[Black Tea]
[Status: Hot]
[Madam Lichtenburg personally says we are black tea.]
The tea leaves rose, causing ripples on the surface.
As I drifted into a daze watching the floating tea leaves—
“Is there a problem…?”
“No. There isn’t.”
A sweet voice reached my ears.
I tilted the teacup, took a sip, and set it back down.
Then, I noticed Madam Lichtenburg’s slightly tense expression in front of me.
“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.”
“No, Your Excellency, it’s you who should be…”
“There’s no need to be polite when there are no listening ears, right?”
“I’m comfortable this way, Your Excellency.”
“Hmph… Anyway, the reason we went through the trouble of meeting is to talk about the future.”
As soon as I sent Hertlocker to the desert, the situation in the underground world began to heat up seriously.
Fights occurred weekly between the Imperial Police and the Asylum, with suicide bombings following suit.
At the same time, the Majins, including Alexia, vanished without a trace, which was driving me crazy.
I never knew when they might suddenly return and hit me from behind…
Of course, I believe Alexia and Tiltitz won’t easily betray humanity.
But I always have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
By the time you’re attacked and gather your forces, it’ll be too late.
So, in this relatively peaceful moment, I must gather as much strength as possible.
“The future?”
“Yes. As Regent, I want to formalize an alliance with Lichtenburg as soon as possible.”
“……”
Since I’ve frequently been entering and leaving Lichtenburg Mansion, various rumors began circulating.
Some vulgar rumors even suggested that I was planning to swallow the family after marrying their frail second daughter and letting her die.
It was obvious that Lichtenburg, deemed closely tied to me, wouldn’t escape Asylum’s target.
At this point, claiming we’re not related wouldn’t convince anyone, so I figured it would be better to formalize an alliance.
‘Though a marriage alliance is ideal, it would take too much time…’
Given the conservative nature of the Lichtenburg family, it would take ages just for a marriage proposal to be discussed.
Erica would hardly accept a marriage with me in the first place.
So, I thought it better to aim for a simple alliance.
“Of course, I won’t refuse, but…”
“……?”
Lichtenburg flinched and stuttered in surprise.
That was unexpected.
She surmised she wouldn’t refuse?
I had thought she’d flirt a bit more to squeeze more demands out of me before agreeing.
“But… about the daughter, she’s too young, isn’t she…?”
“What are you talking about right now?”
“Wouldn’t it be better if I… instead of a daughter…? I can still bear children—”
“What are you saying… Ah.”
I hurriedly cut her off, baffled by her words.
It took me a while to realize.
Madam Lichtenburg seemed to have jumped straight to a marriage alliance upon hearing the word “alliance.”
“Marriage talk… wasn’t it?”
“It wasn’t.”
“……”
She stared at me without changing her expression in the slightest.
Despite her marvelous poker face, her face was turning beet red, revealing her embarrassment.
At that moment, a cold sensation crept up my back.
The door was slightly ajar.
I immediately raised my hand and cast a spell of wind magic.
A gust blew through, slamming the door shut with a *bang*.
*Thud!*
“Eh?!”
“……”
“……”
I thought I heard a faint scream just now.
Was it Erica?
Damn it. I might have just been labeled a rude brat for speaking informally to an elder, and my likability just plummeted.
Sighing, I turned my head again, only to see Madam’s poker face beginning to crack.
It seemed difficult for her to maintain her composure knowing her daughter heard such an embarrassing thing.
“Please forget what I just said…”
“I understand.”
I could let it slide, but that wasn’t the real concern.
I thought she’d handle family matters on her own.
“I meant to say that Lichtenburg could be a target of the Asylum, so we should formally ally and announce it.”
“Then Wigenburg and Flechette won’t just sit idly by.”
“That’s what I intend to use. Ultimately, I plan to ally with all three families.”
Madam’s mouth slightly dropped open.
She probably couldn’t imagine that families who had been at odds for centuries would join forces.
Of course, I don’t expect the three to peacefully shake hands and reconcile.
I just plan on forcing the alliance together.
Since I’ve secretly completed a marriage alliance with Flechette, announcing my alliance with Lichtenburg would automatically connect us with Flechette too.
At that point, I just need to link Wigenburg as well.
What if the three families protest upon learning the truth?
Well, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.
By that time, the world might have already gone to chaos.
If those three families don’t unite, humanity’s survival might just be in question.
“You’re insane…”
“So, will you accept?”
“Of course.”
I stood up and shook Madam’s hand.
How long has it been since I made a proper deal with Madam Lichtenburg?
No, this might just be the first time.
I always seemed to have been financially taking advantage of her.
Thinking this, I felt incomparably moved.
“Naturally, it won’t be without a price, right?”
“Huh?”
