Off to the Royal Capital

“W-Waaah… Lady Letitia, please stay well in the Royal Capital…!”

“If you ever have any hardships, please return to this mansion anytime…!”

“The vegetables we planted together, Lady Letitia… I’ll send them to you when they grow! Waaaaah!”

—The day Letitia and I were set to travel to the Royal Capital. The mansion’s maids came out to the main gate to see us off, offering their individual farewells.

…Primarily directed at Letitia.

“Everyone, don’t be so sad. I’ll be back in three years,” Letitia reassured them.

“W-We know! We know, but…!”

“I-I want to accompany you, Lady Letitia…! I don’t want to leave you…!”

“I’ll become your lady-in-waiting, too!”

“Me too, please!”

“That won’t do. If you all leave, who will manage this mansion and the territory? As servants of the Odrant family, you must fulfill your duties properly.”

“Waaaah… Lady Letitia, you’re strict but so kind… So wonderful…!”

The maids were crying buckets of tears, reluctant to part with Letitia. Since she had started helping with all the household chores, including the domestic work, the maids must have been greatly relieved. In addition, she kept track of their working conditions and listened to their concerns. By now, all the staff deeply trusted and respected Letitia, recognizing her as the true Madam of the Odrant Barony. She had become an indispensable person to the Odrant family.

I understood their sadness at parting. I got it, but… why were they all crowding around Letitia and completely ignoring me? I was the head of the house, after all. Couldn’t they be just a little sad to see me go?

“Hahahaha, Young Lady Letitia-sama is truly popular.” Sebas chuckled.

“Hahaha, Right…“

“Do not be disheartened, my Lord. They are all sad to part with you in their hearts, you know.”

“I’d be happier if they’d actually voice what’s in their hearts.”

“Do not sulk, my Lord. It is time for your departure.”

Letitia and I got into the carriage and closed the door. It would be a journey of several days. I hoped my hips and rear wouldn’t scream in pain before we arrived at the Royal Capital…

“—Lord Alban.”

“Hmm?”

“If you ever require the strength of this Sebas, contact me anytime. And also—do try to keep your villainy moderate.” Sebas said with a wink and a smile.

“…Yeah, I’ll try to keep it moderate,” I replied, as if we had planned it.

The fact that Sebas didn’t tell me not to commit villainy showed he understood me well. That’s my butler.

—Snap! The sound of the reins cracking echoed. The two horses began to walk, and the carriage pulled away from the mansion.

“…I never imagined being sent off so warmly,” Letitia murmured softly. “I was never sent off like this when I left the Barrow house or the Bertoli house.”

“…Are you lonely?” I asked.

“Yes… a little.”

“Then that’s a good thing.”

“What?”

“Because it means you have a home to truly return to, right?”

“…………Yes, you’re right.” Letitia’s lips curved slightly into a smile. “Indeed… the Odrant family is now the place I should return to.”

▲ ▲ ▲

After approximately five days, resting at inns along the way, we arrived at the Royal Capital.

As expected, my hips and rear were completely sore by the time we reached the city. Long carriage rides really were a form of torture… Seriously painful…

In contrast to my pained expression, Letitia looked perfectly fine. She said she was used to long trips by carriage.

The city around the castle was crowded with countless buildings and full of energy. The number of people and houses couldn’t compare to the Odrant Territory. It truly felt like a metropolis.

The carriage passed through the downtown area and entered a certain compound.

—The Magdala Familia Royal Academy. A massive, cathedral-like structure sat on a vast property. We would spend three years here. Assuming we weren’t expelled. Though, the possibility of Letitia and I failing academically is unthinkable.

The carriage stopped in front of what looked like the dormitory building. When we opened the door and stepped out—

“Welcome, Lord Alban Odrant, and Lady Letitia Barrow-sama.” Two young gentlemen greeted us. They didn’t seem like Academy teachers. They were probably dormitory staff.

“Lady Letitia-sama’s room is prepared, and Lord Alban-sama’s examination preparations are complete.”

“Alright, take me there quickly.” I told the attendant.

“…? Wait, Alban, what examination?” Letitia asked.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to humor them with a boring sideshow.”

Leaving that for Letitia, I followed one of the gentlemen. My luggage… well, Letitia and the staff can handle it. I hadn’t told her anything about being forced to take an exam to enroll in the Royal Academy. I figured that if Letitia knew I was being treated so differently despite being her husband, she would definitely start complaining. If she tried to pick a fight with the Academy or the opposing nobles, it would just complicate things further.

Besides… it wouldn’t be as much fun.

“So? What’s the exam about?”

“…The examiner is waiting ahead. Please inquire with him for the details.”

