Chapter 15
Three important individuals flagged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered in the same club, and I even made acquaintance with the representative of the three kingdoms. It’s not an exaggeration to say that my life at the Academy has officially begun. I feel like I’ve thought this too often since arriving at the Academy. Each time I feel ready to kick things off, something happens that throws a wrench in the works.
i – Hahahahaha!
The minister’s breathless laughter echoed through the communication device. The key figures immediately assembling into one club and the fact that I am their advisor had him in stitches. With a scornful expression on my face, I couldn’t help but glare at the minister.
“Why are you laughing?”
b – Don’t tell me not to laugh when you’ve said something so amusing?
Well, now my feelings were even more hurt. What a jerk. How could such a person be a minister?
The minister finally managed to stifle his laughter. Seeing that in real-time was unexpectedly heartbreaking. My misfortune is apparently comedy gold for him. After exhaling, the minister leveled a serious look at me.
b – So, you really have no clue at all?
“I mentioned it before. I genuinely have no idea.”
The official report concluded that the sudden gathering of major figures in the pastry club had an “unknown reason.” There’s no better proof of incompetence than a prosecutor who reports they have no idea. But seriously, how do I say, “The pink capybara poisoned the Academy!”?
Sometimes, life throws you events that have no logical explanation. So, I decided to treat this incident as one of those.
After my repeated negatives, the minister seemed deep in thought. Although I frequently spoke about retirement, I had never joked about work matters. Clearly, that’s why the minister had no choice but to regard it as an unknown reason, too.
b – I need to relay this news to the Palace and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We need a solid excuse.
“Can’t we just say that people who were unsure of where to go gathered because it’s a club associated with three princes?”
b – And how do we explain the Third Prince’s involvement?
“That…I seriously have no answer for that…”
After all the succession disputes, Ainter had been as quiet as a mouse, but suddenly, he joined a club?
‘How can I say it’s because of a girl?’
I couldn’t help but sigh. Is this how someone feels when they have to hide a precious secret?
The minister waved his hand dismissively.
b – Well, fine. We’ll just say that we’re still trying to pin down the Third Prince’s intentions. Since you’ve been in charge from the club’s inception, it’ll give us some credibility.
“Yes, understood.”
b – And when you see the communication device shining purple, it means what needed to happen has finally happened.
“Ah crap, that’s terrifying.”
The purple light signified the contact from the Imperial Palace. If they started keeping an eye on the Third Prince, I could suddenly find myself in the crosshairs. Please, please, not that…
The minister chuckled and cut the call. His face disappeared, and the communication device lost its glow, leaving me alone in the silent room. Yet another day had passed.
The patterns in the pastry club were similar. Though it hadn’t existed long enough for thorough analysis.
“Lady Louise, be careful or you’ll get it all over your face!”
At the club’s designated time, it turned into a solo show put on by Louise, while five audience members hovered around her, trying awkwardly to take part in her baking antics. They didn’t really engage in the pastry making at all; from a distance, it looked like they were attempting something productive.
I suppose it makes sense. Being those who’ve always been on top, they unconsciously know how to maximize outcomes with minimum effort. Of course, up close, one could see they were just dead weight completely unfamiliar with baking. They liked Louise, right? Sometimes they resembled group members slacking off on a school project.
I watched the five of them standing around Louise trying to add their own comments, looking like they could make some cash just from being part-time audience memos. They might win her over, but there’s no way they’d move past the friend zone. Among them was Erich, ugh, what a loser.
‘I should drop some hints.’
I was considering suggesting to Erich that he should join her in baking to build some common ground, but just as I was about to, three new members swarmed in, and I lost my chance to speak. Whether it was good or bad, the remaining five were still just spectators. So, if Erich got just a little bit bolder, he’d immediately become the front-runner.
Alright, I’ll just take Erich aside for a moment.
“I need someone to help me carry the ingredients.”
As I stood up, I caught their attention. Of course, there were no actual ingredients to carry. Luckily, there’s a courier who brings supplies every morning, but this was just an excuse to steal Erich away for a bit.
“Erich, let’s go.”
