Euclid realized that this was not the time to quarrel over trivial matters.
He asked, watching me put the remaining sherbet into my mouth.
“Are you trying to get me into the academy?”
I didn't answer right away but started talking in another way.
“To be blunt, it is difficult to see Her Highness the Ninth Empress as playing the role of a mother.”
Euclid looked upset but did not refute.
“You need to get away from her influence. In that sense, admission is the best way to escape not only political marriages but also political exploitation.”
It's not like there weren't any royals in history who studied at the academy.
To create a school alliance, or to escape the fierce battle for the throne.
There were many precedents of royals entering Gnosis.
It wasn't like I was telling Euclid to cut the strings off his hat. It was just a moment.
Since it was just a distance away, there wouldn't have been much of a sense of rejection.
Here I threw a carrot.
“The Academy doesn’t focus on alchemy and magic like the Imperial Academy does. The good thing about the academy is that you can acquire a variety of knowledge evenly. Yes? Just take the swordsmanship class without worrying about what other people think.”
“Really?”
Euclid's reaction to the word swordsmanship was almost at the level of a conditioned reflex.
But I didn't just tell a hopeful story.
“If you want to get the level of swordsmanship you want, it will have to be an advanced course. This is essential. You have to have all the basic skills to be given the option.”
“What are the basic qualities?”
“Let’s see... What comes to mind right away? Literature, history, philosophy, art, politics, economics, mathematics, natural science, magic, alchemy, magical alchemy engineering."
“What, why are there so many?”
“I told you, the advantage of an academy is that you can acquire a wide range of knowledge.”
“It’s just a level where you learn everything!”
Of course, it was no use arguing with Eve. She spoke as if trying to comfort him.
“The process of becoming a great intellectual is not easy. Oh, by the way, since you are a member of the royal family, you have to study imperial studies after school. Cheer up.”
“Yes?”
“By the way, I am the one who will pay for your tuition, dormitory fees, and allowance. I will make sure that I receive your report card every semester.”
"OMG!"
“As the first scholarship recipient, expectations are high. Do your best to achieve grades that will satisfy the sponsor.”
Euclid was in agony, holding his head in his hands. But he did not say that he would not do it or that he could not do it.
Even in his head, he decided that entering the academy was the best option in the current situation.
If things have come to this, his life of building walls around studying is over.
If he had been expelled for failing consecutively, he would have been forced into a political marriage, so he had to risk his life studying.
“Then I will consider it as consent.”
“...Where are you going?”
Euclid, who had been resting his forehead on the table, looked up at me.
“To meet someone who can put out an urgent fire.”
The Protocol Department still had not yet distributed the cooling magic stone, which was a bit nerve-racking.
However, there was no problem with Philinelli's residence, as her hobby was gardening.
Temperature and humidity control facilities were basically in place.
I and Michael were guided to Philinelli's private greenhouse flower garden, set up in the courtyard.
A canopy was installed to block sunlight coming through the glass dome. There was a black-haired woman in a flowing empire dress.
A beauty in her 40s who distorts her actual age. She was Philinelli.
“Welcome, Seventh Princess, Sir Agnitus.”
“Please meet Your Majesty the Third Empress.”
When Philinelli allowed me to sit down, Michael pulled out a chair for me. I straightened up and sat down facing Philinelli.
“It’s okay, 7th Princess. You must be very busy these days.”
There was a hint of laughter in Philinelli's voice as he answered. She seemed to be watching my movements with interest.
The maids filled the empty teacups. At Philinelli's wink, they withdrew from the greenhouse.
Philinelli gets straight to the point.
“I have received your precious mandragora. But I would like to express my gratitude again. It doesn’t seem like a proper gift. What could the 7th Princess have come to ask me?”
As I watches Brigitte, Philinelli watches Lemieux.
“I have come to seek Euclid’s rescue.”
“Hmm, I can’t help but ask a personal question. Was the 7th Princess close to the 8th Prince?”
Likewise, it was also a remark made about the direction of the relationship that would be formed with Philinelli, who had the Fourth Empresses as her enemy.
Philinelli responded positively.
“Well, the 8th Prince is still young for a political marriage.”
“He is a child who still has a lot to learn. I plan to enroll him in the academy so that he can further develop his abilities.”
“You’re sending him to a political sanctuary. The curriculum there was five years, I think. He can be protected until he turns 18.”
“When he graduates safely and comes out, the whole world will protect him.”
It was nothing more than a roundabout way of revealing my ambition to become the Crown Princess.
Philinelli raised her eyes and stared at me over her teacup.
I smiled broadly as if to say, "What are you trying to hide?"
Finally, Philinelli withdrew her sharp gaze. The tension that had been building up slightly was instantly relieved.
“Honestly, he may not have been a pretty little brother, but you take good care of him.”
“So we must teach more and create humans.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
At this point, I changed my attitude to seriousness.
“If left unchecked, the Fourth Empress will create a new source of funding for the Third Princess, which will allow the Third Princess to privatize the Imperial Guard.”
He asked, watching me put the remaining sherbet into my mouth.
