Extra: The Artistic Count
Rrrumble!
Grrrgggl!
“Haaah...”
Inglis and Rafinha let out deep sighs at the same time while they carried construction materials. Currently, all students were helping to rebuild the destroyed buildings of the knights’ academy.
“So hungryyy! Can’t go on...” After lamenting together, they dropped off the mountainous loads of lumber at the stockpile.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Even in her current state, Inglis could do the work of ten.
Leone watched with a bemused expression. “Regardless, if you can lift that much, I think you’re doing well enough...”
“But that’s all I’ve got in me. I can’t move anymore,” Inglis protested.
“Me too...” Rafinha agreed.
The two slumped down.
“Ha ha ha. Then let’s take a quick break.” Leone sat down next to Inglis and Rafinha.
“Ha ha... We’re stuck like this until the cafeteria reopens, aren’t we...?” Inglis bemoaned.
“Yeah. The rations the principal’s supplying aren’t nearly enough...” Rafinha agreed.
Rafael, whom the pair normally counted on when it came to financial matters, was away at the front lines. Little remained of Inglis and Rafinha’s allowances—definitely not enough to feed their appetites.
“We haven’t been hungry like this since the year before last...” Rafinha rolled over and rested her head in Inglis’s lap.
“You’re right.” Inglis didn’t mind Rafinha’s being there. It was just like Inglis was spoiling a grandchild.
“Did something happen?” Leone asked.
“The harvest in our hometown of Ymir failed that year...” Rafinha began to explain.
“And because the citizens were tightening their belts because of the lack of food, we did the same in solidarity,” Inglis continued.
“Back then, I acted like my dad was a monster.”
“But isn’t leading by example a part of being a good lord?” Inglis replied.
“Mm-hmm. It was the right thing to do. But it still sucked!”
“If I remember right, you even tried eating a magicite beast.”
“Whaaat?!” Leone gasped.
“You tried too, Chris!” Rafinha shot back.
“I’m your squire, Rani, I’m supposed to do whatever you do,” Inglis offered as an excuse.
“You always blame other people when something inconvenient comes up.” Rafinha pouted, sulking.
“So, uh... Did you end up eating it?” Leone asked.
“Nope. The knights got really mad and stopped us,” Rafinha said.
“We never did eat one,” Inglis said.
“So back then you endured it, right? That should mean you can do the same now,” Leone prompted.
“Well, not exactly. We got something to eat right after that,” Rafinha explained.
“How?” Leone asked.
“A part-time job with benefits,” Inglis answered.
“Oh...? Doing what?”
“Well...”
◆◇◆
The year before last, when their hometown of Ymir was struck by famine...
Inglis and Rafinha, even though they had been as hungry as they were now, regularly accompanied the knights of Ymir on hunts for magicite beasts. By then, at the age of thirteen, Rafinha had already become the best of Ymir’s knights with her upper-class Rune and Artifact, and Inglis was seen as a martial-arts prodigy even while hiding her aether abilities. The knights had come to rely on their power. They couldn’t slack off simply because they were hungry.
During one hungry excursion, Inglis and Rafinha spotted a group of people under attack by magicite beasts in the forest near Ymir. There were dozens of people, all carrying ample amounts of luggage. Since they were aware that magicite beasts could attack at any time, they were naturally armed to defend themselves. Still, they seemed to be having a hard time due to the large number of magicite beasts.
Inglis and Rafinha immediately moved to rescue them.
“Chris! If this goes on for long, we’ll feel even hungrier, so let’s take them out in one shot like normal!”
“Okay—got it!” Inglis led the way, plunging into the pack of magicite beasts. She prioritized the ones that were attacking the group’s guards and sent them flying.
A guard gasped in awe. “She’s beating magicite beasts with her bare hands?!”
“Wh-What?! How can she do that?!”
“A-Amazing! A girl that cute...”
The guardsmen stopped, their eyes glued to Inglis’s movements.
Inglis urged them to clear the area. “Get back! There’s a big attack coming from above!”
“Okay!”
“Got it!”
“But what about you?!”
“I’ll—” Just as Inglis began to respond, a rain of Rafinha’s arrows of light began to fall from overhead. It was an unrelenting wide-scale attack meant for when the guards had fully retreated, but Rafinha was a bit impatient today—perhaps her empty stomach was to blame.
