A half-day’s distance from the Gremory Count’s estate.
I was heading to the academy with the clatter of horses’ hooves as my background music.
“I wonder if Raphaella conveyed the plan well.”
Leaning back against the soft carriage seat, I recalled my meeting with her.
Her excessive affection, true to the original story’s setting.
It was a bit overwhelming, but her abilities and loyalty were genuine, so I trusted she would handle things well.
“Your Grace, we will soon arrive at the academy.”
“Understood.”
Hearing the voice from the coachman’s seat, I shifted my gaze out the window, where bluish walls came into view.
The Imperial Academy of the Arkmenes Empire, the cradle of talent where all the nobles of the empire gathered.
The primary setting of the novel where the protagonist and their party grow and overcome crises was now unfolding before my eyes.
“Wow… I never thought I’d live to see this in real life.”
The blue-tinted walls made of a special material and the towers visible beyond them.
Combined with the bright morning sunlight, the scene gave off a vibe reminiscent of a certain Disneyland.
How much had I anticipated this moment since falling into the world of this story.
Right here, in this place, were the heroines I cherished.
Realizing that, my heart swelled with emotion.
I was so moved that I even felt a faint sense of gratitude toward the entity that had brought me into this world.
“Let’s see. The entrance ceremony is around noon, so… I should hurry a bit.”
Looking at my reflection in the window, with its red eyes staring back, I smiled faintly.
* * *
The Arkmenes Imperial Academy.
A massive complex with various educational facilities and zones, it was large enough to be called a city in itself.
With thousands of students enrolled, the surrounding infrastructure had to be sufficient.
From luxury clothing stores to high-end dessert shops, it had everything to meet the students’ demands.
“There are so many people here. It must be because today is the entrance ceremony.”
On my way to the academy dormitories to meet Justia, Mathias, who had accompanied me as an escort knight, murmured.
I silently agreed with him.
The lively atmosphere was palpable.
Most of the students were likely nobles and wouldn’t have come alone.
With such a crowd pouring into this academic city, this level of bustling was only natural.
“I should have brought Lucy along too.”
I recalled her expressionless, doll-like face as she let me rest my head on her lap.
Currently, she was taking care of matters at the capital’s Develion estate in my absence.
While swallowing the deep regret of not bringing Lucy along, the carriage reached the academy district’s main gate.
As it slowed down and came to a gradual stop,
“Excuse me. May I verify the identity of the person inside?”
“Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”
“You’re clear, sir!”
The guard pulled back the curtain, took one look at my face, and hastily saluted as he shouted.
Ah, is this the power of authority?
I mulled over such trivial thoughts as I moved further away from the main gate.
As I stepped down from the carriage, all eyes turned to me.
“Look, over there! That’s the carriage of the Duke of Develion’s household!”
“Gasp. It’s real! What brings His Grace to the academy?”
“I heard he’s someone you rarely see.”
“And he’s incredibly handsome.”
The murmurs spread among the students.
I ordered Mathias to remain by the carriage and was about to move when—
Amid the situation where everyone’s attention was fixed on me—
A boy who looked as if he was proudly proclaiming, ‘I’m a villain!’ approached.
“I am Jerome Hateris, the eldest son of the Count of Hateris. It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace,” he introduced himself with a deep bow.
Let’s see.
The Hateris family…
That sounds familiar.
‘This guy… Isn’t he the villain in the original story who resented the protagonist’s talent and kept interfering?’
Moreover, if I recall correctly, Hateris was part of my faction.
To confirm, I opened the character list.
[Jerome Hateris – ★★☆☆☆]
‘Ah, so it’s him… And he only has two stars.’
Even as the eldest son of a count, this was his level.
I was about to give him a perfunctory nod and leave when the murmuring from another direction grew louder.
‘What’s going on now?’
I turned my head toward the commotion,
And there she was, an astonishingly beautiful blonde woman, escorted by a knight, heading toward the entrance ceremony venue.
Golden hair cascading to her waist, eyes as radiant as the sun, a beauty mark beneath her left eye that added a subtle allure, and…
A figure contrasting her pure demeanor with an impressive bosom.
One of the heroines of the original novel and a treasure of the empire.
Princess Justia Della Lucia of Arkmenes.
The heroine I had longed to see.
“Justia…”
My heart pounded uncontrollably.
I swallowed the admiration that nearly slipped out.
Seeing her in person was far more incredible than I had imagined through the novel.
The students seemed to share my sentiment, buzzing as though they had seen a celebrity.
“That’s Lady Justia… It’s my first time seeing her in person.
“I heard rumors she’s enrolling in the Department of Magic. Does that mean we might attend classes together?”
“Well, that seems unlikely. Lady Justia would obviously be placed in the highest-tier class.”
“Of course. Not only is she stunning, but her magical prowess is said to be exceptional. How enviable.”
The crowd gradually began to gather around Justia.
Even many of those who had initially flocked to me shifted their attention to her.
Watching this, I felt a sense of satisfaction.
Then Jerome approached me quietly and muttered in a voice low enough that others couldn’t hear.
“Tsk. Even though His Grace the Archduke is here, they’re going to some mere princess? It seems these fools don’t understand who the true master of the empire is.”
