Foresight
A day like any other. But clearly, it was a day unlike any other.
I jumped out of bed and washed up faster than ever. I changed in and out of clothes over and over, trying to look as dashing as possible.
After completing all preparations, I headed down to the place where my 'girlfriend' was waiting.
“Welcome back?”
Selena, with a blush on her cheeks, approached me. Was it because the weather had gotten much colder?
“Sorry. A little late―”
Suddenly, something warm touched my cheek with a light kiss. “Eh?” I let out a foolish exclamation without realizing it. Wait, did she just kiss my cheek? Eh?! It felt like it!
Confused, I looked at Selena, who lowered her head with a “ki-ing!” and started spinning around on her feet.
…No, if she did it herself and then gets embarrassed, what am I supposed to do.
Though it was surprising, it felt good. Really good. A smile broke through my lips.
Probably the reason Selena's face was red was the same as mine. Just looking at each other like this was simply wonderful.
“Selena, if you're too embarrassed, you don't have to force it.”
“Eh, I wasn't forcing it! No, it's… it's embarrassing…”
Watching Selena let out another “ki-ing!” made my inner cuteness explode.
If I asked her to do it again later, her face would turn bright red, but she'd still do it, right? And after that, she'd probably grab her head with “ki-ing!” and not know what to do.
“Should I kiss your cheek, Selena?”
“N-no, later! W-we'll be late. Let's go!”
The semester wasn't over yet. I was still a first-year, and Selena was still a graduating senior.
Next year, the first-years would become second-years, and the graduating seniors would graduate… or rather, go to graduate school….
“Are you sure about this?”
At my words, Selena tilted her head with a puzzled “Huh?”
“Graduate school. You asked Father about it, right?”
“Ah, yes. I told him everything.”
“What did you say? I'm the most worried about his reaction.”
She was the precious daughter of a marquisate with no flaws. Excluding the duke's family, it was the highest noble family in the Empire.
How could there be no words for a daughter from such a place suddenly deciding to go to graduate school, which, from a man's perspective, was similar to enlisting as a private?
“Father was strongly against it at first. He asked why I was doing something like this. He couldn't understand it as a father.”
“So?”
“I told him to trust me. I have my reasons too. I said I would definitely graduate from graduate school and at least earn a master's degree.”
That alone might not be enough. If Selena's dream was to become a scholar, maybe, but…
I had mentioned before, but children of great noble families, especially daughters, rarely go near graduate school.
Why go there? It's a path of hardship, a minefield. Unless someone has a passion for academics or wants to become a scholar, they wouldn't go even for show.
“Of course, even after saying that, Father was still against it. He said there are many things I can do after graduation. He said it's good, but he didn't want me to suffer in graduate school.”
“…My story. If you can't be convinced, at least hear my story.”
Regarding graduate school. No, more precisely, Selena's determination to stay at the academy with me was firm. Even I couldn't shake it.
So, I readily agreed to her reason for going to graduate school. After all, the cause was me, so it was only natural.
“Actually, Father approved because of Karl.”
“You mean dating me?”
“Yes. While talking about you, he said that as the woman of a Medal of Honor recipient, I should at least have a minimal position. As the daughter of a marquisate who was born into it, I couldn't even reach the tip of Karl's honor. That's what he said. So Father let out a sigh and said he'd think about it.”
I nodded at Selena's words. As expected, it had the desired effect.
By now, the endowment foundation bearing my name should be settling in and starting full operations.
More noble families would join over time, and the imperial family would recommend it as the nobles take on their duties.
Even without that, I was also the legendary madman who received the Imperial Medal of Honor twice in the Empire. A young war hero personally escorted by the princess and crown prince to the academy.
No issues with my status either. The Adelheit family was a noble house without any shortcomings.
From those perspectives, the Marquis of Naplio would likely see Selena's reason for pursuing a degree as quite reasonable.
“Still… graduate school doesn't seem right.”
Then Selena smiled with a “Hee~”.
