C63 - 64
Chapter 63: Alice Vert (3)
In life, you often hear this saying:
Knowledge is power.
Or ignorance is bliss.
Neither of these sayings is entirely wrong, but if you were to ask which one is more correct, it wouldn’t be easy to judge.
So, what if we try to find a good balance between the two?
Here’s how I’d define it:
Not knowing can make you foolish, but knowing allows you to handle things.
When my sister witnessed Cranz’s assault, our household was turned upside down.
Of course, it didn’t last long.
She soon had to return to the academy, and if I lost my only protector, I would once again be left alone.
After that, Cranz tormented me even more persistently and cunningly, while those around us continued to watch without lifting a finger to help.
Before leaving, my sister said:
If you ever have a hard time, talk to me anytime.
But I didn’t say a word about anything.
I didn’t want to see my sister angry or sad again.
Not back then, not now; I didn’t want to hide from reality under the guise of a woman’s skirt.
But as I mentioned earlier, not knowing makes you a fool, and without knowing, you can’t handle whatever comes your way.
I wished my sister understood.
I wished she understood how pathetic and miserable it was to uphold the dignity of this family, even at the cost of one’s own self.
That’s why I’m saying this now.
“…!”
My sister’s right hand was trembling violently.
She seemed ready to draw her sword and rush to Velias at any moment.
For now, I silently waited for her to speak up.
“Is what you just said true?”
“I wouldn’t joke about something like that.”
“Then how did you manage to survive and come this far?”
Just then, a man approached us and bowed his head immediately.
“W-who are you?”
He was a young man, probably in his early twenties, with neatly groomed brown hair and innocent eyes. His name was Brian.
“I am Sir Brian Kendrick, a knight in service to Velias. Currently, I am tasked with protecting Lord Cyan as his guardian knight, by his side at all times.”
“A guardian knight?”
Brian explained the events of the past three years with unwavering precision.
He had received a mission from the Duchess but judged it unfair, so he dismissed her and immediately became my guardian knight, escorting me safely to the academy.
In essence, he attributed everything I had done to himself, as I had instructed him to do so.
“I-I can’t understand! Why didn’t you inform anyone else?”
“There was no one to inform. Isn’t our father always busy with matters on the front lines?”
“Well, at least you should have told me!”
Honestly, this feels like the first time my sister has genuinely been angry with me.
But you know what?
I’ve never had anyone in my life get angry on my behalf like this.
Usually, being scolded makes you feel down and worse, but strangely enough, I keep wanting to laugh.
Even I think it’s a bit perverted.
I casually spoke while suppressing the emotions inside me.
“Just as you’ve traveled the continent for your own life for three years, I’ve also kept my mouth shut for the sake of my own life. The Duchess didn’t take any further action after realizing her mistake, and Cranz, too, remained quiet knowing his fault. The fact that I’m telling you this now means it’s all settled.”
“How can you call this settled!”
My sister suddenly grabbed my shoulders and began to protest loudly.
I met her tear-filled eyes without flinching.
“I’m sorry, Cyan. I promised to live for you, yet I didn’t even know what you’ve been through.”
I kept talking, but my sister is smart and strong.
By conveying these words, she quickly understands what she needs to do.
“I wanted to chat with you slowly and even visit your dorm, but it seems difficult now. I have somewhere urgent to go.”
Anywhere else might be fine, but there could be trouble there.
If our adorable little troublemaker wakes up from his nap, it could be a disaster.
I asked clumsily.
“Will you come back?”
“Of course.”
Once again, she gently stroked my head, then this time, she wrapped her arms around me.
“You don’t have to bear it all alone, Cyan. It’s okay to say it’s tough if it’s tough.”
Her soft breath against my ear brought a sense of unparalleled tranquility.
It was cozy.
Yet incredibly warm.
I thought I’d never feel like this again.
Returning to this feeling makes me truly grateful.
Now, all that’s left is to preserve this warmth.
The day my sister’s warm touch turns cold will never come as long as I’m alive and kicking.
My fist, filled with determination, clenched tightly.
* * *
“Ar-are you alright, my Lord?”
Brian, who had been by my side after my sister left, asked with a worried tone.
“Why?”
“I-I might be overstepping, but I’m concerned if I’ve caused unnecessary worry to Lady Alice. In fact, your mention of it was quite unexpected…”
I shrugged my shoulders and said.
“The human heart is like a swaying reed, yet sometimes it’s as unyielding as a rock.”
People like my sister are especially like that.
“So, we need to be vigilant. We need to gradually realize that everything we’ve believed without question so far may actually be going wrong. Otherwise, we’ll reach a point of no return and ultimately face ruin.”
If someone asks if it’s from personal experience, I don’t really want to answer.
I just hope my disguised advice as counsel will help her cope well with what lies ahead.
