How to Survive at the Academy Chapter 225

Poisoned Chalice (6)

“I have already roughly figured out what kind of man he is.”

At this point, you may wonder if Ed’s cabin camp is actually the most important facility of the Sylvania Academy.

Lortel Kecheln sat by the fire, sipping tea and collecting her thoughts. It was a long-awaited day when the workers were unavailable, so I had been thinking about going out with Ed to the festival, but I never imagined that Princess Selaha would show up at the camp.

As a result, most of the distinguished guests in Sylvania seem to have set foot in Ed’s cabin camp at least once.

It’s not a lodging for VIPs like the Ophelis Hall, and it’s funny when you think about it.

“I thought that if appeasement is more politically meaningful than hostility, it wouldn’t hurt to involve them. but… .”

“… … .”

“I didn’t expect you to appear in a place like this.”

Princess Selaha looked up at Lortel with her eyes raised as she sat by the campfire.

Lortel Kecheln was the one who sided with Princess Sellaha in the tragedy at Roth Taylor Mansion. She was also the one who coaxed Princess Selaha to actively help her by stealing her Ed Ross Taylor so that she could use her politically.

Such a person is sitting in Ed Rosteylor’s camp with a shelter.

Princess Selaha laughed and talked as if she was having fun.

“The words you said to me in the mansion at that time were all meant to deceive me, right?”

Lortel was about to say something, but didn’t respond at first.

Lortel also knew roughly what the character of Princess Selahha was like.

“In the first place, it must have been a trick to protect Ed Rosteiler, who had lost his mind, from the Elte Company.”

It was revealed that he tried to deceive the princess.

Also, Princess Selaha, who condemns those who oppose her without hesitation, is her opponent.

It’s no wonder that if you’re a normal person, you’re breaking out in a cold sweat just because you’re in such a crisis. Being caught telling a lie to the imperial family was a serious crime that would not be strange even if it was punished by the death penalty depending on how the other person felt.

However, Lortel never panics. Rather, he was already aware that Selahha’s evaluation of Ed Rosteeler had changed drastically from within.

It wasn’t too difficult to get out of this situation like a snake if you remembered that fact well.

“that’s right. I’m actually a person who belongs to Ed’s side. It’s a position I’ve been aiding for a long time.”

In the end, the key is whose side you stand on at that time.

If he pretended to be on Selaha’s side to save Ed at Roth Taylor Mansion, it would be enough to pretend to be ‘slave’ to Ed in front of Selaha who came to appease Ed.

Sela is a person who attaches great importance to status and status in evaluating a person.

By reducing herself to the role of Ed’s pawn, she escapes Selaha’s gaze.

No one gets angry at every chess piece the opponent handles.

If Selaha’s gaze is directed toward the human nature of Ed, it is enough to stick to the bottom of that gaze and hide like a shadow. The evaluation that even Lortel is a human to handle within my grasp will be added as a bonus. Not bad for Ed either.

“After all the disasters at the Roth Taylor Mansion were over, I was dispatched in advance to prevent things from going erratically. You can think of me as a tool that moves according to senior Ed’s instructions, Princess Selaha.”

“… Judging from the fact that they share a residence, it seems like they are keeping them quite close.”

Lortel smiled softly and accepted Selahha’s words naturally.

First of all, since he was in the position of conciliating Ed, there would be no need to complicate things by messing with Lortel.

Lortel, who understands all of Sellaha’s positions, casually escapes from the crime of blaspheming the royal family. She is a girl who shows a surprisingly delicate side, at least when it comes to dealing with people.

“What about the shared residence, although the personal reasons are greater.”

“Well, I don’t have to worry about the man’s private life. It’s just that the man’s position and ability are needed. but… .”

Princess Selaha rested her chin for a moment, then opened and closed her sharp eyes gently before continuing her story.

“Do you mean putting the person in power at Elte Company under your command? I heard that Persica tried several tricks to take control of Elte Firm, but now that I see it, it must have been all in vain.”

“I will leave the judgment to Princess Selaha. As a lowly person, I can’t dare to argue with the princess’s judgment.”

“You’re definitely a smirking fox-like human.”

Princess Sellaha laughed and defined the human named Lortel at once.

“He must be a useful human being as a staff member, but you never know when he’ll hit the back. Those who once sat on the throne by betrayal will eventually be dethroned by betrayal. Isn’t it?”

Princess Sellaha maintains her lofty appearance and makes sure to talk to the girl merchant, who has a wide gap in social status.

