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“W-wait! Isn’t that your gold coin!?” – Yelled Natalia, in a tone of disbelief.
She then stood up in a hurry and inspected the coin with Albert, but the two of them couldn’t say anything, they just kept staring at the coin like they were in a trance. Until, of course, Natalia gathered her courage, and asked–
“–I-is this… the real deal?”
“Yes… it’s the real deal.” – Answered Albert, in a grim tone.
But then, as if to lighten the heavy mood that was assaulting the two of them–
*Knock* *Knock*
“Hmm, excuse me∼, I’m here to talk about tomorrow’s field trip for the Primary Students .”
–Bianca entered the room.
However, even though her tone was carefree, she instantly noticed the heavy mood inside the room.
“Hmm… w-what’s going on here…?”
There was moment of silence between the three of them. But Albert didn’t want to make his little sister worried, so he smiled, like he usually did, and said–
“–There’s nothing going on. We were just talking about politics. So, can I help you with something?”
Bianca was the representative of the younger students. And, most of the time, she was also the one who had to deliver the weekly reports to the student council.
“Oh, right. I’m here to talk about tomorrow’s field trip and to deliver the usual reports.”
“Tomorrow’s field trip? Are you guys * going somewhere?” – Asked Natalia, in a surprised tone.
It was the first time she heard about that, so she was a bit curious.
( *Tl/n: She’s talking about the Primary Students here, but Guys was better, so I changed it.)
Frankly speaking, Bianca didn’t have to consult them in maters related to the primary students. However, there was something about the field trip that was bothering her.
“We’re going outside of the academy to study. But Leonora wasn’t really that interested in going out with everyone… she was a bit gloomy. That’s why I came here to consult with you two.”
“Leonora was gloomy?” – Asked Albert, in a worried tone.
“Yeah. We were drinking tea together, but when I mentioned the field trip, she became a bit sad.”
“Maybe she just doesn’t like going outside?”
Many sheltered young girls hated going outside, so Natalia had a point… but that wasn’t the case with Leonora.
“No, Leonora isn’t like that. She likes to walk around the premises of the academy and to play with the water of the main pond. She’s a girl that likes nature–”
Bianca wasn’t wrong, Leo really liked to walk around the academy, but that’s just because he was scavenging for things that other noble kids had dropped, like small coins and other things. Leo also liked to pay regular visits to the main pond of the academy, but he wasn’t going there to play, he was actually trying to catch the expensive fish living there. However, to the onlookers, he looked like a goddess of nature that had descended to the mortal helm.
“–She’s also a dedicated student, but… she didn’t attend today’s magic recital, which is a bit weird, since she doesn’t miss her classes anymore–”
When he heard that, Albert had a realization.
On the day of the sorcery presentation, she was also a bit gloomy, so maybe the coin coming back to him was a sign that something serious was going on.
“–And when I asked why she didn’t want to attend the recital, she said: “Because I’m running out of time.” Which made me a bit worried.”
“…Bianca, can you show me where are you guys going for this year’s field trip?” – Asked Albert; his tone was more serious than normal.
“Y-yes, please wait a moment–”
Bianca was a bit overwhelmed by Albert’s sudden change of tone, so she placed the reports on top of the coffee table in a hurry and opened the map that she had brought with her.
“–T-this is our destination… the Korwitz Forest. It’s near Richard, so it only takes two days by carriage to get there.” – Said Bianca, as she pointed to their destination on the map.
The Korwitz Forest was a beautiful and dangerous place, sandwiched by two large rivers, and located to the far north of Richard. Well, most of it was uncharted territory, so people rarely went there. Besides, the steep mountains didn’t help either.
“If you don’t enter the forest, it won’t be a proper field trip, but if you go too far into the forest, it’ll be too dangerous… that’s quite the predicament, huh?”
The field trip was “extracurricular activity,” with the purpose of making the students learn more dangerous spells. After all, causing an explosion on the premises of the academy was a bit off the charts.
Nevertheless though, destroying too much nature was also off the charts, since that could evoke the wrath of the spirits.
But that’s precisely why they always brought a skilled priest with them, after all, someone had to appease the spirits if something happened.
“This field trip is mainly a dragged out picnic, so it won’t be as dangerous as a normal one. But because this is a field trip for students only, neither I, nor Kai, will be able to stay by her side, since he’s her butler and I’m the head of the primary students… which means, I’ll have to lead everyone… but I’m worried about her–” – Said Bianca, in worried, and sad, tone.
