Taisetsuna gulped and tried to speak, with her throat going dry. “That… is so sad… for you and them…”
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“I also thought the same. And… the Princess told me that in three years, I would be older, and I could be next to her as her consort. Then, I told Miss Koyaga to talk with the Princess to see what they wanted to do without me in the middle. After their talk, they came up with another idea. I would be the Princess’ consort, to fool the country and the Nobles, and to give her an heir, when in reality, she would be with Miss Koyaga.”
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“But… they would use you just like that? And you agreed with that? That is a sick plan, you know?”
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Nozomu took a slow deep breath and faced the now angry girl and explained, “What else could I say? You saw those Nobles in her court? If the Princess has no heir, they will certainly cause a civil war to get the crown for themselves. And if the Princess and Miss Koyaga are apart like they were until now, they will continue to be miserable. They can’t be with me or anyone else, because they still love each other, even after all these years. Not to mention the Empire. The moment they noticed this country was in turmoil, they would take advantage of it and conquer it. Either from the civil war or the Empire invading, many people would be killed. The Priest, the Guild Master, all our friends, could die. See why I don’t worry about Raluth possibly appearing? I have this to worry about, and I know that this will definitely happen.”
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“But… yeah, I see your point, but what if, while you are in that consort thing, you fall in love with another woman? Or are you supposed to be a mere puppet of those two women? That doesn’t seem right!”
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“I am not sure if I will ever fall in love, but I was told I can have a concubine. The problem is, if the woman I fall in love with doesn’t accept being a concubine, or doesn’t want to keep the secret.”
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“That… doesn’t seem right to me. Why don’t they look for someone else?”
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Nozomu gave a slight smile and said, “Confidence, for starters. Both of them trust me to go through this. They don’t seem to trust anyone else. I like and respect both of them too much to betray their secret. And I am counting on you to keep this to yourself as well. They asked me to not tell anyone, but I can’t hide this from you because it doesn’t feel right.”
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“You… don’t even consider that you could break my heart by telling me this, did you?”
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“I… I mean… Why would you…”
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Taisetsuna approached and caressed his right cheek. “I am not a little girl anymore, Nozo, and Miss Koyaga and the Princess were not the only women you impressed. I realised a few days ago that you don’t see me as someone with whom you could be with, but… that didn’t stop me from dreaming about it, you know? And now, hearing you say all that… The pain is so much that I don’t know why I am not crying my eyes out. I guess I am still in shock.”
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“You… I don’t know what to say… I just…”
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“Yeah, you might have lost Nozomu’s memories, but you are as dense as he was. If they trusted you to do this, and you accepted it, you have to do it all the way. No going back, no other option besides pretending. I don’t… I need to think about this. I just… What if I wouldn’t mind being with you as your concubine? What would you say? I am not saying that I want to; I am just asking.”
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“I… am not sure what to answer. From what I could tell, you have Viscount Robert and Hinen after you. You can have any of them. Or both, if you want. You and me… I… don’t know what to say or how I feel about it.”
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Taisetsuna slowly nodded with a slight smile. “That is why I am asking. Maybe you could think about it? As for those two, we both know they are not even half the man you are. One is a dumb kid, the other is more obsessed than in love. He barely knew me, and he only fell in love with me because I refused his advances? I am not buying it. Well, we still have three years before you get into that mess, right? Plenty of time.”
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“Plenty of time for what?”
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Taisetsuna answered as she was going to meet the others, with her hands behind her back and her tail waving. “Plenty of time for me to conquer you. What else?”
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Nozomu jolted, and Rampage gently knocked his head with his nose, pushing him to follow the looking-back-while-grinning Cat-kind girl.
He walked behind her in silence, thinking about her words. It was all falling into place. Every time she glanced at him, the jealous looks that he took for worries, the times she said things that made little sense. And he felt dumb.
Mizukonta was on the open field in front of the new students, and Hinotsume was landing, delivering Robert and Hinen, who ran to meet Taisetsuna with a big smile on their lips.
They stood in front of the Principal and Teachers with the other students looking at them with jealousy all over their eyes, and waited.
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Principal Innar Klavan cleared his throat and said, “Aham… Well, this is what none of us expected. For now, follow Mister Ardo Jogi to your rooms. The same Party members will be in close quarters, with boys in one room and girls in another. Leave your things there, and go to the main room for lunch, because you have classes to attend in the afternoon.”
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Hinotsume lowered his massive head and approached. “And where is our room, Innar Klavan?”
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“Your… your room? Why… I mean… we don’t have rooms big enough…”
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“No? Now what? Considering we are also members of Taisetsuna’s and Nozomu’s Party, I thought we would get a room as well!”
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Seeing the Principal without knowing what to answer, Hinotsume tilted his head and looked at Nozomu and said, “See why we don’t deal with Humans or Beast-kind? They can never get a joke. We will return tomorrow morning when we have the Drakes’ scales ready. I wonder if your Princess will come tomorrow as well. Maybe this time she wants to challenge me.”
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“Challenge you? How come? Does she do that every time you come here?”
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“Not really. She once did when she was a student. With a Bovine-kind woman and a Human man. They also wanted to have us in their Party. Annoying little buggers, that group. They didn’t win, but they were irritating.”
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Chujitsuna raised both arms with a big smile and said, “That man was my father! He got one spike from you, didn’t he? I still have it! I made a dagger from it! Heheheh!”
