Chapter 63

Although I haven't been at the academy for very long, it was the first time I saw the principal's expression so relaxed. It was the look of a sage who had let go of all the world's worries. Perhaps an old sage who had just seen the summit of enlightenment after decades of toil would look just like that.

Of course, I can understand it. If you were an imperial mage, especially a principal with a military background, you would have had to deal with the Marquis of Gong frequently. Even after a few years of meeting him, I felt this way, so the principal, who had suffered for decades, must have been truly miserable.

Just when he thought he could finally escape the shadow of the Marquis of Gong by serving as the academy principal, the moment he intuitively grasped the Marquis of Gong's unique magic, it must have felt like the world was collapsing. All sorts of thoughts must have flooded his mind. Is Louise the Marquis of Gong's favorite disciple? Could she be coming to the academy under that pretext?

"The Marquis of Gong asked me to take good care of Louise."

— I see. It's fortunate that the Inspector General, who has been entrusted with a disciple, is highly trusted by His Excellency.

However, my words alleviated the principal's anxiety. If the Marquis of Gong had entrusted Louise to me, it meant that the probability of him personally descending to the academy was extremely low. And that was good news for me too. A duke visiting the academy?

'Just imagining it is terrifying.'

If I had to take care of a prince, a princess, a successor to the Holy Order, and a duke, I would be acquitted of all charges if I immediately fled the world and all its constraints. The Ministry of Justice would have to rule that way if it had any conscience. Could anyone endure a duke setting up a ward in the Minister's office?

Shaken by the bitter thoughts that flooded my mind, I shook my head and tried to cover it with happy memories.

— Did you come in a hurry? If something happens while the inspector is absent, we will do our best to handle it, so you don't need to rush.

— I'm glad to hear that everything went well.

After ending the conversation with the principal, I also informed the vice-principal and Villar that I had returned. Their reactions were truly touching. How delightful it was to receive such small but heartfelt concerns and well-wishes.

The elder who seemed ready to cast a spell if the conversation went wrong, no matter how grateful I was to him, I couldn't help but worry about making a mistake. After talking with such dignitaries, I felt a sense of satisfaction in being able to have a normal conversation.

'This is the right place to work.'

In the Inspection Department, I was always pushed around and had to deal with subordinates who were mostly scoundrels. If I hadn't raised them, I wonder what they would have been doing.

In contrast, at the academy, even including the principal, there was no one clearly above me. There were several noble bloodlines to watch over, but with the title of advisor and the thought that "they'll be your prince after graduation," I could manage relatively comfortably. And there were normal colleagues like the vice-principal and Villar.

'You only realize it's spring after it has passed.'

While at the academy, I wanted to finish everything and return to the Inspection Department, but after spending a few hours there, the academy seemed like a fairy. I'm sorry, Academy, for all the complaints. I didn't realize there was such a warm spring by my side.

Enjoying the spring that descended like a fairy from the sky, I went to the club room and found someone who shouldn't be there at this time.

"Brother, you're here?"

Hearing the noise from the club room, I hurried in and found Louise, who was making whipped cream, greeting me with a bright smile. I wondered if I had come after the club time, but that wasn't the case. If it were club time, Louise wouldn't have been alone.

Worried if there was a problem, I scanned the room and met Eri's eyes by the oven. Ah, Eri was here too. Eri had been looking into the oven and noticed my arrival when Louise greeted me.

"Ah, brother, you're here?"

"Yeah, but why are you here already?"

The unexpected situation was a bit disconcerting. Of course, for Eri, being alone with Louise might be a happy thing, but from my perspective, managing the club, it was a nerve-wracking deviation from the schedule.

"The teacher in charge had some issues, so the class ended early. I had nowhere to go, so I came early. I didn't expect you to be absent."

"Louise too?"

"We're in the same class, aren't we?"

Ah, right. I had momentarily forgotten that they were in the same class except for practicals.

"Where did you go, brother?"

Nodding at Eri's question, Louise, who was still holding her cheeks, tilted her head in confusion. It was natural for her to be curious since I, the club room's guardian, had been absent. Eri also seemed curious.

"I had some business. I was out since the morning."

"But I didn't see you leave."

"I told you to focus on your classes."

For a moment, I didn't understand, but it was like when I went to clear a dungeon. He didn't listen to the class and just stared out the window. As the Marquis of Gong's only disciple, your future is as smooth as a titanium highway, but you don't know that your teacher is the Marquis of Gong, do you? It would be better to focus on your studies now.

