I rested my hands on the table, and cupped my chubby cheeks, gazing up at Miss Richter.
Richter smiled at the curious glint in my eyes.
“Yes. I like him as much as I adore the Lady. Just like you, he was also very skilled in magic from the beginning. He wants to become a mana wielding knight and protect his favorite friend. Isn’t that cute? It’s a shame the boy could do even better if he entered the Academy.”
“Then I’ll go to the administration with you. I also want him to attend the academy.”
“What? Does the Princess know who that boy is?”
Richter laughed at what she thought was a child’s empty remark.
“Young Lady, do you want to make a friend? Then I’ll be your friend.”
“We’re already friends, and I want you to be my professor, Miss Richter. Then you can earn a lot of money and recommend new friends to the Academy!”
The pink eyes that sparkled like gems were reflected in Richter’s pupils.
Richter gazed at the innocent face of the girl, resembling a baby rabbit, and said with a hint of bitterness, “Young Lady, I told you, but…”
“Let’s go!”
I shouted, tugging at Miss Richter’s hand.
I said as we walked out of the Professor’s office, “Miss Richter, let’s visit the Professors!”
***
A storm swept through the Academy.
Emperor Robert, who had been at the center of the storm, appeared no different from usual.
But Professor Munich knew better.
‘His Majesty looks in a good spirit.’
Would you believe that that sordid face, the one that would make a normal person collapse in terror, was actually quite cheerful?
Judging by the briskness of his stride as he walked down the corridor, the Emperor was clearly in a cheerful mood.
Professor Munich pushed up his glasses and asked bluntly,
“Is His Majesty now pleased that you’ve kicked out the obnoxious Professor Frank and Ulrich Fork?”
The Emperor had long suspected that Professor Frank and the Forks were in cahoots.
He just lacked proof.
“I feel as if an aching tooth has been removed.”
The Emperor affirmed.
But there was another reason behind the smile.
Professor Munich soon realised why.
“I was at a loss as to how to deal with the fact that they had left no evidence, but Hanelope made it easier for me.”
“That’s right, she was better at magic than Ulrich Fork, which made the greedy Ulrich lose his cool and he acted recklessly.”
“Thanks to that, I got hold of evidence. We now have grounds to conduct a proper investigation. Soon, evidence of Professor Frank’s alliance with the Fork family will be found. Scoundrels! How dare they engage in such actions in my Academy.”
Even as he cursed, the Emperor’s face remained bright. It was because of Hanelope.
Professor Munich glanced at the Emperor furtively.
“Come to think of it, Princess Hanelope is truly remarkable. Not only is she intelligent, but she also seems to be quite helpful when needed.”
“Indeed. It’s too strange to be a coincidence. And it’s not the first time.”
– When Asta was assumed to have been poisoned,
– When Asta tried to frame the Duke of Moltke,
– Even when the Emperor was sick due to wrong medication,
Hanelope was the one solving these problems.
A child with pink eyes and cheeks as soft as pudding.
‘It is good that his Majesty is bad,’ the Emperor remembered Hanelope saying.
‘How bold! To say that in front of me! She’s got quite the nerve.’
She was trying to act stoic, but her white-knuckled fists were clenched. Hanelope was in fact terrified.
‘Yet, she managed to say everything on her mind… She’s really a lot like me.’
Suddenly, he wanted to see that chirpy and cute little crumb again.
“What is Hanelope doing now?”
“Does His Majesty want to see her?”
Professor Munich hit the nail on the head.
The Emperor snapped back to reality.
He was the owner of an empire. He didn’t have the right to give his heart away easily, even if it was his own flesh and blood.
The moment personal feelings are involved, the governing becomes weak.
The position of the Emperor was not to be trifled with.
“What do you mean by that? I found a talent after a long time, I just want to keep eyes on her and see her grow.”
The Emperor said coldly.
‘His Majesty sounds like someone with antisocial personality disorder.’
But Professor Munich knew that was not the case.
‘For a man who smiles at the thought of his grandchild, he is quite a complex charcter.’
But the Emperor himself will not easily realize this sentiment.
Wasn’t he the same Emperor who has never given his heart to anyone but the Duchess of Moltke and the dead Empress?
‘He was cold to his children, too.’
That’s why his relationship with Prince Hart soured.
