Chapter 42
“…Huh?”
Checkered shirt, suspenders, and even boots.
A perfect farmhand’s look.
‘If she added a straw hat and braided her hair into pigtails, she’d look even cuter.’
Ugh. Just imagining it made my heart ache.
I clutched my chest and let out a groan.
“…You’re seriously weird.”
Julie’s voice came from in front of me, dripping with distaste.
But this wasn’t something I could control.
Of course it hurts my heart—because she’d be so cute and pretty. Isn’t that only natural?
“Ugh, whatever. So this too, I just need to show along with the next sketch, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“Fine. Got it.”
Julie frowned, glaring at me as she sipped her tea.
“By the way, I heard Estelle got accepted into Pantora Academy.”
“Mm, that’s right!”
As expected, Julie was quick with news.
Other than a few people, hardly anyone knew that Estelle had only applied because of persuasion. Yet Julie already knew.
I nodded enthusiastically with a bright smile.
“Tell her congratulations for me. And also… tell her to be careful.”
“Careful…?”
Her words made me tilt my head in confusion.
“I heard that this year, a lot of nobles’ children are enrolling. You know as well as I do—nobles aren’t all good people.”
Julie lowered her voice, speaking in a quiet, serious tone.
“Especially this year, they say both the Emperor’s faction and the Noble faction are sending a bunch of their children. Tell her not to get tangled up in anything and just keep her head down. People like us, commoners, have to be cautious.”
After whispering that with a sigh, Julie clicked her tongue in irritation and scratched the back of her head hard.
* * *
“Hmm…”
Even after getting home, Julie’s words kept echoing in my mind.
‘The Emperor’s faction and the Noble faction…’
No power in the world is perfect.
To seize and hold it, you must fight constantly.
And that was true of the Imperial Court as well.
Long ago, when the heir Estelle went missing, the Emperor’s faction’s authority wavered.
Of course, thanks to excellent policies, virtuous character, and the people’s support, they recovered.
But once a crack appears, it can never truly be undone.
‘In fact, it only stirred people’s desire to dig at that crack and break it further.’
That one incident gave the Noble faction a taste of power, and ever since, they’ve been lurking like hyenas, waiting to strike at the Emperor’s back.
‘This is worrying.’
School is a miniature version of society.
As poor as relations were between the two factions, Pantora Academy wouldn’t be much better once a crowd of their children enrolled.
‘If only I could know exactly what happens there…’
Unfortunately, I had no such knowledge.
Even in the game, all it said was that Estelle was bullied by wicked nobles. No details were ever given.
‘If her Dignity stat is high, she can avoid most bullying, but still…’
I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
‘Please, let nothing bad happen…’
I clasped my hands and prayed earnestly.
* * *
At last, the day of Estelle’s entrance into Pantora Academy dawned.
“Reina, are you okay? You look nervous.”
“U-uh? O-of course I’m fine. I-I’m fine.”
“I don’t think so…”
I could feel Estelle’s suspicious eyes on me.
And honestly, she had every reason not to believe me.
I looked terrible.
From the day Julie warned me until now, I hadn’t slept properly even once.
Would Estelle get caught up in a power struggle? Even if she didn’t, would she end up hurt by it anyway?
Every night, I lay wide awake with those thoughts.
And now my body was trembling all over.
Estelle must have felt the shaking through my hand that she was holding.
She let out a deep sigh and released my hand.
Then, after stepping ahead a few paces, she turned and stood facing me.
“Reina. Look at me.”
“Uh-huh…”
With her hands behind her back, Estelle fixed me with a steady gaze.
“See? Your face has gone pale with nerves. Why lie about it? Liar.”
She narrowed her eyes, giving me a light glare.
I swallowed hard. Not because I was scared of her.
…But because she was too pretty.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d start gushing again.
Her outfit today was different from usual.
It was her first day at the academy, so she was wearing the academy uniform Claude had given her.
That only made her look even cuter and prettier.
Instead of her comfy shoes, she wore white knee-high socks with black loafers.
Instead of a casual dress, a neatly pressed shirt and a pleated skirt that swayed as she moved.
And even a mid-season cape she normally never wore.
‘She’s so beautiful…’
The design was simple—basic, neat, like any standard uniform.
And that simplicity only highlighted Estelle’s looks more.
‘It’s all because her beauty just doesn’t rest, not even for a moment.’
Just look at her.
Anyone entering the academy—man or woman, young or old—would be stunned speechless at the sight of her.
‘Don’t look! Nobody look at our Estelle!’
Of course, I was the only one conscious of that.
Estelle didn’t seem to care at all if people stared.
“Why have you been worrying so much these past few days? You weren’t like this before.”
Estelle pouted as she asked.
I had been grinning like a fool, but at that question, I gave an awkward smile and averted my eyes.
‘How can I tell her I’m worried she’ll get dragged into nobles’ power struggles at only fourteen?’
Sure, as future Empress, she would have to face such trials.
But now? She was still so young and tender. It was far too soon.
And besides—we were standing right in front of the academy.
Crowds of people around us, ears everywhere.
I couldn’t just say “power struggles” out loud here.
If anyone overheard and repeated it to the wrong noble…
‘Even if I said it, Estelle would be the one to suffer for it. Definitely!’
I firmly shook my head and kept my lips sealed.
Instead, I shared a different worry I’d meant to keep hidden.
“It’s not for any special reason. It’s just… it feels like you’re going far away.”
I both liked and hated Estelle going to the academy.
Because it felt like she was leaving me behind.
‘Is this what they call empty-nest syndrome?’
My heart felt strangely hollow and bitter.
“Why would you think that? I’ll commute from home every day! I didn’t even apply for the dorms on purpose. You were right there when I decided.”
Estelle looked exasperated, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe me.
* * *
It was shortly after we had received Estelle’s acceptance letter to Pantora Academy.
When it first arrived, I was too excited by the word “Accepted” to read it carefully.
But once I calmed down, I thought I should go over it again more thoroughly.
“Let’s see… what exactly does it say?”
I picked up the letter I had proudly displayed on the table.
And for the first time, I carefully read its contents.
“…W-what’s this?”
My eyes went wide.
“T-top scorer? S-scholarship student?”
It turned out Estelle hadn’t just done well on the entrance exam.
Among all the countless test-takers, she had ranked the very highest.
In other words—first place.
Sure, I knew my girl was smart, but I never imagined this smart!
“Guh…!”
The shock was so great I clutched my neck and nearly collapsed.
“Re-Reina!”
Luckily, Estelle came home just then and caught me as I toppled, saving my life.
The scholarship benefits were incredible.
First of all, her tuition for the year was free.
And as long as she maintained excellent grades, it would remain completely free.
‘Considering that one semester’s tuition is equal to a commoner’s yearly wages, that’s huge.’
Even with Claude’s recommendation letter, that only made admission easier. It didn’t reduce tuition at all.
I’d been worrying about how we’d ever pay for it.
‘But a scholarship…’
Something I’d never managed even in my past life—Estelle had achieved here.
