Chapter 126 : At the Academy (8)
Chapter 126: At the Academy (8)
There were times when things could happen once by mere coincidence.
But when that coincidence happened twice, three times...
If it continued on like that, could one still call it a coincidence?
At least, Velita didn’t think so.
“……”
Velita slowly traced her finger along the summarized report as she read.
It was only a few lines long, yet it implied that numerous events had occurred between those lines.
“How are things going lately?”
In response to Velita’s question, the man standing beside her slightly bowed his head and replied.
“We are working tirelessly to carry out what you entrusted us with.”
“Hm... and the situation?”
“We’ve managed to gather a certain amount of agreement, but… we haven’t secured the majority yet.”
Velita picked up her teacup.
“Then what about the faction that has the majority, and their opinion?”
“They are largely opposed to the Integrated Class.”
The man once again answered politely.
He had an ordinary appearance and a common build—something you could find anywhere.
If anything stood out, it was the heavy dark circles under his eyes.
“On top of that, unlike usual, the other dormitories are putting up a strong opposition. Crowns is especially vehement. Wands and Crooks are relatively quiet, but... that’s only because they’re not expressing their opinions. It doesn’t mean they’re supportive.”
After a brief pause, the man continued.
“If this is how things are already with just the matter of the Integrated Class… if the topic of studying abroad ever leaks, things might really become troublesome.”
“……”
Velita silently emptied her teacup.
The woman who had been quietly attending her side, Anette, quickly refilled the now-empty teacup.
Then, she quietly stepped back.
She didn’t want to face the wrath of her master.
Even if that anger wasn’t directed at her.
“…So, do you have a plan for what comes next?”
“I intend to observe the situation for a little while.”
The man responded without hesitation, with confident demeanor.
“Even just the fact that you and the other royals haven’t clearly expressed your stance will gradually weaken Crowns’ opposition.”
“……”
“Moreover, Hilts seems to be shaken lately because of the incident involving the Amiel family. I plan to make use of that…”
“Boring.”
Velita abruptly cut in.
She turned her head to look at the man, who had frozen mid-sentence, having spoken with such confidence until just a moment ago.
“So, what exactly are you trying to say? Dressing things up with vague and flowery words is something clowns do.”
“Ah, that is…”
“There is no place beside me for clowns who only make excuses and crack meaningless jokes.”
Her voice was cold and final.
“What I want... are people who bring clear results and answers.”
As she spoke, Velita emptied her teacup once more.
As if waiting for that, Anette stepped forward again to refill the teacup.
“People like mages or assassins—those who can wrap things up cleanly and quietly.”
“……”
Velita set down the teacup and muttered.
“There are many things in this world that only time can solve, but choosing time as your answer among all the possibilities is the most foolish thing one can do. More than anything... it’s just boring.”
She looked at the man.
He could feel his lips going dry.
“Now explain it again. In a way that won’t bore me.”
“…Yes.”
The man replied, his voice trembling.
“…There are many opposing factions, both large and small, but there isn’t a clear representative or focal figure yet. Even if we force someone out, another will just rise to replace them. That’s why I intended to act in earnest only once such a focal figure emerged.”
“You’re saying you’ll wait for one to appear? So you can take them all out at once?”
“More accurately, it’s about managing them.”
The man responded.
“Opposition is inevitable, especially in a unique environment like the academy. Rather than wasting time meaninglessly, we can create a major focal point ourselves, let them gather around it, and manage it appropriately. I believe it can become quite useful.”
“Hm.”
Velita seemed somewhat intrigued.
“It sounds nice, but won’t it take a long time?”
“There’s a way to speed up the process. We’ve already begun working on it behind the scenes.”
“Well… that’s pleasant to hear. Then why didn’t you report that to me?”
The man understood exactly what kind of answer Velita wanted.
He also understood very well what would happen if he gave the wrong one.
“Because it’s not confirmed yet. I didn’t want to sully your ears with uncertain talk…”
“Ahaha.”
She let out a small laugh.
“There’s no need to worry that much.”
Then Velita lightly tapped her teacup with her fingernail.
Realizing that she was satisfied and dismissing him, the man quickly but respectfully offered his parting bow.
“Next time, I hope we’ll have a more constructive conversation.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure not to disappoint you.”
With that, the man swiftly fled the room.
Once he was gone, Anette, who had silently been tending to Velita’s needs, quietly spoke up.
“If you command it, I will find someone to replace him.”
“No, it’s fine. Just leave him.”
Velita shrugged.
“He may be sly at times, but he’s quite skilled at inciting and thinking on his feet. As long as I keep waking him up like this now and then, he’ll do his job fairly well.”
With that, she picked up the report again.
Whoosh.
The report in her hand spontaneously caught fire and began to burn away.
“This one’s no longer needed.”
