Chapter 7: I'll Get Married Once This Political Struggle Is Over

It was the morning a week after Lecty and Saintess Rosalie treated His Majesty the King. Having been defeated without scoring a single point in my daily Swordsmanship training once again, Alyssa-san handed me four invitations.

"What is this...?"

"It's an invitation to a reception celebrating His Majesty the King's recovery."

"A reception, you say..."

It brought back memories of the incident at the Lecherie Dukedom about a month ago. That was when a horde of magically mutated Monsters appeared in the middle of a reception.

I hope we're not attacked like that again...

The cause of the servants turning into Monsters and the source of the drug that mutated Lecherie Duke are still unknown. Prince Lucas hasn't requested any cooperation in the investigation since then.

While I appreciate not having to use my Skill recklessly, I can't help but feel a little uneasy about whether everything is truly fine.

"Don't worry. The Royal Knights and the Royal Army will pool their forces to provide security, so it will be fine. Since His Majesty the King has recovered, the urgency for a civil war is gone for now, so it's a joint operation."

"That's reassuring, but there are four invitations?"

Lecty would naturally receive an invitation. I assumed one each for Lily and me as escorts. That leaves one for Lugue, but is it safe to bring her along?

"Prince Lucas was also troubled by this, but it seems His Majesty the King desperately wants to see her. And His Majesty is one of those who knows the truth about Lugue, so you don't have to worry about that."

"I see... In that case, well."

If Prince Lucas is willing to accept the risk, I have no reason to refuse. That is, assuming Lugue agrees to go.

The reception is apparently scheduled for the night after tomorrow. I'll consult with Lily and the others for now.

I returned to my room, took a shower, and headed to the cafeteria with Lugue. Before we went, I told Lugue about the invitation, and she immediately replied, "I'm going!" Well, that was as expected.

Since it was a holiday today, the cafeteria was sparsely populated with students during breakfast. I was worried I wouldn't see Lily and Lecty, but I fortunately spotted them sitting down for breakfast.

Lugue and I got our breakfast and headed toward their table. After exchanging morning greetings, I sat next to Lecty, and Lugue sat next to Lily.

"Hugh-san, can I see your wounds so I can treat them?"

"Ah... I'm okay today. Thank you, Lecty. I'll just accept the thought."

"Eh? Ah, I see..."

Lecty's shoulders slumped disappointedly. She has been treating me every day. She might have been all geared up to provide treatment today.

"Fufuh. Lecty looks disappointed that Hugh doesn't have any wounds."

"Hweh!? A-Ah, n-no, that's not it! I swear it's not it, Hugh-san!"

"Ah, yes. I understand, I understand."

I calmed down the anxiously rushing Lecty. I shot a look of disapproval at Lily, telling her not to tease Lecty, and she merely stuck her tongue out at me.

... Honestly. Lately, she's been acting childishly—or rather, she's finally showing a personality more suitable for her age. She must have been constantly stressed during the engagement turmoil.

"I apologize, Lecty. It was just a joke."

"Honestly, Lily-chan!"

Lily smiled brightly while Lecty scolded her. Next to them, Lugue, who was tearing her bread, looked at me worriedly.

"Hugh, are you overdoing it? You do have some injuries, don't you?"

"Well, yeah. But I can't keep relying on Lecty for every little scrape. Besides, there's a saying that wounds are a man's honor."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean...?"

Lugue tilted her head, a little disgusted. Well, I doubt the injuries sustained from being beaten by Alyssa-san count as "honor," but somehow, the pain remaining makes me feel like I'm improving.

"Hugh likes pain..."

"Hey, don't misinterpret things."

"Hmph, that's good to know, slurp."

"Stop licking your lips, you."

"I-I see. That's a good lesson to learn...!"

"Stop learning the wrong lessons!"

After chatting and finishing breakfast, we left the cafeteria and headed toward the gazebo in the garden. It's usually a popular spot for noble ladies' tea parties, but it was deserted in the morning, making it the perfect place for a private conversation.

"I-I'm nervous. It's my first time at a tea party!"

Lecty's eyes were shining with expectation. She must have gotten the wrong idea.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't bring you here for a tea party."

