Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: This is Troubling.
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Silent and bleak room.
In the dim darkness, Chloe was pacing restlessly around the room with an anxious expression.
Her face looked like it was on the verge of crumbling.
"...This isn't right."
The moment she first encountered Tail.
She had been so happy.
It felt just like a sweet dream.
Her head grew dizzy amid the wild pounding of her heart.
But at the same time, her mind went blank white.
The voice she heard every single day automatically replayed in her head.
"Princess... ...I hope that's not what you're thinking...? ...A mountain of corpses... otherwise."
Her mother's icy voice,
"Become Emperor. If you become Emperor, you can keep everything at your side and achieve it all."
The words of Prime Minister Edward, who had been backing her.
As those words dominated her mind, she couldn't utter a single reply.
They all felt like nooses tightening around her neck.
Yes.
This had been a dangerous encounter from the start.
What if someone was watching and reported this straight to the palace?
A chill ran down her spine.
One wrong move, and she'd lose Tail forever.
So she had to stop here.
Chloe's eyes wavered.
'But.'
The image of Tail's wounded face kept floating before her eyes.
His nearly crumbling expression made her own heart feel like it had stopped.
She hated seeing him sad.
She hated seeing him hurt.
And she hated even more that she was the reason for his sadness and heartache.
She was terrified his sorrow might twist into negative feelings toward her.
Chloe lightly bit her thumbnail.
'Should I go out?'
Outside the room, guards—or watchers—were sure to be standing watch.
She could just say she was going for a quick walk.
Just for a moment.
Just meet him briefly and pour her heart out.
'Yeah. Staying put won't fix anything.'
She couldn't let Tail end up resenting her like this.
So she had to act.
Chloe flung the door open.
A guard waiting outside asked,
"Lady Chloe?"
"I'm going for a short walk."
"I'll accompany you."
He immediately fell in step behind her.
But Chloe stated firmly,
"No. It's just a quick step out. I'm fine."
"But... it's dangerous at night."
This much she had anticipated.
And Chloe felt relieved.
Because she was no longer the type to be swayed by such words.
To the guard's protest, Chloe shot back firmly,
"Are you questioning the security of the academy Father himself established?"
The guard flinched.
In that instant, Chloe strode forward.
Her golden hair rippled like waves with her hurried steps.
Her sky-blue eyes sparkled with lively determination.
'Hurry. Hurry.'
Her pace quickened.
Her heart raced wildly.
Today, she was determined to meet Tail somehow and talk it out.
'Yeah. It's not too late yet.'
She'd explain why she'd thought that way and said those things.
Apologize for making that choice.
'It'll be fine.'
Tail had always been kind and gentle to her alone.
Chloe's steps had turned into a run.
If he were far away, she might have given up. But knowing Tail was within walking distance made her ache to see him too much.
She hurried toward Tail's dormitory.
Then Chloe's steps halted abruptly.
"...Tail?"
There he was, in the garden before the dormitory.
His figure was breathtakingly fantastical in its beauty.
Tiny lights of unknown origin danced around his body.
In response, he beamed with a broad smile.
And standing before such a Tail was a woman.
Sky-blue long hair and blue eyes.
A stunning face that could captivate any man, paired with an exquisite, curvaceous figure.
Unconsciously, Chloe took a small step back.
Tail looked so utterly happy right now.
Unlike when he'd spoken with her.
He shone brilliantly, as if bathed in radiant light.
With that woman.
She lacked the courage to intrude on their perfectly dreamlike scene.
Lips pressed tight, she watched them for a long moment before slowly retreating.
And soon, she walked away.
Meanwhile.
In the silent darkness.
Someone watched Chloe's fading figure from the shadows.
The Bellenuus Empire gathered outstanding talents.
But among them, all agreed the pinnacle was Prime Minister 'Edward Dendal'.
As head of the Dendal family, his exceptional administrative prowess, keen insights, and meticulous support made him the palace's ultimate aspiration and idol.
And that Edward was currently racking his brains.
"This is troubling."
It was due to a single letter from the academy.
The letter detailed the princess's every action, down to the finest nuances.
He let out a long sigh.
There were two imperial heirs and candidates for the throne.
First, the 1st Prince, born to the late previous Empress and the Emperor.
Second, the 2nd Princess, born to the current Empress and the Emperor.
Prime Minister Edward backed the 2nd Princess, Chloe, as the next emperor.
Yet after the war's end, the princess's behavior grew erratic.
She drifted aimlessly, as if a screw had come loose.
Gazing blankly out windows, she seemed to have abandoned everything.
This was perilous.
At this rate, the prince would steal her position.
That couldn't be allowed.
So the moment Edward spotted 'Tail', he used him as the trigger to jolt her back.
He'd drilled it into her relentlessly.
And somehow, he'd restored her to normal.
But now things were unraveling again.
Edward clicked his tongue.
He immediately summoned a servant with orders to fetch someone.
The door opened, and in walked none other than Sir Allen, Captain of the Imperial 1st Knight Order.
"You summoned me."
"A troubling matter has arisen."
Allen nodded knowingly at his words.
"Regarding the Princess."
"Indeed. That country bumpkin commoner has wormed his way into the academy."
It was about Tail.
Edward had already deemed Tail an existence that must stay far from Princess Chloe.
Yet now that boy had claimed the top academy spot.
"Troubling. Extremely troubling."
In truth, Edward had wanted a commoner as top entrant.
If the prince aimed to solidify noble authority and rule with an iron fist,
Chloe was meant to elevate commoners and the vast populace, securing widespread support.
Normally, he'd have placed the top entrant in the student council.
But Tail of all people.
Edward furrowed his brow, tapping the desk.
To Edward, Tail was a flaw in fine jade—nothing more, nothing less.
He addressed Allen standing by.
"You'll have to go yourself."
"The academy?"
Allen's tone was even.
As if he'd anticipated it.
He already bore an imperial decree to instruct there.
"In any case, distance Tail from the top spot as much as possible and scout another commoner representative."
"Understood."
Allen departed after replying.
'I wonder how much he's grown.'
Allen muttered inwardly en route to his quarters.
Curious about the progress of the boy who'd once radiated killing intent toward him five years prior.
A few days later.
Class time buzzed with energy as it passed.
Tail was trading idle chatter with Alice and Ethan.
"Heard there's a special class opening up. You two catch wind?"
Tail nodded at Alice's words.
"Yeah. Swordsmanship, they said."
"I think I heard some big shot's coming?"
As Ethan chimed in, a shadow fell over Tail.
Turning, shimmering silver hair met his eyes first.
Doll-like delicate features and impenetrable black eyes.
It was Ennis.
'Why's she here all of a sudden?'
As he eyed her quizzically, Ennis spoke.
"You look cheerier. Few days back, your face was like you'd eaten shit."
Her voice was clear, yet oddly familiar.
Hiding his bewilderment, Tail replied,
"I'd sorted my thoughts."
Ennis's brows furrowed faintly.
"Wonder which bitch besides me lent a hand."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
Her mutter was too soft; Tail asked back without catching it.
Ennis merely stared at him awhile.
As their gazes locked briefly.
Bang!
The front door flew open.
A burly man strode in.
Tail's eyes widened in instant recognition.
"Now, now. Everyone, seats."
Students shuffled back; Ennis tore her gaze from Tail and returned to hers.
That man, though...
"Captain of the Imperial 1st Knight Order."
The man boomed,
"Sir Allen File."
It was Sir Allen.