Chapter 7: Beating Up Princess Purin

I woke to a sudden noise, my eyes adjusting to an unfamiliar ceiling.

The pattern looked like the underside of wooden slats... Oh, right. I’d slept on the bottom bunk of a set of bunk beds last night. I’d stayed up late with my roommates, getting carried away in the excitement of being away from the capital.

As I scanned the room, I caught sight of Idiot heading out the door, a wooden sword in one hand. Probably off to his morning training. I should probably get moving, too.

During the journey for this field exercise, I hadn't been able to dedicate much energy to my own drills. Since today was a full day off, I didn't need to worry about saving my stamina. I wanted to check my form before our dungeon dive started tomorrow.

But first, I had to wake Lugue, who was currently using my left arm as a pillow.

Despite having been assigned the top bunk, Lugue had—as usual—slipped into my bed at some point during the night. Clad in a light shirt and lounge shorts, she was pressed firmly against me; I could feel her warmth and the steady rhythm of her heart even more clearly than usual.

With her guard down in sleep, there was no way anyone could mistake her for a boy.

I really didn't want the other guys in the room to see this. My left arm was also starting to go numb, reaching its absolute limit. I felt a bit bad for waking her from such a peaceful slumber, but it had to be done.

“Lugue, wake up,” I whispered.

“Mmm... Hugh... love you...”

“...Love you too.”

“Hwah?!” Her eyes snapped open, and she sat up, frantically looking around the room. After a moment, she just sat there, blinking rapidly.

“Good morning, Lugue,” I said.

“Oh, right. Morning, Hugh. Hey, did you just—about me—”

“Shhh. You need to get changed before the others wake up, right?”

“Right. Yeah. ...Was that a dream?” Lugue tilted her head, then pulled her change of clothes from her bag and hurried to swap outfits under the covers of the bed.

I kept my back turned to her, keeping a sharp eye on our roommates to make sure nobody was stirrring. Fortunately, the others were still dead to the world, and Lugue managed to get dressed without incident.

“Thanks, Hugh. Sorry I’m always such a handful.”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, I’m heading out for morning drills. You want to come along?”

“Really? I’d love to!”

“Alright, let’s go then.”

I let out a quiet sigh of relief at her response. Regardless of how we handled things at the dorms, leaving Lugue alone in a room full of other boys made me nervous. Even if nothing happened, I’d be too restless to focus on my training.

We slipped out of the room quietly, trying not to wake the others, and walked down the silent morning corridor. I figured Idiot would be in the inn’s courtyard.

“Last night was so much fun, wasn't it?” Lugue mused. “I had no idea things had progressed that far between Brown and Anne.”

“I’d seen them together often enough, but I never expected an actual engagement.”

Our classmate Brown was the son of a baker in the royal capital—a commoner student. Back when the class was divided and bickering between the Prince Slay and Prince Brute factions, he’d been something of a representative for the latter.

Anne, meanwhile, was the only daughter of Count Trage and had been one of Idiot’s hangers-on. She was a typical representative of the noble students in our class.

Apparently, their engagement was sparked by the accident during our mock group battle, where the factions had clashed. Brown had shielded Anne from a falling tree and ended up pinned beneath it.

Anne’s parents, the Count and Countess Trage, were so moved by Brown’s bravery that they visited his family’s bakery to thank him in person. Brown’s parents had been understandably panicked by the sudden arrival of high-ranking nobility, but they’d welcomed them with the best hospitality they could manage.

The Trages took a liking to them, and a friendship blossomed between the parents without Brown or Anne even knowing. Eventually, Brown’s bakery was designated as an official purveyor to the Trage house, the Count and Countess became regulars at the shop, and before long, the engagement was finalized.

A verbal promise between parents.

The two students were apparently mortified by the engagement, especially given the gap in their social standing. Brown, in particular, had been clutching his head in distress at the realization that instead of taking over the bakery, he was now set to marry into a Count’s family.

“Though, he didn't seem entirely unhappy about it,” Lugue noted.

