Chapter 2: There's No Way My Roommate Could Be This Cute
One day, a week after the mock group battle, I received an urgent summons from Prince Lucas through Alyssa-san during our morning training. Apparently, there was an issue he wanted to discuss, and he specifically requested that I come with Lily.
"What is the issue he wants to discuss?"
"Well, I don't know either. Master said he didn't know anything about it either, ya know."
An issue that Roan-san and Alyssa-san haven't been informed of.
I had a bad feeling about it, but there was no way I could refuse. After consulting with Lily at breakfast, I informed Alyssa-san that we would accept the summons.
The only thing that came to mind was the matter with Lecherie Duke...? As far as I know, Prince Lucas was told the full story. Lecherie and his servants, who had been turned into Monsters, were all officially listed as Missing.
As for the Puridy family's status, the shift to Prince Lucas's faction was successfully completed, and Marquis Puridy is reportedly busy expanding the faction.
However, the source of the drug that transformed Lecherie and the person who supplied him with it are still unknown. Prince Lucas hasn't requested any assistance from me on that matter.
This summons could be related... but if so, there's no reason to call Lily. It might be an entirely different issue.
As before, I would sneak out of the Academy in Alyssa-san's carriage late at night. Seeing the rendezvous time of 22:00 approaching, I wrapped up my review of the Kingdom's history that I'd studied in class today.
I stretched lightly and turned around to see Lugue, in her negligee, lying on my bed, cuddling Nokonoko-san.
Lately, she spends more time on my bed than her own. Should I be a little angry about this? Nah, it's not like I mind... Mmm.
Incidentally, what she was doing on my bed was reading a book I borrowed from the library—the very fairy tale where the 〈Saintess〉 Skill played a crucial role.
I thought it was a picture book, but it was surprisingly thick and text-heavy. The content was an adventure story where a girl with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill traveled across the land, healing people's injuries and illnesses, gathering allies, and eventually fighting the King of Monsters. It was somewhat similar to Momotaro, the peach boy story, in my previous life.
The Saintess written in the Sacred Scripture is slightly different from the 〈Saintess〉 in this fairy tale. While gathering allies and fighting the King of Monsters is one thing, the crucial difference is that the fairy tale 〈Saintess〉 can heal illnesses, not just injuries.
Could Lecty, perhaps, do the same...? If so, it would be another huge upheaval. It might even be better if we never found out.
"Lugue, I'm heading out to Prince Lucas's place soon."
I had already told Lugue that I'd been summoned by Prince Lucas. Since she knew I was acquainted with him and had sought his help to rescue Lily, merely telling her was fine.
"Okay. Tell L-Luc-on—ngh, I mean, say hello to Prince Lucas for me."
Did she just almost say Prince Luc-oniisama...? Also, I don't think the son of a typical Viscount Baron would ask for such a casual message to be conveyed to a Prince, even an acting one...
On the night of the Lecherie Dukedom incident, exhausted from the events, I had accidentally whispered, "I love you, Lucretia," to the sleeping Lugue.
I still cringe hard every time I think about it. I haven't been able to ask her if she was awake or asleep at the time.
If she was awake, Lugue would know that I know her true identity is Seventh Princess Lucretia von Reese. Yet, from the next morning onward, she has continued to act as Lugue, the male roommate, even when she's alone with me. ... Though she hasn't entirely maintained the façade.
So, I was tormented about what stance to take with Lugue and eventually steered toward maintaining the status quo. I would treat her as I always have—as Lugue, my friend and roommate. It shouldn't be a difficult thing to do.
It shouldn't, but...
As I was putting on my school blazer, which I had taken off, I felt the hem of the jacket being lightly tugged from behind. I turned around to see Lugue, who had climbed out of bed, looking up at me with Nokonoko-san tucked in her arms.
"Don't be too late, okay...? The room gets kind of lonely without Hugh..."
My heart nearly stopped as Lugue said that with such a vulnerable expression. Dammit, this feels like we're a newlywed couple; my chest is tightening with affection! Isn't my roommate too cute?
"A-Ah, yeah. I'll hurry back once my business is finished."
"Really!? Ehehe, maybe I'll stay up and wait for you, then."
"No, if it's going to be late, you should go to sleep first."
Since tomorrow is a day off, a little late-night stay wouldn't hurt, but I don't know how late I'll be. Forcing her to wait for me would definitely make my conscience ache.
"Muuu— But Hugh just said he'd hurry back."
"I will hurry, but there's a limit to how fast I can go, you know...? Plus, I don't know what Prince Lucas needs; it might take a while, right? You don't have to stay up and wait. Go to sleep first."
