Prologue
What is love?
I, “Leon Fou Baltfault”, am an honest, slightly reserved youth who’s been thinking about such philosophical matters.
I also happen to be an ordinary schoolboy who had reincarnated into “that” otome game, the one I had been forced to play against my will during my previous life.
I’m a virtuous guy who loves peace, but in this otome game world, I’m just a mob who doesn’t stand out that much.
At least, that’s what it was supposed to be!
For some reason, I’ve been promoted to a viscount.
Being of the lower fourth rank within the royal court, I’m in quite the grandiose situation. While still being a student, a very opportune position as a lower fourth ranked viscount awaits me.
Due to that──I’ve been worried about matters relating to love.
Sometimes, there’s the cliche where love will solve everything in a story, and there’s no doubt that the otome game follows that pattern.
Love determines everything.
Even Luxon, the supposedly undefeatable endgame boss, would have been defeated by the love between the protagonist and the male capture targets, resulting in a happy ending.
All matters are resolved by love.
Love is a big deal in this world.
A force more potent than any weapon.
An influence more potent than any diplomatic endeavor.
Domestic affairs will resolve themselves as long as love is there to help.
Love is a big deal. Love is supreme! Love will save the world!
──In this world, love is the ultimate weapon.
On that topic,
“Why did things come to this?”
[It’s all your own doing, Master.]
I’m not in the wrong at all, and yet my accomplice “Luxon” was being cold.
It took the form of a metallic sphere with one red eye.
It’s main body is a spaceship equipped with an AI.
The softball-sized sphere is an extension of it──a mere computer terminal.
By all rights, it’s supposed to be more respectful to me, its master.
However, this thing is way too harsh towards me.
Still, it’s quite capable, so I keep it nearby since it’s a frightening thing that will do who knows what while spouting “Exterminate the new humans!” if I take my eyes off it.
Good grief, nothing but incompetents all around me.
Now then, stopping my escapism, I glanced at a pile of letters piling up on my desk.
The amount of letters sent to my dorm had reached the point where they made a mountain.
“It’s quite the new experience to have this much of a turnabout happen.”
The senders of those letters were girls from the academy’s advanced class.
Though the contents of the letters were pretty condescending, there were some braver ones who wrote something like “make preparations for a tea ceremony three days from now.”
The girls who ignored my invitations for tea ceremonies up until now had made a complete 180 the moment I got promoted and wrote letters to take the initiative.
“──This is too much.”
This situation is pretty discomforting.
It’s a little amusing to think that the girls who took no notice of me up until now were suddenly trying to get closer to me. However, the fact of the matter is that this is not ideal.
──Pull back. It’s normal to pull back here. This is discomforting.
[Your promotion was made final prior to winter break.]
During the school trip in the second semester, troops from the Fanoss Principality had attacked.
I managed to drive them away somehow, but the actions I took during that time ended up with me being promoted.
Due to that, the girls made a frightening turnabout when I came back to the academy.
It’s especially frightening now that I’m going from the second semester into the third semester.
“They’re not attracted to my own self, but to my status and property. How low of them.”
[This is a matter of marriages between nobles, so there’s not much meaning to ones own self in the first place. In fact, take a look at this letter.]
一A single letter floated up.
I took it to look over its contents.
It seems that Luxon’s able to check the contents of a letter without opening the envelope.
What a convenient thing.
“Is there something interesting written here? Whoa.”
When I looked at the contents of the letter, they were yet again terrible.
Written inside were someone’s conditions for marriage, including the construction of a residence in the royal capital that can hold about ten people and to also look after her troublesome lovers.
Are the girls who present such harsh conditions sane?
Then again, I’m dealing with the academy’s girls. Women domineer over men──this is the reality of “that otome game”. When the game world became a reality, things were so harsh that I felt the strange urge to laugh.
[All the girls are quite awful. Just whose child are they are planning to give birth to?]
“If I were to get married, I would want to produce a heir and then just live a free life. It’s not like I’m asking for something unusual. I mean, my father’s legal wife is doing the same.”
Are these kinds of things even allowed?
──Unfortunately, this world indeed allows such things.
This really is a cruel world.
[It’s odd that marriages are this bizarre. Considering that males are few in number, it wouldn’t be strange if marriage was male-dominated. I’ve noticed that it’s particularly bad for those of the baron and viscount ranks.]
The ranks above and below those don’t have it as bad.
In fact, most marriages for earl families and above are under quite normal conditions.
