Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

“You’ll have to go to the Academy.”
This was the sudden imperial command I heard during a dinner with my father, Emperor His Majesty, after a long time.
I, like a fool, didn’t show my surprise and quietly wiped my mouth with a napkin.
“May I ask what you mean by that?”
“Do you know the rumor that three new stars have enrolled in the Academy?”
“Yes.”
Bardishe Academy.
Although it’s an academy established within the Empire, influential groups from around the world also send students to study there.
The reputation of Bardishe Academy was that high, and naturally, the process of verifying the capabilities of new students was rigorous.
It was already widely known that the academy had admitted three of the world’s most famous rising talents without even requiring them to take an entrance exam.
The Saint of the Sun God Order.
The Sage of the Pitch-Black Tower.
And the Sword Star of the Isolated Island Swordsmanship School.
They were all talents who didn’t need to be validated, so no one questioned their admission.
And that included me, Loran von Welert, the Third Prince of the Empire.
That’s why it was a problem. It had nothing to do with me.
My father picked up his wine glass, savored its contents, and continued.
“I hear those three are causing quite a headache at the Academy. That’s what was written in the headmaster’s personal letter.”
“…”
If that was the case, it was indeed strange.
They should have had manners ingrained in them so as not to disappoint people’s expectations and to avoid bringing shame to their respective organizations.
Yet they’re causing problems at the Academy? Enough for the headmaster to send a letter to my father?
I continued the conversation with my father to gather more information.
“But why would the headmaster discuss this matter with you, Father?”
“Because the Academy’s faculty finds it difficult to deal with both the abilities and backgrounds of these three.”
“So, there’s a need for a fellow Academy student to intervene, is that what you’re saying?”
And the person to take on that role should be at least from the imperial family. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to hold their own in front of those three.
I nodded as I understood the circumstances behind the imperial command.
But that’s not to say I didn’t have objections.
“But, Your Majesty, didn’t you promise me last time?”
“Hmm.”
My father let out a short grunt when I pointed this out.
“I told you I have no interest in succession to the throne. Have you forgotten your promise not to issue any political orders?”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
My father lifted his wine glass and swirled it. The wine inside swayed.
“But do I still have to go?”
“You must.”
“…”
An immediate answer. And a stern tone.
I could feel his determination not to allow for any objection.
“As you know, the firstborn is at the forefront of the succession to the throne. He has many responsibilities. Therefore, he doesn’t have the luxury to go to the Academy.”
“What about my second brother?”
“Do you think that child could even open his mouth among the three stars? It would be fortunate if he didn’t wet himself.”
“…”
I thought it wasn’t something a father should say about his child, but I couldn’t deny it.
Tap. The sound of the wine glass being placed on the table.
The Emperor of the Empire stared straight at me and declared.
“You must go, Loran.”
His pupils split vertically, becoming like those of a reptile.
Dragon eyes. It was a physical characteristic that manifested in members of the imperial family who inherited the blood of the Golden Dragon.
“This is an imperial command. However, if you wish to refuse, you may speak honestly. I won’t blame you.”
What a meticulous person.
The very fact that he used the dragon eyes meant he intended to see through my innermost thoughts.
He’s making me say it with my own mouth, even though he’s already read my psychological state as if it were visible to his eyes.
“I will do it.”
I replied calmly.
Yes, I must.
Though I’m the Third Prince who’s removed from the succession to the throne, I’m still a member of the imperial family. How could I escape the affairs of the imperial household?
Hahaha- Only then did my father laugh, seemingly satisfied.
“The reason I’m entrusting this to you is not just because of your political position.”
He then tapped his index finger on his head.
“The dragon’s blood has awakened in you, hasn’t it?”
“…It only manifested briefly in the past; even the maids no longer mention it.”
“It doesn’t matter. Blood that has once awakened never dies again.”
You’re not listening to me.
I inwardly sighed and moved my fork again.
As I was about to pierce a piece of meat with my fork and bring it to my mouth, my father casually dropped a remark.
“Ensure they graduate safely from the Academy. That is my command to you. Don’t worry too much. It will be good for you too.”
“I understand… pardon?”
They?
“…Are all three of them women, by any chance?”
“Yes. All three are girls. Is there a problem?”
“…”
Wouldn’t there be many?
I suppressed the words that were about to escape my lips and silently chewed on the meat.
