Fast. Faster. Even faster.
I slip through gaps between students and sprint full speed toward the source of the voice.
Halfway down the corridor to the cafeteria, near the entrance to the open plaza… there she is.
「Come with me already. Slave contracts can be dealt with later.」
「No! Let go…! Please let me go!」
A man in expensive-looking clothes has Wendy by the wrist. She resists desperately.
I pour heavy magic power into Vector Accel, cover the distance in one step, and knock his hand away.
「Wh-Who the hell are you?」
「Master!」
「Hmm. Wendy, behind me.」
At Shiro’s call Wendy darts behind me. Shiro and I step forward to shield her.
Shiro followed perfectly. Good.
And… a noble I have never seen before.
Clearly not one of the parents of the students I know.
「Wendy, are you okay? What happened?」
「Y-Yes… He suddenly called out to me and grabbed my wrist… Master…」
Relief at our arrival, or fear from almost being taken, makes Wendy cling to me tightly.
Yeah… you must have been scared.
I stroke her head gently while soothing her.
Tch… that bastard…
「Wendy… So it really is Wendy…」
The noble mutters to himself, then lets out a creepy smile.
He is definitely at least ten years older than me.
Thin, arrogant, with a vulgar beard and unusually long blond hair for a man.
His clothes scream nobility at first glance.
The perfect image of a detestable noble… yet strangely, no gaudy gems or excessive decorations.
His eyes are clouded. Everything about him gives the worst possible impression.
「He called you Master, didn’t he? So, you’re the one who owns Wendy.」
For some reason, hearing this man say her name feels unbearably unpleasant.
「…Yeah. That’s right. Do you have some business with my Wendy?」
That is why, even though we just met, I cannot stop myself from speaking with clear hostility.
I just called Raz and Cran kids, yet here I am, failing to act like an adult myself.
「My liege… you were too fast. Hm… Who is this?」
「No idea.」
Even with Vector Accel, Aina could not quite keep up with Shiro and me at full speed, but she caught up soon enough.
Faster than understanding the situation, she positioned herself beside me, wary and ready to protect.
「If you do not know me… you are no noble. A commoner, then. That simplifies matters. Hand over that woman. I shall pay you more gold than you could earn in a lifetime.」
「…Haa?」
「Did you not hear? I said give her to me. That beauty. That elegance. Every strand of her hair is a sin for a commoner like you, who cannot even comprehend its value, to touch. She is fit only for a noble such as I!」
Calling Wendy “that woman”… The first word that comes to mind is vulgar.
The lewd expression on his face right now perfectly reflects the man’s character.
Hand Wendy over to someone like him?
If this is a joke, it is in terribly poor taste. Utterly unpleasant.
「I refuse.」
「…Think carefully before answering. More than a mere teacher could ever earn, enough to live in leisure forever. While I, a noble, am still offering peacefully, thou wouldst do well to give a wise reply.」
I’m not even a teacher, but enough to live without working, huh…
It sounds appealing.
Money is needed to live without labor.
But if that life has no Wendy in it, it holds no value or meaning at all.
「Did you not hear? I said I refuse.」
For some reason… this reminds me of a similar situation in the past, bringing a certain man to mind.
They are cut from the same cloth, no doubt.
Though of the same type, this one seems higher in status.
Maximum caution… he looks thoroughly vile.
「Haa… haa… Sensei, you’re too fastt!」
「You vanished in an instant. I was shocked… Oh… Gelga-sama…」
「Oh my, if it isn’t my fiancées, the twin star beauties. How fare thee?」
「「…」」
His tone toward them is not the condescending one he used on me, but more like noble-to-noble conversation, yet it still drips with distasteful charm and a smile.
The twins quickly hide behind me.
Trembling hands clutch my clothes as they peek out slightly from both sides.
「We are not engaged, are we?」
「Father turned it down, didn’t he?」
Their voices are not drawn out, perhaps because it is noble-to-noble conversation, or perhaps from tension and disgust.
But I stand in front of the trembling pair like a wall to protect them.
Of course, I puff out my chest to hide Wendy completely behind my back, keeping even her figure out of sight.
「A parent’s heart must be working overtime, unwilling to let go of his beloved daughters. There should be no man besides myself capable of marrying both. Is that not so?」
「「We absolutely refuse!」」
「…Is that truly wise? Your father’s position may suffer for it…」
At those words, the two fall silent.
…Isn’t an grown man ashamed to pressure young girls into marriage with threats?
「Hoh. My position suffering. May I take that as a threat?」
I am half-tempted to voice exactly what I just thought when a voice rings out from behind me.
Turning, I see Karant-san approaching with brisk, clicking footsteps. He urges the twins behind him and stands at my side.
「…Well, if it isn’t Marquis Belsen. In fine spirits, I hope… Why are you at the academy?」
「I am hardly in fine spirits, Gelga-dono. Ah yes, you became head of house after your father passed. Then, Duke Gelga Dorgas. I merely happened to have business at the academy. By the way, I believe the matter of my daughters was formally declined?」
Duke… Whether marquis or duke, either way his status is extraordinarily high.
But no matter how exalted his rank, even if it were the king or a god, it would never be reason enough to hand over Wendy.
「Yes. I thought it must be some mistake. To think anyone would refuse after being chosen by a noble such as myself.」
「Quite the confidence. Then allow me to formally decline once more.」
…I see.
So this is the man Karant-san declared absolutely unacceptable, the one the twins also despised.
