Chapter 56
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Entering the University (Illustration Added)
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I rested my chin on my hand and closed my eyes.
The faint rocking of the carriage felt pleasant.
I'd been reading books on magic formulas late into the night every day, leaving me slightly drowsy.
Even though I'd pushed 'Greed' and 'Patience' nearly to their limits, there was no way to alleviate the mental fatigue.
So, during these short trips, I made a habit of catching a quick nap.
But... it seemed difficult today.
"Um, excuse me, Count..."
"...What is it?"
When I opened my eyes, Wendy sat across from me in her school uniform.
Her big eyes blinked as she looked my way.
"Does it... look strange...?"
"Yes."
The clothes Wendy wore were a custom-made school uniform ordered from the high-end brand Ruelcia.
The plaid skirt and blazer, made from premium materials, made her look just like a student from high society.
No one would ever guess she was my servant.
However, there was something I definitely wanted to point out.
"Wendy."
"Y-Yes?"
"This is the third time you're asking me."
Today was the entrance ceremony at Meikahel University.
Wendy, wearing a school uniform for the first time in her life, was extremely excited.
She'd been persistently asking for my opinion ever since we left the mansion.
But by the third time, it was getting tiring.
"Your outfit doesn't look strange at all, so stop bothering me."
That should be clear enough. Or so I thought.
"N-Nooo..."
"...?"
I looked up at Wendy.
She stared straight at me with a serious gaze, as if she'd resolved to make some major declaration.
"I'm your exclusive maid, Count. So, I think it's my duty to get closer to the image you want...!"
I was a little surprised.
To think Wendy would make such a bold statement to Tristan...
Maybe I'd been underestimating her character a bit.
Wendy placed her hand on her small chest and continued.
"I'll definitely work hard to become the woman you want me to be. So please tell me... Do you like how I look right now...?"
Wendy had indeed grown just as I'd intended.
She was a diligent hard worker.
And now, she wanted confirmation of her efforts from me.
As her master, I decided I had a duty to answer.
Though I was incredibly sleepy, I opened my mouth.
"Whether I like it or not is a pointless question."
"Y-Yes?"
"I don't keep anyone around who doesn't please me."
"R-Really?!"
Wendy jumped in surprise and covered her mouth with her hands.
"D-Does that mean you... you like me...!?"
"I've been paying attention to you from the start."
"...Huh?"
Well...
There was no way I could ignore Wendy.
To Tristan, she was a walking death flag.
Her death meant my death.
That's why I'd trained her.
I'd helped arrange for top world-class characters like Myohail and Blanche to become her mentors.
And Wendy had grown quickly, living up to my expectations.
The chances of her getting caught in some sudden incident and dying had decreased significantly.
Naturally, my mind felt much more at ease.
"Is it... too sudden...? A-And I'm just a mere servant... There's a difference in status, you know..."
"I don't care about that."
The sunlight was too bright, so Wendy covered her face with both hands.
Suppressing a yawn, I said,
"Just stay by my side like you are now."
Remembering the future Wendy that Michaela had shown me, I continued.
...
"In 10 years, you'll have grown into someone more splendid than anyone else."
"...Y-Yes."
Wendy bowed her head deeply and replied in a voice as small as a mosquito's.
"I-I understand... I'm still young and lacking a lot right now... But... I'll work hard until then and wait for you, Count..."
"Good. Keep at it."
Finally, some quiet.
Wendy kept her head bowed and said nothing more.
Thanks to that, I was able to nap until the carriage stopped.
Though it was only for a very short time.
The moment the carriage halted, Wendy shot up from her seat like a bullet.
"W-Were already here!"
Wendy hurried out first.
I followed after her as if I'd never been asleep.
The sun-blazed courtyard of Meikahel University stretched out before us.
Since it was entrance ceremony day, there were far more people than last timeimpossible to compare.
And among them, some recognized me.
"Oh? I thought it looked familiarit's the head of the Ruelverta family!"
A middle-aged man approached me with a surprised face.
I glanced at his character profile before responding.
"Long time no see, Count Burgess."
