I spent a part of my day at Gretel's home; or to be more precise, Montfort castle.

The current head of the family, “Marquis Cyril de Montfort” was a dignified man with grey hair that was swept back. He had a tall and well-maintained body, and had a sharp glint in his eye.

Next to him stood Cyril’s son and Gretel’s older brother, “Gabriel de Montfort.” He had blonde hair and blue eyes, but closely resembled Cyril.

He was in his twenties.

Both of them glared at me.

I straightened myself and made a request.

Gabriel was about to say something, but Cyril held him back with his hand.

Cyril said, "You’re not under guardianship of us, and you’re not a fellow member of our faction. You followed through with my daughter’s short temper, but to say it in other words, that also means you stuck your nose into our affairs.”

I normally shouldn’t have been involved. At least, I wanted to so that, but…

In my mind, I made a triumphant pose.

Gabriel asked me a question.

“I want to ask one thing. What is your true aim? You are an outsider that has nothing to do with us."

"I feel your daughter was treated harshly. Even if he is the crown prince of a nation, he shouldn't treat your daughter unjustly."

Cyril made a laugh as if amused.

“If those are your true feelings, then you’re quite admirable. Though, I would be quite troubled if you said that it was to amuse yourself. The royal court and prestigious nobles are in a mad rush thanks to you. The Montfort family has also officially dissolved the engagement between his Highness and Gretel. He is not suitable for my daughter. Don’t you think so?”

I felt like I was being tested.

I didn’t think he was looking for anything in particular. I was fine as long as my life was spared.

"I don’t have much to say about the relation between the two of us. I personally just want him to study at the university from now on. I hope he becomes a fine king.”

"…I see. I may be changing the topic of conversation, but I have one request.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about my daughter. It seems that this matter took a large toll on her. As a parent, I can’t watch her be worn out and lacking of spirit. I wanted to have her rest in the moderate countryside, but with the circumstances of our household, that will be difficult to arrange since we’re a little busy.”

Perhaps it was about settling affairs with those under their guardianship or people from the same faction as them. As a duke household, they wouldn’t remain silent about Gretel’s followers betraying her.

Day after day, the parents and siblings of students have been coming to apologize, and things have been very busy.

It was a very big problem when children and clansmen sent as followers betray the head daughter.

"I don't trust those ungrateful children. I hope you can always stay with my daughter during her time at the university."

He was entrusting his daughter to a man. What did it mean? I was thinking about it, but doing anything to the daughter of a duke household was unreasonable, so just having it in mind gave me the creeps. 

"Um, uh…s, sure!”

Thank you. Now then, you may step back.”

“Excuse me.”

***

Hiro left the office.

Gabriel looked at Cyril.

“Father, what do you think?”

Cyril laughed.

“It’s as you said. If he was a man who only thought for himself, then he would have stayed silent while watching at that time. There aren’t many men like him, don’t you think?”

"He cast away his status and honor to criticize his Highness. He was quite resolved. Normally, what he did would be the thing to be criticized. All things considered, the university has many problems now like it did in the past. There are too many children who are oblivious to the ways of the world.”

The academy holds a somewhat special environment.

Since it was a place to educate the next generation of nobles, everyone was supposed to be treated equally on the surface. Such things were impossible, though.

This special environment was out of the public eye. With people fixated on the value of their clique, there were times where incidents occurred.

It was a miniature garden where ignorant people gathered. That was where the problem rose.

The current matter that happened was an issue that turned out to become a large fuss. Then, the students who returned to their households during summer vacation would come to know reality there.

"Is that so? Wasn’t he just enjoying himself? I think Gretel was short-sighted to have confronted the King, but he stepped up in a situation where everyone was her enemy and she couldn’t be saved…isn’t that a touching tale? He was like how a knight should be. Only on the outside, though.”

Gabriel asked what Cyril’s real intentions were.

“What are you going to do?”

Cyril grinned.

“He can be a benefactor of my daughter. He can cover for her. That’s what. It would be better off for you too if you had a reliable household, like a knight one. Don’t you think the Montfort family will be peaceful after taking him in? After all, this matter has made it clear that there are several unreliable households out there.”

The two looked outside a window.