Since When Did You Have The Illusion That You Don’t Have Magical Powers?!

Characters in this chapter:

Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

Aurora Steinfeld, daughter of the Duke of Bloomfield

Dylan, 4th year student, Percival’s childhood friend

Adeline, Margravine of Vanderwall, Percival’s mother

Anna, servant in the Belisario household

Clarabelle, servant in the Belisario household

Joshua Allbee, 2nd ranked in the attainment exam

Flavia, Evelyn’s 2nd daughter, Percival’s maternal cousin

 

“Alright! Let’s do our best again today!”

While looking in the mirror, I properly styled my hair with a hand comb, and when I was about to leave the room, I remembered the words of Anna-san and Clarabel-san.

“……Ah, I should do it properly after all.”

Combing my hair with lemon oil will bring back its luster. Wrapped in a refreshing scent, my spine somehow got tense. I thought it was a hassle, but maybe it’s important to keep up appearances properly. I felt tense.

The long holiday is over, and finally, life at the academy starts today.

When I went to the cafeteria for breakfast, Percival was waiting for me at the entrance. It’s the same morning as usual.

“Good morning, Sapphiras.”

“Good morning, Percival!”

“Good morning, Sapphiras-sama, good morning, Percival-sama.”

“Good morning!”

The five ladies of the tea party greeted us. Although we are in different classes from them, they greet us in a friendly manner.

I heard from Miss Aurora later that they took the initiative to help treat the wounded who had been brought from Worstitters. Even though there were quite a few seriously injured people, the noble daughters showed great courage.

I heard that the students who were involved in the treatment that day were interested in healing to a greater or lesser extent, and that they have approached the principal to ask if they could be given a place to learn at the academy. Miss Aurora, a high-ranking noblewoman and a mirror of a lady, took the lead and gave resolute instructions without being intimidated by the wounds and blood that made one want to turn away, and the way she treated the injured with kindness and care seemed to have left a strong impression on many academy students, especially on the daughters.

As always, there are students who don’t think it’s good for women to play an active role, and it seems that Joshua and others are secretly saying something behind their backs. He seems to be keeping his distance. I think it’s a really tough decision.

It’s not that I don’t understand your reluctance to change, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to impose your insecurities on others if you can’t accept it.

So, with all this talk in my ears, life at the academy after the holidays has begun.

“Yo, Sapphiras.”

I lightly raised my hand in reply to my classmates who called out to me.

While interacting with Percival, Miss Aurora, and the daughters of the tea party, the number of students who exchanged words with me gradually increased. Apparently, I’ve finally started walking the path of 100 friends.

“……Then a wooden box arrived from the Duke’s house. I opened it and found it was a catalogue.”

I thought I could make up for my poor art results with other subjects, but as soon as school started, the Duke of Bloomfield delivered a number of large, thick books to my dormitory: a catalogue of famous paintings. Apparently, the Duke was not happy with the results of the art examinations.

In the cafeteria after school, I spilled the beans to Percival about the catalogue, which was delivered to my dormitory without warning.

“Well, I’ll make an effort. I will, but just opening the catalogue makes me sleepy and I can’t remember a thing……”

I stretch out on the table. I usually fall asleep halfway through, so I don’t feel like I slept well, and somehow I don’t get enough sleep.

“I’m always happy to help you with your art……oh, I’m sorry, Sapphiras. It’s about time. We’ll talk about it later.”

With an apologetic look on his face, Percival gets up from his seat. He has swordsmanship training from now on.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I got you into this boring conversation.”

“No, if it’s Sapphiras, you’re always welcome. See you later.”

I waved at Percival as he left the cafeteria. Percival is really disciplined. Even today, if I look unhappy, he listens to me like this, even though he’s busy wondering if something has happened.

“Hey, wait a minute”

“Yes?”

As if they were waiting for Percival to leave, a few male students came and approached me. Is it my imagination that I somehow feel like they are standing around me? Moreover, the mature-looking person in the centre of it all, with light brown hair and bright green eyes., I think I’ve seen him somewhere before.

“You’re being a bit brazen, aren’t you? Why don’t you show a little restraint?”

It is not the central figure who opens his mouth. It was the student next to him.

What do you mean by restraint?

“You’re always hanging around Percival-sama, aren’t you?”

Now the student on the opposite side opens his mouth. The one who seems to have the most to do with me hasn’t said a word yet.

“I’m Percival’s friend, so I’m just going to be with him? Besides, why are you guys trying to limit my actions?”

“It’s none of your business. The Marquess Jermaine, Nigel’s family, has officially approached the third son of the Vanderwall Margrave about an engagement.”

