Royal Magic Academy
Translated by GXYRU
Edited by GXYRU
The Royal Magic Academy, the setting of the otome game “Romance Studies: Love School,” is located in the capital city of the Ronaudia Kingdom.
I, Arius, the son of the kingdom’s prime minister, am originally from the capital, but I’ve been traveling around the world as an adventurer for eight years. So, to ask if I’m accustomed to living in the capital, the answer is honestly a bit complicated.
The academy is situated in the center of the capital, surrounded by expansive grounds enclosed by white walls. Since it’s a boarding school, it will be my first time living on my own.
But for the past eight years, I’ve mostly been staying in inns and taking care of things myself. So, living alone isn’t a big deal for me at this point.
“This is my room, huh?”
The small room was filled with just a bed, a desk, a bookshelf, and a small closet.
The dormitories within the academy grounds are divided into separate buildings for boys and girls, and further divided into sections for nobles and commoners.
The noble’s rooms are like suites in a hotel, with enough space for servants and maids to stay together. But I don’t need any servants, and I chose a room in the commoner’s section because I find it easier to clean when it’s smaller. Of course, that’s just an excuse. The real reason is that I find living with nobles to be a hassle.
“The Ronaudia Kingdom was founded 826 years ago, in the 108th year of the continent’s history, by the first King Braun Stalion…”
It has been a week since I enrolled in the academy. To be honest, the classes at the academy are boring.
The magic, swordsmanship, and mathematics classes are too low-level for me, and as for geography and history, I’ve already studied them on my own and know the latest world affairs. I’ve also learned foreign languages through practical experience.
I don’t like wasting time on useless things. So, I’ve decided to do some work during class.
The only benefit of attending the academy is the freedom to borrow books from the library, which has an extensive collection. Knowledge never goes to waste, so I spend my time during classes reading books.
I suppose it could be said that there’s no point in attending the academy if I continue like this, but that’s not entirely true.
There is meaning in experiencing academy life itself. Well, it’s more about experiencing various troublesome things.
“Arius, you really love books. But you have to pay attention in class,” a cheerful and handsome golden-haired guy said as he approached during lunch break. This guy is Erik Stalion, the first prince of the Ronaudia Kingdom and one of the capture targets in the otome game “Romance Studies: Love School.”
“Yeah, I’ll handle it. If the content becomes a bit more interesting, I’ll listen attentively,” I replied.
Erik is a member of the royal family, but he doesn’t act all high and mighty. He’s a friendly and nice guy, to the point where you can’t even think of him as a capture target in an otome game… No, in the game, Erik was exactly like that, always focused on romance and thinking about women. But in reality, Erik doesn’t mind being called by his first name and spoken to casually. He doesn’t even make a single unpleasant face when I talk to him in a casual manner.
Well, Erik and I are childhood friends, to some extent. Until I became an adventurer at the age of seven, I used to attend social events, so I’ve met him many times since
We were kids.
From the very beginning, my father Darius told me that I was supposed to become Erik’s prime minister in the future. So, while Erik was being observed by me, he also remembers a lot about me from back then.
Perhaps it’s because of that familiarity, but Erik has a friendly attitude toward everyone, and he has been a good guy since childhood.
He’s not just a good guy; he’s also a sharp and unpredictable person. But it doesn’t mean he’s cunning, so I don’t dislike him.
The problem lies with the entourage around him.
“Arius, what’s with that attitude towards Prince Erik? You’re also the son of Prime Minister Gilbert, so you should understand your position,” one of the entourage complained. Well, to call him just an entourage would be an understatement. This guy is Magnus Crawford, the son of the head of the Crawford Duke Family, one of the three major ducal families in the kingdom.
Since my father, Darius, is a marquis, Magnus’s father’s title is higher.
“Magnus, it’s fine with me. I told Arius to stop using formal language with me,” Erik said.
“But, Prince Erik…”
“You said it’s fine for you to use casual language with me, right?”
“No, Your Highness. I absolutely cannot do that,” I said firmly.
To Erik’s entourage, my casual way of speaking and my refusal to join Erik’s faction despite being the prime minister’s son must be irritating.
Although the academy claims that students are equal regardless of their social status, these guys have brought their noble factional disputes right into the academy.
“Ragnus, you’re so uptight. Let’s end this conversation and I’ll invite everyone for lunch to foster camaraderie,” Erik said.
As a member of the royal family, Erik has a dedicated salon within the academy, where royal chefs prepare lunch every day.
Inviting other students is a customary event, and in the game, having lunch with Erik is one of the events that increases your favorability.
“What about you, Arius?” Erik asked.
“Nah, I prefer eating alone. I’ll pass,” I replied.
I only went along with it on the first day, but what’s the point of raising Erik’s favorability?
In the game, the entourage’s lines are not depicted, but in reality, they constantly talk about how to please Erik, and it’s annoying. Erik himself smiled wryly, though.
“Arius, you always do that!”
“That’s enough, Ragnus. Can’t you stop with that? Arius, let’s have a meal together another time,” Erik suggested.
“Yeah, if I feel like it,” I said.
If I spend any more time with them, I won’t have time to eat lunch. I end the conversation and leave the classroom.
I head to the cafeteria for regular students. It’s a hall with table seating like a food court, and academy students can have lunch here for free.
I grab a lunch plate and sit at an available seat. Today’s menu is chicken sauté, potato salad, and corn potage. It’s a surprisingly common menu, but the taste of the food here isn’t bad.
I eat my meal without talking to anyone. It’s true that I prefer eating alone, but it’s also true that I don’t have any friends.
About 80% of the academy students are children of nobles, and there’s no one who shares common interests with me, an adventurer.
But that’s not the only reason. With my silver hair inherited from my father Darius and my ice-blue eyes inherited from my mother Leia, I, Arius, have high physical specifications. Because I’m a capture target in this otome game. That’s why I’m annoyed by the intense gazes of girls and the jealous gazes of boys.
Considering the fact that I’m actually 40 years old when combined with my previous life, where I died at the age of 25, I have no intention of getting involved with teenage girls who are attracted to me solely for my looks or with those who only think about romance.
The same goes for jealous boys. They’re too childish for me to bother with.
Moreover, since I’m the son of the prime minister, no one openly picks a fight with me. My father, Darius, became the prime minister from the lowest knight baron rank, so there are people who talk behind my back, calling me an upstart. And there are many who mock me for being an adventurer for eight years and being ignorant of social circles.
Well, honestly, I don’t care about those who are satisfied with themselves by looking down on others. If they seriously want to pick a fight, I’ll oblige.
Suddenly, I notice someone else eating alone like me.
At the back of the cafeteria, sitting alone at a large table, is one of the few people I know.
She’s Noel Bart, a plain girl with glasses and braided
hair. Both Noel and I frequent the library, so we naturally became acquainted.
Noel gives off the impression of a book-loving girl, and she’s still reading a book while having her meal.
I didn’t see her when I was looking for a seat earlier, so she must have come to the cafeteria later.
Well, I don’t really feel like moving and eating together now. That’s why I adhere to my principle of eating alone.
I intended to quickly finish my meal and leave the cafeteria. But before that, an incident occurs.
“Hey, commoner… Who gave you permission to sit at our table without our consent?” echoes a hysterical voice in the cafeteria. I look over and see Noel surrounded by noble girls.
※ ※ ※ ※
Arius Gilbert, 15 years old
Level: ????
HP: ????
MP: ????
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