"Aww... But I don't sleep very well if Hugh isn't here..."
Lugue, who suffers from mild insomnia, apparently sleeps deeply when she clings to me. That's why she sneaks into my bed and cuddles me almost every night while I'm sleeping.
And that's why my mornings are so hard...
"... Then, I want a reward."
Lugue, hugging Nokonoko-san tightly, murmured the words as if to herself. Since I had switched to the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, I clearly caught the words.
"A reward?"
"Mhm. If Hugh gives me a reward, I'll try my best to sleep alone."
"A reward, huh... Is there anything specific you were hoping for?"
"Well..."
Lugue flushed bright red and nervously swayed her body, muttering something too low for me to hear.
"I want you to tell me, 'I love you, Lucretia,' again... something like that."
What the...
Why, WHY did she have to say that when I had the 〈Ninja〉 Skill active!? Now I can hear you, dammit! Besides, you were awake then, weren't you!? You are too cute, truly!
Shouting a full-force retort in my heart, I had no choice but to feign complete ignorance.
"S-Sorry. I couldn't quite catch that, bu—ngya... but..."
"A-Ah, well! It's not like I have any specific request, but—hyedo... but!"
We both ended up stumbling over our words at awkward moments and covering our faces with both hands simultaneously.
As this went on, the meeting time was only a moment away. I absolutely had to leave the room now, or I'd be late. If I was late, Lily and Alyssa-san would both give me an earful.
"A-Ah, um. Well, I don't know if it counts as a reward, but do you want to go out somewhere tomorrow?"
"Go out!? A date with Hugh!?"
Well, two guys hanging out isn't really a date... the retort almost left my mouth, but,
"A date! A daaate~!"
Ah, well, Lugue sounds happy, so a date it is.
Is the status quo actually being maintained here...?
◇
"My roommate is so cute, it's painful."
"How am I supposed to respond to your doting tone?"
Inside the carriage heading toward Prince Lucas's location, I recounted my earlier conversation with Lugue to Lily. I felt the urge to share Lugue's cuteness because it was too much for me to process alone.
"Well, as your second wife, I'm certainly happy that Danna-sama and his main wife are getting along well."
(T/N: Danna-sama usually refer to as husband or my master)
"Are you still sticking with that stance...?"
"It's not a stance, I'm serious. Do you think I'm joking, Danna-sama?"
Lily, sitting next to me, dramatically closed the distance and placed her hand on my thigh. Her slender fingertips moved up my knee toward my crotch in a light caress, sending a ticklish sensation up my leg.
Since the incident at the Lecherie Dukedom, I've had virtually no chance to be alone with Lily like this. I had thought her confession was a burst of emotion that day, a temporary lapse of reason, but apparently, Lily is dead serious about making me a polygamist.
"I'll tell you now, I have no intention of dating anyone at the moment, okay?"
"Fufuh, I know. I'll be patient until the Royal Succession Conflict settles down and we graduate from the Academy. But if you ever can't hold back anymore, you can call on me anytime."
Saying that, Lily leaned against me, deliberately pressing her generous mound against my right arm.
"Stop trying to steer this toward the immoral whenever you see a chance... Also, you don't need to force yourself to do things like that."
I pulled my right arm out of Lily's grip, hesitated slightly... and then gently took hold of her shoulder, pulling her into an embrace.
"Yik!? W-What are you doing...?"
"If you want to cuddle, you can be more straightforward about it. ... At least when we're alone."
While I'm not ready to fully accept Lily's affection, I still want to reciprocate her feelings, at least in a way I'm capable of. ... Well, this is all I can manage without being too embarrassed.
"Please accept this for now."
"... Honestly."
Lily sighed in exasperation, but also looked visibly relieved. She relaxed her body and leaned against me.
I could sense Lily's tension through my 〈Ninja〉 Skill-enhanced senses. Was I making her anxious, or was she just confused about how to close the distance?
In any case, I was glad she was relaxing now.
Even though Lily didn't suffer any actual harm from the Lecherie engagement scandal, she had witnessed the ugliness of male desire firsthand. If I had seriously responded to her seduction earlier, I would have likely hurt her.
"Haaaah, so youthful... I wish I had a school life like that, Master."
I heard Alyssa-san muttering to herself from the coachman's seat... I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
The carriage soon stopped in front of a private house near the Royal Capital's entertainment district. The area, just off a side street, was pitch black with no streetlights whatsoever. However, thanks to the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, my sight was as clear as midday.
It seems Prince Lucas has arrived ahead of us again. More than ten Royal Knight guards were suppressing their presence and observing the surroundings.