"Oh, is that so..."

"Alyssa-san gave me invitations to the reception for His Majesty the King's recovery. I wanted to give them to you."

I could have given them out in the cafeteria, but I found talking uncomfortable while worrying about our surroundings. I decided to move the location, thinking it best not to draw attention, as we did last time.

Lily, who received the invitation from me, sighed heavily.

"I expected this to happen, but it has finally come to this."

Throughout the past week, only a statement about the King's improved health was released from the Royal Palace; no information was disclosed regarding the two Saintesses who saved the King's life.

Ideally, we wanted the whole thing to be kept a secret. Everything would be resolved nicely if the King's health improvement was attributed to a natural recovery, and the Church would have no reason to covet Lecty.

"Since Prince Slay won't tolerate that, the heroic tale of the two Saintesses will likely be loudly announced at the reception. Lecty, I apologize for frightening you, but you need to brace yourself."

"Y-Yes..."

"Um... I'm so sorry about everything, Lecty."

Lugue apologized to Lecty, feeling bad that she was being dragged into the Royal Family's troubles. Lecty was confused, tilting her head at the sudden apology.

"Um, I've been meaning to ask you, Lugue-san..."

"Ah, no, that's wrong! I'm from a Viscount family, so I'm not a Royal, or a Princess!"

"Oh, okay..."

Lecty blinked, nodding in confusion.

This clumsy Princess is revealing everything, isn't she...

"(Um, Hugh-san. Should I pretend I didn't hear that...?)"

"... No. Just keep an eye out for her, kindly."

Lecty whispered the question to me, and I shook my head, giving up on keeping the secret.

"Well... does anyone have any plans for the rest of the day?"

Lily, who had been rubbing the bridge of her nose, changed the subject, asking me and Lugue.

"No, nothing in particular."

If anything, I was thinking about studying for the midterm exams, which were coming up next weekend. When I asked Lugue yesterday if she wanted to go out to the Royal Capital like last week, she gently turned me down, saying, "Hugh needs to study, right?"

Lugue glared at me when I answered nothing. Gotta deal with Lily's matter first, anyway.

"Then, that's perfect. I was actually planning to go to the Puridy mansion with Lecty right now. Could you two come along?"

"To Lily's family mansion?"

"Yes. I anticipated some kind of event would be held for His Majesty the King's recovery, so I called in a merchant company that the Puridy family has always been closely associated with."

"Ah, right. There's a dress code."

Lugue clapped her hands in realization. Ah, I remember being told by Marquis Puridy that our Royal Academy uniforms would make us stand out when I attended Prince Slay's faction reception.

While the Royal Academy uniform serves as formal attire for ceremonies, it might not be suitable for events with a dress code, like receptions or parties. My home is too far out in the frontier, and my father rarely attends social events, so I was never taught this common sense.

"L-Lily-chan. I don't think I can wear a dress... They won't suit me, and I don't have the money either..."

"How many times do I have to tell you, Lecty? You judge whether it suits you after you try it on. You can pay me back later. You'll receive a reward from His Majesty the King for the matter earlier."

"B-But..."

Whether she was reluctant to wear a dress or simply felt bad about Lily fronting the money for it, Lecty still seemed hesitant. Lily glanced at me, then whispered something in her ear.

“(Would you like to show Hugh your cute dress-form?)”

Boof! That's the sound effect you'd expect to hear, judging by how quickly Lecty's face flushed deep crimson. What the hell did Lily pump into Lecty's head...!?

Lecty covered her deep-red face with both hands, peering out at me between the gaps in her fingers. I had no idea what Lily had told her, but was she seriously alright...?

"Lecty, if you don't like it, you should probably just tell us, okay...?"

I mean, worst case, uniforms aren't exactly bad...

I called out to her with that thought in mind, but Lecty just shook her head slightly. It seemed Lily's persuasion had been successful. Seriously, what did she say...?

"Hugh and Lugue don't have outfits for the ball either, do you? Since we're going to the trouble, how about we prepare your formal wear at the same time?"

"That would be a huge help, but..."

Preparing formal wear for us and Lecty's dress would certainly amount to a considerable sum. I understood why Lecty had been hesitant. Even if it was nothing for the Puridy family, asking them to cover the costs would be too much...

