"...And that's how she became a squire!"
Gwenhwyfar clapped her hands together delightedly. "Yet, when she was finally knighted and entered Avalyne Academy, I came to discover that she'd switched between nearly two-hundred lords! And what's more, she's paired with someone else that's not me!"
Medrauta blinked, speechless. She had been deep in thought during the princess' recounting of the tale. The carriage had been a part of her memories, and the encounter with the knights too.
How did I even forget...? Medrauta frowned. It's not as if Captain Padraig had vanished from my memories... I still remember the beatings he gave me, after all. So then why...?
Medrauta's train of thought didn't get the chance to go very far.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Medrauta!?" Gwenhwyfar demanded as she thrust an accusing finger at the silver-haired knight's face.
"I will say, Your Imperial Highness... You weave a fascinating tale, but that definitely wasn't how it happened."
"Huh!? W-What do you mean!?"
"First of all, I never 'looked into your eyes lovingly' or 'tenderly caressed' your hands. And second, there was no 'epic battle' between myself and Sir Padraig. I didn't even land a single hit on him."
"H-Hmph! You sure have a lot to say for someone who doesn't even remember anything!"
"To be completely honest, I still only remember bits and pieces of it. As you hoped, you've jogged my memory. I definitely remember Captain Padraig taking me under his wing because of you, but... There's still a lot that's spotty."
"Well, I most certainly remember it clear as day!"
Medrauta sighed. "So it would seem, Your Imperial Highness."
"Of course. I am not one to forget others unlike someone in this room," Gwenhwyfar said as she looked at Medrauta meaningfully, to which the knight merely shrugged. "So? What of your promise?"
The air grew tense the moment that word dropped from the princess' lips. Viviane wished to speak up and urge the princess to remember the conditions of their match, but if the princess had been speaking the truth...
...Right. A promise like that would trump the results of any match, huh...? Viviane bit her lip. Gently and almost stealthily, she tried to free her hand from Medrauta's, but the knight was dreadfully sensitive and tightened her grip instantly.
"What promise?" Medrauta asked. "I do not recall making any promises, Your Imperial Highness."
Gwenhwyfar's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "Bwuh!? I do not appreciate this line of jest, Medrauta! Must I truly spell it out for you?"
"Yes."
"Gah!" Gwenhwyfar seemed almost taken aback by Medrauta's instant reply, raising a hand to her head as if warding off a blow. "Y-Your promise to... b-be my champion, of course!"
Medrauta raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure why the princess was blushing so fiercely, but it wasn't going to change her reply regardless. "I made no such promise, Your Imperial Highness. You were the one who decided that yourself. I simply stepped onto the carriage because I was enamored by the desire of escaping that damned orphanage."
"B-But... But you..." The princess looked like she was on the verge of tears again, and Viviane couldn't help but feel a little bad for her. After all, despite everything that happened, she wasn't exactly someone who could hold a grudge.
Before Viviane could speak up though, Medrauta lifted her hand up as if to show off the fact that their fingers were intertwined.
"The only promise I remember making is with Lady Viviane," Medrauta said. "Perhaps I might've been more considerate of our history had you not wrested me away from her so rudely, but as it stands, she is my liege now and forever."
Honestly, Viviane wasn't even sure what to say. She felt like she was merely a hapless spectator who had been dragged into officiating a duel that she had no business in.
Of course, she felt that the princess' tale had certainly been embellished more than a little, but she couldn't help wondering whether that was true or whether she merely wanted it to be true.
The princess' recounting of the events had concluded with a nice, fairytale ending with Medrauta promising to be her champion, but Medrauta denied such a thing ever taking place. She knew Medrauta would not lie even if it meant having to honor such a promise, but the princess also looked like she was telling the truth.
...Ah. What should I do? Viviane wondered. Were I a proper noble, I would give Medrauta up here and now for a connection to the crown... She shook her head, dismissing the thought before it could even come to full fruition. Even if it meant standing against the imperial family, she would fight to have Medrauta by her side.
At the very least, she understood that much about herself.
"...So I see. And there is also the issue of the match as well," Gwenhwyfar mused. Her eyes glistened, but she kept her emotions in check with the impeccable skill of a princess. "As the imperial princess, it would be terribly improper for me to not abide by its terms. You have my word, Lady Viviane. I shall not attempt to seize Medrauta from you again, and as she has no memory of the promise, I shall treat it as null and void. Should she ever regain memory of it, we shall settle it then."
Viviane blinked. She certainly hadn't expected the matter to resolve itself in such a smooth manner. "I... Thank you, Your Imperial Highness."
"However," Gwenhwyfar continued. "That is all I shall do. The terms were that I do not attempt to seize her, but they say nothing of Medrauta coming to my side by her own volition. As such, I shall do my best to entice her this time around. Ufufufu!"
"W-What!?" Viviane exclaimed, a little more forcefully than was appropriate for speaking to a member of the imperial family. If Gwenhwyfar was offended, she didn't show it. "That's a technicality! She can't do that, can she, Medrauta!?"
Medrauta smirked. "Hah! Doesn't matter to me, Viviane. She can try as much as she likes, but..."
In a single smooth motion, Medrauta brought Viviane's hand to her lips abruptly, planting her lips against the back of her hand. She held it there for several seconds before finally releasing the blushing noblewoman.
Even though Viviane was currently reeling back in embarrassment, Medrauta didn't let up. Instead, she pressed the attack, wrapping an arm around Viviane's hip and pulling her close.
"...I'll always be yours, my lady."
ASKJHGDSIUGHSDAIHGFSDKLFHDKSAHTGLKJHATGKAW!? Viviane had no defense against such a potent onslaught. Her brain short-circuited as she stared at Medrauta, her eyes spinning as the silver-haired knight's face drew closer by the second.
