kscans

Chapter 50 - Little One's New Daily Life, Four

"Uwah..."

"Hmm..."

""""........""""

Test results were laid out before each of the twins.

Looking down at them, Little One bared her teeth in a grimace while Chihaya crossed his arms and tilted his head. Among their guardians, those who had graduated from the Noble Academy wore vacant expressions, not moving a muscle.

As it turned out, both were exempt from martial arts, history, linguistics, arithmetic, and etiquette. Furthermore, they were both placed in the special class for magic and geography. To top it off, they were placed in the advanced class for only the fine arts, an outcome that was extraordinary to the extreme. And for some reason, they were in the intermediate class for socializing.

The basic classes were divided into advanced, intermediate, and basic, with a special class above them all. The advanced level covered what was considered a refined accomplishment. It was the level that royalty and high nobility were expected to master, a required subject for those up to the rank of marquis. The special class was, in a sense, an education in the arts of governance, a level of education required by royalty or high ranking government officials. The majority of students could graduate upon completing the intermediate level.

"Shouldn't they just graduate at this point?"

"No, however, the young lady has some rather concerning areas in her socializing skills. I believe she still has much to learn."

"Ah. That is true. Chihiro-sama is naive about the ways of the world and is still immature as a noble."

Harold and Dorfen earnestly argued against Romel's dismissive suggestion.

Hey, have you all forgotten that we're seven years old?

Chewing on a bitter cud, Little One glared at the results table. It wasn't so much that her socializing skills were weak, but that her score had been earned through dancing alone. To be blunt, she had failed nearly all the practical portions. She had thought it would be an extension of etiquette, but discerning the rank of one's conversational partner, or the seasonal greetings that changed depending on their title, were things she knew in theory but found to be entirely different in practice. To smoothly connect words, to praise, to admonish, to inquire. There were no clear boundaries, yet one had to convey their intentions accurately to the other party. It was maddeningly difficult. Furthermore, while Little One's rank was that of a count's daughter, she was under the guardianship of the king and queen, which made her greetings and choice of words a problem as well. The demeanor of a count's daughter and the demeanor of a royal. She had to use them differently depending on finely detailed situations, which gave her a massive headache.

"But still, about half of your classes are waived, so let's just work hard on what you're not good at, Hiro."

Chihaya's smile was a saving grace.

"You're right. I guess I just have to do it."

Weaknesses exist to be overcome. She could run away anytime she wanted, and no one around Little One would be angry if she did.

I'll give it my all, and if it doesn't work out, I'll just give up.

By nature, Little One hated to lose.

The people around her watched warmly as the little girl snorted with a determined funnu.

"Well, the princes are also in the special class, so you should learn well from them. I'll ask them for you."

Romel gave a faint, resigned smile.

"Let us try to be mindful of our socializing in our daily lives. I may be of the lowest rank in a marquis house, but I believe there is much I can teach you."

Dorfen, too, leaned forward, his eyes sparkling like a fish that had found water. His wonderfully cheerful smile as he declared that every outing would be practice was terrifying. But just then, Sakura, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"Language, is it. Would you two like to try learning classical Kilfan?"

"Classical?"

Looking at the twins, who tilted their heads in unison, Sakura traced an arc with her thinly rouged lips.

"Yes. Knowing the scenery and meaning behind words is the fastest way to learn how to choose and convey them. That's how I was taught, you see. I've let you do things the Frontier way until now, but how about trying to learn the Kilfan way this time?"

The men pondered Sakura's words for a moment.

Her way of speaking was certainly unique. However, her speech had a graceful and fluent cadence that felt perfectly natural even when speaking with the king. It might not be a bad idea. It was a manner of speaking they had been around since birth and were accustomed to hearing. It would likely be easy for the two of them to understand.

"That sounds good. Then let's have you learn language from Sakura at home, and practice it outside with Dorfen's guidance. Socializing is really just a matter of getting used to it, anyway."

With a bright, refreshed expression, Romel patted the twins on the head. The others around them also began to praise the children one after another, commending them for their efforts so far. Her memories had awakened at the age of two, and upon receiving the oracle from the gods, Little One had been running herself ragged. It might have been difficult and frustrating at times if she were alone. However, Little One had her brother by her side to encourage her, and she was surrounded by many people who watched over and helped her.

Really, I'm so blessed, aren't I?

It was a moment when Little One's tireless efforts were rewarded, and she broke into a bashful smile.

However, at that very moment, there were others in a different place, plotting something unsavory.

"Why am I in the intermediate class?!"

Aristea could not hide her indignation at the test results she was handed. Nearly every subject was intermediate. As for magic, martial arts, and arithmetic, they were at the basic level. For a daughter of the Duke Cartiña family, it was a passing grade. She just needed to study and aim higher from now on, but her older sister had achieved an advanced rank in nearly everything right after enrolling, and so Aristea could not accept this reality.

"If I lose to my sister... I want to become a consort, too."

Aristea's sister, Miranda, was sixteen. With two older brothers between them, there was a nine-year age gap with Aristea, the youngest daughter. That sister was engaged to the Crown Prince. She had graduated from the Noble Academy last year and was now living in the royal palace, receiving education to become a princess consort. Miranda, who was scheduled to be married in two years, had achieved a special rank in all subjects except martial arts by the time she graduated. Aristea bit her nail with a sharp giri, her face contorting in humiliation.

"I don't want to lose... I should have a chance to become Prince Theodore's fiancée too."

Currently, Prince Theodore was thirteen years old. In terms of age, they were not a bad match. In fact, about two years ago, Aristea had been approached as a potential fiancée candidate. There were three young ladies from the high nobility who were of a suitable age for the second prince, including Aristea. Among them, Aristea had been the most likely candidate in terms of status. But at that time, Theodore himself had shown reluctance. He had said he couldn't think about such things yet. That he wanted to decide after seeing what the future held. Due to his status, he could marry a princess from another country, or conversely, he could marry into another country's royal family. He was a valuable asset politically, and Frontier already had a Crown Prince with a set engagement. There was no need to hurry, and so the proposal at that time was rescinded.

The prince who still had no fiancée.

Many nobles' eyes changed color at this prospect. Not just the high nobility, even nobles of the count class had a decent chance if Theodore himself took a liking to them. The Noble Academy was filled to the brim with young ladies hoping for a chance.

To think I have to stand shoulder to shoulder with the riffraff!

The person Aristea was most wary of, and most despised, was the daughter of Count George. A daughter whose father was an upstart commoner, with hair as black as lacquer, something unheard of for a noble.

It's unpleasant enough that such a filthy girl calls herself a noble, but to become close with the princes and even be permitted to use the transfer gate. Isn't there a limit to how audacious one can be?

Aristea's father had also subtly inquired with His Majesty the King about using the transfer gate, but he was apparently flatly refused, being told that its use was permitted only to the royal family. The daughter of Count George was a quasi-royal, with the king and queen as her foster parents. That was why she was permitted to use the gate. Aristea was furious at this fact, which she had learned for the first time. The upstart commoner was, in terms of status, above Aristea. How could she not be enraged?

The scene from the welcome reception floated into her mind.

The twins, invited to the special seating reserved for royalty as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I won't forgive her. I'll make her regret this, just you wait!

And so, unbeknownst to Little One, the battle for Theodore's hand in marriage had begun, all on its own. There were other young ladies who thought similarly, and conversely, the flames of jealousy from the young ladies vying for Chihaya were also concentrated on Little One. As a nuisance in the path of love.

The current Little One was unaware of the absurd future that awaited her, a future where she would be swamped by all sorts of unreasonable things.