Chapter 193
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193
‘So, I was half wrong? What did I get wrong?’
Ah, I see!
Schuls Schmidt isn't going to "ask" Ferdinand; he’s going to "threaten" him!
As the saying goes, one should not even step on the shadow of one's teacher!
Even Ferdinand won't have a choice!
My eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Schuls Schmidt continued in his usual nonchalant manner.
"As you said, My Lady, the Crown Prince may not be the crystal of high society, but he can certainly be its bone."
"Of course, he can... its what?"
My enthusiastic nodding came to a slow halt.
Something about Schuls Schmidt’s words felt off.
"A bone?"
"Yes."
"For an incident to be significant enough to make him a 'bone'... wouldn't that mean His Highness would have to be involved in the scandal of the century?"
"Is that how it works? Hmm."
Schuls Schmidt tilted his head for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"You're right. He’ll need to be chewed on quite a bit, after all."
"...Teacher?"
I never realized Schuls Schmidt favored me this much.
Under any other circumstances, I would have been thrilled, but right now, the situation was a bit too... much to simply be happy about.
"...But doesn't His Highness have a reputation to maintain?"
Schuls Schmidt countered firmly.
"If he were the type of person to care about his reputation, he wouldn't have announced the annulment of his engagement at the victory banquet."
The more I listened, the weirder it got.
Is Schuls Schmidt trying to use me as a weapon to punish the Crown Prince?
'But why are you using me in such a dangerous way?'
"...Teacher. Isn't there a big difference between ruining one's reputation by choice and having it ruined by someone else?"
"Your concern for your junior is truly admirable."
"..."
Regardless of my confusion, Schuls Schmidt pressed on.
"The Crown Prince was born with exceptionally handsome looks, and the fatal weakness he once possessed is now completely gone. Above all, the position beside him is now vacant. Imagine how many ladies will be vying for that spot..."
"Teacher! I am so sorry to interrupt you."
I had no choice but to cut him off.
I didn't feel a single shred of sincerity in his words.
"You're not suggesting that I should be the one to ask him to 'be the bone,' are you?"
Haha.
No way.
Surely not.
"Correct. You are quite sharp. As expected of my prized pupil."
"..."
"Why are you looking at me like that? Between students of the same master, a request like this is hardly a request at all."
"..."
Schuls Schmidt’s voice sounded like a devil’s whisper.
He spoke of hope so calmly that, for a split second, I actually felt swayed.
But...
I briefly recalled the look in Ferdinand’s eyes.
Those blood-red pupils were as terrifying as if he had swallowed a thousand blades.
"...Teacher."
'Are you telling me to go die in a roundabout way?'
"Do you... truly, sincerely believe... that I could possibly... dare to... make such a request... to the Crown Prince...?"
When I asked with tears welling in my eyes, Schuls Schmidt let out a short laugh.
"And why couldn't you? In the outside world, you are royalty and nobility, but in here, you are simply senior and junior."
"..."
The one who was truly crazy wasn't me; it was definitely this great scholar, Schuls Schmidt. I was certain of it.
* * *
"You want me to play the role of the one being chewed out by high society?"
Ferdinand turned his head while fastening his cufflink in front of the mirror.
Schuls Schmidt felt a sense of novelty. The little brat he used to look down on had grown so much that he now had to look up at him slightly.
"Do you think just anyone can be the 'bone'? Above all, one must be beautiful for people to enjoy chewing on them. I sincerely congratulate you on having finally matured into a perfect, chewable bone."
"...Sometimes I feel like you were born solely to mock me, Master."
"Not at all. I was born to taste the fruits of winter."
"...?"
Ferdinand looked at Schuls with a puzzled expression.
In fact, upon arriving at the palace today, Schuls Schmidt had uncharacteristically ordered a specific tea from the palace attendants.
It was a cold tea with the flesh of winter strawberries floating in it.
The cold tea felt refreshing all the way down to his lungs. Schuls Schmidt continued, holding his teacup.
"A few years ago, you said you wanted to learn a lot from that mysterious senior of yours, didn't you? Well, that senior is currently in a lot of distress because of Your Highness's ex-fiancée..."