I’m sure she’ll overcome it well.
Anyway, it seems my sister’s business is settled for now…
——————
——————
My gaze shifted to Brian beside me.
“W-why are you like this, my Lord?”
“You did quite well acting, didn’t you? I thought you’d be trembling without saying a word.”
Brian scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Haha! W-well, I couldn’t sleep at all last night and kept practicing! I’m not sure if Lady Alice actually accepted it, but…”
Still, compared to his immature self from two years ago, he has made significant progress.
I guess he can be serious when he needs to be?
“Would my sister have lived hearing about being a child of the gods for no reason? Even if I fumble through half of a sentence, my sister understands it easily.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s a relief.”
I stared at the guy who was smiling smugly.
“Why are you blushing?”
“W-what!?”
Even a girl in love wouldn’t blush this much.
“Oh, um, well, this is the first time I’ve seen Lady Alice! And she’s really as beautiful as the rumors say! Oh, please don’t misunderstand, my Lord! I never harbored any strange feelings!”
Strange feelings, huh.
Well, you’re a guy, so I guess that’s understandable.
I still think I haven’t seen a beauty surpassing our sister.
Why do I feel such a strong urge to punch this guy?
I unconsciously looked at my clenched fist.
It was a moment of deep contemplation whether to punch this guy in the head or not.
* * *
After seeing off my sister, I headed back to the principal’s office once again.
As I opened the door after the knock, the principal, who seemed to have anticipated my arrival, gave me a knowing glance.
“It seems you’ve already checked.”
The principal was reading the white paper document I had handed over earlier.
“As always, I won’t ask where you got this information from.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Instead, I’ll ask something else. Do you really expect me to believe this?”
The glare he gave me was anything but friendly.
“If we summarize the document you provided, it goes something like this. Some high-ranking knights of the Order of the Light are connected to the royal family. The most prominent figure is Prince Louisnel Sevellerus. They are planning to provoke the monsters in the frontline area soon, leading to a major conflict. And this timing coincides with the royal family’s visit to the frontline… Even if I wrote a novel, it wouldn’t be this absurd.”
If such an intriguing plot suddenly popped into my head, who would bother attending literature classes?
Unfortunately, the words the principal spoke were not fiction but cold, hard facts.
Judging by the principal’s expression, he still seemed somewhat skeptical.
“It’s been over ten years since I left my family, but that doesn’t mean I turned a deaf ear. But the family and Louisnel were planning this without my knowledge? Honestly, I probably would have torn it up without a second thought if someone else had handed it to me.”
Although it seemed a bit inconsistent with his usual disregard for family honor, I decided to overlook it.
“After all, it’s not like I’ll be the one to confirm the truth, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. My informants, even if you deceive me, will soon bring back some news to keep an eye on.”
Perhaps it’s because of his experience, but he speaks quite bluntly.
“Is this related to your sister?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Experience isn’t gained for nothing. Your dry eyes, which couldn’t betray any emotions, trembled the moment they met Alice.”
It seemed futile to deny it.
“Frankly, it was a bit surprising. I thought you wouldn’t care about anyone, let alone have any feelings for your family, but it seems you had strong blood. Well, come to think of it, there’s no reason to hate that child. Among the countless students who passed through the academy, she was the only one I wanted to treat as my daughter.”
“You’re talking big trouble.”
He was serious.
For a moment, I wondered if he had gone senile.
But even so, that was crossing the line, Principal.
The principal continued without batting an eye.
“So, by giving me this novel-like information, what do you expect from me?”
I’m not the kind of person to not expect something in return for an act of kindness.
The principal knows this, which is why he keeps asking what I want in return, but I’ve already been receiving more than enough compensation.
“Isn’t what you’ve already done enough?”
“Hah, your careless school life, is that what you call enough?”
Careless…
I thought I had quietly lived without much trouble, but hearing those words makes me feel strange again.
I smiled and replied.
“As I mentioned before, there’s no need to think too hard about it. Just consider it a gift for looking out for me.”
“It’s not a gift, it’s a bribe. Well, I understand your intention. Just don’t come up with any other nonsense later.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the word ‘bribe’.
“Indeed, you’re someone whose thoughts are hard to read.”
Hearing that, suddenly one thought popped into my head.
Should I ask once?
“I have one question to ask.”
“What is it?”
“A while ago, during your conversation with my sister, I heard that there was a student who couldn’t be read through your hands.”
It was more of something I overheard than actively sought out.
“Yeah, that’s the standard before you entered the academy.”
The principal said dismissively.
“Could you tell me who that person was?”
Why ask?
Just plain curiosity.
I was curious about the extent of his insight.
The principal chuckled and then spoke up.
“Asking a question when you already know the answer, what’s the point? There’s no need to ask. It’s that person in your mind.”
