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It was raining.
The rain wasn’t that strong, but the water droplets, on the windows, looked like tears shed by the spirits. The entire academy was filled with this gloomy mood.
And inside the student council room,
*Bang!!!*
*Crack!!!*
“Fuck…!”
Prince Albert was hitting his own desk, until it barely could stand another hit.
His hair looked messy and he had huge bags under his eyes.
Bianca and Natalia couldn’t calm him down even if they wanted. It seemed like something broke inside him, and no one could fix it.
But,
“It’s unusual to see the ‘Oh Mighty Prince’ so destroyed like this.”
Oscar seemed to be, at least, normal…… or any equivalent to the word “A**hole” that you could find.
“…Sorry, I don’t have the time to play with you right now, Oscar. Oh, and could you get the fuck out? You’re ruining my mood just by being there.”
You could see in Albert’s expression, that he wasn’t okay at all.
But Oscar didn’t care.
“My bad… for not caring about your mental issues.”
It was a sincere apology…… or something like that?
The two of them became a bit more friendly with each other, after the incident… with the exception of Oscar continuous sarcasm.
It’s been three days since the presentation that shook the entire empire.
But, because of Albert’s quick actions, further unrest wasn’t spreading over to the population and any culprit that remained was put behind bars, or executed.
As for Harlet, all the people inside the auditorium were witnesses of his crimes. He and his minions where properly arrested and/or executed.
All of the students involved were investigated, arrested and/or executed too, based in their involvement with the incident that day.
Furthermore, an agreement was officially signed. The royalty, high nobles, lower nobles and commoners had, right now, the same social standings inside of the academy. And as the representative of the common people – Lower nobles and commoners – Oscar was awarded a seat in the student council.
And, one of the privileges for being in the student council, was that Oscar could come and go whenever he wants, without any repercussions.
The auditorium was fixed instantly with the power of the royal family.
The truth was revealed, the person responsible was punished, and the damage was repaired.
And, as of the third day after the incident, everything was back to normal.
Except one thing… .
Leonora von Harkenberg went missing.
When the ceiling collapsed, everyone thought they would find her… dead. But this wasn’t the case anymore.
They searched everywhere, but they couldn’t find her. The search parties even went to Richard, Leonora’s hometown, but they found nothing.
“Where the Hell are you… . ”
The fireplace in the back of the room was crackling with enthusiasm, as if it were a substitute for Albert’s own lack of emotions right now.
The room became silent after they heard his monologue.
The moment the ceiling collapsed, a flash of white light dyed the entire auditorium. The girl was never found, not even under the rubble.
And Albert, who was hugging her close to his body while escaping thorough the backstage exit, to protect her, was surprised to see the same girl running in the opposite direction.
The same could be said for Oscar.
But, exactly because the both of them had good brains, that they could imagine what really happened to her.
Leonora von Harkenberg probably used a teleportation spell, to escape at the last second and save everyone inside the auditorium in the process.
(At that time, she was holding this coin……)
It would pained his heart, to remember her last smile.
(The dragon mark is a mass of magic power. The magic was aimed toward the people with the most magic power. And besides me, no one had that amount of magic power…… except her. And I never told her about the coin being a mass of magic power)
No… maybe she knew that for a long time now. She just never told me.
And because she knew that…… this happened.
Her face hugging the gold coin was solemn.
She accepted the consequences, smiled and embraced the coin.
Albert felt ashamed and dirty to think, only for a second, that she would steal the coin from him. But the moment he understood her real intentions, it was already too late.
“At… her last moments…*Sob*…she begged for help…*Sob*…”Help… . ” She said… She is always like this… forcing a smile… when she… is actually scared…*Sob*…always, always, always… thinking about…*Sob*…other people first… . ”
Every one in the room made a pained face, even Oscar.
“It’s my fault… because of me, she–”
“–It’s not your fault, prince Albert… . ”
Every one heard the voice of a young boy. His voice was even more sorrowful than the prince.
It was Kai, who had been at the corner of the room all this time.
