CH 112

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Aurora Steinfeld, daughter of the Duke of Bloomfield

Adeline, Margravine of Vanderwall, Percival’s mother

Veritas Perfectio, 1st son of the Earl of Aldridge, Sapphiras’ former older brother

Aquila Perfectio, 3rd son of the Earl of Aldridge, Sapphiras’ former younger brother

Joshua Allbee, 2nd ranked in the 1st attainment exam

Through rumours around me, I learnt that Veritas was no longer at the academy.

Apparently, the recent incident made it difficult for him to stay at the academy, and he has been shutting himself away at home. Even if he escaped, he would probably still feel small in there, though. I can only say that he deserved it, so I don’t have any particular thoughts about it. Although his father had absolute power in the Earl’s family, he could have at least not lost his place if he had changed the way he behaved at the academy, where his father’s influence was less strong. And if he had the ability to listen to the voices around him, even a little, he would have known that the Earl’s reputation was not good.

I think the Countess was born into a viscount’s family with a bit of magical power, and in a sense she was a victim who ended up marrying into the Earl of Aldridge’s family. Giving birth to a child with high magical powers was the only wish she had, but she gave birth to a child with no magical power, so she must have felt that she couldn’t hold her head high. I made her position worse and interfered with the excellent legitimate son who was her stronghold, so she must have wanted to complain. That said, I don’t think it’s right for a grown-up to come and complain to a child. I don’t know what she wanted me to do by coming to me and saying such a thing. Did she want me to say that I was sorry? Even if that were the case, I would never tell her that.

Among such a family, Aquila, who bowed to me at the Duke’s tea party, may be the only conscience of the Earl’s family. Once he enters the academy, I think it would be best for him to keep his distance from his parents’ house if possible. There is nothing good about him being connected to the Earl family as it is. It’s up to him to decide what to do.

Including this and that, there were too many things in a short period of time, and I was able to survive the attainment test with a not-quite peaceful academy life. The results will be posted today. Foreign languages, arithmetic, and history are less of a concern. When it comes to magic, there is no enemy. My only and biggest weakness is art, but even with Percival’s support, the results were dismal. It seems that my brain has no intention of accepting art. I don’t feel it’s necessary for life. I don’t intend to deny art, but I’m just fed up with it being forced on me.  From now on, if commoners are to be accepted into the academy, I will strongly argue that art should be excluded from the exams.

Although I have the seeds of anxiety called art, all I have to do is wait for a long vacation.

The holidays with New Year’s Eve and Yor Festival are special. Some houses even throw big parties. Being an aristocrat is a lot of work.

In my previous life, I just drank and ate and had a big party every day with my friends. Byron was drinking like a bottomless barrel, and it was like making money for the whole year for the Yor Festival. This was the only time of year that neither Urla nor Evan would chide Byron for drinking too much. The time of year when the Yor Festival is held is that much more special. I’ve celebrated New Year’s in many places, but this is the first time I’ve celebrated it in Vanderwall.

I was already in the mood for a long vacation, and when I went to the bulletin board where the grades were posted with a little excitement, there were already people gathered and I was looking up at the report card and worrying about it.

Aurora is number one as expected. She’s not going to let anyone take the top spot. And 2nd place was Percival. I managed to find the name of the guy who was in second place last time, Allbee, but I couldn’t find him even after 10th place, and before that I found my name. Again, stable in the top 20. As for art, if I didn’t get one more point, I would have stayed on for the supplementary exam. It’s the shape of escaping at the last minute. The same goes for capturing ruins, my method is to attack in the nick of time.

……Let’s leave it at that.

When it comes to the second attainment test, everyone finds a way to study that suits them. Until the last time, it was the students’ ability to study at home that was the deciding factor, but it seems that there was a big difference in the stage of accumulating new knowledge. In the end, complacency led to defeat. He used to say things to undermine Aurora, but he wasn’t even a worthy opponent.

“Sapphiras, you’ve come.”

“Ah, Percival! That’s great, 2nd place!”

“No, Miss Aurora, who didn’t give up the 1st place this time either, is probably more amazing.”

