65 63. blank paper






Four years ago, in the winter of my thirteenth year, my mind went blank when the Duke asked me to take a blank check on the magic measurement itself.
Because I had memories of my previous life as a Japanese, I was interested in trying out various magical attributes. So, when I realized that the young lady was a rival daughter of an otome game, I wanted to go to the Magic Academy. That's why I was so happy that my test results were in the passing range, even if it was just barely.
If I hadn't had memories of my previous life, I probably wouldn't have been so shocked. I'm sure that I would have given up on my magical power from the beginning and would not have even taken the test.
I was ready to take it all on, but I wasn't ready to throw anything away.
For me, becoming a gardener and liking the lady were both important, and I was going to do both. That's why I reported it to my employer, the Duke. Even if I was fired from the Ernst family, I could still become a gardener if I joined the gardener's guild, and my feelings would not disappear.
But the duke gave me neither of these conditions. I didn't know what to do when he told me to get rid of the irrelevant things.
The duke smiled at my agitation.

If Isaac enters the school as is, he won't make it in time.

"...... What?

It took me a while to realize that the duke had said why he wanted to cancel my magic test. But I couldn't make sense of it, and in the end I could only raise my voice in question.

Isak would like to learn about all the attributes.

Yes.

He confirmed, and I nodded my head. Even if I couldn't learn the practical skills, I wanted to at least learn the classroom.

He said, "With the current curriculum, you can only learn the aptitude attribute. I can't make it in time.

What's that, ......?

The prince turned out to have two attributes, and the head of the Ministry of Magic, who is also the minister, is also interested in magic other than the aptitude attribute. By the time they enter the school, we plan to change the classes so that they can be selected.

At the moment, classes are divided by aptitude and focus on classes that specialize in each field. However, since Leo has two attributes, light and dark, and uses both of them evenly, and Bell has a strong desire to learn other attributes, the Duke told me that he plans to change the class structure to a credit system, which is common in universities.
When I asked him what he did when he was a student, he told me that he majored in water magic and learned wind magic from his classmates. He said that he was almost self-taught in ice magic, a compound magic, by referring to past literature.

It would be strange for a commoner who entered the school at the same time to know about something that would be put into operation when His Highness and the others entered. Therefore, Isak would like to delay his entrance for two years.

I don't know how hard it is to change the way you teach, but it's a big change, so it's understandable that it would take a few years to prepare. Even if I, a commoner, wanted to take all the attributes, I wouldn't be able to ask them to move up their schedule. The educational institution moved because of the requests of Leo, the prince, and Belle, the marquis's son.
If I were to enter the school a year late, it would make me stand out a little more, and if I, a commoner, knew about the multiple-choice classes for attributes that had just started, it would cause trouble for the duke and the princess because they would suspect the Ernst family of leaking information. If you want to take a class that has multiple attributes, you can pretend that you forgot to take the measurement and enroll after Leo and the others.

...... That's too convenient for me, isn't it?

I can agree. I can accept the reason, but the Duke's condition is too convenient for me. If I miss the entrance by two years, I'll be in the same grade as your daughter. I'm grateful to be able to take classes of all attributes, but I wonder if that's possible.

If we can't provide the necessary environment for those who are willing to learn, then what is the point of an educational institution?

The Duke then winked at me as if he were playing a prank. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bad experience.

And it's convenient for me, too.

I'm not sure what to do with it. I'm not sure why it's convenient for the duke if my entrance is delayed.

The school can only provide a minimal number of guards, so it would be helpful to have someone else to protect Dia.

Since the Magic Academy is a place where students can study without distinction of nobility, it is said that nobles can only have one guard or follower in the academy. The school has a strict security system, so they really want to have no attendants, but some of the nobles can't take care of minor things by themselves, so it's a compromise.
The chairman and the others will be escorting the young lady to the knight training school located on the same grounds as the Magic Academy. They will be able to take her to and from the dormitory, as well as guard her and take care of her in the dormitory. I'm sure they'll take turns following her around the school.
The duke is still worried about the daughter. I can't help but think that this is an overprotective abuse of his authority, but I can't help but point out that it allows me to learn what I want to learn. The butler, Master Heinz, who is waiting for me, is glaring at the Duke as if he wants to let out a sigh, but I'll pretend I didn't see him.

