"It's all done. There's a wire inside the nose part. Don't forget to press it firmly against your face."
"Stop fiddling with it. I'll do it myself."
Asella, wearing a mask for the first time, kept touching her face repeatedly as if the sensation felt strange.
Now that I'd put it on her, I realized I had made it slightly too large. Asella's face was smaller than I had estimated.
"The reason masks are effective is because disease viruses are mainly transmitted to others through droplets. That's how infection works. Diseases spread because viruses that cause illness are also living organisms..."
"I get it, roughly. Don't explain the medical knowledge to me, just keep it to yourself, Young Lord."
"Is it difficult for you to understand?"
At my words, Asella furrowed her brow as if her pride had been wounded.
"Do you understand all of my magic?"
"Of course not. How could someone as humble as I dare to view Your Highness's grand achievements at the same level?"
"It's the same for me."
Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"Do we have enough masks for the knights?"
"I haven't made that many yet. I have spares for Your Highness. Let's have your closest attendants and guard knights wear them first. More importantly..."
I took out a bottle from my chest.
White pills rattled inside, filling the container.
"I've made medicine for the epidemic."
"Really?!"
Asella exclaimed loudly, receiving the bottle with both hands.
She carefully examined the contents of the bottle. It was refreshing to see her show such an intense reaction for the first time.
"Will this cure the epidemic if taken?"
"The common cold is an incurable disease, so it's not a complete cure. However, it definitely alleviates the symptoms. The knights will be able to function without problems."
"With this, the tournament can..."
Asella nodded vigorously. She called the head lady-in-waiting to distribute the medicine.
"Please warn against overuse. Make sure they don't take more than two pills per day."
"I understand."
The knights each poured one aspirin into their mouths.
Though they all seemed to find it awkward, they followed their lord's orders without hesitation.
I've noticed before that Asella's faction shows particularly strong loyalty.
After taking the aspirin and resting briefly, the knights soon regained their spirits and jumped to their feet.
The effect works well.
Watching them, Asella's trapezius muscles slightly relaxed as if her tension had eased.
"Young Lord."
"Yes."
"I must make an impression on His Majesty at this tournament."
"I see."
"His Majesty is inherently a greedy person. While he's currently designating the First Prince as the next Emperor for stability, the prince is too timid to be Emperor material."
Asella suddenly started rambling about things I hadn't asked about.
"If he sees one of his children showing strong talent and excellent leadership, he'll reignite his passion for war like when he was younger. Then his mind will change."
"I see."
"Prince Georg and Princess Heike know this too. Both will do their best to showcase their forces at the tournament, and I must surpass them."
"There's something I've been curious about."
I unconsciously asked Asella a question.
"Why do you want to become Emperor, Your Highness?"
Asella didn't answer my question.
Instead, she returned a question for a question.
"Would the answer affect your loyalty?"
She seemed somewhat reluctant to answer.
I didn't particularly want to stir up a hornet's nest either.
"Not at all. I remain loyal to Your Highness no matter what."
"Good."
Asella responded like that but didn't give me her reason.
"I'll recognize your treatment of the knights as a special merit. Young Lord, what reward do you want?"
"A mage who can use levitation."
"I can use that. Why?"
"No, I was just joking."
If I had Asella help with my commute, the usage fee would probably be hundreds of times higher.
"You're keeping the envelope with my requests safe, right?"
"Yes. I've placed a preservation spell on it to prevent damage. No one can open it unless I execute the geas. Is that what you want? It doesn't seem like enough for this service."
"Of course not. It's enough that Your Highness hasn't forgotten."
"So you're entrusting me with determining your payment."
"Uh..."
Knowing Asella, she might come up with something outrageous and demand something from me in return.
Let's see, what have I needed recently?
'The most annoying thing is that Asella's faction is small and gets disrespected.'
Maybe I should take a walk to the southern barracks.
"I'd like to borrow Your Highness's knights for a while."
"Very well, let's do that."
"Shall we measure your blood pressure now?"
"Yes, let's go."
Having relieved her worry about the knights, Asella obediently followed me back to the room.
***
The next day, I gathered twenty of Asella's knights in the backyard of Wolgwang Palace.
Every one of them had serious expressions without a hint of playfulness, just like Asella.
"Am I at a statue exhibition? Hey, statue number one, did you eat breakfast?"
The knight I called out froze completely, not even breathing.
He seemed confused about whether to pretend to be a real statue or answer my question.
My joke didn't land.
"Never mind, at ease."
I hate such stiff atmospheres.
This gives me a glimpse of how Asella normally trains them.
"You've been briefed. Today, instead of training, you'll be accompanying me. It's Her Highness's order."
The knights remained wooden.
Come to think of it, the Imperial Knights have a principle that they must never speak until permitted by a superior.
There's no need to follow it this strictly.
Their level of discipline is excessive.
"First, let me confirm one thing. Are all knights present loyal to Princess Asella, not Empress Camilla? Only answer if you're not."
No response came.
"Who's in charge?"
"I am, Teacher Gotberg."
