Editing Seikoku no Ryuu Kishi: Volume 6 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 2===
Because a staff meeting was scheduled for the afternoon, an announcement was made that classes would be finished for the day when the noon bell rang. While Ash collected his belongings and prepared to head back to the dorm, he thought about the matter regarding Oscar Brailsford.

“Hurry up! I’m hungry and my stomach is grumbling.”

Because she was still in bed, Eco didn't make it in time for the opening ceremony, but she put on her uniform afterwards and snuck into the classroom; she was currently beside Ash, hurrying him up to return to home. It felt like it had been a long time since Eco was in her uniform.

“Come on, delicious meat is calling for me!”

“Ah…alright.”

Although he replied like that, Ash still found it difficult to disengage from the depths of his thoughts. Ever since that major incident in Fontaine City, the Imperial Army of the Zepharos Empire had quietened down, and had not made any obvious moves so far, so Ash and Eco relaxed a bit — but this time, a man named Oscar showed up to cause trouble. Although he shouldn't be as dangerous as the Imperial Army, he was nonetheless still of the Chevron aristocracy. Also, because Eco didn't possess much influence, if there were any errors, the worst situation could turn into a diplomatic issue. Anyway, Ash decided to rely on Raymond’s intelligence network for help.

“Sorry, Eco. Please wait a bit longer, I have something that I want to ask Raymond.”

Seeing that Ash pleaded with both hands together, Eco reluctantly accepted it.

“…It really can’t be helped. Hurry up and ask your friend, okay?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

Ash quickly ran over to Raymond’s seat and asked

“Hey, Raymond. I wanted to ask you about the things related to Oscar…your contacts are really vast, so you should know something about him right?”

“Ah, I’ll check.”

Raymond took out a treasured book and began to flip through it. That book was filled with records of each female student’s full profile. In fact, many male students took money out of their wallets so that they could purchase the information that was recorded in Raymond’s book. Ash suddenly realised that something wasn't quite right.

“Hold on, Raymond. Oscar is a boy, so which did you take out a tool for scouting girls?”

Raymond made a calm smile, and then pushed his fringe back.

“‘Cute’ and ‘beautiful’ are things that sometimes transcend gender. One day, you’ll come to understand this principle.”

“…I’m starting to get worried about your future.”

“There’s no need to worry, Ash. You’re not my type anyway.”

“Don’t make up things like that without hesitation then! You’re scaring me!”

“Alright, I was just joking with you — Oscar Brailsford comes from the Chevron Kingdom, and is currently studying as a second year in the Senios Course. Although he’s often away from classwork and school activities, his test scores are among the best. Because he has a way to maintain his ranking within the top five, the teachers don’t seem to be able to do anything about him.”

“Seriously…!”

Because it didn't seem like Oscar was a diligent student, Ash was quite surprised by Raymond’s information.

“Also, he’s the child of the current king of Chevron and a mistress, thus, he’s not just an aristocrat, but also has the right to inherit the throne. But, because his mother is a commoner, his succession to the throne is ranked as one hundred and eighth — in other words, last.”

“Huh? Isn't Brailsford a noble family of Chevron? I thought his mother was born from that family.”

“I’m not clear on the details, but Oscar’s mother passed away when he was young, and so it seems like the Brailsford family took Oscar in as an adopted son.”

“I see. Seeing as how he was so arrogant, I couldn't tell that he had gone through so many difficulties in the past…”

Raymond then revealed a few more pieces of information to Ash. They were things such as; although he completely qualified as a candidate, he declined to participate in the Allonnes Selective Training Camp. Also, he couldn't live in the student dormitory unless it was a private room…and various other things. After Raymond closed his book, he raised his head.

“The bottom line is that the Hime-sama probably knows more about the Vice-President than me. After all, the Chevron Kingdom’s family and the Lautreamont Knight Country’s family have quite a deep relationship with each other, so perhaps she may have heard of some information that only royalty would know of.”

“I see, that does make sense.”

Ash calmly cast his gaze towards the front row of the classroom. Silvia was packing her things away as she prepared to go home. All of the injuries that she suffered in the fight against Oscar and Tristan seemed to have healed. It was probably the result of healing based Dragon Magic. Although it was a good opportunity to call out to her right now, Ash was hesitant. The scene of their kiss in the novitiate that night flashed across his mind.

