Calculated Chivalry

They say that all in love is fair

Yeah, but you don't care

~ Huey Lewis

Chapter 1

When violence hurries on too fast, and caution does not keep pace with revenge, people generally do themselves more harm than the enemy. ~ Wellins Calcot

Music was playing in the academy ballroom as the first year students celebrated the completion of their first term and the exams. Their seniors had a day or two of exams to go, delaying their own end of term parties, but more than a hundred students plus the servants of many of the girls still didn't leave the ballroom underpopulated.

The main floor wasn't all that occupied after the first dance of the night where couples who were already engaged had taken the floor in what amounted to showing off that they were off the market. There were some people who just liked to dance though, and some couples were putting on a show.

"Thank you for this dance, Leon." Scarlet Rafa Ades kept her voice low as they waltzed.

"You're welcome," he told the silver-blonde as they twirled, bringing another couple into view. None of the prince's clique had taken the floor for the first dance. Jilk Fia Marmoria had the excuse that his fiancee was a year older and thus not attending, while two others were now without fiancees. But Prince Julius Rafa Holfort's decision not even to arrive until after the dance was done was a public slap across the face of Lady Angelica Rafa Redgrave, and Chris Fia Arclight had followed this example.

But Scarlet's twin sister was dancing now, whatever her fiance thought. Julius' cousin Alan had dutifully danced with his own fiancee first, but now he was on the floor again with Violette - while the twins' cousin Katarina was dancing with her adopted brother.

"It's actually a pleasure," Leon conceded, honestly. Dancing wasn't something he usually went out of his way for, but it was a mandatory class for all students and there was a satisfaction to putting them into practice. Scarlet was actually a lot of fun to dance with - she was as good at this as she was with most things, not to mention very pretty. And there was the added amusement of watching some count and viscounts' sons grind their teeth over seeing an unattached duke's daughter dancing with a mere second son.

"I am uncomfortable with courting," she'd admitted a few weeks ago, when he raised Katarina's point about how their interactions appeared. "The punching bag may have expected something from me that I am unready for."

"Part of the problem with being expected to marry by twenty is that we wind up looking for partners when we might not be ready for that," Leon had agreed. "At least you know your own feelings on the matter - who knows what either of us will want in a year or two?"

And then she had given him a smile which he hoped she didn't realise was so heart-stopping and asked if they were still friends. Because apparently the romance novels she'd been reading suggested that boys didn't take well to being told that they weren't beloved by the romantic leads.

The music ended and the couples on the floor came to a halt. Leon dropped a kiss on the back of Scarlet's hand, in proper courtly fashion. They left the dance floor, accompanying most of the other dancers - although Alan seized the opportunity to ask Katarina for a dance, leading her laughing back out while the prince's twin brother mock-glowered at being preempted from claiming a second dance.

"Prince Gerald," Leon greeted him.

"Lord Bartford," the tall blonde man responded. "I haven't yet thanked you for saving my beloved fiancee in the dungeon." For the occasion, Gerald Rafa Stuart had traded his school uniform for a white suit with a long red cape. Leon had a similar cape on but he wore it over his school uniform, albeit he'd accessorised with white gloves and a cravat that set off the gold-trimmed dark grey nicely.

"To be fair, I believe we saved each other in the lower levels. I'm just glad it worked out. It was her brother, you and Alan that then saved us both in the pit."

Gerald nodded in acknowledgement of the point. "And of course, this is my dearest rival and her sister." He took Violette's hand and kissed it, then greeted Scarlet the same way. "I hope that you brought your best to the examinations this time, Lady Ades?"

"Did you bring yours?" she asked him a little bluntly.

"Oh, quite." He gave her an amused smile. "If it's to be best of three then of course I made every effort." Then he glanced across towards the entrance. "...and it seems my cousin fails to do so. Couldn't he have at least have offered to buy the girl a dress?"

They turned their heads to look and Leon saw that Prince Julius had arrived at last, along with his usual companion. The five boys were all dressed in tuxedos, each sporting a cumberbund in their trademark colour, but Marie Fou Lafan was unique among the girls present by attending wearing the school uniform. Even Olivia Campbell wore a gown, since Katarina had insisted on lending her one for the occasion.

