Ch.61Reclaimed Spring Day (3)

“Spring… you say?”

I asked the Emperor in confusion. I couldn’t understand the meaning behind his metaphorical expression.

“Yes, spring. The spring you should have originally enjoyed.”

“As for the four seasons, I’ve experienced them like everyone else…”

“My, I’ve noticed this before, but you’re more rigid than I thought. The spring I’m referring to isn’t simply about the season.”

“Hmm…”

As I failed to grasp his meaning, the Emperor shook his head as if there was no helping it and explained.

“Time itself is also spring. In other words, I’m talking about youth.”

“Youth, is it.”

“Yes. I’m well aware that you’ve been focused solely on your work as a mercenary, hiding your face both willingly and unwillingly. Then your daily life has been completely detached from normalcy, hasn’t it?”

“…”

I had no words to refute him. The Emperor’s words were absolutely correct.

The reason my mercenary group was named Pinwheel was because of my longing for the normalcy I never had.

As if seeing right through me, the Emperor continued.

“Even I, who lived quite intensely, had time to catch my breath. As you know, the occasion that formed my friendship with the King of Carnar was during that breathing space – the Academy.”

“Academy!”

“Hmm?”

For a moment, Eshtiel reflexively reacted to the word “Academy.” The Emperor raised his eyes in surprise, as if wondering about this unexpected response.

“Ahem, it’s nothing. Please continue.”

“Kuhm!”

The Emperor deliberately cleared his throat, seemingly uncomfortable with Eshtiel’s expectant gaze.

“I mentioned a five-year grace period regarding the granting of territory. But this isn’t simply a period to persuade you to accept the territory. I want you to spend at least that much time living normally. Because if you accept the territory, you’ll have to focus on running the Grand Duchy, whether you like it or not.”

“… Was there never an option to not accept the territory?”

“Since when does a Grand Duke serve as the knight commander of a Count’s family? Isn’t that putting the cart before the horse? And above all…”

The Emperor subtly pulled at the corner of his mouth.

“It would be good if the Elenot County became a vassal house to the Grand Duchy of Elhader. It would be like a brother protecting his sister.”

“… Hmm.”

“But what vassal house could exist for a family without territory? Think about it carefully.”

This argument was certainly compelling.

Since he said it was for Eshtiel, I couldn’t easily refuse. Rather, I found myself naturally drawn to the Emperor’s proposal.

So I relied on the Emperor’s goodwill.

“The proposal you’ve mentioned… I’ll consider it during the five-year grace period.”

“Hmm! I won’t press you further. So to return to our discussion… about the spring I hope you’ll reclaim.”

“I’m listening.”

With one matter settled, the Emperor suggested without hesitation:

“Would you consider spending time studying at the Academy?”

“Academy!”

“…”

“…”

All eyes turned to Eshtiel, who once again reacted as if a bell had been rung. But somehow having developed social skills, Eshtiel pretended not to notice and started whistling casually.

“Eshtiel… that’s rude.”

“Ugh.”

“I’ll apologize on her behalf, Your Majesty.”

“I’m sorry too…”

We bowed our heads in unison.

In response, the Emperor showed no sign of displeasure and instead waved his hand to stop us.

“Not at all. There’s a reason I seated Count Elenot there. The Count is also a party to this conversation.”

“What?”

“Really?!”

“Of course. The Academy reforms that Seriniel was leading are just about complete.”

“Academy reforms…?”

This was news to me.

It wasn’t news because it was highly confidential, but rather because I had cut off my interest in such matters and hadn’t heard any news about it.

I looked at Serin, who was mentioned as the leader of the reforms, and she finally joined the conversation.

“It’s nothing special. I just organized the Academy’s curriculum into stages and adjusted it so that students of similar ages could study together.”

“But isn’t Eshtiel too young to attend the Academy?”

Originally, the minimum age for Academy admission was 17. This was a strict limitation that made it impossible for Eshtiel to enroll.

