An Invitation to Memories of Summer

It has been one and a half months since my elder sister entered the academy, and the current term is now in the midst of its final examinations.

I have already completed the required credits and examinations for the liberal arts division, and I am nearly finished with those of the civil service division, which I began this academic year.

Since the fundamentals are the same, I managed to navigate the differences, though not without difficulty.

Once this final examination concludes, a graduation party for the senior class and summer vacation await.

Incidentally, formal graduation refers to attending the ceremony at term’s end and officially receiving one’s diploma.

Alternatively, those who pass all required credits and examinations through accelerated advancement are granted provisional graduation, entitling them to the same rights as full graduates.

Some remain in the academy’s halls under provisional graduation, others prepare for civil service examinations until the ceremony, some serve as apprentice knights, and others return to their families to resume ordinary life.

Of course, there are those in certain disciplines who barely pass the final examinations and lose their credits…

But the liberal arts tend to see more students who take provisional graduation and return home to prepare for full graduation. This is because, in such cases, they often undertake bridal training at their family home or their fiancé’s household.

As with Lady Melujine, some do enter their fiancé’s home after graduation. Yet there are families who hasten provisional graduation, wishing their daughters to become accustomed to their future household at an early age.

It is with sorrow that I have learned Shasha will return to the Frontier County within the coming year, should she pass her credits and examinations… Though I feel sorrow, I cannot interfere with the family’s decisions.

Lady Celia has already passed both her credits and subject examinations, yet she will not return to her family home, as she holds duties as the school’s student council president. Indeed, she commutes from her residence in the capital, making a return unnecessary—but for me, having her as an ally is a great comfort.

The final year at the academy is the last before entering noble society. Attendance by final-year students is rare, except for social events or school festivals, as those who have research duties, hold official roles, or have insufficient credits—or are taking multiple subjects—are the only ones who remain.

Considering this, only one year remains until adulthood. With graduation still two years away, the remainder of our student life feels suddenly, unbearably short.

The environment surrounding me has shown no improvement since then… rather, it has steadily worsened.

Though invitations to my elder sister’s tea gatherings have increased, invitations directed at me have ceased entirely. When I am occasionally asked, it is with the quiet, malicious whispers of idle gossip—far from a pleasant experience…

Whenever I accompany my elder sister to her after-school tutoring, her friends begin to appear as well. If I attempt to offer corrections or point out minor etiquette lapses, I am met with sharp, biting remarks…

And yet, despite this, the teachers repeatedly admonish me, asking whether my sister’s revision is inadequate or whether my assistance is insufficient…

My elder sister does possess a quick mind, but she consistently disregards the rules of noble society. Younger instructors, in particular, have repeatedly warned me to intervene—again and again.

Moreover, when I received instruction on another matter during my sister’s remedial class, she would say, “You’re prioritizing your own affairs over your sister’s studies,” and I would grow angry, resenting her for judging me without understanding. Madame Nephel said I could not receive instruction on the imperial education in the presence of my sister’s friends—truly, the frustration accumulated endlessly…

By now, returning to the family home of Emmental to accumulate stress feels increasingly burdensome, and since my elder sister’s enrollment, I have not come back to this ancestral residence. The thought of having to return during summer break makes both mind and body feel heavy…

Enough of such sorrowful matters—let us now recall the details of the summer holiday.

Summer vacation is a lengthy break lasting nearly two months, spanning from midsummer to early autumn.

The holiday beginning after the academy's graduation party also serves as a period of preparation for the autumn term.

The holiday period, spanning from midsummer to early autumn, holds a cherished memory for me—having traveled to our family’s domain with Elder Brother, who made time for us despite his duties.

The Foundation Festival, held during this holiday, marks the change of year; it is as though the nation and its people celebrate a shared birthday together.

For a child born the day before the Foundation Festival, the next day they turn one—a peculiar sensation. Yet, knowing the year of their birth makes it easier to track their age clearly.

In other lands, people seem to age on the new year or on their individual birthdays, which is rather fascinating.

During this time, the dormitories close, requiring us to return home.

As I pondered this, I received a proposal from Fret.

If Pearl would be agreeable, would you consider visiting my family home? It is a remote place, the Frontier County, with nothing but vast nature. It takes considerable time to travel there, so I wouldn’t press you, but what do you think?

Shasha’s family home lies in the northern Frontier County—eight days by carriage from the capital, five days on a magic steed. It lies beyond the imperial wards that protect the empire, making it a more perilous region. I cannot say I would accept such an invitation without hesitation, yet the proposal itself holds great appeal.