But I'll pretend I didn't see that. "Dia is a duke, but she's also His Highness' fiancée. She may be disadvantaged by those in the school who envy or try to flatter her because of her youth. In such a place, you need someone who will never betray you.

You know, I don't think ...... I'm that useful.

You'll be fine as long as you stay Isaac.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I think it's a good idea. I don't understand what the Duke's intentions are when he says he wants me to prioritize my studies. It's true that the chairpersons of the guards are more qualified to protect you, and I can't do it, so I'm glad to hear that.

You'll always act for the sake of your loved ones.

Is that how it is with ......?

I was dubious when he told me that I would naturally help the girl without being told to.

"Oh. That's what love is all about, isn't it?

The duke laughs with conviction.
The Duke laughs with conviction, but I can only nod my head and wonder if it will work out that way. I'm not very smart, so I'm worried that I'll be too busy studying and dragging down the young lady.
At any rate, I thought, I'd better study hard.


And so, here I am, sitting on my ass.
I am being lectured by a young lady in the back of the school building, which I have successfully entered, though two years late. When she asks me what's going on, I don't know why it's happening.

I can't blame her without asking what's going on. First of all, what was the cause of the incident at the fountain with Countess Dolores?

The same thunderbolt as your daughter? He was about to drop a very powerful thunderbolt and I didn't want to damage the fountain, so I stopped him.



I don't know what it was, but I think he said something about how I was a commoner and a wastrel and that I was too stupid to want to take courses in all the attributes, so I'm going to remind him.
I raised my hand in the air and as the lightning spirits began to gather, I closed the distance before they could be activated and stood right in front of the Countess of Dolores. The Countess, startled by the sudden closeness of the distance, fell backwards and landed on her buttocks in the fountain behind her.
I held out my hand to help her up, and when I saw that she had taken it, I said, "Go ahead.
The son-in-law tilted his head, and I told him that he should be struck by lightning, since he could now suffer the same fate as the fountain. Then he paled and finally understood that it was not good to damage property.
As I explained, the lady put her fingers on her temples as if to press them.

It's not the first time you've come to ...... this place either.

It's not the first time you've been here. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

Because?

I told him not to.

He was a magician, and he insisted that I, with my low magic power, should serve him. I told him that the school was not a place for that, but he didn't seem to listen, so I just warned him not to use water magic in unpopular places like the back of the school building.
Trees in places where people don't come often are planted with varieties of trees that can grow well with natural rain without watering, and the soil is made so that the bottom layer can easily contain water. In such a place, the roots of the trees will rot if a lot of water is released.
Therefore, I stopped the paper knife about five centimeters from the opponent's eyeball before activating it, and startled him. In reality, the distance is quite large, but the tip of the knife is coming straight at you, so it is quite threatening to the person who is pointed at.
I told him that too much water is poisonous to the trees in this place, as if even a bladeless paper knife that can only cut a seal is dangerous depending on how it is used. I'm glad he understood, because it seems that the Marquess has only been using water magic during practical training since then.

It's a little different from what the Marquis Edelstein told me, but ......, well, it's okay. How do you explain Count Wittmann?

"I didn't want the cherry blossoms to fall because of the wind. ......

