Volume 3 Chapter 2: Everyone’s Respective School Festival Part II (1/2)

The school festival will be held at the magic academy I attended up until last year. When I was a first year, I participated as a student council member, but at the time, due to many difficulties caused thanks to my classmate Nikol Ascarot, all I can remember is that it was stressful.

It’s been two years since then, back when I was deceiving myself by calling myself Sirius – someone else’s name. I now work at the Ministry of Magic under my real name Rafael Walt. And now today, I’ve come to participate in the magic academy’s school festival again to fulfill one of my duties at my job at the Ministry of Magic.

My job today is to supervise the Ministry of Magic’s exhibits in one corner of the school festival, where students are displaying and selling works they made. Very close by, Maria Campbell, who had been a student council member with me last year, is supervising the academy’s side of this area as well as selling sweets that she seems to have made herself.

While I caused her no end of grief during the incident I caused last year, she accepted my apology unbelievably easily and forgave me. She then said kindly “From now on, please live on as yourself,” and smiled.

Until then, I had been getting a bit tired of a certain someone clamouring about how Maria was an angel and how Maria was a goddess. But at just that moment, I thought that perhaps she really was an angel. If I hadn’t already had my eyes on someone else, perhaps I would’ve been drawn to Maria.

However… I was drawn to her before I was to Maria.

My gaze was immediately drawn to her figure as she walked, brown hair waving in the wind. She’s the type of girl to brighten her surroundings just by being there.

“Katarina-sama, it’s been a while.”

After I call out to her, that girl I was so drawn to – Katarina Claes – opens her light blue-coloured eyes in surprise.

“Rafael! You were participating too then.”

“Yes, I was placed in charge of the exhibits sent to the magic academy.”

After causing the incident, I changed my appearance. My original appearance was much too flashy for me to reclaim my true name and live a new life. And so until the commotion dies down, I’m now a completely plain and unassuming stranger.

And yet, Katarina immediately realized who I was even disguised. She then looked at me with that direct gaze of hers - just as usual.

Even though I did something so terrible that she should really never talk to me again, Katarina smiles at me kindly – just as usual.

“You’re working hard.”

“Yes. Since I’m a bottom-rung employee, it’s hectic with all the work.”

But I’m currently very happy. I’m living a life where I don’t hold long grudge after grudge, where I don’t have to deceive myself. I’m very happy that I was able to regain something I thought I lost when I was young.

I hadn’t even dreamed of living happily like this until Katarina reached her hand out to me last year.

Although the magic academy and the Ministry of Magic are on the same grounds, since Katarina and everyone else has to study while I have to work, I can’t meet them that frequently. Thus I was overjoyed that I was I was able to meet Katarina in this way for the first time in a while.

I hear about what Katarina’s been doing lately, and I tell her about what’s been going on with me. Then as I was listening to Katarina for the first time in a while to my heart’s content, Maria, who noticed us, came over.

“You came, Katarina-sama – this is your portion,” says Maria before holding out some handmade sweets she had been selling.

“Wow, you set some aside for me? Thank you! How are they selling?”

Katarina accepted the sweets, looking very happy.

“Yes, honestly, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to sell sweets like mine, but thanks to you, I’ve sold almost all of them,” says Maria, also looking very happy.

To tell the truth, when I first heard that she would be selling her handmade sweets, I wondered if they really would sell. After all, aside from Maria, the only people at this academy are noble girls and boys. Considering that generally they would never cook themselves and have cooks make all their food, I wondered whether they would eat sweets made by an amateur.

Apparently Katarina was the one to think up the idea. I was surprised that she thought up something crazy yet again. I had been pretty surprised last year too when she said in the student council room that she wanted to eat Maria’s sweets.