"Your highness!" The prince's arrival had drawn someone else's attention - actually, he'd probably drawn everyone's, but it was his fiancee who made a scene about.

"What is she thinking?" Gerald muttered. "He's been an ass, but making a scene now won't help her position."

"I suspect that a red haze has descended." Leon had been expecting this. "You may not have encountered this, Prince Gerald, but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

The music cut short as even the musicians were unable to bring themselves to continue as Angelica brought the matter of Marie Fou Lafan out into the open. "Don't you know that this girl is carrying on with each and every one of you?"

"Of course we know," Julius declared. "Why would I be surprised that my closest friends recognise Marie for the treasure that she is?"

Whispers from around the room suggested to Leon that many of the girls present envied Marie for that statement - although at least Violette and Scarlet didn't seem to be among them. "Has he lost his mind?" the elder Ades twin asked - it was an open question if she meant the crown prince or her own fiance, as Chris fia Arclight took the lead in claiming devotion to the little girl.

Gerald's face didn't visibly tighten. "I thought my cousin was taking more after his father's infidelities, however bizarre it would be to share a mistress with the rest of his clique. But this is…"

"Jilk," Prince Julius declared, cutting down his foster-brother's claim to love Marie the most. Jilk Fia Marmoria had been raised at the palace, a lifelong companion for the prince. "I think you're wrong for once - because I am the one Marie loves the most."

Angelica's expression had only grown darker as praise was heaped upon her rival. Now she looked down, as if unwilling to even keep the group in her eyes any longer. "Do I understand correctly that your highness is engaged in more than flirtation with this woman?"

Prince Julius raised his chin proudly. "Marie is an irreplaceable woman in my heart. I didn't dislike you before we came to the academy, Angelica, but the way that you have treated her is unforgivable."

Exclamations filled the air as the students grasped that the prince's words were tantamount to his declaring that Angelica's engagement was - at best - in name only. And that loss of royal favour upended the entire class.

Gerald's jaw slackened for a moment. "I believe you are correct, Lady Ades." His tone was sharp, as close to shocked as Leon had heard him in their admittedly short acquaintance. "My cousin is insane!"

In the murmuring, something flew across the room and struck Marie upon the chest. Angelica looked at her with fiery eyes. "Pick it up, you vile seductress," she snapped as her glove fell off the smaller blonde and to the floor.

Violette Rafa Ades shocked Leon - and by the looks of it, both Scarlet and Gerald as well - with a low obscenity. "Your cousin will champion her, won't he?" She didn't mean Angelica.

"I'm disappointed in you," the prince said to his fiancee - no, his former fiancee. Not even the form of the engagement could survive this. Then he turned to the girl at his side, and Julius' face grew tender. "Pick it up, Marie. I will be your champion."

"I can't let your highness be the only one looking good," Jilk added. "The academy rules don't limit a lady to just one champion. I will also stand for you."

The rules did indeed allow that. It would be considered shameful for a boy to have someone else fight for him, but ladies could have as many champions as they wanted. The only restriction while they were all students is that they should not bring in outsiders to the academy.

And as all five of Marie's admirers pledged themselves, Angelica Rafa Redgrave looked around her for support - and realised just how much she had trapped herself. Not even her own supporters would willingly cross the next king - and even if they did, these were five of the most promising students in their various combat specialties.

Marie wiped at her face, clearing it of tears. "All of you…" she whispered, though with all ears eager, her words carried across the room. "I'm scared, but I feel safe with all of you with me. I accept your challenge, Angelica. We'll fight with everything we have."

And still, no one spoke up for Angelica.

Greg - Scarlet's former fiancee - typically for him, decided to rub it in. "Hey, is there no brave fellow to stand up for Angelica? I might even feel sorry for her if no one does."

And then he had a face full of snake.

It was a moment of panicked yelping and swatting it before he realised that it was merely a toy.

"Don't worry, Angelica, I'm with you!" a proud voice declared and now there was a second girl facing Marie and her lovers. Tall and proud in white and blue, Katarina Claes stood beside the girl that everyone had thought would be the next queen.

Leon stepped quietly in alongside her. "I wouldn't want Seberg to hurt himself attempting sympathy, he's so unaccustomed to it," he added quietly. He really should have known that Katarina would up-end the event "I'll stand for Lady Redgrave."

