CHAPTER 44:……………………………………………
Parent-Teacher Consultation (5)
“Your Highness… is it really… okay for me to leave like this?”
Logan wore a bewildered expression as he was led out of the exam hall by the Grand Duke.
“Of course.”
In truth, the Grand Duke was suppressing a frivolous laugh that kept wanting to escape.
He replied leisurely.
“After taking a rough look, I didn’t see any need to linger here. Teacher Crimson was right.”
Logan froze at that.
“…Teacher Crimson?”
“Yes.”
The Grand Duke stopped walking.
They had walked so briskly that, before they knew it, they had reached the main gate of the academy.
The Grand Duke family’s carriage was waiting.
News that the Grand Duke had overturned the fencing exam hall had spread, and students who weren’t in class had gathered far off, whispering among themselves.
Ignoring all the commotion, the Grand Duke looked only at Logan and spoke.
“It’s natural that you wouldn’t tell me everything after meeting me for the first time in a while. But just because you don’t speak doesn’t mean you must suffer.”
“…….”
“If you wish, of course, you may continue attending the academy.”
The Grand Duke’s face was stern, yet he wore a gentle smile that seemed almost awkward. Slowly, he placed both hands on Logan’s shoulders.
Logan knew. He knew that smile was genuine.
“Instead, you can change your professor. To someone fairer… But if you leave the academy, you can take the Royal Knight Order entrance exam. There’s over a week left, so you’ll have plenty of time to prepare.”
Logan hesitated, then asked.
“…Does that mean I don’t necessarily have to stay at the academy?”
“That was a decision I made thinking that, if I couldn’t watch over you, you would still need an institution to guide you academically.”
“And now?”
“Teacher Crimson seems reliable.”
Logan let out a small laugh at the Grand Duke’s words.
The Grand Duke stiffened briefly at Logan’s smile.
Then Logan slowly nodded.
“Yes. I want to quit. I’ll go to the Grand Duke’s residence and prepare for the Royal Knight Order entrance exam.”
Just before boarding the Grand Duke family carriage, Logan turned and spoke.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“……Yes.”
Something welled up in the Grand Duke’s cold expression, then subsided.
A week later, the uproar at Deserno Academy was settled in one word.
“Keeping a beast trapped where it doesn’t belong.”
Logan Elenore successfully took the proper entrance test, passed, and joined the Royal Knight Order as the youngest member.
It was the first time in nearly ten years that a Deserno Academy dropout had passed the entrance exam and joined the Royal Knight Order on a single attempt.
Meanwhile, Audrey Anser, top of the Arcane Engineering department, collected evidence of faculty corruption and publicized it in the academy newsletter.
This series of events would later be called the “Deserno Academy Infinite Humiliation Incident.”
“Didn’t Logan Elenore drop out? And the newsletter exposed Deserno Academy’s corruption.”
Enrique spoke in a voice that barely restrained laughter.
He had risen from his seat and was staring out the window.
Through the small window, students in school uniforms walked by.
A peaceful sight—but beneath it, a tiny spark of unease surely lingered.
Rondel Rubens, more aware of this than anyone, sat silently on the sofa, ignoring Enrique’s provocation.
They were in the principal’s office of Deserno Academy.
“This isn’t something Your Highness should concern yourself with.”
“Why shouldn’t I? If it’s my teacher’s student, we’re alumni. This is amusing. Deserno Academy’s reputation must be in the gutter.”
The crown prince eventually began chuckling, while Rondel Rubens, who had briefly frowned, spoke slowly.
“…I actually have something to say regarding that matter.”
“You probably summoned me because of that. Speak.”
“Release Lilian Crimson.”
“…What?”
Enrique tilted his head slowly, as if confirming he had heard correctly.
Rondel Rubens looked at Enrique by the window and spoke coldly.
“Such talent is not suitable to be by Your Highness’ side.”
“And who are you to say that?”
“I’m someone who knows that she could be far more competent if she worked at Deserno Academy.”
“Hah.”
Whether Enrique scoffed or not, Rondel continued.
“But because of Your Highness, she cannot work at Deserno Academy.”
“Why blame me for that…?”
Enrique muttered in disbelief, his hand wandering habitually near the longsword at his waist.
But he did not draw it. Not yet.
