Chapter 2: ...I’ve Hit My Limit

“Look, just past here is the training ground.”

“...Ahhh. I knew it. The exam’s already started.”

“Well, that can’t be helped, can it?”

As we got closer to the training grounds, explosions of magic and shouting echoed through the air.

Since much of the training is combat-oriented, this area tends to be extremely noisy.

“Takeru-san, you’re just going to stroll in late to the exam like it’s nothing. What’s your plan?”

“I’ll get down on my knees and beg if I have to. I just want a chance to take the test.”

“I doubt the examiner who gave you such a hard time before would be so forgiving.”

“I believe in my skills. If I can demonstrate real ability, then...”

“I see.”

There was a steady flame burning in Takeru’s eyes.

Whether it was the reckless courage so often seen in youth or a confidence born from actual skill—it remained to be seen.

“Well then, do your best.”

“Thank you, Miss Gardener!”

After guiding Takeru to the training grounds, I gave a graceful little bow.

Then I waved him off with a flick of the wrist and turned away.

“Uwoooohhh! I gotta run!”

Once I confirmed that Takeru had entered the training grounds—

—I broke into a full-on sprint back to my own estate.

After all, I was only allowed to walk around dressed like a farmer within the palace gardens.

And the reason was simple: letting a princess be seen playing with bugs in dirty clothes would be a disgrace to the royal image.

So, even though I had wanted to stick around and speak on Takeru’s behalf...

“If the public saw me like this, my pure and elegant image would be ruined foreverrrrr!!”

Letting the second princess show up at the knights’ exam in farm clothes was absolutely out of the question.

A mud-stained royal barging into the training grounds would be nothing short of a national embarrassment.

And so, I had no choice but to go back, change into a dress, and start over from scratch.

---

“Is anyone—anyone around!?”

“Welcome back, Lady Rishali.”

The estate was bustling with maids.

All of them were apparently noble daughters of modest rank.

Lesser noble daughters were offered up to the royal palace and made to serve as maids, or so I’ve heard.

“Is something urgent, Lady Rishali?”

“I need to change—help me!”

“As you wish.”

After returning to my estate, I had one of the maids help me change back into my dress.

Royal attire was so gaudy and elaborate that it was impossible to put on alone.

Corsets, tiaras—so many ridiculous accessories to wear.

“...Tch.”

“What has you in such a rush, Lady Rishali?”

I’d heard the current examiner disliked commoners, but I hadn’t expected such outright malice.

I needed to get back to the training grounds—fast.

And I had to pull some strings and beg to have Takeru made my personal guard.

Letting a man like him slip through my fingers would be a national loss.

Left alone, there’s a high chance he wouldn’t be accepted.

That examiner seemed the type to prioritize lineage over talent.

“I’ve suddenly taken an interest in the knights’ order. I thought I might head over to the training grounds.”

“Ehh!? That’s rare…”

I’d never bothered visiting a knights’ exam before, so I hadn’t realized just how deeply rooted this elitist mindset was.

Could it be we’d already missed the chance to recruit capable people like Takeru in the past?

If so, that’s far too wasteful, Saripa Kingdom.

“Well, I’m off!”

“Please be careful~”

Dressed in full royal regalia, with proper princess makeup applied, I dashed off with a click-clack of my heels.

As a royal of this country, I couldn’t just let this travesty slide.

But it had already been thirty minutes since I left Takeru.

Would I make it in time?

“Gasp… huff…”

“You’re out of breath, Lady Rishali! Don’t overdo it!”

Halfway through, I nearly collapsed from exhaustion.

Full-speed sprinting was hell for someone like me who was hopeless at physical activity.

“I… I have to hurry…”

But missing the chance to snatch up Takeru would be far too much of a waste.

If I managed this, I’d secure one terrifyingly strong bodyguard.

“Wait for me, Takeru…”

With my legs wobbling like a newborn fawn’s, I pressed on.

Even in full-on princess mode, I kept running toward the training grounds.

---

Time rewinds to the moment after Princess Rishali and the commoner Takeru parted ways.

Takeru took a quiet breath and stepped into the training grounds.

"……"

Just as Rishali had told him, the entrance exams for the Royal Knights had already begun.

The assessments for magical aptitude and physical strength were over; the trial had already moved on to the combat portion.

"Please, allow me to take the exam."

"A man who can’t keep time has no place in the Royal Knights."

Summoning his courage, Takeru spoke to the examiner.

The noble acting as the examiner grinned and let out a dismissive snort at Takeru.

"But you gave me the wrong time for the exam…"

"I don’t reeemember saying any such thiiing."

No matter how much Takeru pressed him, the examiner noble couldn’t be bothered.

He shooed Takeru away with a flick of his hand, as if waving off a stray dog.

