"All of you are dismissed. We'll talk later." I said to my retainers, who disappeared wordlessly into their room.
"Ah...I'm exhausted." I collapsed onto the bed and muttered. For someone like me, who had been a shut-in for most of my past life, and stuck alone in the [Labyrinth] for the beginning of this one, the past few months of constantly being around people had really taken its toll on me. However, usually even then I could hide away in the [Labyrinth] for a while and enjoy some alone time while Rea was off training. The past few days, though, I had to have an entourage with me all day long, and even in the room I was often accompanied by my retainers. And of course, today was the worst of all. From morning till now I had been constantly surrounded by people. I had to talk more today than I normally spoke in a week. And the day wasn't even done yet.
"Fuuuuh...I didn't even get to properly admire the uniform."
I got up and went to the mirror, checking out my reflection. Umu, it was certainly a flattering style. Although, it definitely wasn't my preferred style. I would much prefer to wear something with a shorter skirt, as the long skirt made moving around a lot harder. While it wasn't constricting in a tight way, the fact that the fabric stretched so far down made movement more inconvenient. Well, I guess the Academy never intended for us to get into battles which required that much mobility, anyway. All the battle-related practical classes were held under highly controlled conditions.
After rolling around on the bed for a while and taking a bit of time for myself, I called my squad to assemble.
"So, how did all of you feel about today?"
"Princess, if I may be so bold, I found the words and actions of those nobles who approached you quite reprehensible," Dresha replied.
"I must agree with Dresha. In fact, it felt almost like a concerted effort to provoke you, Princess," Bistry agreed.
"I concur. While we were speaking with the other escorts during the written class, there was a lot of derision towards both us and you for being from another nation," Nilor supplied a report from the adjacent room that held the escorts.
"Ah, if only I could unleash a {Hellfire} upon all of them..." Arctos said dreamily.
"Wist and I made contact with the other retainers of your dormmates, Princess. They have reported to us the names of all of those who directed hostility towards you. This is the list," Fil said, handing over a list of names and Houses.
"Nn. Good job, Wist, Fil. I see. It seems that there are some upper nobles among them, but most of them are middle and lower nobles, huh?"
Wist picked up from where FIl left off, "yes, Princess. They are mostly middle and lower nobles. It appears that most of them belong to the Nationalist faction."
Along with their explanations and the readings that I had done, I pieced together the core identity of the Nationalist faction. They seemed to mostly descend from the lower and middle nobles which took over fiefs in the rest of the continent following the Unitary War. Having seen first-hand the devastation caused by wars fought out of greed, the initial Nationalist Faction had focused on developing a strong national consensus and creed which viewed with suspicion any who were unfamiliar with Avena's rules and customs. However, this suspicion was held alongside an equal amount of goodwill - they were willing to extend a helping hand to foreigners and those unfamiliar with Avena, and help them integrate into Avena.
Fundamentally, they were a faction that focused on protecting the very new and fragile Kingdom of the time. However, over time, the Nationalist Faction became bloated on its own self-importance, believing in the supremacy of Avenan nobles. They began to discriminate and shun foreigners, even nobles, believing them to be fundamentally incompatible with and incapable of integrating into Avena's customs and norms. Perish the thought that one might be able to retain their own external sensibilities while respecting Avena's. They began to advocate for a closed-nation policy, wherein Avena would become an enclosed economic, political, and demographic bloc, cutting off trade with other continents and nations, and rejecting immigration and transfer students outright.
Opposed to the Nationalist faction was the Royalist faction - a faction which supported the extant policies of the royal family, which encouraged the free flow of people, trade, and ideas. However, this was not to say that there was no discrimination or condescension in this view. It was predicated on the idea that external influences could be used for the benefit of the Kingdom, and the ideas, products, and people that flowed in from other nations were considered "amusing" until they proved useful. It was certainly a better perspective than the Nationalist faction, but not by that much.
