Chapter 194: Encounter (8)
Gernot plopped himself down in the remaining seat as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
His confident and dignified—though, in other words, arrogant and rude—attitude made Cecilia’s brows faintly furrow.
But he didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
“What brings you here all of a sudden without any notice, Your Highness?”
Windy May naturally pulled out another teacup and set it down in front of Gernot as she asked.
Her voice was as light and playful as ever, but her gaze was chillingly cold.
As if this sort of uninvited guest wasn’t a rare occurrence, she faced him with unshaken composure.
“I’m well aware that I’m being rude right now.”
Gernot spoke confidently without a hint of apology.
“So I’ll keep it short and get straight to the point.”
He paused for a moment, then spoke as if he were granting them a favor.
“First, it seems the men I sent last time were terribly rude to Lady Everglenn. Allow me to offer my apologies on their behalf.”
“……”
Cecilia kept her mouth tightly shut instead of responding.
“And the reason I’m here today is none other than to personally try once more to persuade Lady Cecilia Everglenn.”
Gernot continued, looking straight at Cecilia.
Even so, he snuck a glance at Windy May, who sat beside her.
“And, if possible, I would very much like for you to lend your strength as well, Professor Windy May.”
“……I clearly expressed my refusal.”
Cecilia replied firmly.
Her voice carried overt rejection.
“Yes, I was told as much.”
Gernot nodded casually.
“But you mentioned before that you were worried about public opinion if we were to meet alone. That’s why I’ve come again—personally, this time.”
He gestured subtly at Windy May.
“With the great Professor Windy May Maddown present here, surely no one will dare to gossip. Don’t you agree?”
Then, Gernot feigned a courteous posture toward Windy May.
“Also, you said you had difficulty controlling your power… but with Professor Windy May by your side, there’s no need to worry at all.”
“……It seems Your Highness has forgotten the rules between the three families and the Imperial House.”
To Cecilia’s sharp retort, Gernot merely laughed it off.
“Haha, we mustn’t cling too tightly to outdated rules, my lady. Are we not people living in the present? Sometimes, you have to boldly cast off those old constraints.”
He clapped his hands once and extended them toward her.
“Now, let me make my proposal once again. It’s nothing too burdensome. I ask you to please join me in the procession for the upcoming Departure Festival.”
“……The procession?”
“Yes, wasn’t it once tradition for the children of the three families to participate as well? So it wouldn’t be strange at all.”
Gernot nodded, as if to reassure her.
“You said yourself that with your friends nearby, you’re able to control your power, correct? Then those friends can join the procession as well. Or, if not, I’m sure Professor Windy May here could look after you for a while.”
“That’s……”
Just as Cecilia was about to open her mouth in rebuttal—
“……”
A hand lightly landed on Cecilia’s leg.
It was Windy May.
“What?”
Cecilia asked, halted by her, but Windy May, still wearing her usual sullen expression, opened her mouth.
To her brief question, Gernot responded confidently.
“Why, of course, to ensure the success of this Departure Festival. To elevate the prestige of the Empire for all to see—”
“Hmm, wait just a moment.”
Windy May cut him off in her trademark slow, lethargic tone.
“Isn’t the event right around the corner?”
“That’s correct.”
Windy May tilted her head exaggeratedly, as if confused.
“Even regular soldiers and knights, who train all the time, would still practice for days on end. And now you want to suddenly toss a student into that, a student whose control over her power is unstable—and you’re saying it’s to ensure a more successful festival?”
She sipped her warm tea before continuing.
“I don’t really care about the Departure Festival or whatever. It just seems like you’re aiming for something else.”
“……”
She let out a sigh.
“Now that I think of it, didn’t you say you’d keep it short and to the point earlier? Then why all the clumsy sweet-talking? Wouldn’t it be easier for both of us if you just came clean now?”
“……Let me elaborate a bit more. It is to show a strong will that the Empire will grow even more steadfast.”
Though Gernot’s brow furrowed slightly, he quickly composed himself and responded smoothly.
But Windy May still wore an expression that said she didn’t quite buy it.
“Hmm? If that were the case, shouldn’t you have gone to this girl’s older sister or brother first? Cecilia’s sister is the Vice-Commander of the Dragon Knights, and her brother is the general firmly guarding the northern front.”
“Are you perhaps saying it’s because Cecilia is the only one who’s still a student?”
“…Yes, you’re exactly right.”
Gernot nodded.
“Then doesn’t that make it even stranger? Among the Three Families, the only one still a student is this child—Cecilia. What about the other two families, then? Are you saying you have no intention of solidifying ties with them at all?”
