The Morning After the Duke's Fall
With a yawn and a stretch, I stepped out of bed the morning after the shattered Duke Imptia's estate had been raided.
Feeling refreshingly invigorated, I rose from my bed and quickly finished my wash.
Then, in Yeonha's form, I prepared the morning offerings at the temple.
After that, I returned to Aria's form and headed to the academy with Morgan in tow.
Unlike yesterday, when I had been absent due to the king's audience, today I would properly begin classes.
So I walked briskly through the lively, energetic morning streets beneath the clear blue sky until I arrived at the academy.
And here I was, sitting across from Mira in the principal's office.
“……So, what were you saying, Aria?”
“Did you not hear me properly? I told you I killed the Duke Imptia. Weren't you worried about that until a moment ago?”
“Well, I did hear you… haaah…”
With a deep sigh, Mira crumpled the paper she had been holding.
On that paper was the story of the Duke Imptia, who had died yesterday.
She had been clutching it ever since I entered the principal's office.
Given the dark circles under her eyes, it seemed she had been holding it since the early morning.
And having held it so tightly, Mira could not grasp what I had just said.
More accurately, she wore an expression of disbelief.
But since I knew Mira did not enjoy jokes, she pounded the desk a few times and asked me.
“Aria, you wouldn't lie, so let's skip the nonsense and ask this instead. What reason did you have for killing the Duke Imptia? Do you know how much chaos will break out in the noble society now that he's dead?!”
“Please calm yourself. I didn't kill him without reason.”
Seeing Mira slam the desk and stand up, I immediately grabbed her shoulder and sat her back down.
However, Mira, now seated once more, narrowed her eyes at me and spoke.
“Just in case, does it have something to do with the king looking at him with strange eyes during the audience?”
It struck the mark.
At Mira's words that were almost the truth, I trembled.
Honestly, most of the reasons I had dealt with the Duke Imptia stemmed from that very thing.
But fortunately, I had a noble enough justification to present boldly.
So I rummaged at my waist and pulled out what was in my hand.
“Please look at this.”
Tung──!
Before Mira could even react, I placed the stack of documents detailing the Duke Imptia's plot to seize the throne along with his seal on the desk in front of her.
The heavy paper bundle landed on the desk with a heavy thud.
Mira picked up the documents with a curious expression.
“This is…?”
“This is the evidence of the plots the Duke Imptia was concocting. It is enough to make killing him justified.”
“Evidence… you say?”
After hearing my words, Mira read the documents she held and began flipping through the pages one by one, just like someone reading.
“……”
Flick… flick… flick, flick flick flick──
But soon, Mira's hands sped up as she read the contents.
Before long, she dropped the papers on the desk.
“……Unbelievable, but I have no choice but to believe it.”
Saying that, she wiped her dry face and ruffled her hair.
Mira remained still for a few more seconds, then slowly removed her hand from her face and muttered.
“I never thought the Duke Imptia was aiming for the king's throne…”
“Yes, I had the same reaction when I first saw it. Still, even if it were true, I believe I had sufficient reason to kill the Duke Imptia.”
“Yes, if this is true, I should definitely have killed him. And for finding and disposing of it in advance, Your Highness will surely bestow a reward upon you, Aria. Truly amazing, Aria. Establishing another great achievement in just one day.”
Mira clapped her hands lightly in genuine admiration.
I could not disagree with her words either.
Of course, this achievement was not entirely earned, but it was still an achievement.
In just a month, I was set to receive two audiences with the king.
How could I not be amazed?
Actually, Morgan and Isolde who had killed the Duke Imptia should have shared in the credit, but they would probably have shirked it saying they were tired.
But just in case, I needed to ask.
I decided to ask them both during academy break.
So I nodded at Mira, and she lifted the documents I had given her and asked.
“If it's alright, may I take these materials?”
“You may. I have already made full copies.”
They were already fully copied thanks to Mu.
They were copied to a level indistinguishable from the originals.
So I gladly handed the real documents to Mira.
Grateful for my generosity, Mira bowed her head.
Then, with a tired smile, she suddenly remembered something and turned toward me.
“By the way, I had planned to tell all the professors, but since Aria came early, I'll tell you first.”
“What is it?”
“I mentioned it before, but we are heading there soon?”
“There?”
Just saying “there” doesn't tell me anything.
I tilted my head at Mira's vague yet important words.
She waved her arms and said.
“It's a field trip. As I said last time, we're going to the Undersea Kingdom, so please announce it to the students at morning assembly today.”
Mira mentioned the field trip and the Undersea Kingdom.
The quest for the Undersea Kingdom, which I had thought was still far off, was now right at my doorstep.
---
“So, today's important announcement.”
“Announcement?”
“Did something else happen?”
“Recently there have been too many unsettling events…”
After leaving Mira, the time had come.
I stopped by the professors' lounge for a moment and told Morgan to prepare for swordsmanship class.
Then, at exactly 9 o'clock, I arrived at the classroom.
And as I explained the announcement I had heard from Mira that morning, the students began to whisper.
Due to the recent Sky Island incident, the resulting poor public security, and the news of the Duke Imptia's death yesterday, an uneasy atmosphere hung in the air.
Well, they were still young students.
So it was strange that they could think clearly after experiencing one disaster after another.
But since this announcement was completely different, I knocked on the desk and continued.
“Don't worry. This announcement is something you have all been looking forward to.”
Weeong weong──
At my words that you have been looking forward to, the faces that had been gloomy lit up with anticipation.
Even the representative character Kwartet in the back had the same expression.
I let out a small chuckle.
The sight of students who had been anxious about the events happening around them showing such excitement over a single word was truly endearing.
Since they were still fresh 15-year-olds, I thought to myself and quickly encouraged them with my eyes.
“I imagine everyone is expecting this, but we are going on a field trip from Lua Academy. The date is April 17th, two weeks from now. The location is the city of magic and history—the Undersea Kingdom.”
“““──!!!”””
At my words about the field trip, the students' faces, filled with anticipation, blossomed into smiles.
Once I finished saying it was the Undersea Kingdom, the students sprang to their feet in excitement.
They chanted “Lua Academy!” along with praises.
And watching the scene, I rested my chin on the desk with a devilish smile on my face.
After all, the field trip would not be as enjoyable as the students imagined.