Chapter 39
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 39
38. Fraudulent Admission (3)
"Margrave. I have gathered information as you ordered."
Adrian Wiesent, Allen's father and taking charge as Margrave.
Adrian, who examined the reports handed over by the butler, let out a sigh.
Adrian had also encountered the newspaper.
That newspaper explicitly handling that Allen Wiesent was fraudulently admitted to the Academy.
At first, he didn't intend to care whether it did or not.
Because it was a matter that would become the talk of the town once someday anyway.
Especially the publishing place was a third-rate newspaper company handling only low-quality contents coming out in high society.
He thought people would just consider it around the level of gossip and move on.
"It seems I have kept my hands off capital affairs for too long."
Suspicion occurred.
Why would a place that only handled lower-class nobles suddenly touch them, who are grand nobles.
Adrian, wondering if someone was intervening, had them investigate without gaps.
The result that came out like that was a spectacle.
"If not that, it's either the Emperor is crazy."
The owner of the unknown low-quality third-rate newspaper company was none other than the Emperor.
"To dare touch Wiesent."
Adrian harbored a cold smile.
Now that it was known the Emperor was involved, it became a problem that couldn't be ignored.
"According to the information sent by the Academy President, it was said the Prime Minister's Department moved."
The Prime Minister's Department was an organization directly under the Emperor.
If that place moved, it was now an unavoidable fight.
But Adrian was doubtful.
"For what reason is the Emperor pointing a sword at us."
"Wouldn't it be to show off the power of the Imperial Palace Faction by dragging us down."
"And what if we even cause a rebellion doing that?"
It was the most difficult part to understand.
It's Wiesent, who took charge of one of the gateways guarding the Empire.
Especially unlike other places, they were in the middle of blocking the invasion of demons solely with their own power.
He could know what meaning it would have to thrust a sword towards us like that without thinking deeply.
"There is absolutely no benefit the Emperor gains. Rather, only loss exists clearly."
"That is certainly so."
Adrian thought seriously.
Perhaps the Emperor is really crazy.
Even just at the beginning of his accession, he was the one who cared for and considered Wiesent more than anyone else.
If they were breached, 1/3 of the Empire's territory had to be given up, so in a way, it was a natural thing.
He was curious why the man who was like that made such a choice.
"First of all, how is Allen doing?"
Rebellion is always the last card.
The moment it's caused, it's the same as mutually destructing.
So Adrian wanted to know how his son was acting.
He suspected he might be holed up in the dormitory right about now.
"According to the letter sent by the President, he said he is earnestly preparing for the re-examination."
"... That child?"
That suspicion spectacularly missed the mark.
***
The re-examination schedule was exactly next week.
Whether the Academy side wanted to formally counter-respond regarding the fraudulent admission, they decided to proceed with it as a public test.
I came to take a 1-on-1 test with Professor Baran in front of everyone watching.
'That professor looked like he hated me though.'
There were many things to worry about.
From now on is the time to make an effort to enter the very end of the Academy passing cut-off line with my skill.
Solely with my power without anyone's help.
Will I really be able to prove that I am at a level to be admitted to the Academy?
If I cannot prove it in front of everyone watching....
'Let's put down negative thoughts. For now, I only care about the problem facing right in front of me.'
I want to confidently stand side by side next to Aniel.
To do so, I had to raise my skill.
Would anything change by training for a week, I thought, but Aniel was confident.
Saying that amount of time is sufficient.
So it was a point where 1 minute and 1 second were important.
"Greetings to the Princess Your Highness."
"You seem to hate facing me? Your reaction seems quite unpleased."
"It is a misunderstanding. As it is an honor for the family."
But Lucia came finding me.
Directly at that, so I couldn't even make an excuse that I am busy.
It was an anxious situation, but I couldn't ignore her either.
I was curious for what reason she found me again this time.
'Is it because of that wish she mentioned before?'
It came to mind that I was to grant her a wish in exchange for smoothing over the situation at the banquet hall.
"It is not because of the wish right. You wouldn't see me as a shameless person to the extent of not distinguishing front from back, right?"
"Of course. Princess Your Highness."
"That is a relief. And please keep the wish right well, I will use it when an important moment arrives later, so do not worry."
As if reading my thoughts, she said while smiling.
So it's not because of the wish right.
If it's a relief it's a relief, but the words she said made me anxious inwardly.