I can’t say that they’re all like that though. There are some bad households too.
“This is an otome game, right? No matter how deeply I think about it, I won’t find an answer.”
Could it be that? Could it be the fact that the girls walk around with sub-race exclusive servants?
When trying to implement that setting into the world, could it have created this kind of inconsistent reality?
This is going nowhere. Thinking about it won’t bring up any answers.
That being the case, I’d rather not think about it.
After dumping the pile of letters into the trash, Luxon spoke to me.
[Oh? You’re not going to invite anyone to a tea ceremony? Considering who you are, I was thinking that you’d take the time to be naggy and make some snide remarks towards the girls who proposed a tea ceremony with you.]
“Just who do you think I am? Such a kind and ordinary person like me would never do such a thing.”
[By all means, I’d like to hear what your definition of an ordinary person is. I think that what the general public believes an ordinary person is and what you believe an ordinary person is are different.]
“You’re being noisy. Whatever, let’s finish this.”
Certainly, I thought about being naggy and making some snide remarks, but in the first place, it would be troublesome having to hold a tea ceremony for those girls who made a complete 180.
Despite how things look, I’m busy.
I have to make some tea for Livia──the protagonist of this otome game world, known officially as “Oliva.”
I also have to do the same with Anjie──the daughter of a duke, known officially as “Anjelica Rafua Redgrave.”
Furthermore, I’m also anticipating that I’ll have to make tea for the second year student Clarice and the third year student Deirdre. Those two helped me out with some things, so I wouldn’t be able to refuse if they asked me for some tea.
I also got some high-class tea leaves and a tea set, making it tough for me to refuse.
Huh? Now that I think about it, the only people I’m having tea with are girls.
──Well, whatever.
Leaving that aside, there’s one bigger problem.
I have suspicions that “Marie Fou Lafuan” is someone who reincarnated here, just like me──she’s the youngest daughter of a poor viscount family, but has been officially recognized as a saint.
Normally, if one knew about that otome game, they absolutely wouldn’t snatch away the title of the saint.
After all, in order to defeat the final boss──Livia’s own power is necessary.
It’s become evident that I have to take measures against Marie, who disregarded such risks and impersonated as the saint.
“Seriously, why did things turn out this way?”
[Isn’t this your own doing, Master?]
Is this thing planning to make all of this my responsibility?
◇
One girl sat on a bench with a gloomy aura.
Her navy blue, long hair was fairly disheveled.
There were noticeable stains and tears on her uniform.
Her name was “Cara Fou Wein.”
Her household was that of a semi-baron’s, being classified as a knight household under the Holfault Kingdom.
She was formerly under the guardianship of the Olfery earl household, but the Olfery household had been destroyed.
The head of the family and the heir were executed for joining forces with sky pirates.
The other family members were deprived of their status and assets.
The Olfery household’s daughter, who Cara had followed, disappeared from the academy.
The households who were closely under their guardianship had also disappeared. Practically all people related to the Olfery earl household had disappeared from the academy.
Even so, Cara remained in the school.
Perhaps it could be said that she was left behind.
Though the fact of the matter was that her household had no relation to the sky pirates, there were other factors contributing to her situation.
A group of girls happened to pass by Cara, who hung her head. “Look, it’s the traitor.” “What a disgrace to the nobles. She should just hurry up and vanish.” “She was involved with sky pirates, so why is she still in this academy?” ──Her situation served as a sort of warning. Given no option to quit school, Cara had to accept her current position. “I──I…” From Cara’s point of view, a follower like herself had no right of veto. She knew very well about the Olfery household’s conduct, and also knew that they would dispose of anyone who made the mistake of opposing them. However, now that the Olfery family been torn apart, she was being treated as a traitor. “What was I supposed to do? What could I have done?” She couldn’t defy the Olfery household’s daughter. It was obvious that she would have suffered a bitter fate if she did. If she betrayed them, it was highly likely that she would be crushed and have further revenge await her. Under such circumstances, what could she have done? (Even I had to put up with that woman. And yet…)
While weeping and thinking of such things, a small girl approached the group.
She was someone acknowledged by the temple as a saint──Marie.
(She sure has a lot of followers.)
Marie never had a single follower up until recently, but after becoming a saint, people gathered around her.
As a saint and as the former crown prince’s lover, Marie was someone to be sought after.
It was inevitable that noble children would draw closer to her.
The girls who had badmouthed Marie before were now praising her.
