We entered the mansion and took a seat in the restaurant.
“Did you have a good time at the academy?”
Ian talked to me while eating.
“Thanks to my brother for taking care of me, I got along just fine.”
I answered Ian with a subtle expression.
I was hungry, but it was difficult to show my expression because it was a very uncomfortable meal.
Why did this child suddenly make such a meal?
Even if Ian and I had a meal alone, I would die of discomfort… … .
Nobles sitting around me.
A dozen nobles were with me at Ian’s dinner.
They were nobles who could tell who was who just by looking at their faces.
It may be because he studied nobles in advance at the academy, but even so, it did not change that he was a famous nobleman.
Ian put down the food he was eating and smiled at me.
“Come to think of it, I heard that ‘this time’ I won the top spot.”
I frowned inwardly.
There was a bone in the word ‘this time’.
He always took the top spot, but he spoke as if I was only taking the top spot now.
Did you call me to embarrass me like this?
Yet I persevered.
“Because I woke up late, it was late to take the lead. However, you don’t have to worry about graduating as a senior.”
“Yeah, don’t let Astria’s name become anyone.”
I sharpened my teeth at Ian’s words and looked around.
Seeing how patient I was, the nobles looked at me with surprise.
Yes, it would be better to appeal to the nobles about my changed appearance.
I looked at people’s faces like that, and one person caught my eye.
Count Meyer.
The man I heard from the coachman.
He was a middle-aged man with sharp black hair.
Despite his age, his strong appearance showed that he was unmanned.
The Meyer family was famous for its swordsmanship.
At one time, it was called the sword of the empire, and it was a prestigious family, but now its momentum has died down a lot.
There was a reason that the Empire greatly supported the magic side, but also the fact that there were no talented people in the Meyer family.
The headmaster had also aged to a certain extent and could not show the image he had in his prime, and it was only natural for the children to be eliminated because they could not keep up with the skills of the headmaster.
So, in order to survive, the Meyer family joined the aristocratic Astrian family.
It seemed that the family decided that it would not survive if it kept neutral as it was originally.
Considering this situation, it was a very good condition to bring him to me.
It is not a family that has been associated with the Astrian family for a long time, but it was attached to the Astrian family for political survival.
Compared to Ian, I am a more insecure group, but considering the honor that will return if successful, it is clear that the Meyer family will be very worried.
Since I don’t have an entourage at the moment, the rewards I’ll get back when I take the place will be huge.
I looked carefully at Count Meyer and turned my head.
It would be better to talk separately later than to talk now.
I turned my gaze to Ian and opened my mouth.
“More than that, shouldn’t you be in charge of the Imperial Army?”
“I stopped by for a meal with my family. With Astina, there will be no problem.”
I was startled by Astina’s name.
Ian didn’t miss it.
“Weren’t you close with Astina? He was with me when I went to the academy.”
“Yes, when Astina-senpai took over as president, I helped out a bit.”
“Ah, I heard the story. They told me that Astina was taken care of.”
“How are you, Astina-senpai?”
“Yeah, the Imperial Army is still in the preparation stage, so it’s not that busy.”
I rolled my eyes at those words.
“Then can I go see you once more?”
“me?”
“I’m curious to see what the Imperial Army is like, so I want to see it.”
Actually, I wasn’t going to see Ian, I was going to see Astina.
I wanted to ask what kind of plans Astina had, and I wanted to see if she was okay.
Also, I wondered if the imperial army would be able to respond to the rebels.
Ian answered my words firmly.
“I think that would be difficult. Because of the situation, security is being strictly enforced.”
“Is that so.”
I lost my appetite with regret.
If not now, there will be a chance later.
I swallowed my words, promising the future.
So we continued eating.
It was a quiet meal with nothing to say.
time goes by.
The grueling meal is over.
The nobles and I followed Ian from our seats.
Ian slowly headed towards the yard.
“Rudy, it’s good to see your face after a long time. We don’t see each other often, but let’s have a meal once in a while.”
“Yes, if you wish… … .”
The meal ended without a word.
Why did you ask to have a meal when you have nothing to do with that?
I didn’t want to eat a meal without this reason.
Ian wouldn’t want to see me either, so why did I have a meal like this… … .
While I was in doubt, Ian opened his mouth.
“Oh, and set aside some time next week or so.”
“… … ?”
As I tilted my head, Ian continued.
“Your father said he would teach you space magic sometime next week. I was going to tell you this.”
“ah… … .”
I remembered the scrolls I had received from the imperial court.
The transfer of space magic.
Hearing that, I suddenly felt better.
Until I ate, it felt like all the food that was stuck in my throat was going down.
“All right. thank you.”
I smiled and answered Ian.
I wondered how heartbroken Ian would be if I had come to deliver these words.
So, I smiled more broadly as if I was taking medicine.
“Then let me go.”
Ian greeted me and got into the carriage.
When Ian left, the other nobles greeted me and started to get on the carriage.
I left behind those nobles and moved on.
“It’s space magic… … .”
The power of space magic has already been seen with my own eyes.
Space magic that I used as my future body.
Its power was beyond imagination.