“I am sorry to say, but, my master… Leonora-sama, knew about her own fate even before the presentation.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Oscar inquired.
Kai looked down with moist eyes.
“Leonora-sama was feeling depressed as the presentation day approached. But, at the morning of said day… it became even worse, she kept staring at the mirror for a long time… . ”
Bianca leaned forward and said: “It’s normal for a noble woman, as herself, to look in the mirror for–”
But Kai wasn’t over just yet.
“–I think you all know, but… Leonora-sama has the Harkenberg amethyst eyes… they see the truth.”
Everyone was shocked.
If you were to look at your own reflection with those eyes, you could see your own future.
Albert remembered that, before her presentation, Leonora said: “The church try to steal your important things.”
“No, maybe she was aware of that even before the presentation. She asked for my help some time ago… she wanted to go to Richard… for reasons unknown to me.”
The others were stunned. They asked Oscar to explain, but they where all in the same boat.
“Why she wanted to go there… . ”
“Don’t ask me, I only did what was requested of me in exchange for her hair, to cure my sister. But looking back, maybe she wanted to go gather more evidence, before she could expose Harlet.”
And, when Oscar mentioned that they had been meeting inside the church, since the day she gave away her hair, it made Albert think about everything that happened.
He felt that all the puzzle pieces were finally fitting together as one.
Why she went to the church everyday if she was that terrified just by being there?
Surely it was not only to secretly meet Oscar, but also to find more evidence and to bring the church down.
(Maybe she was aware of Harlet’s plans since then…)
On the day of the presentation, when all the students became the prisoners of that evil scheme, she would expose everything there.
If this is really the truth, it explains why she never wanted to attend Harlet’s lectures before.
Maybe, it was way back then when we went to see the paintings. She knew the normal populace was becoming dissatisfied with our way of doing things.
“Leonora… . ”
A girl who is intelligent, understands the Elantic language, and can grasp the hearts of the entire population.
She, who is pure, but really sharp and can see the truth, was trying to face the schemes of those evil bastards all alone to save everyone, even though some of them don’t even deserve to be saved.
Why didn’t you tell us?
Why didn’t I notice her strong determination?
This severe regret was chewing apart Albert’s heart.
However, the prince felt something well up inside him, he wouldn’t give up so soon.
But, Kai was still trying to lift up Albert’s mood, who was tightly holding his fists.
“There may have been a lot of signs. But I didn’t even notice it. Leonora-sama even told me-…! No, forget it, it’s not that important. But I’m sure we will fin–”
Kai’s voice was mixed with tears, maybe he remembered something about her that made him cry.
“It’s okay, Kai. It’s okay.”
Albert got closer to Kai and held him in a hug. Even though he is a servant, but he was still a 13 years old boy. ( Tl/n: Not sure if it’s 13 or 14, but he is the younger one after Leo)
“You don’t have to be strong all the time, you can cry too… . ”
In this dim room, heated by the fireplace, Kai’s sorrow echoed.
When Kai stopped crying, Albert raised his face to look at the other people in the room.
“Natalia, Bianca and Oscar.”
“Onii-sama… . ”
“Albert… . ”
“What?” *Monotone*
The three of them answered Albert in a serious tone…… except Oscar, as always.
Albert wasn’t gloomy anymore, instead, you could see a strong determination coming from him.
“I need you guys cooperation with something.”
His sharp blue eyes were emitting life, like never before. Such was his determination.
*Whisper*
“So the annoying prince is finally back… . ”
And while looking at everyone’s eyes, Albert said:
“I will perform the enrollment ceremony again.” ( Tl/n: The ceremony were they summon the students which are still 12 years old and have magic power)
“Wow, seriously!?”
Oscar was puzzled. And although the other two were similarly confused, they didn’t let it show on the surface.
“Why now…?”
Natalia asked.
“The enrollment ceremony works on every 12 years old, with magic powers, out there.”
“That means–!”
“–We will be able to summon her again, if she’s still alive.”
“Why didn’t I come up with something like this sooner!?”