One knight raised her hand.
"Are you the captain?"
"I am the captain of Wolgwang Palace, but generally, a captain refers to the commander of a regiment. Since the Wolgwang Palace Knights are organized as a platoon, my rank is platoon leader."
"I see. You're quite high-ranking, Captain Tanya?"
"Don't tease me. You know I'm just an ordinary knight in the Imperial court."
The provinces and the capital have different systems.
"Platoon leader, tell me why you're loyal to the Princess."
"I was convinced by Her Highness's dignity that she would become the next Emperor."
"Hmm, that's right. We have people with good judgment here."
These are people who've chosen the right side.
"You serve the future Emperor. As her direct knights, you must have skills worthy of that position. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how we're treated outside?"
"...Shamefully, yes. I know."
The platoon leader clenched her fist.
Her anger was quite evident.
"That's why we intend to show our full strength at the tournament so as not to bring shame to Her Highness. Thanks to you, all members are healthy now..."
"I think we should demonstrate even before the tournament. I visited the southern barracks, and their facilities are excellent."
I said to them.
"Shouldn't we use something of that caliber?"
The platoon leader looked perplexed at my suggestion.
"Of course that would be nice, but for us from a different unit..."
"Let's go borrow it."
I casually suggested it as if we were just going for a neighborhood stroll.
I headed to the southern barracks with the knights.
"Which unit are you from... Gasp! Teacher Gotberg!"
The sentry saw me and backed away in shock. It was the same fellow as last time.
"Good work. Why are you standing guard alone?"
"Ah, well..."
The sentry sniffled as he tried to answer.
Seeing him fumbling, the company commander came running out.
"Teacher! What brings you here again?"
"Nothing special, just want to borrow the training facilities. Any space available?"
"T-training facilities? The southern barracks are used by our 2nd Regiment..."
"Imperial knights can apply for training at any barracks, right? You fill out the application."
"Well, that's true, but..."
The company commander was caught between a rock and a hard place with my abuse of power.
He must feel like he's been hit by a bolt from the blue.
"This is going too far. How can you just barge in like this?"
"There must be many knights resting because of the epidemic. The training grounds can't be full."
"Isn't it the same for you? The epidemic is spreading throughout the Imperial court. Wolgwang Palace knights must be bedridden too, so why come all the way here to train?"
"Our knights are fine. Show them."
At my command, the Wolgwang Palace knights immediately demonstrated a precise formation.
The company commander gaped at their vibrant expressions.
"Huh? How on earth...?"
"The teacher treated us," Tanya answered, and the company commander silently marveled.
"The teacher did? Hmm..."
After deliberating, he finally stepped aside.
"If you insist, go ahead. We're not using it today anyway."
Thanks to this, Asella's knights were able to train in premium facilities today.
There were plenty of enchanted practice swords and armor with adjustable intensity. Even training grounds simulating various combat environments.
Knowing Tanya was highly skilled, the Wolgwang Palace knights actively engaged in sparring with her.
"Wow... they really are all fine."
The company commander scratched the back of his head while watching our knights.
"Is it that bad here?"
"The 2nd Regiment is almost wiped out. It's a disaster with the tournament right around the corner. The Imperial physicians are attending to us all day, but we're still in this state. What's your secret, Teacher?"
"Would you tell someone for free if you were me?"
"Don't be like that, please help us. We're all Imperial knights, aren't we?"
"Why should I treat you? You're not even loyal to Princess Asella."
The company commander scratched his chin and whispered to me.
"I've been diligently doing the stretches you taught me. How about it, aren't I lovable?"
"Disgustingly creepy."
"Then at least my company... it pains me to see my subordinates suffering. In exchange, how about my company competes as Princess Asella's knights at the tournament?"
The company commander made quite an interesting proposal.
"You belong to the Second Prince's faction."
"Come on, we don't strictly divide like that here. Actually, many knights are tired because the Prince has been pushing everyone hard for the tournament lately."
"How many?"
"One hundred and twenty."
Hmm.
Asella's knight corps is just twenty strong.
That's too few to make an impact at the tournament.
"Commander, are you confident you'll work hard?"
"Of course. I'm a knight—would I go back on my word?"
"Wait a moment."
I quickly drafted a document.
"This is a contract stating that if you break your word, you lose your head, roughly speaking. You can read, right?"
"You're really underestimating people. All Imperial knights receive higher education."
The company commander cheerfully signed the contract.
With this, the 1st Company of the 2nd Regiment would participate in the tournament under Asella's command.
The condition: they must give their absolute best effort. I would be the judge of that.
"Now will you treat our knights?"
"I hope you enjoy bitter medicine."
I took out a bottle of aspirin from my chest.
***
Three days later.
"Teacher! I've been referred to you...!"
"I'm the captain of the 2nd Company, 2nd Regiment. I heard you can cure—no, treat the epidemic in one go!"
"Please help our unit too!"
Burly knights crowded into my office.
I covered my mouth and said to them:
"Stop spraying your spit everywhere."