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Chapter 44
Jeylin glanced around nervously.
“Even if someone else took this, you’re the only one who could really use it. Don’t hesitate—take it.”
At Adrian’s words, Jeylin looked again at Stephan. Since he was also in the Department of Magic Design, it was obvious that he too would need magic stones.
“St-Stephan. Want to share with me? You probably need magic stones too…”
But Stephan’s face, which had been bright a moment before, immediately twisted.
With a groan, Stephan gave way and let Jeylin have the stone.
“Ugh, Jeylin, you take it! I’ve already got plenty, so I’m fine. If I need more, I can just buy them later.”
“Th-thank you, everyone.”
Jeylin carefully hugged the box Lionel had handed over. Knowing that everyone had yielded their stones for his sake, he was all the more grateful.
“Let’s go. That was exhausting for nothing, and now I’m tired.”
Adrian kneaded his shoulders and cracked his neck from side to side.
Just then, the Eduard family carriage that would take Jeylin’s group back to the Academy rolled up in front of them.
The carriage carried them away toward the Academy.
Across from Jeylin, Sasha crossed her legs and spoke in a coy tone.
“We didn’t even get through half of today’s plan. I’m so sad. This has never happened to me before.”
“Y-yeah. It really is a shame.”
Sasha brightened at Jeylin’s attempt to console her.
“Right? Jeylin! You think so too, don’t you? Then how about next weekend? I’ll make an even better plan. What should we do then?”
“Uh, huh?”
“First, we should finish what we couldn’t do today. We’ll take a walk along the city walls, then go to the Tower of Stars—the tallest place in the capital—to see the night view. After that, we’ll stop by Saint Lou’s bakery for cake, and then maybe check out the new Artist’s District everyone’s been talking about!”
Counting off with her fingers, Sasha rattled off her plans one after another.
Flustered, Jeylin scratched his cheek and carefully refused.
“N-no, it’s fine. Just playing together today was more than enough.”
“Why not~? Let’s hang out again next weekend. Today was so much fun!”
“N-no, really, it’s fine. You’ll be busy next week, and I—I have things to do too…”
Jeylin fumbled for excuses, avoiding Sasha’s eyes.
Playing with her was fun, yes—but also utterly exhausting. If he tried to keep up with her plans again next week, he’d probably collapse from sheer fatigue.
Sasha’s relentless persuasion and Jeylin’s roundabout refusals continued all the way until the carriage finally pulled up at Pellodian Academy.
“So, you failed, is that it?”
Clink.
A beautiful teacup, gilded with gold, struck its saucer with a crisp, ringing note.
The office deep within the imperial palace was filled with luxurious furniture and ornate decorations, all reflecting its mistress’s refined tastes.
“I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness.”
The tall man standing before her bowed his head immediately, not daring to hesitate. His superior despised even the slightest sign of wavering.
If one wanted to lessen her wrath, it was always better to admit fault outright and answer clearly.
“I simply don’t understand. Was what I asked really so difficult?”
Her languid, sultry voice drifted softly through the office. Long, flawless fingers tapped slowly against the red-silk armrest of her chair.
“No, Your Highness. It was by no means difficult.”
“Then what went wrong? We’ve done so well up until now, haven’t we?”
To an outsider, her tone might have sounded generous and forgiving, but the man—who had long served her—knew the thorns hidden in her words. He knew just how sharp and cruel they truly were.
“I apologize.”
The elegant woman rose from her seat and circled slowly around her subordinate, who stood with his head bowed like a penitent criminal in the center of the room.
Her movements were smooth and noiseless, graceful yet leisurely.
Lifting her teacup, she wetted her lips before hooking her finger under her subordinate’s chin, forcing him to look up.
“Tell me why you failed. Stop testing my patience.”
“It seems things went awry while trying to discreetly acquire high-capacity magic stones on the market. Since this batch appeared at auction, we bribed several people to secure it, but the participants must have been planning to cash in big this time.”
