#184. Holy Spirit Monastery (4)
A silver-haired boy wearing the uniform of the Holy Spirit Monastery.
He tried to touch Charlotte without permission.
If we were on friendly terms, there would be no need for me to intervene, but Charlotte was clearly showing her reluctance.
That’s why I stopped it.
‘This guy, if my guess is correct… … .’
Golden rose.
I’ve seen that pattern in a book before.
“First, let me introduce myself.”
He said, putting his hand on his chest.
Although one eyebrow was furrowed, his overall movements were elegant and dignified.
“I am Lorenzo Toscana, heir to the Duke of Tuscany. I am a senior monk of the Order of the Holy Spirit.”
“…….”
As expected… …it was a Tuscan family.
‘Yes, the golden rose was the emblem of the Duke of Tuscany.’
The Tuscan family is one of the ten most prestigious families on the continent and is a ‘theological family’.
Two of the four great saints of the Holy Spirit Order were from Tuscan families, and many of the past leaders of the Holy Spirit Order were from Tuscan families.
‘But now the Tuscan family is only known for its secular power.’
As you can see from the Artian family, being one of the top ten noble families on the continent does not necessarily mean that they have enormous power. They are called noble because they have built an unrivaled reputation in a specific field.
In reality, the Orson family of Monarch and the Strasbourg family of Charlotte, who are not even among the top ten, hold more power.
But the Tuscan family is a little different.
‘In a time when religion had great influence, he made a huge fortune by issuing indulgences and the like… … and based on that, he gained enormous power.’
Today, the Tuscan family is one of the most powerful noble families on the continent.
With his vast financial resources, he provides enormous support to the cultural and artistic fields, and thus has a good reputation among the people.
He also provides funding to the Holy Spirit Congregation, which some call the “Defenders of the Faith.”
However, it is said that theological studies are no longer producing meaningful results… … In any case, the Tuscan family is a family that possesses both the reputation of one of the top ten noble families and the power of a great noble family.
“Please introduce yourself too.”
“I am Eriol Valencia, a first-year student at Ars Magna Academy.”
“Valencia?”
Lorenzo tilted his head.
“I think I’ve heard it somewhere, but excuse me, title?”
“We are a family of counts who rule over a small estate in the countryside.”
“what?”
Lorenzo frowned.
“How dare a family of counts… talk back to me, the heir to the Duke of Tuscany? How outrageous!”
Are you speechless?
That’s what I was going to say.
I’ve met many people from prestigious families since coming to the academy, but none of them have been so arrogant.
Even Monarch Orson wasn’t this arrogant.
“Tsk, I thought you were from a prestigious family that you were with Miss Charlotte… Get out of the way. I don’t want to talk to you.”
“It’s getting more and more spectacular.”
“what?”
Since this guy spoke first, I don’t need to be polite to him.
“I said it was getting more and more spectacular.”
“This guy…!”
“Oh, Prince Lorenzo!”
At that moment, a tall woman ran up to Lorenzo and whispered in his ear.
“Eriol Valencia is the person I explained to you last time. He is the nephew of Kaisel Valencia…”
“ah…….”
Lorenzo nodded as if he now understood.
“I was wondering where I heard it from, it was him. He defeated the Lich Bishop of the Command Sect and even found the leader’s magic sword?”
“Yes, that’s him.”
“You should have explained it to me earlier. Can’t you even do your job as a secretary properly?”
“I’m sorry, sorry.”
After shooting at the woman, Lorenzo looked at me.
“Excuse me, Eriol Valencia.”
“I don’t know what part you found rude, Lorenzo Toscana.”
“Don’t react so sharply. I usually don’t deal with small and medium-sized noble families who are no different from rural landowners. I don’t have time.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
“Look, I am acting as a representative of the Tuscan family and at the same time in the Holy Spirit Monastery…….”
“You came to the academy a week earlier than we had agreed to. I thought you came early because you were so free.”
“…….”
As he snapped, Lorenzo’s expression hardened.
“What did you just say?”
“Well, what did you say?”
“hey!”
“Anyway, Lorenzo Toscana.”
I shot at Lorenzo.
