Real Education (6)
“Damn it! Damn it all!”
Ilios gritted his teeth.
Where exactly did it all go wrong?
There should have been no flaws in his plan.
Ilios didn’t underestimate Zeke.
In fact, he believed he was the one who valued Zeke the most.
‘The duel was just an excuse to get Zeke Clayman out of the academy!’
Even if it ended in a draw, or even if he lost,
Ilios was confident he could handle it somehow.
The Captain of the Royal Knights.
The key was to have Zeke Clayman and Dios Redwood fight in front of him.
Ilios thought Zeke Clayman would win overwhelmingly in that duel.
‘If I had just confirmed his skills with the Captain and sent a petition to the Royal Family to have him join the Royal Knights!’
If things had gone that way, he could have become the Crown Prince without any obstacles.
The biggest obstacle to increasing his influence at the Ramielli Academy was that guy, Zeke Clayman.
And Zeke Clayman, who would become a member of the Royal Knights, a position from which he could never retire until his death, would have to pledge his loyalty to Ilios when he became Emperor.
He would even gain Zeke’s power.
That was his sole purpose.
Giving him the drug was just a minor part of preparing the justification.
Ilios had planned that when the students lost and Zeke won the duel against Dios, he would frame him as
‘Someone who lacks the ability to teach properly, but has sufficient personal skills.’
Since it was an unfair match between a man and a woman from the start, he naturally predicted that Dios would win, but the information Yuri brought him fueled a strange anxiety, leading him to use the drug.
And that trivial act was now biting him in the ankle.
‘Everything was perfect...’
A plan built layer upon layer, leaving no gaps.
How could it crumble so completely in an instant?
He couldn’t understand.
Why did Ash, who faced Iriel, betray him?
Why did Joseph, who never lost to anyone with a sword, lose so pathetically to Yuri?
Why was Yuri Gilbert, that stupid girl who trembled like a herbivore in front of him, now daring to defy him?
Nothing made sense.
Then Ilios suddenly realized how important this place was.
It was just a duel between first-year students.
But nobles of all classes were present.
From the humble baron families to the duke families known for their immense influence.
Only then did Ilios begin to grasp the reality of the looks the nobles were giving him.
‘Disgust, contempt, scorn, avoidance, mockery.’
Ilios recoiled from the negative gazes he was receiving for the first time.
These were not the looks that he, who would become the Emperor and rule over them, should be receiving.
“D-Don't look at me like that! It was just a kids' duel! I just used a little trick in a kids' duel!!!”
But the gazes didn't change.
*Gnash*
He ground his teeth.
‘Zeke Clayman… It's all that bastard's doing. If it weren't for him, if it weren't for him, everything would have gone well! I have to kill him. I must kill him…’
The root of all problems.
He was looking up at him with an amused expression.
A murderous glint appeared in Ilios's eyes.
Then Zeke raised his middle finger and pointed slightly downwards.
When he looked in that direction.
A yellow liquid was approaching.
“This damn! Why does this dirty pee keep coming! Get out of here! Get out of here, I said!!”
Rosnante's urine, which had finally climbed up the wall and was slowly approaching.
Ilios screamed and twisted his body.
* * *
‘Pfft! Cough… Well, I guess it's time to wrap things up.’
Ilios was preoccupied with dodging Rosnante's bodily fluids that were chasing him.
Ignoring him, Zeke opened his mouth.
“I believe all your questions have been answered.”
Zeke pointed at Ilios with his middle finger again.
His appearance, frantically dodging the liquid, was too pathetic for a prince.
Laughter erupted from various parts of the audience.
“Prince Ilios, to check Rosnante and the Duke’s daughters, has committed an act that defiles honor in this sacred place of education, the Ramielli Academy.”
After a brief pause, allowing everyone to process the meaning of his words, Zeke continued.
“And if he had done it himself, it might have been somewhat understandable. However, Prince Ilios himself was not involved in the process.”
Ilios, as if he had something to say, tried to step forward indignantly.
‘Ah ah, it’s time to leave now, isn’t it?’
Zeke used mana to shut Ilios’s mouth.
“……!”
“Instead, he pinned all the blame on this child, Yuri Gilbert. I believe this is the biggest mistake.”
Yuri, who had belatedly realized what she had said to the First Prince, was staring blankly with a stupid expression.
She turned her head sharply towards Zeke.
“I believe the hidden hero who helped uncover this incident is Yuri Gilbert.”
Yuri's eyes widened as she stared at Zeke.
“Yuri Gilbert. It's all over now. The First Prince Ilios made you do something dishonorable. It must have been a heavy burden on your heart.”
“...Uh, yes. Th-That's right. I really didn't want to do it… but the First Prince told me to put the drug in the water!”
Yuri quickly covered her mouth again.
“I found out thanks to you.”
“...?”
Zeke nodded vigorously.
