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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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Regina carefully descended the ladder. Deron stared at her intently.
“Deron Philasia.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”
Deron bowed his head slightly. Regina frowned.
“I asked you to treat me like a normal student.”
“I am merely greeting Your Highness as a normal student.”
“Hmph.”
Regina clicked her tongue, annoyed by Deron’s words. But she couldn’t argue with his logic, so she let it slide.
“The ranking matches. You should be busy preparing for them.”
“I won’t be participating. I can’t disclose the reason, however.”
“Keeping secrets from me?”
“You are currently a normal student, Your Highness.”
He certainly had a talent for infuriating people. Regina thought so, annoyed.
He addressed her as “Your Highness” when it suited him, then used her supposed status as a “normal student” to avoid answering her questions.
‘Such eloquence from someone who’s never appeared in social circles. Most nobles wouldn’t be able to speak properly in front of him.’
Were the rumors about his genius true? Had he even stolen eloquence from the gods? Regina studied Deron. His expression remained impassive. He simply stood there, Lenox’s autobiography in hand, looking down at her.
His aura was chilling. Though he likely wasn’t doing it consciously. His composure was impeccable, his speech refined.
It would be understandable if the Duke had personally trained him…
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“That book you’re holding. I was about to take it.”
“Is that so?”
“So, hand it over.”
A normal student wouldn’t dare speak to Deron Philasia like this. Even within the academy, the influence of the Philasia Dukedom couldn’t be ignored.
But if that normal student was the princess, it was a different story. The Dukedom was loyal to the Imperial Family.
Regina held out her hand, a confident smile on her face. The autobiography of Lenox. Deron had taken the book she had been reaching for.
She had every right to demand its return. But…
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“What?”
“I can’t return Lenox’s autobiography.”
Deron refused her request without hesitation.
“I saw you bring the ladder to reach it.”
“Yes, and you snatched it away just as I was about to take it, after all my effort.”
“I have my reasons. This book… it’s important to me.”
A flicker of something akin to distress crossed Deron’s face. Regina, seeing that flicker, smiled.
“Then, Deron.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“That book… I was reaching for it first. You took it without my permission. Correct?”
Deron nodded slightly.
“In exchange for the book, you will fulfill one request of mine.”
“A request?”
“Yes. It’s nothing much. Just accompany me to the ball hosted by the Imperial Family two nights from now, as my partner.”
Regina smiled inwardly. The rumors that would spread from her attending the ball with the eldest son of the Philasia Dukedom… and how those rumors would influence the imperial court… she had calculated it all.
Deron Philasia had rarely appeared in social circles. The nobles’ gossip would be rampant.
“Are you… asking me on a date?”
“W-What?!”
“It would be my pleasure, Your Highness.”
Deron chuckled and bowed slightly, leaving Regina speechless. His flawless posture, as he bowed, was like a sculpture crafted by a master artist.
He turned and left the library. Only Regina, her face flushed, remained.
“That crazy bastard!”
She cursed Deron under her breath.
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After leaving the library, I let out a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t expect to run into the Princess.”
It was completely unexpected. I had gone to retrieve Lenox’s autobiography, tucked away in a corner of the library, and she happened to be reaching for it.
In the original story, Sophia would have discovered the book while researching magic. I looked at the autobiography in my hand. The worn cover and brittle pages were a disguise.
Lenox’s magic still clung to the book, protecting it. I hurried back to the dormitory. I couldn’t read it openly in public.
Back in my room, I placed the book on the table. The scent of old paper tickled my nose.
‘I already know what it says.’
The location of Lenox’s Dungeon, Lenox’s will, and a brief overview of the Magic Swordsman class. I had already learned all of that in the dungeon.
I needed something else.
“The… last page, was it?”
As Lenox had instructed in the dungeon, I turned to the last page. A blank page. The moment I saw it, a wave of revulsion washed over me.
It must have been some kind of magic Lenox had cast. A protection spell to prevent the last page from being accidentally torn out.
I pushed aside my disgust and gripped the last page.
“Why is it so tough?!”
It wouldn’t tear, no matter how hard I pulled. I sighed and channeled mana into my hand.
Violet mana pulsed, slicing through the paper. Slowly, painstakingly…
Rip
It tore. The cleanly severed page fluttered to the floor. I checked the book, but there was nothing there.
“What?”
It was definitely the last page. Was I misremembering?
‘The paper?’
I picked up the discarded page, as Archxius instructed.
“…?”
A magic circle was drawn on the previously blank page. Red lines intertwined, forming a complex, high-level magic circle. A design that seemed impossible to create without advanced incantation skills.
Archxius gasped upon seeing the magic circle.
‘It’s that impressive?’
‘Yes.’
I see. I extended my hand and channeled mana into the circle at the center of the magic circle. The red lines glowed, and the paper floated into the air.
-Hum…
A low humming sound filled the room. I called out to Archxius, but she didn’t respond. She must have disappeared.
“Black lizard!”
Silence. She was really gone.
“She usually comes running when I call her that…”
A familiar voice. Yet, a voice I couldn’t believe belonged to…
I turned sharply to face the speaker.
“Lenox…?”
My self-proclaimed senior. Another possessor, from centuries past.
Lenox was waving at me. I stared at her, wide-eyed. Was this magic? Or sorcery? It wouldn’t be surprising if it were some kind of supernatural ability.
“Wouldn’t it be strange not to be surprised? You’re from centuries ago.”
Lenox chuckled. I looked around. Nothing had changed. It was still my dormitory room. Except for her presence. Lenox sat on my bed.
Her eyes glinted.
I carefully spoke.
“Who… are you?”
“There are other possessors besides me?”
Two questions answered in rapid succession. Simultaneously, a throbbing pain started in my head, as if I wasn’t supposed to be talking to Lenox. As if something was desperately trying to block our conversation.
I winced. Lenox’s expression hardened.
“Why are you shielding us from the system?”
I didn’t understand what she meant. I stared at her, bewildered. Lenox sighed.
My eyes widened. She could tell me about my terminal illness? Was that even possible?
The moment I thought that, a searing pain shot through my head, far worse than anything I’d experienced before.
As if a sword was piercing my brain. An unbearable agony consumed me.
“Argh!”
Lenox clicked her tongue, her face contorted in pain.
Warning messages flooded my vision.
Damn it. The warning messages obscured Lenox’s face, the blaring alarms drowning out her voice. She was desperately trying to tell me something, but I couldn’t hear her.
My vision flickered, Lenox’s last words barely audible.
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he had another girls here