“Surprising. It's not just anyone, but Karl reacting like this. I knew graduate school was tough, but the more Karl said that, the scarier it became.”
“So don't. We can see each other after graduation. Rather, I can adjust my schedule to Selena's convenience. Right? Really, graduate school doesn't seem right. So―”
Even at my words, Selena shook her head vigorously. Yesterday, there was hesitation, but now even that had disappeared.
“I’ll try it. I want to. I want to become a woman who suits Karl. And by enduring the hardships Karl went through, I think I can understand them even better. Ah, of course, the army is even harder than graduate school!”
“…”
It's really grateful that you understand how tough and hellish the army was.
Still, graduate school… I don't know. Now, even if I try to persuade, it might not listen. Honestly, it might even be something Selena can do better. Academically, she was top-notch.
“I understand, Selena. Study hard. Oh, then I'll have a girlfriend with a master's degree. Is this okay for me? If I want to match, do I have to go to graduate school too?”
“Absolutely not. After I get my master's and Karl graduates, we'll live together from then on.”
Oh, so proactive. This is the character change of the heroine who found her match.
“In that case, I should pay a visit to Father.”
“So soon?”
“Not so soon. It's proper to greet him before Selena enters graduate school. Because of me, a pretty daughter is going to suffer in graduate school, so if I don't go soon, he'll definitely be angry.”
Then Selena's expression became a bit strange at what I said.
“There’s no way, Karl. Father would never do that.”
“I’m joking, just joking. I was just―”
“No, really. From Father's perspective, he can never say anything to Karl.”
“Huh?”
“Forgot? Who you saved on the battlefield.”
“…Eh. Eh. Ah! That's right. I had completely forgotten. Thinking only about my squad members, I hadn't even recalled the decisive reason I received the Medal of Honor.”
“The hundreds of Empire soldiers you saved. Including my brother. Simply, you saved my brother, the eldest son of our father, and from the Marquis of Naplio's perspective, you saved the successor. But how could Father blame Karl? He would be a lifelong benefactor.”
*
Haaah―
A heavy sigh from a middle-aged man flowed out heavily. There was a bitter tone in it.
It wouldn't be as a duke or noble reason. If so, he would have hidden his emotions and tried to find the best outcome internally.
“Lord?”
Deonic, who had been carrying documents inside, opened his mouth at the sight.
“What’s the matter?”
“There are always matters. It's because of your sister.”
“…Ah. Graduate school.”
The Marquis of Naplio clicked his tongue at the casual muttering.
As an older brother, instead of trying to stop his sister from going to such a tough place, he had said ‘Yeah. Study hard. Lenni.’
“Your sister is too much. At least show some sign of trying to stop her.”
“I wouldn't think of stopping her. Lenni has already made up her mind. No matter what I say, she wouldn't listen. You know, our Lenni may not be like that usually, but once she decides, she pushes forward no matter what.”
“That’s…”
That's right. Yeah. I have nothing to say about that. As an older brother, it would be like that, and as a parent, the Marquis, looking at his daughter Selena Ifreet, she was that kind of person.
‘But…’
But still, as parents, they can't not worry.
Just graduate quickly, spend some time, and slowly date until marriage.
“I want to become a woman who suits Karl.”
The reason my precious daughter suddenly went to graduate school. So, it was a bit uncomfortable at first.
‘Benefactor.’
Yeah. My daughter's man was a benefactor whose debt this family had to repay for a lifetime.
Even without that, in terms of 'honor', she stands out from anyone in the Empire.
In such a situation, just having the title of Marquis of Naplio's daughter was a bit, no, a heavy burden.
Then, one piece of news that came later completely dispelled the Marquis of Naplio's worries.
- At this year's New Year's audience, all Medal of Honor recipients in the Empire will be invited. -
All of them were heroes. The representative chosen from among them was Karl Adelheit.
After hearing that, the Marquis of Naplio nodded, thinking, ‘Our daughter has foresight. Graduate school was not a choice but a necessity.’
Looking at it this way, it seemed she would need at least a master's degree.