Ch.254254. I Guess My Father-in-Law Is Quite Strong?

“They’ve sent the Imperial Knights to the House of Alphonse.”

After scanning the letter placed on the desk, I let out a soft exclamation.

“Wow, they’re moving this quickly?”

“Officially, it’s to commend young master for the defensive formation designs you presented to the Imperial family.”

“Won’t Evander Alphonse be suspicious? After all, the person who should be receiving the commendation is in Lake territory.”

“Since they’re honoring the entire family, formally speaking, Alphonse territory is the correct location.”

I straightened my back while remaining seated.

“And they’ll investigate behind the scenes?”

“Yes, they’ll likely start by tracking down the knights who crossed over to the Northern Continent. Even if they find them, Young Master Evander’s side won’t be suspicious.”

“So in other words, they go to Alphonse territory to commend the defensive formation designs, and then ‘coincidentally’ catch the knights who crossed to the Northern Continent?”

“That’s correct.”

As expected, this is Emperor Malius’s scheme.

Evander Alphonse won’t even think to be suspicious.

After all, the Imperial family typically doesn’t interfere with succession disputes within individual houses.

Evander Alphonse wouldn’t understand the situation even if he died and came back to life.

How could he possibly guess that I’m proceeding with a marriage to an Imperial Princess?

Even I, the person directly involved, haven’t fully adjusted to it yet.

“My father-in-law seems to have quite a bit of power, huh?”

“…Young Master, I’m still adjusting to this myself, so please, even as a joke, don’t refer to His Imperial Majesty as your ‘father-in-law.'”

“What else would I call my father-in-law but father-in-law?”

I smiled mischievously, causing Padericks to sigh in resignation.

“Anyway, now that the Imperial Knights have visited Alphonse territory, Young Master Evander likely won’t be able to make any moves.”

“I suppose so. Plus, they’ll expertly identify the knights who came from the Northern Continent.”

“Then for now, at least, they won’t be able to breathe.”

“Is it really just ‘for now’?”

“…Pardon? Is there something else?”

I adjusted my posture and smirked at Padericks.

“Padericks.”

“I’m listening, sir.”

“Aren’t you underestimating His Imperial Majesty too much?”

“M-me? I would never!”

“If the Imperial Knights discover that knights from the Northern Continent secretly infiltrated Alphonse territory, what do you think the next step would be?”

Padericks pondered deeply, but seemingly unable to come up with an answer, he tilted his head in confusion.

“…I’m not sure.”

“Emperor Malius would inform the Northern Continent about this fact.”

“And then…?”

“Then the Northern Continent would directly investigate their houses. And if they discover information about collusion with Evander Alphonse, the involved houses would be completely ruined.”

“Ah… so the matter is essentially resolved already?”

“Yes, thanks to my father-in-law, we’ve solved this without lifting a finger.”

At the word “father-in-law,” Padericks flinched again and shook his head from side to side as if trying to regain his composure.

“Ahem! I’ll continue to monitor the situation closely.”

“Understood.”

When I waved my hand dismissively, signaling him to leave, Padericks stepped forward toward the desk as if he had more to say.

“Ah! And there’s something I need to discuss with you regarding the academy.”

“Oh? I heard the academy is almost complete?”

“Yes, but we posted recruitment notices for professors, and not a single person has applied.”

“Is recruiting professors usually difficult?”

“Not typically. According to our investigation, it seems other academies are collaborating to pressure potential applicants.”

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Padericks.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It appears they’re trying to check our influence.”

Sigh…

Why are there so many people who insist on getting in my way no matter where I go?

Should I just use the Imperial family’s backing to sweep them all away?

No, that would only create more enemies.

Despite the frustration boiling inside me, I need to endure.

“So what do you suggest we do?”

“This is my first time handling academy-related matters, so I’m not sure how to proceed.”

“Hmm, how many professors do we need?”

“To receive official approval for the academy, we need at least five professors, excluding the headmaster.”

I’d like to simply assemble a faculty from people I know, but we still need to follow proper procedures.

Besides, no one is just sitting around idle, so that’s nearly impossible.

So then.

How can we break through this pressure and assemble the academy faculty?

This wasn’t in the original story, so I’ll have to figure it out myself.

Stroking my chin, I turned my gaze to Padericks.

