Chapter 102: I'm sorry, Fritz

"THE CAPITAL really is amazing! Did you see that stuff up in the sky?!"

Sven's voice resounded through the training grounds early that morning. "I could see them pretty clearly from my inn. I bet you wish you'd seen 'em too, Lucius."

"Yeah, I wish I had. I was just so busy, I didn't really have time to look."

"Heh heh. You really missed out. And you should thank me, Fritz! You only got to enjoy the view 'cause I invited you over to study!"

Rishe, in her cadet disguise, listened to Sven's excited rambling with a big smile on her face.

Today was the last day of the knight cadets' special training. As such, this was also the last day of their early morning sessions, and they took extra care with their cleaning.

The skies were clear with the promise of a hot day. A wonderful morning all around, yet once again Fritz was looking down.

"Fritz thought they were shooting stars at first. He started making wishes on 'em. Isn't that right, Fritz?"

"Hmm… Huh?! Oh, yeah!" Fritz looked up, flustered. He really was out of it.

Sven seemed to sense something off and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Lucius, Fritz—gimme your swords. I'll put them away for you."

"Huh? You don't have to do that, Sven. We'll do it together."

"It's fine! But you owe me!"

Fritz stared at Sven, eyes wide, before bowing his head and thanking him quietly. Sven left Rishe alone with Fritz in the early morning training grounds.

Rishe watched him go and then turned to Fritz. "He sure sounded excited."

"Ah…yeah, I guess so." Fritz was still hanging his head. He seemed nervous.

"Lu, Count Lawvine summoned us yesterday."

Rishe could easily imagine what that meant. "You're going to be knights, then?!"

"Yep. We'll head back to our hometowns first to prepare before we're due back in the capital. After that, we'll be official knights-in-training of Galkhein."

"Congratulations, Fritz!"

Rishe was as delighted to hear it as if it were her own good news. The cadets all showed promise, but Fritz and Sven were particularly talented.

"I knew for sure you'd be chosen, but I'm happy to hear it all the same. Have you written to your family yet? Of course, it'd be great to tell them in person too! Really, congra—"

"I ran into Lord Lawvine on my way here today."

Rishe blinked in surprise. Fritz's words came out compressed, like squeezing them out was painful.

"He told me, 'Lucius Alcott won't be joining the knights.' It was your own decision, he said."

Lawvine hadn't revealed Rishe's secret. After the incident with Michel the night before, Rishe wrote him a message. She apologized for lying about her identity and disturbing his vital training sessions.

No doubt Lawvine was incredibly busy, but Rishe received a response immediately. She would see him tonight at a party to see off the guests from Coyolles. His message had also said this: "If your time allows it, please continue to attend training as a candidate until the final day."

I'm not sure how much I can trust Lord Lawvine after the incident last night, but…he's trying to protect "Lucius Alcott's" life as a knight candidate.

Rishe apologized to her dear friend. "I'm sorry, Fritz."

She looked him square in the eye. "The truth is that I've been telling a really big lie this whole time."

"A lie…?"

"That lie permitted me to come here and train with you all, but it was still a lie. I can't become a knight right now."

Her sixth life—when she'd chosen that path—and this one, her seventh, were worlds apart.

"I was even lying to you… I really am sorry."

Fritz's eyes swam. "I'm sorry too, Lu."

"Why? What do you have to be sorry for, Fritz?"

Fritz hesitated, but eventually he made up his mind and, still looking down, shouted, "I think I've known for a while now what you were lying about!"

"Huh?!" Rishe's eyes opened wide.

"I always thought it was strange! I mean, you're so small, and you seem really delicate, and your voice is high! So, um…!"

No way! He realized I'm a girl?!

As Rishe started to panic, Fritz voiced his conclusion, his face grave. "You're really, like, fourteen, aren't you?!"

Rishe froze. "What?"

"Yeah, you can only attend this training if you're fifteen or older. But I'm guessing you came here for your family, lying about your real age, right?"

"Er, well. Actually, you see—"

"No, it's fine! If it gets out that you were lying, I know you'll be disqualified for the test next year! And you don't need to tell me if I'm right!" Fritz babbled.

Apparently, he hadn't caught on.

Right. Even in my life as a knight, only the captain realized I was a woman!

Rishe felt a complicated blend of relief and guilt at knowing she was still undiscovered.

To be fair, last night, Arnold had said, "There's nothing you can do about Lawvine finding out, but make sure none of the other knight cadets realize you're a girl."

"I'm sorry, Fritz. I promise I'll tell you the truth one day…"

"You don't need to! Don't worry about it!"

When Rishe looked up, Fritz had a sunny smile on his face.

"You said 'one day,' though. That means you're planning on seeing me again after training ends today, right?"

At that, Rishe suddenly realized the reason for Fritz's bad mood these last couple of days: He was dreading their parting. They had only been together for ten short days, and Rishe hadn't even been telling him the truth, but Fritz had put everything he had into their friendship. Rishe was so happy that she couldn't stop herself from beaming.

"Of course. Things might be a little different between us, but I definitely will!"

"I'll be stronger then, I promise."

Rishe squeezed Fritz's proffered hand. "Then let's both try as hard as we can, Fritz."

For a split second, Fritz looked like he might cry, but Rishe thought she'd imagined it. An instant later, he was back to that same radiant smile as always.

May you boys never end up on a tragic battlefield.

Rishe sensed someone's presence and glanced at the entrance of the training grounds.

Lawvine, count of Galkhein's northern border, strolled inside. He looked at Rishe, dipping his head in a bow only she would notice. Rishe returned the gesture, and then they were once again instructor and trainee. No matter the circumstances between them, they still had to finish this last day.

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