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Mondri crumpled the letter.

“Where in the world does such nonsense happen…!”

Sitting in the Chancellor’s Office, Mondri couldn’t help but explode in frustration.

The letter he had just read was from Arthur Ruelberta, the chairman of the university.

The content? A notice that the chairman position would be handed over to Tristan Ruelberta.

Yes. Just a notice.

No board meeting was called, and even the chancellor’s opinion wasn’t sought before the decision was made.

“Damn Ruelberta…”

Mondri not only crumpled the letter but also burned it into thin air, leaving no trace.

Of course, Mondri understood.

All the board members were loyal to the Ruelberta family.

Even if a board meeting had been called, the result wouldn’t have changed.

But at least they could have asked for his opinion once.

Even if he was just the acting chancellor, the chancellor is still the chancellor.

Mondri couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied with how such a significant matter was handled.

And of all people, that man becoming the chairman?

Mondri clutched his head.

“Tristan…”

An arrogant man who looks down on everyone in the world.

Even the authority of His Majesty the Emperor is threatened by him, the most dangerous man in the empire right now.

When Arthur was the chairman, he practically left the school’s operations alone, so Mondri didn’t have much trouble.

But if Tristan becomes the chairman, who knows what will happen?

“Tsk… He’s the spitting image of his father…”

Mondri clicked his tongue.

Back in the day, William Ruelberta was also an enigmatic figure.

At first, Mondri’s impression of him was that of a cold-eyed, intellectual-looking pretty boy.

But he was also a prodigy who, despite being cursed and lacking magical power, became a disciple of the sage Myohail, just like Mondri.

Originally, William couldn’t have been Mondri’s rival.

Unlike William, Mondri was a magician overflowing with talent.

Mondri had everything William didn’t.

Precision in magic, the power to control magical energy, and an abundant amount of internal magical power.

But Sage Myohail cherished William just as much as Mondri.

Just as Mondri had everything William didn’t, William also had things Mondri didn’t.

William had never wielded magical power, yet his knowledge of magic was profound.

He read and understood countless books on magical energy, and his knowledge reached a level where he could converse with Sage Myohail without hesitation.

Mondri found it unbearable.

That a half-baked kid, much younger and unable to use magic, was on the same level as him.

“I must look pretty ridiculous…”

Mondri sighed.

He wanted to ignore the reality that the son of the man he so despised would now reign over him.

Tristan, who inherited William’s cold, inscrutable gaze that Mondri so detested.

Though he hated to admit it, the power of the Ruelberta family was too great for Mondri to handle alone.

But now, Mondri had something to rely on.

“I should send a telegram to the Imperial Family…”

Just as Mondri was about to put pen to paper…

Knock knock.

A voice came from beyond the door.

“Chancellor, a guest has arrived.”

“A guest…? Who is it?”

“Yes. Princess Bella Izakhel requests an audience with you.”

“…!”

Mondri shot up from his seat.

Bella? The daughter of the Izakhel family, the most prestigious family in the country.

Why would she come to see me?

The question lingered briefly before Mondri instructed his secretary.

“Escort her in politely.”

“Yes.”

Mondri quickly tidied up the Chancellor’s Office with magic and prepared to receive the unexpected visitor.

Creak.

Soon, a stunning beauty with silver hair and a tall woman who seemed to be her attendant entered.

Mondri bowed his head respectfully.

“Welcome, Princess.”

“Thank you for receiving me on such short notice, Sir Mondri. I apologize for interrupting your busy schedule with the entrance ceremony approaching.”

Bella bowed her head even deeper.

Mondri waved his hands dismissively.

“Oh, no, no. I should be thanking you for visiting this old man. Haha. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Bella settled into the sofa.

Even the simple act of sitting exuded an indescribable elegance.

Truly deserving of the title of the empire’s most beautiful woman.

“Haha. It feels like it’s been so long since I last saw you. Was it at the banquet held at the Duke’s residence last year?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m glad to see you looking even healthier than then, Sir Mondri.”

Bella smiled softly.

Her smile was like that of a benevolent goddess, illuminating the surroundings.