Indeed, our principal.
As sure about others as one can be.
Ironically, he can’t see his own future.
[TL/N: Lord, sleep when?]
[PR/N: None for u, go back to the basement.]
——————
Chapter 64: To the Imperial Palace (1)
After the meeting with the principal, I headed straight to the dormitory.
As expected, I’m the only one currently using the Royal Crown dormitory.
That’s because no royal family has enough time to stay at the academy even during vacation.
As I entered my room, cutting through the silent air, Brian greeted me.
“Master, these…”
He handed me two envelopes, presumably letters.
“Where did you get these?”
I asked about the sender of the letters first.
“One was received from the academy’s official recipient, and the other one was from a cleaner at the Royal Palace. Both asked for you to receive them directly.”
Holding the two envelopes in each hand, I compared them.
One had a luxurious gold envelope with the crest of the Ushif Empire stamped in the middle.
I could tell it was from the official recipient without even looking at the contents.
The other was a plain white envelope.
Below the seal was an inexplicable black X mark.
This is probably the one received from the cleaner.
Although I haven’t checked the contents yet, if you ask which letter is more important…
Without a doubt, it’s the one from the cleaner.
I decided to open the relatively less important gold envelope first.
As soon as I read the contents, I furrowed my brows.
“W-what does it say, Master?”
“If you’re curious, read it.”
I handed him the paper nonchalantly.
“An… invitation?!”
Brian’s eyes widened as he read the contents.
“M-Master! Isn’t this an invitation to a banquet sent from the Empire?”
“A banquet? It’s just a place where people put on fake smiles, laugh loudly, and drink alcohol like there’s no tomorrow.”
To me, it was a boring place I wouldn’t want to go even if ordered.
“B-But it’s from the royal family, isn’t it? Isn’t this a direct invitation from the Empire to you?”
– Thud
Suddenly, the invitation slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
As Brian looked around in surprise for a moment,
Kaeram, who appeared out of nowhere, was sitting on the sofa, checking the invitation.
[A royal invitation… Huh, my master is making it big, huh?]
Well, it’s not really for me to judge whether it’s making it big or not.
But, naturally, not just anyone gets invited to a royal banquet.
Only the empire’s dignitaries, those considered important by the royal family, receive such invitations.
So, Brian’s suggestion that it might be a direct invitation from the empire isn’t entirely unreasonable.
Honestly, our family is often considered regular guests, but this is the first time my name is written directly like this on the invitation.
Usually, it would come in my father, Duke Vert’s name.
But since my father can’t attend, it’s customary for my sister, Cranz, or one of his children to go…
“Cyan Vert… Your name being written directly means they want you, doesn’t it?”
I saw it right away.
It’s highly unusual for them to specify an individual rather than the family.
In the royal court, they’re not inviting a member of the Vert family, but solely me, Cyan Vert.
Honestly, it’s absurd.
Why would the royal family want me?
I know I’ve been receiving attention from the emperor, but I haven’t done anything particularly noteworthy in the past two years.
So, what’s the reason for sending me an invitation now?
I pondered over the reason for a moment, chin in hand.
Beside me, Kaeram was reading the contents of the invitation aloud.
[…We cordially invite esteemed guests to our royal summer banquet. Sender: Arin Sevellerus?]
I momentarily doubted my ears.
“What did you say?”
I quickly snatched the invitation back to double-check the contents.
[Sender: Arin Sevellerus]
As soon as I saw the unwelcome name written at the bottom of the invitation, an involuntary sigh escaped my lips.
“Ah, I see…”
There is no way the imperial family would send an invitation in my name, let alone anywhere else.
Typically, the sender’s name on a banquet invitation would be that of the host.
So, for it to be a royal invitation, it should bear the name of either Emperor Dionne Sevellerus or Empress Cassandra Nepellis.
But the sender written on my invitation was none other than the 5th Princess.
I knew all too well what this meant.
[Hahaha! After being quiet for a while, the little princess sent something quite cheeky, didn’t she?]
Kaeram laughed as if he had caught on to the situation.
“What do you mean, Kaeram?”
[This is a personal invitation sent by that little princess to you alone. What do you think it means? It’s like a love letter, asking you to come and see her all dressed up for the occasion! Isn’t my master lucky? Getting a personal invitation from a princess of this empire!]
“Well, I see! Congratulations, sir!”
Were they really scheming together to embarrass me?
As Kaeram explained, this was not a royal invitation, but a personal invitation from the princess herself.
Now that I think about it, she wrote it very meticulously with her own handwriting.
What on earth is she thinking?
Dragging me along to every class wasn’t enough; now she’s trying to drag me to their parties too?
I may not know what she’s expecting, but one thing’s for sure: regardless of her intentions, my decision is firm.
