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How a witch survives at a noble academy.

There was a romance fantasy novel called ‘The Witch’s Life’ for short.

A free serial novel that boasts an average star rating of 0 points.

As you can see from the rating, it was honestly a very bad novel.

A development that ignores probability and is forced upon, only repeating the torment of the female protagonist.

Sentences that are difficult to read because they are completely drained of emotion. Spelling mistakes are frequent.

I read it all the way through because it was free and I wanted to see the female protagonist be happy…

When the series ended abruptly with the conclusion, ‘The heroine who destroyed the world committed suicide.’

The latest update only had 1 view count.

The news was that all the readers had left and only I was left.

‘… I should have escaped back then.’

If I had known I would be possessed by this ominous novel, I would have run away immediately.

I wonder why I was hanging out there and commenting back at the author.

‘At least I’m glad I left a good comment. If I left a bad comment, the female protagonist could have been possessed by it… Oh my. It’s horrible to even imagine.’

The only good thing is that I was possessed by the 3rd princess, Esti, and not the female protagonist.

Thanks to possessing the princess who died on her 10th birthday, life in this world wasn’t that difficult.

No. On the contrary, the quality of life has improved significantly compared to the old world.

It’s only natural, since I was originally an orphan who grew up in an orphanage.

It wasn’t always easy, and there were some unfortunate incidents, like the occasional problem arising because of the gender change…

It would be ridiculous to complain to that extent.

That’s how I lived as the Third Princess, Esti, for the past ten years.

‘I couldn’t just play around with the princess, though.’

Of course, she did not live quietly as the third princess.

How can I sleep soundly knowing that the world is going to be torn in two?

I guess I’ll have to struggle to survive.

That’s why I’ve been working hard over the past years.

Because if I acted like I knew the future and got branded a ‘witch’, it would be over for me, so I did it alone.

Using the knowledge of the original work that only I know.

To prevent the planned destruction even if it means deceiving everyone…

To become the mastermind.

‘In the end, I had no choice but to become the mastermind.’

That’s how I lived as the third princess and the mastermind.

Taking control of the key figures in the imperial family.

In order to avoid the accidents that occurred in the original work, the story is induced.

…sometimes deceiving and betraying the people we love.

For 10 years.

And so, 10 years passed.

I turned 20 this year and decided to show off a little bit of my hidden teeth.

To break free from the shield of the royal family and fully intervene in the ‘story’.

‘You’ve been saving up your hair blackmail to use it to go to the academy. Hehe.’

What I have to do for him is…

Entering the academy.

As my thoughts circled around to the academy, I slowly opened the door in front of me.

-Squeak… .

“Sister Elena.”

“S.T. What do you have to say?”

As I opened the door, I saw a silver-haired woman sitting on the bed in her pajamas.

The second princess of the Avruen royal family. The half-sister of the third princess, Esti, whom I possessed. Elena’s older sister.

I slowly walked towards her.

With a very dark gait, like a snake crawling towards its prey.

-Thump thump. Slap.

“Right? Abamama said that. If you get permission from your brothers and sisters, she’ll let you go to the academy!”

“… That sound again.”

As I sat down next to her, a husky, emotionless voice greeted me.

A voice that seems to be bothered by everything in the world. It even makes you feel unpleasant, like you wish someone like me would just disappear.

Of course, unlike her speech, my sister’s actions were extremely kind.

-Ugh.

“Eat it first. I just baked it for dinner tonight.”

My sister takes out the cookie jar she has reserved just for me and hands it to me.

I gladly accepted the cookie and put it in my mouth.

The dark side is a job that uses a lot of brain power.

No matter how much sugar there was, it wasn’t enough.

“Wow~ It smells good~!!”

-Thud. Thud.

“… So cute.”

‘Haha. How could you suspect that I’m the mastermind after seeing this? As expected, my acting is perfect, right?’

The added effect of lowering your sister’s guard is a bonus.

So I let her down my guard by eating the cookies.

———If things had gone as planned, the second princess would have been the next emperor and crown princess by now.

-Gulp, gulp.

“There’s a lot, so eat more. Estee.”

“… Yeah!”

‘Haha. Sister Elena. She didn’t even know that I stole her crown.’

My sister probably doesn’t even know this in her dreams.

That I was the mastermind behind the succession race.

Furthermore, in the original work, by now she would have solidified her position as the sole heir to the imperial family.

But I didn’t say anything and just kept my mouth shut.

I didn’t want to show off that I knew the future and get accused of being a witch and tortured like the female protagonist in ‘The Witch’s Tale’.

