Ch.97School Opening (2)

“Ah, ugh…”

My chest hurts so much. My sense of direction has long since disappeared.

I’m just moving mindlessly, letting my body go wherever it takes me.

‘Holy One… Angels…’

After the Holy One’s anger a few days ago, my life has completely turned upside down.

The angels who were once like fireflies have greatly diminished in brightness and decreased in number.

The angels no longer circle around me as before, distinguishing between the righteous and the wicked. They seem overwhelmed just staying close to me and maintaining what little light they have left.

Not only that, I can barely see people’s auras anymore.

Before, I could tell everything about a person’s character and past deeds from the aura emanating from their body, but now these auras have become so faint that I can’t see them at all.

I can still detect those who have committed terrible evil deeds since some trace of their aura remains despite the fading, but those whose misdeeds are merely average appear just like ordinary people.

[Jeanne, don’t just stand there, move quickly.]

[What’s wrong? Are you sick again today? You’ve been ill all the time lately.]

People around me no longer treat me with the same kindness as before.

It’s not that they’re hostile—they still treat me much more favorably than other maids—but the difference is definitely noticeable. The frequency of rough or purely professional treatment has increased significantly.

“Wait a moment, Jeanne.”

“Y-yes… Holy One…”

Just as I’m about to leave the room, the Holy One stops me.

His voice sounds concerned, but since I can no longer read the aura emanating from his body, I have no way of knowing if his concern is genuine or merely polite.

‘Ugh…’

I’m being punished for my sin.

The sin of daring to bare my teeth at the Holy One’s wives.

Because of my sin, the Holy One became angry, and the angels turned their backs on me. There’s no other explanation.

To cleanse this sin… I must somehow appease the Holy One’s anger.

Above all, if the Holy One doesn’t forgive me, I might be expelled from this palace. That would be a terrible fate that must never happen.

I must appease the Holy One’s anger by any means necessary.

Otherwise, I have nothing. The revelations of the angels and the existence of the Holy One are everything to me.

“Sigh… Don’t tremble like that. Jeanne, you certainly did wrong, but that doesn’t mean I want you dead.”

After saying this, the Holy One rises from his seat and approaches me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Hii, hiiik…”

I’m scared. The touch of the Holy One, which should be sacred, terrifies me.

The Holy One’s touch should certainly be divine and sacred, but unable to read auras anymore, I cannot predict how that touch will move.

To Jeanne, who has lost her ability, every movement of others appears frightening and unpredictable.

Jeanne trembles, watching Claude’s hand with fearful eyes, afraid it might deliver punishment for her sin.

Swoosh—

“Uh, uhh…?”

‘What is this…?’

Of course, what Jeanne feared doesn’t happen.

Claude simply places his hand on the frightened Jeanne’s head and gently strokes it back and forth. Jeanne, who had squeezed her eyes shut in fear, opens them slightly with a puzzled expression at this sudden development.

“Pfft…”

The atmosphere had been quite serious until just a moment ago, but Claude can’t help but smile at Jeanne’s adorable reaction.

Although Jeanne is still struggling to process what’s happening, she’s much more psychologically stable compared to her extremely disturbed state earlier.

Jeanne doesn’t quite understand the meaning behind the head-patting gesture, but the reassurance and physical contact it provides makes her feel less anxious.

“Jeanne.”

“Y-yes…”

“Do you feel better now?”

“Uh…”

Ah, aah…

I can feel it. Even without seeing auras, I can clearly sense the Holy One’s intentions.

His will not to harm me, his desire for me to feel better.

And that’s not all. The Holy One’s touch feels so good.

The warm temperature transmitted through his hand, the pleasant sensation of his palm, the sinful feeling of having my body—cultivated for the one I adore—being touched.

Ah, aah…

I see… I’ve been making a huge mistake.

“…Yes, Holy One…”

“Hmm…? Oh… good. You can go now. Get some rest, you need to go to the university tomorrow.”

I understand.

I am a saint, the Holy One’s tool.

It’s unthinkable for a tool to go against its master’s will.

What does it matter if I can’t use my ability? Just being used as the Holy One’s servant is the greatest happiness.

I won’t disappoint you.

……….

“With this, we conclude the opening ceremony. I hope everyone achieves meaningful academic results.”

“Hmm…”

How boring.

I thought there would be a grand celebration for the opening ceremony, but it was just some fellow named Luca, invited from abroad, talking on and on by himself.

