Chapter 32

"──Duchess Rodeic's daughter. I have something to talk to you about."

The blue-haired boy, Carlos Stizen, spoke to the silver-haired girl, Sandika.

"……Prince Stizen. You, to me? A talk?"

In the school corridor, Carlos stood before Sandika, who had her entourage of young ladies waiting at a distance.

"Yes. I would prefer to talk in a smaller group. It's fine if your entourage joins us, but I would like to keep this private."

"Alone with you? Have you forgotten? The Rodeics and Stizens are political rivals."

"Not alone. I've also asked a teacher to be present."

"Teacher? Who?"

"Teacher Drought."

"Teacher Drought will be present? ...Well, if Teacher Drought is there, nothing will go wrong."

"I never intended for anything to go wrong. I want to have a discussion. I believe it could be beneficial for you as well."

"…I see. But the door will remain open, and they will wait outside."

"Do as you please."

The two young nobles proceeded to the prepared room. Two sofas faced each other across a table. Behind them was a desk, and in front of it sat the school teacher, Neil Drought.

"Teacher Drought, you're here to join us?"

"Yes. Prince Stizen has informed me. I won't interfere in your conversation, nor will I disclose anything... However, I will ensure the integrity of Duchess Rodeic and forbid any violence. I will mediate, of course, and the same applies to you."

"I have no intention of doing anything. Don't lump me in with some 'pseudo-knight princess.' I am delicate."

"…I won't allow any violence. Otherwise, I'll remain silent."

"Understood."

And so, the conversation between Carlos and Sandika began.

"This is a proposal I'm considering to present to the royal family."

Sandika received the summarized documents from Carlos and read through them, frowning.

"…What an unnecessary move."

"It's not. Duchess Rodeic, I want you to participate in the education of the future queen alongside Merk Schreigen."

"What?"

Sandika's gaze became stern as she looked at Carlos.

"What's in it for me?"

"Well... Duchess Rodeic, do you find Merk Schreigen distasteful?"

"Perhaps."

Sandika averted her eyes, feigning indifference.

"If you do find her distasteful, it's even more reason for you to participate in the queen's education together."

"…I don't understand."

"Merk Schreigen is a young lady 'skilled in the school's examinations.' But that's all."

"Huh?"

Sandika looked at Carlos with suspicion. His expression remained unchanged, and his true intentions were hidden.

"That's what I mean. She is skilled in the school's examinations and knows how to achieve good grades."

"…Are you saying she cheats?"

"No. I mean exactly what I said. She is skilled in the school's examinations and can score well in them. However, in other aspects, she is not sufficient as a noble lady. She doesn't even come close to you."

"……"

"That's why it's good to put Schreigen in the same 'arena' as you. In areas other than school performance. Then, the difference will be clear to everyone. Naturally, you will be seen as superior. I want you to demonstrate your 'capacity.'"

"Capacity?"

"Yes."

Carlos nodded calmly.

"Your future evaluation depends on your behavior. Will you be the 'Duchess Rodeic's daughter with poor academic performance' or the 'Baroness Schreigen with excellent academic performance'? If you show the qualities and capacity of a high-ranking noble, people's opinions will naturally change. It's better than trying to exclude Merk Schreigen."

Sandika processed Carlos's words in her mind, and her expression gradually became more composed, befitting a high-ranking noble lady.

"…I understand what you're trying to say and the quality of the young lady in question. However, even so, I don't see the benefit of making her participate in the queen's education. If the royal family honestly chooses Rodeic, there would be no need for Stizen's intervention or to elevate that young lady. To deliberately act in a way that benefits the 'enemy'..."

"That's a normal thought process, at this stage."

"…At this stage? Is there something else?"

"Yes, there is."

Carlos nodded and looked straight into Sandika's eyes.

"Prince Leonhardt suspects that Schreigen has 'a certain possibility.'"

"A certain possibility?"

"The possibility of being a descendant of the Alstroemeria royal family."

"…What? No way, that can't be."

"At least, Prince Leonhardt thinks so and acts accordingly. I don't know the evidence, but that's why he hasn't arranged a marriage with either duchess family. He believes it's better to be connected to the blood of Alstroemeria than to a duchess family."

"…But... there's no... evidence..."

"We don't have the evidence. It's in the hands of Prince Leonhardt or the royal family. That's all Stizen has."

Sandika couldn't accept Carlos's words easily. However, she couldn't read the expression of the man in front of her or understand his true intentions, leaving her at a loss for how to react.

"…Therefore, we have decided to proceed as if the young lady is 'that.' That's why I'm making this proposal and talking to you. If you make a mistake, your future will be even more humiliating."

"Humiliating?"

"You will be made a 'secondary consort.' As I said, Schreigen is a woman who performs poorly in areas other than academics. This will be confirmed through the queen's education. Then, the royal family's future decision will be... Your younger sister, Angelina, is already married to the Count of Baltsline. The royal family cannot overturn her protection. Therefore, it's natural that..."

All the consequences of Merk and Angelina's current and future situations will fall on Sandika.

"……"

Sandika remained silent, her face turning pale.

"If Merk Schreigen participates in the queen's education and 'blooms,' it will indeed be frustrating for you. A capable Crown Princess. Whether she becomes one depends on Schreigen's future efforts. But if she doesn't, you will have to clean up the mess. It's better to take action beforehand."

"…Take action?"

"Participate in the queen's education with Merk Schreigen and teach her the 'reality' of what awaits her in the future. Instead of excluding her, gently guide and win her over. If you think of her as an 'innocent royal' rather than a 'disgusting baroness,' you might be more motivated to win her over."

"……"

"If everything fails, I will pick up the pieces."

"…What do you mean?"

Sandika looked up at Carlos, her face pale.

"Neither Stizen nor Rodeic will be Schreigen's guardian at this stage. If she does have a guardian, it will likely be from a marquis family. There are some families that we don't want to rise. In preparation for that..."

"…A marriage between Rodeic and Stizen is also an option."

"Yes. Whether it's wise... is unknown. But if we can establish a duchess family as the one who united the Crown Prince and the new Crown Princess, it could be beneficial. It all depends on their and our future actions. Even if the Crown Prince, who tends to dream, is hesitant, there will be a chance to turn things around if we position ourselves correctly."

"…"

Sandika looked at Carlos with a mix of surprise and disbelief.

"…That's quite a romantic proposal."

And so, Sandika began to protect Merk Schreigen. This was a different scenario from what Carlos and Neil knew from the 'previous timeline.'

Even when the time came for Merk to be bullied, nothing happened to her.