Chapter 429: The Battle for Dmitry (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 429: The Battle for Dmitry (5)
In truth, the grand campaign to win over Lauren Dmitry had begun months ago.
The root of the problem was a certain professor. One day, Professor Bradley, who taught liberal arts at the Cairo Royal Academy alongside Henry Albert, cast a suspicious glare his way.
"Professor Henry, I have a question. Are you truly acquainted with Roman Dmitry? Listening to your tales from the Southern Front, one would think you played a pivotal role. Yet, during your entire tenure here at the Royal Academy, you haven't had a single direct interaction with him. I'm not denying your experiences, but I cannot help but wonder if you were simply one of the many nameless faces in the crowd."
Bradley was the quintessential noble. To a man so fiercely proud of his pedigree, the sight of Henry Albert riding a wave of success purely off his Southern Front anecdotes was highly distasteful.
And when one thought about it, the suspicions were valid. If Henry's role had truly been so crucial that he personally handled communications with the Cairo royal family, shouldn't he still be in contact with the Dmitry family even after the war?
Once suspicion took root, doubts multiplied. A single pointed question was all it took to light a fire under Henry's feet.
Henry Albert couldn't just ignore the accusations.
'If Professor Bradley exposes my lack of substance... I'll fall from this position just as quickly as I climbed.'
Professor Bradley wasn't wrong. In reality, Henry Albert was a nobody. If anyone actually asked the Dmitry family about him, his hard-earned authority as a professor would hit rock bottom in an instant. It wasn't that he had lied, exactly. He had merely embellished his actual experiences. He had been on the Southern Front, after all. Still, if the full truth came to light, it would undoubtedly spell disaster.
He racked his brain. How could he overcome this crisis? What did he have to do to dispel these doubts and protect his position?
As his anxiety peaked, he finally reached a conclusion.
'The only reason Professor Bradley doubts me is because I supposedly went through life-and-death struggles alongside Dmitry, yet have zero contact with them now. If I can prove a direct connection to the Dmitry family—the current trendsetters of the continent—then regardless of the truth, no one will dare touch me.'
At that time, Dmitry had not yet risen to the status of an empire. Though the continent was still in chaos, it was undeniable that Dmitry was the dominant force shaping the new world order. In Cairo especially, Dmitry's influence was absolute. With the King of Cairo actively following Dmitry's lead, Henry needed to seize this opportunity to legitimize himself.
'The method is simple. I can't let my relationship with Dmitry end as a fleeting connection from the Southern Front. I must make it take deep root in my own life.'
The conclusion was clear. A connection by marriage. There was no surer method, and it was one no one would dare question.
* * *
The next day.
Henry Albert's class was underway. As the students filed in one by one, he carefully masked his sly intentions.
'I can never let my true motives show. If I propose a political marriage under the Albert family name, it will be instantly rejected given Dmitry's current status. To unite Albert and Dmitry, I have to arrange a natural encounter. Only when the young man and woman strongly assert their feelings for each other will Dmitry seriously consider a union with us, regardless of the lack of practical benefits.'
To put it bluntly, they were not in the same league. The Albert family was declining even within Cairo's borders. Dmitry, on the other hand, was a powerhouse where the most influential figures of every nation would eagerly line up at the mere hint of a marriage proposal. Proposing a political marriage outright would be incredibly foolish. Knowing his own standing, Henry approached the matter from an unconventional angle.
The students took their seats. Stealing a quick glance at Lauren Dmitry, Henry maintained his usual dignified expression.
"We will now begin today's lecture."
The topic of the lecture: The qualities of a hero. Since analyzing Roman Dmitry was currently the biggest trend in academia, he had chosen a related subject.
"A hero is not born simply out of extraordinary circumstances. While Roman Dmitry distinguished himself as a hero during the unexpected war on the Southern Front, his true starting point can be found by looking at his life before that. Specifically, the Blood Fang incident. When others questioned whether it was worth provoking the syndicate and bearing the consequences, Roman Dmitry boldly attacked their headquarters and wiped them out in a single stroke. The same situation, the same problem, but a completely different response. That is how a hero..."
