On a quiet morning, in a small village outside the city, a maiden with her hair tied up held a tray as she walked through the village.The village was decorated with paintings, furniture, and tableware. The walls, painted blue and white, were adorned with floral patterns.The maiden stopped in front of a door and tapped it lightly.
"You may come in."The reply came from the other side.The maiden slowly opened the door.
On the other side, a young man with short black hair, bright green eyes, and flawless white skin was sitting in a chair reading a book.
"What is it?" he asked without looking away from the book."A letter arrived from the main residence.""A letter?" he asked, looking away from the book.The maiden walked toward him and gently extended the letter.
The boy took it and checked the seal. "The family head's seal? What does my father want?" he wondered as he picked up a small knife from the desk; it was a knife that could not be used as one, a letter opener.He cut the envelope open and unfolded the paper inside; he read it carefully.His expression shifted from indifference to curiosity, then to confusion.He held that expression for a few minutes before putting the letter aside and murmuring,"I see, you may leave," he said, making a gesture.
"Master Vincent, the servant who delivered the letter is waiting for a response," she asked.The boy, Vincent, nodded slowly."Tell him I accept," he said simply.The maiden nodded and left.
Vincent watched her leave until the door closed; only then did he look away and sigh slowly."Things have become a bit complicated," he murmured as he stood and walked toward the window.He drew the curtains wide open and stepped onto the balcony. He looked out over the village; the village, covered with beautiful landscapes, stretched in all directions.The clear blue sky, without a single flaw, was visible."This world never changes," he murmured, leaning on the balcony railing.
His name in this world was Vincent de Nightingale, a reincarnated person from another world.He had been reborn several years ago; when he was seven, memories of his past life returned to this body.It was not a pleasant experience, but over time, things had settled.He currently lived far from the main Nightingale family residence, in a small villa.
"This is going to make the next few days a bit tedious," he murmured as he walked back inside.He picked up the book from his desk and placed it back in his small library."Although there are electronic books, I prefer these thick ones," he murmured.
This world was strange in many ways, mixing supernatural phenomena with modern technology in unusual ways.The nobility also existed, which, contrary to what one might think, had little political power and functioned more as an honorary title than as real authority.They owned land and wealth but were firmly subordinated to the royalty, so their influence over the government was minimal, if not nonexistent.Common people were not treated as poorly as in the Middle Ages; the royalty granted them rights, and the situation was fairly similar to the real world.Slavery did not exist either, and it was completely banned throughout the nation.
Because of these things, although it had been difficult to adjust at first, after the first year he was already used to the quirks and similarities of this world compared to his original world.
Vincent sat on his bed, which was very large and could easily fit several people without problems."The academy…" he murmured.The letter was nothing less than a notice from the Imperial Academy. It was not something that pleased him in the slightest.
The Imperial Academy was an educational institution funded by the empire for the most talented individuals. All nobles, upon reaching a certain age, were required to attend for three years. Commoners under sixteen could also take an exam to be admitted.
Since Vincent was a noble, he was obliged to go even if he didn't want to. It was, without a doubt, an opportunity: he could learn many things and become stronger. But, given that the academy was full of nobles, attending and learning would, in his view, be quite a nuisance.
He also had to be careful, because if he were expelled from the academy for causing trouble or something similar, he would be denigrated by the nobility and would gain a bad reputation. Worst of all, he would probably also be expelled from the family.
Although he did not care much, at this moment he had no money or means to live if that happened. That was why he had to act carefully in case something went wrong.
"I should check that too," he murmured while looking at his wrist.There was a minimalist digital watch strapped there. It had no hands or conventional screen; instead, the surface where the time would normally appear was a rotating disc, like a wheel that could be turned at will.
Vincent pressed a nearby button, and an interface appeared immediately.It was a transparent window that connected directly to the wearer's retina, making it invisible to others.That watch was not a common accessory but a personal assistant in the form of a watch, widely used in this fantasy world and available in many models. Vincent's was a standard one; there were also versions for nobles with their family emblems, but he preferred not to use them.
Vincent began operating it; he was very familiar with it, as smartphones had been discontinued in this world many years ago, and this was the only device he could use."So that's why… I see," he murmured, sighing in exhaustion.
One of the most annoying things that existed was the royalty. Anything related to them was bothersome and tedious.Moreover, since they were very important public figures, a lot of general information about them could easily be found. That was why the news that they would attend the academy was already known.
This could only mean that the nobles, both great and small, would have a less pleasant and peaceful life at the academy.