Julius blinked in disbelief at the pair of them. "Lady Claes?" he asked. "And who even are you?" he added, looking at Leon.

"He's that twit kissing up to Scarlet," Greg snapped. "Get out of here, you hick!"

"Or what?" Leon asked the red head coolly. "Will you have your family pressure mine over a quarrel inside of the academy?"

The muscular boy flinched at the jab, but before he could respond further, more people had joined them.

"Sis, what are you thinking?!" Keith exclaimed, taking Katarina by the hand.

Julius looked at his cousins, who were flanking those facing him. "I'll let you talk sense into your fiancee, Gerald."

"I think Katarina has more sense in this matter than you do," the blond retorted. "If she wishes to stand by Angelica then she has my support."

"And mine!" Alan snapped, although he was glaring more at Chris than the crown prince. "So both ladies have five champions, right Keith."

Katarina's brother stared at her for a moment, seeing the stubborn look in her eyes. "Lady Angelica, do you accept us as your champions?"

"I… yes, Lord Claes."

The speculation around the room redoubled. Well if I wanted to minimise my exposure, this'll do it, Leon thought to himself. I'm barely a footnote now that the prince is going to be duelling his own cousins!

Nicol Fia Ascart seemed understandably frustrated by the sudden development. Alan Rafa Stuart wondered as he watched their old friend standing behind the head table within the Student Council Chambers, if the older boy was more angry at the political crisis that had dropped into his lap or that he wasn't among those standing by Katarina? It was hard to tell.

Flanking Nicol, two other members of the student council had been rousted out of their evening activities to help him handle this matter. Deirdre Fou Roseblade was eyeing Leon Fou Bartford in an unladylike fashion, while the redheaded Sirius Fou Dieke seemed bemused by the entire affair. As the senior unengaged members of the council, they were also the least likely to have close allies on either side of the conflict.

"I have no authority to prevent you from duelling," the student council president admitted as the two groups stared at each other, separated by the width of the meeting room table. "However, I gather no terms have been agreed upon. What are you asking for, Lady Redgrave?"

The girl had been subdued since they had been invited here, perhaps beginning to see how much of a scandal this would be. But she was still determined and now she declared: "If we win, I want Marie and Julius to break off all contact."

Nicol nodded. "Saving that which will be unavoidable while you share a school, that is feasible." He looked at the other group. "Lady Lafan, your own terms?"

"I just want people to stop using their rank to trample over others," the girl announced.

There was an amused silence, then Leon Fou Bartford snorted. "An admirable sentiment, but would you like the moon on the stick as well?"

"What's so outrageous about that?" Julius asked sharply. "Marie's been bullied viciously on that woman's say so."

"I had no part in that," Angelica shot back.

Gerald, for a wonder, played peacemaker. "Lady Redgrave can hardly constrain every other student in the school from using their family's rank like a weapon - any more than Lady Lafan restrained Lord Seberg from trying to push Lord Bartford into withdrawing."

The burly boy's face went almost as crimson as his hair. Well, peacemaker was always a relative term when it came to Gerald.

"And if Lady Redgrave had wanted you out of the Academy," Alan's brother continued, "It would have been laughably easy to arrange for her to arrange for a family allied with the Redgraves to approach your father, Lady Lafan. Given his… expensive habits, I believe he would have been easily persuaded to marry you off immediately."

Several faces went white.

"You wouldn't dare!" Jilk exclaimed out loud.

Leon leant on the back of one of the chairs. "Do keep up, if any of us had sunk that low then Lady Lafan would be gone. She isn't, so we didn't."

"I-I want your promise not to do anything like that then!" Marie exclaimed, clutching at the nearest hand - that of her contract servant.

"Also reasonable," Nicol agreed in his usual dispassionate tone. "Do you each agree to the other's terms?"

Both the girls nodded.

"Very good." He shook his head slightly, "And now we come to the nature of the duel - duels, rather. I will hardly approve any form of melee between all of you at once."

Yeah, that would get wild, Alan admitted. "Individual duels then? Best of five?"

"In knight armours," Julius proposed. "The arena will be free after the last day of exams, and there's a day spare between then and the end of term ceremonies."

