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  • The Asterisk War, Vol. 6: The Triumphal Homecoming Battle Page 6

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  “…In other words, it’s a puppet state?” Saya asked.

  “If you want to put it that way.” Julis shrugged, albeit with a grimace. “Which is also why the IEFs all maintain their own research facilities around the Vertice Meteorite. Like I said, there are no airports in Lieseltania, but maybe it will be easier to understand if I told you that those research institutes all have their own runways and maintenance facilities.”

  “Since there’s a high level of mana concentration around the Vertice Meteorite deposit, it’s ideal for meteoric engineering research,” Claudia added for clarification.

  The level of mana concentration, of course, varied from place to place, but there was certainly data to suggest that Genestella were more likely to be born in areas with higher concentrations.

  “That isn’t to say that the country itself is poor. We do get some benefits from the IEFs. Even if the degree of those benefits is completely disproportionate.” Julis tacked the last part on, biting her lip in frustration after.

  From her explanation, it wasn’t hard to see that Lieseltania was a country caught in the middle of a complicated situation.

  While Julis had been speaking, the scenery outside the window had gradually changed to one of magnificent snow-covered mountain ranges. Compared to the plains, there was a much greater volume of snow collected along the sides of the road. If there was this much snow at this time of year, Ayato could only wonder what the mountains must look like when winter well and truly came around.

  “Ah! Look, you can see the capital, Strell!” Flora exclaimed innocently, looking back to face them from the passenger seat.

  It seemed they had crossed the border without even realizing it.

  “Ah…”

  They looked out the front window, and watched as a town much larger than they had imagined came into view around the edge of a pristine lake surrounded by seemingly endless mountains. Historic houses made of brick and wood stretched out in all directions, just like an old painting of a European townscape. A number of large buildings stood lined up in rows in what appeared to be the center of the city, and railway tracks crisscrossed the streets here and there.

  “So this is Strell, the capital of Lieseltania,” Kirin murmured, fascinated. “It’s beautiful…”

  “Well, it isn’t really all that different from most other towns… Huh?” Julis frowned.

  “What is it?”

  “No, it’s just that this is a pretty roundabout way to the Royal Palace… Flora?”

  “Um, His Majesty ordered us to come this way…”

  “My brother?”

  “Yes. Please wait a moment.” Flora, in a practiced manner, retrieved a folded memo from her pocket, opening it delicately.

  The car seemed to be heading along the main street leading into the center of the city. Moreover, its speed had decreased markedly.

  “…Does it look to you like there’s a ton of people out and about?” Saya whispered, her forehead pressed up against the window.

  “Um, he says, ‘Enjoy your victory parade on your way home.’”

  “Wha—?!” Julis seemed about to jump up, when a wave of excited cheers welled up outside the limo.

  “Wow!”

  “A-amazing…”

  They had heard their fair share of cheers during the Phoenix, but the enthusiasm that ran through the crowds rivaled even that of the finals.

  “Your Highness!”

  “Princess Julis!”

  The crowds overflowed along the sides of the road, with Julis’s name being chanted from everyone’s lips.

  Confetti in every color imaginable rained down from above, tossed down by yet more waving people sticking their heads out of every house and building.

  The crowds of men and women of all ages were so large, they wondered if every last citizen of the capital was there lining the streets.

  If one looked carefully, one could see, posted here and there around the streets and in empty windows, posters with Julis’s image announcing her triumphal homecoming.

  “Ugh, brother. I’ll remember this…!”

  “You’re extremely popular, Julis.”

  “Being a princess must be really something…”

  Saya and Ayato, overwhelmed by the celebratory atmosphere, stared outside in frank admiration.

  “It sure must be,” Claudia said, laughing softly. “It’s the first time in all of Asterisk’s history that a princess has won the Festa, after all. There’s no need for me to explain how newsworthy that is here, now is there? You both left dealing with the media to the Academy, so you probably don’t realize yourselves just how famous you’ve both become in the wider world. Julis in particular has become a celebrity to rival even Sylvia Lyyneheym,” she explained with an amused chuckle.

  “Yep! Thanks to Your Highness’s victory, the number of tourists has shot up, too!”

  “Really? Wow…”

  In that case, such tourists were undoubtedly mixed into the huge crowds that lined the road.

  “You shouldn’t speak as if it’s all about someone else, Ayato. Your own home seems to be getting quite a bit of attention as well, you know.”

  “Huh? What do you mean?”

  “It’s just like what Miss Sasamiya’s father said the previous day. She might not have made it past the semifinals, but he still has been flooded with offers. Just think how popular the dojo of the winner’s Amagiri Shinmei style must be.”

  “No way…” His father hadn’t said anything when they’d spoken.

  “Well, the Academy will help look after things in that regard, so you can rest easy.”

  “…”

  Ayato’s father was the sort of teacher who gave his students the freedom to come and go as they pleased, and had never been particularly passionate when it came to gathering disciples. Especially since Haruka had disappeared.

  Maybe I should call him later…

  If this was going to cause some kind of trouble, he’d better say something to apologize, he thought.

  “Master Amagiri! Master Amagiri!”

