I Possessed a Character in an Academy Without a Protagonist – Chapter 101

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Hah…”

Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace.

Gustav’s deep sigh quietly resonated.

It was still unclear whether the Kingdom of Trud was supporting the rebels, but it was revealed that the Great Forest was actively supplying the rebels with materials and troops.

He was about to ask for their ‘cooperation’ to stop this, but he was having trouble choosing his words.

“Ugh…”

At a time when the military had not yet been fully rebuilt after the war with the Kingdom, he did not want things to turn completely hostile with the Great Forest.

However, he couldn’t just let it go, as they were directly interfering with the empire’s exercise of hegemony.

How could he pose a significant threat to the Great Forest without mentioning war?

He was struggling with such problems.

“Your Imperial Majesty. Schlus Hainkel has arrived at the palace.”

“…”

Gustav gripped his throbbing temples.

There were already a lot of troublesome things happening and the most difficult person to deal with had arrived at the palace.

“However…”

“What is it?”

“He didn’t request an audience with Your Imperial Majesty.”

“Huh.”

He came all the way to the Imperial Palace and was going to see only the Crown Princess.

He didn’t even ask for an audience out of courtesy.

His intentions were so obvious that Gustav chuckled.

He seemed to understand why there were rumors that Schlus Hainkel was revealing his true nature.

Ignoring the Emperor, who was going to die of old age, and trying to please the Crown Princess, who was about to become an adult and seize imperial power.

“Shall I call him in?”

“…”

Right now, Schlus Hainkel was walking a tightrope.

It was only the other day that he killed the Crow Henderson and was treated as a hero.

He was taking a dangerous course of action enough to make everyone forget his fame.

The great magic in Whist Forest and the defeat of several Crows were part of it.

A guy who was neither a court mage nor a knight who swore allegiance to the Imperial family wielded magic power that was impossible to measure accurately…

As the one in charge of the stability and peace of the continent, he couldn’t just sit back and watch.

In the worst case, a bloodbath would ensue.

According to the Imperial Research Institute, they needed to consume a whole division of the Imperial Army to defeat Schlus Hainkel.

It wasn’t a sacrifice they could afford to make to catch a single commoner.

“Call him in. By Imperial decree.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He had to try everything he could before it came to that.

Even though he, no, the one behind him, would surely refuse.

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Ah, damn it.

He had completely forgotten.

“Schlus Hainkel. By Imperial decree, you are to have an audience with His Imperial Majesty.”

“…”

There wasn’t only the Crown Princess in the palace.

If he hadn’t forgotten his manners, he should have requested an audience with the Emperor.

His mind was so complicated that he couldn’t even think about the Emperor.

It was also because he had concluded that the Emperor was already dead in his mind.

“Schlus Hainkel. Her Highness, the Crown Princess, has called for you.”

“I will go to the audience chamber after I am finished speaking with Her Highness.”

“What…!”

His meeting with Aria was scheduled first.

Even the Emperor couldn’t suddenly change his schedule at the last minute.

He waved his hand at the person who seemed to be an official and entered the interview room.

Emilia, who was watching his every move, followed him.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

“It seems to be a noisy affair. His Majesty has called for you.”

“Isn’t it only natural for the one who called to wait?”

“Crazy bastard…”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Aria had a bit of a rough mouth.

Perhaps she was just expressing her firmness in a slightly more intense way.

By the way, Aria was even more beautiful today.

Did she put on some heavier makeup?

Well, rather than makeup, it felt like her overall atmosphere had changed…

“You said you wanted to talk about the ring.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“This room is soundproof. That means you can speak freely.”

“…?”

Speak freely?

Did she notice that he was hiding something?

But there were more than one or two things.

He couldn’t figure out what Aria was talking about.

“What do you mean… ”

“Were you always this type of person? I remember you weren’t the type to beat around the bush.”

“I have no intention of diverting the topic.”

