Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: First Princess (2)
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First Princess Ciris Leisander.
Sophia knew nothing about high society, but even she was intimately familiar with the princess's name.
"How's life at the academy? Settling in alright?"
And how could she not be? It was Ciris herself who had granted Sophia special admission to Erebos, despite her status as the traitor's daughter making her ineligible even for regular enrollment.
"Follow me."
Ciris led Sophia out of the conference room as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Neither Count Raimund, who had been calling for her immediate execution moments ago, nor Honorary Professor Hermann raised any objections.
The First Princess's authority was overwhelming. This was a royal academy, after all—her word was order, her command the law.
"Make yourself comfortable."
Ciris escorted Sophia to a lavish carriage parked outside the conference room. As Sophia sat down on the spacious sofa in a daze, Ciris crossed her legs with seductive grace.
"Let me apologize on Count Raimund's behalf for his rudeness earlier. He's got a fiery temper, you see, and in his grief over losing his daughter, he lost control."
Sophia nodded blankly.
"Straight to business, then. Sophia, I heard you cut down Lady Isabella von Kreuz during the Full Moon Festival."
"...I had no choice. Isabella had turned into a monster..."
"Shade."
"...Pardon?"
"That's the name of the monster."
Sophia furrowed her brow. How did the princess know the name of that creature?
But she wasn't given a chance to ask.
"Your Highness, here you are."
A female knight in full armor appeared outside the carriage, handing over a long case.
Ciris accepted it, placed it on her lap, and opened the lid. Inside lay a sword sheathed in an ebony scabbard.
It was the very same sword Sophia had retrieved from the central library a few days earlier.
"Ink Sword. The blade once wielded by a traitor known as the Sword Ghost. It's infused with an energy that drives its wielder mad, and even after twenty years, it's still called a cursed sword."
Ink Sword, she thought. Fitting name.
Sophia was just nodding in agreement when Ciris continued.
"I heard you used this to slay the Shade. A perfectly reasonable choice—ordinary swords can't even scratch it."
"..."
"What intrigues me is how you found it in the first place."
Ciris ran a finger along the Ink Sword's scabbard.
"This sword was stored in the basement of one of the academy's old buildings—a place not easily accessible. And you were on the central stage at the time, weren't you? To dash off to that old classroom basement, retrieve the sword, and defeat the Shade... Doesn't that strike you as odd?"
Sophia fell silent, and Ciris leaned forward.
"How did you learn the Shade's weakness? How did you find this sword? How did you manage to defeat it? I simply can't fathom it."
"..."
"And before the Full Moon Festival, I heard you brutally assaulted Lady Isabella. It was hardly what I'd call a sparring match—there was no mercy in your strikes. That surprises me too."
Ciris looked up, meeting Sophia's eyes.
Sophia instinctively realized the princess was probing for information about her master.
"Be honest. Did someone tip you off about this sword's existence?"
A question from the almighty Ciris.
Common sense dictated that refusing to answer was impossible.
Yet Sophia tilted her head slightly and said...
"I dunno nuffin' 'bout that."
*
Sophia denied it to the end and left.
Ciris watched her retreating figure for a long moment before letting out a wry smile.
"Shall I tail her?"
The knight asked.
"No need. She's awakened once already— she'd notice even your tracking, Beatrice."
"...That girl is that capable?"
"Precisely."
Ciris propped her chin on her hand, gazing after Sophia.
Sophia carried the Ink Sword in both hands—the princess had handed it to her.
"...Your Highness, are you sure it's wise to entrust that cursed sword to an immature girl...?"
"The Ink Sword chose her as its master. It's inevitable."
As she answered Beatrice's question, Ciris stretched languidly.
"Ahh. Tris, could you fetch the academy roster?"
"The roster, Your Highness?"
"Yes. Better to check now if anything doesn't match my memories."
Beatrice promptly retrieved the academy roster.
Ciris scanned the student list.
Everything checked out.