"Get lost. The stench of commoners is turning my nose."

"…I’ve prepared so much, for this day—"

"Go. A. Way."

With those words, the examiner completely ignored him.

No matter what Takeru said, it was like talking to a wall.

"…Tch."

This examiner’s hatred for commoners was well known.

So those who understood the situation cast sympathetic glances at Takeru.

"He wins one tournament and suddenly thinks he’s something. Ridiculous."

But the examiner was the king’s in-law, having married his daughter into royalty.

No knight present had the authority to defy such power.

"……"

Biting his lip in frustration, Takeru continued bowing his head at the entrance of the training grounds.

He had come here today, showered in blessings from his family and friends.

They’d all sacrificed something dear to them to help him prepare—buying his armor, his weapons.

So there was no way he could just give up.

"…Are you scared, Sir Examiner?"

"Huh?"

Still bowing, still ignored.

Realizing this was going nowhere, Takeru finally made a gamble.

"I’m more confident in my strength than anyone here."

"…And just what are you blabbering about now?"

"Are you that desperate to avoid testing me?"

Takeru had realized—nothing would happen if he just kept his head bowed.

"Are you afraid of losing to a commoner?"

And so, voice trembling, he provoked the examiner.

All just to have his strength acknowledged.

"That's slander, you know."

At last, the noble examiner responded to Takeru's provocation.

Looking mildly annoyed—but also faintly amused.

"Afraid of losing to a commoner? Hah! As if a commoner could possibly have anything that could surpass me."

"Then, let me—"

"I am kin to the king himself. From the moment you stand before me, there's nothing you could ever do to surpass me."

With that, the examiner slammed his fist into Takeru’s face.

Takeru didn’t resist. He took the hit head-on.

"See? You can’t even lift a finger against me. I can hit you as much as I want."

"So you can’t even fight without hiding behind power?"

"Power is strength. Just as you use your muscles in a brawl, I use my statusss."

As he struck Takeru again, the examiner wore a revolting smile.

It was the smile of someone drunk on cruelty—sadistic, euphoric, and twisted.

"So in the end, you really can’t win without power."

"Pathetic provocation. What’s wrong with using everything you have?"

"…You're scared. Scared of a commoner."

"You think that half-witted insult would move me?"

The examiner gazed at Takeru—the spirited little toy before him—with perverse delight.

"You’re under arrest. Those remarks constitute direct insult to a noble and exceed the bounds of a commoner's right to speak."

He made the declaration with relish.

Truthfully—

The examiner had likely been waiting for Takeru to mouth off.

"Seize that man immediately. The interrogation will take place later. I’ll handle it personally."

"…!"

"And don’t even think of resisting, now."

The examiner cast a hideous smile toward Takeru.

"Depending on your crime, your family and kin may share in your punishment."

"Wha—"

And with that, he ordered the Royal Knights to take Takeru into custody.

Ah… so it’s happening again.

The knights let out a sigh as they moved to surround Takeru.

In truth, this had become an annual tradition ever since this nobleman became an examiner.

The man had a strong sense of elitism and held a deep disdain for talented commoners.

That’s why he simply couldn’t resist tormenting any commoner who managed to win the martial arts tournament.

And so, for the past several years, every tournament winner had ended up thrown in prison by this man.

Most nobles had no idea this was happening.

No— even if they did, they’d just think, “As long as he’s only bullying commoners, who cares?” and show no interest.

It has nothing to do with me. I don’t want to attract the attention of the royal family’s in-laws.

With that kind of thinking, this examiner’s tyranny had been “tolerated” all this time.

“Now then—arrest that insolent commoner!”

Takeru had believed that if he just showed his strength, things would work out somehow.

And in truth, his combat ability was far beyond exceptional.

“…So this is how the knights operate?”

“Yeah, yeah, shut up already.”

That’s why he truly believed that, as long as he proved himself, they’d let him join the order.

But that belief was nothing more than a sugar-sweet fantasy.

“So this is how you nobles do things!!”

“The dumber the commoner, the louder the bark.”

Against someone who was firmly entrenched in the belief that “Commoners are beneath us,”

No amount of strength would ever be enough.

Takeru clenched his teeth in frustration.

But no matter how angry he got, he couldn’t fight back.

One wrong move, and his family could be in danger.

This examiner was the kind of man who would absolutely do something like that.

He couldn’t risk putting his gentle mother or precious friends in harm’s way.

“God damn it!!!”

The anguished scream of a powerless commoner echoed through the training ground.

“O-ho-ho-ho-ho!”

“Huh?”

It happened right after that.

“…I’ve had enough.”

“Wait, what—?”

“Bluaaaarghghghghghgh!!!”

The one who staggered into the training ground, coughing up blood, was none other than the Second Princess, Rishali.