༺ I Don’t Know That Person (1) ༻
The journey from the Capital to the Academy was smooth. There were no boring ambush events and the road was in good condition unlike the first ti I went to the Academy, making the trip comfortable.
Thinking back to the ti when the road was a ss still annoyed . They wasted money in the na of road maintenance, didn’t they? Of course, the disappeared funds were eventually recovered by raiding the local governor’s assets.
Anyway, we arrived at the Academy without any problems. To be honest, I didn’t really miss it.
‘It’s so quiet.’
The quietness of the Academy as we entered felt oddly out of place considering the usual bustling activity during the sester.
It was only natural since it was the vacation period. Most students had gone ho, and without student custors, the businesses around here had slowed down a bit.
It would be different if the Academy was a den that kept students even during vacations, but the Academy fortunately wasn’t like that.
“The Academy can be this quiet, too.”
As I turned to the voice from across , I saw Marghetta looking out the window with an expression that seed genuinely amazed. It wasn’t anything special, but it brought a smile to my face.
“Is this your first ti seeing it like this, Mar?”
“Well, I usually teleport in ti for the opening ceremony, so I’ve never seen the Academy during the vacation.”
Marghetta certainly wasn’t so rural noblewoman, and there was no need for her to travel a long distance by carriage when she could simply hire a mage and teleport.
“I’m sorry for making you go through all this trouble when you could teleport easily, Mar.”
“It’s okay. Traveling by carriage has its own charm, you know?”
Marghetta smiled warmly and got up from her seat, then sat down next to .
“And it gives more ti to be with you, which I enjoy.”
“In that case, then I’m glad.”
I awkwardly laughed at Marghetta’s words. She was even speaking so casually now.
After I opened up to Marghetta at the mansion, she beca even more proactive.
“Since Carl has been honest with , I’ll be honest with Carl, too.”
I was genuinely surprised by Marghetta’s bold declaration a few days before we returned to the Academy. Even though I had been trying to avoid other won, I couldn’t help but be drawn to her.
I must have been blind or deaf to pretend not to notice her when she was so actively showing her affection. Was I really that good at hiding my feelings?
And now that Marghetta had removed her restraints, she had certainly beco extraordinary. In the past, she would blush and panic even if I approached her just a little, but now she would co closer first and say embarrassing things to without hesitation.
‘I guess that’s not true.’
Upon closer examination, Marghetta’s face was slightly red. Her pupils were also trembling. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t shaken.
It was just that her resistance to embarrassnt seed to have increased, and even that alone was quite an improvent.
“Thank you for spending your precious ti with .”
I gently held Marghetta’s hand and spoke, and the faint blush on her face gradually deepened.
I knew I was teasing her, but her shyness felt familiar and cute.
“If it’s for you, Carl, I’ll even give you my li… lifeti.”
She stamred as she opened her mouth, but her willingness to open up ward a corner of my heart.
***
While the others all went to their lodgings, I headed to the main building since I had soone to et. Even though most students had left the Academy, there were always people who steadfastly stayed behind to keep watch.
“It’s been a while, Executive Manager. Have you been well?”
“Of course. I’m glad to see that you’ve been in good health too, Principal.”
This was especially true for the man who governed and lived in the Academy. Wasn’t it an intimidating combination when the workplace was also their ho?
I felt a bit sorry for the Principal, but it seed like he didn’t particularly care. I guess it was okay as long as he was fine with it.
“I’m glad there haven’t been any major issues. It would be unfortunate if anything happened to the students.”
“I agree.”
I nodded in agreent with the Principal, who spoke while stroking his long beard. Although he was less involved compared to Sir Villar or , he was also one of the people who had been nervous about the pastry club’s trip to the capital.
Having foreign royalties and a saint candidate within the Academy alone was already a handful, but to add a trip to the capital on top of that? It was pure madness.
If sothing happened to the students, the Principal would still be held responsible even if it happened outside the Academy. That was the role of a high-ranking official, no matter how unfair it seed.
“That’s right. You’ve worked hard, Executive Manager.”
Of course, he wouldn’t shoulder the responsibility as fiercely as I did. The Principal knew that and offered words of comfort.
“Oh, Prosecutors’ Office’s Executive Manager.”
After exchanging a few more words of greetings and catching up, the Principal suddenly spoke as if he rembered sothing.
“I heard that a peculiar individual was included in the three countries’ escort forces.”
“Is that so? That sounds interesting.”
‘Damn it.’
Contrary to my outward appearance, I instinctively cursed inside. Thanks to Sir Villar, I hadn’t crossed paths with the three countries’ escort forces until now. However, I heard that everyone except Sir Villar had been replaced during the vacation.
