Chapter 143
Louise had been acting a bit strange lately. Well, that doesn’t sound quite right. It seems like she’s become more attuned to her surroundings.
Her gaze was often oddly downcast, as if lost in thought, and I even caught her biting her lips now and then. Unlike her usual self, she wasn’t leading conversations and often sat there blankly.
Is it because of the impeachment?
Maybe the continuous wave of impeachments had worn her down, both physically and mentally, leading her to a vow of silence. After all, every topic seemed to circle back to impeachment, so perhaps it made sense for her to just remain quiet.
It’s quite unfortunate. Our little capybara has ultimately succumbed to the relentless pressure of five hunters.
Hmph!
Or is it six?
As I cautiously made eye contact with Louise, she quickly looked down again with a strange sound. I guess I’m one of those relentless hunters too.
What’s going on?
This surely wasn’t just about the impeachment. It was supposed to be a light-hearted content we all joined in for fun, and Louise had been part of the flow! If she was worried, she would have shown it sooner. This sudden behavior seems completely out of the blue.
Could it be she felt guilty for rejecting the club members? That seems even less plausible. If that were the case, she’d have been like that right after the rejection. Besides, Louise knows that showing guilt would be more of an offense to them.
And even if it were guilt, she wouldn’t need to be so cautious around me.
Louise—
“Oppa, do you need more cookies?”
“Oh, umm. Yes.”
Before I could even finish saying her name, Louise hastily changed the subject, a force so strong that it could make anyone flinch.
It’s hard to directly ask her anything when she keeps shutting me down like that. What can I do if she doesn’t want to talk?
Thinking about it, she may be legally an adult, but in reality, she’s just a seventeen-year-old lady. Maybe her puberty just hit a little late.
A teenage girl in her adolescence, surrounded only by six guys. That’s a bit frightening.
If only Irina were here…
At least with another female friend around, there’d be someone to share secrets with. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen Irina since school started up again.
Louise mentioned that Irina has been so busy with club activities after the semester began. Well, that’s unfortunate but unavoidable. Even though Irina is more or less an honorary member of the pastry club, she’s still considered an outsider.
“Ma—”
“Here you go!”
“…Thanks.”
I was just going to say that she didn’t need to give me so many.
That’s a lot!
She hurriedly piled cookies on my plate, perhaps to prevent me from saying more. It looked like enough to remind me of the bounty they prepared for the club fair.
Sorry. I won’t call you carelessly from now on. I’ve been thoughtlessly inconsiderate.
“I’ll eat them well.”
Guess I can settle for a light dinner tonight.
*
Although it was autumn, my insides felt like they were burning in the heat of summer.
Ever since I started learning ice magic, I hadn’t felt any heat. But I didn’t expect this kind of internal warmth.
Is this supposed to be normal?
Was it really right to just be a bystander with her acting like this?
The advisor was quietly munching on cookies while Louise glanced at him, quickly turning her gaze away whenever they were about to lock eyes.
What a pity.
She had been like this for weeks—no, it had definitely become worse recently. Each glance in the advisor’s direction burned hotter, and her retreats seemed quicker.
I understood. Since there was already a designated first wife, she couldn’t make any bold moves. As a prince, I had a good grasp of how noble marriages worked.
Still, it’s frustrating to watch. The advisor looked utterly oblivious; Louise should have taken the initiative.
Just as I was about to let out a sigh, a cold droplet landed on the back of my neck.
“Are you awake now?”
Turning around, I found Rutis, a tea cup in hand. Clearly, he was the one who dropped the water.
“Yeah, I feel a bit better.”
I almost questioned what he was up to but decided against it. That thick-skinned guy wouldn’t care much for my inquiries, and he helped snap me back to my senses. I probably would’ve just been sighing otherwise.
Rutis chuckled at my response and naturally plopped down next to me.
“They say what goes around comes around.”
His comment seemed out of nowhere. While it’s a teaching of the Dawn Sect, it felt irrelevant to this situation. But as if to clarify my confusion, Rutis directed his gaze towards Louise and the advisor.
“I didn’t expect it to return so quickly, though.”
He didn’t need to elaborate; I quickly understood the implication of his words.
So, it’s karma then.
Having caused pain before, now it was our turn to face the consequences. Like Rutis said, I never imagined it would come back this fast. Perhaps Enen was watching over us due to the future saint in our midst.