"STOP! Stooooop!" Gwenhwyfar couldn't take it anymore. "Y-You dare perform such indecent acts before me!?"
"Indecent? You misunderstand, Your Imperial Highness. I am merely conducting a show of fealty to my lady. There is nothing indecent about that." Medrauta replied with such an innocent tone that it became abundantly clear she was aware of the true nature of her actions.
"Ugh! So this is how you plan to wage war, hm? Allow me to show you that I am not so easily defeated!"
Medrauta's left eyebrow formed a perfect arch. "Oh?"
"I shall do something that not even you and Lady Viviane have done before!" Gwenhwyfar placed her hands on her hips, puffing her chest out rather proudly. "Now, I shall warn you! It is the ultimate display of intimacy, especially among high society! Are you truly prepared for this?"
Medrauta frowned. Though she'd thought that the princess was merely bluffing, Medrauta's guard was now raised. She wasn't exactly familiar with high society, but she heard that it was a cutthroat world, and one where even a single misspoken word could cause misfortune to befall you.
The ultimate display of intimacy in a world like that...? There's no way... Could it be... Medrauta felt the tips of her ears grow hot before she could even complete the thought. She gulped and nodded. The only way to confirm her theory would be to hear what the princess said next.
"Heheh..." Gwenhwyfar smiled deviously. "Then I shan't hold back. Medrauta!" She announced. "I shall have you call me by a nickname! Ufufu! How's that, Medrauta!? I bet you can't—"
"Sure thing, Gwen." Medrauta replied casually as all the tension in her body disappeared at once. Nicknames were commonplace among squires and even among knights. Inwardly, she let out a sigh of relief, glad that the princess' request hadn't been what she was imagining earlier. Even if it was, she never would've acquiesced to such an insane demand.
Gwenhwyfar's face turned red in an instant. "W-Wha...!? Y-You...! You can't just...!" Despite her protests, she was overjoyed. The princess flailed her arms in the air, pumping them like an excited kid who'd just received their dream birthday present.
Medrauta shrugged. She had no idea why the princess was reacting in such a fashion over something as simple as a nickname, but she soon felt a sharp pain in her hand.
"Ouch! Holy crap, that actually hurts like hell! W-What are you doing, Viviane!?" She asked, realizing that Viviane's nails were digging into her skin as the noblewoman gripped her tightly.
Unbeknownst to herself, Viviane had instinctively enhanced herself with ki as she squeezed Medrauta's hand angrily. Her embarrassment had passed. More accurately, it had been overruled by the supreme disappointment that she felt.
"...Medrauta." Viviane said. "You know... You can't just call a noble using a nickname so casually."
"Huh? What's wrong with i—Ow! Okay, okay! I won't do it anymore, so can you let go of me!?"
"Promise?"
Medrauta quickly nodded. She certainly wasn't used to Viviane being so forceful, but she found that this side of the usually docile noblewoman made her heart skip a beat. "Y-Yeah! I promise!"
At last, Viviane released Medrauta, but her eyes still showed signs of clear displeasure.
"So, uh... What's wrong with using nicknames? I call Brig 'Brig' all the time and you've never complained." Medrauta asked, confused.
"Dame Brigitte is a knight, so it doesn't matter as much. But in noble society, nicknames are reserved for only the closest of individuals. So your parents, relatives, and your..." Viviane paused, blushing. "...Your partner."
"Ah."
That was all Medrauta could manage. Her gaze slid away from Viviane's, and her cheeks grew hot as she realized why the princess had reacted in the way that she did. In fact, everything she'd done with Viviane now came rushing back to her.
The time they'd first attempted to resonate in the training hall. Their excursion in town. Even what happened in the prep room before their latest match. Medrauta couldn't help but cover her face in embarrassment.
Oh Aluvsha, help me! If something as simple as a nickname is the "ultimate" expression of intimacy, then what the hell do you call everything I've done so far!?
She didn't know the answer to that, but she realized she now had ammunition to fire back at Viviane, whatever that meant.
"Y-You!" Medrauta pushed her embarrassment to the side and pointed at her lady.
"M-Me!?" Viviane yelped in surprise.
"W-What about Amelia!? She gave you a nickname, didn't she!? Y-You didn't say anything then!"
"That's totally different! There's nicknames, and then there's nicknames!"
"Yeah? What's the difference?" Medrauta challenged.
"Well... What you called the princess was a diminutive. A shortened form of one's name is what is used when referring to your partner or close family members."
"Hm... So it'd be totally fine for me to call the princess 'lioness'?"
"H-Hey! That's not cute at all!" Gwenhwyfar interjected.
Viviane nodded. "Yes, exactly. You understand now, yes?"
"Sure do," Medrauta sighed. "Wish I'd known earlier. So... What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Would I call you 'Vivi', then?"
Viviane blinked. She wasn't even sure what to say, especially now that Medrauta understood the ramifications of using a nickname like that. "I... W-Well... We're not really..."
"...Yeah. I guess not..." Medrauta finished.
The two girls looked away from one another, and an awkward pressure settled over the three of them.
Though she hated it, the princess was an expert at reading the atmosphere. There was no room for her on this particular battlefield. Though she acknowledged her loss this time, she was resolved to win the war in the end. With dignified grace, Gwenhwyfar stood and curtsied before excusing herself. She could do nothing more than suppress her emotions until she reached the safety of her chambers.
As the princess left, Medrauta stood before Viviane. Viviane was still avoiding eye contact, but Medrauta couldn't blame her. After all, she was too.
They stood in silence, immersed in their own thoughts.
...Just what is she to me? Medrauta wondered.
Little did she know, Viviane was wondering the exact same thing.