Ch.308308. By now, you must be dying to know the reason.

“Young master, I have completed preparations for entering the academy.”

Wilfred appeared wearing a neat academy uniform with his hair immaculately groomed.

Sitting in the study chair, I let out an exclamation.

“Even if Madeline knew you before, I doubt she’d recognize you now!”

“Th-that’s thanks to Butler Federicks’ careful attention.”

“Anyway, are you mentally prepared?”

Wilfred let out a short sigh at my question.

“Since you’ve supported everything, including tuition, I’ve naturally completed all mental preparations.”

“So you’re ready to win Madeline over?”

“W-win her over? No, I’m going to become friends with her.”

“No need to be shy.”

Wilfred’s eyes showed concern, as if something had just occurred to him.

“But, shouldn’t I tell her eventually?”

“Tell her what?”

“I feel that Miss Madeline should know how much you’ve been helping me.”

I looked at Wilfred and smiled gently.

“Wilfred.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Think of it as if there was never any deal between us. I have no intention of taking back the money I provided.”

“….Pardon?”

“Wouldn’t it be better for Madeline if we keep this secret between us forever?”

“B-but….”

“Just approach her sincerely, with the same care you feel for her.”

At that, Wilfred’s eyes reddened as if he was about to tear up.

“Do you think I can open Miss Madeline’s closed heart?”

“I believe you can. Your feelings for Madeline are genuinely sincere.”

“The Imperial Palace released me without proper punishment, and now you’re supporting my academy attendance…. and you’ve even allowed me to meet Miss Madeline again. How could I ever repay such kindness?”

“I told you earlier. There’s nothing to repay. Just get along well with Madeline.”

“….I understand. I will do my utmost to open Miss Madeline’s closed heart with sincerity.”

I sighed briefly at Wilfred as he clenched his fist with determination.

“First of all, shouldn’t you change how you address her if you want to meet Madeline?”

“….Pardon?”

“Calling her ‘Miss’—are you trying to reveal your identity right away?”

Wilfred covered his mouth and bowed his head deeply, as if suddenly realizing his mistake.

“I-I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought about how to address her at all….”

I stared at Wilfred steadily and tilted my chin.

“Wilfred, do you remember that knight in armor when you first came to this study?”

Wilfred hesitated for a moment before nodding, seemingly recalling the memory.

“I remember. You mean the large knight, correct?”

“That’s Jawill Wilson, a knight who’s quite popular.”

“….Pardon?”

“Some noble lady from a territory even came to me with her father to seek permission for marriage with Jawill Wilson. Funny, isn’t it?”

“N-not funny at all.”

“Your lips are curling up though?”

“….I apologize.”

I continued speaking while gesturing with my finger in the air.

“It’s okay. I found it extremely funny at first too.”

“…..”

“But you know what? I understand why women like Jawill Wilson.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I always notice how he approaches women with courage. I thought that might be burdensome.”

“….You thought so, but?”

“Strangely, women seem to like it. The saying ‘the brave win the beautiful’ isn’t just empty words after all.”

Wilfred bit his lip gently and raised his head.

“Are you suggesting that I should approach Miss Made—I mean, Madeline with courage?”

“You have nothing to lose even if you get rejected, right?”

“Th-that’s true, but… what if it distances me from Madeline?”

“Then you graduate from the academy diligently and pursue your dreams. I told you I won’t interfere anymore, didn’t I?”

“Y-you want me to live my own life?”

“Yes. Being born a man and not even being able to speak to the person you like while staying by their side—that’s too cruel, isn’t it?”

In the novel, Madeline was someone who had never received love from anyone.

Despite having living parents.

If Madeline could realize through Wilfred that she too could be loved by someone?

That alone would be a success.

Of course, if rejected, Wilfred would be disappointed.

Wilfred seemed to have finished his thoughts and raised his head.

His eyes now showed newfound confidence.

He stepped forward and raised his voice toward me.

“I’ll try to win Madeline over!!”

*

“We’ve received a letter stating that Sir Serion Lycus has captured the dark mage with his companions and is currently heading to the Western Continent’s Imperial Palace!”

