Ch.12Change – 6

“Is there a reason you’re so determined to protect this place?”

The day after meeting Ingrid and making a deal, Priscilla tilted her head and asked after hearing my plan.

It made sense that Priscilla couldn’t understand. This was a place I’d always passed through during each regression cycle. Normally, I’d never want to see it again.

She had tried to drop out of the academy as soon as she met me and gained her freedom, but when I said I wouldn’t go with her, she decided to stay too, reluctantly settling in. There was no way she could have any affection for this place.

“There is.”

“What is it?”

“If the academy falls apart, there’s a high chance I’ll be called back home.”

“Ah.”

Priscilla, who knew the extensive history of my overprotection, let out a sigh. Since I had confessed to being a transmigrator from our first meeting, we had nothing much to hide from each other and had shared various things.

“I tried my best to accept it. They don’t tie me up or abuse me—quite the opposite, actually. When I ask for one thing, they bring me three.”

I was genuinely shocked when they established an entire trading company dealing exclusively in ice cream ingredients just because I mentioned wanting some ice cream.

What’s even funnier is that the company is still doing quite well. I really don’t understand what’s going on.

“As you know, I went through a lot in the first world.”

“Yes. I know because you told me before.”

“So I tried to think of it positively, as compensation for all that suffering back then… but it was just too much.”

I shudder to think that if I hadn’t desperately insisted I was fine, I would still be living a life where my every move was attended to by a legion of maids at this age.

For example, having to be embraced by Beatrice every night while she patted my back and sang lullabies, with several maids always standing by in three shifts.

And “several” meant a minimum of eight, sometimes up to twenty.

‘I suppose some people might like that sort of thing…’

But I’m definitely not one of them.

“Do you think you can do it? Even we can’t prevent all damage. That’s just the kind of world this is.”

Like all academies in novels, this one was no exception. Terrorist attacks and raids targeting Bellium Academy occurred regularly. And of course, it was the protagonist and the hero who resolved them.

As the only academy directly established by the Emperor, it had symbolic significance. Add to that the fact that it gathered the children of all the core noble families and the most talented individuals from across the empire, making it an extremely efficient target for terrorism.

With a persistent approach, just one successful attempt could cause tremendous damage.

‘And that one attempt did succeed properly.’

A gate directly connecting to the demon realm opened inside the academy, causing the director to go missing, over half the professors to die, and nearly a hundred student casualties. It was the final incident of the first part of the original novel.

If something like that happened, my family would definitely summon me back.

“As long as no one dies, it’s fine. Building damage can be covered by asking my father or mother for donations. The rest… we’ll have to prevent it. By any means necessary.”

“I understand. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me anything. Though I can’t guarantee things will flow exactly as I remember…”

“What you’re doing now is already enough. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

“Hehe, okay.”

When I patted her head, Priscilla immediately threw off her dejected mood and grinned.

“…So anyway.”

I could see someone approaching from a distance. I inwardly sighed and continued speaking.

“Was the Crown Prince having that kind of tendency not in your memories?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

An androgynous handsome young man with jet-black shoulder-length hair and red eyes—the culprit responsible for us sitting here on the terrace of the school cafeteria.

Crown Prince Laura Ercarenthiana Cresenne von Yuperantis Bellium was approaching us.

He was smiling broadly with his gaze fixed on me, clearly pleased about something. Priscilla, who had heard about what the Crown Prince had done to me during our previous encounter, had a troubled look in her eyes.

“…Let’s stand up.”

“Okay.”

Whether we liked him or not, we had to show proper respect, so we stood up from our seats and were about to bow our heads.

“We greet the Moon of the Empire—”

“Such formal greetings are unnecessary. We are close, are we not? Just maintain appropriate etiquette and treat me as you would a senior. I shall treat you as I would juniors.”

What kind of relationship do we have? I reflexively suppressed the harsh words that were about to escape. The Crown Prince, regardless of my reaction, scanned me with a sticky gaze.

I could tell just by looking at his eyes. That was a gaze filled with desire to possess. My whole body trembled.

‘Of all people, the Crown Prince had to be this kind of madman.’

If it were any other noble, Priscilla would help me, and I could somehow manage to never meet them again, but given who we were dealing with, even that wasn’t possible. It was enough to drive me crazy.

“I don’t believe I gave you permission to address me casually, Priscilla Agnes.”

The gentle voice and sticky gaze he had directed at me disappeared, replaced by a cold stare and chilly voice. He was speaking to Priscilla.

Priscilla bit her lip slightly, as if displeased with the current situation.

“I greet the Moon of the Empire…”

She bowed her head, slightly lifted her skirt, crossed her legs, and greeted him.

“…Crown Prince Laura Ercarenthiana Cresenne von Yuperantis Bellium.”

“Have you been well, Mira Crate?”

Despite having demanded the greeting, the Crown Prince blatantly ignored Priscilla and addressed me instead. I could see Priscilla looking surprised, forgetting that she had been biting her lip just moments ago.

Though she rarely shows it, Priscilla is legitimately the daughter of Duke Agnes.

Which means that the Crown Prince’s blatant disregard for Priscilla could be interpreted as an implicit signal that he intends to exclude the Agnes family from the future power structure.

