Chapter 4

Chapter 4

 

WH-WHAT is he doing here?! Why would the crown prince show up at knight cadet training?!

Rishe was positive Theodore had said there was no chance of this happening, but she could never mistake the handsome figure standing before her.

Arnold stared at her in silence. Cold sweat dripped down her neck. They probably only held each other’s gaze for a second—the span of a blink—but to Rishe it felt like forever. In her life as a knight, there were moments of tension in battle when everything around her seemed to slow down, but she wasn’t even holding a sword right now. Why was she so nervous?

While Rishe was doing her best to keep her cool, Arnold looked away and turned to command the vassal standing at his side.

“Lawvine. Hurry and get started.”

Huh?! Talk about anticlimactic…

Arnold continued dispassionately, “I want to see how they move. What’s the schedule for today?”

“Yes, sir. They’ve already done some sparring. They’ll stretch and run, spar again, then do some physical conditioning. Is that acceptable?”

“Move the sparring directly after stretching. I want to see what they can do after limbering up but before expending too much stamina.”

The trainees all stood up straighter while Arnold spoke. He hadn’t looked back at Rishe a second time.

M-maybe he hasn’t noticed…? Surely that was impossible; she squashed her own wishful thinking. She may have been wearing a short-haired wig, but she’d only disguised her face with a little makeup. Anyone who knew Rishe would recognize her at little more than a glance. Even if she had changed everything, this was Arnold. She was sure he’d see through her just from how she stood, the way she walked, and her unique gestures.

I only had to get away with this for ten days too! Why am I running into him here when he’s so busy with his work?!

After receiving Arnold’s command, Lawvine gave directions to the trainees. “Start with your usual stretching. Don’t let His Highness’s presence distract you.”

“Yes, sir!” the trainees answered as one, scattering to their usual places. Rishe fled to the far end of the training grounds, paying attention to Arnold’s gaze.

“Can you believe it, Lu?! His Highness is really here!”

“Y-yeah. It’s great, isn’t it?” Rishe said with a strained smile, indulging in another bit of wishful thinking. Maybe he’ll just overlook this. He might pretend he hadn’t seen her and keep his silence. Then Rishe would be able to keep up her training. With that faint hope in her heart, Rishe did her usual conditioning and sparring.

“Well?”

“…”

After training was over, Rishe was called out behind the practice grounds, where she found herself—despairingly—between a wall and Arnold. He hadn’t paid Rishe any mind as he analyzed the cadets’ abilities. She’d prayed it would end without further conflict, but this dashed the last of her hopes.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing here?”

“Uh…”

With him staring down at her from so close, Rishe couldn’t look Arnold in the eye. Feeling the wall against her back, she was forced to awkwardly look away.

“I…I hope you’re doing well today, Your Highness. I’m honored that you would speak personally to a mere trainee such as myself…”

“Oh?”

Even though she knew he’d seen through her completely, she tried a last-ditch effort. They were alone here, but she still didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing them.

“I see.” Arnold slowly reached out. He’d been wearing black gloves a lot lately, but right now his hands were bare. Rishe was trying to figure out what he intended to do…when he put both palms on her face and squished her cheeks.

“Mrh?!”

“If you’re not who I think you are, then you won’t mind me touching you skin-to-skin, will you?”

Rishe’s only response was to jump.

“I don’t want to break faith with my fiancée, you see. But if you’re just a simple trainee, then I don’t have to worry about any of those agreements.”

H-his face is so close! He tipped her chin upward with his hands as he drew nearer. No matter how many times she saw it, his countenance looked like a work of art, and being so close felt like it did more harm than good. Plus, it feels like this happened once before…

As soon as she thought that, she remembered: Arnold had taken her face into his hands, tilted it upward, and brought his lips to hers. The breathless sensation she’d felt then was vividly revived, her cheeks burning in an instant.

Arnold’s hands were cool against her heated skin. She wondered if he knew what she was remembering. That thought made it even harder to look him in the eyes, but Arnold showed her no mercy.

“Well? No arguments?”

“Your Highness! I thought you were angry at first, but you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?!”

“Why would I enjoy doing this to a mere trainee?” Arnold asked, squeezing Rishe’s cheeks again.

