𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓𝟒: 𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐞’𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕
“. . .I used to have a more arrogant, aristocratic personality before I entered the academy.”
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“. . .Huh?”
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Suddenly changing the subject, Chris mumbled, making me wonder what was going on, but I quietly listened to him.
It’s unlike Chris to chatter needlessly.
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“I was from the Duke family, you know.
So when the princess was born, I thought, ‘Ah, I’m going to become a consort to the queen.’”
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“Huh? . . .Ah, but that makes sense. Considering your status, that’s how it would be.”
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I thought it was too early to think that way when she was born,
But the discord between the first prince and the princess consort was a well-known story.
It was probably unthinkable that another prince would be born after Sofia.
So, if a princess was born who would become the future queen,
It wouldn’t be surprising to think that Chris, the eldest son of the Duke family, would become the consort.
After all, the Duke family’s heir, the second son Denis, had already been born, so there was no problem.
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“When I heard she was a princess without magical power,
I thought I would have to become king in her place.”
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“Ah, that’s not an unreasonable thought.”
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“I still thought I could handle it.
I figured I could easily take the place of the king.
I was excellent at everything, and taking care of the lord’s duties on behalf of my parents was nothing.
I almost thought the Duke family was mine, and I looked down on my parents.”
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“That’s because they were such parents.”
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Parents who have been dismissed as ambassadors to Kokodia, now I don’t know what happened to them.
I can easily imagine the struggles Chris has been through.
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“But then I realized that I was lacking as a man.
Suddenly, I was deemed unnecessary.
It’s probably also because I became an eyesore to my parents.
I thought I was perfect, but they judged me worthless.”
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“. . . . .”
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“When I entered the academy, having lost my motivation, I found guys better than me.”
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“Better? It was just the result of a knowledge test.”
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The entrance exam to the academy only tests knowledge.
Because there are people who haven’t been assessed for magic, there’s no test for a whole year.
At that time, if there had been a magical test for the entrance exam, I would undoubtedly have been in Classroom C.
I couldn’t do anything.
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“Indeed, Kyle couldn’t use magic when he entered.
But after being trained by Line-sensei every day for a year, you were the top student in the second-year exams.
I wondered what was going on. Being trained like an idiot every day.
I knew that Kyle was of royal blood because of the same hair color, but
When I heard you were from Margrave, I knew there was a reason.”
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“This hair color does stand out. I knew people were looking at me like that.”
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“Silver hair, royal blood, excellent grades.
I felt defeated, having been surpassed in everything I had.
. . .My belief that I was perfect was just a delusion.”
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“It didn’t look that way at all.”
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“I’m a nobleman, after all. I didn’t show it on my face, even though I was frustrated.
But well, I was really frustrated.
I found myself asking Line-sensei for special training.
I asked him to be even more strict with me than he was with Kyle.”
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“. . .So you were asking for that.
Thanks to that, my special training got stricter too.”
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“That’s Line-sensei for you.
He couldn’t be strict with just one of us.”
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I think it was right after we became second-year students.
I began to see Chris staying behind in the individual practice field.
He also started taking lessons from Line-sensei, and I thought, ‘He might overtake me.’
Thanks to that, I was able to continue training until the end.
If it had been just me, I think I would have stopped once I could use magic to some extent.
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“I couldn’t win until the end.”
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“I didn’t want to lose either.”
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“It’s not just about the grades. It’s been like that all along.
I don’t think I can beat you.”
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“. . .Chris.”
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“Well, I don’t think I’m going to lose either.”
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“I guess so.”
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I know Chris’ competitiveness well.
He wouldn’t easily admit defeat.
I don’t think I’m beating Chris either.
Well, I don’t think I’m losing, just like him.
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“I don’t think I can make Princess happy with my strength alone.
But I think I can make her happy with Kyle.”
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“With me?”
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“Yes. There’s something missing in me. It can’t be helped anymore.
That’s why I’ll leave it to Kyle.
I want to make Princess happy in my way.
Kyle also. . .don’t try to do everything alone. I’m here too.
Supporting the Princess alone might be difficult.
But don’t you think we can do it well together?”
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“. . .I see. I worry because I try to do it all by myself.
Sofia isn’t just me. Chris is here too.
Together, we can support her. . .as a queen, as Sofia.”
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“That’s what I mean. Now go to sleep.
If you look sleep-deprived tomorrow, Princess will worry.”
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“You’re right. I’m going to sleep.
. . .Thanks.”
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“Good night.”
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The anxiety I felt until a moment ago had disappeared as if it were a lie.
I wonder why I was so worked up about it.
I quickly heard Chris’ breathing overlapping with Sofia’s as they slept.
I realized that just being together like this was already happiness,
And I fell asleep, savoring the joy.
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