In the early stages of the war.
Due to the surging demand for commander-level talent, the Imperial government judged that the officer training system operated during peacetime alone was utterly insufficient to maintain the frontlines.
Thus, the institution established was the Officer Training School.
It was a type of special educational institution that gathered conscripted noble or quasi-noble candidates from across the Empire in one place to rapidly train them into commanders deployable to the frontlines.
Naturally, many nobles who had to enroll at least one of their precious children in this unfamiliar institution, similar to the 'schools' commoners attended, rebelled.
But eventually, when His Majesty the Emperor personally declared a mobilization order, they had to swallow their tears and send their 'least precious' children to the capital.
Even nobles who had no children besides their heirs were no exception, so some noble houses on the verge of lineage extinction were probably driven to the brink of madness.
But what could be done?
The unified northern tribes' confederation was daring to extend their dark claws to invade the Empire's territory.
Thus, war was inevitable.
And I was one of the early graduates of that Officer Training School.
'Damn it, damn it, damn it!'
"Ahem."
The deputy commander standing rigidly before me turned her head, gave a small fake cough, and her chest heaved, but…
I couldn't bring myself to greet her cheerfully as usual.
Finally, the deputy commander looked at me with a worried expression.
"Knight Commander? Did I perhaps make some mistake…?" "Ah, deputy commander. No, you've done nothing wrong."
To openly show emotion on my face before the deputy commander, who came for a work report…
It seems the memories surfacing have truly disturbed me greatly.
But I can't stay like this forever.
With an utterly devastated heart, I opened my mouth.
"Summon all the century leaders, no… all commanders including squad leaders. I must convey an important matter."
Issuing an assembly order instead of receiving a report as usual, the deputy commander seemed quite surprised, but thankfully, without asking questions, she immediately complied.
"Yes! Understood."
I immediately moved to the main conference room, sat at the round table, and waited for the commanders to gather one by one.
If not for the deputy commander, managing this unit would likely have been more than twice as difficult as it is now.
The century leaders, who should act as the backbone of the Black Lion Knights, only know how to swing swords a bit. Each one is rather unsatisfactory at doing actual work.
Well, they are individuals who rose to century leader, so it's not that they themselves are incompetent, but rather that bad habits ingrained from working under the former commander for so long are likely the main cause.
This is why the leader is important. Those under them are inevitably influenced.
'Sigh, really…'
During work hours, I usually intentionally suppress stray thoughts, but perhaps because I'm disturbed, various useless thoughts keep swirling in my head.
Thus, after bowing my head for a while and pressing my temples firmly…
—What, what is it? Damn, which bastard messed up? —Shh, watch your mouth. The Commander might be listening.
—Damn, just looking at that face is scary; I never want to see the scary gentleman angry again. —Agreed. But he's much better than the former commander. —Don't you think comparing him to that pig bastard is an insult itself?
With murmuring sounds nearby and the hurried footsteps of people running from a distance, I immediately straightened my posture.
Thus, with the last squad leader closing the door behind him, all personnel had gathered.
Myself and the deputy commander sitting around the round table. And the century leaders.
And the squad leaders, standing in formation according to their units, simultaneously assumed parade rest, completing the meeting preparations.
"Deputy Commander, is everyone gathered?" "Yes! Excluding externally dispatched personnel and Squad Leader Raoul, who is likely at the infirmary by now, all are gathered here."
Right, everyone is here except those currently absent from the unit and that guy with a hole in his shoulder.
"Sorry to call you all here in your busy times, but let me be direct."
As I opened my mouth, nearly a hundred pairs of eyes of various kinds all began to stare at one place.
Expressions of puzzlement, tension, and even irritation—a wide array of faces.
After briefly scanning the commanders' faces, I finally declared publicly.
"Her Highness the Princess will soon visit our Black Lion Knights."
A cold silence.
A suffocating silence dominated the entire space for a while.
"Hiccup!"
The silence, lasting over ten seconds, was broken by a female knight's hiccup sound.
Because of that, for a moment, everyone's gaze focused solely on one person, and unable to bear the pressure, she made an expression as if about to cry.
"Hiccup… I-I'm sorry!"
That was a sight that gave me a very distinct sense of déjà vu.
Amidst an indescribably complex atmosphere, I quietly closed my eyes for a moment.
'Yes, it was definitely like this back then too.'
Right before graduation from the Officer Training School. That is, when deployment to the battlefield was imminent.
Word reached the candidates' ears that His Majesty the Emperor would personally visit to boost the morale of the new officers.
We, who received news that the symbol of absolute authority, a being close to a wise god, was arriving before our eyes, collectively panicked.
