episode_0004

I found a strange fellow.

If someone is sitting in a corner of a restaurant wearing pajamas, eating with sleepy eyes, it’s common for one’s eyebrows to furrow.

But that wasn’t the case with this guy.

In his airy white pajamas and sky-blue hair, which even I, who can boast of meeting all kinds of people, had never seen before, there was no sense of mystery, but enough curiosity to pique my interest.

As I approached with my food, I heard the fellow muttering something strange.

“Is it really good…?”

With a face full of laughter lines, like a fool, staring at that smiling face, I couldn’t help but speak first.

“What’s so good about it?”

Turning his head to look at me upon hearing my voice, the fellow blinked a few times after a moment of hesitation.

Seeing no particular reaction, it seemed he didn’t know who I was, leading me to the conclusion that he wasn’t a noble.

Well, if he were a noble, especially a noble with such a unique hair color, I would have surely noticed.

Trying to make sense of it, the fellow chuckled and nodded at me with a smile.

“Oh, I just had a good thought…”

“Formal language?”

Should I use formal language when he doesn’t even know who I am? Commoners who haven’t been educated usually start with informal speech, and since I was much more accustomed to that, I was momentarily taken aback and asked,

To which he promptly replied,

“You looked noble.”

Whether being called noble was a compliment or not, one thing was certain.

“…You’re weird.”

He was a strange fellow indeed.

Blatantly calling me noble while using formal language was almost like declaring he wasn’t noble himself.

There was no sense of fear or such emotions; instead, there was a sense of confidence.

“There’s nothing strange about it.”

Well, he might say there’s nothing strange about himself, but he was clearly a peculiar fellow.

I stared at him intently.

His fair skin, sleepy eyes, and overly expressive face gave off a feeling that everything might fall apart if touched wrongly.

Based on looks alone, one could say he was a masterpiece crafted over several years, perhaps a lifetime.

But that expression was ruining everything.

And the clothes he was wearing…

“…But why pajamas?”

Even if he was a commoner, if he was entering an academy, one would expect him to have basic common sense.

When I questioned the oddity of coming to a restaurant in pajamas, he answered without hesitation as if there was no room for doubt.

“It’s bothersome to change, and it’s comfortable, isn’t it?”

“I see…”

Feeling like my common sense was being challenged, I sighed and shook my head,

As if he had taken an interest in me, he approached and casually introduced himself with sleepy eyes.

“Since we’ve met, shall we exchange names? I’m Ria.”

Ria, Ria, Ria…

Certainly, a name not stored in my memory.

It’s hard to believe I would forget such a unique fellow.

“…No family name?”

“No, I’m a fallen noble.”

“Aren’t you ashamed?”

It wasn’t a malicious remark.

Originally, those who lost their abilities and were stripped of their noble status considered it very shameful to be known as fallen nobles,

They would rather call themselves commoners, but rarely would they openly admit to being fallen nobles.

It was just a comment uttered out of unfamiliarity with such reactions.

“I didn’t fall due to my own fault, did I?”

To my words, the fellow didn’t seem embarrassed or upset, just casually responding as if stating the obvious.

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

I, too, had been thinking along those lines.

Losing one’s abilities as a noble was a natural phenomenon that no one had been able to explain.

There is no reason to be ashamed of it.

Even by the kingdom’s law, it was only appropriate to confiscate the achievements and titles given according to one’s abilities, as those abilities were no longer present.

Isn’t it because it was wrong that punishment was carried out?

“Yes, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

It was certainly a good thing that such confident individuals still existed among the fallen nobles.

In this world, there are those who commit wicked deeds and yet carry themselves confidently.

For those who have committed no wrongs, not being able to carry themselves confidently is a wrongful act.

“But, I revealed my name, and you didn’t. Please tell me quickly.”

He immediately stuck close to me, striking a ridiculous pose, urging me to reveal myself, and I, pleased with his earlier response, readily disclosed my name.

“…My name is Deron, Deron Asilia.”

The second prince of the kingdom.

That was my true identity.

A brief silence lingered.

I eagerly awaited the moment when this strange lad would realize my identity and how he would react.

Would he tremble like the others?

Would he be afraid like the others?

Although the lad’s words, breaking the silence of about twenty seconds, indicated the latter, something was different.

“…Ah, yes, it was an honor to meet you until now, let’s not meet again. Goodbye!”

As he stuffed his mouth with food from the plate and fled, I found myself staring at him blankly before unknowingly starting to chase after him.

What kind of reaction was that?

While I could have expected a reaction where he feared me, the lad seemed quite different.

His drowsy, blurry expression suddenly stiffened, even to me, it was frightening.

Does he know me?

