Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Couple That Danced at the Festival... (1)
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Before the festival, the Academy had been in quite a commotion.
Julius Xenon, a second-year in the Magic Department, had tried to assassinate Princess Erze. Word of that had spread like wildfire.
Everyone was shocked that a model student—who stood out regardless of his grades—would do such a thing, but no one dared speak up about it.
Attempting to murder royalty was high treason, success or not. Even mentioning it felt taboo.
For the record, I wasn't the one who spread the rumor. I wasn't bold enough to casually bandy about the princess's name.
If anything, I wanted to erase that day's memory from my head as quickly as possible. I'd experienced it once before, but the sensation of cutting down a person wasn't pleasant at all. Hearing their screams made it easy to understand why retired knights suffered from trauma.
Anyway.
Julius Xenon was imprisoned in the capital's jail and put on trial. The verdict was, predictably, execution.
Unlike when Erze had spoken in his defense earlier, collective punishment was applied this time—his entire family met the same fate.
The fall of the Xenon Marquisate, once called the emperor's right-hand man. It was more than enough to strike terror into the hearts of the nobles.
To put it simply: if you pull any stunts, not only you but your precious family will all die too.
Unfair to the relatives? Who knows for sure, but if they were truly uninvolved, yeah, it'd be unfair. No helping it, though. In a world where the absolute power of the emperor decides life and death, that's just how it goes.
Sometimes that world felt irrational...
But what can you do? If you want to survive, adapt and endure to the end.
Live life long and thin. Don't get cocky; just go along to get along.
As I thought that, the door to our long-shut clubroom swung open, and in walked the three idiots.
"Growing something turns out to be far more rewarding than I imagined."
"I agree. I regret my past self for trying to develop magic to accelerate plant growth."
"Life is a continuous journey of learning, after all. Better to solidify our future than dwell on past regrets."
Yubel, Cain, and Evan, in that order. Holding baskets brimming with vegetables, they beamed like farmers fresh from the harvest.
'They've gotten awfully close lately...'
After the festival staffing was set, they'd taken over managing the vegetable patch and flower beds. I'd helped out sometimes, but not often.
Spending that time together must've bonded them for real. They were starting to seem like actual brothers.
'In the original story, they were sworn enemies, though...'
Three men in love with the same woman—impossible for them to get along. They had no real connection otherwise, aside from Elena.
I had no idea what ripple effects this change in the original flow might bring, but it wasn't my problem. No interest in meddling in someone else's love life.
That's when they approached the table and set down their baskets.
"Luke, check out these potatoes. Nice and hefty—prime quality."
"Sir Luke, forget Yubel's potatoes; look at my carrots. Big and robust, aren't they impressive?"
"Yubel, Cain, you're putting Sir Luke in a tough spot. There's no need to compete anyway—my tomatoes are the best. Just look at this vibrant red and the sheen. They belong in the imperial treasury."
They shoved their veggies in my face like trophies. They really were top-notch, worthy of admiration.
So why brag to me? Erze, Ibi, and Elena were right there too.
Maybe they saw me as their farming mentor or something.
"You've put in the work, and it shows. All three varieties are outstanding—no clear winner."
"Knew you'd get it!"
Yubel grinned and slapped my back with his palm.
I staggered for a second, but just laughed it off. Getting offended at friendly gestures would've been ridiculous.
Was he aiming for that...?
Nah, probably not. Yubel wasn't clever enough. His head was full of swords.
As I mulled that over, Erze clapped from across the table and stood.
"Alright, shall we get ready now?"
The moment had finally arrived.
I jumped up right away. Elena, sipping her tea, and Ibi did the same. Time to show off the results of the past few weeks.
In the midst of it, Evan hesitantly asked Erze.
"Sis, is there anything we can help with?"
"Nope, nothing to help with. You three have worked hard already—just relax and enjoy the festival when it starts."
"Got it."
Evan glanced at Elena, then slipped out of the clubroom. Yubel and Cain followed suit.
It made sense, really. Elena's face was full of determination. Even offering help felt awkward.
'Men these days really lack backbone...'
I sighed inwardly and headed to the kitchen setup in one corner of the clubroom.
And as usual...
The pre-open kitchen was hell.
"Luke, check the cookie dough for me."
"Luke, veggies are prepped. What's next?"
"Luke, taste this sauce?"
Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke...
It was ringing in my ears like an auditory hallucination.
But the scary part? It wasn't a hallucination. They were actually calling my name.
Ibi was mixing dough while chanting mine. I thought she'd lost it.
"Ibi, dough looks good. Shape it onto trays and ask the Duchess to bake them."
"Duchess, could you bake the cookie dough Ibi prepped with your magic?"
"Princess, the sauce is perfect—even better than mine."
Weeks of practice had paid off. They nailed everything flawlessly. As their teacher, it nearly brought tears to my eyes.
While we hustled to prep the teahouse, nameless knights appeared out of nowhere and transformed the clubroom into a proper one.
Long study tables and chairs vanished, replaced by elegant antique furniture.
Luxury vases brimmed with beautifully arranged flowers from the gardening club.
'Imperial Knights, maybe...?'
Looking closer at the armored men hauling furniture, I spotted the sun emblem on their breastplates.
That marked the imperial Kaiser family. Erze must've called them in.
Made sense for a princess to command knights even on Academy grounds. Compared to Elena arriving unguarded, despite being a grand duchess.
Kind of sad, though...
They didn't join the Imperial Knights for this, did they?
But what can you do? They—and I—had to obey orders from above.
Realizing our lots weren't so different, I sighed. Erze poked my side with her finger.
"Smile when you're surrounded by three girls. We're not bullying you."
"Never crossed my mind."
"Then you're jealous of the Imperial Knights? I could make room for you as my personal guard if you want."
Her slender finger circled my side teasingly, paired with a mischievous smile. It was downright alluring.
Too bad Elena saw it differently.
Whoosh—
A massive flame erupted from Elena's fingertip.
"Sorry if I startled you. Just testing the magic's heat before baking cookies."
"No need to apologize. Wasn't startled."
"Thank you for understanding, Princess."
Both Erze and Elena smiled.
So why did chills run down my spine, cold sweat trickling?
Felt like two beasts were fighting over me as prey.
Ibi, oblivious, kept shaping cookie dough onto trays.
"Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke..."
When would they stop calling my name...?
Time flew amid the chaos, and soon it was thirty minutes to festival start.
"Final check, then."
I surveyed the kitchen.
Bread, veggies, ham, sauce for sandwiches. Plenty of cookies and tea. Teahouse was ready to open.
'Now the question is what kind of guests we'll get...'
With gardening club members like these, big shots were inevitable.
Tough, but I wanted to get through the festival peacefully.
Couldn't roam much with the workload, but no getting dragged into incidents.
...That was my thinking about an hour ago.
"Climb to Sword Saint and suddenly the world looks small, huh?"
"Pot calling the kettle black. Magic Tower Lord now, and you think everything's beneath you?"
The Sword Saint and Magic Tower Lord glared at each other.
"Prime Minister, how about easing up on trade taxes?"
"You first—cut those tolls..."
The empire's prime minister negotiating with a foreign counterpart.
"Haha, all the big names in one place. Even an imperial banquet wouldn't draw this crowd."
The emperor himself booming with laughter.
My face wanted to twist, but I forced a smile.
Don't smile, and I might drop dead.