PMZ 038 – Because you are cute.

Riddil is a small village with a population of around 200 people, located about two days away from the royal capital by carriage.

According to my father, there is no special product or industry, but the land is bountiful enough for its residents to feed themselves by only using the farmlands.

I’m not ready to settle down there yet, but eventually, I’ll have to. Right now, we need to go back and forth from the capital to the village.

We’re supposed to ‘just’ report our engagement to my family, but somehow, we returned home with viscount title attached to Hayato.

Hayato was looking through the reports of the last few years regarding Riddil development with a tired look after returning to his house on 15th Street.

That was one of the homework that my father had given to Hayato, saying, “The sooner you start to learn about it, the better.”

There are also instructional books on etiquette, a bookkeeping textbook, and a collection of my father’s notes for the state management affairs.

He had to learn them in a hurry from now on, which would normally take years to acquire from childhood.

Moreover, being sixteen years old, the simple mistakes that children could laugh at would not be forgiven. No one will tolerate him, even if he is a newcomer.

He was treated as such because they judged him a suitable candidate to become a noble and received a knighthood; naturally, he must and have to behave and do nobles’ job.

Many emerging nobles stumble at this point, but I don’t think Hayato will.

Looking at this fact, I’m sure anyone can understand how absurd the [Maria’s Rebellion] was.

“… it’s become a big deal, right?”

I made a cup of tea and sat down next to him.

“Oh, thanks. Yeah, this is tough.”

He has already finished reading the report. Now his free hand is hugging my shoulder while flipping through the paper at roughly 5-second intervals while his eyes keep switching between the report and the bookkeeping textbook.

“…are you able to read like that?”

“Yeah. I’ll have to reread it a few more times to get it fully into my head, but I can do it.”

What’s up with this guy?

It only takes a few more read for him to fully understand the book he said, not to mention his reading speed. It’s ludicrous.

…Well, it’s a little late to say that now.

“It seems to me that you don’t need to attend that academy….”

“Hmm, I wonder.”

That’s right, after completing the knighthood ceremony, it was decided that Hayato would be hurriedly transferred to the academy where noble children attend.

Unlike compulsory education in Japan, the academy is usually optional for two years between the ages of 13 and 15.

Occasionally, some families delay enrollment for reasons such as injury, illness, or a disaster in their territory. In that case, students will be enrolled when they are 16 or 17 years old. There were two of them when I was there. So there’s no age issue, though.

That’s where we will study magic, military arts for the boys, and home economics for the girls.

It’s an exquisite aristocratic course, such as giving attributes, distributing limited magic power for maximum efficiency, and so on, totally different from Hayato’s brute force and secret techniques.

However, since most students have already learned to some extent at home, it is more important to teach them to correct their selfish attitude through everyday group activity before they come of age.

Suppose you don’t graduate from the academy, which is a similar to a rite of passage, even if it is voluntary, you will find it difficult to be accepted in the noble society (especially for males) because of such implications.

Lav is a girl, so she doesn’t have to attend, but Hayato is different. My father says that as long as you’re going to be the head of a family, you should go even from the middle of it.

In short, all you need is the fact that you graduated.

Eventually, after turning the last page, Hayato closed the book and stretched.

“I’ve read it. I’m tired.”

“Even Hayato can get tired.”

“Of course. What do you think I am?”

“Hmmm …… super darling?”

“Huh, what’s that?”

“I mean a great boyfriend.”

“I’m not that great…I think Alice is much more awesome than me.”

“Where did that thought come from?

I’m a half-hearted person in everything. I don’t have any special skills … I’m just an ordinary person who happens to be born into a noble family.”

“No, you’re not.”

He stroked my cheek, and his face came close. I closed my eyes and… chu. I was immediately separated.

Huh?

Lips. Touched.

My lips, my lips was touched.

What the hell was that all about?

I stared at him, and he apologized with a very awkward look on his face.

“Sorry, …… I made a mistake.”

Mistake?

“I was trying to kiss your cheek, and I accidentally…”

“……unbelievable……”

I really can’t believe it. Did I lost my first kiss for that reason!?

No, I will not allow it.

Never!

“I demand a redo!”

“I’m sorry! It was an accident!”

“That’s mean! I won’t forgive you until you do it right!”

I tried to grab him by the collar, but he got away in an instant.

It was his fastest movement I’ve ever seen, and it made me angry.

“Why are you running away?”

“Because Alice is cute.”

“That’s not a reason!”

I chased after him, but he was so good at dodging, I couldn’t catch him at all. Instead, he avoided me and read my movement, and I was caught from behind, and a hand came around my neck and stomach, and I was locked in a reverse hug.

We remain as it is as a strangely gentle voice sounds in my ear.

“I’m sorry, I even surprised myself. Can you forgive me?”

The hand around my neck moves smoothly and caresses my collarbone area.

“If you’re going to kiss me, I can’t hold myself back, you know?

Turn around if you still want to.”

…unfair.

I sat down on the floor and couldn’t look up for a while.

TL notes.

Yes mostly a filler, but don’t worry next chapter we’re back on track.