IMK Chapter 13

“Ugh… Hmmm…”

“Can you stop making those weird noises?”

“Grrrrrr…”

Why? Why is this happening?

Raymond’s eyebrows furrowed and relaxed like caterpillars in a repetitive motion.

[ Advice – Considering the history of the royal family, Yuta cannot ascend to the throne. ]

‘If it’s advice, can’t it be simple? Why give such cryptic advice? Let’s live life the easy way, easily. With the second chance, I should be able to live better, right? Plus, what about affinity? So, even after nominating him as a candidate for the king, I need to keep up his favorability, huh? Ah, maybe I should just die.’

“Hey. Ray,—mond.”

“…No, I have to live. If I’ve lived, I must go on living.”

“Just ignoring what people say, huh.”

Onyx sighed deeply, glancing at Raymond, who was still groaning.

Lately, Raymond has become foolish. No, he wasn’t exactly smart to begin with – Onyx truly wanted to believe that.

But these days, he was replacing all his responses with groans, and during wand-waving class, he was just zoning out. Even when the professor asked,

– Mr. Raymond, what’s the answer on page 22?

– Ughhhhhhh.

– …Mr. Raymond?

– Ugh? Can’t do it!

– …Let’s have Mr. Onyx answer instead.

He wondered if Raymond might end up getting hit by the professor’s wand and getting a black eye.

Onyx had no special affection for Raymond but felt a sense of loyalty towards a friend.

So, he didn’t think badly of Raymond. He was intrigued by Raymond’s noble yet oddly blunt way of speaking, and most importantly, Raymond was the only kid at the academy he could communicate with. That was actually the biggest point. While the other kids were all about ‘poop’ and ‘farts’, this kid alone would say, “Poop and farts should be distinguished.” Of course, Onyx was also a member of that group of intellectuals.

“Sigh…”

But all that was ruined now. This guy would soon become a poop-fart person too. Or looking at him now, he might already have become one.

I thought I had someone to talk to.

Onyx slowly lifted his head to look up at the sky. Somehow, the sky was clear.

‘Unaware of my turmoil.’

Or is it clearer because of that?

Raymond was just as perplexed. He had spent the past few days poring over every royal history book he could find in the library. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had memorized all the royal history available there.

Yet, he couldn’t find the reason! Was it because Yuta was a bastard? But there had been kings who didn’t have silver hair either.

‘Is it because Yuta is ugly…?’

That made even less sense.

Could it be because Yuta couldn’t use magic properly? If he knew how but was too weak, that might be a possibility.

Boom- Whoosh.

– It’s the first-year magic circle training class. It seems Student Yuta has prepared well.

– It’s all thanks to your dedicated teaching.

But that wasn’t it. Was it fortunate to eliminate even one reason that made him ineligible to be king?

Fortunately, Yuta wanted to befriend Raymond. He aimed for a seat near Raymond in every class and always offered to share a meal whenever he spotted him during meal times. Today was no different.

“Hey, wanna grab some lunch together?”

“Sure.”

Raymond had no reason to refuse the offer. In fact, he needed to stick close. He sat down calmly in front of him, maintaining his noble composure. Today’s lunch at the Foreston was buffet-style, with many dishes to his liking. For instance, there were chop steaks, grilled black pork, and some sort of fried meat he had seen somewhere.

“You don’t seem to gain weight despite eating so much, huh?”

“It might seem that way because I stick to a protein-rich diet.”

“Is it good to eat mostly proteins?”

“Yuta, you need to eat well if you want to build muscle. I can’t believe you don’t know such basic stuff.”

“…But looking at you, that advice doesn’t seem very credible.”

Yuta chuckled and took a bite of his salmon steak, prompting the knight sitting beside him to finally pick up his fork. The master-servant relationship between the two seemed clear. The knight’s name was ‘Lance’, which somehow seemed fittingly noble and suited him well.

“Lord Yuta, you were dining here!”

