The royal palace’s service was a burden to me, a mere commoner.
Honestly, working in the royal palace, everyone is a servant, but once you step outside, they’re all nobles who look down on you. Even the lowest rank starts at a count, right?
Plus, since they all adore Seria, I figured they wouldn’t look kindly on some commoner who came out of nowhere.
But it seemed like Seria had put in a good word for me, as everyone was really cautious around me.
It was so bad that when I said I wasn’t going to eat breakfast, I was bombarded with questions.
Was the bed uncomfortable? Was I feeling sick? Would I like some simple soup? The questions just kept coming.
I just didn’t want to eat. No reason.
In the end, I ate. I figured it would be more troublesome if I didn’t.
I never imagined that just one breakfast could be so exhausting.
Thanks to that, I was wide awake after the meal.
Since I couldn’t go back to sleep, I decided to read the book I fell asleep reading yesterday.
Let’s see… I didn’t get past the beginning yesterday because I fell asleep.
I figured it was just useless world-building, so I skipped ahead a bit.
“The stars distributed across the vast expanse cannot be proven finite from an observational standpoint…”
“Applying this fact to the recently proven fluid dynamic magical distribution theory from the academic conference…”
“In other words, the corresponding intangible energy is similar to the components of magic and is confirmed to be free from the shape bifurcation deformation problem previously considered a limit of magic.”
…Is this really a novel? Did I accidentally pick up a research paper?
The only readable part was this, and the rest was just gibberish to me.
I wonder how many times Seria read this and found it interesting.
I flipped through a few more pages, and it seemed like the protagonist was about to appear and the story was starting, but after that one page, my concentration was completely shattered.
Thud.
So I closed the book and went to wash up in the guest room’s bathroom.
The clothes I wore yesterday were torn, so I changed into the clothes prepared in the guest room.
Hmm… So this is what guests of the royal palace wear. It looks a bit too flashy to walk around in.
Honestly, it’s only because of my current appearance that it looks okay. If I were any less, it would be a disaster.
Well… If you’re invited as a guest to the royal palace, this level of extravagance must be normal.
With no other options, I went out wearing those clothes.
I was planning to stay holed up until the afternoon, but… a servant just told me that the crown prince wants to see me.
The outside of the guest room is just the first-floor hall.
As soon as you step out, you’re in a position where you have to face many people, which is burdensome.
“Good morning, Rudion.”
“You can just treat me casually.”
“It’s the princess’s orders…”
What kind of order did you give to make everyone so flustered?
Seeing how they follow you even when Seria isn’t watching, I guess you could say they’re true professionals… Well, maintaining a position like that probably requires some serious social skills.
Just throwing a tantrum and seeking revenge because you’re annoyed isn’t exactly what a cool adult would do.
I was trying to slip away quietly when… someone approached and spoke to me.
“I came out because of the commotion… Well, well, looks like we have a distinguished guest here.”
The Royal Palace’s first son… the Crown Prince himself had arrived.
“I can’t let a guest wander alone. Follow me.”
“…Yes.”
He appeared as calm as if nothing had happened between us, and since following him seemed like a good way to avoid the servants, I naturally went along.
But… maybe because of what happened last night, it felt pretty awkward.
Following the Crown Prince, we arrived at a reception room used for guests.
After sitting down, he casually pointed to the opposite seat, so I went and sat there. Oh, this is insanely comfy.
As I marveled at the sofa’s quality, he spoke up.
“I acknowledge your skills. I wasn’t exactly top-tier in the Akadeumi, but I was decent, so this is pretty embarrassing. Well, I guess that’s why you walked away unscathed after sparring with Lux.”
“I’m really sorry about yesterday. I… kind of lost control.”
“No, it’s fine. It happened because I acted rashly.”
Even after what happened, there was no trace of resentment or inferiority toward me.
Anyway, these people are obsessed with Seria, but they’re decent enough that it’s hard to hate them.
“Still, Seria is ours.”
“…Huh?”
“Yesterday, my brothers and I put our heads together, but we still can’t accept it. I’ll admit you’re impressive, but taking Seria away from us is unforgivable. Seria is our family.”
As the Crown Prince said that, the reception room door suddenly swung open, and two men confidently walked in.
It was obvious who they were. The second and third princes.
“You’re absolutely right, brother!”
“No matter how strong you are, you’re just a commoner. Let’s show you that strength isn’t everything!”
Just when I thought they were decent people, what is this nonsense?
Suddenly, I remembered what Seria told me on the way to the Royal Palace in the carriage.
-“If my brothers bother you… just run away. They’re all stubborn, and if you indulge them, it’ll never end.”
When I heard that, I thought, “Surely not,” and even if they did, how could I possibly deal with royals? But now that I’m actually facing them, I really want to run away.
But I held back. To hear what they had to say.
Then, they pulled out a scroll and unfolded it in front of me.
“First, take a look at this test list we’ve made.”