Federicks placed the letter on the desk with eyes full of emotion.

I tilted my head and spoke.

“Why are you so happy about it?”

“Hasn’t Emperor Callian now properly paid the price for pardoning Master Kabla’s crimes? I feel like some of the heavy burden on my mind has been lifted.”

“What are you talking about?”

“….Pardon?”

“To be honest, the debt was already paid when we helped smuggle Princess Joanna to Lake Territory.”

“B-but still….”

I crossed my arms leisurely and grinned.

“Even in dealings with the Imperial Palace, calculations should be precise, shouldn’t they?”

“….What else do you want from the Western Continent’s Imperial Palace?”

“I don’t particularly want anything, but I’m creating debt. You never know. I might need help from the Western Imperial Palace someday.”

Federicks shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“If the Western Imperial Palace owes you a debt, they’ll eventually have their pillars pulled out too.”

“Haha! If it’s just pillars, they’d be lucky.”

Federicks’ eyes suddenly lit up as if he remembered something.

“Ah! Now that the dark mage has been captured, shouldn’t you visit the Western Imperial Palace?”

“The Western Continent?”

“Emperor Callian previously said you should visit the Western Imperial Palace once the dark mage was captured, didn’t he?”

“….Did he?”

Haaa….

How is it that they never let me rest even for a moment?

As I sighed deeply, Federicks straightened his back.

“While you’re there, you could also see Rio Sergan and Luna Brillhart.”

“That makes me want to go even less.”

“….Pardon?”

“Rio is fine, but Luna makes me a bit uncomfortable.”

Federicks, having witnessed Luna Brillhart’s blood massacre activation a few times, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and continued.

“Still, shouldn’t you meet Sir Serion Lycus at least once? He captured the dark mage thanks to you.”

“Come on, he caught him because of me. And Emperor Callian will surely reward him properly.”

“….That’s true. By the way, the Western Continent’s mages must be in a state of emergency?”

“I suppose so. It’s been revealed that the person creating zombies wasn’t someone researching magical beasts, but a mage.”

“Although I’ve only met Emperor Callian once, I think the mages won’t even have bones left to pick.”

I looked at Federicks with an indifferent expression.

“Well…. I wonder about that.”

“….Pardon?”

“Emperor Callian can’t touch the Western Continent’s Mage Association carelessly right now.”

“W-why is that?”

“Prince Leonis is still alive, isn’t he? With succession rights disputes potentially breaking out at any time, would he make enemies of the mages?”

“Ah…. that’s true. Then Emperor Callian must be quite upset.”

I leaned back in my chair and continued.

“As you said, Emperor Callian’s blood must be boiling. He probably wants to punish them immediately for deceiving him all this time, but he can’t.”

“….But why do you think the Western Imperial Palace is summoning you?”

“Perhaps they want to maintain connections with a suitable reward after I solved their troublesome problem in one go?”

“That could be it. Since you’re a territorial resident of the Eastern Continent, not the Western, they can’t simply use you as they please.”

“Well, Emperor Mallius’s visit to Lake Territory probably played a part too.”

They must have been really surprised.

While Emperor Callian rushed over right after the succession war ended because he was worried about his sister Princess Joanna, Emperor Mallius came to Lake Territory solely because of me.

By now, he must be dying of curiosity about the reason.

The summons to the Western Imperial Palace is probably also to ask about my relationship with Emperor Mallius.

But wait.

What should I answer if Emperor Callian asks about my relationship with Emperor Mallius?

It’s a bit awkward to be completely honest.

Why?

Because if he asks which princess I’m going to marry, I don’t have an answer yet since nothing has been decided.

But then again.

“I still don’t know whether I’ll marry Princess Etherian or Princess Sirin!”

Wouldn’t it be ridiculous to answer so honestly?

Haaa….

Why are Princess Etherian and Princess Sirin suddenly willing to give up their succession rights?

Did they really change their minds because they want to marry me?

I got up, clutching my throbbing headache.

“Where are you going?”

I sighed deeply toward Federicks, who was tilting his head questioningly.

“Since they called, I suppose I should go.”