The Tyrant's Heart (4)
Even so, 400 silons was just too much...
Too much, I thought. But looking at those pastries, it made sense.
It was truly magnificent.
The shapes were so cute they looked almost too pretty to eat, and they weren't just for show. Fruit and cream were poured in generously.
They were on display at the stall, but there was no doubt they were the highest-quality goods.
Anyway, I wasn't going to use them elsewhere. I was giving them to my teacher.
Thinking about how my teacher would help me more in the future, I decided 400 silons was actually a very cheap price.
When I didn't hesitate anymore and took out my wallet...
“Kyaa~!!”
The female stall owner let out a happy scream.
Even though the empire was huge, I was still a prince of a kingdom.
400 silons was nothing if I didn't spend that much even once a day.
It was fine. The only problem was that it made my thriftiness from the previous life scream in protest.
When the stall owner counted the money and confirmed it was correct, she bowed her waist repeatedly.
“Thank you so much! This is the highest daily sales in the history of our cafe branch! Thanks to you, I can leave work even earlier.”
“Congratulations. I suppose it just happened to turn out that way. Please package them quickly.”
“Yes! I felt like you were different from the moment you came to my stall. You're handsome and have money! Ah, but that's not important.”
The female stall owner rummaged under the display case and handed me a beautifully wrapped small envelope.
“This is our cafe's special invitation coupon. If you bring this, you'll be able to enjoy our special invitation-limited menu at an incredibly discounted price!”
My teacher's eyes sparkled at the news.
This was not good.
“Also, please mention my name. My name is Delphine! Remember it, understood?”
“I understand. I'll remember it.”
Delphine carefully packed the pastries into a large box and presented it to my teacher, who held her hand firmly.
“Even if you don't remember, I'll remember for you. I swear!”
“Really, thank you so much, sir. Among all the women I've met, you're the most beautiful.”
“You've got quite the words, truly! I'll come find you just so I can see you again!”
Delphine was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.
Even after we walked far away, Delphine kept bowing towards us.
My teacher's face, watching the box packed by Delphine with various angles, didn't lose its cheerful expression.
“The packaging is so pretty. It's a shame to unwrap it.”
“But if I don't unwrap it, I can't eat it.”
“What's the problem? I'll just eat it like this.”
My teacher's hand ignored the outer packaging and plunged straight in, then came out.
The hand that came out held a single pastry.
Surprised by the object-passing magic happening right in front of me, I ignored it as my teacher put the pastry in his mouth and let out a joyful moan.
“It's really delicious. It's true that things that look good are also good to eat.”
“Do you think it's that tasty? Give me one too.”
“You bought it for me, so it's only natural I share at least one. Just one, though.”
My teacher happily took out one pastry and brought it right up to my mouth.
As the pastry approached my face, a sweet and cozy scent vibrated.
“Are you going to feed it to me? Ah~”
I opened my mouth, but my teacher didn't put it in, giving me a regretful look instead.
“Why?”
“I don't think it will work. Promise me before eating. After you eat it, don't eat another one even though it's that delicious.”
“Understood. I don't really like sweets that much anyway, so don't worry.”
When I opened my mouth again, my teacher hesitated before putting the pastry in.
“It's a real promise?”
“I swear! Absolutely!”
Only then did my teacher smile and put the pastry in my mouth.
The moment it touched my tongue, the pastry burst with incredible flavor.
Crisp outside, soft inside, the sweet chocolate and cream perfectly filled my taste buds.
Even though little oil was used, it was clean and not greasy at all.
The longer I chewed, the more it tasted like it was made with high-quality flour.
“Tasty.”
“Right?”
“Give me one more.”
“What? I made a promise!”
“I didn't say what I swore by. I swore by the pebble rolling on the ground in front of me.”
I pointed at the pebble in front of my eyes and kicked it far away.
“Oh no. The pebble I swore by is gone. So my promise is void.”
“Your words are excellent, so I'll give you one more. If you weren't my student, I wouldn't have.” Here, take it.”
My teacher put another pastry in my hand.
Without thinking, I reached for my mouth when I noticed something inside.
A powerful aura came from the small pastry.
An enormous amount of mana.
“Teacher, this...”
“Why? You asked for it. I have to take payment for what I receive.”
“Thank you. I'll make good use of it.”
I put the pastry in my mouth and bit into it. The enormous power inside burst out.
I rapidly absorbed the mana rushing in like a huge wave and spread it throughout my body.
Because my body was already prepared, it wasn't a problem. A normal person eating this would probably burst and die.
Thanks to the pastry my teacher gave me, mana was filling my body.
With this much, I might be able to strengthen my body enough for my prime in the previous life.
'Perfect. With this, it's possible.'
The place I had decided to go to came into view.
The second-tallest building in the giant city of Riklant, the Imperial Academy.
The headmaster's office was located at the very top.
***
Headmaster's office at the highest point of the Imperial Academy.
Headmaster Aipman had a deeply dissatisfied expression in front of the magic crystal on his desk.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, even so, to enter our academy, one must pass the entrance exam. No student has ever been admitted without taking the exam so far. This is a first.”
“Is that the problem? The problem is that there is no precedent?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Aipman didn't even blink an eye while arguing with the emperor.
“The greatest purpose of running the Imperial Academy is to ensure fair competition for every student. Moreover, the two students you have commanded to be admitted this time are the prince and princess of the allied nation of Solea, a small kingdom. What reason does Your Majesty have to show such special consideration?”
“I don't even need to say it. You'll understand when you see. Those two are special. Even if I say it like this, it won't work.”
The emperor looked straight at Aipman.
It was a silent command to listen to his words.
But Aipman shook his head.
“No. I will personally meet the students and decide.”
“I see. As expected, you can't be swayed by your stubbornness. I picked one good person.”
“That is correct. It was Your Majesty who picked up this old man who was supposed to be resting at home and forced him to sit here. You must bear the responsibility of enduring it too.”
“But if the exam results are good, the students might be assigned to higher grades?”
“That is also correct.”
“In my view, the prince will likely be at least in second year, and the princess...”
Aipman felt it.
Emperor Franz was bringing in talents from all over the world and making them take the entrance exam at the Imperial Academy, but this was the first time he was asking to admit students without them taking the exam.
“What do you think about the princess?”
“I don't know. Judge for yourself after meeting her.”
“Understood. But Your Majesty has been tormenting me so harshly, so please do not forget that I will examine more thoroughly.”
“Of course I will. I look forward to it.”
The communication magic ended, but Aipman was so displeased with the content that he let out a fart.
Aipman, the headmaster of the Imperial Academy, was an old scholar about to turn eighty next year.
Since he didn't have much time left, he was famous for not compromising on anything that didn't meet his standards and not yielding to stubbornness.
'I must prepare thoroughly. I will have Roman and Debech as the managers... um?'
At that moment, a sound came from the window.
Tap tap.
Aipman stood up from his seat and approached the window.
But nothing was visible outside.
'It wasn't the sound of the wind. But it wasn't the sound of a bird hitting something either.'
The headmaster's office was originally located at the second-tallest place in Riklant.
Aipman definitely checked by opening the window and poking his head out to look around.
But nothing was visible.
'What was that sound? No, this is...'
At that moment, Aipman realized a shadow was cast over his face.
When he looked up, something came over him.