I was born a commoner and often ate my mother’s homemade sweets when I was young… but Katarina is a pureblood noble – the daughter of a duke. To think that Katarina, who likely ate high quality food made by cooks every day, would say that she wanted to eat sweets made by an amateur – let alone a commoner like Maria…

At first I thought she was just being kind to Maria, who had been out of place in the academy, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Katarina had been genuinely looking forwards to eating Maria’s handmade sweets.

In this way in response to Katarina’s demands, Maria’s sweets were indeed so well made that you could consider them more delicious than those made by a run-of-the-mill cook. After then, Katarina continued to ask for sweets from Maria, eventually growing close with each other.

There are plenty of arrogant nobles that due to their position, look down on those of lower status. And yet Katarina isn’t like that in the slightest. She doesn’t flirt with royalty like the princes and doesn’t look down on a commoner like Maria. Things like social statuses may not even register in her mind.

However, even if that’s the way Katarina is, the same doesn’t go for the other students. This is why I was worried about whether her sweets would sell…

Glancing over to where Maria had been selling her sweets, I see that she’s almost all sold out, with only two, three left to sell. Katarina, seeing the same sight, is surprised.

“You’re really popular. As expected from Maria’s handmade sweets.”

“I respectfully disagree, this is all thanks to Katarina-sama. You encouraged people to buy some, right?”

It seems as though the sweets sold so much partly thanks to Katarina recommending them to the other students. However, looking at Maria’s state today, I feel Katarina isn’t the only reason.

Maria had been rather out of place in the noble-filled academy when she first started school, but it seems that she’s meshing in rather well now. The noble girls who had avoided her not so long ago came up and talked to Maria as they bought Maria’s sweets with a smile. To boot, despite often showing stiff expressions in the past, Maria’s expressions today were calm and soft… this was probably thanks to Katarina’s influence.

“It’s true that I advertised, but it wouldn’t sell so well unless they really were delicious. They got so popular because your sweets are truly delicious,” says Katarina happily, proud enough to make you think that she was talking about herself.

“… Katarina-sama, thank you very much,” says Maria, cheeks lightly dusted in red.

This girl, Maria Campbell, is drawn to Katarina just like me. That’s probably why she made her decision.

“Oh, Campbell-san, I heard that your job at the Ministry of Magic has been finalized.”

Her entering the Ministry of Magic had been quite the hot topic lately. As the Ministry had been inviting her to come join since the moment she started the academy, the people at my workplace were pretty excited.

“What?! Maria, you’re joining the Ministry of Magic?!” Katarina says in surprise.

Apparently she hadn’t yet told Katarina.

“Ah, yes. I decided to enter the Ministry once I graduate school.”

“I see… but Maria, in first year, didn’t you say that you wanted to return home and live there once you graduated?”

That’s true, I did hear Maria say that once as well.

“That’s true. For a while after I began school, I wanted to just go home and live quietly without standing out… but… if I do that, I won’t be able to be with you anymore,” says Maria with eyes full of conviction.

“Huh?”

Katarina looks at Maria with a blank look, seemingly unable to understand what she means. However, I understood what Maria meant well. After all, I have the same feelings as her.

“I requested this of you at last year’s graduation ceremony as well, but I want to stay by your side from now on. But despite wielding light magic, I’m still just a commoner. I need a fairly high position in society to stay by the side of a duke’s daughter like you, Katarina-sama. And so, I decided to join the Ministry of Magic to gain such a position.”

Maria’s words were just like a passionate love confession – Katarina, the recipient of her words, turned bright red. To make things worse, on seeing Katarina’s blushing face, Maria belatedly becomes embarrassed at what she just said and blushes as well.

Both blushing in embarrassment, Maria and Katarina face each toher.

True, this is because of the conversation topic I brought up – but what’s with this exclusive atmosphere between the two of them? This isn’t funny. And have these two forgotten that I exist?

“Excuse me, I’m sorry for intruding into your little world, but… you two do realize that I’m technically here too…” I say, unable to bear this feeling that I’ve been forgotten for any longer.

