I sat at my desk, gazing at an envelope.
Lately, I've been receiving many letters.
Some were from people hoping to curry favor with me in case I inherited the Astria family estate.
While others were inviting me to their mansions to get to know me better.
I've been getting all sorts of letters.
I mostly ignored them.
If they were from people related to the Astria family, I would have paid attention, but no such letters came.
The Astria family's people have been aligned with Ian for a long time.
Knowing the family situation, none showed interest in me.
Those already in a pact with Ian wouldn't bother sending me letters.
Besides, it wouldn't look good for me to be exchanging letters with them, given Ian's precarious position.
So, only mediocre opportunists sent me letters, while substantial figures stayed away.
However, this letter was different.
Astina may be young, but she's been in a similar position as mine since childhood.
Having strived hard for the heir's position, I thought she might have some good advice.
And indeed, Astina suggested something valuable.
A gathering of Liberion Academy alumni.
She recommended that I attend.
Connections through school, locality, and blood have always been the strongest ties.
Though not an alumnus yet, there was no reason I couldn't go.
After all, it's a place frequented by former academy attendees.
Some might even be interested in hearing from a yet-to-graduate student like me.
Especially since I've just finished my duties as the student council president - a fresh talent for them.
I could share a lot about the academy and be welcomed.
If only I weren't Rudy Astria...
Among the alumni are several notable figures.
They had no reason to approach me.
Getting politically entangled with me would only be a headache for them.
But among them, there was someone I could approach.
"Go to that gathering and look for Yurik Astria," Astina had advised.
Yurik Astria.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})He was my uncle.
Perrian Astria's brother, a collateral noble, having lost in the competition for succession.
"Will he help me?"
"I can't guarantee it, but it's not impossible. He was in a similar position as you."
When persuading people, appeal to emotions rather than logic.
One of the basic principles of marketing.
Now is the time to sell myself to people.
Having someone with a similar experience and a blood relation was enough to stir emotions.
"Master Rudy, it's time to start getting ready."
"Understood."
I rose from my desk and began dressing.
The gathering place for the alumni was a ball.
Not a small ball like those at the academy, but a grand one attended by numerous nobles.
The ball wasn't just for alumni; it also included people brought by the graduates.
Thus, it was going to be a large-scale event.
I started dressing for the occasion.
"It seems we're a bit late in preparing. Weren't you supposed to go with someone else?"
"It's fine. There's no need to arrive exactly on time."
People like Ian or my father often attend such balls from the very beginning.
For higher nobility, arriving early was considered a virtue.
I carry the name of Astria, but in reality, people might not even know I'm attending.
In that case, it's better to arrive a bit late and attract attention.
The maids couldn't have known my thoughts.
Neither Ian nor my father had ever been in my situation.
"Do the people you're going with know about this?"
"Yes, I've already informed them."
The person I planned to go with was Luna.
I had considered going with Rie, but knowing that the princess's presence would draw more attention to her than to me, I decided to go with Luna instead.
Dressed, I headed to the waiting carriage.
"Let's go to the Royal Magic Tower."
"…The Royal Magic Tower?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})The coachman's eyes widened at my instruction.
"Bu-but you can't enter the Royal Magic Tower without prior permission!"
I frowned.
"…Do you think I wouldn't know that?"
"Ahem! My apologies!"
This coachman was different from the one I met last time, displaying an impudent attitude.
Perhaps because he's from our family's staff?
Being employed directly by the estate, he seemed to somewhat disdain me.
Maybe it's time to deal with the people here at the estate.
Currently, neither my father nor Ian lives here.
And it's likely to stay the same while I'm here.
That means I need to turn the people inside into my allies.
An internal enemy is more frightening than an external one.
"What now?"
"…Excuse me?"
"Aren't we going to depart?"
"Y-yes, right away!"
I sighed.
A few minutes later, the carriage was swiftly nearing the Royal Magic Tower.
Though called a tower, it wasn't actually one.
In fact, the term 'Magic Tower' referred not to a specific tower but to a facility where wizards conducted their research.
Surrounding it were trees, their bare branches signaling winter.
As we approached the Magic Tower, a few guards were conducting checks.
“Um… Master Rudy?”
“I know.”
At the coachman's remark, I opened the window.
A guard stood before it.
“Who are you?”
“I am Rudy Astria. I'm here to meet someone at the Magic Tower.”
The guard, with a businesslike demeanor, picked up a piece of paper.
“Could you please tell me the name of the person you're meeting?”
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})“Luna Railer. She’s an academy student here as an apprentice to the royal wizards.”
The guard's eyes widened.
