第２５８堀：素晴らしき作戦 (Part1)
Chapter 258: A Magnificent Strategy
A strategy more perfect and magnificent than any before.
A Magnificent Strategy
Side: Samantha Ann Huge
It was already 9:00 PM.
The time when both the academy and the city, save for the taverns, had mostly fallen into slumber.
A few students were illuminating their rooms with candles or light magic, dedicating the quiet hours to their studies.
"...Sigh."
In a room within the academy, I, Samantha Ann Huge, was troubled.
How many times had I done this now?
I sighed, looking at my own reflection in the wine poured into a silver goblet.
"...My Lady. You must rest soon, or it will affect your performance tomorrow."
Behind me, Sasari, who had been serving me since I was young, spoke with concern.
Sasari is older than me. While she doesn't possess my figure, she excels in swordsmanship and is one of the finest knights in our Huge family.
Yet, she chose to serve me over pursuing a high-ranking knightly position, even accompanying me to the academy.
She is a retainer far too good for the second daughter of a Duke.
Thanks to her guidance, I have been able to advance through magic duels involving martial arts without stumbling too much, and I have become reasonably capable with a sword as well.
But, thoughts like "This level is still..." often cross my mind.
After a few seconds of silence, I finally replied to my loyal retainer.
"...Yes, you're right. I must rest."
I gave the reply, but even to my own ears, it sounded hollow.
It was as if I were saying that my true intentions lay elsewhere.
Hearing that hollow reply, Sasari—who is not the type to fail to notice such things—immediately topped off my dwindling wine and added ice.
Ah, my specialty is ice magic, so on hot days like this, I luxuriously create ice to keep cool.
Naturally, I have Sasari use it as well.
For a master to enjoy luxury alone is a disgrace to the nobility; one must satisfy those who follow them before finally satisfying oneself.
A nation, or nobility, cannot exist without the people who follow them or the people who live in the land.
There is no such thing as a nation or a noble with only one person.
Yet, lately, there are many fools who do not understand this.
Foolish nobles who think commoners are merely beings to be exploited.
Commoners... they are the greatest treasure of the nation. Our ancestors stood as nobles to protect the people.
There are many times when a noble must adopt a special attitude toward those classified as commoners due to their position. But that is all to protect the people. It is never, under any circumstances, to exploit or oppress them.
...Phew, this won't do.
I am currently just a student, the daughter of a Duke, with no rank or office.
If I do something foolish, I will not only ruin myself but also bring great trouble upon my house.
...In truth, I was arrogant and made a terrible mistake.
A mistake that could have even led to the downfall of my family.
In a sense, I, too, had viewed commoners as targets for oppression.
Because I had turned away those transfer students who arrived that day—Yuki-sama—even though their appearance was unrefined, they were polite.
...But, it was because of that failure that I realized how arrogant I had been, and that person showed me the way a person in a position of leadership should be: never losing sight of what must be pursued and evaluating people correctly.
*(Yuki, for his part, just wanted to get a hold of the Principal's weaknesses. The scales simply tipped in favor of the Principal over Samantha.)*
*Clink.*
The sound from the goblet brought me back to reality.
The ice must have melted and shifted.
"My Lady. It is chilled, so why not have a little more?"
"Yes, thank you."
I tilted the goblet and let the chilled wine flow down my throat.
The properly cooled wine gave my throat a refreshing sensation and the warmth of alcohol.
"...Were you thinking of Yuki-sama?"
"...Yes. Despite the fact that I was rude to Yuki-sama and caused him a great deal of trouble, he protected me like that, and furthermore, he entrusted the guidance of the academy to a fool like me. What a magnificent person he is. I should be grateful for that alone, and yet... I still find myself thinking of him."
*(Yuki just didn't want any more trouble and thought that since Samantha had already learned her lesson, she would handle it without issue.)*
"I do not think you are a fool at all, My Lady, but I feel that Yuki-sama’s magnanimity and the size of his character are as immensely vast as yours. And it is only natural to be drawn to him."
Under normal circumstances, he could have showered me with insults, and it would not have been strange for me to receive severe punishment for this incident.
Yuki-sama said the Principal was entirely to blame, but I do not think so.
At that time, Yuki-sama had politely asked me to take him to the Principal.
The responsibility lies with me, for I dismissed him.
Even so, he understood my feelings and protected me.
Yuki-sama might truly be the embodiment of the ideal I should aim for.
*(I will say it again: for Yuki, there was no point in biting back, and it was a strategy to hook the Principal as planned.)*
"Sasari. How do you see Yuki-sama and his group? Putting aside status, what is your evaluation of their actions so far?"
I suddenly asked that.
Sasari is, for better or worse, straightforward; she speaks such evaluations bluntly.
Long ago, there was a young noble who helped me with a minor matter.
Since I was a child then, I was excited, thinking he was my destined partner, but Sasari cut me down...
"That was all staged, starting from the trouble. I suggest you do not get close to that young man. He is empty inside. He is likely targeting your talent and your father's power."
I cried when she told me that.
I had no choice but to cry.
...Because she had gathered and brought the evidence that it was the truth.
Perhaps that is why I wanted Sasari to tell me.
If she told me that Yuki-sama was not suitable for me, I might be able to give up on him.
"...If I speak only of evaluation, there are no particular problems. No, that is wrong. Not only are there no problems, but Yuki-sama is a man of exceptional talent. His ability to maintain a superior position in negotiations with the Principal from start to finish. The guards at his side are all stronger than me. His foresight in publicly declaring those guards to be his wives to avoid unnecessary trouble. And one of those guards is a mage capable of handling the Principal in a magic duel. The charisma, trust, and power to command them all. One should say it is expected of someone with the blood of the Zilba and Enaria royal families..."
*(This is the result of Yuki and Taiki’s measures against flags.)*
I was surprised that Sasari gave a higher evaluation than I expected.
After all, she is someone who always points out the bad points of any opponent, yet she did not point out a single one.
"Sasari. What are Yuki-sama’s bad points? Surely there must be some?"
I asked fearfully.
If she says there are no bad points, I won't be able to give up on Yuki-sama.
"Yes. Yuki-sama is human, after all. He certainly has bad points."
"Where are they?"
"Yuki-sama always tries to be equal toward all things. And he is too kind to women and children."
"...Are those bad points?"
"They can become bad points. If one is too equal, it is thought that one lacks a human heart, and if one is too kind to women and children, one will be taken advantage of. However, these two are weapons for Yuki-sama, so it is subtle whether they can truly be called bad points. He already understands the perfect balance. After all, he managed to advance the negotiations with the Principal to his advantage."
"...I see. Since he has the ability to advance negotiations to his advantage against a young girl at a negotiation table where equality does not exist, he has already overcome those bad points, hasn't he?"
"Yes. ...The only other thing is that the commander himself goes to the front lines? But even this..."
"Nothing in this world is perfect. So, since he is facing it while bringing guards of that caliber, it is not a mistake, is it?"
"Yes."