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Chapter 06
Those eyes, brimming with excessive vitality.
A slender yet delicate figure reminiscent of her mother, with beauty that verged on fragility, gave the impression of weakness at first glance.
But those eyes—
When meeting the princess’s gaze, one realizes that her delicate appearance is merely a superficial layer. Within her eyes burned a strange, indefinable light, solidified with stubbornness, obsession, and resolve.
With that piercing gaze, Arsinoe spoke her mind freely, without hesitation.
―No one who is disrespectful to my mother will be forgiven. That includes the queen as well.
―If you like the palace so much, why doesn’t the prince live here? Do you even know how suffocating it is to be trapped?
―I am not a princess. I am just my mother, Ansilla’s daughter.
Her direct and somewhat audacious words strangely impressed Walter.
As a noble and soldier bound by discipline, he found her attitude—treating etiquette as inconsequential—refreshingly different.
Perhaps that was why, even if she could not remember him, Walter had long remembered Arsinoe. He secretly hoped that, if they met again when she grew older, it would be a pleasant encounter.
Yet, surely…
“I didn’t expect to meet her at the military academy.”
He frowned, lost in thought for a while. In that moment, a rough voice carrying a hint of amusement disrupted Walter’s contemplation.
“General. How does it feel to be back at school after so long?”
Looking up, Walter saw the pitch-black Lycan grinning, waiting for his reply.
It was his adjutant, Zen. The way Zen’s black ears twitched nonstop suggested he was in a particularly good mood.
“What is there to say?”
Walter turned his horse around, releasing the reins. Below the forested mountainside, the academy buildings were scattered like crude stone monuments.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure there’s anything I would call a memory.”
“You did graduate early, General. Before I graduated, the school always…”
Zen continued to chatter about the cafeteria food, festivals, and other memories with a cheerful smile. Walter listened silently until Zen finished and finally spoke in a slow tone.
“By the way, that class you gave special training to today—”
Zen raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in topic.
“That class… you mean the high-class cadets? Their grades were good, but their physical endurance was disappointing.”
“Any remarkable students?”
“Well… there’s a guy named Badley who’s quite capable. Quick thinker, leads the whole squad. Others who stood out were Gentol and Brott.”
“And Arsinoe?”
At the unfamiliar name, Zen tilted his head. After a brief moment of thought, he let out a small exclamation.
“You mean the pretty female cadet? With thin white hair and a slender frame?”
“Yes. How is she?”
“Judging by appearance, she seems like a nomad from the western regions. I don’t know why she joined the military instead of taking an easier path, but she’s stronger than she looks. I’ve also heard she’s top-ranked academically…”
At the mention of a western nomad, Walter moved his lips.
She is from the kingdom, and she is a princess of the royal family.
Yet he swallowed the words and remained silent. From the looks of it, she was deliberately hiding her origins at the academy; revealing them could put her in a difficult position.
Even as a concubine-born, being of royal blood could make the other cadets uncomfortable…
Walter kept the truth to himself and replied smoothly.
“She sounds quite talented.”
“She’s somewhat weak physically. Both her martial and sword skills are below average.”
“I see. Her physique is different from the others, so perhaps it’s unavoidable.”
“However, in theoretical classes, she impresses the instructors. Especially in tactics and strategy—she devises plans no one has seen before and earns praise for it…”
Zen trailed off, glancing at Walter curiously. When Walter returned the gaze, Zen scratched his head and looked away.
“Why are you suddenly so interested in a cadet? A female cadet, no less.”
“Hm?”
“You’ve always been like a rock around women, but now this—while I’m glad as your adjutant, isn’t there quite an age gap? And she’s still a minor—this could be considered a crime—”
Walter, unusually flustered by the rambling, waved his hand to cut him off. But Zen, as if waiting for this moment, kept talking nonstop.
Seeing Zen wagging his tail excitedly, Walter realized nothing he said would work and gave up trying to argue.
Through the adjutant’s chatter, the sky stretched an unusually bright blue that afternoon.
The sound of rain hitting the window was quite loud.
The pale green spring foliage, caught between spring and summer, soaked in rain, filled the air with the scent of wet grass.
Lucy, staring at her graduation certificate, slowly lifted her head. Beyond the window, her reflection seemed less like a watery landscape and more like a dark turmoil of thoughts.
“Arsinoe, when are you leaving?”
Jerónimo, carrying his bag, strolled into the room with a grin. Lucy set down the certificate on the bed and tapped Jerónimo’s fist with hers.
“I’ll leave soon. Are you going back to your territory?”
“Yeah. Father even sent guards to ensure I returned quickly. Honestly, if he thought I’d worry, he shouldn’t have sent me here at all. Now, after graduation, I’m left feeling like—what’s the point?”
Jerónimo let out a bitter sigh.
Though he had joined the academy with aspirations of a lifelong military career, he had become the heir to the marquisate after his older brother’s accident, forcing him to return to his territory.
“What can I do? There are plenty of soldiers, but I’m the only one to inherit the family.”
His words, spoken with a smile, were probably not entirely sincere.
Lucy opened her arms and hugged him lightly, then smiled and spoke.
“Not even 30% of graduates become soldiers, so accept it. Everything we learned here will be useful someday.”
“You sure know how to talk.”
“Since my stamina isn’t great, I have to make up for it with words.”
Jerónimo glanced cautiously before continuing.
“Why did you quit being a soldier and return to the palace? You could have served as an officer with that brain, even if your stamina was lacking.”
“I have things to do at the palace.”
Lucy shrugged with a faint smile.
At eighteen, she had gained more freedom.
She hadn’t joined the academy to become a soldier. She wanted to understand military leadership, their mindset, and, most importantly, to encounter Walter Heiberg.
All her goals had been fulfilled, so she had no lingering attachment here.
“I’ll take Mother and leave the palace. Maybe we’ll live in seclusion in the north for a few years.”
“Will His Majesty allow that? You said your mother can’t even go outside the palace.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’ll sneak away.”
“…That won’t be easy. And seclusion? Where in the north are you going?”
“Pomnos.”
Jerónimo’s mouth dropped open, looking incredulous. But, as always, he seemed to accept it, thinking she must have some reason.
“Hey, Arsinoe.”
“Yes?”
“You might be the craziest person I know.”
Lucy covered her mouth, feigning surprise, then quickly erased her expression and playfully tapped Jerónimo’s shoulder with a sly smile.
