Ch.8686. Academy Professors (2)

This was the first time I’d ever felt the urge to slam a door shut at the sight of someone’s face.

I seriously considered closing the door, but worried it might seem childish, so I forced myself to keep my hand steady.

I didn’t want to appear even slightly frivolous.

“What is it?”

“Um, could I have a word with you, sir?”

His respectful demeanor, so different from before, was quite impressive.

But that didn’t mean I felt any sympathy for him. If anything, it only confirmed the rumors about House Zeronia’s shady dealings.

“It’s late.”

When I gave him the same answer I’d given Erika, Gideon’s expression darkened further.

“I-it will only take a moment.”

“Even a moment is too precious.”

I tried to close the door, but Gideon desperately grabbed it. I immediately frowned, and he bit his lip hard before speaking.

“My family had absolutely nothing to do with the assassination attempt on His Majesty!”

“…”

“To be completely honest. Yes, money did change hands to maintain close relations with the church hierarchy. But to call us accomplices to assassination is truly unfair!”

“…”

“I-I heard that you, Dark Spiritmaster, are leading this investigation. If my family is being targeted because of my past actions…”

“How absurd.”

Creeak.

I pulled the door wide open. I glared at Gideon and warned him.

“It was an attempted assassination of His Majesty. Do you really think your family is being investigated because of personal grudges?”

“N-no, that’s not what I—!”

“This is a matter of public justice. If your family is innocent, His Majesty’s blade will pass you by.”

“…”

Gideon closed his mouth, seemingly at a loss for words, and clenched his fist tightly.

Then, thud.

He fell to his knees.

“I have no excuse. But! No noble house in this kingdom is without blemish!”

“…”

“His Majesty seems to want something else from us. But we don’t know what it is!”

Gideon’s voice trembled. It wasn’t just concern for his family; it seemed his house was putting pressure on him.

“All our family businesses are being seized one after another. Especially the pink salt business in the Paruier Sea region—our family’s survival depends on it!”

“…”

“It’s not just simple seizure. All our finances are frozen. Anyone doing business with our house is being labeled a traitor, and our domain’s residents refuse to pay taxes. His Majesty is already treating our family as criminals!”

I had heard that House Zeronia had business ventures in various places.

They had been investing heavily to expand their enterprises, and now with sudden seizures and royal sanctions, they must be in agony.

Every day must bring massive losses.

“W-wisdom. Please grant me some wisdom.”

As Gideon bowed his head deeply, I considered for a moment. House Zeronia must have extended their reach in many directions for their businesses.

In my opinion, this wasn’t simply a business matter; there seemed to be something entangled that shouldn’t have reached the royal family.

While I did have something I wanted from them, and roughly knew a solution…

“It’s late.”

I pulled back and drew the door closed. House Zeronia still had some leeway.

Like letting carbonation escape from a drink, I planned to wait patiently and extract everything from them.

“Please!”

But Gideon lunged forward and stepped into the doorway.

As a sword master, his strength was considerable, and I almost lost my grip on the door handle, but—

“Light.”

A cold woman’s incantation came from behind me. Then a faint beam of light shot forth.

It struck Gideon squarely in the chest, bending him backward, and his back hit the railing behind him.

“Ugh!”

The impact wasn’t severe, but it pushed him back effectively. Gideon looked up with bewildered eyes that widened in shock.

“E-Erika Bright!”

Erika Bright, who had been my earlier visitor, had cast a spell past me.

She looked down at Gideon with cold eyes and said:

“I was here first. If you want to visit, come back another time.”

Covering her pajamas with her hands, she slammed the door shut.

Standing behind her and watching blankly, I said to Erika:

“You should leave too.”

“…”

Erika turned slightly and pouted. It was an expression she had occasionally shown as my fiancée during those three months at the academy.

“If I leave now, I’ll have to face Gideon.”

“…”

“Since he saw me with you, he probably won’t make any more demands of me.”

Erika nodded with satisfaction. Since she probably wouldn’t listen if I told her to leave immediately, I turned and sat on the bed.

