It was before she entered the academy.
In the royal castle at the heart of the Kingdom of Aiwood's royal capital, a lone woman was holding her head in her hands.
"Haa... His Highness Rodele is really a handful..."
Making a grimace at her office desk was Celestine Crocus.
The young lady of House Crocus. She is the fiancée of Rodele Aiwood, the Third Prince of the Kingdom of Aiwood.
A massive pile of documents was stacked before Celestine.
This was work that Rodele should have originally done, but because he had been slacking off, it had been passed on to his fiancée, Celestine.
"If only he would at least send them to me little by little on a schedule... Why does he let them pile up like this?"
If one were to describe the man Rodele Aiwood in a single word, it would be "fool prince."
His personality is arrogant. Despite not doing his duties as a prince, he insists on his rights as royalty.
He is lecherous, constantly chasing after women. He has even caused trouble by assaulting maids and female officials.
His only redeeming quality is that he is an outstanding magician.
No, that cannot be considered a merit. Rather, whenever something displeases him, he throws a tantrum and lets loose with magic.
"I feel like he was much kinder when he was a child, though..."
Celestine sighed and pressed a hand to her chest.
Celestine herself had nearly been assaulted by Rodele in the past.
Her dress was torn and she was pushed down, but... at that time, the nearby guards rushed over and she was saved.
The memory of nearly being trampled by a man's violence is etched into her as a bitter trauma.
The reason Celestine is engaged to Rodele is because of the now-deceased Queen Dowager.
The engagement had been forced upon her by this woman, who in life enjoyed immense prosperity and even in death is worshipped by multiple powerful figures.
To make matters worse, the engagement, bound by a special magical contract, was impossible for Celestine to break off from her side.
(Even so, if my father gave it his all, he might be able to do something about it... but it would undoubtedly tear the kingdom apart.)
Among the Queen Dowager's worshippers were powerful nobles like Duke Eiger.
If House Crocus were to forcibly break off the engagement the Queen Dowager had arranged, Duke Eiger would certainly have something to say about it.
"Excuse me. Lady Celestine, a letter has arrived from the Royal Academy."
"Good work. Please leave it there."
"Yes, ma'am... My apologies for the interruption."
An attendant entered the office, delivered a letter, and withdrew.
It was from the Royal Academy... the academy Celestine would be attending come spring.
Upon checking the contents, she found it requested that she give a speech as the representative of the new students at the entrance ceremony.
"I don't mind giving a speech at all, of course... but it looks like His Highness Prince Rodele is going to fly into a rage again."
She sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time that day.
Rodele was excessively proud, so he would surely be furious that Celestine was chosen as the freshman representative over him.
Surely he wouldn't cause a scene at the entrance ceremony itself... but she had a feeling he might try some kind of harassment.
"It's a silly thought, but he wouldn't actually throw mud at me, would he... It's not like he's a child anymore."
Celestine gave a wry smile, but a fool is a fool precisely because they don't realize how foolish they are being.
As she put the letter back into its envelope and set it on the desk, one of the papers lying there fluttered to the floor.
"Oh, dear."
Celestine bent down to pick it up... and tilted her head in confusion at what was written on it.
"Oh my… this is from the Marquis Rosemary?"
It wasn't a document; it was a notice from the House Rosemary.
The contents… that the sisters of the House Rosemary, Viola and Primula, have become engaged.
They had gone out of their way to inform Rodele of this via official document.
"Ah… I see. As expected of Marquis Rosemary, he is quite shrewd."
It was likely a warning.
Viola and Primula already have fiancés. So this was probably to ensure the lecherous prince doesn't approach them.
I have met Viola and Primula. Both are exceptionally beautiful girls.
If Rodele sets his eyes on them, he might try to make a move.
(But, now that they've notified us via official document, he can't use the excuse of not knowing they had fiancés… that's what this means, isn't it.)
This notice probably hasn't reached Rodele's eyes yet.
But… even so, it's an official document. The contents will remain as formal records.
If Rodele tries to lay a hand on the sisters, they will be allowed to counterattack by saying he tried to touch someone who already has a fiancé.
In other words, even if they give him a bit of a severe scolding, saying 'I informed you in advance,' there should be no problem.
"The fiancé's name is… Mr. Rest?"
It was an unfamiliar name, and since there was no surname written, could he be a commoner?
Since the Marquis Rosemary was entrusting him with both his daughters, he must be a very reliable person.
"For the doting marquis to entrust both his older and younger daughters to him… what kind of person is he, I wonder? He must be kind and skilled in magic…"
Celestine, who murmured such words, wore an expression that somehow seemed envious.
How wonderful it would have been if her own fiancé were also a reliable and kind person.
"Rest… I'd like to meet and talk with him once."
Celestine imagined the face of the boy Rest, whom she had never seen, and her features, stiff from work fatigue, relaxed slightly.
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