Lilian Crimson’s recent guidance had something to do with that.
“…….”
Hair and eye color identical to the empress.
Rondel Rubens was the empress’s maternal uncle.
Even as he clearly saw Enrique’s hand hovering near the sword, Rondel remained calm.
“And remember, the empress herself died because she was by your side.”
“…….”
“If you value Lilian Crimson’s talent, then release her—before the same happens as with the empress—”
Smack.
A red streak appeared across Rondel Rubens’ cheek.
It skimmed his face and struck the framed sword behind him, causing it to shake.
“Shut up.”
A crimson shadow flickered in Enrique’s eyes.
It had been a rare flare of fury.
That day, four were injured and twenty-three pieces of furniture were damaged in the principal’s office of Deserno Academy.
The matter was kept secret, and the principal survived with only minor injuries.
Enrique was unscathed, but in his heart, one sentence was carved like an indelible scar:
‘Lilian Crimson is not suitable to be by his side.’
Another day of classes passed safely!
Recently, Enrique’s attitude in class had improved so much it could be called a complete reform.
Though he sometimes dawdled, he respectfully addressed the teacher and used polite speech, without the previous sarcasm or power struggles.
At this rate, a few months wouldn’t matter—he could be taught for years.
But then—
“……Ah!”
I can’t believe I did this.
How could I make such a mistake?
I had left the teaching materials at the crown prince’s palace after an exciting lesson.
“Wait a moment, I left something behind.”
I asked the coachman for understanding, jumped out of the carriage, and ran to the crown prince’s palace.
I was sure I had placed them in the desk drawer in the room and had never taken them out.
Good. I’ll ask the staff to bring them quickly.
“……What?”
But no matter how long I lingered outside the palace, there was no staff in sight.
“…Why now?”
Not even Dietrich Carlson, who I often encountered, was there.
This palace was so extravagantly decorated, every corridor looked similar, making navigation extremely tricky.
So during classes, I always had staff or Dietrich guide me to Enrique’s waiting room.
‘Where has everyone gone?’
Waiting for staff of unknown arrival time was impossible, but the carriage I left behind was there.
“……No choice.”
Hesitating, I finally stepped inside the crown prince’s palace.
Tap, tap.
Though I was somewhat accustomed, the palace, with thick curtains on every window, still had a slightly eerie corner.
The golden curtain ropes hung thickly, like nooses for an execution.
“…….”
…Stop thinking such grim thoughts.
Shaking my head, I walked until I stood before a familiar door.
‘This should be it.’
I just need to grab the materials and leave.
Bang.
Confidently, I pushed the door open.
“……?”
Someone was in the room.
It wasn’t even the room where I held class.
I had mistakenly opened the wrong room.
Ah. I quickly looked up. The room was dark, just like the others with curtains drawn, except a single small candlestick bathed the room in crimson light.
And in that crimson light was a man’s bare upper body.
It was Enrique.
“…….”
He slowly scanned me from head to toe.
The expression that had looked murderous immediately softened when he saw my face.
The crimson light accentuated the contrast of white, red, and black on his toned muscles.
And—
“…….”
My whole body seemed to freeze.
I even forgot to breathe.
Enrique slipped on his white shirt, finishing dressing, and said:
“Hmm? So you can make that kind of expression too?”
Is my expression important right now?
“……You.”
Unconsciously, I called him and stepped closer.
What is with that body?
Though soon hidden under the shirt, the scars along his side, back, and abdomen were severe.
Different from the scars visible when sleeves were rolled or chest exposed.
Brutal marks, as if tortured.
Even if he had fought on battlefields, it was impossible for a nineteen-year-old to bear scars like this… No. I was certain.
These weren’t war injuries.
I had seen the bodies of other knights at the training ground.
Who could have done this…
“That body—”
Thump!
As I stepped quickly toward him, I accidentally stepped on my dress. My body pitched forward.
Yet I wasn’t afraid. My luck skill alert didn’t trigger.
Enrique casually grabbed my waist and pulled me in.
In an instant, I was pressed into his chest. My head spun.
“I didn’t expect you’d be so startled.”
Amid the dizziness, his low voice lingered clearly in my ear.
It sounded teasing, yet he seemed embarrassed too. Because—
“Teacher. Are you worried about me?”
