Chapter 50
Chapter 50
The Fire That Burns the Heart
Idnia couldn’t bring herself to ask what Magram meant by “memories.” It was too frightening.
In the meantime, Magram gave a farewell to everyone.
It was a fitting gesture, like an actor giving a final bow during a curtain call after leaving the stage.
“Then I shall take my leave for today.”
“Yeah. Get lost.”
“Sadia, don’t be so harsh.
We’re colleagues, aren’t we? It’s only natural to have disagreements from time to time.”
With a hint of regret at Sadia’s harsh words, Magram disappeared beyond a teleportation gate.
“Alright then, you all head back to the dorms. It’s late. I’ll guide you there. Follow me.”
Headmaster Ludwig stepped ahead of the students and began walking.
“Ah, wait.”
At that moment, Sadia called out to Rudolf.
“Here, take this. It’s raining outside.”
She handed him a large umbrella.
“It’s big, so share it with the girls. They came all this way for you, so at least do that much.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Rudolf accepted the umbrella and stepped outside.
Crown Prince Rudolf was deep in thought.
Though Ludwig and Sadia had spoken harshly, he knew they weren’t wrong.
If he were to die here, Franz wouldn’t feel any guilt.
It would just be foolish self-pity.
But understanding that logically and accepting it emotionally were entirely different matters.
“Brother, are you alright?”
Isolde, having awakened from Magram’s magic, tried her best to comfort him, though she didn’t know how.
“I’m fine. More importantly, I’m worried about you. You collapsed from Professor Magram’s magic—are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m ashamed. I came to help but only caused trouble. I had confidence in my magic….”
Isolde felt humiliated.
It wasn’t her fault she had been struck by Magram’s magic, but unlike Mari, who recovered quickly, she had remained unconscious.
And Idnia had even managed to attack Magram.
Damn it. I worked so hard, yet I can’t compare to those born with the saint’s power. How frustrating. And that country girl is openly showing interest in my brother. Meanwhile…
Isolde glanced at Idnia.
Idnia wasn’t paying Rudolf any attention at all, simply walking while fiddling with the music box in her hands.
Ludwig walked beside her, holding an umbrella over her to shield her from the rain.
Huh? Could it be…?
Watching the two, Isolde felt something strange.
Mari knew that Crown Prince Rudolf had been deeply hurt and was desperately trying to find a way to comfort him.
“Um, Your Highness. I mean… please don’t be too distressed. In the countryside, well… things like parents beating or even selling their children aren’t uncommon. Ah, that doesn’t sound comforting, does it? What I mean is….”
It was natural for children to seek their parents’ love, but not all parents loved their children.
Among the poor, it wasn’t uncommon for children to be abused or sold off as labor.
Compared to that, wasn’t Rudolf’s situation better?
But saying that outright wouldn’t be comforting—it would sound like an argument.
Why am I so bad with words?
Mari felt suffocated by her inability to express herself properly.
Yet seeing her struggle, Rudolf suddenly laughed.
Her earnest effort to comfort him, despite lacking the words, was endearing.
“Maria of Astraea, thank you. Because you broke my magic, my eyes have been opened.”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Please call me Rudolf. As for ‘Crown Prince’… ha, I don’t know anymore.
I had a vague sense that I was merely a tool to my father. But when he granted me the position of Crown Prince, I believed—without him saying it—that I was loved.
But perhaps… I knew the truth all along and simply didn’t want to face it.”
A Crown Prince born to be loved by all.
Yet even so, he could not be loved by the ones he truly wished for.
Franz was one…
And perhaps that’s why Idnia also didn’t want to be engaged to someone like me.
He knew it was a foolish inferiority complex, yet the thought persisted.
Remembering how Idnia had boldly struck Magram, Rudolf felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Only Father and she show no interest in me. Is that why I keep finding myself drawn to her?
Idnia walked ahead, not sparing him a glance, side by side with Ludwig.
And both Mari and Isolde could clearly read where Rudolf’s gaze was directed.
Clunk!
Lost in thought while handling the music box, Idnia tripped over a garden fence.
If she had been using her Tyrant Aura, the fence would have shattered, but completely distracted, she nearly fell forward.
At that moment, Ludwig caught her.
“Unbelievable. The one who was scaling walls and flying around trips over something like this.”
“Ah, Headmaster.”
“So, why is that so precious to you?”
“It’s just… fascinating. And the melody feels familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
“Hmm? Really? Did Draken play it near your cradle when you were a child?”
“Th-that might be it?”
“Very well. Let’s go with that.”
Ludwig sensed there was truth hidden in her words but chose not to press further.
Soon, they arrived at the dormitory square.
With Zephyros dorm to the west and Euros dorm to the east, Ludwig stopped.
“Alright, return to your dorms.
Today’s incident will be settled with neither penalties nor rewards.”
“I landed a hit on Professor Magram. No reward?”
“You already received that music box from him. Sell it and you’ll get quite a sum.”
Ludwig sighed.
“Maria of Astraea, you resisted Magram. I’ll give you 10 Aka coins.
