That evening, I thought about trying to take things one step further with Cass during bath time, but I learned that baths only happen once every four days. In many isekai stories, the protagonist complains about not being able to bathe every day like they used to, but even though I only used to take showers in my previous life, now that baths are limited, I suddenly want one every day. How selfish of me.
Preparing for a bath is apparently a huge ordeal (which is why underage princes and princesses are all bathed together). Even the King and his wives don't bathe every day. The King can request a bath daily if he wants, but my father doesn't seem to ask for one often. I think that's a waste, but there's a superstition that bathing every day causes important substances to leak out of the body, so it's not encouraged.
Instead, there are showers, but they don't use hot water — just cold water or lukewarm water at best. Because of that, showers aren't very popular either. I can imagine a lot of elderly people having heart attacks from cold showers in winter.
Since bath time is still a few days away, my next chance with Marin-sensei will come sooner. However, I don't think it's a good idea to ask her for "that," so I decided to gather some information from Cass first.
"Cass, is Marin-sensei engaged?"
"Yes, she is. Her fiancé works in the Ministry of Finance. Didn't you know?"
"I guess I wasn't really listening before. So… is she getting married soon?"
"Yes, the wedding is in six months. That means martial training will only continue for another two or three sessions. The marriage registration has already been submitted, so there shouldn't be any problem with them living together after that."
She said it so casually. Hearing that it was almost over made me curious about the next instructor. I really didn't want a muscular male teacher who would drill me harshly.
"Has the next instructor been decided yet?"
"Not yet. You wouldn't like a male teacher, right, Prince Robby? We're looking for a female instructor, but there aren't many women in the knight order, and no one seems willing to take the job."
Cass was right — I definitely preferred a female teacher. Still, I could understand why most knights wouldn't want to teach the idiot prince.
Martial training was irregular and depended on Marin-sensei's schedule, but history, science, and magic classes happened every day. During history class, I asked the teacher something that had been bothering me.
"Teacher…"
Just saying that one word made him look shocked. Ever since I transferred, everyone around me reacted with surprise at almost everything I said.
"What is it? How unusual… Actually, it's rare for you to say anything at all."
Once again, I was reminded of just how stupid the original Robby had been.
"Teacher, does this country have schools?"
The teacher looked genuinely dumbfounded.
"You don't even know that? I think I've told you before — there are no schools in this country."
"Eh? There aren't? Then how does education work?"
"Private tutoring academies. I run one myself, and my ability was recognized, so I was asked to teach you."
"I see… Why aren't there any schools?"
The teacher let out a big sigh.
"Schools cost an enormous amount of money. A small country like ours simply doesn't have the budget to build them. That's why knowledgeable and willing people open private academies to teach children and those eager to learn. Those who want to pursue higher studies go to universities in neighboring countries. However, only the wealthy or high-ranking nobles can afford to attend university. If you were higher in the line of succession and smarter, you might have been able to go too."
He was surprisingly blunt.
"I understand. Thank you very much."
Even expressing gratitude surprised him. Then an idea occurred to me.
"Teacher, if it's alright with you, could I attend your academy and study there sometime?"
The teacher's eyes widened in shock. He spread his hands in an exaggerated gesture of surprise.
"I'm truly astonished. You were ill and asleep for a long time, but ever since you woke up, it's like you've become a completely different person. Your speech, your attitude toward me, your desire to learn… Before, I couldn't sense any motivation to study at all, so I admit I only gave you the bare minimum lessons. Even staying awake during class was rare for you. But I'll change my approach now.
As for attending my academy, you're welcome anytime as long as permission is granted. You really keep surprising me. You're the first member of the royal family who has ever asked to study at my academy. Anyway, please come by at least once."
Unexpectedly, the teacher readily agreed. Riding that momentum, I asked the science and magic teachers as well, and both happily accepted. It seemed they had felt the same way about the old Robby.
In a way, being known as an idiot might actually be convenient. People get impressed even when I say normal things.
When I told Cass I wanted to attend the teachers' academies, she went to get permission and surprisingly returned with approval the same day. One guard would accompany me, and Cass would come along as well. I thought having only one guard for a prince was too little, but for a surplus prince like me, it apparently didn't matter if I died or got kidnapped. In fact, some people might even prefer I disappeared. I later learned that from rumors while attending the academy.
The next day, for the first time since my transfer, I left the royal palace. Traveling by carriage was possible, but it was only about a thirty-minute walk. Since I wanted to see the town and how people lived, I asked to walk. Even just saying I wanted to see the lives of ordinary people surprised everyone. I was starting to get used to that reaction.
Everything about the town was new and fascinating to me. Because I was going to the history teacher's academy, science and magic classes were canceled for the day. The plan became: science tomorrow, magic the day after, while visiting the academies in between.
The students at the history teacher's academy had a wider age range than I expected. However, the tuition was apparently expensive for commoners, so the students were all highly motivated and serious. I was overwhelmed by their passion. During the lesson, students eagerly raised their hands and bombarded the teacher with questions. For me, the Q&A portion was actually the most interesting part. It really drove home the saying that a teacher needs ten times more knowledge than their students.
On the way back, something that would change my life happened.
We hadn't even walked one kilometer from the academy when a piercing scream came from a side alley off the main street.
"Gyaaaaaaaah!!"
Drawn by the sound, I immediately started running toward it without thinking.
"Please wait!!"
"Prince Robby, you mustn't go!!"
The guard and Cass shouted after me, but I ignored them and ran toward the voice. Something important was waiting — there was no way I could ignore this!
A man came running out from the alley in the opposite direction. Then I saw another man slumped against a wooden box on the side of the road. Blood was gushing heavily from his abdomen — it was clearly a deep, fatal wound. Without thinking, I rushed over to him.
"Are you okay? Hang in there!!"
I spoke as a thirty-year-old Japanese man, not as a prince. I had forgotten that this wasn't peaceful Japan — it was basically a completely unknown foreign country.
The man looked at me and coughed painfully.
"Ah… cough… It's no use… I'm done for… Whoever you are… thanks for… calling out to me… As thanks… take this…"
When I grabbed the hand he held out, something flowed into me. What a convenient development!
Just then, the guard arrived, and Cass followed shortly after, panting.
"Prince Robby… You mustn't… come to such a dangerous place… huff huff"
"Th-that's right… Please… stop doing that… huff… huff…"
Both of them scolded me while gasping for breath.
You two really need to train your bodies more if you're going to be guarding a boy in his growth spurt.