“Hanelope!”
As soon as I stepped out of the library, a familiar voice called to me.
It was Dad.
He walked up to me with his unusual, urgent pace and scooped me into his arms.
‘Why is Dad here?’
Surely Professor Munich would have informed our servants? But I was too panicked to ask.
Dad held me tightly, almost running with me in his arms.
It wasn’t until we got on the carriage that Dad finally seemed relieved.
“Let’s get going.”
But there was still a hint of impatience in the way he urged the coachman on.
“Did Dad have an appointment at the palace?”
I asked cautiously.
Dad shook his head.
“They said you suddenly went missing, so I came to look for you.”
I went missing?!
‘Did Professor Munich not convey the message properly?’
I was taken aback.
“Professor Munich kidnapped you. Was it at the request of His Majesty?”
I was even more puzzled by my father’s next words.
‘I think the listener misunderstood?’
“Kidnapping a child to the Imperial Palace.. Are you free to do so just because you’re one of the Emperor’s entourage?”
Dad was serious.
The Emperor had already kidnapped (?) me once. So it was understandable why dad would react like this.
“No! Professor Munich took me to the Imperial Library because there was a book I wanted to see!”
“Is it true?”, Dad asked sceptically.
“Yes! I’m speaking the truth.”
I nodded vigorously.
He looked relieved, then softened and asked, “Luckily you didn’t have to meet the Emperor.”
No. I did…
Seeing my expression, dad’s face contoured.
“You’ve been caught up in an organised kidnapping scheme of his.”
“I-I ran into him coincidentally at the library! I just said hello and left!”
“That sneaky old…”
Dad muttered, his eyes still closed.
His stoic face resembled the Emperor, yet at the same time murderous, as if he were about to revolt.
‘He can’t.’
I forced a smile and changed the subject.
“Going to the academy was fun! I got the first place!”
Seeing me jumping, dad’s expression loosened.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. You have both Laura’s looks and brain.”
“I’ve tried my hand at magic, too, though the Chatty Tree almost went through the ceiling…”
I covered my cheeks with my hands, embarrassed.
Dad smirked.
“That’s just like me. I was also clumsy with mana control at first. You’ll get better as you get used to it. Of course, it’s okay if you can’t do it. Actually, that way, you won’t exhaust yourself.”
Dad smiled.
It was a smile of concern.
‘He’s concerned I’ll be used by the Emperor if I become a mage.’
There’s nothing to worry about…
I’ll never be a good mage because of my heredity disease.
However, Dad didn’t know much about how the medicine worked.mHe just knew that it was an elixir to strengthen the heart. He didn’t know that I couldn’t use mana recklessly.
‘I didn’t tell him on purpose, because if he found out, he’d have something new to worry about.’
But it led to new worries. How ironic!
“Young Lady, how was the academy?”
“Were there any brats who bullied you?”
“If there were, we wouldn’t let them get away with it. We may be maids, but we have our ways.”
Sherry and the maids exchanged glances.
They must have been worried the whole time, because they bombarded me with questions upon my return.
I smiled broadly and shook my head.
“No! It was fun, and I even got first place.”
The maids’ faces lit up as I said with pride.
“I knew our Miss would be the best.”
“Yes. Even the Duchess of Moltke has recognised her.”
“Did you make many friends?”
I paused.
The faces of several children flashed through my mind.
“Who are you to be so arrogant as to sit down without my permission?”
Ulrich, who had protested as soon as I entered the classroom.
“Ulrich, that’s her, the brat who flattered the Emperor on the subject of illegitimacy.”
Jacob clicked his tongue.
“Hehe….”
I laughed embarrassed, and the maids despaired as if the sky had fallen.
“Didn’t you make any friends?”
“How lonely you must have been, my dear….”
They were being so depressed that it was embarrassing to me.
As I pondered my relationship woes, a child suddenly popped into my head.
‘Why did it take so long?’
‘Her name was Katherine. Katherine Spigent.’
Katherine the raid haired sassy girl.
‘Though she acted cold.. she can be said to be a friend.’
My first priority was to calm the maids. I exclaimed to the sullen maids.
“I made a friend! Katherine Spigent!”
“You mean one of the twins of Marquis Spigent?”
“You’ve made friends with a good family!”
“We thought as much!”
Soon their faces lit up.
“Then. Perhaps…”
“I have an assignment, I have to do that!”
I quickly interrupted the question that was about to come pouring in.
If I let it be, their questions might go on all night.
“Is there anything we can help you with?”
I shook my head resignedly.
“I’ll do the assignment on my own. I can do it!”
“Our Young Lady has grown up since you went to the Academy.”
“Still, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
After the maids left, I took out the mana stone the academy had given me.
I wanted to practice what I had learned. But when I saw the mana stone, I gasped.
“What? How did it get cracked?
The strong aura of mana that I had felt when I first saw it was gone.
‘Ulrich had given me a complete broken mana stone.’
Even if he’s a child, it’s too much.
He’s so irritating.
Nevertheless, I had to practice.
If I didn’t prepare, my mana might suddenly drain during practical exercises.
