“Ufufufu, don’t be so nervous. I only want to know what my dear daughter’s life at the Academy is like.”
Katerina offered a soft, gentle smile.
Good grief. She was playing the part of the oblivious, doting mother to perfection.
“I’ve read my daughter's letters, of course, but a parent’s heart always wonders if things are truly as they seem. It would make me so happy if you could share some pleasant stories with me.”
Having said her piece, she shifted her gaze toward Luna.
“Luna-san, what has Silvia been like?”
“She is an exemplary student. Her grades in both swordsmanship and magic are consistently at the top of the class. I am a mage myself, but she is truly a friend I look up to as a role model.”
Luna’s answer was smooth and flawless.
Since she wasn't lying, this was an easy topic for her to handle.
“Oh? You’re a mage, Luna-san?”
“Yes.”
“...Let me see... I believe I heard a rumor that during the last Summer Training Camp, you went on quite the rampage, cutting through a swarm of monsters with a sword in one hand...?”
Luna’s body gave a small, involuntary shudder.
So she knew even that? The source of that information was—
I glanced at Silvia, but she quickly averted her eyes.
Well, reporting back to her homeland is her job, so I suppose it’s only natural. Luna is a 'high-priority threat' after all. Silvia did say she was a 'basically diligent operative'—she probably reported everything truthfully except for our relationship.
Good grief. I’d better buy Luna some time to recover.
“...And where did you hear that?”
“It’s just a rumor, a mere rumor. Before coming here, I had the opportunity to pay my respects to the nobles of this kingdom. I heard all sorts of things. So, Luna-san, what is the truth of it?”
“...Well, I was surprised myself, but Lord Albert recognized my talent. The training was well worth the effort.”
That was the excuse I’d fabricated back when the other students had grilled us. It would suffice.
“My, how wonderful! Lord Albert, you can do things like that too?”
“It was nothing special. I just gave her a little advice.”
“That’s amazing. Oh, but I’ve heard several unbelievable rumors about you too, Lord Albert. I wonder if you could tell me if they’re true?”
“I don’t mind.”
What did she mean by 'unbelievable'? I thought I’d been living a perfectly normal student life, but—
“Is it true that you scored eight hundred and fifty points on an eight-hundred-point exam?”
Suddenly, an outrageous rumor came flying my way.
That certainly was unbelievable.
“...Ah, yeah... somehow, I managed to get that score...”
In the end, Professor Merlin—the one who gave me those marks—met a mysterious death, so the truth of the matter remains shrouded in darkness.
“So it’s true! How incredible!”
Surely, that was the extent of it. There shouldn't be anything else worth mentioning.
“And in the Practical Magic Exam, you destroyed an Examination Dummy that was supposedly indestructible, right?”
“T-That is also a fact...”
“You totally humiliated Victor-san, who is renowned as a prodigy and expected to be a pillar of the kingdom in the future, didn't you?”
“That happened too...”
“And not just Victor, but you also thrashed Klaus-san, the Knights Order Captain’s son, leaving him in a near-death state?”
“...I certainly did that.”
“And you achieved a stunning victory in a 2-on-2 Battle involving the Saint?”
...I’d intended to live a normal student life, but looking back, this was all a bit too flashy.
It was strange. All I wanted was to live in peace.
“All of those are facts.”
“That’s amazing... Luna-san, is it all true?”
“Yes, every word is a fact. Lord Albert is the most brilliant man in the world, a truly magnificent figure. He cannot be measured by ordinary scales, so scoring beyond the maximum is hardly a surprise. If anything, the problem lies with the current system that can only award him eight hundred and fifty points. Since he is an existence without equal, it is only natural that those who dare raise a hand against Lord Albert are crushed without mercy. To begin with, Lord Albert is—”
Wait, she's talking way too fast and for way too long!
“No, that’s enough! Luna, thank you! I understand your feelings!”
“I haven't even conveyed a third of it yet...”
Luna fell silent, looking a bit dissatisfied. I wondered if it was an effect of her Kin Transformation; her remarks were starting to get a little scary.
“What a magnificent person you are, Lord Albert. As a parent, nothing makes me happier than knowing Silvia is in a relationship with someone like you.”
