Ch.103Celebration (1)

# News of Ruide’s research presentation spread quickly, reaching even the Imperial Palace.

Lucius calmly listened to Mikael’s report before asking, “The entire empire seems to be in a stir. To think that mages at the tower would halt all their research just to discuss this.”

“It’s Ruide’s research presentation after all. It’s bound to cause a commotion.”

Lucius always had a peculiar way of lifting the corners of his mouth whenever Ruide was mentioned.

However, this time, he didn’t smile at all.

What he needed to do now required setting aside personal feelings—this was his duty as “Emperor.”

“The time has finally come.”

“Yes.”

Mikael bowed his head.

“Tell Ruide I’ll be hosting a celebration for him. However, send the invitation to Amelia Windsor.”

Lucius had been waiting for this moment.

He firmly believed that Ruide would achieve “something remarkable” in the near future.

And that would be the cornerstone—the only path—for his “plan to change the Windsor family successor.”

“From now on, remember that we cannot afford even the slightest mistake. The empire’s fate depends on this.”

Lucius was solemn.

Mikael couldn’t understand why the Emperor was reacting so sensitively.

But a personal opinion was completely unnecessary for the Emperor’s aide.

Mikael prostrated himself and replied briefly, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

—

“A celebration?”

“Yes.”

“No thanks.”

Ruide shook his head at Amelia, who was holding out a letter with an intimidating seal.

“I’ve been out too much lately. I want to rest.”

“His-His Majesty is hosting this celebration for you!”

“Just go without me, sister.”

It was certainly kind of the Emperor to host a celebration in his honor.

But he really couldn’t go.

“It’s too bothersome.”

Ruide curled up on his fox cushion.

Amelia looked down at her brother with an incredulous expression.

“What’s the point of having a celebration for Ruide if Ruide himself doesn’t attend?”

Ruide buried his face in his pillow.

“You can attend in my place.”

“No way. What do you think of His Majesty? The Windsors must show respect to the Imperial family.”

“If it were Sister Irene, she would have said I didn’t need to go.”

“If it were Mother, she would have told you to attend, wouldn’t she?”

“I don’t like crowded places. His Majesty will understand. He knows what I’m like. Besides, only you received the invitation.”

“Still…! Where in the world would you have a celebration without the guest of honor?”

Amelia was at her wit’s end.

Fundamentally, Amelia believed in showing respect to the Emperor.

“I even lifted your allowance ban, and you’re still acting like this? You promised to respect me.”

‘I’m absolutely not going.’

He already disliked crowded places.

And with the inherent laziness of “indolent Ruide” added to that, he really didn’t want to go.

“Tell them I’m sick.”

“You’re not sick!”

“Or say my grandmother passed away.”

“Our grandmother is still alive! She’s still in good health!”

Ruide sat up abruptly in irritation.

He glared at Amelia.

“You should handle that much. I’m only twelve.”

“Saying that yourself shows a bit of a lack of conscience, don’t you think?”

Amelia slumped her shoulders.

Once Ruide became stubborn about something, it was impossible to change his mind.

‘I have no choice.’

As important as the Emperor’s words were, she couldn’t ignore Ruide’s wishes.

“…I’ll figure something out then.”

Ruide waved his arm halfheartedly.

“Good luck.”

Amelia’s eyes twitched.

“Ruide. When you talk to someone, look at their face.”

Ruide looked at Amelia with indifferent eyes.

‘This time, I’ll restore the collapsed hierarchy.’

Amelia steeled her resolve.

But—

“Sorry.”

Ruide apologized simply and hugged his pillow again.

‘This is infuriating!’

Amelia stared at the sleeping Ruide for a long time, her body trembling with frustration.

—

The first generation of the Imperial Academy’s Student Council was successfully established.

The main building, which Ruide had once occupied, became the Student Council’s headquarters.

Although it had been a partially destroyed building, thanks to the “restoration magic” that Ruide had previously cast, the basic framework could be maintained—

And in less than a month, they were able to restore it to a proper building.

There, the first generation of the Student Council led by Damon held their first meeting.

“I thought the Student Council would officially start operating from next semester… but Prince Damon, this is too far!”

Vice President Hersy stood up in disbelief as she opened the discussion.

The conference table wasn’t in the style commonly used in the Empire.

In the Empire, round tables were mainly used to eliminate distinctions of rank and encourage free speech.

But the table they were sitting at now was long and rectangular.

Moreover, Damon was sitting far away in the middle seat, enjoying wine.

He was so far that his face looked as small as a dot.

“Refrain from speaking, wench.”

Damon raised his wine glass, framing Hersy’s face in it.

“You are in my royal presence.”

“What! This isn’t the Imperial Palace, and you’re not the Emperor!”

Hersy at least had some immunity to his behavior and could challenge him, but the two commoners were trembling.

Especially Asha, who had become a Student Council member by chance, was feeling miserable.

‘Oh no, there’s a marquis’s daughter in front of me, a former prince beside me, and that person is Professor Ruide’s assistant…!’

Already shy by nature, she didn’t know how to compose herself in the presence of such high nobles whom she rarely saw.

“But why am I here…?”