“Aaaaagh!”
The guards screamed in terror at the sight. Their worry was unwarranted, because a few moments later, all that was left in the area was a wiped-out pack of magicite beasts and a scratchless Inglis.
“It may be a bit late to say so, but I’m fine. Thanks for being concerned, though,” Inglis said.
“S-Sure...”
“You’re amazing...”
“Th-There’s no way you’re an ordinary person!”
Then Rafinha rushed over. “Chriiis! Are you okay? I didn’t hit you?”
“No worries, Rani. I’m fine.”
“Okay. Well, I figured it would take more than that to hit you.” Rafinha nodded, and called out to the guards. “Hello! We’re knights of Ymir. Be careful on your journey!”
“Safe travels,” Inglis added. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
The two smiled, and were about to leave, but—
“Simply incredible! What a lovely sight you young ladies are! You’ve set my heart aflaaame!” A slender middle-aged man hopped up and down as he called out in a crazed voice. With a proud strut, he approached the two girls.
The two recoiled. They had to admit—he was a bit creepy.
“Ah, I simply must have forgotten to introduce myself! I’m none other than Count Weismar, the leader of this grand troupe! But please, you must listen!”
“Uhh...?” they both said.
Grrrgggl!
Inglis and Rafinha’s stomachs rumbled at the same time.
“My, my, do you happen to be hungry? Have no fear, I’ll have something right out! We can converse as we eat.”
Inglis and Rafinha nodded without hesitation. “Yes! Absolutely!”
◆◇◆
The Bilford ducal residence in the fortress city of Ymir had a visitor the next day.
“Hmm... So the famed ‘Artistic Count,’ Lord Weismar, seeks to put on a performance in my city of Ymir...” Duke Bilford said.
“Yes, indeeeed!” the count said. “I’ve heard of your failed harvest and the resulting famine! In times like these, the people’s hearts must surely be troubled, yes? Buuut the power of art can heal them! Or, perhaps not to go too far, at least provide a distraction. Please, grant your permission for me to perform!” Count Weismar spoke in a high-pitched voice and with gestures that were perhaps a bit too exaggerated, but that seemed to be normal for him. His clothing—his everything, really—was eccentric.
But despite his strange appearance, he was quite well known. He led a theatrical troupe that traveled from place to place, performing plays, songs, and dances. Originally his family was noble, but they had lost their holdings in his grandfather’s generation, and he was the third to lead a traveling troupe. The Weismar Troupe had been performing for decades.
“Very well. I suppose it will be enjoyed by the people. I’d wanted to ask that of you anyway—but about putting Rafinha and Inglis on stage...”
“Yes, yes, of course! When those young ladies appeared before me, I thought angels had come down from heaven! Their existence alone is art! Please, I beg of you! Allow me to have them on stage! They’re the daughters of the local lord and the captain of the knights, so surely the people will recognize them? For them to appear on stage would only make the smiles of the audience shine brighter!”
“Well... I understand your reasoning, but...Rafinha...”
Duke Bilford was still uncomfortable with the idea of his daughter being on stage. Inglis could understand that feeling. Rafinha would probably be made into a spectacle.
“Yes! This performance will include a song and a dance! And I’m sure her beautiful appearance will charm the people!”
“Well...”
Rafinha, though, was eager. “Father, I want to participate! It’ll cheer up everyone in town!”
That was true, but Rafinha’s interest seemed to come more from a maidenly whim of curiosity. She also couldn’t forget Count Weismar’s promise of all-they-could-eat food during rehearsals and the performance—that was possibly the most persuasive part. The troupe had traveled with plenty of food for themselves and had enough to spare. They wouldn’t go hungry if they shared it with two more people. Plus, if it sounded like fun, Rafinha was sure to be on board.
“Hey, Chris! You wanna join too, right?!” Rafinha asked.
“Huh...? Well...” Inglis was extremely conflicted. On the one hand, she didn’t like the idea of singing or dancing in front of people. After having a hard time with the curious stares when she dressed up for the party, she didn’t think she’d take appearing before an even larger crowd well. If that had been all there was to it, she’d decline...but then she’d be hungry.
“Hmm... I’m not sure.”
“C’mon, Chris, you know you wanna!”
“Listen, I at least need to ask my parents first.”