“Marie, you’re as lovely as ever today.”
“As usual, your clothing today is superb. You have such good taste.”
“Marie, a new cafe opened up. Would you like to visit it together?”
The girls in the academy made a complete 180.
Furthermore, exclusive servants and boys accompanied those girls, resulting in there being many people around Marie.
Under such a situation, Marie──
“Sheesh, didn’t I say that you could address me casually?”
──was having a lot of fun.
“But, doing such a thing would be too much.”
While the girls were bewildered, Marie made a smile.
“I prohibit addressing me so politely. I mean, aren’t we already close friends?”
“Marie, such benevolence you possess!”
“Jeez, I said to stop that~.”
Cara looked at Marie, who was asking the girls to stop while enjoying her time, and cast her eyes downward.
(They’re going to bully me again if they don’t go away soon.)
Cara, who had put Marie’s lovers Brad and Greg into a trap, had stayed away from Marie for fear of retaliation from her.
A girl, seeing Cara, made a loud voice.
“Oh my, it’s the one whose been a disgrace to us nobles.”
Cara, whose shoulders quivered, quickly attempted to flee, but was blocked by the boys.
“You’re still in this academy?”
“How can someone like you call yourself a noble?”
“How truly annoying.”
Normally, the boys would be reserved in front of the girls, but were allowed to do as they pleased with Cara and began taking the offensive.
People gradually gathered and surrounded Cara.
The people around laughed at her as she became frightened and curled herself into a ball.
As she quivered and shook, Marie then approached.
When Marie’s hand approached Cara, the latter closed her eyes and braced herself for an impact.
However, no matter how long she waited, she didn’t feel a slap, nor did anything happen to her.
As she nervously opened her eyes, she saw Marie smiling while reaching a hand out to her.
“Huh? U, um?”
“You must be Cara. A lot had happened, but let’s be friends.”
The surrounding people were surprised at what Marie said and advised her against it. “Marie, this is the girl who led Brad and Greg into a trap. Besides, she’s a traitor connected to sky pirates.”
Marie shook her head towards that.
“There must be some reason for why she’s here. It seems that she already apologized as well, so it’s fine. Besides, it’s not good for everyone to gang up on someone and bully them.”
The people around her went silent.
After speaking, Marie took Cara’s hand.
The small Marie grasped Cara’s hand while making an expression of respect.
“So, Cara. You and I should be friends.”
Cara was delighted. She shed tears while nodding towards Marie, who seemed to be sparkling.
“R, right.”
(As if anyone could forgive you.)
Marie kept a smile in front of the weeping Cara.
While mouthing some lip service, she harbored malicious thoughts on the inside.
(It seems that Brad and Greg took care of it, but I do like how that mob guy got caught up in the trap. If you become my follower, that mob will certainly be furious.)
That mob guy──was Leon.
A man with a sharp tongue who always interfered with her plans and resembled her older brother.
Marie hated Leon since looking at him brought back memories of her older brother.
(If it means seeing him get frustrated, I wouldn’t mind forgiving Cara. All things considered, I’m such a good woman for forgiving a bad girl such as her!)
She had snatched away the capture targets of the otome game from the
protagonist, Olivia, also known as Livia.
She also snatched away the exclusive servant Kyle, along with the position and fame of being a saint.
Those were all things she had to do for the sake of her livelihood, but Leon was an obstacle to her entire plan.
(That mob guy is giving me a hard time. But, it’s my time to shine from now on. I’ll be sure to get my revenge.)
Marie wasn’t too sure about the details, but in this world──the saint was a special existence for the Holfault Kingdom.
In particular, if a commoner were to be selected as the saint, then they would be able to marry the crown prince.
There are items that can only the saint can use, and those could enhance Marie’s power.
(I took the status of a saint from that naive Olivia, but I will resolve everything in her place, so it should be no problem. Now then, I wonder how I should torment that mob? At any rate, now that the people who once made light of me are now trying to get on my good side──this feels a little nice!)
The girls had looked at her with hostility before, but they were now trying to butter her up.
Marie was enjoying her current situation.
(It’s great knowing that the people who looked down on me, thinking that I’m a poor match for Julian and the others or that I’m just a poor noble, are now trying to earn my approval! At this rate, I’ll rise to the top of the world.)
Her aim was the crown princess. She pondered about how to make Julian the crown prince again as a first order of business.