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“I don’t know why you’re here so early, but if you’re still hanging around here, you’ll probably have to wait until the person in charge of the Academy arrives. So, don’t make a fuss and wait quietly.”
As I said that, I glanced at Charlotte.
“Don’t try to harass girls at the academy, you know.”
“A, an assault?”
Lorenzo’s face turned red.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Who did I harass?”
“If you try to touch someone else’s body without permission, it could be considered assault.”
“You don’t know anything! Charlotte and I……”
When Lorenzo was shouting with one eyebrow furrowed.
An urgent voice interrupted.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Prince Lorenzo!”
I turned my head and saw a familiar face.
It was Klein, the instructor of our top class.
“Who are you?”
“I am Professor Klein from the Academy of Arts and Letters. I have come to guide Prince Lorenzo under the direction of Dean Rudbout.”
“Hmm, the department head didn’t come out himself but called his subordinates…….”
The Holy Spirit Congregation’s policy is overseen by the head of the Department of Transmission, Rudbout.
So it looks like they sent Klein.
“We have accepted the document stating that the schedule has been brought forward in consideration of sea conditions and weather conditions. We hereby permit the visit of the Holy Spirit Society.”
“Of course it should be.”
“First, I will guide you to your accommodations.”
While Klein was talking to Lorenzo, another professor from the Tradition Department handed over some papers to the Security Service people.
It seemed that the procedures for admitting the Holy Spirit Congregation into the Academy were complete.
“Oh, just a moment.”
Lorenzo, who was about to follow Klein, turned his gaze to me again.
“Eriol Valencia, you didn’t finish what you were saying earlier.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The relationship between me and Miss Charlotte.”
Lorenzo said with a puzzled expression.
“I guess you didn’t know this at all, but Charlotte and I are special people.”
“……?”
A smile appeared on Lorenzo’s lips.
“Because we are engaged to each other.”
Something completely unexpected came out.
But immediately Charlotte raised her voice.
“Stop talking nonsense! Who are you talking about getting engaged to?!”
Charlotte’s words completely denied Lorenzo’s claims.
“My engagement with you was never consummated!”
“The marriage talks were put on hold for a while when Miss Charlotte entered the academy.”
Lorenzo shrugged, cutting Charlotte off mid-sentence.
“As soon as I get out of the academy, we’re going to get engaged again. We’re going to have an engagement ceremony right away.”
“Whoever wants to do whatever he wants…!”
“Well, it’s up to the House of Strasbourg and the House of Tuscany.”
“……!”
Charlotte flinched.
“The Duke of Strasbourg chose me among many candidates as the marriage partner for Lady Charlotte.”
“So, when I entered the academy, it all went back to square one….”
“That’s Miss Charlotte’s opinion. I don’t think so.”
“It’s not your opinion that matters! My father promised me that he wouldn’t pursue marriage while I was at the Academy!”
“That means that once we leave the Academy, things will start over again. Once Miss Charlotte finishes her studies, we will become formally engaged again.”
“Please don’t decide on your own!”
Charlotte was clearly showing her reluctance.
“Well, then why don’t you send a letter to the Duke of Strasbourg? Ask him to formally express his refusal to the House of Tuscany.”
“……!”
“You can’t do that, right? That would be out of the ordinary.”
The conversation between the two men seemed to reflect the complex relationships among the central nobility.
“Once Miss Charlotte finishes her studies, we will resume our marriage talks, and then I will naturally become her official fiancé.”
“So… we don’t know that yet.”
Charlotte said, biting her lip.
“The marriage talks between us stopped. At that point, we were no longer related.”
“Phew, you’re a person who doesn’t understand what I’m saying.”
Lorenzo shook his head.
“I think that after I get married, I will have to thoroughly educate him as a husband.”
“what…….”
“I’m the type of person who can’t stand a wife talking back to her husband. If I continue with my current personality, it’ll be difficult.”
“……!”
Charlotte’s eyes widened at the anachronistic sound.
And then I sighed and opened my mouth.
“Hey, Lorenzo.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“I don’t intend to interfere with your views on marriage, but let me tell you one thing.”