“Yes, Miss Aurora is really talented. She won’t be able to hold on to the top spot with just a bit of effort.”

“Good day, Sapphiras-sama and Percival-sama.”

Speak of the devil, here comes the talented woman. Just by standing there, I feel like the surrounding area brightens up.

“Miss Aurora, you have once again dominated 1st place. Congratulations.”

“Well, thank you. Sapphiras-sama, you just barely got away with art.”

“I just barely got away with it! It’s no problem!”

When I said that with confidence, even Miss Aurora didn’t hide her wry smile.

“It’s no match for Sapphiras-sama. By the way, the long vacation is starting soon, but Sapphiras-sama is going to Vanderwall, isn’t he?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I wanted to invite you to the Duke of Bloomfield’s villa for the long vacation, but Adeline-sama beat me to it.”

“Mother?”

Percival looks doubtful. Unbeknownst to Percival, something seems to be happening between the ducal family and the margrave family.

“Yes, the other day, two carriages worth of Vanderwall territory specialities and rare magical beast materials arrived at my house. With a polite letter of greeting.”

“That’s……Sorry about that…….”

“No, it’s fine. As expected of the Magravine of Vanderwall, the country’s strongwoman, both my father and mother were completely impressed.

“Eh? Eh? What do you mean?”

I don’t understand the meaning of the conversation between the two of them, so I twist my head.

“Before I invited Sapphiras-sama, I received a letter with an apology, saying sorry for inviting Sapphiras-sama to Vanderwalll for the Yor vacation.”

Eh? Why did Madam Adeline do that?

“Last time, Sapphiras turned down Miss Aurora’s invitation, didn’t he? So my mother, thinking she would try to save face this time, went ahead and sent a letter of apology.”

Oh, I see. It’s true that she turned down Miss Aurora’s invitation for the previous long vacation, so she may have thought that if I were invited this time, she would have to show face to His Excellency the Duke. I would have thought that the first half would be for the Duke’s family, and the second half for Vanderwall. For me, who can transfer, it’s not impossible to disturb both sides.

“Instead, it was written that the two of you would participate in the spring tea ceremony together, and even if you are far away, you keep the information in the centre firmly in check. As expected of Adeline-sama who is known as the flower of society.”

A spring tea party?　

The fact that they specifically specified spring means that Aurora may be announcing that she has become the fiancée of His Highness the Crown Prince. I’m sure there are people who have a vague sense of it, but the official announcement has yet to be made. Even though she is in a remote place, the fact that she can obtain such information almost without delay means that Madam Adeline must have that many personal connections.

But then again, she was a socialite when she was young. She was beautiful, reliable and many people must have admired her.

“She is dignified, isn’t she? And yet, also behaving gracefully. She was also a very caring person, and I heard that many debutantes were helped a lot by Adeline-sama. My mother is one of those who admire her.”

Even the Duchess, who is almost a goddess in her own right, admires her? Such a woman is Percival’s mother.

I glance at Percival. His face resembles Madam Adeline, and his character resembles an honest Margrave. He is skilled with a sword, can use magic enough to fight magical beasts, and is even smart.

……Such a perfect man exists.

And because he is the third son, he can marry anywhere. For a family with a daughter who has to take over the family, he is an excellent potential successor. Naturally, he’s also the perfect companion for second and third sons.

“What’s wrong?”

Percival, who noticed my gaze, tilts his head.

Wow, you’ve suddenly shown me a cute gesture. Because he’s usually cool, I stumbled by being shown such a difference from his usual self.

I’m always attached to the side of such an attractive man, so people must be jealous. But I’m Percival’s companion. I can’t help being with him. Forgive me.

“I just think Percival has all the ingredients to be popular.”

“……Ha?”

Percival doesn’t understand my train of thought, who suddenly turns from talking about Madam Adeline to talking about himself, and makes a puzzled expression.

“I can only imagine what you’ve been through, Percival-sama……”

Aurora mumbles, covering her mouth with her fan.

“Right! Must be tough being a popular guy.”

“……No, that’s not what I mean, Sapphiras-sama.

“?”

Then what do you mean?