Chris then appeared. “Chris Fier Arkwright”──a young man who had blue hair, blue eyes, a dignified countenance, and wore glasses.
“Marie, this is where you were?”
Marie felt at ease when Chris approached her in delight.
The surrounding followers, particularly the girls, blushed and felt charmed when looking at Chris.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’m here to deliver a letter sent to you, Marie.”
Marie, after saying her thanks and taking the letter, widened her eyes upon seeing who the sender was.
“What’s wrong, Marie?”
“I, it’s nothing. I, I suddenly remembered some business I have to take care of, so I’ll be heading off.”
Not listening to the surrounding people’s attempts to stop her, Marie dashed away to find a place where she could be alone.
Upon hiding in a place away from plain sight, she opened the envelope with trembling hands.
“C, calm down. It’ll be fine. I’m already the saint. I don’t know what my household is going to do, but I will protect everyone.”
The letter was sent from her parents.
Upon taking out the letter and reading its contents, Marie crumbled down.
“Why is this happening?!”
Clutching the letter while weeping, Marie couldn’t help but scream.
The contents of the letter stated that her parents would use her name to repay the huge debt that they accumulated.
Marie had not been blessed in her second life.
Her other siblings also used Marie’s name to do as they pleased.
Marie’s feelings, which had reached their peak just before, now plummeted to their lowest.
“I hate debt!”
Marie, who had a disdain for debt after her experience in her previous life, continued crying.
◇
I was walking in the academy building with Livia. Livia, who had light brown bobbed hair, walked while clutching her textbooks and notebooks.
“It’s troublesome having to move between classes.”
Most of the classes at the academy are a pain since we have to keep moving to each one.
I had hoped that the teachers would be the ones moving between classrooms, like how it was in my previous life.
Livia looked at me with her blue eyes.
“Leon, aren’t you tired?”
She looked at my condition, worried that I perhaps might be tired out.
Amidst the many heartless women in the academy, this girl gives me comfort.
Furthermore, she’s the protagonist of that otome game.
Livia was supposed to be the one chosen as the saint, not Marie.
“I suddenly got a lot of invitations, so it’s been a pain having to reject all of them.” When I talked about my troubles with the girls who changed their minds about me, Livia seemed just a bit delighted.
“You’re a hero after all, Leon.”
──I’ve been labeled as a hero who defeated the army from the Fanoss
Principality.
Due to that, I’ve been promoted despite my wishes.
“I’m not cut out for being a hero though.”
“Are there any women who interest you?”
“None. Maybe next year.”
I hate girls who make a complete 180 and try to get on my good side.
“Though, I heard that your reputation will worsen if you don’t hold a tea ceremony, Leon.”
“My reputation? If it worsens, that’s absolutely fine. Being treated like a
hero is strange. Besides, having a tea ceremony with you and Anjie is all I need.”
When I mentioned that she was enough, Livia’s cheeks turned slightly red while seeming glad.
However, that soon changed into a blank look, perhaps remembering something.
“──But, you invited Clarice and Deirdre to tea as well, right?”
When Livia said that as if to question me, I turned my face away from her gaze.
“Hahaha! Enough of that, we’ll be late for class if we don’t hurry.”
“Leon, you’re just running away.”
Livia was amazed at how I dodged the question with a smile, but was then puzzled she spotted a crowd in the hallway.
“What’s happening?”
Everyone was focusing on a bulletin board in front of them.
There were lot of things attached to the board, but it’s strange that a crowd would gather.
“Curious, isn’t it? Want to take a quick peek?”
When peeking at the bulletin board through the gaps between people, there was a poster about studying abroad.
Its contents stated that they were recruiting students to study in the Alzer Republic.
“──It’s about studying abroad in some foreign location. It seems to be for a year.”
“A foreign place? This academy really has a lot going for it.”
The impressed Livia seemed a bit interested.
However, I didn’t think that people would gather around a study abroad poster.
As I tried to leave, I pushed my way through the crowd until I spotted my friend, “Raymond Fou Arkin”. He had a slightly tired expression.
“You’re interested in studying abroad too?”
When I called out to him, Raymond readjusted his glasses and looked at me.
“Leon? Wait, you were talking about studying abroad?”
I pointed towards the bulletin board for Raymond, who didn’t seem to be feigning ignorance.
“You weren’t looking at the study abroad poster?”
“Nope. The crowd here is gathering due to the establishment of bodyguards.”
“Bodyguards?”
People were gathering here because of a bodyguard recruitment?
