Chapter 27

Frederick continued to try to persuade Rebecca for a long time after that.

“Sorry, Frederick. But I can’t let this go.”

“······You should hurry up and read the problem.”

“···.”

It was clear that the two of us, the most childish 18-year-olds in the Empire, didn’t listen to Frederick at all.

Realizing that persuading me and the princess was nearly impossible, the poor tutor from the Count Zernias family.

“······Sigh, I guess there’s no choice. Today’s lesson will be replaced with a quiz.”

He had no choice but to raise both hands and feet in surrender to the two stubborn individuals.

Thus began the quiz time with the wish ticket at stake.

The first question was finally here.

“What is the surname of the Imperial Family?”

*Flick-*

Rebecca’s hand shot up before Frederick could even finish speaking.

“Princess Rebecca?”

“······Schuelgart.”

“Correct.”

As soon as Rebecca heard the word “correct,” she glanced at me.

Her gaze carried a subtle hint of disdain, as if to say, “You don’t even know something this simple?”

I felt unfairly treated by that annoying gaze.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know the Imperial Family’s surname and couldn’t answer.

Having read the original novel, how could I not know the surname of the Crown Prince, the protagonist?

It was mentioned so many times in the novel that I couldn’t even remember the exact count.

“······Wasn’t it supposed to be a question about the Church?”

This was the part that made me feel unfairly treated.

Until just now, the lesson had been about the Empire’s Church. So why did the Imperial Family’s surname suddenly come up?

“If I only asked questions about the Church, it would be advantageous for the young master, who has recently studied the Church. For fairness, it’s right to include questions from other topics as well.”

“···.”

But Frederick, with a stern expression, quickly shut down my excuse.

Even a 4-year-old child would agree that his words were absolutely correct.

“1 to 0.”

“······Understood.”

Despite Rebecca’s smug remark, I had no choice but to admit that I had lost the first question.

Determined to get the next question right.

“The next question is…”

“······Hurry up and ask.”

“Ask quickly.”

“Who currently holds the first right of succession to the throne?”

*Flick-*

This time, both my hand and the princess’s hand shot up almost simultaneously.

It was hard to tell who raised their hand first.

But “almost simultaneously” meant that someone’s hand was slightly faster.

“Young Master Albert?”

“······Crown Prince Mikhail Schuelgart.”

The person with the slightly faster hand was me.

“Correct.”

At Frederick’s confirmation that my answer was correct, I nodded as if it were obvious.

The first right of succession, meaning the next Emperor, was the protagonist of this novel, “Mikhail Schuelgart.”

Although I had dropped out of the original novel midway and didn’t see the ending, it was likely that Mikhail became the Emperor without any major issues.

“It’s 1 to 1, Princess.”

Of course, I didn’t forget to declare the 1-to-1 score to Rebecca, who was glaring at me sharply.

“······I knew it.”

“I also knew the Imperial Family’s surname, just like you, Princess.”

“Just wait and see.”

“Frederick? Next question, please.”

“······Understood.”

Frederick, who had been looking at us with an expression that seemed to say, “What should I do with these two?” began to ask the next question after hearing my words.

“There is one more ducal family in the Empire besides the Valencia Duchy. What is the name of that ducal family?”

*Flick-*

This time, Rebecca raised her hand at lightning speed, as if determined not to lose in speed.

By the time I had raised my hand halfway, Rebecca had already fully raised hers.

“Princess Rebecca?”

“······The Bluebell Ducal Family.”

“Correct. As expected, you know it well.”

Once again, upon hearing the word “correct,” Rebecca made a proud expression.

Seeing her face filled with that annoying pride, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Princess.”

“······What?”

“Did you use magic?”

“···.”

It was a bit strange.

Even though I reacted before the question was fully asked, the difference in speed was this significant.

How could a person’s hand move at the speed of light?

It’s not like she’s some superhuman from a common manga.

“Princess?”

“···.”

