WHAT IS LOVE?
If you're wondering who's contemplating such a philosophical question, that
would be me, Leon Bartfort, a reserved but serious young man with black eyes
and black hair.
After reluctantly playing a certain stupid otome game in my previous life, I
died and got reincarnated into the game as an incredibly average male academy
student. At least, that was my original fate, but for some reason I had recently
been promoted all the way to viscount. Ugh. On top of that, I had also moved
up in the court and now stood at lower-fourth ranking. No mere academy
student should have had to deal with such prestigious status.
And thus, I contemplated love.
There's this trope in stories where love is the answer or whatever—all the
protagonist needs to save the day is love, it's the key to everything, etc. This
exact trope played out in the plot of the otome game I was now trapped in. In
the plot, Luxion couldn't defeat the final boss on his own; the protagonist and
her love interests bested it through the power of love, thus earning themselves
a happily ever after.
If that held true, then in this world, the power of love superseded everything;
it rivaled even the most advanced weaponry. It could solve what diplomacy
couldn't. As long as you had love, nothing could get in your way.
What an astounding, magnificent emotion! All you need is love!
How twisted is this world that the most powerful endgame weapon is—of all
things—love?!
That aside…
"Why did this happen?" I moaned.
"It's all your fault," said my companion. Luxion looked like a metallic, ballshaped
robot with a single red eye, but his real self resided in a spaceship
equipped with artificial intelligence. He used this softball-sized contraption as a
portable terminal.
Also, absolutely none of this was my fault.
Given that he considered me his master, he owed me more respect. He was a
capable companion nonetheless, although rather terrifying if left to his own
devices. He got his jollies saying things like, I'm going to annihilate all the new
humans! Who knew what he'd do if I didn't keep an eye on him?
I turned to the mountain of letters on my desk. One of the dormitory staff had
just delivered the impressive pile to my room.
"I guess it's kinda refreshing to see how easily they all flip-flop," I muttered.
Every single one of these letters had come from a girl in the academy's higher
class, and every single one had a condescending tone. Some of the more
audacious letters outright ordered me around with stuff like, You will prepare a
tea party for me three days hence.
When I'd invited these girls to tea before, they hadn't even batted an eyelash
in my vague direction. Now that I had real status, they sure had been quick to
change their tune.
"This is pretty cruel," I sighed.
It disgusted me, actually. For a bit, I thought it'd be funny if all the girls who
spurned me suddenly did a one-eighty and started clamoring for my attention
instead, but the reality of it sucked.
"Your promotion during winter break was doubtless the deciding factor," said
Luxion.
The Principality of Fanoss had attacked us during our second-term school trip.
I'd managed to fend them off, but my accomplishments during the battle had
led to yet another promotion. Thanks to that, when I returned to the academy,
the girls had all done a complete about-face.
"They're not interested in me personally." I sighed. "They just want my status
and fortune. This blows."
"I don't see any point in fussing over feelings. This is about marriage between
nobility. In fact, you should take a look at this letter here."
A single envelope floated my way. I snatched it up and pulled out the letter.
My rotten partner had the ability to scan the contents without even needing to
break the seal. That sure is convenient.
"What, is there something funny in here?"
After scanning the page, I found it no less repulsive than the rest. The sender
had detailed their conditions for marriage, including a manor in the capital
where her dozen or so servants could live, as well as a demand that I financially
support her numerous lovers.
The girl who sent this can't be in her right mind, can she?
Much as I wanted to believe otherwise, these were academy girls. And this
kingdom was the worst imaginable iteration of a matriarchy.
Luxion scoffed. "Honestly. Just whose child do these girls intend to give birth
to?"
"She probably plans to give me an heir right after we get married and then
spend the rest of her life doing what she pleases. A lot of women in our
kingdom do that. My father's legal wife is the same way."
How could a society permit such behavior, you ask? Sadly, in this world, it just
worked like that.
"Considering the relatively small number of men in this world," Luxion mused,
"it would make more sense for them to have the stronger bargaining position
for marriage. But what I find most peculiar is how terrible the conditions are for
barons and viscounts in particular."