Her father, Luke, was likely to have the same reaction as Duke Bilford, and her mother, Serena, was modest and proper. Inglis couldn’t see her smiling on the idea. Irina, Rafinha’s mother and Inglis’s aunt, had a personality much like Rafinha’s, so she might be okay with Rafinha being in the performance.
“Very well. It’s not a decision for me to make myself. I must ask Irina and Serena, and Luke will be back later tonight. Lord Weismar, let us come to a conclusion in the morning,” the Duke intoned.
“Oho ho! Understood, my good man!” With another strange flourish, Count Weismar smiled.
Once evening arrived, as everyone gathered for dinner at the castle, the subject came up.
As Inglis’s mother heard the story, her face was stern. Then she said with the utmost sincerity, “Chris... This is a great opportunity. You absolutely should do it!”
“Whaaat?!” Inglis, not expecting that response, was uncharacteristically shocked.
“Come on, Serena, are you serious? Inglis doesn’t even seem that excited about it.” Luke was surprised too.
“Yes. She must!”
“Umm...” Inglis began, at a loss for what to say next. This isn’t like my mother, who’s always calm and composed, she thought.
“I knew it! I knew you’d understand, Aunt Serena! C’mon, mom. Let me go too!” Rafinha said.
“Well, if Chris is...” Irina chuckled. “That’s every girl’s dream, isn’t it? It might be better than just fighting magicite beasts all the time.”
Duke Bilford had a troubled expression. “Come now... Fighting magicite beasts is a knight’s noble duty to protect their people.”
“That much is true. But as a mother, I’d like to see my daughter shine on the stage.”
“Well... I suppose if Inglis is along too, I don’t object...”
It seemed that the decision rested on Inglis.
Her father turned to her. “Now, Inglis, your mother seems to like the idea, but you can decline the offer if that’s what you want. What would you like to do?”
“W-Well... I’d like a little time to think.” Even with what her mother had said, she still wasn’t convinced.
Late that night at home, Inglis opened the window of her room and gazed at the stars. As she did, the voices of her parents drifted to her from the next room over.
“Serena, it wasn’t like you to be so insistent with Inglis.”
“Sorry, dear. But Inglis... She’s always wanted to be a squire, and the people of Ymir are kind to her. However, when she leaves for the knights’ academy in the capital, she might have unhappy or painful experiences because she doesn’t have a Rune.”
“You’re right. That could be a problem. She’s able to live a carefree life here in Ymir, but...”
“Yes. Just in case terrible things happen in the future, I think she needs to know that she has other options open, so I think this is a good opportunity. That’s why I was so insistent.”
“I see. That’s a really good way of putting it. Tomorrow, I’ll recommend to Inglis that she give it a try.”
“Yes. Thank you, dear.”
Hearing that much, Inglis softly closed her window. It seemed she should accept the offer. Standing on stage would definitely be embarrassing, though.
In the end, Inglis ate her fill while practicing singing and dancing, and her time on stage was a huge success. Her mother watched over her with joy in her eyes. Thanks to that, Inglis was okay enough with the stares that washed over her.
Rafinha later said that she’d matured as a girl; whether that was a good thing or a bad thing was a bit complicated.
◆◇◆
“Huh, so you met Count Weismar? I suppose if you’re as good looking as Inglis, you’re bound to catch his eye,” Leone commented.
“It’s such a nice memory! Chris was so cute, and the food was tasty too! Though I guess I was just up there next to her to make her look better.” Rafinha pouted.
“That’s not true. You were very cute, Rani. I remember it well,” Inglis said.
Rafinha giggled. “Ahh, I really wish Count Weismar would conveniently show up with food again...”
“Yeah. I wonder where he is now.”
“Inglis! Rafinha!” Just then, Principal Miriela came jogging over.
“Yes, Principal?” Rafinha asked.
“What is it?” Inglis followed.
“A summons from the palace! His Majesty King Carlias would like to speak with you!”
Inglis and Rafinha gasped, thinking the same thing.
It was lunchtime. He wanted a conversation. Of course, there’d be refreshments—supplied by the palace’s cooks, no less.
Delicious food!
“All right! I’m sure there’ll be stuff for us to eat there, Chris!”
“Yeah, Rani, and it’s probably tasty too!”
“Off we go!” the two shouted happily, immediately setting off for the palace.
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