Imperial Delusions

“P-Please calm down, Your Imperial Highness!”

“Why!? Why did it have to be you!?” Gwenhwyfar’s crying only intensified at the sound of Viviane’s voice.

The two ladies and their knights had been quickly escorted to the infirmary after the match. Although they were both uninjured, the same certainly couldn’t be said for their knights. Medrauta had sustained hefty injuries to her abdominal area whereas Galahad was pretty much hurt everywhere.

Because of that, Viviane and the princess had been brought to the infirmary’s seating area to wait on their knights, though it was clear that they were about to be ejected from the room thanks to the sheer volume of the princess’ tantrum.

...Did she always act like such a spoiled child? Viviane thought as she bit her lip, unsure what to say to the still-crying woman seated next to her. Even so, she couldn’t help but be impressed by the princess’ endless torrent of tears that hadn’t stopped ever since the match ended.

One of the curtains from across the seating area rustled and a nurse stepped out. Although she wore a friendly smile on her face, the cold rage that radiated off her body was almost palpable. She strode straight up to Viviane and Gwenhwyfar, offering a handkerchief to the princess in a roundabout way of getting her attention.

“Excuse me, Your Imperial Highness. The knight-hospitaliers have humbly requested that you express your grief in a more silent manner for the sake of preserving their focus while treating patients. If this is not possible, we must ask you to leave.”

The princess sniffled, and for a moment, it seemed as if she would actually obey. Except the sound of her wailing only elevated into new heights a second later. “I am the imperial princess! I may mourn whereve—”

Viviane rapidly clamped a hand against the princess’ mouth, silencing her while giving the nurse the most presentable smile she could muster in such a situation. Honestly, she wasn’t sure what gave her the confidence to suddenly lay a hand on a member of the imperial family, but it was too late to back out now.

“O-Our deepest apologies, miss! We shall disturb the medical staff no further!” Viviane said as the princess struggled in her grasp. Despite Gwenhwyfar’s best attempts at prying Viviane’s hand free, she was no match for the newfound strength that Viviane had gained over the past two weeks.

The nurse raised an eyebrow. She certainly hadn’t expected such a development, but it was welcome nevertheless. With a curt nod, the nurse spun away and returned to her station.

“M-Mnnff! U-Unhand me, you brute!” Gwenhwyfar managed to say as Viviane loosened her grip after breathing a sigh of relief.

“M-My apologies, Your Imperial Highness! You were really quite l-loud and I... Well...” Viviane trailed off, not knowing what sort of excuse would actually get her out of laying a hand on the princess.

“Hmph! Not even my father would dare silence me in such an uncouth fashion! Be thankful that I shall choose to overlook your grave misconduct!” Gwenhwyfar crossed her arms, turning her head away. Normally, it would have been a gesture that gave her an air of arrogance and indifference, but in her current snot-faced state, it was just silly.

Even so, Viviane gratefully obliged. “Y-Yes, of course, Your Imperial Highness! I, um, thank you for your mercy!”

The princess sniffed and raised her head high. “Of course, of course. But there is no need to flatter me with pretty words! After all, who else is more familiar with the boundless sea of magnanimity that lies in my golden heart than I?”

...What is she even talking about? Viviane laughed nervously. “Um, yes. Of course.”

The princess kept her gaze elsewhere, and with the conversation at a halt, the two sat in silence. Despite Gwenhwyfar’s words, Viviane was still quite worried about the whole situation. She’d challenged the princess out of the blue and made her cry as a result of that challenge, and just now, she’d laid a hand on a member of the imperial family.

Even though Gwenhwyfar had unfairly wrenched Medrauta from Viviane’s side two weeks ago, the fact that she was still the princess didn’t change. Her actions had hurt Viviane and Medrauta significantly, but Gwenhwyfar had broken no laws, and Viviane knew that.

Now that the adrenaline of the match had left her body, Viviane was agonizing over the decisions she’d made in the morning. It was true that she’d managed to win Medrauta back, and that alone left her overjoyed.

However, it was common knowledge that the only way the crown could change hands outside of regular succession was through a match, meaning that a challenge levied against a member of the imperial family was generally interpreted as a vie for the throne.

Doing so attracted the attention of not only the Imperial Inquisition who swiftly eliminated not only individuals with malignant designs on the imperial family, but also nobles from factions that opposed the current ruling family.

In other words, her future as a noble of the empire—and by extension, House Castellia’s future—was looking pretty bleak.

...Well, at least she’s stopped crying, Viviane sighed.

After a few more minutes of silence, another nurse approached them. This time, they had a far more friendly disposition.

“Excuse me, Your Imperial Highness. Lady Viviane. I’m afraid that the treatment of your knights will be taking a little longer. If you’d like, you may retire to your quarters.”

Viviane shook her head. “Ah! No, it’s fine. I’ll wait for her.”

The princess remained silent, but she didn’t budge nor did she turn her head to face the nurse.

“Um... I believe Her Imperial Highness will be staying as well...”

The nurse nodded and thanked them for their patience before leaving. As soon as she did, the princess spoke.

“Rather confident today, are we?”

“E-Eep!” Viviane jumped, startled by the princess’ voice. Gwenhwyfar had been silent for quite a while, so her sudden interjection had caused Viviane’s heart to almost leap out of her chest. The fact that her thoughts had returned to the subject of the inquisition didn’t help either. “C-Confident? I-I’m not sure what you mean, Your Imperial Highness...”

This time, Gwenhwyfar did turn to face Viviane. Though her eyes were still red-rimmed from all the crying, she’d taken care of the tears and snot with the handkerchief she was given earlier.

