[Episode 181] Suspicion (11)
“There’s a slight scratch, but nothing significant.”
After the duel evaluation, I was getting my condition checked by the healers of Eternia.
“Peep! Peep!”
“Look at this little one! Too cute.”
“Let’s try feeding it.”
“Flap your wings!”
While I was being examined, Jenia, Haley, and a few other Art Department seniors were fussing over Peep. They poked, prodded, and pinched it, showering it with relentless attention. Peep seemed to be handling it well.
Actually, it looked like it might even be enjoying the attention, completely ignoring my distress. That bird was getting a bit too cocky.
Haley, the Art Department president, was squishing Peep in her hand and asked me,
“Is its name Peep? I saw it before and wondered what it was, so you’re its owner?”
“Have you seen it before? Did Peep visit the Art Department?”
“It used to come to the greenhouse occasionally. Grace Mountain is such a peculiar place; I thought a spirit must be visiting.”
Jenia added,
“I’ve seen it there while drawing too. Always looked well-fed. What does it eat when it’s out?”
“Truthfully, it doesn’t listen to me much, so I don’t really know where it goes.”
This little one, roaming around Eternia without my permission.
While dealing with the Art Department seniors, part of me was riddled with worry.
The duel assessment had gone overall well, except for one thing. Peep’s one action had derailed an important plan of mine, putting me in a bind.
The truth was, Peep was not supposed to reveal itself in front of others.
It was supposed to emerge from the ice prison only after enough steam had built up, but Peep, in its excitement, had burst out prematurely.
I had once used Peep to lure Cecil while disguised as Candy.
So now that Peep had appeared in the duel evaluation, the chances of Cecil recognizing me had skyrocketed.
My head throbbed with worry. Could I simply deny it and get away with it? Considering Cecil’s personality, that seemed unlikely.
And another concern was Olivia’s safety.
After getting thoroughly beaten by me, Ruskeus was probably seething, having sent his fiancée to dig into my vulnerabilities without gaining anything.
T h i s was c o p i ed f r o m k i n g m tl . o r g
I feared his anger would be taken out on innocent Olivia, and that unease weighed on me.
I couldn’t directly interfere in their relationship. Noble engagements were not just personal affairs but contracts entwined with multiple families and factions.
Even if I were to step in like some knight and beat Ruskeus, the fundamental problem would remain unsolved.
The duel evaluation was over, but there were still matters to be resolved.
Then, Trisha, whom I had sent on an errand, returned. She had previously caught the eye of the Art Department seniors, so she approached me as inconspicuously as possible.
She whispered to me,
“Damian… I’ve got a bad feeling.”
Th i s w a s c o p i e d fr om k i ng m tl . o rg
“What about?”
“Cecil wants to see you…!”
“Do you know why?”
“Not sure. She made up her mind after watching the duel! She had that look when she’s up to something. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen!”
“Alright, thanks. We’ll talk about it later.”
The recovery room was occupied by Art Department seniors and me, not an ideal place for our arch-rivals from the Drama Department.
“I’ll try to hold off Cecil as long as I can…!”
Trisha left quietly, bearing the Art Department seniors’ glares.
The mention of Cecil sent a shiver down my spine. It felt like I was truly caught, and now I might be out of options.
T h i s was co p i e d f r o m k in g mtl .o r g
While I was absorbed in grave thoughts, a knock sounded at the treatment room door.
An unexpected figure entered.
“Is Sir Damian here?”
It was the ambassador from Ulyssia, who had come to find me in person.
The previously bustling recovery room fell silent instantly. Jenia and Haley stepped back discreetly, their eyes round with curiosity.
The well-groomed ambassador of Ulyssia offered a flattering greeting.
“It is a great honor to meet you, Sir Damian. Your swordsmanship is as lightning-fast, and your movements as elusive as I’ve heard.”
I quickly rose to greet him.
“What brings you here?”
He glanced over at the Art Department seniors before speaking.
Th i s w a s cop i ed f r o m k i n gm t l . o r g
“You were in the company of ladies… Is it alright to discuss matters here?”
