The Gloomy and Timid Princess Heads to the Academy

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Exile, huh? It’s far less than I expected. I thought they’d really hit me with some outrageous compensation fee, so I had the guards bring a cart full of gold, but it turned out to be a complete waste of effort.

It’s just a verbal exile, and reading their expressions and the atmosphere, it was more like “Please leave, we beg you.”

Did I overestimate them? I figured, being rulers, they’d show a strong demeanor or something, but ended up being disappointed by their pathetic display.

The reason for the miserable lives of people I saw on the way was clear: their rulers were utterly useless. No solid goals or ideals are visible in them.

“Exile. They think they can condemn me to exile?”

Should I give them a light scare? Like, as if I wouldn’t listen to their words, I subtly tested the waters, and it seemed like they were genuinely rattled.

“…If you refuse…”

Well, what are they gonna do about it? I wanted to ask if they planned to start a war if I resisted, but if I did, it would surely be irreversible. I’d have to back off at this point.

“Hah, I was leaving anyway. Truly disheartening. But let it be known, I am leaving not by your command but of my own will.”

Anyway, as I declared my departure, I could hear a sigh of relief and the sound of trembling breaths. I noticed a few annoyed faces, but they mostly just trembled without showing any signs of unexpected actions.

“…I will give you a grace period of three days. Use that time to organize your belongings and relationships. I’ll let you know a few details. First…”

One person, who seemed to maintain his composure, albeit looking a bit better than the rest, opened his mouth to conclude the trial.

I recognized him from somewhere. Wasn’t he the Emperor of the Empire? Not as handsome as in the portraits, but I suppose that’s unavoidable. If painted truthfully, the artist’s life would be in jeopardy.

He talked about how to return with mercy and dealt with nitpicky details, but I could tell how exceptional the treatment I was receiving was.

They even offered me a free pass. The thought of being able to return quickly eased my mind a bit since I wouldn’t have to face the guards or the lord.

It was a relief, as it felt awkward to disturb the hardworking folks.

“…This concludes our court session.”

The reason for having the guards accompany me was partly for the cart transport but also because I had the intention to break through should they make ridiculous demands.

For all that buildup, it ended rather anticlimactically. They didn’t even tell me to leave, so I simply walked back the way I came.

I could feel some disdainful glances but, knowing they couldn’t touch me, I stomped my feet purposefully as I stepped out.

“…Are you really going to leave?”

As soon as I stepped out, my brother, who had been waiting outside, asked if I was really going.

“Of course. I’ve done enough… There’s no reason to stick around. Everything about knowledge and lifestyle here is barely tolerable.”

“But what about that man the Princess holds so dear?”

It’s rare for Black Wolf to worry about someone else. In this case, it was more about worrying for me.

I thought about how it felt like a long time had passed, but it hadn’t even been half a year since I left home. He must be asking if I’m just planning to look around for that much.

But in my view, there’s nothing more to see. Looking at the cradle of future talents in such a state, why would I find meaning in browsing around elsewhere?

Spending time in a backward country or a town lacking tourist attractions was no different.

It’d be much more fun and rewarding to check out the Creation Space back home.

And as for Dokan, isn’t it obvious?

“What will I do? I’ll take him with me. Am I going to leave him behind? After all, I went through the trouble of bringing him into being. He’ll willingly follow, so you can rest easy.”

There’s no need for violence to bring Dokan back. It shouldn’t happen, and it must not.

“Yes… well, if the Princess says so. And… Ho-yeon, it might be good to prepare something to say to your father and mother. Especially to your father.”

“Yes, brother. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I shouldn’t brush off the advice from someone who’s like an uncle having watched me since I was young. It’s not wrong, and it’s not excessive worry either.

While my mother has been keeping an eye on things through her diary, my father has no clue, as my mother informed me.

Thinking about how I would return with a guy whose past I don’t even know, it may cause some controversy. My mother might be fine, but I doubt my father would stay silent. It would be evident that just bringing him back would lead to trouble.

But I couldn’t think of a compelling excuse. Dokan probably wouldn’t have one either.

