CHAPTER 123……………………………………
Unbelievable. Why is it my fault that Leonhart knocked down the knights?
“Just reconcile when the stage is set. They say a marital quarrel is like cutting water with a knife—meaning it’s pointless.”
“We’re not married. And I have no intention of reconciling with His Highness. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Duke! Are you going to act like a child?”
“The person who caused all this should take responsibility. If you don’t want to see Piacere’s disappointed face, make sure His Highness attends the sports day.”
“Are you threatening me? How am I supposed to do that?!”
“That’s for you to figure out.”
Ruspell set down his teacup and suddenly stood up.
“No, I can’t! You can’t! His Highness is in a state where he sees nothing—friends, enemies, nothing! You have to do it yourself, Duke.”
If I reach out first, Leonhart will misunderstand that I’ve abandoned the idea of breaking the engagement.
‘So I can’t make the first move.’
I calmly sipped my tea before speaking.
“I’m talking about Isabella.”
“…!”
Ruspell, who looked like he was about to bolt, froze in place.
“Isabella… Professor Loren?”
“Yes. The one you have a crush on.”
“I don’t have a crush!”
Ruspell shouted, his face bright red, then quietly sat back on the sofa.
“But… it seems you’ve become quite close to Professor Loren. Calling each other by name and all.”
“Isabella asked me, saying she wants to regard him as her lifelong benefactor. She begged me to call him by name.”
“What happened for Professor Loren to be considered a lifelong benefactor?”
“I can’t go into details. Just know I helped a little.”
“Why? Did something bad happen to Professor Loren?”
“It’s personal, so it’s not my place to say. If you’re really curious, ask Isabella yourself.”
“…Who are you kidding? You know I can’t speak properly in front of Professor Loren.”
“Last time I saw you, it was pretty bad. Why are you like that?”
“…If I knew, I would’ve fixed it already.”
A master-level magician, 27 years old, who had spent all his life studying magic, finally blushed over his first love.
“Awkwardness fades naturally if you meet often.”
“Professor Loren stays in the annex, and I’m in the main building. It’s hard to even see him once a day.”
“I’ll help you.”
“There’s a way?”
“There are many ways. But only if you do me a favor.”
“…You’re saying I should abandon my friend to get along with the girl I like?”
“Abandon? Weren’t you hoping I’d reconcile with His Highness?”
Ruspell glared at me with narrowed eyes and extended his hand.
“Please take care of this.”
“Alright.”
We firmly shook hands.
Returning to work after a while, the Academy was chaotic.
With the sports day approaching, not just the students but the professors couldn’t hide their excitement.
I scanned the lecture hall, which was quieter than ever.
Seeing the students so hyped, I tried to tighten the atmosphere slightly, and they immediately straightened up.
Before they even made eye contact, they bowed their heads hastily, and I felt a little guilty.
“Any questions?”
“No!”
“Impressive. You’ve perfectly understood the lesson.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Then apply today’s topic to design a commercial facility. The subject is unlimited, and the deadline is next week.”
The students who had responded boldly turned pale.
“Huh! No, Professor! I didn’t understand!”
“If you do the assignment, you won’t be able to watch the sports day! It’s the last one at the Academy!”
“Please, just let us watch once!”
I stared at the students shouting in protest.
“How long until graduation?”
“Half a year left!”
“Do you think life will be easy just because you graduate from the Academy and your parents are nobles? Well… maybe. But if you want to live and die as mediocre nobles, that’s your choice.”
The lecture hall went deathly quiet, like someone had thrown cold water on them.
“But if you want to succeed, you must face me. Will flattery or bribes work on me, who has far more power and wealth than your parents?”
“….”
“The only way to gain my favor is through blood, sweat, and effort. Do you really have time to enjoy a sports day?”
“Ah… no…”
“Class dismissed.”
I left the gloomy lecture hall behind and stepped outside.
Ruspell, who had finished his class and was waiting, yawned widely as he approached.
“Why do you crush the kids’ spirits like that? They just want to enjoy the sports day before graduation.”
“I just told them reality.”
“True… not wrong. What about lunch? Shall we eat in the cafeteria?”
“Let’s do that.”
As we moved to the cafeteria, the professors hurriedly left mid-meal.
By now, they should’ve adapted, but I guess I was still awkward for them.
Ruspell and I got our food and sat down.
“Nine days until the sports day. When will His Highness be met?”
“Today or tomorrow. And Duke, keep your promise to help create an opportunity with Professor Loren.”
“Don’t worry about that. But you must win her heart yourself.”
“I’ve been reading romance guides anyway—about 200 books.”
“…I’ll tell you.”
As Ruspell lectured earnestly on how to move a woman’s heart, a familiar face appeared at the cafeteria entrance.
“Women are swayed more by small gestures than grand ones. For example… huh? Owen?”
“Huh? What’s he doing here? Owen, over here!”
Ruspell raised his hand in recognition, and Owen, who had been wandering at the entrance, ran over.
“Duke, I have urgent news. We should move somewhere private.”
I had a bad feeling.
We quickly finished our meal and went up to my study.
While I prepared tea, Owen fidgeted, chewing his lips, clenching and unclenching his fists—clearly anxious.
Finally, Ruspell grabbed Owen’s arm.
“Owen, why are you so restless? Calm down.”
“Ha…”
Owen gulped down his tea in one go and tried to steady his breath.
“Duke, you know we’ve been secretly researching the Saint at the temple, right?”
“Did you find anything?”
“Historically, no Saint has ever appeared in the Empire. There’s almost no information.”
“I heard from Ruspell. Must’ve been hard work.”
“We eventually gave up finding new info about the Saint. Instead, we focused on the prophecies.”
“The prophecies mention the Saint, right? So?”
“There are ambiguous parts in the prophecy. We reinterpreted them, inserting the Saint into those sections.”
It made sense. I nodded and urged Owen to continue.
“To conclude, the fever Piacere had recently was indeed an awakening fever.”
Ruspell, listening nonchalantly, propped his chin with his hand.
“But she hasn’t awakened yet.”
“The Saint, unlike clergy, must overcome two trials to awaken. So Piacere still has one last trial remaining.”
“What’s that?”
“Owen brought a note with part of the newly interpreted prophecy. Read it.”
Owen handed me a small memo.
“On the night when the moon turns red, the vessel of the divine shatters itself and is reborn as a complete being.”
My heart sank at the sight.
Ruspell frowned and spoke before I could respond.
“That’s very metaphorical. The vessel of the divine… what does that mean?”
“It refers to the one who will become the Saint.”
“The little one?”
“Yes.”
“And ‘shatter itself’ means?”
Owen avoided my gaze as he replied.
“It seems to mean that Piacere must… sacrifice her own life.”
“…!”
Ruspell paused, then reread the memo.
“The last trial to become a Saint is sacrifice?”
“Yes… if the prophecy is to be believed.”
“For whom must she sacrifice herself?”
Owen stammered.
“Since the appearance of evil coincides with the Saint… maybe to save the world from evil?”
“Bullshit.”
“Huh?”
“Adele sacrificed herself to save the world from the Demon King. And now the little one must be sacrificed to save the world again? The temple isn’t going to follow such a crazy prophecy, right?”
“….”
Owen couldn’t answer. Ruspell’s expression turned serious.
“Don’t tell me… the temple decided to follow this prophecy?”
“The prophecy is the word of God. It’s not optional.”
“So what do we do?”
“They suggested entrusting Piacere’s safety to the temple… and convincing you, Duke.”
“You mean locking the little one in the temple? Because she can’t run before evil appears. Right?”
