Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 001
Chapter Title: Becoming the Princess's Home Tutor (1)
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Vera von Bluefield.
Without exaggeration, she is the craziest bitch in the Empire.
She possesses a self-centered and wicked nature.
She kills people because she doesn’t like how they look.
She kills people because she’s in a bad mood.
Everything is just an excuse—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say murder is her hobby.
Even now, the story of how she visited an alchemy society, complained about an unpleasant smell, and cut off the alchemist’s neck is still being talked about among people.
Despite committing such atrocities, no one could stop her.
Because she is the Emperor’s only daughter.
As long as there is an Emperor who cherishes his daughter terribly, Vera’s atrocities will continue.
And I became the tutor of that crazy bitch.
“Why…! Why…!”
As soon as I received the despairing notice, I went to protest to the Magic Tower Master.
The moment I arrived at the Magic Tower, I rushed to the top floor.
“Why me?!”
As soon as I entered the Magic Tower Master’s room, dazzling sunlight greeted me.
In front of a single massive glass window, the Magic Tower Master was reading a newspaper.
“What?”
The Magic Tower Master’s voice came from behind the floating newspaper.
What?
What do you mean, what?
Today is the day.
The day I put into practice the vow I made every morning while going to work—that someday I’d snap that damned Magic Tower Master’s neck.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
The newspaper folded, revealing a fierce-looking man behind it.
I had been rolling up my sleeves and stepping forward, but I stopped in place and subtly straightened my sleeves.
Yeah, that won’t work.
As a mage who practices preying on the weak and yielding to the strong, I quickly gave up.
With my thin wrists, breaking that thick neck is impossible.
If I tried, my wrist would snap first.
How am I supposed to break that?
The Magic Tower Master had a physique so muscular it was hard to believe he was a mage.
He could pass as a lumberjack.
“It’s not me—you’re the one who has something to say, Magic Tower Master!”
The Magic Tower Master stroked his thick beard.
“Me? I don’t.”
I glared at his shameless face and pulled a letter from my robe pocket.
“This! Please explain this!”
I unfolded the letter and waved it in front of his face.
The Magic Tower Master glanced at it sideways, then casually turned his gaze outside the window.
“The Empire is peaceful today as well. All thanks to His Majesty the Emperor’s boundless grace, hahaha.”
“Don’t change the subject!”
“You brat! How dare you speak casually to the heaven-like Magic Tower Master…!”
His thunderous roar shook the window.
I flinched for a moment, but since my life depended on it, I pushed the letter closer.
We locked eyes in silent confrontation.
After a moment, the Magic Tower Master closed his eyes and sighed.
“Well… there is something to say.”
His finger pointed at me.
“What’s with that head of yours? Pink?”
He pointed out my hair.
Hair that had been pink since birth.
“I inherited it from my parents. No, that’s not important. Please explain what this is about!”
I slammed the letter from the Imperial Palace onto the desk.
“…Tsk.”
After dragging it out for a while, the Magic Tower Master spoke.
“What else would it be? Just as it says there. Starting tomorrow, you’ll go to the Imperial Palace. You’ll teach magic to the Princess for one year.”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking. Why me?”
“Because the Princess personally chose you.”
“…What?”
“No matter who I am, if the Imperial Palace tells me to do it, I have to do it.”
The Magic Tower is supported by the Imperial Palace.
Because of that, the Magic Tower can afford astronomical research funds.
So just as he said, if the Imperial Palace says do it, the Magic Tower must do it.
“No… How am I supposed to teach the Princess?”
That crazy bitch.
While teaching her, my neck might be cut off for some strange reason.
Because my explanation is bad—slice.
Because it’s boring—slice.
I can only see a slice-slice future.
“Magic Tower Master, please do something. I’ll really die. Even the Imperial Mage couldn’t teach her—how can I teach her?”
“She was young back then.”
“Then now that she’s an adult, the Imperial Mage can teach her again.”
“I told you. The Princess personally picked you. And what’s wrong with you? Aren’t you the mage I chose as my successor? The mage even the great Imperial Mage tried to take as a disciple?”
It’s truly an honorable thing.
Becoming the next Magic Tower Master before even turning thirty.
Still.
“This isn’t right…!”
I cried out while rubbing my face dry.
“Why, why me?”
“How would I know? If you’re curious, go ask the Princess yourself.”
It’s unfair.
So unfair I could die.
How did I end up receiving such punishment…?
I lived a good life.
Born in the countryside, entered the academy through self-study.
