CHAPTER 36: DAY OF DEPARTURE

Some more weeks pass, and the world of spring finally blesses the world.

It is early March.

The Aditi Estate is livelier than ever.

The world feels brighter and more colorful, and the brilliance of the sun matches the blazing rays of light that envelop my heart.

It has been more than half a year since I returned to the past.

So much has changed, and a lot more is about to change now that I am about to depart from the Aditi Estate yet again—this time for a far longer period.

After all, I am leaving for the Royal Academy.

I am one of the very few students who received a full scholarship from the school. It was a pleasant surprise, since that meant I wouldn’t have to touch the wealth I have amassed during this period as a result of preparation.

It took a while, but I eventually revealed this to my parents.

Naturally, they were shocked.

Who can blame them? Such a great feat from someone in a Mid-Rank Knight Household like mine is very surprising. However, it isn’t unprecedented.

My uncle also got a scholarship, though he lost it after a few years in the Academy.

I don’t intend to be like him.

I suppose what makes the situation even more miraculous is that training to be a Knight has always been everything about me, and I have always been rather average at it. This has perhaps caused everyone to view me in such a light.

So, being rather exceptional at Academics is something no one expected.

Personally, I don’t care much for their reactions.

Naturally, I am glad to see my siblings proud of me, and it is amusing to watch the shock written all over everyone in the Estate, but those things are only secondary.

What I am mostly glad about is that I can use my amassed fortune on other things.

If I didn’t get a scholarship, I would have had to be more miserly in my spending, worrying about so many other things while having to manage my resources. But now... things have become a lot less challenging.

I can loosen up a little on the things I require.

And so, during the past few weeks, I have purchased and acquired many high-quality clothes, accessories, and all manner of items necessary to assert a sufficient status. It isn’t enough to make me stand out as a rich kid, but I certainly won’t be looked down on as a pauper.

I am likely to be placed in the sweet spot that exists in the middle, as is my preference.

If there is any reason to stand out, I wish for it to be my achievements.

However, until I fully navigate the Academy, I have to be careful. After all, the nail that stands out the most tends to be hammered down.

The Royal Academy isn’t like the Aditi Household, where I hold a lot of advantages.

I’ll need to be more prudent there.

Other than clothes and the other superficial things, I also ensured to purchase sufficient books as well as all the materials I will need in the Academy. Even books that aren’t particularly mandatory, but possess supplementary value, were included in the list.

The Academy’s scholarship covers everything involving expenses incurred in the Academy—like tuition, accommodation, and the like—but students still need to get things like books from their own pockets.

This alone disqualifies many people, even with things like Scholarships, making the load easier.

Of course, it isn’t compulsory for the students to buy books.

They could always borrow from fellow classmates or simply do without books.

But if they chose the latter, how would they pass?

And as for the former... who in the Royal Academy would spare a poor wretch such compassion?

Fortunately, none of these affects me.

My pockets are deep enough to cater to all my needs without a problem.

In fact, even my parents have begun to notice how wealthy I am. After seeing many packages being delivered to the Estate in my name, they have tried to pry the truth from my lips, but I have chosen to be silent on the matter.

It is abundantly clear that they are dying of curiosity, but I am under no obligation to tell them anything. I can also see that the Main Family isn’t doing so well financially and could really use some of my money, but I do not opt to help them at all.

Why should I?

I can still remember how they refused to help me when I knelt and begged them to fund my education in the Royal Academy

I bet they now feel very foolish about their choice.

More days pass, and everything is finally ready for my departure. I plan to leave for the Academy the following day—on a Monday—but there are a few things I need to resolve before leaving.

First, I invite Leon to my room and have a conversation with him.

I reveal to him that I know he is working for my father. At first, he tries to deny this, which tells me that my father never told him of the matter. However, he soon becomes unable to deny the truth and finally confesses.

Of course, he leaves a lot of details out, which makes it clear whose side he is still on.

I ignore all of this and get to the main point.

"I don’t care if you are working for my father, but you are still my aide. I consider you competent, so I won’t let you go. Instead, I simply ask that you look after my siblings and ensure they are well. Make sure they continue their activities, and report anything out of the ordinary to me in letters. This is an order as the Heir and your Master. You understand what that means, don’t you?"

Leon isn’t foolish.

He nods and bows his head, accepting my command without hesitation.

It doesn’t matter where his loyalties lie.

He serves me.

That means he must obey my instructions. If he doesn’t adhere to them, he is subject to punishment as prescribed by the Kingdom’s laws. Even my father won’t go Scot-free if he tries to coerce Leon to disobey me.

I certainly hope things don’t come to that.

After speaking to Leon, I visit my parents and also have a brief conversation with them over dinner.

This time, we do not argue.

We simply discuss family affairs and exchange ideas through civil discourse.

Once it is all over, I go to bed.

The next day arrives in the blink of an eye, and I stand before the grand carriage that I own.

It looks far more expensive than the one my uncle brought in the past. Besides the horses and carriage, I also have a private coachman under my payroll.

I doubt any Heirs of Mid-Rank Knight Households in this Kingdom can boast of such a thing.

Even among Lesser Nobles, this isn’t a very common matter.

’Uncle is busy with business, so I’ll have to go to the Academy on my own...’ I think to myself while joining the servants in inspecting my belongings.

My Armament is with me, and I have already finished processing my limited license.

It isn’t as good as a full license, which only Knights have, but this allows me to carry the weapon as an ornament and only use it when absolutely necessary. In essence, I can’t wield it casually or use it to settle any common fights.

I see no problems with this, and I certainly can’t make any complaints.

Heir or not, I am merely a member of a Knight Household and not a Knight myself.

Once I finish checking my belongings and confirming that I haven’t forgotten anything, I quietly glance in my coachman’s direction and smile.

This man is a trusted worker of my uncle, and I intend to use him very well when we reach Loria.

He will serve as my foot-soldier.

Not only will he be useful in running errands for me, helping me with whatever miscellaneous things I require while I’m too busy attending to my studies, but he will also serve as a useful link to my uncle as we coordinate our efforts and ensure our collaboration operates more smoothly.

I can also rely on him whenever I need transportation outside the Academy.

Everything has been planned out already.

"Big brother! I’ll miss you!" Craig, our youngest, jumps on me with unexpected energy.

He is such an adorable little child.

I can see he’s growing taller already, though his child-like face remains a charm to see.

"Javi... please take care of yourself." A more mature speech proceeds from my sister’s lips, but I can tell she’s trying very hard to fight the tears and remain strong for me.

I smile.

My siblings are just too cute.

I roughen their hair and embrace them tightly, enjoying the brief moment I have with them.

Even though I only spent some months with them, and I haven’t always had their time, I can’t help but admit that they’ve grown on me.

I will certainly miss their company.

I look at my parents, who stand a small distance from me and also give me encouraging nods.

My mother breaks out of her stance and also hugs me.

My father, on the other hand, also draws nearer, but simply shakes my hand and lets out a sigh of defeat. He has finally admitted his defeat.

In fact, both of my parents have.

They lost.

I won.

After this emotional goodbye, I enter the carriage and set off for the Royal Academy while leaving the Aditi Household in the hands of my family.

Even I don’t notice the bead of tears that streaks down my face until it’s too late.

I actually did it!

It was difficult... but I actually achieved what I set out to do.

I changed my life...