84 – 84. Warning
We swiftly concluded our discussion.
Creating a plausible pretext, we summoned as many academy officials as possible, using Leon to showcase an example before them.
That was it.
While attempting an overdose in front of the crowd was certainly out of the question, the plan was undeniably ruthless. However, Victoria seemed unfazed.
If anything, she was more proactive than I was.
“It’ll be effective if shown to as many people as possible.”
“Yes, Commander. For that…”
“I’ll take care of it. Using the pretext of investigating the professors who raised Leon, I’ll visit the academy tomorrow. I’ll casually mention rumors about an enhancing dru*g during the discussion. Students will gather on their own.”
“We can proceed there. Understood.”
“However, after using Leon as an example, I’m concerned about how he’ll be treated. Leon Roederdale hasn’t committed any crimes, and it’s not something we can simply accept. …Formally recruiting him into the military and sending him to a suitable place might be an option, but whether he’ll comply willingly.”
“He’ll probably welcome it if you provide the dru*g.”
“Then it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Nodding in agreement, Victoria adjusted her tied-up hair. The bright tones of her blonde hair swayed before my eyes.
It didn’t seem like she regretted her decision in that brief moment.
Considering the determination she had shown, she probably viewed it as something a soldier had to do.
“From my perspective, it’s more of a blessing.”
Right after concluding the discussion,
Victoria suddenly remembered something and let out a sigh.
“By the way, Alan. I have a proposal for you after we wrap up this matter.”
A proposal?
“May I ask what it’s about?”
“Well, it’s not that. It’s better to focus on the academy issue for now.”
“…”
“It won’t be a bad proposition for Kyung either. Instead, it’s meant to alleviate the difficulties Kyung is currently facing.”
Victoria nodded faintly as she spoke.
Deciding not to pry into thoughts that were unclear, I followed Victoria’s lead, leaving her office after showing proper courtesy.
There was another person I needed to be mindful of besides her.
Second Princess Sienna.
‘Sienna won’t just let this good spectacle pass by.’
By now, she must be eagerly anticipating the nationwide frenzy show at the academy.
If she were to find out that I had agreed to proceed with the event with Victoria, excluding her, it might make her uncomfortable.
Ultimately, it meant preventing her jealousy and satisfying her curiosity within appropriate limits.
Just letting her watch wasn’t enough.
‘I should share some responsibilities.’
To avoid misunderstandings, it would be safer to give the impression that “Victoria was reluctantly brought in.” Unlike Victoria, Sienna wasn’t good at acting, so conveying that impression was essential. It might seem like some kind of play among princesses, but there was no other choice.
With a firm resolution, I returned to the Tems Palace.
Expecting Sienna, the owner of this place, to be waiting for me.
But reality was different.
“…Princess Sienna has just left the palace. Alan requested to know her destination, so please convey this message if he inquires. Don’t worry, nothing troublesome will happen, so relax and focus on making medicine diligently,” they said.
Sienna’s actions were faster than I had anticipated.
Perhaps she had come to meet Victoria, who had called me arbitrarily.
I could guess why she had come, but I had no intention of chasing after her. It was not because I believed Sienna would behave quietly, but rather because intervening would likely increase the chances of a fallout. It was best to just leave her alone.
I headed to the workshop.
It was to prepare for the events scheduled for tomorrow at the academy.
**
At the same time, in the dining room of the palace where Victoria resided.
The two princesses of the empire were facing each other.
It wasn’t a pre-arranged meeting. Sienna had simply barged in while Victoria was dealing with dinner upon her return to the palace.
Despite the sudden visit from her direct sister, the palace residents were in chaos, but Sienna remained nonchalant.
“Just this is enough. I don’t eat as much as my sister does.”
“It’s not about me eating a lot… No, forget it. Eat.”
Victoria stared at her sister, who was listlessly eating a small amount of food that seemed insufficient even as a snack.
Sienna, who not only lacked interest in food but also in art, music, theater, novels, and the like, did not seem to have come to eat pudding.
Victoria put down her utensils and looked at Sienna.
“Sienna, tell me the reason for your visit.”
“You called Allen, didn’t you? Without even asking for my permission.”
So, it was indeed because of that.
Victoria let out a short sigh. The fact was that she had violated the regulations.
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“I’m sorry about that. The situation was quite urgent.”
“Because of the Academy?”
“…Yes. I discussed a recovery plan with Alan. Of course, I anticipated that you wouldn’t like it. But, Sienna, the Academy is not your spectacle. From my perspective, it was a situation I simply couldn’t ignore.”
