Ch.66Academy (5)

I realized I might have been foolish.

I came to this conclusion while watching Rahilt, who had become a star instructor in the ambiguous sense of the word in just one day.

“I should have forced a marriage when Rian received his Grand Duke title…!”

Now that Rahilt’s honor had been restored, there was no reason to hold back.

Originally, my goal of claiming the imperial throne was to suppress the ministers who would interfere with my relationship with Rahilt. If I could obtain absolute power, I could crush anyone who opposed my union with the deposed emperor’s child.

But by chance, Rahilt’s existence had been publicly acknowledged, and he had gained a respectable position. This meant he no longer needed to hide.

That directly correlated with my diminished motivation to become empress.

As an imperial princess, becoming the bride of Grand Duke Rahilt would solve everything—what was there to fear? I could simply toss the burdensome imperial throne to Tesser and be done with it.

“I should have clouded Rian’s judgment and created a fait accompli in one swift move…”

I suffered greatly to save you. So reward me. Preferably in bed.

…If I had pushed him that way, he would have gladly offered me his virginity.

“No… maybe not. He might have scolded me for being vulgar. He’s a Confucian man with rock-bottom self-esteem but the sexual morals of a sage incarnate.”

If he could denounce squats as obscene, the game was over. No amount of physical advances would sway Rahilt.

“…I’m pretty, you know.”

Being the daughter of the previous novel’s protagonists, how could I possibly be lacking in appearance?

The problem, however, was Rahilt’s environment.

His father was the second male lead from the previous work, and his sister was the delectable Eshtiel. Add to that his mother-in-law, a woman whose beauty was like a constellation of stars in the night sky.

Above all, just looking in the mirror once a day would make him immune to ordinary allure.

Perhaps I’ve set my sights on an unexpectedly impregnable man…

Perhaps…

…

……

“No… no, that can’t be…!!!”

Don’t be ridiculous, seriously.

I saw it.

I already witnessed it.

I directly observed Rahilt smiling sweetly and harboring affection for a woman.

“That bitch Rashera… that fucking bitch succeeded where I couldn’t? Don’t make me laugh. Say something that makes sense.”

This is maddening, but what do I need to do to beat Rashera?

Setting aside the parts I skipped in the mental world his mother showed me, I’ve already seen Rahilt desperately clinging to Rashera in the original story.

What do I need to do, and to what extent, to outmaneuver the original Rashera?

“Haah…”

I released my rising anger mixed with a sigh.

“Thankfully this isn’t an adult romance novel… really…”

It’s fortunate that both Rashera and Rahilt maintained their virginity. If this had been an R-rated novel…

“…Huh?”

At that moment, I had a sudden realization.

“I can… win, can’t I?”

It’s simple.

There’s a straightforward, brutish method.

A winning strategy that even the original Rashera couldn’t achieve!

“I just need to take his virginity. Be his first.”

And as a bonus, I’ll give him mine too.

“I just need to break through that Confucian scripture and have sex with him…?”

But despite these thoughts, I didn’t want to appear frivolous. Like most men, Rahilt would probably dislike promiscuous women.

Therefore, I needed to seduce Rahilt while maintaining an air of purity. Or alternatively, manipulate him into making the first move.

“Even I can see this is a damn difficult mission.”

Let’s organize the plan.

This is definitely not a project that can be achieved in a short period. During that time, Rahilt must absolutely not roll around with any woman. Except me, of course.

But the Academy is a jungle.

There will be an abundance of Amazon warriors hunting Rahilt, with his clean reputation, Grand Duke title, and handsome appearance.

Girls wearing dresses instead of uniforms as battle gear, using stationery as arrows to snipe at Rahilt.

This will undoubtedly reach its peak at the upcoming Academy exhibition.

“No… that won’t do.”

So I’ll begin.

The project of a lifetime.

I will personally super-defend Rahilt’s lower body.

“I need to expand my social circle…”

Meeting people would make it easier to identify those with impure intentions toward Rahilt. Then I could simply keep those women in check.

No sooner had I made this resolution than I saw Rahilt walking on the other side, supporting a bundle of letters with one hand.

It was very easy to understand what that meant.

“Oh… shit.”

Even as I cursed, I rubbed my face with both hands.

Simultaneously, I used my index finger to shape my lips into a neat arc and gently adjusted my previously scrunched eyes.

After forcibly manipulating my expression in that brief moment, I waved my hand and ran toward him.

“Riaaaan!”

With each step I took, I let out a bright voice.

Ahah, ahahah.

When I crossed the corridor like an innocent girl and stood before his feet.

He said:

“In public spaces, it’s Professor, Miss Seriniel.”

“Ugh.”

This is so frustrating.

Who was it that encouraged me to enjoy the Academy? Who corrupted my Rahilt like this?

“…It was my father.”

What kind of parents don’t help their child?!

It seems I’m naturally suited to being a filial daughter.

It was quite ironic that Rahilt from this other world was more Confucian than me, a natural-born Korean.

