Queen Isabella's Invitation
"About Alicia, don't include her."
The next day, Padley, the professor from the public affairs department where Alicia belonged, came to see me directly.
"I understand the bad blood between Angelina and Alicia, but even so, we have to aim for maximum strength. Excluding Alicia would be a huge loss."
Padley was pretending to gently admonish me while pressuring me. But I'd already decided to exclude Alicia. That resolve wouldn't waver until the match was over.
"I've looked into replacements for Alicia, and a few promising students caught my eye. I'll swap her out with one of them."
"Heh heh, you..."
He rubbed his goatee as he spoke.
"Don't just look at Alicia—look at her family. If she participates in the match, who do you think will show up on the day?"
"Duke Neville?"
"Is that all? When the duke brags about it everywhere, his noble and prestigious acquaintances will flock to the arena to watch. That means box office success. In other words, the inaugural Song of Valor Tournament will be recognized from the start as a highly prestigious event drawing famous figures from the capital."
I pretended to think it over for a moment, then shook my head.
"I get what you're saying, but including Alicia just isn't feasible."
"You're so stubborn."
Padley clicked his tongue. His expression soured.
"This is a great opportunity for you too—why turn it down? You could build connections with Alicia."
He doesn't know Duke Neville is my patron.
I kept shaking my head.
"I'm not doing this for connections. If you really want Alicia in, why don't you step up, Professor? Convince her to apologize to Angelina."
Padley's face stiffened at my words.
"I know you're a skilled hero, but you're terrible at office politics."
"It's for the kids."
"You mean the RS group? How much help could they really be?"
The professor patted my shoulder.
"I'm doing this for you. Think it over."
You just want praise from Alicia.
"Professor."
"Changed your mind?"
"No, about the hype. What if we invite someone higher than Duke Neville?"
That person stuck in the palace all day must be bored. Time to let them get some fresh air.
"I'll make the effort to invite Her Majesty the Queen."
"Queen Isabella?"
He stared in surprise, then burst into laughter.
"Didn't know you were such a big braggart! Haha!"
He found it so hilarious he clutched his stomach and slapped the wall.
"Her Majesty is incredibly busy. Why would she come watch a student match? It wouldn't suit her tastes anyway."
He straightened up, hands behind his back.
"Don't rudely send an invitation to Her Majesty and get chewed out by the palace staff. Just convince Alicia to join. Listen to me—it's all for your future."
He thinks I'm bluffing about inviting the queen.
That sparked my competitive fire.
"I'll definitely invite Her Majesty."
"Come on, enough joking."
Padley left. He kept chuckling as he walked away.
"Unbelievable. Does he think the queen comes running when called? Heh heh, what a fool."
Funny guy.
I burned with determination. I immediately headed to the campus post office and wrote a letter to the royal palace.
To. Head Maid Marie
***
The letter Naru sent arrived at the palace a few hours later and was delivered to Lady Marie.
"It's from Sir Naru? Why send a letter when he could come in person?"
They lived in the same city, not far apart. In any case, Lady Marie tilted her head curiously, took the letter, and went straight to Queen Isabella.
At that moment, the queen was taking out the semen Naru had stored for her recently, mixing it into her teacup and drinking it.
"Hmm, I wonder why he hasn't come for days?"
Does he not miss me?
I thought with a child on the way between us, he'd want to see me every day.
Is he playing hard to get? Tormenting me to tame me?
"Hee hee, interesting. If that's the case, he's already succeeded."
"Your Majesty, a letter from Sir Naru."
"Oh, really? Bring it here."
The door opened, and Lady Marie entered. The queen happily took the letter.
Her hands trembled with excitement as she opened the envelope.
"I wonder what he wrote."
She read the letter inside. A smile spread across her lips, growing thicker.
Finally, beaming, she looked at Lady Marie.
"Clear my schedule for next weekend."
"What did it say?"
"He invites me to watch the match between the two academies."
The queen fondly caressed her still-flat lower belly.
"If he calls, I have to go."
Her eyes overflowed with affection as she thought of Naru.
A man who could so easily move the queen of the kingdom.
That man was Kang Naru.
***
Principal's office.
Principal Robert and several professors were gathered for a meeting. They were discussing the inaugural Song of Valor Tournament.
"Excluding the highly skilled Alicia? Unthinkable. It's like wasting a good card."
"I heard about it too and was a bit worried."
"Wouldn't it be more efficient to build the party around Alicia?"
As the professors exchanged concerned words, Melissa chimed in.
"Assistant Professor Naru has plenty of experience leading parties, so he probably has something in mind. Trust him and let him handle it."
"I'm worried it's just youthful bravado."
Padley tossed in a remark and continued.
"If we're talking experience, the professors here have more. Shreider Academy will surely send their top students. At a time like this, weighing friendships and petty emotions? If someone can't adapt, exclude them and bring in a better one."
"The problem is team synergy."
Melissa replied with a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. Her gaze at Padley screamed annoyance.
"Melissa, don't baby your own people too much."
The professors were letting Padley, Alicia's advisor, vent to soothe him. But his complaints were cut short by a word from the deputy head of the magic department.
"Padley. It's true Alicia causes a lot of trouble. Can't you control her?"
"W-Well..."
"Teaching character matters more than skill. Does public affairs include character education?"
"One course..."
"Cut other subjects and make character education three courses."
"Yes... I'll consider it."
Padley licked his lips uncomfortably. Trying to shift the mood, he spoke up deliberately.
"Oh, speaking of which, I nearly died laughing from something Assistant Professor Naru said earlier. The guy's full of hot air."
"Why? What happened?"
Melissa's face soured as she looked at him.
"Let's drop Naru and move on."
"Listen to this. Guess what he said about the Song of Valor Tournament? He's inviting Queen Isabella. How absurd—haha!"
A few professors chuckled.
"Good grief, how do you invite such an exalted figure?"
"He got a few awards from her and thinks they're close?"
"I'm a professor here, but I can't imagine Her Majesty visiting our academy. What's there to see?"
"More than that, she dislikes childish student games."
"True, her personality is intense. Executes hundreds a day."
"Hey, shh. Badmouthing the queen is dangerous. Birds might hear."
"Ahem."
"Anyway, with four academies in the capital, she's never visited any—not even for anniversaries. She just sends subordinates."
Principal Robert, who had been listening silently, burst out laughing.
"This is bad, professors."
"What is?"
"Those who don't believe Naru will have to buy him a drink."
"Pardon?"
The principal stood and walked to his desk. All eyes followed.
"We just got an official document from the palace."
He opened a drawer and pulled out a square envelope.
Her Majesty Queen Isabella will attend the inaugural Song of Valor Tournament next weekend. Cooperate with security and protocol preparations.
"Her... Her Majesty is coming?"
"Yes. Heh heh."
"No way...!"
Padley looked dumbfounded, unable to believe it. The other professors were stunned too—even Melissa looked surprised.
"Whoa..."
"Incredible...!"
"Her Majesty coming!"
"That Assistant Professor Naru..."
The deputy magic head murmured softly.
"Truly impressive."
The professors soon erupted in cheers that shook the principal's office.
At the same time.
In the RS group classroom, where Naru was teaching Angelina, Hazel, and Lydia, he paused while writing on the blackboard and twitched his ear.
"Someone's talking about me. Why are my ears itching like this?"