CH 90

Imperial Matches

As the surprise passed, the atmosphere returned to its calmness from before.

Why did Felix try to hide his connection to Sheila? Did he go so far as to wear a disguise during her training to keep his presence from being noticed?

‘I get it now…. Maybe he wanted to keep it a secret because he’s royalty. Probably for my own safety.’

Sheila, who grew up in the mountains, didn’t understand how difficult it was, but being a member of the royal family was something that was fraught with danger. Even Wilfrecht was always surrounded by many knights, and the only time he could move freely was when he was in the herb garden. So, he wanted the outside world to think he was irrelevant.

“Sheila, are you okay?”

“…. Hmm? Huh?”

Cody peeked in with furrowed eyebrows.

Sheila suddenly returned from her sea of thoughts.

She looked around to see why he was in front of her when he was supposed to be performing a sword dance, and before she knew it, the tent was bustling with activity. All of her classmates had returned.

Toldrid crossed his arms in exasperation.

“So, how was it?”

“Eh?”

“You saw what we did, didn’t you?”

“Eh?”

Sheila’s cheeks twitched. She was watching the sword dance in a daze, so she didn’t remember much about it. She thought blue flame was beautiful.

When Sheila was at a loss to respond because of her guilty feelings, Zechs waved his hand and answered instead.   

“Aren’t we in third place in the end? The sixth graders turned the tables on us.”

“It can’t be helped. It’s surprisingly difficult to envelop a substance with magical power.”

Toldrid frowned and sighed.

If you just wanted to release your magic, you could use your full power, but putting magic power into a sword was very difficult to adjust. It was said that you needed to be skillful with your hands.

“Then, is it actually difficult to make magic tools?”

Sheila asked, thinking of Jornwerner and Claushezade. She unconsciously fiddled with her bracelet.

Hyderion observed it closely and replied.

“It’s quite difficult. It is not possible for the nerves of an ordinary person to keep working for hours on end with such precision. That is why the magicians in the academic tower are so admired.”

“Hee~”

Sheila thought they were just a bunch of weirdos because of a certain pervert, but apparently, she needed to change her perception.

At the same time, she also thought of the tremendous ability of Claushezade, who easily made the bracelet even though he wasn’t registered in the academic tower. Sheila had even easily asked him to change the activation conditions.

As she was inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat, Toldrid turned to Sheila again.

“So, how was the dance?”

“Eh? Oh, um…”

When Sheila was at a loss as to what to answer, Zechs interrupted her again.

“It’s useless to ask this guy. He’s been like this ever since he saw the Seventh Prince. No matter how many times I try to talk to him, he ignores me. It’s almost as if it’s love at first sight.”

The relationship that Felix desperately tried to hide couldn’t be revealed here. Sheila shook her head as hard as she could.

“T-That’s not it!?”

Sheila was so frightened that she stammered terribly, and the people around her looked at her lukewarmly. She was completely misunderstood.

“I-It’s not love at first sight! W-We’re both men!”

When Sheila further denied it, for some reason, Toldrid’s shoulders slumped.

“…. That’s right. Usually, it’s not possible. Between men….”

“….? Why do you sound so downcast, Toldrid?”

After asking, Sheila covered her mouth with her hands. It was an honest blunder on her part.

He must have someone in mind. The reason they were so close was not friendship, but affection.

Toldrid probably liked――Hyderion.

‘That’s why when I confirmed our friendship a little while ago, he had a weird look on his face. Because they’re not friends, they’re in love.’

A little excited with herself for being so unusually perceptive, Sheila patted Toldrid on the back.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that! I think it’s totally acceptable for men to be with each other!”

“…. Is that so?”

“That’s right! My friends in the village also said that when you’re in love, you’ll fall before you know it. You can’t choose whether that other person is a man or a woman. Because before you know it, you’ve fallen in love.”

Sheila, who strongly consoled Toldrid, didn’t notice Cody and Zechs’ stunned gazes.

“That idiot is digging his own grave with misunderstandings.”

“…. If everyone is happy, even if it’s a misunderstanding, isn’t it enough?”

They gave up on Sheila and walked away.

◇　◆　◇

The Imperial Match wasn’t a competition for all of the students.

Several talented players would be selected on the spot to compete.