With the way he was holding her, she was barely able to speak. “Prince Arnold, please back off for a second!”

“I don’t think I will.”

“But what if someone—”

She heard footsteps. Arnold must have heard them too, but he didn’t let go.

“Hey, Lu? Lucius, where are y—”

Just the person she’d expected stepped around to the back of the training grounds. Their eyes met awkwardly, and Rishe gulped. It was Fritz.

“Oh…”

He was witnessing precisely what Rishe didn’t want anyone to see. Arnold had her up against a wall, holding her face with both hands, staring intently at her.

“P-Prince Arnold?!” Fritz yelped without thinking, then hurried to correct himself. “I-I mean, Your Highness! Huh? Wait, Lu?! Why?!”

“Fritz! It’s not what you think!”

He was just toying with her as a joke. Rishe needed to explain Arnold’s behavior before it was misunderstood.

But before she could, Fritz yelled, his voice cracking, “S-so sorry for interrupting!”

Interrupting what?!

And just like that, he was off and running.

“Hey! Fritz, wait!” she called after him, but he made a beeline for…anywhere but here. “Somebody saw us just now, Your Highness! In fact, he got a good look! I mean, it was Fritz, so I’m sure it’ll be fine, but who knows what kind of rumors someone else might spread!”

“And what will happen if someone spreads rumors? Would that be a problem?”

“It’d be a big problem!”

“Oh? How so?”

“Well…”

“Yes?”

Mortified, Rishe said meekly, “Well, don’t you have a fiancée…?”

Arnold froze, and a strange silence followed. Rishe wasn’t sure what to make of it. Eventually, he said, “I suppose I do.”

“R-right! You shouldn’t be seen in such a place with a mere trainee.”

“That being said…”

He pinched her cheeks again, and she let out a strange yelp. “Mrph!”

“This ‘mere trainee’ is speaking to me in an awfully relaxed manner.”

“Urgh…” Rishe made up her mind. She felt bad for Theodore, who’d helped her, but this was as far as she could go. “I apologize…”

“What are you apologizing for, hmm?” Arnold said. “Can you explain to me what it is you’ve done?”

“I-I dressed up like a man and snuck into the knight cadet training in secret! I apologize sincerely!”

“Good girl.”

Arnold released her, and Rishe collapsed to the ground, finally freed. “Haah…”

Her cheeks felt strange and still hot, but the imprint of Arnold’s cold fingers lingered on them. She laid her own hands over top and breathed in deeply.

Maybe Arnold really was enjoying this. He looked down at Rishe—who was more exhausted from this than from her training—and asked, “So? What are you scheming this time?”

“I just wanted to get in better shape.”

“…”

“I mean it!” His suspicion vexed her, but she had deceived him. She couldn’t lay blame. “Why did you even come to oversee the training in the first place?”

Arnold paused, then answered with a face devoid of expression. “I heard one of the knight cadets had been referred by Theodore.”

That would be Rishe. It surprised her that Arnold cared whom his brother referred, though. Prince Theodore said Arnold wouldn’t come to the training, but he did! That made Rishe happy, and she couldn’t wait to tell Theodore about it. I wonder how he’ll react.

“Anyway, back to my question.”

“Eep!”

“I’ll ask again. Why are you doing this?”

“As I said, to get in better shape…”

“That can’t be your only reason. There are plenty of other ways to hone your body. You could take on a personal instructor, for instance.” Arnold glared down at Rishe where she crouched on the ground. “Let’s see… You didn’t want anyone pulled from their duties just for your sake. You wanted to see the techniques used in our official training. And you didn’t want anyone discriminating based on your gender or social status, so you disguised yourself as a man. From what I know of your thought patterns, that’s my best guess.”

He’s seen right through me!

“I still don’t understand, though. Obviously, the training routines are put together based on a man’s stamina and strength. You should have known that you’d barely be able to keep up.”

He’d even pointed out Rishe’s precise initial worry, making it even harder for her to explain herself.

“I…figured this training would be worth it because I’m so lacking in stamina and strength.”

“Your swordplay revolves around agility and the precision of your strikes. Additional stamina might help you, but you needn’t focus on strength training.”

Rishe guessed that Arnold wanted to tell her to stop participating in the cadets’ training. Although he isn’t demanding it outright.