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“Yes, I lost one spike in that fight. I took his arm, but that meat sac drank a Potion while the Bovine-kind woman was holding his arm in place. I tried to get to them, but that annoying Princess wouldn’t stop attacking. When he recovered, they came after me again. Mizukonta mocked me for months. After that, every time we come to this Academy of yours, she comes in the morning to do a boring speech, and I ask her if she wants to try again, but she always refuses, saying that she is the ruling Princess, can’t risk her life like that, blah, blah, blah!”
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Hinotsume turned away, still grumping, and Mizukonta followed him after looking at her new friends. “See you tomorrow. Have fun!”
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Nozomu and Taisetsuna followed the other students to the main entrance, with Robert and Hinen happily chatting about their flight.
After the main doors, the Academy Assistant, Ardo Jogi, waited for them and opened the door at the right of the entrance that led to another corridor. Nozomu glanced at the other two open doors. The one in front that led to the main meeting room and the one on the left side that led to the laboratory and other rooms.
He thought that those other doors could be to other classrooms, but the noise of whispering made him look ahead again, to check why all the noise.
Along the walls of that corridor, several armours were placed, each with a label at their feet, describing the deeds and the name of their previous owner. On the wall, between each armour, were paintings of past events with that owner’s armour. Be it in a battle, or a Quest, fighting Monsters, or hunting.
Every few meters, Ardo Jogi would stop and point at two doors close by, for the members of a Party that wanted to choose those rooms. They would enter, and he continued his walk along the corridor, delivering the remaining students.
Nozomu, Hinen, and Robert entered a room, with Taisetsuna, Chujitsuna, and Tresuria going to the next one.
Three beds and three closets. One table with four chairs. Three desks with one chair each. That was the only furniture available, a clear sign it was the room of a student, with no unnecessary distractions.
Robert went to the first bed after confirming with the others which they would prefer and sat on the edge with his weapons on the floor in front of him.
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He laid back on the bed and took a deep breath before speaking. “That fight was extremely dangerous, but the flight? It was well worth it! Do you guys think they won’t mind giving us a ride any time we want to go somewhere? Because I wouldn’t mind visiting my parents while riding a Dragon! They would faint, for sure, if they saw me arrive like that!”
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Nozomu put his bag inside a closet and answered, “They wouldn’t probably mind, but don’t you think that is abusing a bit too much of their kindness? One thing is them giving a ride for a Quest or just to fly with them. Another completely different thing is using them as a means to impress other people. I consider those Dragons my friends, and they seem to think the same about us, and friends don’t use friends like that. If you do, that doesn’t say much about your character, does it?”
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“You have a point. But man, it sure would be awesome!”
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Robert sat on the edge of the bed again and continued with a big smile, “Actually, if the Princess and her court come tomorrow morning, and the Dragons are with us, that will be more than enough. Word will get to my parents, so that will suffice. That guy pointed to the showers while we were coming here. It is better if we all go take a bath and change clothes before going to lunch. I have Goblin blood all over me, mixed with dirt and leaves.”
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Hinen Sukemoru stated as he placed his bag and weapons in the closet next to his bed. “Then it would be better if you hadn’t already laid on your bed. You don’t have your servants here to change the bed for you.”
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Robert got up with a jump and frowned at the mess on his blanket. “Now you tell me… I totally forgot. I have never once changed a bed, but it doesn’t seem that hard, right? Where are the blankets? Or do I have to ask that Assistant guy?”
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Hinen pointed to this open closet while saying, “I have sheets and a blanket. You probably have a new set in your closet. You will also need to wash your blanket because I doubt the people that work here do that for you.”
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“What do the servants in this Academy do, then? I saw a bunch of people near the Principal.”
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“Probably preparing stuff in the Academy, or cleaning for the Principal and the Teachers, but not for the students. According to what my father said, the students here are supposed to do everything as if they were on a Quest somewhere. Taking care of clothing, finding a place to sleep, hunting for food. I bet in the afternoon we will have to go to the forest to hunt for dinner. Or tomorrow. Maybe today they will feel sorry for us because we have already done far too much.”
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As Robert Keskula was following Nozomu and Hinen out of their room with a change of clothes and a towel, he asked, “We have to hunt our food? Like, every day? When will we have time for classes or to train?”
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Hinen shrugged and answered, “We won’t need to hunt every day, but be ready to do it occasionally. It is also part of the things we learn here. I am used to doing that, but a guy like you, who has always lived surrounded by wealth and servants, will have it rough.”
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“Yes, but I see that as a life lesson. I know I will have a lot of trouble getting used to all those things, but it will for sure make me realise how hard the life of a commoner is. I have to know, for when I inherit my family title and lands.”
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As he opened the door to the showers, Nozomu said, making a slight bow with a smile, “You may not be as shallow as you led people to believe, Viscount Robert Keskula. This way, if you please, your rose bath awaits you!”
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“Oh, they have rose baths here! Nice! My skin needs some pampering!”
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The moment they entered the shower room, Robert frowned at the big tank near the wall. Soaps and sponges were over the edge, and the water was transparent and cold.
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He touched the surface with one hand full of Fire Magic, and when the water was hot, he smiled at his surprised companions. “At least with me around, you don’t need to have a bath in cold water! So, we are supposed to take a bath at the same time? I never bathed with anyone else, except one or two girls, occasionally.”
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Hinen answered while taking off his clothes and placing them in a corner on the floor. “I hope you don’t expect us to wash you. You have to do everything yourself, remember?”
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Robert answered while removing his armour, “I know that! I am not that dumb! Well, I never had to wash myself, really, but I have seen how my servants did it, so I know what to do.”
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Nozomu answered while slowly shaking his head, “It sure will be funny seeing you stressed about the tiniest things, Viscount Robert!”
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