Book 5: Chapter 4

Book 5: Chapter 4

Academys Lesson

Well then, lets go Aria.

Roger.

The academy had almost the same size like the capital. Here students were using something like public horse carriage to go around in group, but students from middle ranked noble house and above were permitted to use small carriage for their own use. I too got on a horse carriage for two people where the coach seat and the passenger seat were fused together. Then we headed toward the building where todays class would be held.

Elenas attire was called as category two uniform. Young ladies from high ranked noble houses were often seen wearing it. She was wearing a dress that didnt look too lovely and was order made for this day. On top of that she was wearing a crimson robe that was shaped like a mantel.

The general female students wore the category one uniform that reached until their calf and tights. But unlike them, I was wearing the category three uniform that reached until my ankle to show that I was serving a noble.

In this academy high ranked noble was permitted to walk around with two servants accompanying them, while a middle ranked noble could only bring one.

Of course, there were also those who ignored that rule and walked around with a lot of servants and guards to show off, but either way they couldnt bring them until inside the building, and Elena who was a member of the royal family that should serve as an example from everyone wouldnt do something like that.

That was why many high ranked nobles tried to have children of close age from their dependant to enroll into the academy to become their childs aide.

In case of Crown Prince Ervan last year, I heard that other than the servants who took care of his daily need, there were also two high ranked nobles in the upper year who served as his aides, then one person in the same year and one person in lower year who enrolled this year acting as his attendants.



In the academy Elenas servant wasnt just me alone. There were also a combat butler Joseph who had been taking care of Elena in the palace too, and a combat maid Chloe who I also knew very well. But Elena who had a lot of ties only brought a low ranked noble like me to be her aide as well as her close attendant.

Even though I was a low ranked noble, I lived in the same mansion with Elena as a maid, but there were ten royal guards taking shift to guard that mansion, so my main work was mainly when we were inside academy building where I stayed at Elenas side as [close attendant] as well as [bodyguard] as well as [classmate].

Aria.

The carriage ran through the path that was emptied by the people who moved aside when they noticed the princess was passing through. Then suddenly Elena spoke up.

Only his majesty know that my body is healed. Even so a member of the royal family has to display their capability inside the academy regardless of anything, so surely everyone will realize about my condition before long. When that happens, even the noble faction that is staying quiet right now might possibly start scheming again to make me their puppet.

She was speaking as though to summarize what we had talked about before.

For the time being I will move while keeping my aim to become the queen a secret. On paper it is Onii-sama who will become the next king. Right now this countrys internal situation will fall into chaos again like that time when a daughter of a viscount became the first queen if that stop being the case.

Then, why?

The way I said it was harsh, but if Elena thought about the country, she shouldnt aim to become the queen and kept assisting the crown prince just like before. That way this country wouldnt fall into chaos.

It was a good thing that Elenas body got healed butI looked at Elena with that feeling in my eyes. There she was smiling like an actress playing the villain role in theater.

Its simple, Ariaits because just like I dont trust that overly kind Otou-sama, I also dont trust Onii-sama.

His majesty couldnt hide his own feeling and made the viscount daughter who he fell in love with into the first queen. That caused an internal problem in the country that was still continuing even now. And then the crown prince who was raised by that first queen was also holding a similar problematic side in him. That was what Elena was thinking.

I will rule this country. But, the members of the noble faction will also realize quickly that I wont simply rule as they want me to. Also, if it become clear that I am attempting to pull down my brother the crown prince from his position, even the nobles in the conservative royal family faction who are my ally right now might turn hostile. Many people will become my enemy. In such situationwill you protect me Aria?

Those words were asked with a small mischievous smile. My expression didnt change and her figure was reflected on my eyes just for a moment.

Thats my job.

Youre cold like usual.

Elenas smile deepened a little bit even while saying that.

.

We arrived and entrusted the carriage to the buildings servant. I escorted Elena into the building. The moment we stepped inside, *murmur*the students around us started making noise.

Noble youths of certain rank would definitely knew how Elena looked, but they were making noise like this must be because none of them knew who I was even though I was someone staying at the princesss side. There were still a lot of people who didnt know about me seeing that I didnt appear during the opening ceremony.

A female student who was accompanying the princess by herself. Seeing that, several students who were keeping each other in check took a step forward, but their feet stopped moving when I lightly looked around at them. Elena chuckled a little seeing that.

Im glad youre at my side. I hate annoyance after all. Look at that Aria. They arent scared of you, instead they are captivated by you.

