3 - Let’s Go to School (Big Brother Edition)
TODAY I was going on an outing with Papa and Mama. There was going to be a class-observation event at the school my older brother and sister attended.
I wonder if the school has any rare animals as class pets.
My brother and sister’s school was a short distance from the royal palace. The first king of this country founded the royal academy, and every generation since the reigning king filled the role of school principal. It was the only school in the country designated as a royal academy rather than a public or private school. Anyone who passed the entrance exam could attend the academy regardless of social standing, and if you graduated from the royal academy, you would be regarded as a member of the elite and receive preferential treatment wherever you went.
There were various specialization tracks, including knight, magic user, beast knight, maid, government official, etc. Most graduates worked in the royal palace or at the estates of one of the noble families that governed each territory. Those who worked in the royal palace were classified as national government officials, whereas those who worked in the territories were regional government officials.
The doors of the royal academy were open to any worthy individual regardless of social status, but one specialization track was only open to the children of noble families: the elite officer class. My brother and sister were both members of the elite officer class.
I’m starting to sound sickeningly proud, like Papa.
Today my brother’s lesson would take place in the schoolyard. When we arrived, tiered seating was set up for the visiting parents. Special seating was arranged for the noble families, and the seating differed depending on the rank of the family.
The seating prepared for our family was a fluffy sofa complete with a tea set. Furthermore, a senior student from the maid class was waiting to serve us.
Don’t you think a sofa in the middle of the schoolyard is overdoing it just a bit?!
But my mother and father didn’t find this arrangement unusual; they ordered their tea as if this were perfectly normal.
Fine. When in Rome, become a Roman. I’ll play along.
I sat on the sofa with a sigh. Sipping a cup of delicious tea, I casually turned to examine the rest of the schoolyard and was shocked.
An incredible diorama was set up in the middle of the schoolyard. According to Papa, several teachers had worked together to construct it using magic. There was a mountain and a river that looked like they’d been copied and pasted from some real-life location, and on the far side of a stretch of flat ground lay a rocky area.
Compared to the real thing, the mountain must have been about 1:100 scale, but even so, the mountain’s peak was level with the roof of the five-story school building.
They’re going to use this in their lesson?! I’m so jealous; I wanna play on it too!
On each end of the diorama waited dozens of miniature soldiers about a foot tall. Constructed using a type of illusion magic, they would be the opponents for the students to fight in the upcoming battle simulation. There were several types of soldiers, including foot soldiers, officers, beast knights, and magic users. It looked just like a game of chess come to life.
Now this is what I’m talking about! Come on, fantasy world, don’t let me down now!
“Amayshing!” I said to my parents, with a smile so huge it almost took up my entire face. Mama squeezed me a little, and then Papa scooped me up in a big bear hug.
Oh no, I’m instigating his majorly uncool behavior!
Finally, it was my brother’s time to shine!
I didn’t know the first thing about fighting, but even to the eyes of an amateur like me, from the way my brother herded a group of foot soldiers until they were backed up against the mountain and the way he cast a magical booby trap in the area he’d cleared, he was obviously incredibly strong!
It didn’t take long before my brother had won.
“Walf! Shooo cool!”
Seeing how excited I was, my brother picked me up and patted my head.
Keep on patting!
It would be a while until my sister’s turn came, so we took a tour around the academy. This school was in the former royal palace building. As such, it was ridiculously huge.
…Uh-oh, nature’s calling me. Well, then…
“Walf! Neema pee-pee!”
My brother obligingly carried me into the bathroom.
I don’t need help to pee! I don’t care if you are my blood-related brother; that’s too embarrassing! Get out!
I talked my brother down and went into the stall alone.
Once I’d relieved myself, I came out to find my brother speaking with an important-looking person.
“Walf?”
“My sister’s returned, so I need to go now…”
“Your sister? She doesn’t look anything like you…”
Who does this jerk think he is? That’s an incredibly rude thing to say about someone you’ve literally just met!
“You should just get the servants to look after your sister.”
Oh? Is he the stereotypical “snobby bully” character? He seems to see Ralf as his rival, but if he genuinely thinks he’s anywhere near being in the same league as my brother, he’s seriously deluding himself.
It’s a shame he’s such a loser because he’s not all that bad-looking.
“Or maybe you plan to use her as an excuse once you’ve lost to me?”
Ka-ching! This guy is pissing me off!
“Walf’s weally stwong! Walf neber lose!”
“Psh! What would a kid know?!”
He’s laughing down his nose at us!
I’ve wondered lately if my mental age hasn’t also regressed to that of a child, but I’m almost thirty! This guy is the quintessential spoiled-rotten-rich bully. He’s got an overinflated sense of pride despite having done nothing in his life worth being proud of.
“Better than an idiot who doesn’t know his place,” I shot back.
Ralf stared at me in wide-eyed shock.
I should’ve expected that. Sorry, Ralf. Your little sister has an incredibly foul mouth. But I can’t help it; I don’t have an ounce of respect to spare for someone with absolutely no manners.
Just as suddenly, Ralf’s expression transformed into a wide smile. He looked just like Papa when he smiled like that.
“…You little brat!” the bully hissed.
Oh? Are you really about to get violent with a sweet little child? You really are a piece of crap, huh? What are they teaching at this school, anyway? Despite the fact that this is a school, it’s not okay to throw social status to the wind. Even if he were a member of another duke’s family, there’s no way he could expect to get away with being so rude to us. After all, our family has royal blood, and Papa and Ralf are in the line of succession for the throne.
Our great-grandfather was the then king’s younger brother. Generally, it was customary for the siblings of the reigning king to marry royalty from other kingdoms, thereby losing their place in the line of succession to their home country.
However, our great-grandfather had abdicated his place in the line of succession to marry our great-grandmother. At the time, it was a huge scandal, but based on current royal household law, our family was still in the line of succession.
Even though, among all the nobility, our family is second only to the royal family… Papa is like that… Sigh…
“What are you doing?”
The voice wasn’t loud but carried an air of overwhelming authority.
I have a bad feeling about this…
“Your Highness!”
I knew it! Time to hide behind my brother.
My brother and the human scum were both bowing. They wouldn’t be permitted to rise until told to do so. I stared at the ground, avoiding eye contact.
Yeah, I’m an unmannered beast. Sue me.
“At ease.”
Once His Highness gave his permission, the two boys straightened up. I remained as I was, hidden behind my brother.
“Tristan Disdall, do my eyes deceive me, or did I just see you about to strike a child?”
“By no means, my prince!”
You big, fat liar! You were so infuriated your hand was practically moving by itself!
“Is that so? In that case, why is Nefertima cowering behind her brother?”
I’m not hiding because I was afraid of being hit! I just don’t want to be captured by a demon prince!
“Your Highness, you’re acquainted with my sister?” Ralf asked, unable to hide his surprise.
“I previously found her wandering around lost in the garden of the royal palace and returned her to your father.”
“I wasn’t lost!”
Crap! My mouth just moved on its own…!
“Heh, so you’re mouthing off to me now, are you…?”
Kyaa! The demon prince is coming this way! Gotta run!
I was about to flee when a pair of strong arms lifted me off my feet in a forceful hug…