True enough. Both commoners and nobles of higher status had it easier than
barons and viscounts. Most people of earl rank or higher got to enjoy fairly
normal marriages. Granted, there were always exceptions.
"Probably just because this is an otome game, right? There's no need to think
too deeply about it. I doubt there's a profound reason underlying any of it."
Maybe it had something to do with the way this fictional world had
materialized into reality. Maybe the idiotic intricacies of our marriage system
had just so happened to glitch out.
Anyway, I dumped the mountain of letters into the garbage bin.
"Oh?" Luxion said in genuine surprise. "You're not inviting anyone? Given
your personality, I assumed you would bring them all to a grand event where
you showered them with snide, hateful remarks."
"What kind of monster do you take me for? I'm just a nice, ordinary man. I
would never do anything like that."
"I would love to hear your definition of ordinary."
"Oh, shut up. Enough of that. Clean this up."
Admittedly, yes, I had considered doing just that, but the thought of having to
put on a tea party for a bunch of turncoats was a drag. I was busy, despite what
they thought. Specifically, I planned to have tea with Livia—the game's
protagonist, full name Olivia—and Angie—a duke's daughter, better known as
Angelica Rapha Redgrave.
Plus, I had plans with two upperclassmen: Clarice, a second-year, and Deirdre,
a third-year. I had a bit of a history with the two by now. I could hardly ignore
their tea party requests, especially after they'd gifted me expensive tea leaves
and tea sets.
Wait, now that I think about it, all I've been doing lately is having tea with
girls. I shrugged. Oh well, who'd be mad about that?
I had a more pressing problem. Namely, the woman I suspected of
reincarnating here the same way I had—Marie Fou Lafan. Born as the youngest
daughter of a poor viscount family, she had recently been officially recognized
as the Saint.
If Marie knew anything at all about this game, she would never have stolen
the position from Livia. Only Livia's special power could hope to defeat the final
boss—it had nothing to do with her Sainthood or whatever. Unfortunately,
Marie had ignored that key fact and taken the title anyway. I had to come up
with some kind of countermeasure.
"Seriously, why is this happening?"
"Isn't it your fault, Master?"
You little jerk. Are you still trying to blame me for everything?
***
A lone girl sat on a bench, a dark atmosphere hanging over her. Her long,
navy-blue hair was unkempt, her uniform frayed.
Carla Fou Wayne hailed from a baronetcy, specifically a vassal family in the
kingdom. Wayne House had served Earl Offrey until the eradication of the earl's
house. The kingdom had sentenced the earl and his heir to death for their
involvement with piracy.
Carla had been a member of the Offrey girl's entourage until the girl abruptly
disappeared from the academy. Any house involved with the Offrey family had
since been punished, and almost all those with ties to the late earl had been
driven from the academy.
Yet Carla remained. More precisely, she had been left, partially because
Wayne House had harbored no direct connection to the pirates. Unfortunately
for poor Carla, there was another reason.
She kept her eyes glued to her feet as other girls walked past.
"What a disgrace. I wish she'd just hurry up and disappear."
"She definitely consorted with that filth. Why is she even still here?"
The kingdom was making an example of her. They had not given her the
option to fade away. She had to accept her circumstances.
However, Carla had never been in a position to refuse the Offrey girl either.
Many had known about Offrey House's shady dealings, but they had also known
saying anything was tantamount to suicide. Yet now Offrey House was gone,
and Carla was still treated like a traitor.
"What did they expect of me? What could I have done?"
Carla couldn't have stood against the Offrey House. She would have died.
Even if she had tried to make an anonymous report to the capital, one of Earl
Offrey's minions would have found out and put a stop to it, and then the earl
would have retaliated.
I was just putting up with that girl like the rest of you. So why am I the
outcast? Tears ran down Carla's cheeks.
Just then, a petite girl approached Carla, a group of people surrounding her. It
was Marie, the girl the temple had recognized as the Saint.
She has such a large entourage!
Marie had lacked any such contingent before, but since becoming the Saint,
students had flocked to her. Her title drew them in, as did her status as the
former crown prince's lover. To no surprise, countless nobles tripped over
themselves to befriend her.
