Moving and Preparing for Enrollment

The next morning.

Today was the day I was moving into the ducal residence. However, everything I needed was already there, so I had almost nothing to bring from home. My luggage was about as light as when I usually went out.

Roger had said he would come early in the morning, so he should be arriving soon.

I was sitting in a chair in the dining room, while Mom and Dad paced restlessly around me. Marie was sitting beside me. They both seemed nervous, despite having met Roger before.

I watched Mom and Dad with a wry smile.

Then I heard someone knock on the door.

Knock, knock.

"Good morning. Roger here."

When I opened the door, I saw a familiar figure in his usual servant's attire.

Roger stood before me.

"Thanks for coming. Mom and Dad have something they'd like to give you, so could you come inside for a moment?"

When I said that, Roger stepped into the dining room with a slightly puzzled look on his face.

Mom and Dad then lined up in front of Roger and bowed deeply.

"Leon will be in your care from now on. We hope you will look after him."

"If he ever causes you any trouble, please scold him. Please take good care of Leon."

"Of course. I will serve him with the utmost sincerity."

Roger said, bowing as well. Then Mom picked up the basket of cookies and handed it to Roger.

"It's not much, but please give these to everyone in the ducal family."

Roger looked a little flustered, but he accepted it nonetheless.

"Understood. I will make sure to deliver them."

"Well then, Mom, Dad, Marie, I'm off. I'll come home on my days off, so see you soon!"

I said it brightly with a smile so things wouldn't become too sad. Mom and Dad's faces turned into tearful smiles.

"Leon, you can always come home if things get hard. Do your best."

"Yeah. Thanks, Mom."

"Leon, you are your father's pride. Do your best."

"Thanks. I'll do my best!"

I went over to Marie, who was looking slightly downcast, crouched down, and looked up at her from below.

Marie's eyes were brimming with tears, which looked ready to spill over at any moment.

"Marie, Big Brother's heading out now. I can come home anytime, so don't cry."

I said that and gently patted Marie's head.

"Sniff... Big Brother... Do your best... Make sure you come home..."

"Yeah. I'll come home as often as I can on my days off. Then we can cook together and go to the forest again."

"Yeah... I'll be waiting."

"Thanks."

I gave Marie one last tight hug before standing up. If I kept talking to her like this, I felt I might start crying too.

"Well then, I'm off!"

I said that and stepped outside. It felt a little lonely, but the residence wasn't far away, so I could always come home. I was also looking forward to the new life ahead.

Time to do my best!

I got into the carriage and arrived at the ducal residence in the central district. As usual, I was shown to a guest room. No, from today onward, it was my room.

"Leon-sama, you have no particular plans today. How would you like to spend the day?"

Hmm, what should I do? I should probably buy what I need soon, so perhaps I should find out what I need and go shopping in the afternoon.

"I'd like to buy what I need for the Royal Academy. Is there some kind of list of what I'll need?"

"If it is for the Royal Academy, I know what you will need. Would you like to go shopping today?"

"Yes. I'll go in the afternoon, after lunch."

"Understood."

"Come to think of it, do I take my meals in the dining hall? Until now, I've eaten in either the dining hall or my room."

Until now, I had eaten breakfast in my room, while dinner had been in the dining hall. I usually ate lunch in my room too, though I sometimes ate it in the dining hall.

"People generally eat breakfast and lunch in their rooms, while everyone usually gathers in the dining hall for dinner. However, there are exceptions, such as having lunch in the dining hall, so there are no absolute rules."

"I see. Then would it be all right if I ate in my room today?"

"Of course. I will have it prepared right away."

After that, I ate lunch and rested for a while before heading into the central district to buy what I needed. I was now riding in the carriage with Roger.

"What do I need?"

"First, a pen and ink. You already have one of each, Leon-sama, but it would be best to have one extra of each as spares. Then there are bundles of paper. The textbooks for your classes will be distributed free of charge, but it would be more convenient to have paper for taking notes. Finally, you will need a bag to carry everything in. Students generally go to the Royal Academy without attendants, so apparently everyone carries a bag."

That certainly sounded necessary. I'd buy plenty of paper. It would be useful outside class too. I'd always wanted a notepad. Come to think of it, I might as well buy extra ink too. And I needed a bag. I wanted to buy a sturdy one I could use for a long time.

"There are also clothes. Apparently, it is useful to have clothes that allow easy movement for swordsmanship classes. Those who do not have clothes suitable for parties also buy an outfit to wear for dance classes, but you bought formalwear before, Leon-sama, so you should not need that."

Of course, I couldn't exactly take swordsmanship classes in noble attire. But commoner clothes were out of the question too, so I should buy something good that was easy to move in.

"Then let's buy those five things. Could you stop by the bank before we go to the stores?"

"Of course. However, the head of the family entrusted me with money specifically for you to purchase what you need, Leon-sama. Therefore, you will not need to pay for anything yourself. If there is anything you wish to buy for your own enjoyment, we can go to the bank, but otherwise, shall we proceed directly to the stores?"

They're paying for me again!? I barely spend any money as it is. And I'd worked so hard to save it... Well, I would need money eventually, so I could just keep saving it.

With them taking care of absolutely everything for me, I really felt bad. But refusing outright would only lead to a pointless back-and-forth, so for now, I decided to accept their kindness graciously.

"That's very kind of him. I should thank Richard-sama later. In that case, we don't need to go to the bank now. Could you take me straight to the stores?"

"Of course. Then we will start with the paper shop."

Roger told the coachman, and the carriage arrived at the paper shop.

When I asked Roger, I learned that the paper shop only sold blank paper and not books. Apparently, books could either be bought at a used bookstore or borrowed from someone and taken to a copyist to be transcribed.

New books were apparently most often produced when researchers compiled their findings. There were also a few people like novelists who wrote stories, but a novel was only created after someone who wanted a new story commissioned a novelist to write it.

"Leon-sama, we have arrived."

"Thank you."

When we entered the shop, it was narrow, with a counter right inside. Was the paper kept in a storeroom in back? Behind the counter stood a neatly dressed woman who looked to be in her forties.

"Welcome. How may I help you today?"

"Hello. I'd like some bundles of paper to use at the Royal Academy."

"Certainly."

The woman went through a door behind the counter and returned with a bundle of paper. Each bundle seemed to contain about twenty sheets.

I'll take about three for now. If that wasn't enough, I could always buy more.

"Each bundle contains twenty sheets. How many would you like?"

"Then I'll take three."

"Certainly."

Roger paid, and we left the shop.

After that, we visited a shop that sold pens and ink, a bag shop, and the tailor who had previously come to the ducal residence, buying everything we needed at each.

Roger told me along the way that nobles generally summoned merchants to their estates. However, when they wanted to go shopping themselves, nobles sometimes went to the shops in person.

It was entirely up to them. They also sometimes made the trip themselves or sent a servant when they wanted something right away.

"Leon-sama, we have finished buying everything you need. Is there anywhere else you would like to go?"

"No, nowhere in particular. I'd like to return to the residence."

"Of course."

I finished buying everything I needed and returned to the residence.