Chapter 25

“Your Highness, are you truly resolved in your decision?”

The question came from the Academy’s Dean, his silver-white hair standing testament to his years of service, hands neatly folded.

Anais only sighed in response.

Even for a princess, her behavior was lacking in decorum.

The position of the Academy’s Dean was treated with near-ministerial respect, and the current occupant was not just the head of the Academy’s operations but also a venerable elder mage in his seventies.

Still, Anais had some justification. The Dean had repeated the same words at least seven times already.

“Are you sure? Please reconsider, it’s too hasty a decision. While re-admission is technically possible, adapting back would be difficult…”

The old man was stretching this discussion thin, likely trying to delay the resignation and seek the Imperial Court’s opinion instead.

Anais didn’t want that. More than anyone, she did not want her resignation to reflect poorly on the Academy’s student management.

Perhaps it was time to draw the line.

“Dean, I have made my decision.”

“Your Highness, I understand there are many difficulties…”

“Are you about to tell me tough times won’t last forever?”

“…”

“I thought so too, at first. I believed that if I kept my composure, the misunderstanding about my sister being framed for poisoning would eventually disappear.”

But reality wasn’t so kind.

No one openly scorned her, of course. But the pain was still there. The classmates and seniors who used to hover around her hoping for a word gradually distanced themselves. Club friends subtly suggested she withdraw from the activities she had joined.

For someone used to being loved, Anais’ slow isolation among the students felt like torture.

“Dean, actually, there was someone I got close with right after entering. We were on first-name basis and everything.”

“Your Highness…?”

“Then, right after the incident, they started speaking formally to me. When I confronted them, they refused to answer. After some insistent questioning, they finally admitted they didn’t want to be my ‘bullet-rag pick-up.'”

“!”

“Given that three noble families lost their titles because of me, I can’t say I blame them. Do you understand now what I’ve become in people’s eyes?”

“I… I have no words…”

“Yes. That’s why I chose to resign. I’d rather not have to see any more ugly situations. Please process it quickly for me.”

“…”

Even after all this, the Dean hesitated.

He was probably worried about potential repercussions from the Ministry of Education, or even higher-ups. Quite a cautious gentleman for someone of his stature.

“The Academy won’t suffer any disadvantage. This is my own decision, why would anyone target the institution?”

“That’s not the issue…”

“You’re right. Please, just handle this.”

Unable to retort, the Dean averted his gaze.

Anais knew cutting to the heart of the matter wasn’t polite. Most people likely used courteous language out of consideration, not out of ignorance. She understood they meant well.

But she had no time for that.

Fortunately, this let her conclude their tiresome withdrawal consultation.

“Then… I understand. Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

Finally, the Dean signed the resignation papers. Anais bowed politely to the now visibly dejected man before leaving his office.

The moment she stepped out, no longer a student.

A strange feeling welled up in her as she realized it was truly the end. And yet, despite not even completing her first semester, she felt a curious mixture of emotions. Especially since she hadn’t been able to attend properly thanks to Siena’s traps.

“Just stressed, that’s all.”

As she made her final tour of the campus, her thoughts churned.

What caught her eye were inevitably the students.

There were unexpectedly many couples around campus. One might even think everyone had enrolled just to date.

Couples walking around with strawberry sherbet, couples glancing at each other with sweet eyes while pretending to bump shoulders, and couples standing shyly under the willow trees by the lake.

“Such good times for them all.”

Though cynical now, if not for Siena’s mischief, Anais could have been among them.

There had been a certain second-year student who caught her interest lately.

Initially a struggling student, he suddenly displayed incredible swordsmanship talent as a sophomore. At first, she intended to recruit him as a capable ally, but as time passed, genuine feelings developed.

Of course, dwelling on this now was pointless.

“Well then, it’s time to go.”

Shaking off such thoughts, she boarded her carriage.

Romance was the least of her concerns now.

