Chapter 66 – Episode 66. It’s Not Even a Boy’s Manga (4)
“There is a spy, are you sure?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Leopold lifted his middle finger and scratched the bridge of his nose as he looked at the report. As the prostrate instructor said, there must be a spy in the academy right now. Along with the strangely distorted seal, there were traces of intrusion here and there in the teaching materials warehouse and practice room.
“Did you check the state of the defense?”
“We are doing our best to defend without leaking water.”
With a gurgling sound, the report curled up in Leopold’s grip to the point where it was hard to find its own shape.
“What kind of safety are you talking about like that, Instructor?”
“I apologize, Your Highness!”
“You’re leaking like this, what? Are you defending yourself without leaking water? Haven’t the people who attend this academy forgotten that there is not only me, the crown prince, but also Lady Mitterien, who will become the future crown princess?!”
Leopold threw away the crumpled report and jumped up from his seat.
It was impossible. It was something that shouldn’t have happened. Now, more than 20 years after the establishment of the Einhafen Empire, and finally entering a period of stability, such a disquieting movement should not be allowed.
Leopold lowered his head and looked down at the instructor, who couldn’t help but take a deep breath. It was 20 years of peace. Whoever they were, they were highly likely to be the remnants of a ruined country that had fallen under the name of the great Einhafen. Leopold thought that they should be trampled on before they grow any more.
“Did you say there were no signs of intrusion from the outside?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
If so, it must be an inside job.
There is a spy among them hiding in the academy. There are those who show disquieting movements. At least they wouldn’t be the children of the aristocracy. After going through the war, their fathers, Kreuz and Leopold, through meticulous behind-the-scenes work, weed out all those who had even the slightest hint of rebellion.
Nearly half of the nobility were exterminated through the weeding out along with thorough personal punishment, so there will be no people who are going to plot a treachery.
If so, it would be a story that he came in among the commoners.
There are those who dare to set foot in this important academy that nurtures the future pillars of the empire.
Leopold raised his finger again and scratched the bridge of his nose.
Long words were not necessary. Leopold was in a position to dictate to someone, to move others with a word of his, to bring about the desired result with the click of his finger.
“Find out.”
“I will obey your order, Your Highness!”
“You all know very well what will happen if there is a problem with my safety as the crown prince.”
“Of course, Your Highness!”
“Furthermore… “
Leopold paused for a moment. An image of a woman appeared in his mind. The image of her drunkenness, the image of her crying over why she treated her so coldly, the image of her drowning in self-doubt because she couldn’t keep up with her in class.
“If there is a problem with Lady Mitterien’s safety… “
Hmm.
Having said that, Leopold paused for a moment.
I can’t imagine. Is Astrid in danger due to someone’s attack? Endangered? I can’t imagine what it looks like.
“… It will be an unstoppable result with your neck. Before the imperial family steps forward, Mitterien’s shield will turn into an ax and strike your heads.”
“I will definitely find out and report it, Your Highness.”
Looking down at the instructor who lowered his head again, Leopold stood up. Now it was time for him to go back to class. He said he had a big fight with Violet in class today, so he must have thought of a snack by now, before the sun had set and it was still time for dinner.
*
“I want something sweet.”
Astrid murmured involuntarily. Violet, who was massaging her swollen blue cheeks with an egg, glared at Astrid with her eyes wide open.
“That’s right, you strong gorilla-like bitch.”
“It looks like you’ve been hit less, but when you use force, sweet things are pulled?”
“Are you pregnant?”
“What are you talking about!”
Taking advantage of Astrid’s disgust, someone rushed in and hugged Astrid’s waist tightly.
“Astiyaaaaang.”
“Ugh, uh, let go of this, let go of this! I know it’s Erana-sister, so let go of this!”
Astrid was frightened as the hand holding his waist was strange, and she released his hand from his waist. It looks like they hugged tightly, but they couldn’t beat Astrid’s strength.
“Oh, really! Sister, what are you doing!”
“Wow, look at this thin waist. Really wow.”
Erania touched Astrid’s waist and began to vomit her anger, asking how her waist is like that of an ant, and why she doesn’t gain weight when she eats a lot of snacks even though she eats less rice.
“It’s the kind of constitution you’re born with. Look at this, how narrow the waist is.”
Astrid felt very happy when she heard that her waist was thin. A thin waist, elongated arms and legs, and white skin were characteristics of northerners, so Astrid was proud of it in her heart.
“Wow, really… The waist is really thin.”