“Are you trying to get me into the academy?”
I didn't answer right away but started talking in another way.
“To be blunt, it is difficult to see Her Highness the Ninth Empress as playing the role of a mother.”
Euclid looked upset but did not refute.
“You need to get away from her influence. In that sense, admission is the best way to escape not only political marriages but also political exploitation.”
It's not like there weren't any royals in history who studied at the academy.
To create a school alliance, or to escape the fierce battle for the throne.
There were many precedents of royals entering Gnosis.
It wasn't like I was telling Euclid to cut the strings off his hat. It was just a moment.
Since it was just a distance away, there wouldn't have been much of a sense of rejection.
Here I threw a carrot.
“The Academy doesn’t focus on alchemy and magic like the Imperial Academy does. The good thing about the academy is that you can acquire a variety of knowledge evenly. Yes? Just take the swordsmanship class without worrying about what other people think.”
“Really?”
Euclid's reaction to the word swordsmanship was almost at the level of a conditioned reflex.
But I didn't just tell a hopeful story.
“If you want to get the level of swordsmanship you want, it will have to be an advanced course. This is essential. You have to have all the basic skills to be given the option.”
“What are the basic qualities?”
“Let’s see... What comes to mind right away? Literature, history, philosophy, art, politics, economics, mathematics, natural science, magic, alchemy, magical alchemy engineering."
“What, why are there so many?”
“I told you, the advantage of an academy is that you can acquire a wide range of knowledge.”
“It’s just a level where you learn everything!”
Of course, it was no use arguing with Eve. She spoke as if trying to comfort him.
“The process of becoming a great intellectual is not easy. Oh, by the way, since you are a member of the royal family, you have to study imperial studies after school. Cheer up.”
“Yes?”
“By the way, I am the one who will pay for your tuition, dormitory fees, and allowance. I will make sure that I receive your report card every semester.”
"OMG!"
“As the first scholarship recipient, expectations are high. Do your best to achieve grades that will satisfy the sponsor.”
Euclid was in agony, holding his head in his hands. But he did not say that he would not do it or that he could not do it.
Even in his head, he decided that entering the academy was the best option in the current situation.
If things have come to this, his life of building walls around studying is over.
If he had been expelled for failing consecutively, he would have been forced into a political marriage, so he had to risk his life studying.
“Then I will consider it as consent.”
“...Where are you going?”
Euclid, who had been resting his forehead on the table, looked up at me.
I replied, looking at the pots of mandragora that Pheony had so lovingly divided.
I visited the home of Philinelli, the Third Empress. I was there to settle Euclid's affairs, but I deliberately did not accompany him, conscious of the eyes and ears of the Empress Dowager.
However, there was no problem with Philinelli's residence, as her hobby was gardening.
Temperature and humidity control facilities were basically in place.
I and Michael were guided to Philinelli's private greenhouse flower garden, set up in the courtyard.
A canopy was installed to block sunlight coming through the glass dome. There was a black-haired woman in a flowing empire dress.
A beauty in her 40s who distorts her actual age. She was Philinelli.
“Welcome, Seventh Princess, Sir Agnitus.”
“Please meet Your Majesty the Third Empress.”
When Philinelli allowed me to sit down, Michael pulled out a chair for me. I straightened up and sat down facing Philinelli.
“This is the first time I've thanked you for sending me a servant, so please forgive me for not visiting more often.”
There was a hint of laughter in Philinelli's voice as he answered. She seemed to be watching my movements with interest.
The maids filled the empty teacups. At Philinelli's wink, they withdrew from the greenhouse.
Philinelli gets straight to the point.
“I have received your precious mandragora. But I would like to express my gratitude again. It doesn’t seem like a proper gift. What could the 7th Princess have come to ask me?”
As I watches Brigitte, Philinelli watches Lemieux.
I'm sure she already knows this, but if she wants to hear it straight from my mouth, there's nothing I can't give her.
“Hmm, I can’t help but ask a personal question. Was the 7th Princess close to the 8th Prince?”
“Since Euclid is against the will of the Fourth Empress' entourage, and I am against the will of the Third Princess, who is the Fourth Empress' resuscitator, is there not a good chance that we will become friendly?”
Philinelli responded positively.
“Well, the 8th Prince is still young for a political marriage.”
“He is a child who still has a lot to learn. I plan to enroll him in the academy so that he can further develop his abilities.”
“You’re sending him to a political sanctuary. The curriculum there was five years, I think. He can be protected until he turns 18.”
“When he graduates safely and comes out, the whole world will protect him.”
It was nothing more than a roundabout way of revealing my ambition to become the Crown Princess.
Philinelli raised her eyes and stared at me over her teacup.
I smiled broadly as if to say, "What are you trying to hide?"
Finally, Philinelli withdrew her sharp gaze. The tension that had been building up slightly was instantly relieved.
“Honestly, he may not have been a pretty little brother, but you take good care of him.”
“So we must teach more and create humans.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
At this point, I changed my attitude to seriousness.
“If left unchecked, the Fourth Empress will create a new source of funding for the Third Princess, which will allow the Third Princess to privatize the Imperial Guard.”
