Chapter 72
All three of them are in the civil officer class, so starting from the second year, they will move to the class they've chosen.
"Celes, you're not planning to switch to the civil officer class, right?"
"I'll probably stay as I am."
In the martial officer class and special class, there's only ranking without class reorganization, but those who feel they can't keep up with the training or have other aspirations can change classes.
So, Uncle Ruget hasn't given up on the civil officer class yet, and according to my brother Roberto, he's asked his two sons to persuade me.
"I'm planning to go into administration or accounting. I decided from the start on something that would help me take over the family business."
"Ellie, you're only staying until military school, right?"
"After graduation, I'll start as an apprentice in the Royal Capital. Lilin, are you taking over the tea shop?"
"My older sister and her husband will take over the shop, so I'm... going for a soldier. I'm interested in machinery-related stuff."
"Lilin's going for soldier, and Luna?"
"I also have two older brothers, so even if I wanted to take over the blacksmith shop, I can't. But I don't have anything I want to do in the civil officer class either, so I considered the martial officer class, but after seeing Celes, I gave up on that."
"Me...? I should still be doing only the basic stuff, though."
"You passed those basics at the fastest rate, and after swordsmanship training late every day, you still join physical training, right? I can't do that."
"Just the basics are more than enough for me. Oh, but! I heard a lot of people are switching to the martial officer class because of Ivan Tseli?"
"From Ralph?"
"Yeah... though it's apparently a rumor among the noble students a year above us. They say it's all anyone talks about in the dorms."
"Having the endorsement of a Former Knight Commander is a title anyone would want. But the training is definitely too tough, and they'll drop out for sure."
"Still, with so many nobles joining this year, next year will probably be even more intense, right? Will they make another special class?"
"This year it's because Celes is here, isn't it? If upper-class nobles join, they might split the classes, but that doesn't happen often. Oh, that pancake is mine."
"It'd be better to split the classes to avoid conflicts, though. Please pass that to the person across from me."
The ordered items were placed on the table one after another, and a large white plate was set in front of me too. On top of the fluffy, two-layered pancake was a generous heap of whipped cream. Around the cake, there were lots of apple slices shaped like rabbits, and a red sauce was drizzled over everything.
Not just the amount, but the sweet smell was so strong even without bringing my face close that I frowned and decided to order another cup of tea.
"Mmph, if more nobles join... mm, there might be a chance to marry up."
Ellie, who had stuffed her mouth with a big piece of pancake slathered with cream, mumbled with her mouth full, while Luna and Lilin simultaneously shook their heads with disgusted expressions.
"I used to fantasize about dreamy stuff like that too, you know? We never had the chance to meet noble young ladies, and the closest rich person was Ellie, right? So, if all the young ladies in the Royal Capital were like Ellie, I thought we might have a chance."
"Mmph...!? Wha...?"
"Hey, Ellie. Swallow before you talk, okay?"
"Even Ellie is plenty pretty and elegant compared to us, you know? But..."
Snap...! Luna pointed her fork at me, and I instinctively grabbed her wrist gently and lowered it. That's bad manners.
"Celes is on a whole different level, right? Ahh, so this is the real deal. There's no way nobles who are used to someone this amazing would ever look at us. We're just like decorations around here."
"Plus, when you see the nobles at military school... well, they're not all the gentlemanly types we imagined."
"I get it. Oh, Celes's cousins are an exception, okay? Those two are on another level, like princes or something!"
"Seeing them turn bright red and get all tangled up with Celes made any admiration or fantasies disappear in an instant."
While continuing the conversation without stopping their hands, the pancakes on the three girls' plates disappeared in no time, and as I stared in astonishment at the scene, I stopped my knife at the question, "What kind of person is Celes's fiancé?"
"Since he's Celes's fiancé, he must be amazing! Handsome, kind, and full of understanding—a perfect person. Someone who whispers love in your ear instead of a greeting, the kind of person who embodies every maiden's ideal. If he's not like that, I won't forgive him...!"
"Ellie, don't tear the napkin."
"So, what kind of person is he?"
"What kind... He's the second son of a Marquis family."
Maybe because I paused for a moment, the three of them looked at me strangely, so I added, "And he has a cute appearance."
"Oh no... He's someone who only leaves an impression based on family background and looks."
"Isn't that just how arranged marriages are? No matter how you look at it, there's no man better than Celes."
"It's clear you have no interest in him at all, right?"
I gave an ambiguous smile at Lilin's words about my lack of interest.
Since it's a provisional engagement, it could be dissolved depending on future circumstances, and if something comes up, either side could propose to end it...
"Maybe I'm a cold person...!?"
As I muttered that, Luna slapped me on the back, Ellie threw shredded napkin bits at me, and Lilin scolded the two while directing an angry look at me.
"To make Celes say something like this—if I were a man, I'd buy a peerage and propose to her!"
"What a waste of money."
"Can you even buy a peerage at the Marquis level?"
"No way!"
"That's impossible."
As I gave a wry smile, thinking that no matter how much money one has, becoming a Marquis is impossible, Lilin, who had been calming Ellie as she pounded the table with her fist, suddenly looked up and stared at me.