The meat was tender, but my heart felt dry.

Before leaving for the Academy.
I ordered the imperial attendants to gather information about them.
The information, delivered in multiple documents, included both what was known to the public and what wasn’t.
Among them, there were some impressive, or rather, intriguing items, but.
I didn’t pay much attention.
After all, I just need to help them graduate, right?
Rising stars, and troublemakers of the Academy, they say.
But I, as the Third Prince, haven’t always walked a path strewn with flowers either.
Unless they have some really peculiar quirks, it shouldn’t be too challenging.
“Lord Loran, it’s time for you to go.”
“Alright.”
At the attendant’s notification, I adjusted my attire.
A magic circle that directly connects from the imperial palace to the Academy. One could call it a privilege of the imperial family.
“Will you be alright without taking any servants?”
“Doesn’t the Academy strive for equality regardless of social status? I should go alone.”
Originally, to prevent situations where imperial family members would wander around without attendants, the highest class didn’t attend the Academy.
I wonder what those three were thinking when they enrolled.
Well, I wasn’t worried since I considered myself to have decent self-sufficiency despite being from the imperial family.
Just as I was about to step into the magic circle.
“Brother!”
Tap tap tap- I heard a woman running with quick steps.
When I turned my head, there was a girl approaching with her flowing golden hair fluttering.
Lorela von Welert. The Fourth Princess and my cute youngest sister.
“Are you really going?!”
“Yes, I’m afraid I have to.”
“Please don’t go!”
Tap. Lorela grabbed my hand.
“There’s still so much I haven’t done with you, Brother! And now you’re leaving! I’m upset!”
“I can’t help it. It’s an imperial command.”
“I’ll ask Father! If I do, Father might change his mind!”
“Father won’t budge, Lorela.”
I removed her hand with regret and gently stroked her head.
Lorela looked at me with eyes full of disappointment. Her blue jewel-like eyes were downcast.
“I’m sorry. I’ll definitely return.”
“No, Brother.”
Lorela took a few steps back and declared loudly.
“I’ll come to you, Brother. Please wait for me!”
“Haha. Alright.”
I wonder who she inherited her stubbornness from.
This time, I truly turned around and headed for the magic circle.
Take care, Lorela.
As I stepped onto the magic circle, a bright light enveloped me and.
In the blink of an eye, I arrived at Bardishe Academy.

“My luggage has already been sent from the imperial palace.”
A dormitory exclusive to the imperial family.
Originally, Bardishe didn’t have such a place, but it’s a specially created accommodation after hearing the news of my arrival.
I heard the other three new stars were in a similar situation, so they seemed to have responded quickly.
After confirming that the things I used in my room at the imperial palace had been moved correctly, I closed the door.
My destination was the Bardishe Special Hall.
It was a classroom exclusively for the “Academy Special Class.”
It was still before classes started. I hurried to get there early and wait without being late.
“First, I’d like to meet all three of them quickly.”
I thought I’d need to meet them first to assess the situation. After all, a person on paper is different from a person in reality.
I heard they were troublemakers, but surely they wouldn’t miss class? They should have that much common sense.
Nodding to myself with such thoughts, I soon arrived in front of the classroom.
Knock knock. I politely knocked on the door instead of barging in.
It might seem ridiculous for a member of the imperial family to knock, but the individuals inside are also prominent figures. I’m not in a position of superiority.
“I’m coming in.”
The scene I saw as I opened the door and entered.
As if to show that this wasn’t originally planned, there were only four pairs of luxurious desks and chairs placed in the spacious room.
And three of those four chairs were empty.
Three were empty.
Only one girl with long, ash-colored hair was seated.
Why is there only one person?
Though I was inwardly surprised, I didn’t show it. I focused my attention more on the girl.
The attire she wore was pure white, indicating her affiliation with the Sun God Order.
She must be the Saint.
I see. It seems the other two, as befitting troublemakers, don’t attend classes.
I thought it was appropriate for the Saint to adhere to the rules well. After all, if the Saint isn’t normal, who is?
She had her back turned towards me and was touching something with her hands. I greeted the Saint, who seemed to have not yet noticed me.
“Hello, I am—”
“Eep?!”
What’s this?
The Saint, who was so startled, abruptly straightened her upper body. As a result, the object she was holding in her hand dropped onto the desk with a thud.
