MTLNOVEL Chapter 3 - Strange Mansion - 3
To cut to the chase, my ambitious information gathering mission was a complete failure.
As far as I know, the only people in the ducal family who definitely attended the Academy are the Duke and Duchess. I don’t have the courage to ask the Duke about the Academy. Just imagining talking with him alone about the Academy makes me suffocate.
So instead of the Duke, I sought out Duchess Arianna.
However, when her usually taciturn son came to see her specifically, our Duchess burned with excitement beyond her usual level, and before I could even ask my question, she began unraveling tales of her school days.
“Oh my, it’s already this late. Sirius, how about you go to bed now?”
In the end, I had to trudge back to my room without getting any of the information I wanted. I wasn’t particularly curious about which places near the Academy had delicious tea or pretty rings.
Considering that we’re at the end of winter and I’ll be entering the Academy with the start of spring, I don’t have much time left.
Even if not hidden gem courses or cheat sheets, shouldn’t I at least know what I’ll be learning, what system it operates on, things like that?
If the heir to a ducal family enters the Academy and goes “wah, I’m baby young master, I don’t know anything,” it would be a complete loss of face.
After pondering for a moment, I called for Selene. She was the first person I encountered in this world, and I always go to her when I have questions, so strangely, I feel most comfortable with Selene. Like a baby bird that follows the first creature it sees after hatching as its mother… Selene Maman? Anyway, I decided to rely on Selene’s powers this time too.
“Selene, do you know anyone in the ducal family who knows a lot about the Academy?”
“The Academy, sir?”
“Yeah, with less than a month left until enrollment, I wanted to learn more details.”
“You haven’t shown any particular interest in the Academy until now, have you?”
“…Just let it slide.”
Selene stared at me expressionlessly for a moment. What is it? Does she have some complaint?
“What? Do you have something you want to say?”
“No, it’s not that. And as for someone who knows a lot about the Academy… that would be me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I said that I’m the person who knows a lot about the Academy that you’re looking for. I graduated from the Academy two years ago.”
“I see… Wait, what?!”
I was surprised by Selene’s revelation, but thinking about it, it’s not that strange. Selene is a baronet’s daughter, and being a maid requires high cultivation and etiquette.
Still, the fact that Selene is a graduate indicates that it’s probably not one of those reckless educational institutions where expelled students pour out every year.
I’d rather pass on an academy that dumps students on a deserted island for a week as a “test” or where teachers and students constantly expel each other.
“What would you like to know about the Academy? I’ll answer your questions.”
“Then explain some of the basics first.”
“…? Don’t you already know all this, young master?”
“I want to hear it from someone with direct experience.”
“Ah, then I’ll first explain about enrollment.”
Selene’s lengthy explanation followed.
Everyone calls it “the Academy,” so I thought it might not have a name like “the Empire,” but that’s not the case. Its formal name is the Imperial Royal Academy. Wait, is there another meaning of “royal” that I don’t know? How can “imperial” and “royal” be used together? Is the person who created this setting dense, or am I?
Classes are structured so that you choose the subjects you want. There’s no specific department division. It’s like a university filled only with general education courses, without majors.
I wondered where loners would find friends, but apparently there are separate classes and homeroom teachers like in high school. Why? Is this a consideration for nobles with poor social skills like me?
Naturally, the deserted island survival or expulsion situations I worried about don’t exist, she says. Unlike the first image that came to mind when I heard “Academy,” it seems to be a place truly dedicated to education.
There wasn’t much other special information. Honestly, I’m curious about Selene’s school days, but I cut it off at an appropriate point because I felt bad keeping her late. Strange rumors might also spread among the loose-lipped servants.
“That’s enough. It’s getting late, and my curiosity is mostly satisfied. You can go.”
“Yes, understood.”
Selene showed her respect to me and quietly left.
When I first heard the word “Academy” from the Duke’s mouth, I was a bit tense, but it seems there’s no need to be. More problematic is:
“Why did I forget something this important again?”
I don’t understand the criteria for when Mikhail’s memories surface. On the day I first opened my eyes, I knew nothing. That’s why I asked Selene various questions.
But when attending classes, all the previously learned content came to mind. My body moved on its own during sword training too. The same thing happens when dealing with this body’s parents.
I don’t know why, but I can’t just think “good things are good” and forget about it. It’s eerie to think that memories are being controlled for unknown reasons. I need to figure out why some memories emerge and others don’t, and what the criteria are.
It would be very troublesome if I just lived carelessly thinking “what could happen?” and then encountered someone with whom I had past grudges or couldn’t remember important matters.
Moreover, although my attitude and speech toward the Duke and Duchess are automatically corrected, specific memories with them don’t emerge. From my position, it feels like looking at a couple I don’t know. Given this, it’s reasonable to assume that with other close individuals, like the Duke and Duchess, there will be corrections in attitude and speech but no memories with them.
Making up explanations has worked so far, but no one knows how long that will continue. I need to be more careful with my words and actions from now on.
And starting tomorrow, I should examine if there are any commonalities each time Mikhail’s memories surface. Understanding these arbitrary memories is the most urgent task.
“Young master. Are you awake?”
A maid called from outside the door. It’s early morning, but I’m not particularly tired. Mikhail must have been a morning person.
“Yeah, I’m up.”
“Yes, understood.”
The maid standing outside the door remained silent. She must be waiting for me to finish getting ready and come out.
Even though I experience this every morning, it still seems absurd. It’s not a morning call; she just asks if I’m awake and then waits. I’m not asking for much, but couldn’t she at least bring me some water?
The maids in this world seem to be trying hard to minimize contact with men, as if they’re gritting their teeth.
