Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The Archmage Who Went on a House Call (3)
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In Academy's Tenacious Mage, every single member of the Belhart Empire's imperial family was anything but normal.
That emperor guy royally botched raising his kids.
Just looking at them one by one brings nothing but sighs.
The Second Prince is a drunken brute with no equal.
The Third Prince is the epitome of a slimy schemer.
The Fourth Prince is an outwardly wild kid, and the Fifth is his inwardly brooding counterpart.
The princesses are no better than the princes—if anything, they're worse.
The First Princess is the empire's undisputed craziest bitch.
The Second Princess is a total shut-in who never leaves her room.
The Fourth Princess is so precious she'd make even Shin-chan or Dumby shake their heads.
And on top of that, the First Prince has health issues.
Celestina, the Third Princess, seemed like the only normal one... but thinking about it, even she's got her problems, doesn't she?
Not content with siccing knights on me to ruin my morning sleep, she rolls up her sleeves and tickles me herself—the most wicked villain of all.
Anyway.
I collapsed from overwork before I could see the original novel's ending, so I never found out who succeeded the current emperor.
But that's obvious without checking.
Nine times out of ten, it'd be Celestina.
Not just because she's one of the main heroines and bound to inherit the throne—no, it's because there are no other options.
The Belhart Empire's future with any other imperial succeeding is painted nothing but doom.
But now, a new option has appeared in this empire.
A variable where the First Prince might live a bit longer—no, quite a bit longer.
The empire's future under the First Prince... honestly, I can't even picture it.
I've read about the others endlessly in print, so I know their personalities are wrecked.
But this guy never properly appears in the story, so I have no feel for him.
If the First Prince becomes emperor... well.
Judging by the personality I've seen firsthand through Lunaris's eyes, he might make a decent ruler.
But his congenital inability to handle mana could drag the empire into even greater chaos.
An emperor who keels over from mana emissions at a distance? Perfect assassination bait.
Personally, I'm not thrilled about it.
Because a future where the First Prince ascends is a total unknown.
I can't predict what'll happen.
Of course, the future is supposed to be unknowable by nature.
But from my position, roughly knowing this world's "fate," it just feels... off.
Up till now, things have mostly followed the original story(?), more or less.
Sure, there've been minor derailments here and there, but the big picture hasn't changed much.
It's still salvageable—for now.
But if someone who's supposed to die lives on and becomes emperor, that could be truly irreversible.
This isn't a butterfly effect; it's a typhoon.
Besides, getting tangled with imperial family was never in my life plans to begin with.
Fine, getting involved with Princess Celestina is fate as written.
But the First Prince and the others? I really didn't want any part of that.
But with things as they are...
I can't just keep dodging forever.
*
"Oh, right—speaking of which, at Elterion Academy."
As I stared blankly at the hand extended before me without saying a word, Prince Calian awkwardly withdrew it and smoothly changed the subject.
Even the sting of rejection he repackaged with elegant poise—a true fox through and through.
"I hear you're quite close with my sister, Celi."
"...Celi?"
"Celestina."
Oh. Gotcha.
"Just to avoid any misunderstandings, let me say this upfront."
I drew a firm line with a sullen expression.
"I have no grand plans to support Princess Celestina or make her emperor or anything like that."
I don't even want to get involved with the imperial family in the first place.
Not at all. Never. For real.
"Haha, I know. I've heard as much from Sir Albert. At his request, you're protecting Celi during your unwanted academy stint."
That sparked a sudden curiosity.
"Speaking of, why did Vice-Captain Albert send me to the academy? Heard anything about that?"
"Hm? Not really."
"Is he part of the faction supporting the Third Princess, by any chance?"
"Nah, I doubt it."
Prince Calian shook his head with a wry smile.
"Albert's the type who doesn't truly serve anyone. Even his bows to Belhart are probably for his own ambitions."
...Fair point.
I nodded inwardly. That sly vice-captain doesn't strike me as the type to be genuinely loyal to anyone.
"He probably sent you to the academy for some ulterior motive. Sure, he cited imperial protection on the surface, but..."
"Maybe he just didn't want to pull from his already short-staffed manpower, so he shipped me off as free labor."
"Haha. Could be."
Prince Calian let out a low chuckle.
"Anyway, the important thing is you, Miss Lunaris."
The prince leaned back against the bed headboard and gazed at me steadily as he continued.
"You seem to like Celi quite a bit."
"..."
I stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Well, if I had my way, I'd rather prop up the Third Princess as the next emperor."
"Ho?"
"I haven't met everyone, but from the rumors, she seems like the only normal one."
A statement that might've gotten me hauled off for imperial defamation if anyone else heard.
But since the guy in front of me had put his life in my hands, I voiced my honest thoughts without worry.
Prince Calian just shrugged it off with a roll of his shoulders.
"True, my siblings are all pretty immature. Celi's the most level-headed and sharp among them."
The smile faded from the prince's face as he continued calmly.
"But Celi isn't cut out to be emperor."
"...?"
"She's too good-hearted for it."
The prince's eyes grew chillingly cold.
"To lead this vast empire, sometimes you have to be ruthless—even sacrifice your own siblings if needed."
In that regard, Valerius, Cedric, and Isabella would be far better, he assessed coldly.
"Besides, Celi doesn't even have a power base. No one expects anything from her..."
"Why wouldn't she?"
I replied flatly.
"She's got me."
"..."
"If I give her just a little push from the sidelines, it's not impossible at all."
At my arrogantly bold words, Prince Calian's eyes widened slightly.
He stared at me blankly for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh, twisting his lips.
"That contradicts what you just said."
"It does. But I had a feeling this was the answer you wanted to hear from me."
"Haha... yeah. Your words about helping Celi didn't ring true."
A brief silence followed.
Prince Calian spoke again.
"Let me ask once more. Can't you use that power for me?"
"..."
"If one of my other siblings becomes emperor, Celi will surely be purged. But if I do, I promise you this: I'll guarantee her life as a princess—and as your friend."
Desperation laced his coaxing tone.
"That sounds an awful lot like taking the Third Princess hostage to blackmail me."
"More like appealing to your affection for Celi."
I blinked vacantly before swallowing an inward sigh.
"Ugh—looks like you're misunderstanding something."
Princess Celestina might feel a little—or maybe a lot—hurt if she heard this.
"My bond with the princess only lasts while I'm at the academy."
I could be this brazen because I had something to rely on.
Next year, Kyle Lowell enrolls at Elterion Academy.
The protagonist will take my place—rolling in the dirt, fighting, saving the world.
Without a doubt, he'll protect Princess Celestina in my stead.
More than that, he'll crown the heroine as empress.
This is set in stone—the "fate" of this world.
I'll lie back in bed, watch the episodes unfold, graduate quietly, and slip away to enjoy a leisurely life.
This has been my goal since realizing my role in this world upon enrolling—no, from the moment I awoke to it. Not a second's wavered.
With that settled, my stance toward the First Prince and other imperials became clear.
If I can't avoid them, just draw firm lines.
Don't get dragged along—make them come to me.
If I hold the initiative, it's solved.
"...Anyway, I can't accept your offer, Your Highness."
I stood up.
"I hate working under anyone, and I especially loathe politics."
"What a shame..."
A subtle shadow fell over Prince Calian's eyes.
He didn't seem particularly disappointed, though.
Instead, a strangely persistent, sticky gaze lingered on my face.
"Still, I'll extract mana periodically. Of course, you'll have to come to Elterion Academy yourself."
"...Hm?"
"Isn't it proper for the patient to visit the doctor with a fat purse of treatment fees?"
Prince Calian's expression went blank.
Was he speechless at the audacity of ordering an imperial prince around?
"And since drawing mana every time is a hassle, I'll whip up an artifact soon."
"Ho, you can make those too?"
"Eh, it'll work out. Oh, artifact fees are extra."
"...You didn't seem that materialistic."
"Gotta get what's mine. I'm no pushover."
"Hahaha..."
He laughed in a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"Got it. I'll remember that."
I didn't know what schemes hid behind that smile, but for now, this would do.
"Then I'll be off. Rest well."
Fearing he might grab me, I bolted from the room.
I shook off the people waiting outside trying to snag me and rounded the corner into the hallway.
"Haaah..."
Confirming no one was around, I let out a long sigh.
I'm tired. So damn tired.
I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed right now.
"Might as well handle the other stuff while I'm at the palace..."
For a split second, Senior Mireille's desperate face flashed in my mind.
And if I came all this way and left empty-handed, the Second Prince might really barge into my room.
...A bit petty, but.
Knocking that sword-crazed lunatic into a coma under the pretext of a " sparring session for enlightenment" didn't sound half bad. It'd keep him away for a good while.