I Became the Second-in-Command in a Romance Fantasy Novel

Rias Territory.
One of the most treacherous border regions of the Empire, the Rias family, which governs it, has long protected the area with formidable military strength.

That was all the information I knew.
There was no real need to know more.
Although it was said to be the main stage in the part after the Academy...
That was just a romance fantasy party problem.
Since I planned to somehow shove our prince bastard back into the kingdom,
I firmly believed it was a place completely unrelated to me.
Therefore—
“People actually live there?”
After attending the special lecture on Rias Territory, I wondered why anyone lived in «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» such a place.

“Hey, it’s our territory after all. Don’t be so harsh.”
“But seriously, how do they survive there?”
“Even you, Mari...”
Even the Flame User raised his hand, full of pure curiosity, because Taylor’s explanation of Rias Territory was hard to understand.
“There are lots of wild beasts among the local animals, and monsters too.”
“There are many dungeons nearby, and unidentified dungeons sometimes appear periodically.”
“Sometimes monster waves hit regularly.”
“Aren’t you from the Empire?!”

Even Uncle Aerin spoke up, showing that Rias Territory was not a good place for people to live.
“That’s why the Rias people are strong.”
“Weak ones all died?”
“Is that true?”
Of course, there were places similar to Rias Territory in Leon and Dale as well.
Any country considered a continental power usually had similar bordering areas.
But they designate those as forbidden zones, dispatch troops periodically to control them.
No other country governs such a place as an established territory like Rias does.

“Yeah. Only the Empire can manage that.”
Watching Uncle Aerin beam with pride, the Flame User and I whispered quietly.
“If you’re so proud, why did you make such a fuss trying to beat Leon and Dale and make us come here?”
“And dark mages keep breaking through all the time.”
“Besides, Rias is the one suffering to hold the line. Why does someone unrelated act all high and mighty?”
“Taylor, you bastard! You should be on my side!”
Leaving the back-and-forth between Uncle Aerin and Taylor, I asked what I was truly curious about.

“Is it really okay to bring students there?”
Even if the Rias family managed the territory well, the place was full of variables.
Most students were nobles, and quite a few freshmen were nobles from other countries this year.
If Prince Ellen or the Magic User prince got hurt, it could become an international incident.
“For ordinary students, it’s a bit dangerous. But as I said before, the Academy believes in the talents of the freshmen.”

The Academy’s judgment could be considered cold but reasonable.
If this world wasn’t a romance fantasy.
“But isn’t it dangerous with Daisy there?”
“The Saint? Yeah, there were rumors about groups targeting her. But don’t worry. We’re Rias!”
Taylor said this proudly, but sadly, I couldn’t trust that.
Because…

“Uncle Aerin said the same thing, didn’t he?”
“Ugh!”
Even before the Academy was breached, Uncle Aerin used to say things like that.
Even after one breach, his reaction was similar.
“That’s right, Taylor. We must be careful with the Saint... Daisy.”

Uncle Aerin seemed to understand the romance fantasy world better now, but unfortunately, Taylor had zero understanding of it.
“What do you mean, be careful with the Saint?”
“Well…”
Uncle Aerin tried to explain, but—

“Gyaaah!”
Unable to explain the phenomenon he witnessed, he grabbed his head and screamed.
“Anyway, what will you do?”

“What, what?”

Ignoring the Empire duo playing around, I asked the Flame User about the afternoon schedule.
That’s because—
“Today is the closing ceremony. Last chance for a date, right?”
“Ugh…”
His eyes filled with tears again at that fact. Damn you, Flame User.
“Why are you staring like that?! You’re the same!”
“No, I’m not.”
“Oh, you’re not?”

What kind of surprised expression was that?
“Of course. I have a date.”
Damn it, some people want it but can’t have it.

“Twice, no less.”
“......”
I really didn’t want to, but I had to.
—From now on, the closing ceremony of the Founding Festival…

Along with the distant announcement, a huge bonfire was lit.
Called a campfire.
More common in comics than novels, and more in school settings than romance fantasy.
…Why a medieval romance fantasy full of nobles at an academy would have a campfire, I still don’t quite get.
But that wasn’t the point right now.
“You really don’t care at all.”

Muttering quietly like that—
“Didn’t I tell you to just trust me?”
With a smack, Lorelia Senior knocked her chest confidently and spoke.
Like she said, even in a space full only of students, there were surprisingly few eyes that made an impression.
At most, some looks came from the flower arranging club members.
Of course, two of those gazes were rather intense.
But that disappeared quickly with the fireworks signaling the festival’s end.

