Ch.8A Woman with No Eye for Men (3)

Former Emperor Alexios left two children: Anna and Joannes. Both siblings had succession rights, so there would have been no issue with either becoming emperor.

The difficulty lay in ascending to the imperial throne. Beyond having succession rights, one needed to pass a vote by the seven electors and receive final approval from the Pope.

By precedence, Anna, the elder sister, had the stronger claim. Yet her brother Joannes had the better chance of becoming emperor.

This was because their visions were completely opposite: Anna wanted an orderly state ruled by a strong emperor, like her father before her, while Joannes desired an empire where emperor and nobles could advance together.

Who were the electors? They were those who could claim “our family will continue the imperial bloodline” if the imperial succession was broken. Though they had to obey the emperor, they were also the first to guard against the emperor’s power growing too great.

These electors would naturally support Joannes, not Anna. Anna grew anxious. With the electors’ influence growing daily and the empire dividing, her brother’s approach seemed too complacent and weak.

So Anna made her famous proposal to her husband Niki Brien, the Imperial Army Commander:

“Let’s stand at the pinnacle of the world together. I want us to walk together as we’ve done until now. You’re my partner, and that makes you worthy of being the empire’s greatest man. Together, let’s become emperor.”

Everyone in the empire except the capital’s nobles and electors loved Anna. Provincial nobles and commoners adored her. She was a once-in-history genius with a kind and upright heart that made her immensely popular.

Even her husband Niki Brien was her choice. She had been the one to recognize the potential in this low-ranking imperial officer from a noble family in name only, little different from commoners, and proposed to him.

Her choice proved correct. Victory was assured, unnecessary sacrifices were reduced, and his reasonable, convincing tactics left a deep impression on the entire imperial army.

Naturally, the imperial army supported Niki Brien. Niki was famously devoted to his wife, and Anna loved him too. He understood that his wife was exercising her legitimate authority as an heir to the throne.

He also understood that for Anna to become empress, Joannes would have to renounce his succession rights.

So he donned the armor and sword his wife provided, and with his most trusted subordinates, headed to his brother-in-law’s residence. No imperial guard could stop the Imperial Army Commander appearing in the middle of the night.

Yet Crown Prince Joannes wasn’t flustered.

Though overshadowed by his genius sister’s reputation, the prince was wise enough to be called talented, and was as thoughtful, compassionate, and decisive as his sister.

He realized his situation and what was happening. With no time to don armor, he boldly stepped forward wearing only a gown with the imperial sword belt.

“Couldn’t sleep, brother-in-law?”

Niki Brien drew the imperial sword.

And thrust it into the stone floor.

The sword, planted upside down, stood silent.

“Imperial Army Commander Niki Brien greets His Imperial Majesty. The empire belongs to the emperor, and the imperial army is the emperor’s sword. I present this sword to its master. Accept the veneration of the sword.”

Niki’s subordinates also drew their swords and thrust them into the floor.

“Accept the veneration of the sword!”

In that moment, Joannes Kommodus vanished.

“Imperial Army Commander Niki Brien. Rise and receive my command.”

The new emperor, Joannes II, ordered.

“Close the gates and open the doors. Wake all men and women and arm them. Light the streets like day but avoid commotion. Harm no one but permit defense against intruders. Increase security and maintain order. Summon all electors. Arrest the main culprit who attempted usurpation.”

Niki Brien immediately arrested his own wife. Before his subordinates, he set down his empty scabbard, pressed his forehead to hers, kissed her, and embraced her tenderly.

Anna didn’t cry. She didn’t get angry. She didn’t tremble with betrayal, asking “How could you do this?” Perhaps the shock was too great for her to know how to respond.

Instead, she smiled sadly and left those famous words:

“I guess I’m not a good judge of men.”

Whether this expressed her sense of betrayal toward her husband or praise for her brother’s unexpected courage remains unclear.

Joannes’s ascension happened quickly. Anna received no punishment. Joannes himself was indifferent.

“Aren’t you all making too much of a family squabble at a funeral?”

With that, he won over even the extremists who had pledged loyalty to Anna.