Thank you, Shasha! But it would be difficult to respond without first paying my respects at your home… Still, if permission is granted, I would be honored to accompany you!

I knew you’d say that, so I’ve already sent word to Pearl’s household! I’ve also invited the Third Prince! My fiancé has a connection with the Guard, and I thought it only fitting to include him.

How thoughtfully arranged indeed.

Yet, though surprised, I am truly delighted.

“Why, dear Shasha… what one ought to hold dear is friendship.”

With that, I embraced Shasha, though the gesture was far from the comportment of a lady.

If joy stirs within me, I too may cast aside the mask of refinement.

“Ah, ah… Pearl, my dear… and truly, I do not wish for my betrothed to misunderstand you….”

She smiled faintly, then tilted her brow in a moment of quiet concern. As Shasha explained, it seemed her betrothed had heard ill reports of me and was urging her to sever all ties with me.

“Your betrothed, the Marquis Colloid, you mean… so far has my reputation spread…?”

"Yes... Her brother is in the first year, isn't she? She was so struck by the miracle of sharing a desk with me that she's been talking only about him at home lately... Even I'm being called a villain's ally these days, and she's been avoiding me."

"That... I'm sorry I dragged even you into this, Shasha."

"There's no need for you to worry, Pearl! To fail to see the truth is fatal in high society. That she learns this while still a student is her fortune."

We laughed together in the corner of the dormitory dining hall.

Four days later, a reply arrived from home and from Arthur-sama.

Arthur-sama has agreed to join us, if my schedule permits.

During the journey, we are to stop at the northern great estate and perform the offering of the Sacred Stone. The northern great estate is a ducal territory, where the land’s power manifests as a rare and precious shade of violet sacred force. It is said that once each year, following the presentation of Elder Brother’s research, a member of the imperial family possessing a strong violet sacred force offers the Sacred Stone.

Permission was granted, on the condition that we stay at the ducal family, which is the ancestral home of my grandmother.

This means I shall not need to return to my family estate during the summer.

My grandmother’s ancestral home lies in the middle territory between the northwestern great estate and the northern great estate. Though not large in area, it is dominated by mines and produces abundant gemstones and other minerals, making it a wealthy land financially.

Though the terrain, being mountainous, is unsuitable for farming, my grandmother remarked that the abundance of mountains makes it an excellent summer retreat.

Thus, my summer holiday plans were settled.

First, I shall travel by a chariot drawn by magical horses toward the northern Grand Duchy. We expect to arrive in approximately three days. I shall accompany Shasha until we reach the Grand Duchy. There, I shall stay for about two days, during which I will meet with Arthur-sama and proceed to my grandmother’s ancestral home, the Velvet Ducal family, in a single day, remaining there for one week.

Afterward, I plan to spend two days in Shasha’s ancestral home, the Marl Frontier County, and stay there for roughly two weeks before returning to the academy.

It was a fortunate coincidence that, despite the suddenness of these arrangements, I was able to make them work with the help of those around me.

Incidentally, the entire Emmental family is returning to their estate during this summer holiday. This time, Fret Elder is unable to leave the capital due to work commitments, so Father, Mother, Alex Elder, and Lady Stella will be traveling to the estate. I learned of this just the day before this year’s graduation party, and was told the departure would be in three days. A faint unease stirred within me, but I reminded myself that I, too, would be embarking on a journey of my own, and so I shifted my thoughts accordingly.

The graduation party did not require attendance from current students, and since I had no close seniors, I chose not to attend.

Lady Stella did attend, though I know nothing of her experience. I might have learned, if I had wished—but I was far too eager for this journey to care about such matters.

I received reprimands from home for sending my elder sister—unaccustomed to social settings—alone to such a place, though I could only sigh in disbelief. After all, it was not something that could be addressed without consultation or prior arrangement. Still, I was told it was my duty as family to manage it.

Recently, I’ve heard rumors that I’ve damaged my reputation at the academy and am mistreating my elder sister. My response to her has hardened in consequence.

Thus, I feel more than ever that I have no place at the imperial estate in Emmental.

Therefore, Shasha’s invitation truly came as a salvation. It became, in my life, the last summer I could truly enjoy from the depths of my heart.

I’ve been leaning too heavily on the protagonist’s suffering lately, so I thought I’d share a story with a little less bitterness for now.

I’ll return to the melancholy soon enough—please, for a brief moment, savor this rest.