A student with a familiar voice pulled up a chair and sat down.

“Ah, yes. It’s you.”

Yuta smiled.

‘That smile and response, it’s that thing.’

Yuta doesn’t even remember this student’s name or face. He felt no need to.

‘Look at this, I’ve practically become a kingmaker. Shouldn’t I be rewarded with secrets for this? Huh?’

[ ……(Teasing) ]

‘…What a ridiculous system.’

Anyway, the anonymous student who took the seat next to Raymond was a noble from the Audit class who had been trying to get close to Yuta recently.

In the eyes of the students, Yuta, a royal who came to Gift, could be interpreted as a ‘prince abandoned by the royal family’. However, this blue-haired individual didn’t seem to think so.

‘Smart, really.’

High risk, high return is quite attractive. Befriending Yuta as a member of the Audit class isn’t a bad choice. Betting on Yuta, whom no one else has bet on, could lead to a jackpot in one shot.

‘I’m on that path too, though.’

The difference between this fool and me is that I know there’s a ‘secret’.

‘…But if I don’t know the secret, am I not the same as him?’

Thinking about it made Raymond feel uneasy. He stuffed his mouth full of steak while he pondered. He was chewing vigorously when the blue-haired student couldn’t keep his mouth still and started chattering away.

The topic had shifted from flattering the royal family to discussing the talent of magicians.

The blue-haired student asked, “Did you know that Foreston has had a longstanding gender imbalance?”

“I know, but so what?”

Yuta responded nonchalantly. I kept chewing. The steak was a bit tough.

…Ah, did I pick a piece with too much tendon?

“What do you think is the reason for that?”

“…What do you think?”

“Of course, it’s because of ‘talent’. It’s a well-known fact that men have superior magical talents compared to women. Look around. Among those who excel in Foreston, 8 out of 10 are male students. Lord Yuta, so…”

The blue-haired student lowered his voice as if he was getting to the main point.

“Don’t be too discouraged. It means you have outstanding talents like your brothers. Therefore, opportunities will come back around. Although you are currently at Gift, those who have made a name for themselves from Gift often have stronger school ties than other magicians. Statistically, Gift has many from well-off families or hidden assassin families, so-“

“Right. Thanks for the advice…um, so.”

Yuta slightly furrowed his brows, then as if he remembered, he mentioned a name.

“Davi.”

“…! Yes, Lord Yuta!”

“I’ll be leaving now that I’ve finished my meal. Raymond, see you next time.”

“Sure, take care.”

“Yeah, ah, if you want to see me, come to my room. I’ll have a tea time prepared for you.”

“Thanks for that. I’ll come over if I’m hungry after this.”

Raymond mumbled through a mouthful of meat. Davi, taken aback by his tone, gave him a sharp glance. It was a look that clearly conveyed, ‘How dare you show such disrespect to royalty!’ So Raymond sent back a look that said, ‘Get as close as him, then.’

Yuta had completely left the seat. Davi, finding no more reason to stay, turned swiftly and said,

“I’ll be going then. Goodbye.”

Raymond, watching his back, said mockingly,

“You know, you don’t use honorifics with me?”

It was a question enough to stop Davi in his tracks. At Raymond’s words, Davi immediately frowned and turned back to face Raymond.

He crossed his arms and looked down at Raymond, who was sitting. His proudly puffed chest was noteworthy.

“We’re all the same students, aren’t we?”

“Then you should speak informally to Yuta as well.”

“Huh. You think you’re the same as him? He’s royalty.”

“Your family is viscountial, right? And with a brother, your position to inherit anything is quite ambiguous.”

Raymond slowly placed his fork on the table, careful not to forget to dab the corners of his mouth with a napkin in case any steak sauce had smeared his lips.

“If you’re going to use honorifics, do it properly, Davi David.”

“……”

“Since when has the David family been in a position.”

Raymond’s blue eyes shone fiercely. The intense gaze seemed to be surrounded by the fiery red of his hair.