Professor Munich did not think they could ever repair their relationship.
‘But..’
He remembered what Duchess Moltke had said to him after Hanelope’s admission to the Academy had been decided.
“She’s a very clever girl, and she’ll do well in any subject. Here, have a look at this material. This is what I’ve been teaching her. As you can see, she is good. You should definitely put her in an advanced class.”
“Why do you need to put her in an advanced class?”
“So that she can be noticed by the Emperor.”
“What?
“She’ll be the bridge between His Majesty and Hart, and I’m sure soon Hanelope will be his favourite. Count Munich, don’t you desire this too?”
“….…”
Professor Munich wanted to repay the favour to Hart.
When the remnants of the monarchy rebelled, Professor Munich was a part of the suppression team.
The second-in-command of the Knights Templar, to which Professor Munich belonged, was Prince Hart.
The commander was an elderly nobleman.
‘He kept giving the wrong orders, even against the wishes of his Highness.’
Eventually, the Templars were cornered.
Just when they thought they were going to die, Prince Hart made himself the bait and led the knights to escape.
‘If it hadn’t been for His Highness sacrificing himself, we would have been taken as hostages and soon be killed.’
Prince Hart did this to protect his soldiers.
He could have easily left the field to protect his life.
But instead of being rewarded for his actions, Prince Hart’s relationship with the Emperor has only grown more strained.
Munich, whose life was spared, rose to the rank of being one of the Emperor’s confidantes.
‘It was no use trying to mediate between the Emperor and His Highness, because Asta kept intervening.’
Professor Munich felt guilty. He had gained fame and fortune, but there was always a heavy burden in his heart.
It was his wish that the Emperor and Hart could be reconciled.
But the only person who agrees on this plan with him is the Duchess Moltke.
One day, the Duchess told him that the Prince’s illegitimate child would grant them their wish.
‘At first I didn’t believe her, I thought the childless Duchess Moltke had fallen for her grand-niece’s tricks. But now that I’ve seen Princess Hanelope in person, I can see why the Duchess said so.’
Of course, judging by Hanelope’s pretty face and bubbly behaviour, it’s no wonder the Duchess has taken a liking to her grand-niece.
Just then, the Emperor’s low chuckle was heard.
“Oh! here she comes,” he said, “She appears like a genie just when you call her name.”
From the other side of the corridor, Hanelope was striding over.
She held tightly to Richter’s finger, Professor Frank’s assistant.
“Your Majesty!”
Hanelope recognised the Emperor and smiled broadly.
The colour bloomed on her milky face, as she was glad to see him.
“Come here quickly.”
The Emperor gestured.
Richter stepped back, thinking it was not her place. Hanelope turned to look at her.
“Your Majesty, I’ll step aside, and the three of you can…”
“No. Miss Richter should come with us.”
“B-But I’m…”
“Richter, let’s go”, the Emperor said.
Richter was so surprised that her face turned white.
‘How does His Majesty know my name?’
She hadn’t realised that the Emperor was in control of the personal details of the Academy’s assistants.
Hanelope dragged a nervous Richter to stand before the Emperor.
“So. Why have you brought Richter here?”
“Your Majesty, I want Miss Richter!”
Hanelope chirped.
All the adults in the room were stunned.
Hanelope was not the kind of child who would ask something on a whim. She had a reason.
The Emperor asked, “Why do you want Richter?”
“Because I like Miss Richter.”
“Really? How much?”
Hanelope thought about it, then stretched out her arms as far as they would go.
“This much!”
“Just that?”
“Hmph…”
The Emperor’s rejection left Henelope devastated.
Undeterred, she bounced in her seat and spread her arms wider.
“Thh-ii-ii-ss-ss mu-chh-h!”
“It’s too little.”
“What can I do if my hands are short…”
Hanelope whined in frustration.
The Emperor stifled a laugh.
“Miss Richter is great at teaching. She knows magic well and handles everything better than Professor Frank. So why is she an assistant but not a Professor?”
Hanelope puffed her pink cheeks.
“That’s right. Why isn’t she a professor yet?”
The Emperor glared at Richter. Richter ducked her head in surprise.
“Well, I suppose can promote you to a professor now. Professor Frank was fired, and I was thinking of appointing a new professor, but Richter can fill the vacancy.”
