Night Breaks

By the time someone reacted to all the noise and the sturdy iron door was opened, the three men were unconscious. They were badly bruised with some fractures, but their lives weren’t in any apparent danger. The head sentry Deffand ordered his men to tie them up.

“Princess!” Clarisse immediately rushed over to Altina.

“Aha! I did it! The plan was a huge success!”

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“Of course not. As you can see, there isn’t a scratch on me,” she replied with a smile.

Clarisse let out a deep sigh. “You know, there was no need for you to do this yourself... You could have asked any of the skilled knights at the fort.”

“But doing it myself was a lot more commander-like, don’t you think?”

“I am certain that I mentioned this before you climbed into the box, but I do not believe this is what a commander’s job normally entails.”

Clarisse was usually so reticent when other people were around; the fact that she was speaking so freely went to show just how worried she must have been.

Altina proudly brandished her treasured sword. “It’s important to take the initiative, doing the most dangerous, troublesome, and exceptional tasks yourself. That’s how you get people to follow you. I can’t just sit back and let other people protect me, otherwise they’ll just see me as a princess through and through.”

“But Princess, you are a princess.”

“That’s true, but... I want the soldiers to respect me. To believe in me.”

Clarisse hung her head. “I already believe in you. There was no doubt in my mind that you would defeat such petty thieves, but... why risk getting injured over something like this?”

“I’m fine, really. But I’m sorry that I worried you.”

“As long as you’re truly okay, that’s enough for me.”

With that, the maid returned to her usual blank expression. Truth be told, Altina much preferred it when she smiled, but there was nothing more she could expect with so many people around.

Trepner eagerly rubbed his hands together, lavishing the princess with flattery. “How utterly magnificent! To be not only beautiful, but a master swordswoman! As expected of a member of royalty!”

Altina was all too used to receiving such empty compliments, simply returning him a courteous smile.

Deffand came over next. His expression was so gentle that, for a moment, she failed to recognize him. “Hey, Princess! Thanks a bunch for your help! Quite nearly had my head on the chopping block there...”

“Who would have guessed they had something like that hidden beneath the floor?” she replied. “Thankfully, that means we have no reason to criticize the earnest sentries for doing their jobs.”

While Deffand continued to thank Altina again and again, Auber the bookkeeping knight lowered his head. “You have my gratitude as well, Princess. And Sir Deffand... I apologize for ever having doubted you.”

“Oh, uh, really? Don’t sweat it. I was a little too harsh myself...”

The two men were on better terms than ever before. It was a refreshing sight, to be sure. Altina heaved a relieved sigh and set her sword on the ground.

With that, Clarisse shot the princess a silent glance. Her eyes seemed to ask, “Is something the matter?”

“How should I put this...” Altina began. “I was just thinking how impressive this whole thing was. To think there’s someone out there who can bring about this sort of resolution just by hearing a few details...”

“Yes. Quite.”

“Hey, Clarisse... Don’t you think I could get at least a little closer to realizing my goal with a strategist like that by my side?”

“I wouldn’t know unless I met him.”

“Right. In that case, I’ll arrange for just that. We’ll meet, we’ll talk... I wonder what sort of person he is. Come to think of it, I didn’t even ask for his age. Is he an old man, perhaps?”

“Considering your position, Princess, I doubt a truly wise man would speak his mind.”

“Ah, you’re right...”

Altina was fourth in line to the Belgarian throne and commander of the Beilschmidt border regiment; it was rare to find someone who would speak honestly and openly with her, especially when they were smart enough to know better. Perhaps their interaction would be no less diplomatic and superficial than the smile she had given to the peddler.

“Hm... I’ll have to think of some way to get him to open up around me. Clarisse, think of some ideas as well.”

“Certainly. But if you are able to fool this person, Princess, would you really want them as your strategist?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing...”

All of a sudden, Altina clapped her hands together in realization. “That’s it! I know how to make him speak his mind!”

“Please go on.”

“Fufu... Well, you see...”

Altina exuberantly whispered in Clarisse’s ear, but her words prompted a frown from the usually stone-faced maid.