“Yep, yep. I saw it all right.”
We’re on our way home after school.
Of late, we’ve gotten into the habit of taking a small detour down a quiet path through the forest on the way back to her dorm. I spend the whole time yessing her and seldom retain more than 10 percent of our conversations.
It’s sunset as we walk at an excruciatingly slow pace down the road. It should take ten minutes to walk its entirety, but it always takes us half an hour.
There are days it takes so long that the stars come out, but I keep my cool. There are days when I feel like telling her to talk to a brick wall, but I show some self-restraint then, too.
Patience, patience, patience. But there’s one thing I feel I have to say.
“Hey, can I ask you something?”
“What is it, Fido?” Alexia sits on her favorite stump and crosses her legs.
Don’t just sit there. Let’s get a move on, I don’t say as I sit down beside her.
“What don’t you like about Mr. Zenon? Objectively speaking, he seems like a home run of a husband.”
“Have you been listening to me at all?” Alexia asks, slightly vexed. “I hate everything about him. His very existence.”
“I mean, he’s a hot expert swordsman with titles, prestige, money—not to mention a good work-life balance and personality. And he’s popular with the ladies.”
Alexia snorts. “Yeah, on the surface. Anyone could pretend. Take me, for an example.”
“Wow, I’m suddenly completely convinced.”
Now that she mentions it, she’s super-popular because she’s the master at wearing a mask in front of others.
“That’s why I don’t judge people by their looks.”
“Then what do you look at?”
“Their flaws.” Alexia smiles smugly.
“What a negative approach. It suits you perfectly.”
“Why, thank you. And just so you know, I don’t mind you, even though you’ve got nothing going for you.”
“Thanks. I’ve never received a compliment that’s made me feel worse.”
Alexia chuckles dryly. “You’re scum through and through, and I like it that way. It’s also why I can’t stand our instructor.”
“What are his flaws?”
“He doesn’t seem to have any.”
“Sounds like a keeper.”
“I told you before: Perfect people don’t exist. I bet he’s either a big fat liar or totally messed up in the head.”
“I see. Thanks for that totally arbitrary and biased answer.”
“You’re welcome, my flawed pooch. Now fetch!” Alexia tosses a coin into the air, and I scramble to retrieve it.
Whoo-hoo! Another ten thousand zeni. I’m gonna catch ’em all.
I shove the coin in my pocket and return to Alexia, who’s clapping her hands in delight.
“Good doggy.” She rubs my head.
Patience, I tell myself.
“Ooh, you hate this so much,” she observes as she vigorously tousles my hair.
I take this opportunity to remember she’s the worst.
“I can see the disgust in your face,” Alexia notes.
“I’m letting you see it.”
She giggles and gets up. “All right. Let’s head home.”
“Yep, yep.”
“And, Fido, note that I’m going to lodge my wooden sword into that damned instructor’s face tomorrow. Make sure you’re watching.”
This compels me to ask another question.
“Would you seriously do that?”
“What do you mean?” she replies, turning back to glare at me.
I think I’m butting into something when I should stay in my lane. But I can’t let this slide.
“Mr. Zenon is definitely stronger than you but not to the point where you wouldn’t be able to fight back.”
I like the way she handles her sword. Her skills evolve every day with her efforts, one step at a time. But in an actual fight, there would be too many extra movements. I would hate to see it sully her swordsmanship, especially since I think it’s good.
“You make it sound so easy. Even though you’re the one wearing white.”
“Don’t mind me. It’s just the ramblings of a white coat.”
“Fine, I’ll let you know the truth. It’s not as easy as you think.”
“Hmm?”
“I have no talent. I was born with a significant amount of magical energy, and I’ve worked hard to get to this point. I think I’m all right now, but I know I don’t stand a chance against a true genius.”
“Maybe.”
“I’ve always been compared to my older sister, Iris. Everyone expected great things from me. And more importantly, I respected Iris and wanted to be at her level. But I realized I’ll never be as good as her. I mean, we weren’t born on the same playing field. I tried my best to get stronger. But I’m guessing you already know how people describe my fighting style.”
There’s a certain phrase that’s always uttered when the two sisters are compared.
“The swordplay of an amateur.”
“That’s right. And yours is, too. How unfortunate.” Alexia flashes me a lopsided smirk.
“I don’t think it’s unfortunate. I like your swordplay.”
Alexia reacts by holding her breath for a moment and scowling.
“I’ve been told that before. By Iris—when she beat me onstage at the Bushin Festival.” Alexia curls her lips and imitates her sister: “‘I like your swordplay.’
“She doesn’t understand me at all. I felt pathetic, and she had no idea. Ever since then, I’ve always hated the way I fight.”
Alexia smiles, but I don’t know why. At the very least, I know she isn’t happy.
There’s something I need to tell her. If I don’t say it now, I’ll be stabbing myself in the back.
“You know, I’m as apathetic as they come. If there was a catastrophe that wiped out a million people on the other side of the world, it wouldn’t affect me. If you went nuts and became a serial killer, I wouldn’t be bothered,” I say.
