Ch.51The Sleeping Dragon in the Forest (4)

Amelia returned to the mansion and flung open Ruide’s door in one swift motion.

This time, she was determined not to let him off the hook.

“Ruide Christopher.”

When Amelia called Ruide by his middle name, it meant she was truly angry.

But—

What she saw upon entering the room was Ruide with a blanket pulled over his head, only his eyes peeking out.

That was… fatally cute.

“……”

Amelia pressed her lips tightly together.

Those wide, alert eyes were adorably lovable enough to make her want to nibble on them, and his oddly disheveled hair doubled the cuteness.

‘…What did I come here for again?’

Amelia completely forgot her original purpose!

“N-no, this isn’t right. I almost fell for it.”

Amelia regained her senses by firmly pinching her own cheek.

Then she fixed her gaze on Ruide and placed her hands on her hips as she stood before him.

“You, where did you go?”

“…I’ve been here the whole time.”

Ruide avoided Amelia’s eyes.

Seeing through his obvious lie, Amelia sat down beside the bed with a stern expression.

“Look me in the eyes. Did you really not go anywhere?”

“……”

Ruide couldn’t bring himself to lie. After hesitating, he said:

“Tower of Pisa.”

“What did you do there?”

“…I fought.”

“What did your sister tell you?”

“To never get involved.”

“Then why did you?”

“I got angry seeing the children trapped there.”

“Sigh.”

Amelia let out a deep breath.

With a somewhat softened expression, she stroked Ruide’s hair.

“Ruide. I’ll always take your side no matter what you do. But I can’t agree with you deliberately putting yourself in danger.”

“…It wasn’t dangerous.”

“Don’t talk back.”

“Okay.”

“…Of course, since you’re so incredibly strong, you might not consider such things dangerous at all.”

Amelia calmly gazed into Ruide’s eyes.

“But you’re too young. Getting involved in these matters isn’t good for your emotional development.”

“…Okay.”

Ruide hung his head dejectedly.

‘At least he’s showing remorse.’

Amelia smiled with satisfaction and held out her pinky finger.

“Promise me. That you won’t get involved in such dangerous situations again.”

“I got it.”

Ruide’s small hand linked with Amelia’s pinky.

“If something bothers you, tell your sister. I’ll take care of it for you. Understood?”

“…Are you forgiving me?”

Amelia nodded.

“Of course not.”

But her answer was different from what he expected.

Ruide looked dumbfounded.

“You’re grounded for a month, Rui. Even if you come outside, don’t leave my sight.”

“…!”

Amelia stood up, making it clear she wouldn’t accept any objections.

Before leaving, she glanced at Ruide one last time and wagged her index finger.

“Acting cute won’t work on me. Who do you think I am? This sister is always one step ahead of you.”

Then she closed the door with a victorious smile.

Ruide stared at the door for a long time with a frustrated expression.

‘This doesn’t work? Should I try a different approach?’

The 14th sibling quarrel of the year… ended in Amelia’s victory.

**

Hersy visited Ruide’s mansion after quite some time.

Miho, perched on Hersy’s shoulder, now seemed quite comfortable.

“Don’t you feel sad not being around Ruide often?”

Miho spent most of her time with Hersy. It wasn’t Ruide’s order. Miho had asked Ruide, “May I stay with Hersy for a while?” and received permission.

[But it’s boring around my master. I was trapped in that orb for 500 years. I want to see more of the world.]

“Ah, that’s right.”

[That’s why Ruide is such a wonderful master. He respects my wishes. I’m always grateful for that.]

“Hmm…”

Rather than respect, there was a high possibility he simply forgot about her existence.

But Hersy just chuckled without mentioning that.

At the front of the mansion, Sherry was cleaning the garden. She paused her work and gave a slight bow. Hersy returned the gesture, and Sherry opened the mansion door for her.

“Ruide…?”