According to the report I received and my own experience, it seems that I was being targeted by the Nationalist faction. Well, that was to be expected for sure. It seems that if this was the extent of their efforts, it would be a hassle, but not too much of an issue overall. Although it was obvious that there would certainly be more and more direct and indirect confrontations coming my way. Given that this was either already a concerted effort, or soon would be if I became more of a thorn in their side, I could probably expect plots of a few different flavours other than the indirect conversations and direct confrontations. There could be kidnapping, poisoning, traps, etc. Well, not that it mattered too much. As long as I stayed on my toes regarding the information war, and stayed alert, there should not be too many issues.
"Nn. I understand the situation. Keep me updated. Good work, everyone. Now, I need two of you to go downstairs and prepared snacks for the tea party. Can I trouble Wist and Fil to attend to this? The other four of you have accompanied me for classes today, and you may have to accompany me again later. It would be best for you to go and rest first."
""As you wish, Princess!"" Wist and Fil said in unison, and departed the room.
After another couple of hours, it was time to attend the tea party. We gathered in the courtyard behind the dormitory, and our attendants served tea and snacks.
"Ava-sama, though this may seem a little frivolous for us to be doing, there's actually a reason that I invited all of us to this tea party," Simarel said with a serious face.
"Nn. I expected as much. After all, Simarel-sama is not one to do public things for whimsical reasons," I countered, smiling lightly at her. Her face turned slightly red, clearly reminded of her flustered state earlier today.
"Kohon. Ava-sama, I'll tell you this directly since you are unlikely to be familiar with the deeper politics of Avena. You are being targeted by the Nationalist faction. The rest of us here are with the Royalist faction, though."
"Thank you for the information, Simarel-sama. I am relieved. It means that my information was also accurate."
"E-eh? You've already gathered that much?"
"I have excellent retainers."
"Hehe, being able to catch Simarel-sama off guard so many times in one day... Ava-sama, you're something special, you know?" Delmia snickered.
"W-well, back to the main topic," Simarel said, recovering her composure and steeling her expression as she continued.
"It's dangerous to be so openly targeted from the beginning, Ava-sama. Please be careful. There may be any number of attempts on your life, person, dignity, or credibility."
"Thank you for warning me so seriously. Although... may I ask why you show me so much concern?"
"""We also want to know!""" my three other dormmates exclaimed in unison. They seemingly were mostly following Simarel's lead in how to treat me, and were also confused as to why Simarel was going above and beyond despite only knowing me for a day. Of course, the three of them would also have been aware at a glance that the Nationalist faction were targeting me, but they would not have gone out of their way to warn me so thoroughly. Instead, they might have simply passed on a message telling me to be careful.
"It's because I like the way you do things. You're resolute, single-minded, and yet you broadly consider the impact of your words and actions. Rather than be wishy-washy and clinging to whomever has power, you're determined to do things your own way and through your own means. Am I wrong in this assessment?"
Before I could respond, though, a passionate voice came from behind me.
"Mast-Princess has always been this way. I apologise for cutting into the conversation, but I must exhort the greatness of my master."
Ah, it was Bistry who had broken into the conversation. Stunned, the four girls looked up at him. Simarel had a spark of amusement playing in her eyes.
"Oya? All of Ava-sama's retainers have an abnormally thin presence, do you not? Yet none of you seem weak...I'm interested to hear what you have to say about your master."
"Yes, Lady Medligh! Our master has always been resolute and single-minded, yet her intuition and wisdom truly always puts us to shame. As retainers, we can only act as her extensions, rather than make up for any of her deficiencies or weaknesses. If Princess wishes to accomplish something, we are but facilitators. She will attain what she wants through her power whether we are present or not. For us to have been able to follow her here and serve her... it is a great honour indeed," Bistry excitedly explained.
As Bistry spoke, my four dormmates listened with sparkling eyes as my cheeks cramped slightly. Really, Bistry, what's the big idea, huh? You're speaking as if I'm some sort of warrior saint or something... maybe cool it a little on the praise?