The lecture was practically a "Roman Dmitry-centric" perspective. Drawing on the life he had witnessed, Henry actively highlighted elements guaranteed to pique the students' interest.
Before long, the lecture reached its end. Having finished his prepared material, Henry smoothly put his plan into action.
"That concludes today's lecture. Additionally, there is a group assignment. Based on today's class, you are to research historical figures who lived heroic lives like Roman Dmitry. They can be well-known figures or obscure ones. Now, I will announce the groups. Group A is... and Group F will consist of Lauren Dmitry and Emma Iris. Well done, everyone."
A faint smile touched his lips. It was a perfectly natural flow. Emma Iris, who had just been conveniently placed in Group F alongside Lauren Dmitry, was Henry's cousin—a lovely younger sister figure whom he had always doted on.
* * *
Henry Albert and Lauren Dmitry were quite close. Because Henry often acted as a sounding board for Lauren's worries, they maintained a relationship friendly enough to meet outside of class. Thus, it wasn't strange for them to share a meal. Conveniently, Lauren had recently achieved excellent grades at the academy, giving Henry the perfect excuse to schedule a celebratory dinner.
"Thank you as always. I think I was able to get good grades thanks to you, Professor."
"Is that so? Hearing you say that makes me truly happy, hahaha."
He laughed heartily. The fact that Lauren held him in such high regard brought a genuine smile to Henry's face.
Setting aside his ulterior motives, Lauren Dmitry was a truly fine young man. With his upright values and exemplary behavior, Henry would have seriously considered a marriage alliance even if Lauren weren't the third son of the Dmitry family. Ironically, the sheer weight of the Dmitry name was a hindrance. Because they were a mountain the Albert family could never dare to scale, conventional methods of approach were completely out of the question.
"I can personally vouch for the chef at the restaurant we're going to. It's recently gained quite a reputation in Cairo, so order whatever you want. I can afford at least that much."
There was no trace of the stern man who had been conducting the lecture. Henry kept his public and private lives strictly separate. While he strove to be as serious as possible as a professor, he dropped that rigid attitude in private. In truth, his current demeanor was much closer to his real personality. Henry was naturally a bit immature and loose-tongued, but over time, he had learned how to conduct himself professionally.
Before long, they arrived at the restaurant. They were guided to their reserved table, and following the waiter's recommendation, ordered the chef's special course.
As they were exchanging light conversation, a woman passing by their table suddenly widened her eyes.
"Oh, Cousin Henry?!"
"Elena?"
It seemed like a chance encounter. But from start to finish, it was a completely staged meeting. Elena, the daughter of Henry's maternal uncle, Viscount Veil, offered a bright smile and flawlessly delivered her rehearsed line.
"...And who is this?"
"Ah, this is my student. His name is Lauren Dmitry, and yes, he is indeed the third son of the Dmitry family you've heard so much about. Lauren, this is Elena Frank. Her family shares a name with the Frank Kingdom, but she is actually my maternal uncle's daughter."
First, a light introduction. Then, a natural invitation to join them. Thus, Elena Frank and Lauren Dmitry enjoyed a pleasant meal together under Henry's thoroughly pleased gaze.
* * *
Henry's plan was a long-term campaign. He never hastily revealed his intentions, instead continuously arranging "coincidental" meetings to introduce different women in various settings.
It was a highly calculated operation. Since Henry didn't know Lauren's exact type, he cast countless lines in the hopes that one would eventually catch. Yet, there were still no results. With Rodwell Dmitry also rising as a center of attention in society, a creeping anxiety began to take hold of Henry.
Because of that, he decided to abuse his authority as a professor. Summoning Lauren under the pretext of a private consultation, he asked if the young man had any recent worries.
