“Seriously?”
“Yes. It’s right in the middle of the off-campus training exercise.”
The off-campus training exercise is a school event scheduled for about two and a half weeks starting the week after next. During that time, we’ll leave the Royal Academy and train in combat with monsters in some dungeon. However, it doesn’t seem to be that serious of combat training; it feels more like a school trip.
A school trip × birthday is the perfect timing for a confession.
However, there’s one problem.
“What should I do about a birthday present…”
“If you want to go pick one out, I can give you advice, you know?”
“No, it’s a problem before that… I don’t have any money.”
About three months ago, the travel expenses my father gave me to travel back and forth between the Pnosis Territory and the Royal Capital are my entire fortune. I’ve been managing with the money saved from the return trip, but it’s finally run out.
Living at the Royal Academy means tuition, rent, and food are free. That’s why when I sent a letter home to tell them I passed, it was hard to ask for an allowance. I didn’t want to write, “Please send me money to hang out with the girl I like.” I couldn’t think of any excuses either…
In the first place, the House Pnosis is a poor noble family. They probably can’t afford to send an allowance. It’s difficult to rely on my family for financial support.
“Aren’t you getting paid by Prince Lucas?”
“I’m not exactly working for him.”
Whether it was Lily’s case, or Lecty and Rosalie’s, I was the one who asked for cooperation. Prince Lucas has never given me an order, and there’s no reason for me to get paid when I’m the one who asked for help.
“As a result, Prince Lucas is getting closer to the throne because of your work, so I think you should get a suitable reward.”
“Even so, it’s because of the reason… There’s no way I can ask, ‘I want to give your sister a birthday present and confess to her, so please give me a reward commensurate with my work.'”
“You don’t have to say it that honestly… Well, I understand why you’re reluctant to rely on Prince Lucas. If you’re just short on money, I wouldn’t mind supporting you…”
“Giving a present bought with money given to me by another woman to confess is too scummy…”
Besides, I wonder about being supported by Lily… When I was working in my previous life, I always thought about finding a rich girlfriend and becoming a kept man, but now that it’s actually in front of me, I’m getting cold feet.
Precisely because I’m conscious of Lily, I don’t want to show her my pathetic side too much.
“I have no choice but to look for a job somewhere…”
“I know a good place to work.”
“Really!?”
“Yes. One of the servants who has been working for a good family for many years has hurt his back and is taking time off. They’re looking for someone to work as a servant for a short period.”
“I see, a short-term servant job, huh…”
The salary for a servant of a good family should be decent. It’s probably a tough job, but I could overcome it by switching my Skill to
“So, where is this good family that’s looking for a servant?”
“House Puridi.”
“Isn’t that your family’s house…”
It’s not that it’s bad, but it’s a little hard to rely on. The employer would be Marquis Puridi, after all… Because of the reason, I feel the same awkwardness as when I’m reluctant to rely on my family or Prince Lucas.
“Sorry, Lily. I’ll have to pass this time.”
“Oh, is that so? That’s too bad. I thought I’d be able to see Hugh in a Butler Uniform.”
Lily put her hand on her cheek and sighed, then looked at me and gave a creepy “Fuhihi” laugh.
“Please stop with the selfish fantasies, milady.”
It’s been a while since I heard Lily’s fuhihi laugh…
“I’ll just look for a random job, like a kitchen worker or a construction worker.”
“Rejected. I’ve been thinking this for a while, but you’re too unaware of your status as a noble. You should care more about appearances. Even if you’re a poor noble from the boonies, if a noble is working in such a place, it will make those around you shrink back.”
“Ah, I guess that’s how it is.”
“That’s how it is. Making those around you feel uneasy isn’t your intention, is it?”
“Well, yeah…”
The difference in status between nobles and commoners isn’t shallow enough that “I don’t care, so don’t worry about it” will work. It might be different in my hometown, where I was close to the villagers in a remote, depopulated area, but in the Royal Capital, I’m expected to behave appropriately as a noble.
Working in disguise is an option, but it would be troublesome if it caused unnecessary trouble later. Not being able to work part-time so easily feels a bit restrictive, but it can’t be helped.
“Speaking of jobs that even nobles could do, let’s see. A tutor for a noble family… Sorry, never mind.”
“Hey, don’t look away.”
“Ahem. Well, how about an adventurer?”
Lily coughed to cover up her embarrassment and restarted her suggestion. I thought about pressing her about why she changed her mind, but oh well.
“There are nobles who are adventurers, so you shouldn’t have to worry about those around you.”
In the Kingdom of Reese, primogeniture is common, so it seems that many second and third sons who can’t inherit the family leave home and become adventurers when they come of age. In particular, noble men are often trained in martial arts from a young age, so they are welcomed as immediate assets.
“Can you become an adventurer even while you’re still in school?”
“Yes, it’s okay if you get permission. Alissa-san should be able to take care of the procedures if you ask her.”
“An adventurer, huh… Not bad.”
I’ve been interested in it since I was a kid. It’s a classic profession in isekai fantasy, and adventure is a man’s romance. If my previous life hadn’t been as a corporate slave, I might have aimed to be an adventurer rather than live a Slow Life.
I don’t intend to seriously become an adventurer now, but it seems like a good way to earn some pocket money.