Nicol nodded. "The time would work out. However… Lord Bartford, I believe you have a problem with -"

The dark-haired boy shook his head. "No, I have an armour that accounts for that little issue. School knight-armours can't be modified the same way, but if we're using our own machines then I have time to bring one from my skyship."

"The school certainly isn't providing it's own knight-armours for use in a private duel." Nicol then turned his gaze to another member of their team. "Lady Katarina, can you use a knight-armour at all?"

"I've used Keith's before, I'm niii... er, piloting one is in my blood!" she declared.

"Ni-what?" Alan asked, seeing everyone else looked equally baffled.

"Er, it doesn't matter," she brushed it off. "But I don't have an armour of my own."

"I…" Nicol paused and very nearly frowned. "Cannot show partiality by loaning you my own."

Katarina looked at Angelica, who flushed, "My family has spares but none will be in the capital." And they'd require her father's approval too.

"There's a second on my ship."

Alan turned to Leon in surprise. The other boy was a count's younger son, heir to a barony through some complexity of the family's titles as he understood it. But he had two knight-armours at his own use?

"I believe we can at least indemnify you for any damage it takes while loaned to Katarina," offered Keith hesitantly.

Alan leaned over to the Claes' adopted son, "Hey, can Katarina really pilot one?"

"Yes," he replied in a somewhat equivocal tone. "And it's safer than fighting without them."

"Fair point."

Gerald nodded. "So we have time, stakes and the method of combat. Will you pick the match-ups, Nicol?"

"I object." Julius put one hand on the table. "The other matters have been mutually agreed between us, but Lord Ascart is one of your closest friends, Gerald. There's too much scope for him to weight the match-ups to favour you."

Alan glanced at the head table and saw Nicol unruffled. "As Lady Roseblade's sister is engaged to Lord Bartford's brother, would you accept Lord Dieke as an impartial arbiter of that matter, your highness?" the older boy suggested.

The crown prince hesitated but then nodded. "Yes, I would accept that."

The auburn-haired second year looked startled but he rose to his feet. "I accept this responsibility. One moment, please." He went to a side cabinet and returned with a page of paper that he tore into several sections, annotating each with an ink pattern. Crumpling the papers until their markings were invisible, he scrambled them in his hand. "Duels will be in the order that I draw them, if that's alright?"

Gerald and Julius, each taking the lead of their side, both nodded.

"That being the case," Sirius unfolded two pieces of paper. "The first duel will be Lord Field against Lord Claes."

The two magical powerhouses against each other, Alan thought. Probably as fair as it gets.

Dieke opened another piece of paper. "Prince Alan, you'll be against…" He examined the next draw. "Ah, no, that's your brother. Sorry," the boy apologised. "I should probably have kept them separate."

Alan looked across at the other team. Something about Arclight made him want to give the swordsman a thrashing - although in that field probably only Gerald was a match for the son of the famous Sword Saint.

"Lord Seberg, it is you that will be Prince Alan's opponent."

"Shame I won't get to show Bartford a what for," the redhead grumbled, apparently as disappointed as Alan.

"Perhaps Katarina and Leon should fight last, since if one side has three victories they wouldn't need to participate," suggested Gerald. "They do have the least magic."

Jilk shook his head. "Just draw them randomly," he insisted.

Dieke had sorted the remaining papers into two sets of three and shook each in his hand before making his next selections. "Lord Arclight will face Lady Claes in the third match."

Alan grimaced. It was probably the best of the three options, but Katarina's sword grades weren't all that high - she was too defensive. On the other hand, what was it that his instructor had once said about the best swordsman in the world worrying more about facing a novice than the second-best, since the novice might do something unexpected.

"Lord Marmoria will then face Lord Bartford in the penultimate match," Dieke continued. "And if the matter has not been decided by then, the last match would therefore be Prince Julius against Prince Gerald."

Politically, it'd be best to settle this before that happens, Alan thought. But given the way Julius has been behaving, if it comes to that then I hope Gerald can knock some sense into his head.

Nothing else seemed to have worked.

Leon landed his spare knight-armour in the arena behind House Stuart's mansion. The ducal house had a large estate outside of the capital's boundaries and Gerald had arranged for them to meet there the morning after the party.