"You remember me! Hahaha. I never imagined I'd run into you here, Count Tristan."
Count Burgessone of the nobles friendly to the Ruelverta familylaughed loudly.
Then his gaze landed on Wendy beside me.
"Ah...? And who's the young lady next to you?"
"My exclusive maid."
"Someone this young? And in a school uniform, no less... Don't tell me she's enrolling here?"
"Y-Yes..."
Wendy replied shyly.
Burgess exclaimed in exaggerated admiration.
"As expected of you, Count! Even your servant is getting into the empire's top school! Truly a servant of the Ruelverta family!"
"Ugh..."
Burgess was a noble who actively cooperated with the Ruelverta family.
He'd never be an enemy, but I didn't particularly like him.
Because...
"Of course, it's all thanks to your excellence, Count. Wow, what luck to see you at school for the first time today."
He was a guy whose flattery was way over the top.
The kind of third-rate sycophant you find in any genre.
That was Burgess.
"By the way, my fool of a son barely scraped into this school at the bottom of the list this year. Your servant seems far superior to my worthless boy. Don't you think?"
Should I just ignore him and leave?
As I muttered that to myself, another person appeared before us.
"Hey."
Turning my head, I saw a beautiful noblewoman in a fur coat.
Her sharp eyes, unmasked even by heavy makeup, were fixed on me.
I murmured her character's name.
"...Professor Ariel."
"What?! To think Count Tristan remembers an extra like me... What an undeserved honor for a witch like her."
Burgess, please just disappear...
I pressed my throbbing temple.
Unsurprisingly, Ariel bristled.
"Burgess. Did you just say that out loud?!"
"Oh? If it isn't Ariel. Long time no see?"
"Pretending not to know me? Everyone heard! Witch? Extra? You and your loose lips...!"
"Ah, you heard that? Good ears. But poor comprehension. If Tristan is the lead, I'm a supporting role, and you're the extraobvious, right?"
"Sigh... Fine. Talking to you just hurts my mouth, Burgess."
Ariel whipped her head around and glared at me.
"Hmph. Still as unpleasant as ever, Count Tristan. That arrogant gaze... and you're not as fat... anymore...?"
I'd slimmed down considerably since surviving that near-death experience.
Ariel's eyes narrowed as she looked at my body, then she cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Ahem! So you've lost some weightdoes that mean you get to stare at people like that?"
"It's just my natural eye shape."
"Shut up! What I want to know is why you're here."
Ariel Risujet.
Wife of a border count and one of the university's outstanding professors.
And the reason she showed such open disdain toward me was no accident.
"This school may run on your family's money, Tristan, but it's still an imperial institution. If you don't have a reason to be here, leave immediately."
Ariel was one of the pro-imperial nobles.
She managed herself so thoroughly that she owed Tristan nothing.
In the original story, she'd been enough of an obstacle that Tristan had attempted to assassinate her multiple times.
"I have a reason for being here."
"Ha! What's that? Oh? Count, do you have a little sister?"
Ariel finally noticed Wendy beside me.
"Um, I'm not the Count's little sisterI'm his exclusive maid. I came with him today for the entrance ceremony..."
"Hoo?"
Ariel looked at me in surprise at Wendy's words.
"Hmph. You keep a pretty capable girl by your side."
"Now you see? Even their servants possess outstanding talentthat's the greatness of the Ruelverta family."
"Burgess... Know your place. There's only one person in this country worthy of your loyalty."
"Hahaha. You're right. Only one for me."
Burgess laughed loudly and positioned himself beside me boastfully.
Ariel clicked her tongue.
"What a rogue. You can only mock His Majesty so much..."
Frowning, Ariel soon fixed me with a venomous glare.
"Tristan, I absolutely can't stand seeing you strut around this school backed by your family. I'll let it slide today because of the entrance ceremony, but don't show your face here again!"
With that, Ariel strode off haughtily, her high heels clicking.
As Burgess watched her seductive retreating figure, he whispered in my ear.
"As expected of you, Tristan. Taking all that abuse from that witch without flinchingtruly admirable."