Out of old habit, Ferdinand raised a hand to cut Schuls off.
The face of the beautiful, fully grown young man was filled with bewilderment.
"You still haven't told me who this 'senior' is."
"Because it would be awkward for both of you if you knew."
"Are you going to tell me now, then?"
"The situation has reached a point where it's okay to tell you."
Ferdinand’s face suddenly contorted.
The "ex-fiancée" Schuls Schmidt was referring to was, of course, Lady Sophia Frezier.
The fact that his senior was suffering because of her...
Suddenly, he remembered that Schuls Schmidt had stayed at Frezier Castle for a long time.
No way.
"Could it be that the great and wonderful senior you recognized as your only other pupil is..."
His red eyes shook with a subtle shock.
"...Lady Tulia Frezier?"
* * *
"Father. Are all men from the Summer Continent originally this self-centered?"
Marquis Aster, Tulia’s biological father, ran a hand through his hair in irritation. Luc Kelposher, standing across from him, stifled a laugh.
'Even in his anger, he never criticizes the women of the Summer Continent.'
It was only natural, in a way.
Both the late Grand Duchess and the Marquis’s deceased wife were from the Summer Continent.
Grand Duke Asis watched the scene outside the window without much reaction before turning to Luc Kelposher.
"Luc. Did you give that wolf prince the annex?"
"Yes. Since he is a distinguished guest, I allowed him to choose an annex himself, in accordance with our family laws."
"Which one did he choose?"
"That... the Summer Annex..."
Marquis Aster finally snapped and stood up from his seat, his rage palpable.
"That wolf-like bastard truly doesn't know his place. Isn't the Summer Annex the one closest to our Tulia’s bedroom?"
Marquis Aster immediately ordered his aide to prepare for departure.
"Where are you going?"
"To the auction house."
"Why the auction house all of a sudden?"
Whoosh.
The Marquis vanished without an answer.
His son’s attitude was incredibly insolent, but Grand Duke Asis wasn't particularly angry.
It was only recently that Marquis Aster had started calling him "Father." There was no way he would honestly state his purpose.
Only after sending someone to follow the storming Aster did Grand Duke Asis learn what his eldest son had gone to buy at the auction.
"A necklace?"
Luc nodded.
"Yes. It seems he is conscious of that beautiful necklace Prince Klaus gifted to Lady Tulia."
Grand Duke Asis clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk. Pathetic fool. He still thinks Tulia is a child. Jewels held in one's hand are bound to slip away like grains of sand eventually..."
Grand Duke Asis stood up from his seat.
"Luc. Open the 'Red Duke's Treasure Vault.' I should take a look inside for the first time in a while."
"I will prepare it immediately."
The Red Duke's Treasure Vault was the one among the Frezier Grand Duchy's warehouses that specifically stored only the most precious jewelry and ornaments.
'To think he'd suddenly want to open that place... They really are father and son.'
Luc Kelposher stifled another laugh.
* * *
"Why am I suddenly receiving all these necklaces?"
I picked up the diamond necklace and the emerald necklace that were laid out in front of me.
They felt heavy in my hand. My heart fluttered at the sight of the gems sparkling mysteriously under the light.
"Dad and Grandpa must be in a good mood. Right, Adel?"
Those two certainly knew how to make a materialistic person happy.
"It seems so. One was won at the highest bid at an auction, and the other is said to be one of the finest pieces in the Frezier vault."
"I should keep them both safe. I'll wear them to the next banquet."
Adel smiled brightly and suggested calling a designer to commission dresses that would match the necklaces. I nodded and agreed with a smile.
"My Lady, you've been busy lately, but you're back early today. You're not heading out at dawn again tomorrow, are you?"
"Nope."
"Then please get some rest early tonight."
Adel and the maids, who had assisted with my bath, locked the bedroom door and left.
As I lay sprawled out on the bed, staring at the ceiling...
Knock, knock.
There was a sound at the door.
"Adel?"
"Not that way."
"...?"
A beat late, I realized the knocking wasn't coming from the door, but from the opposite side—the window leading to the terrace.
And above all, that familiar voice...
When I opened the window, to my surprise, that prince fellow was standing there.
"Klaus? What are you doing here?"