Humans like Balberon Elphelan are small and greedy, so their behavior is easy to judge.

However, it would be difficult to deal with someone like Lortel under his command.

If you see a weakness, you bite it, and when there is no reason to follow it, you are the one who overturns the game.

If you want to use a person like this as an aide, you must always be smart, and you must never give up a gap.

“You live with a beast in your arms. That man.”

“I don’t know what to do with them, since they treat me like a human equal to a beast.”

As usual, Lortel would finish the topic at this point and go to call Ed.

For Lortel, who always behaves calmly and calmly, it is impossible to act emotionally in a situation like this with the country’s princess in front of her.

Lortel Kecheln is the owner of a monstrous reason, who maintains his composure by swallowing dry spit while the entire Sylvania Academy is being destroyed.

However, there are always exceptions to the world.

Also, there are things that are not to be touched by everyone.

There is only one occasion when Lortel Kecheln, who is always cool and composed, loses her temper. This is when Ed Rosteiler is involved in the work.

And, should I call it coincidence or inevitability… . Princess Selahha stepped on the mine accurately.

To put it bluntly, Princess Selaha said that to Lortel.

You are a beast that would attempt to ascend the throne even after stabbing Ed Rosteiler in the back if he had the chance.

Ed is also the kind of person who regards him as nothing more than a stepping stone for your success. There is not a single grain of bond to be found.

Selaha’s behavior, which defined Lortel Kecheln as such, was very unpleasant to Lortel herself.

It’s not that he’s acting for a purpose, it’s an evaluation made by looking at Lortel as it is.

When Lortel heard that, she smiled. However, cross veins protruded from his temples.

“Princess Selaha.”

Her voice is as calm as always.

“I don’t know how that sounds, but at least I hope you know that I won’t go after Ed.”

“Hoo. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a family of merchants talk about such a romantic bond. I would rather believe the story that eagles eat grass.”

“How about it? Princess Selaha. Her man, Ed Ross Taylor, should not be underestimated too much.”

There was no way he would do anything stupid to wage a war of nerves against the imperial family.

The overwhelming gap in status and authority leads to a difference in position. In the end, from Lortel’s point of view, there was nothing she could do but quietly scratch Princess Selaha.

However, that was Lortel’s specialty.

“Underestimated? haha… On the contrary, it is a position that is being evaluated rather generously. Certainly, seeing as he is on the verge of taking over Elte Co., he’s not an easy person to see… How can I become the emperor of a country if I cannot subdue a duke and a saengnim?”

“Success… . Certainly, one or the other may have to give in. It’s because the emperor is involved.”

“Which one? You are telling an interesting story.”

Princess Selaha raises her nose and smiles arrogantly.

“Do I give in? I’m sorry, but I’ve always been in a position to surrender.”

Pride that pierces the sky. Power and lineage to match.

As Lortel looked up at Princess Selaha, a fishy sense of repulsion and immorality rose.

A person who has never clung to someone in his long life and has never kneeled down.

Anyway, I became needlessly emotional.

It is a characteristic of humans who have never desperately needed anything. I am mistaken that I will be able to get my hands on anything soon. It is an illusion that any lofty beliefs can be broken.

“Then, I’ll call senior Ed. Please sit by the campfire for a while.”

However, Lortel Kecheln knows.

The answer that Ed Roth Taylor would give to Princess Selaha’s appeasement had already been decided.

* * *

“I’m sorry, but I intend to continue to assist Princess Penia.”

I didn’t even think that as soon as we met face to face, I would kneel down and do my courtesy with an apologetic face.

He was not a commoner wandering around, but an aristocrat who once belonged to the continent’s foremost duke family.

I thought it would be a polite line while keeping the minimum level of courtesy.

However, Ed, who came to the campfire in response to Lortel’s call… . He had roughly rolled up his sweat-stained shirt and was bathing in cold water.

There was no sign of courtesy toward the imperial family.

Of course, you can give reasons.

Not even the imperial family, but this Aken Island on the outskirts of the continent, and the Sylvania Academy within it.

It is far from the central power, and it is a place that values ​​the virtue of learning itself as much as the difference in status.

As it is an environment where aristocrats and commoners are educated in harmony, it is also a place where the sense of status is greatly weakened.

However, no matter how much, a human of the level of a princess or a saint would receive more preferential treatment, even considering that this is Aken Island. It is a position with such authority.