Earlier, he’d said he was trying not to break any of his promises to Rishe. That obviously referred to the agreement they’d struck when he proposed to her. Arnold had vowed to grant any of Rishe’s wishes if they were in his power.

That’s why he’s asking me to explain myself. If I can convince him, I’ll be allowed to stay until it’s over. The only thing Arnold hadn’t guessed was Rishe’s final reason, which she hadn’t even told Theodore, her coconspirator. She had to come clean.

“I understand what you’re saying, Your Highness, but…”

“But?”

Knowing she was being selfish, Rishe hunched over, furrowing her brow as she murmured, “I wanted to try your training regimen…” The words came out sounding sulky, with a note of childishness.

Arnold frowned, but since that one brief duel they’d fought the other day, she felt she knew him much better. In her life as a knight, Rishe had lost to Arnold—an undeniable, absolute defeat. And if someone like that had a plan for new recruits, then she wanted to experience that plan herself.

Wait, that doesn’t actually explain anything!

As he studied her in silence, Rishe sprang to her feet. “I-It’s true that this training might not be a good match, considering my physique, but Count Lawvine knows just what to assign us so we don’t overwork ourselves. The trainees can spar and point out each other’s flaws! I’ve definitely improved over the last few days!”

“…”

“The training I know is just pushing yourself until your body breaks, but this week, I’ve learned that it doesn’t have to be that way. If I could only stay for the rest of the sessions, I won’t require a personal instructor—I can just do it on my own!”

“…”

“And that means I won’t ever have to monopolize an instructor for myself!”

Even as she was saying it, it sounded like a weak excuse. Arnold put a hand to his forehead, heaving a sigh.

“P-Prince Arnold?”

“Forget it. I imagine you have no issues with a regimen that should be too harsh for you?”

“Of course not! It’s fun, and I’m learning a lot.”

Arnold stared at Rishe, his expression dour as always. After another sigh, he asked, “You haven’t gotten hurt or overly exhausted, have you?”

“No, thanks to Lord Lawvine’s excellent instruction.”

“I heard you sneak out of your room at five in the morning. What time did you go to bed last night?”

“Ugh… I try to get in bed by eleven…” She’d tried to be careful this morning, but it seemed he’d noticed her anyway. Maybe he just let her go because he thought she was tending her field or something. And she had been in bed by eleven, but then she’d spent some time memorizing the geography of Galkhein and poring over diplomatic records. She kept that fact to herself.

Arnold thought for a moment, then said slowly, “I have some conditions.”

Rishe’s eyes went wide. She wasn’t expecting this.

“Go to bed one hour earlier. And most importantly, don’t let anyone find out you’re a woman. Got it?”

Rishe hadn’t foreseen him giving in. “You don’t mind if I continue?”

Arnold just looked at her and pressed the point, as if he was speaking to a child. “Can you do that for me?”

“Yes! Thank you so much, Prince Arnold!” Suddenly, everything around her seemed brighter.

Arnold sighed for the umpteenth time and asked the overjoyed Rishe, “What do you think of the knights, from the perspective of a cadet?”

“They’re wonderful. All the cadets are more than qualified, and Lord Lawvine knows just how to instruct them. He pays careful attention to each and every trainee.”

“I see.”

“You really value your knights, don’t you?” Rishe asked.

Arnold’s neutral expression was difficult to read. “People are a country’s assets. There’s no harm in treating them with respect.”

But in a few years, you’ll execute Lord Lawvine and send many of those knights out into a war of conquest.

Taking a deep breath, Rishe broached the subject that had been on her mind since the party. “I heard why Prince Kyle is here.”

Arnold smiled, looking amused. “So, you were listening last night.”

“You knew? I was careful to erase all signs of my presence.”

“Partway through. There aren’t many people who can escape my notice for so long.”

Be more careful next time, Rishe chided herself. “How much time does Coyolles have?”

“We didn’t discuss the specifics of their gem mining operation. You must have heard that.”

“Of course. What I want to know is your father’s—His Majesty the Emperor of Galkhein’s—plans.” Her eyes rose to meet his. “You and I were both cautious of Prince Kyle’s reason for visiting, why he’s really here. I’m sure that your father was much the same.”

