I instinctively drew in a deep breath.
The professor, seemingly noticing my flustered reaction, smiled and spoke.
"Haha, the practical subjects seem to have pulled down your average scores in the past. But last time, didn't you achieve perfect scores in most of your subjects? And now, six subjects—all perfect marks."
Perfect scores?
I had scored perfect marks in seven out of ten subjects previously, so perhaps this result wasn't too shocking to the professor.
'...Luck really plays a big role in the final push.'
I had focused on studying for those six subjects, but I could've made a mistake at any time. The fact that I didn't can only be attributed to luck.
"What the... So, does that mean…?"
I could hear some hushed whispers.
It was likely the voices of classmates who usually vied for the top spots in the class, now bewildered that I had been called to the first position.
"Next, Leonard Wittelsbach. Second in the department."
"Huh?"
There were surprised murmurs from the students.
Leon, however, simply nodded without much expression.
"And finally, Julia Zähringen and Narce Farnese tied for fifth in the department."
Narce feigned a look of surprise.
After spending months observing him, I could now distinguish between his genuine expressions and his fake ones. This time, he had likely expected the tie.
"Unfortunately, since the potion-making competition is a five-member team exam, one person will need to step down."
"I'll withdraw, professor," Narce responded with a calm smile.
"Hmm, are you sure? You can discuss it with Julia until tomorrow morning if needed."
"I'm not planning to pursue potion studies, and I believe giving the opportunity to a friend from the Imperial Second Academy is the right thing to do."
At that, Julia raised her hand awkwardly, her face troubled.
"Professor, I'm not strong in the potion-making subject either. It's not a field I plan to pursue, so I'll step down instead."
"Hmm, then you two can discuss and finalize your decision by tomorrow. That works. Now, I'll announce the special class roster after the finals."
With the practical exam scores tallied, Leon ended up as the top of the department.
'So that's where his earlier confidence came from.'
"All right, participants, you will depart for Bavaria tomorrow morning. You'll warp with me first, and then I'll return to accompany Lucas by train."
"...Train…?"
"Oh no…"
Several students turned toward me with astonished faces.
Elias had a grin that screamed *good luck with this*, and it was understandable.
'It's an eight-hour train ride to Bavaria, after all…'
While I could warp, I couldn't admit that openly.
I simply smiled back at the students staring at me.
*
That evening, we quickly changed into formal attire and left the building to attend the banquet scheduled for 7 PM.
With only an hour and a half left after the grades were announced, we barely had time to prepare.
Since it would have been suspicious for Nicolaus to leave the school building, we relocated to the nearest inn to get ready.
"Do we really need to rush out like this? Couldn't we just warp there?"
"Ah, everyone thinks that's convenient, but it's not possible," Elias replied with a laugh as he briskly approached the front of the school.
Just then, a student who seemed to be from the Third Academy hesitantly approached, holding a letter.
"Excuse me…!"
"Ah, thank you~"
Elias snatched the letter and kissed the envelope.
This wasn't an unusual sight since both Elias and I received countless letters regularly, but his attitude felt oddly theatrical today.
Even while nearly running, Elias noticed my raised eyebrows and cast a soundproofing spell, chuckling to himself.
"If I don't handle it quickly, I'll get cornered. No time for chit-chat, so gestures have to suffice. Best to ignore a friend's survival strategies, don't you think~?"
"Find me someone who manages socializing like that…"
As we approached the Hohenzollern family's carriage, the coachman bowed and opened the door.
I tipped my hat slightly in greeting before sitting opposite Elias.
Once the door closed, Elias drew the curtains and cast another soundproofing spell.
"There's probably no family in the nation that uses carriages as frequently as the Hohenzollerns."
"So warping isn't allowed, and it's mandatory to take a carriage to royal banquets?"
I vaguely recalled reading about this tradition in the novel.
"Yes, they insist you absolutely *must* arrive by carriage. Warp magic is strictly forbidden."
Elias sneered, shrugging his shoulders.
"They say it looks undignified. This obsession with formalities never seems to die."
Why was he being so serious all of a sudden?
Dressed neatly in royal ceremonial attire with his unruly hair slicked back, Elias exuded a rare gravitas.
"With that money, I'd rather buy five more wild boars to roast," I muttered.
"Fair enough…"
I finally understood why Leon always criticized Elias's manner of speaking.
"So, how does it feel to ditch the crutches?"
"Oh, it's indescribably liberating. But I still need to be cautious for a week. One wrong move, and it might never heal properly."