At my quick summons, Erich flinched and slowly walked toward me. It felt satisfying to have a club member comply with the advisor’s request.
As Erich nodded and began heading out, Rutis raised his hand.
“Is two enough? I can help if it’s heavy lifting.”
‘Why are you suddenly butting in?’
Someone who should be focusing on Louise was trying to insert himself. I found it suspicious, but since he seemed to have a good vibe, I decided to let it slide. Trying to grasp the logic of characters from the original novel was just too sophisticated for me.
“It’s fine. Two will suffice.”
“Well, if that’s what you say…”
Rutis shrugged and redirected his gaze back toward Louise. Given he turned back so quickly, it seemed his question was just a matter of courtesy. Well, at least I appreciated his manners, even if they were sparse.
“Let’s head out.”
“Okay, got it.”
Time to strengthen this underdog.
—
With a click of the closing door and fading footsteps, Rutis’s gaze flickered toward it momentarily.
‘Carl Krasius.’
That was the name of the official sent to the Academy as part of the Empire’s response to the three kingdoms. The man who unexpectedly became the advisor of our club. Rutis learned his name around two years ago.
After the Empire wrapped up the war in the northern region and appointed the Crown Prince, a significant personnel reshuffle took place. Naturally, the Armein Kingdom, the second most powerful after the Empire, kept a close eye on any changes that occurred in the Empire.
So, discovering that Carl Krasius had become an Executive Manager at just 19 made perfect sense.
Once the Armein Kingdom got wind of that news, they concluded that the Empire’s shortage of personnel was more severe than expected. How else could you understand the rise of a 19-year-old executive manager? But if Carl achieved that rank, there must have been a reason behind it.
Fortunately, due to wars, succession disputes, and purges, the Empire’s counter-intelligence had loosened up compared to before, allowing the Armein spies to gather information on Carl. They subsequently revised their earlier conclusions.
‘Maybe the guy who caught Kagan earned the Executive Manager title.’
Four years ago, a figure united the northern nomads who posed a threat to the Empire. That figure was Kagan, the Emperor of the Nomads. Of course, the continental Empire, Kefellofen, didn’t acknowledge that title, insisting instead that Kagan was a challenger to their divinity. The Empire was thoroughly humiliated by the two-year plight caused by an arrogant rebel.
It was Carl Krasius who ended that struggle at the last battle by taking Kagan’s life. Another commander led the army, but Carl was the one to behead Kagan. Strangely enough, the Empire didn’t publicly announce this but neither did they go out of their way to keep it a secret, so the spy network was aware.
‘And that guy is a prosecutor.’
Rutis couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Leaving aside why Carl was under the Prosecutor’s Office, it appeared that the Empire was prepared to eliminate any foolish antics at the Academy with immediate force. The reputations of the three kingdoms and the concessions received granted escort troops some passage, but only to a point.
If things went awry, they wouldn’t hesitate to use the prosecutor’s might. Moreover, the Empire was probably gearing up to offer more support to retain the one who had captured Kagan. It felt like those words echoed ominously in his mind as the Empire’s goal of pretending to compromise while seeking a favorable outcome floated to the surface.
Despite remembering the Empire’s grim intentions, Rutis brushed them aside. As long as the three kingdoms kept their antics in check, the Empire had no reason to get involved. However, while it was uncertain how Lather and Tannian would react, Rutis truly planned to attend the Academy peacefully. Hence, he had nothing to fear.
The only question was how the presence of a prosecutor would alter the dynamics of the club where Louise, the girl who captivated his heart at first sight, was. He had raised his hand wanting to speak with Carl, but upon getting rejected, he neatly folded that plan. Even with endless questions, Louise took precedence.
Rutis looked at Louise, who was diligently mixing ingredients with a bright smile. That very face was the first thing to make his heart flutter after years of confinement in the dreary royal household.
‘Dear advisor, wish you luck with the club.’
This club must not fall apart if he wanted to keep seeing that lovely smile on Louise’s face.
—
“Do you really like Louise?”
Simultaneously, Carl was hammering down on his little brother, aiming to strengthen him.
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