Episode 23: A Bolt from the Blue

Outside the window, a crescent moon shone in the night sky.

I was in Eleanore’s room.

Lately, during this time of day, I always visited her.

A man and woman of marriageable age alone together in a room at night—that’s pretty dangerous, isn’t it?

That’s what I think when I calm down and consider it.

I’m surprised my father-in-law Adalbert allows this.

Does it mean he trusts me that much?

No, wait—is it possible he doesn’t even know?

Coming here is always at Eleanore’s own suggestion.

When I was first invited—though that phrasing feels somewhat misleading—I remember her saying to my hesitant self, “Father will permit it.”

But if that was a lie, or just a one-time thing, wouldn’t Adalbert kill me?

Well, if I didn’t go to her room, I feel like Eleanore might kill me instead… or something like that.

“Arcs?”

Suddenly called by name, and combined with what I was just thinking about, my body trembled with a start.

There’s no way she can read my thoughts… right? I nervously looked toward her while feeling scared.

Eleanore had stopped her work and turned around to look at me.

“…What is it?”

I responded, but there was silence.

Wait, she really hasn’t figured it out, right? Just as I was breaking into a cold sweat, she suddenly burst out laughing.

“I’m sorry for startling you, I just wanted to try calling your name.”

She stood up from her seat, pattering over to me, and sat down beside me.

“What are you reading?”

Eleanore leaned her head against me and peered at the book I was currently reading.

No, no, no.

Don’t panic, don’t panic.

“…It’s a book on military strategy. It’s like studying for emergencies.”

My heart nearly went into disarray at the fact that her face was so close, but I somehow maintained my composure and answered.

Lately, whether she’s aware of it or not, I feel like she’s been taking these rather aggressive actions.

The sense of distance is quite close, I should say.

She wasn’t like this before… no, thinking back, maybe she was after all.

So does that mean I’ve become more conscious of it as she’s grown up?

Ugh… that somehow makes me feel self-loathing…

“Arcs is very studious, isn’t he?”

Completely unaware of my inner turmoil, she said this with feeling.

“…Eleanore-sama, are you done studying?”

“Hmph, this is just a short break!”

When I asked half-teasingly, she raised the corners of her eyebrows like a child.

…Yeah, she’s still innocent after all.

I need to get it together. I need to drive these impure thoughts from my head.

“I see. Well, preparing for the academy does seem quite difficult.”

“It really is… Etiquette, history, literature—memorizing it all is quite a struggle.”

From the way she sighed as she said that, it must really be difficult for her.

I guess exam students have it tough in any world.

Now that she’s turned 15, Eleanore will be entering the academy.

Since it’s a noble academy, most admissions are decided by recommendation, but apparently there are still academic examinations and entrance screenings, so if you let your guard down, there’s a possibility you might not get in.

Additionally, the academy Eleanore plans to attend—and which is also the setting for “Celestia Kingdom”—the “Royal Lytisia Academy,” is apparently top-class among them, making it a narrow gate even for nobles.

If things proceed according to the main story, she should be able to enter without problems, but…

That said, I can’t let my guard down, and more importantly, the irregular situation where I, the childhood friend who was supposed to die, survived has already occurred, so it wouldn’t be strange if developments diverged from the main story somehow.

So (well, the main story isn’t really that relevant), Eleanore is working hard toward her entrance exams.

“…But I’m sure Eleanore-sama’s efforts will bear fruit.”

“I hope so.”

“It’ll be fine, I’m cheering for you.”

I placed my hand on her head and offered words of encouragement.

I think this is probably one reason why I’m called to this room.

I’m here to encourage her and help her blow off steam when she’s tired from studying.

Well, this kind of thing is pretty important too.

Just talking with someone can be a good break.

…That’s what I thought when I said it, but her reaction is weak.

Huh, usually at this point she’d get her ears slightly red and say “I’ll work a little harder!” with renewed determination.

Eleanore is looking at me with what I’d call blank eyes.

“Arcs, aren’t you entering the academy?”

“…Me?”

This time lowering the corners of her eyebrows, she asked.

…Well, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it.

As Eleanore’s caretaker, it would be more convenient in various ways.

It would also be a pretty good place to break through the monotony of training I’ve been feeling lately.

More than anything, as a fan of “Celestia Kingdom,” there’s no way I wouldn’t want to see those various characters truly living and breathing.

But…

“Hmm… I’m not a noble, you see. I think it would be difficult after all.”

I’m just a commoner.

I merely serve nobles and have no peerage whatsoever.

If I were the game’s protagonist, I would have awakened to special powers and, as a super special exception, been recommended and admitted by the duke noble who ruled that territory.

But I don’t possess anything particularly special.

It’s truly regrettable, but for me to attend the academy is still…

“…Then, what about attending the knight academy instead?”

…Huh?

“Knight academy…?”

“Yes, Lytisia Academy also has a program for training knights… and that one doesn’t matter about social status.”

No…

Wait, wait, wait. What’s that?

Was there such a thing?

I don’t remember hearing that term in the main game.

After all, almost all the characters were nobles… and I don’t think there was a situation where there were commoners other than the protagonist at the same academy…

…Ah, wait.

Could it be… that?

If I recall correctly, it was in the scrapped content collection published in the official fanbook.

I remember there were lots of events, settings, and characters that were scrapped during production written there.

I’m pretty sure there was a description and illustration of a commoner love interest among them.

And added almost as an afterthought, there was also a concept for a knight training program and a story involving it.

The character’s visual design in the illustration was quite good, and fans lamented that both the character and the academy itself were scrapped…

Could it be…

Could it be that?!

“S-so that means commoners can attend too?!”

“Y-yes. That’s what it said in the materials…?”

My voice accidentally got louder, and Eleanore blinked her eyes, but I wasn’t calm enough right now to be considerate of that.

I have various questions about why scrapped content is being implemented… but if that’s reality, then…

Could I possibly make my academy debut?!