  “Huh?” He had sunk deep in thought when he suddenly heard his name. He glanced up in surprise to see Flora looking across at him impatiently.

  “Please respond to them, Master Amagiri, like Her Highness.”

  “Uh, um… M-me?”

  “Yep!” Flora nodded.

  “It’s just—why me?”

  “Because you’re Her Highness’s tag partner!”

  “Ah, I guess that’s true…”

  He glanced at Julis, who was waving through the window to the crowd with a rare—albeit somewhat stiff—smile.

  An even louder wave of cheers rolled through the crowd in response.

  “Don’t be so surprised, Ayato. You’re well aware of Julis’s strong sense of responsibility, aren’t you?” Claudia said with a smile and a soft chuckle.

  “…Responsibility, huh?” As a princess of Lieseltania, she certainly didn’t take that lightly, that was for sure.

  And there was no mistaking the fact that he too, as her tag partner, shared in that responsibility.

  “Right, got it.”

  Resigned, he tried to wave through the window like Julis. He felt more than a little embarrassed, not to mention uneasy.

  His expression was undoubtedly even stiffer than her own.

  And now that he was paying attention to it, the crowd wasn’t just calling Julis’s name—a significant number of people were calling his, too. He began to feel more and more self-conscious.

  “They’re really enthusiastic, aren’t they…?”

  “…I wasn’t expecting this…”

  Sitting across from them, Saya and Kirin, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying it all.

  “Like Julis said earlier, this country is caught in the middle of a very complicated situation. This might not be a very articulate way of putting it, but this is clearly a good opportunity for people to let out some stress,” Claudia said, before lowering her voice. “That sai
d—I don’t think that’s the only reason behind all this…”

  The Royal Palace of Strell was on the opposite shore of the lake across from the city center, and was currently being used as the official residence of the royal family. It was a massive brick building, said to have been constructed more than two hundred years before.

  The parade lasted longer than Ayato had expected. When they finally arrived at the Royal Palace, Julis, her face almost purple with anger, took off through the imposing corridors.

  Her companions, at a loss about what to do next, had no choice but to follow her.

  They soon reached a door on the second floor, which Julis pushed open without knocking.

  “Brother! What is the meaning of all this?” she called out, her voice filled with anger.

  Her companions, behind her, cautiously peeked into the room.

  The room was luxurious, but it gave off a somewhat gaudy impression as well. The furnishings were all first-rate, but the room was excessively decorated, fitted with a massive desk close to the window, a huge, gently curving sofa, and even a multitude of paintings on the walls. None of it seemed to suit the room—nor, for that matter, its occupants.

  A man, lying on the sofa with his head in the lap of a curly-haired woman, slowly lifted himself up.

  “Ah, so you’re back. Welcome home, Julis.”

  He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with long, dark-red hair, and a thin physique. Dressed in sneakers and pants, this man seemed to be most at odds with his surroundings.

  “Oh my, if it isn’t Julis. And Claudia, too,” the woman on whose lap the man had been resting drawled with a gentle smile.

  “Sister-in-law, please excuse me for disturbing you. I’d like to speak with my brother for a moment.”

  “Of course,” the woman replied innocently, standing up beside the man, and giving them an elegant curtsy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

  “And you must be the students from Seidoukan Academy. I’m so happy that you accepted my invitation. I’m Julis’s brother, Jolbert, the present king of Lieseltania. And this is my wife, Maria. These are my private quarters, so please, make yourselves comfortable.”

  At these words, everyone but Julis and Claudia stared wide-eyed at the man.

  “…Huh?”

  Julis had called him her brother, so there was no denying it, but—

  “…His Majesty…the King?” Saya stared at him dubiously. “Really?”

  “Not what you were expecting? Did you think that I would be wearing a crown, or maybe a cloak?” He laughed cheerfully, but Ayato, too, had been taken by surprise.

  Usually, when one imagined a king, the picture that came to mind was of a somewhat stately, dignified figure. Jolbert was nothing at all like that, or at the very least, he was a thoroughly stripped-down version. His features and hair were similar to Julis’s, but his personality and bearing were very much the opposite.

  “I do wear a suit for my official duties, you know. I have today off. Or should I say, there isn’t usually much work that needs my attention.”

  “Forget about that for a minute, brother! You didn’t say anything to me about that victory parade! I thought I told you not to make a big deal over it!”

  “Well, you would have been opposed to it if I had mentioned it,” Jolbert said indifferently, easily turning his sister’s anger aside.

  “Of course I would have! But even if you take me out of it, what were you thinking, dragging Ayato into it like that?!”

  “Ah, well, it was a one-of-a-kind opportunity, you see.”

  “Have a little common sense! You’re supposed to discuss these things with people first!”

  “All right, all right. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, everyone,” Jolbert said, smiling wryly to Ayato and the others. “But you know, Julis, the people aren’t only interested in you. They also wanted to see your tag partner, Amagiri here. After all, he’s the partner that you, their princess, chose.”

  It looked like he had hit the mark. Since Julis was well aware of her position, he no doubt knew that by combining the two issues, she would not be able to argue the point as strongly.