“True. He did ask Idiot and me to teach him noble etiquette, after all.”

Considering I was just a noble from a backwater, dirt-poor territory, my knowledge of high society manners was limited. I’d ended up dumping the request onto Idiot, the heir to the Hortness family—one of the Kingdom’s most prestigious houses. Idiot had given me a weary sigh but congratulated Brown and Anne, promising to spare no effort in helping them.

As reliable as he was, he’d probably be a great mentor for Brown.

“An engagement, huh? Must be nice...” Lugue looked up at me with eyes full of expectation.

I couldn't just let that go with a "no comment." That would be running away. However, confessing right here and now felt too impulsive. Instead, I reached out and gave her hand a firm squeeze.

“Just... wait a little longer, okay?”

“Can I get my hopes up?”

I gave a silent nod. Lugue giggled, squeezing my hand back.

“Alright. But don't make me wait too long, or I might just have to claim you for myself first, Hugh.”

“That... sounds like it would be exceptionally troublesome.”

“Doesn't it?”

Still holding hands, we headed toward the courtyard. Soon, the rhythmic clashing of wooden swords echoed from ahead. The training had already begun.

I’d assumed Idiot would be sparring with Alyssa-san, but when we stepped into the yard, she was nowhere to be found. Instead, Idiot was facing off against Ryug.

“Hyaaaaaah!”

Ryug launched a relentless offensive, but Idiot remained calm, reading the trajectory of every strike and parrying them with ease. As the possessor of the 《Guardian》 skill, Idiot was incredibly strong on the defensive. When it came to pure protection, his talent with a blade rivaled that of Alyssa-san or Sir Roan, the holder of the 《Sword Master》 skill and the Kingdom’s strongest knight.

Yet Ryug, who was pushing Idiot so hard, was also an elite B-rank adventurer. His strikes, forged in the fires of real combat, were sharp and followed an unconventional, free-flowing style that gave Idiot no opening to counter.

My current skill was set to 《Pyrokinesis》, so I couldn't be certain... but I didn't think Ryug was using a skill. Whether he lacked 《Swordsmanship》 or 《Physical Enhancement》 skills, or was simply choosing not to use them, the fact that he could go toe-to-toe with Idiot without them was nothing short of impressive.

“Wow, they’re amazing, Hugh!”

“Yeah... wait, what?”

Was it my imagination? For a split second, it looked like Ryug’s form blurred...

Right after that sensation, Ryug’s wooden sword was sent flying by a counter-strike from Idiot. Ryug threw his hands up in a gesture of surrender, a look of deep satisfaction on his face.

“As expected of you, Master Idiot. I don't think my swordsmanship could catch up to yours even in decades.”

“The result would have been different had you fought seriously from the start. I find no pleasure in being praised for winning an unfair fight.”

“My apologies. But I truly was happy to test myself against you. Thank you.”

Ryug gave Idiot a deep, respectful bow before nodding to us as he passed by and headed back into the inn.

Idiot watched him go, crossing his arms and letting out a disgruntled huff. He seemed unusually irritated. Was he upset that Ryug had held back?

“Good morning, Hugh. I see Lugue has joined us today.”

Noticing us, Idiot exhaled as if to reset his mood and walked over with his usual composure.

“Yep! Thought I’d move my body for once!” Lugue said, throwing out a few "whoosh-whoosh" punches like she was shadowboxing. I’d thought she was just going to watch, but apparently she had other plans.

“You mind, Idiot?” I asked.

“Not at all.”

The three of us spent the next hour practicing. As it turned out, Idiot was a natural at teaching. Lugue, who claimed she’d never properly studied swordsmanship before, improved at a visible rate. Back at the academy, she’d basically just been swinging a stick around, but in just thirty minutes, she was handling the blade with some semblance of form.

“She might actually have more aptitude for this than you, Hugh,” Idiot noted.

“Don't just state facts like that...”

