Schwi Heiron had always been an ambitious person. From the earliest days of her childhood, she had harbored high expectations of herself, and those around her had equally high expectations for her future.
Her remarkable talent and keen intellect set her apart from her peers, and she consistently pursued excellence in all her endeavors.
The accolades she received from her father served as her ever-present driving force. Schwi's life was marked by perfection, not by the accident of fate but by the sheer willpower she possessed.
She was the embodint of relentless dedication, working diligently to maintain her status and reputation.
Schwi had a compromising attitude that made her willing to join forces with anyone or anything that could help her achieve her goals.
She was a pragmatic and realistic person who would choose the necessary evil if it brought her closer to success.
Understanding the pros and cons of any situation was Schwi's forte, and this ability often tilted the scales in her favor, ensuring she got the best outco from any given situation.
Despite never truly needing to prove herself, Schwi had an unshakable desire to be the very best. She yearned to show her father that she was his most valuable and flawless asset.
It was a drive rooted in her childhood, a ti when she felt the weight of her father's high expectations. From a young age, she believed that to earn his approval and admiration, she had to be unrivaled in every way.
This relentless pursuit of perfection wasn't just a quest for personal greatness; it was a daughter's endeavor to fulfill the dreams her father had envisioned for her.
Her efforts were a testant to the unspoken promise she had made to herself and to him—to be exceptional, to be extraordinary, to be the best, before her ti ends.
And the best she beca so much so that it beca her end.
Tragically, Schwi's life ca to a premature end during her term as student council president
…..
"I have a proposal for you, Adrian. Would you be interested in working with on a project?"
I raised an eyebrow, curious about what she had in mind. "Project?"
Schwi's smile widened, and she seed genuinely eager about the idea. "Fufu, it's a rather simple one but also a rather ambitious one" she said. "Have you heard that the great sage Haiter is visiting the academy soon? They say he's here for the Staff of Estelle, he's probably here to buy it"
The Staff of Estelle is a magical artifact so precious that the academy considers it its number 1 treasure. It was the very staff used by the arch mage Estelle herself when she first founded the academy. It serves as one of the school's seven relics, as well as its pride and joy
"No, I hadn't heard about that."
Schwi chuckled softly. "I guess so, it's hidden news, after all."
This girl was revealing information that wasn't available to the public, but as soone who had read the novels, I already had so knowledge of the situation.
"It's such a precious treasure for the academy, and yet they're going to sell it to a random sage? Tell , Adrian, why do you think they're doing sothing like that?" Schwi inquired with a charming smile.
"They have no money?" I responded, my answer stemming from the most logical assumption.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Schwi gave a triumphant clap and said, "Yes, exactly. But you're only half right. You see, in the near future, the Heiron family is planning on building a new comrcial district near the northwestern side of the academy."
Her explanation shed light on the broader context of the situation. "But it is not without its opposition. Even if the Heiron family has a significant say in academy matters, when the project was proposed at the school, the principal and other school heads, as well as faculty mbers, were quick to oppose the idea. The northwestern location is where the school's training forest and slums are located Afterall"
Schwi elaborated further on the power dynamics between the Heiron family and the academy. The academy, despite its reluctance to allow the Heiron family to interfere with its internal affairs, found itself in a challenging situation.
The financial support provided by the Heiron family, coupled with their influential rchant operations, played a crucial role in maintaining the academy's financial stability. The academy had beco increasingly reliant on their resources, making it difficult to oppose their ambitious projects.
The Heiron family's economic contributions were a lifeline for the academy, and they knew it. Thus, even though the academy's staff and faculty might resist their influence, they ultimately had to tread carefully to avoid jeopardizing the financial support that kept the institution afloat.
This was a delicate balance that allowed the Heiron family to gain a considerable say in academy matters, despite the opposition of so of its mbers.
"Right now, we are at a standstill between those who support the Heiron family and those who side with the school. Once the sage takes ownership of the staff, that standstill will be broken"
"Once the sage gains ownership of the staff, his power over the academy will also heighten. The principal is probably going to try and sway him onto her side once he's done with the purchase. I an, she deliberately tried to hid the Sage's arrival in the academy. It was a good effort, but it seems she can't control her subordinates well enough because all it took was a few gold coins to make them talk." She chuckled softly.