And Bianca who was watching until now, without saying anything, said with a big smile:
“Last time, a High Monk was the one who performed the ceremony, but since every single one of them is behind bars, we can perform the ritual by ourselves.”
“Yes, and I’ll give the notice to the high noble students and the parents. Some of them will be summoned for the second time, so if some of them say no, let me handle it.”
Said Natalia, cracking he fingers.
“And I’ll deal with the lower nobles and the commoners.”
Oscar was filled with fighting spirit.
The place became lively all at once.
Albert narrowed his eyes toward Oscar. It wasn’t a look filled with hate, but affection.
Royalty and common people.
The ruler and the ruled.
The two sides that away fought with one another, were trying to unite for a noble cause.
(And all of this is thanks to you, Leonora…)
Albert once again felt the importance of the girl inside his own heart.
“Thank you–”
Albert uttered this naturally.
“–And I’m sorry.”
“The prince is…?”
Oscar appeared to be, a bit, embarrassed with the sudden, but sincere, apology.
Albert was thinking about the girl with black hair.
“The Old Blood is like a poison to the normal people. Even if Harlet was the one who started all of those fights, I as the crown prince, should have explained it properly to you first. And that’s why… I’m sorry.”
“So it was poisonous, huh… . ”
Oscar bit his own lips, because he almost poisoned his dear sister.
“It was my responsibility… to explain those things to you and to cease the infighting in the academy. And because I was so stupid… Harlet messed with our feelings as he pleased.”
What Albert was saying was full of good will. You could see in his eyes that he wasn’t lying.
Oscar Looked back toward Albert.
“Yes–
And told him that.
“It was your responsibility… but in theory, it’s also my responsibility as well.”
They both smiled to each other.
Oscar was regretting all of those fights as much as Albert.
After all, part of his group was responsible for almost killing every student in the academy and their parents, during the presentation. What Oscar was planning to do, during the presentation, was just harassment toward Albert, like exposing his mistakes and some embarrassing past experiences of his life. He wanted to destroy Albert’s public image, not Albert himself. And because of his lack of control toward his own faction, Leonora could already be dead.
If Oscar wasn’t so stubborn, maybe all of this never happened. And the girl would be safe.
“I too am sorry, Albert. But we have something even more important to do right now.”
“Oscar… . ”
*Whisper*
“Hey Natalia-nee, Oscar-senpai is actually a good person, right?”
“Shhhh! Not so loud.”
And with a cheeky grin, Oscar extended his right hand toward Albert.
“In the name of Leonora.”
In these occasions, people tend to swear in the name of the spirits.
Albert blinked his eyes for a while.
However, he immediately understood the meaning of this and extended his right hand too.
“Yes, in the name of Leonora.”
They both smiled at each other.
Later, the “Gold Coin King Albert,” would be the one to bring the most prosperity for the Weiz Empire, and a merchant by the name of Oscar Bernstein, would be the one to help him attain such legacy.
And the first time these two men shook hands, would mark the turning point for the history of the empire and the world, for a millennia to come.
Natalia, Bianca and Kai couldn’t help but watch this scene with wide smiles.
At this moment, history finally moved forward.
Leonora von Harkenberg, The Altruistic Saintess and The Bringer of Miracles. This legendary figure appeared for the first time here, in this academy.
Everyone present in that room, for the first time ever, vowed something in her name. And many more would come.
After everyone left the room.
Albert was left alone staring at the fireplace.
Every time the blazes flickered, the gold coin would shine with a orange glow.
He remembered the ceiling that fell toward Leonora at that time.
The next emperor stared at the coin and traced his fingers on it. The coin was the only thing left bellow the rubble, it was like a charm left by the girl.
“Leonora, if you manage to come back safely, then…… . ”
‘At that time, with all of my power, I will never let you go again.’ Thought Albert.
The attachment he felt toward Leonora was out of this world. He lived his whole life without expecting anything from other people. But that girl was different, she gave him so many good things, and he couldn’t repay her.
That’s why he swore to never let her go again.