Chapter 1-9
“This fruit you call a mandarin orange is really delicious.”
When winter arrived, Rahsa came to visit.
The weather is cold, so we are eating mandarin oranges in front of the fireplace.
“How did you make this mandarin orange thing?”
“A seed with magic… as expected of aniki.”
Rahsa was in somewhat excited mood while eating mandarin oranges.
His cheeks swell out, making a cute face, but since it’s fun to watch I won’t point it out.
“Aniki will also be entering Elenowar Academy soon, right?”
“Are you unhappy about it?”
“Should I say unhappy? Or afraid perhaps? I don’t really understand how I feel.”
“If it’s aniki, it’ll be fine.
“Yeah.” I knew.
“Also, the prime minister’s daughter, Eliza-san, is also enrolling.”
That person is my future wife after all.
“Furthermore, the first successful applicant from the commoners has appeared after ten years. We receive a pass from our lineage, but it seems the largest barrier for commoners is the entrance exam. It was a really skilled person. I believe their name was… .”
“That’s it, it’s Iris-san. Aniki knew, huh?”
“There are also other children of other such immensely influential people; a group of people are already calling it something like the golden generation.”
“It’ll surely be fine. The people of Helan are dependable and will surely provide their support to Toral-san.”
I think I’ll have Lotson check in every once in awhile.
“Aniki, you’re thinking about too much. With aniki’s talent, you’ll surely be successful in leading a fulfilling life at Elenowar Academy.”
It makes me want him as a real brother.
“That’s true.
“Ah, I’ll come too.”
“Uu-, cold.” ”Yeah, it’s cold.”
“Yes! I’ll be looking forward to it.”
The two went to pick oranges while huddling together, a quite commonplace day in the cold winter.
At the time the snow began to melt and the land of Helan started to breathe.
One month before the time for admission, I decided to leave Helan.
From here to the academy is roughly four to five days by carriage.
While it’s fine if you arrive one week before admission for the competency test, if you arrive at the last moment, it seems that a large line is formed near the academy. The basis for my early departure is that I don’t want to wait in that line and it’s good to arrive early so as to get used to the environment.
“Kururi-chan, you’ve grown so handsome.”
“Kururi, study to your heart’s content and leave everything about the territory to your father.”
Father thrust out his chest, but nothing worries me more than this.
“Well, I’ll be going.”
I called out to the servant and the horse dashed out.
At the academy, a dormitory system is used.
Even so, all of the nobles carry quite the sum of money for the sake of their pride.
I also happened to be carrying quite a bit.
Next, if there’s something I want, I want to be able to buy it and I also thought that while socializing with friends, money would be necessary.
Because of this I didn’t take much money.
However, on the morning of departure I was told by the population, “Since we’ve been earning so much money lately,” and forced me to take money for my use. The amount wasn’t small either.
I tried to refuse, but my father told me to accept it. Father seemed bigger than usual, but it was probably just my imagination.
Which reminds me, Rahsa said that he wanted to see me off, but since it would be bad if I were favored over the first prince I refused.
As expected, I don’t have the guts for it.
While it is a trip of four or five days, I packed a lot of books so I wouldn’t get bored.
And unexpectedly, I discovered that my father is quite the gourmet before leaving.
“With this, your boring trip should become slightly pleasant,” he said.
It was also the first time my father ever did something like a father.
At any rate, a trip doesn’t give me a bad mood.
It is all fresh to me. These are all the words needed for expression.
With this, even if nothing happens for four or five days I shouldn’t get bored.
It should have been around five hours after leaving the house.
In such a situation, a servant called out to me.
Nn? Now that I think about it, we should arrive at the first restaurant that father wrote down soon.
“What?”
While I thought it to be just a common sight, I stuck my head out the window.
While there seems to still be some distance, there was a woman sitting down in the shade.
Did her condition worsen from staying in the sun too long?
With the nearing of the carriage, the figure became more and more clear.
And in proportion to that, my heart rate quickened.
There’s no mistake.
It was at the point that I could not be mistaken. Iris Palala was sitting there.
For some reason I hid inside of the carriage.
No, there’s no way it is!
Perhaps her condition has truly worsened and is resting. Is it really okay for me to abandon this frail lady?
I resolve myself and replied, “I’ll try calling out to her.”
The servant gradually reduces the speed of the carriage and brings it to a stop in front of Iris.
“Is there something the matter?” I asked gently as to provoke as least caution as possible.
Since we will become classmates after this I can’t just say,’I see, bye!!’
“Perhaps you are headed to Elenowar Academy?”
“It was just by gut feeling. I am also in the middle of heading to Elenowar Academy so, if it would be fine with you, would you like to ride with me?”
Thank you for going out of your way to show consideration towards me.”
By walking, huh. That’ll take half a month.
