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The next day, as soon as Wendy, fully recovered, peeked into the classroom, she was met with a tight hug from Sia.

“Si, Sia… I can’t breathe…”

“No. I won’t let go. I was really… really worried about you.”

Sia’s eyes grew moist as she tightly embraced Wendy.

Just thinking about that time still made her heart race.

Wendy and the students had been swallowed into a barrier with a loud noise.

Even to her knowledgeable eyes in magic formulas, this barrier was unusual.

Its complexity and sturdiness were unmatched by any barrier she had seen before.

The situation was dire.

Even Professor Ariel Rizeute, a pioneer in magic formula research, and other professors couldn’t handle it recklessly.

As time dragged on, Sia couldn’t help but feel anxious.

After all, it was her best friend Wendy who was trapped inside.

If it had been Sia from the beginning of her enrollment, she might have secretly been pleased.

She had been jealous of Wendy, who had taken the top spot from her for the first time.

But Wendy was a kind girl. She had a good heart, even shielding Sia, who had swung her staff recklessly.

She felt foolish for being jealous of such a girl.

“Wait. I’ll definitely find a way to save you…”

Before it was too late, Sia decided to ask her father, Odell, for help.

With Odell’s connections as the Empire’s Prime Minister, they might be able to bring in skilled Royal Court Magicians. They could surely find a way to resolve this situation.

But… Sia’s determination was in vain as the barrier burst into flames.

Her mind went blank.

The sight of faculty members shouting to evacuate and students hastily fleeing.

Amidst the chaos, Sia witnessed an unbelievable scene.

A man emerging from the flames, carrying an unconscious girl in his arms.

Recalling that moment, Sia couldn’t help but choke up and wipe away her tears.

“Really… are you okay now?”

“Yep. The Chairman called healers, so I’m completely fine now. Hehe…”

“That’s a relief… really a relief…”

After checking on each other, the two headed to a corner of the classroom.

A girl who had been burying her face there looked up at the sound.

“Ah… long time no see, Wendy.”

“Luna…? Are you okay?”

“Ugh… I didn’t sleep well last night…”

Luna stretched as she spoke.

Her appearance, with dark circles under her eyes, was a perfect match for Wendy, who had stayed up all night studying for exams.

“By the way, speaking of last night…”

At that moment, Sia suddenly remembered something and spoke up.

“Last night, the Chairman had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Wha…?!”

Wendy’s head shot up in surprise.

“The Chairman?”

“Yes. This is a secret, but my father came back late last night from the Imperial Palace and told me.”

Sia glanced around to make sure no one was listening before continuing.

“…The Chairman had a private meeting with His Majesty.”

“A private meeting?”

“It seems His Majesty has recognized the Chairman as one of the Seven Stars.”

Though Wendy, a commoner, didn’t know the details, she understood that having a private conversation with the Emperor was an immense privilege.

“…Isn’t that amazing?”

“Amazing indeed. I can’t even guess what the Chairman said to persuade His Majesty.”

“No way. They probably just pitied him and gave him special treatment.”

“Huh?”

It was Luna who had spoken.

Realizing she had said something incomprehensible, Luna hastily waved her hands.

“Ah? Ah, no, it’s not like that, I just heard it somewhere…”

“Heard it?”

“Ah, our family has some connections with the Imperial Family… Ahahaha…”

Luna laughed awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.

Like Wendy, Luna was also a student hiding her family background.

Perhaps her family was connected to the Imperial Family, as she had said. Convinced, Sia whispered again, as if bringing up a serious topic.

“We’ll have to wait and see, but there might be changes in the relationship between the Ruelberta Family and the Imperial Family. Maybe-.”

Creak.

At that moment, the classroom door opened, and in walked Professor Ariel Rizeute.

The clicking of her high heels echoed through the classroom.

“Everyone, pay attention.”

The students looked at her curiously.

Today’s first class was on the History and Records of Magic, which wasn’t her subject.

“There’s an announcement for all of you. The results of the midterm exams you took recently are out.”

The students in the classroom buzzed with excitement.

“From now on, I’ll call out names, and those students should come up to receive their report cards.”

“Professor!”

A bold-looking female student raised her hand towards Ariel.

It was Rachel, who claimed to be Sia’s rival.

She asked in a clear voice.

“Who got first place in the exam?”

That was something not just Rachel but all the freshmen present were curious about.

Like any university, at Meikhael University, getting excellent grades increased the chances of receiving a scholarship next semester.

Especially the top student would have their name posted on the school bulletin board for everyone to see.

This could greatly influence their future career choices after graduation.

It was an opportunity for their names to be remembered by the Imperial Family and influential noble families of the Empire.