It was a situation that I would never want if I was hostile to the Third Princess and the Fourth Empress.
My situation was a little different, as I had the fraudulent Michael as a direct knight, but public appearances must be deferred.
Philinelli was somewhat skeptical of my determination to stop Brigitte.
“I know it’s not a desirable situation, but whatever. Even if it means blocking the marriage business, it’s only this once.”
“I know what Your Majesty the Empress is worried about. Since Father approved the guard's reorganization, the funding will also be approved to some extent. The Third Princess can just get the funds through other means and push for a private army.”
“Yes. In the end, there is no fundamental solution to this problem.”
I was pushed out in the fight to increase my direct knight's share by recruiting my siblings.
Philinelli believed that the outcome of the reorganization of the Guard had already been decided.
“It’s just a little bit of a hassle for the Third Princess, but it doesn’t bring much benefit. 7th Princess, is it really necessary for you to go through all that trouble?”
I smiled and took a sip of tea while listening to the cool-headed arguments.
“Pestering the Third Princess is more meaningful than you might think, Your Majesty.”
“I wish you could explain the significance of that.”
“First of all, the Empress and I feel better.”
“That’s right.”
Philinelli seriously acknowledged that part.
I continued. From now on, it was real.
“The only thing that Father has justified is the purpose of raising funds. He doesn’t justify unethical and illegal means of raising funds.”
“...It seems like it’s not just about the marriage business, but it sounds like the Third Princess has an illegal source of funding.”
I liked that the story was fast-paced.
“Yes. You are correct in your understanding. Chansley's ability to buy the Construction Chamber after spending all of his money on the Magic Stone Stall is a testament to his financial prowess. And when it comes to money, Chansley and the Third Princess are one and the same.”
“Ah, you intend to continue to trouble the Third Princess and expose that black money source.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
It was no secret that Brigitte was behind Chansley's concession stand.
“I know it’s not a desirable situation, but whatever. Even if it means blocking the marriage business, it’s only this once.”
“I know what Your Majesty the Empress is worried about. Since Father approved the guard's reorganization, the funding will also be approved to some extent. The Third Princess can just get the funds through other means and push for a private army.”
“Yes. In the end, there is no fundamental solution to this problem.”
I was pushed out in the fight to increase my direct knight's share by recruiting my siblings.
Philinelli believed that the outcome of the reorganization of the Guard had already been decided.
“It’s just a little bit of a hassle for the Third Princess, but it doesn’t bring much benefit. 7th Princess, is it really necessary for you to go through all that trouble?”
I smiled and took a sip of tea while listening to the cool-headed arguments.
“Pestering the Third Princess is more meaningful than you might think, Your Majesty.”
“I wish you could explain the significance of that.”
“First of all, the Empress and I feel better.”
“That’s right.”
Philinelli seriously acknowledged that part.
I continued. From now on, it was real.
“The only thing that Father has justified is the purpose of raising funds. He doesn’t justify unethical and illegal means of raising funds.”
“...It seems like it’s not just about the marriage business, but it sounds like the Third Princess has an illegal source of funding.”
I liked that the story was fast-paced.
“Yes. You are correct in your understanding. Chansley's ability to buy the Construction Chamber after spending all of his money on the Magic Stone Stall is a testament to his financial prowess. And when it comes to money, Chansley and the Third Princess are one and the same.”
“Ah, you intend to continue to trouble the Third Princess and expose that black money source.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
It was no secret that Brigitte was behind Chansley's concession stand.
However, to cover up the faults of a strong candidate for the Crown Princess, Desmond II showed mercy and punished only Chansley without involving Brigitte.
Knowing what it means, Brigitte also tries to find a source of funding that has nothing to do with Chansley.
However, when circumstances become unfavorable, people tend to instinctively seek out convenient means.
“Even if there were black money sources, Chansley would probably be struggling to pay the fines right now.”
“The privatization funds are needed immediately, while Chansley’s fines are due before the winter rainy season.”
Chansley can never defy Brigitte.
Even if the family went down the path of bankruptcy and downfall, she would risk everything in the hope that she would be compensated after coming to power.
“The more you squeeze it, the clearer the outline will become. So, I wish the Empress could lend a little help.”
“You're talking about saving the 8th Prince’s life.”
“Yes. Isn’t that a good deed that can be done lightly?”
“Yes.”
With this, the cause of saving Euclid from the marriage business was sufficiently justified and persuasive.
It was Philinelli's turn to prevent the Empress from exercising her rights.
In a job, it was only right that the same Empress appeared.
Philinelli drank the rest of her tea and ended the conversation.
“I will bring you good news soon.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Philinelli added as she watched me rise from my seat after greeting her politely.
“If it’s okay with you, I hope you’ll come visit me more often in the future. As I get older, I find myself feeling a bit lonely.”
“Yes. I will visit you so that you can have a pleasant time, even if it is not enough.”
Although it was a somewhat unexpected suggestion, I responded without showing it.
I returned to the Green Room with Michael, having also received the unexpected benefit of Philinelli's favor.
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