Second Arc: Twenty-Third Chapter

"Cosette! There's no need for you to fight any duel!"

"That's right," said Remias. "It makes me glad you'd be angry for Remie's sake, but there's no need to go so far as—"

His Highness and Remias pressed on, flustered. Both of them had noticed how I'd been doing everything I could to stay out of these duels. For some reason I ended up roped into every last one — commentary, the venue, what have you — but never by my own choosing.

Behind the two of them, Lady Julia and the others let their anxious eyes waver too. Georg was eating a tart. Your third one, you jerk!

I grinned at my worried friends.

"A woman has battles she can't back down from!"

Hand on my hip, I declared it, grand and stately.

---

"I've heard the whole story."

Just then, a clear, dignified voice rang out across the garden terrace. The wall of people parted with an audible rush, and a tall, beautiful woman came slowly toward us.

Her lovely silver hair — like gathered moonlight — swept up, clad in a lavender dress, an elegant woman… Her Majesty the Queen approached where we stood facing off.

"Mother…"

Why is she here. I heard the crown prince murmur it. My feelings exactly. Two hearts, one thought.

Eyes wide with shock, the students bowed all at once.

"Raise your heads. I've heard what you had to say. A duel, is it… Has the form of the contest been decided?"

"N-no, Your Majesty."

Fixed by the Queen's gaze, Lady Isabella answered hastily. When the Queen then flicked a glance at me, I shook my head hard.

"Then allow me to decide it for you. You know of the hunt the royal family is to host soon?"

Lady Isabella, myself, and the other nobles lowered our eyes in assent. Seeing it, the Queen nodded magnanimously and went on.

"The two of you will come to it dressed in the finest attire each of you can conceive. You seemed to be quarreling over clothes, after all — nothing could be more fitting. The judging will be done by myself, His Majesty the King, and the crown prince."

"But…! Surely His Highness the Crown Prince is bound to side with Lady Cosette! It isn't fair!"

Lady Isabella protested — to the Queen's very face.

Impressive, Lady Isabella. Protesting to the Queen — is her heart made of steel?

When the Queen knit her brows in displeasure and turned her eyes on Lady Isabella, the girl let out a small, strangled "Hii."

"You imply that we would judge dishonestly? …How very bold."

At the Queen's cold tone, Lady Isabella's color went past blue and on to white. Sweat beading on her bloodless face, she bowed her head, trembling.

"…I misspoke. My apologies."

"That will do. …There won't be a second time, though."

The Queen said it without so much as looking at Lady Isabella, then snapped her fan shut and smiled, sweet and elegant.

"Well then, I shall look forward to the day of the hunt. Good day to you."

As she turned to go, the Queen threw me a crisp little wink.

"Huh…?"

Not grasping what it meant, I stood there blankly and watched Her Majesty's departing back.