Chapter 15
“Ilyas, what rudeness are you committing toward the Tower Master?”
As expected, the Marquis of Verden furrowed his brows. Jerthermion’s expression wasn’t exactly welcoming either.
“Marquis, why don’t we hear the boy out for a moment? Let’s at least hear his reason,” Mernelia spoke, the only one who seemed pleased. With her siding with him, even the Marquis couldn’t argue.
Encouraged, Ilyas bravely explained his thoughts.
“Until now, knights didn’t bother learning magic. It’s more effective for them to focus on honing swordsmanship than magical power.”
“Then why are you doing something so absurd, Ilyas?”
“I have no intention of raising my magical power either,” Ilyas replied.
“Then… you do realize that what you’re doing makes both wizards and knights look ridiculous, right?”
Everyone had assumed Ilyas was a naive, impulsive child. But his next words made them nod in agreement.
“That’s not it. Even though the Princess didn’t accept my oath, I’ve resolved to serve her as a knight of Verden. Since the Princess is talented in magic, if I study the theory alongside her, won’t it make me more capable of understanding and supporting her in the future?”
Erkina slightly revised her earlier judgment of Ilyas.
He’s more thoughtful than I expected. His persistence from before the regression has remained, but now in a positive way. At this rate, he’ll grow into an excellent knight.
“Is that all?” asked the Marquis of Verden.
Ilyas smiled brightly.
“No! If I study magic with the Princess, I can see her every day! I want to become close friends with her!”
Erkina was horrified. After all that talk about jealousy, why was he committing such nonsense?
‘No, maybe it’s better to keep him close for now,’ she thought. Until the Marquis formally declares his support, he could be a valuable source of information.
“I agree as well. It seems more enjoyable if there are more friends learning together,” Erkina said with a smile, glancing at Jerthermion.
Jerthermion, who had bent slightly for her sake, showed no particular emotion. Was he displeased?
“Of course, with the teacher’s permission,” Erkina added softly.
“No. If Erkina is pleased, then so am I,” Jerthermion said with a faint smile. His beard twitched slightly.
At that moment, Erkina realized her opportunity. She absolutely couldn’t miss this.
“Wow—thank you, Teacher! Smooch!”
Her tiny lips pressed against his beard-covered cheek.
Jerthermion’s eyes widened in shock. Then, as if spring had arrived in his usually cold blue eyes, they softened.
Mernelia’s golden eyes, in contrast, went cold.
“Erkina! This child, really!”
Mernelia grabbed Erkina and turned her around behind her back.
With the little fairy in front of him gone, Jerthermion looked utterly deflated. Then, Erkina’s next words froze him like ice.
“Ouch, that stings.”
She rubbed her cheek with her hand.
“Erkina, young ladies shouldn’t just kiss anyone,” Mernelia scolded.
“I… I couldn’t help it. Teacher’s beard is too prickly,” Erkina said, peeking from behind Mernelia.
Jerthermion touched the cheek Erkina had kissed, his gaze unfocused and dazed. It was unclear if he even heard what she said.
“Erkina, you can’t do that to just anyone.”
“But Teacher isn’t just anyone,” Erkina replied innocently, tilting her head. Mernelia’s stern gaze silenced her completely.
“Erkina, history class is about to start, isn’t it? Go inside and prepare. I’ll see the guests off.”
She had almost forgotten. Starting over at eight meant even the classes she disliked had to be taken again—especially history and the now-fuzzy imperial studies. Mernelia considered them vital, so they couldn’t be neglected.
“Yes…” Erkina reluctantly held her skirt and greeted everyone. Yet, she felt she had achieved her goal to some extent.
‘Good, it worked.’
Since Jerthermion was still touching his beard and cheek, she could look forward to tomorrow.
Count Blent knelt before the First Prince.
“Fool! Didn’t you realize that the child hit by the carriage was the Marquis of Verden’s nephew?”
“I… I’m sorry! I never imagined a noble child would wander the streets alone…”
“Because of you, the Marquis of Verden and my sister have grown even closer,” Paleroad slammed the sword sheath he held into the ground. Count Blent trembled.
“I’ve worked so hard to gain the Marquis’s support! And you ruined it!”
“B-But… he’s always politically neutral and loyal only to the Emperor…”
“Do you really think you can stay neutral when someone who helped my beloved nephew asks for your help? Especially a knight who values honor? How do you know they won’t fall for each other?”
Blent could only cower in silence. He knew well that if Paleroad lost in the succession struggle, Blent himself would be cast aside.
“But we have the Tower Master of the North on our side…”
“Hah, and yet here you sit as my adviser, slow as ever. That brat has already become my niece’s teacher. That illegitimate child is now a royal who can wield magic!”
A royal capable of magic—that was the true descendant of Emperor Frillius. Many believed this. After the Emperor’s death, no one emerged publicly because royal heirs concealed their abilities, unsure they could surpass the Emperor.
With such a child as her daughter, Mernelia might gain an advantageous position in the succession struggle, without all her previous efforts of labeling the child illegitimate going to waste.
“Could it be…”
Count Blent’s face flushed with shame. He recalled the day he had tripped for no reason—the arrogant little girl had toyed with him! His expression shifted from pale to angry.
“I heard the Princess called the Tower Master ‘Dad.’”
“I already knew that.”
It had been bothering him. The lovers barely separated might reunite, and if so, Paleroad’s support base would crumble.
“That’s perfect.”
“Perfect? How?”
“Isn’t it true that you can’t erase the belief that she’s the Emperor’s true descendant?”
“What does that mean?”
Blent finally saw a way out, grinning creepily.
“As long as the Emperor lives, popularity matters more than power in a succession struggle, doesn’t it?”
Paleroad raised his eyebrows. Indeed, the empire’s citizens were generally conservative, especially in their faith.
“Yes, that’s why I did what I did back then,” Paleroad said with a low, conniving smile.
“Good. Soon, I must go meet my beloved niece.”
Back at the Tower, Jerthermion seated Caligo in front of him.
“Has Princess Erkina given the child a name?”
Caligo nodded and then picked up a nearby piece of paper, writing the name to show him.
“Caligo? A fitting choice.”
Even though it was written in ancient script, Jerthermion showed no surprise. Caligo calmly continued to write.
『What will you do if I hurt that little brat after leaving him in your care?』