“Oh, don’t be silly, Rafael. Saying that we’re in our little world…”

Finally, Katarina turns back to me. Maria’s cheeks still seem a little flushed, but it seems I’ve finally entered her line of vision. I speak to her.

“Still, I’m impressed, Maria-san… for the reason you joined the highly-admired Ministry of Magic to be because you want to stay by Katarina-sama’s side.”

The Ministry of Magic is the largest organization in the country, and wields power second to only the king. That’s why many people enter the Ministry with lofty goals of furthering the research and development of magic. This makes Maria’s reason for joining rather odd.

“Um, I understand that my motives are lacking. But I plan to work as hard as I can once I join, so please treat me well regardless,” says Maria firmly to me.

“I don’t think wanting to be by the side of someone you hold dear is a lacking motive. If I were in the same position as you, Maria-san, I think I would do the same thing, but…”

“But?”

“Even if you join the Ministry of Magic, if Katarina-sama immediately married the prince and grew busy, wouldn’t you be unable to meet up anyways?”

It seems Maria hadn’t realized this at all. Her eyes widen in shock. Maria, despite seeming all put together, can sometimes be a bit foolish.

However… why is the person in question, Katarina, shocked as well right now… this makes me shocked. Putting Maria aside… Katarina’s the person in question…

I knew that Katarina, despite looking just a bit foolish, was actually so incredibly stupid it was outside of the realms of imagination… but to think it was this bad…

“That was right… Katarina-sama, you’re a prince’s fiancée. If you marry immediately after graduation and go to the palace, you’ll be so busy we may not be able to meet… I don’t want that to happen.”

“That was right, if I stay Jared’s fiancée we’ll eventually marry, and I’ll become royalty… oh no. I’m only barely managing as a duke’s daughter, I can’t manage royalty…”

Given how Jared dotes on his fiancée Katarina, at this rate it’s guaranteed that they’ll be married as soon as possible. And since it’s Jared we’re talking about, I’m scared as it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he whisks her away into the depths of the castle and never lets her see the light of day.

However, it seems as though the too-dense Katarina has not realized Jared’s feelings in the slightest. It also seems from her murmurs that she doesn’t agree with marrying Jared and becoming royalty.

I decide to give some advice to Katarina and Maria, who seem so shaken. Or rather, to be honest the reason I brought up Maria’s placement in the Ministry of Magic in the first place was to bring up the following topic.

“Katarina-sama, why don’t you join the Ministry of Magic as well?”

Katarina, being as shaken as she was, immediately jumps on the idea.

“Huh, I can do that? Wait, if I join the Ministry of Magic, can I avoid getting married?”

“Generally, so long as you’re referred by someone with a fairly high position in the Ministry, you’re able to join the Ministry of Magic. Well, while I don’t think you’ll be able to avoid getting married, considering that the Ministry has the right to choose the next king, I don’t think you’ll be dragged off to the palace immediately.”

To tell the truth, I’ve been thinking about this plan for a while. I was brainstorming about what to do in order to prevent Katarina from becoming Jared’s as soon as they graduate. Given that I spent long years plotting terrible things for motivations not my own, I’m pretty good at thinking up these plans.

And so, hearing that Maria was going to enter the Ministry of Magic, I surmised that I could use her as an ally. Just as I expected, Maria’s eyes were sparkling as she desperately listened to my plan.

However, despite jumping on the idea at first, Katarina’s expression clouds.

“Um, but Rafael. My magic, as everyone is aware, is pretty weak…”

“Ah, it’s true that the Ministry of Magic generally has a lot of strong magic users, but there are also a fair number of people with weaker magic. It isn’t impossible for people to join with just an interest in magic and magical power.”

It’s true that the Ministry of Magic has a lot of magic users who are strong, but there are many who are not. Just because someone has powerful magic doesn’t mean that they’re smart, and in laboratories it’s not uncommon for there to be fewer strong magic users.