“What is it, Ash? Your face is quite red.”

Raymond curiously asked.

“N-Nothing, it’s nothing, really! You’re right, Hime-sama should probably know something…”

“No! I forbid you from asking Silvia for help!”

Eco suddenly interjected. Unknown to him, she had slipped behind Ash’s back as she may have become tired of waiting.

“Huh? Haven’t you been getting along pretty well with Hime-sama lately, Eco-chan?”

Raymond didn't know what had happened during the summer vacation, and so he was looking at Eco in surprise.

“A-Anyway, if I say no, then it’s a no! You can’t ask Silvia—”

Raymond ignored the angry Eco, and quickly shouted out

“Hey~ Hime-sama! Ash said that there’s something he wants to ask you!”

“Wait…you…!”

Ash anxiously tried to stop him, but it was too late. The instant that Raymond said Ash’s name, Silvia’s shoulders momentarily trembled in an exaggerated motion.

“Hey hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re so familiar with each other, so what’s there to be embarrassed about right now?”

Raymond didn't seem to have the intention of pulling a prank on Ash, as he simply had a puzzled expression on his face. Even if it was just an action with good intentions, it felt like something unnecessarily nosy to Ash.

“T-That thing…it’s because of that time, which is why it’s embarrassing…”

When Ash said so evasively, Raymond’s eyes instantly sharpened.

“You bastard…something good must have happened between you and Hime-sama! So that’s why Eco-chan is avoiding contact with Hime-sama?”

“N-No, the situation isn't what you think it is…!”

“Y-Ye-Yeah! You’re misunderstanding!”

Having the truth seen through by Raymond, both Ash and Eco quickly denied it, as they thought about ways to get out of the current situation.

“Hmm, very suspicious…”

When Raymond narrowed his eyes in suspicion, Silvia hesitantly walked over, after having packed her things away.

“Umm…what did you want to ask me?”

“Ah, yes…”

Ash was wrought with nervousness, and could only murmur in response.

“If you don’t mind…then why don’t we have lunch together? <La Tene> seems to have just finished its renovations and reopened. I-It’s a bit embarrassing for me to go there by myself…”

Silvia’s delicate and adorable attitude caused Raymond to affix his eyes straight onto her. Furthermore, Silvia also invited Ash to lunch of her own accord. Ash was probably even more surprised than Raymond about this.

“Umm…are you really Hime-sama? You aren't actually Cosette-san in disguise are you?”

Hearing Raymond ask such a silly question, Silvia’s eyebrows curled in anger.

“H-How could I possibly be Cosette in disguise!? That’s right, I’m inviting Ash! Do you have a problem!?”

“No, no, I don’t! Uh, I just remembered that I have something urgent to do…see you tomorrow, Ash!”

Raymond gave Ash an indignant look, and then rushed out of the classroom. He would probably prepare a number of irritating questions to pester Ash with tomorrow.

“T-Then, are you willing to accept my invitation? Or reject it?”

Silvia continued to press Ash.

“Wait a minute, what are you trying to do!?”

Eco jumped out as if to protect Ash. And without saying a thing, she grabbed onto Ash’s right hand tightly.

“…Uh!”

Eco had abnormal strength which was on par with that of a dragon despite her body, and for a moment, Ash thought that his wrist would be dislocated. Nevertheless, he clenched his teeth, and swallowed the pain.

“Why don’t the three of us go together? Hmm, let’s do that!”

A sense of rivalry seemed to have been ignited within Silvia, and she grabbed onto Ash’s left arm. Then, like a pair of lovers, she entwined her arm around Ash’s arm.

“H-Hime-sama?”

If it was the Silvia of the past, she never would have been able to take such bold actions. Perhaps she had loosened up a bit as a result of her confession and kiss.

“Hey…what are you doing!?”

Eco protested, but Silvia didn't heed her at all, and simply urged Ash to hurry up and leave. Eco was on his right side. Moreover, Silvia was on his left side. The students who had remained in the classroom watched in amazement as Ash left, with the fortune of having a girl in both arms.