When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 144

Episode 144

About a month had passed since the orientation camp and midterms were approaching. Erin happened to be at the Royal Academy’s café on student council business. She had joined the student council shortly after the camp ended. Incidentally, Erin had known the current student council president, His Highness Prince Levus, even before enrolling. Given the political climate, it was almost inevitable for Erin to join the student council. Especially since many third-year students in the council supported the Saylor faction, to which her family belonged.

What Erin didn’t know at the time was that her name had already been floated as a candidate for Princess René’s personal knight. Prince Levius himself wanted to observe Erin more closely for this reason. Politically, King Ramses intended to quickly appoint William Saylor, Erin’s father, as Prime Minister and give promising members of his family ample opportunities. There had even been secret talks about a potential engagement between Erin and Prince Levius due to their close ages. However, when Prince Levius was slated to study abroad after graduating from the Royal Academy, those plans were shelved. The idea of Erin becoming Princess René’s personal knight then took its place.

Unaware of all these discussions, Erin nonetheless pieced together the situation from the circumstantial evidence. Living a life full of noble duties and proper behavior, Erin found herself intrigued by Jez Norman. Jez, despite his similar status, seemed to live freely and confidently. Jez was the adopted son of the famed Gerald Norman, from a distinguished family that played a crucial role in the northern frontlines. Despite only holding a margrave rank, the Norman family had more influence than some dukes or marquesses, particularly in the northern regions. The respect Jez commanded from his northern peers at the academy indicated that this reverence wasn’t solely due to his family name but also because of who he was as an individual.

The reason Erin had started to notice Jez was, of course, because he had saved her during the orientation camp. However, her growing interest in him went beyond that incident and had started to develop unconsciously over time.

One day, while passing by the café, Erin happened to see Jez once again. He was enjoying a lively conversation with Victor and Seraphina. She couldn’t help but watch them from a distance.

“… It’s unfair,” 

She muttered to herself. Then, realizing what she had just said, she covered her mouth in surprise. Unfair? To whom?

Pausing in her steps, Erin stood there with a conflicted expression for a few moments. Finally, with a resigned sigh, she came to the realization that she was jealous of Victor and Seraphina. She hardly ever had the chance to talk with Jez, and she wanted to. She wanted to know more about his thoughts and how he experienced life at the academy. 

It was a strange feeling for Erin, who was used to people wanting to talk to her rather than the other way around. She usually didn’t care much about engaging with others herself. This was certainly a rare occurrence for her.

But what should she do in a situation like this?

Erin looked up at the sky, feeling a bit lost. It was the season of transition from spring to summer. The sky was a refreshing, endless blue. After staring at the sky for a while, Erin clenched her fists and whispered, “Alright.” She realized that there were only so many things she could do. She was Erin Saylor, someone who walked the path of righteousness. If something seemed out of reach, she needed to make the appropriate effort. If there was something she wanted, she had to go after it. That’s how she had always lived her life.

Once Erin made up her mind, her resolve was firm. Known as the most talented of her generation in the capital, her abilities were backed by her unwavering determination and strong work ethic. Without hesitation, she marched directly through the open terrace of the café, heading straight towards Jez.

Seraphina noticed Erin approaching and raised her eyebrows in curiosity, while Victor gave her a puzzled look, trying to recall who she was. They had been discussing midterms, and Erin overheard their conversation just as she walked up to them.

“Mind if I join you for that study session?” 

Erin asked, breaking into their discussion.

Erin met Jez’s gaze as he turned around. She felt her heart skip a beat, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

・　・　・

A few days later, Erin found herself studying after school with Jez, Seraphina, Victor, and even Miriam, who had joined the study sessions as well. Naturally, when Erin had mentioned the study group to Miriam, she had insisted on joining. It made sense—after all, with the 1st and 3rd ranked students from the entrance exams and top scorers in various subjects, Miriam’s participation was only logical. Moreover, Erin figured it was a good opportunity to establish a regular connection with Victor as well.

For the next few days, the five of them would gather after school, either in an empty classroom or at a café. They studied together amidst lively chatter and laughter. Victor would say something ridiculous, Seraphina would mischievously steer it in an even more dangerous direction, and Miriam would smack him down with a deadpan expression. Jez, meanwhile, observed from a slight distance. He smiled fondly at the interaction, occasionally chiming in with a witty remark before getting drawn into the banter himself.

Watching this, Erin had an epiphany. “Oh, I see,” she thought. “This person seems a bit more mature.” At first, she had assumed Jez kept a certain distance from others with a hint of aloofness, but now she realized that wasn’t quite right. She still didn’t know whether his personality was shaped by some past experiences or if he had always been this way. But in that moment, something about his demeanor finally made sense to her.

Feeling a bit more at ease, Erin glanced over at Jez again. As usual, he was caught up in a conversation with Victor and Serafina. His expression was slightly exasperated but amused as he responded to their antics.

“…Heh.” 

A soft giggle escaped Erin as she watched them. Jez noticed this. He was slightly wary and asked, 

“What’s up, Saylor? Got something to say?”

His cautious tone only made the situation funnier to Erin. 

“It’s nothing,” 

She replied with a radiant smile. Then, she looked up at the sky. Jez, surprised by her carefree grin, followed her gaze. Summer must have been approaching—the sky stretched endlessly, a deep, clear blue.