Idnia Katze Betelgeuse, you’ll receive 20.”
“Wow, it really pays to ask. I can’t believe you actually gave them.”
“I have my pride. Thanks to you, things were resolved at this level. The Necromancy Research Wing nearly got destroyed, so this is a cheap reward, if anything.
Now go inside and get some rest.”
With that, Ludwig turned and left.
But as they entered the dorm, they encountered the warden, Gibles, holding a lantern.
“Hm? When did you go out, Student Idnia?”
Gibles shone the lantern’s light over Idnia and Mari.
“I heard from Professor Deneuve that Student Mari hadn’t returned… but I heard nothing about you, Student Idnia.”
In the darkness, Gibles’ gleaming eyes resembled those of a lacquered doll, making him unsettling.
“Didn’t the Headmaster inform you?”
“He said you hadn’t done anything punishable. But I don’t know when you left the dorm.
Listen, Student Idnia.
You may be a noble lady of the Betelgeuse family, but here, you follow my authority. My authority!”
Gibles emphasized his control.
Heh. I get to scold a noble lady. Yes, me!
He grew excited, raising his voice.
“Even if the Headmaster says it’s fine, I must hear it! When and how did you leave? Speak!
Student Idnia!
Or I’ll give you penalty points!
The weekend is coming—don’t you want to lose your outing privileges?!”
“Oh, outings are allowed?”
Idnia asked as if she had forgotten.
Despite his shouting, she showed no tension.
“Idnia has over 5 shop points, right? She should be allowed outings.”
Mari added from the side.
“Student Mari! You left the dorm even though the Crown Prince collapsed from your magic!”
“Ah, I’m sorry, it’s just….”
“Even if the Headmaster approves, I need an explanation! Why did you do it? Hm?! Perhaps I should have you submit a reflection report!”
Gibles puffed up arrogantly.
At that moment, a moving suit of armor approached and bumped into him.
“Gah? What was that?”
“Hey, Gibles.”
A voice came from the armor.
It was Ludwig’s voice.
“Huh? Headmaster?!”
“I already said it was fine. If you harass them like this, what does that make me? Let them sleep for now.
Dorm rules exist to raise good mages. Ensuring they rest properly so accidents don’t happen in class tomorrow—that’s the purpose.
If you keep them up over rule-breaking and another incident happens tomorrow, what then?”
“Y-yes, understood.”
Gibles broke into a cold sweat.
His actions had clearly challenged the Headmaster’s authority.
“G-go on and sleep! Hurry up! If you’re not alert tomorrow, then I won’t go easy on you!”
“Yes, understood. And Warden Gibles, thank you for worrying about our safety so late at night.”
Even in this situation, Idnia soothed him before returning to the dorm room with Mari.
“Whew. Shall we sleep? We can wash up in the morning during maintenance time….”
Idnia placed the music box beside her bed and removed her coat.
“Ah, Lady Idnia.”
“Yes? What is it, Mari?”
“Why did you save me back then?”
“Well, anyone would have stepped in in that situation.”
Idnia replied and threw herself onto the bed.
Even for her, the heavy use of magic and aura had left her exhausted.
It had been a long day.
“No, I mean… why did you leave the dorm in the first place…?”
“I was out extracting good spices for cooking. I wanted to check if things like wild pepper or wild garlic could be gathered in the forest. Then I got caught by the Headmaster.”
“Wild garlic?”
Mari’s eyes lit up.
Coming from a farming background, she often gathered herbs and wild vegetables herself, so she felt a connection.
But she quickly refocused.
Ah, that’s not what I wanted to ask.
Regaining composure, Mari lay on her bed and asked,
“What do you think happened to Rudolf?”
“Emperor Franz isn’t a good father. Well, most people aren’t. To be a good father, one must be born with a good nature, and such people are rare. Many aren’t bad, but truly good ones are few.”
“That goes beyond just ‘not good.’ What happened after I used magic on him… it was shocking.”
“That’s the power of the saint. It breaks curses and purifies demonic and abnormal forces….”
“Then that means….”
“Yes. The Emperor’s magic definitely involved curses and unnatural forces. That’s why it reacted with your magic.”
Idnia spoke openly about the Emperor using forbidden otherworldly magic.
Mari was shocked by how casually she said something so dangerous.
“How do you know all that, Lady Idnia?”
“Because I’m the heir of the Betelgeuse Duchy.”
In truth, it was knowledge from the game, but it was a convincing answer.
“I see… as expected of a great noble….”
Mari felt small.
In magic, knowledge, and composure, Idnia far surpassed her.
And perhaps because of all she carried, Idnia didn’t even glance at Rudolf.
Even such a handsome Crown Prince meant nothing to her.
Her eyes were set on something far beyond.
In the end, I’m just a country girl, while Lady Idnia is wise, strong, intelligent, and beautiful. Anyone would admire her. She’s amazing. Flawless in character too. Someone like me shouldn’t even dare compare…
But she’s so dazzling, it makes me jealous.
Mari of Astraea—the girl who should have been the protagonist of this world—closed her eyes, lying in bed, as a burning inferiority smoldered within her chest.