She followed behind me with quick steps. It was a childlike reaction that didn’t match her age or cold appearance.

[She’s cute, isn’t she? Is this what they call gap moe?]

The Dark Spiritmaster tilted her head as she looked at Erika. Indeed, her gestures were neither the cold demeanor she showed students at the academy nor the worried expression she had worn before.

I took a sip of the tea I had been drinking earlier.

It had cooled slightly, but that made it easier to drink.

After moistening my throat, I smiled slightly at Erika, who was staring at me.

“You’ve changed.”

“Huh?”

Erika flinched in surprise at my words. Then she smiled shyly.

“Does it seem that way?”

Despite my ambiguous compliment, she seemed embarrassed. Then she began to share her story.

“I made it clear to my family. I told them an engagement with Gideon was out of the question. If they tried to force it, I wouldn’t stay quiet.”

“…”

“So thanks to you, I don’t have to marry that man outside. Thank you.”

It felt like a child telling me about something good they’d done, seeking praise.

The Dark Spiritmaster seemed to feel the same way, as she patted Erika’s head.

[Good job, sweetie.]

If Erika could see her, she would have cast a spell immediately. Pretending not to see the Dark Spiritmaster, I replied:

“I see.”

“…Has there been any talk from House Verdi? Like when we’ll get married?”

As she glanced at me and asked, I answered calmly:

“No, there’s been no talk of that.”

If anything, when Deia heard about the planned dissolution of the engagement, she urged me not to drag it out and just get it over with quickly.

“I see.”

Seeing her apparent disappointment, I thought this was a good opportunity and said:

“Bring the dissolution papers tomorrow. You’re now a woman who can stand on her own.”

“Ah…”

During my absence, she had used our engagement as a shield in her power struggle with Gideon and House Bright.

The woman who had once been unable to make proper judgments because of love was now living a proud, independent life.

Now our engagement would only be a hindrance to her.

“No, that’s…”

As I stared at her blankly, Erika waved her hands around and then suddenly stood up.

“I-it’s getting late! I should go.”

Then she left without listening to what I had to say.

[Breaking off the engagement seems like it might be difficult?]

“…How tiresome.”

There was no need to get the dissolution papers right away. After all, my engagement to her had benefits for me as well.

It had provided a good excuse to decline when King Orpheus tried to arrange an engagement between me and the princess.

“I’m going to sleep now.”

[Yes, sweet dreams.]

Dreams, huh.

I didn’t say anything more.

I slowly lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.

* * *

Outside the room, Erika took a deep breath and smoothed her trembling chest.

Come to think of it, they had been alone together in the same room. Her heart fluttered slightly at the thought that if she had been a little braver, today’s conversation might have gone in a different direction.

“Haah.”

But because he had brought up the dissolution, Erika couldn’t stay there.

For her, the dissolution papers were both something that stabilized her heart and something she wished would disappear.

Evidence that her connection to Deus Verdi hadn’t been severed yet.

But also a promise that it would end soon.

That dissolution document held such complex meanings.

“I originally wanted to ask about his relationship with student Aria.”

She had seen them holding hands in the corridor, with Deus initiating the contact, and wanted to ask about it, but now it didn’t matter.

After talking with Deus briefly, she was reminded of what kind of person he was.

He was definitely not someone who would date a student or develop a deeper relationship from his position as a professor.

He had not just discretion but a solid emotional detachment firmly in place.

“…”

In that sense, having the dissolution papers gave her quite an advantageous position.

If Erika didn’t release him, Deus wouldn’t be able to date or marry anyone else.

“Oh…?”

Thinking about it that way, she felt a slight warmth rise in her body, as if she were holding Deus’s leash.

Whether it was Princess Elenoa or Aria Rius, her mere existence would be an obstacle to anyone who openly showed interest in Deus.

“Ahem.”

Of course, she had no intention of sharing these improper thoughts with anyone.

If Deus seriously fell in love with someone and requested to end their engagement, she would naturally bring the dissolution papers, but…

‘If not…’

Yes, if not…

Perhaps this relationship could continue a little longer.

That’s what Erika was thinking.