Chapter 105

A case of attempted rape against a noble lady from the Duke’s Family is a matter that could shake the entire Academy to its core.

It’s only natural that the Academy’s honor would take a nosedive when a professor, who should be teaching students, is instead reaching out to them inappropriately.

Moreover, this situation could escalate into an international dispute, making it all the more noisy and chaotic.

However, the actual victim, Grace, seems utterly calm. She’s currently resting in the Hospital.

The paralyzing poison concocted by Delphoi was left in plain sight, making it easy for her to be treated. Plus, she’s getting a massage from Sivar as a bonus.

The next day is the weekend, so she wouldn’t miss any classes, but she still has to take a week off for recovery.

It’s fortunate that it ended up being just an attempt; had she actually been harmed, Grace would have likely left the Academy entirely.

“They said to let you know they’re doing okay and that they’ll provide everything needed for your treatment.”

“…”

Before visiting Sivar, Arthas went to see Grace in the Hospital first.

Grace appeared to be in a state of shock, her confidence completely shattered, and even her usually sharp gaze was notably dulled.

Even if it was just an attempt, a woman goes through a horrific experience, so it would be surprising if she didn’t develop some trauma.

Arthas understood this well and looked at her with pity. After all, family ties might dictate behavior, but a sister is still a sister.

Unlike the head of the family, who just lashes out rather than offering comfort, Arthas at least had his wits about him.

“…It’s surprising to see you here, brother. The head of the house would never come.”

“…”

“I know you’re busy. But… the decision regarding Professor Delphoi isn’t just for my sake; it’s ultimately for the family’s honor.”

Grace forced a bitter smile and spouted some self-deprecating words. Her face clearly reflected a sense of defeat.

The Verche Duke’s Family specifically requested a personal audience to determine Delphoi’s punishment. On the other hand, the Loureel side severed ties quicker than anyone else.

But this was for the honor of the Duke’s Family, not for Grace. At least, that’s how she felt.

If it were otherwise, the head of the family would have come personally instead of just the eldest son. If he truly cared as a family member, that is.

“… Contrary to what you think, the head of the family isn’t heartless. I’m sure he’s pondering over this right now.”

“That’s fine. I’ve lost all affection for him anyway. Besides, if brother inherits the family, there’s no need for me to see his face again. Just tell him to stay where he is.”

“…”

Arthas remained silent at Grace’s sharp words. More accurately, he couldn’t answer.

He had no counter-argument on that point. This was the philosophy of the Verche Duke’s Family.

If you can’t achieve anything on your own, don’t expect to receive anything. That is both the philosophy and the root.

The issue is that their treatment is far too harsh. Children are supposed to grow in the warmth of their parents’ embrace.

If those parents don’t protect them, the children become pitifully weak, just like Grace currently is.

“… How is Mother doing?”

“I barely managed to stop her from coming.”

Did that provide some comfort? Grace’s once-tense expression relaxed a little.

Her mother is a rather ordinary person compared to her father. Strict, but nurturing as a mother should be.

However, as time passes, her health is deteriorating due to her chronic illness. Perhaps because of this, her father’s harshness has only intensified.

‘What if something happens to Mother…’

She couldn’t even imagine what would happen. One thing for sure is that the relentless chastising will worsen.

Would she be able to endure it then? Would the family stand by her side if something like this happened again?

She didn’t know. Letting out a deep sigh, Grace felt her heart grow heavier with gloom.

“If you wish, I can dispatch a knight for your protection. Who would you like?”

“…If you wish?”

Grace could only scoff incredulously. In situations like this, “if you wish” should be more of a mandatory command.

How could they say “if you wish” after such an unfortunate incident occurring to the lady of the Duke’s Family? She responded in a voice tinged with frustration.

“Don’t bother. Just tell them not to come. Instead, please double the financial support.”

“Where do you plan to use that money?”

“My business, of course. Is that a problem?”

“There’s no issue with that.”

Honestly, receiving support in the form of money would be much more preferable. At least she wouldn’t complain about money.

That said, she was still unsatisfied. With a complicated expression, Grace nodded her head but suddenly thought of something.

A knight who saved her from danger—not from the Duke’s Family or anyone else. Just as Arthas was about to get up, she hurriedly asked.

“What about Sivar?”

“Who?”

“Sivar. The one who saved me.”

“Oh. The one who said he lived in the forest?”

It seems the rumors about Sivar had reached even the Duke’s Family. It couldn’t be helped, given all the diverse incidents he had been involved in.

Usually, the promising students of the Academy gain attention for their looks or background, but Sivar’s background itself has a huge impact.

So most perceive him as a wild man from the forest. Arthas feels the same way.

“I’ll personally go thank that student. I also plan to offer him a reward.”

“Then…”

Grace hesitated for a moment. She wondered if it was okay to make such a request.

A normal person would have just offered an appropriate reward and called it a day. But Sivar was a bit tricky to reward properly.