Despite my repeated calls, Rebecca couldn’t meet my gaze, as if she had been caught red-handed.

Seeing that, I was convinced.

‘······She used it.’

My beautiful fiancée, overflowing with competitiveness, had tried to cheat by using magic.

Since pressing Rebecca further wouldn’t mean much.

“Frederick, what usually happens if someone uses magic during an important test?”

I decided to trust the judgment of the most impartial referee.

“Generally, it’s a zero score… but since I didn’t mention the rules about magic at the beginning, I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Princess, did you hear that?”

“······Yes.”

Rebecca, embarrassed at being caught using a speed-enhancing magic spell, had her cheeks flushed red.

“······2 to 1.”

“···.”

Even so, she kept the score accurately, which made me want to hit her.

But since Frederick, the referee of this bet, decided to let it go, I held back.

“What is Sacred Power?”

The next question was finally about the Church, which I had been thinking about.

And I had anticipated that if a question about the Church came up, Sacred Power would definitely be included.

“Young Master Albert?”

I raised my hand without hesitation.

Sacred Power, or Holy Power in other terms.

A special ability that only priests of the Church, called by God, can use.

It’s completely different from magic, which ordinary people can use to some extent with training.

It’s mostly specialized in life, particularly “healing.”

The reason people in the Empire believe in God and visit the Church is mostly to receive healing for their illnesses through Sacred Power.

Thus, it’s clear how important Sacred Power is to the Church and the Empire.

The priest with the most outstanding Sacred Power is called a Saint or Saintess.

“······A perfect answer.”

*Clap clap-*

As soon as my explanation ended, Frederick clapped as if it were perfect.

“···.”

Rebecca also looked at me with surprised eyes, as if she hadn’t expected me to be so knowledgeable.

It was understandable.

Although Frederick had taught about Sacred Power, most of what I had said was described in [The Crown Prince Wields a Sword.]

Essentially, I had answered by looking at the answer sheet, so how could she not be surprised?

“Young master, I thought it was a big deal when you kept falling asleep during the lessons on Sacred Power. But it seems you were studying in secret.”

“···.”

“This humble teacher is moved.”

Frederick, my tutor, seemed not just surprised but genuinely moved.

Although my conscience wasn’t entirely clear, I figured that reading the original novel was practically the same as studying here, so I let it slide.

“It’s now 2 to 2.”

“···.”

With my clear declaration of a tie, Rebecca began to bite her lip, seemingly anxious.

It was clear that the princess had thought she would win easily.

Having grown up receiving various educations as the next Duke of Valencia, Rebecca must have thought she could easily win a general knowledge quiz.

But unfortunately.

Her opponent was a novel possessor.

A possessor who, in the novel’s setting, could only be defeated by the author who wrote it.

“Since it’s a tie now, I’ll make this next question the final one.”

Hearing Frederick’s decision to end with the next question, both Rebecca and I nodded slightly in agreement.

Making the number of questions even would only lead to a tie and more hassle.

Ending cleanly with five questions was the wise choice.

“Hmm…”

Frederick seemed unsure of what to make the final question, letting out a thoughtful hum.

Because of this, the tension between Rebecca and me only grew.

“······This will be it.”

Finally, Frederick’s decision was made.

“What is the name of the Saintess of this generation?”

“······What did you say?”

Rebecca’s voice, as if questioning how anyone could know that, also came through.

It was understandable. No, it was normal not to know.

Even though Saints or Saintesses are important figures.

Most people refer to them as Saintess or Saint, so who would call them by their names?

“······Is it too difficult? Should I change the question…”

Even Frederick, who had asked the question, seemed to have expected Rebecca’s reaction and was about to change the final question.

For an ordinary person, not knowing the name of the Saintess of their generation was normal.

“······The answer is Estelle.”

For an “ordinary person,” that is.

“···.”

Both Frederick and Rebecca stared at me in shock upon hearing my answer.

In the study filled with silence, I quietly declared.

“3 to 2.”

That I had won this quiz bet.

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