Chapter 24: Older Brother and the Student Council

The Academy in the Royal Capital entered Summer Vacation, and Eddie, my older brother, returned home.

“Since Wheat crops failed again this year, everyone in the Royal Capital has such gloomy looks on their faces. That’s why I was surprised to hear that we had a bumper harvest here. Father told me in a letter, but I heard Will created Wheat that is resistant to dryness.”

“Yes, Will-oniisama is amazing, you know.”

“No, no, I just happened to find some wild grass resistant to dryness in the Sea of Trees, and got lucky enough to create drought-resistant Wheat.”

“I think that’s just being humble. That isn’t something that can be done with luck alone.”

“Ufufu, isn’t he amazing? Everyone just didn’t understand Production Skills well enough. Besides, standing side-by-side like this, Will-chan is just as handsome as Eddie-chan. Well, Mother knew that from the start, though.”

Mother‘s vision when looking at me is probably clouded. But, I am truly grateful that she loves all her children equally.

Brother was impressed by how fully equipped the Workshop was, and was surprised that I had a Dwarf apprentice. Brother‘s life at the Academy seemed to be going smoothly too; apparently, he joined the Student Council this Spring and is serving as the Vice President.

“Eddie, you let me know in your letters, but as a father, I am proud that you have become the Vice President of the Student Council.”

“Thank you very much. It is a heavy responsibility for someone like me, but it is worth doing.”

Since Eddie was selected as a Student Council officer, it seemed he was building connections with the children of many nobles.

“My circle of acquaintances has grown, so once I return to the Academy, I’ll be sure to brag about Will.”

And so, saying he had work for the Student Council, Brother hurriedly returned to the Academy.

I rode a carriage from Northernford and returned to the Royal Academy. I went home for the first time in a while during Summer Vacation, but I couldn’t stay long. Still, I was happy to see my family’s healthy faces.

Upon returning to the Academy and dropping my luggage off in my room at the Dormitory, I immediately headed to the school building. For now, I should go give my greetings upon returning to the Royal Capital. When I opened the heavy wooden door with the plate that read “Student Council Room,” the President and the Secretary were inside the room.

“Welcome back, Edward-san. How was the situation in your territory?”

“President, I have just returned. The territory had a bumper harvest.”

“Even though various parts of the Kingdom are suffering poor harvests due to drought, the Fairchild Territory had a bumper harvest?”

“Yes. Actually, my younger brother William created drought-resistant Wheat using his Production Skill. He has amazing talent, even if he is my own brother.”

“I was uninformed; I didn’t know such a thing was possible with Production Skills.”

“I didn’t know either. I think until now, we only looked at Swordsmanship Skills and Magic Skills, and failed to notice the merits of Production Skills.”

The President thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Right, it is likely as you say. Swords and Magic cannot increase food. We need to change our perception.”

“Vice President‘s younger brother is amazing, isn’t he? Just as the President says, we should change our perception and explore the possibilities of Production Skills more.”

It seemed both the President and the Secretary understood the greatness of Will‘s Production Skill.

“The potential of Production Skills is huge. After all, William has a Dwarf apprentice.”

“A Dwarf became your younger brother’s apprentice? That is truly unheard of.”

The Secretary widened her eyes in surprise. It is rare to see this girl, famous for being a talented woman, looking surprised.

“Indeed. By the way, does having such an excellent younger brother not make you worried?”

“Hahaha, what is there to worry about, President? Will is very kind and overflowing with talent; he is a younger brother I am proud of. For my part, I only devote myself to not bringing shame to my excellent younger brother.”

“My apologies for asking something unnecessary. Your attitude of taking pride in a talented relative rather than being wary of them, and trying to improve yourself as well, is wonderful.”

“I am honored to receive such praise from Her Highness the Princess. However, nobles are those who govern people. If one were to be jealous of those more excellent than oneself, one could never become a good lord. Much less being jealous of one’s own younger brother whom one should protect; that is out of the question. I do not think it is something particularly praiseworthy.”

Actually, the Student Council President is the Third Princess.

“No, you who can declare that so clearly are a precious existence. I wish other nobles would learn from you.”

“That’s right. I inadvertently felt my heart skip a beat. Senpai, won’t you consider making me your bride?”

“It is a bit awe-inspiring to take you as a wife, a daughter of the Duke House of the South, who is clear-headed and serving as Student Council Secretary despite being a first-year student. In the first place, I don’t think our social status matches, considering my family is a Margrave House.”

In the Kingdom of Albion, the rank below Duke is Margrave, so the family status only differs by one rank. However, there are only two Duke Houses, in the South and the North, and they have strong blood ties to the Royal Family. The Duke Houses, which sometimes act as proxies for the Royal Family, draw a line apart from other nobles, so it feels like the family status differs by two ranks compared to a Margrave House.

That is why daughters of Duke Houses often marry into the Royal Family or the other Duke House. Since they are blood-related to the Albion Royal Family, they sometimes marry into the Royal Families of other countries.

“Bringing up family status results in a point deduction.”

I wonder if the Duke‘s daughter, who is wise and hates old customs, disliked that. This girl doesn’t like conservative statements that prioritize precedent. Apparently, there are examples of a Princess marrying into a Count House, so it’s not impossible, and the Duke‘s daughter is a very attractive woman.

However, if I marry a girl of too high a status, it will mentally exhaust my parents. Besides, I want to devote myself to training my Swordsmanship Skill, so thinking about marriage is still something for the future.