down until her plea was heard. Her wavy golden hair and beautiful face were covered in dirt, making it clear that she too had been undergoing rigorous training.

“Hmm, if Cecilia says so, then it’s about time we took a break. We’ll take about an hour for lunch!” -Zenobia

When Zenobia, accepting the female knight’s, Cecilia’s advice, announced a break to the members of the White Lily Knights, even those who had been standing till then collapsed on the spot. It seemed everyone was nearing their limits, and no one attempted to move. Seeing their disheveled appearance, one would hardly believe that they were all daughters of nobles.

“Now, now, Zenobia. As your deputy, why don’t we go to the garden, have some tea, and enjoy a leisurely afternoon? The maids are already waiting with the preparations.” -Cecilia

Cecilia, who was brimming with energy, was the vice-leader of the White Lily Knights and acted as the leader in Zenobia’s absence. In other words, she was the subordinate in whom Zenobia placed the most trust. Cecilia, linking her arm with Zenobia’s, resembled a pair of affectionate sisters, not least because of their similar hair color. The two of them wiped off the dirt, dried their sweat, did the bare minimum grooming, and then headed toward the garden.

“Zenobia, over there. I managed to secure quite a good spot, didn’t I?” -Cecilia

As Cecilia gestured towards a cluster of maids, she gently tugged on Zenobia’s arm, guiding her forward.

In the heart of the garden stood a massive tree, a particular favorite spot that required reservations to secure. This tree, known as the Year-round Tree, was famous for its year-long blossoms that enchanted all who gazed upon it.

One of the favorite pastimes of the upper classes was to enjoy tea elegantly while admiring the flowers and the pond. Underneath the Year-round Tree, ornate bronze chairs and tables were arranged, adorned with sandwiches, cakes, and fruits, all prepared and ready to be served.

However, there was one peculiar aspect that struck every observer: the quantity of sandwiches seemed unusually abundant for just two people. Almost simultaneously, Cecilia and Zenobia noticed something else, their gaze shifting slightly past the seats they intended to occupy.

“Well, well, what a coincidence.” -Farsa

“My, indeed it is. Since we’ve all gathered here, why not join us?” -Aurelia

Two figures, a man and a woman, offered their greetings with smiles. One was Farsa Speciēs, the chief court magician, and the other was Princess Aurelia de Valois, the first princess of the Kingdom of Valois.

Though Farsa expressed surprise, he had expected the arrival of these two in the garden. Presumably, Aurelia had also anticipated the same.

Tea parties in the garden were a popular event among the nobility. However, it was unusual to see such an abundance of sandwiches, which were meant to be light snacks. Even more surprising was the presence of a maid, who used water magic to maintain humidity and prevent the bread from drying out.

Having butlers and maids capable of wielding magic was a status symbol for high-ranking nobles, and as expected, their wages were extraordinarily high. Only one noble came to Farsa’s mind who would employ such a maid for the sake of keeping sandwiches fresh.

“No one would refuse an invitation from Princess Aurelia. We would be delighted to join you.” -Zenobia

“An invitation from Princess Aurelia is a great honor, and we humbly accept. However, we hope we won’t be intruding?” -Cecilia

Zenobia accepted Aurelia’s invitation, placing her hand on her chest and bowing her head in respect. Cecilia did the same, though she appeared worried that they might interrupt Farsa’s time alone with the Princess.

However, Farsa knew that their words were not entirely sincere, and Aurelia seemed to understand this as well. Aurelia cast a wicked smile upon observing Cecilia’s behavior, quickly covering her mouth with a fan to mask her amusement.

“My, my, Cecilia, are you concerned about intruding on our time, specifically Farsa’s?” -Aurelia

“N-no, not at all. If you say it’s not a problem, Princess, we would be thrilled to join. It is an honor to have the opportunity to spend time with Lord Speciēs.” -Cecilia

“Well, we’ll leave it at that then.” -Aurelia

Although Aurelia’s giggles and grins seemed innocent, Farsa sighed, anticipating that her mischievous streak was about to surface again.

