Episode 21
Yubelos Royal Academy.
It was an educational institution established by the third king, Cherman Basilio. According to the school regulations, any youth between the ages of sixteen and nineteen—when one came of age—was qualified to enroll, regardless of whether they were noble or commoner.
That was what it said in the school rules, at least.
In reality, most students who entered Yubelos were children of noble houses.
There were occasional commoners, but they consisted of only two types: children of wealthy merchant companies, or those who entered as scholarship students with truly exceptional abilities.
It couldn't be helped, because the combined entrance fee, tuition, and dormitory fees of Yubelos were so expensive that only considerably wealthy people could afford them.
I didn't think Yubelos had been like that from the start. I had heard that the previous King Cherman Basilio was someone who believed there should be no discrimination in education.
I had heard someone say that back then, all the costs of attending the academy had been covered by the national budget, and that the academy of today was rotten to the core, but I couldn't remember who had said it. Most of it was things I had overheard.
Well, perhaps that person's words were right, and the former king's intentions had become corrupted over time.
Of course, they did charge a lot of money, so the academy facilities were good, and the professors in charge of each subject were all renowned figures in their respective fields, or so I heard.
Though I supposed I wouldn't know until I went there. Perhaps it was nothing but a shiny apple with a rotten core.
At any rate, one thing was certain: if I went there, I would learn much more about Guardian Stones.
Because there were special lessons given by the heads of the Four Great Families to the successors of those families—those who had not yet become family heads, and might not in the future.
Given my current state, with my Guardian Stone manifested, I would be able to attend those lessons.
'Ah, come to think of it, the age for entering Yubelos was sixteen, wasn't it? So a year has already passed.'
Though I was past the age of admission, I didn't think I would be unable to enroll.
The Imperial Family and the Four Great Families, who possessed Guardian Stones, held various privileges, and Yubelos was no exception.
My half-sister, Biarte, had also attended for only one year, from seventeen to eighteen, before receiving her diploma.
Originally, she should have attended for three years, but the name Croisen she bore had made that possible, or so it was said.
So there was no reason I couldn't do the same. Moreover, unlike my half-sister, my Guardian Stone had manifested.
The question was whether they would send me to the academy.
'It won't be easy. They'll want to keep me by their side and watch me.'
So I couldn't simply bring up wanting to go to the academy at any random time. I had to wait for an opportunity, a situation where they couldn't refuse.
Having thought this far, I let out a deep sigh.
There was only one situation in which they couldn't refuse. If I said I wanted to go to the academy in front of people.
But even if that happened…….
'The first banquet I attended was about three months from now…….'
It felt far away. I wanted to go to the academy right this moment, but three months later?
Still, there wasn't any particularly good alternative.
After sitting blankly for a moment, I burrowed into the bed. My head was overloaded, and drowsiness washed over me.
'I'll sleep first and think again later.'
The moment I closed my eyes, I plunged into sleep in an instant.
At that time, I hadn't known. That the opportunity I desired was already right before my eyes.
***
"Madam, it seems Lady Herna has fallen asleep."
At the maid's words, Countess Croisen's brow furrowed immediately. She had come down to the dining room to have dinner with Biarte.
"She's already asleep?"
In response to the Countess's question, the maid bowed her head deeply and answered.
"Yes, Madam. I knocked several times, but there was no response from the young lady. So I opened the door slightly and checked; she had fallen asleep in bed."
"Falling asleep during dinner time without even having dinner—I can see how selfishly she usually lives."
As the Countess clicked her tongue as if pitying her, Biarte, who had been listening beside her, quietly opened her mouth.
"She went through a great ordeal today, so she must be tired. She is only just seventeen, after all. Please don't scold her too much, Mother."
"But Biarte, that child……."
The Countess, about to say more, quietly swallowed her words at Biarte's gaze and spoke to the maid.
"Tell the chef to bring a meal."
"Yes, Madam."
Only after the maid left the dining room to deliver the master's words to the chef did Biarte's mouth open again.
"You must be careful, Mother. They say birds hear words spoken by day, and mice hear words spoken by night."
"Yes, I know. But it isn't easy. I get angry just thinking about that child."
"I understand, Mother. How could you not be angry? A half-blood dared to take what she should not have. But it's already spilled water. If it cannot be gathered back up, we must wipe it clean, mustn't we?"
"I understand, Biarte. I will be careful."
The Countess promptly closed her mouth when she heard the sound of a tray being wheeled in from outside.
Shortly after, the chef and maids entered, pushing the tray ahead of them.
Upon the dining table, decorated nicely with a vase of pure white flowers and candles to dispel the darkness, plates bearing food were set down silently.
After the chef's brief introduction of today's menu and after all the employees had left, the two mother and daughter began their meal.
During the meal, the two, each lost in their own thoughts, said nothing.
After finishing the meal and taking a bite of dessert, Biarte quietly opened her mouth.
"Mother, I intend to take that child to Count Marcus's banquet in a week."
"You intend to take that child to Count Marcus's banquet?"
"Yes. We must show her to the people who are curious and wagging their tongues. To show them how generous and merciful our Croisen family is to that child."
"Hmm~ that child, you say?"
The Countess, who had been lost in thought for a moment, soon nodded.
"Yes, do as you wish. From now on, matters regarding that child will be left to you. But rather than that, Biarte, Lord Heckeus from earlier."