More to the point, in my case, I had no guarantee of repayment. I didn't think my family had that kind of money, and the travel money Father gave me was now little more than a sparrow's tear.

Sensing my internal struggle, Lily smiled, "It's fine, I assure you."

"Don't worry. Hugh's share is one of Father's hand-me-downs. For Lugue's, I'll be certain to send the bill straight to Prince Lucas later."

In other words, no need to hold back. If that's the case, I could probably leave it to Lily.

"Then, I'll have to take you up on that, even if I feel bad about it. Is that alright with you too, Lugue?"

"Feh? Ah, yeah. Thank you, Lily."

"Of course, leave it to me."

Lily puffed out her chest with a triumphant fufun. I felt like Lugue was a little out of it, but in any case, we left the Royal Academy and headed to the Puridy Marquis's manor in the Royal Capital's central district.

Our means of transportation was Alyssa-san's carriage. Lily must have asked her the day before, because when we arrived at the school gate at the appointed time, Alyssa-san already had the carriage ready.

"Thank you, Alyssa-sensei."

"No worries, no thanks needed. I was reporting to Prince Lucas anyway , so it's nothing ."

Alyssa-san answered Lily with feigned modesty, then grinned at me and smacked me on the back.

"Popular, ain't ya ~. Hey, stud!"

"Please stop hitting me on the back with the Royal Knights' kind of roughhousing. It seriously hurts."

Holding my throbbing back, I boarded the carriage, and about thirty minutes later, we arrived at the Puridy Marquis's manor. Alyssa-san was apparently coming back to pick us up after she finished her errands.

We were greeted by the servants who ushered us into the reception room. Coming here always brings back those awkward moments with Marquis Puridy...

"Huh? Speaking of, where is Marquis Puridy?"

I thought he'd be here to welcome Lily like last time, but so far, I hadn't seen him. Only four tea sets were prepared in the reception room.

"Father is out. As the head of Prince Lucas's faction, he's been flying all over the Kingdom. I doubt he'll be home for a while."

"W-Wow, that sounds intense..."

Recalling my corporate slave days, my stomach started to ache slightly.

"From his letters, he seems to be having quite a good time? Prince Lucas put him fully in charge of building the faction, so I'm sure he feels his efforts are being utilized. When he was with Prince Slay's faction, he was complaining that he couldn't do what he wanted and that there were more enemies inside than out."

"Ah, I see."

It seemed Marquis Puridy was free to spread his wings, having been liberated from various constraints. Replacing the change of factions with a job change, I totally understood how he felt.

"Well then, let's go check out the dresses right away. Hugh, could you wait here for a little while?"

"I don't need to come along?"

"I told you your outfit would be one of Father's hand-me-downs, didn't I? The last time I saw it, it didn't look like it needed any tailoring, so just take your time and wait here."

With that, Lily left the reception room, taking Lugue and Lecty with her. Why did I even come along?

...Well, whatever. I sat on the sofa and drank the tea the servant poured for me. Last time, I was too nervous to enjoy the taste or the aroma at all. Taking a leisurely moment to enjoy some good tea wouldn't be so bad.

Just as I thought that,

"I've been dying to see you, Lily-chan! When I heard you were coming home, Papa rushed back all the way from the South, and then... Oh."

"Buhogh!?"

Marquis Puridy's sudden, energetic appearance caused me to spray the tea I was drinking out of my nose and mouth.

"I-I apologize for the intrusion, Marquis Puridy."

"Yes, indeed. Please relax."

The Marquis, who was sitting across from me on the sofa, calmly responded to my greeting. No, why the hell is he sitting right across from me! Why do I have to suffer through an awkward time every time I come here...!?

I choked down the tea, which had lost all flavor and aroma, just to quench my thirst, all while arguing with him internally.

The reason I was so tense was because the person in front of me was Lily's father.

“You'll have to formally greet my Father sometime, so prepare yourself, Husband?”

I recalled Lily saying that as we parted after leaving Duke Lecheley's estate. While I had no idea what the future held, I couldn't help but be intensely conscious of it.

