Chapter 17
“Returning to the territory. Looking forward to the break.”
The Duke’s letter, arriving early in the morning, failed to stir much emotion in Ayla. She had a more pressing concern than her father’s missive – a date, a massive challenge awaiting her.
Standing before her wardrobe, she scanned its contents with worried eyes. The closet was rather sparse, which made sense. With uniforms required at the Academy, there was little need for other clothes. More importantly, she’d never cared much about fashion. Back at the duchy, clothes had naturally flowed her way, with the tailor and her mother handling everything. She never dreamed this indifference would lead to such predicament.
“No, that’s not right. Why? It’s just a date in name only. Why am I fussing over clothes?”
Surely not, Ayla von Dürman. Are you actually thinking about trying to impress Damian?
Horrified at her own thoughts, she shook her head violently to dispel such madness. Finally selecting an outfit appropriate for this pretense of a date – a white frilled shirt paired with a navy skirt that fell to her knees, complete with a matching ribbon at the neck.
Fully dressed, she studied her reflection. The ensemble was neither too elaborate nor eye-catching. Perfect.
She pulled her hair up into her usual style, securing it with a purple ribbon that matched her eyes – a gift from Damian, though she didn’t consciously register this fact. She’d simply grabbed what was visible, though truthfully, most of her hair ribbons were his gifts.
Her bound hair swayed gently as she left the room, unaware that her steps toward the school gate carried an unusual spring.
The gate area appeared empty – he hadn’t arrived yet. Pulling out her pocket watch, she checked the time in disbelief. Multiple glances at the hands confirmed the impossible: she was thirty minutes early. A full half hour ahead.
She considered returning to the dormitory. The last thing she wanted was to appear waiting for him, especially not thirty minutes early.
“Right, let’s go back-“
Just as she steeled herself to leave, she froze mid-step.
“Ayla.”
Time and breath seemed to stop. She could only stare blankly as he approached.
The sunlight was, cruelly, dazzling.
* * *
“When did you arrive?”
He extended his hand while asking. Without thinking, she took it reflexively. His attire wasn’t the violet uniform or formal wear suitable for a banquet. A navy shirt with black slacks – while his noble bearing couldn’t be completely hidden, at first glance he looked like any ordinary male student. Though unplanned, her carefully chosen skirt matched his shirt color perfectly. She wanted nothing more than to flee back to her dormitory.
“Ayla? Are you listening?”
He waved his other hand before her eyes. Her unfocused gaze finally sharpened. Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, their amethyst depths momentarily bewitching him with their beauty.
“Oh… yes, I’m listening.”
“Have you decided where to go?”
His clear voice, devoid of any ulterior motive, drummed against her ears. She barely managed to gather her scattered thoughts. This was purely for show. In his words, it was to add credibility. There was absolutely no reason for her heart to flutter.
Ignoring her pounding heart, she recited the date course she’d memorized from an unlikely source – a magazine she’d normally never glance at.
“Since it’s early, let’s go to a theater first, then get food. After that, we could visit a café, take a walk…”
What else was there? She pondered deeply. There was something more…
“Top 10 Romantic Date Spots”
But why create atmosphere? The question dissolved instantly upon seeing one particular line, which had made her close the magazine immediately.
“Perfect for advancing the relationship!”
[Just don’t speed too much!]
Serina’s words echoed in her mind. Advancing? Speeding? This was absolutely impossible. After all, Damian didn’t have those feelings for her…
“Ayla?”
None at all.
Her racing heart plunged into a swamp of reality. She struggled to maintain an unbothered façade while inwardly mocking herself. What an exemplary lady – rational and emotionless in all matters…
“Let’s just walk for now.”
“Shall we?”
His sunny smile could have matched the clear sky, but in her heart, it felt like rain.
* * *
Beyond the school gate, a vast plaza spread out at the bottom of the steps. At its center stood a massive fountain, meticulously crafted by the Imperial Art University. The elegant curved pedestal featured the first Emperor brandishing his sword in a charge – truly a statue designed to inspire martial spirit.
The first Emperor, Claudius von Lancaster Helios Epiphanes, was the victor of the conquest wars two hundred years ago.
Claudius was originally the king of the Helios Kingdom, which itself had been the Lancaster Duchy three centuries prior. The duchy had succeeded in territorial expansion by defeating the Skandi Kingdom in a war three hundred years ago. Thus, the imperial family still carried the Lancaster name.
Around the fountain-centered plaza, coachmen waited, calling out to students heading home or out for leisure.
“Unbeatable prices! Just 2 gold one-way, any distance!”
“Only 3 gold round trip! We’ll treat you like family!”
The weekend plaza buzzed with more energy than usual. She felt her sunken spirits mysteriously beginning to lift.
Beyond the plaza, two main roads split around a central lawn. Colorful roofs lined the streets – some residential, but mostly shops. Uniform stores, general goods shops, and affordable restaurants catering to Academy students dominated the area. The eateries were particularly crowded.
Students in casual clothes filled the streets. As they walked, sidelong glances and whispers followed them. “See? They are dating after all.” “Wow, they’re not even hiding it anymore.” “There’ll be engagement news soon.” “The union of House Dürman and the Imperial Family – that’s no small matter.”
The reactions played out exactly as planned. It should have been satisfying, yet she only felt bitterness. The waves in her heart crashed like the sea.
The union of House Dürman and the Imperial Family would never happen.
She tried to direct her attention elsewhere, calming the turbulent waves with thoughts of visiting Caelum after this non-date ended.
Past the bustling restaurants, general stores, and bookshops, something caught her eye. Her gaze fixed unconsciously.
“Ayla. Would you like to try that?”
At the end of her line of sight stood a shooting gallery. The game involved knocking down dolls with a cork gun to win them. He felt quite drawn to it himself, hoping to win her a large plush with his skills.
“Shall we go?”
She looked at him as if asking for permission.
“Why not? There’s no law against it.”
He led her over with a playful smile.
* * *
Bang. Bang.
Despite being just a cork gun, the sound wasn’t much different from a real one. He stood beside her, staring blankly at the doll display. Things weren’t going according to his plan.
Five shots for one gold – quite a business strategy for targeting students, but for the wealthy nobility like the Dürmans and Lancasters, it was pocket change. They gladly paid two gold for ten shots, anticipating some misses.
“…”
He fell silent. Had the Duke taught her shooting as well? She hit every target she aimed at.
Bang.
For the finale, she even knocked down the large bear doll he’d been eyeing.
“Wow. That’s truly impressive!”
Even the shop owner applauded in amazement.
“It’s rare for ladies to shoot so well. Are you perhaps attending the military academy?”
“No, I just learned a bit from my father.”
“Your father must be quite remarkable, haha.”
The owner showed genuine admiration despite the business loss. Though slightly dumbfounded, he masked his expression and took the gun she handed him. While this wasn’t going as planned, he’d paid and secretly wanted to impress her.
Bang.
The shots rang out and five rounds ended in an instant.
“Oh my, you didn’t have to… Thank you very much.”
Feeling guilty about potentially ruining the shop’s finances, he paid an extra ten gold. They’d won ten dolls between them. Though both had hit the large bear, they opted for smaller plushies for easier carrying. The owner kindly packed them into a bag.
“Take care!”