I wondered what she meant by that? I lightly glared at Elena because of her tone that was teasing me about something. Elena couldnt hold herself back anymore and covered her lips while chuckling.



.

Haa-!

*Bashi-!*

Elenas wooden sword struck the shield that the male student was holding.

We took lesson about government and economy that Elena wished for during the morning. After that we had lunch before taking the practical class for the first time.

The self-defense class mixed boy and girl together. Even if they had no close quarter combat skill, any female from high ranked noble house had been taught self-defense by their house, so none of them were complete amateur.

Even so there were still gap between students based on their physical ability, so it was vanishingly unlikely for a serious sparring match to be held between boy and girl, but girls who aimed to become a female knight or children from noble house that lived along the border should have the skill to at least defeat a wolf.

Splendid, your highness-

Thank you.

Elena finished the sparring match and wiped her sweat. The male student who blocked her attack as her sparring partner gave her his words of praise with blushing face.

That performance was enough for a princess. She had no need to obtain the Swordsmanship skill.

Elena could also make up some kind of excuse to skip the practical class if she didnt want the fact that her body had been healed to become known.

But the noble faction wouldnt stop with their interference no matter how much Elena wanted to pull away from them. In that case it would be better for Elena to display her own strength in order to show that being their puppet didnt suit someone of her caliber, and to win over as many allies as possible.

The country would fall into chaos if Elena tried to pull away as long as the crown prince Ervan hadnt changed.

Her body getting healed in that dungeon became the trigger for Elena to give up on her nave big brother. Elena had resolved herself to turn even her big brothers faction, the royal family faction that had outdated thinking into her enemy.

From here on Elena would gradually increase the number of students who followed her by displaying her cleverness and ability to take action, her kingly attributes in the academy. Such sign already started to appear from the male students who sparred with her just now and the other students who were watching.

But, odd fellows would also appear if Elena shined.

You there! I cant accept that someone of low birth like you can possibly have the ability to be her highnesss aide! Have a match against me!

I was waiting at the side while holding a towel for Elena to wipe her sweat with, without participating in the class. It was then a tall female student wearing knight uniform pointed her wooden sword toward me.

It happened unexpectedly soon. Elena and I had anticipated that this kind of situation would occur.

Her highness the princess who didnt even create a group of noble young ladies to be her hanger-on was walking around with only a single close attendant. If that close attendant was someone with age that was close to the princess, other people would guess that she was a candidate to be the princesss close aide in the future. In reality I had become a close aide of a princess who was aiming to become the countrys queen, so thing actually wasnt as simple as it appeared, but the surrounding didnt see it like that.

It seemed nobody knew about my background, but if they investigated a little then they should be able to quickly find that Baronet Laytons house only had a son before.

In other words, this person didnt find it amusing that the candidate to become the princesss close aide was an adopted daughter of a low ranked noble.

Now, what is your answer-, have a match against me!

The young lady from before sent a glance at Elena while raising her voice to provoke me.

If I remembered correctly, this girl had also gotten mentioned in the black ops documentshe is Lady Sandra, the daughter of Baron Mars I think.

Mars House belonged to the noble faction. During the war against the evil race several dozen years ago, they were recognized for their achievement and got promoted from low ranked noble into baron. They were a martial noble family.

The princesss close aide also served as her bodyguard. She must be thinking that even if she failed to remove me from my position, she might be able to show off her loyalty and strength and became one of Elenas close aide as a guardian knight.

That thinking in itself wasnt mistaken, but if she was a bit more prudent then she should also be able to notice the complicated situation surrounding the crown prince and the princess. Those who already realized that were contacting Elena secretly in order to avoid getting considered as enemy by the crown prince faction.

I turned my gaze toward Elena. Elena frowned while nodding wordlessly.

There was no point in making someone who couldnt read the situation to be her close aide. In the first place, there was no way Elena would choose someone who intentionally insulted the aide that the princess chose herself. After all she also didnt know whether this girl was doing this under her own volition or not.

W-wait a second!

The instructor in charge of the lesson noticed the commotion and came running.

But, even though he was an instructor he was just a former knight and a low ranked noble. Sandra came from Mars House that often produced high ranked knight. She was taking a bullish attitude toward the instructor.

Lady Sandra Mars, what are you doing! Doing something like a personal fight during class is-

No, teacher. This is about my pride and my way of living as a noble. Theres no way teacher cant understand that as a fellow noble cant you?

But still

Even then the instructor kept his stance against the barons daughter Sandra. He desperately tried to stop her. That instructor allowed me to not participate in the class because he knew my true strength. Perhaps he was just trying to stop her while actually it was to stop me.