I rested my hands on the table, and cupped my chubby cheeks, gazing up at Miss Richter.
Richter smiled at the curious glint in my eyes.
“Yes. I like him as much as I adore the Lady. Just like you, he was also very skilled in magic from the beginning. He wants to become a mana wielding knight and protect his favorite friend. Isn’t that cute? It’s a shame the boy could do even better if he entered the Academy.”
“Then I’ll go to the administration with you. I also want him to attend the academy.”
“What? Does the Princess know who that boy is?”
Richter laughed at what she thought was a child’s empty remark.
“Young Lady, do you want to make a friend? Then I’ll be your friend.”
“We’re already friends, and I want you to be my professor, Miss Richter. Then you can earn a lot of money and recommend new friends to the Academy!”
The pink eyes that sparkled like gems were reflected in Richter’s pupils.
Richter gazed at the innocent face of the girl, resembling a baby rabbit, and said with a hint of bitterness, “Young Lady, I told you, but…”
“Let’s go!”
I shouted, tugging at Miss Richter’s hand.
I said as we walked out of the Professor’s office, “Miss Richter, let’s visit the Professors!”
***
A storm swept through the Academy.
Emperor Robert, who had been at the center of the storm, appeared no different from usual.
But Professor Munich knew better.
‘His Majesty looks in a good spirit.’
Would you believe that that sordid face, the one that would make a normal person collapse in terror, was actually quite cheerful?
Judging by the briskness of his stride as he walked down the corridor, the Emperor was clearly in a cheerful mood.
Professor Munich pushed up his glasses and asked bluntly,
“Is His Majesty now pleased that you’ve kicked out the obnoxious Professor Frank and Ulrich Fork?”
The Emperor had long suspected that Professor Frank and the Forks were in cahoots.
He just lacked proof.
“I feel as if an aching tooth has been removed.”
The Emperor affirmed.
But there was another reason behind the smile.
Professor Munich soon realised why.
“I was at a loss as to how to deal with the fact that they had left no evidence, but Hanelope made it easier for me.”
“That’s right, she was better at magic than Ulrich Fork, which made the greedy Ulrich lose his cool and he acted recklessly.”
“Thanks to that, I got hold of evidence. We now have grounds to conduct a proper investigation. Soon, evidence of Professor Frank’s alliance with the Fork family will be found. Scoundrels! How dare they engage in such actions in my Academy.”
Even as he cursed, the Emperor’s face remained bright. It was because of Hanelope.
Professor Munich glanced at the Emperor furtively.
“Come to think of it, Princess Hanelope is truly remarkable. Not only is she intelligent, but she also seems to be quite helpful when needed.”
“Indeed. It’s too strange to be a coincidence. And it’s not the first time.”
– When Asta was assumed to have been poisoned,
– When Asta tried to frame the Duke of Moltke,
– Even when the Emperor was sick due to wrong medication,
Hanelope was the one solving these problems.
A child with pink eyes and cheeks as soft as pudding.
‘It is good that his Majesty is bad,’ the Emperor remembered Hanelope saying.
‘How bold! To say that in front of me! She’s got quite the nerve.’
She was trying to act stoic, but her white-knuckled fists were clenched. Hanelope was in fact terrified.
‘Yet, she managed to say everything on her mind… She’s really a lot like me.’
Suddenly, he wanted to see that chirpy and cute little crumb again.
“What is Hanelope doing now?”
“Does His Majesty want to see her?”
Professor Munich hit the nail on the head.
The Emperor snapped back to reality.
He was the owner of an empire. He didn’t have the right to give his heart away easily, even if it was his own flesh and blood.
The moment personal feelings are involved, the governing becomes weak.
The position of the Emperor was not to be trifled with.
“What do you mean by that? I found a talent after a long time, I just want to keep eyes on her and see her grow.”
The Emperor said coldly.
‘His Majesty sounds like someone with antisocial personality disorder.’
But Professor Munich knew that was not the case.
‘For a man who smiles at the thought of his grandchild, he is quite a complex charcter.’
But the Emperor himself will not easily realize this sentiment.
Wasn’t he the same Emperor who has never given his heart to anyone but the Duchess of Moltke and the dead Empress?
‘He was cold to his children, too.’
That’s why his relationship with Prince Hart soured.