‘Can I practice even with the remaining faint mana?’
As I turned the mana stone around, I made a strange discovery. Faint patterns were etched on the surface of the mana stone.
‘Seems like a magical inscription?’
I thought.
Crack!
A crack opened, and the mana stone shattered.
“!”
I gasped, picking up the shards.
“……?”
But there was something in between the shards of mana.
It was a small pendant. A small, round pendant that looked like it could open and close.
“Why is this here?”
Mana stone residue was stuck to the pendant.
“Was the pendant inside the mana stone?”
It seemed like someone had deliberately hidden the pendant inside.
‘Why would they do such a thing?’
Due to curiosity, I opened the pendant.
“!”
Inside the pendant, instead of a photo I expected, there was a brilliant red gem that sparkled dazzlingly.
To think such a gem is hidden within a worn and scarred pendant!
‘It’s really suspicious, isn’t it?’
Perhaps the magical inscription on the surface of the mana stone was a formula to seal this pendant.
It might have been the reason why someone concealed the pendant deep inside the mana stone.
‘Then this pendant… Could it be a really ominous item?’
The pendant slipped from my hand.
‘Now is not the time!’
I regained my composure and placed the pendant in a small box. As if that wasn’t enough, I tied the box shut with a ribbon.
‘The next time I go to the academy, I’ll give this back.’
I should say something about given strange things.
‘As soon as I get to the academy, I have to find the professor’s office.’
I thought to myself as I clutched the small bag I carried by my side in the carriage to the Academy.
It contained the cursed pendant.
‘It’s not confirmed to be cursed, but it feels omnious to me!’
For the past week, I had been stuck with this ill-fated pendant.
‘I can’t tell how much I’ve been looking forward to going to the Academy.’
The academy system was different from the school I had attended in my previous life. I only had to attend once or twice a week. So, all I could do was look forward to the days I went to the academy!
‘This is something new, both in my past and present lives.’
I stared out the window for who knows how long.
‘How much longer until we arrive?’
“Hanelope.”
Dad, who had been watching me closely, called out.
I nodded, still staring out the window.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be at the academy soon.”
Dad said in a cheery voice.
I raised an eyebrow, looking at my father curiously.
My father narrowed his eyes and muttered.
“Is the academy really that good?”
“?”
When we arrived at the academy, my father picked me up and helped me down from the carriage.
“Dad! I’ll go in! See you later!”
Waving my hand, I quickly jumped off.
My father had something to say, but I was too preoccupied.
I waved and ran inside.
I sprinted to the professor’s office, knocked on the door and heard a calm voice ask me to come in.
‘It’s Miss Richter!’
Miss Richter herself had given me permission to come, so it was unlikely that Professor Frank was inside.
‘I prefer Miss Richter to Professor Frank.’
It was perfect because I had something to say to Richter anyway.
Feeling relieved, I entered the professor’s office.
“My Lady, what brings you here? Do you have any questions?”
Miss Richter asked in a quiet voice.
Her expression appeared passive at first glance.
‘She even pushed her lecture materials to the side to ask me.’
But Richter was a kind person. I decided to start by opening my bag and taking out a pouch. I put it on the table.
‘It was the pouch with the pendant in it.’
Taking it out, I finally felt at ease. Next, I pulled out another pouch.
It was a bag full of expensive candies with fruit.
‘I can’t come empty-handed!’
“Miss Richter, it’s a gift!”
Richter’s eyes widened.
“You came here to give me this?”
“Yes! I like Miss Richter!”
Miss Richter’s pale cheeks turned red.
“Why would you do something like this for me…?”
She muttered in a small voice, embarrassed.
How can a grown up blush and act clueless!
‘Miss Richter was too cute!’
“I appreciate your consideration during the last lecture! You’re also really good at magic, Miss Richter!”
“I’m only average, anyone who teaches magic can do that.”
“But Professor Frank can’t though?”
“That’s because…”
Even she couldn’t find words to continue. A troubled expression mixed with disappointment.
Richter knew better than anyone that Professor Frank was an inept magician. He relied on his family name and used his connections to become a professor.
‘If it weren’t for Richter helping and supporting him, he would have been stripped of his position by the Emperor.’
Why was someone as capable as Miss Richter under the thumb of an inept magician like Professor Frank?
‘Other professors would also want Richter.’
Judging by her skills alone, she surpassed the requirements for becoming a professor.
“I wish you were my teacher, Miss Richter!”
“That’s difficult. Professor Frank won’t allow it.”
“Then I’ll ask other professors! They will allow it.”
Richter lowered her head sadly.
“I’ve been working with Professor Frank since I was young. So, professors who aren’t approved by Professor Frank won’t accept me. It’s taboo among the professors to take assistants from other professors. So, I… Ah, I’ve said too much.”
Richter regained her composure and looked flustered.
She had unintentionally revealed her feelings in front of a child. She quickly corrected herself.
“I’m grateful to Professor Frank. I was poor and uneducated, and my family was sick. He helped me when I was very young.”
I now understood why Richter, a skilled magician, was controlled by the unskilled Professor Frank.
But it was unfair.