"Ara ara, it seems that Ava-sama is greatly beloved by her retainers, nn?" Delmia chuckled, her teasing personality coming through once again.
"Un, un! The way attendant-san says it, Ava-sama is like a goddess to her retainers!" Eliszia followed up.
"Ava-sama, cool!" Miszia looked at me with sparkling eyes.
I simply sighed and said, "it's not as exaggerated as that. My retainers have... an inflated opinion and amount of loyalty towards me."
"Maa, Ava-sama. You don't have to be so humble. From what we've seen today, your retainers being any less respectful towards you would be strange." Delmia said.
"Attendant-san, do the rest of Ava-sama's retainers feel that way?" Simarel asked Bistry.
"Lady Medligh, that is certainly the case. In the first place, it was the Princess who saved us and helped us to be reborn. There is no way any one of us would possess any less than the utmost respect and reverence for her."
"Mmm. See, Ava-sama, unlike those who dare mock you, I understand thoroughly what the title 'First Princess' means. It is given to an individual who has served the royal family better than any other existing noble or royal. Furthermore, it is given only after a civil war or military campaign. Lastly, it is not given to those who simply sit on a throne and give orders. It is given to one who has acquired the greatest military merit through their own hands, and without whom the civil war or military campaign would have ended in abject failure and the death of the awarding royal."
"That's why I know, you are quite possibly the strongest existence in this city. Yet, you have not revealed even the tiniest bit of strength, nor have you used it to demand anything. After observing you yesterday and today, you have only acted as a noble of Avena should. In other words, you either have a long-term plan, or I can trust you completely. Either way, being close to you is the best option, don't you think? To be honest, I am interested to see how you will respond to the follow-up efforts by the Nationalist faction. Those at its helm surely see you as an urgent threat."
Uwaa... this Simarel really has a bad personality, doesn't she? Well, it's not like I expected anything less of the daughter of a ducal house. If she was naive enough to fully trust me, I'd be extremely worried.
"As expected of the daughter of a ducal house, Simarel-sama. The House of Medligh will surely prosper when you become the Duchess," I said obliquely.
"E-eh? That was not the expected reaction..." she mumbled.
"I was clearly just provoking you and admitting to getting close to you to observe you. Why is that your reaction?"
"Isn't it obvious? If you weren't doing that, I'd be worried instead. I cannot imagine blind goodwill being good for a noble to exhibit. Simarel-sama, you are exhibiting the requisite level of caution with the knowledge that you have. However..."
I released my [Mana Compression] and [Presence Suppression], and turned my [Haki] full force on my surroundings. The more fragile porcelain cups shattered, while the table itself almost buckled under the weight of my aura. After a second, I pulled back my aura and vanished it.
"Your suspicions are misplaced. I could start a war with the continent should I desire to. In other words, a long-term plan isn't necessary."
After a few long moments of deep breaths by everyone present, Simarel finally responded.
"That means... you really don't have any ulterior designs towards Avena."
"None. I am here for the reasons I stated in class. As long as I can get my research done, I have no reason whatsoever to do anything untoward towards Avena. Remember the story Ivar-sensei told us in class? I would hate for something like that to happen again. Knowledge is the greatest resource in the world."
Although I had exaggerated a little, it seemed to disperse the caution that Simarel held towards me. I sighed internally and looked around at the table. Would my dormmates now be afraid of me, after seeing- eh?
My three other dormmates were looking at me in awe.
"Whew, Ava-sama. I didn't know you were that strong! I pity the poor bastards in Daceli who had to go up against that," Delmia grinned despite her pale complexion.
""COOL!"" Miszia and Eliszia said in unison.
"E-eh... that's the first time I've gotten this kind of reaction after displaying my strength," I mumbled.
Simarel saw my confusion and laughed lightly, saying, "it's because we know you would never hurt us with it, Ava-sama. You're too strict with yourself for that."
Really, my dormmates are... too precious!