Stepping down from the carriage, Alyssa-san ushered us into the private house. It was an ordinary residence both inside and out. I initially thought it was a front, but the details held a definite sense of occupancy. Someone definitely lives here. It's hard to believe this is a place frequented by royalty, though...
"Actually, this is a safe house managed secretly by the Royal Knights. Knights live here undercover and gather intelligence from the surrounding residents, ya know."
"The Knight's Order does espionage work, too?"
"Of course. The Royal Knights are the shield of the Reese Kingdom. If we can't protect both the front and the back, we can't call ourselves a shield."
... I'd always thought they were just a bunch of muscle-headed combat maniacs, but I might need to revise that impression. If Roan-san is the Vice-Captain of the surface, maybe there's a Vice-Captain of the underground, too. I'm kind of excited about that possibility.
As before, Alyssa-san tapped on the door to the inner room with an irregular rhythm. Roan-san's voice answered, "Enter." Alyssa-san opened the door, prompting Lily and me to go in.
Waiting inside were Roan-san, standing against the wall, and Prince Lucas, seated comfortably, smiling and waving a hand toward us.
And,
"Lucretia!?"
Seeing the person next to him, Lily shouted in surprise. Sitting beside the Prince was a girl with long golden hair and blue eyes, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
"Why is Lucretia here...? Hugh, did you know about this?"
"Nope, I wasn't told anything."
I shook my head when Lily asked. I wasn't even told what the business of today's summons was.
The quickest way to find out why she's sitting next to Prince Lucas is to ask directly.
"Prince Lucas, who is the look-alike of Princess Lucretia sitting next to you?"
"Eh!? A look-alike!?"
Lily's eyes widened at my question, and Prince Lucas couldn't hold back a burst of laughter.
"Puhaha! I should have known I couldn't fool you! I tried to make her look like my sister with a magic tool and makeup. You truly are my future brother-in-law."
Laughing, Prince Lucas easily admitted that the girl sitting next to him was Lucretia's double.
Whoever she was, he did a good job finding someone so similar. Assuming he could use a magic tool for the hair—which Lugue also uses—and makeup for the face, their build and height really were identical to Lugue.
It was understandable that Lily mistook her for the Princess at first glance. On appearance alone, she was exactly like Lucretia. But a closer look revealed subtle differences in her face shape and nose height, and more importantly, the lack of Lucretia's signature expressions and aura.
I could easily see through this stand-in, even without the 〈Ninja〉 Skill.
"Let me introduce her to you both. This is Merry. She's my servant and Lucretia's body double."
"H-Hello! I'm Merry! P-Please be kind to me, is all!"
The girl, named Merry, who was disguised as Lucretia, intentionally stood up and bowed deeply to us. Given the lack of a family name and her deference toward us, it was safe to assume she was a commoner.
Her voice, when heard clearly, felt very wrong. The tone was similar, so it might be possible to imitate the Princess, but Merry herself lacked the skill to do so.
"Don't just stand there; sit down. Merry, you sit down, too."
"I-Is that alright...? I'm a commoner, unlike all of you..."
"Didn't I say you were Lucretia's body double? As long as you look like Lucretia, you have to act the part of royalty, or there's no point!"
"I see! Get on your knees, is all!"
This fake is suddenly getting full of herself.
Even Prince Lucas grabbed Merry by the head, with a straight face, and forcefully made her sit down. We ignored the fake's command and sat in the opposite seats.
"Um, Prince Lucas. Why did you bring in a body double for Princess Lucretia...?"
Lily asked Prince Lucas with a wry smile. That was the part I was curious about, too.
"As you both know, Lucretia is living at the Royal Academy under a false identity. Of course, she's absent from the Royal Capital during that time, and if she doesn't show her face for many days, she's bound to be suspected. If a body double stays at the Royal Palace as Lucretia, it will avert eyes from the real one, won't it?"
The initial plan was to have Lucretia return to the Royal Palace about once every one or two weeks. However, if that kept happening, Lucretia's presence at the Royal Academy would eventually be exposed. Finding a stand-in was a critical task for Prince Lucas.
"I was looking for a girl who could serve as a body double for a while. But I couldn't find anyone suitable, and it wasn't ready for the Royal Academy entrance exam. Then, by chance, I recently got to know Merry."
"I was so shocked to be suddenly asked to work at the Royal Palace, is all! And even more shocked to pretend to be a Princess, is all!"
"I couldn't fool Hugh, but judging by Lady Lily's reaction, I'd say she's a passing grade as a double. This means it should be okay to show her to my elder brothers, let alone my sister. I doubt either of my brothers even remembers my sister's face or voice."