“I see, awesome! So then, if I work hard… oh, but you need a reference from a higher-up in the organization, right? Ergh, that’s a bit tough… I don’t know anyone who might write me a reference letter…”

The Ministry of Magic is a rather special organization. In order to gather talented people, they hold entrance examinations every year, but only a small handful can join the Ministry through the exams.

This is as those with strong magic are invited while they’re attending school like Maria, and magicless people talented in research almost all have connections and are chosen through recommendations by current employees.

That being said, it isn’t like an employee can recommend just anyone. It’s impossible for a bottom-rung employee like me who just joined to recommend someone. However.

“You don’t need to be so sad. There is someone who might write you a reference letter.”

“… What?!”

“My superior has been pretty interested in you, Katarina-sama. I’m sure that person would love to write you a reference letter.”

In my mind, I bring up the face of my superior, who’s considered to be odd.

Last year, when it was decided that I would be taken in by the Ministry, all of the other employees didn’t seem to know what to do with me. That couldn’t be helped, given that I was a criminal from a Marquis’ house who had wielded forbidden dark magic, even if it was only for a short while. No one would want anything to do with me. And yet in that hubbub –

What, no department wants him? Don’t you think such a rare existence is just marvellous? If all of you don’t want it, I’ll help myself.

Saying that, that person gave an alluring smile and took me in. Now, I’m working as a regular Ministry of Magic employee, never given any special treatment.

The one to tell me to change my appearance and to teach me how to do it was also that superior. It was a shock to learn that my superior knew Katarina. One day, after running into Katarina by chance on the grounds and talking with her before returning to the workplace, my superior came up and demanded: ‘Hey you, are you close with Katarina Claes?’

“Your superior? Your superior knows me?”

“Yes. I believe that my superior will come to greet you sometime, considering how much excited talk there was about going to talk with you.”

Apparently, my superior met Katarina once and really took a shine to her (though I wasn’t told how they met). Since then, my superior has been having fun by gathering all sorts of stories about Katarina, but always talks about wanting to talk to her again. Given how much my superior seems to like Katarina, I’m sure that my superior will write as many recommendation letters as Katarina wants.

“U – m, what kind of person is your superior?”

“My superior is a bit of a unique character, but still a very good person in my opinion.”

I’m sure that given that Katarina is similarly a unique character, they’ll get along well.

“E – excuse me!”

Maria, who had been passionately listening to us talk up until now, aggressively wedges his way into the conversation. She seems pretty frantic.

“W – what’s the matter, Maria? You’re looking frantic.”

Maria looks with a fiery gaze towards Katarina, who seems perplexed.

“U – um, if I summarize the conversation, if Rafael-sama’s superior writes Katarina-sama a reference letter, then Katarina-sama will join the Ministry of Magic… and then we’ll be able to always be together, right?!”

Maria was responding just as I had predicted.

“That sounds right.”

Maria’s desperate face melts into a happy smile when I smile at her kindly. And then.

“Katarina-sama, let’s join the Ministry of Magic together. I’ll do whatever I can to help! I insist, I insist,” says Maria with sparkling eyes as she takes Katarina’s hands in hers.

Ah, things are proceeded just as planned. Maria’s become an ally, and Katarina will head to the Ministry of Magic where I can be with her next year as well.

Sorry for using you, Maria. But I don’t want to hand Katarina over to Jared just yet.

I want to stay by her side for even just a bit longer.

************

Water is spurting out from the centre pond like a fountain, creating a rainbow. The earth sculptures morphed at every glance, vibrant flames dancing around them. The wind, almost a whirlwind, scattered about flower petals.

Side-eyeing that fantastical view, I greet the never-ending stream of customers with a fake smile.

Unlike parties and balls that are only a few hours long, the entire day so far has been this tiresome and I’ve begun to get sick of it. My fake smile is strained.

However, my twin brother Jared next to me is giving everyone a perfect smile just as usual. Although he’s my own brother, I have to say he’s pretty amazing.

