The first time I left the grounds of my house was the day I was disowned. Considering my age, of course I didn’t remember much. After all, I was only three.
Oh, that’s right.
“Is it true we don’t have to visit House Duval?” I asked.
“It is. I’m your official guardian. Quinevan, your father, grumbled about it, but I put my foot down regarding this matter.”
What a relief that was. I didn’t want to go to a house I had been kicked out of.
The people of House Peylon rarely left their domain, so they didn’t have a residence in the royal capital. When they spent time in the capital, they would sleep over at the residence of House Aspozat or in the royal palace. You see, House Peylon was indispensable to the Kingdom of Ozeria. Not only did they keep the Mystic Forest in check, but the monster material trade was a big source of tax revenue.
This time, House Aspozat was offering their hospitality.
“And it’s not just me staying there, but you as well, Lera.”
“Okaaay.”
Even though I was new to the royal capital, I wasn’t too worried. House Aspozat trained their servants well; I knew they’d be kind to relatives of their lord.
After passing through the city’s main gates, we continued south along the main thoroughfare. When we reached a large four-way intersection, I looked east and saw an enormous building in the distance. That, apparently, was the royal palace.
“Before the royal capital was constructed, that spot was designated in advance as the site of the palace,” Lord Peylon said. “The surrounding areas were divided up and given to the nobility for their manors. The other side of the city was reserved for the common folk.”
So it was planned out from the start? That explains why the streets are so straight.
“The buildings of the royal capital are neatly arranged, but be careful: that actually makes it easier to get lost.”
“Okaaay,” I sang, gracefully brushing him off. Me getting lost? The idea was laughable. Even in the Mystic Forest, I had never gotten lost. I was confident in my sense of direction.
Buildings were packed together closely on both sides of the street. Dozens of other streets intersected with it, all at right angles. It was a grid plan—something I had always thought of as being an eastern thing, but this was another world after all.
Could this mean I’m not the only person reincarnated from that world?! It wouldn’t be that weird. Lord Peylon’s domain is called a “community of meatheads.” No way someone from here came up with that.
Our carriage continued southward for long enough that I began to wonder if we were going to pass through the southern gate. But just before that happened, we turned east. We continued along that road for a bit and then on the right, the side closer to the city walls, there was a tall metal fence.
Could this be the academy?
And then the carriage stopped.
“We’ve reached the academy gates,” Lord Peylon said. “We’ll walk the rest of the way.”
“All right.”
At last, the academy. Before me was the front gate, a splendid piece of metalwork. Except it was closed.
“This way,” Lord Peylon said as he opened a service entrance to the side.
Are we really allowed to just go in like this?
Extending from the gate was a well maintained stone path elegantly lined with flowers. We entered the first building we saw, and Lord Peylon began talking to the person at the front desk.
“So the headmaster isn’t present?” the earl asked.
“Our deepest apologies,” replied the person at the desk. “The headmaster was called to the royal palace on urgent business.”
“Hmm. Well, thank you. Sorry, but do you mind if I show her to the girls’ dorm?”
“Go right ahead. Shall I show you the way?”
“No need. I know where it is. We’re fine as long as we don’t go in, right?”
“Indeed.”
Lord Peylon walked back over to me.
“I’m afraid it seems the headmaster isn’t here right now. I wanted to ask him to look after you during your time here.”
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
I wasn’t going to do anything that would require the headmaster to get involved. But Lord Peylon didn’t buy it.
“Every time you say that, I find myself with a very good reason to worry.”
Can you believe this man?
Our only business at the academy was seeing the dorm. After that, our next stop would be the Aspozat residence. The dorm was made of brick and was rather eye-catching. It must have been pretty old too, because ivy covered its walls.
So I’m gonna spend the next six years in that place? Too bad I couldn’t get a glimpse inside, I thought as we returned to the front gate. We got back into our carriage and headed east for a bit before turning northward. We reached the street that ended at the royal palace and headed east again. House Aspozat’s manor was on a street not far from the royal palace.
“Right near the palace. I guess that’s only natural for a marquess,” I said.
“The Aspozat line goes a long way back,” Lord Peylon replied.
He had a point, but you could also say the same about House Peylon. Sheila wouldn’t have been able to marry Lord Aspozat otherwise.
The manor’s design was similar to every other building in the capital, letting it blend right in. Even though I had only seen them on TV in my past life, I loved buildings like these. At the exact moment our carriage stopped, the front door opened. Had servants come out to greet us?
“Uncle! Lera! Welcome to the royal capital!”
Nope. It was Colny. Behind her were her brothers, Loks and Ville. She ran up to us with a big smile, her wavy black hair fluttering in the breeze. She was just as pretty as the last time I had seen her.
“You didn’t visit earlier this summer, so I guess that means it’s been a year, huh? It’s good to see you, Colny,” Lord Peylon said.
“I’ll remind you I’m already a young lady attending the academy. I can’t make a habit of going to that community of meatheads,” Colny replied.
“Th-That so?”
Lord Peylon looked saddened to hear that from his own dear niece. But Colny was doing it on purpose. That little devil.
She smiled and turned to me. “It’s been too long! How have you been, Lera?”
“Fantastic. But I’m tired after going around in this dress.”
“You better get accustomed to it. If you go around the royal capital dressed like you do back home, you’ll quickly find yourself arrested and thrown in jail.”
“I will?!”
What a horrible place this must be if I can get arrested for that. I knew I shouldn’t have come here.
Then I heard laughter from behind Colny’s back.
“Lera, she’s lying to you,” Ville said. “Colny, Lera’s the gullible type; you shouldn’t trick her.”
“Huh? She was lying?”
“Our mean-spirited little sister enjoys teasing the people she likes,” Loks added.
“Oh, I see.”
According to Lord Peylon, Ville had just graduated from the academy. Now eighteen years old, he had long, straight black hair that he kept loosely tied back. I always wondered if his long bangs didn’t get in the way.
He was dressed like a gentleman, but I was certain he was also a sight to behold when not so dressed up. I’m referring to his muscles—his skill with magic was nothing to scoff at, but his ability to mow down monsters with a greatsword earned him respect even in Peylon.
The younger brother, Loks, had moderately long hair as well, wavier than Ville’s but not quite as much as Colny’s. While he used a lighter blade than Ville, he made up for their gap in strength in a few ways—namely, buffing himself and enchanting his weapons with magic.
He hunted by thoroughly researching a monster and targeting weaknesses with pinpoint precision. He’d even stalk them for hours for just the right moment to strike. Loks was devious—the last person you wanted for an enemy. One time, a group was trying to ship monsters they had poached in Peylon, but the fiendish Loks laid a trap and caught them all in one fell swoop.
Just like her brothers, sole sister Colny also enjoyed hunting in the Mystic Forest. She had the skill to attack from any range with magic and blade, and liked to craft accessories with the materials from her prey. Fangs and bones could be used to make something surprisingly pretty. She was also working with the institution to find ways to make cosmetics out of monster materials. She had already produced lipstick and eyeshadow, which were being sold in stores.
Upon being called a liar, Colny puffed her cheeks with indignation.
“Oh, Ville, what fun is there if you give the game away immediately? And you, Loks, how can you call me mean-spirited?”
“Well, it doesn’t change that you’re our dear little sister. Right, Loks?”
“Right. But that doesn’t make it okay to play tricks on Lera.”