First building of the junior academy.

Sunlight streamed through the window as I rested my elbows on the desk, my chin in my hand.

"--How did it come to this?"

It was strange no matter how I thought about it.

My subordinate, Wallace, came crying to me.

"Lyell, an increase in my allowance! You must increase it!"

Kurt was looking at Wallace with a dumbfounded expression.

"Wallace, you're as ever."

"Shut up! I thought I could be extravagant at Lyell's mansion, but Serina was there, it was hell! Isn't it okay to be a little extravagant?"

I watched Wallace, who got scolded no matter what he did, but I couldn't blame Serina because he was the one at fault.

I understood why this guy was called useless as a prince, neither poison nor medicine.

It's not that he's troublesome, he's just a burden.

Becoming responsible for such a burden was also an unforeseen event, but the biggest problem is--Rosetta.

"Darling, where are we eating lunch? The school cafeteria?"

Rosetta, whom I thought was a woman of iron, turned out to be easily swayed. I was disappointed that this girl, who blushed so easily, was like this.

However, I realized that I found her cute and it would be too much trouble to discard her.

If she betrays me, I won't forgive her, but until then, I'll look after her.

"I'll buy bread at the commissary."

"Bread, okay. Leave it to me. I'll buy the popular bread."

Who told you to buy bread? Is it okay for a lady to volunteer to be a errand runner?

"It's fine. Wallace, you go buy the bread."

Then, Wallace brushed back his proud blue hair and said,

"Impossible. Don't you know how crowded it gets during lunchtime? I can't even buy popular bread."

I was disappointed in the former prince who confidently said he couldn't even buy bread.

Kurt looked at him with a cold gaze.

"Wallace, you're truly useless."

"Hmph, say whatever you want. But don't you think Lyell is strange for telling a former prince to buy bread?"

I told Wallace again.

"Wallace, go buy bread."

"Lyell, please spare me. The battle for bread during lunchtime is too harsh for me."

This guy is lying.

"Liar. When I went, it wasn't crowded."

Everyone was lining up and buying bread politely.

As expected of the junior academy attended by the sons of nobles.

Kurt shook his head.

"That's because it's you, Lyell."

He said something I didn't understand.

Rosetta looked troubled, so I decided to give up on the bread.

"Then, it's the school cafeteria."

"School cafeteria, okay. Leave it to me, I'll secure the best seats."

Why are you doing things like being an errand runner or a maid?

It's fun when you make them do it, but it's not enjoyable when they volunteer.

"Securing seats is fine. Stay put."

"R-right. I will."

Seeing Rosetta sulk made me feel like I had done something wrong.

Wallace continued to mooch off me.

"Lyell, I desire dessert for lunch."

"You drink water."

I thought, isn't this different from the student life I imagined?

Capital Star.

The Prime Minister was gathering officials there.

Those gathered were people who had been monitoring the Claudia family for many years.

Many families had been monitoring the Claudia family for generations, and all of them looked dissatisfied.

The Prime Minister was smiling.

"Thank you for your loyal service up to now. I have new work prepared for you."

But they didn't seem convinced.

"Prime Minister! We cannot accept a change at this late hour. Please order us to monitor the Banfield family instead!"

"That's right! The late Majesty's orders are still in effect!"

"Please let us monitor Count Banfield!"

They were also troubled by being stripped of their long-held jobs and told to do something new.

I understood their feelings.

"I see. Then, I will have you all die."

"--Prime Minister?"

He showed them the weaknesses of nobles that they had gathered over the years on the desk.

At Lyell's engagement ceremony, Brian submitted all the documents to the Prime Minister.

He didn't seem to be hiding any useful information.

Now, this was the reason to dispose of unnecessary officials.

"--You seem to have investigated quite a lot. I never imagined you would investigate me."

He had investigated even the Prime Minister.

A group specialized only in prying into people and making them suffer.

From the Prime Minister's perspective, there was a use for them, but he didn't want anyone who would bite his own hand.

"Th-this is--"

"No excuses are necessary. If you disappear, I can sleep soundly. For that, I will have you disappear."

As the officials braced themselves to resist, Tia, who had been waiting, drew her sword.

A rapier—a sword specialized for thrusting—pierced all the vital points of the officials.

The officials collapsed.

The Prime Minister applauded Tia.

