To my surprise, I've been living a normal school life lately. I wake up in the morning, eat breakfast in the dormitory, and go to class as usual. After school, I study in the library with Anna, Margaret, and Isabella. Then after eating dinner, I return to my room in the dormitory and spend the rest of the time freely.
Since then, neither Amy nor any of the reverse-harem members have mess with us, and I feel as if last year when I couldn't talk to anyone, was a lie, a dream-like school life.
One day, while I was resting in my room in the dormitory, Sebastian-san came to visit me and took me out.
"Good evening, Allen-sama. After that, how was your school life?"
"Yes. Thanks to Anna-sama, Margaret-sama and Isabella-sama, it is fulfilling."
"Is that so? Then that's good. By the way, how are things going at school? It took a long time for my lady's series of incidents to come to light, so I was wondering if you could tell me anything you've noticed."
"I see. So that's how it was"
In other words, the purpose of his visit to me was to gather information. I'm sure he's talking to people other than me, but in short, as a member of the Duke of Ramslett's family, he's expecting me to gather information about the school.
As for me, I don't want to become a useful tool and get used completely. But now that he is my backer, and I want Anna to smile. For that reason, I need to make sure that the Duke of Ramslett remains alive and not executed like in the game.
"Of course. I owe a debt of gratitude to both the Duke and Anna-sama, so I will cooperate to the extent I can. In return, if you don't mind, can you tell me what's going on in the royal palace?"
"In the royal palace, is it?"
"Yes. As I said to the Duke, I am worried about the national crisis from the struggle for succession."
When I say that, Sebastian-san seem as if he's thinking long and hard about something.
"…… What do you envision in the current situation, Allen-sama?"
"To be honest, I haven't been able to see through it yet. I'm especially curious about Prince Claude."
"…… I see."
Sebastian-san didn't change his expression, but I could see that he was a little upset. So I tried to change the subject a little.
"Right now, I'm in a position to support the prince, who supports the duke."
"That's right."
"However, if it were possible, I would really like them to decide either to banish the Crown Prince or to not accept him as a Crown Prince in the future."
"So you're saying you're worried about the west?"
"Yes. That's what I meant. It's just that I have too little information to be sure."
"Is that so? That's right. I see. I understand. I'll invite you to the Duke's residence later."
"Thank you"
Thus, I was invited back to the Duke's residence.
＊＊＊＊
"Welcome, I hope you're enjoying your time at school."
As soon as I arrived at the drawing-room of the Duke's residence, the Duke called out to me.
"Yes. Anna-sama has been very good to me."
"Well then, As her 'friend', help Anna when she needs."
That's why he emphasized the word 'friend' again.
"Yes. Of course. I'm a 'commoner', so if I can be of any help to Anna-sama, I'll be satisfied."
I now emphasize the word 'commoner' to show my willingness to follow the status system.
"…… All right. Passed."
The Duke grinned and cut to the chase.
"Now, Allen-kun. No, Allen says you're concerned about the west. What did you assume from the information you just gave me?"
"Yes, I heard that Prince Claude was expelled from school at the request of the Westerdale Kingdom. From that, I have a hypothesis that the Westerdale Kingdom may have made some kind of deal with the Est Empire."
"Hou"
The duke looks at me with an interested expression.
"Perhaps the general view is that this expulsion is a reprimand and punishment for the disgrace Prince Claude has shown."
"That's right. That's how it's generally perceived."
"However, considering Prince Claude's mentality, I think he would choose to be next to Amy-sama, even if it means putting himself to shame."
"What makes you think that?"
"Prince Claude was blindly in love with Amy-sama. That should be obvious from that crazy duel."
"Then why did Prince Claude agree to leave school?"
"It's in Amy-sama's best interest that he is not at the academy."
"Hou. You mean?"