Before he started, he swatted his foot, pretended to have sprained it, and threw it into the Countess's carriage. I was approached on my way back to the dormitory, but I didn't even say hello before I tried to activate the magic, so I gave priority to Sakura.
Perhaps it's because this is the world of otome games, but cherry blossom trees seem to be a standard feature of schools. Perhaps it's because I have Japanese memories, but I love the rows of cherry trees at school. That's why I wanted to look at this scene for as long as possible. I wanted to watch them slowly swaying in the natural breeze as they fell.
I'm sorry about the wind sigh, because it was rather selfish of me. I wasn't trying to do anything harmful to the garden, just to make it fall a little faster. There are people who think it's refreshing to see them fall as quickly as I do.
As I was reflecting on the fact that I should apologize, I heard a long sigh from above me. I looked up and saw the young lady looking down at me in disgust.

"You're a garden idiot, you know that?

I'm sorry.

I prevented all the magic from happening, so it didn't ruin the landscape, but it's been misinterpreted as a one-sided threat by Zaku.

"It is rumored that the young lady has a mad dog.

You seem like a strong woman.

You should be more concerned with the fact that you're the one being called a mad dog!

When I spilled my thoughts on the information about the pome that was following the young lady, I was scolded. It's not a problem if people think you have bad behavior, because they would have already suspected you of being a dullard when you entered the school late because you forgot to take the magic test. In fact, I think it's good that the uniform is easy to wear.

I'm sure you're right, ......, I don't want you to think badly of your daughter because of me.

It's a known fact that I'm a servant of the Ernst family, and if I'm going to cause trouble for the young lady, I should have just kept my mouth shut and accepted the attack. The noblemen's boys should have been called to the school building or somewhere other than the yard. No, even in the school building, if they damaged it, they wouldn't be able to pay for it, so they might have stopped after all.

So think of yourself first, not me! I can't allow Zaku to not get the recognition he deserves.

"Miss ......

It's sweet of you to be angry with me. I'm glad you're so mad at me, but at the same time I feel bad. The next time I see her, I think I'd better just listen to her complain and let her do her magic to her satisfaction.

"Miss, if you tell them to be quiet, Mr. Isak, you will be attacked and abused indulgently.

Pome whispered to the young lady. Pome whispered to her. She took it as an affirmation and got angry again.

I won't let you do that!

So, if you don't do anything, the young lady will act, and if anything happens in the future, please do not hesitate to resist.

"Okay, .......

I don't want the young lady to act recklessly, so let's defend ourselves properly. Pome nailed me and I swore in my heart that I would remember to defend myself.

"Besides, the rumor that's going around is intentional.

"What?

The young lady asked suspiciously as Pome happily reported what had happened.

If the information was really detrimental to the lady, I wouldn't leave it alone.

This means that she is letting the rumor spread.
I'll think about it. Pome, unlike the committee chairman and Pochi, is a type of guard who protects the lady with information warfare. In other words, she specializes in putting out fires before they start and eliminating the conflict itself.
I wonder what such a pome would gain from the rumor that I am a delinquent. Because I'm a ronin, I'm older than my classmates, and I'm probably taller than most of them. So, people who are intimidated by me are intimidated by me. If you're the only one who can make me obey you, I'm sure you'll have some kind of control effect.
I see. So Pome is using my rumors to protect you. I'm convinced.

"By the way, to those who messed with Mr. Isak, don't worry, there won't be a second time...

What the hell did Pome do to those sons of his who only tried? I wonder if she's got a lot of weakness to make sure they don't mess with a hot-blooded young man again. I couldn't help but feel that Pome was one of the mad dogs that the sons were referring to as the source of my rumors.



You'll have to consult me before you do anything like that.

"Yes, I'm sorry.

Knowing that she would not be able to elaborate even if she pursued, the young lady gave Pome that warning.

Thank you, Pome.

I thanked Pome for protecting me. I thanked her for protecting me. Even though it was part of my job to protect her, she arranged it so that I wouldn't get tangled up and she wouldn't be bothered by me. That's a big help to me.
Pome's eyes widened a little, which was unusual for her, and then she smiled happily.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

I was just giving you a warning.

"Yes, so... I'm glad you're mad at me.

You're very good at getting angry for me. She always tells me that I should be angry even when I'm sloppy and don't care.
I may not be able to live up to the Duke's expectations after all. Instead of protecting me, she's protecting me.
When I thanked her, she turned away, her face flushed.