“Oh! You're here to meet Miss Luna! My apologies!”
“What?”
“Please, go right in! Miss Luna is waiting for you!”
I was puzzled at the guard's welcoming attitude.
Why did it feel like they were rolling out the red carpet?
Was it just my imagination?
But as I entered the Magic Tower, my doubts turned to certainty.
“Rudy, it's been a while…”
Luna, dressed in a white gown with floral ornaments in her hair, radiated an almost fairy-like aura.
She had the kind of appearance that captivated everyone's attention.
However, my gaze drifted more towards the people around her.
“Go Luna!”
“Luna, be careful… If any strange guys approach, run away…”
Among them were an elderly grandfather and what looked like a researcher in his thirties.
“Please, everyone, go inside!!”
Luna, her face flushed, was yelling at them.
“Luna, what's the matter… Have we done something wrong?”
“Is it… puberty?”
“No, it’s not that! I’m about to leave with Rudy…”
“Come back early… And don’t even think about touching alcohol!”
They were fussing over Luna like worried parents.
In just a few days, she had fostered a family-like atmosphere, which left me feeling bewildered.
As I watched the scene with a baffled expression, an elderly man approached me.
“You must be Rudy…”
“Yes?”
“You're confident you can protect Luna, right? Especially in such a dangerous place?”
“Dangerous place?”
I was going to a ball, frequented by well-known families.
There was nothing dangerous about it.
“We’re just going to a ball…”
“That's what I mean! Do you know how dangerous a ball can be! Standing alone in a corner nibbling on cake! Becoming the laughing stock of the nobles! The mental shock is like smelling someone who hasn’t showered for a week!”
“Ah… Right.”
It seemed balls were terrifying events for introverted wizards.
“Rudy, let's go! Hurry!”
Luna grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
As she was about to board the carriage, she paused to look back.
“…I’ll be back soon!”
“Heh heh!”
“To hear such a farewell… It’s been a while…”
The grandfathers beamed with joy at Luna’s ‘I’ll be back soon.’
“Let’s go, Rudy.”
“Yes, let’s.”
“It seems like you're getting along well with the people at the Magic Tower.”
“Am I really getting along well?”
“Of course. You've just arrived, and you’re already fitting in so well.”
The grandfathers’ fussing was a bit much, but it was clear they cared deeply for Luna.
I had been quietly worried about Luna becoming a royal wizard.
Royal wizards, although part of the same institution, often act individually.
I wondered if Luna, coming from a strong individualistic culture, would adapt well.
But seeing her now, my worries seemed unfounded; she was adapting better than I expected.
“But more importantly! You’re meeting your uncle today, right?”
“Yes, my uncle…”
“Am I presentable enough? They say first impressions are crucial…”
“Hmm?”
“Oh… I’m so nervous… I need to make a good impression on your uncle… That way, your family will hear good things about me…”
Luna seemed as if she was preparing for a meet-the-family type of event.
I hadn’t explained much to her, so her interpretation was unexpected…
“Luna… I don’t know much about my uncle.”
“Huh?”
“It’s almost like meeting him for the first time.”
“Meeting your uncle for the first time?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“I might have seen him when I was very young.”
“How can that be? We see our relatives almost once a month…”
“Every family is different. I don’t know the details.”
My guess was that it had something to do with succession.
When a child isn’t chosen as the heir, they are often ostracized to prevent further disputes.
It may seem harsh to cast out one’s own child, but in reality, it’s often for the best for everyone involved.
As the head of a family, having a sibling within the household could be a source of conflict.
Thus, the options are often to harm or exile them.
From a father’s perspective, exiling a child who isn’t the heir is a way to save both children.
Luna tilted her head, puzzled.
“So why are you suddenly meeting your uncle?”
I slowly answered her question.
It’s part of the process of inheriting the family position.
I need to bring the Astria vassals to my side.
Although my uncle is considered a collateral relative, that’s only if he were an ordinary noble.
My uncle is…
“He’s someone with extensive connections. He’s friendly with many people and is quite well-known in social circles.”
For a noble who didn’t become the head, this was an unusual path.
He has friendly relations with many people, including those in politics, without any political agenda.
I planned to seek help from my uncle’s network.
“Oh…”
Luna frowned, looking at me.
“A sociable Rudy…”
She bit her lip, mumbling to herself with evident distaste.
“A blonde delinquent…”
“He’s older and part of the noble society, so he won’t be like that.”
I too had imagined my uncle like Luna did, but I firmly denied it.
“We’ll see what he's like when we meet him.”
I looked out the window.
Outside, the ballroom was slowly coming into view.
