Ch#83
The foreign language tutoring session, agreed upon by the two, proceeded in a more serious atmosphere than expected.
It was because Ibi had begun to genuinely worry about her exams.
‘I need to get high scores.’
She had overheard other students whispering.
“She must have thought she was really smart because even the advanced rural school recognized her scores as advanced.”
“Some professors praise her as clever, but won't this exam reveal if that's true?”
“I think she'll average out at best. Outside Yeongjae Academy, that level would get her called a genius easily.”
Even if her scores fell short, she wouldn't be expelled, so there was no risk of being kicked out over the exams.
Still, Ibi didn't want to end up in a different class from everyone else.
‘Arcel will definitely take first place no matter what.’
The same went for Airin. Airin had said she wasn't confident about staying in the top class of 35 students.
But seeing her study furiously from morning till evening, poring over books, she clearly had it in the bag.
Ruska had also been studying like mad lately, not wanting to fall behind alone.
But if she were the only one whose ‘true ability,’ as people put it, showed and resulted in low scores…….
Imagining Professor Males yelling that she'd have to try hard to score that low, Ibi threw herself into studying in earnest.
Though her body wasn't fully recovered, she was in an unfamiliar place, and despite Clois treating her with reverence, Ibi's sudden burst of academic fervor made Clois serious as well.
“In Residean, you especially need to watch verb conjugations closely.”
Several hours passed like that when the Prime Minister's voice calling for Clois came from outside.
Clois was about to tell him to leave but noticed it had grown completely dark outside.
Checking the clock, curfew at Yeongjae Academy was approaching.
‘I want to take her back myself.’
But the matter calling him was urgent.
Besides, he'd already turned Yeongjae Academy upside down once during the day; going again would not be good for the students there.
But he couldn't just send Ibi back alone either.
So Clois said to the chief attendant.
“Summon Rommel and three knights under his command.”
“Captain Rommel, sire?”
The unflappable chief attendant spoke in a surprised voice.
He quickly regained composure and relayed Clois's order.
Soon after, Rommel and the other knights arrived.
Clois commanded them in a serious tone.
“Escort Ibi back to Yeongjae Academy. Protect her until she safely reaches the dormitory.”
At the order, Rommel and the other knights looked baffled.
Who were they?
The Imperial Knight Order, loyal solely to the imperial family.
Yet they were to escort some Ibi they'd never heard of.
“Your Majesty, we of course obey Your Majesty's will, but who is this Ibi?”
If it was Clois's command, they would die for it.
But to escort an unknown person all the way to Yeongjae Academy with him, the captain, and the elite knights.
Just who was this Ibi?
They didn't even escort envoys from neighboring kingdoms.
Rommel took it the best.
Hilde, standing behind, bowed to Clois and said indignantly.
“Your Majesty! We exist solely for Your Majesty! Please withdraw such an order.”
At Hilde's words, the other knights bowed their heads as well.
They too thought the order excessive.
The Main Palace and Yeongjae Academy were within walking distance. Inside the imperial palace at that. To have them escort such a short way.
And for someone other than Clois!
As Hilde tried to plead again, Ibi entered, freshly dressed and groomed from head to toe by the palace maids.
The new uniform fetched hastily from Yeongjae Academy was now free of bloodstains and wrinkles.
Clois welcomed her with a smile.
“Ibi, these people will take you back to Yeongjae Academy.”
Glancing at Hilde, he added.
“Ah, not all of them.”
There was no need to send those who were reluctant.
In that case, excluding the reluctant Hilde and others, sending only the loyal Captain Rommel would…….
“Quite right! It would be perfect without the captain!”
At that moment, Hilde, who had just begged to withdraw the order, swiftly moved to Ibi's side and bowed with a smile.
“Hello, little princess. Your name's Ibi? I'm Hilde, your big sis. I wear an eyepatch because of an old eye injury, so don't be too scared.”
At Hilde's words, everyone including Clois froze.
Hilde, who for over a decade together had only uttered rough curses or gruff tones.
But what was this cutesy voice now? She could do that?
“Hello, I'm Ibi Alden.”
Ibi greeted with a bright smile, and Hilde's lips curved up.
“Aww, so cute. Big sis will take you to Yeongjae Academy, so don't worry. It's night, so if you're scared, want to hold hands?”
“Yes!”
As Ibi answered happily, Rommel rushed forward from behind.
“Uncle's Rommel!”
“Uncle's Sigmund!”
“I'm Aiden!”
Those who moments ago claimed to exist only for Clois now surrounded Ibi, pushing him aside.
* * *
Ibi poked at her slightly bulging belly, which made her uniform skirt feel tight.
While studying, the chief attendant uncle had wheeled in a cart asking if she'd like snacks.
And when the lids over the plates lifted, colorful pastries neatly arranged appeared.
Clois said it was perfect timing and fed them to her.
Her body had been aching a bit, but the fragrant tea and sweet treats lifted her spirits.
The problem was she'd eaten way too much.
“Haa……”
As Ibi sighed, realizing her mistake, a voice came from behind.
“Want a piggyback if you're tired?”
“No! I can walk, Sir Rommel!”
Despite Ibi's eager refusal, Rommel seemed unwilling to drop the offer.
The other knights glared at him.
“Offering a lady a piggyback is rude, Captain.”
“Indeed. Shouldn't we prepare a carriage now?”
“Yes. Walking from the Main Palace to Yeongjae Academy doesn't make sense.”
“If His Majesty learns Ibi walked, he might have our heads.”
At the mention of heads rolling, Ibi's face paled.
Hilde, walking right beside her, chuckled and whispered.
“It's a joke. They're always messing around like that.”
At Hilde's words, Rommel bellowed.
“Calling your superior a joker, Hilde. You!”
Undaunted by Rommel's scolding, Hilde retorted.
“Captain, shouting like that will scare Ibi. Didn't you hear the imperial physician? She needs absolute rest.”
“That's true, but……”
Unable to raise his voice further at the mention of the imperial physician, Rommel grumbled discontentedly.
Ibi still couldn't get used to the conversations of the people surrounding her.
‘These are the Imperial Knight Order.’
After coming to Yeongjae Academy, she had learned of their existence.
A knight order made of the empire's strongest, loyal only to the imperial family.
Ruska had explained them in detail.
“After graduating Yeongjae Academy, I don't want to go to the academy. I want to join the Imperial Knight Order.”
Once during a meal, talk turned to what they'd do after graduation.
Arcel said he'd enter the academy, and Airin planned to stay in the capital to help with the Terrins family business.
Ibi said she wanted to stay in the palace and work, then asked Ruska.
“Then you'll go to the academy with Arcel?”
Ruska jumped up and shook his head.
“Don't decide my future for me! I've wanted to join the Imperial Knight Order since I was little!”
Then Ruska rattled off explanations about the Imperial Knight Order.
Thanks to that, Ibi learned of them and who they consisted of.
“……Everyone in the knight order is elite among elites, unmatched anywhere, but most famous are Captain Rommel and Lady Hilde, who protected His Majesty in the final battle of the succession war, losing an eye in the process.”
Ruska went on about those two at length.
To sum up his long talk, the Imperial Knight Order was the empire's strongest.
Its knights were all superhuman, mercilessly cutting down enemies without blood or tears…… or so it was.
But clearly…….
“You don't want a piggyback from Uncle Captain? Then how about from big sis?”
They were very different from what she'd imagined.