"Don't you think I should try not to get angry in the first place?

"I'll be careful.

I can only nod my head in agreement. But how can I be careful? I've decided to live honestly because of my regrets from my previous life, and I'm supposed to be doing what I want, but sometimes the lady scolds me for taking care of myself.
When she sees that I'm not sure what to do, she puts her forefinger up in front of me and says

"If you are approached by a stranger, do not follow him alone! Do you understand?

I didn't expect to be told the precautions for my first errand at the age of seventeen.
Duke, I'm afraid I'm useless after all.


On the way back to the classroom with the girls, I saw a crowd of people in the next classroom.
As I walked past, I wondered what it was. Thanks to my father, I'm in my late 180s, so I can see what's going on from above the crowd. It seems that my gaze is drawn to the two men chatting in the class next to me.
I could see their bright blond hair and short light brown heads, and the deja vu glare made me think of pretending I hadn't seen them. Before I could turn my eyes away, I was met by honey-colored eyes.

It's Miss Lydia, isn't it?

The crowd parted as she turned and smiled at me, and my gaze landed on her. I'm pretty sure I just guessed that you're here. She's taller than most girls, but there's no way she can be seen in this crowd.

"Miss Roy? Why are you in the first year classroom?

The young lady rolls her eyes a little when she sees Leo. The young lady followed the path that had been created by the separation of people and headed towards Leo. As the moment passed, I followed along with Pome.
Perhaps it was the addition of the prince's fiancée, or perhaps it was the fact that I was the one rumored to be a delinquent, but the distance between Leo and the rest of the onlookers opened up a bit.

I'd say we're here to see Miss Ludia, but today we're here to talk to him about Sternensee.

"In the tropics?

From the young lady's response, I learned that Sternensee was the name of a country south of the Arbeitsloh. I didn't know the official name of the country, because common people only call it the South.
After Leo's introduction, a man with light brown hair greets the young lady.

'Nice to meet you, Duchess Ernst. My name is Konstantin Frank von Daehr, fifth prince of Sternensee. I was surprised to see you as beautiful as His Royal Highness Roy told me you were.

The smirk on his face was familiar to me. Unlike Leo, he was not flamboyant, and at first glance did not look like royalty. His gestures and behavior were that of a high class man, but he had a friendly smile that made him easy to get to know. Almost no one would be wary of him.

"I am honored by your compliment, Your Highness, Constantine.

Your Highness is here on a study tour as part of an exchange program.

Please don't call me "Your Highnesses. He's the fifth prince, and it'll be difficult for the students to adapt to the school's policies if we keep calling him that.

"That's true. Constantine, is that okay?

You can call me Stan, Roy. Do you mind if I call you Ms. Ludia?

Yes. Constantine.

You're very serious, aren't you, Lydia?

With a sarcastic smile, the prince of the tropics softened the atmosphere with the onlookers. You're too polite to call me by my first name. Nico is not allowed to call her Nico-chan either. He says that it is her sincere intention to call you by your correct name. Only her close female friends call her by her abbreviated name.
Before I could find out why, the orange eyes of the tropical prince turned to me.

"Who are they?

They belong to my family. He's an apprentice gardener, and due to a slight mistake he was admitted late, so he's in my class.

I'm just a maid, don't worry about me.

I'm Isak, from ......?

Don't be shy. Nice to meet you.

When I tried to speak normally and wondered if I should be polite, the tropical prince laughed and held out his hand. Realizing it was a handshake, I shook his hand back.



Nice to meet you.

A gardener is just what I need. I'm interested in how gardens are made in this country. Could you show me around sometime when you're available?

I'm available in second period on Thursdays. ......

Thursday then.

