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Chapter 21
This Time, I Will Change the Male Lead
On the day I entered the royal palace, I tried to recall everything while riding in the carriage.
― “It looks like we won’t see each other for a year.”
I almost choked up at this farewell…
― “You must have forgotten, but I’m an officer directly under the Royal Guard.”
― “I’m in the Royal Academy.”
― “Haha, Kaela. Your father here is the Minister of Finance. Don’t worry.”
The greetings with my family were brief. The handkerchief I had prepared in case tears fell remained tucked in my sleeve.
“Your personal maid can join you a month later. Since you are still a trainee, there will be no special welcoming ceremony. Most importantly, during that period, you are prohibited from privately visiting or meeting His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince.”
“…….”
In front of me, a woman named Xenia was reading from her notebook and explaining the rules.
“After entering the palace, you will immediately begin receiving Imperial Studies lessons from Countess Reyta.”
Her gaze was cold as she looked at me.
“Then I hope you will adapt well in the Crown Prince’s palace. Her Highness, the future Crown Princess.”
The woman snapped her notebook shut and gave a crooked smile.
Anyone seeing this might think she was escorting a wanted criminal, not a future Crown Princess.
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
By now, the sky had turned into the full brightness of early summer. I let out a quiet sigh as I looked at it.
Will everything really… be okay from now on?
Not even a day later, the royal palace was in an uproar.
“If you just follow the formality of law, anything could be permitted. This formalistic legalism allows even unjust laws to be recognized. Madam’s logic could even justify human rights violations.”
“But we are meant to respect the absolute value of the law and maintain order…”
“No. Laws are made by judges, after all. Judges are people, and people can make mistakes in their value judgments.”
Kaela slammed her pen down, contradicting Madam’s words.
Her hair was tied up tightly, as if to avoid interference, giving off the aura of a seasoned exam student.
“If judges are flawed, can the law they make really be given absolute value?”
“Hmm……”
Contrary to expectations, Kaela Veritas adapted far too well.
Rumor even spread that she was capable enough to teach the formidable Madam Reyta herself.
Reyta, who had initially chosen a mid-level reference book, quickly upgraded to an advanced one.
“Ladies tend to blindly trust herbs. But Roberin is toxic enough to stimulate the central nervous system, so it’s dangerous.”
“Well, studies show that the Isoroberin compound in Roberin can help relax the respiratory system. Then it could also be effective for asthma or muscle strains.”
The next day, she tackled an even higher-level reference book.
“Politics and social class for women are… generally…”
“I don’t think so.”
The day after, she tackled an even higher-level reference book.
“When keeping accounts, you should use double-entry bookkeeping…”
“Oh, you mean ledgers that follow the formal double-entry system, distinguishing debit and credit to record changes in assets and capital?”
When even the highest-level reference books proved useless, Madam Reyta finally shed tears in front of Hyperion.
“Miss… truly…”
Madam shook with sobs.
“It’s not just astonishing—it’s unbelievable. Finally, after ten years, I have met a disciple worthy of being called my top student.”
Not even Princess Lutas, the so-called “Rose of the Empire,” nor the saint revered by all could match her genius.
“Thank you so much. If not for Sir Aiden’s suggestion, I would have never felt this way again.”
At the round table in the office were Hyperion, Bavil, Aiden, Ail, and Countess Reyta.
“Since the late Empress Dowager’s passing, this is unprecedented. It’s incredible—I can’t believe such a person was hidden until now!”
“…….”
“Wow, now I understand why our lord fell for the princess. Truly remarkable.”
Ail grinned broadly, clearly pleased.
“Right, Countess Reyta?”
“Of course! Rumor has it throughout the Empire. Finally, Reyta’s top disciple—or rather, a disciple surpassing Reyta herself—has appeared. Oh-ho-ho-ho!”
“A-ha-ha-ha!”
The sound of Ail and Reyta slapping palms echoed through the room.
The other three reacted with varying expressions.
“I thought such glory would never come again after the late Empress Dowager… this must be a blessing from God.”
“Madam, be careful with your words.”
At that moment, Aiden muttered coldly.
“Only His Highness, the Crown Prince, and Saint Phoebe are chosen by God in Ignis.”
“Hmm… Is that so? But Reyta never lies.”
Reyta simply adjusted her glasses and smiled warmly.
