There Can't Possibly Be an Academy Like This
The Academy. For some reason, it seemed like quite the scandalous place to the people around me.
"Th-the Academy?"
Lucy, who'd overheard me, stared at me with wide eyes, and Isfil looked equally shocked.
"If you need a woman, you could've just asked me..."
"..."
Lucy muttered with a resentful glare, and Isfil nodded along in agreement.
I turned to look at Lucy. Her golden hair, now grown thick and lustrous, was tied up high—anyone would call her pretty. She hovered somewhere between girl and woman. In a few more years, she'll be a stunning adult, I thought.
"You could've just said you were in a hurry..."
"It's not like that. I'm going with my sisters."
"With the princesses?"
Lucy's expression grew even more suspicious, and seeing Isfil close her eyes as if in prayer, I added,
"Stop misunderstanding. We're just going to check some things out."
"Check what out?"
"...Stuff."
How could I possibly say this place felt like a romance fantasy novel? I had no choice but to keep it vague.
But naturally, that only deepened the incredulity in their eyes.
"...Then let me—"
"I'm going with my sisters. It's an inspection, to begin with."
"...Me too..."
"No exceptions for Isfil either."
"..."
I had to go with my sisters. Glancing at the others, I said, "Shall we get going?"
Clue moved briskly with a hint of sass, prompting Lucy to raise one eyebrow.
"You're taking the homunculus too?"
"I'm not human, after all."
"Only saying that now...!"
Lucy gnashed her teeth in annoyance at Clue's words, while Clue flashed a sly grin.
Still, their relationship had improved since before—small mercies.
"Let's go, Clue."
"Yes, Master."
I started walking with Clue in tow, the two of them shooting me sullen looks.
But rules were rules.
The moment we stepped out with Clue, my eyes met those of my two sisters, who greeted me with arms raised high.
"Theo!"
"Theo, you're here!"
Rabir shouted in her lively voice, while Lily beamed at me with a warm, friendly smile.
"Finished preparing early?"
"I was pretty interested in the Academy itself, too."
Lily replied to me, and Rabir nodded along.
"It's the source of all those scandals... or rumors, I guess."
Scandals if scandals, rumors if rumors. Sex scandals, power struggles—every dark tale originated from the Academy.
"Let's hurry!"
Rabir slipped right between me and Lily, and the three of us boarded the carriage.
"...Isn't this dangerous?"
"What is?"
"Three royals in one carriage."
It was dangerous. A terrorist attack would be catastrophic.
"Oh, no need to worry about that, right?"
Lily smiled softly and snapped her fingers, while Rabir placed her sword across her lap as she sat.
"I just cast a spell, and..."
"From now on, I'll check for anyone approaching with hostile intent!"
Rabir chimed in after Lily, and Clue added with a smile,
"I'll be ready to respond immediately as well."
"..."
Is this okay? I wondered, even as I began gathering holy power myself.
Well... it should be fine.
"Probably impossible to break unless it's Mother."
"The Mage Tower Lord or Knight Commander..."
"I could kill the Knight Commander with magic before he even swings his sword."
Lily replied confidently, and at the same moment,
"I could behead the Mage Tower Lord before he finishes chanting."
Rabir declared with equal confidence.
"..."
"..."
Their gazes crossed briefly, and before they could start bickering, I hurriedly intervened.
"You're both plenty old enough—let's not fight."
"...By the way, Theo."
Thankfully, Rabir changed the subject—whether she'd listened or not.
"Why the sudden interest in the Academy?"
"Huh?"
"Got someone you like?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Theo, I wouldn't mind if you found someone you like, but..."
Lily cleared her throat and continued without even hearing me out.
"I think a big sister needs to know who you're seeing."
"..."
"So, I'll have to test her a bit. You know this isn't the first time you've heard it."
"I know. But beating you in magic seems impossible?"
Lily was now the undisputed next Mage Tower Lord—or at least treated as such. No one doubted she'd claim the seat.
"That's not all."
"She has to beat me with the sword too!"
Rabir jumped in as if on cue.
They only agree at times like this?
"Rabir, no one can beat you in swordsmanship either."
She wasn't even twenty yet, but Rabir had bested everyone except Mother and the Knight Commander. She was hailed as the next in line for that role too—or so I'd heard, with predictions she'd soon surpass even Mother in pure sword skill.
"Can't be helped if it can't."
"..."
Maybe marriage is off the table for life.
I glanced briefly at Clue. No, she might—
"Even I couldn't win in a spar, Master. I'd need to go for mutual destruction, maybe."
"Thanks for the honesty."
Looked like my marriage prospects were dim indeed.
"On that note, the girls around you are a bit lacking."
"Right."
Rabir nodded at Lily's words.
"First, Lucy? Smart girl, but a bit too hot-headed."
"She hasn't caused any trouble."
"Not causing trouble doesn't make her capable, does it?"
Not everyone has to be like you.
I let Lily's words flow in one ear and out the other, then Rabir spoke up with a voice full of dissatisfaction.
"I don't trust Isfil much."
"Why Isfil?"
She hadn't caused any issues either.
"As a former saintess, she should at least have solid defenses. What if her barrier shatters under a life-risking strike?"
Well, it would shatter under a full-force blow.
I averted my gaze.
"...Mother doesn't think you even need to marry, anyway."
"Huh?"
"We don't have to either."
"But what about heirs?"
"Mother conceived virginally, so maybe we can too?"
What kind of nonsense logic is that? And how did Mother manage a virgin birth? No point dwelling on unsolvable mysteries.
"Anyway, no need to force it."
"I've told you sisters plenty of times—I'm not that interested in the throne."
"Theo, even if you said you were, neither I nor this one would oppose you."
"If Theodor turned against us, it'd just be too sad."
Lily's eyes softened as she echoed Rabir, while Clue snorted in disbelief at the scene—but only for a moment.
"So, who are you hoping to see, Theo?"
"Ah... I heard there's this viscount's daughter who's the talk of the town."
"The viscount's daughter everyone's buzzing about?"
"Oh, that girl."
Rabir tilted her head, while Lily smiled.
"Heard she's got quite the reputation—and seems pretty interested in you too."
"...Me?"
A vague unease stirred.
"Yeah. She kept prying for info through guys she'd seduced, so we blocked it all off thoroughly."
"..."
Something felt off.
"How'd she pry?"
"Through the men she lured. We punished them so harshly they'd never dare approach you again."
"I'm not worried, but..."
I gazed out the window.
The carriage rolled steadily toward the Academy.
The Academy grounds buzzed with chaos.
Small wonder—Prince Theodor, Princess Lily, and Princess Rabir were coming.
The headmaster wondered if they'd enroll as freshmen; men dreamed of marrying into royalty for a golden life, women eyed the famously handsome and kind Prince Theodor for the same.
Even just one child would secure it. They had nothing to lose.
"Everyone, makeup time!"
"Nanny, got that perfume? You know, the one that seduces men!"
As countless people primped desperately,
"..."
One girl appeared.
A black-haired beauty, trailed by three men already smitten, eyes glazed.
The crowd fell silent.
"She's here."
"...The viscount's daughter."
Women muttered with venom; men gazed in awe.
She was beautiful—decadently so, from her beauty mark to a figure too voluptuous for her teens.
Ignoring the glares, she strode confidently, as if capturing Prince Theodor's attention was a given.
And then the carriage arrived, mobbed by the crowd—some for ambition, some for curiosity.
She dismounted too.
"...Prince Theodor—"
Before she could speak, Theodor brushed past her.
"...?"
She stared in disbelief, as if it made no sense at all.