It was time for the festivities to come to an end.
After a very successful first day for the academy's festival, the rest of the week enjoyed a rather healthy amount of attendees as well. The group's tea house never decreased in popularity, and despite it being the last day of the festival, a long line of people had assembled in front of the booth ever since it opened and the line continued to grow even now.
However, Medrauta and Viviane never truly got to experience the true horrors of attempting to serve guests in a fashion that was not only refined and thorough, but also fast and expedient.
The reason for that was rather simple: Gwenhwyfar had used her ability to "negotiate" with knights and nobles of nearby booths alike, convincing them to fill in for the pair while they spent time together at the festival on dates and whatnot.
While the couple certainly appreciated the time together, Viviane couldn't help but feel that something was up. The princess had once been her opponent in love, and it was difficult to believe that someone could give up so easily, and in such a grand manner as well.
"Your Imperial Highness," Viviane called to the princess after having successfully sought her out. "There's something important I must talk to you about."
"H-Huh!?" Gwenhwyfar turned, surprised at Viviane's presence. She'd informed the blonde noblewoman that her shift on the last day would be covered by someone else. "Shouldn't you be on a date with Medrauta?"
Viviane shook her head. "We've been on quite a lot of dates this week thanks to you, Your Imperial Highness. Right now, she's helping out in the tea house. I'll be joining her shortly as well."
"Y-You really don't need to, Lady Viviane!"
"No, I do. It's not fair to Lady Rosaline and Dame Leticia who were only given time off during Dame Leticia's events at the tourney. It's not fair to Lady Sakura who spent time teaching me her country's etiquette or Sir Riku who taught me the brewing technique either. Medrauta feels the same, and we've only been taking up your offers because you've been insisting rather strongly and it would've been rude for us to turn you down in public, but with all due respect, this must stop, Your Imperial Highness."
"...I see. I'm sorry to have inconvenienced the two of you."
Viviane crossed her arms. Gwenhwyfar was the princess, which meant there was a certain amount of respect and deference that she commanded, but at the moment, the two of them were alone, and Viviane was fed up. "Your Imperial Highness, we spent an hour arguing about this yesterday until we were forced to leave after guests began lining up. Just why are you so insistent on having Medrauta and I go on dates instead of working at the tea house!?"
"...Because I don't wish to see the two of you flirt before me, Lady Viviane. But more than anything, I wish for Medrauta to be happy, even if it is not I who she smiles for."
For a second, Viviane was stunned. That was the last thing she'd expected the princess to say.
"Well, I... I'm grateful for your consideration, Your Imperial Highness. Was that why you've been treating me so kindly lately?"
At that, the princess shook her head. "No. Not entirely, at least. After witnessing my brother's actions, I've only now come to realize my own folly. Yes, Medrauta was precious to me. She was the one who saved my life when I was but a child, and though I seem to be the only one who remembers our promise, I held it dear to my heart for many years. Even now, I cannot fathom myself falling in love with anyone else, however twisted my love is.
"But it is because she is precious to me, and because I love her so that I should never have done what I did, Lady Viviane. I hurt her. I hurt her very much, and a rift of my own devising has formed between us. While that rift might one day be bridged, it shall never be whole again because of my own foolish actions. That is why from now and onwards, I must do all I can to ensure her happiness, and if that means also supporting you—my own rival—then so be it."
Though Gwenhwyfar had once been her enemy, Viviane couldn't find anything to say in the face of the princess' words and the fiery resolve that burned in her eyes. The princess may have lost on the battlefield of love, but she fell gracefully and her love remained unquenched.
"...Thank you, Your Imperial Highness."
"It is only a small step on the stairway to atonement, Lady Viviane."
Viviane couldn't help but shake her head in amazement. She wasn't sure how the princess could even possess such powerful resolve. She had been a brat, a domineering thief, a charismatic speaker, and now a repentant noblewoman. But despite all the strange facets of her personality, Viviane somehow respected the woman who stood in front of her right now.
Of course, she could never truly forgive Gwenhwyfar for hurting Medrauta so greatly both physically and emotionally, but she could at least understand the princess' desire to make amends and respect her determination to do so.
"...I will watch as you strive to mend the wounds that you have opened, and perhaps one day, they may fade into long-forgotten scars."
Gwenhwyfar curtsied in response. "That is more than I can hope for."
Viviane returned the curtsy, but as she moved to leave, the princess called out once more.
"Ah, there is one more thing, Lady Viviane."
"Hm?"
"If I may be so bold to ask a favor of you, would it be alright if you called me Gwenhwyfar...?"
Viviane smiled, an expression so captivating and breathtaking that it made Gwenhwyfar fully understand just what exactly Medrauta had fallen for.
"Of course, Lady Gwenhwyfar."
†
With Viviane and Medrauta returning to their duties at the tea house, the two nobles that Gwenhwyfar had managed to wrangle from a nearby booth were freed from their impromptu obligations. Much to Viviane and Medrauta's surprise, they had actually been slightly disappointed as it seemed that Sakura was quite popular with the students.
The foreigner possessed an elegant sort of mystique that enchanted those who glanced her way, but her refined bearing made her seem aloof and hard to approach. Since obtaining permission to travel outside the empire was quite difficult, many of the students that the princess had previously brought over were rather eager to help out for a chance to speak with Sakura.