Two other knight-armours were already standing in the arena, and they raised their weapons as he landed the armour. "You know, you did invite me," Leon called, cracking the cockpit open.

Both of the knight-armours stood down and a moment later, the twins opened their own cockpits.

"My apologies, Lord Bartford." Gerald was matter of fact about the matter. "But you must admit, it would be an excellent way for an enemy to get an armed knight inside our defenses."

Leon considered that and then decided the blond was right - he did have to admit to the validity of the tactic. "Fair enough." He dismounted, climbing down to the ground. "I trust that this meets your expectations."

"It's a bit bulkier than I was expecting," noted Alan. His own armour was black, contrasting the white of his brother's. "Is it an older model?"

"No one I consulted could pinpoint the original manufacture." Which was literally true, since no one but he and the AIs knew that Luxion had built both knight-armours for him. "And some of that bulk is reinforced protection around the cockpit - which is probably a good thing."

Both brothers nodded in agreement.

"Speaking of the knight who'll be piloting this, have our other two partners arrived?" Leon enquired, looking around.

"Yes, they came over with Keith's knight-armour earlier." Gerald explained. "She's getting kitted out now in the hangar."

As if on queue, there was a high pitched: "Lady Katarina!" from the indicated direction, and then the sound of someone falling over.

Leon exchanged looks with the two Stuarts and then all three of them ran over to investigate.

"Oh gosh, Mary! Are you alright!" they heard, before opening the door and entering.

The first person Leon saw was a maid with a resigned expression on her face. Then he looked down and saw Katarina crouched over a fallen Mary Fou Hunt. The Marquis' daughter's eyes were closed and a trail of blood was leaking from her nose.

There was a strangled noise from beside him and he turned to see both princes were red-faced.

Frowning, Leon turned back and finally registered that Katarina was wearing a pilot's suit for a knight-armour. In keeping with the otome genre, the suits had been designed to show off the physiques of the young men wearing them. Katarina Rafa Claes was not a young man, but she was a very attractive young woman and the tight-fitting suit was highlighting several of her physical qualities that were usually hidden by the skirts of her school uniform or gowns.

Grabbing one twin with each hand, Leon dragged them both back through the door. "I think that this is definitely a job for Katarina's maid," he told them.

"Y-yes," Alan managed.

"Katarina is going to be wearing that in front of all the academy," Gerald muttered, half to himself. "We have to do something."

"What's going on!?" Keith Claes exclaimed, rushing into the antechamber. "Is Katarina alright?"

"Your sister's fine," Leon assured him. "Although…" He looked at the young man, who was wearing a suit and frock-coat, presumably not having changed into his own piloting suit yet. "Gentlemen, may I suggest that we adopt a team jacket policy."

"What?" the flaxen-haired boy asked, bemused.

"Your sister," Gerald told him flatly. "In a pilot's suit. In front of the entire academy."

Colour drained from Keith's face. "Mother will kill her."

"I'm thinking we use your coat as a model for something that renders the matter less scandalous," Leon suggested. "And if we're all wearing them, there's no need to explain why we want her to cover up."

"Excellent thinking," the elder of the twins agreed. "I'll speak to our staff immediately."

Keith shrugged off his coat and offered it to Gerald. "But if Katarina's fine, who screamed?"

"My fiancee was apparently shocked," Alan told him. "Mary's quite a proper girl."

Leon gave Alan a sideways look and decided not to enlighten him as to why Mary found the idea of Katarina wearing something skintight to be overstimulating. "Anyway, since it will take a little while for even Gerald to arrange jackets, please restrain yourselves on seeing her. Unless you want to have a very interesting conversation with her."

"Just keep your own eyes in your head," Keith said in an accusing manner.

Leon gave him a dour look. "It's not going to be an issue once she's in the knight-armour. Why don't we move along to that, since we only have two days for your sister to practise?"

"Sorry to keep you!" Katarina declared, marching out of the changing room. "Mary must have come down with something and -"

"Mrgh," Keith mumbled, eyes wide. Even with a warning, he apparently wasn't ready to see his sister like this.

Fortunately, Alan gave the boy a swift elbowing. "I'd better check on Mary," he declared. "Leon, you and Keith get Katarina set up in the knight-armour and I'll be back as soon as I can so we can begin practising."

