“Why are you here?”
I asked coldly.
Elia, looking troubled yet wearing a warm smile, answered.
“I’m here to collaborate on magic research. I’ve already discussed it with Evelin… You didn’t hear about it?”
“Research collaboration?”
Evelin nodded.
“Not long ago, Elia proposed a technical collaboration on magic research. Since we had a connection through the joint class, I accepted.”
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it… Why didn’t you inform us?”
“There’s no need to report every minor detail about running the territory. Is there any reason Elia shouldn’t be here?”
Plenty of reasons. Who knows what she’s planning now?
After the incident in the joint class, I told Kalian it would be better to keep his distance from Elia.
Though I couldn’t tell him she tried to control magical beasts to kill Lumia, Kalian took my advice and had been trying to stay away from her since.
Yet here she is, following him all the way here.
Research collaboration? Ridiculous. She just made up a convenient excuse to be near Kalian.
“Is there a problem between you two?” Evelin asked, observing the tension between me and Elia.
Elia gave an awkward smile.
“Recently, I did something I should apologize to Wade for. That’s why. Please don’t worry too much, Evelin.”
“If there’s an issue, resolve it quickly. Holding grudges between classmates is tiresome, isn’t it?”
“If Wade would give me the chance, I’d like to sincerely apologize.”
“What happened?”
Beats me.
She’s not going to admit she tried to use magical beasts to kill Lumia.
So what else is there to apologize for?
After a pause, Elia blushed and bowed her head.
“Well… I think I acted too friendly with Kalian. I might have made Wade uncomfortable.”
“That could definitely upset him. I know well how obsessive this guy gets about his friend’s love life.”
“I’ll try to approach Kalian more carefully from now on.”
“Hmm? Haha, but you’re not saying you’ll give up on him, are you?”
A strange atmosphere developed between Elia and Evelin.
After apologizing to Kalian and me, Elia smiled warmly at Evelin and Lumia.
Sigh… I can manage Evelin, but I can’t predict what this woman might do to Lumia.
I’ll need to keep an eye on her.
The investigation into the magic researcher wrapped up quickly.
The so-called magician of the past turned out to be just someone who studied magic as a hobby.
Having worked for the Rose Ducal House for a long time, they didn’t seem suspicious.
After the investigation, we gathered in the guestroom to have tea, discussing future plans for school life and post-graduation goals.
The conversation was led by Kalian, Evelin, and Elia.
I played the role of a hopeless underachiever with no future, so I didn’t contribute much, and Lumia, feeling dejected, mostly just listened.
“Evelin.”
As we chatted, a soldier rushed in from outside.
“What’s the matter?”
“The bandits have made a move.”
Now that I think of it, the reason Evelin called Kalian to her territory was to deal with the bandits.
She set down her teacup.
The poised noblewoman transformed into a tense knight.
“Where are they?”
“The southwestern outskirts. Two squads of the subjugation force are tracking them, while the rest are on standby in the raided area.”
“I’ll head to the field. Prepare for departure immediately.”
“Understood.”
After sending the soldier off, Evelin stood and addressed us.
“Stay here and rest. I’ll be back soon after dealing with this.”
“I’ll come with you. That’s why you called me here, isn’t it?”
“While I did say that, this is an issue within my territory. Did you really think I’d burden you with it, Kalian?”
“Still, I can’t just sit idly by.”
Despite her words, Kalian stood as well.
This guy and his sense of duty… Can’t he just relax and enjoy tea and snacks on a rare day off?
“Sigh.”
I got up too.
No way I’m letting Kalian and Evelin spend time together unsupervised.
I need to block any events that might boost their affection for each other.
Lumia and Elia also stood, and we all joined the bandit subjugation mission.
The Rose Ducal Territory is a prosperous land.
Trade flourishes, goods and currency flow abundantly, and the security and laws make it a good place for anyone to live.
As a result, the population within the city walls had long since reached its limit.
No matter how much construction expanded, the population grew faster.
Those who couldn’t secure housing or had insufficient funds were forced outside the city walls.
Although these areas weren’t protected by walls or patrolled by guards, they were still better than other territories.
Recently, however, a problem arose.
A mysterious band of thieves began attacking villages outside the walls.
If they were mere rabble, the stationed soldiers or small guards could have handled them, but these bandits were no ordinary foes.
