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Chapter 31
“Gasp.”
I realized my mistake.
Right. Schuls Schmidt never said something like that.
But he recovered quickly.
“Who else would teach the royal family if the best Pneuma didn’t?”
Or maybe it was just flattery.
Schuls Schmidt, who had been staring at me, burst out laughing in disbelief.
Fortunately, he didn’t ask further and answered my original question.
“I just received word. The Empress herself is coming to the White Tower with the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.”
“What?!”
“Why are you surprised?”
Of course, I was supposed to meet the Crown Prince at the palace—but he wasn’t there!
I had only asked Schuls Schmidt to take me to the palace; I hadn’t mentioned this part.
But now I had to say it.
“I actually wanted to meet the Crown Prince.”
For once, Schuls Schmidt looked genuinely flustered.
“Tullia Miss…”
No, correction.
He looked serious.
“Could it be that you are interested in His Highness the Crown Prince?”
‘Interested in the Crown Prince?’
Yes, very interested. My life depended on it.
“But if it were someone else, I wouldn’t say this… you shouldn’t do that, Miss…”
“I have my reasons, my reasons!”
“Love?”
“Reasons!”
When I shouted, Schuls Schmidt chuckled quietly.
His usually cold, expressionless face, with just a faint crease at the eyes as he smiled, looked ridiculously amusing.
Is this really the cold, genius scholar I know?
I thought we had only gotten somewhat close by decoding the ancient letters, but apparently even that was enough to make him smile like this.
Maybe it’s because I shared a bit about my father, a personal story not usually told to others, and he feels closer to me because of that.
‘…Huh?’
For a moment, I questioned my own thoughts.
I had scored full marks on the exam, and Schuls Schmidt came to find me.
That part was the same as in the game.
But in <Gemilpan>, even though many direct-line students scored full marks, Schuls Schmidt had never shown Corico the letters from my father… right?
‘…Huh?’
What is this?
Why am I seeing something now as Tullia that I never saw as Corico?
What’s different?
I stared at Schuls Schmidt, deeply puzzled.
The faint mischief in his usually cold and intelligent eyes…
In <Gemilpan>, Schuls Schmidt didn’t become close to Corico this quickly either.
Yeah, that was the case.
Something is different.
‘Did the Duke go around saying I’m a genius in ancient languages?’
No way. That couldn’t be him.
“Then, Miss, do you also plan to visit the White Tower?”
Schuls Schmidt’s words snapped me back to attention. I blinked a few times and asked,
“Can I go to the White Tower too?”
“If you accompany him, you may tour it. But the Duke may be a problem.”
Of course.
I nodded and immediately headed toward Duke Asis Prezier, taking several deep breaths along the way.
“Grandfather.”
Duke Asis Prezier, speaking with Luc Kelposher and a few aides, turned toward me.
“What is it?”
“Well…”
“We’re almost at the royal capital. In half a day, we’ll arrive. Be patient a little longer.”
‘No, that’s not it…’
But was the Duke always so kind with words?
He had seemed like a fierce hawk, cold and harsh toward his children and grandchildren.
I was puzzled, but this wasn’t important right now.
“Um… I…”
As I showed I had something to say, a faint question appeared on the Duke’s brow.
“Say it if you have something to say.”
“Grandfather… may I tour the White Tower with Schuls Pneuma?”
The Duke made a subtle expression and asked,
“Tullia Prezier.”
“Yes, Grandfather?”
“Did you hear that the Crown Prince and Second Prince are going to the White Tower?”
“Yes, I did.”
“…Hmm.”
The Duke frowned slightly, silently considering.
He must have already heard that Schuls Schmidt suddenly changed the destination from the palace to the White Tower.
But of course, I wasn’t included in that changed plan.
‘What if it looks like I’m acting on my own?’
As I prepared a bunch of excuses, Duke Asis Prezier, who had been staring at me with his dark green eyes, said something unexpected.
“Tullia Prezier.”
“Yes, Grandfather?”
“Have you been reading romances about lovers of different social ranks at the library?”
“What romance?”
“Well, they say young people like it these days. Stories about lovers with differences in social status.”
Romance across social ranks?
Was I imagining it?
The Duke’s words strangely overlapped with what Schuls Schmidt had just said.
No way.
‘Does the Duke also think I want to go to the White Tower because I’m interested in the Crown Prince?’
Of course, Tullia is the Duke’s granddaughter and a marquis’s daughter, so even with the social difference, it’s not impossible.
And everyone knows Tullia isn’t the marquis’s biological child, so that might also be why he mentioned it.
I quickly shook my head.
“Absolutely not.”
I’m not Corico, no way.
Besides, the Crown Prince in <Gemilpan>… never mind.
In these stories, the one who punishes the villain most is always the male lead.
‘No, no. Tullia will just be punished by everyone.’
Tears blurred my vision, but the Duke was silently watching me, so I shook my head again.
“Absolutely, absolutely not, Grandfather.”
“Hmph.”
‘Hmph?’
As the Duke cleared his throat, Luc, standing behind him, spoke with an unusually gentle smile.
“Miss Tullia, a romance in a book is only a romance in a book.”
“No, I mean I’m not interested in that.”
“What I mean is, there is no need to endure hardships just for a romance.”
“…Huh?”
“Even if you like someone, is there really a need to run away with a handsome man of different social rank?”
“…?”
Excuse me? Runaway romance?
Am I imagining it, or is this getting weirder?
“On the Summer Continent, there are quite a few royals who gather handsome men in a ‘harem.’ It’s similar to the ancient imperial harem system.”
Why is the Summer Continent coming up now?
The Summer Continent is next to the Spring Continent, where the Briyang Empire is located.
That there are kings there with harems isn’t new; I saw it in <Gemilpan> too.
“…Really?”
I looked at Luc, completely puzzled.
“I just wanted you to know. Although there’s no proper national-level exchange with the Summer Continent yet, it’s quite interesting.”
“…?”
When I looked confused, the aides chuckled quietly.
Usually, what Luc said reflected Duke Asis Prezier’s intentions.
‘Please don’t tell me he wants me to make a harem for that terrifying Crown Prince…’
I tilted my head, still confused, as Duke Asis Prezier, observing me, spoke.
“I’ll assign Luc and the knights to accompany you. Go and tour it.”
“Really?!”
My eyes went wide, and I grabbed the Duke’s hands.
“Thank you, Grandfather! Please take care on your way too!”
Normally, I wouldn’t have acted like this—it just came out reflexively.
The Duke’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t pull away.
Perhaps the Duke’s demeanor had softened toward me compared to before?
I could treat him more comfortably now.
A few weeks ago, I was trembling, afraid the Duke might literally chop off my head.
I excitedly bowed and turned around, humming happily.
“We’ll take good care of her, so don’t worry…”
“And we’ll make sure that Pneuma fellow doesn’t bother you, so don’t worry…”
The words of Luc and the aides, which I didn’t catch fully, drifted away on the breeze.