The prince of the tropics smiles and says, "That's just when I don't have any classes either. I agreed, and our handshakes parted when the appointment was made.
After that, Roy said goodbye to me, saying that break time was over, and he left, and the onlookers retreated, and my daughter and I went back to our classrooms.
On Thursday, after first period, the tropical prince arrived as promised with a friendly smile, and I showed him around the school's garden to the best of my knowledge. The fountain with its benches is a good place to have lunch on a sunny day, the flowerbeds are nice in the springtime with butterflies fluttering among the brightly colored flowers, and the woods are pleasantly sunny, so you can enjoy forest bathing.

Do you know anything about landscaping at ......?

Yeah. Did you really want to hear that?

He mentioned it while we were walking through the woods, and I rolled my eyes. I thought you weren't interested.

If you weren't, you wouldn't have bothered to hang out with those a**h*les in your free time.

"Oh. It's Frank, isn't it?

He said his name. You'd know.

No, I remember you saying something about a con ......, but I don't remember .......

I can't remember most of it.

Frank's eyes half-lidded in disgust. Frank's full name was hard to remember, though, because it was long and mixed with some difficult pronunciation.
He didn't say, "Nice to meet you," and I wondered if that was true, but Frank's sales mode, or prince mode, was so perfect that I wasn't sure if it was right. He's even more catty than when he was working at Ingrid's bar.

"So you were a prince.

You're a prince, but not like the princes of your country. My father is a womanizer. My mom is the fourth one, and there are plenty of princes in the world.

The king of the tropics is said to be a typical polygamist. It is said that tropical kings are typically polygamous, and will take any woman they like as a wife, regardless of her status. Frank's mother used to be a migratory dancer. He had brothers and sisters, and including half-siblings, his siblings numbered in the double digits. I've heard that you have a lot of siblings, but you really do.

But you're a prince.

That's right, if I want to take my father's place. You'll have to get serious.

When I pointed out that he was acting like a prince even though he was only a prince in name, Frank said something quite amazing in a boisterous way.

............ Frank, are you going to be a king?

I don't know that he's a prince, but when I told him he'd make a good king, he gave me a weird look.

You said you were following in your father's footsteps.

Frank raised the corners of his mouth and smiled wryly. No, I didn't know that Frank's father was the king.
But I think he might be. Frank is a man of his word. I'm sure that's why he's coming to study in Arbentroth. For some reason, I can't help laughing at the possibility that Frank could actually go to the king's country.

I'll have to save up enough money to take a trip.

"Zaku, I've missed you so much!

Just as I'm starting to look forward to the future, I get a huge shock in the back of my head. Just as I'm about to start looking forward to the future, I'm hit with a huge jolt in the back, and as I'm trying not to fall, I'm pulled upward by the arms around my neck.

"Nico? What's the lesson?

It's a real class. I'm not busy, so I'm out.

I'm not busy, so I'm out of here." It was Nico who hugged me with the force of an assault. I thought that Nico had a lot of magic power, but it seems that he is the best in the class of the wind attribute. In the third year, Nico's class was still in the aptitude attribute category, so the difference was more obvious.

And what's this?

You'll be able to see the difference in the way they look at you. Nico is over 180, so his eyes are naturally higher than Frank's, who is around 170. However, I felt a pressure as if he was looking down on me intentionally.
Perhaps sensing this, Frank scrutinized his orange eyes.

What? What the hell is that? You're interrupting me.

Normally, he would have put on a cat mask, but Frank stared at Nico. It's obvious he's trying to get in the way.

What do you want with Zaku? You stink.

Nico, on the other hand, broke free of his onnae act and glared back at Frank. For some reason, he seems to have recognized Frank as an enemy. He didn't let go of me, and judging from his extreme caution, I wonder if he was worried about me.

If I didn't need you, I wouldn't be talking to this useless guy.

"Oh? What did you just say?

I'll tell you anything you want to know. I don't know why anyone would want to work for a big guy like him.

Do you want to get your head blown off? ......

If you can do it, do it.



