When Rosetta opened her eyes--she was wearing pajamas she had never worn before.

When she pressed her chest, a maid called out to her.

"Is something wrong, Lady Rosetta?"

She looked at the maid's face.

"Eh--Ah--"

No sound came out.

Why is a maid in her own room at the student dormitory?

The maid answered her question.

"You said you weren't feeling well, so I was entrusted with your care. We have permission from the academy, so please don't worry."

Rosetta nodded fearfully.

Her hair, which used to be in a vertical roll, was now just straight long hair.

"Um, about the marriage?"

The maid explained carefully to Rosetta.

"Duke Claudia has agreed to the engagement. Lady Rosetta will marry Liam-sama once his training is safely completed."

Hearing about the marriage, Rosetta still couldn't comprehend it.

Her family was one that received seeds.

It was a ducal title in name only, and there was no reason for Liam to be so insistent.

"So, that's it. You wanted the Duke's position, right? That's why you went to such extremes--"

The maid shook her head.

"There is no reason for the Banfield family to insist on a peerage by taking on enormous debt. You know that yourself, don't you, Lady Rosetta?"

A nominal peerage was just pathetic.

Rosetta understood that all too well.

"But I can't understand Liam's--the Count's feelings. Why me?"

The maid chuckled.

"W-What is it?"

"No, I truly envied you. You are the first living woman Liam-sama has ever desperately wanted."

Hearing that, Rosetta blushed and looked down.

"I-Is that so?"

"Yes. In our territory, we were so worried about Liam-sama not laying a hand on women that the entire household was concerned."

Rosetta was then cared for by the maid and lay down.

The academy was in disarray due to the cleanup, and there was no time for classes.

There was no prospect of classes resuming.

Until then, she was told she could rest well--and Rosetta fell asleep.

(I wish this was a dream. I want to rest more--)

In the academy's conference room.

I was surrounded by teachers and being interrogated.

Although it was an interrogation, my retainers were by my side, refuting the teachers' scolding.

Marie, in particular, was amusing to watch.

"There was no need to kill them."

To such idle talk from a teacher, what do you think Marie replied?

"Are you telling me to let those who came to kill me go? In this place that should teach the pride of nobility, how dare you utter such lukewarm words. Rather, you should praise Liam-sama for showing his spirit. The opponent should have been prepared to die the moment they entered the match, so there's no problem at all."

In this way, she retorted to whatever the teachers said.

I watched the teachers while drinking my tea.

"B-But, if you do this, people who resent the Banfield family will emerge."

To such words, I retorted.

"So what? If it's a baseless grudge, adding one more now makes no difference. On the contrary--why should I endure it? You should have stopped Derrick."

Marie nodded and said, "That's right, Liam-sama."

This guy is a perfect yes-man.

"Liam-sama, your actions this time have become a problem even at the academy. While we understand the circumstances, going too far is not good. As a sign of repentance--"

As he started to say something, I scoffed.

"How much?"

"Eh?"

"I'm asking how much you want. I'm asking how much I need to stuff into your incompetent mouths to make you shut up."

Several teachers stood up angrily, but Marie made them sit down with a glare.

--Is this guy surprisingly capable? The teachers are trembling.

However, there's no point in displeasing the teachers too much.

"I went too far. Forgive me. But I cannot accept being told to repent for something like this. As punishment, I will double the amount of donations for next year."

"B-But, that doesn't solve anything--"

"Hey, hey, are you going to complain to me, who is making large donations? Or is it something else? Are you trying to say that fines are not punishments for you?"

The academy principal raised his hand and silenced the teachers.

"--Count, regarding this matter, we have issued a strict warning. Please understand that."

So, the academy issued a warning! That's their stance.

They'll shut up if they get money, but it's embarrassing to say it openly, so they want to appeal that they worked hard.

It makes me want to vomit--but the ones who fawn over money are cute, aren't they?

That money, too, is something that is infinitely created and its value is unknown, but still.

"That's excellent. You all, let's go."

As I left the conference room, the teachers were holding their heads.

The conference room after Liam left.

Mr. John crossed his arms.

(He speaks frankly. But can't be refuted.)

If you had been more competent, this wouldn't have happened.

He felt incompetent being told that.

The principal also seemed to find Liam's words painful.

"I intended to end it with a strict warning."

As one teacher said that, the other teachers nodded.

Originally, Liam had merely brushed away the sparks that fell upon him.

The teachers knew that the opponent was at fault, but they couldn't blame him unilaterally.

However, Liam had also provoked Derrick of the Berkley family, known as the pirate nobles.

They couldn't just not warn him about that.

"He's called a child prodigy. More competent than many adults."

As the principal said that, he sighed with a tired face.

Mr. John also felt like sighing.

(Troubled students are a problem, but overly capable students are also a handful.)

Night.

I went out into the academy's garden and swung a very heavy wooden sword.

My body gets stiff from the academy's physical education, so I train like this occasionally.

As I was wiping off my sweat, Kukuri poked her head out from behind a tree.

"What is it?"

"Liam-sama, I investigated those who were monitoring the Duke's family, and it seems their organization has grown quite large. They were apparently working to gain leverage over other families and discredit the Claudia family."

"There are quite a few idle people."

"All the documents have been recovered. How should they be handled?"

If these people were able to recover them so quickly, it means they weren't critical weaknesses.

Even if the surveillance personnel became organized, it should be limited.

"Send them to the territory and ask for instructions from Brian. Tell him to use them effectively."

"Understood."

Kukuri sank into the shadows and disappeared.

That magic looks very convenient.

"Well, shall I sweat a little more? Even so, my body has become sluggish."

I noticed when I moved Avid, but my own body had become more sluggish than the machine.

It seems I need to retrain for a while.