Aurelia, of course, was well-acquainted with the pasts and social relationships of her subordinates. This included her knowledge of Cecilia.

Cecilia de Montmorency, the eldest daughter of Viscount Montmorency, had four younger sisters. With no male heirs, the Viscount had been deliberating on adopting a successor or marrying his daughter off when Cecilia started learning the sword to help her father.

Apparently, Cecilia had a talent for the sword and eventually outmatched even the soldiers under her father’s command. She then met a certain girl at the knight school in the royal capital.

That girl was Zenobia de Ctesiphon, who would later become known as the kingdom’s strongest knight. Initially, Cecilia, filled with competitive spirit, had shown hostility towards Zenobia. However, over time, she came to admire Zenobia’s strength and they began training together.

Cecilia particularly admired Zenobia’s sharpness that could wound anything she touched. However, this changed when a certain man came into their lives.

“Farsa-dono, please excuse me as I sit next to you.” -Zenobia

“Ah…!”  -Cecilia

Thanks to the quick preparations of the maids, Zenobia was able to sit next to Farsa. Cecilia let out a small gasp at the sight, but said nothing more as she took her place across from Zenobia.

Meanwhile, Aurelia, sitting next to Cecilia, let out a small giggle.

“It’s a pity, Cecilia. You couldn’t sit next to your beloved.” -Aurelia

“N-no, it’s a great pleasure to be seated next to Princess Aurelia!” -Cecilia

“Really? On the other hand, Zenobia is lucky. She got to sit next to Farsa-sama.” -Aurelia

“I chose my seat based on security considerations, not personal preferences. With the guards behind the princess, it’s only logical for me to sit on the opposite side and act as a shield. It’s my duty as a knight.” -Zenobia

Farsa, judging from Zenobia’s response, suspected that Aurelia might have caught on to something. Aurelia had a habit of teasing others based on the information she had gathered.

Cecilia resented Farsa for changing Zenobia, whom she admired for being stronger than herself. And Zenobia, needless to say, had feelings for Farsa. Normally, when teased, she would show a bit more discomposure.

Zenobia becomes a bit of a klutz when it comes to matters involving Farsa.

“Hmmm, well, alright, let’s start our delightful tea party.” -Aurelia

Surrounded by three beautiful women, Farsa sighed at the beginning of a tea party that promised to be anything but enjoyable.

Tea parties, frequently enjoyed by noble women, were a venue for socializing as well as for gathering intelligence. There were even cases where the careless leakage of family information by a daughter led to the ruin of the house.

Aurelia, a skilled conversationalist, was adept at exploiting any lapse in vigilance. Zenobia, although capable of playing the role of a marquis’s daughter, had a weak spot when it came to Farsa.

For now, she maintained her composure, but Farsa was anxious about how long she could hold out. If word about their kiss got out, not only Aurelia but Cecilia as well would likely not stay silent. Moreover, if Julia and Palmina found out, the situation would become even more complicated.

“By the way, I heard that the Marquis of Ctesiphon will be visiting the royal capital soon.” -Aurelia

“Yes, according to the letter I received this morning, he will likely arrive tomorrow night or the morning after. As soon as I receive notification of his arrival, I plan to introduce him to Farsa-dono.” -Zenobia

“Hey, Zenobia, I wonder why are you planning to introduce Lord Speciēs to the Marquis of Ctesiphon?” -Cecilia

Aurelia, already aware of the situation, brought up the topic to gauge Zenobia’s reaction. However, Cecilia was not yet aware of the full details.

Farsa, meanwhile, picked up a cookie from the table, anticipating Cecilia’s outburst upon learning about their impending marriage.

Understandably puzzled, Farsa speculated that if Cecilia were to learn about the marriage proposition, her wrath could very well explode. As he mused over this, he plucked a cookie from the pile on the table.

