Ch.5151. Too Childish for an Adult

# The Imperial Service

The imperial service was a burden in itself for a commoner like me.

Honestly, while they’re servants in the palace, they’re all nobles who hold at least a baron’s rank outside. I’d guess they’re all counts at minimum.

Plus, since they all adore Celia, I figured they wouldn’t look kindly on some random commoner who appeared out of nowhere.

But whether Celia had put in a good word or not, they were all extremely attentive to me.

It was so extreme that when I mentioned skipping breakfast, I was bombarded with questions.

Was the bed uncomfortable? Was I feeling unwell? Would I like some light soup instead? The questions just kept coming.

I just didn’t want to eat, that’s all. No particular reason.

I ended up eating anyway, thinking it would be more troublesome if I didn’t.

I never imagined I’d be so drained just over breakfast.

Thanks to that meal, I was now wide awake.

Since I couldn’t go back to sleep, I decided to read the book I’d fallen asleep with yesterday.

Let’s see… I only got through a few pages before falling asleep, so I’m still at the very beginning.

Figuring it would just be unnecessary world-building, I skipped ahead a bit.

-The stars distributed across the vast expanse cannot be proven finite from an observational perspective…

-When applying this fact to the fluid geometric mana distribution relationship theory recently established by academic research…

-Thus, we can see that this formless energy resembles the components of mana and also transcends the shape divergence transformation problem that was previously considered a limitation of mana.

…Is this really a novel? Did I accidentally pick up some academic paper?

This was the only somewhat comprehensible part; the rest was completely beyond my understanding.

I wonder what Celia finds so interesting that she’s read this multiple times.

I flipped through a few more pages, and it seemed the protagonist was finally appearing and the story beginning, but my concentration was already completely shattered by that one page.

*Thud.*

I closed the book and took a quick shower in the guest room’s bathroom.

Since the clothes I wore yesterday were torn, I changed into the attire prepared in the guest room.

Hmm… so this is what imperial guests wear. It seems a bit too fancy for walking around.

Honestly, it only looks decent because of this body’s appearance. With any less, it would look ridiculous.

Well… I suppose this level of extravagance is normal for those invited as imperial guests.

Having no other options, I wore those clothes and stepped outside.

I had planned to stay holed up until the afternoon, but a servant informed me that the Crown Prince wanted to see me.

The area outside the guest room was basically the first-floor hall.

It was a burdensome position where I’d have to face many people as soon as I stepped out.

“Lord Ludion. Good morning.”

“I told you to treat me casually.”

“It’s the Imperial Princess’s orders…”

What kind of orders did she give to make everyone so subservient?

Seeing how they follow her instructions even when she’s not around shows they’re truly professional. I suppose maintaining such positions requires exceptional social skills.

Besides, retaliating against someone just because you don’t like them isn’t the behavior of a mature adult.

As I was trying to slip away, someone approached and addressed me.

“I heard the commotion and came to see… Well, what an honored guest we have.”

The Crown Prince, the imperial family’s eldest son, had personally arrived.

“We can’t let a guest wander alone. Follow me.”

“…Yes.”

He approached me with a composed, superior attitude as if nothing had happened between us. I decided to follow him naturally, as it seemed like a good way to escape the servants.

However… perhaps because of how I had sent him flying yesterday evening, there was a noticeable awkwardness between us.

The place the Crown Prince led me to was a reception room used for greeting guests.

He casually indicated the seat across from him, so I went over and sat down. Oh, this sofa is incredibly comfortable.

As I was admiring the quality of the sofa, he spoke.

“I acknowledge your skill. While I don’t possess tremendous combat ability, I was among the top students at the academy. This is quite embarrassing. But I suppose that’s why you emerged unscathed from your duel with Lord Lux.”

“I’m truly sorry about yesterday. I… failed to control myself properly.”

“No, it’s fine. It happened because I acted rashly.”

Despite what had happened to him, he showed no resentment or sense of inferiority toward me.

These people may be obsessed with Celia, but they’re decent individuals, which makes it impossible to dislike them.

“Still, Celia belongs to us.”

“…Pardon?”

“I discussed this with my brothers yesterday, and we simply cannot accept it. I acknowledge your talents, but we cannot forgive you for taking our Celia away. Celia is our family.”

As the Crown Prince said this, the reception room door suddenly burst open, and two men strode in confidently.

I didn’t need to look to know who they were. The second and third princes.

“Well said, brother!”

“No matter how strong he is, he’s just a commoner. Let’s show him that strength isn’t everything!”

What are they saying? I was just thinking they were decent people.

Suddenly, I remembered what Celia had told me in the carriage on the way to the palace.

-“If my brothers become troublesome… just run away. They’re all so stubborn that there’s no end to it if you try to accommodate them.”

When I heard that, I thought, “Surely not,” and “Even if they did, how could I act that way toward royalty?” But now that I was actually facing them, I felt an overwhelming urge to flee.

But I held back for now, just to hear what they had to say.

They pulled out a scroll and unrolled it in front of me.