Feeling uplifted by her smile, Mondri spoke.

“Thank you. You seem even more beautiful than the last time I saw you, Princess. Haha. But what brings you to this old man…?”

Mondri decided it was better to ask directly rather than beat around the bush.

To him, Bella Izakhel wasn’t someone to be wary of.

If it wasn’t a difficult request, Mondri was more than willing to oblige.

After all, owing a favor to the Izakhel family wasn’t a bad thing.

Bella looked at Mondri and spoke cautiously.

“It’s about… Is there still a spot for a special lecture this semester?”

“A special lecture…? Hmm… Please wait a moment.”

Mondri flicked his finger, and a neatly organized file flew out from a pile of documents.

The file unfolded in front of Mondri, who scrutinized it carefully.

“Hmm… There are many applicants this year, but most seem to have been rejected. The conditions for lecturing must be very strict, so most were probably eliminated during the screening process. So, there should be plenty of spots… Why do you ask?”

“If it’s not too late, I’d like to apply.”

“Eh? As a special lecturer?”

“Yes. I’d like to apply for a special lecture on swordsmanship.”

“Swordsmanship…!”

Mondri’s mouth dropped open at Bella’s unexpected words.

“Am I not qualified?”

“Oh, no! Of course not!”

Mondri visibly brightened.

“It would be a great honor for our university if you, the descendant of the sword master Alonso Izakhel, were to take on a special lecture.”

“Only as a special lecture.”

“That’s more than enough. In fact, I’d like to make a request. If it’s known that you’re giving a lecture, the number of students will surely overflow. Hahaha.”

“Thank you, Sir Mondri. For indulging my unreasonable request.”

“Such ‘unreasonable’ requests are always welcome. Hahaha.”

Mondri couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Special lectures at the university usually feature well-known popular lecturers.

But this year, not only were there no invitations, but even applicants were scarce. And then, Bella Izakhel showed up.

With her immense reputation as the daughter of a renowned swordsmanship family and a peerless beauty, her presence as a lecturer would undoubtedly draw significant attention.

And it would undoubtedly elevate the already prestigious Meikhael University even further.

Feeling inwardly delighted, Mondri suddenly had a question.

“But… This old man is curious. Is there a special reason you’re applying for a special lecture, Princess?”

“Well…”

Bella exchanged a glance with her bodyguard knight before speaking.

“I… want to become stronger.”

“Hmm…?”

Mondri’s eyebrows twitched with interest.

Bella continued slowly.

“I want to know where I stand. I’ve mostly wielded my sword alone until now, but I thought that if I crossed swords with students my age, I might gain some insight.”

“Hoho… A mindset akin to a seeker of the way.”

“Yes. Every swordsman is a seeker of the way.”

Mondri nodded deeply in agreement with Bella’s words.

“Hahaha. Well said. And you, Princess, are moving with such an honest reason. To become stronger… I, too, once felt that way.”

For a brief moment, Mondri’s expression turned bitter as he reminisced about the past.

“…I sincerely hope you achieve what you desire, Princess.”

At that moment, a fluttering sound came from outside the window.

Mondri cleared his throat.

“Ahem… So, is there anything else you need from me?”

“No, that’s all.”

“Then I should get back to work.”

Mondri stood up with a bright smile.

Bella responded with an even more elegant smile.

“Thank you for your help, Sir Mondri.”

“Hahaha… I’m glad this old man could be of assistance to you, Princess. Please take care on your way back.”

“Yes. I’ll see you again soon, Sir Mondri.”

After seeing them off with a smile, Mondri slowly opened the window next to his desk.

A pigeon, as if waiting, flew into the room.

“My, my… Have you been waiting long?”

“Coo, coo, coo.”

Mondri removed the note from the pigeon’s leg.

The small note bore the image of a deer with two faces, one gold and one silver.

It was a telegram from the Imperial Family.

The first since his audience with the Emperor.

Mondri carefully unfolded the note and read its contents, then froze.

“…Huh?!”

The contents were enough to leave Mondri utterly stunned.

 

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