What on earth kind of wish is she trying to make, I hope it's not a strange wish please.
"Are you not struggling because of the recently erupted controversy."
Lucia's side brought up words first.
Asking if I am not struggling. I turned my head and stared at her.
The smile that settled on her face until just now disappeared.
'Thinking about it, Lucia always had a smile containing on her lips.'
Her fabricated-looking smile was nowhere to be found, and she became serious.
Again. A person showing me an unprecedented appearance following Aniel.
"Are you worrying for me."
I looked back on my relationship with Lucia.
Because I was clumsy, I remember making a mess of the first start.
When I returned to the Academy, I thought I was doomed like being marked by a bully, but beyond what I thought, I seemed to be getting along quite well with her in my own way.
Perhaps that's why these days this thought occurs.
"Yes, I am worrying."
"Why is that? Didn't the Princess Your Highness hate me."
If I had buttoned the first button well, what would our relationship have been like.
***
If asked if I didn't hate you, honestly I hated you.
Because you gave the first defeat to my life that I thought was perfect.
So I hated you terribly and wanted to relieve the disgrace.
'But thinking about it now, it might be different.'
Meeting him like this in the Academy, my thoughts gradually changed starting from playing chess.
Childhood days where I had to pursue perfectionism due to 'others'.
I didn't know back then, but thinking about it now, it became increasingly suffocating and overwhelming.
Having to satisfy standards set by others, not myself, from the start of the day to the end.
'But you gave me defeat.'
Even now I am claiming to be perfect, but actually I knew.
That humans are creatures who can absolutely never be perfect.
Look. This time I pledged absolutely not to lose composure in front of him.
Nevertheless, right now my heart was beating violently.
In the Academy where spring energy is still prevalent after winter passed, Lucia smiled brightly.
"I might have hated you."
Herself who always wore a mask, hid emotions, and made a habit of lying disappears.
"But now is different."
It was awkward yet mysterious, but Lucia liked this different emotion.
"Because if it's you, I thought it would be good to have you by my side."
Right, she wanted him to stay by her side.
Next to herself, not anyone else.
"So, how about starting over?"
Erasing those foolish things during the debutante and starting newly.
Allen, who was silent during that time, looked at the hand Lucia held out.
He was someone with a lot of suspicion usually too. Even now, he was continuing to think of the reason why Lucia is doing this.
But the words she said didn't feel like a lie.
'If that is all acting, there would be no one who wouldn't be deceived.'
Above all, Allen also had no reason to refuse.
Because at least with the current Lucia, it seemed he could get along well.
He caught a petal in the air not knowing where it flew from.
For some reason, the caught petal seemed to have a fresh scent.
"Then it's a gift given in commemoration of becoming friends."
Just as she frankly expressed her mind, Allen also wanted to reveal his mind.
He wondered what if she thinks it's trivial, but Allen didn't know.
".... It is really pretty."
The fact that among all gifts she had received until now, she is the happiest right now.
Lucia, keeping her gaze on the petal, felt greedy.
'I want to spend a little more time with you like this though.'
But she also knew.
Keeping hold of him continuously like this wasn't a matter for his sake.
"Then I also must repay."
"Princess Your Highness?"
"I hope it is useful to you. Allen Wiesent."
"Ah...."
Smiling bitterly, Lucia recalled her original purpose, handed over a piece of paper, and left.
[The number above Lucia's head has become 30]
Seeing the writing written on the paper, Allen's eyes widened.
'Professor Baran's weakness list?'
***
On the paper Lucia handed over, Professor Baran's information was packed tightly.
Where he was born, under whom he trained, let alone what kind of life he lived.
Above all, the part that caught the eye the most was exactly his weakness list.
"Did she prepare it for me."
It wasn't a list that could be made overnight.
She came finding me to hand this over to me.
If this is true, following Aniel, I received great help.
As a return greeting for simply handing over one petal, it was too heavy.
"I must surely repay later."
Thinking of the sincerity, I had to surely repay.
In that sense, passing confidently would be first though.
There was a little time left until training time with Aniel.
It is said knowing the enemy and knowing oneself, one will not be in danger in a hundred battles.
It means if you know the enemy and know yourself, you will not be in danger even if you fight a hundred times.
From now on, I will know about Professor Baran without omission.
"But what is this written at the very bottom?"
2,120 words
38 views