Chapter 26
While sipping tea, I listened to the deep rumble echoing through the fortress.
Among the three alarm sounds we were taught, this one had the lowest priority, so I didn't brace myself—instead, I gently patted Renato's head as he sat beside me with our chairs touching.
I gave a wry smile at the way he kept shifting his gaze restlessly and frequently turning toward the window.
"This is the fourth time for the east and twice for the west this year. They're all just intimidation responses to our reconnaissance, so there's no need to be too afraid."
"Compared to last year's raid, it's quiet inside the fortress. Renato, let me hold the sword you have on your lap."
"It doesn't seem like a battle where there will be any injuries. Renato, if anything happens, I'll be here. Now, drink while it's still warm."
"......Okay."
Renato glanced between me and Rudo, then gave a small nod and, prompted by Altried, brought the tea to his lips. The way he held the cup with both hands was so cute that I almost smiled, and across from us, Rudo couldn't hold back and let his expression soften.
"If this sound rang out without warning, it would make anyone anxious. I kept asking Altried if everything was okay too."
"You did, brother?"
"I thought I'd be fine since I'd been briefed beforehand, but when it actually happened, my mind went blank and all I could do was tremble. But Celes was different."
Renato's face spun toward me, and when he looked up at me with sparkling eyes, I had to avert my gaze.
Rudo says I was different, but that's not true.
The first time I heard this sound, I wandered aimlessly around the room and wouldn't leave the maid's side.
By the third year, you get used to it.
But even now, the alarm still startles me, and I feel relieved when I find out it's not an attack.
"You stayed calm and assessed the situation, and even helped with treatment."
"You were also aware of the situation in the east and west, and had the escape routes and post-evacuation plans perfectly in mind."
"Amazing......"
Thanks to Rudo and Altried, Renato's sparkling aura was intensifying, so I told them to stop.
"I just studied so I wouldn't fall behind at the military school. There's not much time left, so I'm still anxious."
"I see, it's almost time. Are you finished with preparations?"
"......More or less. But I haven't completed the paperwork yet."
"Paperwork? Hasn't the Count family sent it?"
"It's not that they haven't sent it—more like, I haven't gotten permission in the first place."
Among the documents to be submitted to the military school was a parental consent form, which I sent last month along with a letter, but the only thing that came back was a single note that said, 'I'll come there.'
Even when I turned the envelope upside down or peeked inside, there was only that one sheet of paper...
"Wait, you didn't get permission from the Count?"
"It was basically like running away from home. I think Father will probably bring the documents to the fortress once the social season ends."
"But enrollment is right around the corner... Doesn't the military school have some kind of entrance exam? I thought that's what I was asking about."
"Even if you call it an entrance exam, it's just a physical exam and fitness test."
"But if the Count doesn't know anything, then haven't you still not gathered the things you need for dorm life?"
"Grandfather said that as long as I have daily necessities and a sword, I'll manage somehow."
"......There's no way that's enough. This is bad, I've got a headache."
"I only know life at the academy, so I can't say for sure. But before enrollment, there's the uniform, room furnishings, course selection and the related textbooks. For the knight course, if your family has preferred swords or horses, you can apply to use them. Then there's the declaration of the number of attendants, I suppose. Well, my family arranged all of that."
"And the person who was supposed to do that arranging hasn't been informed of anything. And then there's this guy."
Rudo made an exasperated face and pointed at 'this guy', which made me tilt my head.
Most of the people enrolling in the military school are commoners. Occasionally, there are third sons of nobles or second sons of military nobles, but I think very few come prepared with swords or horses.
Since it's a military school run by the state, I feel like everything else is probably provided as standard equipment.
"I often see military school students in town, so maybe they go buy what they need themselves? If that's the case, they'll need to carry some money too."
"Same goes for me, but Celes, you've never had a wallet either, right?"
"How rude. I do have a wallet."
"But have you actually ever gone shopping?"
......Shopping.
Uncle Ruget gave me a wallet and told me to buy what I needed, but I've never used it.
When I first came here, the training was too intense to have time to go into town, and from the second year, the maids prepared everything, so I never had any trouble.
Sasha invites me to town once a month, but I never really want anything, so I don't buy anything and probably haven't even taken the wallet out.
"......There was training, after all."
"Don't lie so smoothly."
As I scratched my cheek with a laugh and tried to change the subject, I looked at Renato, who was unusually quiet, and saw him widen his already large eyes even more, his mouth opening and closing silently.
When he does that with a straight face, he looks like a broken toy—it's a little scary...
"Renato?"
"Milit—"
"Mili?"
"Milit—mi—military... military school?"
I had told Rudo that I was entering the military school instead of the academy.
Of course, Grandfather and Uncle Ruget knew, and everyone in this fortress knew—but I realized I'd never told Renato, so I nodded.
"Why is Celes going to the military school? I thought you were going to the academy with your brother?"
"It's a long story... but to put it simply, it's because I'm a military noble."
"That's too simple..."
"Rudo can explain the details."
"Don't dump it all on me!"
I smiled sweetly at Rudo, who gave me a dubious look as if to say, 'Explaining things without causing trouble is hard, you know?' and patted Renato's head as he murmured, 'Military school...'