Now that he stands before me, I fully understand all three judgments.
There is nothing concrete, yet no one could ever entrust a precious daughter to him.
「…Is there another candidate? A man more fitting for the twin star beauties than I?」
「Indeed there is. A man who would surely make my daughters happy.」
「…I would very much like to hear his name.」
「And what reason do I have to tell you?」
…It is probably me that Karant-san mentioned.
I am not the kind of dull man who hears something and pretends 「What was that?」
But perhaps to avoid letting on that it is me, Karant-san fights the man called Gelga with words, without sparing me a single glance.
「…A mere marquis risen from knightly ranks dares oppose me, who carries the blood of the royal house? You shall regret it.」
Gelga glares threateningly. The knight who appears to be his guard and a robed man whose face is hidden under the hood step forward.
They do not draw sword or staff, only intending to intimidate.
Yet Karant-san shows not the slightest sign of flinching.
「I will not be insulted regarding ancestors who served the royal house for generations and rose to marquis. you, on the other hand… hast forgotten what became of that house after your father laid hands on the knight commander?」
「…」
The two glare in silence.
The atmosphere is on the verge of explosion. Students gathering at a distance watch with bated breath.
「…Very well. For now, I shall accept the matter of the twin star beauties. Yes. If I obtain Wendy, I will give up on the two. You do not, by any chance, protect that commoner there?」
Gelga turns his gaze back to us.
Looking into those eyes sends a chill down my spine.
He looks at me, yet he does not see me.
His eyes pierce toward Wendy behind me… and that gaze feels utterly deranged.
「No. It is not I.」
「Is that so… Then you have no reason to protect that commoner.」
「It is not quite that simple. The one sheltering him is…」
「Me. Gelga.」
The wall of students parts naturally as Iris appears.
Her voice is low, carrying anger unimaginable from her usual ice-obsessed self as she strides toward us.
Iris passes beside us and steps forward.
Gelga’s abnormal gaze meets hers and, perhaps from shock, returns to something normal.
「…Iris. Why art you here…」
「Work. Unlike you, I am not idle. …Why are you here? You are under house arrest, are you not?」
「…」
Gelga’s face twisted as if he had bitten into something bitter at Iris’s appearance.
Yet he quickly realized his current position, cleared his throat once, and regained his composure.
「House arrest? I am merely living quietly and modestly as the king instructed.」
「Hah, that is precisely what house arrest is. You should stay cooped up at home until your final days. No doubt you came to meet the twin star beauties directly after being turned down. And then you spotted Wendy and fell for her? Regrettably, she is already completely spoken for. Give up and go home.」
…This overwhelming pressure truly feels like royal blood running thick in Iris’s veins.
This must be the real, everyday Iris.
「…Are you, a noble, telling me to withdraw from a mere commoner? Do you mean for me to abandon Wendy?」
「That is exactly my intent. Did you not understand? In any case, considering what thy father did, mere confiscation of property and house arrest is far too lenient.」
「…My father is dead. That matter has no sin or connection to me. If you would bring that up, Iris, your own father abandoned his royal duties.」
「Indeed… Yet I recall no clear loss inflicted upon the kingdom by my father. The crime of causing the loss of a knight commander whose name echoed even in neighboring countries, thanks to the head of a ducal house, is grave. Even if it concern you not, it would normally warrant the destruction of your house… Uncle is far too soft.」
「…Though I share blood with the king, we are also childhood friends. A royal and a mere knight commander do not balance. His Majesty, ever kind in cherishing family… and blood ties, must have shown favor.」
「Blood over merit… Still, it feels excessive… especially the leniency shown before you and me. …Come to think of it, I hear the king has a health examination soon. They plan to check for any abnormal conditions as well.」
「That is good. His Majesty must remain in good health for years to come. Though I am certain nothing will be found.」
「…I see.」
Iris falls silent, something clearly weighing on her mind as she glares at Gelga.
Yet Gelga does not avert his gaze, as if he believes he has done nothing wrong.
「…Iris. If you withdraw from that man now, considering we are relatives, I might overlook this.」
「A joke that is not funny. Why must I withdraw from what is mine for your sake? Why must I beg forgiveness from you? And… this is the academy. Carrying this matter outside is forbidden. If you use this incident as pretext to lay hands on Wendy, remember the laws of this land will judge thee.」
「…Iris. You lack proper courtesy toward thy elders. Calling me ‘you’ from the start…」
「I merely choose whom to respect. Enough talk. Get lost. …If you insist on continuing…」
Iris raises her hand. Ayame-san appears in an instant, fingers resting on her weapon, showing clear readiness.
The opposing guards reach for their swords in response… but sadly, they are outmatched.
Ayame-san’s cold eyes pin them down, and their intimidation is plain to see.
「…No choice. I shall withdraw today. But… I will not give up. Ah, Wendy… Wendy Tiercrown… I will have you by any means…」
Gelga directs mad eyes toward Wendy.
But we, I, Aina, Karant-san, and Iris, stand in his way, refusing to let Wendy appear in his gaze.
Shiro positions herself in front of me, ready to draw her knives at any moment should something happen.
「…Let us go.」
His gaze cuts off abruptly. He turns on his heel and departs.
Tension drains away, replaced by a wave of exhaustion.
I nearly sink to the floor, but remembering Wendy, Raz, and Cran behind me, I decide we should gather alone to talk first.
The students watching from afar are dispersed by Karant-san and Iris.
-0-
AN: Next chapter ends volume 10!!
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