Professor Munich did not think they could ever repair their relationship.
‘But..’
He remembered what Duchess Moltke had said to him after Hanelope’s admission to the Academy had been decided.
“She’s a very clever girl, and she’ll do well in any subject. Here, have a look at this material. This is what I’ve been teaching her. As you can see, she is good. You should definitely put her in an advanced class.”
“Why do you need to put her in an advanced class?”
“So that she can be noticed by the Emperor.”
“What?
“She’ll be the bridge between His Majesty and Hart, and I’m sure soon Hanelope will be his favourite. Count Munich, don’t you desire this too?”
“….…”
Professor Munich wanted to repay the favour to Hart.
When the remnants of the monarchy rebelled, Professor Munich was a part of the suppression team.
The second-in-command of the Knights Templar, to which Professor Munich belonged, was Prince Hart.
The commander was an elderly nobleman.
‘He kept giving the wrong orders, even against the wishes of his Highness.’
Eventually, the Templars were cornered.
Just when they thought they were going to die, Prince Hart made himself the bait and led the knights to escape.
‘If it hadn’t been for His Highness sacrificing himself, we would have been taken as hostages and soon be killed.’
Prince Hart did this to protect his soldiers.
He could have easily left the field to protect his life.
But instead of being rewarded for his actions, Prince Hart’s relationship with the Emperor has only grown more strained.
Munich, whose life was spared, rose to the rank of being one of the Emperor’s confidantes.
‘It was no use trying to mediate between the Emperor and His Highness, because Asta kept intervening.’
Professor Munich felt guilty. He had gained fame and fortune, but there was always a heavy burden in his heart.
It was his wish that the Emperor and Hart could be reconciled.
But the only person who agrees on this plan with him is the Duchess Moltke.
One day, the Duchess told him that the Prince’s illegitimate child would grant them their wish.
‘At first I didn’t believe her, I thought the childless Duchess Moltke had fallen for her grand-niece’s tricks. But now that I’ve seen Princess Hanelope in person, I can see why the Duchess said so.’
Of course, judging by Hanelope’s pretty face and bubbly behaviour, it’s no wonder the Duchess has taken a liking to her grand-niece.
Just then, the Emperor’s low chuckle was heard.
“Oh! here she comes,” he said, “She appears like a genie just when you call her name.”
From the other side of the corridor, Hanelope was striding over.
She held tightly to Richter’s finger, Professor Frank’s assistant.
“Your Majesty!”
Hanelope recognised the Emperor and smiled broadly.
The colour bloomed on her milky face, as she was glad to see him.
“Come here quickly.”
The Emperor gestured.
Richter stepped back, thinking it was not her place. Hanelope turned to look at her.
“Your Majesty, I’ll step aside, and the three of you can…”
“No. Miss Richter should come with us.”
“B-But I’m…”
“Richter, let’s go”, the Emperor said.
Richter was so surprised that her face turned white.
‘How does His Majesty know my name?’
She hadn’t realised that the Emperor was in control of the personal details of the Academy’s assistants.
Hanelope dragged a nervous Richter to stand before the Emperor.
“So. Why have you brought Richter here?”
“Your Majesty, I want Miss Richter!”
Hanelope chirped.
All the adults in the room were stunned.
Hanelope was not the kind of child who would ask something on a whim. She had a reason.
The Emperor asked, “Why do you want Richter?”
“Because I like Miss Richter.”
“Really? How much?”
Hanelope thought about it, then stretched out her arms as far as they would go.
“This much!”
“Just that?”
“Hmph…”
The Emperor’s rejection left Henelope devastated.
Undeterred, she bounced in her seat and spread her arms wider.
“Thh-ii-ii-ss-ss mu-chh-h!”
“It’s too little.”
“What can I do if my hands are short…”
Hanelope whined in frustration.
The Emperor stifled a laugh.
“Miss Richter is great at teaching. She knows magic well and handles everything better than Professor Frank. So why is she an assistant but not a Professor?”
Hanelope puffed her pink cheeks.
“That’s right. Why isn’t she a professor yet?”
The Emperor glared at Richter. Richter ducked her head in surprise.
“Well, I suppose can promote you to a professor now. Professor Frank was fired, and I was thinking of appointing a new professor, but Richter can fill the vacancy.”