**

After leaving the Academy, the one person Anais naturally sought was her mother, Empress Lianhua.

The only person she could lean on after her reputation bottomed out due to the poisoning scandal, losing her faction to Siena.

Unlike the eight aristocrats who flocked to Siena, her mother was the one constant ally who couldn’t possibly betray her daughter.

“Your heart must be broken, I can tell even without you saying anything.”

“…”

As soon as she saw Anais, the Empress gently grabbed her hands. Despite all the stress from the recent events involving psilocybin, she seemed unperturbed.

‘So, I haven’t been abandoned, at least.’

However, she didn’t seem like a firm ally either. After gently comforting Anais, the Empress surprisingly suggested something unexpected.

“Daughter, have you considered… letting go of this anger?”

“Mother, what are you…?”

“Just hear me out. I apologize, but Siena is a more cunning child than you. And her companion, Alan, seems far more intelligent than those still standing by you. Trying to retaliate now will only hurt you.”

This side of her mother was unfamiliar to Anais.

In her memory, the Empress had always been confined to her chambers, yearning for her homeland’s news, a melancholy figure. Someone who needed care rather than provided it.

But upon recovering strength, the Empress proved to be unexpectedly sharp-witted and possessed a calm rationality despite her delicate appearance.

“I know about your followers who deserted. It seems they’re following Siena now.”

“Of course, that witch must have threatened them!”

“Perhaps. She does have a devious and violent nature.”

“Huh?”

“But the key point is that the threats worked, indicating these aristocrats fear Siena far more than you. Otherwise, they wouldn’t switch sides so easily despite fearing your retribution.”

“…”

How she wished the Empress would help her take revenge with such calmness. There was no one more dependable for that.

Unfortunately, that seemed unlikely.

After all, it was Siena who helped the Empress regain her vibrant life. Recently, they appeared extremely close.

‘Even if things turn bad, she would support me, right?’

They were blood, family.

Yet the Empress seemed to read her thoughts and shook her head in disapproval.

“Anais, you still see your sister as an enemy.”

“…”

“But in my eyes, it doesn’t feel that way. If something similar happened in my homeland, all the involved officials would have been exterminated with their families. You would have likely survived, but all your titles stripped and forced into exile.”

“…”

This was due to the Empress’ origin as a princess from the “Jin” Empire, an eastern superpower far larger than the Britannia Empire. A place where even minor offenses against imperial decrees could result in entire families being wiped out.

‘Mother’s support isn’t possible.’

She would probably just lecture again and step back if a conflict arose. In the worst case, she might even subtly support Siena.

“I won’t tell you to reconcile, but I forbid you from fighting.”

This wasn’t a suggestion, it was an order.

A harsh reminder that she had lost her reputation, followers, and maternal protection all at once.

Realizing this bitter truth brought unexpected clarity. Anais forced a smile and nodded.

“Understood, Mother.”

“Can you promise that?”

“Yes. I promise this much: I won’t do anything for Siena’s benefit. Of course, if she tries to kill me, I’ll defend myself. You’re not about to forbid that too, right?”

“Of course not. You’re my daughter, after all.”

Only then did the Empress nod in satisfaction, her youthful smile at odds with her thirty-something age.

For a brief moment, Anais wanted to preserve that smile.

However, she doubted she could keep her promise to her mother. While she wouldn’t directly target Siena, her desire for vengeance remained strong.

She already had a target in mind.

Medoff Pharmaceuticals, the company Siena had invested in.

Their morphine business had significantly improved Siena’s tarnished reputation.

Nowadays, morphine talk seemed omnipresent. The thought of that scheming woman reaping all the wealth and fame made her blood boil.

Still, Anais wasn’t targeting morphine out of mere anger and jealousy alone.

“Now’s the time to strike.”

If she waited, Siena would only grow richer and stronger. This might be her last chance.

Her plans were set, and she had no intention of changing them.

Now, revenge was all she had left.

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