“I told you before not to worry about anything the First Prince asked you to do, and to tell me whenever you changed your mind, right?”
“...Yes, you did say that…?”
Zeke cleverly twisted his words in front of Yuri, who could only tell the truth.
In fact, Yuri hadn't told Zeke about putting the medicine in the water,
but his words could easily be misinterpreted as if she had confessed everything to him.
Zeke turned back to the audience.
“So, I knew beforehand that Yuri Gilbert had put the drug in the water. If I hadn't known, all the students I taught today would have been dishonorably defeated. And we would have been played on the stage set by Prince Ilios.”
“……!”
“Of course, I can't say she's innocent, as it's true that she put the drug in the water during an honorable duel. However, Yuri has been subjected to constant mental and physical abuse at home. So this incident was also carried out due to unavoidable coercion and threats.”
Yuri bit her lip hard.
Because Zeke was telling the truth, her lips remained sealed.
She just stared at Zeke with trembling eyes.
It was the first time.
Someone who understood her, who noticed her situation without her having to explain.
Until he brought her forward, Yuri had thought that Zeke was just like the First Prince or her father, full of intentions to use her. She believed there was no one she could trust.
But, no.
This person.
This man.
This instructor…
‘He's defending me.’
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Zeke patted Yuri's head.
“So, this sin should be attributed not to Yuri Gilbert, but to her father, Count Gilbert. I earnestly plead with the nobles here.”
Zeke bowed deeply.
A hushed silence fell.
The instructor's heart, which cared for his student, resonated as a quiet wave of emotion through the hardened hearts of the nobles.
*Clap clap clap clap clap*
The applause, which started softly, gradually grew louder, turning into cheers.
However, there was someone who couldn't accept this.
It was Count Gilbert.
His face flushed red, he slammed his fist on the table and shouted.
“I-I never did that! Yuri Gilbert was just deceived by the First Prince's scheme! It has nothing to do with me! Why me! What do I have to do with it!!!”
Zeke glared at Count Gilbert with cold eyes.
“There's already plenty of evidence, Count Gilbert.”
“Wh-What abuse did I commit!”
“Hmm, I actually investigated that, Count Gilbert.”
The voice that cut in belonged to Duke Yohaiden.
“D-Duke Yohaiden…!?”
“You worthless scum who doesn't even possess the basic qualities, honor, or manners of a noble.”
Duke Yohaiden growled menacingly.
When he took on the investigation of Yuri Gilbert at Zeke's request and confirmed the reality,
the Duke couldn't contain his anger.
“You've done things that make me wonder if you're truly a father, if you've really done this to your own flesh and blood.”
He wanted to recite the details of the investigation in front of him, but he was afraid it might reopen Yuri's wounds.
Duke Yohaiden forcibly swallowed the rising bile.
Controlling her meals was commonplace, and she wasn't even allowed to speak to servants or maids first.
She was made to sleep in a trashy storage room, and her studies were accompanied by confinement and violence.
And whenever she returned from a banquet, she was whipped until her calves were bruised…
The process of a child, who should only be receiving love, becoming numb to insults and contempt was deeply saddening to Duke Yohaiden, a loving father.
Especially since the child was the same age as Selena. It was no wonder he saw his own child in her.
‘For that girl who never had a single moment of freedom, Ramielli Academy must have been her only escape.’
That's why the Duke didn't hate Yuri Gilbert at all, even though she had done something despicable.
He only felt hatred towards the father who had driven her to such a situation and the First Prince Ilios.
“I tried to stay out of it, but I really can't tolerate your shamelessness.”
“H-How dare you interfere in my family affairs……!”
“How dare I? Yes, I have no right. But I have power. I promise to use all my power to ruin you. You will be cut off from all social circles and all transactions. And you will be subjected to scorn and contempt from everyone.”
“……!”
“Let you feel even a fraction of what your daughter felt.”
It was the first time Duke Yohaiden, known for his aloofness and benevolence, had shown such fierce anger.
The nobles, realizing how far he could go if he got serious, trembled in fear.
Count Gilbert, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, prostrated himself.
“N-No! I-I was wrong! Duke! I'm sorry. Please, for Yuri's sake……!!”
“Hah, you're still using your daughter as an excuse. You're truly worthless. You haven't apologized to Yuri until the very end. Regret always comes too late, Count Gilbert.”
Clap clap clap clap clap
Just then, applause came from the entrance.
“My, my, what a rare sight. To see Duke Yohaiden so enraged… It's the first time since I proposed a marriage alliance.”
All eyes turned, and the nobles couldn't help but gasp.
“Y-Your Majesty the Emperor……!?”
Access 5 advance chapters with the 'Pebble' Tier ($8) or 10 chapters with 'Baguette' tier ($15).
For every $10 collected on Ko-fi, I will release a bonus chapter. Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button!
Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel.
Join our discord server for the latest release updates and novel discussions.