CH 9

Vow

The cobblestone corridor leading from the auditorium to the staff building opened onto a flower-filled courtyard.

Lilacs were in full bloom. Next to them were the silver wattles with their beautiful whitish leaves and branches full of yellow flowers. Marigolds, windflower​s, daisies, and baby blue eyes flowers filled the ground. It was like a carpet made of colorful flowers.

Swollen clematis buds were wrapped around the pillars of the domed pavilion. She was sure they would be in full bloom in a little while.

Soft blue sky, pleasant weather. On days like this, she was tempted to cut her hunted prey into parts and make salted food for preservation.

While she was reminiscing about the noisy days in the village, a stern reprimand came from the front.

“You’re too slow. Walk a little faster, Sheila Danau.”

…. This situation made her want to escape reality.

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about my family back home.”

“It’s only been a couple of weeks since you parted. If you start talking like that now, you will have a hard time in the future.”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

It was hard for her to argue because he was right. She couldn’t say anything back.

She was taken to the third floor of the staff building. It was the first time she entered the building, but it was quiet and still, with no sign of people. Perhaps it was because the hallway was carpeted, but not a footstep could be heard.

Claushezade entered the room with a steady gait. There was a bookshelf packed with books, papers neatly stacked on a desk, and a number of fine long swords and shields hanging on the wall. There was no tea or sweets, and the room was solemnly devoted to business.

“This is the study room. Right now I’m the only one using it.”

Claushezade took his place at the table as he explained. She was urged to take the seat across from him. The chairs were massive, made of dark brown, shiny wood, though not comfortable.

‘You could at least put down some cushions….’

Claushezade’s chair also had no cushion. Maybe he thought a chair was good enough if he could sit in it.

Sheila silently complied, feeling uncomfortable in the hard chair and in the cold atmosphere of the room.

There was no way to plead the case with Leidyrune. She waited nervously, wondering what kind of severe punishment she would receive.

Claushezade was as expressionless as a statue. She was slowly exposed to a thoughtless gaze. In a case like this, it might be best to look down to show remorse, but Sheila stared back at him carefully. The knight of her dreams was right in front of her, and she couldn’t look down.

After all, she was calmer than she had been back then. She was as poised as a long-aged tree that rarely wavered in its emotions. He must be close to 30 years old, but his muscular body and beauty were ageless. Perhaps it was because of his expressionless, plastic-like face, that even time seemed to have been transcended.

While she was staring at him, Claushezade opened his mouth.

“Felix-sama has told me all about you.”

“Yes.”

Sheila nodded anyway.

“He told me to do everything I could.”

“Yes.”

“I have also been asked to make every possible effort to provide convenience, but avoid any appearance of favoritism.”

“Ye―… Urm?”

She didn’t understand the flow of the conversation at all. Sheila tilted her head, unable to read Claushezade’s intentions.

“I’m sorry. I came here to talk about the matter with Leidyrune-senpai, didn’t I?”

Now that she thought about it, it was strange that Felix’s name came up in the first place. Her brother shouldn’t have known about today’s incident yet.

“I’ve already heard what happened from Leidyrune Centrix, and I’ve been assured that no charges will be filed. I was told that human punishment doesn’t apply to wild animals.”

Sheila breathed a sigh of relief at Claushezade’s words.

“I’m glad. Growing up in the mountains paid off, didn’t it?”

“…. Is “wild monkey” a compliment for you?”

“No, I think it’s rude, but anything goes as long as there’s no blame.”

As she said this, Claushezade’s brow wrinkled up. She wondered if he was angry.

“I’m glad to see that you have a strong personality. ――I have served Felix-sama for many years. Now I’m on a mission to protect your secret, which is why I’ve suddenly become a teacher.”

‘I see. You just joined the academy this year, so this room was only equipped with the bare necessities….. No, that’s not the point!’

“Eh…. to keep my secret…..?”

It made sense that he served her brother because she remembered past events. At that time, he was also a knight of Felix, fighting a ferocious beast. This faceless knight-sama was ordered by such an elder brother to come to the academy. To protect Sheila’s secret.

“So, in other words, Claushezade-sama is….”

“Call me ‘sensei’, not ‘sama’.”

“Claushezade-sensei is….”

Claushezade nodded heavily in affirmation at the end of Sheila’s hesitation.

“It means I know your gender. I still can’t believe it even if I was told.”

There was some rude comment added, but she was too surprised and shocked to say anything back. She couldn’t believe he knew she was a woman.

“…. Don’t you despise it, sensei? Becoming a knight is a man’s job, but a woman is trying to be one….”

Her voice trembled as she asked the question.

She was determined to become a knight, even if no one recognized her. She was willing to suffer any slander to achieve this.

If it became public knowledge that she’d lied about her gender, she didn’t know what kind of punishment she would receive. She might be declared guilty of lese-majesty for making a false declaration at the royal academy[1]. In the worst-case scenario, she could be executed on the spot. Even so, she came to the academy determined not to have any regrets.

But, from Claushezade….

She didn’t want to be despised by the only knight she’d always admired.

Sheila bit her lip and turned her head down. She didn’t want to hear any harsh words.

However, the voice that came back was as indifferent and even somewhat gentle as before.

“It is not a crime for a woman to be a knight. Rather, I believe that there should be a certain number of them because there are many situations in which women’s meticulous attention to detail is needed, such as escorting female royalty.”

“…. Eh.”

When she slowly looked up, there was the same expressionless face. His eyes were sharp and stern. But just by looking straight at her, she felt as if she was being acknowledged. She even felt sincerity and honesty in his peacock eyes, which were like the surface of a quiet lake.

“I know it’s difficult now, but one day your determination will be recognized. Until then, keep working hard.”

“….”

She couldn’t get a word out, as if her throat was clogged.

She never thought that Clauschezade would recognize and affirm her dream. She thought that from the point of view of an active knight, it would be unpleasant as if his pride was being tarnished and that he would rather proactively deny it.

…. It’s not that she didn’t have fears and insecurities. Still, she came here because she won’t give up her dream.

Even if she didn’t say anything, this person understood.

‘He continued to be exactly as I had imagined. My thoughts weren’t wrong.’

Sheila looked forward determinedly.

“I will. I definitely will. ――I want to be a knight like you.”

The yellow-light-colored eyes, which held a strong will and determination, shone like flames.

It was strange that she usually looked like a boy, but when she looked strong and brave, her feminine beauty stood out.

“You want to be like me…?”

She nodded back at Clauschezade, who raised his eyebrows in puzzlement.

“You used to come to the village of Denan, didn’t you? I saw you when I was a child. I still remember the skill of the person who defeated the violent beast.”

“Even so, that was more than a decade ago. You must’ve been only four or five years old. You might not remember it in detail…”

“No. I remember it clearly.”

She interrupted to cut off Claushezade’s doubts. She wouldn’t let anyone deny her resolve, even if it was impolite.

“I wanted to be a knight because I admired you that day.”

Sheila gave a sharp smile.

“Since then, you have been the knight for me. Your strength has guided me all this time.”

For the first time, the eyes of the knight she had always admired shook slightly. That was enough for now.

She would continue to show this resolve in every of her action from now on.

Translator Notes:

1. Lèse-majesté or lese-majesty a French term meaning “to do wrong to majesty”, is an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state. ↵