The nobles who had worried he might oppress them like the previous emperor unanimously blessed the new emperor’s birth and renewed their loyalty.

Niki Brien stepped down as Imperial Army Commander. Instead, he became chancellor, closely assisting the emperor.

With his political talent matching his military skill, he actively supported the emperor.

As the empire quickly stabilized, Anna’s political standing diminished.

She still had a good relationship with her husband. They neither divorced nor separated. She still cared for her husband, and he loved his wife. Her brother occasionally invited her over or visited with gifts to share jokes.

But eventually, Anna embarked on a long journey.

She exchanged knowledge with the world’s intellectuals and studied at foreign universities. She went on pilgrimages and conversed with the Pope. She diligently wrote letters about important news and matters the emperor should know. It wasn’t unusual for an imperial family member to serve as a diplomat.

Anna was welcomed everywhere. No one disrespected her. On the contrary, the story of the failed imperial successor aroused the curiosity of all rulers.

Endless wisdom, a kind heart, strong inner character, and witty humor—she knew how to put people at ease and seemed to know everything. She never forgot what she heard once, and when told one thing, she understood two.

Thus, she became a professor of history at the Imperial Academy.

* * * * *

The world is vast. Somewhere, there are people who can be happy all week just by opening an atlas and drawing borders as they please.

But most students find history classes boring. Meaningless lists of facts, memorization for memorization’s sake, monotonous and leisurely lecturers…

Add to that a required course for graduation rather than one chosen by choice, and frustration naturally rises.

Yet the world is indeed vast. The “Imperial History Overview” course at the Imperial “Capital” Academy always receives the highest popularity and ratings.

Some might say no one would dare give a poor evaluation to a class taught by the emperor’s sister, but current and former students of the Capital Academy unanimously testify: once you attend even a single class, you couldn’t say such a thing.

Students who entered Anna Kommodus’s class were said to be surprised three times:

First, by her elegant and delicate appearance and humble, graceful manner, so different from her fearsome reputation as “the emperor’s sister and imperial traitor.”

Second, by how she willingly humbled herself and spoke respectfully to students.

Third, by how she remembered the names and faces of students who took her class even after they graduated.

If a Capital Academy graduate happened to meet her, whether by chance or deliberately, Anna would close her eyes thoughtfully and say, “Augustino Ansel, summer semester student from seven years ago. Art department graduate. I heard this year’s wheat harvest in Ansel Barony was good—you must have had busy and prosperous days.”

Whether her eerily incredible memory and information analysis ability came from family memory techniques passed down through generations or from Anna’s own brilliance, she never gave a definite answer. She would only reply, “I’m just very interested in my students.”

And now, Kain, sharing a carriage with Anna, was pondering the meaning of those words.

Anna and Lily were continuing their endless conversation. Mostly greetings, personal matters, and gossip about Lily’s fellow graduates. Thanks to this, Kain could momentarily escape the gaze of the two women.

‘She even knew Lily’s nickname.’

They had used their real names at the academy. The aliases “Kain” and “Lily” were chosen by themselves after joining the Security Bureau. If Anna were an ordinary professor, she couldn’t possibly know the names “Kain” and “Lily.”

This meant the imperial family took great interest in Security Bureau agents.

Moreover, Kain and Lily had been directly “designated.” Would she have invited former students into the imperial carriage just because she was glad to see them? Kain thought not. There must be a reason behind this action.

Looking at the carriage’s destination, his suspicion grew stronger.

The streets glimpsed through the curtains weren’t heading toward the central area where the imperial palace was located. The procession was passing through the old city.

‘There should be a fork in the road about now.’

A grand trumpet blast sounded like a roaring bear.

Holy Grail Knights who had broken away from the procession turned onto the right path, toward the Capital Cathedral where the knightly order’s capital branch was located.

Meanwhile, the royal guards and Anna’s carriage continued straight ahead. At the end of this road was the academy’s main gate.

Anna Kommodus was still a professor. She gave lectures, wrote papers on her specialty of history, and devoted herself to writing historical books. So Anna going to the academy was essentially no different from going to work.

But the reason for specifically bringing Kain and Lily along…

Slap.

