episode_0000

People often dream of a life of power, sitting on the highest seat and issuing commands.

Yet, few would willingly bear the exhaustion and responsibility hidden beneath that seat’s lavish upholstery.

In the end, what most imagine as power is the ability to command money and subordinates with a snap of their fingers—but how many are truly willing to take responsibility with every click of the mouse?

In my past life, I was one of those people. Even after being reborn as a noble in this medieval-style world and inheriting a barony, that tendency didn’t change.

On top of that, my past life was that of an ordinary history student—no exceptional talent for management, no interest in politics.

The territory I inherited was nothing more than a rural village in the sticks, and even if I tried to develop it using half-baked modern knowledge, such a poor fief would take decades to show results. I didn’t have the patience to cling to that alone.

In the end, the life plan I, Baron Hebel—Werner von Hebel—chose was to become a loyal vassal to my liege, “Margrave of Ruticia” Albert von Beletia, and live off the crumbs that fell from his table.

Fortunately, my liege was not only around my age but also had a good personality, treating even a lowly subordinate like me with familiarity.

Thanks to the few bits of help I gave him as we grew up, I was even honored with this offer:

“Werner. I’ll soon be heading to the capital to enroll at the Sponheim Academy. If you’re interested, why not come with me? Ah, if tuition is a concern, don’t worry. I can cover that much.”

“Is that truly alright? Thank you!”

“No need for thanks. You’ve done things for me before. This is cheap in comparison.”

Of course, what I’d done for him was nothing more than offering minor help in a few situations…

But regardless, I became something like a friend to my liege—a loyal vassal, and now even an academy classmate.

What’s more, Sponheim Academy was renowned as the empire’s finest, a place where simply graduating meant you wouldn’t be looked down upon anywhere.

If I just avoided screwing up from here on out, I could’ve lived a fairly comfortable life with this kind-hearted high noble as my solid backer…

“Truly, it’s a tremendous loss for someone like you to remain in another faculty! Now, quickly, let’s go submit your transfer papers to the Military Studies Department! This isn’t a suggestion—it’s an order!”

Somehow, through strange circumstances, I seemed to have firmly caught the attention of “Charlotte Laura von Ahenmetis”… Her Imperial Highness, the princess of the empire.

The reason?

Simply because I gave some advice when my margrave was terrible at a game. That’s all.