episode_0084

“Lilith, do you have any thoughts about entering the academy as a noble?”

“…Excuse me?”

At Seraphine’s fresh nonsense that echoed in front of me, my mind was momentarily confused.

The academy? Me?

As a noble?

Upon hearing about a new route that I had never thought about since entering this world, I was momentarily at a loss for words and could only respond with a dumbfounded exclamation.

Seraphine, as if she had been waiting for it, caught onto my unexpected answer and began to sag.

“Just now, you said ‘yes,’ Lilith?”

“No, this was just…”

“Even if it was just a slip of the tongue, you did say ‘yes,’ right?”

“…”

“Can I take your agreement as a yes, Lilith?”

Suddenly, Seraphine clung onto my slip of the tongue and started smiling brightly.

Judging by her proactive response, it seemed like she was genuinely considering admitting me to the academy.

Moreover, it seemed like she was already in the process of preparing to admit me to the academy, having already discussed it to some extent with Edan.

The academy…

Of course, if I could enter the academy as a noble, it would be more than ideal.

Unlike entering the academy as a commoner, entering as a noble would mean that Lilith’s main goal of entering the magic department would also be possible.

While it was a much better offer than entering another department at the academy, I couldn’t simply accept Seraphine’s proposal without understanding her intentions.

“Princess Seraphine.”

“Why do you address me like that, Lilith?”

“If it’s not impolite, may I ask a question regarding admission to the academy?”

“Feel free to ask, Lilith.”

“Could you tell me what you want from me after I enter the academy?”

“…”

My question seemed to catch Seraphine off guard for a moment, leaving her speechless.

Judging by her current reaction alone, it seemed like she was leaving various possibilities open on how to use me after I entered the academy.

“When I make such a proposal, most people usually ask me how I plan to make it possible.”

“Excuse me?”

“Lilith, you’re asking me what I want from you after you enter the academy.”

“…”

“It seems like you already know that admitting you to the academy is quite possible.”

…Well, she really does know.

Seraphine had even created a fictional noble family to send me away without attracting attention.

Creating a fictional viscount family was a bit more difficult for Seraphine than flipping her hand.

In addition, she could create a special entrance exam, or use her personal power to influence me after admission.

At least from Seraphine’s standpoint, there were countless ways she could use to admit me to the academy.

And honestly, as long as I could enter the academy’s magic department, I didn’t care how I got in.

“Luminor Academy” was fundamentally a game based on the academy.

Like most academy-themed games, there were elements that could only be learned by taking classes, so I did want to enter the academy’s magic department if possible.

I was just temporarily giving up due to unfavorable conditions at the moment.

If my wish to enter the academy could come true, I was willing to agree to a deal with Princess Seraphine.

I might even be willing to accept a slightly higher price.

“If it wasn’t possible, you wouldn’t have proposed that I enter the academy as a noble from the beginning, right?”

“…….”

“Is there a reason you find it difficult to say, Princess Seraphine?”

“No. I just thought I chose people well.”

“What?”

Princess Seraphine nodded casually in response to my question.

And her subsequent answer, accompanied by a meaningful smile, was directed back at me.

“I am planning to ask Release to enter the academy as a noble in the future.”

“…….”

“At the moment, there is nothing in particular.”

“……What?”

“I simply hope to have as many capable new students as possible enter the Luminor Academy next year. Including Release and Master Ethan.”

It seemed even more meaningful that she wasn’t asking for anything, making me feel like I was overreacting.

But judging from Seraphine’s reaction, it seemed like she wasn’t trying to get something specific from me by enrolling students in the academy, but rather she wanted to gather as many talented students as possible.

Thinking about the story that would unfold in the ‘Luminor Academy’ game, most of the students gathered would likely be running around, struggling, and working hard.

“It’s okay not to doubt, Release. I’m not asking anything special from you for entering the academy as a noble, but that doesn’t mean I won’t receive anything from you.”

“No, I’m not doubting you, Princess….”

“Even Release, who has never properly learned magic, showed the ability to defeat King Serpent. If Release learns magic properly at the academy, how much more could you contribute? And how many more lives could you save in the future?”

“……!”

“I am thinking about and investing in that aspect, Release.”

…Yes, Seraphine was always like this.

A person who would run towards the possibility of saving more lives without hesitation.

I felt ashamed of myself for doubting such a character who had a clear sense of purpose in her actions. Everything Seraphine did had a meaning.

If I had listened to all these reasons, it would be rude to refuse. Of course, considering the things that Seraphine and Ethan were already doing, it might not be easily accepted even if I refused.

“Understood, Princess Seraphine. Since you mentioned helping me enter the academy as a noble, I will gladly follow your proposal.”

