Anger and frustration is, if nothing else, better than the gloomy feeling that lingered in my heart till then.
After our Father got mother pregnant she gave birth to Iris. Perhaps trying to amend for his mistakes with Lily, he threw himself into the father role. As expected he failed miserably at first, but things gradually calmed down, and with this it appears father and mother have grown too. They communicate properly, mother nursed Iris on her own instead of a wet nurse and an awkward feeling of family arose.
As you can imagine Iris grew up more light hearted than everyone else in the house... but also grew stubborn once she turned five... and she has yet to cease her rebellious period. Her little crush on Curtis started a couple of years ago when she was first brought along for a tea party where Curtis was invited. She was head over heels with the bright and cheerful Curtis that asked her to practice dancing with him. Though, to think she would do something like this...
I finished writing my answer back to her, which included a sternly written reprimand for not taking the situation seriously and that she is still disowned.
Heading for the door... I stopped for a moment. If I step out now I'll have to face everything out there properly... that includes Lionel, Magdalin, Asher and... Claire...
I'm not sure I can face Claire right now. Magdalin is observant, but also a person I myself let in. Claire is... about just as pushy... no, in fact a bit more... of course, she's only pushy when it comes to the things I do not want to talk about.
Still... I need to face this. I cannot be afraid or worried about something like this! I'd be a disgrace to my ancestors! No fear!
I take a soft breath and head outside.
It's... quiet. Judging by the light in my room it should be around noon. Everyone are likely at their classes, so I'll head for the fourth year wing.
—-*—-
The weather is... surprisingly dull and grey. It looks like rain is going to start within the hour... but what makes me stop and reconsider my plan of action is the silence.
The knights should be training and we should be hearing their marching songs. Rain wouldn't be an excuse either.
I'm left with a theory that I want to confirm. The Tepet Knights might have gotten their call to arms. This is unlikely, after all the Tepet army should have plenty of soldiers to bolster their borders. They shouldn't need the ones forced to study.
I change course towards the entrance of the academy and find something different than I expected. There were no Tepet Knights to see anywhere, but every other knight student were helping out preparing wagons, horses, tents, armor and weapons. Even food. Judging by the amount of food and horses, I'd say that all of them were leaving.
I spot Eric conversing with a fourth year knight student and head in his direction immediately. No matter how you look at it this is too much of a drastic measure against what we had been expecting. If everyone else but the Tepet Knights were leaving now, then the Tepet Knights probably left around dawn.
I stopped once I reached Eric. They were discussing preparations. The fourth year finally bows gently and walks off hastily.
"What is going on?"
I breach the silence as Eric turns his attention to me.
"There is news from the front lines. The Headal army was seen approaching, and they estimate that almost the entire Headal army has been sent. Lord Tepet sends a request for reinforcements, so the knights here at the academy and I will be heading in that direction."
I pause a bit at his words and consider it for a moment.
"So all but the soldiers at their other borders?" I try to confirm the details. This is a lot of people. A lot more than 2000 people as well. We are talking at least 10.000 people.
"No... by the numbers estimated then at least one of their borders has been emptied completely."
"What?!"
It bursts out of me before I can hold it back.
Moving men from your borders is extremely risky, and you'll have to trust that neighbor immensely. Headal doesn't have allies though! As Headal is known for being aggressive they usually don't have a lot of friendly neighbors... but... I did come up with a theory where Headal would ally with someone... our neighbor to the north, Semor...
If someone caught onto that same thought as me, then it would explain why all the northern students are leaving. They are going to have a hard war, even harder than House Tepet. The three northern marquesses have been fighting each other to the extent I doubt they will be able to hold off Semor.
This is bad. If Zocria finds out... no, when Zocria finds out then we risk getting hit in the back. Most of our troops are going to be stuck at castle Celeste.
"Eric... you should return to the fief, as the future lord you need to be there in case Zocria attacks."
I grind my teeth for a moment as I try to assemble a plan.
Eric watches me quietly for a moment as if to consider how to proceed.
"Will 'Augustus' command the reinforcements to the Tepet army?"
A strange silence spreads between us as I give him a determined answer in return.
"Yes."
It appears I'll need to face my fear directly, no matter how little I wish to admit it.
A clatter sounds from the sideline where one of our knights appears to have dropped a bundle of reserve short swords he was carrying to the wagon.
He flusters and hurriedly picks them up, but tads of excitement seeps through in his actions.
Eric sighs.
"I'm glad I had 'Augustus' things brought here," he mutters.
"There's also a present from father."
A present? For Augustus? An armor perhaps? An armor hopefully!
I glance to the side again where the Celeste knights stop up in a little circle and start whispering. If not for the guy's excitement before I would be curious about their conversation.
—-*—-
Eric actually has a couple of knights guard the bath house as I get dressed as Augustus. It is empty at this time of day, but I suppose they're being a bit paranoid.
I glance down at the thick deep blue clothes made of wool and nettle. It's going to be warm, but the nettle at least seems to keep it from being itchy. I pull on the thick and tall necked shirt and tug it into the pants. Somehow my frame seems smaller in this... I bound up my already lacking chest, but I doubt anyone would have noticed anyway. I'll remove it once we're out of the academy. I glance back to Ameline who is showing a grim expression.
"It will be fine, Ameline."
She visibly holds back a sigh.
"Ojou-sama... no matter what clothes you wear... you have gotten too cute to be mistaken as a boy."
Ameline pointed out a certain flaw in the plan.
"...should we cut my hair?"
Perhaps it would increase the boyishness... I'd probably still look like a kid though...
Ameline's expression... was by all means depressed.
"I see. Wouldn't help..."
I grab one of the boots and pull it on while debating what to do about my girlish height and frame. Perhaps there is nothing to do?
I glance back to Ameline. "I'll have you give my letter to Iris when you return to Castle Celeste. Until I return you're to make sure she is safe."
Ameline smiles softly.
"Even though you disowned her?"
"...Clearly I have never been able to do such a thing," I grumbled out.
I could see her smile curl up wider. I'll let her smile for now...
I finish getting dressed and tightened the belt an extra time before heading out of the bath house. I just barely stepped out of the door when a heavy weight was placed on my shoulders in the shape of the wolf pelt mantle from eight years ago. On each side of me was one of the knights with big grins on their lips at their little gesture.
I was perplexed for a moment and stared up at them quietly. One was Asher. The other was a neigh black haired one with brown eyes with hints of green.
I take my third breath and then smile up at them.
"Thank you."
Ashers eyes widen for a moment, but his expression softens into a sincere smile.
It's about time to depart.