"Yes. Isn't Prince Claude expecting Amy-sama to have to leave our country? This is where the confusion from the succession dispute comes into play. And if it's just a succession dispute, it's inconceivable that Amy-sama, who is favoured by the legitimate son of such a powerful nobleman, would flee the country. In other words, doesn't Prince Claude think that there is a reasonable possibility of devastation caused by war?"
Of course, there is also the possibility that the Crown Prince's side will lose and Amy and her family will be forced to leave the country, so there is no denying that the theory is a bit far-fetched.
But when the Duke heard my opinion, he was silent for a while, pondering, and then he smiled and opened his mouth.
"It's an interesting reasoning. However, the Westerdale Kingdom is a friend of our country and an ally against the United Kingdom of Norsane in the north. It also relies heavily on imports of food and resources from our country. Why would the Westerdale Kingdom make such a deal with the Est Empire?"
"It's just a possibility. However, this year's freshman list at the school did not include the name of the Westerdale princess who is one year younger than Prince Claude."
"What's wrong with that? I heard that she was originally planning to enrol in a school in her own country."
"No. If it is such an important neighbouring country, I think they would have sent another person here. Or, it wouldn't be strange if there was talk of a political marriage, isn't it?"
"Hmm"
"At least the Westerdale Kingdom is not allied with the Est Empire or the Kingdom of Xaus. Besides, if the United Kingdom of Norsarne and the Westerdale Kingdom make peace, our country will be surrounded by enemies. Wouldn't it be better to assume the worst here?"
However, even after saying this much, I believe that expulsion is a punishment in more ways than one.
But on the other hand, there is no guarantee that the Westerdale Kingdom will lend a hand when the Est Empire invades.
Of course, in the game, the Westerdale Kingdom did not betray us but lent us a hand. But the reason why the Westerdale Kingdom helped the Crown Prince, Amy and the others were because Prince Claude, who fell for her, witnessed the moment Amy awakened as a saint and used it to persuade his home country.
There may be some opportunism due to the fact that it was a game.
However, Prince Claude, who was supposed to persuade, has dropped out of school. It is unlikely that Prince Claude will be present at the moment of Amy's awakening.
Besides. In the first place, I doubt very much that Amy can be a saint.
As long as that pervert is doing whatever he wants as the spirit of light, the Elf Village rescue event will not occur. If that's the case, she won't be able to reach the elf village. And if that happens, the event of receiving the blessing of the Spirit of Light itself will not occur.
Furthermore, even if she did manage to reach the elf village, the spirit of light is that pervert.
Wouldn't Amy have to be about ten years younger to do something for nothing in return?
And when that happens, it's hard to believe that they will lend force to recapture the country to the illegitimate daughter of a Baron who is no saint and the Crown Prince who lost disgracefully to a commoner.
To be clear, there is no reason not to think that it would be better to join hands with the Est Empire to share the territory.
"Hmm. That's good. I'm surprised you thought that far ahead with so little information. It is true that the relationship with Westerdale is not perfect. But as the Duke of Ramslett, I can't move from the royal family in the current situation."
"Yes. That's because of what happened, isn't it?"
But the Duke was silent for a moment, and then slowly opened his mouth.
"Allen, Friedrich is back in the territory now. Do you know why?"
Eh? The next head of the family has returned to the estate?
The Duchy of Ramslett is the southern breadbasket. And in the south is the Kingdom of Xaus. Also, the Kingdom of Xaus is an ally of the Est Empire.
"Don't tell me Est and Xaus are moving at the same time?"
The duke smirked at my words.
"Fufufu, not bad, Allen. But the army can't make any sudden moves. It won't be until summer, when the winter wheat harvest is over, that they'll make a move. You got my daughter's handkerchief, didn't you? I'm counting on you."
"Yes"
It seems that things are far beyond my expectations.
Author's Note:-
If it is difficult to remember the name of the countries, it may be easier to remember it in the direction, as shown below.
Home country → centre → central → Centraren Kingdom
Eastern → East → Est Empire
Western → West → Westedale Kingdom
Southern → South → Kingdom of Xaus
Northern → North → United Kingdom of Norsane