I was constantly surprised by Lugue’s athleticism. She didn't have 《Physical Enhancement》 like Lecty; this was all natural ability. She was the polar opposite of Lily, who was utterly hopeless when it came to exercise.

Maybe having a slender frame made it easier to move?

“Hugh, were you just thinking something really rude?”

“No, no! Of course not! Hahaha.”

...Better stop overthinking things. If I provoked her, she looked like she might actually take a swing at me with that wooden sword.

After we’d been practicing for a while, Alyssa-san entered the courtyard. She wasn't in her usual casual training gear; she was wearing the armor of the Kingdom Knights, with a real sword hanging at her hip.

Did something happen?

“You boys sure are diligent, training even while on a trip,” Alyssa-san noted. “And Lugue’s joined in too today, I see.”

“Morning, Alyssa-san!” Lugue chirped. “Hugh and Idiot were just showing me the ropes!”

“Well, keep it moderate. I don't need any injuries on my watch, capiche?”

“Got it!”

Even the normally Spartan Alyssa-san seemed to realize that letting Lugue get hurt would be bad news. If anything happened to her, Alyssa-san’s head would be on the chopping block—literally.

“Instructor Alyssa,” Idiot said, his eyes narrowing. “You’re dressed rather formally. Is there a problem?”

“Nah, nothing like that. Just had a bit of a schedule change, so I’ve been making the rounds to let everyone know.”

I see. It seemed she’d come looking for us since we weren't in our room. I wondered what the change could be.

With a weary sigh, Alyssa-san filled us in. “The local lord, Viscount Drefon, has invited Prince Lucas and the students of the Royal Academy to a luncheon at his manor.”

◇

Five carriages arranged by Viscount Drefon arrived at the inn, and we were divided six to a carriage. I ended up with the usual group.

“It is an honor to be invited to a luncheon, but the town doesn't exactly look like it can afford such luxuries,” Rosalie murmured, staring out the window at the desolate streets.

The town of Balread had mostly become a ghost town following the plague seven years ago. The tax revenue must have been a pittance. Entertaining Prince Lucas alone would cost a fortune, but adding all of us on top of that... I could see why she was worried.

“Nobles must maintain appearances, even when their pockets are empty. It is the nature of the beast,” Idiot said, nodding with a sense of shared understanding.

It was the classic "starving samurai using a toothpick" mentality. Even though they’d been demoted to a Viscountcy, the Drefons had once been one of the most powerful families in the Kingdom. That kind of pride wasn't something you discarded easily.

“Besides, there’s a reason to entertain us even if it’s a stretch,” Lily added. “The students of the Royal Academy—especially the high achievers selected for Class A—tend to be relatives of the Great Nobility.”

“I see. So it’s about networking.”

When you looked at our carriage alone, you had the heirs of the Puridy and Hortness houses, plus the Saint of the Divine Grant Religion. Looking at the class as a whole, there was the daughter of Count Trage and countless other relatives of famous houses.

“It’s not just the nobles,” Idiot continued. “Even for a commoner, graduating from the Royal Academy provides significant prestige. Some of these students may hold key government positions in the future. In that sense, we are a worthy investment.”

Essentially, it was a down payment on the future. For a noble, a network is power. A problem that’s impossible to solve alone can be handled with the help of other nobles. The Drefon house, isolated after the plague incident, likely craved those connections more than anything.

“I understand the logic, but the people in the town seem to be suffering... wait, actually, they aren't here?” Rosalie tilted her head, looking out the window.

She was right. Since entering Balread, I hadn't seen a single vagrant. The town looked desolate because of the ruins, but there were no signs of extreme poverty in the areas we could see.

“It seems Viscount Drefon is quite the capable administrator,” Lily observed.

“Capable?” Lecty asked, confused.

Lily prefaced her statement with an “it’s just a guess,” then explained the policy the Viscount likely implemented.

“Balread is far too large for the current population. I suspect the Viscount concentrated the residents into a single district. If people are spread too thin, the whole town decays. By shrinking the occupied area, he created a dense hub that allows for more efficient economic activity.”