Rishe knew hardly anything about the emperor, but last night, Arnold had described him as someone who’d prefer conquering another country to allying with one. And even if that weren’t true, she knew very well that he’d wanted his son to marry a foreigner out of desire for a political hostage.

“Unfortunately, I have no idea how much my father knows. But whenever he finds out, I have no doubt he’ll make a move before Coyolles is claimed by another nation. The country has no value, but we need the sea routes to the north.”

As she suspected, the situation was bad. Whatever moves she made to improve relations between Coyolles and Galkhein would have to escape the emperor’s notice. In that case, her timeline was compressed—she didn’t have years to plan.

“I know what you’re thinking…” Arnold took a step toward Rishe with a beautiful, somber smile on his face. “But if the alternative is that man invading them, I think it’d be better if I did it.”

Rishe gasped, goose bumps forming on her back. “What are you saying…?”

“You want to persuade me to make peace with Coyolles, but they’re worthless to us. Even if you do manage to stop me, what if my father finds out about their predicament? That would be worse than if I’d made the first move.” Arnold watched Rishe, seemingly amused by her reactions. “Coyolles is doomed—now we’re just squabbling over who finishes them off. If Kyle had stayed put, he could have bought his country another couple of years. Yet he came seeking aid like a fool… Anyone would take advantage of that.”

“Prince Arnold.”

“It’ll be too late once my father finds out. If you have compassion for the people of Coyolles, then you should help me invade them.”

His tone was jovial, but Rishe didn’t doubt that he was serious. If she’d just met him, Rishe would have been terrified—but now she knew better.

“You’re a real liar sometimes, Your Highness,” she said sadly. “If you really preferred conquest to diplomacy, you wouldn’t have bothered swearing troublesome oaths to me. You would have just made me your wife by force.”

Arnold scowled.

“I don’t know why you wanted to marry me, but I’m just some duke’s daughter from a politically weak country. You could have just taken me, but you didn’t. Even after I came here, you continued to treat me with respect.”

He was doing the same thing now. His “conditions” for Rishe’s training were only out of concern for her. Why would a man like that choose this future? Rishe peered into his eyes, but they held no answers. His vast, oceanic irises glowed with a dusky light that gradually faded away.

“You’re free to think whatever you want about me,” Arnold said as he slowly backed away from her. “But remember this: In my country, war is not some terrible last resort. It’s just politics.”

 

Rishe first visited Coyolles in her first life as a merchant. Even Coyolles had a summer, however short, and it was in that season that she arrived. On the night of a terrible thunderstorm, she and Tully reached the lakeside town of Coyolles Castle, almost getting stranded on the way. Their overcoats were practically useless in the downpour. Only after being guided to a back door and handed some towels by a maid were they finally able to relax.

“Ha ha ha ha! People warned me about the rain, but I never expected it to be that bad!” Tully burst into laughter, slicking back his drenched hair. “This is why I said you didn’t have to come with me, Rishe. I was the one who decided to push forward with our business to avoid delay. You should’ve just stayed at the inn with the others.”

“There are more important things to think about, Mr. Tully! If it rains so much in the summer, don’t you think we could sell raincoats? They’d be thinner and lighter than winter coats, and the designs could be brighter and cooler too!”

“That’s a great suggestion, but do you even care what you look like right now? You did your hair up all nice, but you were so preoccupied with protecting the merchandise that your hairdo and your dress got demolished.”

“Well, drying off a person is easy—one just needs a towel.”

“Ha ha!” Tully laughed, his eyes fixed on Rishe. “I’m impressed you kept up with me, newbie. My regular customer here will really appreciate your determination.”

“Your regular customer? Ugh, I really can’t be in the castle looking like this, can I? We made the delivery on time, so I’ll just go…”

Before Rishe could finish, Tully smirked and sketched a bow. “It’s been too long, Your Highness.”

Following his lead, Rishe quickly dipped into a deep curtsy. Your Highness? Does he mean…?

Footsteps approached, halting just before reaching them.

“Long time no see, Tully. Sorry to rush you here in this weather.”

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to see you. That said, I hope you’ll pardon our unseemly appearances.”

“It was my father the king who requested delivery as quickly as possible. I’ll have a change of clothes and some hot water ready for you right away. And who is this?”

