Chapter 48
I woke up to find myself gently placed on a bed in the middle of a luxurious suite.
As expected, Dustin wasn’t there.
It would have been awkward and embarrassing if he had been.
I’m the master, and you’re the disciple!
Well, no, I probably would have slapped him first!
Maybe I should check my clothes?
Anyway, it seemed like nothing happened, so I breathed a sigh of relief and stepped outside, only to find Dustin standing right in front of the door.
“Why are you standing here?”
“Ah, I wanted to greet you when you woke up…”
The morning sun streamed through the window.
Fresh air filled the room, accompanied by the chirping of birds.
“…You stayed up all night?”
“It’s fine. It’s common to stay up all night during missions.”
This foolish boy.
No wonder he has permanent dark circles under his eyes.
I wanted to scold him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it after he waited for me all night.
“Would you like to have breakfast first? Or go sightseeing?”
Is it strange that he seems more excited than me?
He might not have a tail, but he’s wagging it like a puppy greeting its owner.
Maybe my eyesight is getting worse.
Do they even have glasses in this world?
“Let’s have breakfast first. I’ll change clothes and be right out.”
“Clothes… ah, of course! You’re still in yesterday’s attire… I’ll be waiting! Take your time! The bathroom is right over there…!”
He rambles excitedly.
“Yeah, you should wash up too.”
“D-do I smell? I apologize. I must have overlooked it. I’ll go wash up immediately…!”
I didn’t mean it like that…
He blushes and dashes into what I assume is his room.
He’s not a little girl. He’s not actually hurt by that, right?
…Right.
I enter my room, lock the door, and head towards the bathroom.
The bathroom is quite luxurious, suggesting we’re staying in a high-end suite, but…
Well, who cares?
He’s a Knight Commander. He must be earning a good salary.
I’ll just enjoy it~
After a refreshing bath, I try to apply the fragrant oil to my hair myself, but it feels strange.
Celia or Lia usually did it for me at the academy.
Wait, am I a spoiled brat?
No, I’m a manly man who just doesn’t know how to take care of his hair.
But maybe that’s how I appeared to them.
I shake off those useless thoughts, change into comfortable clothes, and step outside.
“Master! You look beautiful today!”
Calling a manly man “beautiful.”
Dustin, you’re disqualified.
“Your expression… is troubled… Is something wrong?”
You’re the problem, but I can’t say that out loud, so I just shake my head.
“I made reservations at a nice restaurant for breakfast. I hope it suits your taste.”
I’m not a picky eater.
Even in my previous life, I ate pretty much everything except for those silkworm pupae and those insect dishes in China.
“As long as it’s not roasted insects, I’m good.”
“…I would never serve you such a dish, Master.”
“Okay, good.”
The restaurant Dustin chose was indeed upscale and delicious.
From the bread and jam to the soup and the main dish, everything was excellent.
I ate until I was full.
“I’m glad it suited your taste. Now, let’s head to the Imperial Palace for the tour.”
Even though I didn’t say anything, it must have been obvious that I enjoyed the meal.
I cleaned my plate, leaving nothing behind.
Well, I’m not a girl who needs to pretend to eat daintily.
It’s only polite to finish your food when it’s delicious!
“This is the Imperial Palace.”
“Wow, it’s huge.”
It was a palace befitting an empire.
Vast grounds!
Multiple buildings!
A dazzling garden!
There were many restricted areas, but perhaps because Dustin was a Knight Commander, we had access to most places.
“This area is usually off-limits, but the Commander included it in the itinerary.”
“How’s the current Commander? Is he different from Teacher Kalus?”
“Hmm, he has a different style. He’s more… human.”
Human?
Does that mean he’s more approachable?
“Hmm? Who’s that guy with all the guards?”
A man, who seemed to be of high status, was walking through the garden.
He had sleek brown hair and a melancholic aura.
He looked young, yet his expression was filled with sorrow, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Ah… that’s the Second Prince.”
I knew it.
There had to be a character like that.
And he’s probably the type who…
Can’t become emperor because he’s not the firstborn, but worries about the nation because the firstborn is a good-for-nothing!
I think I read a story like that in a romance novel disguised as fantasy.
“Hmm, I see.”
“Is… that your type…?”
What the hell is this idiot talking about?
His absurd question sent shivers down my spine.
“You idiot, just continue the tour.”
“If you like princes… that’s going to be a problem…”
“He’s not my type! Just do your job!”
I smack him upside the head, and he finally shuts up.