After walking through the grounds for a while, we reached an open area that looked like a training field. There were wooden dummies for sword practice and wooden boards with bullseyes drawn on them, probably for archery or magic targets. Ah… I kind of expected this, but it doesn’t look like a simple written test.

What a pain.

I walked toward the center of the field, where a man who looked like a teacher was waiting.

“Instructor Bastian, I have brought Baron Alban Odrant.”

“Thank you, I look forward to—”

“You’re LATE!!!” the teacher, Bastian, bellowed the moment I arrived. “To keep a teacher of the esteemed Royal Academy waiting is inexcusable! Do you even intend to enroll!? Huh!?”

Ugh, annoying. I figured the examiner would be bribed, but they sent this type… Couldn’t they have picked someone with a quieter voice?

“…The carriage arrived pretty much on schedule, and I’m not late, am I? You just chose to wait here on your own, didn’t you?”

“You insolent brat, how dare you speak to me like that!? I could fail you for poor conduct alone, you know!?”

“Oh really? That’s interesting. What would Lady Letitia say if she heard that the examiner failed me without even giving an exam? I bet the news would leak to the Barrow house. Ah, or maybe I should tell His Excellency Craon.”

“…Tch, what a disgusting brat.” Bastian’s voice immediately dropped.

Did he think I’d be intimidated if he acted aggressively? If so, he’s an idiot. Poor choice of examiner.

“Anyway, this is a hassle, so let’s just finish the exam quickly. My hips and butt are killing me from the long journey.”

“Hmph, fine. Then first, cast a spell at that target.” Bastian pointed to one of the bullseye targets.

“…Isn’t magic something we’re supposed to learn after enrolling?”

“What, can’t the Baron from the countryside even use basic magic? Most high-born nobles acquire at least a minimum of knowledge and skill before entering the Academy.”

That’s definitely a lie. Sure, a few individuals from certain families who emphasize magic might learn a few spells before entering. But that’s the exception. Most nobles don’t acquire magic before enrolling. Why? Because they don’t use it. A noble’s child isn’t going to fight monsters like an adventurer.

—I see. I was wondering what method they’d use to fail me, but this is a laughably childish tactic… I was speechless with disbelief.

“Hehehe, can’t use magic after all? Too bad, then I’ll have to fail—”

“…Alright, alright. Is this good enough?” I thrust my right arm forward.

“—〈Darkness Flame〉.”

I cast a Mixed Magic spell of Dark and Fire attributes. A roaring surge of reddish-black flames erupted, completely incinerating and erasing the bullseye target.

“…………Huh?” Bastian was dumbfounded, his face a vacant mask.

Ah, that’s priceless. Exactly the face I expected.

“W-Wait, Mixed Magic? Why? Even I can’t cast that…?”

“Oh, my apologies. Does mixing just two attributes not even qualify as ‘basic’? I thought this much was fundamental for a Royal Academy teacher.” I said, chuckling softly.

Mixed Magic was an advanced spell that combined multiple attributes, making it notoriously difficult to handle. Why could I cast such a spell? Because Sebas taught me, of course.

—Sebas didn’t just teach me swordsmanship. Even after mastering the blade, I took advantage of every free moment to learn magic and all kinds of combat techniques from him. I inherited all the techniques Sebas had acquired on the battlefield.

Alban Odrant was born with innate genius. That applied to magic, too. I mastered spells as soon as they were taught, and I could now wield many advanced spells. I could mix up to three attributes in my Mixed Magic, and I could even use a few S-Rank spells.

Frankly, my magical ability was probably on par with, or even surpassed, the teachers at the Royal Academy. Sebas vouched for it.

What happens when a lazy genius applies himself to effort? The answer—is me.

“So? Pass or fail?”

“W-Well, that is…”

“If you say fail, you’ll have to show me a more advanced spell than that, otherwise I won’t be satisfied.”

“Guh…! P-Pass! You pass!”

“Much obliged. Next test! Swordsmanship!”

Bastian grabbed two wooden swords, tossing one to me.

“Swordsmanship is the most fundamental refinement for a noble! We shall have a mock match now. If you can land a single blow on me, you pass!”

“…Isn’t it a bit arbitrary to expect an incoming student to beat the teacher?”

“Silence! Are you intimidated now!? I’ll fail you immediately if you are!”

Haaah… I can’t be bothered anymore. Did he truly think he could fail me with this kind of bullying tactic? Setting aside this idiot teacher, didn’t the bribing nobles do any background check on me? If they’d checked even a little, they wouldn’t use this ridiculous method.

I was taught swordsmanship by Sebas, for crying out loud. Sebas Christian, a man who this weakling couldn’t even compare to.

