Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: The Truth Revealed (7)
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The students who had been bad-mouthing Shirone whispered among themselves, their faces pale.
“What’s going on? Why Shirone, of all people?”
“I don’t know. The first prince? Of the Kazra Kingdom?”
“W-well, it makes sense. With talent like Shirone’s, there’s no way he could be a commoner.”
At someone's piercing words, everyone fell silent.
Come to think of it, it made perfect sense.
While there was no guarantee a genius couldn't be born to a commoner family, talent was heavily influenced by genetics. Most of the students here had inherited their genius from their parents.
They finally realized a fact they had overlooked.
Just because Shirone was raised in a commoner’s home didn’t guarantee he had commoner blood.
No, if his birth parents were commoners, they wouldn’t have been able to sneak deep into the mountains to leave a child behind.
“Hey, what do we do? The Kazra Kingdom is an ally of our kingdom, right? Is Shirone really going to become their king? What if he tries to get back at us?”
“Y-you idiot! It’s not certain yet! No need to get scared ahead of time.”
“Not certain? You think the kingdom would make such a grand announcement without any investigation? This isn't all there is to it. They must have investigated over and over until they were sure, which is why Kazra sent an envoy.”
Indeed, that was highly likely.
This wasn’t just any institution; it was the kingdom, and the letter was sent by the king himself. If, by some chance, Shirone wasn't his son, it would be a national embarrassment.
The fact that they had made such a public announcement was proof that the higher-ups were more than 99 percent certain.
“I don’t know! Ah, damn it! We’re screwed!”
Nade felt a sense of triumph as he watched his friends on the verge of tears.
Of course, Shirone wasn’t the type of person to seek revenge just because he became a king.
No, if he truly became king, he wouldn’t even bother with them unless he was incredibly petty.
But from the perspective of those on the receiving end, it was human nature to feel uneasy.
Even the highest-ranking nobles were still subjects who lived off the state’s coffers.
While some transnational families existed on a global scale, most were merely vassals to the king.
With Shirone now poised to become royalty, it was only natural for the students to feel a prickle on the back of their necks and a heaviness in their hearts.
“Answer at once, Shirone! It is the king’s command!”
When Shirone failed to give a definite answer, Ordos shouted again.
But Shirone truly didn’t know how he was supposed to respond.
All he did was duel with Dante.
That duel was published as an article by Killain, and it spread throughout the kingdom.
That was as far as Shirone had anticipated.
He never imagined that his birth parents would see the article and come looking for him.
Moreover, for those parents to be not just nobles, but royalty—it would have been stranger if his mind hadn’t gone numb.
Shirone looked around, searching for someone who could explain the situation.
Most of the students wore dazed expressions, and even Nade and Iruki had no advice to offer.
What could a friend say when a parent came looking for their child? It was a matter of blood, and royalty was involved on top of that.
Alpheas glanced at Olivia.
He had expected Killain’s article to cause some ripples, but this was a tidal wave.
“The Kazra Kingdom. Of all the candidates so far, they’re the biggest fish.”
“Which means their claim is more credible. I also thought Shirone’s talent was extraordinary. I thought his real parents might actually find him after reading the article, but I never imagined they’d be royalty…”
Although he hadn’t mentioned it to Shirone, several families had secretly requested information on him after Killain's article was published.
Due to the prevalence of political marriages among the nobility, there were a surprising number of illegitimate children.
Most nobles didn’t care about the children they abandoned, but it was a different story if the child possessed the greatest talent in the kingdom.
It was the arrogance of the nobility to be convinced a child was theirs, even if a few details didn't match up.
“Eek! No way! Shirone was a prince! This is just like the stories I imagined! Amy, can you see my goosebumps? Look!”
Seriel was already lost in another world.
Shirone, a prince.
Wasn’t this a romance that no book could ever replace?
“Oh? If that’s the case…”
Seriel had a sudden realization and turned to Amy with a surprised look.
“Amy! Does this mean you’ll be a queen?”
“Shut up! What are you talking about?”
Amy shot her a terrifying glare, silencing her.
With her mind already in a tangled mess, Seriel’s chatter was nothing short of noise.
It didn’t matter whether Shirone was royalty or not. She was just worried about him, seeing how confused he was about meeting his birth parents.
Shirone’s eyes met Amy’s.
Seeing the verge-of-tears look on his face, Amy returned a sympathetic gaze.
It was the king’s command, so he had no choice but to obey.
Shirone must have known that. He just wanted the reassurance that his choice was the right one.
Amy gave him a nod.
Shirone stared at her as if to ask again, and only after seeing her smile did he turn back to Ordos.
“Yes, I will heed the king’s call.”
Ordos approached Shirone as if his compliance was only natural.
“The laws of the royal family are different from those of the nobility. The laws of the Kazra Kingdom are especially strict, so you must mind your conduct. Go through the process to take a leave of absence from the academy, and then bring the parents who raised you.”
“What? Right now?”
“What is there to say? It is the king’s command! The sooner you leave, the better!”
Shirone’s world went dark.
He had never even heard of the Kazra Kingdom’s laws, and the sudden need to take a leave of absence and return home was just as stifling.
Most importantly, he hadn’t been told what procedures awaited him once he entered the kingdom.
They probably wouldn't tell him even if he asked, but shouldn't he at least know the basics to avoid making any mistakes?
“Um… if you could give me a little time…!”
“Hmph! You insolent boy! Do you dare defy the king’s command?”
Shirone clamped his mouth shut.