Though I wasn't going to try to greet him now, obviously...

"Ahem. Ah, Hugh-kun. Thank you for helping my daughter the other day. Let me offer my gratitude once again."

"N-No, I didn't do anything. It was Prince Lucas who saved Lily."

I used the return line that's becoming a canned response. Lecty would probably get angry at me again for being too modest, but I certainly couldn't puff out my chest and claim I saved her to Marquis Puridy.

"Indeed, His Highness went to great lengths for not only my daughter but for me and the Puridy family as well. That much is true. But I heard from His Highness that you were the one who asked him to save my daughter. I apologize for taking so long to thank you."

"No, not at all."

As I lowered my head, the Marquis smiled softly. He raised his teacup to his lips. I went to take a sip of my own tea, but then—

"By the way, what are your feelings for my daughter?"

"Pffft!"

I spat out the tea I had just brought to my mouth yet again. Coughing violently, I glanced at the Marquis, who was wearing a somewhat mischievous smile. Did he do that on purpose, this guy!?

Lily's occasional playful mischief seems to be inherited from her old man.

"W-What do you mean by 'feelings'...?"

"Any meaning is fine. As a parent, don't you think it's natural for me to want to know about my daughter's friendships at the Royal Academy?"

...Well, when he put it that way, I guess maybe it was.

The sword resting against the side of the couch absolutely refuses to leave the edge of my sight. The fact that it was positioned where he could instantly draw it was unnerving...

I had switched my Skill to 〈Ninja〉 before leaving the Academy, so theoretically, I could escape if I wanted to, but...

"Lady Lily has always taken exceptional care of me. Even today, she's arranging the clothing we'll wear to the ball celebrating His Majesty the King's recovery. You mentioned my outfit was one of the Marquis's hand-me-downs, but..."

"Lily is good-natured, like my wife. Her taste and ability to navigate high society are impeccable. You can leave it to her without worry. Even my outfit was chosen by Lily, you know. Since I entrusted my wife with managing the territory and we began living separately, Lily has taken care of things for me."

"Is that so?"

Lily's mother... She must be a beautiful, talented woman, much like Lily.

"My daughter can be a bit difficult at times, but even from a father's perspective, she's grown up into a marvelous young lady of both beauty and intellect."

"Yes, I believe that's true."

"Therefore, if you wish to take Lady Lily as your wife, I ask that you first acquire an appropriate status."

"Yes... Yes!?"

What in the hell was this guy suddenly talking about!?

As my eyes bulged in surprise, the Marquis's brow drooped in a somewhat lonely expression.

"The number of times you're mentioned in the letters I receive from my daughter has been increasing day by day, Hugh-kun. Even I, who has been called dense and clueless by my wife many times, can sense it."

"Ah, I see..."

Lily, you idiot, what did you write in your letters to your father!? I had a chilling sense that my outer and inner defenses were steadily being filled in.

"Hugh-kun. I can sense that you don't dislike my daughter. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been so desperate to save her just under the pretense of being childhood friends, would you?"

"Well, about that..."

I only started being consciously aware of Lily as a woman after I saved her; I truly did just save her because she was a childhood friend... But saying that now probably wouldn't convince him.

"You don't need to try and fool me. I've also heard things about you from Prince Lucas. His Highness values you quite a bit. As long as His Highness becomes King, you'll gain the status you require."

"I hope so..."

My goal, first and foremost, was still to live a slow, comfortable life. Reflecting on my previous life where I died from overwork, I wanted to live this one peacefully in the countryside, away from people.

That goal hadn't changed. But recently, I was aware that I'd become a little greedy...

Lugue, Lily, and Lecty. If a Slow Life future where I could happily live with them was possible, I thought it was okay to pursue that with everything I had.

And if it required gaining status, I wouldn't refuse. But that's also why I had reservations.

"Do you distrust Prince Lucas?"

"N-No! It's not like that..."

I hedged my answer to Marquis Puridy's question, which seemed to see right into my heart.

I screwed up...

Marquis Puridy was now the leader of the Prince Lucas faction. I might have just given him the wrong idea or made him suspicious of me.

"No, that's fine. I, too, believe that when dealing with His Highness, it's best to maintain a healthy suspicion."

