Chapter 71

Thank you for reading.

――This place feels so good.

Lucian brought his lunch to the lawn where he had dozed off on the first day.

He thought he had met a fairy-like spirit here.

It had been half a month since he started school, but he had been coming to this lawn almost every day since then.

As the days passed, he became increasingly curious about that spirit... or someone who might be.

Far from forgetting, the memory seemed to become even clearer.

He was sure he would meet again.

――But, he couldn't meet at all.

Even when he tried to use a light wind magic to search the area, it didn't work well because there were too many people during lunch break.

Using magic outside the training grounds was generally prohibited. "Generally," but still. Some students used minor convenience spells—there were hardly any who could use them and didn't.

Still, it would be bad to suddenly start a magical search in the courtyard where everyone was relaxing.

So, Lucian tried to spread his magic very subtly, but it didn't catch anything.

Was it too subtle, or was the spirit no longer there?

Lucian felt it was still there. It wasn't just a hunch; there was some basis for it.

The feeling from that fairy was similar to that of Goratsi and the magic plants. In other words, it was probably plant-based.

He had no confidence in his vague intuition, but if it was plant-based, it wouldn't have moved far. The main body must be nearby.

Goratsi might have managed to move, but could that frail-looking spirit have such power?

Sighing, he picked up the paper bag.

――Oh, right. I need to keep a record.

About ten days ago, Lucian had infused some earth magic into the magic plants he was using for espionage.

Not too much. If he evolved them too much, his abilities would be exposed.

A little bit wouldn't be noticeable, as there were many others who could take care of them, and no one would know it was Lucian's magic.

The magic plants Lucian had infused with magic had improved their abilities. They remembered the targets—Lionel and Emile, the candidates for engagement, and Milos, Patrice, and Halk, the candidates for attendants—and searched diligently.

For the attendant candidates, Yusei had asked for help in infusing magic into the plants, so he had memorized their magical signatures. One pot was enough. The other pots received magic and information from that plant.

Yusei and Odine were amazed, saying, "They're incredibly excellent and convenient," "You're great, good boy," but for the plants, it was easier than remembering voices.

Odine's engagement candidates, Emile and Lionel, were told to remember their names and to note any conversations they heard.

The excellent plants already knew the two candidates.

Today, he had the plants gather information again.

When Lucian went to gather information alone, away from Yusei, Yusei's attendant, Karone, accompanied him to ensure no one noticed his abilities or that he was near the plants.

Lucian thought Yusei's attendant should be Karone, as he was excellent, considerate, and had a good presence.

He opened his record notebook.

――Today's record is hard to write.

But, I have to.

Suddenly, Karone, who had been standing a bit away, was now kneeling beside him.

"Lucian-sama, the record from earlier?"

He spoke in a low voice.

"Ah, yes.

It's a bit difficult to write.

Hey, Karone, sit next to me. Have something to eat."

Lucian answered in a low voice, pushing the bread he had bought extra for Karone. Otherwise, Karone would skip meals.

While Karone sat and ate, Lucian wrote down what he had heard.

There was nothing particularly concerning about the information on the attendant candidates. The usually impeccable candidates were having ordinary conversations with their friends.

However, there was something that caught Lucian's attention.

"Lucian Vione is too close to Yusei-sama."

He had heard this phrase here and there.

Lucian had asked for a third party to verify the information related to himself.

It's strange for an attendant to complain about the prince being close to a friend, Lucian thought.

If Lucian were a bad person, it would be understandable, but he considered himself a serious student.

――Or, rather, he was extremely serious.

He didn't know what they found so bothersome. But, since no one had said it to his face, it was fine.

They didn't know that the plants had heard and exposed it.

"Magic Plant 2.

No information on Emile.

Regarding Lionel. Different female spirit traces from before."

Magic Plant 2 was the plant in the lounge.

Lionel, one of Odine's engagement candidates, was often in the lounge.

Four days ago, it had given similar information. "Female spirit traces" on Lionel. In other words, he had a physical relationship with a woman.

It could be a prostitute, a lover, or just a casual partner.

The palace had started investigating based on the information from Lucian. They were probably tailing him.

――One of Odine's candidates might be out.

After finishing the record, he handed it to Karone. Today's information.

"But, wouldn't the palace already know this much?"