Though, it’s not like the academy would be a place to recruit bodyguards for royalty.
“Bodyguarding who?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be the saint?”
According to Raymond, the royal palace and temple were preparing bodyguards for that annoying Marie.
“Though they’re forming a bodyguard squad for the saint, it seems that there’s something unique this time.”
“Unique? What?”
“Well, you see──the saint is Marie, right? Her lovers are quite special people, to the point that not only the temple, but the royal palace is also involved with the process of forming the squad.”
Livia seemed to understand.
“──This has to do with his Highness Julian and the others, doesn’t it?”
Raymond nodded.
“Right. In short, people are making a big deal out of the fact that his Highness Julian didn’t go wrong with the woman he chose. There are even rumors that his Highness will return to being the crown prince and that the saint will become the crown princess.”
──During the finale of that otome game, the protagonist became the saint, earned the recognition of the people around her, and became united with the capture targets in marriage.
It seems that the same is happening despite Marie being the saint now.
What an annoying girl.
“So the people who want to gain connections with her are trying to be her bodyguards. However, I didn’t think you’d be interested, Raymond.”
When I said that, Raymond made a bitter smile.
“It’s kind of for a different reason though. I’m not saying I don’t have ulterior motives, but I’ve been thinking about some special measures.”
Special measures? I guess I’ll listen to what he means by that.
“The saint’s bodyguards are chosen by knights. Not the temple’s knights, but formal knights.”
“So they’re not entrusting it to the temple.”
“Right. Because of that, if one were to become a bodyguard, they would have the title of a knight. That’s not all! It seems that they can even have a bride, regardless of bloodline.”
“──Raymond, do you mean…”
“Yeah, I do. While being recognized as a knight in the royal palace, their wife doesn’t have to be the daughter of a noble.”
The temple’s knights aren’t formal knights.
They had some nobles, but they were comprised of commoners.
Some of them were nobles who were tired of marriage-searching and became temple knights.
In many cases, they’re badmouthed as dropouts, but they’re treated as formal knights.
Furthermore, since the people being enlisted as Marie’s bodyguards are considered temple knights, it seems that it doesn’t matter where their wives originate from.
In other words, they’re not stripped of their status in noble society while also being able to escape from their marriage-searching.
When I looked at the boys gathering around the bulletin board, they were all being serious.
“I would immediately apply if it weren’t for that girl being the one I have to bodyguard!”
I couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
Raymond answered me in a calm manner.
“Well, as a feudal lord, you wouldn’t be able to apply, Leon. Though I’m in the same boat, heirs can’t be bodyguards.”
“──What? That frustration was for nothing.”
Now that I think about it, it would be a precarious situation having a heir be Marie’s bodyguard.
Such a position doesn’t seem temporary, so it wouldn’t be a job suitable for a boy who will succeed a household eventually.
Raymond also seemed frustrated.
“All things considered, you seem to hate the saint, don’t you Leon?”
“I would absolutely loathe being her bodyguard.”
While Raymond was shocked, Livia noticed a person approaching.
“Leon.”
Feeling a tug on my sleeve, I turned around to see Anjie walking over with a serious look.
She seemed a bit tense and uneasy about something.
I had a bad feeling, but while shrugging it off and telling myself that it would be fine, Anjie spoke.
“This is where you were? Leon──I got in touch with my home just a while ago.”
Raymond soon hid behind my back once Anjie came.
Since Anjie’s the daughter of a duke, people can’t help but see her as someone untouchable.
“Got in touch?”
Anjie, seeing a worried Livia, gave her a slight smile.
These two are quite close friends, but──according to that otome game,
Anjie was supposed to be the villainess, the protagonist’s love rival and foe.
She has sparkling blond hair and fierce red eyes.
Anjie has a sort of aura around her, something that overwhelms the surrounding people.
That aura softens when Livia’s with her.
“Don’t worry. It’s not anything bad.”
Despite having said that, Anjie was nervous.
“What happened?”
Anjie looked straight at my face.
Her scarlet eyes looked as if they could swallow me whole.
Also, it’s a bit difficult having her look this way when her ample chest is in my line of sight.
──It’s actually a bit troubling that both of them have quite the chests.
“Leon, this is serious.”
While thinking that I perhaps revealed my thoughts, I broke into a cold sweat as Anjie spoke.
“You’ve been tentatively placed as the saint’s bodyguard.”
“──Say what?”
I responded with confusion.
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