Serin completely shattered my preconception.

“I told you we reorganized the Academy’s curriculum, didn’t I? It’s now broadly divided into elementary, middle, high school, university, and above that, slave… I mean, anyway. It’s divided like that. Among them, elementary admission is allowed from age 8.”

“Um, Serin? About the slave division…”

“Oh my, that was a slip of the tongue, don’t worry about it. The important thing is that Tiel, who will be 9 in the new year, more than meets the age requirement.”

Despite feeling a tremendous sense of dissonance, I decided to ignore it for now. What matters is that Eshtiel can attend the Academy she’s been dreaming of.

Understanding this well, Eshtiel’s eyes sparkled like sunlight reflecting on a lake’s surface.

“Rahilt, big brother! Can I really go to the Academy?”

“It seems so.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Yes…”

While Eshtiel seemed to be swelling with anticipation, I found it difficult to be completely happy due to my concerns.

The Elenot County had completely fallen when my father was deposed, and the fact that we were fallen nobility hadn’t changed.

Although I, Eshtiel’s brother, had received the title of Grand Duke, there would still be many who would look down on the only daughter of a fallen count family.

‘What should I do… It would be too cruel to prevent Eshtiel from attending the Academy she’s been longing for…’

I understand why the Emperor, despite having the power to overturn the nation, was reluctant to suppress the opposition faction by force.

Even with omnipotent power, ruling through force alone would only make one a tyrant. That’s why, despite having enough power to kill all opponents, he tried to resolve matters through politics.

I sympathize with the Emperor.

Nothing would change by protecting Eshtiel with the power of a Grand Duke or the Dragon’s Authority.

Rather, it would provoke hostility from adversaries, and Eshtiel would become increasingly isolated and hurt.

Above all, since I was the child of the deposed emperor who had been eating away at the empire, I didn’t want to flaunt power.

‘But the fact that Eshtiel is the daughter of Count Elenot won’t change. If I only accommodate my worries, Eshtiel will never be able to mingle with others.’

But is there a reason she must endure wounds from childhood?

Couldn’t there be an opportunity after some time has passed?

Would Eshtiel… someday understand these concerns of mine…?

“Brother.”

It was when I was deep in thought.

“Why are you frowning?”

“Eshtiel.”

As if seeing through my thoughts, Eshtiel brought my consciousness back to the outside world. Only then did I realize that everyone’s attention was focused on me.

“… I apologize.”

“Not at all.”

The Emperor accepted my apology without reservation.

Meanwhile, the Empress, who had been quietly observing us, smiled gently.

The Empress was looking back and forth between Serin and me, and I somehow got the impression that she was harboring mischievous thoughts.

Eventually, the Empress called out to me.

“Grand Duke of Elhader.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I understand your concerns, but isn’t it natural for a baby bird to spread its wings someday?”

“… I fear those wings might break in the wind.”

“But a bird that never has the chance to flap its wings early on will never fly. It will only be accustomed to staying in a comfortable nest, just eating the food it’s given.”

“…”

Theoretically, I accept that the Empress’s advice is correct. But having once lost Eshtiel so emptily, I wanted her to never be hurt again. Even while recognizing that this was unreasonable suppression and arrogance…

“Grand Duke.”

“… Yes.”

“If this old woman’s eyes are wrong, please feel free to point it out.”

“What…”

“Isn’t it you who fears getting hurt?”

“… Ugh.”

“The baby bird seems to want to face the world. Yet it’s the brother who, fearing his own wounds, holds her tightly in his arms. Am I wrong?”

I couldn’t say anything. Not only did I lack a rebuttal, but I had also subconsciously thought the same as the Empress.

She nodded quietly as if fully understanding my struggle to speak. Then she made a new proposal.

“Well, I forgot that the Grand Duke is still only twenty years old. I understand it’s difficult to make a decision right away. So…”

Her eyes gleamed.

“May I make a private proposal to the Grand Duke alone?”

