The conqueror from a dyi.., p.4
The Conqueror from a Dying Kingdom: Volume 2, page 4
Ugh... This is getting to me. Why do I feel like she’s attacking my character? She’s not even talking about me, but I feel like she’s implying something.
“But that wouldn’t happen if they marry me for my personality. Even if I lost my royal status, I’d still be me. As long as I don’t turn into trash myself, I’d never have to worry about being betrayed.”
Such a clear and concise analysis.
“Well, you’re right about that.”
There’s a grain of truth in there. Maybe a hundred grains even.
“But that’s easier said than done,” Carol continued. “They say that a man often looks at the face and the body when what he truly loves is the soul.”
She nodded her head repeatedly in satisfaction. I doubted she really understood what she was saying.
“But that’s a really weird dream you had. You don’t even have a girlfriend, so why’re you dreaming about some awful woman wasting your time and dumping you? Did you read something like that in a novel?”
I decided I’d let her believe that. “Good guess.”
“Heh.”
Why’s she looking so smug again? Is it because she guessed correctly? It’s like she thinks she’s got me all figured out.
“Anyway, what are you doing here? I know they assigned you a bed, but this is no way for an unmarried woman to behave.”
What if one of the dorm’s dirty brats lays his hands on her? Maybe it won’t happen right now, but give them a few years and they’ll be a real threat.
“I’m tired of everyone saying that.”
She looked at me in disbelief. Apparently, others had already warned her repeatedly.
“There’s no point in attending the Knight Academy if I can’t deepen my friendships with the future knights.”
“You can deepen your friendships at the Cultural Academy.”
“I’m already doing that. I’m sick of being told to stay over there. This place is more important to me.”
She wasn’t just entering the Knight Academy for the sake of showing off. Although this country wasn’t in as dire a predicament as the Kilhina Kingdom just yet, she wasn’t wrong to place a great importance on this faction of the academy.
“Oh, really. Well, do your best. I’m going to go wash my face,” I told her.
“Be ready for a game when you’re done.”
Huh? Game?
“Game? What do you mean?”
“A game of togi, of course.”
Ah, she’s talking about togi. She brought it up out of nowhere, so I was confused. But what does she mean by “of course”? Since when did we decide to play? It’s a mystery to me.
“Why me?”
“General opinion in the dorm is that you’re the best player. I’ve come to end your reign.”
She has way too much time on her hands. Not that I mind playing with her.
“All right, sure. Are you one of those people who’s super into togi?”
“Yeah, I like it. Love it, in fact.”
“I see.”
I wasn’t sure why, but something about her reminded me of Rook. Though it could’ve been my imagination.
Chapter 2 — Sham Enters the Academy
I
Now that I was ten, it was time for me to enter school too. I’d be attending the Cultural Academy.
I shouldn’t have needed to go there since I already had a teacher, but for some reason I was being forced to go anyway. I hated the idea.
The Cultural Academy was a school on the same grounds as the Knight Academy that Yuri attended, and the Grand Library that I often visited was one of its facilities. It wasn’t exactly the same school as Yuri’s, but I’d been told that half of what we were taught would be the same.
There was some sort of exam to decide our classes before I started at the academy. I’d gone there a few days before the term began to take the test. Just like all the other students there, I wore my school uniform and answered the same questions.
The test was full of things that my mom had been teaching me since I was younger, while the subjects that I actually found interesting barely appeared at all. Even when I did come across such a question, it was always elementary level.
Since all the questions appeared on the same test, most people must’ve considered the questions to be similar in terms of difficulty. I, however, had such a meager knowledge of some of the topics that I struggled to understand certain questions, while others were topics I understood in far greater detail than needed.
My mom and dad had often told me that I was exceptionally intelligent. But based on the test questions, I had to conclude that the academy was a place for learning subjects that I was bad at, or at least, wasn’t even remotely interested in. I became less willing to study there by the second.
The day after the test, I attended an admission ceremony. We were seated by order of how well we’d done on the test. I was placed somewhere in the middle.
I wasn’t ashamed of my position because there’d been a lot of questions that I really hadn’t understood. If the exam had been all math, I would’ve cried tears of frustration at my grade. It made me realize just how little interest I had in topics besides math and natural science. In other words, I wasn’t upset about losing because I had no desire to win.
Yuri and my mom were seated in the family area.
During the ceremony, people with various titles gave speeches. We were told about the future prospects of students, that the future of the kingdom was placed on our backs, etc. I understood the meanings of the words, but the overall message was lost on me.
I was trying to remember something Yuri had taught me the day before. If we were to consider a planet with no atmosphere—i.e., a planet where we could apply a simple model of physics that disregarded the effects of atmospheric drag and compressive heating—then we would find that if a person were to stand on the planet’s surface and throw a pebble horizontally at a particular speed, the pebble would travel around the planet before hitting the person on the back of the head. However, if the person were to dodge the pebble, it would continue to circle the planet endlessly. Thus, that would make it a satellite, similar to the moon.