“Here I come! Take this!” Bastian charged with a wild swing.

But I easily dodged it. He continued with a flurry of strikes, but I held the wooden sword in one hand and blocked every single one.

“What’s wrong? I’m only using one hand so far.” I taunted.

“D-Don’t you dare mock me, you brat!”

“—The brat is you.”

I swung my wooden sword for the first time—and shattered Bastian’s wooden sword. The power and durability of a weapon change depending on the wielder. Hence the saying: A true master does not choose their weapon. Sebas often told me that.

“…Huh?” Bastian stared blankly.

“One point for me.” I quickly brought my wooden sword down and slammed it onto the top of Bastian’s head. I put a decent amount of force into it out of spite, and my wooden sword also shattered upon impact.

“GYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?!?” Bastian screamed, clutching his severely dented head and writhing on the ground. So much for teacher dignity.

“Weak.” I crouched right next to Bastian, peering into his face. I made my expression as wicked as possible.

“Weak, weak, weak, weak. You are too weak. Are you really a Royal Academy teacher?”

“H-Heeek…!?”

“What’s next? A fight with real blades? Or a magic duel? Come on, entertain me more. Come on—!”

With this type of person, I wouldn’t be satisfied until I completely broke his spirit. Letitia might stop me if she were here, but she was safely in the dormitory. I wasn’t as kind as Letitia.

I was going to hurt him until he cried and apologized, and then—

“—That is quite enough.”

—Just then, a voice came from behind me.

“Hmm…?”

“H-Headmaster Faust!”

I turned to see a frail old man standing there. Judging by his aura, he was much older than even Sebas or His Excellency Craon. His body was thin, only skin and bones, and his back was entirely hunched.

—Faust. I knew that name.

Faust Melchizedek. The Headmaster of the Magdala Familia Royal Academy and one of the Vahlrund Kingdom’s foremost Arch-Mages. He was a prodigious man rumored to have lived for two hundred years in a human body, having mastered all forms of magic.

He muttered, “Hmph,” upon seeing me. “I see. So you are Baron Alban Odrant. Your skill is just as I was told.”

“! You know of me?”

“That young pup Craon recommended you. Said you were a genius that comes once in a century.”

His Excellency Craon— He was acting as the central figure defending Alban. That alone was greatly appreciated, but to think he had even recommended me to Headmaster Faust. I was profoundly grateful.

“H-Headmaster Faust! This man assaulted a teacher! He must be punished immediately—!” Bastian wailed.

“Bastian. Pack your belongings and leave the Academy immediately.”

“Huh…?”

“I have no need for incompetence that results in such a pitiful blunder against a mere incoming student.” Headmaster Faust dismissed him flatly.

Bastian was stunned. Wow, as expected of the leader of a hyper-elite training ground. He’s harsh.

“B-But…! Headmaster, that is too much…!”

“I said you are unqualified to be a teacher. Now, be gone.”

“Ugh… Ah… Damn it…!” Bastian slumped, his voice weak.

He’s finished. He got bribed by the nobles, and not only did he fail to do his job, but he was expelled from the Academy himself. He wouldn’t have a place in the country anymore. His only options were to flee abroad or wander until he died.

“—Now, Alban Odrant.” Headmaster Faust turned to me. “I approve your enrollment in the Royal Academy. Dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to your studies.”

“Yes, thank you, sir!”

“Hmph, a good answer for a young man. However, I have one piece of advice for you.”

“?”

“Refrain from tormenting the teaching staff unnecessarily in the future. You must realize that you are but a student.”

With that, Headmaster Faust slowly shuffled away.

…Crap, he put me on notice.

Well, he let me off this time, though. I should be careful not to overdo it in the future, yes.

Alright, now I have to figure out how to explain this to Letitia when I get back to the dormitory.

▲ ▲ ▲

“…I’m going to submit a letter of protest to this Academy.” Letitia frowned, looking intensely displeased. “I’ll expose the corruption between the teachers and the external nobles.”

“Don’t do it, Letitia. It’s fine, isn’t it? It’s over now.”

“It is not fine!” She slammed her hand on the table. “My husband was almost failed by a ridiculous, unfair exam! What wife wouldn’t be angry about that!”

“Do you honestly think I would have been failed even if I made a tiny mistake?”

“Well…”

“Impossible. Just calm down.” I gently soothed Letitia.

To be honest, it would be satisfying to pick a fight with the Academy through Letitia. But I’d just been warned by the Headmaster. I should try to behave a little. I wanted to avoid any more trouble.

…More importantly, though.

“More than that… don’t you feel something is strange about this situation, Letitia…?”