◇

The world is helping me.

They say good things come after hardship, and that’s exactly how my life has been.

A rigid life as an imperial princess. Because of that, I spent a lonely life without meeting Rahilt.

Then I thought I was invited as a royal envoy, but I literally went through several near-death experiences.

After an incredible journey, finally!

All that’s left for me is to enjoy campus life at the Academy with Rahilt.

I already got my parents’ permission.

I told them not to try to stop me from enjoying my youth with Rahilt even if it killed me.

Since Rahilt’s position has already been recognized, this is natural behavior. There’s no longer any reason for me to wear the Emperor’s crown to marry Rahilt.

Therefore, I threatened that if I could only be with him, I would throw away everything, including being royalty, and run away.

My mother’s response was simply:

[Go ahead.]

That was it.

Furthermore, she even suggested that Tesser should also enroll for the experience, giving her permission so coolly.

Honestly, it was a bit scary.

When my mother’s eyes curve excessively, it’s a sign of scheming.

It was very suspicious, but I reassured myself that she wouldn’t do much harm to her own daughter.

I didn’t know then.

I was also careless.

I underestimated the depths of my mother’s mind, who was once a female protagonist.

… I would come to regret that bitterly when the afternoon arrived like a bolt from the blue.

Current situation – I was sitting alone in a class at the Academy that was said to gather only the most talented individuals in the Empire.

No one was talking to me.

Given my position, even sitting nearby would be a consideration for anyone without considerable courage.

In that awkward atmosphere, I stared endlessly at the door of the classroom.

‘Rian… when will he come?’

I want to quickly enjoy campus life as a freshman and openly show that we’re a campus couple.

Tuk, tak, tuk, tak.

I was anxiously swinging my legs back and forth.

‘Ah…!’

Creeeeak.

The sound of the door opening from the front of the classroom spread,

and simultaneously, murmurs from the audience dominated the room from all directions.

‘He’s here…!’

As far as I know, only he could cause such a reaction. Only he, who could dominate the world with his face alone, could do this.

‘Rian!’

Sure enough, the person who appeared was Rahilt.

He seemed to recognize me right away and quietly bowed. I was a bit disappointed, but I understand that Rahilt also has his dignity.

Yes, that was fine up to that point.

‘… Huh?’

This is strange. Something clearly unusual is entering my field of vision.

When the certainty that something was wrong took root in my mind, I blankly watched Rahilt, whose hands were trembling, walking to an unexpected place.

Tak. Tak.

The sound of footsteps on the marble floor echoed clearly.

That clear resonating sound persistently followed Rahilt until he climbed onto the podium where everyone’s attention was focused.

Tat!

He stopped as he put down a pile of documents.

‘Uh… uhh…?’

That’s not the right place.

Even if it’s his first time at the Academy, Rahilt isn’t someone who would misread the atmosphere.

Even at this point, I was too stupid to understand the situation.

To me in this state, Rahilt on the platform began his first words like a hammer blow to the temple.

“Is everyone well?”

The beginning was a casual greeting. And then…

What followed was a declaration that made my blood run cold.

“Nice to meet you. I am Rahilt Elhader, who recently received the title of Grand Duke.”

Letting the abundant whispers pass, he drove in the wedge.

“Through proper procedures, I have been appointed as a professor to teach you all from today. The subject I will be teaching is…”

‘Ah, no…!’

“Regardless of year or course. All subjects.”

At that moment, a famous line from my previous life played in my head.

[I’m the teacher, and you’re the student.]

An eternal truth regardless of the era. That forbidden concept roughly sandpapered my heart.

“Ah… aah…!”

With all my might, I sublimated the scream trying to escape into a silent wail.

‘S… s…!’

Not CC (Campus Couple),

‘S… son of a b…!!!’

Mother, I cannot forgive you.

And so, becoming the most intensely filial daughter in history, I ended up tearing at my hair that I had carefully styled since morning.