“Shut up.”
“…Pardon?”
Jerome looked at me with a dazed expression. I stared down at him with a cold gaze and spoke again.
“I said, shut up.”
“S-sorry!”
Caught off guard, Jerome stumbled over his words, seemingly not expecting such a reaction from me.
Turning my blood-red eyes toward him, I spoke again.
“Jerome, do you wish to pledge your loyalty to me?”
“Yes, yes! Of course!”
“Then remember this clearly. From now on, assist the princess and those around her. Understood?”
[The trait ‘Charisma’ has activated.]
[The target’s actions are fully controlled.]
“…Yes. Understood.”
Jerome answered as if he had been brainwashed.
Perhaps because the disparity between us was so great, the trait’s effect worked perfectly.
Leaving the dazed fool behind, I moved toward where Justia was standing, surrounded by several young nobles.
“I am Dillian Franz, eldest son of Baron Franz. It is an immense honor to meet Your Highness the Princess.”
“I’ve heard of the Baron Franz in the east. Your lemon farms are quite famous, are they not? It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh… Thank you for recognizing us, Your Highness.”
The young heir of the Franz family, flustered by Justia’s cordial smile, seemed unsure of how to handle himself.
His chubby cheeks jiggled with every word he spoke, as if he consumed an entire box of lemons daily.
‘Meanwhile, the heirs of the high-ranking noble families are nowhere to be seen.’
Although other young nobles and noble ladies were present, each introduced themselves as the children of barons or viscounts.
It seemed Justia was aware of this as well, her bright smile faintly tinged with unease.
‘It’s unfortunate, but expected. Most of the prominent noble families are already aligned with either the First or Second Prince’s factions.’
In the original story’s prologue, Justia entered the academy unable to form a solid faction of her own, overshadowed by the two princes.
Despite being hailed as the Empire’s treasure, she had no one she could truly trust or rely on.
How lonely she must have been all this time.
I swallowed the bitterness that lingered in my mouth.
Slowly, I walked toward Justia.
Sensing my presence, she turned her gaze toward me.
“You are…”
Her golden eyes, which landed on me, were tinged with a hint of wariness.
It was likely because of how Behirit had behaved toward the imperial family members until now.
I looked at Justia nonchalantly and greeted her.
“It has been a while. Congratulations on your admission to the academy, Your Highness.”
My tone was cold and arrogant as usual.
Hiding my true feelings completely,
I met Justia’s gaze as she looked up at me.
‘Ugh, my heart can’t take this…’
Even from a distance, she was so beautiful it was almost unreal, but up close, she was astonishingly gorgeous.
Her eyelashes were long, her face was as small as a fist, and she had a unique aura that gave her a beauty distinct from Lucy’s.
While I was blatantly staring at Justia’s face, the knight standing beside her interrupted.
“Pardon me, Your Grace. Do you have some business with Her Highness?”
“And who might you be?”
“Oh dear, my apologies for the delayed introduction. I am Lucius, a senior knight of the 2nd Royal Knights.”
The long-haired knight introduced himself with an irritatingly smug face.
As soon as I heard his name, my face twisted into a scowl.
‘This bastard. He’s the dog of the second prince.’
Lucius, a second son of a count’s family, had been feeding information about Justia to the second prince and eventually betrayed her at a critical moment.
Just looking at him filled me with rage.
Though the protagonist eventually teaches him a lesson later in the story, it happens only halfway through the narrative.
By then, it’s far too late.
Running my fingers through my hair, I spoke to Justia.
“Your Highness, it seems some proper training is in order for your escort knight.”
“…What?”
Justia’s visible confusion was evident.
I took a step closer and whispered softly into her ear.
“I’m sure you’ve vaguely suspected that he’s one of the second prince’s men.”
“…! How does Grand Duke know this?”
“Don’t worry. I am on your side, Your Highness. But first, we need to get rid of that one.”
Breaking my gaze from Justia, who now had wide eyes, I turned to Lucius.
His face brimmed with confidence, no doubt bolstered by his connection to the second prince.
There was no way I could let someone like him stay by Justia’s side.
I stepped closer to Lucius, standing directly before him, and he stammered with a flustered expression.
“Y-Your Grace? Is there something you’d like to say?”
“Sir Lucius, interrupting a conversation between a grand duke and the princess only highlights your lack of proper training.”
“W-With all due respect, I am Her Highness’s escort knight!”
“Hmm. It seems you are in dire need of some remedial lessons.”
My slow and deliberate words reverberated through the space.
Channeling all my willpower, I directed an overwhelming presence toward him.
[The trait ‘Charisma’ has been activated.]
[An absolute force oppresses the target.]
The air grew heavy with a suffocating pressure.
Staring coldly at the now sweating Lucius, I spoke.
“Kneel. This is the difference between you and me…”
At that moment, a pungent smell wafted through the air.
Feeling a bad premonition, I hurriedly glanced downward.
‘Oh… shit.’
At the academy’s entrance ceremony, where the empire’s noble children were gathered…
Justia’s escort knight, Lucius, unable to withstand the killing intent, had wet himself.