Even if I brought the world’s best orator, they would never convince a father who is about to send his daughter off about the existence of a dog bone next to her.

…We’ll figure that out on the way. I’ll be stuck on a ride for at least a month, so there’s plenty of time. All I lack is an idea.

With complicated thoughts swirling, my steps as I left the courtroom felt both light and heavy. I wonder if Dokan knows about this.

—

She was already somewhat shunned, but that was merely to avoid contact as much as possible. No one bothered to speak to her, and no one sought to build any connections.

It wasn’t like now, where people were parting the sea of people to get a glimpse of her. Many went out to see her since it was announced she had come out, but no one dared to step ahead.

Given that she’s now a full-fledged exile, perceived as a ticking time bomb waiting to go off, that seems quite normal.

And since the guards were surrounding her closely, she would appear even more menacing.

She was enveloped in an aura that said “Don’t come near me,” and seemed to be scanning the crowd for someone. Perhaps she was looking for me, but the surrounding noise and chaos made it impossible for me to step forward to meet her.

I was only managing to stay clear of the crowd.

But without me needing to search, she spotted me and headed straight in my direction.

As she approached, the crowd stepped aside, and I almost got swept away too, but I managed to hold my ground with determination.

Had it been earlier, I surely would have been caught up in the wave. What have I become? I know it’s pointless to think about, but it does trouble me a bit every time.

In the past, things I wouldn’t have heard suddenly reached my ears, and things I wouldn’t have seen came into view, so I felt like I was catching up just a bit with how Ho-yeon perceived the world.

“I was wondering where you were, and here you are. Come on, it’s about to get busy.”

As the guards parted, Ho-yeon reached out her hand to me. A huge spotlight shone on us from the crowd, but somehow, I felt it was okay now.

I had nowhere else to return to, nor anyone to rely on, save for her.

“…Yeah. But do you really plan to leave?”

“How come everyone around me keeps asking the same thing? Yes, I’m really leaving.”

It seemed she had firmly made up her mind. There was no way to persuade her to stay. So… what should I do? Should I just follow her?

Since I had exposed myself like this, I was halfway committed to that thought anyway. Still, thinking about leaving this entire continent felt strange.

In the original story, I left holding the last hope to halt the oncoming siege, but now I’m just following an exiled person.

…Now that I think about it, I did achieve one thing. Entering the East without bloodshed. In return, I lost everything except Ho-yeon. I don’t regret it, but it does sting a bit.

Worried about how to escape the throng of people, but thanks to Ho-yeon, I didn’t have to worry about that.

“If that’s what you wish, then so be it. So, am I coming along?”

“Huh? Why are you asking such a strange question? Wasn’t it obvious I’d be taking you? Or… are you worried about someone else?”

“No, it’s just that you haven’t said anything.”

I had assumed it was a given. I thought that way too, right from the start.

In the original, there were also small countries opposing the White Empire to use as a base. Now… they might exist, or they might not.

Better if there aren’t any, anyway.

Even though it was called a courtroom, the academy’s main auditorium seemed to have had a couple of makeshift buildings placed around with some chairs brought in, so it didn’t take long to get to the dormitory.

Ideally, she wouldn’t have guards with her, but those trivial rules didn’t seem to matter much to her anymore. No one was saying anything.

Despite the considerable time that had passed, her room was immaculate without a speck of dust. Perhaps that’s why the organization of her things was proceeding remarkably fast.

“Fold that! Hey, if you put the clothes at the bottom like that, they’ll get wrinkled! Have you never handled women’s clothes before? What? Never? Uh… well. In any case, be gentle with them so they don’t get wrinkled. Treat them like bouquets or glass crafts… You don’t know what that is? Sorry about that. Just hand it to me.”

There may have been instances where sad truths were revealed through Black Wolf, but from the scene of everything being organized smoothly, it seemed I had nothing to help with.

“…Then I’ll go prepare in my own way, Ho-yeon.”

“Huh? Do you have something to do? Just coming in person is enough.”

Just coming in… would indeed be enough. Still, there are procedures to follow. An academy isn’t a place where you just toss your uniform away and walk out.

“I need to write a resignation letter, you see.”