Giving cash would be useless to him, and simply feeding him would leave her with a sense of guilt.

“Could I ask if Sivar would be willing to guard me?”

“What? Guard you?”

“Yes. Since Sivar is unique, I thought he might be willing to protect me while being rewarded as well.”

So the method she devised was to combine guarding her with offering him a reward. Would a month’s worth of cakes suffice?

Of course, to Arthas, who didn’t know much about Sivar, this proposal must seem ridiculous. He asked in a tone filled with confusion.

“…I don’t quite get what you’re thinking. Suddenly asking that person to guard you?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“I’ll see what I can do, but… is that really okay?”

His question was loaded with implications. After all, Grace had just narrowly escaped from someone she thought close.

Moreover, from Arthas’s perspective, Sivar was an unpredictable time bomb. Just following his instincts as a wild man was enough to make him wary.

“Yes. At the very least, Sivar is not that kind of person. He is much kinder than that trash, Delphoi.”

“If that’s the case… I’ll see what I can do. Honestly, I don’t think the family will care much.”

“Well, that’s at least somewhat useful, besides the money.”

Grace was brutally tearing down the reputation of the Verche Duke’s Family. Arthas couldn’t really argue against this point.

Eventually, Arthas left with some parting words to take care. Thus, Grace was left alone in her hospital room.

Being in a private hospital room, there was an overwhelming silence. She lay down slowly on the bed, overwhelmed by an inexplicable emptiness.

“Fairy tales… really are terrifying,” she thought.

In fairy tales, princesses often find themselves in dire situations. Then a knight appears to save them.

She hadn’t realized it then, but now that she was in the role of a princess, the psychological shock was overwhelming.

Thanks to that, she could distinctly feel the difference between fairy tales and reality.

Knights may exist, but fairy tales do not. That’s how Grace felt.

“Ha… Huh?”

Sighing over her complicated emotions, Grace glanced at something that caught her eye. It was none other than her school uniform.

Delphoi may have torn the shirt inside, but the uniform itself was still intact.

“Come to think of it, inside here…”

Grace sat up and reached for her uniform—not at the top, but at the skirt.

As she rummaged through the pockets, just as she had expected, a grape-flavored candy came out. It was the candy Sivar had given her.

Staring blankly at the candy, she slowly started unwrapping it, as if entranced.

“Nom.”

Finally, she popped the purple candy into her mouth. Before long, the sweet scent of grapes filled her mouth.

While grape flavor isn’t her favorite, she doesn’t dislike it either. She generally has a sweet tooth.

With a dazed mind, she chewed the candy absentmindedly. As it began to dissolve, the flavor spread throughout her mouth.

-Eat this when things get tough.

At that moment, Sivar’s voice echoed in her mind like a phantom. Even with his expressionless face, she knew he was worried about her.

That worry had taken root, but he soon appeared like a knight. Without Sivar, she would undoubtedly have been tainted.

Drip—

In that instant, perhaps emotions overwhelmed her. A single tear rolled down Grace’s cheek.

Simultaneously, she recalled all the helping hands Sivar had extended towards her up till now. All his kindness, traded for just a single piece of cake.

In the Academy, sincere goodwill is hard to come by. But Sivar truly extended a pure and genuine kindness to her.

“Ugh…”

Even when she gritted her teeth, she couldn’t hold back the flood of tears.

Sivar’s absence felt particularly poignant. Upon reflection, she had always received his kindness.

Being a noble lady of the Duke’s Family, with her fierce appearance, made it difficult for others to approach her. However, Sivar approached her with his signature daft expression.

All he requested in return was a single piece of cake. Though he seemed to want something, that’s practically the same as working for free.

In every sense, it was a pure act of goodwill. It filled her with guilt as if she had deceived him.

“What a truly good person…”

Grace wiped away the tears flowing endlessly. How could someone so kind exist, having not received proper education?

In contrast, it was the people of civilization who engaged in atrocious acts. It was evident in Delphoi’s case, not far from her.

“I myself… tried to take advantage of Sivar…”

Looking solely at Sivar’s immense power, she had tried to manipulate him somehow. But after understanding his true nature, all she felt was remorse.

She wanted to repay him in some way but had no clue how. She had no need for the family’s support.

What would bring Sivar joy? Food might suffice, but it felt far from enough.

Knock, knock—

Just as Grace was falling deeper into despair, someone knocked on the hospital door.

She hastily wiped her tears. Anyone knocking was likely not Arthas but someone else.

She couldn’t show a pitiful sight. While the tear-stains were inevitable, it was better than sobbing uncontrollably.

“…Who is it?”

Though her voice trembled, Grace asked in a voice that was clearly drained of strength.

[Ah. Grace. It’s me, Lee Yeon-joo.]

The visitor was Lee Yeon-joo. Under normal circumstances, visits would be difficult unless you had a relationship with her.

However, Lee Yeon-joo was one of the people Grace had directly requested. Having spent so much time together, they had grown close.