This realization had made Sakura rather self-conscious. She was used to people hiding their emotions and desires back home, but the students that she'd met were quite vocal about wanting to know her and the culture of her country better once the ice was broken, causing Sakura to become greatly flustered after realizing just how popular she was.
Despite it all, Sakura had managed to grow accustomed to her popularity over the week, and the tea house's final service concluded without anyone even realizing. Before the group knew it, the sun had begun to set, dyeing the empire in its warm ochre hue.
"Whew!" Sakura exclaimed. Contrary to her usual ladylike grace and poise, she was sprawled against the tea house's floor. "For something that we came up with on the last day before the festival started, this went pretty well, didn't it?"
"Indeed," Viviane grinned. "I only wish Medrauta and I had been here to help more often. I would've liked to practice the brewing technique a bit more."
"I'm surprised you can even say that, Viviane." Medrauta remarked. Just like Sakura, she laid on the ground as well. "That was exhausting. No clue how you all managed to run this thing every day for the whole week, honestly."
Leticia laughed. "Oh, come on! It wasn't that bad!"
"Easy for you to say, miss festival champion. This gig probably felt like a break for you after everything in the arena."
"Oh, come on! You're the one who's been doing nothing but going on dates every day! Geez! I sure would've liked a few days off to get all lovey dovey. Isn't that right, Rosie?"
Rosaline nodded, smiling. "Unfortunate as it may be, I never did get a chance to pamper you during this year's festival, Lettie."
"Speaking of pampering, the prize money I won was pretty hefty. We'll finally be on break after next week, so perhaps we could visit a few hot springs up north?"
"Oh! That would be wonderful!" Rosaline clapped her hands together delightedly. "Perhaps Lady Viviane could show us around as well?"
"It would be my pleasure, Lady Rosaline!" Viviane replied with a bright smile.
"...The north?" Medrauta frowned. "I thought there was still movement near the border."
Viviane shook her head. "I heard from my father that Kaslavna's hostile actions have waned significantly over the week, so much so that they're actually thinking of recalling a few of the instructors back to the academy."
"...Seriously? If it were me, I'd be more concerned about why they suddenly stopped attacking so frequently."
Gwenhwyfar shrugged. "We'll be sure to evaluate the situation as it progresses, but war is war. Even if it is a mere feint, it does not matter so long as we emerge victorious."
Medrauta frowned. Was that really true? Her mind hearkened back to her mentor's lessons. "When the enemy acts unusually, that is a sign to take caution." Those words rang true in this situation more than ever, and Medrauta simply couldn't get her mind off it.
"Well... I guess the officers who are actually at the front line would know better than us."
"Even if something happens, you'll be there to save me, won't you?" Viviane said as she sat down next to Medrauta and slipped her hand into the knight's.
Before Medrauta could give her obvious answer, the tea house's door slid open to reveal Trista. Aside from Gwenhwyfar, everyone looked at her with surprise in their eyes.
"Your Imperial Highness!" Trista exclaimed. Though she was breathing heavily, there wasn't a drop of sweat on her forehead. "Thank Aluvsha I've finally found you! Pardon my rudeness, but it's time for the closing speech!"
"Ah... My apologies, Dame Trista. I'd almost forgotten. Shall we depart now?"
"That would be preferable, yes." Trista nodded. "The people are already assembled at the platform. I'll give a brief speech before introducing you and then all you need to do is give the closing remark which will signal for the fireworks to begin."
"You are quite efficient, aren't you? Perhaps you'd like to become a knight-seneschal after you've graduated?"
"Ahaha... You flatter me, Your Imperial Highness..."
As a group, everyone departed and made their way to the center of the academy grounds where a large wooden platform with makeshift stage curtains had been set up. Its sides were decorated in colorful banners of all manners, most of them created by the children who had attended the festival during the course of the week.
A group of imperial guards stood in a straight line, guarding the stairs that led up to the platform. Two imperial knights stood with them, observing the crowd with their keen eyesight. Once the group arrived, Trista strode past the guards with an easygoing wave.
"Well, then. I suppose I'll be joining her on the stage," Gwenhwyfar said as she bid the group farewell for now. "Truth be told, I'm slightly nervous. I've not addressed a crowd as large as this one for a long while."
"Don't worry, Lady Gwenhwyfar! I'm sure you'll do just fine!" Viviane flashed the princess a hearty grin to which Gwenhwyfar replied with an elegant curtsy and a smile of her own before making her way up the platform.
"Since when did you get so chummy with the princess?" Medrauta frowned.
"...She's trying her best in her own way. Even though she wronged us in the past, shouldn't we help those who wish to make amends?"
Medrauta considered the statement for a good minute before responding. "...Yeah. You're right, Viviane."
Holding grudges would merely be a burden on one's mind. Medrauta understood that, but she still couldn't fully forgive the princess for aiming that deadly attack at Viviane. Even so, she would try if only for the sake of becoming a woman worthy of Viviane's pure heartedness.
But at that moment, the princess was the last thing on her mind. Try as she might, she simply couldn't forget the princess' remarks about the possible war with Kaslavna that loomed over the horizon. She didn't know why, but she felt that something was amiss despite how perfectly everything had gone.
She and Viviane were finally a couple after so long. They'd spent the week going on dates and acting all lovey dovey, the tea house had been a smashing success, Viviane and the princess were somehow making up, and against all odds, it seemed like Kaslavna was calming down as well.
But even so, Medrauta couldn't help but feel that this was nothing more than the calm before the storm.