Amidst even half-joking talk that it would be better to just go straight to the battlefield…
A candidate who was the son of a wealthy merchant who had received an honorary noble title hiccuped like that.
I wonder if that friend is still alive?
A face I miss if I miss it, but there's no way to know his whereabouts.
Because we all scattered to fill personnel gaps on the frontlines immediately after graduation.
As I slowly opened my eyes, lost in thought, the 1st Century Leader sitting next to me cautiously spoke up.
"Her Highness the Princess… You couldn't possibly mean that Princess Alicia? No, why on earth would she come here…"
I don't know either, you bastard.
Instantly, upon hearing such a truly pointless question, I almost blurted out the rough expression that came to mind, but I barely managed to restrain it, exerting my faintly remaining self-control.
If a century leader—no, the 1st Century Leader at that—asks so openly to this extent, the perplexity other subordinates must have felt goes without saying.
"Who on earth is coming? Royalty? Why royalty?!" "This isn't real…" "Why would a personage like Her Highness take an interest in a mere knight order…"
Each one, uncharacteristically for knights—commanders at that—discarded all dignity and showed reactions close to foolishness. But I couldn't even think of reprimanding them.
There's no reason a princess, raised like a hothouse flower, would suddenly take an interest in military affairs.
The reason she's coming here is probably because of me.
The events of that night began to pass through my mind one by one.
Her Highness's naked body, not wearing a stitch. Her appearance trembling in fear upon seeing my face. Even the physical contact I initiated without her consent.
'What happened between us today. Absolutely do not forget it.'
To ask why she's doing this to me… There are too many things that prick my conscience.
Seeing my subordinates, high and low alike, collectively displaying panic symptoms, I involuntarily tightly shut my eyes.
'I'm really sorry, everyone.'
My sin is great.
The Imperial Princess, Alicia von Diana Solaris.
Unlike other royals who maintain the Imperial family's dignity by adhering to mysticism as much as possible, she was unusually active in public engagements.
Alicia, who unhesitatingly approached even the lowest subjects to bestow generous charity, and whenever possible, visited churches to personally offer prayers.
Thus, her benevolent nature and devoutness were already excessively famous.
Therefore, when she announced she would visit the Black Lion Knights, one of the knight orders guarding the Empire, for a comfort visit, no one doubted her purpose.
After all, it's not uncommon for royals and high-ranking officials to occasionally inspect military units or knight orders.
However, since Alicia had never shown any interest in the Empire's military affairs until now, some suspected she might be beginning to focus on the succession competition.
But the princess's reputation, solidly built over time, quickly quelled such impure opinions.
Of course, Princess Alicia herself was thinking something entirely different.
"Your Highness. The carriage and escort for the visit to the Black Lion Knights are ready." "Very well. I have a few things to prepare, so please tell them to wait a little." "Yes, Your Highness."
Alicia, having sent all her maids outside, looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror and once again checked her attire.
A pure white dress reminiscent of a wedding gown, a large navy ribbon further accentuating her mysterious silver hair, and a pure gold necklace with a large sapphire in the center.
It was truly a dazzlingly beautiful appearance.
However, her expression was actually quite sulky. As if something was dissatisfying.
"Hmph! That man, after committing such brazen acts that night, dares not even contact me once."
Alicia's figure began muttering to herself toward the mirror.
Alicia was now confiding a secret she couldn't even reveal to the maids of her separate palace, who had served her since she was a newborn baby, only to herself.
"Since you dared to shake my heart to this extent, you must certainly take responsibility."
The hobby she periodically enjoyed to relieve stress accumulated from acting the ideal princess before others was no longer enjoyable.
Moreover, the memory of that night, even now over a week later, vividly resurfaces, constantly tormenting Alicia.
It was all that man's fault.
"To even make me, me, go find him personally. It seems I really can't let it slide."
—Rustle
Muttering a meaningful remark, Alicia suddenly began removing all garments covering her lower body.
Shoes, stockings, garter belt, and…
"Haa…"
Even the small piece of white fabric that should conceal her most secret sanctuary.
"Wolfgang von Schwarz. You must certainly be prepared."
—Rustle, rustle…
Alicia softly uttered a warning toward a certain absent man as she re-donned all the garments she had removed onto the carpet.
Except for one. The most important one.
"Sorry, did I make you wait a bit long?" "Please do not say such things. We are always prepared to attend to your noble person." "Hehe, thank you. Well then, shall we depart?" "Yes, Your Highness."
After Alicia left.
Beneath the ornate full-length mirror in the princess's bedroom.
Only the ownerless pure white undergarment lay alone, forlornly crumpled.