Real Education (4)
Yuri was suddenly placed before the nobles like a delicious meal.
Her mind refused to comprehend the current situation.
‘Wh, what should I do…….’
The sound of her pounding heart filled her ears.
The strongest emotion she felt right now was bewilderment……. and betrayal.
I never thought the Instructor would do this to me.
No, I knew deep down that I would have to pay the price for betrayal someday, but I still believed in him somewhere in my heart.
Because unlike the two-faced people around me, he was the only one who saw me for who I was.
I felt strangely at ease when I was with him, and although I couldn't express it in words,
I was looking forward to his swordsmanship classes.
So, I thought he would understand my circumstances, my past, and my wounds. I might have secretly hoped for that.
‘……He was the same after all…….’
Of course, I made a mistake, but isn't this too cruel……?
I didn't have a single choice.
If there had been another way, I would have definitely chosen it.
What does he want from me by putting me in this position?
‘In this place……. If I reveal everything and betray the First Prince and my father, will something change……?’
No, it won't.
I saw First Prince Ilios staring at me.
He had the same expression as usual, but Yuri could guess his anger from his cold eyes.
Perhaps today, after this duel, she would be summoned immediately and she couldn't even imagine what would happen to her.
Too many negative situations flooded her mind.
Ilios' blue eyes pierced through Yuri.
“Yuri Gilbert. Let me introduce myself first. I am the rightful heir who inherited the noble bloodline of the Empire, First Prince Ilios Leonine. You are the only daughter of the Gilbert Count family, Yuri Gilbert. Is that correct?”
“……Yes, Yuri Gilbert. That is correct.”
“Good. Tell me honestly, since when and why did you start taking Zeke Clayman’s classes?”
It would be right to answer honestly here.
There would be no one who doesn't know that she is related to the First Prince.
“After entering Ramielli Academy, I……. under the orders of the First Prince……. I chose Zeke Clayman’s swordsmanship class as my minor.”
Ilios nodded as if Yuri's words were the correct answer.
“Hmm, I see……. And what is the relationship between the Second Prince and Zeke Clayman?”
“……After the duel, I remember that the Second Prince was noticeably afraid of Zeke Clayman at the beginning of the class…….”
“That's right, I am well aware of the incident where he even wet his pants and degraded the authority of the Imperial family. So, how is it now?”
“Currently……. They seemed close……. Like a normal teacher-student relationship…….”
“Does that mean we can assume that Zeke Clayman has become the Second Prince’s person?”
“That's……. Not something I can answer……. But Zeke Clayman’s swordsmanship class has a very strong bond between the students and the instructor.”
Yuri bit her lip.
‘……Except for me.’
Except for herself, who was branded as the First Prince’s person, everyone was connected by a strong bond.
Aside from Rosnante, Selena Yohaiden and Iriel Eustia were like that. And even with the commoner, Soi Spoon…….
Everyone except herself interacted with each other and had a close relationship.
Meanwhile, Yuri, who was alone and watching them…….
To be honest, she also wanted to be among them.
She wanted to have dinner together after training. She wanted to complain about the training.
And even after cursing Zeke Clayman to her heart's content, she wanted to exchange trivial stories like, ‘This was good,’ or ‘That was okay.’
However, she was immediately summoned to Ilios after class, so she didn't even have a single chance.
“I heard you well, Yuri Gilbert. There is enough circumstantial evidence that Zeke Clayman used his students for political slander. So, from now on……. You must answer the questions I ask carefully. Think carefully and answer carefully.”
Gulp.
Yuri swallowed dryly.
The questions from now on would surely be about that incident.
Her hands were drenched in sweat from the tension.
“Yuri Gilbert. I'll ask you. Did you put a potion in the water before the duel started?”
Silence. Not even a single sound could be heard.
Yuri couldn't easily open her mouth.
She could understand exactly what Ilios was saying.
To commit perjury here.
‘Yes, say you didn't do it. Just say one word.’
“Answer me, Yuri. Did you really do that?”
“…….”
At the First Prince’s urging, Yuri's lips barely parted.
“……Yes……?”
She shook her head with a bewildered look.
“……What? You……. Did it……? Answer me properly, Yuri Gilbert.”
Ilios' face crumpled in a menacing way.
“Ah……. Yes, yes. Th, that's right. I did it……?”
It felt like she was possessed by a ghost.
Yuri clearly wanted to say no, that she didn't do it.
But why……. Why do these words keep coming out of her mouth!
Ilios' eyes twitched.
“……You, do you have no regrets about what you just said……?”
“I……. I was ordered by the First Prince.”
Gasp!
Yuri hurriedly covered her mouth, but it was too late to take back what she had already said.
‘What the hell is going on!’
The crowd was instantly filled with commotion.
* * *
‘Ah, as expected, the heroine's special bread. Its effect is certain.’
Zeke, who was standing behind with his arms crossed, suppressed his laughter.
His body trembled as he struggled to hold back his laughter because his body's ability to suppress it had weakened.
Of course, it would have been the best picture if Yuri had found the courage on her own,
but how could someone who had been gaslighted for so long make such a decision?
A while ago, during Soi’s Berserker training.
Her real name, Soi Spoon, was revealed in front of the other students.
