The Young Lady Has Disappeared

That evening, after thoroughly scolding Lillian who had returned, I was finally able to take a brief rest after the sun had completely set.

I went outside, both to take a walk for the first time in a while and to familiarize myself with the academy's geography.

I stared at the brightly shining moon for a moment before moving my feet.

Aptem Academy has a large garden, filled with hydrangeas, roses, and all kinds of trees, making it a famous attraction of the academy. To be honest, I had heard so much about it before coming that I wanted to at least take a look, so I immediately set my course towards the garden.

Of course, this was also serving the purpose of familiarizing myself with the geography.

As a servant of the Fortus family, I couldn't just do things carelessly. I rationalized to myself as I headed towards the garden.

Come to think of it, didn't they say the garden was even more beautiful at night? They said fireflies would each light up the night, and when moonlight fell on the flowers, their petals would give off a soft glow.

To be honest, although I've almost lost my memories from when I was a man, I still retained the sensibilities from that time, so I couldn't say I particularly liked flowers. But since I've come this far, I might as well see the famous site to feel less like I've wasted my time. Of course, I could come and go to see it anytime during the three years the young lady would be at Aptem Academy, but opportunities to sneak out at night and look around like this would be quite rare.

The distance from the dormitory where the young lady and I are staying to the garden is not far. This is even more so because the garden was originally created for the purpose of allowing dormitory students to come and relax occasionally.

After walking for about 5 minutes, I found the entrance to the garden and carefully entered. Contrary to my expectation that it would be locked, the door was open and there was no sign of people.

Well, if the night garden is famous enough, I suppose the door wouldn't be closed.

Thinking this, I entered and couldn't help but let out an "Oh." Flower petals bathed in moonlight were shyly revealing their faces, and between them, fireflies and unidentifiable flying insects were busily moving about. They say beautiful flowers attract bugs, but to think I'd actually see it.

I stepped further in, feeling slightly moved.

"Hmm, a visitor at this hour of the night. Who might you be?"

"...?"

Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw the shadow of a doll hidden by trees, illuminated by moonlight.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

"I'm a student of the academy... Who are you?"

"Pardon me. I'm the maid of young lady Fortus Marquis."

"Hmm, so you're that rumored maid?"

A nasal voice that sounded amused reached my ears.

By the way, how far has that rumor spread? I inwardly sighed and nodded. Whatever it was, judging by the tone and attitude, it seemed to be a child from quite a high-ranking family.

"I'm not sure what rumor you're referring to, but I'm the only maid of the Fortus family here."

"Well, I know that. You're the only maid who can endure young lady Fortus's insufferable temperament, aren't you?"

"...Please refrain from insulting the young lady."

"Heheh. Such behavior without even knowing who I am. You're indeed loyal."

The woman who said this started to walk out from behind the tree.

A mysterious woman with long purple hair, the symbol of the imperial family. I had a rough idea from the moment I saw the purple hair, but it was indeed that woman...

"This lowly one greets a member of the imperial family."

I knelt on one knee and greeted her, and she smiled brightly and grabbed my hand to help me up.

For her to grab the hand of a mere maid, I looked at her in surprise, and her smile deepened even more.

"Don't tell me you're surprised by that?"

"Yes. I'm very surprised."

"Ahaha, they said the Fortus family's maid was unusual, and it's true?"

Seeing her burst into laughter, I stared at her blankly. Then her laughter grew even louder.

"I thought you were just a cold beauty, but you have a silly side too."

"S-Silly?"

"Well, it's interesting. To think that a maid who has enough combat ability to handle knights and is almost the only one who can control the wild horse-like young lady Fortus would be such a person."

"The young lady is not a wild horse or anything of the sort."

"Well, I suppose so. That woman makes a wild horse look cute in comparison."

At her words, which seemed to carry some emotion, I momentarily searched my memory for any friction between Imperial Princess Chloe and the young lady, but couldn't remember anything.

To begin with, there were few occasions for the two to clash, as Imperial Princess Chloe was considered capable enough to have become the next crown prince if she hadn't been a woman, while the young lady, to put it bluntly, wasn't such a capable person.

While Imperial Princess Chloe diligently attended seminars and salons, building her internal strength and connections, wasn't the young lady always isolated?

