A clash with other young noblemen plucks 13-year-old Yukiya out of the backwater village of Taruhi and into royal service. The Northern House wants an agent in the Prince's household, but is the "blockhead" Yukiya up to the task?
And don't even think about giving in 
and leaving before your year is up,
ولا تفكر حتى في الاستسلام
،والمغادرة قبل انتهاء العام
Solltest du es wagen, vor Ablauf des Jahres
aufzugeben und zurückzukehren, …
Écoute-moi bien. Si tu abandonnes
et que tu reviens en moins d’un an,
Siamo intesi? Se rientrerai a casa piagnucolando
prima che sia passato un anno,
E não ouse pensar em desistir e
voltar antes do seu ano terminar,
И ещё! Пока не пройдёт год,
даже не думай сбежать,