The same girls who had once derided Marie now gushed with praise in her
wake.
"Lady Marie, you're as beautiful as ever today!"
"Your clothing looks lovely again. You have such an eye for fashion."
"Lady Marie, a new café will open up soon. Would you care to go together?"
The girls at the academy had done a complete about-face, and they had
brought with them a number of servants and hopeful male students. Quite the
crowd surrounded Marie.
And Marie was living for it. "Come now, everyone, you don't have to call me
'Lady Marie.' Just Marie is fine."
"Oh goodness, we could never do that!"
Marie flashed a smile. "No, I forbid you. After all, we're friends, aren't we?"
"Lady Marie, you are so kindhearted!"
"Aw, you don't have to flatter me like that." For as much as she brushed off
their compliments, she grinned from ear to ear.
Carla averted her eyes, staring instead at the ground. If I don't leave quickly,
they'll bully me again. She'd once set a trap for two of Marie's lovers, Brad and
Greg, and she feared retaliation. Thus, she tried to slink away.
But someone noticed. "Oh my, look what we have here," one of the girls said
loudly. "The disgrace to all nobility."
Carla's shoulders seized in a panic. She tried to flee, but a couple of boys
stepped in front of her and blocked her path.
"So you're still here."
"How is someone like you able to call themselves nobility?"
"It really pisses me off."
Many boys already resented the academy girls; seeing Carla let off easy
despite her traitorous ties had made them even more hostile to her specifically.
More people gathered until they completely surrounded Carla. She trembled
and sank to her knees, curling in on herself as everyone laughed.
Marie stepped closer with them, hand outstretched. Carla snapped her eyes
shut. She steeled herself for a slap. But seconds trickled by and there was
nothing. She tentatively lifted her eyes to find Marie smiling, holding a hand
toward her.
"Huh? Uh, um…?"
"So you're Carla. I know a lot has happened, but let's be friends," said Marie.
Her words stunned the crowd, and they quickly admonished her.
"Lady Marie, this is the girl who led Lord Brad and Lord Greg into a trap! She's
a traitor! She consorts with criminals!"
Marie shook her head. "She must have had her reasons or she wouldn't be
allowed to stay here. She's already apologized for her actions, anyway. You
shouldn't gang up on her."
They all shut their mouths.
Carla put her trembling hand in Marie's, and Marie helped her up.
Now that Carla stood, the height difference meant Marie had to crane her
head to look up at the other girl. Nonetheless, she gently squeezed both of
Carla's hands. "I mean it. Let's be friends, okay?"
Carla shivered with relief. To her, Marie looked like an angel. She wiped away
her tears and nodded. "Y-yeah, okay."
***
Like hell I'm going to forgive you.
Marie kept the smile plastered on as she stood in front of the crying girl.
I'll never forgive you for what you did to Brad and Greg—but you also
deceived that deplorable background character. That pleases me. And I'm sure
it'll piss him off if you become part of my entourage.
Leon reminded Marie of someone she had known in her previous life—her
cruel, sarcastic older brother who always got in her way. She loathed Leon for
always bringing back those memories.
Seeing the annoyed look on his face will make forgiving Carla worth it. And
look at how benevolent I am for pardoning an awful girl like her!
Marie had stolen the protagonist's love interests and even taken Kyle, the
servant who was supposed to belong to Olivia. Now she had swiped the title of
Saint as well. She'd had no other choice, of course, after Leon disrupted her
plans.
That stupid background character has given me so much grief. But now it's my
turn to make a move. I'll be sure to pay him back for everything he's done.
Marie didn't know a ton about the Saint business, but she knew sainthood
made her special—special enough that even if the temple named a commoner
the Saint, her new status allowed her to marry the crown prince. Also, as the
Saint, she had a few items that only she could use, and each of them greatly
amplified her power.
I may have stolen the position from that airhead, Olivia, but as long as I fulfill
the role and solve any related problems that crop up, it shouldn't be too bad.
