TN: Sorry it’s late. The next one should be in about 12 hours if I don’t procrastinate too hard.

Information is extremely important.

Obtaining information first can determine the future, so it’s not an exaggeration. But I already know the information from the original novel.

The problem is, that’s not so important anymore.

Since I’m already someone who doesn’t appear in the original work, it can be considered that the original has already been distorted.

Anyway, I want to say that there’s no need to be too concerned with the original. I should just refer to it and not add any additional meaning.

Well… some things don’t change.

“Mmm…”

While rubbing my sleepy eyes, I let out a long yawn.

“Didn’t sleep?”

“Huh? I did.”

Helena, who naturally sat down next to me today, asked as she looked at me.

Looking at her refreshing light blue eyes gently curved, I shook my head slightly.

“Then why are you so tired?”

“…No matter how much I sleep, I’m still tired.”

The truth was that I practiced late and studied at night, but I couldn’t tell her that.

At the academy, there were practical and written exams, so I had to make up for my lack of knowledge.

If only I could recall Felix’s memories…

I rested my chin and looked ahead blankly.

“What do you do at night…?”

“Nothing much.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing me blatantly avoid answering, Helena let out a low grunt and stared piercingly at me.

But I just pretended not to notice.

“Well, Felix wasn’t the type to study. And there’s no way he would have practiced swordsmanship at night.”

“That’s right.”

I let out an awkward laugh.

It’s not just that I can’t recall the memories. Maybe Felix originally didn’t study at all, so there’s nothing to remember.

That thought isn’t just a delusion.

Felix seems not to have been the type to study diligently, so that could be the case. The fortunate thing is that in my previous life, I did.

I didn’t need to get perfect scores on the written exams, and no one was forcing me to, but I didn’t need to fail the exams either.

I’m 17 years old again.

Since I was reincarnated at the age of a high school student, I needed to properly experience my school days accordingly.

As part of that process, studying wasn’t just difficult for me because of my age. It was probably because I had learned the hard way that it will become more difficult later if you don’t do what you can.

‘By the way.’

How dare you ignore me, Helena. Brace yourself.

I’ll overwhelm you in both the written and practical portions of this exam.

“…Huh? Why?”

Unaware of my heart sharpening a blade, Helena just blinked her big eyes and looked at me.

“Nothing.”

As I stroked the note in my pocket, I nonchalantly answered that it was nothing.

Today, the sky was blue and clear again. The fresh spring breeze was blowing gently.

It was just the right day for something to happen.

***

Nobles are quite busy.

At the age when they enter the academy, there isn’t much for them to do, so they aren’t that busy. But in general, nobles are busy people.

There’s an image that they don’t work and just live off taxes from the commoners, but they still have to maintain the Empire’s society, so they can’t help but be busy.

Cain was no exception.

As the second son of the Geyrus Ducal family, he let his older brother, the first son, take over as the head of the family. They concluded that there was no need for the brothers to fight over the position of inheriting the family.

The relationship between Cain and his brother wasn’t that good, and they fought a lot when they were young. But after Cain met Sylvia, he changed his mind.

With just that two-week change, he gave up being the family head but didn’t regret it. However, that didn’t mean he gave up everything he had in the Geyrus family.

He was still a member of the Geyrus Marquis family, and his influence remained intact. His brother also tacitly acknowledged and supported this.

It was the result of carefully considering what he could keep while giving up some things.

So, while Cain gave up the Geyrus family’s political influence, he didn’t give up the business side.

In fact, he could exert even more influence on it. His sharp judgment and quick calculation skills, which belied his age, supported this.

As a result, even though he had only recently entered the academy, this was already the second time he had to leave.

“So the point of this business is……”

“If we do that, then how about this part……”

Even while discussing tedious business matters that someone might find boring, Cain did not waver.

Because he knew that these things combined would give him strength for his future.

When there was a short break after several hours of business discussion, Cain sat alone on a chair and let out a long breath.

“Whew……”

After reviewing and revising the dense documents for hours, adjusting and negotiating the points to be revised, his eye sockets were throbbing.

Removing his cumbersome glasses, he pressed his eye sockets with his fingers and leaned back against the chair.

“Are you alright?”

“This much is nothing, Young Master.”

“You can call me informally when we’re alone.”

When his brother Zellos, who had just entered the tent where Cain was, asked if he was okay, Cain straightened up and answered.

“Understood, Brother.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

As Zellos placed his hand on Cain’s shoulder and patted it several times, Cain shook his head slightly without smiling or crying, as if it were nothing.

“It’s my duty.”

“Well, things wouldn’t have progressed so smoothly if it weren’t for you.”

“I haven’t done that much.”

Still receiving his stiff brother’s attitude, Zellos gave a wry smile and let out a small breath.

Zellos and Cain didn’t have a particularly good relationship, but it wasn’t terrible either.

To be precise, after Cain met Sylvia, their previously poor relationship as brothers improved.

“…Is there something on your mind?”

“Me?”

Because he had always wanted to have a good relationship with his brother, Zellos noticed the change in Cain’s unusually gloomy expression today and asked about it. Cain looked puzzled, as if he wasn’t even aware that his expression was sullen.

“Yes, expression seems sour today.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Is it because of that girl?”

“……….”

Cain answered Zellos’ question with silence.

Cain’s concern was indeed because of Sylvia. To be more precise, it was because Leonhardt was by Sylvia’s side, not Sylvia herself.

He couldn’t foresee how Leonhardt would act in a situation without Cain as a restraint. At the same time, Leonhardt’s recent unsettling behavior also contributed to Cain’s worries.

“Brother, there’s something I want to ask.”

Since news about the imperial family was more in Zellos’ domain of politics rather than Cain’s knowledge of business, Cain rarely knew the current news in that respect.

In other words, Zellos was the best person he could ask.

“What is it?”

Since it was rare for Cain to initiate the conversation first, Zellos asked with a look of surprise.

For a brief moment, Cain carefully chose the words in his mind.

Even though Zellos was his brother, he needed time to consider whether he should ask this question.

“What kind of question makes you hesitate so much?”

Seeing Cain hesitate momentarily, Zellos smiled slightly as if telling him to speak comfortably.

Nevertheless, Cain could only open his mouth very carefully, unusually carefully for his character.

“…What is the current situation in the imperial family?”

“The imperial family?”

After taking so long to ask, was it just about the imperial family?

Zellos could only tilt his head in puzzlement at Cain’s question.

“I thought you had completely distanced yourself from politics?”

“I’m not saying I’ll go back into politics. I’m just…”

“Well, it would be good for me if you care about politics too.”

Letting out a chuckle, Zellos raised his hand and stroked his chin, seeming to recall what had happened in the imperial family recently that would pique Cain’s interest.

Cain just silently waited for his words.

“If I had to name the biggest news……”

When Zellos finally spoke the information Cain wanted to hear, Cain couldn’t help but let out a deep breath and cradle his head, unaware.

“Why are you reacting like that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

It wasn’t important news.

But it concerned him.

He just hoped that ‘he’ wouldn’t cause any more trouble until Cain returned to the academy.