Then, her gaze locked onto Silvia.
“What is the nature of your relationship with Albert-kun? Do you both cherish each other properly?”
—Here it was, the main event.
Everything until now had been a mere skirmish. From here on, any mistake would be fatal.
“Of course, Mother. We get along very well. Right, Albert-kun?”
As expected of an operative, there wasn't a hint of a tremor in her voice or her emotions. In fact, she’d adjusted her tone so perfectly that I found myself wondering if she actually was in love with me.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
While maintaining eye contact with me, Silvia reached out and plucked a cookie from the plate. Holding it out to my lips, she said:
“Here, say ‘ahh’♪”
Wait, wait, wait! You're going that far?! You're going to show off like this?!
I did everything in my power just to maintain a straight face. But Silvia was radiating the aura of a 'girl in love' with terrifying precision. Operatives are incredible.
And then, it pierced through me—Luna’s gaze.
Luna was staring at our PDA with eyes that could kill. I’m sorry, Luna. I’m sorry you have to see this...
“...A-Ahh...”
I read the room and ate the cookie from Silvia’s hand.
“Good boy, Albert-kun.”
Silvia flashed a beaming smile.
“We’re this close, you see, Mother?”
This girl had some serious guts. My heart was already pounding like a drum. I felt like I might actually fall for her because of the suspension bridge effect.
“How wonderful! Albert-san, what do you like about Silvia?”
After washing down the cookie with some tea, I answered.
“Despite the hardships of being an International Student, she has a brightness that doesn't let it show. Her intellectual curiosity is also charming.”
“I see. And Silvia, what do you like about Albert-kun?”
“Hmm—”
After a moment of thought, Silvia responded.
“...I'd say it's his freedom. Albert-kun only does what he wants to do, without letting himself be tied down by social constraints. I've always admired that about him. And besides, he once told me that I should live my life freely too. Those words are still what support me today.”
“—Freedom, I see.”
Katerina’s gaze shifted between the two of us. For a split second, I felt like something subtle—something different from her previous gentleness—had mixed into her look.
What was that...?
“Luna-san, how does the relationship between these two look from your perspective?”
Oops, that question was expected. I’d already given Luna a model answer to memorize.
I’m counting on you, Luna!
“T-The relationship between them, even from my view, is...! I-It makes me so jealous—to the point where I almost feel envious! I-I find myself wondering when the day will come that I can be lovey-dovey like that too!”
With her fists trembling, Luna spoke as if she were coughing up blood.
I felt terrible for making her say such a stupid script. She clearly hated every second of it. Though, it felt like something different from the lines I’d provided had gotten mixed in there at the end—
“Ufufu, is that so? It seems you have a wonderful relationship. I’m relieved. I’ve heard most of what I wanted to hear.”
Phew... somehow, we’d made it through.
I’d fulfilled my role. As long as I didn't slip up now and managed to get through the final stretch, it would be 'happily ever after' for this little ruse.
Then, Katerina spoke again.
“Well then, why don’t you and Albert-san go on a date now?”
Huh?
A d-d-d-date?!
“Since you are a loving couple, there shouldn't be a problem, right?”
There are plenty of problems!
Look, Luna is over there with her eyes rolled back into her head!
“However, my apologies. I shall be accompanying you as well. I’m sure having a mother tag along will be a bit dampening, but please just enjoy yourselves as if I weren’t there.”
That’s a completely impossible request!
Don’t think you can get away with anything just by telling us to ignore you!
I shot a look at Silvia. The sign was: Can we somehow cancel this? Reach her, my feelings!
Silvia opened her mouth to speak.
“That’s fine, Mother. I’m looking forward to it.”
Daaaaamn it!
...Well, given the situation, there was no way she could have said no. It couldn't be helped.
However, after seeing the flow of events up to this point, my cynical side noticed a certain possibility.
—Was Katerina truly doubting our relationship?
Or was she actually in league with her daughter, forcing us into these 'love-dovey' situations to make me fall for her for real?
For what purpose? To ensnare me. Because having me under their thumb would certainly benefit the Duchy of Osterreich.
I couldn't deny the possibility that this entire conversation was a pre-planned scenario—