However, I doubted whether I could use that ability properly.
“If I used it properly in the future, it means that I can use it today.”
I questioned myself and tried to walk towards my room.
“… … Rudy?”
A woman’s voice came from behind me.
When I turned my head, a black-haired, innocent-looking woman wearing armor was looking at me with warm eyes.
Seeing him wearing armor, he felt like a knight.
Who is that person?
I tilted my head and asked the woman.
“Who are you?”
I know it’s rude to ask such a question to someone you know, but it’s better than pretending to know.
Because it’s more rude to be caught pretending to know.
“You are right, Rudy!”
Despite my rude question, the woman smiled more brightly.
“That’s me! Karen Meyer.”
The woman said in a voice full of excitement.
Seeing him like that was just embarrassing.
I must be acquainted with Rudy Astria, but you look like that?
I was very surprised to find out that there was someone who got along with Rudy, who was in a crazy state.
No, rather than that, the meaning of using the Meyer family name means that she is a young girl of the Meyer family.
I judged quickly.
If you have a crush on me from the beginning, it will be easier to attract the Meyer family.
I needed to be friendly with this person.
“Ah, sorry. I totally forgot about it. I apologize to Young-ae.”
I bowed my head and apologized politely.
I perfectly practiced the etiquette I learned at the academy.
When I raise my head with a satisfied smile.
taken from noblemtl.com
Meyer Young-ae’s expression turned cold.
A sharp and cold impression like the face of Earl Meyer I saw earlier.
The warm eyes I had seen a while ago were gone.
“ah… … ?”
What did I do wrong?
I was taken aback by the sudden change in Meyer Young-ae’s expression.
It was definitely the correct example.
Even though he didn’t take any action, his expression suddenly changed.
There was nothing to guess.
“What mistake did I make… … .”
“Karen.”
As I was about to ask Maier Maier, Count Meyer appeared from behind.
Earl Meyer looked at me and widened her eyes.
“Oh, you were with Rudy-sama. What mistake did my daughter make?”
“… … Nothing happened. Did you enjoy your meal?”
“Oh, yes. I really enjoyed the meal.”
To my ceremonial greeting, the Count responded briefly.
It didn’t feel like a deliberately short answer.
It was a feeling I wasn’t accustomed to making in the first place.
“Then I will leave.”
Count Meyer bowed his head to me and nodded to Karen beside him.
Karen continued to stare at me even after seeing Count Meyer like that.
“Karen.”
“… … yes, father. I will go.”
Count Meyer’s words did not move until there was one more word.
I was able to breathe only after the Count Meyer disappeared from my sight.
“Something seems to have gone awry… … .”
What the hell was your relationship with the original Rudy Astria?
I grabbed my head.
***
Karen Meyer and Earl Meyer rode the carriage together.
“I will leave.”
Count Meyer opened his mouth when he heard the driver’s voice and the carriage moved.
“It’s been a long time since I met Rudy.”
“… … Yes.”
Earl Meyer tilted her head at Karen’s not-so-good reaction.
The Count soon continued speaking.
“I thought about it and watched a little bit today.”
Earl Meyer thought he knew Rudy in detail.
Especially since his daughter Karen had been with Rudy since she was a child.
“The current Rudy Astria-sama seems to be reliable. He is completely different from what the rumors say.”
The Rudy I had seen before was a fool.
In fact, he even wanted to prevent his daughter from being friendly with Rudy.
Nevertheless, Karen and the head of Astria wanted Karen to let Rudy become friends.
But now Rudy is completely different.
I know how to be polite, I know how to tolerate anger.
It is said that he had good grades at the academy.
It was unimaginable for Rudy, whom Earl Meyer knew.
‘That bastard can become a human being. No, it’s iron.’
Earl Meyer looked at Karen with a solemn expression.
“As you wish—.”
“You have changed… … .”
Karen interrupted Earl Meyer’s words.
“I am not the old Rudy Astria.”
Karen opened her eyes sharply and said to the Count.
The Count nodded at Karen’s words.
“okay. You changed… … .”
“That kind of Rudy-sama is not Rudy-sama!!!”
“… … What?”
The Count made an absurd expression on his face.
“The Rudy I knew was not like that! The Rudy I knew! Rudy-sama!!”
Karen ran away with tears in her eyes.
Count Meyer wanted to say something.
“Baby… … . Just calm down.”
“How can you calm down! Rudy!!!”
“Oh, you can’t say that it’s changed yet, can you? We didn’t even talk properly.”
Count Meyer, who showed charisma in the Astrian mansion, was nowhere to be seen.
He was just a father who couldn’t move his daughter.
At Count Meyer’s words, Karen stopped acting.
“Yeah, it could be! You may be acting… … .”
“Yes, daughter. Sit down as the wagon shakes.”
“… … yes.”
Count Meyer cleared his throat and opened his mouth, ‘Hmmm’.
“Then what you said… … .”
“I will put it on hold for now. If Rudy-sama is different, it’s all meaningless.”
Earl Meyer sighed at Karen’s words.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“… … I will see Rudy-sama once.”
Karen’s sharp eyes gleamed.
“I will have to see it with my own eyes.”