Volume 3 - CH 11

That day, the Academy was in an uproar since morning. An Imperial Prince and Imperial Princess from the Flamefield Empire—which was an important neighbor of ours, from a political standpoint as well—arrived to study here. 

“Hey, did you hear?”

“You’re talking about the Imperial Prince and Princess, right? That has nothing to do with us, though, right?”

“What do you mean? If we win their favour, they might even hire us! I heard that, whenever the members of the Imperial family come to study abroad, they recruit several people from the Servant course.”

“What, really?! Then this could be an opportunity, even for us!”

Even in Class A of the Servant course conversations such as these could be heard incessantly. Now, I had to clear up that small misunderstanding. Just because particularly outstanding students were in this class, it didn’t necessarily mean that they would be employed by Royalty or high-ranking nobles for sure.

Many of the exclusive butlers and head maids that were working for Royalty or high-ranking nobles already, aka the people who took on managerial positions among the servants, were of noble descent – in other words, students of the Noble course. Or they came from a family lineage such as mine, a family that had been working for the Marquis household for many generations.

However, the Imperial family members who had come to study here before had apparently employed students of the Servant course, and treated them well, too. Therefore, people seemed excited, thinking that this time they might have a chance as well.

Of course, students who had already received tentative employment offers weren’t that excited. But there were many surprised shouts at the fact that the Imperial family was coming to study here, out of nowhere, too. There was also a certain student with a tentative offer that was very interested in this topic as well.

“Cyril, did you hear the rumours?” Raymond piped up, addressing me.

“It’s been a hot topic since morning. But it isn’t something that should concern you much, right? I’m really late in saying this, but congratulations on your tentative offer.”

Raymond’s good work during the School Festival was recognized and it was settled that he would work for Fol. I was surprised when I heard about this from Luke, but at the same time, I thought that it was just natural given Raymond’s competency.

“Thank you, Cyril. It’s all thanks to you.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“…I knew you’d say that! But if you hadn’t given me a chance to prove myself when I was on a path of self destruction, I would have never caught her attention. So, it is thanks to you after all.”

“…Even if that was true, I believe that you would have caught someone’s attention soon either way.”

Even if no one else would have spoken to him, I had planned on recommending him to Lady Sophia at the right moment, anyway. Sadly, since it was settled that he would become a Royal servant, I had no choice but to give up on that.

“No way, no way! I mean, the person who spoke to me is also a commoner, just like me.”

“…A commoner?”

When I tilted my head in puzzlement wondering what he meant, Raymond quickly waved his hand around as if to say, ‘Don’t misunderstand!’

“It’s not that I’m dissatisfied because she’s a commoner. I know that she’s an outstanding person, outstanding enough to have the patronage of a Count. And even if she wasn’t, she was the first person who acknowledged me, so…”

“…I… see.”

Even as I replied to show that I was actually listening, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what Raymond was talking about. Although Fol was attending the Academy under the guise of being a commoner’s daughter who had been taken in by a Count because of her capabilities, her real identity was a Royal… Could it be that Raymond didn’t know? 

That’s impossible! I thought, shifting my gaze. My eyes met Luke’s, who had apparently overheard our conversation, but then he blatantly averted his eyes. Apparently, Fol’s real identity was a secret.

Fol was probably hiding it out of amusement. 

‘Did you think that you’d be working for a young Lady of commoner descent? Too bad, your master is a princess!’ When I thought of Fol revealing something like that to Raymond – it was indeed amusing. There weren’t any real drawbacks even if she kept it hidden from him, so I decided to just watch the situation unfold.

“By the way, how are things going for you, Cyril?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“Earlier, you said that it wasn’t not something that should concern ‘me’, right? Technically, you should have said ‘us’. Are you perhaps involved in something?”

“…It’s just that Lady Sophia and I were ordered to act as guides.”

“As guides? By that, you mean…”

Raymond had probably guessed what I meant. The gaze he was giving me changed to one of worry.

“There’s no need to worry, I am fine.”

“…Really? If you are, then it’s all good, but, if there was anything you’d be troubled by, tell me, okay? If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do my utmost to help you out.”

“Yes, I’ll ask for your advice if that happens.”

I plastered a fake smile on my face and gave him my thanks.

Afterwards, classes continued with everyone in a state of excitement until school finally finished. I visited Class A of the Noble course, since I was supposed to meet Her Highness, the Imperial Princess, Charlotte, there. Lady Sophia called out to me as if she had been waiting for me.

“Cyril, you’ve come at the perfect time. This way.”

When I followed Lady Sophia a step or two behind, following her command, I was able to see that her classmates were gathered. Apparently, they were standing up and talking.

“Your Highness, Prince Harold. Your Highness, Princess Charlotte. This is my butler, the one I told you about earlier. Cyril, this is His Highness, Prince Harold, and Her Highness, Princess Charlotte.”