In other words, we’re soulmates who can fill each other’s gaps. That must be the case.

With this repeated conviction, I gave a sidelong glance to the cold-hearted Rahilt.

◇

I felt self-conscious.

Now that the day’s work was over, I was facing Serin in the quiet personal room of a professor.

…No, I should correct myself.

Serin was staring at me as if trying to pierce me with her gaze, while I was busy avoiding her pressure by subtly averting my eyes diagonally.

In the middle of this seemingly endless stalemate, Serin finally broke the silence.

“It’s over.”

“What… are you referring to…”

“Your duties as a professor.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Her attitude was so threatening that I almost misunderstood it as a question about whether my life was over.

After hearing my answer, Serin nodded once, got up from her seat, and moved to sit beside me.

Following that, with a thud, Serin sat down and narrowed the distance between us while smoothing her backside.

“Then it’s okay now.”

“Okay?”

“From now on, you’re not Professor but Rian.”

“That… would be correct.”

When I reluctantly agreed, Serin pressed her skin against mine as if unleashed. Then she filled the gaps between my fingers with hers and pulled me sharply toward her.

As a result, with my center of gravity disrupted, I inevitably had to rest my weight on Serin’s shoulder.

“Hey, Rian.”

“Yes.”

“Professor Elhader.”

“…Yes?”

“I paid close attention in class today.”

“Well, good job.”

“I ranked first in the quiz.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Just words?”

“Is there something else you need?”

As soon as I asked, Serin nodded as if she had been waiting for this.

She silently placed the hand that had been firmly holding mine on top of her head. Then she lowered her posture and looked up at me, making her request.

“Pat me. Until I’m satisfied.”

“You want me to… pat you…?”

“What’s strange about that? Even dogs get patted by their owners when they do well.”

“That’s because they’re dogs…”

“You pat Tiel the same way.”

“Ugh.”

It was valid logic.

There was clearly a flaw in the logic somewhere, but when Serin approached closely, my mind seemed to dull and my thinking ability decreased.

My will to object disappeared, and I found myself belatedly discovering that I was complying with Serin’s demands.

Therefore, my answer this time was predetermined.

“All… right.”

Immediately after my brief response, my palm stroked Serin’s dark, soft hair. Like a frozen lake in midwinter, Serin’s hair was so sleek it seemed to slip through my fingers.

“Haah…”

Serin exhaled a heated breath and jolted as if electrified. She seemed unsatisfied with my movements, which rigidly repeated the same path, so she moved herself, leaving subtle hints.

I was preoccupied with enduring Serin’s body heat and scent as she pressed close to me.

Moreover, just when I thought I had patted her head enough, she grabbed my hand and guided it to her nape. Thus, I ended up stroking Serin’s white, delicate nape through her slightly curly hair.

“This is dangerous…”

This active contact initiated by me was distinctly different from the past when Serin would unilaterally cling to me.

Serin’s reactions varied depending on how I moved my hand, and that somehow provided a strange pleasure and an indescribable feeling.

Though I knew I should stop, the words wouldn’t leave my lips.

As if completely unaware of my feelings, Serin said:

“Ah, this position must be uncomfortable for you.”

Saying that, Serin rose slightly from her seat and slipped her backside between my slightly parted legs.

“Serin…!?”

Flinch!

For an instant, my shoulders shot up.

This was dangerous. Truly dangerous.

Beyond the propriety of the action, it was a social crisis.

Serin was probably acting this way because she trusted me. But I was about to betray that trust.

“Please… I hope Serin’s uniform is thick…”

I sincerely hoped so.

We weren’t touching yet, but depending on how things progressed, we might.

I wanted to embrace her tightly, but her defenseless attitude was truly vexing when she didn’t understand my feelings. No, that’s a lie. “Vexing” is too strong. I’m just confused.

As if toying with me, Serin leaned her back against me with a subtle smile. In response, I had to pull my waist back as far as possible, which required tremendous abdominal strength to maintain a natural posture.

“Haah, this feels good…”

“I’m extremely uncomfortable…”

Just as I was swallowing my lament, Serin spoke:

“You know what? I just had a realization. Want to know what it is?”

“No, not at all…”

“Since you’re curious, I have no choice.”

That’s right.

The answer was predetermined.

Serin trampled over my protests like a strong warhorse and continued:

“I realized it doesn’t matter whether you’re Rian or Professor Elhader.”

“What…?”

“If you’re Rian, then I’ll be Serin, and conversely, if you’re Professor Elhader, then I’ll be Eungyo.”

I had no idea what “Eungyo” was.

I couldn’t possibly know, but I instinctively felt it was something extremely dangerous.

“So… Rian?”

“…Yes?”

“Shall we tour the exhibition together?”

“…”

Probably, this time too, the answer was predetermined.

For both Serin and me, equally.

Eventually, after hearing my answer, Serin drew a satisfied arc with her lips.

“Well done.”

That single phrase felt like it was tightly binding my hands and feet.