Chapter 2.25
‘Since it’s a rare first meeting for the two of them.’
But contrary to my expectations, I didn’t feel any significant tension between Frid and Ayla.
The two didn’t even look at each other for very long, and Ayla simply showed her respect as if she felt ashamed.
“Lady Ryner. Is this someone you know?”
“Yes. Luge Ryner, he is my uncle. It seems he came because of the inheritance lawsuit I filed.”
Instead of sobbing, Ayla spoke in a surprisingly calm voice.
As I watched that side of her that felt unfamiliar even to me, Luge finally burst into a mad laugh.
“Puhaha! What is with that voice, Ayla? I wondered how a thing like you managed to make a friend, but were you just acting haughty like you’re some precious lady?”
Ayla’s cold eyes flicked toward Luge.
“Stop it.”
“Your parents clicked their tongues, saying you were so dull and slow that you’d be heavily scammed one day.”
“…….”
“But seeing you ignore your parents’ will because you’re blinded by money, I see what your parents were worried about. Did that defective product coax you to get the money first?”
Luge tried to tear Ayla’s spirit to shreds as his final struggle.
Slap—!
However, the sound of a sharp friction as his face whipped around was faster.
“What just……”
“Oh my goodness.”
The onlookers who had gathered silently covered their mouths, barely hiding their surprise.
Because the one who had slapped Luge’s cheek with all her might was none other than the lady from the dormitory, Ayla Ryner.
In the silence she had created, Ayla spat out her words as if chewing each one.
“Don’t you dare touch my friend.”
***
Everyone had been whispering behind her back about how someone unfit for her status had enrolled, but when Ayla, who had remained silent until now, finally showed her rage, the surroundings grew even more chaotic.
‘I thought she was just a quiet one…… but I heard that with the help of House Heron, she’s almost reclaimed her inheritance. I shouldn’t look down on her from now on.’
‘When everyone clicked their tongues at the lady living in the dormitory, the only one who took care of her was Levi Heron.’
The reason Ayla had flared up was none other than the fact that they had called Levi by a derogatory nickname.
The onlookers carved that point into their minds, thinking they should watch their mouths in the future.
Frid sensed the commotion and called over his knights with a look, ordering them to seize Luge.
“This is the person who tried to attack Lady Heron and pointed a blade at me. Handle him according to procedure.”
“Understood, Commander.”
It was a dry voice, as if he knew well that it would become a nuisance if more onlookers gathered.
Then Luge, who had been dazed ever since being slapped, suddenly snapped to his senses.
‘I lunged at a noble within the Academy and drew a blade in front of royalty, so it’ll be life imprisonment at the very least.’
Sensing that his life would end behind bars if he were dragged away like this, he began to struggle reflexively.
“Damn it, let go!”
He used all his strength to shove the holy knights with his body, attempting to flee.
Having already lost his reason, he harbored the hope that since his legs weren’t tied yet, he could somehow escape.
However, Luge’s struggle ended right then and there.
“That’s toward the Imperial Palace, so that’s a bit troublesome.”
Along with a low voice filled with composure, Luge’s body slammed face-first into the ground.
At his feet, reddish-brown mana crackled and hissed, entangled like a bush of rose thorns.
Mana that gave off a chilling aura just by looking at it from afar. People knew exactly who its owner was.
Demian Yvelun.
Following the 2nd Prince Frid, even the 1st Prince had made an appearance.
“It has been a long time, Brother.”
Frid greeted Demian first as he slowly walked out from the crowd.
Demian gave Frid a brief greeting and looked down at Luge with cold eyes.
“Attacking a noble’s carriage and brandishing a blade in front of the 2nd Prince wasn’t enough—you even headed straight toward where His Imperial Majesty resides with a weapon in hand.”
“What do you mean by……”
When his attempt to flee was misinterpreted as an attempt to harm the Emperor, Luge’s shoulders trembled as he tried to protest.
Demian calmly lowered his posture and found another dagger hidden inside Luge’s clothes.
“Treason against the Sun of the Empire is punishable by immediate execution.”
“……!”
The red eyes, devoid of any warmth, glared at Luge for a moment before shifting to Frid.
“Frid. Catching the traitor is your achievement.”
“It is thanks to your help, Brother.”
“What did I even do? I’ll leave the investigation to you.”
Demian readily handed over the credit for suppressing Luge to Frid.
It was because he had something more important to do right now than tending to his reputation.
The reason he had been leisurely watching the Academy’s commotion despite being busy with work was to speak with Levi Heron.
‘Damn it, why won’t that snake mark disappear?’
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