“She works for me,” Tully said. “Her name is Weitzner.”

“I’ll have to offer my respects.”

Had a member of the royal family really come all the way here—to the back entrance—just to meet a simple merchant?

“I’m honored to make your acquaintance. My name is Rishe Irmgard Weitzner.” Rishe introduced herself, her head still bowed. Drops of water fell from her hair, wetting the floor. The next thing she knew, the prince knelt on that wet floor without a moment’s hesitation.

“I am Kyle Morgan Cleverly. I wish to extend my most heartfelt welcome.”

“P-pardon me, Your Highness?!” Rishe almost screamed. Was this Coyolles’s culture of men showing intense respect to women? That was Rishe’s first thought, but she quickly learned the truth.

“Coming here in the rain while protecting your horses and carriage must have been difficult. Not to mention the perilous sea journey before that. This country has few valuable resources; only with the support of merchants like you are our citizens allowed to live such blessed lives.” The prince, with eyes like water, stared right at Rishe. “I extend to you my utmost respect and gratitude.”

That was their first meeting. Kyle was royalty, but he had a great deal of respect for people from all walks of life—his servants, the knights who protected him, the citizens of his country, old people, and even children far younger than him. Rishe hadn’t just witnessed this in her life as a merchant either.

When Rishe was an apothecary, he’d dragged his sickly body to the port to meet her.

“So, you’re Hakurei’s student. Her letters told me you have a promising career ahead of you.”

In her life as an alchemist, he hadn’t dismissed their practice as suspicious like the rest of the world. Instead, he earnestly listened as Rishe and Michel had told him their ambitions.

“I never imagined Michel would take on a student,” he’d said then. “I know the sort of mischief he gets up to. Still, I’m overjoyed to have such talented alchemists in my humble country. I beseech you, please share your wisdom with us.”

He always sat down and conversed with people at eye level, doing his best to understand their positions. Kyle was never arrogant, fulfilling his duties as a ruler to the best of his abilities.

She’d probably spent the most time with him in her life as an alchemist. After Rishe met Michel and became his student, the two of them sailed to Coyolles. There, they’d studied a variety of subjects under Kyle’s tutelage—the prince was, incidentally, in charge of his nation’s academic policies. Even his scolding was fond; he spoke to them like a guardian would.

“Michel, don’t you remember what I just told you the other day? Yet you still haven’t cleaned this room?”

One day, Kyle sat Michel down on the couch, standing in front of him with his arms crossed as if Michel wasn’t his elder.

“The other scholars are complaining about you. One of them said you came in covered in blood and then shut yourself in your room. He was terrified. What in the world were you studying this time? You completely sullied the carpet!”

Michel frowned and turned to Rishe, who was sitting next to him. “What did I do, Rishe? I don’t remember. Did that really happen?”

“You don’t remember, Professor? You said you helped with the birth of a calf and got a research specimen in exchange.”

Michel’s face lit up. “Ahh, that!”

Kyle stared Michel down, a complicated look on his face. “That’s not all. You spend days in your lab and don’t return to your quarters. You left uneaten food out, and now the place smells like rotten eggs.”

“Ah ha ha. The weather’s been so good lately.”

While Michel experienced the consequences of his actions, his student bowed her head in his place. “I’m sorry, Prince Kyle. We’ll be more careful in the future. We’ll make sure not to do research in soiled clothes, and we’ll eat all the food we’re served! I swear, never again will he eat the flowers in the garden because getting food is too much trouble for him.”

“Wait, I haven’t heard that one! Besides, Michel’s not the only one I’m getting complaints about.”

“Huh?” Rishe blurted out. She looked up to see Kyle glaring at her this time.

“It’s you too, Weitzner. You’re hoarding so many books, one scholar is worried the stone floor will give out. Could you consider moving them out when you’ve finished reading them?”

“What?! Um, I—”

“I believe we’ve already spoken about you stacking books taller than your own height. That’s dangerous! What if they collapsed in an earthquake or something?”

“I have no excuse…”

Despite this, every book in her room was valuable, and she wasn’t done learning from them. She’d read some of them so many times that she could recite their contents from memory. Depending on when she picked them up, however, she could make new breakthroughs on her rereads.