"Well, I think you'll be fine as long as she doesn't talk... probably."
I sensed an element of cockiness in Merry. Lugue is merely clumsy; she's not cocky. While she passes for the look, many would likely notice something amiss once she starts speaking.
Well, Prince Lucas must plan to cover for her in that regard. It's not my concern.
More importantly, though,
"Prince Lucas, can you tell us why you summoned us now?"
Surely, he didn't call Lily and me here just to introduce Lucretia's body double. It would be an overcomplicated ploy to mobilize over ten Royal Knights and use the Knights' secret safe house just for a surprise party.
I didn't want to keep Lugue waiting—she's probably losing sleep—so I wanted him to get straight to the point.
"You're right. Let's set the preamble aside and get to the heart of the matter. Please, I ask you to keep the conversation from this point on strictly confidential."
Prince Lucas changed his tone, emphasizing the urgency to Lily and me. Scanning the expressions of those present, I saw tension even on the faces of Roan-san and Alyssa-san. Perhaps even they hadn't been informed of the actual reason by Prince Lucas.
The sound of someone swallowing could be heard in the silence.
Prince Lucas slowly uttered the words.
"My father's condition is worsening. According to the doctor, a week is his limit."
"What!?"
At that revelation, everyone in the room's eyes widened. We all gasped and were rendered speechless.
Prince Lucas's father... is His Majesty the King. Everyone in the kingdom knew he hadn't been well for a while, but to think his condition was that bad...
The medical technology of this world is nowhere near that of my previous world. An estimation of a week's life expectancy likely wasn't that precise. There was a very real chance he could suddenly pass away today or tomorrow.
It makes sense why he couldn't convey the reason for the summons through Roan-san and Alyssa-san beforehand. Even if he trusted them, an immense commotion would ensue if this information were to be leaked by any chance.
Roan-san groaned, covering his forehead with his hand, "Seriously...?" Lily's eyes were visibly shaken with unease, and she covered her mouth with both hands. Merry, the fake, was the calmest, but that was likely because she didn't grasp the gravity of the King's death.
A short time ago—when I was in the Pnocis Territory or immediately after arriving at the Royal Capital—I would have been just as clueless about the seriousness of the situation as Merry.
Now that I've decided to cooperate in Prince Lucas's succession conflict and have studied the situation, I can faintly imagine the consequences of the King's death at this delicate time.
"... This is beyond just 'trouble,' isn't it?"
The Royal Succession Conflict is still ongoing. Prince Slay, initially considered the frontrunner, lost momentum after the Lecherie Dukedom incident and is now neck-and-neck with Prince Blut. And Prince Lucas is steadily building his faction. The struggle for the next King is truly a three-way conflict.
What happens if the King dies in such a situation?
"A civil war is unavoidable."
In the heavy atmosphere, Prince Lucas spoke the chilling words.
... A civil war.
Prince Slay's faction has the private armies of the nobles aligned with him. Prince Blut's faction has the Reese Kingdom's regular army and guards—its base of support. And Prince Lucas's faction has the Royal Knights, a security force composed of the most skilled fighters in the country.
Each faction possesses military might, and they are finely balanced.
"Prince Blut's faction has the largest number of soldiers, but I hear they are mostly civilian militias, lacking in equipment and training. Prince Slay's faction also has a large number of soldiers, but their equipment and training vary greatly depending on the nobles' private armies. They lack cohesiveness as a single military force. Our faction, however, has the Royal Knights, who far surpass the others in equipment and training, but..."
"We're just overwhelmingly outnumbered. There's no way to deal with that."
Roan-san shrugged, picking up where Lily left off.
The total number of Royal Knights is around a thousand. I believe about twenty percent of those are deployed with the Commander or guarding the borders. Considering that the other factions have troops in the tens of thousands, we are vastly outnumbered. Though it's impressive that their equipment and training can make up for that disadvantage.
"No faction has decisively superior military strength. That is why, while our father is alive, this stalemate is what gives my brothers pause when considering the use of military force."
"But if the King is no longer here, that restraint goes away...?"
"The throne can't be left empty forever. Someone has to become the King. But if the issue could be settled through discussion, this Royal Succession Conflict wouldn't have happened, would it? If it can't be settled through discussion, the only option is to fight for it."
The Reese Kingdom is an absolute monarchy. Power is concentrated in the King, and there isn't even a Parliament, like a Senate or House of Lords. If there were, a majority vote could settle the matter of the next King, but... that would likely create new grounds for conflict anyway.
"That's why this situation is the worst possible one. None of the factions possess the military strength to deliver a decisive blow. A civil war would undoubtedly drag on endlessly and eventually invite foreign intervention. The flames of war could spread and possibly escalate into a world war covering the entire continent."