“Where should we look to find professors?”

“…I’m not sure. I thought people would naturally gather once we posted the notice.”

“Sigh… this is troublesome.”

“Should we request help from the Imperial family?”

Padericks brings up the Imperial family as naturally as if it’s become a habit.

However, if we can’t solve even this much on our own, how can we claim to have independently established an academy?

I rose from my chair and put on my coat.

“Never mind that. Send a letter to the Saint right away.”

*

“Saint, I’ll be back shortly.”

“It’s unfortunate, but establishing an academy in Lake territory is important, so I’ll wait while treating Enna.”

“…You’ll wait for me?”

“I should at least see your face and say goodbye before you leave, shouldn’t I?”

I smiled awkwardly at Clara, who had come out to the carriage to see me off.

“Haha, understood.”

“Please return safely.”

I had expected her to threaten not to treat Enna if I left, but fortunately, she was persuaded.

Maintaining my artificial smile until the end, I boarded the carriage.

“Huh?”

Although I hadn’t invited him, Jawill Wilson was somehow already seated in the carriage, staring at me. He quickly stood up and closed the carriage door.

I tilted my head in confusion at Jawill Wilson’s sudden action.

“Why are you on this carriage?”

“If you’re going, young master, I should go too.”

“Are you saying you want to train with me?”

“Well, I’m not sure exactly where we’re headed, but if I’m lacking, I’ll do my best to train during the journey.”

I crossed my arms heavily and sat down on the carriage sofa with a smirk.

“Is it because of Clara?”

“…Pardon?”

“You’re coming with me to avoid Clara, aren’t you?”

“W-well, that’s…”

“You want to leave Lake territory so badly that training with me seems like the better option?”

Having seen right through him, Jawill Wilson let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh… I’m afraid to face Clara.”

“You haven’t encountered Clara even once yet?”

“No, I don’t know why, but Clara keeps looking for me, so I’ve been avoiding her.”

“So when you heard about my departure, you hurriedly boarded the carriage?”

“…That’s right.”

I went out of my way to help him by talking to Clara, and he’s been avoiding her this whole time?

This guy might seem like he’s interested in women on the surface, but he’s secretly quite awkward.

“I already told Clara, you know?”

“…Pardon?”

“I already told Clara about you.”

“You didn’t mention the marriage arrangement, did you?”

“That’s exactly what I told her.”

Jawill Wilson raised his voice with wide eyes.

“W-why would you tell Clara about that?!”

“Are you raising your voice at me right now?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant… but Young Master, you had no reason to mention Lady Vivian Catharia to Clara!”

“I did it because it was frustrating. If Clara brings up Vivian Catharia, wouldn’t you be a bit more honest with her?”

Jawill Wilson sighed with a deeply troubled expression.

“Sigh… You’ve ruined everything, Young Master.”

“She would have found out eventually, wouldn’t she?”

“That may be true, but I wanted to be the one to tell her.”

“When were you planning to tell her? Even now, you secretly boarded this carriage without knowing our destination just to avoid Clara.”

Jawill Wilson flinched again, as if I had hit the mark.

“I-I was going to tell her after I was fully prepared mentally.”

“What kind of mental preparation?”

“…Whether to choose Clara or Vivian Catharia.”

“Wow, suddenly having options has made you greedy, hasn’t it?”

“That’s not it. Clara already rejected me once, didn’t she?”

“That’s because you suddenly tried to kiss her, and she was startled.”

Upon my blunt statement, Jawill Wilson hung his head low.

“…I’m ashamed.”

“I don’t care who you choose, just don’t cause me any trouble.”

“…Trouble? How would this affect you, Young Master?”

“I’m going to assemble mages to form an organization called the Guardian Corps. Clara has agreed to lead it.”

“Ah…”

“Managing the Guardian Corps will already involve plenty of complicated matters, and if you keep confusing Clara, it could affect me too.”

“I understand… I’ll make a decision as quickly as possible.”

“Good.”

Although he readily agreed, Jawill Wilson’s expression remained complicated.

It seems like I might need to help him make a choice when we return to Lake territory, even if it means drawing a sword for him.

As I sighed deeply to myself, Jawill Wilson suddenly lifted his head as if something had occurred to him.

“…By the way, where exactly are we going?”