In addition to that…

‘I feel like I’m in total chaos right now…!!!’

-Hehe.

When I thought that even the most powerful position in the heavens and earth was within my grasp, my romantic fantasies ran wild.

I chewed on a cookie, congratulating myself by saying, ‘Today was like a dark day again~’

-Ummm, ummm… thud.

“… … consonant?”

Suddenly, a soft hand touched the crown of my head.

It was Elena’s sister’s hand.

-Swoosh. Swoosh.

‘Sister, you really like my hair…’

After that, my sister gently combed my hair herself.

As if trying to change my mind, he started talking about the academy.

“Listen while eating. I understand that you want to go to the academy. When I was young, I also… .”

To summarize the brief explanation, it was as follows.

Imperial Academy.

A proud institution of higher education in the Abruzzo Empire.

A gateway to high positions in the empire.

As expected from the original work’s main stage, its status was enormous.

Wizards, alchemists, and others could not join the Magic Tower or related guilds without graduating from the academy.

If you get caught doing something while avoiding the eyes of the empire, you’ll be immediately branded a ‘witch’.

Even knights who used their bodies were semi-mandated to graduate from the academy.

Without an academy diploma, it was difficult to even join the Knights, let alone get promoted quickly.

Of course, the academy’s curriculum was outstanding.

Even if they do not necessarily want to be promoted, those who have a desire to improve will knock on the door with a lot of gold coins in their hands.

Even adventurers and mercenaries who are only after money will knock on the academy’s door to increase their value, so that goes without saying.

but,

“If you were a commoner, I would have cheered you on… But you already have Avruen blood in your veins. There’s nothing you can gain by going there. You’ll just end up suffering mentally.”

No matter what it is, the academy is ultimately a place for social advancement.

The explanation ended with the words, “What good would it do for me, who was born with the best blood, to go there?”

In other words, it was something everyone already knew.

‘I’m sleepy, but I keep talking about things I already know… .’

“Ahhh… A lot of nobles go there too, right?”

“Only the second or third sons of the author enter on their own. The rest, most likely, enter because they did something wrong. On behalf of the monastery.”

“… … .”

‘Somehow. All the nobles who appear in Witch’s Salvation are lowly humans. I wonder if they were the ones who had already had an accident.’

“So Estee, you shouldn’t go there. I understand you want to go there, but it’s definitely not a clean place for you to go and hang out.”

It’s something most people know, but it’s still words that make me feel worried.

I quietly licked my cookie crumb-covered fingers.

As I was doing that, my sister gently hugged my back.

“I don’t want to send my beloved little brother to a place like that.”

– Hug… Squeak.

“… … .”

‘No matter how accustomed I am to life as a woman, it’s a bit unsettling to suddenly do something like this.’

Although my expression was momentarily disturbed by the feeling I felt during that time, anyway.

I pulled myself together and hugged my sister.

And. in her ears I…

———I threw a tantrum.

‘Ugh. Is this the only way it can be done?’

“Sister. Don’t do that, okay?”

“… Esti.”

“Huh? Huh? I really want to go.”

“… … .”

Me, whispering in your ear and pleading.

My sister remained silent as if she was dumbfounded.

Have you heard what I’m saying? I’m sure you’re thinking something like this.

But there was a smile on my lips.

That too, very wicked.

A smile befitting the name ‘Absolute Darkness’.

“Is there anyone else I can ask for like this, other than you?”

“Me, outside… .”

“Of course. You know I trust and follow you the most in the world, right?”

“… … .”

“Please, Unnie♡”

The strength gradually drained from my sister’s hand that was hugging my back.

Even with her husky and emotionless voice, she can’t hide her embarrassment.

It was an unthinkable reaction for someone who was called the ‘Iron-Blooded Princess’ in the original work…

I didn’t even glance at my sister as if it was a given.

My gaze was fixed on the space behind her.

There was a translucent window floating there that only I could see.

It contains the ability that allows me to be the mastermind behind this palace and the entire empire.

-Tiring!

[Current favorability rating of ‘Elena Blanchard d’Abruen (24 years old, female)’ towards the subject: 100 (Max)]

[The effect of favorability ‘absolutely’ increases the probability of winning the other person’s favor.]

The ability I had from the beginning when I was suddenly dropped into this world.

The power to check people’s favorability toward you and receive bonuses accordingly.

My sister was helplessly destroyed by a simple but powerful ability.

“Well, if Estee really wants it… I guess I should give her my permission… .”

“Thank you, Unnie♡”

‘I felt like a total fool right now…!!!’