'It's a natural progression. Who would think it strange for a professor to check in on his student's concerns?'
His intuition hit the mark. Lauren hesitated for a moment before letting out a deep sigh, finally voicing the burden he had been harboring.
"...Sigh. To be honest, I've been stressed lately because so many people have been approaching me with ulterior motives. I understand why they're interested in me now that Dmitry's status has changed, but since their goal is so blatantly a political marriage, it makes me quite uncomfortable."
Henry's eyes gleamed. How dare others covet Lauren Dmitry besides me!
He spoke in the calmest, most reassuring tone he could muster.
"Lauren. As you said, Dmitry has become an empire, and interest in you is bound to grow day by day. This is simply the reality you must accept as part of your daily life. But what I want to tell you is this: you don't need to be swayed by their intentions. If there is someone among those who approach you whom you truly like, then it is worth opening your heart. But if not, you have the right and the power to draw a line. I absolutely oppose you accepting anyone when your heart isn't in it."
He had to prevent Lauren from closing his heart completely. Only then could his own plan succeed.
"Of course, in noble society, you are at the age where you should start thinking about marriage. So, rather than focusing on those who approach you with hidden agendas, why not look at the people already around you? In fact, you might not even realize it yourself, but there could already be someone you have feelings for."
He maintained a delicate balance—offering genuine advice for Lauren's worries, while subtly nudging the boy toward his own agenda.
Lauren's expression brightened considerably. It seemed the advice had lifted a weight off his shoulders.
"Thank you as always. Just as you said, Professor, I won't limit my thoughts and will try to be honest with my feelings."
"Good. Shall we grab some lunch to celebrate meeting after so long?"
"...Ah, I'm sorry. I'd really love to, but I already made plans before coming here."
Henry's intuition tingled. "Well, if you have plans, it can't be helped," he asked casually. "But who are you meeting?"
"Amy! She helped me out recently, so I offered to treat her to lunch first."
In that instant, Henry cheered inwardly.
Who was Amy? She was his eighth cousin, someone he had "naturally" arranged to cross paths with Lauren. She was incredibly pretty, gentle, and kind-hearted; Henry had personally held high hopes for her. And yet, without him even prompting it, Lauren had set up a private lunch date with her!
Because the relationship had developed so organically, Henry clenched his fist in sheer excitement without even realizing it. But contrary to his inner jubilation, he offered a warm, polite smile on the outside.
"I see. Have a wonderful time."
He firmly suppressed the excitement in his voice. Henry knew all too well that it was still too early to pop the champagne.
* * *
These were happy days. Not only was Henry's future as a professor smooth sailing, but he also couldn't hide his anticipation upon hearing that Lauren and Amy were meeting often. If they truly ended up marrying...
With Dmitry backing him, there wouldn't be a single person in the entire Salamander Continent—let alone Cairo—who would dare oppose him.
However, life always had its ups and downs.
As he was heading to his office after class, he ran into Professor Bradley, who wore a sly, calculating smile.
"Professor Henry. Have you heard the news? For the cultural exchange between Dmitry and Cairo, Dmitry's Flash, Chris, will be personally visiting the academy. Since you went through life-and-death struggles with Sir Chris on the battlefield, surely you can introduce him to us? I'm not asking you to go through the trouble of arranging a formal meeting, of course. Just a simple introduction after his scheduled events would be wonderful."
At those words, his heart plummeted.
Cold sweat trickled down his back. Knowing Professor Bradley's malicious intentions, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
'If I avoid this meeting, Professor Bradley will be absolutely certain I'm a fraud and tear me to shreds.'
Perhaps because of that fear, the words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.
"Of course. As you said, Professor Bradley, we went through life-and-death struggles together. What's a simple introduction?"
He laughed awkwardly.
It was D-3 until Chris's visit. Faced with the greatest crisis of his otherwise smooth-sailing life, Henry Albert's mind began to race frantically.