In a way, Yeon-joo was like a cherished stuffed animal to her. Grace, still chewing the candy, quietly permitted entry.

“Come in.”

[Excuse me for a moment.]

Creak—

Once permitted, Lee Yeon-joo carefully opened the door and stepped inside. The moment she did, she came face-to-face with Grace.

Tears were still clearly visible on Grace’s cheeks. Her eyes were wet, indicating she had just been crying.

Yeon-joo felt pity but didn’t show it outwardly. Expressing sympathy could deepen the wounds.

“Here’s the book you asked for, Grace.”

“Thank you…”

She didn’t even say “you’re welcome.” The timing wasn’t right for that.

Grace accepted the books from Yeon-joo. Instead of novels, they were storybooks.

It had been a while since she revealed her preferences to Yeon-joo. Spending time together naturally led to this revelation.

She couldn’t share it with anyone else, but she felt comfortable enough with Yeon-joo to do so.

“…What’s this?”

Grace noticed a book she had never seen before. The title alone was unusual.

“The Fool Ongun and Princess Pyeongha…? Is it a book from the Eastern Empire?”

“That… specifically, it’s a fairy tale from our region. Want to give it a read?”

Yeon-joo corrected herself slightly while suggesting it. Grace opened the book without a second thought.

This was her first time reading a fairy tale from the Eastern Empire. In her childhood, due to various issues, it was challenging to engage in trade.

Moreover, fairy tales from the Eastern Empire translated into the common language were quite rare. She was curious about what the Eastern Empire’s fairy tale would feel like.

“…”

Grace became immersed in the fairy tale recommended by Yeon-joo. The plot was incredibly fresh.

The story was about a man, labeled a fool, who grows after meeting Princess Pyeongha. The surprising twist was that both characters had their own flaws.

Ongun was a man with so many issues he could be called a fool, while Princess Pyeongha had a notably strong stubbornness.

Yet, through the princess’s devoted efforts, Ongun became a general and accomplished great feats.

Though the ending was tragic, with Ongun’s death, Grace was unfazed.

“Yeon-joo.”

“Yes. Please go ahead.”

“Was Ongun… really a fool?”

When Grace asked, Yeon-joo paused for a moment. That fairy tale is quite popular.

Because of that, interpretations vary widely, but one thing is certain: Ongun was not a fool.

He was simply too kind-hearted, not mentally challenged.

If he had truly been deficient, he wouldn’t have become a general. This is acknowledged even by scholars.

“No, he was simply uneducated. Rather, his talents were likely outstanding. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a general.”

“…”

Hearing this, Grace thought of someone. It was none other than Sivar, who had caused a stir during the midterms.

Just because he grew up wild doesn’t mean he’s foolish; it emphasizes that only the truly clever can survive in the wild.

Ongun’s situation was the same. Being just simple-minded due to a lack of education doesn’t mean he lacked innate talent worthy of being a general.

Of course, this was only possible because of Princess Pyeongha’s dedication.

“…I see.”

Grace’s face gradually relaxed as she pondered this. The candy she was chewing was almost gone.

“That’s what it was!”

“Yes?”

Grace shouted as if she had realized something. The previously gloomy expression had vanished without a trace.

Then she firmly grabbed Lee Yeon-joo’s shoulders. Given Yeon-joo’s petite frame, it felt like she was about to be engulfed.

“Knights! They aren’t perfect from the beginning! No, there’s nothing in this world that’s perfect from the start!”

“Yes, yes?”

“Perfection isn’t something that exists from the outset; it’s something that’s created! Ongun is the same! Thanks to the princess’s dedication, he could become a general!”

“???”

Lee Yeon-joo’s face turned progressively more confused. It was impossible for her to understand what Grace was thinking.

She hadn’t even read a single fairy tale, yet she couldn’t comprehend why Grace was behaving this way.

Regardless, Grace looked up with a face lit with joy.

Then she spread her arms wide and proclaimed with delight.

“Fairy tales! They don’t just come to you!”

A small child within her heart whispered.

“I will create my own fairy tale! With these hands!”

Her path was no longer obstructed. There was nothing left but a straight shot ahead.

Lee Yeon-joo simply stared at Grace in disbelief. Her expression still reflected utter confusion.

Grace gradually began to calm her excitement. The candy had disappeared completely.

However, the sweetness left behind remained vivid in her memory.

“First, there’s one thing I must do.”

“…What’s that?”

“Marriage.”

“…Huh?”

Upon hearing that, Lee Yeon-joo responded.

“I will marry Sivar! Then I will nurture him into a knight through my devotion.”

“…”

“Then the fairy tale of my dreams will be completed. What do you think? Isn’t it really perfect?”

A face stumbling into ‘chaos’.

*****

Meanwhile, at the same time elsewhere.

[Faith is increasing!]

“?”

Sivar, who had been talking with Arthas, suddenly found himself blessed unexpectedly.

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