I Have a Stalker of Noble Status. And to Make Matters Worse, their Numbers are Increasing (BL) - Chapter 1

“Who the hell are you?!”

“Huh? M-me?”

Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm roughly. Startled, I looked up—only to be even more shocked.

The person standing before me was none other than the top of the academy’s social hierarchy, someone I never imagined I’d have any connection with—the heir of a ducal family, Lord Raymond himself.

Handsome beyond compare, intelligent beyond measure.

A living legend who effortlessly topped the entrance exams, scoring a perfect mark in every subject.

Whenever he arrived at the academy, female students would gather at the main gate just to catch a glimpse of him, forming an impromptu flower path in his honor.

That was the kind of person Lord Raymond was.

◇◇◇

It had been a week since I entered the academy.

Just a single week. But that week was more than enough to shatter my pride.

Back in my rural hometown, I had been praised as a genius, a prodigy. But here? That meant nothing.

The Edelstein National Academy, located in the royal capital, was the most prestigious school in the kingdom—renowned by all.

For a poor baron’s eldest son from the middle of nowhere, this place should have been nothing more than a distant dream. But thanks to my so-called prodigy status (which was already fading into a distant memory), the support of my territory’s people, and the backing of neighboring lords, I had become the first student from the Landischaft region to ever enroll in the royal capital’s academy.

I was the star of my hometown.

On my shoulders rested the hopes of my rural territory—and the fate of my impoverished family.

This was no place for me to risk offending a high-ranking noble like Lord Raymond.

“I-uh, my name is Patrick, eldest son of Baron Humming.”

“That’s not what I’m asking. Why are you here? Do you have some connection to me or my sister?”

His sister? Lady Violetta?

No, no, no, absolutely not!

I have absolutely nothing to do with them! And I fully intend to keep it that way!!

I wanted to deny it as clearly as possible, but the sheer absurdity of the situation had rendered me speechless. My mouth opened and closed like a gasping goldfish, but no words came out.

“Answer me.”

Lord Raymond’s voice was low and firm as he tightened his grip on my arm.

“Ow!”

The pressure was strong enough to make me wince and let out a pained gasp.

Only then did Lord Raymond seem to snap back to reality. His grip loosened as a flicker of realization crossed his face.

“…My apologies. This is the first time the difference has been this drastic. I let my excitement get the better of me.”

…What?

What was he talking about? Was he saying that I—a nobody from the countryside—was out of place in this academy?

Sure, I get that a duke’s son doesn’t usually interact with lower nobles, but this school even has a few commoner students. So why is my presence such a big deal to him?

“U-uh, I only just arrived in the royal capital to enroll at this academy. I have never met you before, Lord Raymond, and as for Lady Violetta, I’ve only seen her in passing. We’ve never spoken.”

Lord Raymond was a second-year student, while his sister, Lady Violetta, was in the same year as me.

Of course, I had no connection with either of them.

As I nervously rubbed my sore wrist and explained myself, Lord Raymond’s expression softened into something like… confusion?

“I see… My apologies.”

“No harm done. Well then, if you’ll excuse me.”

With that, I quickly slipped away, heading back to where my classmates were still watching from a distance.

One week into my time at the academy, I had slowly started making friends, carefully gauging the distance between us. I had been looking forward to having a nice lunch with them—until this absurd interruption.

And now, I could feel the awkward atmosphere thick in the air.

Come on, guys, don’t look at me like that.

Do you have any idea how hard it is for a country boy like me to make friends in the royal capital?!

“Sorry about that, everyone! Now, let’s hurry to the cafeteria—”

“Hey.”

A voice cut me off.

I froze.

…Oh no.

Hearing a voice so beautiful that any woman would surely swoon, I stiffened and turned around—only to once again be met with Lord Raymond’s strikingly handsome face.

Enough already!

Why is this man paying so much attention to me?!

“Were you on your way to lunch?”

“Uh… yes, I was.”

“I see! Then allow me to treat you as an apology for earlier. Come, let’s head to that private room.”

…Wait. That private room?

The noble-exclusive dining area?!

On the surface, this academy claims that “everyone is equal, regardless of status.” A nice sentiment, sure—but in reality, that’s just for show.

Take this hallway, for example.

Past that corner, the carpet suddenly becomes lusciously plush, and the furnishings grow increasingly extravagant.

That’s where the upper nobility’s exclusive area begins.

“Uh, actually, I was planning to eat with my classmates—”

“Pardon me, but may I borrow Patrick for a while?”

“O-Of course, please do!!”

…So much for a week’s worth of friendship. How fragile.

◇◇◇

I was led into a private room within the upper nobility’s area, and the sheer grandeur of the place made my head spin.

This wasn’t just any noble dining room. This was one of those rooms—meant for royalty and ducal families.

Before I knew it, I was seated, and a smiling server placed a menu in front of me.

A menu without prices.

That alone was terrifying.

“I’ll be direct. I have returned from death multiple times—seven, to be exact—all to save my sister.”

…Huh?

Just as I had ordered what seemed like the safest option, “Today’s Recommended Lunch,” the server left, and Lord Raymond dropped a bombshell.

“Three years from now, at the graduation ceremony, a tragedy will occur. I have tried time and time again to prevent it, but no matter what I do, my sister still meets a cruel fate—almost as if destiny itself is working against me.”

…Oh no.

The way Lord Raymond cast his eyes downward in sorrow was so breathtakingly artistic that even a world-class painter would flee barefoot in shame.

But the content of his story was beyond alarming.

“You don’t believe me, do you?”

“Uh, well… um…”

Of course I don’t!!

I wanted to yell it from the bottom of my heart, but come on—this was a duke’s heir.

A mere baron’s son like me had no right to openly question him.

As I struggled to find a response, a knock on the door signaled the arrival of my meal.

“Thank you for waiting. Here is today’s recommended lunch—‘Chef’s Whimsical Braised Beef Cheeks, Lovingly Infused with Demi-Glace.’”

…Excuse me, what?!

Chef, please don’t whimsically braise beef!

“No matter how desperately I try to alter the future, Violetta always ends up suffering in some way. Just when I was on the verge of giving up, you appeared.”

Oh great, he’s still talking!

There’s too much happening at once—I can’t process any of it.

But most importantly… What does this have to do with me?!

“Um… I don’t see how I’m involved in any of this?”

“No, you’re deeply involved. Because in all seven of my previous lives, you never existed.”

…Maybe I was just too insignificant for him to notice?

At Lord Raymond’s insistence, I reluctantly began eating, but the air in the room remained impossibly heavy.

“You still don’t believe me, do you?”

Having someone as ridiculously good-looking as Lord Raymond stare at me with pleading eyes was dangerous.

Seriously, please don’t look at me like that—I might lose my way.

But honestly, wouldn’t it be weirder if I did believe him right away?!

I had no idea how to respond.

And this braised beef cheek in demi-glace was ridiculously delicious.

“Fine. I’ll give you proof.”

With no idea how to handle the situation, I decided to just focus on enjoying what was probably the finest meal I’d ever have in my life. Meanwhile, Lord Raymond continued talking.

“Listen carefully. One month after the start of the semester—meaning, about three weeks from now—a commoner girl claiming to have awakened the power of a Saint will transfer into the academy.

She is the one who will ruin my sister’s life.”

This situation just keeps getting worse.

“As of now, no one else knows this information.

So if, three weeks from now, this commoner girl does enroll, it will prove that I can foresee the future.

…Will that be enough to convince you?”