“It’s only natural that Lichtenburg enters under the protection of state power as Regent, so of course, I’ll have to pay a corresponding price…”
She was saying strange things.
Is this woman actually the Irene von der Lichtenburg I know?
When it came to forming an alliance, I thought she’d try to milk me for everything I had, yet here she was offering to pay?
Maybe she had completely lost her touch as the head of the family.
To think such a stalwart would become so soft.
However, I had no reason to turn down what she offered.
“Hmm. How about taking one of your daughters?”
“That—let me ask her opinion first…”
“I was joking. I won’t demand anything right now, I’ll let it slide for later.”
“Ah…”
Since Lichtenburg is a wealthy family, they can acquire rare items harder to find than elixirs.
So, I decided not to make an immediate demand and put it off.
Who knows, I might need a quick cash infusion later.
“Farewell, Your Excellency.”
As I left the room, maids and butlers lined up in the corridor to greet me.
Is this what success tastes like?
It feels a bit burdensome.
I awkwardly passed them and exited Lichtenburg Mansion.
‘The Asylum has grown sufficiently. It seems it’s time to catch the big fish.’
The stage was slowly being set.
The fish I had released long ago now seemed ready to be reeled in.
I cast the spell for communication magic and quietly murmured.
“Emilia. Set up a meeting with Professor Relic.”
*
‘What’s going on?’
Relic tilted his head and walked leisurely.
Schlus Hainkel had requested a meeting.
Not as a knight directly under the Emperor or as a Regent, but as a student.
Could it finally be that he was thinking of writing the lecture evaluation he had requested before?
Relic felt his heart racing with excitement.
‘No. This surely must be because he wants to go to graduate school!’
Right now, it’s the summer break after the end of the first semester.
He must have been impressed by my liberal arts class and now wants to study under me for deeper and higher-level studies.
Filled with anticipation, Relic headed towards the Chairwoman’s Residence.
Of course, he didn’t feel any discomfort at being summoned to a student’s place instead of his own research lab.
*Knock knock…*
“Come in.”
“Hmm.”
The door opened, revealing a pretty attendant to welcome him.
Relic feigned a stern look and stepped inside.
It was his first time entering the Chairwoman’s Residence, and it was indeed quite spacious.
But was this one attendant the only one working here?
‘Eh. It can’t be.’
If it were just one, she’d end up cleaning alone all day.
Assuming that the other maids were all out or in other rooms, he proceeded down the corridor, and the living room came into view.
“Good day, Professor. Thank you for coming to this meeting.”
“Um…”
The moment Schlus Hainkel lounged on the sofa came into view, Relic felt as if his breath had been stolen.
Schlus wasn’t wearing armor but simply casual clothes.
Yet, Relic felt an odd pressure from his vacant gaze.
Had he returned from the battlefield and suddenly climbed the ranks, bringing back a different aura?
His instincts screamed at him to run away.
But what reason would a professor have to flee from a student?
Relic strained to suppress his fear and sat down on the sofa.
“Nice to meet you. I happen to have something to discuss as well, haha.”
“How coincidental. Then please start with your story.”
“Weren’t you in a hurry?”
“Not particularly. We could spend some time on chit-chat first.”
“Hahaha…”
The atmosphere seemed quite pleasant.
Was he trying to ease the situation before working up to his desire to enter grad school later?
Relic laughed heartily and finally spoke.
“To be honest, I was amazed by your first-semester grades. You hardly find scores higher than this in Imperial University history.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Wow. You’re even modest! Truly, you have it all figured out. Since the day I first met you, I’ve sensed something extraordinary about you. But if all these gifts are showered on you without some challenges, you might not showcase your true talents. That’s why I sometimes play a few tricks to stimulate my excellent students… Hahaha. You aren’t still holding a grudge about the entrance ceremony, are you?”
“I’ve already forgotten all about it.”
“Hahaha!”
I worried about what would happen if Schlus took offense and sought revenge, but now I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The fact that Schlus forgave all grudges and still wanted to enter the graduate program was like a jackpot.
Could there be a greater windfall than this?
Relic’s laughter trailed off when he suddenly realized that Schlus wasn’t laughing at all.
“Haha… Ha… Ha…”
“Have you finished laughing?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve laughed enough.”
“Then may I share my side of the story?”
“By all means.”
The mood shifted to serious.
It was indeed inappropriate to have a light atmosphere while making such important life decisions in graduate school.
Relic squared his expression to match the serious turn of events.
“How is your wife?”
“You mean my spouse? Of course, she’s well…”
The question was odd.
Why would he inquire about the family living in the southern hometown?
Only then did Relic’s face start to show the bewilderment.
“Then perhaps, does your spouse know…”
“W-What are you saying?”
“About the fact that you’re involved with the Asylum.”