I, Alan Stuart, was born sixteen years ago as Jared’s twin brother. When I was young, I nursed a strong inferiority complex towards Jared, who could did anything flawlessly with a cool expression.

That’s when I met that strange noble girl.

Despite being a noble’s daughter, she held up her skirt and ran, and climbed up trees like a monkey. Katarina Claes – she was so different from anyone I had met before.

She was the one to teach me that everyone had their strengths and weaknesses, that everyone was unique. And so I was able to finally take things easier, and eventually even the strong inferiority complex I held towards Jared disappeared.

Since then, for some reason I began to really want to stay by Katarina’s side, since being by her felt so good.

I just wanted to be by her side… but as the years passed, if I touched her without thinking, blood rose to my face and my heartbeat rose. As I was wondering why such a thing was happening, it happened. Katarina got involved in a certain life-threatening incident. That’s when I realized my feelings. Somehow, I had fallen for my twin brother’s fiancée.

It wouldn’t have been as bad if it had just been a political engagement and they didn’t get along well, but even a stranger could see that Jared doted on Katarina to an embarrassing degree (though Katarina – the crucial person – hasn’t realized this for some reason…).

I have my own fiancée to boot – Mary Hart, a Marquis’ daughter. Intelligent and beautiful, she’s said to be the very epitome of a noble girl. She’s so amazing she’s wasted on me. I like her, and have always treated her preciously.

However, I don’t love her. I like her like an older brother would a younger sister.

When I realized my feelings towards Katarina, I also realized what I really felt for Mary… and so, feeling as though I couldn’t continue the engagement while holding feelings towards someone else, I explained things to Mary.

Of course I didn’t go as far as to reveal that I was in love with my brother’s fiancée, but I did say that it was someone that I wouldn’t be permitted to love.

That’s when Mary told me she loved someone else as well – someone who she wasn’t permitted to love, just like me.

Mary pointed out that even if we dissolved the engagement, we’d just get engaged to someone else, so we might as well continue our engagement. I agreed, and so the engagement continues even now.

I don’t know who Mary loves, but she said that she’s continuing to try her best, refusing to give up. I’ve promised to dissolve the engagement should Mary’s feelings to the one she loves ever be returned.

After revealing our feelings to each other, Mary and I have become even closer. I’ve even begun to tell her about Jared’s movements at her request. It seems she doesn’t like Jared monopolizing all of her best friend Katarina’s time.

I feel bad using Mary’s pure feelings in this way, but in all honesty, I’d be happier if Jared and Katarina didn’t get any closer, so I’ve been actively helping out. Today as well, Mary asked me to make sure that Jared doesn’t get any time alone with Katarina.

Using the pretext of ‘being asked by my fiancée’ to butt in between Jared and Katarina – it seems as though I’m not the type to give up easily.

As I was thinking deeply about Mary, I realized that Katarina had come by Jared’s side. They’re talking quite comfortably with each other. Even while thinking that I’m being a bother, I remind myself that I was asked to by Mary and head over.

“Hey, you. You finally came. I thought that you weren’t going to come anymore, since after saying ‘I’ll go buy you some things to eat,’ in the morning you disappeared,” I say between the two of them, wedging myself in.

“My apologies. A lot happened,” Katarina says.

“I see, I assumed that you’d forgotten the time as you ate at the booths.”

“…”

Katarina looks troubled – seems as though I hit the nail on the head. She’s just as easy to read as usual…

“I brought you some snacks as gifts. Please enjoy eating it,” says Katarina, obviously trying to change the topic. She holds out the bags she holds in her hands.

Apparently it’s handmade sweets made by fellow student council member Maria.

Jared asks about how they were selling – in response, Katarina says proudly like she’s talking about her own accomplishments that they were extremely popular and had almost sold out. But when Jared says ‘I see, that’s good’ back to her, she begins thinking deeply about something.