Ch.221221 – How to Save Her

<221 – How to Save Her>

“Then I’ll be going.”

As Arcadia turned around with elegant dignity, those who were once her followers felt an unnecessary sense of anxiety.

They had thought that if her family fell, Arcadia’s influence would end too, and that they could gather fringe forces like her and replace her as number one.

Contrary to their expectations of the glamorous lady’s downfall, Arcadia was enduring with remarkable composure.

“It’s just temporary anyway.”

“Could she really remain so composed if her family truly collapsed?”

“Either way, the princess is finished unless she joins hands with someone.”

While guiding Arcadia, Zigoku realized that Giselle’s request to escort and protect her wasn’t entirely unfounded.

If no one had been there to protect her, those ungrateful blonde beasts might have tried to humiliate her by force.

“As expected of a Ceviche oddball, she’s got guts.”

“…I’m glad it appeared that way.”

A trembling voice. Unsteady footsteps.

Walking ahead, Zigoku scratched his head, thinking he’d said something unnecessary.

Not everyone has a strong mentality like Oknodie.

Even if they want to appear strong, it doesn’t mean they truly are.

She was simply trying her best.

Zigoku didn’t speak to Arcadia anymore.

He didn’t look back either.

On the way to Giselle.

Whatever expression Arcadia wore, whatever sorrow she suppressed, that time was hers alone, not to be peeked at by anyone.

This was the minimum courtesy Zigoku showed to Arcadia, who, despite being born into an enemy family, didn’t turn away from her family’s karma.

“Here you go. Escort request completed. I’ve done your favor, so we’re even on the ammunition supply issue.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zigoku. I won’t be troubling you again with this matter. If you’re willing, for additional supplies, the next request…”

“No need.”

“I see. Then you may go.”

He had shown proper respect. Anything more would be excessive. After all, Arcadia was neither his friend nor anything else.

After bringing Arcadia to Giselle, Zigoku turned away without hesitation.

After confirming Zigoku’s departure, Giselle locked the door, took careful security measures, and only then spoke.

“Lady Arcadia. Are you aware of the current situation?”

“I know that my family’s disgrace has been exposed to the world and we’re facing a crisis of extinction.”

“If you don’t respond immediately, you’ll be caught in the power struggle of competitors trying to eliminate even one rival, and you’ll be expelled from the Academy. I’ve thought of a solution.”

“Please tell me.”

“The most critical issue now is the slave trade ledger containing the Ceviche family’s disgrace. The ledger is currently owned by Professor Destroyer’s guild. Stealing it is virtually impossible.”

“An Academy professor…?”

It was unbelievable.

Wasn’t the Academy supposed to protect its students?

The rules of the outside world should have no meaning before Dragon Principal’s stubbornness.

“The Principal will maintain his policy of protecting students. But I cannot assert that all professors below him share the same mindset.”

“I have no intention of leaving the Academy. And if the Academy doesn’t expel me, I won’t leave.”

“But if dishonorable rumors continue to the point where Lady Arcadia cannot endure at the Academy, and public humiliation persists, will you still be able to hold on then?”

“That’s…”

“Don’t waver. Whether it’s the foundation or the Academy, they don’t care about your well-being. If you don’t pull yourself together, not only will you leave the Academy, but you might also struggle to preserve your life.”

Determination rose in Arcadia’s eyes at the harsh reality Giselle awakened her to.

“I heard from Titosoga. Rumors about the slave ledger are circulating. How can we deal with that ledger?”

“We need to purchase it. Both the Academy and Professor Destroyer are open to negotiation. If you have enough points, a deal is certainly possible.”

Giselle was rather confident.

A deal was exactly what Professor Destroyer wanted.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have leaked information so readily that even students were hearing rumors.

This is a test.

Whether she would tremble in fear and leave the Academy of her own accord.

Or whether she would overcome her family’s disgrace and make a deal to help herself.

“A ledger containing my family’s disgrace… Is it really possible to purchase something that might cost an unknown amount of points?”

“On the condition of giving up your shares in the Black Market, I can support you with 200,000 points, half of the public fund.”

“I’ll give it up. Those shares are meaningless anyway if I can’t survive this crisis.”

“Then… by my calculations, you’ll need to gather at least 300,000 more points. I estimate the ledger’s value at around 500,000 points.”

“How much time do we have?”