Of course, the professors spoke a little too, but it was just a few words.

‘At least I was fortunate enough to see His Majesty’s noble face.’

I can see His Majesty and many of the country’s prominent figures seated in a special section prepared separately.

Well, the opening of a university is a monumental achievement, so it would be unthinkable for His Majesty not to attend.

‘Hmm…’

He’s younger than I expected.

Judging by his accomplishments alone, he could easily be middle-aged, but His Majesty, visible from afar, is surprisingly young.

I heard his children aren’t even a year old yet? It’s quite unexpected seeing him in person after only hearing about him.

“Lord Louis, you shouldn’t stare too much…!”

“Ah, I forgot. I’ll stop.”

Only after hearing my attendant’s words did I realize that several people and soldiers were looking at me with questioning gazes.

I quickly turn my head toward the podium where the professors are descending.

‘Hmm…’

The faculty is indeed mostly composed of elderly people. Well, His Majesty is the exception, and this is the norm.

Actually, their age makes me trust their abilities more— Huh?

‘Who is that woman?’

She’s moving awkwardly among the professors with a stiff expression, seemingly nervous.

Her appearance, behavior, and expression make it impossible to see her as a professor, but the professor’s badge on her chest proves her status.

‘Hmm…’

As far as I know, professors are selected solely based on ability and His Majesty’s approval, which means that woman must possess considerable skill?

I should look into this further.

……….

“Uwaaa… Uwaaaa… Uwaaaaa…”

“Could you please be quiet? What’s the problem now?”

“Too many… There are too many people… So many nobles… And they were all looking at me… Uwaaaa…”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

After the opening ceremony, as we return to the laboratory for tomorrow’s first class, Miss Ellen suddenly starts wailing and twisting her body.

She still lacks confidence in her abilities and fears being the center of attention.

With her timid personality on top of that, it’s exasperating to watch.

[I successfully dissected the frog… Hehe, all the internal organs are intact!]

[What if we try drying the toadstool cap thoroughly before adding it instead of using it fresh…? No, no, I’m not insisting…]

[Ah, hahaha… Um… I got a perfect score on the test… I must have been lucky…]

‘Really…’

If a truly incompetent person were being cautious, I could understand, but it’s absurd to see Miss Ellen behaving this way when she’s capable, innovative, and clever.

They say when an extremely capable person feigns humility, it’s not humility but arrogance—I think I’m beginning to understand that saying.

“Miss Ellen.”

“Y-yes…”

“As I’ve told you many times, you needn’t fear them. You’ve conversed quite well with His Majesty during our lessons, so why are you intimidated by those who are inferior to him?”

Miss Ellen was initially terrified of His Majesty and could only tremble, but I clearly saw how over time her fear diminished, replaced by curiosity and a spirit of inquiry.

Why does such a girl only tremble before those who are clearly inferior to His Majesty?

“That’s… well… it’s different.”

“Different?”

“His Majesty is at the very top… but I’ve encountered lower nobles many times in my life…”

Ah, I think I understand.

So she means that a wild boar encountered directly on the road is more frightening than a dragon flying high above, completely ignoring her? Something like that?

Hmm… When I think about it that way, it’s not entirely nonsensical.

Throughout her life, Miss Ellen has treated His Majesty like a dragon, but she’s had many entanglements with lower nobles, like wild boars on the roadside.

No matter how accustomed one becomes to living with a dragon, if one has suffered much at the tusks of wild boars throughout life, it’s entirely possible to still fear the boars.

“Miss Ellen.”

“Yes…”

“Stop thinking of them as nobles. You are their teacher, and they are your students.”

“Even if you say that…”

“It may not feel natural yet, but you must do your best to get used to it. Isn’t it pitiful for a professor to tremble before students? Especially a professor who need not bow her head to anyone except His Majesty?”

“Ugh…”

“Moreover, if you show fear before your students, it would bring great shame to His Majesty who appointed you as a professor. Surely we must avoid such a disgrace?”

“…!”

Hmm?

I mentioned His Majesty while explaining why Miss Ellen shouldn’t be intimidated, but her reaction is slightly different. She usually lets my words go in one ear and out the other, but this time she seems deeply moved.

I’m not sure if it’s loyalty or fear toward His Majesty, but speaking this way seems to be the right approach.

From now on, I’ll need to invoke His Majesty whenever Miss Ellen starts to lose her confidence.