No, if he knew me, then I should know him, but I did not know him.

Did he realize my princely status and flee?

No, although it was a short conversation, it was enough to understand his character.

He was not the type to act differently based on social status.

Despite thinking about it, one question arose amidst chasing after him due to his exaggerated reaction.

“…Is he really running?”

He’s incredibly slow.

It was almost questionable if he was actually running.

Perhaps he was trying to attract my attention by pretending to flee, but he didn’t seem smart enough for that.

Maybe that was his best effort.

Honestly, if that was his actual running speed, it was a bit pitiful.

Moreover, if he ran off after preparing the meal like that, he was bound to spill it.

…And sure enough.

Just about three minutes later, he stumbled into the second garden.

“…Slow in running and poor stamina?”

Well, there’s everything.

Is that even possible for a living being?

“Surely he won’t pretend not to know after speaking so coldly?”

Finding it hard to watch him mutter to himself, I responded to his soliloquy.

“I’m sorry for being clueless.”

“…Excuse me?”

What excuse?

I looked down at the lad, who was trembling like a newborn deer, and he seemed flustered, mumbling softly.

“…No, why? No, I heard what you said?”

“Yeah.”

If he couldn’t even notice that I was following him, perhaps he was dull in more ways than one.

What exactly is wrong with this kid?

He was no different from luxurious items full of extravagance, beautiful on the outside but shoddy inside.

Whether he read my thoughts or not, he stared at me with a vacant expression.

Even though my princely status had been revealed, there was no way to dismiss his impolite gaze.

If he saw me in that light, what was the issue?

“Is it impolite to stare?”

“My stomach hurts….”

Eating and running like that, anyone’s stomach would hurt.

As I pondered how to deal with this absurd and curious lad, he asked earnestly.

“Why are you chasing me?”

“Why did you follow me?”

There were several reasons, but among them, the biggest reason was no different from the beginning.

“Well? Curiosity?”

I wondered what this guy was up to.

Without any grand reasons, that was all there was to it.

“I’m just a very ordinary… No, not ordinary, just a rather cute girl. There’s nothing that would pique the curiosity of someone like a prince.”

Don’t people usually refrain from calling themselves cute?

What about all that overflowing self-love and confidence?

Seriously speaking, she was indeed pretty, but hearing her say that made me reluctant to acknowledge it so easily.

What should I say?

It’s not that I feel bad, but I feel like teasing her.

“Hey, do you know that just by saying those words, you’re greatly stimulating my curiosity?”

This was also a feeling I was experiencing for the first time, and that’s why it emerged out of curiosity as well.

Taking a deep breath at my response, he passed by me, then came back to me and started talking seriously.

Unlike his vague expression before, he now had a somewhat solemn look.

“My stomach is really hurting right now.”

…What is he talking about?

“So?”

“Is it because of you, Prince?”

“Why would it be?”

Is he trying to demand something strange?

Money or something?

As I furrowed my brow at the incomprehensible words, he looked at me, lowered his voice inappropriately, and set the mood.

“So, could you show me the direction to the dormitory? Since you’re already telling me, it would be even better if you could take me there.”

…Huh.

Seriously, what kind of situation is this?

It wasn’t like he was demanding something like money or using my position.

No matter how much I thought about it, there was something odd about him.

“Well, there’s nothing I can’t do.”

Yeah, there was nothing I couldn’t do.

As I glanced at him sneakily, he looked like he was sweating coldly and genuinely in pain, so I allowed it, and his expression once again became vague.

Watching him like that quietly…

Sigh…

A sigh escaped me.

As we headed towards the dormitory with him, we exchanged various stories.

Rather than satisfying my curiosity about him through our conversation, it only intensified into a strange experience.

For instance, despite showing kindness such as giving me a high-quality parchment map only given to nobles, he dared to doubt that I had memorized the map and casually brought up issues.

Even though he knew I was a prince, he spoke formally and showed no particular difficulty.

After walking for a longer time than usual due to his short strides, we arrived in front of the dormitory.

He grumbled at me and then bowed politely, offering his thanks.

“Thank you anyway. Let’s not meet again next time! Oh! It’s not that I particularly dislike you, Prince, so don’t misunderstand!”

Despite his polite gesture, his words felt awkward, and he quickly hid his appearance as if fleeing into the dormitory.

“…Strange guy.”

His name was Lia, right?

I should remember that.

He was a strange guy, but also quite amusing in his own way.

“But, can we really not meet again?”

All first-year students have common classes, don’t they?

I gazed silently at the closed door of the dormitory where Lia disappeared.

“Is he really a fool?”

Hmm…

Maybe I should pay a little more attention to him if we meet again next time.