At the mention of Lakein from the Countess's mouth, Biarte's lips twisted slightly.
It was because the conversation she had had with him before dinner came to mind. In fact, it was closer to a one-sided notification than a conversation.
Because Lakein had only given answers.
It was a contradictory feeling—feeling pleased yet slightly uncomfortable at the sight of him silently accepting even a request that could hurt his pride.
Hiding such feelings skillfully, Biarte asked as if nothing were wrong.
"What about Lord Heckeus, Mother?"
Then the Countess lowered her voice and whispered, even though there was no one to hear.
"Despite being told he would be put in charge of that child's protection, he showed not a single complaint. He truly is rigid and by-the-book."
"He was always like that. You know that well."
"That may be so, but. I suddenly had a thought. If such a person were to learn what we intend to do to that child, would he truly turn a blind eye and let it pass……."
Looking at the anxiety settled in her mother's two eyes as she gazed at her, Biarte laughed softly inwardly.
That was something she had worried about as well. Therefore, she could give her mother an answer without the slightest hesitation.
"Don't worry, Mother. He will not know what we are doing. Even after that child disappears, Lakein Heckeus will remain as the sword of Croisen and a knight of our house."
Having finished speaking, Biarte's red lips drew a smooth curve and quietly turned upward.
***
I felt warm sunlight upon my sleeping face. Unable to overcome the brightness, I opened my eyes and blinked blankly.
"……Why is it so bright?"
It was unfamiliar. Such brightness.
My small room, which had faced east, had its bed placed right beside the window, so not once had sunlight ever reached the bed.
And yet, here was this pouring sunlight.
As my mind, hazy with sleep, gradually cleared, it didn't take long to realize where I was.
"Ah, this is Rusenne's room."
I sat up with disheveled hair and looked at the large window quite a distance from the bed. A well-tended garden and blue sky came into view at a glance.
Though it was an exceedingly beautiful sight, to me, whose sleep had been disturbed against my will, the scenery was not welcome.
Right. Next time, I must make sure to draw the curtains.
Making a resolution in my heart, I rubbed my eyes and tried to burrow back into the bed. Had it not been for the knock that came from outside.
"My lady, did you cough?"
I stopped lying down on the bed and blinked. It was the head maid's voice.
Suppressing my desire to sleep more, I straightened my posture. I didn't want to be called lazy by the employees.
"Yes, please come in."
The moment I spoke, the door opened, and the head maid entered with another maid in tow.
The face of the maid following behind the head maid was one I knew well. It was the very same maid my half-sister had assigned to me before my regression.
Her name was Maria Kembel, a clever woman. She had acted as if she were the tongue inside my mouth, yet behind my back, she had relayed my every word and action to my half-sister.
The sense of betrayal I had felt when I learned she was my half-sister's person had been even greater than when I learned Lakein was my sister's person.
That didn't mean I hated her now, though.
Thinking back on it, it had been only natural. Maria's master had been my half-sister from the very beginning; I simply hadn't known.
It might be more accurate to say that I was the fool for being properly deceived and laying bare my true feelings.
Clicking my tongue softly inwardly, I came to my senses at the head maid's voice.
She was introducing Maria.
"My lady, this is the girl who will serve you from today. Her name is Maria Kembel."
Wait, how should I react? How had I reacted back then?
Rummaging through my memories of the past, I quickly put on a bewildered expression. Like someone who had never been shown kindness suddenly being showered with favor.
I didn't know whether my acting was good or the head maid simply had no interest in me, but fortunately, she didn't seem to find it strange.
As I hesitated, the head maid turned to Maria and spoke.
"Maria, greet my lady. This is the person you will serve from now on."
"Hello, my lady. My name is Maria Kembel. I will do my utmost to serve you from now on."
Maria, stepping forward a pace, bowed her head to me and greeted me with a composed voice. Though the room had changed, at this moment, she looked exactly the same as before my regression.
"Y-yes. Please take care of me, Ma…ria."
As I accepted her greeting, shifting my eyes about awkwardly, the head maid opened her mouth again.
"The Madam asked me to inform you that breakfast is at eight thirty. You have about forty minutes remaining, so if you prepare now and go down, you should be able to make it in time. Maria."
"Yes, Head Maid."
As if she had been waiting, Maria began to move swiftly. The head maid watched her lead me to the bathroom, then left the room.
Exactly thirty minutes later, preparations completed by Maria's hands, I headed toward the dining room.
The hours spent with Maria were exactly the same as in the past. Right down to Maria's surprise upon checking the empty closet and the dressing table without a single jewelry box.
Ah, no. There was one difference.
Namely, me—Herna Croisen.
The bashful demeanor I had when being served by a maid for the first time had vanished, leaving only the effort to appear that way.
'At this rate, instead of becoming family head or whatever, I might have to take up acting.'
I chuckled inwardly and quickened my steps.
Neither the Countess nor my half-sister liked tardiness. I had no intention whatsoever of becoming the subject of their gossip on the very first day.
When I arrived in front of the dining room, the butler, who had apparently been waiting, immediately opened the door.
As the interior of the dining room was revealed through the open door, slowly rising tension trickled down my spine.
Taking a deep breath where the butler couldn't see, I slowly set my foot forward.
Toward my enemies who would be waiting for me.