“First, you lay your hand on me, and now you have the gall to speak for me without my permission? You truly are something else, Viviane. I don’t think I’ve ever been this offended in my life.”

Viviane trembled in fear, her body shaking so much that she was almost vibrating. The princess’ tone was harsh, and as minor as it may have been, she had still answered in lieu of the princess. Worse yet, the princess had been offended by it. That alone was a far more pressing problem than the inquisition.

“Er... Um... I...!” Viviane floundered, unable to find the words she desperately needed.

Gwenhwyfar merely huffed in an exasperated fashion. “But again, I shall overlook it.”

“R-Really!?” Viviane exclaimed as the tension dissipated from her body almost immediately. “Oh, Your Imperial Highness, you truly—”

“On one condition.”

H-Huh...? At that, Viviane’s anxiety returned twofold. “A-And what might that condition be?”

She was terrified of the possibility that the princess would ask her to relinquish Medrauta, or worse, do something that would make Medrauta hate her. She trembled in fear at what the princess might ask of her.

But Gwenhwyfar’s next words left her more confused than anything.

“Answer me honestly. For how long have you known Medrauta?”

“H-Huh...? How long...?” Viviane paused to think for a moment. In truth, the time she’d known Medrauta had been brief, but those days had been intensely memorable nevertheless. “I suppose it would be... a little over five weeks by now? So a month and a week plus a few more days, perhaps?”

“Ufufu!” Suddenly, Gwenhwyfar was looking mighty pleased with herself. She grinned brightly, puffing her chest out with her nose held high in the air. “In that case, I win!”

“I’m... not sure what you mean, Your Imperial Highness...”

“I’ve known Medrauta since she was a child, you know! Compared to you, I’m much better suited to be her lady! Honestly, I don’t know why she even chose you...”

“Well, that’s a new one. You’ve known me since I was a child?”

“Medrauta!” Viviane and Gwenhwyfar exclaimed in unison.

The silver-haired knight had ended up approaching them mid-conversation, though she hadn’t chosen to make her presence known until now.

“W-What’re you doing here!?” Viviane asked worriedly. She quickly rose from her seat, touching Medrauta here and there. “Are you really okay!? A nurse told us it’d take a little longer, so shouldn’t you—”

“Relax, Viviane,” Medrauta laughed, taking Viviane’s hands into hers with a warm tenderness that the noblewoman had sorely missed. “I had a surprise visit from Lady Ysolte and her knight. She was grumbling the whole time, saying how I shouldn’t be in so many matches after only recovering.”

“Ah, is that so...” Viviane breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, I’m glad you’re alright! What about the prince?”

Medrauta shrugged. “Dunno. They don’t let us peek behind curtains, and Lady Ysolte got dragged away for something or other after I was treated. Anyway, you were sayin’, princess?”

“A-Ah...” Gwenhwyfar’s eyes were wide with surprise. She hadn’t expected Medrauta to suddenly appear, and least of all hear that particular sentence.

“C’mon. I’m interested. You say you’ve known me since I was a kid, but I’d sure as hell remember meeting a princess like you. All I remember is that blasted orphanage and getting my ass kicked every day ‘til I became a squire, but even so... It doesn’t feel like you’re lying.”

“...Very well.” The princess sighed, a lovelorn look in her eyes. “I... I wished for you to remember on your own, but...”

“Pardon my rudeness, but what the hell? I ain’t gonna remember something if I’ve forgotten it. That kinda thing only happens in stories, y’know. Cheap ones, at that.”

“T-They are not cheap!” Gwenhwyfar retorted in a surprisingly sharp tone. “They’re romantic! Two childhood friends... separated by the consequences of their birth, only to reunite later in life! One of them has carried their childhood promise ever since then, but the other has forgotten, only to remember at the last moment...”

Viviane and Medrauta shared a look of abject confusion as the princess continued waxing poetic about a love story involving two childhood friends and the promise that they made as children. Though they made an effort to listen to the princess, the two ended up breaking off into a separate conversation when it was apparent that her mind was elsewhere.

“...And then they ki—H-Hey! Were you two even listening!?”

Viviane and Medrauta immediately turned back to the princess. “Of course we were!”

“Oh, really? What was your favorite part, then?”

“Um...” Viviane paused as she attempted to recall some detail of Gwenhwyfar's story. “I liked the, uh, part about their childhood.”

Gwenhwyfar squinted at Viviane, but she carried on nevertheless and turned to Medrauta. “And you?”

“Oh...” Medrauta’s eyes wandered, similarly unprepared. “I liked the... friends.”

“Gah! I simply cannot believe how uncultured the two of you are! It is beyond vexatious! In any case, my meeting with you was not just a storybook fantasy, Medrauta! Come now, do you truly not remember?

“I don’t.”

“...Truly? What about the day before you became a squire? Do you remember anything about that?”

Medrauta’s brow furrowed as she attempted to recall the memory of that day. It came to her muddied, but intact enough. “Somewhat.”

“And you chanced upon a carriage that day, did you not?”

Again, Medrauta struggled to recall the details, but she could remember no encounter with a carriage. She shook her head, much to the princess’ disappointment.

Gwenhwyfar sighed. “Very well. Then allow me to recount the events of our fateful meeting. But before that...”

“Hm?”

“Can you and Viviane stop holding hands in front of me!?”

Medrauta and Viviane looked at each other, then at their still intertwined hands. The two shared a smile as they chorused.

“Nope!”