"Sounds like it was a serious fracture."
"Exactly. By the way, that new mask of yours—do you like it?"
By now, everyone seemed accustomed to the idea of me attending events wearing a mask, so no one objected when I informed them about it.
This time, I wore a different type of mask since I needed to eat during the banquet.
Though it felt unfamiliar, I had cast a divine power-based cognitive interference spell on it, ensuring that no one could recognize me.
As we arrived at the palace annex serving as the banquet hall, escorts joined us.
I let Elias take a half-step lead as we entered the annex.
"Are you ready, sir?"
"Ready for what, exactly?"
"To be overwhelmed at your first royal banquet…"
"I get it."
I cut off Elias mid-sentence as the guard and servant at the door pretended not to hear our exchange and opened the doors.
"Presenting His Grace Elias Hohenzollern and His Excellency Nicolaus Ernst!"
All eyes in the grand hall turned to us.
The reception before the banquet had begun—a time to familiarize oneself with the attendees.
"Welcome. Please follow me."
A servant led us to seats of honor.
The moment I picked up a champagne flute, an elderly man of short stature but solid build approached me.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Ernst."
"You must be Duke Heinrich. It's an honor to meet you at such an occasion."
The empire's chancellor.
He was also the one who had predicted his own success months ago and invited us to a Federation meeting.
A staunch pro-emperor supporter, he likely didn't hold a favorable opinion of us due to past events.
The chancellor offered a benevolent smile.
"I was impressed by your courage during this recent period. Having proactive individuals like you gives me great reassurance as a chancellor of this empire."
"..."
'Of course…'
Had Elias received that remark, it might have sounded like praise. But coming from the pro-emperor chancellor, it couldn't possibly be sincere.
He had called it "courage."
At first glance, it sounded complimentary, but it was deliberately downplaying my achievements.
His next words made his intent even more apparent, leaving no room for doubt.
"I feel the same. I've learned much from your exemplary governance. Please continue to guide the empire with your wisdom."
"…Indeed. I'll take my leave so as not to monopolize your time. Until the banquet."
"I'll see you then."
The chancellor maintained his soft smile as he departed.
While greeting other attendees, I noticed a familiar face in the crowd.
"Pleasure to see you again."
The words "You…!" rose to the tip of my tongue but stopped short.
Leon extended his hand with a smile.
―"What are you?"
"I assumed you'd recognize me. I'm here on behalf of His Majesty, the King of Bavaria. Congratulations."
Next to me, Elias mockingly rubbed his arms as if he had goosebumps, chuckling.
Leon, seeming to have decided to simply ignore Elias's antics, maintained his serene smile.
"Let's meet during the banquet. We'll be seated at the same table."
He was undeniably a politician through and through.
His response to Elias's pranks here was markedly different from his usual attitude at school.
About twenty minutes later, the sound of a latecomer entering the hall echoed.
"Presenting His Grace, Duke Georg Askanian!"
"...."
Elias cast a sideways glance at me.
For a moment, I thought I might not recognize the man since I had never seen him in person. But the thought was short-lived.
At a distance, someone bearing a striking resemblance to my brother but with much sharper features was surveying the room with cold eyes.
Once his gaze settled on the head table where Elias and I were seated, he began to approach.
"...."
He glanced at me briefly before greeting Elias, the royal, first.
After finishing his pleasantries with Elias, he turned toward me.
"Your Excellency, Nicolaus Ernst."
It was a voice engraved vividly in Luca's memories.
I had to consciously stop my shoulders from instinctively tensing.
"I've heard much about you. It's an honor to meet you."
His tone was utterly mechanical, his movements equally so.
The smile on his face was formal and businesslike.
It wasn't a particularly human expression, but even that much was absent from Luca's memories.
Suppressing the instinctive wave of repulsion rising within me, I clasped his hand.
Then, I discreetly opened the status window.
It wasn't as though I needed the information urgently, but opportunities like this were rare.
Georg Askanian
- Favorability: -2
- Title: Lord of Anhalt
- Health: +9
- Mental Strength: +1.5
- Magic Power: +7.5
- Skill: +10
- Impression: +5
- Luck: -7
- Traits: Deafened (Lv.10)(!), Tenacity (Lv.10)(!)
'…Interesting.'
Normally, someone with high health, skill, and magic power would have balanced stats across the board, but his mental strength and luck stood out in an unusual way.
And that peculiar trait.
As he raised his eyebrows slightly, as if to ask if there was an issue, I returned the greeting.