“At most, 12 hours.”

“…I can’t think of a way.”

“There are two methods that won’t take 12 hours, not even 1 hour.”

Giselle looked directly into the princess’s eyes and said:

“Collect donations from your followers. This is the easy path.”

“…That’s impossible. If it were me until yesterday, I would have confidently chosen that path, but they were just clinging to my family’s influence, not to me.”

“Then we have no choice but to take the difficult path. Sell the information about the hideout where the Ceviche family members have taken refuge to Professor Destroyer.”

“Are you asking me to betray my family?”

“That expression is incorrect.”

Now is not the time to talk about betrayal.

“From the moment they engaged in slave trading, which is prohibited by imperial law, the Ceviche ducal family could be branded as ‘Mine’. Don’t miss the opportunity to draw a line between yourself and such forces in advance.”

It’s a false accusation.

She knows it.

Even if the family elders were money-obsessed misers who neglected the people’s welfare, they weren’t depraved enough to sell their souls to Ma.

She also knows.

Even though that’s the truth, no one will believe it.

The Imperial faction and the Fringe faction.

The tense balance within the Academy foreshadows the balance of power contenders across the world after the 981st class graduates.

They can eliminate one axis, the possibility of the Ceviche family’s revival strengthening the cohesion of the Fringe faction.

The Empire won’t miss this opportunity.

Neither will the opportunists from the Fringe.

A golden opportunity has appeared to completely destroy the center of the Fringe forces, which had been firmly established by Duke Andersen and Lady Arcadia.

In a situation where numerous ambitious individuals are ready to stab her in the back without hesitation.

‘I didn’t realize the situation was this precarious.’

One wrong step and her life could plummet into the abyss.

She could end up in a state where living isn’t really living.

The deal Giselle proposed.

This is the lesser evil.

A measure to avoid the worst-case scenario.

It’s the only way Arcadia might preserve her life and remain at the Academy.

“If there truly is no other way…”

There’s no choice.

She must endure the humiliation and accept it.

As she was about to agree with suppressed sorrow, a clear voice that didn’t belong in this place was heard.

“Hmm~ So that’s the problem, right?”

Oknodie.

The voice of the audacious girl came from a nearby table.

“Little lady? Since when, no, how did you get here…?”

She had definitely secured the door to prevent eavesdropping.

Ignoring Giselle’s bewildered gaze, Oknodie sat at the table, resting her chin on both hands, and met the eyes of Arcadia and Giselle.

“Just now. But more importantly, you don’t have to do that.”

A small yet bright face.

A mischievous playfulness appeared on that little rascal’s face.

“In the end, if we can just steal the Ceviche family’s slave trade ledger from the thief guild that Professor Destroyer employs, we won’t need to buy it with points, right?”

“Oknodie. Surely you’re not…”

“Yep. Leave it to me!”

She volunteered to take on the most dangerous task.

It was incomprehensible.

“I understand why Giselle would help me. He’s my business partner. If my honor is tarnished, the Black Market is as good as finished too.”

“I agree. Please refrain from such reckless talk, little lady.”

“Cute D. You don’t have that kind of contractual relationship with me. Why would you take such a huge risk?”

Oknodie hopped off the table.

“We don’t have a contract. But it’s between me and Arcadia. Doesn’t it hurt your feelings when you say it like that?”

The child’s eyes showed a pure heart.

“I can help Arcadia without receiving anything in return. Helping Arcadia is an event more precious than the weekly event!”

Arcadia embraced the girl before her tightly.

She couldn’t forgive herself for doubting this small child’s pure heart.

‘Oknodie is different.’

She made a decision.

She must repay this child’s purity.

“Giselle suggested two methods to me. Actually, there’s a way to purchase the ledger without stealing it. We can steal from somewhere else.”

“Where do you intend to steal from?”

“There’s a secret warehouse where the Ceviche family has hidden their assets for emergencies.”

“Lady Arcadia. Those assets…!”

“I know, Giselle. They could serve as capital to help rebuild as the head of the Ceviche family once this storm passes.”

Nevertheless, she had decided.

“Even if it means giving up the chance to restore my family’s name, to have a wealthy future, I will not put this pure child, Oknodie, who wants to help me, in danger.”

Instead of the thief guild’s ledger, which could endanger Oknodie, they would steal the Ceviche ducal family’s secret funds.