Words conveyed by Victoria, with a hope for understanding.
Surprisingly, Sienna chuckled.
“Did I come here because of that?”
“Well…”
“Of course, if the Academy situation isn’t promising, it’s a lie. I’m curious about how many students, despite not expecting much from the Academy, would still want to become like Leon, taking dru*gs and wondering how they would try to obtain them.”
“Sienna.”
“There must be more than a few who, unknowingly meddling with dru*gs, end up as invalids, right? It would be interesting to see the Academy degenerate into a dru*g den.”
Victoria couldn’t believe Sienna would say such things. It was exasperating to see her cute-faced sister spouting monstrous words.
Victoria, who had known about Sienna’s unpleasant personality despite her appearance, didn’t expect her to be so vulgar.
“You’re really insane.”
“I know. But hey, sis?”
“Speak.”
“If you felt repulsed by me just now, you’ll soon be disappointed in Alan too. You might not know, but Alan is actually similar to me. It’s not mockery; it’s the truth.”
“…”
What kind of nonsense was this?
Victoria furrowed her brow for a moment. Unconsciously clenching her fist, she distanced herself from her sister.
Siena just smiled as if she had expected it.
“I thought you would come out like this, Unnie.”
“Enough.”
“Of course, Alan isn’t the type to enjoy it like me. He just gets rid of it if he finds it annoying. And he doesn’t even suffer because of it. In a way, he might be a more twisted person than me.”
“…”
“He’s not cooperating with you now because he feels a great sense of duty. He’s probably just preemptively distancing himself because he thinks it will become a real nuisance if left alone. If you ask Alan himself, he probably won’t deny it.”
As if that would ever happen. Victoria shook her head. Knowing Sienna’s personality, Alan would have adapted reasonably well.
However, before evaluating Alan’s character, there was a question that came to mind.
‘Why is she saying this to me?’
Soon enough, Alan was someone under Sienna’s command.
Where in the world could you find a noble claiming that their subordinate’s personality was similar to theirs? What meaning did that have?
Of course, considering Alan’s value, it was understandable to strive not to be surpassed by others, but claiming to be like-minded was too strange.
At this moment, a suspicion arose in Victoria’s mind.
“You, by any chance.”
“By any chance, what?”
Sienna cheekily raised her head.
That behavior only heightened Victoria’s suspicion.
This was definitely not the attitude of dealing with a business partner. It wasn’t simply restricting to protect a capable subordinate. Even at this moment, Sienna, seemingly uneasy, was drumming her fingers on the table.
Yet, Victoria found it difficult to acknowledge the suspicion that came to mind.
‘Does Sienna genuinely care for others?’
It even seemed to be subtly tinged with a tender emotion.
Siena liking someone. Is that a reasonable thing to say?
It felt uncomfortable just to think that Siena, who didn’t even have affection for her family, had developed feelings for someone.
Victoria was speechless and bewildered for a while.
Siena seemed to have read the emotions that crossed her face and furrowed her brows.
“It’s not a problem that you need to worry about, sister.”
“It is a problem. If Alan, a valuable resource, gets hurt because of your capriciousness…”
“Anyway, it’s not like you’ve been using the honorifics lately, sister.”
“….”
“I’m sorry, but Alan won’t get hurt because of me. Even if I don’t attack in the first place, if I happen to make a mistake, Alan will take care of it. Maybe he’ll take care of it by burying me entirely.”
There was no denying it. Alan wasn’t someone who would easily be harmed.
After Victoria vaguely shook her head,
Siena suddenly turned serious and informed her.
“Sister, I’ll forgive you this time.”
“Forgive?”
“But be careful from now on. Don’t do anything that will cause unnecessary misunderstandings. …You know, my patience isn’t that strong. I let it go when Mom schemes, but if you do it too, I can’t guarantee it.”
“….”
Anyway, it’s not a big deal from your perspective, sister. Alan is just a talented individual to you. …From now on, whenever you need Alan’s skills, let me know through me. That way, we can maintain the harmony of the royal family that you like.”
After saying this, Siena got up.
She was unusually kind-hearted in her actions.
It was all about emptying a whole bowl of pudding and informing them kindly. She even had the generosity to let it slide this time.
However, Victoria’s gaze, left alone, was chillingly cold.
“It’s going to get noisier than I thought.”
It was just a matter of overlooking it, not fighting between sisters. Resolving the issue at the academy was the priority.
Of course, she would do her best in every way to avoid friction…
She had no intention of heeding her sister’s warning.
No, correction. She had absolutely no intention.