"Your swordsmanship is superb. I expect great things from you at the officer academy."

Tia wiped the blood from her blade, returned it to its sheath, and looked down at the officials.

"This much is easy. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to dispose of these petty officials who opposed Lord Lyell."

These were the people who had set a trap for Lyell.

From Tia's perspective, they were enemies.

The Prime Minister looked at Tia.

"Will you be entering the officer academy soon?"

Tia nodded and replied.

"Yes. I plan to enroll next year."

The Prime Minister watched his subordinates clean up the corpses.

"So--what are the Count's future plans?"

As fourth-year students at the junior academy, graduation was near.

If Lyell graduated within three years, he would have to choose between university or the officer academy.

The Prime Minister was asking which one he would choose.

Tia said,

"Lord Lyell is currently prioritizing the officer academy."

"In that case, his training will end at university. Well, I wonder if this war will be over by then?"

Will the war with the Barkley family end before Lyell finishes his training?

The Prime Minister was concerned about that.

Tia replied with eyes full of trust in Lyell.

"It might be over surprisingly quickly."

First building of the junior academy.

"Isn't it cool to have 'Knights of the Round Table' or 'Twelve Knights'?"

It was Wallace who said such a disappointing thing.

Kurt looked at him with a cold gaze.

"Here we go again. Wallace, what have you come up with this time?"

"No, I mean, we'll assign numbers to the selected capable knights. I read it in a book from the inner palace, isn't it cool?"

"That's from a manga, isn't it?"

It seems there's a knight order like that in a manga.

Twelve knights who are capable and very strong.

The king seems to grant privileges to such knights, giving them a special status.

We were talking about that behind the school building.

"Gathering twelve strong knights sounds troublesome."

As I muttered that, Kurt added an explanation.

"Lyell, it's better not to take it seriously. Most of Wallace's knowledge comes from manga. Besides, it's easy to choose about twelve."

"Huh?"

"No, just think about it simply. My family has many knights. Choosing twelve from them is easy."

"But the criteria for selection--"

"It depends on the conditions, but I think there are knights who can meet them."

"Then, right away--"

"No, that's not good. Special treatment causes many problems. Besides, the Twelve Knights that Wallace is talking about are from the enemy's side."

Wallace looked away from me.

It seems I hit the mark.

But I gained a little respect for him.

I'll acknowledge his spirit for trying to go down the path of evil.

To Kurt, who is a serious villainous lord, it might seem inefficient, but--in simple terms, it's like an evil army, right?

Like the Four Heavenly Kings or something similar.

Then, I want such a knight order too.

Lately, I feel like I haven't been acting as a villainous lord.

Well, since I'm in junior academy, I can't do anything anyway.

"--Round Table, or Twelve Knights?"

As I muttered, Wallace raised his hand.

"Lyell, I'm going to establish the Knights of the Round Table, so please don't choose that one!"

Wallace says whatever he wants, but it's true that it would be bad if we overlapped.

I should think of a good idea.

As I was thinking that, Kurt looked at us and was exasperated.

"Lyell has been corrupted by Wallace."

Wallace looked at Kurt.

"You--you're too rude to me."

As the three of us were talking, Rosetta spotted us and waved.

"Darling! I found you!"

Seeing the easily swayed girl running towards me with a smile, I thought.

A beaming smile.

The vertical roll hair bouncing.

Her chest swaying.

Her cute way of running--the Rosetta, who seemed to be made of iron or steel, was nowhere to be seen.

"--How did it come to this?"

"What's wrong, Darling? D-do you have any complaints? M-maybe you're not feeling well!? I'll take you to the infirmary right away--"

"No. It's not that."

There's no lie in Rosetta's concern for me.

If this were a lie and she was trying to deceive me, I might have enjoyed it more.

But there's no sign of that at all.

Where did the steel-minded Rosetta disappear to?

"--Really, how did it come to this?"

Brian (・ω・｀ ) "I believe that while the Claudia family is one thing, personally, you have gained the best wife--this Brian believes so."

Brian (´ω｀*) "As expected of Lord Lyell. This Brian is impressed."

Brian (´；ω；｀)ノシ "And everyone, though it's sad, we will be apart for a while."

Wakagi-chan (゜∀゜) "Next, please look forward to 'The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs'! Updates will resume in March! Please watch my performance properly!"

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