Chapter 222.5: Interlude: The First-Year Students of the Royal Academy
(Note: This time is from the perspective of two new students.)
I am the son of a provincial viscount.
I came to the Royal Capital for the first time in a while to enroll in the Royal Academy.
As expected, there are many people, and it’s bustling.
In the Royal Academy entrance exam, I did reasonably well on both the sword and written exams.
My parents were happy that I was able to enroll without any issues.
After that, I found out that there are incredibly famous people among this year’s new students.
William of the Fairchild family, Scarlet of the Cardiff family, and the Fourth Princess, Her Highness Flora.
William, in particular, has been highly active, using his Production Skill to create a new type of wheat, making a specific medicine for a terrifying disease, and applying multiple enchantments to weapons and armor.
My father was also delighted to receive armor enchanted by William from the Royal Family.
On top of that, he uses the legendary Teleportation Magic and stopped a massive swarm of monsters alongside a small number of comrades, which is amazing.
He truly is a young hero.
Scarlet is his childhood friend.
She uses a rare and powerful magic sword and stopped the monster offensive together with William.
She is also known for possessing both beauty and brains.
And Her Highness Flora, hailed as the Flower of the Royal Family.
In the past, she was only famous for her beauty, but recently, she utilized her Commerce Skill to reform the Kingdom’s domestic affairs.
All three of them are a year younger than me.
I honestly think it’s amazing that they’ve already achieved such great results before even turning 15.
When I went to the entrance ceremony, I was able to see the three of them in person.
Scarlet was a sharp, beautiful girl who gave the impression of holding hidden strength.
You could tell just by looking at her footwork that she earnestly practices the sword.
Her Highness Flora had, how should I put it, an unearthly beauty.
Moreover, while she previously lacked expression and apparently had people talking behind her back calling her a “doll princess,” she was now brimming with confidence and had a lively expression.
There were boys around me staring blankly and following her with their eyes.
“She’s so beautiful.”
“Is she really human like us?”
In that regard, William looks like an ordinary boy at first glance.
He doesn’t look particularly strong, and he wears a gentle smile.
“I’m so jealous he has two such beautiful fiancées. Even though he looks so ordinary.”
“Damn it, if I only had the chance…”
There are some muttering things like that, but they just don’t get it.
I can sense from William the unique composure and intensity of someone who has survived life-or-death situations.
He’s like the veteran knights in our territory.
To not be able to tell that he’s no ordinary person just shows how low-level those guys are.
My father told me to work hard since we’re of the same generation, but that’s probably impossible.
All three of them are far from normal in their own ways.
Well, I’ll just go at my own pace.
My mother told me it would be enough if I could spend these three years just being careful not to get sick or injured.
There’s no point in unnecessarily overexerting myself and getting hurt.
Even though it’s small, I’ll be ruling a territory in the future. As long as I can learn what I need for that at the Royal Academy, that’s fine.
I am the daughter of a noble in the Royal Capital.
I was born into a poor Baron family that doesn’t own a territory, but because I was raised in the Royal Capital, I have confidence in my fashion sense.
Fortunately, I was born beautiful, and I’ve polished my makeup skills, so when I walk down the street, men follow me with their eyes.
In the Fahlen Kingdom, a boy with special talents was born a year younger than me.
His name is William Fairchild.
Hearing that he, who had distinguished himself and been recognized by the Royal Family, was coming to the Royal Capital, my parents told me to catch his eye.
However, even though I charged toward the Fairchild family’s mansion in a carriage early in the morning, it was after he had already fled back to his territory.
After that, although William‘s future ennoblement was decided, everyone was surprised when his territory was set to be the southern undeveloped lands.
Rumors even circulated that he had incurred His Majesty’s displeasure.
My parents told me not to go near him anymore.
That’s why when he appeared at a stylish boutique in the Royal Capital with Scarlet-san and his little sister, I left the store early.
But his subsequent achievements were amazing.
When monster activity became rampant and everyone became anxious, he created powerful weapons and armor with multiple enchantments.
When there were concerns of a famine in the north due to abnormal cold, he developed pomme de terre and cold-resistant wheat.
And he even received a proposal from the Empire to be welcomed as the Imperial Princess’s husband.
Hearing that I would be classmates with such a person, my parents once again told me to get close to him.
Even from a daughter’s perspective, they’re unprincipled parents.
Even so, the best catch in the Kingdom right now is to be chosen by him, even if it’s as a third wife.
That’s why I came to the entrance ceremony wearing careful makeup.
But when I actually saw the three of them, I couldn’t bring myself to approach them at all.
Both Scarlet-san and Her Highness Flora possessed a radiant beauty.
And it wasn’t just simple beauty; it was dazzling, as if light was overflowing from within.
When I briefly locked eyes with Scarlet-san, it felt as though I had been shot by an arrow.
She surely saw right through my opportunistic intentions.
The other noble daughters of the Royal Capital who were thinking the exact same thing as me also stopped in their tracks.
It’s frustrating, but I have no choice but to admit that they are in a completely different league now.
No matter what my parents tell me, impossible is impossible.
Rather, I think I should be grateful to be able to see up close three people who are likely to become legends.