What an absurd situation.
Thinking back now, any contempt I felt would be meaningless. Spitting in my own face wouldn’t be very productive either.
“We can’t even help,” I sighed.
With Louise feeling the pressure from Lady Marghetta’s opinions, there was nothing we could do to assist.
“Even if we tried, the failure count would just bump from five to six.”
Rutis had a point. Why should we even think we could offer help?
We wanted happiness for Louise, not to engage her in a camaraderie of romantic failures.
“Did the advisor give Erich a nudge?”
“Please just let the advisor observe.”
That’s appalling.
Just the thought of romance conjured my worst nightmares, causing my brow to furrow involuntarily.
It was the worst nightmare of my life. What on earth was I thinking? I had promised to do things right and yet here we are.
If I intervened now, I’d only become a hindrance. Louise might think we were flaunting our malice.
“Sorry, I’m really sorry. I messed up, please forgive me…”
I wasn’t a prophet, but I could practically envision a future where I’d be pleading after messing up my chances to help.
“Do you think we can just hold on for this semester?”
“I wish so. Let’s pray for that.”
The advisor suffered throughout the first semester; I hope we could manage through this semester too. If it went on longer, it would be utterly tragic.
“Please, have some tea with us!”
“Thank you.”
I quietly averted my gaze.
Better not to look any longer.
As the urge to freeze my senses grew stronger, club time mercifully ended, allowing me to return to the dorm.
Let’s hope this lasts until the end of term.
And that was just the bare minimum.
It’s going to be tough. Advisor, what kind of battles have you been through?
As I sighed softly, a knock on the door echoed. I truly didn’t feel like seeing anyone, but someone must think it’s important to show up at my door.
“Come in.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The person who entered was Dame Amanda.
Is it about the homeland?
Dame Amanda was in charge of communication with our homeland. In a way, she was the busiest person stationed at the academy.
If Dame Amanda came personally, it must be something significant. Usually, she’d handle things herself or report to Sir Gardan, who represented us.
“What is it?”
“I have a report from the homeland.”
My gut feelings were seldom wrong.
“The Five Pillars have begun to move.”
Now that’s urgent.
Once again, I couldn’t help but sigh at Dame Amanda’s report. I’d heard that the Dove faction within the Five Pillars had lost power.
It was a crucial shift in the political landscape, and even from another country, I couldn’t turn a blind eye on it.
However, I didn’t need to know more than that. No matter how pushy the Hawk faction was, it’d take them a couple of months at least to organize themselves. By that time, the royal family would have dealt with it, so it wasn’t something I needed to fret over.
But to say they’d already moved? Were they out of their minds? The Dove faction wasn’t even completely defeated yet!
“And, with all due respect…”
Dame Amanda hesitated unusually, struggling to continue. Her formal tone hinted that something indeed went awfully wrong.
“They dared to plot against Your Highness.”
Against me?
I didn’t see that coming.
Did I mishear?
Why would those back home target me—being here at the academy?
Dame Amanda seemed just as shocked, with a face full of disbelief. It looked like she was questioning the validity of her own words.
“Fortunately, loyalists within the Five Pillars exposed the traitors and quickly subdued them.”
“…That’s fortunate.”
I barely managed that response. A major plot to assassinate the royal family before it truly began, thwarted by insiders. It was ridiculous to target someone so far removed from the homeland, only to fail so dramatically.
What are they even doing?
Did they even prepare before attempting this? I couldn’t understand it.
Of course, comprehending the logic of a madman is, naturally, impossible.
This is frustrating.
It felt irritating to be dismissed as an easy target by those lunatics.
His Majesty suggested that since I’m the victim in this matter, I might return to the homeland to personally deal with the traitors.
“I appreciate the kindness, but please inform him that I won’t be coming back.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
When I heard what sounded like my father’s faint intention to summon me back home, my head started spinning.
How could I willingly return after finally leaving? It hasn’t even been half a year yet. I need to stay for the full three years!
What kind of mess is this?
Did I genuinely enjoy living in a foreign land? It was a necessity rather than a preference. My father understood that, which is probably why he suggested it instead of ordering me to return.
I should’ve been born later.
Or perhaps my older brother should’ve been born earlier.
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