What hurt most was Ordos’s attitude.
He could tolerate the man’s overbearing nature, given that he was a royal administrative official.
What truly pained Shirone was the royal decree written on the scroll.
If they were his birth parents… he felt they shouldn’t summon a child they had abandoned for eighteen years in this manner.
He wasn’t expecting an apology, but if they felt even a shred of guilt, shouldn’t they at least show him some consideration?
If only for the sake of the parents who had raised him in their stead.
Alpheas nudged Olivia in the side.
“Why don’t you help him out this time, too? This isn’t going to get anywhere.”
“Hmm…”
Olivia was prepared to step in if necessary.
The reason the Kazra Kingdom was stricter than Tormia was that it had only been a hundred years since its secession and independence.
Even so, for someone who had come to retrieve their own child, Ordos’s attitude was far too harsh.
It likely wasn't a direct order from the royal family.
He had probably been instructed to accommodate Shirone as much as possible, which meant Ordos’s personality was just naturally like this.
His meticulous nature might be helpful for his duties, but treating Shirone, who could soon become a prince, so carelessly was, to put it nicely, upright, and to put it bluntly, arrogant.
“Then please give me just one day. My parents don’t know anything. I need at least a day to persuade them.”
Ordos’s face turned red.
While he was known for his foul temper, he wasn’t this stubborn in his own country.
But this was Tormia, an allied nation that was also a rival, and this was a magic academy where nobles were watching.
If he let himself be intimidated, the Kazra Kingdom’s reputation would suffer.
It was unfortunate for Shirone, but Ordos was simply doing his duty to his country.
Besides, Shirone’s parents were commoners.
It would be one thing if they were nobles, but if it took time to retrieve commoners, his pride would be wounded.
“Denied. The king’s command is absolute! Therefore, you will come right now—!”
At that moment, a voice came from the main gate.
“We have already secured the identities of Shirone’s parents.”
As the students turned, the crowd parted, and Shirone’s eyes widened.
An unexpected person was walking toward them.
Before the students could even wonder about her identity, they were captivated by her beauty.
A slender figure and a small face. Her features were refreshingly distinct, and her sea-blue hair cascaded down in gentle curls.
“Wow, she’s beautiful. Who is she?”
“Huh? I know her. She’s a super famous musician in the kingdom.”
Shirone stared at her blankly.
It was Rian’s older sister, Ogent Reina.
Beside her stood the deputy butler, Temuran, his gaze sharp.
Reina met Shirone’s eyes but ignored him, walking straight toward Ordos.
“Hello, Sir Ordos. I’ve heard much of your reputation.”
Ordos was displeased by the interruption to his work.
However, Reina’s appearance and demeanor carried the distinct air of nobility, so he couldn’t raise his voice.
“And who might you be?”
“I am Reina of the Ogent family. I have come as a representative of the family head, Ogent Bischoff, and as Shirone’s legal guardian.”
Ordos had at least heard of the Ogent family, a well-regarded martial house.
Moreover, if she was acting as a representative of the family head, he could no longer maintain his previous harsh demeanor.
“I see. In that case, let us discuss the process of transferring Shirone. First…”
“First.”
Reina cut him off.
“I request a three-day preparation period. Shirone is an invited guest of the kingdom and has not yet learned the customs of Kazra. The Ogent family’s butler, Louis, departed for Kazra yesterday. Discussing the entry procedures there will prevent any waste of time. In the meantime, we will teach Shirone Kazra’s etiquette. Furthermore, all future matters concerning Shirone can be handled through the Ogent family’s dedicated team.”
“Hmm.”
Ordos fell into thought.
He had tried to use his personal authority to quickly secure Shirone, but now that a legal representative had appeared, his attempts to steamroll the situation were useless. This would now become a diplomatic issue.
In any case, since the Ogent family had offered to handle the preparations, it was best for him to return and discuss the administrative details with this Louis person.
“Very well. I will leave matters here in your hands. If anything comes up, consult with my adjutant, Daltos, here. I shall return to Kazra and convey your message.”
“Yes, I will see you at the royal palace, then.”
After the formal exchange, Ordos boarded his carriage.
Just as they had arrived, the knights turned with a grand flourish and escorted the carriage away.
Shirone was dumbfounded by the whirlwind of events. When he saw Reina, his eyes welled up with tears of sorrow and relief.
Ordos’s browbeating had left him completely flustered, and Reina’s appearance felt like a salvation.
“Reina…”
Shirone called out to her, but Reina was still in discussion with Temuran, a serious look on her face.
She pointed to a document and gave an order, and Temuran nodded before stepping away.
Only then did Reina turn and walk toward Shirone.
As she drew closer, her businesslike expression faded, replaced by her usual beautiful smile.
Winking at Shirone, Reina spoke in her characteristically cheerful voice.
“It’s been a while, Shirone. Have you been well?”
The Ogent Family’s Situation (1)
Four days before Ordos came for Shirone, Reina visited the Kaizen Sword Academy where Rian was a student.
In her hand, she clutched his crumpled mid-term report card, her face filled with rage.
After completing the visitation procedures, she went straight to the faculty office and finally found him.
It was Rian’s dedicated instructor, Kuan.
He may have made a name for himself on the battlefield before his injury, but in her current state of mind, that meant absolutely nothing.
How on earth could Rian be in last place?
He had returned from Galliante Island after having his fun, spouting nonsense about his swordsmanship having improved, so she had held some hope. But the academy’s evaluation was an unequivocal failure.