Nonetheless, Ed Rosteyler sat across from the campfire and set down a cup of cold water, without even pretending to be a courtier.

It looked like he had come up from hard work on the riverside.

I could tell to some extent from his attitude.

He was showing with his attitude that he had no intention of responding to Princess Selaha’s appeasement from the beginning.

Selaha first snorted at that appearance.

“You said it with your own mouth, I am the one who deserves to be the emperor. In fact, even after the competition, I raised my name.”

“Yes that’s right.”

“That person is giving you a chance. You’ll know if you watch closely, but can’t you see that Penia isn’t a lumber worthy of becoming an emperor?”

Lortel put on a look of surprise at this point.

At the point when Ed Rosteylor expressed his intention to refuse, he knew that he would burst into rage.

Surprisingly, however, Selah calmly spoke of her superiority.

“A lot of the power within the imperial family has already passed over to me. With the exception of the troublesome knight commander on Persica’s side, it’s safe to say that quite a few key figures actually support me.”

“It is an achievement worthy of its ability. If it was Princess Selaha’s kindness, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.”

He flatters Selaha, but Ed’s face shows no sign of loyalty.

Selaha didn’t like that fact.

“Do you not understand the meaning of my words? It is a story that I will remove all the doubts I had about you, and that I will stop attacking you at the imperial meeting.”

“If you do, it is my greatest honor.”

“You think it’s free?”

“If you want something in return, I will repay you as much as possible, but I have no intention of taking anyone else’s side in the struggle for imperial power.”

“It is a bizarre thing.”

Selaha crossed her arms and spoke with raised eyes.

“If you support someone in the struggle for imperial power, isn’t that because you think that person is fit for an emperor? If you really think that I am a person worthy of becoming emperor, then you should take my side.”

“Isn’t it true that people can’t always think rationally? I know that it will be difficult for Princess Penia to ascend to the position of emperor, but I intend to support Princess Penia nonetheless.”

“Give me a reason.”

“Always looking down, benevolent politics is beautiful on the outside… It is a thorny road.”

Only then, all the pictures begin to be fully drawn in Princess Selaha’s head.

Fenia is a pitiful idealist. At least Selaha thinks so.

An idealist who does not know reality dies chasing the ideal like that.

It is the world of power that survives only by urging betrayal, repeating secret struggles, killing, stealing, and actively suppressing opponents if necessary. It is not something that can only be done when it is unavoidably necessary.

It is a world where you can live a long life by becoming as evil as possible, rather than trying to be as good as possible.

“I intend to stay that way. Because someone has to do it.”

The reason why such Phenia can still hold out… It is because this man who is infinitely calm and realistic is attached.

A person who knows the reality and knows how to concoct secrets and schemes if necessary. Even so, a human who will accept and understand Fenia’s idealism, and will gradually compromise with reality.

If you only pursue the ideal, you will only catch floating clouds and become separated from reality. That’s why, at least, he needed someone to hold on to this reality as much as possible.

At first, I thought this man wasn’t loyal to Fenia, but was just using her as a stepping stone to power… .

More than I thought, this man had a deep understanding of Fenia and was trying to support her.

He is a man who is no different from a large pillar holding up the base of the ideology of Fenia Elias Chloe. It is only when Fenia has this man that he can be an idealist who pursues his own ideals, not an immature child who catches the clouds for the first time.

Those who simply want to use the blood of the royal family for power are more likely to use it on the Selaha side.

However, a man who deeply accepts Fenia to this extent is not easily persuaded.

Then it just ends there.

If the pursuit is different, it’s enough to go a different path.

Even if Selaha thinks he’s fit for an emperor, if he’s going to continue supporting Fenia, he’ll have to let that happen.

However, for some reason, Selaha’s eyes began to glow.

Lortel, who had been observing the situation, was slightly taken aback.

A man who is tenacious, tenacious, and protects his own destiny. A man who reliably stands by Fenia’s side to the end, even though his skills and connections are outstanding.

When eating at the royal residence, I think I know why Fenia didn’t talk to this man so kindly. She is Fenia and she probably wanted to hide her relationship with this man.

Because Selaha, who saw the bottom of this man, knew what he was thinking.

Lortel was able to read the emotion in Sellaha’s twinkling eyes without difficulty.

“It would be good for you to die. Staying in camp for a long time is not very good. There are a lot of bugs, and the smell of soil that doesn’t suit your social status permeates your body.”

In the world, there are those who find joy in plundering others.

As if looking at a treasure he wanted to get his hands on, Selahha’s alluring eyes were blinking.