He had called out her real name to calm Soi down when she was in a state of extreme excitement.
It wasn't an intentional exposure, but the situation had become like that, and as one or two people learned her name,
it became meaningless to hide it any longer.
So Soi bowed to the other students and confessed that she had been hiding her name.
─ I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to do that from the beginning! Oh, no, I did mean to do that from the beginning, but……! Anyway, I'm sorry! I was so ashamed of my name……!
Fortunately, there were no narrow-minded children who rebuked her.
Only Iriel would occasionally tease her by calling her a dirt spoon, but that was nothing more than a joke between close friends.
However, from Zeke’s perspective, this was considered a move to properly screw over Ilios.
So Zeke went to Soi’s shop separately.
─ Soi Spoon.
─ Yes? Instructor, what brings you here again…….
─ Your name has been revealed to all the other students.
─ Ugh……. Yes…….
Soi sighed dejectedly.
─ You've been deceiving the other students well.
─ Oh, no. If you say that, Instructor……!
─ Yes, I understand it might be embarrassing. However, I don't know if you would have hidden it until the end, but now that it has been revealed, wouldn't it be an act without conscience as a human being if you don't even apologize properly?
─ You contributed to it, Instructor!
Soi retorted, indignant that the person who had first offered to hide it was now blaming her for deceiving them.
─ Yes, that's why I'm here to make you an offer. How about making bread and giving it to the other students as a gift? If you share it together before the duel starts, you can build up your determination and it would be good, wouldn't it?
Soi’s eyes widened.
─ Br, bread……. Can I make it? But, Instructor, you said it's too strong now……. You told me not to make it until I've mastered emotional control…….
─ I said that because I was wary of your negative emotions getting mixed in. This time, put your honest feelings into the bread, the feeling that you're sorry for deceiving them. What would be the problem? Are you thinking of cursing your friends for knowing your name?
─ N, no way! Then can I really make bread?
─ Yes, but make it in front of me.
So Soi was finally released from the bread-making ban after a long time and made bread.
It was the bread she wanted to make so badly.
She wanted to make it so much that even in her dreams, her hands were itching to knead bread while she slept!
It was very enjoyable to make something she hadn't been able to do for a while.
The dough was filled with her feelings of being sorry for deceiving them.
Zeke named it, ‘The Bread of Truth.’
Those who ate this bread had to be honest with their feelings and only speak the truth.
And before the duel started, Soi apologized again and shared it with everyone, including the children…….
‘The reason Yuri’s body moved on its own even when she tried to lose on purpose was because of that bread.’
Her body dodged the sword that she could have easily avoided with her skills.
Her emotions judged it as a ‘lie.’
So she unconsciously dodged the sword.
And this situation, which is shining along with it.
‘How does it feel to be bitten on the neck by the dog you raised, First Prince?’
He had long since taken off the mask of composure he had been maintaining.
“What! Do you know what nonsense you just spouted!”
“Oh, no. That's not it! You told me to do it, First Prince! You said it was a paralyzing drug! You said it would take effect after three days! Ugh! No, you son of a bi-!”
"What did you just say, son of a bi-?"
"Yuri Gilbert, what, what kind of outrageous remark are you making to His Highness the First Prince!!!"
"No!! You are a son of a bitch! You always call me when I want to rest and make me do strange things and say strange things, ugh!"
It was a chaotic scene that made him burst out laughing.
The First Prince continued to threaten her, but Yuri was about to spill everything she had in her mind.
He wanted to watch this funny farce forever, but.
Now, the second wedge arrived to definitively lead Ilios to his ruin from behind.
“Your Highness Ilios. Pfft.”
He couldn't help but laugh when he saw his face.
Zeke cleared his throat.
“……Zeke Clayman……. What the hell is this…….”
“Didn't Yuri just testify? She said she put the drug in under the orders of the First Prince. You're not deaf, are you? Why are you pretending not to hear?”
“……Don't be ridiculous! I've never done that!”
Then Yuri intervened.
“The First Prince bastard told me to do it! He told me to put the drug in the water! He said I had to win the duel with this! Ugh!”
“Yuri, be quiet for a moment.”
“……Yes, ugh.”
Yuri lowered her head, intimidated by Zeke’s gaze.
“Ahem, ahem. Anyway, you said it was a trap……?”
“Yes! I can't stand this ridiculous farce any longer! I'm leaving!”
“What if it's not a trap, but the ‘evidence’ you've been looking for?”
Halt.
The First Prince, who had stood up abruptly and was about to turn around and leave, stopped.
“Evidence……. Did you say evidence…….”
“Yes, even if you leave, Your Highness, I intend to reveal the evidence to the nobles. Your Highness, are you really okay with such evidence being revealed in your absence?”
Hah-!
Ilios glared at him as if he couldn't believe it.
“If you're thinking of showing me the water bottle with the drug in it, stop it now. That won't be evidence that I ordered Yuri to put the drug in. And how are you going to prove that you didn't fabricate it?”
“Ha, would I do something so sloppy? I'm not the First Prince……”
“You bastard!”
After thoroughly provoking Ilios with his sly remarks, Zeke turned around and said.
“Your Highness Rosnante Leonine. Please come out.”
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bro gaslighting
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