  It was like they said—when it came to siblings, they understood one another’s weaknesses well.

  “…Oh, and is it only the people who are interested in them?” Claudia glanced at Jolbert, her tone hinting at something.

  “Oh dear, you’re as sharp as ever, Lady Enfield.”

  “…What’s that supposed to mean?” Julis asked suspiciously.

  Jolbert dodged her question with a hearty laugh. “About that, I might borrow a little of your time later. There’s a lot I’d like to talk about, both with you and Amagiri.”

  “Well, I don’t really mind, but…” She glanced at Ayato, who hastily nodded.

  “Um, okay. I mean, of course.”

  He suspected he already knew what the king wanted to discuss, and there was no way he could turn him down.

  “Oh, and I should thank you all for saving our young maid,” Jolbert added, looking them over slowly. “So I decided to hold a ball in your honor. I hope that you’ll all be able to come. Oh, and I’ve had some clothes prepared for everyone, so please choose whichever you like. There should still be time to make adjustments if the sizes aren’t right.”

  “This is the first I’ve heard of that, too, brother!” Julis again raised her voice in anger.

  “Well, there’s no problem, is there?” Jolbert laughed coolly.

  “…He sounds like a very unique person,” Kirin said delicately as she glanced toward the confused Ayato.

  “Ha-ha…” He could only answer with a bitter smile and a brief laugh. At the very least, there was no doubting that Jolbert knew how to get his way.

  Shortly afterward, Ayato and the others were shown to a detached villa on the grounds of the Royal Palace.

  The two buildings were within walking distance of each other and connected by an enclosed path.

  On their way there, a magnificent baroque garden spread out before them. They couldn’t help but stop in amazement. It was coated in a layer of snow, but that pure-white landscape, unmarred by even a single footstep, was a sight to behold.

  “Wow, it’s beautiful…,” Kirin said in admiration.

  “Yep! And it’s even more beautiful in the spring, when the flowers come out! It’s Her Highness’s favorite spot. She takes care of them all herself!” Flora shone with pride.

  There was no doubting that when the seasons changed, an altogether different kind of beauty would replace of the quiet tranquility before them now.

  “That’s enough of that, Flora. Let’s keep going,” Julis said curtly, quickening her pace—and, it seemed, trying to hide a blush.

  The others exchanged amused smiles and continued toward the villa ahead.

  Its baroque design was similar to the garden but with an extravagance rivaling even the Royal Palace’s. Part of the building was used as the official residence of the royal family, with the remainder of it serving as a guesthouse for honored visitors. According to Julis, the royal family also had quarters in the Royal Palace, where Jolbert usually resided, but she preferred to stay here.

  Unlike at Saya’s house, they were lodged one to a room—each of which seemed larger and more extravagant than necessary.

  Ayato found himself unable to calm his thoughts, but at least he would be able to catch his breath. Yet, no sooner had he thought so than Flora appeared at the door.

  “Master Amagiri, I’ve brought you your eveningwear.”

  “Ah, the one King Jolbert mentioned?”

  “Yes, indeed! I need to check the size, so could you try it on for a moment?”

  “Ah, okay. But more importantly, what do you think about this ball? It’s the first time I’ve ever gone to one, you see…”

  It was quite rare, after all, for a regular high school student to be invited to a royal ball. He had acquired the basics of social etiquette, thanks to his sister’s strict upbringing, but this,
he felt, was on a whole other level.

  “Hmm… I don’t really know either, but it was organized all of a sudden, so I don’t think it will be too big an event.”

  “I hope not.”

  He wasn’t Julis, but he didn’t like to be fussed over, either.

  In the middle of their conversation, Flora moved around to take his measurements, jotting down an endless stream of numbers in a small notebook.

  “But I guess it can’t be easy for you either, Flora. It looks like you’ve been saddled with all kinds of work.”

  “Not at all! I’m only here thanks to His Majesty, so I have to do everything I can to repay him!”

  “I see…”

  “Besides, compared to getting everything ready for the ladies, the preparations for the men are so much easier.”

  “Ah, it must be a bit of a challenge to get everything right for them.”

  “It is.”

  In Ayato’s experience, women generally took their time getting dressed, even for casual occasions. He could only imagine how much must be involved for events like this.

  Which was why he waited until late afternoon before visiting, when, he suspected, the others would have finished their preparations.

  After knocking on the door Flora had shown him, he called, “Julis? Can I come in?”

  “Y-yes. It’s open,” came Julis’s nervous response.

  He opened the door, puzzled at her unusual tone, and froze in place.

  From what Flora had told him, these were Julis’s private quarters. Like her room in the school dormitory, they were overflowing with potted plants, a private botanical garden.

  But that wasn’t what had stopped him in his tracks.

  Rather, it was the four young ladies themselves—he had become lost in admiration at their enchanting figures.

  “Wh-what are you staring at us like that for?”

  “That’s right, Ayato. It’s proper manners at times like this to praise a woman’s beauty.”

  “…Agreed.”

  “N-no, I-I’m sure it doesn’t look good on me, so you don’t have to force yourself…”