Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Erich's Hidden Struggles
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While I was lost in thought about Erich's whereabouts, Dietrich came rushing over to me. He left me standing there and started spinning around in circles.
"Are you okay, baby Ella? Can you come out like this now?"
"I'm fine. I'm all better now."
"Let me see. The bruise on your wrist is completely gone... and you've grown a bit taller, haven't you?"
That was music to my ears.
As Dietrich came running up to me and made a fuss, the two children from the Verbene Count family subtly edged closer and stuck by my side.
"I watched the friendly match. You were amazing."
"I... I was off capturing the base at the time, so I missed it..."
"It's okay. Capturing the base was impressive too. We won because everyone cooperated well on both sides."
Yoachim beamed at the somewhat haughty praise from his older sister, Emily.
Just watching them, it seemed like the kids had formed little cliques since the friendly match.
They'd always had tendencies like that, though.
On one side were Uncle's kids and the Verbene Count family's children who followed Mark.
On the opposite side were the Verbene Count family's kids who'd gotten close to our family, along with the kids from the Palenberg Marquis household.
Even now, they were scattered in their groups, not mixing with each other.
Hmm.
These were just kindergarteners or elementary schoolers at best, yet they were already getting tangled up in all sorts of politics.
"So where'd Eri go?"
I decided to shift my gaze from something I couldn't fix right away and instead asked about the question that had been nagging at me.
Dietrich wrinkled his nose and pointed one finger upward toward the upper floor.
"He's still in the classroom."
"Why?"
"Guess he's not feeling well. He looked fine on the outside, but Professor Seller was hovering around him like crazy."
"His mana bad?"
"Dunno. He said no intense activities like sword training, so he should stay in the classroom. He's the precious young master, after all."
The atmosphere around us sank in an instant.
Dietrich didn't know just how bad Erich's health really was.
And he wasn't sensitive enough to pick up on the other kids' wary expressions in the chilled air.
'He probably only remembers the harsh words from last time.'
Dietrich pouted and grumbled as he grabbed his wooden sword and sauntered off toward the training dummies.
I glanced up at the ceiling while listening to the dull thuds of wood striking wood.
'Is his condition that bad?'
Even for indoor sword training, he couldn't join in?
Yoachim, who was six this year, and five-year-old Lavinia were at least learning basic swings and thrusts.
Yet Erich was the only one left out.
If his health was really that poor, shouldn't he be in the infirmary instead of the classroom?
I pondered back and forth between the ceiling and floor several times.
I was worried about going up to the classroom and upsetting Erich again.
'Especially since his health is already iffy.'
But I couldn't help worrying, so while the nurse watched over Dietrich's training, I quietly slipped out of the training hall.
I'll just take a quick peek.
No talking. And don't get caught.
He might not even say anything if it's just that much.
He won't even know I came and went, so how could he get mad?
'I've been so busy with the friendly match that I forgot to ask Dad about Erich's condition.'
Putting off things like this doesn't make them go away.
The stairs leading to the classroom were utterly silent.
This place was always filled with children's voices, but now that they were all downstairs, the air felt almost sticky.
I crept forward as quietly as possible and peeked around the corner window into the hallway.
'He's with the theory professor?'
The main family education was divided into theory and practice, each with its own assigned professor.
I knew that once you turned thirteen and advanced to the upper class, professors were assigned per subject.
But at this basic level, one professor could cover an overview of various studies.
'The professor teaching us theory is Manfred Seller.'
His family, the Seller Viscounts, was a very distant collateral branch connected to the ducal house generations ago, I think?
"Young master, you're aware the midterm is coming up soon, yes?"
"Yes."
"You must study hard. In the North, those who can't earn military merit are worthless. At least good theory scores will give you a chance to face His Excellency."
"...Yes."
"You need to be diligent. How many hours did you sleep last night?"
"I was a bit tired yesterday. About four hours."
"That much...? Do you even want good grades?"
What was this nonsense? Did I hear that right?
Scolding a growing kid for sleeping a mere four hours—as if it was too much?
Erich was only eleven!
'I've heard jokes like that from elderly folks in my past life...'
So-called four-for-pass, five-for-fail.
It referred to old entrance exams.
Sleep four hours to study and pass; sleep five and fail?
'I thought that was harsh enough, but calling four hours too much for Erich?'
I'd heard Erich had weak health.
He was tall and handsome, but his face was always pale and wan.
Does it make sense to push such a person to study fiercely and cut sleep even more?
The foundation of all healing is deep sleep and good meals. Exercise comes after that.
Even beneficial exercise could turn poisonous without enough rest.
'This is ridiculous.'
I frowned as I listened to Professor Seller continue.
"You must work hard. You're not satisfied with just outperforming younger kids, are you?"
"...Yes."
"In two years, you'll advance to the upper class. It's full of people better than you. If you don't prepare now, you won't catch up."
"..."
"Focus."
When he didn't get the response he wanted, the professor slammed the long ruler on Erich's desk with a sharp thwack.
I nearly yelped in surprise and clamped both hands over my mouth.
'What the hell!'
I could see Erich's shoulders flinch and then stiffen rigidly at the loud noise.
Even more shocking was how he just sat there, making no resistance—like he was used to this kind of intimidation.
From my angle, I couldn't see Erich's face clearly.
I could only see the professor smirking in satisfaction.
"Always aim higher. That's the only way to even reach their heels."
"Yes."
"You must show Sir Leopoldt what a useful son you are. Make him regret abandoning you. Understood?"
"...Understood."
"Good. Then today's assignment starts from this page..."
The professor droned on for a while.
He assigned an impossible amount for one day, then spoke as if granting a favor.
"We'll check the assignment after your temple visit. It's your regular checkup today, right?"
"Yes."
"Postponing intensive treatment was wise. Better to avoid hopeless causes and choose less suffering."
Intensive treatment? What?
I strained to peer inside, but I still couldn't see Erich's expression.
"No matter how unwell you are, study hard while you're alive. It's the last courtesy to His Excellency who took you in."
I quietly backed away from the classroom door, hands still over my mouth.
Part of me wanted to burst in and kick the professor's shins, but now wasn't the time to act rashly.
First, I needed to see Dad.
It was time to ask the questions I'd been putting off.
I couldn't meet him.
I swung my dangling feet in the air, pouting.
The lesson droned past my ears unnoticed; my mind was entirely on Erich.
Dad was swamped with end-stage postwar cleanup.
Negotiations over war prisoners meant he had to leave the main house and handle things personally.
'I need to talk to Dad and get the full story before approaching this.'
That way, I'd know how to help Erich.
The longer I delayed, the more abuse he'd suffer from that professor.
It had me on edge for days.
Dad said he'd be back in about half a month?
I hoped he returned as soon as possible.
Once he did, I'd check Erich's health properly first, then deal with the professor...
Bang!