"Is that so...?"

"Because he's just so shady."

To use such a blunt reason...

So even the head of his own faction thinks he's shady, my brother-in-law.

"I doubt His Highness truly desires only retainers who blindly believe him. In fact, he tends to give important roles to vassals who maintain a level of caution, like you and me. And also, it seems as though he holds some sort of special emotion towards you."

"S-Special emotion!?"

Hey, does that mean... No, no way. But thinking back, I do feel like there was a lot of body-touching... Seriously...?

"As long as you believe in Prince Lucas, he will not betray you. I will guarantee that. Please, continue to believe in His Highness until the end. He is more of an ordinary boy than you might think."

"An ordinary boy...?"

I couldn't help but doubt whether that was an ordinary boy, but...

Speaking of which, Lily once mentioned that she and Lucretia were close enough to visit each other's homes when they were children. Maybe Marquis Puridy knew Prince Lucas during his younger days.

As long as I believe in him, the Prince won't betray me, huh.

When I think about it, I didn't know anything about that man.

"There's something I've been wondering about. Why does Prince Lucas want to be King?"

He wouldn't just be vaguely aiming for the throne because he's a prince. He must have a goal or ambition that he can't achieve without becoming King.

It's just a feeling, but... when I look at Prince Lucas, I feel like he has a similar way of thinking to mine. Like he'd prefer a more relaxed position than being King.

"I tried asking him subtly once, but he skillfully dodged the question. However, he might be willing to tell you, Hugh-kun."

Marquis Puridy wore a gentle smile, as if reminiscing about the past.

He might tell me...

Next time we're alone, I should seriously try asking him. While keeping an eye out for that "special emotion," of course...

For a while after that, Marquis Puridy and I talked about various things. The future direction of Prince Lucas's faction, and exchanging opinions on the Divine Grant Religion and Lecty. I think I spent a considerably meaningful time with him.

The fact that it wasn't as awkward as last time was likely because Marquis Puridy skillfully kept the conversation flowing. Being Lily's father, he was quick-witted, and above all, his conversation skills were excellent. He was what you would call a communication master.

Before I knew it, time had flown by. The topics gradually shifted from serious discussions to private matters, and Marquis Puridy enthusiastically recounted stories from Lily's childhood.

Stories like the moment Lily spoke her first word, and how he still had the portrait Lily gave him for his birthday framed and displayed in his study...

I was honestly getting tired of just nodding and responding. They were charming stories, but I also felt a little bad for Lily if I listened too much...

Nevertheless, it was difficult for me to end the conversation since I was a guest in their mansion. As I wrestled with how to handle the situation, the door finally opened, and Lily showed her face.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hugh. It's almost... Ugh, Father."

Lily, who was only peeking her face through the door, looked visibly displeased at the sight of her father. It seemed even Lily hadn't expected Marquis Puridy to return.

"I asked everyone in the mansion to keep quiet about it..."

Lily scanned the room with sharp eyes, and the servant who had been serving the tea quickly averted his gaze.

"...Well, never mind. Father, I was about to have Hugh look at the dress I'll be wearing to the ball. Could you excuse us, please? You only broke away from work for a bit, didn't you?"

"Mm... No, but you see...?"

"Please consider your standing before you act. Father, you are now the leader of Prince Lucas's faction. It doesn't have the vast numbers of Prince Slay's faction, nor is it bound by the rigid ties of Prince Blut's. The rise and fall of Prince Lucas's faction now rests on you."

"T-That's... true, but...?"

The Marquis shot me a fleeting glance. Noticing this, Lily sighed lightly.

"Once things settle down, how about I invite Hugh so the three of us can have dinner?"

"That's a splendid idea! There was still so much I wanted to talk to Hugh-kun about. Let's definitely do that. Does that work for you, Hugh-kun?"

"Yes, I would be honored to join you."

Satisfied with my reply, the Marquis nodded with an "Hmm" and stood up from the sofa.

"I plan to attend His Majesty's ball the day after tomorrow. I will see you again then, Hugh-kun."

With those words, the Marquis strode out of the reception room. Lily exchanged a few more words with the Marquis outside the room and then came to stand before me.

