It didn't take long for Magdalin to join up with me once the little scene with Gilbert and our beloved Heroine was over, and we headed directly for the building for the building for the fourth year advanced studies, and found Eric working his charm on his classmates.
The quiet boy from the novel, and from the past, was nowhere to be seen now. He had stopped competing for the spot of 'head knight' and started employing his talents elsewhere. He started noticing people's reactions... their behavior patterns, their lines of thought... he noticed people's talents, both those hidden and those shown... and he used that as a weapon to create a place for himself.
He was no longer 'the one that couldn't become a head knight' or 'the failed rival'. He had begun to shine, both socially and as a strategist. His back was now straight and his eyes looked forward, staring directly at the person he interacted with. Like I overwhelm people with strength, he overwhelms them with perception and awareness along with clever and honest schemes.
He still looks up to me, I can sense as much... but there is no reason to do that any longer. He has made a great person out of himself. In fact, when it comes down to diplomacy, Eric is the one that takes over now. Father has pulled back and seems to be letting Eric take his place. I've no doubt that once this year is over and Eric graduates, that Eric will take the role as head of House Celeste.
Aside from re-arranging our military, he has also ensured new trade deals with both the Salenders and House Stanbell. If my suspicions are correct, then he even redid the Stanbell military as well. I'm not sure why he wants to support House Stanbell, other than that they are the closest to our territory, and that we trade a lot of wood and horses with them... but perhaps that is enough.
If House Stanbell becomes strong enough, then it'll take over at least half of the northern border. With that comes a lot of riches as well. Being the reason that they succeed is indeed not a bad move... but I didn't expect Eric to grow far enough to mess with politics to this degree already. Messing with the border balance is a risky move I would like to play no part in, so on that matter he has me vastly outplayed.
Honestly, I am amazed.
I did prompt and push him in the direction of a proper lord... but without immense effort he wouldn't have been able to come this far. He would lose to Lionel when it comes to fighting, any day. However, Eric would at this point probably equal Lionel if it comes to strategy.
Eric turns towards us with a bright and warm look.
"Lily, good timing."
He turns towards his classmates and gives an elegant bow as he excuses himself. His night blue hair sways like a gentle wave at the motion.
With a simple move he stands by my side and offers up his arm. Eric is fully aware of my pride over these things, but since he's my older brother, I will accept anyway. I gently place my hand on his arm and look to Magdalin.
She stands quietly next to us and appears to pay us no special attention. She's acting quiet as my companion because she knows I intend to ask Eric some... questions that should not be asked in public.
"I would like a table and some chairs placed with view over the training area for the knight students. Is that possible?" I start out by confirming this with him first.
Eric gives a small nod.
"There is a slope that goes down to the training area. You should be able to watch them from on top of that," he explains calmly. "I'll help you carry things out as well." He proceeds to change our direction, likely towards storage.
As we proceed there and pull our the chairs and table our conversation continues. Partly about the general affairs and of course the subject ends up upon our beloved heroine.
"So, you've met Claire-chan, what do you think?"
I didn't expect him to actually answer, but he answered calmly as if he'd already considered his opinion to the end.
"She is adorable. Indeed a girl of snow. She is attractive and has a charming smile that makes your heart melt. My heart nearly flew out of my chest... to be honest it was terrifying..."
His voice of admiration slowly turned dark towards the end... unexpectedly so.
"Your surprise is showing, Lily," he warned me softly before continuing.
"You told me when we were kids that I would abandon you for her... if you hadn't gained the memories of her then... it would indeed have turned out like that. Realizing that is terrifying... actually... I think that if you hadn't told me about her and my future feelings towards her... then I might indeed have fallen for her... she's that cute..."
He pauses after that, but I don't know what to respond to his words.
"Still, I decided a long time ago that Claire Talwen will belong to his Highness. I've no desire to get between His Highness and something he wants. If I do he will cause our downfall."
He tosses the last line casually, but it holds certain meaning.
"You've grown quite apprehensive towards Alstair since the siege," I comment back at his otherwise dangerous words.
"It is not that I am not loyal to the royal family, but after the incident with 'Augustus', I realized that his Highness has a habit of making certain things turn out the way he prefers. I don't think the others have noticed yet though. Lionel is quite observant, but he's too ignorant whenever it comes to his highness. Perhaps it's because House Tepet has enjoyed so much favor from the royal family..."
He shakes his head.
"I already hear rumors that Lionel made a move on Claire though... that would be troublesome."
Eric starts grumbling for a little while after that.
This is the part difference in our plans. I don't intend on getting between Claire and the other men. After all, as long as she makes Alstair interested then the others don't matter.
"By the way, do you know what is wrong with Lionel? He's been acting a bit more off than usual..."
Eric goes quiet for a moment and grimaces.
"It appears that the number of assassination attempts on Alstair has gone up explosively recently... the amount of attempts on his Highness' life yesterday was horrifying. He may just have been pushed to the edge of exhaustion once someone else finally took over. Even with the royal knights stationed around campus most still got all the way to Alstair..."
Stress...huh? I suppose...
"Do you know why he's avoiding me?" I haven't been able to figure this out myself yet, and didn't think I needed to know... but with his weird attitude towards our heroine I feel like I need to know before it becomes a problem.
Eric though just shakes his head.
"I've no idea. I don't think it's hate or love though."
He shrugs. Love? Well of course it isn't love. There was never something like that between us.
"Not that he'd have a chance," he says out somewhat haughti- no proudly? I'm not sure how to classify the emotion Eric showed me just then, so instead I shrug it off and look to our finished setup.
While we were setting up the table and chairs Magdalin and Ameline brought tea and snacks.
"I will return now, I have some things to prepare since I suppose I will be meeting miss Talwen soon. It'll be a cute date for his highness."
"Good luck," I reply softly. Apparently Eric has his own plans for getting Alstair and Claire, our beloved heroine, together.
He smiles brightly and then leaves.
We seat ourselves calmly on the chairs as the first year knights step out on the training field.
All of the young men down there are actually done being educated as squires. A few of them are indeed looking for a lord to serve, but nearly all of them already have. The reason that they are here is for advanced studies. The knights should already be aware of how to use their magic in battle, so they spend these four years on perfecting the control and produce combat techniques to go with the style they develop. They can also practice secondary weapons other than their standards. Spears, long-swords and halberds appear to be popular choices, but something like the standard knife is good as well. You won't always be in a spot where you can use big weapons.
In other words, none of the young men down there are rookies, and as such they'll actually give me a pretty good show.