Perhaps because I had just been dragged by the First Section Chief, my hands twitched. If my hand went up, it would be a major disaster. The First Section Chief could endure it, but if I did it to Louise, she might really cry.

"Brother, you had to go out?"

"Official business."

"Ah."

At my remark, Louise, who seemed embarrassed, averted her gaze, and Eri continued the conversation. He immediately understood and dismissed the matter with just the word "official business."

Eri, whose father is an imperial parliamentarian and whose brother is a civil servant, knows that it's not uncommon for someone who eats the state's salary to be summoned for official business. Even if you have something to do, you have to go if called.

The regrettable part is that I was summoned not for official business but for a major incident involving the duke's private life. It's embarrassing to talk about, so I'll keep quiet.

'If he understands "official business," he's already half a civil servant.'

I suddenly wondered about Eri's future. Eri is more than enough to be taken as a potential slave, but do I need to pass my burden to my younger brother? It's questionable whether Eri, who grew up seeing my and my father's lives, would willingly enter this world.

"Brother?"

Ah, did I stare too much?

If I told Eri, "I'm considering whether to take you as a slave," our relationship, which had just improved, would deteriorate again. If I were in his shoes, I would cut ties with a brother who thought of selling me as a slave.

Fortunately, I had an excuse, so I gestured for Eri to come closer. It wasn't just an excuse; I had been curious about it too. I was pleased that he came without much resistance. It felt like we were finally becoming a normal brother-sister relationship.

"Since it's just the two of us, why aren't you being more proactive?"

"I was going to, but now there are three of us."

Whispering in his ear, Eri lowered his voice to respond. Not a chance. I've seen enough to know that this is nonsense.

"Louise has cream on her face. Aren't you thinking about it?"

"Oh, that? I was going to tell her after I finished whipping."

"..."

If he weren't my brother, I would have cursed him for being an idiot.

"Go and clean it off."

Saying that, I gently pushed Eri's back toward Louise. When he looked back, confused, I nodded to indicate he should go immediately. He finally moved.

'What a useless guy.'

He should seize every opportunity to get closer, but he's missing the chance even when it's handed to him. I feel sorry for Lathair, who asked me to be neutral, but as long as it doesn't get exposed, it's fine.

***

Eri, pushed by the back, felt a strange discomfort as he headed toward Louise. Something was definitely different, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

'Was it always like this?'

Glancing back, he saw Karl, who was looking at him and nodding again. Though his mouth was closed, his eyes seemed to be saying, "What are you waiting for?"

Turning his head forward quickly, the discomfort grew even more.

The oppressive aura he always felt from Karl. The atmosphere that made him instinctively shrink. Strangely, it wasn't as strong now. It hadn't disappeared completely, but it was manageable.

There was a reason for this. In yesterday's sparring, he had wanted to earn his only brother's recognition and succeeded in getting a satisfactory reaction. He had gained something more important than his academy grades. It felt like he had shed a layer of his shell.

'Something feels different.'

Getting closer to the person he wanted to impress. Determined to move forward without being held back. It made sense that the oppressive aura he felt from Karl had diminished, Eri thought. But it wasn't just that. Something else was mixed in.

'Butler Chief?'

The closest feeling he could relate to was the one he sometimes felt from the Butler Chief. A sense of melancholy when seeing someone who looked tired, haggard, and overwhelmed by work. He felt this from Karl.

But it wasn't just the feeling of someone overworked. Eri already knew Karl was busy. His father, a duke and a parliamentarian, was also very busy. This was a different kind of melancholy, something more layered.

The discomfort and unease felt like a missing puzzle piece. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what the missing piece was.

'I just can't figure it out.'

Fortunately, it wasn't urgent. His fear of Karl hadn't increased, so he had time to think about it. His perspective on his only brother seemed to be becoming more normal.

"Louise, you have cream on your cheek."

"Huh, oh?"

Pulling out a handkerchief, he wiped Louise's cheek, and her ears turned red. Indeed... even a simple action can have an effect.

***

I was worried he might just turn back, but at least my brother isn't that stupid.

'What's the big deal?'

It's really a small thing, but it makes me happy. It's like seeing a child who didn't know the alphabet suddenly start speaking. Of course, it's still at the level of "ABC," which is disheartening.

More than that, I feel a bit sleepy. I planned to catch some sleep when I came to the club room. Maybe I'll sleep now and ask the others to wake me up when they come.