But there someone who was completely unrelated made an interruption.

There should be no problem with this. Thats how exactly a daughter of Mars House, a noted martial family of our kingdom should act. She should be far more useful than the boorish woman over there. You dont mind do you, Elena?New novel chapters are published on

That person who butted in and concluded the talk as he pleased turned toward Elena and Sandra with a smile on his handsome face.

Prince Amor!?

The instructor kneeled on the spot, while Sandra instantly looked like a lovestruck maiden from the sudden appearance of the handsome young man before she hurriedly bowed.

Uncle, why are you here in the academy?



She will come here ignorantly? Oi, is the preparation finished?

Rudolph arrogantly reclined back while calling out to behind him. The man behind him was being told about something from his subordinate before he turned around with an awkward expression.

Young master. About that, is it possible to postpone the plan for a little bit?

What did you say? Gordon, what are you saying?

Rudolph glared at the man called Gordon, but the man shrugged nonchalantly. He was dressed in butler uniform as though he was a servant of Rudolph, but the man simply didnt look respectable no matter how one looked at him.

That pink haired girl, shes just too skilled for a studentI think. Im investigating her but, the information broker in the capital still hasnt sent me any report. That woman, isnt it possible that shes from black ops or something?

Hmph, what, Gordon. Is the thief guild scared of a new female student like that?

Gordon sighed, not because of Rudolphs provocative words, but for his rashness in exposing their true identity so lightly. Gordon wasnt alone here. Most of the aides that Rudolph brought with him werent even student. They were members of thief guild that were dispatched here.

In the past the territory of Count Heydale was a place that had great money circulation and also good public order, but the branch of assassin guild that they were working together with got destroyed, so the lawless people who didnt dare to approach until then because they feared the assassin guild flooded in to fill the empty slot. It made the public order of the territory became worse in the blink of eye.

Count Heydale considered that a serious matter and contacted the thief guild looking for bribe and the maintenance of the public order. With their help the public order was restored on the surface.

Other than that the thief guild also started a new business and a part of the profit from there was given to the count. With that the thief guild also became involved with even the territorys government. The territory became overflowing with money, but the number of thugs in the city started to increase and at present the territory of Count Heydale felt like it had a degenerate atmosphere hanging over it faintly.

I sent my subordinate to check that womans combat strength, so please wait until that guy at least come back. At worst I can also Appraise her when she come here but, I hope you can hold back from doing anything until then.

Gordon gave a passively negative opinion. It worsened Rudolphs mood.

Even if shes a bit skilled, you can just push her down with everyone here and use the magic drug on her. You already prepared it right?

Well, yeah I have.

Rudolph and his men, the members of thief guild were going as far as accompanying Rudolph to the academy was for the sake of the business that they were running in Count Heydales territoryselling an addictive drug called [magic drug]. They were trying to expand the drugs traffic route.

Magic drug could gave its consumer the feeling of intoxication and happiness with a cheap price. This drug was starting to spread mainly among the youths who couldnt enter into bar. It wouldnt be a problem if the drug was consumed in small dose, but consuming it in large amount would cause the user to become strongly addicted. Because of that the youths who had bright future ahead of them became agreeable to do illegal work that the thief guild prepared for them in order to obtain the drug. That was becoming the money source for the thief guild.

Drown that woman in magic drug. Ill make her into my woman then.

Rudolph laughed with a vulgar smile. Gordon let out a small sigh. Sandra too was someone who was currently getting addicted to the drug. She felt scared about the change to herself, even so she couldnt help but greedily stare at the magic drug that Gordon took out from his pocket.

.

So the one controlling the sale of magic drug is really the thief guild.

Everyone simultaneously lifted up their face when a womans voice suddenly spoke up.

Who!?

Where is she-!

The thieves looked around but then a breeze flowed and they turned around. There, that pink haired girl appeared from the darkness of the door that had been opened without any of them realizing it.

You

The moment he saw her figure, the expression of Gordon who was a resident of the underworld changed as though he was guessing something. But Rudolph was upset because someone witnessed his illegal dealing and immediately acted to silence the witness.

Capture her! Drug her until she cant think anymore!

He didnt order for her to be killed because he thought that he would be able to control her as he pleased after she got drugged to the gill. Rudolph still hadnt given up on his revenge and greed.

That was why he made such fatal mistake with his order.

Wait, you guys-!!

Some people reflexively moved into action from Rudolphs order. Gordon reflexively raised his voice when he saw that.

Gah!?