First place for four consecutive years—full tuition exemption.
After graduation, immediately joined the Magic Tower and rose to the position of successor.
That’s my whole life.
I can proudly say it to anyone.
Even if it sounds strange to call myself kind, I really am a good person without shame.
And yet such divine punishment falls on me.
The world truly is unfair.
Giving me talent as a mage only to assign me such a cruel fate.
“Aaaah!”
I clutched my head and screamed.
“Esther.”
“Ahh! Aaaah!”
“Esther Withbel.”
I raised my head and looked at the Magic Tower Master.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“Will you go instead, Magic Tower Master?”
“No.”
He waved both hands in refusal.
“Then?”
“As an adult, there’s only one thing I can say to you.”
He put on a solemn expression.
Because of his seriousness, I straightened my back.
“Endure well for one year and try to survive.”
“Aaaah!”
I curled up on the floor and screamed again.
“Ha…… life…….”
I arrived at the Imperial Palace.
I spent the whole night considering fleeing the country.
While I was thinking, morning came, and the Imperial Palace kindly sent someone to escort me from my house.
Is this how a pig being dragged to slaughter feels?
I want to run away, but I can’t.
Even if I run, that’s death too.
Die this way, die that way.
Then what should I do?
I must choose the option with the highest survival probability.
Flattering the Princess diligently might give me a slightly higher chance of living.
Still, I hate it.
I’m scared.
Being the tutor of a Princess whose hobby is murder—if I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have learned magic.
“From here, you must go alone.”
“…What?”
The knight guiding me stopped before a corridor.
“From this corridor onward is the Princess’s private area. Only those permitted by the Princess may enter. Sir Withbel, since you’ve been granted permission, please don’t worry and proceed alone.”
The knight smiled refreshingly.
I didn’t feel like smiling at all.
I envy him for being able to smile.
“Um… is there anything I should be careful about?”
This knight had served long as one of the Princess’s Escort Knights.
Meaning he had stayed beside the Princess for a long time.
Surviving is proof of strength.
I asked the secret of that strength.
“Hmm….”
The knight stroked his chin, thought briefly, then smiled again.
“The Princess dislikes talkative people.”
“But teaching magic requires talking…”
“You must avoid making eye contact unless the Princess permits it.”
“What happens if I do?”
“Your eyeballs might be plucked out.”
“…What?”
“Haha, of course, that only happened once. Usually people are too overwhelmed by her presence to look her in the eyes.”
That didn’t help at all.
It only made it scarier.
“Well then, I have other duties.”
The knight pushed my back lightly.
“Hii…!”
There was no barrier, but just crossing the line sent chills down my spine.
I walked forward with heavy steps.
Is it really okay to send an outsider alone like this?!
The outsider is the dangerous one!
Normally that would be true.
But the Princess’s swordsmanship rivals that of the Knight Commander.
Because she’s so skilled, she doesn’t need Escort Knights, and instead uses them like assistants for errands.
I don’t understand.
If she’s that skilled with the sword, why learn magic too?
Too greedy.
“I-Is this it…?”
At the end of the corridor stood a door.
A massive door.
Anyone could tell it was the Princess’s room.
Knock knock.
I knocked.
Not too weak, not too strong.
“Come in.”
A calm female voice came from inside.
Gulp.
Swallowing my tension, I slowly opened the door.
“Welcome.”
A woman standing against the sunlight.
Her black hair looked even darker.
Her golden eyes glowed in the backlight.
Eyes like a bird of prey watching its prey.
That prey was me.
The moment our eyes met, my body trembled.
For the first time, I understood what it meant to be dominated by gaze alone.
“You’re one minute late. I’ve been waiting.”
The Princess stroked her sword handle with an expressionless face.
“I-I’m sorry!”
I immediately prostrated myself.
“What are you sorry for?”
“F-For daring… to make the Princess wait…”
“I wondered what it was.”
Her footsteps approached.
My body curled tighter.
It trembled uncontrollably.
Knowing her infamous reputation, I was terrified.
She might stab me like a legendary sword into my back.
“I did wait quite a long time.”
“Hii….”
“I’ll forgive you. Waiting for someone can sometimes be enjoyable. Right now, I’m very happy.”
Thank goodness.
She seems to be in a good mood.
“But next time, don’t be late. Even by one minute… or else… hehe.”
Her meaningful smile froze my body.
“Yes, yes!”
At the Princess’s cheerful laughter, I could only tremble.