Hersy stared blankly at Ruide, who was lying on a pillow in the middle of the mansion’s red carpet, covered with a blanket.

Sensing her presence, Ruide slightly opened his eyes.

“Hello.”

…And then went back to sleep.

Hersy approached Ruide with deflated steps and crouched down in front of him.

“You’re sleeping in an unusual place today.”

“Sometimes changing where I sleep helps me fall asleep better.”

Ruide opened his eyes again, unable to fall asleep.

He slowly got up and wrapped the blanket around himself. Hersy followed closely behind him.

“It’s been a while.”

Though it was too late to say this now, this was just Ruide’s way of speaking, so Hersy wasn’t surprised.

“Yes, it has been.”

It had been about five days since Hersy last visited the mansion. Many things had happened in between, including midterm exams.

Being the diligent person she was, Hersy couldn’t visit during that time.

Ruide entered the guest room and practically jumped onto a high chair.

Sherry, who had somehow followed them in, was brewing tea.

“Ahem.”

Hersy had come today with a purpose. She cleared her throat and casually suggested:

“I found a delicious dessert shop nearby… would you like to go?”

Hersy had mustered great courage to ask this. She had never invited someone to eat dessert before.

She waited for Ruide’s answer with a visibly tense expression.

“Sorry.”

Hersy’s heart seemed to drop. She flailed her hands, shaking her head.

“N-no, there’s no need to apologize…”

“I’m grounded.”

“What?”

“I’m not allowed to go out.”

Silently, Sherry set down the tea. Hersy politely bowed her head.

Sherry went to the door and stood stiffly with her hands clasped.

“Grounded… you, Ruide?”

“I broke a promise.”

Ruide sipped his tea.

‘Oh, so it’s not that he doesn’t like me.’

Hersy grinned when she realized the rejection wasn’t because of her.

“I thought something was off. Amelia seemed upset. So you got into trouble? That’s unexpected.”

“What is?”

“…I thought you wouldn’t care about such things at all.”

“I care about a 2. Because they’re family.”

Ruide added one more thing.

“And the Windsor family has a strict hierarchy.”

“Hierarchy…?”

“All noble families have one. Doesn’t Hersy’s family have one?”

“Ah, no, of course we do. I just thought the Windsors would be different.”

Even the seemingly harmonious Windsor family maintained a strict hierarchy.

Ruide was a special case, but he didn’t deviate from this. First was his mother, second was Irene, and third was Amelia.

In other words, Amelia was clearly his superior… though she didn’t often receive such treatment.

Anyway, Ruide had no intention of going against her. That would be disrespectful to Amelia.

“How’s the Academy? I’m sure a lot has happened.”

“Actually, that’s what I came to tell you about.”

Hersy brought up what would have been their conversation topic at the dessert shop.

“It was absolute chaos. How did you even find those Black Mages, Ruide?”

Hersy began to talk about the tumultuous events at the Academy over the past week.

More specifically, about the Chancellor’s resignation.

**

Chancellor Clifford Finance had announced his resignation.

He dropped the bombshell statement during a regular meeting that he would transfer all authority to Fenicia Finance.

“This is unacceptable!”

The reaction was immediate.

All the Academy professors opposed the decision.

“I oppose this as well. I’m still… inadequate, Chancellor.”

Fenicia was only 24 years old.

She was too young—despite her outstanding abilities, she hadn’t even received the position of Vice-Chancellor yet.

The Vice-Chancellor position was vacant, and although everyone considered her the next Vice-Chancellor, there was still a significant perception gap. The Academy Chancellor should be a magician with considerable experience or at least a Grand Magician.

“The decision has already been made.”

“Please at least tell us the reason!”

“I am a foolish adventurer who has awakened a sleeping dragon.”

“Pardon?”

It sounded like nonsense. Only Fenicia barely understood.

“Chancellor, you’re being too hard on yourself.”

“It’s not self-deprecation.”

Clifford spoke with a heavy tone.