A world war, like the one that led to the founding of the Royal Academy over a hundred years ago... Prince Lucas might sound like he's exaggerating, but it's probably not an impossibility.
"Did you call us here to prepare for that civil war...?"
Lily cautiously asked, and Prince Lucas shook his head.
"Of course, preparation for a civil war is necessary. I've been getting ready for it for a while. ... But don't you agree that avoiding the civil war is the best course of action in the first place?"
"Don't tell me..."
The sudden thought made me jump out of my chair. Prince Lucas turned to me, smiling. The way he was intensely observing me from behind the blindfold made me uneasy.
"............ Ah, so that's what this is about."
Lily must have realized it too. She placed a hand on her forehead, wearing an expression as if she had just bitten into a bitter insect.
"I've been wondering why not just Hugh, but I was called here as well..."
Exactly. If Prince Lucas intended to make a military move after the King's death, there was no essential reason to call Lily. Since he knows about my Skill, only calling me should have been enough.
Lily's 〈Strategist〉 Skill is only truly useful in certain situations. While it would be a huge advantage once a civil war started, Prince Lucas himself stated he wanted to avoid a civil war entirely.
The avoidance of civil war, and the reason for calling Lily here. If the King's continued survival is the prerequisite for avoiding civil war, the answer becomes obvious.
"You plan to have Lecty treat His Majesty the King, don't you...?"
"You're spot on, Hugh. To heal my father's illness, and by extension, for the sake of this country and the people who live here. I wish to borrow the power of your friend, the 〈Saintess〉. That is why I summoned you two today."
... News of Lecty's healing power must have reached Prince Lucas through Alyssa-san. He must have also heard that she healed Brown's near-fatal injury without even a residual pain.
The fairy tale describes a girl with the 〈Saintess〉 Skill healing even illness. If Lecty is capable of the same feat, she might not be able to completely cure the King's illness, but she could possibly prolong his life.
"You called Lily and me here to convince Lecty?"
"I heard from Alyssa that you two are close friends with Lady Lecty. It would be much less drastic if you two persuaded her rather than me using a Prince's authority to send her a summons."
That might be true, but...
It would also be easier for Lecty to accept being asked by us, after hearing the King's condition, than receiving a sudden summons from Prince Lucas.
... However, having Lecty treat the King would mean dragging her directly into the Royal Succession Conflict. If that's the case...
"I should say this now. Hugh, I have no intention of using your Skill."
"...!"
"If your Skill cured my father, how would you explain that to my brothers or my father?"
"That's..."
"If your Skill is exposed, my father will surely eliminate you. Even if you're his life savior. I do not wish for that outcome. I would even consider a civil war better than that."
Prince Lucas said this without the slightest hesitation. I can't be sure how serious he is, but once he puts it like that, I have to stand down.
I glanced at Lily beside me, and she was shaking her head too. She apparently agreed with Prince Lucas.
"Of course, I understand your concern. I understand you don't want to drag your friend into the Royal Succession Conflict. But I want you to look at it this way: This is also to protect Lady Lecty."
"To protect Lecty...?"
"My brothers will learn of Lady Lecty's power sooner or later. In fact, they might already have heard rumors. If so, it's only a matter of time before they send a summons to Lady Lecty. They too, will surely not want our father to die at this moment."
Everyone in the class knows Lecty healed Brown's fatal injury. I can't rule out the possibility that one of them informed their families of Lecty's feat, and the news reached the Princes...
If Prince Slay or Prince Blut sends a summons, Lecty won't be able to ignore it. Refusing a royal summons could lead to execution.
"If Lady Lecty answers a summons, she will surely be pulled into the faction, willingly or not. She might gain a great achievement by healing my father, and her 〈Saintess〉 Skill has many uses. There would be no reason not to draw her into the faction."
"If Lecty joins Prince Slay's or Prince Blut's faction, she'll become our enemy..."
"To avoid that, we have no choice but to bring her into our faction..."
It's not about pulling Lecty in, but protecting her.
I know that this is sophistry. Prince Lucas wants to acquire Lecty's power for himself, too.
... Even so, it's definitely better than having Lecty snatched by Prince Slay's or Prince Blut's faction.
Lily and I exchanged a look and a nod.
"... I understand."
"We will persuade Lecty."
"Thank you. For my father's sake and for the sake of this country, I implore you both."
Prince Lucas's mouth did not have his usual suspicious smirk.
Was the situation truly this desperate, or was he hiding something else? Even with the 〈Ninja〉 Skill, I couldn't ascertain his true feelings.
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