Eliza chapter 203 – Returning to noble school

For the newly emerged large country known as the Rindarl Union that was only a year and a half old… Well, more technically, it was mostly a war with the Densel Dukedom of the Rindarl Union. Since the Rindarl armies had suffered massive losses on the Tave River, together with the rebellion of their slave soldiers during their attempt to siege Fort Droyan, and the fact that their farthest frontline base as well as Densel’s capital Eris suffered a complete loss of all supplies kept there due to fire, Rindarl finally offered their unconditional surrender.

Peace negotiations were still ongoing, and it seemed that my neighbor Margrave Genas’ army was in charge of escorting and protecting Arxia’s peace ambassador to Densel’s capital. Arxia was now already circulating stories of how Rindarl finally understood Arxia’s true military might, that it was no joking matter to mess with Arxia.

Since I had to recuperate from my injuries, I returned to the royal capital much later than the royal army did, and returned to the noble school that still appeared the same as before I headed for Fort Jugfena. Anyway, at the school now, just about all the students avoided me even more than before, most likely because of stories they heard from their parents. Well, due to having fought again on the battlefield, stories about my infamous reputation and wicked plots that I used during the war may have spread even further.

Well, all those changes were trivial – such as how my head now felt lighter with less hair than before.

“Kaldia! It seems that Grays and Alfred are returning to school today. It’s been quite a long while since we saw them last, hasn’t it? Don’t you think we should go greet them?”

“…………His Royal Highness and Grays are most likely tired from their civic duties. I’m sure that they would be bothered by our greeting.”

“Nah, rather, if you go, I’m sure that Alfred will be saved from having too many people swarm around him. Let’s go!”

And so, Eric pulled my arm towards the crowd that was already beginning to form.

After Eric returned to noble school and had a few conversations with his father the Archduke, he’s remained like this all the time.

Did he misunderstand something and believe us to be friends now? Where did his unwillingness to associate with a low-ranked Earl like myself disappear to?

I thought that Eric wanted me to keep my distance from the crown prince due to my negative reputation, why did it become like this? I only had one long talk with Eric back at Fort Jugfena that I can recall. That was it. Was that the cause? Doesn’t this seem like too much of a change?

What’s more, Eric was sent off to Fort Jugfena in the first place as a way to punish him for starting that scandal with Sieghart and to distance him and me from national politics. Well, if his relationship with me improved slightly due to it, it was not a problem – that was within my calculations.

But instead, not only was Eric not removed from the crown prince’s inner circle, he seems to be acting far more familiar with me than I expected and is even encouraging me to interact with the crown prince now… For a lack of better words to describe it, I felt like I was missing too many pieces of the puzzle.

From what I heard, the rebellion of the enemy slave armies at Fort Droyan seemed to have come about due to the speech Eric ended up giving to the royal army.

After he was touched by visiting the mentally injured soldiers in the makeshift hospital at Fort Jugfena, Eric finally gave the royal army formal permission to attack as well as inspiring and encouraging the knights for their honorable service to Arxia. Due to his speech, the knights at the frontlines of Fort Droyan avoided combat as much as possible with the enemy slave soldiers, and in some cases even actively protected them – which apparently led to the enemy slaves’ great rebellion.

And as a result, all the troops at Fort Droyan returned almost unscathed.

Thanks to this being recognized as Eric’s accomplishment, while Eric did leave the crown prince’s side for a time, Eric ended up performing tasks such as giving inspiring speeches to some of the most powerful knight orders in Arxia, working on veterans’ benefits for retired and injured Arxian soldiers, and other such civic duties. In fact, it could be said that Eric had gotten closer to the center of national politics as well.

I could only smile helplessly at Eric telling this was all thanks to me. I did not plan for it, nor did I expect it.

Why did things become like this? Really, why did things become like this?

But right now, I didn’t want to deal with Eric’s minor bothering of me. Although I can’t say that we were friends just because of this one thing – it was an indisputable fact that I was able to rest peacefully and recuperate from my injuries before coming back to noble school thanks to Eric’s assistance.

Since I owed him this favor, I couldn’t treat his minor bothering of me as an evil action.

“Alfred! Grays! Ah, Sieghart’s here as well!”

Eric pushed his way through the crowd as he dragged me along after him. I could see that the crown prince and Grays had shocked expressions at seeing the two of us. The general commander’s grandson, who was most likely here to greet Prince Alfred and Grays, glanced warmly in my direction.

The crown prince was able to quickly return to his usual smile as he greeted me with an “it’s been a long time.” With that, I no longer had the option of escaping as it would be a breach of etiquette, so I could only greet him in return.

“Your Royal Highness Crown Prince Alfred, and Viscount Dovadain. It has been so long since I’ve been in the presence of your esteemed selves. I am truly gratified that you are both doing well.”

“You as well, Kaldia. I heard that you were quite active in the war against Rindarl. Apparently you suppressed Densel’s capital city Eris, and destroyed all the enemy’s ships on the Tave River.”

“That was all thanks to Earl Wiegraf Einsbark’s strategy.”

“I also heard that you declined most of the rewards. It does seem like your style, but…”

“…I do not need any increase in noble rank nor additional territory. I would be terribly troubled to receive such things.”