In truth, Bianca was worried about Leonora, but she couldn’t enter the student council room for no reason, so she used the I’m just bringing the reports excuse, to talk to the two most reliable people she knew.
“–So please help me, Onii-sama, Natalia Nee-sama… . ”
It was an honest plea regarding Bianca’s best friend, so the two didn’t even have to consider it before accepting her request—
“Of course we’ll help you, Bianca—”
—However, the little princess had given up too soon.
“—But she’s your friend, so you two should sit down and talk about what’s going on. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll intervene, okay?”
“I agree with Natalia. You’re her friend, Bianca, so you have a way better chance of making she open up to you, than we do.”
“B-but she gave me a vague answer the last time I tried to talk to her, so I thought she’d rather talk with Onii-sama, or Natalia Nee-sama instead.”
“No… I have a hunch that she’d rather talk to you.” – Said Albert, with his usual friendly smile.
However, Natalia knew that, behind that smile, Albert was feeling a severe heartache.
“Well… if you say so, Onii-sama, then I’ll do my best to make her open up to me–”
Bianca still wanted some help to make Leonora open up, but if doing that on her own was easier, then she would, at the very least, try again.
“–Hmm, but I wonder if she already went back to her room…? She was mumbling something about needing to have a talk with Gustav-sensei, after all.”
“What did you say–?” – Said Albert, in a low, and surprised, tone.
“O-Onii-sama? What’s wrong?”
“–No way… is she really-!?”
Albert had a scary expression on his face while he pondered about something. But, after thinking for little bit, he finally reached an answer. He then turned around and started walking towards the door.
“Hey, w-what’s going on, Albert!? Where are you going!?” – Asked Natalia, in a worried tone, as she grabbed her cousin’s arm.
“Nothing much. I’m just going to the church for a bit.”
When they heard that, the two girls chuckled. It was like all the previous tension had left their bodies.
“Fufu, you’re being too self conscious, Albert. Gustav-sensei is a bit wild and his attitude towards aristocracy may be a bit lacking, but he’s still a priest.”
“Right? Even though he’s a bit wild, Gustav-sensei is still a priest. I know he’s popular with both boys and girls, but Leonora isn’t like that, Onii-sama–”
For Gustav, it didn’t matter if someone was a noble or not, he treated all of his students equally. He mercilessly crushed the boys who challenged him to duels, he rejected every girl who confessed to him, even if they had a high status. He was also notorious for his harsh remarks, however, he would always help someone who truly needed help.
“–Fufu, now Natalia Nee-sama, on the other hand… . ” – Said Bianca, with a teasing grin.
“\\\\\\W-what are you talking about? I-I-I already said that I don’t like that rude man and his big muscles at all!\\\\\\”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Hee∼, is that so? But you didn’t seem to hate him last time though?”
While the two of them were going on and on, on that silly discussion, Albert’s mind was somewhere else. It’s true that Gustav Schneider was a model knight, but when it came to Leonora, he was a bit different.
“I know Gustav is a good person… but with Leonora it’s different. According to the information that Rolf gathered on him, the One Man Army hates the Altruistic Saintess .” – Said Albert, in a serious tone.
“He hates her…?”
“What do you mean by that, Onii-sama?”
After that disastrous business meeting, Oscar’s best friend, Rolf, started gathering information about Head Priest of the academy. He wanted to use Gustav’s weakness to get back at him for treating Leonora like that * , but… what he found out shocked him.
( *Tl/n: Ch-26.2)
“Gustav’s sister is the Lady of the Lake.”
“But she died right after Harlet’s incident, didn’t she?”
Albert nodded to Natalia’s question with a serious face, before continuing.
“Gustav was working with the other Holy Knights to stop Harlet, but Leonora did that first, which resulted in many churches being burnt down to the ground… but his sister was still inside one of those churches.”
“But it’s not her fault! Harlet is the real culprit, so why is he resenting her!?”
Albert smiled seeing that he and his little sister had the same opinion… however–
“–I would do the same thing if I was in his place… . ” – Said Albert, in a kind tone.
Bianca was a bit shocked by that sudden revelation, but Albert just laughed that awkward mood off and patted her head.
“Anyway, I’m going out for a bit… I’m worried about her.”
This time, the prince turned around and started heading towards the church without any interruptions.
However, if what Albert said was really the truth, and Leonora was really in danger, then they couldn’t simply stay there and wait for him to return–
“I-I’m going too, Onii-sama!”
“Wait, Albert, I’m also going!”
–So Bianca and Natalia decided to go with him.