Chapter 15
Playing queen, flattering Your Highness, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, bullying her stepsister out of jealousy, breaking off her engagement at the graduation party... and finally, being glared at by the royal family and sent to a convent.
Why is the person who holds the key to my worst future here in the northern lands...?
"......"
Wondering if it might be someone who just resembled His Highness, I quietly lifted my face, then lowered it back to my hands.
I had seen him many times smiling beside His Majesty the King at the opening ceremony of the music festival held every year.
There's no way I could mistake him. It's definitely him.
My heart was pounding, and cold sweat wouldn't stop.
Should I just collapse here...? No, maybe it'd be faster to run? As I was torn between the two options, my hand was suddenly pulled away...
"......Who are you?"
A cold voice fell from above.
When I lifted my face stiffly like a broken doll, I saw Rudo Orsema, the Crown Prince of this country, frowning in displeasure.
"I'm hiding my identity here, so how do you know who I am?"
Wouldn't children of high-ranking nobles, or even those from decent families, at least know what His Highness looks like?
I've heard that at the spring banquets and tea parties hosted annually by the queen at the royal castle, candidates for princes' and princesses' fiancés and aides are invited...
"I've seen your face before..."
"You have?"
I almost said, "Who else would it be?" but quickly shut my mouth.
Instead, I nodded a few times, but his probing gaze made me feel uncomfortable.
"Aren't you the girl who lives in Taurus?"
When His Highness said the word Taurus, I realized he wasn't offended but rather wary.
No wonder our conversation wasn't aligning.
A shirt with stretched collar and sleeves, pants stained and discolored, sunburnt skin, and long damaged hair. No one would think I'm a noble's daughter.
Basically, His Highness thinks I'm a commoner child.
Of course he'd be cautious if a commoner child knew his face.
In that case, there's only one thing to do.
To dispel his suspicion, I clenched my right fist, brought it to my chest, and tapped it twice.
"My name is Celestia Rotisch."
I gave the kind of salute I've been strictly trained to do to superiors, something I can now do naturally...
"......I see."
"......Rick."
He backed away with a shuffle... That wasn't the reaction I expected, and I felt like he was even more suspicious of me, so I turned to Rick for help, but for some reason, he was covering his mouth and trembling.
I could hear a "pff" sound escaping between his fingers... Could he be laughing? When I glared at Rick, he noticed my gaze and turned his face away.
His Highness looked at me like I was some suspicious person, and the instructor was laughing and completely useless.
I looked around, trying to find His Highness's guard who must be hiding somewhere, but there was no sign of them.
In the unbearable atmosphere, I stood still, looking up at the sky, thinking (Ah... what nice weather...).
"Sorry. Rudo's frightened... surprised face was just too funny."
"I didn't find it funny at all."
"You're at fault too, Celes. Who would expect a civilian to salute like that?"
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince and our instructor are basically the same."
That's why a salute is appropriate, I thought, and calmly lowered my arm and straightened my posture.
"Rotisch... That's the Marshal's, right?"
"I am the daughter of Baldo, head of the Rotisch family, and the granddaughter of Fielde."
"......Why are you at this fort?"
Since Grandfather is here, I don't think it's strange that his granddaughter is too...
I didn't want to be misunderstood again, so I decided to ask directly instead of beating around the bush.
"Excuse me. I don't understand what you mean by 'why,' so could you please explain?"
"......It just seemed odd that a daughter of a count family would be here at this time of year. I was wondering why you were here."
"Even if you say 'this time of year'... I've been at this fort for a year and a half already."
"......A year and a half? But I didn't see your face last year."
Last year? I tilted my head and glanced at Rick, who was watching silently.
"I was here last year too, wasn't I?"
"You were. But... Celes, after finishing your early morning training, you didn't leave the Training Ground, right?"
"Yes. I was forbidden to move around until I built up basic stamina. But we never even crossed paths in the area with the cafeteria or guest rooms."
"Rudo only stays here for at most two months, but he doesn't use the cafeteria. The royal and noble guest rooms are on the same floor but at completely opposite ends."
"After dinner, I was wandering around doing laundry or responding to Colonel Nick's summons, though."
"Due to security, Rudo is forbidden from leaving his room at night."
If our active hours were different, it's no wonder we didn't meet.
He wasn't training with the newcomers, and if he was hiding deep in the grass to train, then even more so.
I responded to His Highness, who stood there blinking with his mouth open, with, "That's how it is."
"Training? You... you're training?"
"Yes. I passed basic training, so I'm starting field training today."
"It took a year and a half. You did well."
When I smiled at Rick, who patted my head, His Highness muttered, "A year and a half..." and his face quickly turned red.
As his pale skin flushed bright red, I panicked inside, wondering what's next. Then, His Highness lowered his eyebrows, bit his lip, and slowly bowed his head...
"Sorry. It seems I misunderstood a lot of things."
He apologized.