Can I tell you something? I'm scared.
Why are they talking worse than me, a commoner? And why do they just start snapping at each other? Nico, don't pound your fists while I'm holding you. And don't agitate Frank. There's too much at stake.
Anyway, to clear up the misunderstanding, I tap Nico on the arm.

"Nico. Frank's a prince. He doesn't want you to get hurt.

Then I'll put him in the trunk.

That's not what I meant! I'm sorry to say this, but when Frank says he can't use you, it's a good sign that you can go along with him without calculating. ......

Oh, my God, what a nasty interpretation!

Because that's what you said, and then we started playing together.

No! That was Timo.

That's Timo. Timo's brother's here?

Of course he left him in his hometown! We can't do business with him.

When I asked, Frank angrily denied it.
It's a pity that Timo's brother didn't come with Frank to study abroad. It's a pity that Timo's brother didn't come with Frank to study abroad. It must have been a shame for Timo's brother because he adored Frank so much.
But Timo's brother looks like a yankee, so it's inevitable that he'll stand out at school. He can't act like a cat like Frank, so he's probably not the best choice to be the prince's chaperone.
As I thought about it and agreed with Frank, he put his hand on his forehead, turned over, and let out a long sigh.

I'm really tired of talking to Isak.

I'm sorry for what I said.

When I apologized for what I had done, Frank let out another sigh.
Niko, who had been watching the exchange between Frank and me, finally took his arm off my neck.

"You really know Zak?

Yes, my friend.

...... I don't even want to get into it.

He looked at Frank suspiciously, exhausted with anger, but Nico seemed to agree with him.
When I asked him if he wanted me to continue showing him around the garden, he refused, saying that he didn't want to be disgusting. When he met up with Nico, he no longer wanted to walk around.
There's still some time before the next class, so I'll figure out how to kill time. If I let these two talk, it might lead to another fight. And one that involves hands and feet. I'll be in trouble if we don't spend as much time as possible without talking.

"Hey, let's go to the library.

The grounds of the Magic Academy are large, and there is a library instead of a library. In the school building is a reading room. It's a building, so it's got quite a lot of books.

"The library here has all the volumes of 'The Sea of Mea'.

"Oh, they have the latest volume?

I haven't bought it yet," Nico said, showing his interest.
The Sea of Mare is a saga of pirates that I've been reading at Nico's house. It's a story about a lowly pirate, Maer, who grows up to become a pirate chieftain (don) and a brigand who defends the port town where he is based. The part where the previous chief died during a naval battle and was replaced was very hot.

"That's mine.

What?

What?

Both Nico and I tilted our heads at Frank's abrupt words.

"That story is based on our royalty. They came from a pirate family.

Frank told us that the Maer's Sea series is an amusing adaptation of a story about the ancestors of a tropical royal family. That means the last time Maer became king was when he founded his own country based in a port town.

"Don't spoil it, you idiot!

"Huh? It's your fault if you don't know. It's a normal thing in the tropics, you idiot!

Apparently, Nico was humiliated that his favorite book came from Frank's country. Frank quickly replied to Nico's anger.

"Oh, so...

So he was like a yakuza, I thought to myself. Even after I found out that he was royalty, I couldn't shake the impression that Frank was like a young member of some gang. I was relieved to find out why.

And why were they both so naive from the start?

In addition, I asked them to clear up the current question. Neither of us would ever show our true colors to someone we just met. It was strange to me because it was not something I usually did.
In response to my question, they thought for a moment, and then looked at each other. Then, pointing at the other person, they answered.

"Because I was annoyed.

"Because he had an angry face.

Both of them intuitively knew that they would not get along.

"You seem like you'd get along.

"What?



Both of them looked uncomfortable at the same time. In a way, they were on the same page.
In the end, the three of us went to the library to read the Maer's Sea series. There were other students doing research in the library, so Nico turned into a mannequin, and Frank put on a cat suit, but we casually turned our bodies in the opposite direction to each other while reading.
I thought it was a rare sight, and read until the bell rang for the end of second period.
This is how my school life began.