Now that I think about it, in the game, Iris came from quite a poor family. I increasingly can’t overlook this.
“Please don’t say such a thing. They say that you should treat fellow travelers with compassion, don’t they? My name is Kururi Helan. I am of the house of the feudal lord of Helan.” For now, I tried making an appeal that I’m not a suspicious person.
Huh, she’s staying quiet.
“…, Helan. That Helan with the hot springs, right!?” Iris rode out her body while asking.
“No, but I’ve read an article from an information magazine about the hot springs being surrounded by a flower garden enough to open a hole in it!!
It’s my dream to enter Helan’s hot springs!!”
After I said, “Let’s talk more about the hot springs,” she entered the carriage with no resistance.
This is the same with Iris, as she had a large bag, bursting at the brim.
As expected, having her ride the carriage was the correct choice. If I had passed her by like that, my heart would be hopelessly in pain due to my conscience.
I’m glad I managed to get her to ride.
The carriage is proceeding smoothly and Iris also got on with me. This trip is going well.
“My dream is that in the future, I’m going to earn lots of money and take my younger brothers, sisters, and my parents to the hot springs surrounded by flower gardens in Helan,” Iris said, her eyes sparkling.
“That’s no good. A dream is something you must achieve yourself.”
“That’s also true.”
“Kururi-san is also entering this year, right? If I’m not mistaken, I read in the information magazine that you’re the person who dug up the hot springs.
“No, no, no, it’s not such a big thing.”
Moreso, you, who have the potential to be married to the prince, I see to be an extremely amazing character.
“Thank you for going out of your way to let a commoner as I to ride this carriage with you. I will return this favor with certainty.”
I will have you return this favor whenever I fall to ruin by any means.
“I was worried what the people at a nobles’ school would be like, but from looking at Kururi-san, I get the feeling that I should be able to think more positively about it.”
Well then, let’s talk about our hot springs.”
As always, her eyes are sparkling. This gives some worth to the conversation, doesn’t it?
Just as I thought, I can tell she has beautiful features from looking at her face from nearby.
It’s not strange that the prince and others would fight over her with these looks.
“You might have read the information magazine already, but Helan’s hot springs have an unparalleled effect on the whitening and beautification of skin.”
“The flowers’ properties make it that way, but very recently, something amazing was found. One of our excelling citizens, Lotson-san, found that even drinking the hot springs’ water has a good effect on the body.”
“Right? This has just started gaining popularity lately, so the information should spread throughout the kingdom soon.
“Amazing-! Maybe it would have been better if I hadn’t asked. I can’t help but want to go now.”
“Yeah. Thanks!”
We talked about the hot springs endlessly together while in a state of excitement.
As I thought, the woman the prince would fall for is of a different calibre!
“Kururi-sama, you should be able to see the shop that Toral-sama wrote down shortly.” A servant’s voice interrupted the conversation.
“Ah, we’ve arrived already, huh?”
I was able to learn the true benefit of having a traveling partner.
“Iris, let’s exit the carriage and have lunch. A delicious restaurant father recommended to me is just over there.”
“I will, of course, treat you.
“No, I’m really fine.”
Iris shook her head.
“While I’m very thankful you allowed me to ride your carriage, I can’t let you go so far as to treat me to food as well.
With all of this, my debt to you will grow too big and I won’t be able to repay you!”
I laughed a bit to this. This sense of values is what makes the prince and the others fall for her, huh
If I end up having a girl I fall for, I’ll take this as a reference.
“Let’s go.”
If it has come to this, let’s just say it.
Rather, this way of meeting itself is irregular. I’ll go ahead and do as I like!!
“It can’t be helped. I have an important talk for you. It’s a conversation for only here, so I want to ask that you talk of this to no one else.”
Due to the change in my behavior, Iris made an anxious face.
“Your life at the academy might not end up being a pleasant thing.
However, you will surely experience various forms of undeserved discrimination.”
My end goal is to find a good job and support my family after all.”
Good!! What a good kid!!
“A-and, that person that discriminates against you, though… . A witch with blue eyes will be the culprit, I think… .”
“No, well, that person’s discrimination towards commoners is fierce, so I think their actions toward you will become unpleasant. And that person is actaully… .”
“A person that I cannot rid my connection to… .
It’s granted that if those close to you cause trouble for others, you should take care of it, right!?
“Nn, It was a vague argument and I couldn’t really understand.”
“Well, whatever. Anyway, we’re going to go eat!!”
“You’ll be able to fine!” I pulled Iris’ hand with all my strength.
“I am eating delicious food by myself while Iris is eating preserved foods. Something like that won’t be an enjoyable trip, right?”
“I am fine. You’ve already helped me plenty!”
“You two, hurry up and go,” the servant’s calm voice ended up tug-of-war.
Iris finally gave up and came along.
I’m sorry for doubting you one bit, father!