“I’m not going.”
I tossed the invitation onto the desk with determination.
There’s no reason to go when it’ll only be a hassle.
Ignoring Kaeram’s nagging, I opened the second envelope, which held the truly important letter.
A letter written in an unknown script on a black background.
——————
——————
The sender… was Silica, the leader of the Black Mist.
I deciphered the script in my mind as I read the letter.
[New… Target]
For starters, the leader isn’t currently at the academy.
She’s elsewhere for personal business, and I don’t know her exact location.
Yet she’s sent word that Mist’s new target is now…
[Nepelis]
Nepelis, a prominent figure in the Ushif Empire and the current Empress Consort, Cassandra Nepelis.
In other words, the target is a member of that family.
Though I haven’t confirmed the name yet, the fact that the letter mentions the Nepelis family signifies they’re targeting someone of considerable importance, different from their usual targets…
[Details… will be heard… directly]
For now, is this where the written communication ends?
Anyway, it seems I’ll have to leave this place for a while.
I’ve met my sister, and there’s no reason to sit around in the academy any longer.
Might as well go somewhere far from the palace…
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, memories from my past life flashed through my mind.
Empress, Marquis Nepelis, assassination.
There seemed to be an important event associated with the words just mentioned?
As I searched my memory, I checked the bottom of the letter for the location and date.
[July 14th… Imperial capital, palace banquet]
It seems this is connected once again.
Though I haven’t heard it directly from the head yet, the target is clear.
The assassination of Drenian Nepelis, the Emperor’s brother-in-law and Cassandra, the Empress’s brother.
It was an event that caused a great shock throughout the continent, including the empire, in my past life.
Back then, as a mere student, I was confined to the dormitory, swinging a wooden sword, so I had no direct involvement.
To be directly involved in a mission that had quite an impact even in my past life, the irony was not lost on me.
-Fwoosh
I conjured a small flame in my hand and burned the letter right there.
Instead, I carefully picked the princess’s hastily thrown invitation once again.
Though it wasn’t intentional, it would still provide a good excuse for me to go to the palace in my current status.
There was no reason not to use it.
But…
My gaze naturally drifted towards Brian and Kaeram.
Along with our little one sleeping soundly in the room.
What should I do with them?
Kaeram could be tucked away in my arms, and Brian could be taken as a guardian knight, but Nana is the issue.
Leaving her alone and something happening wouldn’t be manageable at all.
It’s not like I can just lock her up in a cave and let her sleep for two weeks.
Should I take her to the capital for now and then entrust her to other members of the Mist?
Putting aside the actual mission, I found myself seriously pondering what to do with Nana, which made me lower my head in thought.
Come to think of it, hasn’t she been sleeping for quite a while?
“Hasn’t it been time for Nana to wake up? When did she fall asleep?”
“She usually sleeps around the same time, but it seems she woke up a bit late today. Let me check.”
Nana’s routine is to take a nap for about five hours after lunch.
However, it was already past 6 o’clock, and the sun had set.
Normally, she’d be nagging, ‘Papa, I’m hungry!’ even before dinner was ready, but today seems like she got lost in some dessert wonderland dream or something.
*Squeak*
“Papa, I’m hungry!”
As soon as I thought the mention of her name would wake her up(?), Nana opened the door and stepped out.
“Okay, I’ve prepared the meal, so hurry and wash your hands and come to the table…”
…?
Me, Brian, Kaeram.
Except for Nana, there are six pairs of eyes in the room, all intensely wavering.
I bet these eyes are seriously questioning if they’re seeing something wrong.
“Um, master over there? Why does Nana look like that now……?”
Do you guys get it? I should have raised a dragon to know.
Totally barefoot and in a state of utter chaos.
It’s not like she’s not wearing clothes.
Probably the clothes she had on got too small and slipped off.
“Why are you looking like that, Papa?”
She blinked her sleepy eyes and tilted her head.
[Why are you staring so intently! Can’t you look away?!]
Suddenly, Kaeram grabbed both mine and Brian’s heads and forcefully lowered them.
[Hey, little one! Why did you come out barefoot?]
“Huh? I don’t know either. I woke up and couldn’t find any fitting clothes?”
Nana swayed her tail, which seemed to have doubled in size since last time, as she spoke.
I knew her race grew fast, but is it okay for her to grow this quickly without any warning?
I’m telling you this out of fear of misunderstanding, but Nana has shown remarkable growth over the past two years.
She’s now roughly equivalent to a 6-year-old human?
Growing day by day, then recently quieting down, and suddenly, just yesterday, the little one who barely reached my chest grew up to my chest overnight?
Now she looked like a freshman girl just entering the academy.
“…?”
Nana blinked her bright eyes as if asking what the problem was.
——————