Chapter 52
The Hewton Baron family, possessing considerable territory and wealth.
They have no notable achievements in war, nor have they accomplished anything significant at the center of power, and they lack connections with the royal family.
However, they excelled in gathering information, sniffing out the scent of war, unrest, or coups, and each time the situation changed, they switched allegiances, joining new powers to survive and shrewdly protect their peerage.
Billy Hewton was born as the youngest child of this baron family.
If one were to describe him in a single phrase, it would be 'the king of a small garden.'
He had kind parents and older siblings who doted on their younger brother.
Even if he behaved somewhat arrogantly, no one reprimanded him, and in their territory, he was treated like a king.
In the essential noble studies and swordsmanship, perhaps due to his competitive nature, he was consistently praised by every instructor as being among the top of the lower noble children.
During the social season gatherings of lower nobles, adults eager to form ties with the wealthy Hewton family constantly approached Billy, the pampered youngest child, and among children his age, Billy, who was taller than average and had a more refined appearance, was very popular with young ladies as a potential future marriage partner.
Because of this, Billy, who had been showered with praise just for existing, knew no fear, believing that upon entering the academy in the Royal Capital, he would naturally become an aide to His Highness, the Crown Prince, and that he could build connections with royalty and upper nobles in place of his siblings, dreaming of a splendid future where marrying into a Count family or even aiming higher for a Marquis family was not out of reach.
"Will you take it back?"
Lying on the grass, unable to get up, with both hands pitifully pressed against the ground, Billy looked up to see a girl standing there with a cool, composed expression.
Biting his lip as he wondered why things had turned out this way, Billy desperately glared at Celestia Rotisch.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
First, Billy had planned to enter the academy as Billy Hewton, aide to His Highness, the Crown Prince, and make a grand debut among nobles he had never had the chance to meet before, but he was left tilting his head in confusion when his parents gently explained that such a thing was impossible.
Upon learning that their beloved son had been spreading word among his close noble friends that he was an "aide candidate to His Highness, the Crown Prince," Billy's parents hurriedly called him in and cautioned him.
"......Why not? I'm Billy Hewton, after all."
Puffing out his cheeks in complete incomprehension, Billy, for the first time, came to realize his true standing.
Only the children of upper nobles are selected as aide candidates to His Highness, the Crown Prince.
Family background is considered, but academic ability, swordsmanship, horsemanship, and various other factors are thoroughly evaluated, and in the end, His Highness, the Crown Prince, personally interviews and selects from those who remain.
"Is it because of my family background......?"
Feeling indignant that this was the only thing lacking, Billy's parents exchanged glances before quietly shaking their heads, beginning to explain in detail that everything about him was insufficient.
The instructors hired by lower nobles are usually from other lower noble families, and unless one has exceptional connections, it's impossible to bring in someone from a higher-ranking family.
To begin with, only wealthy families can afford to hire instructors, and in most lower noble households, a nursemaid who has been by the child's side since infancy takes on that role instead.
The Hewton Baron family is wealthy enough to hire multiple instructors, but all of them are from lower noble families, and naturally, the children they have taught so far are also the sons and daughters of lower nobles.
Since the comparison is limited to that group, it's only natural that Billy, who has been taught by multiple instructors, appears exceptional.
Even so, Billy muttered that he was still outstanding, but his parents continued to lay out the harsh reality.
The sons and daughters of upper nobles are raised with every kind of education from a young age.
They are thoroughly trained in etiquette and knowledge beyond general education by instructors who possess extensive expertise outside their specialized fields.
It is said that when learning specialized skills such as languages of other countries, playing instruments like the piano, or painting watercolors, at least two or more instructors are assigned.
Upper nobles are expected to be perfect in every aspect.
If Billy had ever witnessed them at a social event, the stark difference would have been obvious, but lower nobles are never invited to gatherings of upper nobles, and at events like the music festival where everyone gathers, the seating is separated, so there is no interaction.
Hearing such stories from his parents, Billy trembled at the thought of what would become of him once he entered the academy in the Royal Capital, experiencing the emotion of fear for the first time.
After all, he was just Billy, a mere lower noble......
However, a turning point came to Billy, who had been depressed for a while after learning the reality.
When it was announced that Ivan Tseli, the Count and Knight Commander of the kingdom, known as the shield of the nation who had supported the current king, would retire along with his knight order and become an instructor at the military school, Billy's excited older siblings, faces flushed, banged on the door of his room where he had been shutting himself in, shouting with excitement.
Everyone admired him, and those who wished to get even a step closer to him were countless; being taught swordsmanship by Ivan Tseli would earn one extremely high recognition and a future full of opportunities.
At the military school, status is not emphasized, and only one or two noble children enroll each year.
Aiming for the top there first, and eventually earning a recommendation from Ivan Tseli to join the knight order didn't sound bad at all; if that happened, building good connections would be easy.
Within just two hours, Billy decided to enroll in the military school, setting a new dream for himself.
"......Why......how can you be so......"
Is it different?
Even though she was one of the two major military nobles, a rural noble girl with only frontier territory had completely shattered him on the first day of class......
"There's still ten minutes left. The time you're resting now will be added later."
Saying this, Celestia turned her back with light steps and walked away, leaving Billy with nothing to do but watch her.
"......Is that"
An upper noble?
For a child of this age, when faced with an overwhelming difference in strength, no matter the initial emotion, it eventually turns into admiration.
No longer paying any attention to Billy, Celestia silently ran around the training ground.
That was the path he must aim for......! Billy struck his trembling legs with his fist, his eyes sparkling as he chased after Celestia.
"The result turned out better than expected."
"Can't you stop using Celes......?"
Watching Celestia and Billy silently from the sidelines, Harrison was cautioned by Silvio, who was resting nearby, with a sharp remark, but Harrison just smirked and shrugged, showing no intention of stopping.
"I heard that Billy Hewton and his followers got into a fight in the dormitory just yesterday, so shouldn't we use whoever is useful to crush their pointless pride?"
"As if you weren't trying to crush Celes too......"
"The most troublesome one is Celestia Rotisch, after all. Well, it turned out to be unnecessary worry......"
Before finishing his sentence, Harrison, exasperated, shifted his gaze to Billy, who was desperately running at a pace slower than walking, while Silvio ran toward Celestia.
It's only natural that Celestia Rotisch is overwhelmingly superior.
She has been training for years at Ransheen Fortress, honed by tough soldiers.
Without using the excuse of being the granddaughter of a Marshal to slack off, she has steadily built her strength while getting covered in mud, as that stubborn Nick has repeatedly told me.
"......Now, I must use her well."
While observing the group, which still seemed to have plenty of issues, Harrison considered how to make use of Celestia.
For now, to avoid being glared at by her troublesome guardians who wouldn't allow her to work for free, would high-quality meat be a good enough reward for her......?
With his already meager salary, would he have to spend more from now on? Harrison quietly pressed his hand against the wallet at his chest.