“Strange?”

“The fact that you and I are sharing a room!”

—First off, the Royal Academy dormitories were segregated by gender. That was a given. If you crammed adolescents of the opposite sex into the same building with free access, what kind of situation would ensue? Even an idiot could figure that out. A monkey could figure it out, even. At least the men would turn into monkeys.

So, naturally, I expected to be assigned a room in the boys’ dormitory—but Letitia and I were currently in a small, private annex that was neither the boys’ nor the girls’ dormitory. Apparently, it was a place usually assigned to royals or people who, for various reasons, couldn’t be housed with other students.

“This is weird! We had separate rooms even in the Odrant mansion!”

“I was surprised, too. I was initially escorted to the girls’ dormitory, but then I was suddenly told it was ‘the Headmaster’s instruction’ and was brought here.”

“The Headmaster…?” What was that old man thinking? Did he figure out that Letitia was my emotional brake? I don’t know the real reason, but this judgment is terrible for an educator! It’s like he’s asking for trouble!

“I’m going to talk to the Headmaster and see if we can get separate rooms.”

“Oh, really? Are you that unhappy about sharing a room with me, Alban?”

“I’m not unhappy; I’d be ecstatic! But that’s not the point!”

“We’re husband and wife, aren’t we? We’d be sharing a room sooner or later anyway. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is I care!” I insisted.

“Oh really? Who was it that sliced a lady’s door open and barged into her room a while ago?” she teased.

“…Yes, that was me.”

Why? Why is she so composed? Could it be, is she inviting me? Is she asking, ‘Shall we dance?’

No, no, I can’t think like that. That’s why I’m still a virgin.

Besides, I’d decided to hold off until I graduated from the Royal Academy. If I, by some mistake, got Letitia pregnant, she wouldn’t be able to continue her studies. That was not what I wanted. Letitia Barrow was a talented woman. Her talent deserved to be honed.

“Hah… fine, I give up. If you insist, we’ll spend time together like a married couple. However, I insist on putting a partition between the beds.”

“That’s a shame. I thought one bed would be enough.”

“Le-ti-ti-a!”

“Heh, just a joke. …Thank you, Alban.”

Good grief. Did she understand my inner conflict, or not? No, she probably understood everything and was just teasing me. She was that perceptive.

Just as expected of ‘my villainess lady.’

▲ ▲ ▲

《Hugue de Craon: Side View》

“When I heard you had thrown your support behind that notorious brat Alban, I confess I thought you had taken leave of your senses.”

—In the Headmaster’s office at the Royal Academy. I was playing chess with Headmaster Faust.

“I can understand why you would,” I replied.

“However, my concern was for naught. Now, I fully comprehend your feelings.”

“You have witnessed Baron Alban Odrant’s talent, then?”

“Indeed, with my own eyes. To think he would so effortlessly handle a teacher of this Academy.” Headmaster Faust stroked his beard, his expression one of deep admiration.

I understood his feelings perfectly. I had felt the same way when I witnessed the duel between Alban Odrant and Mauro Bertoli. When Sebas first told me, “Lord Alban has turned over a new leaf,” I nearly grabbed my head in disbelief.

My sworn friend, Sebas, who once raced across battlefields alongside me as a comrade in the Royal Knights, his swordsmanship said to be on par with mine, the Knight Commander—his claim that he had passed on all his combat arts was no exaggeration.

From what I have observed… Baron Alban Odrant is already stronger than Sebas was in his prime.

“He is beloved by the God of Talent. There is simply no other explanation.”

“Hmph. A genius who comes once in a hundred… no, perhaps once in a thousand years. Yet, dangerous, dangerous.” Headmaster Faust moved his piece with a quiet detachment, continuing the conversation. He was, as ever, immensely skilled.

“The fellow harbors a demon in his heart. He is strong, proud, and he does not drown in his talent—thus he is merciless.”

“He cannot help but trample his adversaries. Truly, the vessel of a tyrant. …Is that why you placed him in the same room as Young Lady Letitia-sama?”

“Did you not tell me that she serves as the brake for Alban Odrant?”

“Ah, yes, that is right, indeed.” I moved my piece in turn. The Queen.

“If Baron Odrant is the vessel of a tyrant, Young Lady Letitia is the vessel of a wise consort. She will, eventually, become the woman he cannot live without.”

“Wise Lord, Tyrant, Consort… these are all two sides of the same coin. Yet, if those two sides were to align without turning their backs on one another…”

“Heh, I look forward to seeing what those two will become.”

“Indeed. And with the new school rules coming into effect this year… Hark, checkmate.”

“Eh? Ah—! …I yield.”