At Windy May’s pointed remark, Gernot’s expression finally twisted.
“…That’s sophistry, Professor.”
“No, Your Highness is the one who started with wordplay.”
Windy May let out another low sigh.
Then her gaze cooled into something glacial.
“…I can more or less guess what you’re thinking, and I have a faint idea why you’re clinging so persistently.”
Windy May addressed Gernot in a cold voice.
“We’ve had our share of dealings, so I’ll let it slide this once. But you’d best take that cheap scheming elsewhere, brat.”
“…What are you saying?”
Gernot looked ready to snap for a moment but seemed to barely restrain his emotions.
“I am the one who inherits the legitimate line of the Empire passed down over hundreds of years from the great First Emperor. Moreover, I am of the Imperial family, and have been appointed as the next Emperor.”
There was a warning in his voice.
“…So I ask that you show some respect, Professor.”
But Windy May simply looked at him as if it were all too ridiculous.
“…What are you on about? Do you not know I got permission from your grandfather’s grandfather to speak informally to all the royals? That old geezer even stamped it himself on an official document. You didn’t know that?”
“W-What…”
“This is me being extremely polite to you, right now.”
Windy May snorted and snapped her fingers lightly.
With a creak, the firmly shut lounge door opened on its own.
“Honestly…”
She sounded genuinely annoyed.
“I couldn’t care less about your tiresome succession struggles or your pathetic political games you’ve been waging amongst yourselves for ages… but if you dare try to shackle my dear student by the ankle, that’s a different story.”
Windy May looked at Gernot with something close to pity.
“Bringing up traditions long since concluded as if they still matter, trying to worm your way out of anything that puts you at a disadvantage, spouting empty words about doing it for the Empire—I’ve heard all of it far too many times already.”
She spoke firmly.
“Let me say it again. I have no interest in your half-baked scams. And I hope you’ve finally realized that your behavior today has been nothing but a massive nuisance not only to me, but also to Cecilia here.”
Snap.
She flicked her finger again.
“I don’t want to hear any half-hearted apology. Don’t say a word. Just finish your tea, quietly get up, and leave.”
“…At least hear me out. I—”
“There’s no reason or value in conversing with someone who only plays games with words.”
Windy May’s voice was resolute.
“You’re gravely misunderstanding my intentions! I purely seek the future of the Empire—!”
Crack!
The teacup in Windy May’s hand shattered without warning.
Hot tea spilled along with the sharp shards, but the surge of energy radiating from her instantly vaporized it all before it could spread.
“I told you not to play word games with me.”
Her eyes gleamed with lethal intent.
“…Do I look like someone who’s in the mood to argue idly with you?”
Her voice was low and calm, but the fury within it was unmistakable.
“Do I look like one of those pathetic scholars who hole up in their little studies, reading dusty old books all day? You picked the wrong person—badly.”
She glared at Gernot with a look of utter contempt and added:
“You little brat.”
A moment of suffocating silence followed.
Windy May slowly took a deep breath, as if to rein in her rising emotions.
“…In that chaotic, crazed era, do you really think I never came across schemers like you? I’ve seen more than enough of your type—always plotting. Don’t think you can drag me or my student into your mess.”
A muttered, angry whisper slipped from her lips.
“To spout such twisted nonsense in my domain… How dare you.”
In the end, Gernot couldn’t endure it any longer and had no choice but to rise from his seat.
His face, flushed red with fury and humiliation, was blazing as he was driven out of the room.
Crossing the threshold, he turned back and shouted bitterly toward Windy May:
“…You’ll regret today.”
Windy May merely waved her hand dismissively, as if swatting away an annoying fly.
Just then, Gernot halted as he came face to face with someone.
Standing before him was none other than Velita.
“…What are you doing here?”
Gernot couldn’t hide the flash of panic that crossed his face.
“Hmm, who knows?”
Velita answered with a gentle, beautiful smile.
But behind that smile lay unmistakable contempt and mockery.
“I had something to say to the professor as well. Just like you, brother.”
The look in Velita’s eyes seemed to provoke Gernot, making the corner of his eye twitch.
Without another word, he brushed past her and stormed off.
Velita watched him disappear down the hallway for a moment before stepping into the lounge.
She offered Windy May a polite bow.
“Would you be able to spare me a moment of your precious time, Professor?”
Windy May pressed her throbbing temple and replied.
“…If you really keep it short and to the point.”
“Hehe, I think once you see this, your opinion might shift a little, Professor.”
With a confident smile, Velita took out a small bundle of handkerchiefs from within her clothes.
She carefully unfolded it.
What appeared from within was none other than an iron needle of a strange shape.