"Likewise, Your Grace."
He offered another faint smile before disappearing into the crowd.
There wasn't even a token exchange of small talk.
It was clear he had no interest in the banquet itself, attending only because he had been summoned by the emperor.
***
After being bombarded by guests for another thirty minutes, we finally managed to escape to the cloakroom just before the banquet began.
I collapsed onto a sofa in the room designated for the guests of honor.
The room wasn't meant for lounging, but I couldn't help myself.
"Phew…"
"Pfft, hahahaha! What kind of socializing language did I just hear? We're going to have to discuss this in detail over drinks tonight!"
"I'm not drinking with you."
"Huh? Why not?!"
Says the guy who likes to narrate head-busting incidents in real-time…
"By the way, how was it? Him?"
"He didn't notice anything."
I was, of course, referring to my father.
Rather than being unaware, it was more accurate to say he seemed indifferent to everything.
He didn't seem to have the slightest inclination to inquire about me or to sense any familiarity.
It wasn't just directed at me. His eyes showed no interest or emotion toward people or things in general.
'Of course, someone like that wouldn't notice if his older son abused his younger brother.'
How could someone like him possibly know what was happening in his own household?
Sitting up, I asked, "By the way, is His Majesty not here yet?"
"He's scheduled to arrive just in time for the banquet. It's incredibly rude, but you'll have to understand. He'll probably boast about handling state affairs on the day of the party."
The absurdity of the statement made me chuckle despite myself.
If only everyone spoke so candidly, life would feel much less stifling.
"Let's get moving," Elias said.
We couldn't linger in the storage-like room forever, so we headed to the banquet hall.
***
As we entered, a voice rang out.
"Presenting His Majesty, Emperor Friedrich!"
"And His Highness, Prince Adalbert Hohenzollern!"
"...."
I heard Elias click his tongue softly and murmur in a low voice, audible only to me.
"What's he doing here?"
It was a fair question.
Elias wasn't on good terms with the emperor's children.
Prince Adalbert, in particular, was a villain who openly disliked Elias.
The gathered nobles bowed as the emperor stood at the table, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"Greetings to all. I see both new and familiar faces here today. Please, enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
The banquet proceeded smoothly.
Thanks to Luca's upbringing under his brother's oppressive gaze, my table manners were impeccable.
As the emperor raised a glass of wine before sitting down, he glanced at me briefly before addressing Elias.
"Have you been well, Duke?"
Elias responded with a soft smile.
"Of course, Your Majesty. Thanks to your thoughtful care, I've been enjoying a most peaceful life."
"…!"
'So he can talk like that too.'
I had to stifle a laugh.
How on earth could this life be described as peaceful?
Barely a week had passed since the last chaotic incident.
And Elias and I were both right in the thick of it.
That was pure sarcasm.
"Hmm."
Leon cleared his throat, signaling Elias to rein it in.
But Elias, being Elias, continued with his usual flair.
In the novel, the emperor often responded to such moments with a genial facade.
"Haha, it's delightful to see my nephew after such a long time."
"Likewise, Your Majesty. I'll make a point to visit more often."
"That's good to hear. If you have time later, visit your father as well. And…"
The emperor's gaze shifted to me.
"Sir Ernst. You've accomplished something remarkable recently. Several years ago, someone like you emerged in our empire."
"...."
"Who could have guessed we'd have another like Adrian Askanian, the Deputy Minister of Magic? Individuals like you are a great comfort to this empire."
"It is truly an honor, Your Majesty."
The emperor nodded with a gentle smile.
What followed was light, flowing conversation.
***
'...Hmm.'
For now, things remained peaceful, making my earlier wariness seem unnecessary.
'Of course, with someone unfamiliar joining us this time, it's natural for things to proceed more cautiously than in the novel.'
As the meal neared its end, the emperor sipped his wine and spoke.
"It's about time to conclude. Unfortunately, I must depart after midnight due to other commitments."
I noticed Elias let out a small sigh of relief.
Though the emperor maintained a genial demeanor, Elias's reaction was understandable.
After all, the emperor's true nature was anything but gentle.
And I, having read Elias's past ten years, knew that too well.
Then, the emperor turned to me with a smile.
"And, Sir Ernst."
In that moment, Elias glanced at me, and Leon froze mid-sip of his wine.
Meeting the emperor's gaze calmly, I replied.
"Please, speak."
"Before I leave, I'd like to have a private conversation with you. Would that be all right?"