Chapter 459: Epilogue, New Days (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 459: Epilogue, New Days (3)
It was two years ago.
Lauren Dmitry had paid a visit to Henry Albert's office and suddenly poured his heart out, sharing a worry that had been weighing heavily on his mind.
"...Yesterday, when I was walking Amy home, for the first time in my life, I wanted to hold a woman's hand. Professor, what should I do? I know for sure that I like Amy and want to confess to her, but I'm worried that if I gather the courage to do so, I might ruin our friendship."
He looked like a dejected puppy.
Even though he was a recognized swordsman at the Cairo Royal Academy, in Henry Albert's eyes, he still looked like a young child.
Pfft.
A chuckle escaped Henry's lips before he could stop it.
Lauren was a good kid.
The more Henry got to know Lauren Dmitry, the more he realized how deeply considerate the boy was of others. That was exactly why Lauren was so cautious about expressing his feelings. He didn't want to simply push his own emotions onto her and force Amy to make a choice.
'The picture I wanted is finally coming together, but...'
Amy.
She was his cousin.
In truth, Henry had desperately hoped for a situation like this to happen, and he had actually set up connections with various people under the guise of coincidence. However, Amy's case had nothing to do with Henry Albert's meddling. The two of them had naturally formed a bond, and Amy was such a wonderful girl that Henry could congratulate them with all his heart.
But he didn't rashly egg Lauren on.
While it would be a fantastic thing for Henry if the two got together, he chose to give Lauren Dmitry some honest advice, even though he knew it might seem like a foolish choice on his part.
"Lauren, listen carefully to what I'm about to say. As Lauren Dmitry, you have to consider many things when pursuing a romantic relationship. You aren't just a student attending the Cairo Royal Academy; you are the third son of the Dmitry family, which currently rules the continent. That means you share the blood of His Majesty the Emperor. A single choice of yours will shake the world, and people will whisper about every word you utter. Expressing your feelings to Amy means you must be prepared to bear all of that. If you lose your footing, even if Amy returns your feelings, practical realities will ruin your relationship."
"...Does that mean I shouldn't express my feelings?"
It was a complicated issue.
While it was advice he fully understood, it still felt discouraging, and he couldn't hide his dejection.
Henry Albert shook his head.
Stroking Lauren Dmitry's hair, he looked at him with warm eyes, as if gazing at his own younger brother.
"No. If you make your decision after thoroughly weighing those practical issues, I can assure you that the Amy I know will definitely accept your feelings. Lauren, you don't seem to know yourself very well, but even if you strip away the background of Dmitry, Lauren Dmitry is a truly wonderful man."
Henry smiled warmly.
At those words, Lauren Dmitry gained immense courage.
After agonizing over it for a few days, he went to see Amy. And instead of losing a friend, he gained a girlfriend.
* * *
Around the time news broke that Lauren and Amy were dating, there was a double celebration.
As the History Department of the Cairo Royal Academy underwent a major reorganization, Henry Albert was nominated as the department head.
There were two reasons for this.
The first stemmed from the academy president's remarks.
"With the founding of the Dmitry Empire, the history of the continent is being rewritten. As living witnesses to history, we have a duty to record the present, and I believe we need to infuse new blood into the department through this reorganization. Who do you think is most suited for this role? I believe Professor Henry Albert is the perfect candidate. He stood alongside His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry at the very moments he achieved his historic feats, and he is more knowledgeable about Dmitry's history than anyone else. If we need someone to lead this new era, there is, without a doubt, no better choice."
It was practically a done deal.
The president's endorsement was incredibly powerful, but there was also a second reason that sealed the matter: his fellow professors.
They raised their voices as if they had been waiting for this exact moment.
"I agree with the president's opinion."
"Professor Henry Albert maintains a close relationship with the Dmitry family. In particular, since Lauren Dmitry, the third son of Dmitry, follows him so closely, his appointment as department head will yield clear benefits."
"Indeed, where else could we find someone of his caliber? No one at the Cairo Royal Academy dislikes Professor Henry Albert. He is someone who pays meticulous attention not only to the students but also to his fellow professors, making him the perfect fit to lead the entire department."
It was an amusing phenomenon.
When he first entered the Cairo Royal Academy, Henry Albert had been looked down upon by the other professors, criticized for lacking the proper foundation as an educator. Some had even doubted his relationship with Roman Dmitry and demanded he prove himself.
However, as time passed, his reputation completely flipped.
Henry Albert knew how to win people's hearts using what he had. As he won over those around him one by one, everyone began to treat him favorably. It was a dramatic transformation. In fact, even the academy president's decision couldn't be called entirely free of personal bias toward Henry.
It was a unanimous decision.
He was appointed department head.
On the day he assumed the position amidst everyone's blessings, Henry Albert felt a surge of overwhelming emotion.
'To think that I, once the troublemaker of my family, would become a department head. This is all thanks to my experiences with His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry. If I never forget my gratitude to him and continue to live like this, I will never repeat my past mistakes.'
He smiled genuinely.
Raising his hand high to the applauding crowd, he fully savored the moment.
Thus, the inauguration ceremony concluded.
As he stepped down from the stage and was about to leave, an entirely unexpected figure blocked his path.
"My warmest congratulations, Professor Henry Albert."
The man handing him a bouquet of flowers was none other than Count Fabius.
* * *
Back to the present.
At the wedding, which was underway in a grand and festive atmosphere, Count Fabius glanced at Henry Albert, who was sitting next to him.
'A truly fascinating fellow.'
Two years ago, he had kept a close eye on Henry Albert.
Why?
Because Henry's movements had been highly unusual.