“My name is Cyril. It is an honor to meet you.”

I fixed my gaze on a spot in front of the feet of the two people Lady Sophia had addressed and I bowed politely. After I greeted them, a young boy’s reassuring voice sounded.

“Raise your head.” 

When I raised my head just like the voice instructed, I felt a little surprised at the sight of these two Imperial Royal members.

The red-haired young boy was probably the Imperial Prince, Harold. Although he was wearing something akin to a coat made out of fine quality cloth, the top of the shirt he was wearing underneath was wide open, giving a glimpse of his tan skin.

Although this kind of dress code would be unthinkable in Ephenear, this was most likely the clothing typically worn in the Flamefield Empire, with its everlasting summer and intense sunlight. Coupled with a firm body and amethyst eyes that hid a powerful will, there was an undeniable charm to him, even though he was a man. 

Next, the young girl with silver hair with a faint pink tint was probably Her Highness, Imperial Princess, Charlotte. Just like the Prince, she was also wearing a coat and was wearing a garment underneath it, a garment considered very thin for a young noble lady. From the point of view of nobility, it seemed very exposed, but to someone like me, who had memories from his previous world, it wasn’t that strange. Her amethyst eyes sparkled as she gazed at me with interest.

“So you’re Cyril? I’m so glad to finally be able to meet you!”

Soundless shrieks came from the people around us, because, of all things she could have done, Imperial Princess Charlotte hugged me.

I was being embraced. 

That being said, we were only as close to each other as if we were dancing. No matter how lightly dressed she was, her development was proportional to her age, so there was no need for me to get upset. However, Lady Sophia was looking at me as if she wanted to ask, ‘Why didn’t you move out of the way?’

‘It’s not like that, my Lady.’

‘What isn’t like that? I didn’t say anything, did I?’

When I appealed to her silently, that was the look that she gave me in return. However, her eyes were dyed red and she was clearly oozing with displeasure. However, if I hadn’t caught the Imperial Princess, Charlotte, she might have fallen over. If that were to happen, it would likely become a nation-wide issue, so I appealed to my Lady from the bottom of my heart. Perhaps it got through to her, since Lady Sophia puffed out her cheeks petulantly. It seemed that, if I didn’t do something fast, Lady Sophia would fall into darkness again.

“Your Highness, Princess Charlotte, please release me.”

“Oh, but I simply expressed my joy at getting to meet you, yes?”

“While I am truly honoured, our country’s etiquette is very different. It is likely that this might cause unnecessary misunderstandings with everyone.”  

“Oh, but I don’t mind even if that is the case, anyway?”

She was smiling innocently, but her eyes sparkled bewitchingly.  Apparently, she was not the innocent princess she appeared to be. However, it was nothing unusual to realize that dealing with a young Lady who lived within noble society would be difficult.

“If misunderstandings were to arise, I will take responsibility and resign as a guide–”

‘are you alright with it despite that?’ Before I could finish, she quickly stepped away. She put a distance of about two steps between us and lifted up the hem of her skirt, doing a curtsy. 

“I’ve been very rude. Since it seems that I am still quite unfamiliar with this country’s etiquette, as my guide, please help me so that I can remember everything quickly.”

“As you wish. I shall fully devote myself to this task,” I answered, bowing my head politely as well. Although she said that she was unfamiliar with this country’s etiquette, she seemed to know very well how to make the people around us understand that I was her guide.

From our conversation, the participants of this get-together must have guessed that I agreed to be her guide. While skillfully schooling their expressions, they were looking at me and Lady Sophia as if they wanted to ask, ‘Why?’

“Truth be told, I came to study here because I wanted to meet you, you know?”

Once more, she said things that invited misunderstandings… she was definitely doing it on purpose. But, why was she making such careless remarks? While her reasons were unknown to me, I had to amend this situation before Lady Sophia fell into darkness.

“I am very appreciative of your acknowledgment regarding my research behind the magical technique I used. You are quite enthusiastic about magical research, right, Your Highness?”

The first sentence was an explanation aimed for the people around us while the latter was a question for the Imperial Princess. By this, I led others to believe that her interests lay with magic, so that no unnecessary speculations would arise. As I expected, the faces of everyone around us lit up with understanding. Since Fol’s Magical Overcharge Illness was a secret, I had to be careful so that they wouldn’t investigate any further, but… since a lot of magical research was confidential to begin with, it was convenient to turn it into a secret.

“Although Char came for magical research, the reason why I am studying here is different. Thus, Lady Sophia will be my guide,” Harold said, after he waited for Princess Charlotte to calm down. Although he hadn’t said what his reason for coming to study abroad was, just connecting the dots of what he just said, many people must have realized that his goal was Lady Sophia. Apparently, he didn’t plan on hiding it.

