Short Story: Stern Studies

“Mooom, I don’t understand this one…”

“Here, look. Compare these graphs… Get it now?”

“Um… This one’s…altocumulus… And this one’s a cumulonimbus.”

“That’s right, Elna! Good job!”

Linne, Linze, Elze, and Elna were studying at a set of desks in the castle library. Frei and Hilde sat at a nearby desk, as did Yoshino and Sakura, as well as Arcia and Lu. The kids were free to do as they pleased, but we made sure to spend some time studying every evening. I didn’t want their future education hindered by my lack of action in the past. Quun wasn’t here since she’d finished her assignment a few moments before running straight back to Babylon. I was glad she was smart, but I couldn’t help but be a little concerned by how focused she was on her eccentric hobby…

We didn’t just study either. We also had more practical lessons like dancing and official court etiquette. Brunhild may have been a small nation, but the girls were still princesses. I couldn’t have them falling behind their peers. Elze, Sakura, Linze, and Yae were also a bit rusty in that regard, so they shyly used it as a chance to brush up on their own manners. I personally found the whole thing to be a royal pain in the butt, but I knew it was necessary… Plus, at least I became a slightly better dancer as a result.

“So, who was the forty-eighth emperor of Regulus?”

“Huh? Um… Uhhh…”

Yoshino turned to me with a question… A history question. I was completely stumped, which probably highlighted the importance of Yoshino knowing. Unfortunately, I knew basically nothing about the history of this world! As I desperately scoured my empty mind for an answer, the third princess of the Regulus Empire turned to me with a sigh.

“You should know that, Touya! It’s Zephyrus, Yoshino. Zephyrus Roa Regulus!”

“Oh, that’s right! Now I remember! Thanks!”

I stared blankly for a moment… Where had I heard that name before?

“He’s my father, Touya!”

Oh crap! I forgot my father-in-law’s name… Wait, no. I knew his name! I just didn’t know he was the 48th emperor! I don’t even know what number emperor the current Japanese one is, so cut me some slack here!

“In the future, Uncle Lux becomes the forty-ninth Emperor!” Arcia casually dropped a little tidbit of future information for us. That was awfully nonchalant of her.

“You’re in a lot of the history books in the future, father. There’s an awful lot of stuff to remember in our classes…” Frei grumbled quietly.

How is that my fault?! I didn’t write the history books!

Apparently, it was normal for people in the future to study my impact on the world and to learn about all the different things I’d done in various countries. Frankly, I felt like that was a bit much… I didn’t want people snooping into my personal life!

This might just have to be something I accept, I guess… If they’re making plays about me in the future, it’s already too late.

“M-Maybe we should take a break from studying for now…”

I was exhausted, and I didn’t want to hear anything else about my yet-to-be self. The present was worrying enough, after all.