Chapter 69
After a short while, Estelle, having finished chewing her bread, swallowed it.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Estelle picked up her clean plate and stood from her seat.
At the same time, she gave me a slight nod and whooshed away.
I stared blankly at her retreating back.
And when she completely disappeared—
Bang!
I slammed my head onto the table.
Following through with the head-pulling I had only thought about moments ago.
“Ah, how should I warn Claude?”
I had tried to hint subtly, worried that directly speaking might upset Estelle.
But nothing went according to plan!
“It’s all ruined!”
I wailed inwardly.
Time passed, flowing steadily.
Before I knew it, the end of the year approached.
Fortunately, if it can be called that, nothing major or disastrous happened—neither to me nor to Estelle.
Of course, it’s possible Estelle just didn’t tell me.
After all, she never shared what happened at the Academy with me.
“But that’s not a problem for me.”
I had Claude, who reported all sorts of Academy news that Estelle didn’t tell me!
Estelle had also said there were no issues at the Academy.
And from what Claude relayed, nothing alarming occurred.
Estelle was genuinely enjoying a peaceful life at the Academy.
“Those noble girls are unexpectedly quiet. I thought they’d take some action.”
In the first few days, I had been very anxious.
I hadn’t been able to give Estelle any warnings, and I worried those girls might bully her.
Yet, contrary to my fears, the noble girls remained perfectly silent.
“When I last spoke to Claude, he said they seemed to be misunderstanding Estelle’s identity.”
He had observed their interactions and concluded they believed she was a disguised noble.
At first, I thought this misunderstanding would be discovered quickly.
But since they remained quiet until now, it seemed the misconception was still intact.
“Honestly, as long as they keep misunderstanding, that’s better for me.”
As I had thought before, no matter that Estelle was destined to become Emperor, she was still young enough to need protection.
There was no need for her to be caught up in power struggles just yet.
Anyway, the end of the year is very important—both for me and for Estelle.
Because…
“Before this year ends, Estelle’s stats must reach the target.”
That’s right.
The approach of year-end meant a new year was about to begin.
And that meant the day Estelle would develop the royal birthmark—exclusive to direct royal descendants—was approaching.
“The most important requirement has already been fulfilled.”
The first requirement to obtain the birthmark: receive a blessing from the cardinal.
To satisfy this, I visited Welfion, the next cardinal, to receive his blessing.
“Although it hasn’t been officially announced that I will become the next cardinal…”
His divine power already far exceeded that of the current cardinal.
Since it only required divine power at the cardinal level, it was fine.
“And Welfion will become the next cardinal anyway, so…”
I shrugged and murmured to myself.
Having fulfilled the first condition, it was time for the second:
“Raise the essential stats to the required values before the year ends!”
The essential stats for the birthmark were: Health 120, Intelligence 160, Grace 110, Morality 60, Fame 80.
Considering the maximum was 600, it was extremely difficult to achieve in the first year.
But what kind of child is our Estelle!
As everyone knows—she can do it! A cute, clever, and admirable child!
Current stats:
Health: 124
Intelligence: 178
Grace: 106
Morality: 99
Fame: 83
That’s right.
All the essential stats except Grace had reached the target!
“Honestly, I was most worried about Fame.”
Other stats increase relatively easily.
Even just attending Academy classes gradually raises them.
But Fame is different.
To increase Fame, you need something special to get your name known.
In the first year, there wasn’t much time for a child to showcase exceptional talent.
But Estelle isn’t ordinary.
She raised her Fame stat by proudly winning the “Beautiful Crop Competition” and making her name known to the villagers.
Moreover, perhaps because she had dealt with noble students harassing commoners at the Academy, she gained a reputation among the children as a just and righteous girl.
Since then, her Grace gradually increased alongside Morality until she finally reached the required value.
“It worked out better than I worried it would.”
Without any major incidents, her Fame steadily rose.
Most of the stats were now on target, leaving only Grace.
“It’s not rising as quickly as I hoped.”
These days, I check Estelle’s stats every day, anxious about when it will reach the goal.
“If she hadn’t almost become a farmer at first, she would have reached this already.”
Then I wouldn’t have to be so nervous.
I pouted a little.
“Well, she’s attending Academy classes now. If things go well, her Grace stat should reach the goal today, or at the latest, tomorrow.”
I fixed my gaze on the status window, hands on my waist, muttering to myself.
Then—
Ding!
With a cheerful chime, a new status window appeared before my eyes.
Grace: 111 (+5)
Morality: 102 (+3)
Faith: 75 (+5)
Divine Power: 98 (+4)
“Oh my!”
I thought the Grace stat would be achieved either today or tomorrow.
Because of attending class, the stat increased quickly.
“This is totally lucky Reina!”
No more daily status checks!
Reina is now free.
The Academy classes had granted her freedom!
I no longer had to worry about the status window.
All that was left was to wait calmly for the year to end.
“Oh yes!”
I hummed a tune and bounced excitedly.
At that moment—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Someone began pounding on the front door with great force.
The sound was so loud it felt like the door might break.
Startled by the sudden noise, I quickly brought my hands to my chest.
Then, with wide eyes like a rabbit, I stared at the door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Is anyone inside? Reina!”
A familiar voice called my name along with the pounding—Cain.
I rushed to the front door and opened it.
“Cain? What’s the matter, why are you in such a hurry…?”
The moment I saw Cain’s face, I faltered.
His expression was grave.
“Reina.”
“Y-Yes?”
“You need to go to Pandora Academy immediately.”
“W-What?”
Suddenly?
I stepped back, surprised, while holding the doorknob.
The door, which had been wide open, closed slightly.
Cain then stepped forward and grabbed the doorframe.
“This is not the time for this.”
He looked at me seriously and continued urgently,
“Estelle has collapsed.”
A lavish mansion’s drawing room, filled with sparkling jewelry inlaid on necklaces, swords made by famous blacksmiths, portraits by renowned painters, and other priceless treasures.
Three people were present.
With a haughty posture sat the reddish-brown-haired Marinelph Karlosd’s father, Marquis Karlosd, flanked by the mansion’s owner, Count Basenrex, father of Robel Basenrex, keeping his favor.
And nervously sweating and keeping his distance was Count Novatisque, father of Baritas Novatisque.
Then—
Bang!
“M-Master!”
The brown-haired servant had swung open the drawing room door without permission.
Basenrex was furious.
How dare this lowly servant open the door without permission, making the lesser-noble Novatisque look at him with contempt!