“I only speak of what I see, hear, and feel myself.”
“…….”
Faced with such experienced reasoning, Aiden’s expression froze.
“You’ve worked hard, Countess.”
“Worked hard? Your Highness…”
Hyperion, who had been quietly observing, gave a subtle smile.
“I want to spend the last time of my life helping her, the young lady—no, Her Highness, the Crown Princess.”
Her eyes, lined with fine wrinkles, were warm as she looked at Hyperion.
The son of her most cherished student, the little boy she had begged her dying friend to protect—he had already grown to stand at the center of the Empire.
The thought of shaping Hyperion’s counterpart into an excellent Crown Princess, partially repaying the debt owed to the late Empress Dowager, filled her heart.
“Her Highness will be the most fitting companion for His Highness. She will shine brightly.”
“…….”
A strange statement indeed. In the Empire, only Hyperion, the Sun’s lord, and Phoebe, the Moon’s lady, could be praised as radiant.
“Then I look forward to working with you from now on.”
Hyperion’s usual composed smile hid any true intention, unreadable to anyone.
“Ah, it’s already time for the evening discussion with the young lady. I’ll take my leave, then.”
Countess Reyta checked the time and hurried out.
“Ah-ha-ha! The young lady is truly remarkable! Isn’t she?”
Once Madam left, Ail clapped loudly in excitement.
“I never imagined the lady Sir Aiden personally recruited would perform like this. Right, Bavil?”
“Mm.”
Bavil nodded subtly, his long lips suppressing a smile.
“The lady is incredible.”
“Huh? The… lady?”
Ail’s eyes widened at Bavil casually calling Kaela “lady.”
“Hmm.”
Aiden’s sour expression, Bavil’s soft smile, and Leon’s calmness—all amidst this chaos.
Most shocking of all was Princess Kaela Veritas herself.
Though Ail welcomed Veritas, she felt absent.
Contrary to expectations of surrender or tears, she was… dominating Reyta instead.
“This is going to be interesting.”
Unlike Ail, Aiden remained stiff.
With two of Hyperion’s three closest aides already favoring Veritas, it was natural.
Perhaps due to personal feelings toward the saint, he still could not accept Veritas.
“I’ll leave as well. Madam Elin, who will teach the princess etiquette, has arrived.”
As Aiden rose to leave, he hesitated.
“By the way, Your Highness, the saint is waiting.”
“…….”
“Please, go see her once.”
“…….”
Even with the heartfelt plea, Hyperion merely rotated his teacup, giving no reply.
Feeling the cruel calmness of his usual expression, Aiden turned his back immediately after finishing his farewell.
“Now I understand what Your Highness meant. If Madam Reyta praises her to the skies, she must indeed be extraordinary.”
Watching Aiden leave, Ail could not hide her smile.
The princess…
Hyperion looked over the documents and asked:
“Is she doing well?”
“……ah.”
Caught off guard, Ail straightened her back.
“Her meals may not suit her taste, but according to Xenia, she is doing well.”
Though Ail and Aiden oversaw the Crown Prince’s palace, as men, they could only interfere so much in the inner palace.
For now, Ail relied solely on Xenia’s reports.
“That’s good.”
Leon answered simply.
‘If he asks every day, why doesn’t he go see her?’
Ail forced down the question tickling her throat.
If he weren’t interested, he wouldn’t ask at all… Or does he just not want to burden the princess?
Of course, with so many eyes on the prince and princess, caution is inevitable.
“What are you thinking about, my lord?”
Ail asked cautiously, noticing a slight tension in Hyperion’s otherwise unchanged expression.
“I want to see her.”
Huh?
But then, unexpectedly, it was Bavil’s voice:
“You should go see her.”
Ail stared in disbelief as Bavil left immediately.
To speak such embarrassingly blunt words with that pale, noble face… she still couldn’t get used to it.
“Recently, it seems Bavil goes to see the princess almost every day.”
Of course, Ail knew. Bavil acted on Leon’s instinct, moving as he wished.
Bavil’s actions were Leon’s instinct and uncontrollable sincerity.
“I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“……I see.”
Ail hid her smile, knowing the feelings beneath the surface.
In the usually arid fountain of the Crown Prince’s palace, the water and sunlight sparkled.
“I’m envious.”
Hyperion, resting his chin on his hand, let out a faint laugh.