Knowing this, Ariel chuckled at Rachel’s question.

“Alright. Since you’ll all find out eventually, I’ll tell you.”

The students all perked up their ears.

Wendy’s heart pounded as she waited for the words to come out of Ariel’s mouth.

“The first place is…”

*

“Phew…”

I was doing handstands in the Chairman’s office, bending and straightening my arms.

Sweat beaded on my forehead.

Lately, I’ve gotten used to exercising in the office due to being busy.

As I lost weight, I started gaining a lot of muscle.

The more I exercised, the more ambitious I became.

I wanted to make this lazy body even more perfect.

It’s already great, but my goal is still ahead. I wish I had some protein.

“Is this the Emperor’s gift?”

At Helga’s question, I lifted my head while still in a handstand.

What she was looking at was a small crystal box.

Inside it was a piece of semi-transparent black fabric.

“Gloves…?”

“Yes. The gloves the Emperor used.”

It’s quite a ridiculous sight.

The crystal box is probably more valuable than the gloves.

But there’s only one reason I keep those gloves so carefully.

“I decided to keep them as a family heirloom.”

“Huh?? This…?”

Helga asked again with a look of disbelief.

I agree with her thoughts.

Who would keep something like this as a family heirloom?

But a promise is a promise.

It’s good to at least pretend to keep it as a heirloom.

“Hmm. I see… So that’s how it is.”

Helga made a subtle expression, glancing between the gloves and me.

Then, as if she noticed something, she muttered softly.

“Ah… another run.”

There was a run in Helga’s stocking.

“Excuse me for a moment~.”

Helga flopped onto the office sofa and started struggling to take off her boots.

Her skirt flipped up, revealing her carefree appearance, and I clicked my tongue.

“Helga. Act a bit more decently.”

“Kukuku… Don’t worry. I’ll only show this side to you, Count.”

“That’s not the issue.”

Helga chuckled and threw off her boots.

She then reached for her thigh to pull down her stocking but stopped.

“…Count, would you like to see?”

“I won’t look.”

“Tch…”

Helga pouted and pulled off her run stocking.

As she changed into a spare stocking, she quietly spoke.

“…Come to think of it, I started wearing these stockings because I didn’t want to show you my scar… But now it’s the opposite.”

“Opposite?”

“Yes. I just… want to show only you. My bare legs. So now I don’t want to show them to others, that’s why I wear these stockings.”

I see…

I wondered why she still wore black stockings…

Helga preferred outfits that emphasized her legs, as she was confident in them.

As she said, she usually wore a military coat, covering her legs, but when alone like this, she often showed her defenseless side.

I bent and straightened my arms as I spoke.

“But… if you don’t want to show others, why not just wear pants?”

“Sorry, but I never wear manly clothes like pants. And Count, a woman’s heart is complicated. Hehehe…”

It’s not just complicated; I don’t get it at all.

If I nitpick, I feel like a dad scolding his teenage daughter about her skirt length, so I decided to keep my mouth shut.

Helga, now wearing new stockings, crossed her slender legs before putting on her boots.

“Ta-da! This is my complete form!”

But I found her face, giggling like a mischievous girl, more charming than her legs.

“Ah. Count, you’re not reacting at all. I’m so sad. I’ll go to the bathroom and cry.”

Helga, now wearing her boots, pretended to cry and got up from the sofa. As she was about to leave, I called her back.

“Stop there.”

“…Yes?”

I stopped the handstand and got up.

“Helga.”

“Yes, yes…?”

I wiped the sweat off my upper body with a towel and spoke to her.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“What do you mean…?”

Helga tilted her head.

I couldn’t help but admire her acting skills.

“Playing dumb, huh.”

I picked up the crystal box on the desk.

And handed it to Helga.

“Open it.”

“Huh? Why? You already opened it earlier…”

“Open it.”

“……”

Under my pressure, Helga finally opened the crystal box.

I held up the piece of black fabric inside and spoke.

“Tell me what this is.”

What I held in my hand wasn’t the Emperor’s gloves but Helga’s stocking.

“Ah, oh my… Count, you really… took the one I was wearing…”

Helga blushed and avoided my gaze.

Her shamelessness made me sigh.

“Don’t swap things out on your own.”

“Ahahaha… If you’d keep mine as a heirloom too…”

“Helga.”

“Yes, yes…? What, what is it? Count…?”

I threw the stocking at Helga, who was sweating profusely, and commanded.

“You’re banned from wearing skirts for a week.”

This was the punishment; she’d have to wear only pants for a while.

But Helga shouted with a strange mix of joy and embarrassment.

“What?! Are you telling me to wear nothing underneath?! Such indecency… no, such a reward…?!”

No, you idiot.

 

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