She turned the page. This one listed faculty and external personnel.
One entry stood out.
A recently assigned priest from an external parish.
In other words...
"Parish Priest Leo."
A name she didn't remember.
Ciris's violet eyes narrowed.
*
In Throne of the Academy, the First Princess was a character with an exceptionally unique backstory.
Upon her debut, players speculated she must be the mastermind behind Act 4's villainy. After all, Archbishop Balua—whom everyone thought was a good guy in Act 3—had summoned the boss Archangel. It seemed like a natural progression.
But those expectations were delightfully subverted once the intermission ended and Act 4 began.
Despite debuting late in the game, Ciris overtook even Elise to claim first place in the developers' popularity poll, thanks in no small part to that distinctive lore.
Because...
"Priest Leo, big trouble! Her Highness the princess has arrived at the academy!"
His thoughts were interrupted there. Priest Lowen came rushing into the chapel, pleading earnestly.
"An official notice came down from the cathedral. All priests must maintain proper attire and utmost decorum during Her Highness's stay."
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
Lowen had good reason to be in such a panic.
It was as if the Secretary of Defense—no, the president himself—had dropped in unannounced on their unit.
With the princess visiting without warning, the cathedral and Erebos Academy alike were on high alert.
First Princess Ciris was the wielder of heaven-touching power. In place of the ailing king, she had overseen state affairs since childhood, ruling with flawless perfection and zero tolerance for error.
Benevolent, wise, impeccable—the kingdom's one and only sun, destined to lead its future.
That was the public's perception.
Of course, it was all thanks to her special ability.
The princess must be here because of me.
Sophia's awakening had come early, altering the Full Moon Festival entirely.
Ciris would want answers.
Her sudden appearance on the investigation committee was surely for that reason too.
This is tricky.
What to do?
Run away?
The wealthy young lady who visited earlier had dropped no less than eleven gold coins into the offering box before leaving. Generous to a fault.
Fleeing with it now might work.
But if that drew the princess's attention instead, it would spell doom. In this kingdom, nowhere was beyond her reach.
In the end, he had only one option.
Play dumb. Act like a clueless newbie.
He was steeling himself when...
Clack, clack.
Late afternoon, a visitor arrived at the chapel.
A woman cloaked in a robe.
The glimpse of pink hair peeking from beneath it told him everything—this was who he'd been expecting.
She hid her identity, but it was unmistakably First Princess Ciris.
Makes sense. Showing up on the investigation committee meant meeting Sophia, and hearing about him from her was no surprise.
"Is this a chapel?"
"As you can see, a sacred space for prayer and penance to the divine."
"I see."
The woman—no, First Princess Ciris—sat demurely in a pew, gazing up at the statue of the god embedded in the chapel ceiling.
"...Are prayers over?"
"Morning mass has concluded."
"What a shame. I wanted to pray too."
"You could return tomorrow for the Eucharist service."
He offered his most unassuming smile.
"Hmm..."
The princess studied his face, her violet eyes gleaming. Her gaze soon drifted to the confessional in the corner.
Damn it...
Anything but that.
His silent plea went unheeded as Ciris spoke.
"If you carry a heavy burden on your heart, might I receive confession?"
He could have refused and sent her away.
But she was already curious about him. Dodging awkwardly now might only arouse more suspicion.
"...The confessional is always open."
Her eyes curved in a smile at his reluctant reply.
"Perfect. I have a sin I'd like to confess. Will you hear it?"
"...Of course."
Under his guidance, Ciris entered the confessional humming cheerfully.
He gripped the handle of the opposite door and psyched himself up.
Alright, Leo. Keep your head straight.
One slip here, and his possession might be exposed.
This wasn't hyperbole.
The First Princess had more than enough ability for that.
Because...
She's a regressor.
The kingdom's one and only sun, destined to lead its future.
First Princess Ciris Anastasia Leisander.
The observer who had witnessed the world's end not once, but seven times.
In other words, a regressor.