Rosetta visited the boys' dormitory, surrounded by Banfield family knights.

All of them were women.

The reason, apart from escorting her--was to prevent infidelity.

When a man approached, they would draw their swords without question.

She came to consult Liam to have such dangerous escorts removed.

However, Liam was not in his room.

When she asked Wallace, he replied, "I don't know," and while she was wondering what to do--Kurt told her Liam's whereabouts.

Guided by Kurt, she headed to the location--and saw Liam sweating profusely from rigorous training.

As she tried to approach, Kurt and the knights stopped her.

"I--I have something to talk about."

"Even so, it's no good. It's better not to approach him now."

Kurt pointed, and a fallen leaf near Liam--was cut in half.

The knights gulped upon seeing that.

Kurt explained.

"If you get close, you'll be cut in half almost without realizing it. When Liam concentrates, he becomes unapproachable."

"W-What is happening?"

It just looks like he's training his body, but if she gets close to Liam, she'll be cut.

Rosetta didn't understand.

"It's strange, isn't it? I was stunned at first too. But Liam reached that state after years of pushing himself."

Rosetta thought.

(My efforts were not efforts at all, were they?)

Liam, whom she thought was at the top without doing anything, had worked even harder than her.

Knowing that, she felt ashamed of her own naivete.

(In the end, I was saved by him, wasn't I?)

Rosetta left, feeling she had no face to meet Liam.

Banfield family mansion.

Serina, holding the delivered documents, urgently contacted the Prime Minister.

"What is the urgent matter?"

"Prime Minister! These are the documents those people investigated! They were not only monitoring the Claudia family but also acting like spies."

The Prime Minister checked the data and his eyes widened.

There, the Prime Minister's secrets were also investigated.

"--I let them run wild. We will handle the aftermath. So, what about the original documents?"

"I deleted only the Prime Minister's data."

"You made me do extra work. I'll thank you later."

"What about the documents? Brian is having trouble handling them."

"What was the Count's reaction?"

"He said he wasn't interested."

"--Induce them to be submitted to the Empire. I will take them. It's a chance to gain leverage over the nobles. It's meaningful for them to know that I hold their weaknesses."

"You're making that greedy face again."

"Oh, excuse me. However, the people who gathered this will be dealt with by us. Tell the Count not to worry about anything."

"Yes."

After the funeral and commencement ceremony were safely concluded, I was promoted to the fourth year.

And what awaited me was the long vacation.

"My hometown after three years... it hasn't changed much."

It was good to be back, but there was no significant change in the scenery.

Previously, things changed rapidly within a few years, but now there was no change.

Wallace was carrying my luggage and looking at my mansion.

The reason he's here is--because he's bored.

He apparently can't return to the harem because he's not a prince.

"Ah, I'm tired from the long journey. For now, please arrange a personal maid and guards for me. Beauties would be appreciated. Also, make the meals lavish, with meat as the main course."

Despite being a subordinate, he immediately made various demands.

I was thinking of kicking him out--when.

"It's been a while, hasn't it? Your Highness Wallace."

--Serina approached with a smile.

Then, Wallace turned pale and trembled.

"It's hereeeeeee!"

He screamed as if he had seen a ghost, and Serina smiled elegantly.

"Oh, how cruel, former Highness. Treating me like a ghost."

Then, Wallace hid behind me.

"A-A ghost would be better! Liam, why is the head maid here!"

"Why?--Because I hired her, of course."

"Why!"

It seems more interesting to leave Wallace, who is genuinely scared, to Serina.

And then, a little later, Rosetta entered the mansion.

Before me stood the former Duke and the current head of the family--Rosetta's grandmother and mother.

"Count, I don't know how to express my gratitude for this--"

"I am very happy to be able to meet you like this."

It was amusing to deal with the two humble individuals, but Rosetta was flustered.

--Stop it. You need to be more arrogant than that.

I moved my chin and signaled Serina.

Then, Serina guided the two towards Rosetta.

When the three met after a long time--they embraced and shed tears.

--Isn't something wrong?

I expected them to cry more like, "They even took away our ducal title! Mother, Grandmother, I'm so sorry!" but they seemed to be rejoicing at the reunion.

"Well, it's still in the observation phase."

I handed the trembling Wallace over to Serina, and Brian was teary-eyed.

"For Liam-sama to decide to get married--I, Brian, am so happy I could cry."

"You're already crying. Stop crying."

"This cold response! As expected, Liam-sama must be like this!"

I ignored Brian, who was happy no matter what I said, and called out to Amagi, whom I had been waiting for.

What is she doing in the back?

"Amagi, let's go to the room."

"--Master, is that alright?"

"What?"

Amagi looked confused.

Wallace stared blankly at Liam returning to his room.

"Is it true that he likes dolls?"

To such Wallace, Serina cleared her throat and then cautioned him with a solemn expression.

"Wallace-sama, if you don't want to die in this mansion, don't call Amagi a doll. Liam-sama will never forgive anyone who insults Amagi. I'm not joking, your head might literally fly off."

Hearing that, Wallace nodded.

(Kurt told me. I should be careful too.)

"O-Of course. She's an important patron."

"Yes, please do. By the way, Liam-sama is quite eccentric. Of all people, to patronize Wallace-sama, who is neither poison nor medicine."

Wallace thought.

(Huh? In Serina's eyes, aren't my evaluations low?)

"Serina, I am your former master's--family."

"Yes. However, I now serve Liam-sama. Is there anything wrong with considering the Banfield family's interests?"

"N-No."

Wallace predicted that his long vacation would be stifling, and it turned out to be exactly right.

Brian (´；ω；｀): "Even if you give me classified documents, I, Brian, can't handle them, Liam-sama! --My stomach hurts and it's painful."