“Getting the last day feels like I won.”
“What do fake people win among themselves?”
“Fake or not, they took my fiancé.”
“He wants to return her himself, though.”
“That makes it worse. Not wanting her but losing her anyway… doesn’t it feel like a perfect defeat?”
“So you took revenge?”
“Something like that.”
Humming a tune and nodding, he really looked excited.
“That’s why it’s a shame only freshmen are going to Rias Territory.”
“The rumor’s already out?”
“Looks like you know too, Adam. The rumor’s spreading among the student council and some officials. It’s been a bit buried by the Founding Festival… but after today, everyone will know.”
“When will the announcement be made?”
“First class next week. Until then, they’re keeping the festival atmosphere.”

Hell starts next week.
“No wonder they said they’d skip midterms for the Founding Festival.”
“They crammed everything into the school trip and final exams.”
“Why would a school trip be an exam?”
“Didn’t you know? The ‘school’ in ‘school trip’ means cultivating learning. In other words, a journey of study. So this freshman trip will best embody that meaning.”
Lorelia Senior smiled softly after saying this and reached out.
“Campfires need dancing.”
“Nobles enjoy campfires too?”
“Nobles are people too.”

Still didn’t make sense to me.
Leon doesn’t have campfires at kingdom events.
Does the Empire?
I can’t imagine building a fire and holding a festival right in the middle of the royal gardens.
“Please take it easy.”
“Don’t worry. This is my specialty.”
Half dragged out, spun around a few times.

Occasionally caught some sharp glances, but those were other men dancing too, so maybe a draw.
More surprisingly, Violet also danced once each with other romance fantasy male leads.
I guess it’s common in the Empire.

“Hm, by the way. That friend you’re watching—didn’t you pull him over to Leon?”
“Uncle Aerin already told you everything?”
“Had to. This matter is more troublesome than you think. Even the father is involved.”
“But he’s still helping.”
“Hm. It’s a promise. And since we caused the trouble first, we have to care more.”
“Seems like it’s your father helping more than you, senior…”
“I flattered my father after a long time for that. It’s tough at this age.”
I understood that.
“You know you brought this disaster on yourself, right?”

Lorelia Senior smiled and said in response.
“I know. So come play in the disaster with me.”
A truly ominous statement.

After the first date ended, I headed to the second date spot.
Of course, Daisy was there...
“No, Princess Hestia with a sword was there.”
“So you’ve been running away well until now?”
“I haven’t run away.”
“You think I wouldn’t know you ran off leaving Ellen behind?”

Surprisingly perceptive princess.
“But even so, Ellen didn’t seem to care much since he was being taught by the Swordmaster.”
“……”
At that, Princess Hestia averted her gaze.
Since arriving at the academy, she had left things undone just to receive daily lessons from the Swordmaster.

“How… how did you know that?”
How could she not know.
“Senior Lucia was crying and looking for the princess.”

No matter how much Senior Lucia was the “pants president,” she couldn’t do everything the princess could.
So whenever the Empire looked for Princess Hestia, she wandered around here and there.
Naturally, the accompanying intelligence agents asked how to handle it.
“Lucia, seriously.”
Blaming Senior Lucia here.
When she returns, the commander will likely get a flood of resignation letters from Senior Lucia.

“Ah, anyway! That was all training to beat you!”
Tch.
Princess Hestia raised her sword and threw the other sword she was holding toward me.
“Come at me.”

Her confident expression was still the same.
“No, why would you think about sword fighting at someone else’s festival?”
Honestly, I had no reason to fight.

“Why, scared?”
She made a fully provocative face, but I had no reason to fall for it.
“No, really. And you’re going home after the second semester anyway. I’ll win then, so why don’t you just watch the closing ceremony?”

Maybe because my sincerity got through, the princess frowned and lowered her sword.
“I saw earlier that all you did was circle around the firewood. That’s boring. Isn’t sparring more fun?”
“In the Empire, everyone enjoys it. Why don’t you try?”
“Dancing is like swordsmanship. You can’t do it alone. Or, will you be my partner?”
“Well, I guess so.”
After all, I had just been a dance partner for the fake girlfriend a moment ago.
For my own princess, a simple dance was no problem.

“But why are you holding swords?”
I was going to dance, but this person raised her sword again when she offered to be a partner.
“Leon’s dance is swordplay.”
“……”

Taking stance, Princess Hestia grinned and said, glancing sideways.
“And since the Swordmaster is here to observe, we can dance without hesitation.”
Looking over there, I saw the Swordmaster leaning against a tree with a strangely satisfied expression.
Why was that guy there?

“Well then, I’ll go first.”
“Hah…”
With light steps, Princess Hestia swung her sword, and I had no choice but to dance again.