July is a time when students get to relax in various ways.
And especially in this world, it seems even more relaxed than the place I used to live.
Since this academy was built following the Japanese high school system, there’s a final exam at the end of July. But that doesn’t mean the excitement for the upcoming break has completely fizzled out.
And this relaxed atmosphere seemed to spread more among the commoners than the children of the nobility.
Nobles are creatures that live off their pride.
No matter how much they think academic connections are the most important goal and that building good relationships is more important than getting good grades, many of them still consider falling below a certain grade as ‘shameful.’ Even among noble parents, there were many who were sensitive about grades.
On the other hand, many commoners felt as if their fortunes had turned the moment they entered this academy. Although there are twice as many commoners as nobles, that’s because the number of commoners far exceeds that of nobles in the empire. When it comes to the number of applicants, it’s much tougher for commoners to get in compared to nobles.
Just graduating from the academy is enough to find a way to make a living. Since it also serves as a military academy, applying to become an imperial officer is also an option. Still, you need to maintain at least a minimum grade to not get held back.
And I… I may have lost the way back to before mid-June, but surprisingly, it hasn’t hit me that hard.
It’s all thanks to my thorough preparation and review.
To be precise, it means that after each class, I went back in time multiple times to make sure I fully understood everything. During self-study, I turned back time several times to grasp each problem’s solution.
Even so, thinking about looking at exam questions and rolling back time to re-solve them feels somewhat off even for my standards. But thinking of rewinding several months just to take one exam seemed insane, so I studied diligently throughout the semester.
No matter how ordinary a person is, if they take their time, anyone can become a genius. What I have in abundance is time, and this is what I achieved by steadily using it without missing opportunities.
Still, I wouldn’t say I’m particularly looking forward to summer vacation.
Because if I go to the ‘home’ known as the palace, I’ll definitely run into the Emperor.
After last June’s incident, the Emperor hasn’t said anything specific, but I’m sure that when I return and see him, conversations I really don’t want to have will come up, and I’m convinced of that.
*
But not everything bad happens to people.
Even if it’s just a minor delay of that bad thing, sometimes good things do happen.
“An invitation?”
About a week before the final exams started, Claire, who visited my room, handed me a luxurious envelope containing a letter.
It was similar to what Alice gave to Charlotte, but at least the contents written here weren’t meant to divert my attention elsewhere.
“Yep. It’s an invitation to our estate.”
The Grace estate within the Imperial Capital isn’t that far from here. It’s a somewhat special form of estate that differs from general noble estates from the get-go.
The practical size is more of a mansion than an estate. If I think of it in modern terms, it’s somewhat like a slightly large school—one big building, a few average-sized ones, some land between them, and a lawn that could pass for a playground…
Of course, having such a size of land and buildings owned in one’s name is quite impressive, but compared to the size of a country or region, it’s still a realistic size when compared to baronies and duchies.
“I’ve told Father and Mother about you, and they really want to meet you.”
Hearing that, I gazed at Claire blankly, to which Claire quickly shook her head.
“It’s okay. I just mentioned that you were the sister I was looking for. I didn’t say anything else… Ah.”
It seems Claire realized that the fact itself was almost unknown to anyone else at that moment.
Claire, looking at me with a slightly anxious expression, strangely appeared younger even though she was about the same height as me.
“Was it a careless thing to say?”
“No, it’s fine.”
I replied while opening the letter envelope.
“The Grace family is a loyal house. And… as long as you’re there, it’s a story that will come to light someday.”
Upon my words, Claire blinked a couple of times.
“Above all, the one who brought you there is me. There’s no reason to be upset with you now.”
“Y-yeah…?”
With a slightly happy look on her face, Claire stood before me as I pulled out the letter from the envelope. The stationery was also made of luxurious paper, the kind nobles would use.
Even if they’re called a baron family, a noble is still a noble; I thought as I unfolded the letter, and the contents, written in such a neat handwriting that it made me suspicious if it was printed, came into view.
[To Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sylvia Fanggriffon of the Glorious Empire.
The scorching sunlight warms the earth, and the breeze coming from the sea carries humidity. While some may find the weather somewhat unpleasant, it’s also a good season for excursions, serving as an excuse to go out sometimes.
Though we can’t offer you a cool breeze or pleasant air, as we are not far from where you reside, our estate’s green lawn is well-maintained and receives good evaluations among the nobility. It is known as one of the few places for the eyes to take a rest amidst the somewhat dreary city.
It would be our utmost happiness if we could enjoy a cup of tea with you in the cool shade while appreciating such greenery. We pray earnestly for a positive reply from you through our lady.
Tuesday, July 11, 1901.
Baron Edward Grace.]
Putting aside the content of the letter, the writing alone exuded a ‘I am honest’ atmosphere. Well, good handwriting is common among villains too, after all. Perhaps my preconceived notion of Baron Grace was influencing how I thought about him.
After reading the letter, I looked up to see Claire in front of me.
Claire didn’t seem quite sure I would respond positively to this letter. She was fidgeting a bit with her hands behind her back as she looked at me. The way she slightly bowed her head and looked up at me looked strangely familiar.
It resembled the expression Claire had when I used to share my food with her in the orphanage.
Even though she probably lived without the need to worry back then, seeing how that habit hasn’t faded even after a decade, I could tell how greatly those five years of having nothing impacted Claire’s life.
I suppose that’s why it remains a vivid memory for me too. She must be the first person to show kindness in my life.
“I understand.”
As I carefully folded the letter again and put it back in the envelope, I said, “I will accept the invitation. Is there any date that doesn’t work for you?”
“Ah, yes!”
Upon my answer, Claire’s face broke into a bright smile.
Honestly, what kind of ordeal has to happen for such a child to turn crooked like in the original work?
Perhaps it’s a miracle that she has managed to stay intact. It also means Claire is that strong of a person.
After all, she had that kind of character where she would have been willing to sacrifice herself for that younger sibling she couldn’t get too close to.
Nonetheless, thanks to that, I will be able to see the Emperor a little later, and my mind feels a bit lighter.
And besides, I wanted to visit the Grace estate at least once. Though it’s a place I’ll be going in the original work too, just waiting around until then felt a bit frustrating.
“Then I will make sure to visit right after the final exams and vacation ceremony. Is that alright?”
“Then that’s perfect for me! I’ll let my parents know in advance!”
Parents, huh.
Thinking about it, I realized I had only been wandering around with Claire without actually hearing how she had grown up. It must have been an infinitely better environment than in the original work, and perhaps that’s why there was no need to mention it.
Besides, it’s the protagonist’s household.
It wouldn’t be so bad to hear directly from Baron Grace and his wife how Leo and Claire have grown up.
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