"So, you believe that by obtaining the Staff of Estelle, the Heiron family will gain the leverage needed to move forward with their comrcial district project, effectively silencing any opposition?" I asked, summarizing the intricate web of politics and power dynamics she had laid out.
"Yes"
In the novels, Schwi had also asked Tristan as well as the other main casts to help out with the Heiron project, but her request was quickly rejected by Tristan and the others once they heard the project's location. After all, once the construction started, the poor people of the slums would have nowhere else to go, unless, of course, the Heiron duchy provided for their relocation.
Tristan as he is, had been genuinely concerned about the fate of the displacent of these individuals and had even asked Schwi what they would do to all the people who would lose their hos.
"People? Don't tell you actually believe those useless slum rats are actual people, do you?" Her voice had remained chillingly nonchalant even though she spoke of such a dark thing. This disagreent ultimately led to the strained relationship between Schwi and Tristan.
Schwi needed Tristan's strength and influence over the student body as the top student of his departnt to support her cause, so what exactly is her reasoning for calling out instead of him?
"Why do you need exactly?" I inquired, trying to understand her motives.
Schwi smiled in response. "Simply because you're a Tellus."
"So, you need another Ducal family to support your project that will bring about change in the academy?" I asked for clarification.
"Mm hmm" she confird.
"You could've just asked my older sister, you know? My standing in my family isn't really that significant," I pointed out.
Schwi chuckled. "Haha, do you think your so-great older sister would even bother talking to ? Even though we're both princesses from ducal families, the difference in status between the 'Flowers of the Empire' and an ordinary business woman like is like heaven and earth"
"Your brother and little sister are just useless in my opinion" The honesty in her words was both surprising and refreshing, and it made chuckle.
"Wow, you're really not mincing your words, are you? Well, I'm not really mad because I also think the sa"
"Besides, even though you say you're not that significant in the family, I'm pretty sure your older sister doesn't think of you that way. After all, she's quite obsessed with you, am I wrong?" Schwi said with a knowing smile.
It was evident that she had gathered information about and my sister, including Lilliana's obsession with .
"Once everything is done, I can guarantee you..." Schwi began, but before she could continue, Adrian interjected with a playful exhalation and so unusual comnts.
"Woo," I breathed out, seemingly amused.
"So, everything is exactly the sa as in the novels, huh? haah, I was afraid things would be slightly different because you called for instead of Tristan, and quite early as well, haha."
Schwi looked at him curiously, trying to understand his words. "Excuse ?" she asked.
With a carefree smile, Adrian dismissed his earlier comnts, "Oh, it's nothing. Alright, I accept," he said as he extended his right hand for a handshake.
"Okay?" Schwi responded, still perplexed by Adrian's strange reaction. Nevertheless, she reached out to shake his hand
[Authority: Touch of the Crying Doll: {Activated}]
Schwi's eyes turned dark..
...
"#######"
"I didn't take too long, I just wanted to confirm sothing first"
"##@!@###!"
"Yeah, yeah"
I looked at the dazed Schwi, her beautiful blue eyes were now shrouded within darkness.
"Now then how should I make use of you?"
"????"
Suddenly, I sensed the presence of sothing – a mana wave that was trying to get in contact with . I extended my senses to perceive it better.
While mana waves typically dispersed in all directions, this particular mana wave was directed towards intentionally, as if soone were trying to send a signal.
Upon closer analysis, the mana wave felt strangely familiar. I recognized it as similar to the mana signature that perated the grounds of Kaksan Forest.
...
"Hey ralda wake up"
I shook ralda awake, her cheeks feeling soft against my fingers as I tried to rouse her from her slumber. She had been sleeping on my bed, even though the sun was high in the sky.
"....Eugnyaaekk!!" Her drowsy mumbling turned into a strange, unintelligible word as she slowly woke up.
"Master...?" she mumbled; her voice heavy with sleep. After her encounter with my sister, her soul had been slightly broken, so I'd allowed her to rest and even sleep on my bed. However, it was clear she was taking advantage of her already healed body to be lazy.
I insisted, "Wake up, ralda. We're going sowhere."
Her eyes shot open, and all traces of drowsiness vanished. She looked serious and alert as she sat up.
"Where?" she asked.
"To Kaksan Forest," I replied.
ralda's eyes imdiately widened, and her gaze intensified, banishing any remnants of drowsiness that had clouded her vision. Her focus sharpened, as she sat up with a newfound alertness.
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