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Chapter 20
He was the benefactor who had saved a life during the war, so it would’ve made sense for that person to show up.
Yet, there were only three of us the entire time, and even the tea table had been set for just three.
Caleb spoke, his voice slightly subdued.
“Jamie returned to the academy earlier this year, so he’s not at the estate.”
“Oh, I see.”
That meant Caleb had been alone in this mansion for quite some time.
Before the war, Jamie must have been staying at the academy.
“If he’d had even a few more days, he would’ve skipped his classes and rushed over. He’ll be very disappointed.”
Caleb clicked his tongue irritably.
“Tch, those fools at the academy—this old man could teach him far better, yet he treats that place like it’s something special.”
So he left the academy midway and enlisted in the war?
That wasn’t a common choice.
There must have been a reason, but it wasn’t important right now, so I focused on Caleb.
For a brief moment, he looked lonely—so brief it could’ve been my imagination.
Then he scowled again.
“Those idiots must’ve sweet-talked him. He said he’d go for just a year, but he hasn’t come back.”
It was clear Caleb wasn’t pleased about his grandson being at the academy.
“It seems you miss him quite a bit, Marquis.”
At my words, Caleb responded sharply.
“It’s a matter of pride. My grandson leaving this brilliant grandfather to learn from those incompetent fools.”
He added that he had long ago rejected offers to become a professor at the academy, but it was obvious he felt regret.
I hummed in agreement.
“It is strange that someone of your caliber has no disciples.”
“Finding someone who meets my standards isn’t easy, hmph.”
“That’s true. But isn’t it a great loss for the empire?”
Flattered, Caleb’s lips curled upward.
“There were times I thought it wouldn’t be bad to have at least one.”
“Oh?”
“Though I doubt there’s anyone besides my grandson who could even follow half of my teachings, ahem.”
“….”
“If I had taken a disciple back then, they’d be carrying their own weight by now. And I’d see less of those academy fools strutting around!”
I slowly nodded, staring at him knowingly.
After venting for a while, Caleb looked at me suspiciously.
Beside him, Dayton watched me as if I were about to pull something.
What? I didn’t even do anything yet.
I turned to Caleb and spoke as if granting him a favor.
“Fine. I’ll give you a chance.”
“A chance?”
“Raise me.”
“…What?”
One of Caleb’s brows shot up.
I pointed at myself.
“Take me as your disciple.”
“My disciple? Your Highness? The princess known for being a fool?”
Honestly, Caleb.
His bluntness made me burst out laughing.
He had no hesitation saying things others wouldn’t dare to.
“No thanks! I’d rather gather children from the streets and teach them instead!”
Caleb recoiled dramatically, pushing his chair back and shouting that he’d rather leave the capital than accept me.
“It would be a great honor for you.”
“Hah, it would be a massive stain!”
“That’s not so bad. Then how about leaving a stain named me on your life?”
Speechless, Caleb stared at me in disbelief.
“It doesn’t seem easy.”
Inside the carriage on the way back, Dayton spoke calmly.
He must’ve been thinking of Caleb shouting that he’d never accept a disciple like me.
I had been thinking the same.
“The way he reacted so strongly… it was actually fun to provoke him.”
“I’m glad you found it amusing.”
Dayton leaned back against the carriage seat, clearly unable to understand.
After a moment, he spoke again.
“Marquis Miller is certainly an extraordinary man, but is he someone Your Highness needs badly enough to go this far? He is…”
“He’s as problematic as he is brilliant.”
Dayton trailed off with a faint sigh.
I understood his concern.
‘An eccentric.’
A genius counted among the greatest in imperial history, yet many nobles considered his progressive ideas dangerously radical.
That’s why he was known more as an “eccentric” than a genius.
A righteous madman. A visionary lunatic.
That was also the impression I had of Caleb from the original story.
“Well, that’s how people always judge geniuses ahead of their time.”
I recalled him again.
The kind of person who would speak the truth even with a sword at his throat.
His belief that scholars must never compromise made him even more stubborn.
“Do I need Marquis Miller? Of course I do.”
The more useful people you have, the better.
“Besides, Caleb can fill in what we lack.”
At that, Dayton looked at me, asking for an explanation.
He couldn’t quite see what Caleb had that we didn’t.
“We need sharp eyes that understand the nobles who control the political landscape.”
Dayton had been away at war for a long time, and I had only been in this world for two weeks.
It was difficult for me to grasp the intricacies of the imperial court.
“We have Rabbit. Gathering information on key nobles would only take a few days.”
I shook my head.
Having raw information wasn’t enough.
“We need someone who can piece that information together—and act on our behalf when necessary.”
The story had only just begun, and much of the early plot took place outside the palace.
I knew those external events well, but inside the palace, we were lacking.
Even without Caleb, we could manage—but if you have a calculator, why do everything manually?
And later, he’d be perfect for improving Melissa’s reputation as a “foolish princess.”
He was respected not only by nobles, but by the people of the empire.
“Even so, Marquis Miller is firm in his stance. How do you plan to persuade him?”
There was a hint of curiosity in Dayton’s voice.
Not doubt—but interest in how I’d convince someone as stubborn as Caleb.
“First, I need to insert myself into his daily life.”
“…Wouldn’t that require him to accept you as a disciple first?”
Dayton tilted his head, confused.
Instead of explaining further, I simply smiled at him.
“Oh dear, you’re here again.”
“The marquis doesn’t even pay attention to you…”
“But he hasn’t told you not to come, has he?”
“Whatever your circumstances, miss, stay strong.”
“That’s right. He may seem cold, but he’s kind at heart. He’ll help you eventually.”
At the entrance of the marquis’s estate,
the guards, Elric and Zen, spoke cheerfully but with sympathetic expressions.
It had already been four days since I started coming here.
We’d grown somewhat familiar, exchanging greetings and names.
“I’ll just check the carriage quickly.”
I nodded lightly through the window, and Elric opened the door.
The small, unmarked carriage had nowhere to hide anything.
As he scanned it out of formality, his gaze stopped on me.
“You’re dressed the same as always. Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“Among all the visitors here, you’re the first to hide even your outfit so thoroughly.”
Instead of a dress, I wore practical clothes.
Black attire with a lace hat pulled low over my face.
It looked strange, but better than wearing a mask.
It might look unusual, but not suspicious—and it was easier to breathe.
Besides, many high-ranking visitors came here in disguise, so hiding one’s identity wasn’t unusual.
Caleb received two visitors a day—nobles or commoners seeking advice.
“More importantly, Elric, how’s your condition? Feeling better?”
At my question, Elric brightened and answered loudly.
“Just like you said, I pressed between my thumb and index finger, and the discomfort disappeared completely! It felt like the blockage just went away!”
A tried-and-true folk remedy.
No wonder people swore by it.
I chuckled at his enthusiasm.
“That’s good. Eat more slowly next time. That’s why you keep getting indigestion.”
Zen smacked Elric’s shoulder in surprise.
“How did you know he doesn’t chew his food?”
“If you don’t chew, are you even human? At least chew twice before swallowing.”
“Hey, how’s that different from drinking? Yesterday he practically inhaled his pasta—”
Rubbing his shoulder, Elric glanced behind my carriage and hurried them along.
“Zen! Move, there are guests waiting behind!”
“Ah, miss, I hope you get the answer you want from the marquis today.”
“Thank you.”
“Zen!”
At Elric’s urging, Zen shut the carriage door.
The gates opened, and the carriage smoothly entered the estate.
Thinking of Marquis Miller, who would surely react with annoyance at my return, I let out a small laugh.