Muttering indifferently, Velita shook her hand a couple of times as if dusting something off, then picked up the next document.
“Hm.”
Her eyes sparkled faintly as she checked the report.
It was Tesrad’s report.
It included recent events as well as information about a man she had long taken an interest in.
Lian Gwendil.
The report was brief, but it contained the key points.
“Let’s see…”
The Dungeon Collapse Incident.
And the pillar of fire that had surged up from the Forest of Secrets a few days ago.
The report, after various remarks, concluded that all of this was related to Lian Gwendil.
Although both incidents were being treated as classified, it wasn’t difficult to uncover the truth.
The flow of goods and letters within and outside the academy.
The movements and personnel changes of professors and staff.
Records of infirmary usage, and so on…
Tracing back through these countless data points and drawing conclusions from them was an easy task for Tesrad.
“……”
Velita stared at the report for a long time before slowly nodding her head.
Then, just like before, she picked it up—
“...Hm.”
As if changing her mind, she gently folded it and set it aside.
Seeing this, Anette flinched and her expression stiffened.
Trying to sound unaffected, she asked,
“…Is that about Lian Gwendil?”
“Oh my, how did you know?”
“It’s the only name Your Highness has shown interest in lately… I overstepped by speaking out.”
Velita chuckled softly.
Then she turned to look gently at Anette.
“You didn’t overstep. Go ahead and speak, Anette.”
Anette spoke with her eyes lowered.
“What do you plan to do with him?”
“Well now, what do you think I’m going to do?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure myself. Rather than saying I don’t know... maybe it’s more accurate to say I’m curious.”
Velita replied.
“Whether he just happened to be at the center of those incidents by chance, or if he’s the one drawing fate toward himself. But...”
While something might be a coincidence once, it ceases to be one the second time.
That was how Velita saw it, as she idly stroked her teacup with a finger.
“And with the Departure Festival just around the corner... I’ve arranged to have his half-brother, Artiac Gwendil, assigned as one of my attendants. I’m thinking of using him to have a long, proper conversation with Lian.”
“Will he get involved? Being half-brothers, there’s a chance he’ll ignore it if they’re not close…”
“They’ve exchanged quite a few letters. I don’t think their relationship is that bad.”
“……”
Anette once again fell silent.
“Is there a reason you’re paying so much attention to him?”
“Because I want him.”
Velita smiled.
It was a cold and beautiful smile.
Anette blinked in surprise.
It was a rare, candid expression of emotion—one she seldom heard.
“Yes, I want him. I want him to become my piece on the board. I’d like him to live for me, just like you and Tesrad do.”
He had already survived two major incidents unscathed.
Even while facing heavyweights like Archbishop Rahma and Yul Runberg.
Whether it was luck or skill...
Someone like that wasn’t easy to find.
And...
She couldn’t explain it, but she felt some kind of pull toward him.
Something she couldn’t describe—yet something she had always wanted, vaguely but surely.
She didn’t know what it was.
And that was precisely why she wanted to find out.
Because that’s what she wished for.
“……”
Velita.
She had never once failed to obtain what she desired.
Because she had never wanted anything she couldn’t have.
And she had no doubt that this time would be no different.
“What if he refuses?”
Even to that question, she simply smiled.
That smile carried a heavy shadow.
“Refusal depends on how both sides choose to interpret it.”
“……”
“Whatever it is he wants from me, I’ll just give it to him. And if there’s something he wants that I don’t have… well.”
Velita tilted her teacup.
“I’ll think about it then, I suppose.”
Her words sounded almost like a joke, but the atmosphere in the room was heavy.
Anette simply lowered her head and replied quietly.
“…As always, everything will go according to Your Highness’ will.”
“It will. Just like always.”
Velita tucked the neatly folded report into her breast pocket and picked up the final one that remained.
At that moment, her gaze turned cold.
There was a strange symbol drawn on the report.
...And if Lian Gwendil had been in that room—if he had seen that report—what kind of reaction would he have shown?
The symbol on the report—
It closely resembled the Brand that had been carved into him.
Alongside it, two words had been written like annotations.
Curse.
And Hope.
“What the hell is this…”
Lian Gwendil muttered in disbelief.
In his hand was a letter.
It was from Artiac Gwendil—his half-brother.
The contents of the letter were simple.
Though he was originally supposed to remain by the First Imperial Prince’s side, Artiac had been given a special assignment and would now be attending the Departure Festival.
And, for a brief time, he would serve as an attendant to the Second Imperial Princess Velita.
The rest of the letter was filled with greetings like wanting to catch up after a long time or sharing what they hadn’t said—but for Lian, only those first two points mattered.
“……”
...Velita.
Murmuring the name of the woman he suspected to be behind all this, Lian quietly tucked the letter away.