I'm the third son of a viscount's family, but I have a claim to the throne. - Episode 7

“As students of this academy, I hope you will strive daily to grow into leaders who will shape the future of our kingdom.

Not only should you acquire knowledge and martial skills, but I also encourage you to find lifelong friends here and take the first step toward building a fulfilling life.”

The Second Prince stood on the stage, delivering an inspiring speech as the student representative.

It wasn’t just empty rhetoric—after all, the royal family genuinely wanted the nobility to improve themselves, thereby strengthening the kingdom’s defense and economy in the process.

When the Second Prince finished, polite applause followed. Next to take the stage was Zarbalta, the second son of the Kesbart Ducal House, representing the incoming students.

As he walked up, he shot me a disdainful glance, the kind that made his contempt evident. Was it possible he was upset because I outperformed him in the entrance exams?

I had intentionally held back, knowing a duke’s son would be among my peers. If even my subdued performance had secured the top rank, it spoke volumes about the lackluster education he had received.

Moreover, while Zarbalta might look down on me as the son of a concubine and a poor viscount’s family, he seemed oblivious to the current political reality. With the Third Prince Jairus now “dead,” my brothers and I were technically next in line for the throne should anything happen to the two princes.

By law, my claim as the grandson of a former king outranked Zarbalta’s lineage, which traced back to a side branch four generations removed.

Until the First Prince produced an heir, Zarbalta’s condescension was not only foolish but risky. Antagonizing someone with a legitimate claim to the throne was a reckless move.

If the throne successfully passed to the next generation, my family’s claim would indeed fade, leaving us as nothing more than a magically potent but minor noble house. But for now, Zarbalta’s attitude showed an alarming lack of foresight.

It was perilous to foster needless hostility with someone who could one day wield power. A smarter noble would have chosen to tread carefully.

While students from families with residences in the capital could commute daily, my family owned no such property, thanks to decades of financial hardship before my father’s marriage. Like my brothers before me, I lived in the academy dormitories.

Jairus—now known as “Jay”—was assigned a small room adjacent to mine, part of the servant quarters for attendants. Though modest, it was a far cry from the harsh conditions he might have faced as an apprentice adventurer.

Had he followed his original plan, he would likely have ended up sleeping in a crowded barracks with unwashed roughnecks. Compared to that, a private room, however small, was a luxury.

Honestly, the idea of a well-groomed, handsome boy sharing a room with hardened adventurers was an invitation for disaster. It wasn’t hard to imagine him being targeted, dragged into an alley, and subjected to unspeakable acts.

Even if he’d tried to deter attention by making himself filthy, his circumstances would have made survival precarious.

“So, what subjects are you planning to take?”

Jay—who had spent the past year shedding his royal airs—asked casually. In public, he maintained the demeanor of a servant, but with me, he used informal speech to prepare for his future as an adventurer.

“I’ve already covered the basics with the royal tutors. I’ll skip most first-year classes through exams. I don’t want to draw too much attention by outperforming the duke’s son in class, but I also can’t afford to underperform.

I’ll focus on practical classes like ‘Combat Basics.’ Hopefully, that’ll help me build connections,” I explained.

The combat classes were likely to attract more down-to-earth, physically inclined students, less concerned with social rank.

Duke’s sons, if they attended, would probably avoid strenuous training, preferring to observe while chatting with their entourages.

Personal duels wouldn’t require me to hold back. With my claim to the throne, any hostility from the dukes could be countered by my father.

Still, consulting my brothers beforehand might be wise. Akius, my eldest brother, was in the same year as the Second Prince. I wondered how he was getting along.

Carpeus, my second brother, might be a better source for advice on handling conflicts with minor nobles. He had a knack for managing such relationships.

“Huh. I wasn’t as thoroughly educated as you, so I’ll take the regular classes. As a questionable ‘illegitimate child,’ I doubt I’ll draw much attention. This pair of glasses does a great job of masking my eye color,” Jay said, checking his reflection in the mirror.

The lenses, tinted with a faint yellowish hue, subtly transformed his distinctive violet-tinged royal blue eyes into a more ordinary blue. It was remarkable; his eyes no longer screamed “royalty.”

“For physical activities, don’t forget to wear the slime lenses,” I reminded him.

While magical disguises could alter appearances, they were easily dispelled in places like the royal palace. That’s why I had developed slime-based contact lenses, inspired by colored lenses from my previous life.

The lenses weren’t perfect—they lacked good oxygen permeability and might have unknown long-term effects—but they worked in a pinch.

“Thanks to the outdoor sword training, I’ve gotten tanned and even picked up some freckles. I don’t think my brothers would recognize me now. With these changes, I should be able to live relatively freely for the next five years,” Jay said, clearly pleased.

Having spent his life in the secluded royal palace, constantly on edge, his newfound freedom to explore, hunt, and live more openly must have felt liberating.

“Make sure to expand your network during classes. Let me know if you hear anything interesting,” I said.

I planned to keep an eye on potential business opportunities and promising guild assignments during my outings.

But first, I needed to confirm my course schedule with my brothers. Best to prepare thoroughly.