“Ah, there are several reasons, but the primary one is to form an alliance with the nobility in the north. Since we’re providing sanctuary to Roux-dono, we want to avoid any unnecessary interference that stems from hostility towards the demons. Factional conflicts can provide an opening for other countries to exploit, and the last thing we want is more internal strife and external threats.” -Zenobia.

While Zenobia’s reasoning was straightforward, the maids and guards standing behind Aurelia tensed slightly, their eyes flitting towards Farsa.

The four of them were seated in the palace garden, where other nobles were also enjoying their tea. However, given that the first in line for the throne, Princess Aurelia, and three core members of a faction were gathered, every ear was perked up, listening.

The worry that sensitive information could leak was not unfounded. Farsa closed one eye to signal that everything was fine, and the maids and guards seemed to relax slightly.

Counterintelligence magic is a staple for court wizards, and Farsa could still cast it despite his alleged ill health. However, due to damage to his magic paths, he was in constant pain. Despite this, Farsa maintained a smile, not letting anyone catch onto his discomfort.

“Certainly, the Marquis of Ctesiphon shows little interest in court factional disputes, which could be advantageous. But do we really need to go to such lengths to protect that demon? I mean, I’m not opposing Her Highness’s policy or anything, but it feels like we’re doing a lot of work for little gain… Besides, there have been voices of concern among the other members of the Order,” Cecilia interjected, seemingly a little flustered.

Not all members of the White Lily Knights were supporters of Aurelia. While most admired their leader, Zenobia, some found themselves in complicated situations due to the positions of their families. Those guarding Roux had been selected to exclude those with such affiliations. However, from an outsider’s perspective, it could appear that the White Lily Knights were siding with the demons.

Officially, they were to extract information from the demon while protecting them from outside assassins, but it was still a troublesome situation.

“You might not be familiar with this being a knight and all, but demons are a race skilled in magic. I think it’s a waste to throw away the chance to get closer to the essence of magic. Besides, you’re aware that there are countless ruins of ancient civilizations in the demon realm, right, Cecilia?” -Farsa

“I’m aware of that, but what does it have to do with…” -Cecilia

The ancient civilization was a magical era that experienced a golden age long, long ago. The primary reasons humans and demons were at odds included the murder of the royal family by the demons three hundred years prior, and the ruins of the ancient civilization in demon territories. Many incomprehensible artifacts have been unearthed, and these anachronistic pieces of art, known as OOPArts, are traded at high prices. The communication orb that Farsa held was a prime example, and if discovered in the Kingdom of Valois, it could fetch a price high enough to buy multiple castles.

Cecilia seemed unsatisfied with Farsa’s answer, but her curiosity seemed to win out as she urged him on with her eyes.

“It turns out that Roux’s father is the chief of the Wolf Demon Tribe. So, it’s quite likely that even as part of the Demon Lord’s army, he can’t be treated lightly. For example, they might be willing to give up valuable magical tools, even ones that utilize ancient civilization technology, if they deem it necessary to get him back.” -Farsa

“You can’t mean… negotiating with the demo ――?” -Cecilia

” ―― That’s not something to discuss here. At the very least, it would bring more benefit to the Kingdom of Valois than executing her as an example, wouldn’t it? And inevitably, the reputation of the palanquin we are carrying, that is, Princess Aura, would soar. It would be seen as achieving a feat that no one could accomplish in the past three hundred years.” -Farsa

As Farsa responded with a meaningful grin, Cecilia’s eyes widened, as if she had seen something unimaginable.

In the past three hundred years, the Kingdom of Valois had never once negotiated with the demons. Much of the strife with the demons was caused by Cruel, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, who had relentlessly harmed humans and destroyed villages and towns. The existence of the Fortuna Church, the state religion of the Kingdom of Valois, further complicated matters.

Farsa’s remarks seemed ludicrous, impossible, something anyone would scoff at, but Cecilia remained silent. After all, it was this man, Farsa Speciēs, who had made the impossible possible, elevating Princess Aurelia to the first in line for the throne, attaining a viscount title despite being of common birth, and even ascending to become the chief court magician, a position steeped in tradition.