But that warning came a bit late. The girl who was wearing a uniform that reached until her ankle stepped forward as though she was gliding on the floor. Her hands thrust forward and pierced the neck of two men who were jumping her.

Before the men could crumple, she tossed them to the left and right while moving forward glidingly. She then grabbed the jaw of a nearby woman who couldnt react and twisted her neck right to the side till it snapped.

W-what!?

T-this bitch!

Several men and women pulled out their bladed weapons and leaped at the woman. Their mind was in panic and couldnt catch up with the situation, but they simply knew that they were under attack.

Stop, stop-!!

Gordon yelled to stop that, but his voice didnt reach the panicked people. One man had his throat pierced by the girls fingertips, another man got his crotch crushed with a kick, then the girl stepped forward and her palm heel crushed the ribs of the woman behind him.

Hih

A man was struck with terror seeing that, even so he rushed forward. The girls knee struck his face, then without pause her arm snaked around his neck from above and snapped it.

What is, this guy

That gruesome beauty of a murderer with her white fingertips soaked in blood made Rudolph stood stock still while groaning out his words. But Gordons thick arm suddenly went around Rudolphs neck from behind and he pointed his short sword on Rudolphs neck.

D-dont come over here! Ill kill this brat if you do!

Y-you, what are

Shaddup!! Im not gonna die just from going along with your play house! Shit, why the hell is this monster in an academy for the brats!

Gordon!?

This brat is still the heir of a high ranked noble no matter how stupid he is, itll be troublesome if he die right!? Get back!

Gordon was screaming in fear as though he was pleading.

If the heir of a high ranked noble from noble faction got killed inside the academy, even if he was from a declining house, it could become an excuse for the noble faction to ask the royal family to take responsibility and increased their momentum.

You too Sandra!! Is that sword on your waist just a decoration! Kill herrrrr!

Gordons mind was also incoherent. He told the girl to [back off] yelling at Sandra to [kill her].

Sandras mind was also in chaos. Being yelled like that and with the grudge that she nursed toward the girl, it pushed her to unsheathe her sword which was a live sword this time and she rushed her.

Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

*Gan!*

In that instant, Sandra heard the sound of her own chin getting smashed by the girls palm heel. She realized that the girl was already holding back even at that mock battle while falling down.

Sandras movement caused the girls figure to be blocked from Gordons sight for an instant. The moment Sandras back crumpled downthe girls figure vanished and Rudolph was kicked away from the side. Gordons thick arm was broken like a withered branch.

It all happened in just an instant.

But, Gordon couldnt even scream or spew out his resentment.

The pinkish blond hair of the girl who was standing with composure looked ashen from the buildings dust in the air that was reflecting the light. It reminded Gordon of that existence.

The existence that annihilated an assassin guilds branch, then crushed a militaristic branch of the thief guild. Anyone who knew about the underworld absolutely wouldnt dare to make enemy of either of these two guilds, but this existence did just that with the two guilds simultaneously and slaughtered everyone who was sent to take revenge on her.

If someone tried something with her, everyone would be slaughtered and their branch crushed together with them.

An existence that they mustnt laid their hand on

Ash Crowned Princess

Gordon muttered those words as though the end of the world had arrived. Hearing that, Rudolph who had heard from his father of the nickname of the culprit who annihilated an assassin guild couldnt stand anymore and leaned on the wall where he got kicked at while falling on his butt.

H-help

I wont kill you. But, dont misunderstand.

Rudolph looked like he had found hope for an instant, but the girl sent an expressionless glance at him before her jade colored eyes looked down on the fallen people icily.

Im arresting all of you as collaborators of the thief guild. Dont think that you can cover up your act of bringing in thieves inside the academy and endangering the princess like it never happened.

Rudolph looked up at the girl. Her figure was simply too terrifyingand beautiful.

Aria (Alicia) Race : Human Rank 4

Magic Power : 265/300 30 UPStamina : 234/250 40 UP

Strength : 10 (14) 1 UPEndurance : 10 (14) 1 UPAgility : 15 (22) 1 UPDexterity : 8

Short Sword Skill Level 4 1 UPMartial Art Level 4 1 UPThrowing Level 4 1 UPArchery Level 2 1 UP

Defense Level 4String Control Level 4



Light Magic Level 3Darkness Magic Level 4Non-Elemental Magic Level 4

Daily Life MagicMagic Power Control Level 4Pressure Level 4

Stealth Level 4Night Vision Level 2Search Level 4Poison Resistance Level 3Abnormal Status Resistance Level 1NEW

Simple Appraisal

Overall Combat Strength : 1152 (With Body Strengthening : 1440) 236 UP