“Ugh, Master, that hurts.”
“Stop whining.”
A Knight Commander, complaining about being hit by a weak girl?
The Commander would be rolling in his grave.
“I’m getting hungry.”
“Ah, we have been walking for a while. It’s understandable that you’re hungry. Let’s have lunch and continue the tour tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
We were allowed three days for the tour.
Quite generous, considering most people don’t even get a single day.
The Commander… does he have a thing for Dustin?
No, stop with the dirty thoughts. Damn it.
They’re coming back.
“Then let’s go. This way.”
I shake off those inappropriate thoughts and follow Dustin, looking forward to the next delicious meal.
***
“Ray? Ray Isaac, are you there?”
A middle-aged man’s deep voice called out gently.
“He must be in his room. Where is he hiding this time?”
A worried woman sighed and knocked on the closed door again.
“I’ll find him, Baron. You go ahead and work.”
“No, my dear. It’s fine. Don’t we have something to discuss with him?”
They were Baron and Baroness Isaac, rulers of a small territory.
Their family had a long history of magic users, but they had never produced any particularly talented mages.
Their only possession was a small, rural territory, so most nobles didn’t even recognize their name.
“Ray, come out. The Baron wants to talk to you.”
But a child had been born into their family with the potential to become a Royal Mage.
Ray Isaac.
Their only son possessed extraordinary talent.
“Ray, you were hiding in here again?!”
Despite their son’s remarkable abilities, their worries only grew with each passing day.
“E-eep! I-I’m sorry…! I’m sorry! I’m sorry for being alive…!”
He was incredibly timid, despite having no traumatic experiences in his childhood.
It was a major concern for the Baron and Baroness.
“Ray, what are you talking about…”
“Calm down, my dear. We’ve heard it all before. It’s just his way of greeting us…!”
Yes, his greeting was always, “I’m sorry for being alive.”
And his response to everything was, “Eep! I’m sorry.”
“Our Ray is so talented in magic…”
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry for being a lowly flea with talent…!”
Yes, even compliments were met with apologies and self-deprecation.
“Sigh… sit down, Ray. We have something important to discuss with you.”
Ray Isaac, who had been nervously darting his eyes around, finally took a seat.
The closet where he had been hiding was filled with books on magic.
‘He could have read those outside.’
Baroness Isaac sighed internally at her son’s behavior but tried not to show it.
“Ray, why were you hiding in the closet?”
“…It’s comfortable…”
His voice was so soft that they had to strain to hear him.
“Your mother and I are very worried. You have talent, but what good is it if you don’t have the social skills to utilize it?”
“Sorry…”
“No, we’re not scolding you.”
Baron Isaac smiled gently at Ray, who was avoiding eye contact and fidgeting nervously.
“That’s why we’ve decided to enroll you in the academy.”
“Yes, interacting with other people and learning to cooperate will help you overcome your shyness.”
“E-eep…! I-I want to stay home…”
“It’s already decided. We’ve made arrangements for you to enroll next semester, after winter break.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll make good friends.”
Ray’s parents were the embodiment of the phrase, “Our child is not stupid, they’re just not trying.”
‘Ray just needs to socialize more. He’ll be fine.’
‘He’s a genius. I’m sure of it.’
They worried about their son.
And they also harbored a desire for him to achieve great things, expand their territory, and live a comfortable life.
These conflicting emotions swirled within them.
“A lowly flea like me can’t associate with the amazing people at the academy…! I just… I just want to live a quiet life as a flea in our territory…!”
Where did he even hear the word “flea”?
They could only sigh at their son, who had started referring to himself as something less than human.
He was the precious, only son of a Baron, no matter how insignificant their family might be.
“Please don’t say that. You have remarkable talent, and you’re very lovable.”
Ray clamped his mouth shut.
It was a clear sign that he didn’t want to talk anymore, so the Baron and Baroness, sighing deeply, left the room.
“Anyway, the enrollment is non-refundable, so pack your things.”
They emphasized the point about the academy one last time.
“Ugh, I don’t want to…”
Tears welled up in his large, brown eyes.
Ray knew it too.
He couldn’t stay under his parents’ protection forever.
‘Maybe… I should pack my things, run away, and live the rest of my life alone in a cave!’
But he was too afraid to even leave his room. He could never escape the family knights.
‘Or… I could pretend to go to the academy, run away, and live alone in a cave…!’
He considered various options, but none seemed feasible, and the dreaded day of his enrollment approached rapidly.