Laiel (°∀°) "Today is the release day of 'Seventh 8th Volume'!"
Monica (°∀°) "Please buy it!"
At the first building of the Young School.
As sunlight streamed in through the windows, I was leaning on my desk, resting my chin in my hand.
"---Why did it come to this?"
No matter how I think about it, it's strange.
Wallace, my subordinate, came crying to me.
"Liám, give me an allowance increase! Please, I need an increase no matter what!"
Kurt, who was looking at such Wallace with a sigh, said,
"Wallace is still the same."
"It's so annoying! I thought I could live a life of luxury in Liám's mansion, but with Selina, it was hell! I should be allowed to indulge a little, right?"
I watched Wallace, who was scolded for everything he did, but I couldn't blame Selina because this guy was the problem.
I understood why he was said to be useless as a prince, neither poison nor medicine.
He's not exactly a nuisance, but just a burden.
It was a miscalculation to have to take care of such a burden, but the biggest problem is---Rosetta.
"Darling, where are we having lunch? The cafeteria?"
I thought Rosetta was a tough woman, but she turned out to be a pushover.
I was disappointed by this easily blushing girl.
However, I realized that I found it troublesome to throw her away because she was cute.
If she betrays me, I won't forgive her, but until then, I'll take care of her.
"I'll buy bread at the canteen."
"Bread, huh? Leave it to me. I'll get the popular bread."
Who asked you to buy bread?
Is it okay for a lady to volunteer to be a lackey?
"It's fine. Wallace, you go buy the bread."
Then, Wallace, running his hand through his signature blue hair,
"It's impossible. Don't you know about the lunchtime rush? I can't even buy the popular bread."
I was disappointed by the former prince who confidently said he couldn't even buy bread.
Kurt looked at him with a cold eye.
"Wallace, you're really useless."
"Hmph, say what you want. But don't you think it's strange for Liám to ask a former prince to buy bread?"
I'll say it again to such Wallace.
"Wallace, go buy the bread."
"Liám, please, spare me. The bread battle at lunchtime is too harsh for me."
This guy is lying.
"Stop lying. When I went, there was no crowd."
Everyone was lined up properly, buying bread politely.
As expected of a young school for noble children.
Kurt shook his head and said something I didn't understand.
"That's because it's Liám."
Since Rosetta was troubled, I decided to give up on the bread.
"Then, let's go to the cafeteria."
"The cafeteria, huh? Leave it to me. I'll secure the best seat."
So, why do you do lackey or servant-like things?
It's fun to make others do it, not to have them volunteer.
"Securing a seat is fine. Just stay quiet."
"S, sure. I'll do that."
Looking at the dejected Rosetta, it felt like I had done something wrong.
Wallace, on the other hand, normally tries to take advantage of me.
"Liám, I want dessert for lunch."
"You can drink water."
I think---isn't this different from the student life I imagined?
In the capital planet.
There, the prime minister was gathering officials.
Those gathered were the ones who had been monitoring the Claudia family for a long time.
There were not a few families that had been monitoring the Claudia family for generations, and all of them looked dissatisfied.
The prime minister was smiling.
"Thank you for your hard work. I have a new job for you."
But they didn't seem to agree.
"Prime Minister! We cannot accept a change at this late stage. Rather, please order us to monitor the Banfield family!"
"That's right! The late emperor's orders are still in effect!"
"Please let us monitor the Banfield viscount!"
It was difficult for them to be deprived of the work they had been doing for a long time and be told to do something new.
The prime minister understood their feelings.
"I see. Then, I will have you eliminated."
On the table, he showed them the weaknesses of the nobles they had collected over the years.
Bryan had submitted all the materials to the prime minister after sending congratulatory messages to Liám's engagement ceremony.
He didn't even hide the useful information.
Now, it was a reason to dispose of unnecessary officials.
"---You investigated quite thoroughly. I didn't think you would even investigate me."
They had investigated the prime minister as well.
A group specialized in peeping and tormenting people.
While the prime minister had some use for them, he didn't need those who would bite the hand that fed them.
"---This is---"
"No excuses are necessary. If you disappear, I can sleep soundly. For that, I will have you eliminated."
As the officials prepared to resist, Tia, who had been standing by, drew her sword.
A rapier---a sword specialized in thrusting, she pierced the vital points of all the officials with one thrust.
The fallen officials.
The prime minister applauded Tia.
"Excellent skills. You seem promising for the military academy as well."
Tia wiped the blood from her blade, sheathed it, and looked down at the officials.
"This is nothing. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to eliminate those who opposed Liám-sama."
They were the ones who had set a trap for Liám.
To Tia, they were enemies.
The prime minister, looking at Tia, asked,
"Will you enter the military academy soon?"
Tia nodded and answered.
"Yes, I plan to enter next year."
The prime minister, watching his subordinates dispose of the bodies, asked,
"---What about the viscount's future plans?"
As a fourth-year student at the young school, graduation was near.
If he graduated within three years, Liám would have to go to either university or the military academy.
The prime minister was asking which one he would choose.
Tia answered,
"Liám-sama is currently prioritizing the military academy."
"In that case, his post-graduation plan would be university. Well, will this war be over by then?"
Will the war with the Berkeley family be over by the time Liám finishes his training?
The prime minister was concerned about this.
Tia, with complete trust in Liám, answered,
"It might be over sooner than you think."
Leaving the room and returning to work, Tia---frowned.