“Good. If you’re going to act so unlike yourself, then I’ll speak. Because I feel a little sorry for you. You’re making a huge mistake.”

“…?”

“There are no factions in the Imperial Family. I want you to know that much.”

“What do you mean…”

“Sigh. To put it more simply, it means His Majesty and I are not in conflict.”

“…?”

It was Aria who was making a big mistake.

What the hell happened, and how did it get twisted like this?

It seemed that it looked like he was trying to bypass the Emperor and side with the Crown Princess.

If even the Emperor took it that way, it was a big problem.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Your Highness.”

“Misunderstanding? Are you saying I’m misunderstanding?”

“Yes. While it’s true that I’m looking forward to Your Highness’s ascension to the throne, that certainly doesn’t mean I wish for His Majesty’s demise.”

“Huh… Do you know what words you’re uttering right now?”

“Yes. Even if there are factions in the Imperial Family, I have no intention of joining either side. I follow His Imperial Majesty. Always, no matter who it is.”

If there was a misunderstanding, he had to clear it up.

He cleared it up bluntly without beating around the bush.

Now, he wouldn’t be seen as someone who dared to overthrow the Emperor.

“Hehehe. You really are crazy. No matter what wind you blow on me, I won’t do something like poisoning my grandfather.”

“I never even imagined such a thing.”

…Was that a joke?

She said it with a laugh.

It must have been.

Aria, who had been watching him for a while with her chin resting on her hand, smiled and opened her lips.

“I heard you died and came back to life.”

“That never happened. I just looked like I was dead.”

“That’s the same thing.”

“If you put it that way, religious problems will arise.”

“Hmm. I didn’t think of that. Well. Anyway. You looked like you were dead, then you woke up. Why didn’t you contact me for a long time after that?”

He wondered if this was also a joke, but judging from Aria’s serious expression, it didn’t seem to be.

“I didn’t feel obligated to.”

“Obligated? Good. Then how about creating that obligation?”

“Create… an obligation.”

Suddenly, the Crown Princess’s face began to turn red.

Was she hot?

He was cool.

He looked back at Emilia, but she didn’t seem hot either.

“Yes. I was just about to formally propose it. M-marriage…”

“That is correct, Your Highness. That’s exactly why I requested this meeting.”

“Wh-what?! Was it really because of the marriage rumors?”

“Yes. I heard there were rumors circulating. That Your Highness and I were engaged. Have you heard them?”

“…”

Aria, who had stood up in excitement, sat down again, crossing her arms.

It seemed that she was displeased.

“I haven’t heard them.”

“I knew it. If you had known, you would have taken some action. I also found out belatedly.”

“Huh, humph. I can’t even imagine why such a ridiculous rumor is circulating. I need to catch the one who spread it and sentence them to a heavy punishment.”

“I have a suspicion as to the cause. Please uncross your arms.”

“I don’t want to. Are you ordering me right now?”

“It would be appreciated if you could uncross your arms and show me your left ring finger.”

“… Tsk.”

Aria untied her arms and stretched her left hand out onto the desk.

He also placed his left hand next to hers.

Two rugged iron rings were lined up side by side.

No, what the hell.

This wasn’t just a similar ring, it was the exact same ring.

He was so surprised that he tried ‘Appraisal.’

Fortunately, there weren’t two Rings of Miracles.

He was really surprised.

Who knew there was a replica?

Before the subtitles were even fully displayed, he deactivated the ability.

“Hmm. Quite a similar ring. What a coincidence.”

“I believe this is the cause. If one of us takes off this ring, it will subdue the rumors to some extent.”

“Are you telling me to take it off?”

“If you don’t want to, I will.”

“Ah, no. Wait a minute.”

Just as he was about to take off the ring, Aria’s white hand grabbed his index finger.

It was a touch that even felt somewhat urgent.

“I’ll take it off. I…”

And then she took off the ring that was on her ring finger.

This was unexpected.

It was the first time he’d seen Aria, who was so stubborn, give in to something.