Lucian asked quietly.

"If it was well hidden, they might not know.

They might have known a little, but it was probably deemed acceptable when Odine's case came up."

Karone finished eating, folded the paper bag, and put it in his pocket.

"I see.

But, isn't he too young to go to a brothel?"

"Officially, yes... but unofficially, it's different."

"…Aren't you worried about diseases?"

"Lucian-sama, have you already learned the practical part?"

Karone's gaze became slightly unsettling.

For a boy about to turn 13, it was a delicate topic.

"Not the practical part, just general knowledge.

Father told me that well-managed places are safe from STDs.

You have to be 15 or older, though."

In the Kingdom of Anzela, well-managed brothels were allowed to prevent the proliferation of abusive and illegal brothels and to deter sexual crimes.

"Strong boys can be accepted at around 14.

Lionel is indeed well-built."

Lionel Lager was a year older than Lucian.

"I see. Would it be okay if he just visited a brothel a few times?"

"Would Prince Jules allow it?"

Karone smiled faintly. It was a somewhat dark smile.

"Uncle probably wouldn't. I don't know about the Royal Management Office, though."

Lucian answered thoughtfully.

"If he's still secretly visiting, the Royal Management Office wouldn't approve either. Of course, we don't know if the woman is a prostitute or a regular noble lady."

Karone shrugged lightly.

"Regular noble lady... from the middle school?"

Middle school was from 12 to 15 years old, Lucian thought.

"He has a good appearance. There's also the possibility of a maid."

Karone answered flatly, and Lucian was speechless.

"The Royal Management Office will investigate thoroughly.

But, there are also advantages to this."

Karone continued.

"What?"

Lucian waited for the rest of the story, feeling uneasy.

"Engage Lionel and later dissolve the engagement on the grounds of his womanizing."

Karone stated matter-of-factly.

"…So, they would use him even though they don't really want to engage him?"

"Yes. The Lager family wouldn't want to make it public.

Of course, when dissolving the engagement, they would give a reason like poor health to protect Odine-sama."

Karone smiled.

It wasn't something to smile about. Lucian's face twitched.

"Lionel is the second son, but he was the heir, right?"

Lucian had heard from Yusei.

The Lager family had three sons.

The eldest was a bastard and was not the heir, working at a research institute.

The second son, Lionel, was to inherit the marquisate.

"The bastard might be a better choice."

Karone chuckled.

"Hasn't the investigation on Emile finished yet?"

Emile was the other engagement candidate.

Three days ago, they had overheard a conversation between Emile and someone.

In it, Emile was being threatened.

"You're the only one who got off."

"You were supposed to be suspended, too."

"You haven't atoned for your sins."

"Your sins are ongoing."

"Your engagement to Miss Jinet is impossible."

From this, they learned that there had been engagement talks between Miss Jinet and the Ruer family.

However, the Royal Management Office confirmed that the talks had already been dropped.

Emile should have answered that, but in the conversation, he was mostly being insulted and couldn't respond much. Despite being a duke's son. The identity of the other person was still unknown.

The Royal Management Office was investigating this as well.

"If the investigation doesn't yield results, they might use Lionel."

"Wouldn't Odine be against even a temporary engagement to Lionel?"

Lucian frowned.

"Odine-sama said that visiting brothels is out of the question, but being popular is fine."

"…Ah, I see."

Lucian decided to stop worrying.

"I don't know if it's Odine-sama's bravado or not…"

Karone said modestly, but Lucian couldn't tell if it was bravado or not.

◇◇

That day.

When Lucian returned to the classroom, he found his textbook, which he had left in his desk, torn to shreds.

While Lucian was in shock, Karone went to call the teacher, Zack Marlow, Yusei instructed not to touch the evidence, and one of Yusei's attendant candidates, Patrice, ran to the school security office to call for security.

It was just a textbook, but the royal academy had declared from the beginning that such incidents would be dealt with strictly.

Later, the culprit was easily caught, Lucian's textbook was quickly replaced with a new one, and an apology gift arrived from the culprit's family.

The culprit was a boy from the neighboring class and was suspended.

The motive was "jealousy." Jealousy of Lucian, who was close to the crown prince.

Would there be something to be jealous of? It was a troubling and unpleasant incident.