Even the rank of an Earl was too high for my tastes, so I definitely didn’t want a promotion. And as for land, I didn’t even have enough time or personnel to develop what the Kaldia domain already had, so I wanted land even less. Even if I received such things, they would only be a burden and attract even more envy from other nobles that I wouldn’t want. The only thing I wanted was money. Well, personnel as well. And also food supplies, and materials to be used in construction and so on…

“In any case, you seem to be getting along quite well with Eric now. I feel truly relieved.”

“My deepest apologies for causing your Royal Highness concern over such a trivial matter.”

“Do not mind such a thing. I am just glad to see my friends and companions getting along. But, is everything all right?”

With that question, the crown prince tilted his head. Was everything all right? He was probably referring to the political and reputation balance and repercussions for me. Since he’s probably heard stories about me as well, I suppose it’s only natural that he would be worried.

“-that someone such as I was able to befriend Eric during our joint excursion, I believe it must be Misorua’s guidance. Although I say this, the grace of Misorua’s guidance has already exceeded what my body can handle. It would be arrogance on my part to desire more, as it would be akin to forcing a bent nail straight with a hammer.”

Although my words were polite and formal, I basically told them rather bluntly through this that ‘while Eric and I have resolved our disagreements, I don’t intend to do anything beyond my ranking by associating with all of you.’ The crown prince and Grays’ expressions stiffened ever so slightly at this.

“…I see. You are as humble as always. Then I as well shall pray to Misorua for an opportunity to become closer with you.”

38 responses to “Eliza chapter 203 – Returning to noble school

  1. Thank you for the chapter.
    Who needs sleep when Eliza updates XD?
    And : Hold up, hasn’t it only been recent that Eliza has been praising the church and god? Why? And I the only one who find this weird? Did I miss something?

    Liked by 21 people

  2. Many thanks for the many chaps !
    We haven’t seen anyone gossip about eliza’s new haircut, but i’m certain that her ikeman power augmented by at least 120℅ !

    Liked by 16 people

  3. I somehow thought that Alfred was meant to point her injuries, not politics… and their stiffened reaction is like “aah this girl is misunderstanding again… and her words hurt yo”

    Oh. I am excited for Zephyr’s reappearance =)))

    Liked by 9 people

  4. Eric: Hey! Did you hear? I’m now in charge of all these matters relating to soldier speeches and benefits.
    Eliza: Yes… I wonder how this happened…
    Eric: … and it’s all thanks to you!
    Eliza: Surely not.
    Eric: It’s all thanks to the speech you’ve given me! Thanks to it, I understood the spirit of chilvalry and finally knew what to do! You’re such an inspiration!
    Eliza: Is he making fun of me?!
    Eric: I’m so lucky that you’re here to teach me. If you need anything, just ask me. We’re best friends after all!
    Eliza: ??!

    Elsewhere:
    Crown Prince: Kaldia-dono seems to be avoiding me… Jeff-dono, you seem to be on good terms with her. How did you befriend her?
    Jeff: Ah? Actually, it’s thanks to my father. They had business relations, so he asked her to take care of me.
    Crown Prince: Hm… Sieghart, Eric, you also seem to be getting along with her.
    Sieghart: She actually gets along real well with my grandfather! So of course we get along well too.
    Eric: I admit I didn’t like her too much at first, but I changed my mind after going with her to the front lines. My father was the one who arranged all this. It seems Kaldia is the one who asked him.
    Crown Prince: Parents, is it?
    Eric: Eliza-dono really is something. She declined title and territory. The only reward she accepted is gold.
    Crown Prince: Gold, is it?

    Later:
    Earl Terejia: Eliza?! What’s wrong, you look terrible?
    Eliza: I was summoned by the King again. I must have offended the Crown Prince, because the King warned me to ‘get along with him’. He implied that the amount of ‘subsidies’ my territory receives could be affected by the outcome.
    Earl Terejia: What do you plan to do from now on?
    Eliza: Since I don’t know what I’ve done to offend the Crown Prince, I shall do my best to avoid him from now.
    Earl Terejia: I see. (Hmm, why do I feel that something feels off…)

    Liked by 17 people

    • I bet the reason that everyone is avoiding her at school is because they’re all in awe at her accomplishments and standing. Now that the ‘leader’ of the ‘opposing’ faction is Eliza’s #1 follower, she probably controls the whole school. Not that she’s aware of it. xD

      I wonder what the Crown Prince was Actually worried about though? It may not have been what Eliza was thinking of. xD

      Liked by 9 people

  5. You know Eliza-sama, one of the passive skill of those with the title of ‘Prince’ were “If you don’t like me, ill make you like me’ skill. To deny them bluntly is to make them push themselves onto you more, Its a branch of masochist skills.

    Liked by 6 people

  6. Come to think of it, things Eric (thinks he) owes Eliza:
    – No longer being caught up in his own personal issues
    – Got his place in society through finding a task he really cares about
    – Overall grew up as a person

    Things Eliza owes Eric:
    – Sick leave

    Eliza thinks she owes Eric. xD

    Liked by 4 people

  7. Would you suggest applying these tips within a work place setting? What’s best will often be a little different for each person involved. I have been working in this industry for about 5 months and I often visit to this blog for the best insider news. I really enjoy the details you gave here. Any additional insights? It would be really appreciated. These websites make me think a lot.

    Like

  8. Push and Pull strategy is the best way to attract someone. In this context as everyone is pushing themselves to earn favour with Crown Prince and Eliza is the only one actively avoiding him, he is curious and attreacted to her as she is a breath of fresh air. Poor Eliza the harder she tries to push him away the more interested he becomes.

    Like

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