Morning sunlight poured gently through the tall windows of the Valenhart mansion's dining hall.
Hiro sat at the long dining table, slowly cutting a piece of warm bread while staring blankly at the plate in front of him.
His eyes looked… exhausted.
Across from him, his mother watched quietly before covering her mouth with a soft laugh.
"You look like a soldier returning from war."
Hiro sighed.
"It might actually be easier than today's lesson."
His mother, Lady Elenora Valenhart, smiled gently. Her long golden hair rested over her shoulders, and her elegant posture made the entire room feel calm and refined.
"You're exaggerating."
"No," Hiro replied seriously. "Butler Magnus gave me a book thicker than a brick yesterday."
Almost as if summoned by those words—
A calm, deep voice appeared from behind him.
"Young Master, that book was merely the introduction."
Hiro froze.
Slowly, he turned his head.
Standing behind him with perfect posture was the mansion's chief butler, Magnus.
Magnus looked to be around his late fifties, with neatly combed silver hair and a pair of sharp eyes that missed nothing. His black suit was perfectly pressed, and his expression carried the quiet authority of someone who had served noble families for decades.
Hiro immediately looked away.
"…Good morning, Magnus."
"Good morning, Young Master."
Magnus bowed slightly.
"Today we will be studying the political structure of the Kingdom of Arvelia, the history of the Northern Territories, and the basic magical theory required for the Royal Academy entrance evaluation."
Hiro felt his soul leave his body.
Across the table, his mother laughed again.
"You asked your father to prepare you for the academy."
Hiro rubbed his forehead.
"I thought it would mostly be magic training."
Magnus cleared his throat.
"A noble must possess knowledge, wisdom, and political awareness. Raw power alone is the trait of barbarians."
Hiro muttered quietly.
"I think I'd rather be a barbarian."
Magnus ignored that completely.
"Young Master, please finish breakfast. Your lesson begins in twenty minutes."
After saying that, the butler calmly walked out of the dining hall.
Hiro stared at the doorway for a long moment.
"…Twenty minutes…"
He slowly lowered his head onto the table.
"Mother… save me."
Lady Elenora simply smiled.
"Study hard."
The Study Room
The Valenhart estate's study room was quiet except for the sound of turning pages.
Hiro sat at a large wooden desk, staring at a massive book filled with dense text and diagrams.
Magnus stood beside him like an unmovable statue.
"Please read the next section aloud."
Hiro sighed quietly and began.
"The Kingdom of Arvelia was established approximately four hundred and seventy-two years ago after the unification of the western territories…"
Ten minutes passed.
Then twenty.
Then thirty.
Hiro's voice slowly became weaker.
"…The northern border disputes resulted in several minor conflicts…"
Magnus nodded slightly.
"Continue."
Hiro felt like crying.
I defeated magic training dummies this morning…
Why must I fight books now…
Another fifteen minutes passed before Magnus finally closed the book.
"That will be enough for today."
Hiro almost collapsed in relief.
"However," Magnus continued calmly, "you will write a summary of the chapter this evening."
Hiro stared at him in disbelief.
Magnus adjusted his gloves.
"Understanding knowledge is far more important than simply reading it."
Hiro slowly placed his head back on the desk.
"…This is torture."
For the first time, Magnus allowed a very small smile.
Afternoon Training
Later that afternoon, Hiro stood once again in the training yard.
Compared to the suffocating study session, the open air felt like freedom itself.
He stretched his arms and focused his mana.
A warm energy flowed through his body.
"Fire Arrow."
The spell shot forward, striking the target again.
But this time—
The flame was stronger.
More stable.
The system window appeared briefly.
[Skill Proficiency Increased]
Hiro nodded slightly.
Good.
He raised his hand again—
But suddenly someone grabbed him from behind.
"Got you!"
"Hey—!"
Hiro stumbled as two maids suddenly wrapped their arms around him.
It was Lina… and another maid named Mira.
"You've been training all day again," Mira said while laughing.
"You'll collapse at this rate."
Hiro tried to escape.
"I was in the middle of practice!"
"Too bad," Lina replied.
"You're taking a break."
Before he could protest further, Mira gently ruffled his hair.
"Honestly, Young Master, when you focus you look so serious."
Lina nodded.
"It's cute."
"I am not cute!"
Both maids laughed.
Eventually they released him, leaving Hiro standing there with messy hair and a defeated expression.
Sometimes, surviving the maids felt harder than training magic.
Evening – Family Conversation
That evening, the Valenhart family gathered in the main sitting room.
A warm fire crackled quietly in the fireplace.
Lord Albrecht sat in his usual chair while Hiro and his mother sat nearby.
For a while, the conversation remained casual.
Until his father suddenly spoke.
"There is something we should tell you."
Hiro looked up.
His father's tone had become slightly more serious.
"You have a sister."
Hiro blinked.
"…What?"
His mother spoke gently.
"She is your distant step sister. She is a few years older than you."
Hiro tilted his head slightly.
"I've never heard of her before."
Albrecht nodded.
"She lives with another branch of our family in the eastern territory. Because of certain circumstances, she was raised there instead of the main estate."
Hiro thought for a moment.
"So… she's still part of the Valenhart family?"
"Yes."
"And will she come here?"
His father nodded slowly.
"She will likely enter the Royal Academy as well."
Hiro leaned back slightly.
A step sister he had never met before…
And apparently she was older.
He wasn't sure what to think about that.
His mother smiled softly.
"She is said to be quite talented."
Hiro chuckled quietly.
"Well… I hope she likes studying with Butler Magnus."
His father raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Hiro stared into the distance.
"Because I might run away."
His mother burst into laughter.
Even Albrecht allowed the faintest smile.
But inside Hiro's mind—
Another thought quietly formed.
An older sister…
And the Royal Academy…
Something told him his peaceful training days would not remain peaceful for much longer.
And somewhere far away—
A certain girl with silver hair was already preparing to return to the main Valenhart family.
Without knowing it…
Hiro had just gained a new rival.