â The Calculations of One Who Watches Over the Lone Warrior
The Coming-of-Age Ceremonyâan event marking the moment when a nobleâs child turns sixteen and is formally recognized as an adult.
Even in my homeland, the frontier, a grand feast is held.
At the church, one pledges themselves as an adult noble, swearing to serve both the people and their house.
However, in the royal capital, the ceremony takes on a different form.
Instead of swearing before God, one swears allegiance to His Majesty, the King, as a shield of the realm.
Though, truth be told, the King himself only attends once every five years.
Most years, a royal representative presides over the event in His Majestyâs stead.
And this year, it was to be the Second Prince.
Two years ago, when the First Prince came of age, the King himself attended.
Thus, this year, a royal delegate would be appointed.
Even so, with the Second Prince’s presence alone, the ceremony would be held on a grand scale.
The Magic Academy, responsible for organizing the event, had been making extensive preparations.
That, however, led to a problem for me.
After the ceremony, a lavish banquet, the Gratitude Ball, would be held.
A gathering where young noble men and women formally debut into high society.
Their families and guardians are also invited.
Naturally, it includes social dances.
The First Danceâ
A moment when one dances with their betrothed, stepping into noble society together.
A deeply significant ritual.
Most students at the Magic Academy enter with an engagement arranged beforehand.
It is meant to ensure they walk into the future with a lifelong partner, marking their first step into the social world.
But my engagement was broken.
The Viscountâs daughter, my former fiancĂ©e, had long ceased any contact with me.
My family had even sent official papers confirming the dissolution of the engagement.
The document bore the seal of approval from the Marquis, the primary âguardianâ overseeing noble engagements.
It was final.
Which meantâ
I would attend the ceremony alone.
And, of course, I had no partner for the First Dance.
Rumors of my former fiancée had reached me.
In noble society, gathering information is a necessary skill.
Even as the third son of a Frontier Knight, I had learned to stay informed.
And so, the rumors surrounding her were nothing short of scandalous.
I remembered well the conversation I once had with the Grand Duchess in the academy corridors.
From what she had said, my former fiancĂ©eâs actions had been used as a test caseâa litmus test for the sons of the high nobility.
For five years, their words, deeds, and influence within noble society had been carefully observed.
If I had made a move concerning my former fiancée, it would have interfered with that observation process.
That was why my engagement had been swiftly annulled.
Had I been a son of a higher-ranking noble house, a new partner for the ball would have been quietly arranged.
But I was nothing more than a Frontier Knightâs third son.
A noble in name only.
And I had already declared my intent to return home, where I had no future prospects in court society.
Finding a noblewoman who would match my station was impossible.
In short, I was an anomaly.
A peculiarity among peculiarities.
Thus, I merely watched the commotion around me with detachment.
There was nothing I could do.
No reason to contact my former fiancée.
I simply continued my daily routine as usual, focusing on what I could do before returning home.
Some of my classmates noticed that my engagement had been annulled.
But they did not understand why.
All they knew was that I had neglected my fiancée for years, and thus, it was only natural that she left me.
And that was fine.
Decisions had been made behind closed doors, beyond the knowledge of ordinary noble youths.
From their perspective, my inaction made me worthy of reproach.
It was only natural that I would find myself in this predicament.
The message from those in power was clearâ
âEndure in silence.â
And so, I accepted my circumstances without complaint.
However, among the higher-ranking nobles, some possessed keen insight.
There were those who could sense the silent will of their elders.
True nobles, whose instincts and wit had been sharpened by surviving the treacherous politics of the royal court.
Those who made it their business to gather information, piece together fragments of truth, and anticipate events before they unfolded.
One such person approached me.
“Do you own proper formal attire?”
“I have something.”
“I assume it’s just the standard Academy-issued uniform?”
“What else would it be?”
“That wonât do. Not for the ceremony.”
“I donât have the luxury to afford anything else.”
He sighed, as if expecting my response.
“Figures. Listen, meet me tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“Thatâs hardly an answer.”
“Consider it a favor. Some people are⊠interested in fostering a connection with you.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Are you saying this is some kind of attempt to recruit me?”
“More or less.”
“Hah. What a blunt way of putting it.”
“I figured youâd appreciate honesty. Besides, there are times when appearances matter.”
His tone shifted slightly, more serious.
“You wouldnât walk into a battlefield unarmed, would you?”
“I see. Youâre providing the equipment, and Iâm expected to fight the battle myself.”
“Exactly. Consider this an investment. There are people in this capital who play the long game.”
“Hmph. Very well. Iâll accept.”
He was the son of the Minister of War, a Marquisâs heir.
A twin, in fact.
His brother served under the Second Prince.
Come to think of it, I had seen him beforeâ
Among my former fiancĂ©eâs inner circle, standing beside the Prince.
One of those who had been swayed by her manipulations.
But this one was different.
Despite the rumors of him being frivolous and carefree,
Despite whispers that he was a flirt and a fool,
He had chosen the hardest path.
He had enrolled in the elite military academy, preparing to become a field commander.
He was not securing a cushy court position through his fatherâs influence.
He was climbing the ladder with his own hands.
His lighthearted nature masked a sharp, calculating mind.
A man who, in truth, had already set his sights on power.
And for that, I found myself mildly impressed.
But of courseâ
I kept that thought to myself.