I would have been saved if he came here for another reason but… damn. Pamela was supposed to be the heroine though! Just where did the original ‘The Eve of the Festival’ script go?

For the time being, there was no way that Prince Harold was saying this to me, so, as a mere butler, I couldn’t interrupt him. Thus, I had no choice but to leave Lady Sophia to deal with him.

However, the fact that I, a butler, couldn’t intervene, was a situation I had already expected to arise. I had educated my Lady previously so that she would be able to deal with situations such as these herself. There was no need for me to worry about the Lady Sophia that I had raised. If anything, I should rather be worried about everything else. At the moment, I should deal with Princess Charlotte. When I turned my gaze to the Princess, with these thoughts in my mind, she was smiling broadly.

“Cyril, I know it may be a little abrupt, but could you show me around the Academy?”

“As you wish.”

As per Princess Charlotte’s request, we left the classroom of the Noble course. We were accompanied by her servants, but it seemed that Prince Harold would be doing something else in the meantime.

“Is something the matter?”

“Ah, I was just thinking that you aren’t wearing the uniform…”

I ended up raising a question that differed from what I was actually thinking about. Somehow, I had a feeling that it would be better if I didn’t show my concern for Lady Sophia too much. 

“Since we decided to come here so suddenly, the uniforms aren’t ready yet. Or are you bothered by my clothing?”

“It might be a little shocking for someone who’s unfamiliar with your country. However, I am aware that your garments are common in the Flamefield Empire, Your Highness. Therefore, I have no problem with it.”

When I answered, it drew a look of surprise from her.

“I’ve heard that this country’s clothing isn’t very revealing, so I believed you would have more to say about it, but unexpectedly that’s not the case. Or is it because it’s you?”

“It’s simply because your clothing isn’t too revealing.”

Truth be told, swimsuits existed in this country as well. More precisely, there was a scene in which Alicia, clad in a swimsuit, went out to play around a lake with the capture targets. Compared to that, how much Princess Charlotte was showing was by no means a big deal.

“More importantly, where would you like me to start with the tour?”

“Let’s see… oh, that’s right! Could you take me somewhere where we can enjoy a leisurely talk first? Rather than seeing the Academy’s facilities, I would like to hear a more detailed account from you.”

“As you wish.”

As this was something I expected, I wasn’t really at a loss on where to go, and thus, I led Princess Charlotte to the courtyard. When I guided her to a table, she requested that I make her tea.

She would be left alone while I, her guide, would be making her tea but… apparently Princess Charlotte even knew that the way I brewed black tea was different from the way others did it.

I suppose that she had heard a lot of things from Young Master Ernest. Since that was the case, I left her with her maids and prepared some black tea. She asked me to sit at the same table with her, so I obediently went to the other side of the table and sat down.

“Ooh… you obeyed immediately. Even though ordinary servants would say that this is discourteous…”

“It certainly is something unthinkable. However, as this seems to be your wish…”

As someone who was used to unreasonable requests, I simply decided that following her orders obediently was the best course of action. When I asked her if there were any problems with a gaze, she gave me a somewhat satisfied smile.

“I don’t really like formal stuff or having to repeat myself, so I really appreciate it,” she said as drank the black tea I prepared. Technically speaking, Lady Sophia should be tasting it for poison. However, since Lady Sophia wasn’t here, either me or her servants should be the ones supposed to drink the tea to test it instead but… there was probably no use in saying this. She swallowed before letting out a romantic sigh.

“The taste truly is different. And it’s so fragrant too. Your skills are truly something.”

“I am honored by your kind words.”

While I was glad that she liked it, most likely, what she really wanted to talk about would come next. As I braced myself, she faced me and gently smiled.

“I heard that you invented a technique to release one’s magical powers as treatment for the Magical Overcharge Illness.”

“No, I only rediscovered a technique that was listed in a magic book,” I said, with a serious look on my face.

“Impossible.”

“Why do you believe so?”

“Our Empire had searched for a treatment against Magical Overcharge Illness from all angles. However, no matter what we did, we weren’t able to find a method that could save those with high magical resistance. Yet you’re saying that there’s a magic book that has a technique listed in it, one that has never even been seen or heard of?”

It was reasonable that she wouldn’t believe me. However, no matter how fast one’s magical powers recovered, normally, the amount of powers spent was sure to be higher. The fact that this wasn’t the case was simply due to the fact that this world’s magic wasn’t very developed yet.

“It’s a fact that there are magical books even you don’t know of. Besides, isn’t it more realistic than the idea of a mere butler developing a technique from scratch?”

When I tilted my head to the side, Princess Charlotte smiled gently.

“Say… Cyril. Let’s make a deal.”

“A deal?”

“If you accept my conditions, I will save your Lady.” She smiled mysteriously. 

As I had thought, this princess wasn’t one who could be dealt with easily.