The sight that immediately met my eyes was a chic, deep-navy-blue dress. Simple yet sophisticated, small jewels were subtly embedded near the chest. The gracefully spreading hem was adorned with silver thread embroidery that called to mind the stars floating in the night sky.

It made me feel like this was the result of condensing Lily's elegance and intelligence into a dress. The deep-navy-blue dress suited Lily perfectly.

"Hehe, the fact that you're just silently gazing in admiration means I win this round, too, right?"

"Total defeat. You can chalk that up as my second straight loss."

I admitted defeat, raising both hands. Just like at the last ball, I was completely captivated this time too. Lily smiled in satisfaction and asked, "Well?"

"Tell me what you think."

"Let's see... The previous deep crimson dress also suited you, but I find I like this deep navy one better as it suits your nature more, Lily. I like it."

"L-Like it...!?"

"It matches your calm atmosphere and intelligent demeanor really well. It's beautiful."

"I-Is that so. Then, I'll wear this dress to the ball. I was actually planning to try on a few more dresses for you, but since you said you like this one, I'll use it."

"We have plenty of time, though, I'm happy to keep looking at whatever you put on."

"No. I liked this dress too, and besides, that's not the purpose of today's visit. The main event starts now. Have a look at Lecty's dress, please?"

"Ah, sure. Understood."

...I really wanted to see Lily in a few more dresses. I had a feeling she might show me if I asked, but it was a bit too embarrassing to say out loud. And besides, it seemed Lecty was waiting outside the door.

When Lily beckoned, Lecty poked her face in, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"L-Lily-chan, I-I'm still too embarrassed...!"

"Come now. What are you talking about, after coming all this way? Come on out quickly, there's a queue behind you."

"Ooh... Hugh-san, please don't laugh if it looks weird, okay...?"

Saying this, Lecty entered the room, clad in a delicate, pale lavender dress, like a noble flower.

The color, which brought to mind lilacs, harmonized beautifully with Lecty's pale, lustrous light-blue hair. A simple pearl necklace shimmered around her neck, further enhancing her beauty.

"U-Um... How do I look, Hugh-san...?"

"Lily, this is bad. She's so beautiful that she might receive marriage proposals from every bachelor noble attending the ball."

"Feeh!? M-Marriage proposals...!?"

"Even so, the ball's main subject cannot possibly wear something plain. There's a chance she might enter the venue being escorted by His Majesty the King himself... To begin with, her natural looks are so good that any dress suits her. This is with me pulling back the reins, just so you know."

"She's this beautiful even when you've held back..."

I couldn't help but stare intently at Lecty in the dress.

Indeed, compared to Lily's deep-navy-blue dress, this one was relatively subdued, and the only accessory was the necklace. It was a minimal and simple look. But perhaps that's why the strength of her natural beauty was emphasized so strongly.

"H-Hugh-san! It's embarrassing when you stare at me so much...!"

"Sorry, I just couldn't help it... But seriously, what should we do about this...?"

"At this rate, we have no choice but to beg Prince Lucas to request His Majesty the King change the ball to a masquerade ball, starting now."

"That's impossible..."

I knew she was joking, but I felt too bad for my brother-in-law to make such an absurd request. For now, the Lecty situation would have to be consulted with Prince Lucas...

"...By the way, what is Lugue doing over there?"

Spotting Lugue peeking his head around the door, staring intently at us, I asked Lily, who probably knew what was going on. I figured Lugue was the 'queue' she had mentioned earlier.

"I also wanted Hugh to see Lugue's outfit. Sorry for the wait; you can come in now."

Called by Lily, Lugue, looking somewhat restless, showed himself before me.

"..................."

I involuntarily lost all ability to speak at the sight of Lugue.

Enveloping her small frame was a softly flared emerald-green dress. The design emphasized loveliness and grace, and it suited Lugue perfectly. The silver embroidery woven throughout exquisitely matched Lugue's silver hair.

She's cute. I love it. I want to just marry her right here and now. Those words nearly slipped out, but I held myself back at the last second. That's not what I should be saying.

"Holy... no, wait! Why is Lugue wearing a dress...!?"