“First, look at this test list we’ve prepared.”

A test? Is it similar to the Knight Order’s “Qualities of a Man Worthy of the Princess” list?

With that thought, I read the contents and couldn’t help but be shocked.

-Daily Test Schedule for Those Who Wish to Stay with Our Celia

-10:00 AM: Poison Resistance Training

-11:00 AM: Knight Order’s Hell Training

-12:00 PM: Listen to Celia’s Praise Song, Memorize Lyrics, and Sing Along

-1:00 PM: Lunch

-2:00 PM: Endure Fire Magic for One Hour

-3:00 PM: Duel with the Royal Guard Captain

-4:00 PM: Endure Water Magic for One Hour

-5:00-7:00 PM: Duel with the Knight Commander

-7:00 PM: Dinner

-8:00 PM-12:00 AM: Knight Order’s Hell Training (5 Sets)

-12:00 AM: Bedtime

…What is this, some military schedule made by elementary schoolers? Aren’t you all grown adults? This is too childish.

And what’s this “Celia’s Praise Song”? Why does such a thing exist?

I’m curious and would like to learn it, but to do so I’d have to endure poison resistance training and the Knight Order’s hell training, so I decided to live without knowing.

Yes, I chose to run away.

*Slam!*

I quickly opened the window and jumped outside. It was a bit high for a first floor, but my stats weren’t completely terrible, so it was manageable.

“Brother! He’s escaping!”

“You scoundrel! Where do you think you’re going? Brothers, after him!”

The second and third princes threw themselves out the window after me and began chasing me frantically.

The Crown Prince didn’t jump out the window but stood there watching me like some mastermind. What’s he up to?

For now, I focused on escaping.

My specs might be lacking compared to this world’s standards, but these men had graduated from the academy with excellent grades. I don’t know what their agility stat was, but they were quite fast.

I was managing to escape using dash cancels and other techniques, but it was clear I’d be caught soon at this rate.

So I… changed direction toward where Celia might be.

The current time was late morning. Well past breakfast time.

After finishing breakfast with her parents, there was only one place Celia would go.

“Where is he suddenly heading?”

“Judging by the direction, he’s going toward the greenhouse!”

“That’s where Celia is right now!”

Having confirmed the correct answer from their own mouths, all that remained was to run there.

They seemed puzzled by my sudden change in direction, but soon realized I was holding their scroll in one hand and, understanding everything, became extremely urgent.

“He’s taking the schedule to Celia!”

“That’s unforgivable!”

Judging by their reaction, they must know this schedule is insane.

As I continued running, the scent of flowers grew stronger.

Considering that the exterior of the greenhouse was filled with flowering ornamental plants, I knew I was approaching my destination.

Sure enough, a well-maintained greenhouse appeared ahead.

I was almost caught, but having come this far, victory was mine.

I opened the greenhouse entrance and threw myself inside. The Emperor, Empress, and Celia, who were enjoying tea time inside, looked up in surprise.

“Ludion? What brings you here so suddenly…?”

I placed the scroll in Celia’s questioning hand and immediately dashed back outside.

As I passed the two men who had been chasing me, they saw the scroll being handed to Celia and stopped in their tracks, expressing despair.

“This can’t be happening.”

“We’re finished.”

Don’t act like the world is ending just because she saw that.

And if you didn’t want to be embarrassed, you shouldn’t have created such a thing in the first place.

“…What is this?”

“Celia. That’s…”

“What exactly is this ‘Celia’s Praise Song’ written here?”

“…”

“I can tell from the handwriting that the second brother wrote this. Why can’t you answer?”

“I’m touched that you recognize my handwriting, sister.”

“Don’t change the subject. Answer me quickly.”

They seemed to be having some conversation, but as I moved farther away, I couldn’t hear a single word.

Whatever it was, it probably wasn’t a pleasant discussion.

‘They brought this on themselves.’

With that thought, I completely left the scene.

Just when I thought I was finally alone, the Crown Prince appeared again, blocking my path.

“Hehe, I anticipated this and didn’t chase after you.”

Is this guy completely insane? Did he sacrifice his brothers?

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you misunderstand. I had nothing to do with that schedule.”

“But earlier, you spoke as if you had planned it together…”

I almost responded casually without thinking, but the Crown Prince replied without seeming to care.

“I said that because I thought you would fall into my trap by following my words. And you did.”

…So he didn’t sacrifice them but set them up.

For what purpose did he do such a thing? The Crown Prince began to explain his reason.

“There’s only one reason I called for you, Ludion. It’s… hmm, well…”

He seemed a bit embarrassed by his own thoughts and hesitated before carefully continuing.

“Could you teach me the technique you used on me yesterday?”

Um… I’m sorry, but that might be difficult.

I don’t know why it works either; I just use it without understanding the principles.

“Please, I beg you! Couldn’t we at least try?”

“This is really pointless… but alright. Let’s go somewhere private.”

I finally decided to give in, thinking he wouldn’t give up until he experienced failure firsthand.

What a tiresome person…