Astrid became even more proud of Erania’s admiring envy. Not knowing that Violet was suppressing her laughter beside her, Astrid started showing off to Eranya by holding her waist with both hands.
“Look, if you’re strong and pretty like me, there’s no problem, right? A hero is studying… “
“How not to?”
At that moment, Astrid stood tall. Violet already knew, Eranya knew, but Astrid didn’t.
“Heroes don’t study?”
Astrid’s head turned as if it was going to make a squeak. Leopold stood next to Erania, his arms crossed, smiling at Astrid.
Not seeing that, Astrid was bragging about her thin waist.
‘Change.’
【What, what? No, I do not want! I want you to deal with it!]
‘Change it… Please… ‘
My face started to heat up again.
*
【Thank you… Thanks to you, I lived.]
‘He only asks me to change it when I’m in trouble, that’s really too much.’
Astrid muttered to herself as she drank her tea. The 1st year dorms were separated into male and female dorms, but they did not block exchanges after work hours. It was forbidden in the first place, so it was a rule that I wanted to try it if I could, but that didn’t matter anyway.
“How about it, does the cookie fit in your mouth?”
Astrid’s accommodation was quite simple. Unlike the trainees, it was a private room for all the trainees, but it wasn’t very spacious, but it was still enough for a bed and a reception table.
“… It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
It was awkward
Astrid was uncomfortable with this position.
It was said that he had changed it out of the blue, but Leopold, who suddenly treated her kindly, was somewhat strange rather than delightful to Astrid.
“Astrid.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please tell me.”
Since it was only the two of them, the two returned to the relationship of the crown prince and his fiancé, not the language of the academy.
“What is academy life like? Uncomfortable or… Is there such a thing? Something strange or something… “
Leopold trusted Astrid’s intuition. A sense of reaching beyond the human realm and reaching the realm of a beast. If a disturbing shadow lurking in the academy was targeting Astrid, there was no way Astrid wouldn’t notice it.
“Speaking of strange signs… “
Crisp.
Biting down on a cookie, Astrid fell into thought. In fact, the strangest thing about him is himself. He has two souls in one body. Do you still have that in your head? What? What’s the matter? What do you mean? I wonder if there is anything more strange than this voice that is whispering.
“There was no sign of that, but maybe… Are there any disturbing movements in the academy?”
A chill passed through Astrid’s eyes as she looked at Leopold. Seeing that cold chill in his eyes, Leopold slightly turned his gaze away from Astrid and picked up the cookie.
“Can it be? It doesn’t mean that. Astrid, I just wonder if you are adjusting well to life at this academy.”
“It’s no fun… “
【Is it possible to have fun just studying all the time? There are too few classes that move the body.]
“Anyway, shouldn’t we adapt?”
Astrid laughed awkwardly and evaded his words. It is true that he had to adapt, but somehow the current Astrid seemed overpowered. At least from Leopold’s point of view.
“I’m glad then, but it seems like you’re having a hard time lately.”
【Did you just come here to worry about us?】
‘It seems like that… ‘
If that’s all it really is, I’m happy.
‘But Your Highness wasn’t this kind of a person to us.’
【That… I have no choice but to admit it.]
‘Or should I ask you now? That’s something I’ve been concerned about before.’
【Hmm… Because the atmosphere isn’t bad either. I think it will be fine.]
Whoa.
Astrid took a deep breath.
“Majesty.”
“I am listening.”
“There is something I want to ask you.”
Leopold’s blue eyes turned to Astrid. Unspoken permission to speak. Astrid hesitated for a moment, then finally opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty… Why did you choose me as Your Highness’s partner?”
Leopold’s eyes widened slightly at those somewhat unexpected words. It was something he hadn’t even expected.
“Akemilla from the Grand Corps, Violet from the Southern Naval Division, and Emily from the Eastern Mage Tower. All of them are young ladies from prominent families who will help the future of the empire. Compared to them, I am the daughter of Wolfgang von Mitterien, and I have nothing to offer except for my arms. I wonder why you designated me. “
Violet’s words continued to linger in her heart. Akemilla, Violet and Emily. Whoever of them is welcomed as the Crown Princess will be a great fortune for the future of the empire.
But Astrid wasn’t. Although the family’s military power is outstanding, he was the shield of the north, and no matter how strong he was, he was not strong enough to deal with the empire, and he did not have money, outstanding technology, or fighting power to fill the empire’s deficiencies.
Astrid didn’t know why she had to designate Astrid, the daughter of the Mitterien family, as the Crown Princess.