“Right. That’s why the area around the inn was so lively,” I said.

“Exactly. And the lack of vagrants suggests the economy is healthy. If anything, they’re probably suffering from a labor shortage.”

“Makes sense.”

Lily’s deduction felt spot on. To be invited as a son-in-law into House Drefon, the Viscount had to be a man of talent.

Concentrating a limited population to boost economic efficiency, huh? I wondered if I could apply that to the Pnocis territory. Given my position, I was eventually going to inherit the land whether I liked it or not. I couldn't just abandon management to enjoy a slow life, so maybe I should start studying some economics.

Lily looked over at me and gave a knowing smile, as if she were saying, “Leave the management to me, okay?”

If I just dumped the territory management onto Lily, Pnocis would probably turn into an economic superpower. Well, I’d think about that later.

The carriage left Balread and traveled through the hills for about ten minutes. Soon, a manor that looked like a small castle built atop a hill came into view. That was likely the Drefon estate.

“So that’s Mother’s...” Lugue whispered.

I felt a jolt of anxiety, worrying that Idiot or Rosalie might have heard her, but fortunately, it seemed to have gone unnoticed.

Oh, right. For Lugue, this was a homecoming to her mother’s ancestral home. It was a complicated situation—the only one greeting her was a bloodless uncle, and she had to be here as "Lugue" rather than "Lucretia." Her heart must be in turmoil.

The manor was about two kilometers from the town. It took less than twenty minutes for the carriages to arrive. Since our carriage was at the back of the line, the other students had already disembarked and were being guided to the manor’s garden.

It appeared the luncheon was to be an outdoor buffet. There were tables and chairs set up further back, but those were likely reserved for Prince Lucas.

I was glad it wasn't a formal sit-down dinner; table manners were a nightmare. I wasn't the only one relieved; the commoner students also looked visibly more relaxed.

“A clever move by the Viscount,” Lily noted. “A buffet saves on costs and serves as a valid excuse for being considerate of the commoner students. By using the garden, he doesn't have to decorate the interior of the manor, keeping expenses to a minimum.”

“He really is impressive.”

In front of us, a man in his late thirties with a soft, gentle demeanor was greeting Prince Lucas. And standing beside the Prince was...

“Hoh. It seems the sister is accompanying him after all. It is rare for Princess Lucretia to appear in public. Lily Puridy, as her friend, I imagine it has been quite some time since you last saw her?”

“Y-yes. Quite,” Lily said, her face twitching slightly as she nodded.

Beside Prince Lucas stood "Lucretia"—or rather, Merry in disguise—wearing a bright, beaming smile. Idiot showed absolutely no sign of suspecting her. The body double was working perfectly.

“Welcome, Your Highness,” Viscount Drefon said with a respectful bow.

Prince Lucas responded with a gentle smile. “It has been too long, Uncle. I thank you for arranging such a warm welcome today.”

“Not at all. I have merely performed my duty as a subject. ...Still, I must admit my surprise. Not only at your sudden visit, but that Princess Lucretia is with you. I had heard she had been bedridden for some time.”

The Viscount turned an inquisitive gaze toward Merry. I see—so her "official" status was that she was sickly. Perhaps fewer people had met the real Lucretia than I’d thought. In that case, Merry was more than up to the task of being a double.

“Yes,” Lucas replied. “Fortunately, her health has been quite good of late. She wished to take this opportunity to visit our mother’s grave.”

“Ah, I see. A visit to her grave,” the Viscount said, nodding as if everything finally clicked.

I wasn't imagining the look of relief that washed over his face. I mean, anyone would be terrified if royalty suddenly showed up at their door without warning. But as I watched, the Viscount’s expression gradually darkened into one of awkwardness.

Is something wrong?

“Regarding that... there is a bit of a problem,” the Viscount admitted.

“A problem?”