It was only because I embraced the young lady with as much love as possible that she hadn't already been ostracized from social circles.

Although I had denied it, the princess's assessment was actually accurate. A wild horse without reins. But it was wrong to say that I could control her. Of course, she would listen if I earnestly pleaded, but she would often interpret those pleas in her own way and commit other misdeeds.

Typically, if I asked her not to cause a disturbance at a party, she would cause a disturbance on the balcony or in the garden instead of the party hall. So when I asked her not to cause any disturbance at all, she would pout and mutter that she didn't want to.

Of course, even that would be resolved with just one hug. But going to the party in such a good mood and causing trouble was exactly who Lillian von Fortus was.

"Do you have something to say?"

I spoke first, feeling slightly burdened by the princess who stood still and stared at me, even though I thought she would leave once her business was done.

The princess answered candidly without taking offense. Among high-ranking people, there are cases where they would slap you first if a lower-ranking person spoke first, but the princess seemed quite moderate.

"Hm? Ah, yes. That's right. You, I heard you subdued two knights."

"Those two had skills that wouldn't even qualify as knights in the empire."

"But they still had some combat ability, didn't they?"

"Yes. I've been training since childhood to protect the young lady."

At my sharp answer, the princess pondered for a moment and then opened her mouth.

"...You, do you truly have no intention of coming to the imperial family?"

"I am the young lady's servant."

"Tch. Even loyalty. It's perfect."

Seeing the princess click her tongue, I felt slightly chilled and immediately changed the subject.

"Is that all you wanted to say?"

"Of course not. I just said that because your personality and character are exactly the type of person I like."

The princess, who let out a small sigh, pondered where to start and then slowly continued.

"Currently, there are two factions in Aptem Academy."

"Two factions, you say?"

"Yes. The first faction is, of course, those around me."

"...That's natural."

"Well, a member of the imperial family should reign, after all."

Prince Jeron didn't seem interested in such things, I thought as I nodded, and Imperial Princess Chloe narrowed her eyes and looked at me.

"Jeron is still young. That's why he's not interested in reigning yet."

"..."

Is she a ghost?

"...My words slipped. Anyway, the second faction is everyone except the empire."

"Even if you say everyone except the empire, their power shouldn't be that great."

Although Aptem Academy was built in a free city, it hadn't strayed far from the empire's influence. After all, the biggest source of funds for Aptem Academy was the imperial family. The second was the Fortus family.

"Hmm, you got it right away. Yes, their power wasn't originally large, but..."

Wasn't? As I looked at her lips, she cleared her throat with a "Ahem" and continued speaking. It seemed she was a bit embarrassed by my focus on her words.

"Recently, their power has suddenly increased greatly. And I've come to learn that behind this is Prince Belrus, the master of the knights you defeated."

"Hmm... Is it thanks to the Fortus family?"

"Half right. It's well known that Prince Belrus is engaged to the Fortus family's young lady."

"If it's only half right, what's the other half?"

"It's Prince Belrus's skill. That cunning man has used his eloquence to push all the princes and princesses of small and medium-sized countries, except for imperial citizens, into his alliance. People who would never have united otherwise."

"...So what does this story have to do with me?"

Wondering what on earth she was talking about, I interrupted, and the princess, without showing any sign of displeasure, grinned at me.

"I'd like you to protect me."

"What?"

"Unlike Prince Belrus, I didn't bring hidden knights. I need someone to protect me within the academy."

"Hmm..."

I'm already busy just assisting the young lady, and now she wants me to protect the imperial princess too? Just as I was about to refuse, the princess quietly opened her mouth, looking at me.

"Of course, I'm not asking for help empty-handed. I'll help your 'young lady' enter high society in the future."

"...Really?"

"I don't speak with a forked tongue."

At the princess's boast, I inwardly let out a small sigh. There would be numerous noble families willing to bring bags of gold if they could receive help from the imperial princess who had a firm grip on the imperial capital's social circles. If I could obtain that with just one favor, I obviously had to do it.

"I understand."

"Good. Then I'll be in your care for a while."

The princess smiled brightly and extended her delicate hand to me.

What's this?

As I stared at her blankly, the princess let out a small "Ah" exclamation and then said, "It's nothing," before leaving as if fleeing.

...No, surely not.