Chapter 18 – Episode 18. Leopold Promises
Astrid was on the smart side.
So, in this situation, I could immediately sense what Leopold was thinking and why he was angry.
Astain standing next to him.
I don’t know if you’ve seen them walking side by side, but no, I’m sure you’ve seen them, but that’s still problematic.
But on the other hand, Astrid also has something to say.
You did it wrong in the first place
You did me wrong in the first place
That’s why I’m like that too, and above all, I just walked with Astain for a while, and like you, I didn’t say anything out of the ordinary. Things started to go a little differently than Astrid thought.
Leopold’s face, which had been flushed red, returned to its original color.
That face, which anyone could see was angry, faded little by little and returned to its usual appearance.
Leopold walked toward Astrid, making the sound of his footsteps.
In the narrowing distance, Astrid calmed down as well, clearing his mind.
The first thing that went wrong was Leopold.
Astrid didn’t say anything, he just walked with Astein for a while.
It’s just that he can’t prove to Leopold that he didn’t say anything, but if Leopold doesn’t know that he did something wrong and throws a fuss at Astrid.
‘I have to hit him once.’
While making that promise in their hearts, the distance between Astrid and Leopold gradually narrowed.
“Astrid, no. Squad leader.”
“… To?”
Unexpected.
Leopold’s face was extremely calm.
As if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t seen anything.
“A while ago, at the training center, I was so excited that I made a slip of the tongue. I said something I didn’t mean, so please forgive me, Squad Leader.”
And Leopold nodded at the same time.
“Ah, uh.”
When people are flustered, words do not come out properly.
Leopold did something he could never have imagined, so even Astrid couldn’t figure out what the situation was.
“Squad leader, from now on, I will be more careful and cautious about my actions and remarks. Until the day I graduate safely from this academy, I hope you will reprimand me if I do anything reckless.”
Now, Leopold bows deeply and bows politely.
At this point, Astrid was rather perplexed.
I thought that Leopold would surely cause an uproar, and I even thought of responding to him, but it is very surprising to see him reflecting like this.
“The instructor is waiting for you, so let’s go back to the training ground.”
Leopold left those words and turned around.
There wasn’t even a single trace of emotion left on that face, which made it even more strange.
*
“He said he wouldn’t ask what caused the commotion, so he’ll keep his word. But cadet Astrid, cadet Leopold. Today is the first day of training, right? You know that such a commotion from day one is something you can’t just ignore.”
“Yes.”
After the afternoon training, Leopold and Astrid came to the front of the church at Variant’s call.
The uproar that started the next day after joining the school was hard to just ignore, and besides, it was a case that was hard to ignore as the two of them were in a position to set an example for others.
“Immediately go to the inn, put on your combat backpack, and come down to the parade ground in front of the inn.”
A combat rucksack, which means a rucksack that holds individual supplies needed in the event of a war.
The rucksack had been placed in the observation deck of the designated quarters, but as yet there were no instructions for this combat rucksack, so it lay unpacked.
So few cadets know exactly what it is.
Of course, Astrid knows what it is.
“How have you been?”
Astrid entered the dorm and was greeted by the elf, Erania.
It seems that the archery training was finished at about the same time, and it seemed that Astrid had returned a little earlier than Astrid, who had been captured by the Variants.
“… It seems you have heard the story.”
Rumors went really fast.
In the morning, Astrid had a fight with Variant and defeated him.
And in the afternoon, for some reason, Astrid split the desk in half and left after showering the crown prince with double-jaw.
Astrid unintentionally became the cadet who attracted the most attention in this season.
“Chief… No, they told me to put on my combat backpack and come down.”
When I pulled out the combat backpack from the observation deck, it was surprisingly not that heavy.
“This is a combat rucksack… It was also in my museum, can I take a look at it?”
“Please.”
Eranya lifted her hand between her shoulder straps and put it down slightly with a frown on her face.
“Oh wow, that’s heavy… It is really heavy.”
From Astrid’s point of view, it was pure cruelty.
He said that there is no job that requires as much physical strength as an archer.
It is absurd that Eranya, who handles a longbow that looks quite large, and Eranya, who draws the bow well, has weak physical strength.
“You handle the bow so well and it’s heavy. You’re sick.”
“Ah, that was a joke. Squad leader, please feel free.”
Ehehe, Eranya smiled and was very grateful for this moment.
She didn’t have many pleasant things, but thanks to Eranya being friendly next to her like this, she felt a little relieved.
“So what are you going to do with this on your back?”
That’s right, isn’t it natural? I thought, but she might not know here.
Astrid was a little too lazy to explain, so she just shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
“You get it. Until the meeting for dinner, carry that combat rucksack, and even the special weapon, and keep going around the parade ground.”
“All right.”
Variant’s discipline was as expected.
‘I knew it… ‘
However, it is not difficult.
At this weight, it is too light… She thought, and she said that Eranha wasn’t too heavy either, but that was probably because the strength of the two women wasn’t normal.
Leopold’s face didn’t look good as soon as he went around the parade ground.
I thought it wouldn’t be this hard because he would have basic strength as he could freely handle the sword and he would have been trained continuously, but the weight of this combat backpack was not normal for ordinary people to feel.
The shoulder straps, which he was not used to and the length was not adjusted to fit, seemed to keep digging into the shoulder straps. Also did
It must have been around five o’clock, so there were two hours left until the gathering for dinner.
Astrid glanced at Leopold’s face, who was walking a few steps beside her. It doesn’t seem to be in good condition.
Hate is hate, but there is still such a thing as affection.
After spending nearly a week together in the carriage, and after arriving in the castle and spending another week together in the imperial palace, it seemed like they were still attached to it.
Can you help me a little It would be a little more comfortable if you stick to the side and support the backpack with your hand.
However, if he did so without saying anything, the proud prince’s pride would be greatly damaged.
“Leopold… Majesty.”
“I am a cadet.”
A very businesslike answer came back.
Why, though.
What’s going on, or something
I thought that such an answer would come back, but it was also a somewhat unexpected answer.
“Since you’re having such a hard time, I wondered if I could be of some help.”
I deliberately used the outside tone.
At those words, Leopold shook his head as he looked straight ahead of Astrid without looking at him.
Don’t want to need
As expected, the proud crown prince can’t help it.
“Astrid.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Finally… For the last time at this academy, can I speak comfortably?”
It didn’t even need permission like this, but Astrid was a bit suspicious about that.
“You do, Your Highness.”
“Sorry.”
“…”
Astrid didn’t answer.
No answer came.
Quite unexpected, Astrid was walking while staring at Leopold’s profile.
“This raging temper of mine ended up saying something I shouldn’t have said. Whatever the reason, I made a huge mistake. Even if I am scorned by you, I will have nothing to say, and even if I am scolded by Uncle Wolfgang, it is inevitable.”
“No, I intend to tell my father—”
“Then I am very grateful. Anyway, I think I should apologize. Earlier, you… “
Leopold wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Clear water marks remained, glistening in the falling sunset light.
“I thought I was having an affair with Astain, but no. Astrid You can’t be like that. You’re not that kind of girl In that I made a mistake, embarrassed you, and thought of you that way even for a moment.”
Leopold’s gaze turned to Astrid.
“I should apologize to you. I’m sorry, Astrid.”
Astrid shut her mouth.
Forgiveness or something, somehow, the feeling that the bitterness that Leopold hated melted away a little, just a little bit.
“But Astain is something… Something feels strange. Astrid, she promised to cooperate with you in finding a good companion, but she doesn’t seem to be Astein. You might want to think again.”
No, that’s not it.
It seems that the misunderstanding has not yet been resolved.