This time, another academy student says. It sounds like something I’ve heard somewhere. Is that sort of thing popular?　

Even so, the people around him are still talking, and the one in the middle doesn’t say anything. He tried to pull people’s legs and make them fall down, but he didn’t say anything himself? Or is it your policy not to talk to commoners?

“Fuun, so?”

“……Eh?”

“No, so what? What does the Marquess family’s marriage proposal to the Margave of Vanderwall’s family have anything to do with me?”

“That’s why commoners are a trouble. The fact that they have been approached for an engagement means that Nigel will eventually become Percival’s companion. It’s annoying to have someone like you by his side.”

“The only one who thinks it’s a nuisance is Nigel over there. Percival hasn’t told me that it’s a nuisance, so I don’t have any obligation to listen to what you guys say.”

As soon as I finished, Nigel and others hit the table with a bang. The people around me were quiet for a moment, and then the room went silent. The world around us is quiet for a moment, and the eyes of the students in the cafeteria are focused on us.

He’s a short-tempered guy unlike his appearance. Even so. Isn’t the gap between the nobles who attend this academy too big between excellent people and those who are not? What’s going on with the home education of the nobility? The children of the common people still more tolerant.

“That’s enough. My family is a Marquess. There’s no way they would refuse the engagement that the Marquess wants. I, who will be his spouse, is saying that you are an eyesore.”

“But that’s your situation, it has nothing to do with me, does it?”

“! It’s related! Don’t get too close to Percival-sama!”

Shut up! You’re this close, you don’t have to shout, I can hear you.

“Ya, Sapphiras-kun, here you are.”

A calm voice cut in as Nigel was yelling.

Behind Nigel and his bustling companions stood a smiling Dylan-san, holding two trays with tea and pastries on them. As soon as they saw him, the noisy group fell silent in bewilderment. As the winner of the sword competition for three consecutive years, even the first-year students seemed to know about Dylan-san. Or do they know him as Percival’s blood relative1previously Dylan was introduced as Percival’s childhood friend but now author says blood relative. Maybe more will be revealed in future.?

“Dylan…….”

“Well then, please. Is the scone good?”

Dylan-san slips between Nigel and his entourage and places one of the trays in front of me. I don’t know what’s going on, but I supposedly planned to have tea with Dylan-san here. For the time being, it seems better to go along with Dylan-san’s story.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Today’s pastry is scones. They’re served with berries, pêche and lemonade jam. This jam is good with tea. The rich aroma of butter tickles my nose and my stomach grumbles. Dylan-san must have heard it, and he laughed.

“Come to think of it, Sapphiras-kun was crazy about sweets at Madam Adeline’s tea party, wasn’t he?”

Nigel’s brow wrinkled at the mention of Madam Adeline’s tea party.

“Yes, I have a sweet tooth.”

“That’s right. Because there were more kinds of sweets than usual at that tea party. Madam Adeline must have been very enthusiastic……by the way, are they friends of Sapphiras?”

After a long pause, Dylan-san finally turned his attention to Nigel and the others.

“No, they’re not. They have nothing to do with me.”

Naturally, the answer was immediate.

“I see. Well then, you guys. We’re waiting here for Percy. I’m sorry, but could you refrain?”

Dylan told them with a really nice smile on his face. Just as he told me, an irrelevant me, to go somewhere because he was going to be Percival’s related person, the real person related to Percival asked him to refrain.

Nigel and his troublesome entourage walked away from the table without showing any signs of hiding their dissatisfaction, so I have a feeling that this is going to get tangled up somewhere again. It’s all very troubling. I wonder if I have a constitution that makes me prone to getting tangled up with such things, like the Flavia incident. Where on earth did the luck of the goddess go……

“……You really helped me out. Thank you.”

“That’s the second son of the Marquess of Jermaine, isn’t it? I heard Percy’s name, but what are they?”

“They say it’s brazen of me to be with Percival.”

“I see. I’m not sure what to make of that.”

“His family has officially asked the Margrave of Vanderwall’s family about their engagement, so it seems that he will soon become Percival’s companion.”

“Hehhh, is that so……fuun, I see. That’s going to be something interesting in due course, isn’t it?”

Dylan-san smiles wickedly. A refreshing good young man is ruined.

“Something interesting?”

“Yes, something interesting. But Sapphiras-kun is a related party to this, so it might be better to be prepared.”

Dylan-san said and snapped one of his eyes shut.

 

melon: sorry for the late update again! Been busy trying to finish a project but I should have more time next week.

1previously Dylan was introduced as Percival’s childhood friend but now author says blood relative. Maybe more will be revealed in future.