"Right!" Katarina agreed, then peered at her brother. "Keith, are you alright? Your face is all red - please don't be coming down with whatever Mary's caught!" She reached up and pressed her hand against his forehead, moving well inside the embarrassed boy's personal space.

With herculean effort, Leon kept his gaze from lowering below her face. "He's just worried for Mary," he said smoothly. "But Alan will take care of that. Please follow me and I'll show you the knight-armour I've brought."

Katarina was suitably impressed by the sight of the giant robot. "How great!" she proclaimed. "It looks powerful!"

"My armour is also powerful," Keith mumbled.

"Of course it is. We'll be great together, Keith!"

"Do you remember how to… ah, evidently you do." Leon watched Katarina climbing up to the cockpit until Keith elbowed him sharply. "What?"

"That's my sister," the earth mage hissed angrily.

"Yes?"

"Stop leering at her…"

"What are you talking about?" Katarina called down from the hatch, which was only just above their heads.

Leon sighed. "Keith's just going to go get his own knight-armour," he advised. "Get sat down in there and I'll come up and make sure you're strapped in right - given how much you can get thrown around during a fight, it's very important to get that right."

"Okay!" Katarina turned around and started climbing backwards into the cockpit, bending forwards as she did so.

Leon blinked and then looked away from her and over at Keith. "I really should have thought of the team jackets idea earlier," he admitted.

"Just… don't try anything," the boy hissed, under his breath.

"Between you and Scarlet, I'm fairly sure I don't dare."

To Leon's surprise, Katarina actually did know how to strap herself in properly. The safety requirements for piloting a knight-armour were apparently one of the subjects that she had not blotted out of her memory as soon as she'd passed a test on it. She could even walk it around with a fair bit of expertise. Either she was a natural, or Keith had been understating how much she'd borrowed his Knight-armour over the years.

It was when it came to fighting that the problems emerged.

"Yiiiiii!" Leon yelped, running in a direction that he didn't think the sword was falling in, after Katarina had accidentally flung her weapon skywards.

Gerald, now in his own knight-armour, rushed forward and secured the weapon before it fell to the ground. "That's not quite how it's done, Katarina," he advised.

"Oops," she said rather sheepishly.

"Master," Luxion observed as Leon picked himself up and looked for any dignity he might have dropped in his abject flight.

"She hasn't broken the armour, has she?" he asked.

"No, master. However, someone has broken the lock on your dorm room."

"Oh for crying out loud." He rubbed his face in frustration. "I remember this from the books, it's why I don't have any valuables there, but how petty can they be? Who's doing it?"

"I've identified the servants of fourteen girls in the special class, with representatives from all three years."

Leon paused. "Just servants?"

"You were expecting something else?" asked the AI. "They are vandalising the room now."

"In the book, it was baronial heirs that got bullied into it - the girls wouldn't lower their pet lovers to manual labour like this. Or at least, they wanted a bit more deniability." He rubbed his chin. "It's still annoying. I have to sleep in that room."

"It will need careful cleaning then."

"Bartford!" called Gerald. "Are you alright?"

Leon looked up and saw that all four knight-armours had halted. "Er, yes - I'm fine. Just thinking about my own training."

Gerald slotted the sword back into the weapon case of the borrowed Knight-armour. "Why do you have farm tools in this?"

"We had a lot of the fighting men of the barony take time away from their farms to fight the Olfreys," Leon replied. "After that we had all hands on deck to get the fields ready for sowing - knight-armours can handle a lot of heavy labour."

"I don't think I've ever seen that before," Mary called from the stands. She insisted that she was fully recovered from her fainting moment, but Katarina's maid was still watching her tentatively.

"My father's barony has only been cultivated for a few generations," Leon explained, making way up to join her - out of the path of any other flying weapons. At least he hoped so. "We're still clearing new ground for farming - I'm guessing that that's not really the case on your father's lands."

"Not really," she admitted.

Leon looked at her, considered the vandalism of his rooms and decided to reverse one of his earlier decisions about how to handle the duels. As long as he didn't take it too far, it shouldn't be too troubling and with more than a dozen students picking a fight with him, it would be almost rude not to retaliate. "Lady Hunt, might you have any idea about who will be taking bets on our duels?"