"If you could buy a peerage with money, I'd want one, no matter what kind. After graduating from military school, I won't be able to see Celes anymore..."
She's always a lovely girl, but when she says something so adorable, a smile naturally forms on my face.
"If you send me a letter, I'll come to see you anytime, okay?"
When I continued, saying it's not just polite words but my true feelings, Lilin, with a delighted expression, held her cheeks with both hands and nodded slightly.
"Geez...! You're so cool that all the real men pale in comparison!"
"Seriously. It's definitely Celes's fault if we miss our chance to marry."
"The seniors in the dorm said something similar. Honestly, it feels like there's no one amazing besides Celes and her cousins."
As I struggled with the pancakes that never seemed to diminish no matter how much I ate, the conversation kept veering in strange directions.
And why are they including me in the category of men?
"What about third-year Ober Lafore-senpai?"
"I think he's the third son of a Baron family, but he doesn't act superior and is kind to commoners, so he's well-liked, right?"
"I think aspiring to be a Military Doctor is also part of his popularity. I heard he's an excellent student too."
Finally finishing the first pancake, I washed down the sweetness in my mouth with tea. Reaching for the second cup of tea I had ordered earlier, Lilin, who met my gaze, called the waiter to order a third cup for me.
"Hmm, what about that guy? The one Celes has been chasing around lately, Finn Scott!"
"Chasing... around, I guess I am."
I tried to correct the misunderstanding, but I'm aware that I've indeed been pursuing Finn despite their obvious discomfort.
Finn Scott, the son of the Colonel at Lekui Fortress in the east.
Finn, with a quiet demeanor and a girlish appearance, has often been alone since enrollment and doesn't seem to have any close friends.
The day after Harrison, the instructor, asked me to help, I approached Finn as usual while they were reading by the window seat, but either they were too absorbed in the book to hear me, or they thought I wasn't addressing them. Finn didn't move a muscle or respond, so I lightly tapped their desk with my fist and called their name.
'...Eek!?'
Finn cautiously lifted their face from the book and, upon meeting my eyes, let out a thin, scream-like sound. Worried that I might have scared them, I tried to smile reassuringly, but Finn's face contorted, their eyes welling up as if they were about to cry.
For some reason, even though I hadn't done anything, a wave of guilt washed over me, and I slowly raised both hands.
'I'm Celestia Rotisch. We haven't spoken before, so... huh?'
I introduced myself, hoping to start a light conversation and build from there.
However, Finn, trembling with their red lips tightly pressed together, bolted down the hallway with the speed of a startled rabbit.
'...'
Standing in front of the empty seat by the window with my hands still raised, I glanced at Billy nearby, wondering what had just happened. Billy's face had turned pale, and they were shaking their head rapidly.
Looking toward Sil and Severi for help, I saw Sil clutching their stomach and laughing loudly, while Severi was covering their mouth, desperately trying to hold back laughter.
But I'm not so delicate as to give up here.
Naturally, every break time before class started, I spoke to Finn when they returned, but Finn, like a frightened rabbit, remained silent with teary eyes.
Despite my concern about whether they could handle the martial officer class, Harrison told me that Finn ranks high in academic tests and is close to passing basic physical training.
If not for their extreme shyness, Finn could become an excellent soldier like their father.
'What a waste.'
I've been gauging the distance while observing them, but I've decided not to hold back anymore.
Sil found it terrifying to see me elegantly chasing after Finn with a smile, and Severi scolded me to stop cornering Finn in the hallway and trapping them with my arms to prevent escape.
I've never managed to have a proper conversation with Finn, and recently, Harrison pitied me, saying I've started to look like a bad guy harassing a delicate young girl, but I'm completely serious about trying to communicate.
"If not a noble, then a commoner? Isn't there anyone?"
"What about Ellie's childhood friend? Ralph is pretty popular too, right?"
"I don't want a guy aspiring to be a soldier. I need someone who can help make the family business thrive. Ideally, a commoner with connections to nobles!"
"At the commoner level, there are no connections."
"That might be tough."
When I quietly placed a pancake on Ellie's plate as she hung her head in disappointment, her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Celes, you must have a type of guy you like, right?"
"Ivan Tseli."
Without hesitation, I named the person I admire.
"No way, Celes is blushing...!?"
"You're so consistent."
"After actually interacting with him, didn't you ever feel like he was a bit different from what you thought?"
"Even Sil and Severi were completely smitten. Everything about him was perfect."
"W-Well, it's true that seeing him in person was beyond the rumors! That refreshing smile did make my heart skip a beat a little!"
"For me, his gentlemanly behavior makes me feel all tingly and awkward..."
"I'm with Luna on this; I think I prefer Fielde over Tseli."
"Most of the few girls at the military school are on Team Fielde, right?"
"Yeah. That wild, seductive smile of his..."
While Tseli is overwhelmingly more popular among women in social circles, among those connected to the military, Grandfather reigns supreme with unmatched popularity.
"Compared to knights, soldiers are more relatable since we understand their work. Plus, if something happens, you can consult them. If I'm marrying, it's a soldier all the way."
"If it's Fielde, I might want to marry him even if he's a soldier..."
I let out a small smile at the three of them, who boldly concluded in front of their granddaughter that anything would be fine as long as it's Fielde.