“What are you talking about?”
I looked straight at Lorenzo and said.
“Charlotte Strasbourg is not a woman so easy to be tamed by a man like you.”
“……!”
“You don’t even notice that. I can understand why Charlotte doesn’t accept you as a marriage partner.”
When she said that, Lorenzo’s face turned red.
“Eriol Valencia, you have such a pierced mouth….”
“Come on, Prince Lorenzo! Let’s go! Oh my, the rain is falling!”
Klein tried to force Lorenzo to follow him, raising his voice.
It was already raining really hard.
“As you may know from the written submission, it looks like it’s going to rain heavily for a while starting tonight! Let’s hurry and go to our accommodations!”
“Professor Klein, but……”
“Now, all you Holy Spirit Monks, hurry up!”
It seemed like Klein was deliberately trying to handle the situation by making a fuss.
As if they had noticed his intention, the others also moved quickly. The female secretary who had whispered to Lorenzo earlier and other members of the Holy Spirit Order surrounded Lorenzo, and the security wizards around him also joined in.
“Tsk, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”
Lorenzo clicked his tongue and glared at us over his shoulder.
“Then, Miss Charlotte… I’ll see you again soon.”
“I don’t think so, Lorenzo.”
Charlotte snapped back coldly, but Lorenzo paid no attention.
Then he glanced at me, snorted, and turned his head away again.
It was a petty gesture, as if to say that someone like you was not even in their sights.
‘You say that, but… … .’
I looked at the back of Lorenzo as he climbed into the carriage painted with golden roses.
Judging by the strength in his fist, he seemed to have had his pride quite hurt.
“Hey, Eriol.”
“Ah, Professor Klein.”
Klein came up to me for a moment and whispered in my ear.
“Hey, what would you do if you picked a fight with a noble like Prince Lorenzo?”
“Are you a VIP?”
“Yes, that person is the head of the Holy Spirit Society on this visit.”
You look about my age… … You’re the head of the exchange group?
“Prince Lorenzo is a student like you… Strictly speaking, he is a ‘monk’, but he has already been recognized as a ‘senior monk’. In terms of the Academy, he is someone who acts as a professor while also being a student.”
“I didn’t know that.”
Student and professor.
Is that even possible in the Holy Spirit Monastery?
“He’s not someone who normally comes to places like this, so I don’t know why he suddenly brought a training group here this time.”
“I guess you’ve never been to the Academy before?”
“Yeah, I’ve never participated in a freshman exchange before. And… Ah, I guess I should go now.”
After confirming that the carriage was ready to depart, Klein lowered his voice and spoke again.
“You were similar to Professor Kaisel earlier.”
“With your uncle?”
“Yeah, I didn’t know you were such a sarcastic person.”
Klein smiled bitterly and tapped my arm.
“That was refreshing, you punk.”
After saying those words, Klein left with hurried steps.
Immediately after that… …the rain started to fall in earnest.
“Charlotte.”
Charlotte stood there dumbfounded, biting her lip.
“Let’s go now.”
“Eriol……”
“and.”
I said, exchanging glances with Senia.
“If it’s okay, I’d like you to tell us your story.”
“…….”
Charlotte thought for a moment… …and then nodded slowly.
Senia, who saw that sight, grabbed Charlotte’s hand with a complicated expression.
‘This seems to be… … .’
I bit my lip.
‘I was planning on leaving the complicated stuff to the professors and just preparing for the team competition… ‘
It is the role of the Tradition, the Radiance, and the Command to stop the conspiracy of the Holy Spirit Order to exercise its right of inspection.
I thought that under Kaisel’s guidance, I just had to win the team event.
‘Lorenzo Toscana, is that guy in charge this time?’
The department heads already said so.
The Academy will fight back with all its might.
I was just going to bury it there, but I changed my mind.
‘I guess it won’t work.’
Lorenzo said that he was a student and a professor.
So, both participating in team battles and fighting against the Academy, as well as inspecting the Academy and finding excuses to exercise their right to inspect, will all be done by Lorenzo.
In that case… …I can deal with both of them.
‘I won’t make you regret it… … Lorenzo Toscana.’