I asked Lily, the probable orchestrator, with my eyes if this was alright. A Puridy family servant was present in the reception room, and a tailor and maids must have helped her change.

Well, the Puridy family had defected to Prince Lucas's faction, and she shouldn't be exposed if no one knew Lucretia's true face to begin with...

"I was also surprised when Lugue-kun asked me if he could wear a dress. I didn't realize Lugue-kun had a hobby for cross-dressing."

"Ah, right..."

So that's how she was planning to pull it off, with cross-dressing. Could she really pull it off, though?

"I told Lily I wanted to surprise Hugh, so I made an unreasonable request. So? Does it suit me...?"

"Yeah, about that: it suits you extremely well."

She suited it so well she looked like a girl from every angle. Which, well, she was already a girl.

It was different from the dress Lucretia wore when I saw her at the royal castle before. The emerald-green dress was likely so striking because of her current silver hair. She didn't possess the regal grace or elegance of a princess, but she was overflowing with the charm of a single, cute girl.

"R-Really? Eheheh~"

Praised by me, Lugue's cheeks relaxed and she grinned faintly.

Ahhh, too cute. If everything went smoothly and Lugue and I married, I'd have her wear this dress at our reception.

"Of course the main man trumps all of us..."

"I'm so jealous of Lugue-san..."

My 〈Ninja〉 Skill-enhanced ears caught every single word of what Lily and Lecty mumbled, seeing me groan while covering my face with both hands. Crap, I had forgotten the two of them were here for a second. I must have let a ton of embarrassing things slip...

I cleared my throat to cover up my mistake, composed myself, and asked Lily, whose cheeks were flushed:

"I don't suppose you're planning to go to the ball like that...?"

"Of course not! This is just a game for now. Lugue-kun didn't have a morning coat, so we only got his measurements taken for now. It should be ready in time for the actual day."

Since the ball was the night after tomorrow, the tailor would be working at an extremely rapid pace. I felt nothing but gratitude toward Lily for arranging this and the tailor for sewing it so quickly.

After that, the three of them changed from their dresses back into their uniforms, and the four of us decided to use the time until Alyssa-san came to pick us up to study for our exams. I had prepared myself to spend the entire day dress-shopping, so I was a little thrown off.

The weather was nice, so we spread our textbooks out in the gazebo in the Puridy Marquis's garden. A sweet scent of flowers occasionally drifted over us on the breeze from the magnificent garden.

"Lecty, you can solve these problems much more easily than before."

Looking at Lecty solving the practice problems, which seemed to be Lily's handcrafted ones, Lugue smiled in admiration. Lecty was smoothly answering the math problems she had struggled with at the start of the year.

"Thank you, Lugue-san. It's all thanks to Lily-chan, who spends every day helping me study."

"It's all thanks to Lecty's effort, too. It seems she's naturally smart; she just hasn't had the opportunity to study until now. She absorbs information like a sponge the more I teach her, so it's rewarding for me as well."

"Wow, that's great."

Saying that, Lugue glanced at me with half-lidded, annoyed eyes. Should I question her for an hour about what she meant by "great," ignoring my studies completely?

I've been to university in my previous life. It wasn't that I was completely incapable of studying. It's just that I was slightly bad at memorizing historical dates and names...

"It's insane, though, right? Having the class-versus-class battle just a few days after the midterm exams. Shouldn't they normally have a bigger break?"

Unable to withstand Lugue's gaze, I changed the subject with a complaint that popped into my head. The midterms were next weekend, and the class battle the week after. It was quite a packed schedule.

"Last year's class-versus-class battle was in the second term, but it was moved up this year because of the 30th Anniversary of Victory celebration."

"Anniversary celebration?"

"It was mentioned in the orientation session after the acceptance announcements, wasn't it? That there'd be an exchange period this year, inviting Academies from allied nations to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Victory."

"Ah... I kind of remember that, maybe."

"Honestly. We also have field training next month, and for various reasons, they had no choice but to move it up. Never mind us newcomers, but the upperclassmen must be struggling. The scope of the tests is wide, and losing to lowerclassmen in the class battle would be utterly embarrassing."

"In other words, Hugh, you should stop complaining and focus on studying."