Man, does it feel great to have all these people who looked down on me clamor
for my attention now!
Marie enjoyed the change, to say the least.
They mocked me for being below my lovers—they patronized me for being
from a poor noble house. But now they're all desperate to ingratiate themselves.
And it's time to climb even higher!
Next, she intended to aim for the title of crown princess. Although first she
had to get Julius reinstated as the crown prince.
Suddenly, Chris appeared. Chris Fia Arclight, with his blue hair, blue eyes, and
glasses, had a dignified air. "Marie, there you are." He smiled as he approached.
Marie, in good spirits, smiled in turn. The girls around her all blushed as they
glanced at Chris, which pleased her. "What is it?" she asked.
"A letter arrived for you, so I came to deliver it."
She thanked him and took the envelope. Her eyes went round the moment
she saw the signature.
"Marie? Is something wrong?"
"N-no, it's nothing. I-I just remembered I have a little errand to run. I'll be
going!"
The others tried to stop her, but Marie sped off. She ran until she found a
deserted area and slipped into the shadows to hide. Her fingers trembled as she
tore the envelope open.
"J-just calm down. It's going to be okay. I'm the Saint now. No matter what
my house tries to do, the boys will protect me."
The letter was from her parents. On scanning it, Marie's legs turned to jelly
and she collapsed.
"Why is this happening to meeeeee?!" Marie crumpled the letter in her fists
and cried in frustration.
Her parents had used her name as the Saint to borrow a ridiculous sum of
money, and they now demanded she repay the loan. Marie had not been
blessed with good parents in her second life. Her siblings weren't much better;
they were also using the authority of her name to do whatever they pleased.
Her earlier high had now vanished.
"I am so sick of being in debt!" she sobbed. It had been a chain all through her
previous life—why did it have to bind her in this one, too?
***
I strolled through the academy's main building with Livia at my side. Her
flaxen bob bounced around her chin as she hugged her textbooks to her chest.
"Having to change rooms for every single class is a pain," I grumbled. I wished
it were like Japan, where the teachers came to a class that stayed in the same
room all day.
Livia's blue eyes glanced over at me, her brows furrowed with concern. "Are
you tired, Leon?"
Livia was my light in the darkness of this school, where all the other girls were
practically monsters.
"I'm drowning in invitations. Turning them all down is draining," I confessed.
Livia beamed. "It's because you're a hero!"
"Yeah, I'm not the hero type, though."
"Are there any girls who do draw your interest?" she asked.
"Nope. Hopefully next year some decent ones enter the academy." I didn't
care for fickle girls who changed their minds as it suited them.
"But if you don't put on tea parties, your reputation will suffer. Or so I've
been told."
"My 'reputation'?" I laughed. "Who cares if it gets worse? Besides, you and
Angie are the only company I need."
Livia's cheeks flushed, her lips tugging into a smile. However, it faded quickly.
"But you also invited Clarice and Deirdre to one as well, didn't you?"
Her probing questions prompted me to look away; I tried to play it off with a
grin. "You know, I think we better hurry or we'll be late."
She sighed and shook her head. "You're deflecting."
Our attention was suddenly drawn to a crowd in the corridor. They were all
looking at a bulletin board, one covered in a number of notices. You didn't often
see notices attract so many people.
The two of us stepped closer, peering through the crowd. I caught a glimpse
of a study abroad poster. Applications were open for a year in the Alzer
Republic.
"Study abroad? The academy sure is an incredible place." Livia sounded
intrigued.
But surely that wasn't what had attracted everyone's attention—was it?
Just as I gave up and started to retreat down the hall, someone pushed
through the cluster of bodies: one of my good friends, Raymond Fou Arkin. His
face was heavy with exhaustion.
"What, you're interested in studying abroad, too?" I asked.
He pushed his glasses up his nose. "Oh, Leon. Wait, what are you talking
about?"
I didn't get the sense he was playing dumb, so I pointed to the poster. "Isn't
that what everyone's looking at?"
"No. The government's recruiting bodyguards."
"Seriously?" Why did people care about that? What's more, if the royal family
needed bodyguards, the academy hardly seemed like the appropriate place to
do recruitment. "For who?"