Rather, he wondered if this was even a concession in the first place.

“It would also be good to make an official announcement denying the rumor yourself.”

“An announcement? Why?”

“Don’t you find it annoying? A rumor that you’re engaged to a commoner is circulating. I know you’re very uncomfortable right now.”

“Ah… Does it look like that… No. I don’t think it’s necessary to make such a fuss. Let’s finish dealing with the ridiculous rumors by taking off the ring.”

He achieved what he wanted.

The rumors wouldn’t spread any further.

In the first place, it was strange that such a blasphemous rumor was still circulating without being denied.

As if the Imperial Family had deliberately ignored it…

Well, there was no way that was true.

Aria herself didn’t know.

With this, he found out that the Imperial Family was less aware of the rumors circulating among the nobles than he had expected.

“It was good to see you again, Your Highness.”

“A-are you leaving already?”

“Yes. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?”

When he got up from his seat, the Crown Princess spoke in a slightly flustered voice.

Did she have something else to say?

He stood and waited for a moment, and the Crown Princess avoided eye contact with him and moved her lips.

This was a first for Aria.

He didn’t even remember seeing this in the original.

It was as if…

“No. You can go.”

“Yes. I apologize for bothering you with this trivial matter.”

“Yes. Be a little more apologetic.”

She looked like a shy girl, but that must have been his delusion.

He shouldn’t try to read a woman’s mind by awkwardly observing her expressions.

He had learned through Emilia that he didn’t know anything about a woman’s heart.

Only those who have dated more than two people in their lifetime would know such things.

In that respect, he was terrible.

He bowed once to Aria and turned around.

Just as Emilia opened the door,

“Schlus Hainkel.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He turned around at the husky and attractive voice.

Aria was standing up and staring straight at him.

With a determined, solemn expression.

“What if. This is just a hypothetical situation. What if… I proposed marriage to you… what would your answer be?”

“I would refuse.”

“What? Wh-what?! Think about it a little more seriously! I’m proposing this directly! Not with His Majesty’s arrangement or anything!”

“You said it was a hypothetical situation?”

“Yes. It’s a hypothetical situation. What if…”

“I would still refuse.”

It must have been Aria’s way of joking.

She seemed to want to embarrass him, but if that was the case, she had failed.

“May I ask why?”

“I don’t date children. Have your coming-of-age ceremony and propose again. Then, I will accept it without hesitation.”

“Get out. I don’t even want to see your face.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He didn’t even look at minors.

He left Aria behind, who seemed to be in a bad mood because her joke didn’t work.

He walked out the door that Emilia had opened.

Now, it was time to see the Emperor.

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“That son of a bitch…”

The Crown Princess buried her face in her arms on the desk.

The palace officials, unsure of what to do, just exchanged glances with each other.

“I summoned up the courage to say it… That son of a bitch who is worse than a dog…”

She made the proposal, even risking her pride.

But Schlus Hainkel just laughed it off and answered playfully.

Saying he wouldn’t marry a kid…

“Ugh…!”

The Crown Princess gritted her teeth, as that smiling face kept appearing in her mind.

She was so angry.

She clearly said it was hypothetical.

It was just a hypothetical story, so why was she so angry?

“I’ll make you beg. Schlus Hainkel…”

That unknown anger had transformed into a thirst for revenge.

She would make their positions reverse.

She would make Schlus Hainkel beg for marriage, and she would refuse gracefully.

Then, there would be no ifs or buts.

She intended to make him feel 100 times the humiliation she was feeling now.

Her eyes fell on the ring that was on the desk.

“Ugh…!”

The Crown Princess was about to throw it away—

“Sigh…”

She soon lowered her hand again.

A rough silver ring was placed on her open palm.

It was a ring she could never wear on her finger again.

“I forgot…”

Come to think of it, she had forgotten to ask him.

Who Han-areum was.

She had forgotten to ask him what that name meant to him.

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