Chapter 45
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 45
44. Backing (Accidental Double Release)
Only after finishing training and evening time arriving could I finally meet Lucia.
"The person who makes the Princess wait is probably only you. Allen."
"I apologize. Princess Your Highness."
Lucia sent a gaze mixed with dissatisfaction.
To be fair, if someone told me on the day they suddenly couldn't keep the time and asked to wait a little, I would be angry too.
In that sense, I just bowed my head and apologized.
Because laying out excuses would only make the opponent angrier, and above all, there was nothing to excuse.
"Ha. There's no need for you to apologize. It must be because Aniel caught you anyway."
It seems it had an effect though.
Lucia showed a somewhat softened attitude.
"It is not because of the Grand Duchess. Because I requested training from her...."
"Do not think of protecting her in front of me. Allen. Do you think I wouldn't know she intends to keep you by her side all day?"
I tried to say it's because of me this time too, but did I pick the wrong choice?
In an instant, Lucia's expression turned cold.
Instead of arguing back anything, while quietly keeping my seat, I looked at the numbers above her head.
[Lucia Cratia : Favorability 30]
To think favorability is 30. It's the end of the world.
Who would have ever imagined. That I would become friends with Lucia.
Although not higher than Aniel, still, it was higher than my expectation.
'Did we do something like a duel?'
At least what comes to mind is about the level of chess.
But we didn't even play that chess that much.
While holding a doubt about how that 30 was made, Lucia approached closer.
"As we talked before, we are friends now, right?"
A scent brushing the tip of my nose.
It's a sudden thought, but women's scents were all different.
"P, Princess Your Highness....?"
I have no deep knowledge about scents, but if I must express it, to Aniel, a refreshing and cool scent, to Lily, a dangerous yet sweet scent.
And from Lucia in front of my eyes, a luxurious rose scent came out.
As if that scent I smelled once or twice in the Imperial Palace.
"Between friends, this much is okay, right?"
Lucia, who was sitting opposite, sat next to me before I knew it.
And suddenly grabbed my hand.
The thin and long fingers were very cold.
I felt like something including warmth was being taken away.
But it was simply difficult to fathom what that was.
".... Do you usually do this between friends, Princess Your Highness?"
I was curious. Does she usually do this much between friends?
If it's between the same sex, honestly I would accept this level of physical contact as is.
But if it's the opposite sex....
"To speak honestly, I haven't had a single friend until now."
However, an unexpected answer returned.
To think she didn't have a single friend.
"The ones who spent time closely with Your Highness were...."
"You have a naive side too. Did you really think those people approached me because they wanted to become close?"
If asked whether they approached harboring pure intentions, even I didn't think so.
"But you are different."
Instead of her usual venomous and sharp smile, wearing a bright smile, she speaks.
"You don't wish for anything from me."
Don't wish.
Those words were certain.
What would there be to wish for from Lucia.
Even if she is the next Emperor of the Empire and a Princess of high status, since the debutante, I didn't wish for anything from her.
"A really strange person."
Simultaneously holding my hand tightly, she leaned her head on my shoulder.
Reason shouted that I must push her away, but my body didn't follow.
"Allen's hands are big."
She didn't stop there. Bringing my hand to her cheek, she said.
"With these hands, I could feel relieved."
Watching Lucia looking happy, I could know.
[Lucia Cratia : Favorability 31]
The fact that favorability can rise even without losing.
About 10 minutes passed like that.
"Professor Baran's backing I mentioned before."
Lucia, who was smiling brightly towards me hardened like a wooden block, began to inform the reason she called me.
"I found out who it is."
***
"Are you saying a figure named Salaban is the backing?"
Prime Minister Salaban, it's a name I heard occasionally in the Wiesent territory too.
Despite being the third son of a humble family, he catches the Emperor's eye and is appointed.
A self-made figure who reached Prime Minister from then on based solely on his own skill.
"I don't know how Professor Baran put that person as his backing, but what's certain is that he intervened."
Lucia also explained why it is certain he intervened.
Actually, the Emperor had no interest in the Academy. So requesting to send the admitted students' grades saying he was curious was strange in itself.
'If Lucia speaks to that extent, the Prime Minister really must have intervened.'
Certainly, unless he possesses a backing of that level, Baran couldn't act to that extent either.
But it was strange.
"Why did he step up suddenly?"