Walking down the corridor quickly, she muttered in frustration.
"What's with that mad dog Marie. A useless dog who thinks she's loyal to Liám-sama while leaving his enemies alive."
She remembered the hateful Marie.
At the engagement ceremony.
Liám had prepared the position of second-in-command, next to the chief knight, for Avid if he successfully completed the Avian.
---He's getting too cocky.
And she remembered what happened behind the scenes at the engagement ceremony.
---On the day of the engagement ceremony.
Most of the schedule was over, and the knights were being served wine.
At that table, Marie approached Tia, the chief knight.
"You must be Christiana."
When she called her by her first name, the atmosphere around them froze.
In the silent banquet hall, Tia drank her wine while only looking at Marie.
"What is it, useless dog?"
Marie quickly drew her sword and placed the blade at Tia's throat.
But Tia's rapier was also placed at Marie's chest.
Marie smiled eerily,
"Enjoy your time as chief knight, even if it's short. That position is mine."
They released their blades from each other.
Tia also looked at her coldly.
"The position of second-in-command is too heavy for you. You should retire. No, maybe I should call you a fossil?"
Tia laughed at the petrified Marie.
In response to Tia's provocation, Marie's tone became harsh.
"Brat---I could cut off your head right now."
The two of them, sparks flying.
Some knights were troubled, while others were thinking of knocking both of them down and taking the chief position for themselves.
There were also knights who didn't care.
Unlike when Liám inherited the territory, there were many knights present.
Some knights wanted to serve Liám, some to repay the favor of being saved, and some to join the rising Banfield family.
Many were ambitious.
However, considering the size of the viscount's family, the number of knights was still small.
More would come in the future, but it was questionable whether they could be organized.
Liám's knights were still a motley crew.
They were only held together by their high loyalty, and there were many problems.
Most importantly, there was no one to organize the capable knights.
Tia and Marie were the candidates, but neither had any intention of cooperating.
"Useless dog, you're unnecessary to Liám-sama. I'll get rid of you soon."
When Tia said that, Marie retorted.
"Brat, you're unnecessary to Liám-sama. I'll prove it soon."
The two recognized each other as enemies.
At the first building of the young school.
"Round Table Knights or the Twelve Knights---aren't they cool?"
It was Wallace who said such a disappointing thing.
Kurt looked at him with a cold eye.
"Here we go again. Wallace, what have you come up with this time?"
"Well, you see, I'm going to assign numbers to the selected capable knights. I read it in a harem novel, it's cool, right?"
"That's from a manga, isn't it?"
Apparently, there was a knight order in a manga.
Twelve capable and very strong knights.
The king gave them special privileges to make them feel special.
We were talking about this in the back of the school building.
"Gathering twelve strong knights sounds like a hassle."
When I muttered that, Kurt added an explanation.
"Liám, don't take it seriously. Most of Wallace's knowledge comes from manga. Besides, choosing twelve people isn't that hard."
"Huh?"
"Well, think about it. My family has a lot of knights. Choosing twelve from there would be easy."
"But the criteria for selection---"
"It depends on the conditions, but I think there are knights who can meet them."
"Then, we should do it right away---"
"No, that's not a good idea. Special treatment can cause a lot of problems. Besides, the Twelve Knights Wallace is talking about are from the enemy side."
When I looked at Wallace, he avoided my gaze.
It seems I hit a nerve.
But I had to admit, this guy had some spirit for trying to go down the evil path.
To Kurt, a serious and corrupt lord, it might seem inefficient, but in simple terms, it's like an evil army.
Like the Four Heavenly Kings or something like that.
If that's the case, I want such a knight order too.
I feel like I haven't been active as a corrupt lord recently.
Well, I can't do anything since I'm in a young school.
"---Round Table or Twelve Knights?"
When I muttered that, Wallace raised his hand.
"Liám, I'm going to establish the Round Table Knights, so please don't choose that!"
It's a bit presumptuous of Wallace, but it would be bad if we overlapped.
I should think of a good idea.
Thinking that, Kurt looked at us with a sigh.
"Liám has been corrupted by Wallace."
Wallace looked at Kurt.
"You---you're being too disrespectful to me."
As the three of us were talking, Rosetta, who had found us, waved and came over.
"Darling! I found you!"
Seeing the pushover running over with a smile, I thought.
Her beaming smile.
Her bouncing pigtails.
Her swaying chest.
Her cute running style---there was no sign of the iron or steel Rosetta.
"---Why did it come to this?"
"What's wrong, darling? Is, is there something you're dissatisfied with? M, maybe you're not feeling well!? I'll take you to the infirmary immediately---"
"No, that's not it."
Rosetta, who was worried about me, was probably not lying.
If this was a lie and she was trying to deceive me---it might have been fun.
But there was no sign of that at all.
Where did the Rosetta with a steel-like spirit disappear to?
"---Really, why did it come to this?"
Bryan (・ω・｀) "Regardless of the Claudia family, I think I have the best wife---this Bryan thinks."
Bryan (*´ω｀*) "As expected of Liám-sama. This Bryan is impressed."
Bryan (´；ω；｀) "And everyone, it's sad, but we'll be parting for a while."
Wakagi-chan (°∀°) "Next is 'The World of Otome Games is Harsh for the Mob'. Please look forward to it! I'll resume updates in March! Watch my performance!"
How was the third chapter?
I hope you enjoyed it.
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