TTND 50

Chapter 50

The Fire That Burns in the Heart

Magram’s mention of memories frightened them so much, no one dared to ask what he meant.

Meanwhile, Magram gave his farewells to everyone—like an actor making a final curtain call after stepping off the stage.

“Then I shall take my leave for today.”

“Yeah. Get lost.”

“Sadia, don’t be so harsh. We’re colleagues, after all. It’s not uncommon for differing views to cause some clashes.”

With a tinge of regret at Sadia’s harsh words, Magram vanished beyond the teleportation gate.

“Well then, all of you should return to your dorms. It’s late. I’ll escort you myself. Follow me.”

Principal Ludwig took the lead, walking ahead of the students.

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Sadia called out to Rudolf.

“Take this. It’s raining outside.”

She pulled out a large umbrella and handed it to him.

“It’s big enough, so share it with the girls. They came all the way here out of concern for you. That much is the least you can do.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Rudolf accepted the large umbrella and stepped outside.

✧✧✧

Crown Prince Rudolf was lost in thought.

Though Ludwig and Sadia had spoken harshly, he knew deep down they hadn’t said anything wrong.

Killing himself here and now wouldn’t make Franz feel guilt. It would just be foolish self-pity.

He understood that with his head, but accepting it in his heart was a different matter.

“O-Onii-sama… are you alright?”

Isolde, who had awakened from Magram’s magic, didn’t know what else to do and simply tried to comfort Rudolf.

“I’m fine. But I’m more worried about you. You collapsed from Professor Magram’s spell—are you hurt anywhere?”

“No, I’m just embarrassed. I came to help and only caused trouble. I thought I was confident in magic…”

Isolde felt ashamed.

Though being struck by Magram’s spell wasn’t really her fault, it bothered her that Marie had recovered quickly while she had remained unconscious.

And Idnia—she had even attacked Magram directly!

‘Damn it. I studied hard, yet I still can’t compete with those born with saintly powers. It’s frustrating. And that country bumpkin girl is blatantly showing interest in Onii-sama. Whereas…’

Isolde looked over at Idnia.

Idnia was calmly toying with the music box, not even glancing in Rudolf’s direction.

Ludwig was holding an umbrella over her as they walked, ensuring no raindrops touched her.

‘Wait… no way?’

Isolde felt something odd as she looked at Ludwig and Idnia.

✧✧✧

Marie was racking her brain for a way to comfort the deeply wounded Crown Prince Rudolf.

“Um… Your Highness. So… don’t be too upset. I mean, in the countryside, parents hitting or even selling off their children is pretty normal, so… Ah, that doesn’t sound comforting, does it? What I meant is…”

While it’s natural for children to crave their parents’ love, not all parents love their children.

In poor families, it wasn’t unusual for kids to be abused or sold into servitude.

Compared to that, Rudolf’s circumstances weren’t that bad… right?

But saying that would just sound like picking a fight, not consolation.

‘Ugh. Why can’t I speak properly?’

Marie felt so frustrated she could scream. But seeing her struggle, Rudolf burst into laughter.

He found her effort to comfort him—however clumsy—adorably sincere.

“Marie of Astraea. Thank you. Thanks to you breaking the spell, I was able to open my eyes.”

“No, Your Highness.”

“Please, call me Rudolf. ‘Crown Prince’… haah. I don’t even know anymore.

I always had a hunch that my father saw me only as a tool. But when he gave me the title of Crown Prince, I felt—even if he didn’t say it—I was loved.

But I suppose… deep down, I just didn’t want to face the truth.”

A prince born to be loved by all.

Yet, he was never loved by the ones he truly wanted it from.

Like Emperor Franz…

‘Maybe that’s why Miss Idnia never wanted to be engaged to someone like me.’

He knew it was just foolish insecurity, but the pain remained.

He recalled how Idnia had stepped in and landed a blow on Magram with confidence.

‘Only Father and she ever showed me such indifference. Maybe that’s why… I find myself watching her without even realizing it.’

Now, Idnia was walking ahead beside Principal Ludwig, not even glancing his way.

Marie and Isolde both noticed where Rudolf’s gaze was going.

✧✧✧

Thud!

Idnia, lost in thought while fiddling with the music box, tripped over a flowerbed fence.

Had she been wearing her aura, the fence would’ve shattered. But in her absent-minded state, she nearly fell forward.

Ludwig caught her just in time.

“How odd. The girl who once flew over the dormitory walls gets tripped by a tiny fence?”

“Ah… Principal.”

“So, why is that thing so precious to you?”

“Oh, just curious. I think I’ve heard this tune before.”

“Hmm? Really? Did Draken play it near your cradle when you were a baby?”

“M-Maybe?”

“Alright. Let’s say that’s it.”

Ludwig sensed there was a hidden truth behind her words but chose not to press further.

Before long, they arrived at the dormitory square—Zephyros dorm on the west, Euros on the east.