For what reason did he take action.
Even if it's the Noble Faction, the Wiesent family hadn't conflicted with the Imperial Palace Faction side often.
Especially with the person named Salaban who hadn't been Prime Minister for long, even more so.
"His Majesty became strange starting from when Salaban appeared."
Lucia spoke towards me who couldn't understand.
That the Emperor became strange.
"What is the reason you are informing me of this."
Maybe it could be a tremendous weakness.
Because from the Imperial Palace Faction's standpoint, it could settle as the biggest unfavorable factor.
"Because I want to clearly deliver it to you. I do not belong to the Imperial Palace Faction."
Nevertheless, Lucia's expression was calm.
"Rather, the Imperial Palace Faction....."
***
When I wrapped up the conversation with Lucia and came outside, it had become completely dark.
I hadn't eaten yet, but I didn't particularly have an appetite.
'Rather my stomach feels bad.'
Maybe it was because I heard tremendous information all at once.
Then suddenly Aniel came to mind.
'Didn't she tell me not to go around starving?'
Aniel's words telling me to always properly take meals.
Both my body and mind were tired. Returning to the dormitory and taking a rest felt like the first priority.
Even while moving steps, this thought occurred suddenly.
Can I really believe all the information Lucia gave me.
'Let's not doubt right now.'
For now, I only focus on the re-examination.
It was a situation with two days left until the re-examination.
During these two days, I polish everything and pass the re-examination.
That was the thing I had to do right now.
"Where are you wandering around like that. Allen Wiesent."
But luck didn't seem to follow me.
My body stiffened at the voice heard behind my back.
I thought, should I just pretend not to hear and ignore passing by.
"When a person calls, wouldn't it be good to do about an answer."
Before I knew it, he grabbed my shoulder.
I turned my head and checked the opponent.
"Ah, greetings to the Professor."
They say even a tiger appears when spoken of, of all times, the opponent was Professor Baran, an awkward opponent to face.
His hand placed on my shoulder felt disgusting, but I tried hard to manage my expression.
"I wanted to share a conversation just the two of us just in time, how about it. Going to my office."
I almost frowned at the words telling me to go to the office.
In the report Lucia sent, it was written explicitly.
How he uses the office.
"I apologize, I have an appointment. It is greatly honorable that you called me, but it would be good to postpone it to the next opportunity."
I thought he would let me go if I refused indirectly, but rather Professor Baran put force in the hand placed on my shoulder.
It was instantaneous, but I saw.
"Appointment, you mean an appointment more important than a professor calling?"
His appearance frowning with his face fully distorted.
".... Yes. The Dean said we would meet regarding this matter."
"Hmm. If it's the Dean, it would be an unavoidable matter."
Actually, I didn't make an appointment with the Dean.
Because he didn't seem like he would accept it unless it was to that extent, I just made it up.
Only then did he return to his original expression.
"Student Allen. Do you really think you can pass my re-examination?"
Professor Baran looked into my face.
The gaze he sent was too blatant, so I could clearly know.
"I am a benevolent professor, so even to you who admitted through a fraudulent act, I can give about a chance sufficiently."
Without hesitating, I knocked away the hand on my shoulder.
And immediately examined above his head.
[Professor Baran : Favorability 69]
As soon as I check it, nausea comes up. He was the one who shouted at me in front of the students.
He was the one who passionately claimed for expulsion as soon as possible saying fraudulent admission can never be acknowledged to the professors.
Such a guy approaches coming to now saying he will give me a chance.
"I apologize, but I will confidently take the re-examination."
Did he push students in this manner.
Driven to the edge of the cliff like that, holding out a hand when the moment arrives where they can't refuse anymore.
That appearance was disgusting.
It would have been rather better if he consistently told me to leave this place.
"You don't know your place. It would be better to just quietly take my hand though?"
Smacking his lips, Baran held out his hand again and proposed pathetically.
But my intention was already clear.
"Rather than taking a rotting hand, I would rather leave this place."
"Keugh, Allen Wiesent!!"
Of course, I have no mind to leave either though.
Before leaving, I turned my head and checked the favorability above his head again.
[Professor Baran : Favorability 70]
Seeing the favorability having risen rather more, I fully frowned.
If he approached harboring the intention to ruin my condition, I wanted to let him know.
That he surely succeeded.
'Let's not eat. Because it's clear I will vomit.'
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