Chapter 49

"School, you say?"

While walking through the garden, Elysia and I were talking.

"Yeah, school. It's not about taking away the territory."

Of course. To the emperor, Tiars is not a land worth taking.

He thinks it's a useless land where only monsters live.

He wouldn't even dream that Ars Island is now habitable and even has a place where mithril can be mined.

I muttered as I walked along the brick path.

"At least it's good for now. We weren't forbidden from leaving the palace or ordered to live in the palace."

"That's true... But someone must be pulling the strings, right?"

I nodded at Elysia's words.

I don't know who instigated this to the emperor.

Well, it's probably either Rui贝尔 or Burius... or both.

In Rui贝尔's case, he wants to embarrass me and show the difference in power between us to those around us.

He thinks of me as a toy that can die once he's tired of me. Before the reset, when I started to isolate myself, Rui贝尔's harassment decreased. He was satisfied.

But now, he's obsessed.

Since he can't meet me in the palace, he wants to force me to go to school so he can create opportunities to meet me there.

In the midst of this, Elysia murmured.

"Could it be because of the mastermind those two were talking about?"

The mastermind Elysia refers to is Burius.

Burius wants to kill me, who bears the Dark Emblem.

However, I don't think he just wants to kill me.

He is probably looking ahead to becoming the Pope.

If I, a royal who has been disinherited, were to become a demon, it would tarnish the current emperor's authority. It would make it easier for him to set up an emperor more to his liking.

However, it's difficult to demonize me in broad daylight, especially in the well-guarded palace. That's why he wants to let me roam free instead of tying me down in the palace.

Before the reset, I was always in the palace or at school, so he couldn't do that. Still, assassins eventually appeared...

However, at this point, Burius isn't that desperate to kill me. He probably thinks of it as a side project. You can tell from the weak Tika and Nate he assigned to assassinate me... I'm not saying they're incompetent, but...

"In this case, it seems Rui贝尔's influence is stronger."

The emperor must have listened to Rui贝尔 and decided to send me to school. Right now, the emperor is completely infatuated with Rui贝尔.

Also, at this point, Burius is the High Priest of the Imperial Capital. His top priority is to become the Pope. Even if he's working with Rui贝尔, it's because it's necessary for him to become the Pope.

"Anyway, as long as we avoid drawing attention, we should be able to handle it..."

"But you don't seem to be in high spirits..."

I nodded at Elysia.

"It will be the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, after all."

"The school with the vast grounds next to the temple, where nobles attend."

"Right."

The Imperial Capital Magic Academy is a school where the children of nobles from all over the empire gather to study magic.

There are schools to study magic in other cities, but most of the empire's nobles are in the capital. Therefore, most nobles send their children to the Imperial Capital Magic Academy. Of course, with the huge donations and tuition fees, the facilities are luxurious, and excellent magic teachers gather.

However, since it's a place where the children of nobles gather, it's like another ballroom. People are ranked by their magic skills, family background, accessories, and especially emblems.

Before the reset, I was the only student with the Dark Emblem in such a place.

Usually, nobles don't show their children who bear the Dark Emblem. They send them to monasteries or hide them at home.

So, I was treated like a spectacle by both students and teachers...

To begin with, I had already learned everything that could be learned at that school.

And cruelly, I understood that in this world, the emblem is everything.

Now that I have familiars, I can probably use other magic to some extent, but that would draw unwanted attention.

If I were to use dark magic... the emperor would definitely throw me in prison.

Maybe I should just run away and hide in Ars... No, wait.

"Your face looks brighter, Your Highness! Did you think of something?"

Elysia's face also brightened as she spoke.

"Ah, yeah. Well, there's a school I'm a bit interested in. Elysia, do you know the island of Mirel, which floats in the sea south of the Imperial Capital?"

"The academic city of Mirel, which was granted autonomy by the ancient empire. There's a lake in the middle of the island, and another island in the center of the lake... It's revered as one of the Ten Holy Sites due to its unique landscape, right?"

"Right. It's quite famous. Mirel University, which serves as both the government and an educational institution... Students from all over the world gather there, regardless of nationality or status, to hone their special skills."

There might be a few people at that university who have knowledge of dark magic... Before the reset, I tried to figure out a way to attend Mirel University.

The emperor said it was fine. There's no tuition fee to study at Mirel University. He probably thought it was a good way to get rid of me.

However, Rui贝尔 wouldn't let me leave the capital.

But this time, I can use dark magic.

If I can somehow escape and go to Mirel by boat...

"...The emperor only said I could go to school."

Of course, the school the emperor meant is the Imperial Capital Magic Academy. He didn't consider Mirel University.

So if Rui贝尔 tells the emperor, I might be ordered to return.

In any case, Rui贝尔 will probably follow me wherever I go. Unless I'm dead.

Well, pretending to be dead might make things easier... But until my business is on track, I can't afford to give up my royal status. It's hard for someone without credibility to run a store.

I'll keep the option of faking my death as a last resort.

Still, I can't think of any other good ideas...

Maybe I should talk to that guy.

I originally wanted to ask him for help with a base. Depending on the money, I might be able to ask him to put in a good word with the emperor. I have the funds now.

"Elysia... I'm going to see my brother now. Will you come with me?"

"Of course, but who?"

"Prince Virtus, the fourth prince."

I headed to Prince Virtus's room in the palace.