A short, white stick.
It was a cigarette.
“…”
“…”
Silence.
We both confirmed the cigarette that had fallen on the desk, and then our eyes met.
“Eheh.”
Seeing the Saint’s expression, smiling with a stupid face, I realized.
That there’s no such thing as a normal person in this class.

As a prince, I didn’t intend to do this to a saint, but she didn’t give up on her stupid smile.
However, after a few seconds, she finally realized she couldn’t defuse the situation and dropped her head.
“Hiing… I’m done for. And I wasn’t supposed to be caught by a student.”
Not supposed to be caught by a student? Does that mean it’s okay to be caught by others?
In the first place, the very act of a saint smoking is problematic.
While I was inwardly bewildered, the saint let out a short groan, ‘oowooo-‘, and retrieved the cigarette.
She then raised her head abruptly and looked at me.
And then she opened her fine lips. Her ash-colored eyes trembled slightly.
“What should I do now?”
“Pardon?”
I was momentarily confused and gave a foolish answer, unlike myself.
I immediately managed my expression and answered politely again.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“This is the first time I’ve been caught by a student. I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m also seeing a saint smoking for the first time, but…”
“Hiing.”
The saint became visibly dejected after hearing my answer. She seemed anxious about being caught as a smoker.
Seeing her pitiful appearance, even I, who was facing her for the first time in this place, felt apologetic.
Although I still think smoking is the issue here.
As the situation seemed unresolvable, I decided to quickly change the flow.
I took a step back from her and bowed. It was the imperial etiquette I had been taught excessively since childhood.
“Pleased to meet you, Saint. I am the Third Prince, Loran von Welert, who has just transferred to the Bardishe Academy Special Class.”
Anyone with experience in high society would immediately recognize how refined my etiquette is.
As intended, the saint, who had been lost in her own thoughts, regained her composure upon seeing my greeting.
“A p-prince, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Come to think of it, yesterday the headmaster mentioned that someone important from the imperial family would be coming tomorrow…! I thought, ‘Who could possibly be coming?’…”
Her bustling demeanor as she said this was truly awkward.
Is this really the face of the Order and a top-tier saint? She seems like just any local girl.
However, contradicting my thoughts, the saint soon gathered herself and dusted off her clothes.
Then, like me just now, she bowed at the waist, showcasing the Order’s impeccable etiquette.
“Nice to meet you, Prince. I’m the Saint of the Sun God Order, Rinet Michaela.”
Rinet Michaela.
I already knew that name from the information I gathered before coming to the Academy.
They say she was just an ordinary commoner girl when she was young, but one day she was chosen by the Order and became a saint.
The perfect greeting certainly proved her years of experience within the Order.
Rinet and I settled the commotion and each took our seats.
Unlike me, who didn’t show any signs of confusion on my face, her actions still revealed her anxious emotions.
But there was no time to wait for the saint to calm down. I looked at her and asked what I was most curious about first.
“Saint.”
“Y-yes?”
Her fair face, smiling, trembled slightly.
She seemed to know inwardly why I called her.
“…Do you smoke, by any chance?”
“Eheh. Well…”
Though I had already half-confirmed it, I couldn’t help but ask directly.
A saint smoking?
It would be more convincing to say an orc wears a suit.
No answer is forthcoming. I inwardly sighed as I watched her awkward smile tremble.
It seemed to be the correct answer after all.
“It’s alright. If you don’t want to disclose, I won’t ask.”
“Thank you!”
“But, what did you mean by not being caught by a student? Do the professors know about this?”
“Ah! So that’s what you were curious about.”
Rinet, appearing very pleased that I changed the topic, continued.
“All the academy officials, including the professors, know about it. Because, you see, I need help to bring cigarettes to my room.”
You didn’t need to tell me that much.
Then again, that’s why the headmaster contacted my father directly. He must have labeled them as troublemakers after assessing the behavior of the Special Class members.
Truly. This is mind-boggling.
“But… the fact that I smoke should remain a secret, okay? You can’t go around telling people about it.”
As she said this, Rinet looked at me with a visibly uneasy expression.
Spreading the fact that the saint smokes.
This would undoubtedly be a topic that noble ladies who enjoy gossip couldn’t resist, but I had no intention of freely opening my mouth about it.
