The New Queen of the Academy (4)
After class ended, the students filed out of the lecture hall, whispering about Alicia Floren.
"That professor must have some kind of weakness she caught him on."
"Hell if I know. My group's screwed because of the pairing. What am I supposed to do about my grades?"
"Alicia might have a nasty temper, but she's got a pretty face. You think she sucked the professor off or something?"
"Who cares."
Yet Jayne Valentine's face was ashen as she left the classroom, drained of all color.
What the hell is going on…
Something had gone terribly wrong. Why did Alicia Floren have Philopon? How had she swapped it with Jayne's own supply? And why was Professor Ivanov, notorious for his strictness and foul temper, completely powerless before her? Wasn't Alicia just the daughter of some ruined baron from the borderlands?
But none of that mattered now.
Damn it, my hands…
Jayne's body was already beyond her control thanks to the drug's effects. Her hands trembled, cold sweat pouring down her skin. She had no way to fix this herself. The only way to escape the agony of withdrawal was to depend on Alicia.
"Jayne."
At the voice from behind, Jayne flinched, her shoulders jerking. Alicia had already left the classroom and was now looking down at her.
"Yes, yes! Did you call for me?"
"Didn't I tell you to come find me right after class?"
"I-I'm sorry."
Jayne clasped her hands together and bowed her head. Alicia gently placed her foot on Jayne's head and pressed down. Dirt from the sole of her shoe crumbled onto Jayne's face.
"If you make a mistake, you have to be punished."
"......"
Jayne's face flushed crimson, as if it might burst. Her pride crumbled, heat rushing to her head, but she had no choice.
"The Valentine family's railway business rights."
"...!"
"Hand them over."
"...No! Not that!"
Jayne felt the impact on her cheek. After her head snapped to the side, a burning pain spread across her face.
"Not that? Why is your answer so short?"
"I'm sorry."
"And… that was originally the Floren family's business right. It was mine. You fucking bitch."
"......"
"What's the problem with taking back what's mine? I never said I was stealing it. I'm just getting it back. You spread rumors calling me a whore and even tried to sell me off as a sex slave, and you've already forgotten?"
"...T-That wasn't serious!"
"Shut up, you bitch…"
Alicia spun on her heel.
"If you don't want to, then don't."
"N-No, please!"
"It's too late. You always said it yourself. Life is all about timing. You said it was my fault for missing my chance. That you have to pick the right side to succeed."
"I-I'll give it to you! Please, just forgive me this once!"
Jayne dropped to the floor, pressing her forehead to the ground in a deep bow.
"Please, have mercy…"
"Hahaha…"
Alicia looked down at her and let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
"Jayne. Isn't this hilarious? The same girl who used to strut around like she was the best, now groveling like this."
"....."
"Answer."
"It's funny."
"Funny?"
"No… it's not."
At that moment, a white bottle dropped onto the floor beside Jayne's bowed head. Jayne scrambled to grab it, her hands shaking violently as she twisted off the lid. Then, like a starving beast, she downed the entire contents and began gasping for breath.
"Hah… hah…"
Watching her, Alicia felt a faint sense of satisfaction.
"Behave yourself from now on."
There is a game called chess.
Originally a pastime for knights, it gradually gained recognition for its sophistication and strategic depth until it became an essential accomplishment for nobles. Using pawns, rooks, bishops, knights, and queens to protect one's own king while toppling the opponent's, the rules are simple yet complex: victory comes to whoever slays the enemy king, by any means necessary.
Of course, to capture the opponent's king, one must systematically eliminate their pieces. After all, those pieces are the guardians and warriors defending the king.
And the king of Joachim Academy—the undisputed ruler of this vast chessboard—is none other than Louise Violet.
Her board is protected by countless pieces forming an iron fortress, while mine has only a single pawn: Alicia Floren.
From any angle, the situation looks hopelessly disadvantageous. But it doesn't matter. The opponent's pieces can never reach my king.
My countless informants and assassins have become eyes and claws, watching Louise's pieces. The moment they make a false move, I can remove them from the board.
Of course, defending the king alone won't win the game. Eventually, the opponent's king must be taken.
So here's the question.
Q1. How does one secure victory in this situation?
It's not difficult. Steal the opponent's pieces, kill them, then strike at the king's throat.
Is that cheating? Wrong. If you don't get caught, it isn't cheating. That's the truth of this world.
Besides, I have one more piece: Alicia Floren. She's still just a lowly pawn, but with a little push, she could one day reach the end of the board and promote to a queen.
"Now then, we will begin the mid-term practical evaluation of Joachim Academy."
And today is that long-awaited day. The day when the small pawn named Alicia Floren promotes to queen.
***
The wide forest behind the academy. Normally, only a minimal garrison would stand watch to keep monsters at bay, but today it was filled with students and faculty. The mid-term practical evaluation of Joachim Academy was being held here—an important exam taken by first through third years alike.
Among the students nervously organizing their bags, a woman with violet hair stood with her arms crossed, glaring at a man. She was Louise Violet, the undisputed power of Joachim Academy. Normally, countless students would flock to her side with flattery, but not today. They were all focused on the exam, and more importantly, Louise Violet's expression made it clear her mood was particularly foul. Flattery had its limits; approaching someone in a bad mood was an easy way to get burned.
"Lady Violet… seems to be in a rather unpleasant mood today."
"Is it that time of the month?"
"You. Say something like that again and you'll be assassinated on the spot. Watch your mouth."
The students assumed it was just another one of her whims, but Louise's mind was far more turbulent.
Giovanni Uelia has been assassinated.
The news that Giovanni Uelia, head of the Uelia Merchant Coalition, had been killed reached her ears early that morning. And inside the coalition's main office, no less. That level of skill was impossible for an ordinary assassin.
Is all of this just coincidence…?
Giovanni was assassinated the day after Louise had ordered him to investigate Eden. While the head of a major merchant coalition often faced threats to their life, the timing was far too perfect.
There's no way it's a coincidence.
While coincidences exist in this world, most events are connected by cause and effect. Even without physical evidence, there were grounds for suspicion. If even a one percent chance existed, it had to be investigated. Only fools would dismiss the remaining ninety-nine percent as mere chance. Those who did so were already dead.
This is definitely Eden Rofas's doing.
Of that much, she could be certain. After all, he had returned to the academy, and his purpose was clearly revenge against her.
Yet there was one thing Louise couldn't understand. How had he managed to recover? He had discovered that she had ordered Giovanni to investigate him and had the man assassinated. That meant he commanded skilled informants and assassins. No ordinary person could accomplish such a feat.
...He couldn't have had powerful backing.
If he had, he wouldn't have been expelled from the academy in the first place. Nor could a drug-addicted nobody have risen to command assassins and informants in just two years. So what method had he used?
The emperor's illegitimate child? Or perhaps the hidden son of some noble house? Had he received an inheritance?
"Ugh… damn it!"
When Louise clutched her head and shouted, the surrounding students quietly distanced themselves, reading the room. With bloodshot eyes, Louise glared at Eden Rofas, who sat beneath the shade of a tree in the distance.
No matter how much she thought about it, nothing would change.
"Jayoung."
At Louise's quiet whisper, a woman's shadow appeared within the darkness. Without a single sound, the woman waited for Louise's command.
"Kill Eden Rofas."
"....."
"Kill him and bring him before me."
The woman called Jayoung nodded and silently melted back into the shadows.