“So you entrusted the task to strangers without proper oversight, hmm?”
“Yes. I have no excuse.”
“As I’ve told you before—if you can’t trust someone, handle it yourself.”
“But it was too risky for me to attend the auction personally. As Your Highness’s vassal, my face is already well known. If I had appeared there…”
“Bifern, you’re awfully talkative today. I asked for reasons, not excuses.”
“…”
“You know we need a large supply of quality magic stones to advance our plans. Mobilize every line we have. I want all the necessary stones secured before the year is out. If they can’t be found within the Empire, then strip the neighboring nations bare. And make sure neither His Majesty the Emperor nor Duke Eduard notices a thing.”
“Yes, Your Highness. But…”
When Bifern hesitated, the Crown Princess immediately called it out.
“Speak plainly.”
“To buy up the stones, we’ll need funds. But there’s no money left. The shortfall in funds was also a major reason this last attempt failed. We’re already spending heavily to raise the rebels, and there’s nowhere else to draw money from.”
“Then find some excuse—any excuse—to request more from the Treasury.”
“Even if I did, there’s no justification left to give. If we request a large sum without clear expenditure records, the Treasury will grow suspicious.”
“They’re already suspicious. No—past suspicion. They’re convinced. What about padding your personal maintenance budget and skimming from there?”
Bifern shook his head.
“We’re already at the limit. Any more will be rejected. The Minister of Finance is too thorough.”
At that, the Crown Princess’s lips curved into a bitter smile, though her crimson eyes burned with fury.
“Tch. Duke Eduard… Always tripping me up. I should have killed them all back then. Now both father and son have grown too powerful to easily eliminate. Tch.”
“The Minister’s scrutiny has grown even harsher. If he detects even a minor leak of funds, he’ll immediately launch an audit.”
“What to do, then…”
She leaned against her desk for a moment, lost in thought, then straightened once more.
“For now, I’ll request an emergency budget under the pretext of repairing the Crown Princess’s Palace. That will put out the immediate fire. As for the rest, I’ll find a way. I’ve thought of something. You just focus on acquiring the stones without leaving a trail. Spend whatever it takes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You may go.”
Bifern bowed low and began to withdraw.
“Wait.”
She stopped him with a word.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
The Crown Princess approached with elegant steps.
“You still need to be punished for failing me, don’t you agree?”
Her hand pressed lightly on his shoulder. It carried no real force, but Bifern bent as intended.
His knees touched the cold, hard floor.
Satisfied with his submission, the Crown Princess extended her teacup. Slowly, she tilted it.
“There won’t be a second chance. One more mistake, and I won’t forgive you.”
Hot tea poured over Bifern’s head. It trickled down his hair and face, soaking into the carpet.
His lips trembled at the humiliation, but the Crown Princess circled him slowly, observing him as though he were a finely crafted work of art.
“Why—do you feel wronged?”
“No, Your Highness.”
“Good. Considering your blunder, I think I’ve been quite merciful. Don’t you agree?”
“Your Highness is correct.”
From her sleeve, she produced a handkerchief. With an almost tender gesture, she dabbed the tea from his face and hair.
“How pitiful you look. So very wretched.”
After carefully wiping him down, she stared at the now-soiled handkerchief.
“This is useless now.”
She let it fall to the floor.
Resting a hand on his shoulder, she leaned close to his ear.
“Punishing you pains me deeply. Don’t let this happen again. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I will remember.”
She patted his shoulder twice and stepped back.
“You may go.”
Bifern rose and silently left the office.
And so, the dull routine of Academy life resumed.
Well, “dull” was certainly not from Jeylin’s point of view—it was entirely from Stephan’s.
From Jeylin’s perspective, there was nothing dull about the Academy at all. In fact, he was happy.
After all, he was scheduled to take the next monster simulation exam together with Lionel.