No one would seriously believe the outlandish claim that the saint is a smoker. It would be fortunate if rumors about the prince suffering from a mental illness didn’t spread instead.
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
“…”
Rinet’s eyes still held the same anxious look, as if she didn’t trust me.
While I was pondering how to handle this, the classroom door opened.
Tap tap tap. With the sound of shoes hitting the floor, an elderly man with wrinkled skin entered.
White hair and beard. But his stature exuded experience and maturity.
He climbed onto the platform, cleared his throat with a “ahem, ahem,” and began to speak.
“Good morning, everyone.”
“Good morning!”
Rinet replied with a clear voice beside me.
The old man gazed at Rinet with contentment and then turned his gaze towards me.
“And. It’s been a while, Prince.”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Headmaster Kunimunt.”
He was someone I often encountered in passing in the social circles of the imperial capital, or when gathering information about global affairs.
Kunimunt. The headmaster of Bardishe Academy. They say his magical skills are among the top three in the world.
“Have you been well?”
“What hardships could there be in life at the imperial palace? Rather, I should be taking care of the citizens of the Empire who face the storms of the world.”
“You’re still the same, Prince.”
Haha- The headmaster chuckled and then looked at the two empty seats.
“Hmm. Are the Sage and Sword Star absent again today?”
“Yes. I’d like to take classes with them and chat, but they’re nowhere to be seen.”
“Well, it’s not something for the Saint to worry about. This is a responsibility of educators. Don’t fret.”
“That’s a relief, then.”
As I listened to their conversation, a question suddenly arose, and I interjected.
“May I ask a question?”
“Yes. By all means.”
“Headmaster, you said ‘again,’ and the Saint said ‘nowhere to be seen.’ …Could it be that the two have never attended even once?”
At my question, the headmaster paused and gazed at me. There was surprise and interest in his eyes.
“Hoho. I’m glad to see that the Prince’s sharp mind has developed further.”
He then concluded.
“Yes, Your Highness is correct. I haven’t seen either of them except on the day of the entrance ceremony. Hmm, I wonder if they’re doing well…”
Despite the headmaster’s chuckle, my lips did not form a smile.
Does this make sense?
Months must have passed from the entrance ceremony to the present, and they didn’t attend a single lecture during that time?
And they don’t even know where they are.
I momentarily supported my dizzy head with my hand. My father’s words flashed through my mind.
-Ensure they graduate safely from the Academy. That is my command to you.
Is this even possible?
While I was inwardly groaning, the conversation between the other two continued.
“But, it may be sudden for the Prince who just arrived today, but there’s an announcement for all members of the Special Class.”
“Headmaster! Only the Prince and I are here!”
“Saint, please understand that I couldn’t bring myself to say there are only two of you.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Ahem. Anyway, from today, the classes for all members of the Special Class are discontinued.”
What?
“Pardon? Headmaster, what do you mean by that?”
“It means you are all free to engage in activities as you wish, Your Highness. The Academy will not intervene at all.”
“What’s the reason? What’s the meaning of students not attending classes at the Academy?”
“It’s a decision made after observing the situation. How can we confine rising stars to a classroom? It’s right to let them go where they want. In the first place, they are not talents who need the teachings of our faculty.”
Then why did you call me here in the first place?
When I looked at the headmaster with such a question in my eyes, he smiled confidently.
“The reason I called you here, Prince, is because I have a favor to ask of the Saint.”
“What? Me?”
“Saint, as a student who has experienced Academy life before the Prince, and as a member of the same Special Class, would you help His Highness adapt?”
“Ah! That sounds good.”
Rinet brightened at the headmaster’s words.
“I’ll take responsibility for guiding the Prince. Leave it to me.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Now, we can dismiss. The Special Hall will be used whenever there’s an announcement for everyone in the future.”
Of course, not everyone might gather, haha!
The headmaster left those words and walked out of the classroom with a tap-tap.
The now quiet classroom. Rinet, who sat next to me, smiled at me and spoke.
“This is great, Prince. I was a bit anxious, but now I’ll diligently accompany you!”
The flowing ash-colored hair. The large chest pushing up the pure white saint’s robe.
As I watched her pretend to be mature while saying, “Don’t you feel reassured?”.
“Haah…”
“Huh?! Why are you sighing?!”
I couldn’t help but let out a sigh.
It was the first time in my life I resented my father.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.