“It’s fine.”
“I’ve been sent by Lady Vivi to deliver something to you.”
“…?”
“Bring it in, please.”
At his gesture, two knights entered, each carrying a bouquet and a silver-tied letter into the recovery room.
Jenia and Haley exchanged meaningful glances without uttering a word.
“This is a letter from Lady Vivi and a token of her consideration for you, Sir Damian.”
T h is w a s c o p i ed f r o m k i ng m t l . o r g
It had been a while since I received a bouquet. Liza had made me some as a child, but nothing this grand and elaborate. I recognized the flower from the herbalism books.
Thi s w a s c op i ed f r o m k i n gmtl . o r g
“Finlandis flowers.”
“Correct. Are you familiar with the flower’s meaning?”
“No.”
“‘Eternal Friendship.’ Lady Vivi insisted that I make sure you understood this.”
Jenia covered her mouth, hitting Haley’s shoulder with her palm.
“Oh my, oh my.”
The ambassador leaned in to speak softly, away from the others’ hearing.
“Ahem, pardon the presumption, but it would be wise to respond as soon as possible.”
“You need not worry about that part.”
“There was also instruction to spare no support for your stay at Eternia. The Ulyssia Embassy in Rigved will provide whatever you need.”
Suddenly, an idea occurred to me. While I couldn’t fully rescue Olivia, there was a way I might support her.
“I have plenty of help around here. However, I do have an important matter to discuss… Could you give us a moment, please?”
***
T h i s w a s co p ied fr om k i n gm tl .o rg
After the conversation with the ambassador, I approached the door to collect my things. Technically, my condition needed to be checked post-duel, but since I hadn’t taken any actual hits during the fight, leaving would be fine.
I could hear Jenia and Haley’s chattering from inside the recovery room.
“… Is the newbie really going to the Ulyssian Academy?”
T hi s wa s c o p ie d fr o m k i ngm t l . org
“No way… Professor Greig is invested in him. How can he be taken away?”
“The Ulyssian Academy specializes in swordsmanship… He could go there. People from there keep visiting… I have a feeling…”
Thi s was co pi e d fr o m k i n gm t l .or g
“Oh shoot… Then we have to make sure Lady Vivi… doesn’t waver.”
“… Lady Vivi as a romantic prospect?”
“Haley, you should use your family’s influence in the Empire to…”
Feeling odd about eavesdropping, I burst into the room, interrupting their secret murmurs.
They switched to a nonchalant discussion as if they hadn’t been gossiping.
“Oh, the rookie’s here?”
“Peep!”
Peep was perched atop Haley’s head as if it had been part of their secret meeting.
“… Here, rookie, take this.”
Sitting on a chair, Jenia handed me a letter.
“Some foxy girl just showed up in front of us, didn’t even blink and told us firmly to deliver this to you.”
I took the letter and asked,
“Do you remember her name?”
“Cecil. You know her?”
“No, I’m not well acquainted.”
The inevitable had arrived.
I unfolded the letter, which held a brief message.
[Come to the Guardian Tree immediately after reading this. I’ll be waiting.]
“May I step out for a moment?”
“Yeah, but don’t be late. We have to cheer for Pavela in her upcoming duel evaluation.”
***
As I approached the Guardian Tree, I still couldn’t decide whether to keep lying or reveal the truth.
Was there a plausible lie that could deceive someone like Cecil? A believable alibi?
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t find an answer.
Cecil was standing quietly in the shadows, gazing up at the Guardian Tree as if she had been there all night.
Hearing my approach, she slowly turned around and looked me straight in the face.
“Damian, right?”
I responded gruffly. Despite recognizing her familiar face, there was no connection between Damian and Cecil.
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“I saw your duel. You’re more skilled than the rumors suggest.”
T h i s w a s c o p ie d fr o m k i n g mtl . o r g
“Did you call me here just to say that?”
“And your spirit. It’s the same kind I know someone else used to command.”
“So?”
Cecil’s eyes flashed with momentary anger.
“… So?”