Sigh, what’s the point of complaining? It’s not like anything will change. And it’s not like I’m desperate to lay hands on the maids.
I gave up and showered and changed clothes by myself.
Despite being a fantasy world, they have hot water showers and bathtubs. I don’t know exactly how, but it’s probably some magic something-or-other. As long as I’m benefiting from it, I don’t want to nitpick about convenient settings.
Living with bugs and smells for the sake of verisimilitude vs. Ignoring all that and bathing warmly with all-powerful magic. I choose the latter.
When I came out dressed in training clothes, the maid waiting outside the door seemed a bit surprised.
“Young master, are you sure about that outfit?”
“What do you mean?”
I wear these clothes and lounge around every day, don’t I? Is there a hole somewhere?
“There’s a luncheon scheduled with your fiancée, Miss Hestia von Gracia, this morning…”
“Today? This morning?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Ah… give me a moment.”
I went back into my room for a moment. This place keeps throwing events at me without warning. If there’s such an important schedule, shouldn’t someone have informed me either last night or when I just woke up?
I’m confused by the sudden influx of information.
Actually, I had considered the possibility of having a fiancée. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but Mikhail is like a lottery ticket with a guaranteed first prize. No, not a lottery ticket, at this level he’s more like powerball.
He’s the only heir to a ducal family, handsome, and physically perfect. According to Kyle and Selene, despite being a bit taciturn, his personality is normal. You can’t find a better blue-chip stock than this.
Naturally, there must have been quite a few people eyeing me. I honestly even considered a princess.
But that’s one thing, and this sudden event is another. From my perspective it seems sudden, though it was probably planned in advance, but what can I do if I didn’t know?
I started to change clothes hurriedly but stopped. What should I wear? She’s my fiancée, so maybe my everyday clothes aren’t appropriate? I should dress formally, right? But what counts as formal?
After a long mental freeze, my final choice was:
“What kind of clothes do you think would be good?”
The maid. I seem to keep relying on these people when I don’t know something, but I can’t help it. They’re always around, rich in cultivation and knowledge, and they answer all my questions—it would be foolish not to use them.
“Are you asking me… to choose your clothes?”
“Yeah, I don’t know what would look good from a woman’s perspective. I want to make a good impression.”
The maid seems surprised again. Her pupils wander, lost. Is it that surprising and shocking that I want to look good for my fiancée?
“Look… Yes, I understand. I will absolutely help you make a good impression.”
Her wandering eyes settle and now show excessive enthusiasm. What’s wrong with her, really? Is she bipolar?
“I don’t know what wind suddenly blew your way, but with this opportunity, I must…”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing at all. More importantly, I think you should prepare quickly.”
“Don’t we still have plenty of time?”
“No, it’s not just about choosing clothes. Your hair needs to be styled, perfume selected—there’s a lot to do.”
After that, I was a mess of primping.
The young master is acting strange.
When I heard it from Sister Selene, I thought she was joking, but he really is acting strange.
Actually, it’s not so much that he’s strange but that he’s different.
Hmm… it’s like a doll that has gained emotions?
First, he talks more than before. To be fair, he still doesn’t talk excessively. He often sits alone lost in thought unless something is absolutely necessary.
But now he feels human. Before, he was so quiet that when I first met him, I even wondered if he might be mute.
Of course, His Grace the Duke also speaks very little, but at least he seems human when he’s with Her Grace the Duchess. He speaks a bit then.
And he now has expressions. His face, which was always expressionless, now shows appropriate expressions for situations. Sometimes he looks confused, or exhausted after training.
Thinking about it this way, it really does feel like he was some kind of doll before. Like a wind-up doll that only moved according to programming.
Come to think of it, he was also frighteningly regular. He always woke up at the same time, finished grooming at the same time, and followed his schedule exactly. Really without a minute’s deviation, always at the set time.
Why didn’t anyone think it was strange? Looking back now, it’s not that the young master has become strange; it’s that the strange young master has become normal. I should ask the senior maids later. The ones who came before me might know something.
Huh? What was I just thinking about?
Ah, right. The young master has become strange.
The strangest thing was what just happened. Goodness, the young master said he wants to look good for his fiancée! This is really surprising news. I want to tell the other maids quickly. They’ll be so shocked!
It’s a well-known fact in the ducal household that the young master doesn’t particularly like his fiancée. He doesn’t exactly dislike her, but he doesn’t like her either—that kind of feeling.
And for good reason: the young master has never shown any affection toward his fiancée, Miss Gracia. Beyond affection, he has never shown any emotion toward her. He has only been businesslike, as if dealing with us.
It’s not like Miss Gracia is lacking in any way. The Gracia countship is involved in many businesses and is an extremely successful family. Miss Gracia herself, though a bit prickly, has beautiful looks and outstanding scholarly achievements, making her an object of admiration in many ways for daughters of minor nobility like me.
And today! Suddenly! Our young master, who has never shown emotion to such a Miss Gracia, asked me to choose clothes because he wants to make a good impression. Did he suddenly fall in love? Has he become aware of his own feelings?
I recalled the romance novel that I was reading in rotation with the other maids. It had a predictable plot where the taciturn male protagonist belatedly realizes his feelings and chases after the female protagonist.
Recalling the scene from the novel makes my face flush. Is the young master really like that? The faces of the young master and Miss Gracia were automatically substituted for the protagonists. The two who had been glaring at each other eventually share a passionate kiss…
“Kyaa! I must be crazy, I must be crazy!”
I hope things work out well for the two of them. Not just me, but everyone in the mansion would wish for that. I fanned my flushed face with my hand and hurried away.
Miss Gracia will be arriving soon, so I should prepare in advance.