'Henry Albert. Born into a family with nothing left but past glory, he lived like a complete scoundrel. A nobody who seemed destined to end his life as a useless drifter, yet he rose to the position of department head at the Cairo Royal Academy solely because he stood on the battlefield with His Majesty Emperor Roman Dmitry. He must have unlocked a talent he didn't even know he possessed. Especially seeing how close he has gotten to Lauren Dmitry recently, he is definitely someone worth keeping close.'
After the war ended, Count Fabius hadn't simply lived in idle laziness.
While enjoying his life and building a harem, he always kept a watchful eye on the events unfolding around him.
Eternal power!
To achieve that dream, he could not afford to become complacent. It was while he was enjoying parties and raising glasses with others that he first heard news of Henry Albert. This was where he differed from ordinary people. While others simply laughed it off as an amusing anecdote about some random fellow, Count Fabius had investigated Henry Albert in detail the moment the party ended.
The result of that investigation was their current relationship.
Over the past two years, he had built a connection with Henry Albert, and they had become close enough to attend this wedding together.
"Congratulations, Department Head."
"Oh, there's no reason for me to be congratulated. I'm just happy that my cousin seems to have met a wonderful partner, hahaha."
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
His prediction had been spot on.
When Count Fabius turned his head to look forward, he saw the beautiful bride smiling brightly.
Amy.
Henry Albert's cousin.
The fact that the Albert family had now joined bloodlines with Dmitry meant that Henry Albert—who had already been riding high on practically nothing—would continue to remain at the center of power in the future. It was a highly satisfying outcome. Some might dismiss it as mere networking, but it was the accumulation of such relationships that had made Count Fabius who he was today.
He felt elated.
As the guests stood up and cheered, Count Fabius also raised his glass and shouted, "To the glory of Dmitry!"
"To Dmitry!"
He was certain.
As long as the Dmitry Empire did not fall, Count Fabius would enjoy wealth and honor until the day he died.
* * *
A few days later.
Around the time the excitement of Lauren Dmitry's wedding had barely begun to settle, others were busy with the exact same topic.
"...Whew, I'm so nervous."
"There's no need to be so tense. It's not like my brother is going to eat you alive."
At his girlfriend Marie's words, the man named Lukeman tried his best to hide his nervousness.
He had met Marie a year ago.
After studying economics at the Cairo Royal Academy, Marie had immediately entered the workforce. Lukeman, who worked at the same office at the time, had fallen in love with her at first sight. At first, he couldn't bring himself to approach her easily. Not only was there an age gap, but her warm, refreshing appearance attracted many other suitors besides him.
Then one day, upon hearing a rumor that someone from another department was preparing to confess to her, Lukeman went to find her before it was too late.
As a result, they became a couple.
Those were happy days.
Having spent a year truly loving and cherishing each other, he became convinced that she was the woman he wanted to marry. But there was a problem. Throughout their relationship, Lukeman knew almost nothing about Marie's background. Aside from the fact that she was a graduate of the Cairo Royal Academy, she had never spoken of anything else.
'Does she have a difficult family history that's hard to talk about?'
There was no other way to explain it.
Who her parents were, where she was from... Whenever he asked about her family, Marie would hesitate for a moment before dodging the question, saying she would tell him later when their relationship grew deeper.
Lukeman's mind couldn't help but be filled with complicated thoughts.
Though he was a commoner, he had been born into a wealthy family, so Marie's past didn't matter to him at all. Even if she had come from the slums, Lukeman was fully prepared to accept her.
And today, the time had finally come to learn the truth.
When he suggested they date with marriage in mind, Marie had replied with a serious expression, "Alright. Then let's go meet my brother together."
The meeting was set.
At the thought of meeting Marie's family, who had been shrouded in mystery, Lukeman hadn't been able to sleep properly since the night before.
'What kind of person is he? He must be a good person, just like Marie.'
Even if, by some terrible chance, her brother turned out to be a terrible person who made him hesitate, he had absolutely no intention of giving up on Marie. She was a woman who was considerate of others and truly cherished him. For Lukeman, who was willing to lay down his life for her, this was a hurdle he absolutely had to overcome—far beyond just getting approval for their relationship.
"Marie, give me strength."
"Oh, honestly."
Smooch.
She gave him a quick kiss.
Steeling his resolve, Lukeman, dressed in his finest clothes, set off.
Their destination was a restaurant with a modest exterior.
In fact, he had wanted to book a high-end restaurant, but Marie had said her brother didn't care much for fancy food, so they settled on this place. It was famous in the area for its delicious food. However, because the prices weren't very high, Lukeman couldn't help but think that Marie's family circumstances might indeed be modest, just as he had suspected.
It didn't matter.
Such conditions were never a factor to begin with.
When they finally reached the restaurant, Marie adjusted Lukeman's clothes one last time and said, "Don't be nervous. My brother is a really good person, so I'm sure he'll like you."
"...Alright."
He nodded.
Stepping inside the restaurant, they saw several customers seated throughout the interior.
At one of the tables, a man sat alone.
Lukeman instinctively recognized him as Marie's brother.
'Focus. I have to make a good impression, no matter what.'
His heart pounded.
He took a step forward.
As they approached, the man recognized Marie and raised his hand.
"Marie."
It was time to make his pitch.
Wearing what he believed to be his most mature and dashing expression, Lukeman extended his hand to Marie's brother.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Marie's boyfri— gasp?!"
In an instant, his eyes widened in shock.
It was a situation Lukeman could never have anticipated.
Marie's brother offered a genial, friendly smile and said, "I finally get to meet the man I've heard so much about. I'm Marie's brother, Kevin."
The brother's identity was shocking.
The man standing before him was Kevin, the one known as the Evil Ghost of Dmitry.