Ella blinked in confusion.

She had come because Ruide told her to, but she didn’t know why she was sitting here.

“Didn’t Ruide tell you?”

When Hersy asked, Ella shook her head.

“No… he just suddenly told me to come here.”

“You’re the head of the Treasury Department. You’ll be managing the Student Council’s various funds from now on.”

“W-what?”

Ella was startled.

“B-but I was expelled…”

“Ha.”

Hersy sighed.

“Who do you think Ruide is?”

“Pardon?”

“That doesn’t matter at all. There’s nothing the youngest of the Windsor family can’t do at the Academy.”

“Oh!”

Ella covered her mouth.

“Then, can I attend classes too…?”

Hersy was dumbfounded.

“Is that what’s important?”

Nod, nod.

Ella nodded her head. Hersy was inwardly incredulous.

‘She can write papers recognized by academia, yet she’s concerned about attending classes?’

It seemed almost like deception.

“Of course. As Ruide’s assistant, you can certainly attend classes…”

“Wow, thank you!”

Ella suddenly hugged Hersy.

As Ella was much larger than her, Hersy ended up being embraced.

“W-what are you doing!”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just… so happy…”

Ella mumbled shyly after her bold action.

“Um… is it rude to do this to a noble…?”

Hersy wasn’t an easy-going person.

She never forgave disrespect toward herself.

But she knew something about Ella.

She felt somewhat responsible for her.

So instead of getting angry, Hersy calmly said:

“…Please be careful next time. And you should thank Ruide, not me.”

“Enough of that, Hersy. Give your report,” Damon said in a deep voice.

But he was so far away that his voice was as tiny as a mosquito’s.

Hersy looked at Damon with cold eyes.

“Stop that and come over here. We can’t even hear your voice.”

“Hmph. What an impertinent wench.”

Snap—!

Damon snapped his fingers.

“Wh-whoa!” Asha exclaimed in shock.

The table suddenly shrank and reached Damon in an instant.

Even Hersy was quite surprised.

“D-does this table have a shrinking function too?”

“Do not underestimate my treasures.”

Damon smirked.

Resting his chin on his hand, he said:

“Speak. You had something to say earlier, didn’t you?”

“Ah.”

Hersy opened her mouth with a look of realization.

“…This is the first task that the Imperial Academy’s Student Council will undertake. Due to Professor Ruide’s historic discovery, a grand celebratory banquet is scheduled to be held. Since it’s an achievement by a professor from the Academy, students are also qualified to attend.”

“Oh, so our job is to select those students.”

“Yes. Since heirs of influential noble families will already be invited to the banquet, we need to select students from frontier noble families or commoners.”

“A simple matter.”

For Damon, making decisions was a very simple task.

He had lived a life of making decisions all his life.

“Nobles will be excluded from the banquet attendees. They’ve already been given one opportunity. There won’t be a second. The five attendees for the banquet will be commoners. Also—”

Damon continued:

“It’s impossible for my noble self to select commoners. How can I judge when our perspectives don’t match? This task should be handled by fellow commoners.”

“Are you suggesting we leave this to Ella and Asha?”

“You’re quick to understand, wench.”

Hersy nodded.

“That seems like a good decision. Ella, Asha.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Y-yes.”

Asha answered with a start, while Ella responded slowly.

“Please coordinate and select the commoners who will attend the banquet. If you encounter any difficulties in the process, please come to me immediately. I’ll resolve them smoothly.”

Hersy also explained various other criteria.

Damon listened with one ear while being lost in other thoughts.

‘Is it about to begin in earnest?’

Ruide’s research hadn’t even been presented yet.

A celebration at this timing?

He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was rushed.

Damon strongly believed that the Emperor had drawn his sword.

‘It’s extremely difficult to achieve merit in times of peace.’

There was only one way for Amelia Windsor to become the successor:

To achieve greater merit than Irene Windsor.

However, Irene Windsor’s achievements included subjugating black mages and eliminating corrupt nobles.

‘Are you taking a desperate measure, brother? Well, if I hadn’t known, your plan would have been perfect.’

To compensate for Amelia’s lacking abilities, the Emperor had assigned her to create the empire’s strongest knight order.

He had her use the existing Teuton personnel, preserving their strength.

A celebration would be a perfect place to utilize that groundwork.

The Emperor must have been waiting for this moment.

A place where many influential nobles would attend.

A place where commoners would be present to amplify the incident and spread rumors to the people.

The banquet satisfied all these conditions.

What if he set the stage for Amelia Windsor in such a place?

For example, if “uninvited guests” were to intrude on the banquet?

Anyone who wasn’t a fool would have to take the bait.

If successful, it could greatly impact the succession structure of the Windsor Duchy.

After understanding everything, Damon laughed mockingly.

“What a trivial play.”

“Pardon?”

“This is not a banquet, but a third-rate farce. However, even such a farce can become first-rate depending on who the actors are.”

Damon stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and arrogantly said:

“Shine the spotlight on me, commoners. I am the only star of this play.”

Hersy opened her eyes wide.

‘What nonsense is he talking about?’

…By Hersy’s common sense, Damon was completely incomprehensible.