Celestial mechanics was such a beautiful field. Its complex laws were in harmony, and they could be refined into a correct form prescribed by nature itself. They weren’t the imperfect laws of limited scope that humans tended to create, they were the science behind the interplay of forces governing the stars themselves. It all fell within the limits of human understanding. Through the correct application of the language of mathematics, we could understand the very universe. It baffled me that few people made any effort to understand something so wonderful for themselves.
When I glanced over at Yuri, our eyes met and he waved at me. I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that the one person in this world who understood me was so close.
I hadn’t been able to see Yuri very often after he’d started at the Knight Academy a year ago. At least now I’d have a few more opportunities. The prospect made me think joining the academy might not be so bad after all.
But even the year-long absence hadn’t been so bad. We hadn’t been together, but we weren’t very far apart. I’d spent our time separated wracking my brain until I’d reached an impasse. Then, whenever Yuri had been able to come home, I’d have a question for him. He’d smile and tell me I’d asked a good question before patting me on the head. Getting that kind of recognition always gave me a sense of happiness—something almost like an itch or a tickling sensation—that filled me completely.
Then he would give me the tools I needed to break through the barrier in my path each and every time. It felt like we were making up for lost time, and I stopped feeling lonely.
The people on the stage kept talking, but I had no idea what was so interesting about it, what any of it meant, or what I was supposed to learn from it. Then a pair of students—one male, one female—took to the stage to make some sort of pledge which involved kissing Her Majesty’s hand.
Mom had told me about this. She said that it was a great honor to go up on stage, and that Yuri had done it the year before. She’d told me to work hard too, but here I was in the middle, far away from the top position.
I couldn’t live up to my mom’s expectations, but that was fine. Yuri was always there to praise me instead.
✧✧✧
By the time the ceremony had finally finished, I felt like I couldn’t spend another minute listening to meaningless speeches.
I remained in my seat, overcome with a horrible feeling of exhaustion. Suddenly, Yuri appeared and extended his hand to me.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
After a pause, I answered, “Yes.”
I took Yuri’s hand and rose from my seat.
“The dorm comes next, doesn’t it?” I asked.
“There’s time for lunch before that. We’ve got a reservation somewhere.”
Sounds like I’ve got some time before I visit the dorm.
My new living arrangements were yet another horrible thing that I had to go along with. I couldn’t imagine having to share a room with a stranger.
Even Yuri had problems with it. I remembered that this time last year, he’d returned home because he’d been given a room with a violent philistine and he’d been kicked out after they’d fought.
“Will I be all right, Yuri?” The memory made me worry, so I couldn’t help but ask.
“What do you mean?”
“If my roommate starts a fight with me like yours did, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Bwah ha... Ha ha ha... Gwah hah...” Yuri guffawed.
I had no idea what was so funny. Yuri gripped his stomach and laughed so hard that everyone around him started to look at us. He even had to cover his mouth to stop himself...and then his nose too. He couldn’t even breathe.
I’d never seen Yuri act like that before.
“Heh... Yuri, it’s not a laughing matter,” I said, chortling a little myself because his laugh was infectious.
“Haah... Haah... Phew. Calm down. It’s not that funny. It’s not that funny...” Yuri said to himself as he got his breath back. “Ha hah...”
“You’re awful. I’m seriously worried here.”
“Pfft... You’re fine. Hah... Idiots like him...don’t go to the Cultural Academy. Even at the Knight Academy, hardly anyone’s as stupid as he is.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, that’s right. You’ll find a guy like him at the Cultural Academy when pigs fly. A creature like him has zero chance of survival in their habitat. Don’t you worry.”
Oh, I see. So in other words, I don’t need to worry because we’re living in different worlds. Maybe I can relax.
✧✧✧
I left the royal castle with Yuri escorting me, and we boarded a carriage that took us to a restaurant.
We had a table in a private room somewhere very fancy. As soon as I took my seat, the servers told us they’d soon bring out our meal. They must’ve known that we were coming.
The food had a new, delicious flavor that was unlike anything I was used to at home, and I gobbled it down. I’d been very hungry, so now I felt ravenous.
I realized that my mom was staring silently at me.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m wondering whether you’ll be okay.” She gave me a look of concern and put her hand to my cheek.
“Why?”
She simply heaved a great sigh in response.
What’d I do?
Yuri came to my aid. “Oh, her table manners aren’t all that bad.”
Apparently, the issue was the way I was eating. Still, I wasn’t acting any differently than normal.
“But, you know...” Satsuki began.
“Let’s leave her be. It’s not like she has to get along with the stuck-up witches at the academy.”
Now I didn’t understand what Yuri was saying.
“But still...”
“Are you worried about bullying?”
“Maybe. I suppose I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”
Bullying...? I don’t know what that is.
