TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 18
Three weeks had passed since Hanna’s Aura emerged.
Rowen couldn’t lift his head.
Hanna had left the house, saying she didn’t want to stay there anymore, and was now staying at our estate before returning to the Academy.
Since she said she was going to enter the dormitory, I thought our next meeting wouldn’t be until winter vacation, considering our estate is on the outskirts and the Academy is in the capital, making it quite a distance.
After the Academy’s vacation ended, I heard news about Hanna through a newspaper article.
[Third Daughter of Histania, ranked first in the Imperial Academy’s ranking competition, beating Mikhail…].
She said in an interview, “I was able to achieve this because I had someone I liked,” but when asked who that person was, she denied it being Mikhail or her father, Histania Rowen.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the photo of her in the newspaper.
She was holding a trophy and smiling brightly.
Now, she finally looked like she had shed the heavy burden she had been carrying, and it was a relief to see her smile, which I had rarely seen before.
I felt a sense of pride and satisfaction, thinking that I had changed her future.
Perhaps the best part was Mikhail’s defeat, which was incredibly satisfying, especially since he was a self-absorbed person who got beaten by a 1st-year student.
I wanted to see Mikhail’s expression, but I decided to restrain myself.
Mikhail and I didn’t have a good relationship, so we ended up hoping for each other’s misfortune.
It was a great time, and I earned a lot of money, making valuable connections, which made it the most meaningful time of the year.
Just then…
I made eye contact with the Young Lady, who was staring at me with an intense gaze, as if she could see right through me.
I quickly folded the newspaper and hid it under the blanket.
“Why are you hiding it? I’m curious too, so let’s take a look together.”
“It’s not good.”
“What’s not good?”
“It’s something that will make you want to pull your hair out in frustration.”
“I don’t think so. I have a strong mind.”
The Young Lady flexed her arm, revealing a tiny muscle, like a quail egg, which made me want to laugh, but I managed to hold it in, seeing how serious she was.
“Wow, look at that! Am I strong?”
“Oh…”
I applauded, and the Young Lady smiled, showing off her other arm, which was just as thin, making me think I should feed her more meat.
The Young Lady was still curious, asking me repeatedly about the newspaper, so I decided to summarize the content for her, omitting some parts.
“It’s about Miss Hanna.”
“The beggar?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Did she buy a house?”
“No, she ranked first in the Academy.”
“Oh, the beggar succeeded!”
The Young Lady was belittling Hanna, who was actually much wealthier than us, but I didn’t correct her, as it was a butler’s duty to protect their master’s pride.
If the Young Lady found out that Hanna was richer, she might start saving money and go on a hunger strike.
“Yes, it’s because we took good care of her.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. You were also a top student back in the day, weren’t you?”
Causing a commotion.
The Young Lady smiled and agreed.
“That’s right! I did magic back then.”
“Yes, you did.”
The Young Lady was smiling innocently, and I felt happy, having teased her a bit.
“Yes… hehe, I was famous in the Academy back then.”
“You were infamous, actually.”
“Hehe!”
There was a hint of wistfulness in the Young Lady’s smile.
She was happy about her friend’s good news, but at the same time, she might be feeling a bit envious, wanting to attend the Academy herself, but I knew Hanna was a busy person, being a renowned healer and all.
Unlike us, who were lounging around at home, Hanna was someone who had a lot of responsibilities, and I felt bad for asking her for another favor.
-Excuse me, Miss Hanna?
-You can speak informally with me.
-Ah, okay… I’ll do that later, as I’m used to being formal after being a butler for 13 years.
-But you were quite straightforward when scolding Senior Ruin.
-I… have no comment.
-Puhaha! So, what’s the request?
-Well, if you happen to have a chance to help the Young Lady re-enroll in the Academy…
I asked Hanna to help the Young Lady re-enroll, but Hanna said it would be difficult until Yuria graduated.
-I’m sorry, it’s unlikely to happen before Yuria graduates.
I received a letter as expected.
I didn’t feel disappointed or give up.
As always, there were ways to make it work, even if it took more time, and I didn’t want to give up on the Young Lady’s dreams.
Anyway, Hanna had left our estate, and we remained.
At that moment…
“Ugh, that son of a b***h is here again!”
The Young Lady, who was looking out the window, pointed outside and cursed.
I peeked outside.
A kid with a deeply pulled-down hat.
Holding a paintbrush and red paint, standing in front of the wall.
I said, looking at the kid.
“Hey, you little s**t!”