Suddenly, Anna’s fan struck Kain’s thigh, breaking his chain of thought.

“Yes. That expression.” Anna laughed, holding her waist.

Kain looked blankly back and forth between Anna and Lily.

“Do you know what Lily and I were talking about?”

“I don’t know.”

Anna nodded to Lily. Lily chirped like a morning bird at the window.

“We were discussing first impressions. The conversation was about how remembering not just faces and names but also first feelings makes it easier to remember people.”

“We were talking about you. Your first impression. You were a unique student. You seemed to distance yourself from everything in the world, yet you never took your eyes away.

Your eyes looked ahead, but your pupils seemed to be dreaming. In your head, you were thinking about various things. Eyes characteristic of someone who retraces what happened in the past and predicts what might happen in the future.

Like dreaming, with your soul floating about, making one want to give you a little tap—that kind of impression.”

Anna tapped Kain again with her fan. Kain gave a hollow laugh.

“Was I like that? I don’t really remember.”

“Of course you’d say that. How would someone know their own first impression? I’m curious. Lily, what about you? When you first saw Kain?”

“My first impression?” Lily slightly bowed her head and pressed her lower lip, but her smile spread uncontrollably.

“I felt similar to Professor.”

Lily’s eyes sparkled, and Kain became a little uncomfortable.

“So you wanted to hit me too?”

“Ah, no! That’s not what I meant!”

Lily hit Kain’s arm with her lightly clenched fist. It was more like tapping and pushing than hitting, but that was enough to make Anna smile.

“How interesting. Lily, you’ve changed so much. Throughout school, you were stiffer than a soldier, but you’ve become quite gentle. So, what about now? Compared to your first impression?”

Kain became even more uncomfortable. He couldn’t tell what Anna’s intention was. Was it just mischievous teasing or curiosity?

But when Lily opened her mouth, such thoughts vanished.

“His expressions haven’t changed much, but he actually smiles a lot in private. He rarely laughs out loud, but he often has small smiles.

He pretends to be indifferent and uninterested, and though he doesn’t talk much, he often takes care of others secretly from behind. He doesn’t boast about what he’s done and only helps as much as necessary.

He’s respected by his subordinates, loved and envied by his colleagues, but recognized by his superiors as a capable agent.

Also, in his position, he always…”

She was like a child asked, “Can you list a hundred reasons why you like your mom and dad?”

Anna was amazed, then shocked, then desperately tried to hold back her laughter as if exceeding all expectations. Finding it impossible, she threw open the curtain and covered her face with her fan. Kain seriously considered opening the carriage door and jumping out. He thought it might be better to take a hit from the royal guards.

“…he’s an exemplary person who always does his best in his position…”

Lily’s face flushed as she emerged from her trance. Even someone who forgot to put on pants before going outside couldn’t have been more embarrassed.

“It’s getting a bit hot. Is it because it’s early summer?” Anna kept adjusting her collar and fluttering her fan.

“Well, Lily. No one has only good aspects. Rather, such people should be viewed with caution. They usually hide something big behind them. Unless one is blinded.

So I need to check if your perspective is balanced. Let me ask again. Are there any disappointing aspects—no, no. That might be awkward with him present. Is there anything you wish for? Something you’d like him to do, or something you’d like to do together?”

Lily’s expression became serious. Kain felt his heart sink.

“…There is.”

Lily pulled Kain’s briefcase toward her. It seemed as if she was physically declaring she would never return it.

“Really? What is it?”

Kain grew anxious. ‘I wish you wouldn’t quit.’ Lily would probably say that.

Then naturally, the emperor’s sister would ask, “Why are you thinking of quitting?”

What would he say? The slowly parting lips made him nervous.

But Lily gave a completely unexpected answer.

“We’ve never had a sparring match.”

“Sparring?” Anna was as puzzled as Kain. “You mean martial arts combat training?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Lily fidgeted with her fingers.

“That’s unusual. I thought the Security Bureau had as much sparring and training as any military institution. Kain, is that right?”

“Yes, it is.”

Anna straightened her posture. It was an unconscious habit when she concentrated.