“To speak so casually to our family?”

“……I, that’s not what I. I mean, I-!”

“It’s a joke.”

“What?”

“Like you said, we’re all students here. Same grade, too. So informal speech is appropriate. Who knows what it’ll be like once we’re out in society.”

“…I see.”

The kid crumbled so easily, like a dry branch shaken violently by the winter’s north wind. Davi David, who had been trembling, finally seemed to regain his composure at Raymond’s last words, straightening his shoulders.

Seeing his pitiful state, Raymond no longer felt the urge to tease him.

Raymond waved his hand dismissively.

“That’s enough, just go. And Yuta would probably prefer you to speak informally to him rather than using honorifics.”

“…Alright, I will.”

Then I’ll leave. Davi David departed. After returning his clean plate, Raymond also left the dining hall.

Although the David family might have had a low title, they were wealthy.

-‘So that’s why he went to Audit?’

In any case, it would be helpful to Yuta.

When acquiring power, no amount of money is ever enough. But they won’t pose a threat to my position.

‘I have both a high title and wealth.’

Now that there was nothing else to do… perhaps I should visit Yuta’s room. He seemed to be in a foul mood, too.

‘I wonder what he’s prepared for tea time.’

***

A brisk pace crossed the central corridor.

Tap, tap, tap.

The footsteps seemed to carry a heavy load of anger. A knight walking alongside halted his master. Lance spoke calmly.

“Lord Yuta.”

“……”

“You seem agitated.”

The master did not respond, but his footsteps did, gradually slowing down. However, the excitement that had risen once did not easily subside. Unlike the bustling dining hall filled with students, the corridor leading to the classes was deserted, with just the two of them. Yet, they did not exchange any more words. If someone had encountered them, they might have seen a servant who had committed a grave discourtesy to his master and an angered lord. The two returned to their quarters. Yuta expertly cast a soundproofing spell on his room. He had mastered the first-year curriculum taught at the academy long ago.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His face was serene.

Just like the swan that must always appear beautiful to everyone above the water’s surface.

The master spoke.

“Lance.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Was there any change in my expression during the meal earlier?”

“No, it was flawless.”

“Did any displeasure show, even slightly?”

“No.”

Yuta’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he asked,

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Is that so? Yuta’s indifferent gaze then shifted to Lance’s bowed head. Yuta sighed deeply, a breath filled with regret.

“Lance, why was I swayed by that fool’s words?”

Lance replied,

“Because he is foolish. Fools often speak without thinking.”

“Even so, I shouldn’t have been excited. I shouldn’t be swayed by fools.”

“You handled yourself well in that situation.”

A moment of silence passed. Yuta posed another question.

“Lance, am I lacking in talent?”

“You are superior to anyone in this kingdom.”

“Lance, am I not worthy to stand above others?”

“You are already standing above me.”

Lance, come here. Drawn in by the gentle voice as if enchanted, the servant bowed under the gaze of his master. Kneeling on one knee, he pressed his forehead to the back of his master’s hand. Whenever his master called him with such a voice, it always requested the same thing.

“Speak.”

The knight’s oath. With a mechanical tone, he voiced his sincerity.

“Knight Lance. Not as a member of a family, but as an individual, I stand under the brilliant sun before me. Born into this world with a single heart, I am to serve only one master, and for that master, I shall run my fate in place of their heart.”

His voice, reciting the oath, was calm. The eyes of the master listening to it were also settled.

“I dedicate my destiny not to the kingdom, but to the heart of my master. I offer my heart not to the kingdom, but to the fate of my master.”

However, what his master sought was not merely a string of elaborate words. Lance slowly lifted his head. His eyes were those of a man in love. In his pupils reflected the face of Yuta.

“Princess Yuria Steadium Stern.”

No, more precisely, it was the face of ‘Yuria’, not Yuta, that was reflected.

“My only master.”

May I always be by your side on the path you take.