Fortunately, the terrace had been completely cleared beforehand, so no one was watching. If anyone had witnessed this, the upper echelons would have been in an uproar. That’s how shocking his behavior was.

“Your Highness.”

“I know. Have you also been well, Lady Agnes? It’s been a while since the entrance ceremony.”

The Crown Prince acknowledged Priscilla’s greeting only after I gave him a subtle hint.

To give hints to the first in line for succession—a blasphemous offense that could cost me my head—but the Crown Prince didn’t seem to care at all.

“…It is an honor to meet Your Highness like this.”

“You’re not crying anymore? You were sobbing quite spectacularly on the day of the entrance ceremony. You may be pleased to know that there are very few people in this world who can surprise this Laura Ercarenthiana.”

“…”

“Just a passing remark, forget it. I’ve heard all the circumstances from the person beside you.”

“…Yes. I will forget it all.”

Priscilla lowered her skirt and tried hard to maintain her composure. But she couldn’t completely hide her emotions, and I could see her eyes twitching slightly.

The Crown Prince must have noticed it too, but strangely, he didn’t seem to care about this either.

“Ah, I almost forgot. Have you heard the news?”

“Which news do you mean?”

“The news that Ingrid announced a method of adding additional formulas to wide-area annihilation magic circles, throwing the Mage Association into chaos. Thanks to that, I had to return earlier than planned.”

“Yes. I’ve heard.”

I was also quite surprised by the news, but for different reasons. I had given her permission to announce it yesterday afternoon, but when I went to the cafeteria this morning, everyone was in an uproar.

I wondered how she had prepared everything in less than a day.

“The more interesting news is that the person who inspired Ingrid is a student here at Bellium Academy. Ingrid herself confirmed it. Inspiring one of the few Grand Mages in the Empire—what an excellent student, don’t you think?”

“…”

“From what I’ve heard, he’s a freshman who just enrolled, the top student in his year, from a family with immense wealth, a handsome tall boy with black hair and black eyes… I’d like to hear your opinion, Mira Crate. What do you think? Does anyone come to mind?”

As he spoke while making direct eye contact with me, I made an incredulous expression, causing the Crown Prince to burst into clear laughter.

“What an adorable expression. I don’t know why teasing you never gets old.”

“Rather than that, I’d like to hear why you called for us.”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

The Crown Prince deliberately looked me up and down before taking his seat. Priscilla and I also sat down after confirming this.

“I’m sure you’ve both heard that a Holy Maiden candidate will be visiting Bellium Academy next Monday.”

“Yes. We know.”

Priscilla had been momentarily surprised that she was coming much earlier than in the original work.

“Do you also know why that woman is coming here?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know that.”

“It’s because of the magical beast that appeared in the city recently. ‘Fortunately,’ thanks to Lady Agnes who happened to be there and successfully subjugated it without any casualties, they were able to reach a conclusion quickly.”

The Crown Prince raised the corner of his mouth as if mocking, making eye contact with Priscilla. He seemed so persistent that it really made me wonder if he was planning to completely expel the Agnes family as soon as he ascended to the throne.

I clearly remember that their relationship wasn’t this bad when they parted ways before. I wonder if something changed his mind in the meantime.

“A direct request came from the Director. That woman is known for her terrible personality, so although it sounds shameless, he asked us to humor her as much as reasonably possible. He said she would return after three days at most, so she won’t take up too much time.”

In the original work, she definitely stayed at the academy in what was essentially a transfer. The reason she’s only staying for three days now seems to be the aftermath of the magical beast incident ending without casualties.

“It’s a request that greatly wounds my pride, but unfortunately, neither the Empire nor the Academy can firmly refuse the Starlight Order’s request. As you both well know, the support of priests and nuns is essential for maintaining the front lines.”

This world did have miraculous medical products called potions. However, the only way to heal wounds in real-time was through divine power, and the Holy Maiden was at the pinnacle of that divine power.

Perhaps even more so than the Pope.

Though it’s now more than 100 years ago, records show that when the Holy Maiden was present, the distance by which magical beasts were pushed back was easily twice what humanity had managed to push back in the last 50 years on their own.

Even now, they haven’t advanced even 50km from where the last Holy Maiden planted her flag, so no matter how terrible a personality a confirmed Holy Maiden candidate has, they simply can’t afford to discard her.

“But why us…?”

“At first, I suggested assigning a professor to her. But that woman refused. In the end, after much deliberation, the task fell to the three of us, the most skilled among the students.”

“…”

“Don’t worry too much. Rumors always have exaggerated aspects. A woman who tortures nuns under her command for fun? No sane goddess would choose such a person as a Holy Maiden.”

Knowing that the rumors weren’t exaggerated at all, and also knowing that this woman would eventually not be chosen as the Holy Maiden, we could only keep our mouths shut.

“So… Mira Crate. Now that I’ve finished what I had to say officially, let me speak unofficially.”

The Crown Prince placed his elbow on his crossed thigh, bent forward, and rested his chin on the back of his hand, making eye contact with me.

“I heard you were with three women last weekend. Is that true?”

An emotion I couldn’t identify was rising in those blood-red eyes.