The thing that springs up in my heart once is called predatory love… It was a vulgar but infinitely strong emotion.

* * *

“Shelaha has been a person who finds joy in stealing from a young age.”

Sitting on the terrace of the royal residence, Fenia received a cup of tea from Claire.

Since I was born and raised in the same place since I was a child, I know more about Selaha and Persica than anyone else.

In particular, the high-nosed pride of the arrogant yet lofty Princess Sellaha… Fenia knew better than anyone else.

The teddy bear that Fenia cherished and carried when she was a child was torn here and there, and the design was changed and held in her arms.

Selaha, who said in a kind voice, saying that this figure was cuter in my eyes, laughed while holding the teddy bear while giggling.

The magic book that Persica regarded as a treasure had to go to Sellaha’s study, and the maid she cherished the most also became Selaha’s servant.

Selaha reigned like a tyrant among her sisters. She always had the loudest voice, had a grip on people, and everything she wanted came into her hands.

And once you get it, it’s a repetition of getting tired of it and throwing it away.

‘Things in hand’ are quickly imbued with boredom. Princess Selah Ha always yearned for more of what she couldn’t get her hands on. If it’s someone else’s precious thing, she’s all the better. Because the joy of plunder cannot be replaced by anything else.

― ‘At least during the festival period when Selaha is here, we should appear to be maintaining a loyal trusting relationship.’

― ‘Then what should I do?’

― ‘Actually, it’s not a big deal. It’s just that acting is fine… Please be the person who believes in me and supports me until the end. I don’t ask for much. At least during the festival.’

The blond man who exchanged teacups on this terrace. I remember the way he nodded his head.

With Yenika, who has just received the title of baron and is dumbfounded, next to him, the man rests his chin on his chin, ponders for a moment, then nods.

― ‘It’s not difficult. And in the first place… .’

“A letter came from the Elphelan family. Can I bring it to you now?”

“The reaction is quicker than I thought. Please.”

Next to the place where Princess Fenia put down the teacup, various academic records and information about Ed Roth Taylor were piled up.

At least during this festival, Ed and Fenia had to be in a relationship where each other deeply understood and supported each other.

If you stand in front of Selaha as a person who believes and trusts Ed more than anyone else, Selaha will take the bait.

So, I inquired about the bachelor’s information, which I did not normally do, reviewed his biography once again, and listened to his thoughts several more times. Most of them were familiar, but there were also many unexpected sides, so it felt quite fresh from Fenia’s point of view.

If you turn your gaze toward the school, you can hear the music of the orchestra from afar.

The days of the festival are ripening. Fenia herself didn’t go out of the imperial family’s quarters, but she definitely got the feeling that her daily life had stopped for a while and a deviation had begun.

Putting the teacup to her mouth once again, Princess Fenia was lost in thought.

― ‘And in the first place… I was supporting Princess Penia from the beginning. She had no doubt that Princess Penia would become the emperor. The reason is complicated to explain.’

– ‘… … .’

― ‘So don’t worry too much. Princess Penia will be a good emperor. Don’t worry too much about what you’ve done to me.’

“A person who is good at saying things he doesn’t even have in his heart, without changing his expression.”

really.

I pursed my lips and repeated the man’s name. Ed Ross Taylor. The smooth, continuous pronunciation, without a single popping part, was permeated naturally at some point.

I turned my gaze to the distant scenery of the bachelor.

Still, the fever of the festival was rising.

* * *

“You want to read the seal of the wise man?”

“yes. I want to see with my own eyes the records left by the great sage Sylvania.”

“Okay. I don’t think it will be accepted even if it’s requested by the student line. Well, what if the principal or vice-principal gives special permission… .”

The entrance to Trix.

Lying on the bench and smoking a cigarette, Professor Kalade pulled her by the collar, and Ayla Triss continued talking with a firm expression on her face.

“So, you mean you just have to convince the principal or vice principal?”

“It’s something that has been stolen once in the first place. Because the management is so strict, they won’t allow it easily. That Grandma Rachel said she never would, and if she was Principal Obel, she wouldn’t know… Since he hasn’t been seen recently, it won’t be easy to meet him.”

Kaleid was already half drunk. It’s because of the heat of the festival, but it’s still broad daylight with the sun still floating in the middle of the sky, and it looks pathetic.

“… all right.”

Ayla left the dreamy Kaleid on the bench and headed toward the Trix building with her arms rolled up.