It would be exhausting for both and Sir Villar if there was soone who would challenge his authority among the new escorts. So, I just hoped that it would pass quietly.
‘But if the Principal ntions it…’
How remarkable must this person be for the Principal to ntion them personally? If the Principal was paying attention to them, that ant that they must either be a high-ranking or exceptional individual, perhaps even a formidable figure who questioned Sir Villar’s authority.
That would be troubleso. Sir Villar was an acceptable negotiating partner for , and I hoped that he would stay that way until graduation.
“These are the escort replacent unit’s details. I received them two days ago.”
The Principal handed a few papers from the stack on his desk. It was hard to believe that I was spending my ti in a carriage only two days ago.
I quickly scanned the docunts I received. Sir Villar was among the top five knights in Arin’s Royal Knights. If anyone could threaten him, I’d know their na at least.
‘This is troubleso.’
The simplest explanation I could think of was that it was a royal knight of higher rank than Sir Villar, but that was unlikely; if they were sending soone like that, they would have sent Sir Villar ho in the first place.
Then, was it a high-level mage from the United Kingdom of Yuben, or perhaps a cardinal from the Holy Kingdom?
Regardless of who it was, it was going to be a nuisance. If their position was too high, then it would be difficult for to handle them during negotiations—
‘What was that just now?’
My gaze, which had been scrolling down, suddenly shot back up. I felt like I had just seen sothing strange.
It was a na I had never seen before. As far as I knew, they weren’t a high-ranking figure.
However, their last na was familiar.
Perosa Ganelli
‘What the…’
What the heck was going on here? Why was the surna Ganelli appearing here of all places?
I repeatedly double-checked, completely unexpected by the sudden appearance. Maybe it was sothing like Gadelina or Ganali, and I misread it.
‘No, it’s not.’
Of course, the result was the sa. It was indeed Ganelli.
In shock, I stared blankly at the docunts. Perosa Ganelli, 17 years old, and a citizen of Arin.
It clearly stated under the na that she was Villar Ganelli’s daughter. It wasn’t even a coincidence that they shared the sa last na. It was Villar’s daughter, alright.
‘Why?’
Why was Sir Villar’s daughter here?
It wasn’t common for any country on the continent to assign family mbers to other countries for the sa mission. Moreover, the situation wasn’t so urgent that it would require breaking such conventions.
“It’s unusual, isn’t it? I was quite surprised myself at first.”
“Oh, yes. It’s really unusual.”
The Principal spoke as I struggled to co up with a response. Yes, anyone would react like .
What kind of mission was so important that the daughter would follow her father to another country? It was touching to see her filial piety, but there was no need to express it this way.
‘Sohow, his expression has been dark.’
During our return to the academy, Sir Villar’s expression was strangely dark.
I wanted to ask him what was going on, but I didn’t have a close personal relationship with him apart from work.
We did build so internal camaraderie from working together, but it might not be enough. So, I just let it slide, not wanting to intrude on his private life.
“…It’s an amazing thing.”
I couldn’t say anything else. After all, it was indeed astonishing.
Maybe it was because Sir Villar couldn’t return to his holand and his family missed him. After all, it was only natural to miss your family and be missed when you lived in a foreign land. That was a given.
But sending the family to a foreign country as a solution was a bit extre. This was no longer about wanting to see your family in your holand; rather, it was about wanting to have your family go through hardships with you.
‘Arnians aren’t normal either.’
So Arin was also a troubled country. The future of the continent was bleak. To think that the two most powerful countries on the continent were troubled countries…
Was this the continental average? Was I missing sothing? Were all countries at this level?
In that case, wasn’t the Empire a better option? If they were all troubled countries, then wouldn’t it be better to be in a more powerful one?
‘It’s terrible.’
A continent where the Empire was considered a fairytale land. What kind of world did Enen create?
***
The next day, the arrival of the replacent unit for the three countries’ escort caused a bit of a stir in the quiet Academy.
Welcoming them was a matter that didn’t concern personally, but…
“If you have the ti, please co to the club room. How about having tea together?”
— Alright. Thank you for the invitation.
As I thought of Sir Villar, who would et his daughter today, and what I had heard from the Principal yesterday, I couldn’t stay still.
Even if I didn’t know soone, I couldn’t help but want to help if I passed by and saw them drowning. Not to ntion Sir Villar, whom I had known for months.
There might not be much I could do to help, but offering so comfort was the least I could do.
— Um, Executive Manager. I apologize, but would it be okay if one more person joins us?
And soon after I received a call from Villar, it beca clear to .
Sir Villar was weak-hearted when it ca to his daughter…
“Of course. The more people there are, the more enjoyable the tea party is.”
Hang in there, Sir Villar.
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