The triumphant return to the royal capital—this time with Elizabeth, now known as Liz—went far more smoothly than either of them had expected.
They had braced themselves for trouble at the checkpoint, but the gatekeeper merely froze when he saw Liz, staring at her as if he'd seen a ghost, and said nothing more.
"That was definitely a 'did I just see a ghost?' face," Randy muttered.
"Well, until recently there were rumors that I was dead," Liz replied, scratching her cheek.
"Yeah… that tracks."
Randy didn't know why the royal government, despite knowing Liz was alive, had never officially denied the death rumors. He could only guess it had something to do with how twisted her exile had been.
And honestly? He didn't care.
The petty schemes of petty people meant nothing to him. All he needed to know were two facts: Liz had been exiled once, and now she had been granted temporary re-entry.
"Rumors of your death, huh? Guess you're guaranteed to be a star right from the start of the new term."
"…Are you mocking me?" Liz puffed her cheeks slightly at Randy's snorting laugh.
"My way of cheering you up."
Randy shrugged and shot her a teasing grin. "Didn't I say I wouldn't hold back?"
"I know, but still…"
Liz kept her cheeks puffed, and Randy awkwardly turned his gaze toward the window.
"No matter the situation, the one who enjoys it wins."
Whether people pointed fingers behind her back or stared openly, Randy's muttering meant the same thing: if you can enjoy it, you win. Liz finally realized that this really was his way of encouraging her.
"I'll do my best," she said, clenching her fists.
"Hey, don't try so hard," Randy replied with a wry smile.
The carriage carried the two of them steadily toward the academy.
As they got closer, the number of carriages heading in the same direction increased. With the opening ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, today was clearly peak return-to-dormitory day. Seeing so many carriages gather made Liz's expression tense.
"Relax. You'll only stand out at first," Randy said bluntly, without even trying to soften his tone anymore.
Liz nodded stiffly. No matter how many reassuring words were spoken, feeling safe was another matter entirely.
Knowing that, Randy spoke again, hoping to help even a little.
"You won't be standing out alone. I'll be right there with you."
Liz looked up, finally realizing she wasn't facing this by herself.
"And another thing," Randy continued.
"Another?"
"People who only talk trash from a distance? That's all they can do. In the end, they've got nothing to do with our lives."
Randy snorted, and Liz nodded almost instinctively. People who gossiped freely did so precisely because they knew nothing about her.
"Let them say whatever they want. They'll shut up soon enough."
Randy wore a wicked grin. Liz couldn't help pouting.
"Violence isn't allowed, you know."
"I'm not saying I'll shut them up," Randy said, frowning. "You will. Remember who you are."
"…Who I am?" Liz murmured.
"That terrifying marquis's daughter—and now an outstanding civil servant Viktor is proud of. The rest of the crowd should be shut up."
Randy continued provocatively.
"You're definitely going to spread your wings again from here. So shut them up with your ability. Blow them away. Make those idiots stuck in the past regret it."
Liz pressed her lips together tightly, then nodded hard. Her eyes glistened slightly as she spoke.
"Randy… you too. You'll spread your wings from here as well."
Randy shrugged at her earnest gaze.
"I'd rather not. But a master who's inferior to his servant wouldn't look very good, so I'll do what I can."
Liz nodded firmly. "Yes."
The carriage soon reached the academy gates.
The atmosphere inside the carriage felt lighter than before when Liz suddenly spoke, as if remembering something.
"By the way… why did you keep such a low profile at the academy before?"
"Oh, that?" Randy smiled wryly. "It's not a big reason."
As he gazed out the window, he began to explain—the truth behind his study abroad, caught between the intentions of the principality and the kingdom.
For several years, the principality had received offers for special study at the Royal Academy. It was the academy of a great kingdom, the cutting edge of the continent. At first, everyone eagerly volunteered, and for the first few years, the principality sent truly outstanding students.
But everything changed when the first generation graduated.
Those excellent students, trained in the most advanced kingdom, were supposed to return—but instead, they found employment as bureaucrats in the royal capital.
Then the next year. And the year after that.
Everyone was captivated by the kingdom and refused to return. Some were even rumored to have been headhunted.
Part of the reason was that many of the students were from central noble families—families without territories and with limited prospects for second children—but even so, the principality had no interest in losing all of them.
A kingdom hungry for talent, and a principality desperate to stop the brain drain.
Caught between those motives was Randy's study abroad.
He's a territorial noble—he'll come back, they assumed.
Even if he doesn't, there are plenty of minor nobles to replace him, they also assumed.
Chosen for such half-hearted reasons, there was no way Randy could feel motivated.
"On top of that, it's school—an aristocratic one at that. All you learn is how to one-up each other. Why would I be interested?"
"I see… Then did I do something wrong?" Liz asked, looking down slightly.
"Of course not," Randy snorted. "Looking back, it was just a kid's tantrum. I'm grateful you made me realize that."
"A… child's tantrum?" Liz tilted her head.
"Yeah. I was sulking and throwing away an opportunity handed to me. If that's not a tantrum, what is?"
Liz smiled softly.
"Whatever the reason, if you have an opportunity, you should use it."
The moment Randy said that, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
They had arrived—at the academy gate.
Light poured into the carriage as Harrison opened the door.
Randy stepped out first, dignified as ever.
"Your hand—"
"A master offering his hand to his servant is—"
"It's fine."
Overcome by Randy's smile, Liz took his hand and stepped down from the carriage.
A clear buzz spread through the surroundings. Countless eyes fixed on them. Ignoring the stares, Randy walked proudly toward the reception desk, Liz following half a step behind him like a proper attendant.
Looking down at the desk, Randy spoke.
"Second year, Randolph Viktor, and—"
"His attendant, Elizabeth."
The instant Liz introduced herself, the murmur exploded into a roar.
"She's really alive—"
"Who is that—?"
The female clerk at the desk clearly recognized her name. Panicking, she began frantically checking documents.
Strange stares pierced their backs. Unrestrained words reached their ears.
As if to blow them all away, Randy smiled at the clerk.
"I look forward to working with you this second semester."
"Y-Yes… of course."
Overwhelmed by Randy's unspoken pressure, the clerk nodded fearfully.
From a short distance away, various people watched the scene unfold.
"W-Why is she here—?"
"Elisabeth von Brauberg… I won't let her get near Cassie."
"It's really… Riza… isn't it?"
Thus, a turbulent school life began.