“If I lost my mind, you’d be the first person I’d kill.”
“But there are certain things I care about. They might be insignificant to others, but to me, they’re more precious than anything. I live this life protecting these few things. Which is why I really mean what I’m about to tell you.”
One simple phrase.
“I like your swordplay.”
After a brief silence, Alexia replies, “So what?”
“Nothing. I guess the main takeaway is that it peeves me when other people tell me what I can and can’t like. That’s all.”
“I see.” Alexia pivots on her heels. “I’m heading home alone today.”
And then she walks away.
“It’s been a while since the three of us have eaten together,” comments Po the Traitor.
“That’s ’cause he was dining with the princess every day,” adds Skel.
“Shit happens,” I say.
It’s the first time in a long while that the three of us sit together in the cafeteria. Alexia isn’t here, which is rare.
“Come on, Cid, cheer up.”
“Yeah! Real men don’t hold grudges, you know.”
“We even bought you the lunch for broke aristocrats today, costing nine hundred and eighty zeni.”
“Our treat! Let bygones be bygones, and let’s be friends again.”
“All right already.” I let out a heavy sigh.
“Yeah, that’s our man!”
“Thanks for forgiving us, Cid.”
“Whatever.”
“So how far did you get?” Skel asks, holding back his excitement.
“With what?”
“Well, did you do the deed with the princess? You’ve been dating a whole two weeks, so you must’ve done something.”
I know we’re about to have a dumb conversation, based solely on the fact that he said “Do the deed.”
“We didn’t do anything. That would never happen.”
“Huh. You’re a friggin’ wuss. I would’ve gone all the way for sure.”
“Right? I would’ve smooched her—at the very least.”
“I told you. Our relationship isn’t like that.” I deflect and nod through their conversation indifferently as I chow down.
“Can I have a moment?”
Enter Mr. Zenon, the blond-haired hunk.
“Yes, of course!”
“By all means!”
With that, my two pals melt into the background again.
“Can I help you?” I ask, slightly on guard. I’m wary that he might pull something while Alexia’s not around.
“Indeed. You might have heard already, but Alexia hasn’t returned to her dormitory since yesterday.”
This is the first I’ve heard of it. I’m guessing she’s gone off on a journey to find herself or whatever. The timing seems about right for her age.
“I was searching for her this morning when I found this.” Mr. Zenon holds out a loafer in one hand.
It’s Alexia’s.
“There’s evidence of a struggle nearby. The Knight Order is investigating this case as a potential kidnapping.”
“No way…!” I shout in torment as I vigorously fist pump in my mind.
Ha! Serves you right, princess!!
“We narrowed the culprit down to the person who last came into contact with her.” Mr. Zenon looks me square in the eye. “The Knight Order would like to have a word with you.”
I notice the entire Order is in full gear, standing menacingly at the entrance of the cafeteria.
“I’m assuming you’ll cooperate, right?”
That’s when it hits me.
This ain’t good.
Chapter 3
My Official Beginning as a Mastermind in Action!
I was interrogated in a room comparable to a detention cell and released after five days. It’s evening now.
“Go on. Scram.”
They shove me out of the building and chuck my suitcase behind me. I’m in nothing but my underwear, and I rummage through my suitcase to change and shove my feet into my shoes. It takes me a while to get dressed. I’m guessing it has to do with the fact that all my fingernails were ripped off.
When I get everything on, I heave out a big sigh and start walking. I stand out among the people on the busy street since I’m beaten up and drenched in my own blood.
I sigh again. “Chill out, relax. There’s no point getting worked up over every little thing.”
I manage to stay calm by blocking the faces of the interrogating knights out of my mind.
“They were just doing their job.”
Their punches only left surface-level wounds on my body. If I felt like it, I could grow my missing fingernails back. But I don’t, because I’m fully immersed in acting out my role as a nobody.
“Yeah, I’m always cool and collected.”
Right. Calm.
I let out another long exhale, and my field of vision clears. I pay attention to my surroundings and sense strange shadows lurking behind me.
“Two of them are tailing me.”
The kidnapper hasn’t been caught. Which obviously means that the state of Alexia’s well-being is up in the air.
Just because I’ve been released doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and roses. They just don’t have enough evidence to convict me, and my name hasn’t been cleared yet.
I trudge back to my dorm room, pretending to hang my head from exhaustion.
“Later…,” whispers a quiet voice.
It reaches my ears, accompanied with the faint scent of a familiar perfume.
“Alpha…?”
But I can’t find her anywhere among the city folk scurrying past one another on the main road after sunset.
When I flick the lights on in my dorm room, the silhouette of a girl emerges from the darkness.
“You must be hungry.”
Her black suit fits her perfectly, accentuating her feminine curves. She’s holding out a sandwich with a thick slab of tuna in her hand from Tuna King, the famous restaurant in the capital.
“Thanks. It’s been a while, Alpha. Where’s Beta?”