In front of the Wall Vandal, the estate’s rules didn’t apply.
***
The 3rd-floor student council room.
The geniuses who would lead the Empire were seated around a round table.
With Chartia, the Third Princess, at the center, along with Ruin, the Disciple of the Master of the Tower, the Crown Prince, and Mikhail, they all faced each other.
A gathering of the Academy’s influential figures.
Their expressions were all gloomy.
Like they were at a funeral.
With scowls on their faces, they stared at one spot.
They were unhappy about being summoned in the middle of their busy schedules, and the pain of defeat still lingered, making them even more displeased.
But what bothered them the most…
“What are you talking about? You want to re-enroll that woman?”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Are you crazy?”
The reason they were gathered, the center of attention, was the expelled villainess, and it was all because of a junior who was now at the forefront.
Ruin, who had his legs on the table, glared at Hanna, who was standing upright, with a “what nonsense are you talking about” look.
Hanna didn’t back down from Ruin’s gaze, instead, she looked back at him as if stating the obvious.
“Seniors.”
Hanna placed her hands on the table and spoke calmly.
“I ranked first in the recent ranking competition, surpassing Senior Mikhail.”
The ranking competition.
A grand festival where students’ treatment changes.
A kind of social status upgrade.
The dormitory tier changes.
The quality of the cafeteria food improves, a sort of entrance exam, and the person who ranks first, Hanna, spoke with weight in her words.
Being the most talented in their year, the public’s attention is focused on them, and the Academy’s support is concentrated on that one person.
As the person in question, Hanna felt this more than anyone, and she spoke sincerely, without pretenses, thanks to someone’s advice to not be humble.
Hanna was going to use the Divine Healer’s privilege.
“So, what do you want to say?”
The Platinum Blond Crown Prince glared at Hanna, his chin in his hand, looking like he was in a bad mood.
If possible, he would have liked to use all his power to shut the Divine Healer’s mouth, but in the Academy, where freedom of expression was allowed, such a thing was impossible.
“I just said that because I think the Academy should not miss out on talented people, for its own advancement.”
Hanna had no intention of backing down.
She wanted to repay the kindness she had received, and she also had a personal desire to attend the Academy with the Butler, so she spoke without hesitation.
And she wanted to fulfill that desire, so she didn’t back down.
However, as Hanna continued to speak, the Crown Prince’s expression changed.
“Isn’t that what the Academy is for? A place to discover and nurture the talents who will lead the Empire in the future.”
“Yes, the Academy is a place to nurture talent, but…”
The Crown Prince glared at Hanna.
“This is a place to raise people, not beasts.”
“Is that so? But Senior Ruin is also doing well at the Academy, isn’t he?”
-Clang!
“What did you just say?”
Ruin created a red sphere in his hand, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Hanna.
Hanna replied brazenly.
Having already overcome the obstacle that was Mikhail, she was not afraid of Ruin, who was like a small pebble in comparison.
She was not intimidated by Ruin.
“Did I say something wrong? There’s no one in the Academy who only fights like Senior Ruin, is there? Even when we submitted our reenrollment application together, you were about to start a fight, and you got stepped on by the Butler…”
“Sh-shut up!”
Ruin’s face turned red with anger.
Hanna tried to provoke him further, but…
“Enough.”
The master of the gathering would not permit any more commotion.
Normally, she would have pretended to be dead if a senior had spoken to her like that, but Hanna felt that her personality was changing, becoming more like someone else’s.
It wasn’t a good thing, but…
It didn’t feel bad either.
In fact, it felt good to be changing, to be becoming more like that person.
From her sense of justice to her appearance like The Boy, the Divine Healer’s taste was closer to Senior Mikhail’s, but since the start of the school term, the Red-Haired Butler had been constantly on her mind, even though they were just master and disciple.
Hanna calmed her racing heart and looked at the woman in front of her.
The master of the gathering and…
The current Student Council President, 3rd Princess Chartia.
She spoke to Hanna.
“So, what’s the main point?”
Hanna spoke politely.
“Please allow Ricardo and Desmond Olivia to reenroll in the Academy.”
Princess Chartia replied coldly.
“Dismissed. Olivia cannot reenroll.”
At the same time, Mikhail also raised his hand and spoke.
With a feminine appearance and short silver hair, he spoke in a cold and firm tone.
“If those two reenroll, I will drop out.”
The two doctors were resolute.
But Hanna said to them…
“Then drop out.”
In Hanna’s eyes, Mikhail was lighter than Ricardo.