“What should the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy protect? It’s the job of polishing rough stones. Yet I failed to recognize a perfectly polished gem right before my eyes. I’m no better than a blind man with open eyes. How can I continue in this position? I must have lost my judgment due to old age. My conclusion is to resign before my judgment deteriorates further.”

“……”

Clifford was the professors’ mental pillar.

Although he was a bit of a cranky old man, he always provided clear answers in confusing situations.

He was a good leader. His words resonated, but they were difficult to accept.

Especially for Fenicia, Clifford’s late-born daughter.

“…Just a little longer.”

Fenicia lowered her head. She didn’t want anyone to see her on the verge of tears.

“Please stay with me just a little longer.”

A deep silence fell over the room.

But Clifford’s resolve remained unshaken.

In the midst of the silence, he wrote out his resignation letter as Chancellor.

It was a letter addressed to the Emperor.

**

Lucius sat on the imperial throne with his legs crossed, reading the letter with a slanted gaze.

Before him, Guardian Knight Galahad Ryan was prostrated.

“Chancellor Clifford’s resignation. Is there even a replacement?”

“I can say with certainty, there is none.”

“I thought as much. Since the Academy’s establishment, the Finance family has continuously held the Chancellor position.”

The Emperor tapped the solid gold armrest with a steady rhythm.

“Fenicia Finance. I believe she needs at least ten years of training under the Chancellor, or is my knowledge incorrect? Tell me, Sir.”

“Your Majesty’s knowledge is never incorrect. As you are the center of the world, you also determine the principles of that world.”

“Come on. If you’re going to flatter me like other nobles, why would I bother conversing with you?”

“…If it displeases you, I shall correct myself. However, I, Galahad!!! I swear on my life! There is not a single falsehood in my words!”

“You’re loud, too loud.”

“I-I apologize.”

“Raise your head.”

Galahad raised his head apologetically.

The Emperor rested his chin on his hand and said:

“What do you think the old man’s intentions are?”

Lucius always enjoyed throwing questions at his subjects to engage in conversation. He never revealed his own thoughts first.

This was out of concern that if the Emperor spoke first, his subjects would find it difficult to speak truthfully.

And to check if there was anything he might have missed.

Understanding this well, Galahad desperately racked his brain for an answer.

“Well, considering his age… Wouldn’t he want to rest soon?”

“He’s 111? That’s still quite young.”

“…When exactly is retirement age for Your Majesty??”

Galahad was genuinely curious.

“One month before death.”

With a slight smile, Lucius spoke his joke-like truth and shared his opinion.

“He probably wants to bring our adorable Ruide back to the Academy. He believes that if he resigns, Ruide will return. He’ll likely send a letter to Ruide right after resigning. Since Ruide has a soft side, he’ll probably accept. At the very least, he’ll return to the Academy, and at best, he might agree to come to the Academy to prevent the Chancellor’s resignation. That old man is certainly not to be underestimated.”

“…He would go that far for Young Lord Ruide?”

“Yes. Who wouldn’t regret letting a golden opportunity walk away on its own? That senile old man loves honor and money more than anything in the world. He probably thinks he won’t be able to enter his coffin with a sound mind at this rate.”

Lucius looked at the document with a bored expression.

Galahad asked with curiosity:

“Then, will you reject his resignation?”

“No. I’ll accept it. I also agree with Clifford’s intentions.”

Both from a national perspective and personal interest, it was better for Ruide to be affiliated with the Academy.

Having a Windsor child within the system for four years was a blessing.

He could even subtly push in the Third Princess for a potential marriage.

“Hmm… but a 24-year-old Chancellor.”

Lucius didn’t seem particularly pleased with that aspect.

He casually tossed the document into the air. Standing up, he said:

“Wouldn’t it be better to just appoint Ruide? Whether it’s a 24-year-old or a 12-year-old, it’s all the same.”

“…!”

Galahad’s eyes widened at the Emperor’s radical statement.