I’m famished after not eating a proper meal in five days, and I devour the sandwich. Beta is the one who’s supposed to be on rotation to assist me.
“She contacted me. What a mess.” Alpha sits cross-legged on the bed.
There’s a nostalgic quality to her shiny golden locks that trail down her back and those blue eyes the shape of almonds. She’s grown up since last time.
“Yep.” I stuff the last piece of sandwich into my mouth.
“There’s water in there.”
“Thanks.” I chug it from a large glass. “Ahhh! I’m alive again.”
I strip off my jacket and shoes and dive into bed.
“Hey, at least change out of your clothes.”
“Can’t. Gonna go to bed now.”
“Don’t you know the position you’re in?”
“I’ll leave the preparations to you.”
Alpha is brilliant. She’ll prepare the best stage for our performance if I just let her do her thing. Until then, I’m gonna sleep… I mean, save up my energy.
Alpha lets out a frustrated sigh. “I’m sure you already know this, but they’re going to think you’re the culprit if you don’t do something.”
“True that.”
If the real culprit is never found, I can almost guarantee the next suspect in line will be punished. Especially since this involves the kidnapping of a royal. Someone has to die or else the case will never be closed.
Ya gotta love the Middle Ages.
“Wake up. I’ve got more sandwiches.”
“I’m awake.”
Alpha hands them over. “Someone is trying to escalate the situation and frame you as the culprit.”
“Huh. Like, I’m gonna be convicted even if they don’t do anything?”
“I’m guessing they want to settle this matter quickly, and an unassuming student from a poor noble family is the perfect target.”
“Agreed. I would do the same thing.”
“We can’t trust the Knight Order.”
“Has the Cult infiltrated them?”
“Yes, without a doubt. The abductor is a member of the Cult. Their goal is to obtain high concentrations of the blood of the heroes.”
The girls are still pretending that there’s a Cult—for me. What a great bunch.
“Is she still alive?”
“If she dies, they won’t be able to extract any more of her blood.”
“True.”
“Though I’m not sure why you decided to woo the princess.” Alpha glares at me.
“That’s not how it happened.”
“I’m sure you have your reasons—reasons you can’t tell us.”
I don’t let out another peep and avert my eyes to avoid her gaze. I have no real reason, of course.
“I understand. I know you’re struggling with something deep down in your heart.”
How do I respond when that’s totally not the case?
“But I hope you can trust us even a little bit more. If you told us about this earlier, it wouldn’t have gotten out of hand. Don’t you agree?”
“Y-yeah.”
“It’s okay. Our job is to make sure you’re covered,” she adds with a smile. “Once we solve this case, you’re treating me to Tuna King. That last sandwich was supposed to be mine.”
“Of course. Sorry for stealing your sandwich, Alpha.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she insists, standing up and heading to the window.
Once she gets it open, she hooks one foot out of the room, wiggling her tiny hips.
“I’ll be leaving now. Lay low for a while.”
“Got it. What’s our strategy?”
“We’ll assemble an army. There aren’t enough members in the capital. And I believe we should summon Delta.”
>
“You’re sending for Delta?”
“She wants to see you.”
Gunshot Delta. Otherwise known as Suicide Weapon Delta. Put simply, she’s a blockhead who’s spent all her experience points on her battle skills.
A little reunion would be nice, I guess. I’m begging that all of them turned out all right.
“I’ll let you know the details when the preparations are complete. See you soon.”
Alpha flashes me a final smile before yanking on her bodysuit to hide her face and slipping out the window into the night.
“Is that the end of your report?” asks a redheaded beauty.
Her fiery, straight hair reaches to the small of her back, illuminated under the flickering lights of a candle, and her wine-red eyes are set on the investigation papers on her desk. The reporting knight blushes in the presence of her poise and allure.
“Y-yes, Princess Iris. We’ll continue our search to the best of our abilities.”
Iris nods, cuing him to take his leave.
When the door clicks closed behind him, Iris is left alone with a handsome man with blond hair.
“Marquess Zenon. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“The incident took place on school grounds. I was responsible for keeping her safe, and more importantly, I’m worried about her well-being…”
He lowers his eyes and bites his lower lip in frustration.
“You had to attend to your duties as an expert swordsman. No one blames you. And we don’t have time to point fingers right now. We need to focus on getting Alexia back safe and sound.”
“I suppose you’re right…”
“Another thing.” Iris stops speaking for a moment and snaps the report closed. “Is it true that this Cid Kagenou is most likely the perpetrator?”
“I don’t want to believe one of our students could be the culprit, but based on the circumstances, I have to say I find him suspicious…though I don’t think he’s strong enough to overpower Alexia in a duel.” Mr. Zenon tacks on the last bit, carefully choosing his words.
“Which means he either had an accomplice or drugged her. But he didn’t crack during interrogation. Do you really think it’s him?” Iris asks.
“I can’t say for certain. But I want to believe him.”
The Eminence in Shadow, Vol. 1 (Light Novel) Page 7