As the competition reached its climax, everyone lined up in the center of the training hall. In front of the royal family, everyone had a solemn look.

“Seiryuu Mifune.”

Those whose names were called by Claushezade were the contestants of the Imperial Match. Seiryuu stepped forward from the line.

As the promising eldest son of the Mifune family, he must be well remembered by the royal family. Even Sheila felt proud of him, as he seemed to represent the commoners.

While two students from each grade were selected, the other student from the sixth grade was Axe. From the fifth grade were Leidyrune and a middle-class aristocrat named Arkliezel, whom Sheila had never been in contact with. Even though she had never spoken to him, she was sure of his character, as he was someone who never saw Sheila as an enemy when she entered the special course.

“From the fourth grade, Toldrid Rowle. And――Sheila Danau.”

Sheila could see that the assembled students were inwardly astonished. If it weren’t for the Imperial Match, they would have raised their voices.

Stifling her surprise, Sheila made her way to the front row like the other contestants. With no obstruction, the faces of the royal family could be seen clearly.

Wilfrecht looked at Sheila and smiled faintly.

When Sheila moved her gaze to Felix, he also softly narrowed his eyes slightly. Even though he didn’t smile openly, the tenderness in his eyes spoke of his affection.

To be honest, she still couldn’t believe he was a member of the royal family.

Her selfishness and the many times she had inconvenienced him in the past came back to her like a revolving lantern.

At the same time, however, Sheila remembered the bashful smile he rarely showed to anyone but his family. She also remembered the warmth of his gentle hand patting her head.

‘I was surprised, but that’s about it. It doesn’t change the fact that Felix was kind toward me.’

It was impossible for her to be shy with her royal brother, even though she was meeting with Wilfrecht casually.

As long as they could still meet as before, nothing would change. Their relationship would still be the same. As long as both parties continued to protect and care for each other.

Felix was here. Lulu and Richard were also here to see her. Instead of worrying about it now, she just needed to show her good side to the people who could be called her family in the royal capital.

As Sheila was concentrating on the battle between Axe and Arkliezel that had begun, a long sword was presented in front of her.

“Your turn is next. Keep the sword in your belt.”

“――Claushezade-sensei.”

He held out the sword that Sheila loved to use during practice. It was slender, light, and had a good length. The contestants didn’t use a replica sword because it was the Imperial Match.

She looked around as she received the long sword, which had become familiar in her hand. Everyone was absorbed in the match, and it seemed unlikely that anyone would overhear our conversation amidst the fierce swordfight.

“…. Claushezade-sensei knew about this and didn’t tell me.”

If she thought about it, Claushezade was from the Imperial Knights.

Imperial Knights were there to protect the royal family. She should have been a little more suspicious when he swore allegiance to Felix.

The great sword wielded by Axe was quickly approaching Arkliezel. It was amazing that Axe could swing it so easily, but his speed was also impeccable.

Moreover, he seemed to be very dexterous and was constantly strengthening his sword with magic. Thanks to that, even if Arkliezel tried to cast a spell on him, he was able to bounce it back with his sword.

Clauschezade, who had kept his mouth shut, murmured while Sheila was guessing the outcome of the match.

“Even if I didn’t tell you, there should have been some hints to notice every time we had a conversation.”

“I won’t understand unless you tell me explicitly.”

“Your thickheadedness is truly astonishing.”

“…..”

Sheila pouted her lips and fell silent.

She wasn’t asking him to apologize, but she didn’t think it was human to not feel the least bit sorry.

Aside from the fact that he had kept quiet about Felix’s true identity, Sheila was somewhat angry at the fact that Clauschezade was hiding things from her. However, the person himself had a calm face without realizing it.

Arkliezel’s sword was flicked away, and Axe thrust his sword at his throat. With a frustrated cry of surrender, cheers resounded from the venue.

Axe was showing off his muscles as usual. He must have forgotten that this was an Imperial Match.

Nevertheless, it was Sheila’s turn next. Equipped with a sword on her belt, she walked towards the center.

With the applause and roars, whatever she said won’t be heard by those around her anyway. Sheila turned around and smiled.

“Then I’m off, Clausche-sama!”

She called him by the nickname she had been hesitating to use for a long time, with sincere sarcasm.

Seeing Claushezade’s slightly stunned eyes, Sheila felt refreshed.