Test? Is it similar to the ‘Conditions for a Man Worthy of Princess Hwangnyeo’ that the knight order has?
With that thought, I read the contents and couldn’t help but be shocked.
– Daily schedule of tests required to live with our Seria
– 10 AM: Poison resistance training
– 11 AM: Knight Order Hell Training
– 12 PM: Listen to Seria’s praise song, memorize the lyrics, and sing along
– 1 PM: Lunch
– 2 PM: Endure fire magic for an hour
– 3 PM: Spar with the captain of the royal guard
– 4 PM: Endure water magic for an hour
– 5 PM~7 PM: Spar with the knight commander
– 7 PM: Dinner
– 8 PM~12 AM: Knight Order Hell Training, 5 sets
– 12 AM: Sleep
…What is this, a military schedule made by an elementary school kid? You guys are grown adults, isn’t this too childish?
But what’s this Seria praise song? Why does something like that even exist?
I was curious and wanted to learn it, but since I’d have to endure poison resistance training and Knight Order Hell Training to find out, I decided to just live in ignorance.
That’s right. I chose to run away.
*Bam!*
I quickly opened the window and jumped out. It was a bit high for the first floor, but my stats weren’t completely trash, so I was fine.
“Bro! That guy’s running away!”
“You punk! Where do you think you’re going? Brothers, after him!”
Following me, the second and third brothers threw themselves out the window and started chasing me like madmen.
The crown prince didn’t jump out the window but stood there like some dark mastermind, staring at me. What’s his deal? What’s he trying to do?
For now, I focused on running.
Compared to the world’s standards, my specs might be lacking, but I did graduate from the academy with excellent grades. I don’t know what my agility stat is, but I was pretty fast.
I was using dash cancels and everything to escape, but it was clear I’d get caught sooner or later at this rate.
So I… turned toward where Seria might be.
The current time was late morning. She would’ve finished breakfast by now.
After finishing breakfast with her parents, there’s only one place she’d go.
“Why is he suddenly going that way?”
“Judging by the direction, it’s toward the greenhouse!”
“That’s where Seria is right now!”
Hearing them confirm the answer, all that was left was to run there.
They seemed puzzled by my sudden change in direction, but soon they noticed the scroll in my hand and realized everything, becoming frantic.
“He’s taking the schedule to Seria!”
“That’s unforgivable!”
Judging by their reaction, even they know this schedule is insane.
As I ran, the scent of flowers grew stronger.
Outside the greenhouse, the landscape was filled with blooming flowers.
When I thought about the fact that it was filled with plants, I could tell I had reached the vicinity.
Sure enough, a well-decorated greenhouse revealed itself up ahead.
Even though I was almost caught, since I made it this far, it’s my victory.
I opened the greenhouse door and threw myself inside. Inside, the Emperor, Empress, and Seria, who were enjoying tea time, were startled and looked my way.
“Rudion? What are you doing here all of a sudden…?”
I shoved a scroll into Seria’s hand, who was voicing her confusion, and immediately dashed back out of the greenhouse.
As I passed by the two men chasing me, they saw the scroll being handed to Seria and froze in place, expressing despair.
“This can’t be happening.”
“We’re done for.”
Don’t act like the world’s ending just because you got caught.
And if you didn’t want to look this pathetic, you shouldn’t have made something like that in the first place.
“…What is this?”
“Seria, that’s…”
“What’s this ‘Seria Praise Song’ written here?”
“….”
“Judging by the handwriting, it’s definitely my second brother’s. Why can’t you answer?”
“You recognize my handwriting? I’m touched, sis.”
“Stop dodging and answer me quickly.”
They seemed to be having some kind of conversation, but not a single word reached my ears as I was already moving away.
But whatever it was, it probably wasn’t anything good.
‘It’s all their own fault.’
Thinking that, I completely left the scene.
Just when I thought I was finally alone, the Crown Prince appeared again, blocking my path.
“Hehe, I knew this would happen, so I didn’t chase after you.”
Is this guy insane? Did he just sell out his siblings?
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s a misunderstanding. I had no involvement in that schedule.”
“But earlier, you made it sound like you were in on it…”
I almost casually retorted, but the Crown Prince didn’t seem to care and replied.
“I had to make it sound like that so you’d fall into the trap. And it worked.”
…So he didn’t sell them out, he just set them up.
What could he possibly want to do something like that for? The Crown Prince finally revealed the reason.
“The reason I called you, Rudion, is simple. It’s… well, you see…”
He seemed a bit embarrassed even to himself, pausing for a moment before carefully continuing.
“Can you teach me that technique you used on me yesterday?”
Uh, well… I’m sorry, but that might be a bit difficult.
I don’t even know why it works or what the principle behind it is.
“Please, I’m begging you! Can’t you at least try?”
“This is probably a waste of time… but fine. Let’s go somewhere private.”
I figured he wouldn’t give up unless he experienced it firsthand, so I decided to humor him once.
What a tiresome guy…
