Chapter 88
We moved over toward the edge of the training grounds and quietly waited for class to begin. With Ronnie's clothes being what they were, it was better not to draw attention to ourselves as much as possible.
It seemed that people gathered at the training grounds in order of social standing, starting with those of lower status. At first, students from our class gathered, and then people of increasingly higher status began to arrive.
Although we had moved to the side, everyone frowned when they saw Ronnie's clothes, and some even made insulting remarks loud enough for us to hear.
"It is unpleasant to be in the same class as someone dressed so shabbily."
"Why are you wearing clothes that look like rags? I don't even want you in my field of vision."
I heard comments like that from all around us. They were probably the type of nobles who looked down on commoners. It irritated me to no end, and I wanted to argue back, but I couldn't exactly pick a fight with nobles.
Ronnie hunched over beside me, staring at the ground. I wanted to help him, but... there was nothing I could do right now. Anything a fellow commoner like me said would only be mocked, and it would probably make the insults even worse.
"Leon... People might say things about you for being with me. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about that. People say all sorts of things about me even when I'm by myself."
"Yeah..."
I should move forward with the stall as quickly as possible so I could help Ronnie, even if only a little.
As I was thinking that, about three nobles approached us. They had just entered the training grounds, so they must be high-ranking nobles, right? Why were they coming over here?
Don't come over here! This is seriously scary!
Ronnie and I hunched down and lowered our heads, trying to make ourselves as inconspicuous as possible, but the sound of footsteps drew closer.
"Hey, you commoner over there."
They were talking to us, weren't they...? This was the worst.
I reluctantly raised my head and looked at the person who had spoken to us.
The person who had spoken was the one in the middle, acting as though he were important. This was... the person who got into an argument with Lucien on the day of the exam, right? If I remembered correctly, he was Artur Pleobert of the Pleobert ducal family.
Ugh... This was seriously the worst.
"Are you speaking to me?"
"Not you. I mean the one in the shabby clothes."
"M-me? Did you need something...?"
Ronnie replied in a trembling voice.
"It's unpleasant even having you in my field of vision. Leave this place immediately."
"B-but... I have to attend class..."
"A lowly person like you won't amount to anything even if you study. Why don't you quit the Royal Academy and get a job? There's no point in a commoner studying."
I seriously hated this guy... Commoners had the right to attend the Royal Academy, and if we graduated, we could become civil servants, so there was a point to attending!
I wanted to tell him that to his face. This was so irritating...!
Ronnie was completely cowed. He lowered his head and looked as though he was about to cry. What should I do...? Was there some way to get him to overlook this, at least for now?
"Um... I am terribly sorry for making you uncomfortable. I'll change my clothes before the next class, so could you please overlook it just this once?"
"Who are you? Hmm? Wait, you're the one who was with Lucien, aren't you? Weren't you his attendant?"
"My name is Leon, and I attend the Royal Academy under the patronage of the Townsend ducal family."
The moment I said that, Artur-sama's expression turned extremely severe.
"The Townsend ducal family is sponsoring a commoner and having him attend the Royal Academy?"
Huh? Was I not supposed to say that? But Lucien said he was going to make it public, so it should be fine, right?
"Withdraw immediately. And quit the Royal Academy."
"Um... that's not something I can decide for myself."
"Why is the Townsend ducal family engaging in such madness? Sponsoring a lowly commoner is unthinkable. You're sullying the name of the ducal family!"
Why was he getting angry at me? It wasn't like I could do anything about it. He was seriously annoying. I wished he'd go away already.
"Even if you tell me, there's nothing I can do about it..."
"Is that person in those shabby clothes under the Townsend ducal family's patronage too?!"
"N-no... I don't have the patronage of any noble."
He had turned his attention back to Ronnie. Ronnie didn't have anyone backing him, so he was in an even weaker position than I was.
"Then you can quit right now! Get out of this training ground at once!"
"B-but..."
"It's unpleasant even having you in my field of vision!"
Ugh... This guy was seriously obnoxious. I was incredibly irritated. Could I talk back to him now? I'd put up with this much already, so it should be okay, right?
Just as I was about to open my mouth, a voice called out from behind Artur-sama.
"Artur, what are you making such a commotion about?"
It was Lucien! Stephan and Martine were with him too!
Thank goodness...
"Lucien! What do you mean by sponsoring a lowly commoner?! Stop doing things that sully the name of the ducal family right now. I warned you about this before, didn't I?"
"Artur, didn't I tell you the same thing before? It is better for this country if we let capable commoners put their abilities to work."
"As if that could possibly be true! The sacred domain of the nobility is being defiled by commoners! If you associate with lowly people, you'll become lowly yourself!"
"Commoners are not lowly. Why can't you understand that this country could not function without them?"
"Commoners are kept alive by the nobles! My father always says so! Commoners can survive because of the nobles!"
That pointless argument had started again... Those two would probably never understand each other.
Artur-sama was bad enough, but the father who had instilled these ideas in him was even worse. I absolutely didn't want to meet him...
Artur-sama's father was the current Duke of Pleobert, right? I absolutely didn't want to go anywhere near the Pleobert ducal family...
But at least half the nobles probably thought like Artur-sama.
Quite a few nobles had been nodding along to what Artur-sama said. Every one of them was someone to watch out for.
There were too many of them to remember them all...
"You two, don't argue in a place like this."
"Your Highness! Are you saying that Lucien is right?!"
He hadn't said anything like that. Well, perhaps that was what he thought in his heart...
According to what Richard-sama had told me, the royal family seemed to share the Townsend ducal family's views. However, there were so many nobles in the opposing faction that they apparently couldn't easily support either side. It would ignite a civil war, after all.
"I never said that. However, this is a place of learning, not somewhere for you to argue like this."
"I apologize... But what do you think, Your Highness?! You seem to be close to Lucien, but are you saying that I'm the one who's wrong?"
"Being friends with Lucien has nothing to do with my views. I believe both opinions are correct. It is important to respect history. However, it is equally important to adapt to the times. Neither can be called more important than the other. We must make flexible decisions according to the circumstances. That said, we must obey rules and regulations. If we stop doing so, the country will grow increasingly disorderly. The Royal Academy accepts commoners. That is the rule as it stands."
Stephan was every inch a prince! He was so cool! He had skillfully summed things up without taking either side.
"Understood... I apologize."
"I apologize as well for arguing in a place like this."
After Artur-sama and Lucien apologized, the situation settled down.
It was all right for now, but we wouldn't always be able to count on someone coming to our aid. I should get Ronnie's clothes in order before the next class so he would draw as little attention as possible. Maybe I could give him some money as an advance on his wages. I should get his clothes sorted out, even if that was what it took.