Long ago, when I’d pulled the tail of our cat back home, I’d been told not to bully it. Maybe they worried I’d do the same thing again at the academy. Their concern wasn’t necessary—I’d learned my lesson well enough after the cat had scratched me.
“I forgot to mention, but I’ve asked Her Highness to look after Sham.”
“What? You mean Princess Carol?”
“Don’t worry, it won’t put us in her debt. I’ve agreed to do a favor for her in return.”
“Oh, I wasn’t worried about anything like that.”
“For all her flaws, Her Highness is capable of handling any problems at the Cultural Academy. She’ll be a big help, I’m sure.”
“I hope so. I feel I can stop worrying now. Thanks for looking out for her, Yuri.”
All I understood was that Yuri had asked someone for a favor that involved me.
Is she going to be my roommate? If Yuri’s chosen her, I’ll feel a lot better.
✧✧✧
After spending a little time back at the house, Yuri and I headed back toward the academy in a carriage for just the two of us.
I still felt unbearably anxious. I tried sharing my worries with Yuri several times in the carriage, but each time he just told me, “It’ll be all right.”
When we returned to the school, there were numerous other carriages parked close to us. Other children my age, who wore brand-new uniforms just like mine, got out of their rides.
The thought of entering the dorm still made me feel terrible inside.
“You’re late,” a girl suddenly said to us.
She was tall, and her long hair was a beautiful pale yellow. It made me think of a field of wheat rippling in the wind. Looking into her blue eyes was like staring into a deep sea. She was so pretty, and she also had a dignified air about her as she stood in front of us with a bold posture. Since she was wearing the same uniform as me, she had to be one of my seniors.
“We had dinner with her mom and then things went on longer than expected. They are sort of parting ways today, after all,” Yuri explained.
“Well...that’s fine then,” the girl replied.
The two seemed very close. She had to be one of Yuri’s friends.
“Hello, Yuri,” another figure beside the blonde girl spoke up.
He wore the same uniform as Yuri, but he was incredibly slender. His mannerisms were very gentle too. I’d initially mistaken him for a girl when I’d seen his pretty face, but since he had short hair and a boy’s uniform, I knew that couldn’t be the case. The only boys I’d ever seen in the Ho family’s territory were fighters and soldiers, so it was refreshing to see someone like him.
“What are you doing here?” Yuri asked the boy, narrowing his eyes a little.
“I heard that your cousin was here at the academy. I just had to see her for myself,” the boy replied.
“Nothing escapes you, does it?”
“And this must be her.”
“That’s right.”
I bowed my head and greeted him. “I’m Sha-Sham. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. My name’s Myalo.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I was so nervous that I’d said “nice to meet you” a second time before I could stop myself. How embarrassing. Now he probably thought I was weird.
But Myalo simply smiled at me as if I hadn’t just done something unusual.
“Myalo’s just here to gawk at you, Sham,” Yuri said. “Ignore him.”
“How mean,” Myalo replied.
Although Yuri had just said something really harsh, Myalo looked pleased for some reason. It was like he was happy that Yuri didn’t feel the need to mince words around him. That must’ve been how their friendship worked.
“This is the person I want to introduce you to, Sham.” Yuri gestured toward the girl.
“I’m Carol. Nice to meet you.” The girl—Carol—reached out to shake my hand.
When I took her hand in mine, it was delicate and slender, but her palm was coarse. I could feel several hardened calluses that were almost uncomfortable against my own palm. They were like Yuri’s hands—the hands of someone who trained with a spear every day.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Sham.”
“Sham, is it? You’re a lot cuter than your cousin and way less difficult. I can already tell I’ll get on much better with you.”
“Was that a jab at me?”
Yuri said that, but he didn’t seem bothered by it at all. If anything, he appeared amused. It was interesting. The way he acted toward these two was completely different from how he acted toward me and other members of our family. It was like he didn’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing.
Is this what people mean when they talk about friends? I don’t know if I can make friends like these.
“I’m not kidding. She really is a cute little thing.” Carol kept her grip on my hand and squeezed a little tighter while using her free hand to stroke my hair.
I’m a little thing?
When I recalled the children who’d been sitting near me at the admission ceremony, I got the feeling they were a lot taller than me despite being the same age.
But that’s no reason to pet my head so much. She won’t stop.
“That’s enough,” Yuri said. “Sham’s not a cat.”
“Ah... Yeah.” Carol took her hand away from my head.
Now Yuri started touching my head. He quickly fixed my messy hair, tucking strands back in their place. It tickled a little. Once my hair was tidy again, he gave Carol a pat on the shoulder. “Take good care of her.”
“Got it,” Carol replied. “And you know what you have to do for me in return, right?”
“I didn’t forget. I hate the idea of not being the only rider, but a promise is a promise.”
“Heh heh. I’m getting that ride, no matter what.”
“Be good to Her Highness,” Myalo said.
“I’ll leave it to you,” Yuri told Carol.
“You can count on me.” Carol took my hand.
Yuri then turned away. He was about to walk off and leave me right there.