“Yes. The heavy rains last month caused a landslide on the mountain path leading to the cemetery. We are rushing the repairs, but my territory suffers from a chronic labor shortage. The latest report from the site says it will be at least a week before it’s passable.”

“I see... a week,” Prince Lucas said, bringing his fist to his chin in thought.

Based on what he’d said on the ship, he’d planned to finish the visit today or tomorrow and head back to the capital. This would throw his schedule into complete disarray. The longer he was away, the more it would affect the struggle for the succession. I couldn't begin to guess the fallout of a week's delay, but it certainly wouldn't be positive.

“Very well. I shall provide personnel from my own guard to assist with the repairs. I cannot go home without visiting the grave after coming all this way.”

“I am deeply grateful, Your Highness.”

“Let us discuss the details over lunch. ...Oh, Lucretia. Since we’re here, why don't you go and enjoy the company of people your own age?”

With that, Prince Lucas gave Merry a gentle nudge toward us.

“Is that alright?” Merry asked.

“Of course. Go on.”

Prompted, Merry came trotting over to us.

Did he think she’d be found out if she stayed near the Viscount too long? Or was there some other motive? As I wondered, I saw a small smile play on Prince Lucas’s lips.

Immediately after, the "Lucretia" running toward us threw her arms around my arm and clung to me—wait, what?!

“Me—Princess Lucretia?!”

“I am appointing you as my escort!” she declared.

Escort?!

The surrounding students began to buzz at the sight of Lucretia (Merry) suddenly clinging to me.

『Curse him! As if Lady Lily and Lady Lecty weren't enough...!』

『When did he get his claws into Princess Lucretia?!』

『The Lugue-kyun pairing is the strongest!』

The hate toward me was spiking at an alarming rate!

“Hu-ugh?” Lugue said, a vein popping in her forehead as she gave me a "sunny" smile. “When did you get so close to Princess Lucretia?”

I wish I knew! I don't remember doing anything that would make her this attached... Wait, I did give her those cookies. Is she literally just following her stomach?!

“Hmph!”

Lugue’s smile vanished, her cheeks puffing out as she mirrored Merry’s move, clinging to my other arm. Now both of my arms were pinned, and I couldn't move.

Lugue and Lucretia.

I never thought I’d be hugged by both of them at the same time. My brain felt like it was about to short-circuit. I looked toward Lily and Lecty, hoping for a rescue.

“Lecty,” Lily said, her eyes narrowing. “Should we cling to his legs, perhaps?”

“I think making a Hugh-sandwich from the front and back is also a good idea...!”

No! I have to handle this myself before those two move or it’ll be a total disaster!

“P-Princess Lucretia? It’s unseemly for a girl to cling to a man in public, don't you think?” I said as gently as possible.

“Okaaaay!” Merry chirped, letting go of my arm with surprising obedience.

The real Lucretia, however...

“I’m not a girl right now. I’m a boy!” she insisted, squeezing my arm even tighter. What a stubborn princess.

Well, at least one of my arms was free, so I decided to fulfill Merry’s request and act as her escort. Though that really just meant following her around as she enjoyed the wide variety of dishes on the buffet tables.

“Hey, make sure you eat your vegetables too!”

Lugue chided Merry, who seemed intent on devouring nothing but pudding and cookies. With an air of parental authority, she scolded her double until Merry puffed out her cheeks in a dissatisfied “Mmph!” and begrudgingly started piling salad onto her plate.

Surprisingly obedient, isn't she? I thought.

And that pout... when she puffed her cheeks like that, she was a dead ringer for the real Lucretia.

...Which, naturally, sent my imagination into overdrive.

If Lucretia and I ever started a family and had a daughter of our own, I could see them having this exact exchange every single day. Lucretia would probably make a surprisingly dependable mother.

“Hey! You’re trying to sneak more pudding again! Geez, Hugh, tell her something!” Lugue barked.

“Right. But maybe we can start with you letting go of my arm first, Lugue?” I suggested.

For the moment, at least, she was still just my clingy little princess.