I’m just freeloading here. I can’t cause trouble for the castle. But I don’t know how to prioritize which books to keep and which to get rid of! I’ll have to spend at least another two weeks—no, three weeks—reading them all from cover to cover one last time…

“And that’s why I’ll be opening up one of my rooms for you two to use as an archive.”

“I’m sorry, Prince Kyle, give me just one month to consider—wait, what?!” Rishe was baffled. “Are you sure? All the books in my room pertain to alchemy, so I’m the only one who’d use them. I wouldn’t want to take up a whole room…”

People tended to view alchemists as crackpots who sucked up time and funds without producing results. Michel had been invited to Coyolles not for his alchemy knowledge but for his expertise on other subjects, like medicine. Kyle had no reason to respect Michel and Rishe as alchemists.

Yet he met their eyes with an unwavering will and said without hesitation, “It’s my duty to support you, and I intend to do so without compromise.”

“Oh, Prince Kyle…”

That wasn’t the end of it either—Kyle helped Rishe and Michel countless times after that.

“You two were so focused on your research that you forgot to eat again, didn’t you?! Wait, it’s fine, you don’t need to get up. Keep watching your flasks; just eat this bread for now. But drink water first!”

“If you need research funds, I can negotiate with my father. I know you two will produce results. I’ll convince him.”

“It went well? I see. Congratulations. Above all, I’m glad to see your hard work rewarded.”

 

Immersed deep in her memories as she sat in a room in Galkhein’s palace, Rishe thought, Prince Kyle always treated me kindly in every life, so I have to—

“Rishe.”

Michel called her name, and she looked up. After Arnold gave her permission to continue her training, Rishe had spent her afternoon visiting the tower quarters of the scholars from Coyolles.

“I looked over it. The focus is very interesting; I’m curious to see the results.”

“Thank you, Professor Michel.”

On the table between them sat a research paper Rishe had written in the few days since she’d reunited with Michel. It was an idea she’d only half completed in her life as an alchemist. She thought it might be useful for her war avoidance plan and wanted to hear Michel’s opinion on it.

“It’s all verified up to a certain point,” he told her.

“I dabbled back home, but I had to stop when I came to this country to get married.” Rishe mixed some lies with the truth. In reality, she’d died in the middle of her research. As her knight guards watched over them, Rishe asked him several questions.

Michel the scholar is one of Coyolles’s greatest weapons right now, but he’s not enough. If Galkhein wanted him, they’d just pluck him from Kyle instead of forming an alliance.

There was another reason she didn’t want Michel and Arnold meeting again. Remembering her parting with Michel, she clenched her hands into fists.

“Say, Rishe.” Michel put the paper down and smiled softly. “Do you like learning?”

“Yes, I love it! I get excited learning anything new, whatever it is. It feels like my world expands, and everything I’ve seen up to that point suddenly looks different.”

“Heh heh, I know what you mean. Learning is fun—especially when you can apply what you’ve learned. I’m sure about this now…” Michel put his chin in his hand, grin widening. “You’re not suited to being an empress.”

One of her knight guards opened his mouth to protest, but Rishe silenced him with a glance. Michel didn’t mean anything by it.

He continued sunnily, “Well, it’s true, isn’t it? You’re better suited to the freedom to go wherever you want and try whatever you want. I think you should be living that kind of life.”

“Professor…”

“You should just come with me.” He cocked his head, blond hair spilling over his shoulder. “Then you could learn a bunch of new stuff. I’ll teach you anything you want to know.”

“I appreciate the invitation.” Rishe looked out the window. Far in the distance, she saw the detached wing where she and Arnold lived. Arnold would be there now, having returned to his work. “However, I’m working to understand one particular subject at present.”

“Arnold Hein, huh?”

She flinched.

Michel cast his eyes down, the shadows of his long lashes falling on his cheeks. “I’m interested in him too. He rejected Kyle’s request, but the way he did it piqued my curiosity. I’d love to give him a certain compound and see what happens…”

“O-oh.” Rishe felt clammy sweat breaking out on her skin.

“I call it gunpowder.” There was a darkness in Michel’s eyes as he looked at Rishe. “Heh heh… I’m sure your husband would make great use of it.”