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CH Short Story 1.3




Chapter Short Story 1.3
The Ordeals of Ine, Female Knight of the Principality of Qua-Toyne
: Short Story Series 1, Part 2: Disbelief of Sharkun, Admiral of the Louria Kingdom
Economic city of Maihark, Principality of Qua-Toyne
Horse-drawn carriages and land birds meet and part on the cobblestone paving.
The town was brimming with life and the faces of people coming and going were also bright.
For Ine, troop commander of the Order of Knights for the Defense of Maihark, today is her day off. She is clad in her casual attire.
“Haaaaah…”
Remembering what happened yesterday, Ine sighed.
She listened… no, she overheard the discussions between the troop members.
“Riiight?”
“Yeah! Mei over by the reception is cute. If you’re going for someone, it’s gotta be her.”
“Isn’t there someone close to us who’s an absolute beauty too? What about our troop commander?”
“Commander Ine? She is cute but she seems out of our league… She comes off strong and she doesn’t understand the necessity of doing it right with men. It’d also be nice for women to take the lead…”
“Isn’t it the point of the troop commander to be strong at heart? Maybe if it’s just the two of you, she’d be like a cat with eyes gleaming at you!”
“Nah, you’d get it that it isn’t just her being the troop commander. Maybe it’s actually her being the daughter of the Duke of Cormes… There’s no doubt it’s too late for her to marry.
I mean, being 27 is already bad… but still single by 40? Come on! Of course by that point you’d become the wretched troop commander!”
How rude! Especially that Keith guy! I mean me, a wretched troop commander? “It’s too late for her to marry”… No matter how you cut it, that’s too much! Even I… Even I can get a guy or 2…!
“Haaaaah…”
It’s no use. I have no confidence in myself. I have served as troop commander for 10-something years now and I have lived unconcerned with love affairs, and whatever means of capturing a gentleman’s heart I have already long forgotten.
Maybe it might be too late for me to marry… Wait, hold up! It’s no use sulking on a day off! Why don’t I go do some shopping?
Ine entered a backstreet. After a short winding, turning ahead is where her favorite clothing store is.
“Hm? Is that…”
A person in patchy green clothes is restlessly trying to find something.
I have heard that the Japanese soldiers, who saved us from the devil Louria Kingdom’s grasp, are conducting a goodwill visit. He looks old in age for a soldier. Could he be in his mid to late 40s…?
“Hm?!”
Oh my god! His face is so perfect!!!
A soldier at his age wearing those patchy clothes must be unable to get any further in his career. With such a handsome face, Ine thought it would be perfect to have him as a practice to hook up on men and understand their feelings. In any case, he’s another country’s soldier, so if he becomes wary and hesitates, he could just return home to his country.
First thing’s first, I must talk to him… Ah, wait, the woman must take the lead, I think. They did say Mei was cute so just like Mei… Just like Mei…
“Umm… What seems to be the trouble~~?”
With a big smile, puppy eyes, ascending tone at the end of her words, and a sugar-sweet voice, Ine asked the Japanese person.
“Eh? Ah! Yes, I am… the way home… er, I mean, I don’t know which way the Maihark Youth Dormitory is…”
“How unfortunate~~! Up to what time do you need to be home, misteeer~?”
Hearing herself speak with such manners gives her the chills. Even if it feels awful for her, she willed that once she starts, she couldn’t afford to back out… She thought restlessly whether Mei was always talking like this.
She already wants to let go and give up, but she felt that she has to get used to men… Ine was desperate not to be unmarried for the rest of her life.
“I can remain away until 17:00 but I have already somewhat come to grasp this city’s ambience, so I’m thinking of heading back…”
“Is that soo~? By the way, misteeer… I know it’s a famous tourist spot but have you been to the Diswall Church yet?”
“No, I haven’t yet.”
“Weeeell~ Since there is still some time, why don’t we drop by~? It’s along the same direction as your destination~…”
“R-really? Thank you so much!”
Ine somewhat high-handedly took what she thought was a Japanese person to a famous date spot.
A few days later
“Commander Ine, a banquet will be hosted by the nobles in Maihark with the executives of the Japanese Self Defense Forces as their guests. The great general of Japan, Lieutenant General Ouchida Kazuki, who led the Self Defense Forces’ relief force in the war with the Louria Kingdom, will also be participating in the banquet. As the troop commander of the Order of Knights for the Defense of Maihark, you must also participate. Also… Take Knight Keith as your escort. He is also a noble so he should understand the manners required for this event.”
At the request of the person in charge of the country’s military affairs, she will participate in the banquet.
The air is serene and the two moons can be seen clearly. In the outer corridor leading up to where the banquet was taking place, Ine reminds Knight Keith of something.
“Do try your best not to be rude, Keith…”
Whether or not he was listening to what Ine had just said, the young knight Keith looked at Ine suspiciously.
“Commander Ine… I accidentally saw…”
“Saw what?”
“You being flirty and hooking up that foreign soldier with such a sweet voice… You’re so dynamic on your day-offs! It surprised me how different your private and public sides are…”
“!!!”
The surprise attack made Ine’s face twitch and she screamed out of embarrassment but no voice came out.
“A-Ah! T-that was actually…”
“Commander, we’re here!”
Escorted by Keith, she enters the banquet hall. However, Ine’s heart was shaken and flustered, and she suddenly lost her composure for the banquet.
Oh god! Keith saw me! Oh god, oh god!
The host had already begun speaking but she could hardly listen.
“Well then, please welcome the great general that saved our country, Lt. Gen. Ouchida Kazuki!”
Applause soon broke her confusion, and a man in his 40s entered the hall.
When Ine saw his face, she felt herself grow pale.
“I-i-it’s him!!!”
It was the man with whom she imitated Mei and, for the first time in her life, threw away her shame and flirted with. He began delivering a speech on the stage. After the speech, she held herself back from introducing herself to Lt. Gen. Ouchida. Since Commander Ine was doing something she wasn’t used to, she temporarily fainted and was caught by Keith.
Commander Ine thought that she’d explode with embarrassment but later on, she’d cross the boundaries of their countries with Lt. Gen. Ouchida Kazuki, and a sweet and intimate relationship blossomed between them.
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