“You’ve been wasting the opportunity to cross swords with a lady of the White Blood Knightly State? Even though Lily, despite her young age, must be technically near perfect. At least when it comes to swordsmanship, you could have learned a lot from her.”

Kain recalled Director Verneith. ‘When are you going to fulfill your mandatory sparring participation quota!’ The memory of him shouting as usual.

“It’s not that I dislike it, but I’ve hardly done any sparring at all. I’ve been busy with various things…”

“Wait. So you have done some sparring?”

He had sparred with Boehm using staffs, with Bom in wrestling, and with Godfrey using a broken chair. With the Boehm-Bom brothers, it was in the Security Bureau training hall, and with Godfrey, it was in a back-alley tavern. The latter was obviously an unofficial record. Kain suffered leg abrasions, and Godfrey’s nose was broken.

“Yes.”

“With swords?”

“…I used staffs and wrestling.”

“What about last year? Did you use swords then?”

One cannot lie to the imperial family. Kain answered honestly.

“…No. Fists and clubs, staves and wrestling…”

A slight twitch appeared at Anna’s mouth.

“Kain. Do you still…?”

Lily looked around cautiously and raised her hand. Anna stopped speaking and nodded instead.

“The section chief probably didn’t know. I never requested sparring, and this is the first time I’ve mentioned it. It’s my fault. It’s on me.”

Anna’s face once again softened with smiles and mischief.

“Lily. I thought your strengths were honesty and boldness. Your character is straightforward and upright, isn’t it? Why didn’t you say anything? Is there a rule that prohibits sparring for a certain period after joining? As far as I know, there’s no such regulation.”

Lily lowered her head. She drew her legs tightly together.

“…I was embarrassed. I was too embarrassed. I’m sorry. I got carried away by the atmosphere and… misspoke…”

“Really. You’ve only grown physically.” Anna placed her slender, delicate hand on her cute student’s knee.

“Lily. Do you want to be happy?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you want to be happy.”

“…Yes.”

“Then prepare yourself to anticipate and welcome happiness.”

The emperor’s sister, legitimate heir to the throne, imperial traitor, and academy professor—the teacher of both—declared:

“It takes effort to accept and enjoy happiness just as much as it does to overcome frustration and stand up again. The effort to remind yourself that you deserve to be happy. You need to do that.”

Anna gripped Lily’s leg more firmly. It was as if she wanted to convey her inner passion. But Lily didn’t seem to understand well. Her expression looked confused.

“Lily. Some people can’t see a happy ending even when it’s right in front of them. Some people think only of failure, death, frustration, and bitterness all day long. But such people cannot be happy. Do you know why?”

“I don’t know.”

“They only watch from a step away, as if it’s someone else’s business. So when a happy ending actually comes, they can’t bear it. They envy and covet others’ happiness, and they long for such happiness themselves, but when it comes, they can’t accept it.

They find it overwhelming, burdensome, and they doubt whether it’s really theirs. They question whether they deserve such happiness until they miss it or let it go.

But they handle failure, death, frustration, and bitterness well. They think about these things all day and prepare for how to act when they come. Some sad people even find comfort in such familiar helplessness.”

For some reason, Kain felt as if Anna was speaking to him, though her eyes were on Lily.

“You need to train. You need to think about joy and happiness as much as sadness and tears. Only then can you grasp the happiness in front of you, not some happiness that might come someday. Don’t resign yourself. Don’t let go of yourself. No matter what happens, never.”

“Yes. I will never, ever let go. Never.”

Lily firmly held her teacher’s hand. But her gaze was directed at Kain. Though still embarrassed, she was bold to the point of shamelessness.

Of course, moments later, she realized she had been holding her teacher’s hand for too long and released it with a deep blush.

“Early summer is early summer, isn’t it?” Anna made an expression as sweet and sour as if she had eaten a piece of lemon soaked in honey.

“It’s the season when everyone falls in love. My favorite season.”

Lily covered her face with her palms, as if believing this would hide her embarrassment and shyness.

Unaware that Kain’s heart had grown even heavier.

Eventually, the procession passed through the academy’s main gate.