“Alright, head inside now. I’ll waive both demerits and merits for tonight.”

“Wait, no reward for landing a hit on Magram?”

“You already got the music box, didn’t you? It’ll fetch a good price if you sell it.”

Ludwig sighed.

“Marie of Astraea, for resisting Magram, you’ll get 10 Aka coins. Idnia Kache Betelgeuse, you’ll get 20.”

“Whoa! Speaking up actually worked! You’re really giving them?”

“I do have some sense of shame. Things turned out this well thanks to you both. If you hadn’t stepped in, the entire Necromancy Building might’ve blown up. Consider this a cheap reward. Now, go get some sleep.”

Ludwig turned and retraced the path he had come from.

✧✧✧

But as they entered the dorm, they were met by the gatekeeper, Gibbles, holding a lantern.

“Huh? When did you sneak out, Miss Idnia?”

The lantern’s glow swept over Idnia and Marie as Gibbles scanned them.

“I heard from Professor Deneve that Marie hadn’t returned, but you, Idnia? I wasn’t informed at all.”

Gibbles’s glossy eyes gleamed like a lacquered doll’s in the dark—unnervingly eerie.

“Didn’t the principal explain?”

“He said you didn’t do anything punishable. But I still don’t know when you even left. Listen, Miss Idnia. You might be a noble lady of Betelgeuse, but in here, you follow my rules. My rules!”

He particularly emphasized his authority.

‘Heh. I get to scold a jewel of the royal family. Me! Hehehe.’

Excited by the power trip, Gibbles went on a rant.

“Even if the principal forgives you, I have to do my duty! When did you leave? Speak up!

If not, I’ll give you a demerit! Don’t want to lose your weekend outing privileges, do you?!”

“Oh, we’re allowed outings?”

Idnia blinked, genuinely surprised.

Despite being scolded, she didn’t seem nervous at all.

“You’ve got over 5 merit points, right? So yes, outings should be allowed,” Marie added.

“Marie! Even if Crown Prince Rudolf collapsed from his own magic, you shouldn’t have left the dorm!”

“I’m sorry, I…”

“Even if the principal says it’s okay, I must hear the reason! I may need to assign a reflection essay!”

Gibbles was clearly enjoying his tantrum.

Just then, a moving suit of armor collided into him.

“Wha—?! What the—?”

[Hey, Gibbles.]

A voice echoed from the armor—it was Ludwig.

“P-Principal?!”

[I said it was fine. If you keep harassing them, what does that make me look like?

Lecture them later and let them sleep for now.

Dorm rules exist to raise good magicians—not to deprive them of sleep and cause more accidents in class like today. Got it?]

“O-Of course, sir!”

Gibbles broke into a cold sweat. He realized he’d just challenged the principal’s authority.

“G-Go on to bed. If you’re tired tomorrow, I will punish you then!”

“Yes, understood. And thank you, Mr. Gibbles, for staying up late to keep us safe.”

Even in this situation, Idnia soothed Gibbles with kind words before returning to the dorm room with Marie.

✧✧✧

“Phew. Should we sleep now? I’ll wash up during morning prep.”

Idnia set the music box on her headboard and took off her coat.

“Um… Miss Idnia.”

“Yes, Marie?”

“Why did you save me back then?”

“Well, anyone would’ve stepped in, given the situation.”

She answered simply and flopped onto the bed.

Even she was exhausted from all the magic and aura she had used today. It had been a long, eventful day.

“No, I mean… why did you leave the dorm in the first place…?”

“I was out collecting spices for cooking. I wanted to see if I could find things like wild garlic or pepper in the forest. But then the principal caught me.”

“Wild garlic?!”

Marie’s eyes sparkled.

Coming from a farming background, she often gathered wild herbs and vegetables. She felt an instant bond with Idnia for having done the same.

But she quickly reminded herself—

‘Wait, that’s not what I was trying to ask.’

Marie composed herself and asked while lying in bed,

“What do you think will happen to Prince Rudolf?”

“Emperor Franz is not a good father. Most people aren’t. To be a good father, you need to be born with a good nature—and that’s rare. Plenty of people are decent, but truly good ones are few.”

“That goes beyond just not being good. After what happened with my magic… it was shocking.”

“It’s because of your Saint powers. They break curses and purify demonic forces…”

“Which means…”

“Yes. His Majesty’s magic definitely contained a curse and an otherworldly power.

That’s why it reacted with yours.”

Idnia openly stated that the emperor was using magic outlawed by the Trinitarian Church.

Hearing such a dangerous statement so casually left Marie stunned.

“How do you know all this, Miss Idnia?”

“Because I’m heir to the Betelgeuse Principality.”

In truth, she’d learned it from the game, but she gave an answer that everyone would accept.

“I see… You really are a noble… Haa.”

Marie looked at Idnia and shrank into herself.