Raymond stared at me. "I would think that's obvious. For the Saint. Although,
there are some other special circumstances at play, too."
"Special? How so?"
"Well, Lady Marie is the Saint, right? And she's got some pretty important
lovers. So the palace has a hand in assigning her bodyguards as well, not just
the temple."
"Ah," Livia mumbled. "Prince Julius and the others, right?"
Raymond nodded. "Some of the nobles are kicking up a fuss saying this is
proof Prince Julius was right to make her his partner. Rumor is they're trying to
reinstate him as crown prince and make Lady Marie the crown princess."
That stupid otome game had ended with the protagonist becoming the Saint,
gaining recognition from the nobles, and marrying whatever love interest she'd
selected. Apparently that trajectory was holding for Marie, even though she'd
stolen the position.
How annoying.
"Basically, you're saying anyone who wants to cozy up to her should apply to
join her personal guard, right?" I stared at him. "I didn't have you pegged as the
type to be interested in something like that, Raymond."
He smiled bitterly. "Call it ulterior motives, but I'm eyeing the conditions
they've offered."
"Now what are you talking about?"
"The Saint's bodyguards will be knighted. Not just as knights of the temple
but as official knights of the kingdom."
I scoffed. "There's no way the temple will agree to that."
"It's true—anyone who qualifies to join her personal guard will be knighted.
And that's not all! They'll grant marital leniency to any guy who makes it—
meaning they won't care about your fiancée's rank or status."
I gaped. "Raymond, you mean…"
"That's right. You'll be able to take a commoner as your wife."
Basically, he explained, temple knights had free license to marry whoever
they liked because some of them were commoners. The nobility generally
mocked any noble who took on the role, but in this case, because you'd also be
a knight in the palace's eyes…it was a free pass to dodge the hell out of the
awful pool of prospective noble girls.
Determination burned in the eyes of every man gathered around the bulletin
board.
"Damn, I'd volunteer immediately if the person we'd be guarding weren't a
dirtbag," I grumbled.
"You wouldn't be able to volunteer anyway, since you're a regional lord," said
Raymond. "Sadly, I'm in the same boat. Heirs can't apply."
"Seriously? I got disappointed over nothing then."
When I thought about it, it made sense for heirs to be excluded. It sounded
like a permanent appointment, which ruled out anyone in a position to succeed
their house.
Raymond was similarly discouraged but clearly trying to move on. "So," he
said, "you sure do seem to hate the Saint."
"Yeah, you couldn't pay me to voluntarily breathe her air, let alone guard
her."
He sighed, exasperated.
Just then, Livia tugged on my sleeve. "Mr. Leon, look."
I glanced back to find Angie walking toward us, a grave expression on her
face. She glanced up nervously, and my stomach twisted in anxious knots. This
couldn't be good. Fortunately, my bad premonitions tend to be way off base.
I'm sure it'll be fine.
"So this is where you were," she said. "Leon, I just received word from my
house."
Raymond ducked behind me the minute she approached. As a duke's
daughter, Angie's status far exceeded ours. I couldn't blame him for feeling
uneasy in her presence.
"Word about what?" Livia asked, biting her lip.
Angie offered her a small, reassuring smile.
The two of them were close, which was rather ironic considering that in the
game, Angie was the villainess—and Livia's rival in love. Her brilliant blonde hair
was intricately woven into a braid, and her bright red eyes shone with inner
strength. She usually had an intimidating air, but with Livia, she softened.
"Don't worry," Angie said. "It's nothing bad."
For being nothing bad, she sure seemed on edge.
"Okay, so what happened?" I asked.
Angie stared up at me. Those crimson eyes threatened to swallow me whole.
Also, it was really hard to keep my gaze from wandering down to those
voluptuous breasts. Both girls were actually so well endowed I had a hard time
completely ignoring their figures like, ever.
"Leon, this is serious." Angie sensed my mind wandering, and she frowned at
me. "It's not official yet, but…they've already decided to appoint you to the
Saint's personal guard."
"Huh?"