They were strong and cunning.
Whenever the Rose Ducal subjugation force ventured out, the bandits would vanish.
When the forces withdrew to the city, they resumed their raids.
To counter this, Evelin stationed some regular troops secretly in various villages.
While this strategy couldn’t protect all the targeted areas, it allowed for tracking the bandits.
“Looks like that strategy paid off today.”
“To come near the Rose Ducal House, they must not be ordinary bandits.”
“They must think they have nine lives. Let’s show them their mistake.”
“Let’s give them a proper lesson.”
The bandits’ most recent target was in ruins.
Cries of people mourning lost loved ones echoed everywhere, and smoke from burning homes filled the air.
“Lady Evelin!”
As we arrived at the village, a man suddenly ran up and knelt before Evelin.
His clothes were torn, and he looked like he had rolled in dirt several times.
He must have been hiding to escape the bandits.
“They took everything! The money I spent my whole life saving, Catherine from next door, and even Courtney the blacksmith… they killed them!”
“Please, I beg you! Avenge them! Get justice for my friends’ blood! If not… I’ll die from the injustice!”
“What is your name?”
“My name is Alka.”
Evelin looked down at the man with a firm expression and spoke.
“Your revenge will be served. I promise.”
We passed the man and headed to where the soldiers were gathered.
They reported on the bandits’ direction of escape, when the subjugation team had pursued them, and the extent of the damage.
“Have you heard from the subjugation team?”
“Not yet, nothing of note.”
No matter how cunning the bandits are, they’re up against our regular forces.
By now, at least, the escape should have been stopped. But to not even receive a report… something’s odd.
After a moment of thought, Evelin said,
“Could it be that the subjugation team ahead of us was ambushed? It’s hard to believe such lowly bandits could overpower them… Hm, we have no other choice.”
“Shall we call for reinforcements from the castle?”
“Do that. Meanwhile, I’ll pursue the subjugation team myself.”
“Lady Evelin, that’s dangerous.”
Her decision shocked the soldiers, and they protested.
“We don’t know what traps they might have set. It’s safer to wait for reinforcements before acting.”
“That will be too late. We must catch up before the bandits escape completely and before the subjugation team is wiped out.”
“Then allow me to go in your stead.”
“And if you don’t return, what then? The most capable one here must go, and that’s me.”
Ignoring the soldiers’ protests, Evelin made her decision and then approached Kalian and me.
“You’ve heard most of the situation, haven’t you?”
“What do you need us to do?”
“Stay here and be on standby. The bandits’ movements have always been unpredictable, so we can’t rule out something unexpected happening.”
“Understood. But… isn’t it a bit embarrassing for the great Rose Ducal Territory to be struggling so much against mere bandits?”
I shrugged as I asked, and Evelin replied calmly.
“Most of our forces are deployed in the north for the Great Beast Subjugation and in the east for continental expansion.”
“No wonder. Things did feel a bit understaffed here.”
“There’s no shortage for handling a bandit gang. And even if they try something unusual… did you think I wouldn’t have prepared for that?”
“So, there’s some kind of insurance?”
“Of course. Aren’t the knights I summoned here with us? Talents from the Empire’s finest academy.”
She gestured toward us with open arms.
“Wait… so that’s why you called us? To fill the temporary gap in the Duchy’s defenses?”
“I did say it was for the bandit subjugation. Though, of course, that was just an excuse for the invitation. A ruler must always think broadly. Heh.”
No wonder she’s been marked as the next Duke.
At first, I thought it was just an excuse to summon
Kalian, but she even considered the military gap in the territory and made contingencies.
It feels like we were used, but seeing her dedication to the territory, it’s hard to dislike her.
“But are you seriously going alone?”
“I’ll take soldiers with me.”
“No, I mean, wouldn’t it be safer if we went with you?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? You need to stay here in case something unexpected happens. And besides…”
Evelin smirked.
“If I’m in danger, Kalian will come to save me.”
Is she seriously factoring that into her plans?
While it’s true Kalian is like a prince from a fairy tale… don’t risk your life on that assumption.
“Haha, it’s my choice to make. Even if something overwhelming happens… well, isn’t there always someone insanely strong to handle it?”
“You really are reckless.”
“And compared to some people, I’m nothing.”
We exchanged faint smiles at each other.