“No need to say anything else.”

“I am not foolish enough to lie in front of a princess.”

“I will inform you of the details later in a letter. It will be about the noble status you will have, the date of the academy entrance exam, and so on.”

“I am extremely grateful for your continued attention.”

“No. Compared to the many lives you have saved, this is really nothing.”

…That’s true.

As someone who knew the future when Agnes took over my role, her words resonated even more with me.

“For now, based on the information I have, Release will have the status of a viscount’s daughter. If there had been more time, I would have tried to make you a viscountess, but in the rush to prepare, this was the limit of what I could create without drawing attention.”

“Being a commoner and having the status of a viscount’s daughter alone is more than enough for me to express my deepest gratitude.”

“And the main house will probably be the Blackwood family, I will send you the details again in a letter later.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I will leave now due to my next schedule. Please make sure to check the letter from Persinal to Edan Gongja, Lilith.”

“Yes, I will definitely check.”

“It was enjoyable sharing stories with you, Edan Gongja, Lilith.”

“I, I feel the same!”

“I was sincerely delighted to be able to share stories with Princess Seraphine.”

“Oh, there’s no need for a farewell. I have to leave right away to catch the carriage anyway.”

As Edan and I stood up to see her off, Seraphine waved her hand as if to say it was unnecessary and sat us back down.

Confirming that we were seated again, Seraphine took her steps, and we were forced to see her off without a proper farewell.

In the reception room where she had come like the wind and disappeared like dew, only Edan and I were left standing awkwardly.

“Edan Doryeonnim.”

“…Yes, Maid.”

“Was it your idea to grant me the title of Viscount and enroll me in the academy…?”

“Well, it was… but… was it a nuisance?”

“No way. To bestow such attention on a mere maid like me, Edan Doryeonnim… I would be grateful no matter how many times I thanked you.”

I bowed my head to Edan, conveying my sincere gratitude, and he quietly explained the process of enrolling me in the academy.

“…Because it would be a waste of a maid’s talent, I asked for your help to grant her the status of a branch family member of Blackwood and enroll her in the Magic Department of the Academy. It would be impossible for a commoner maid to enter the Magic Department of the Academy, so I received help from the Princess in that aspect.”

“I see.”

“Originally, if it were to be revealed that a commoner maid could use magic, it would be dangerous in many ways. I also thought that… oh.”

“…What’s the matter, Doryeonnim? If it’s something I shouldn’t hear…?”

“…It’s just that I shouldn’t call you Lilith a maid anymore. Of course, Lilith is still my personal maid, but soon you will settle your debts and be incorporated into the Blackwood branch family as a noble. From then on, Lilith will no longer be my personal maid.”

“Ah.”

…I see. If I were to be granted the title of a Viscount, I would have to stop my duties as Edan’s maid.

Even though I was a lower noble in the branch family, having a noble’s personal maid like me would cause many problems.

Sometimes lower noble families would send their children to the main house or a higher noble family as a servant.

To prove loyalty to the main house or family ties.

However, it was an unwritten rule not to send sensitive positions like a male personal maid.

Being a male personal maid would involve observing a lot of personal life, such as sleeping, changing clothes, or before and after bathing.

Even though they were lower nobles, they were still nobles, and especially for young nobles, there was a possibility of blocked marriage paths, so it was common not to do the job of a male personal maid.

Moreover, sending the daughter of the branch family as the personal maid of the main house noble could be seen as an attempt by the branch family to seize the power of the main house.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Come to think of it, isn’t this a bit dangerous?

Let’s assume that I stop being Edan’s personal maid and become a fictitious Viscount’s servant and enroll in the academy.

What happens next?

No power, no fate, just a fake viscount with no personal connections due to never showing his face in social activities, a low-ranking nobleman with no personal connections.

In this state, if I were to enter the academy alone, undoubtedly…

‘I’m screwed.’

Only after thinking this far could I somehow grasp how to deal with my current situation.

Simply receiving a ‘noble status’ from Edan and Seraphine wouldn’t be enough to survive in the academy.

And, to survive, I couldn’t remain as I was now.

“…It’s a bit regrettable. A maid no longer being a maid. Of course, you will continue to live with us in our house in the future…”

“…Lord Edan. It may be impolite to ask, but may I make a small request?”

“A small request? …Go ahead and say it.”

“Could I not continue to be your exclusive maid until you and Lord Edan graduate from the academy?”

“…What?”

Although Edan’s eyes widened at my unexpected proposal, my sincerity in making that request was more serious than anyone else’s.

To survive in the academy as a mediocre viscount, I still felt that I needed Edan’s help.