CHAPTER 55…………………………….

“…I see.”

“So His Highness—who was perfectly fine even after convulsing for six hours… no, eight hours—just happened to faint right now?”

“Sir Lorraine.”

Lorraine questioned sharply, but when Dietrich called his name in a stern tone, he eventually backed down.

“…Ahem. Thank you for your efforts.”

Clearing his throat, Lorraine bowed slightly.

“It’s nothing.”

I answered lightly and accepted the towel Dietrich was holding out, wiping the blood that had splashed onto me. Dietrich looked me over from head to toe.

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“Fortunately not. His Highness protected me. Ah— it seems all the assassins are dead, but the last one left alive looked like His Highness intentionally didn’t finish him off. You may want to investigate the mastermind through that one.”

“Understood.”

Dietrich bowed briefly and moved off to handle the aftermath.

Lorraine just kept staring at me blankly.

In the end, I sighed and asked him,

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…No, it’s just… you seem far too used to situations like this.”

Was that a problem?

“I’ve been His Highness’s private tutor for several months.”

I replied as if it were nothing.

Yes. Several months.

While teaching Enrique, I had witnessed just about every absurd thing a private tutor could experience.

If his mood soured even slightly, Enrique’s hand would easily drift to the hilt of his sword—

Just like during our first meeting.

At least when I was present he tried to restrain himself, but every time I visited, the carpet in the Crown Prince’s palace had been completely replaced, or the servants’ faces had changed.

It was obvious.

The only peaceful time there was probably during lessons with me.

Until now, I honestly thought that wasn’t something I had the right to interfere with.

But I was wrong.
This couldn’t continue.

“Sir Carlson.”

“Yes.”

After wiping the remaining blood from my hair with the towel, I lifted my head and asked Dietrich,

“Would it be possible for me to request a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor?”

Dietrich, who had been giving familiar orders to the knights handling the cleanup, paused at my words and nodded.

“Of course.”

* * *

“Your Majesty, the Sun of the Empire—I greet you.”

“Raise your head.”

Not long after Dietrich’s report was delivered, I was granted an audience with the Emperor.

It was a privilege even many central nobles couldn’t enjoy.

The Emperor spoke gently.

“I hear you were of great help in calming the Crown Prince’s madness last night.”

“Was it not an opportunity granted by Your Majesty?”

“It seems my eye for talent has not yet dulled.”

So he wasn’t saying he had sent me there to be killed?

The atmosphere was fairly cordial.

The formal greetings were finished.

I cautiously began.

“Your Majesty. It has been quite some time since I began teaching His Highness not only etiquette but also imperial studies, politics, statutory law, and customary law.”

“I believe your salary was increased accordingly. Is it insufficient?”

Ah. The raise had indeed been very sweet.

I quickly lowered myself and shook my head.

“No, not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Then?”

“As a noble lady, this may be an impertinent question. But as His Highness’s teacher, I have one doubt I wish to ask.”

I drew out the words and slowly raised my head.

His eyes met mine—less sharp than Enrique’s, but filled with even greater pressure.

I asked quietly,

“Is it correct that Your Majesty intends to reinstate the Crown Prince?”

Imperial studies, politics, even law.

Aren’t those all subjects meant for an heir?

They are disciplines one cannot normally study even if one wishes to.

Even I had received the imperial family’s textbooks directly from the Emperor to research them.

But then why had the Crown Prince’s reinstatement never been officially declared?

“……”

The Emperor slowly blinked.

“That is indeed an impertinent question.”

“My apologies.”

He wasn’t someone who deserved to be called a tyrant—

but he also wasn’t a wise and benevolent ruler.

There was always something suspicious in his judgments, something difficult to understand.

He exiled his only Crown Prince to a deadly battlefield—
yet sent away all the empresses without producing another heir.

And for the Crown Prince’s tutor, instead of a distinguished noble, he assigned a young lady like me—someone close to a fallen noble.

Though that last part probably happened because the Crown Prince killed every tutor assigned to him.

Still.

I had no idea what he was thinking.

Keeping my head lowered before him, I continued,

“I can confidently say that I have passed on my knowledge to His Highness without withholding anything. However, how His Highness uses that knowledge afterward…”

“You mean whether the Crown Prince will be able to ascend the throne.”

“That is correct.”

I must have completely forgotten my sense of fear.

But you see, after dealing with Archduke Eleanor, I realized something.

Ding!

+: ❝Pay Attention to the Teacher’s Words 2❞ Activated! +:

▶ Effect: Capture the parent’s attention with reasonable arguments. Persuasiveness of speech increases by 100%.
▶ Condition: The parent acknowledges the owner of the True Teacher skill as their child’s “teacher.”

My True Teacher skill was excellent not only for persuading students, but also their parents.

To find the root of Enrique’s madness—
and how to resolve it—

first, I needed the parent’s full support and trust.

More importantly, the Emperor had appointed me as a tutor, but that didn’t mean he fully trusted me. He was simply using me.

A ruler wouldn’t shove a trusted tutor into the Crown Prince’s palace by imperial order without warning.

After this incident, I was sure.

He was simply testing how effective I could be.

So he’s using me like this?

Fine.
Then I’ll use him right back.

“Your Majesty.”

As I brought out the speech I had prepared, I moistened my lips.

“I am preparing a midterm examination to review what His Highness has learned so far. If His Highness achieves positive results on this test, I ask that Your Majesty consider his reinstatement favorably.”

“Hmm. I didn’t realize Lady Crimson was someone who pursued power.”

At the Emperor’s probing remark, I quickly waved my hands.

“I have no intention whatsoever of gaining power for myself.”

My dream was simply to repay my mountain of debts and live peacefully in old age.

The Emperor asked in the same calm voice,

“Then what is your intention in making such a proposal?”

“I wish to instill a sense of responsibility in His Highness.”

“Responsibility?”

“Yes. Who would diligently study knowledge they will never use? When a student knows the day will come when they must apply what they’ve learned, they study with a stronger sense of duty.”

I slowly straightened my bowed back, met the Emperor’s gaze, and added,

“And ultimately… he must learn how to control his madness.”

Let’s see his reaction.

Would he welcome it?
Doubt it?
Or—

The corner of the Emperor’s mouth tilted.

Like father, like son.

That mocking expression is exactly the same.

“And how exactly do you intend to do that?”

“I plan to search for ways to control His Highness’s madness. During the last episode, he stopped his convulsions briefly when he saw me.”

“Hm.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. He was clearly calculating the consequences if the Crown Prince truly overcame his madness.

After a long silence, the Emperor spoke.

“Could it be that the Crown Prince likes you?”

“That would be impossible for someone of such noble status.”

I rejected the idea immediately with a smile.

“Then why did he stop his fit when he saw you?”

“Because I’m his teacher. Isn’t that natural?”

“Were the previous seven not teachers?”

“That simply means I’m exceptional.”

Afraid of where the conversation might go next, I quickly changed the subject.

“Your Majesty. I sincerely ask that you consider my proposal favorably.”

“……”

The Emperor seemed to think for a moment longer before slowly nodding.

“Very well. You said there will be a midterm exam.”

“Yes.”

“And by ‘positive results,’ you naturally mean the Crown Prince achieving a perfect score.”

Wait.

“I never considered any other possibility.”

I answered quickly to keep the flow of conversation going, but for some reason a line of cold sweat slid down my back.

This feels like… déjà vu.

The Emperor smiled faintly.

“Then I shall look forward to it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Cold sweat gathered in my politely clasped hands.

…What do I do now? 😰