The organization regarding Evergreen is nearly complete.
We have learned their objectives and means, as well as the nature of their power.
With the cooperation of the Sky King Temur, we have secured the Autumn Wind.
The agreement with the shamans is almost finalized. Now, all that is left is to wait.
—How wonderful would that be?
Most problems have been resolved, and we are at the stage of execution, provided we meet just one more condition. Yet, that one unresolved issue has left Epherna in deep thought.
“…Why is he still asleep?”
The Second Prince, who should know the location of the Winter Blizzard, is currently in a deep slumber, trapped in a body that is on borrowed time.
In a state where he could die at any moment, he is barely hanging on to life, hooked up to an IV.
If things continue this way, not only will the winter blizzard remain elusive, but the time will flow meaninglessly without uncovering his true feelings.
Moreover.
“…The vacation is already over.”
Epherna gazed out at the scenery passing by outside the window with a sense of emptiness.
The path to the Academy.
The short break, which felt like it was less than a week, had come to an end, and she needed to attend classes to fulfill the semester requirements.
If it were up to her, she would abandon everything and tend to other matters, but the weight of history and tradition was daunting.
There are criticisms that suggest failing to graduate from the Academy would affect her social capabilities, and that it would be challenging to keep up with her studies—how could she lead the empire in the future?
Still, the merits of graduating from the academy are substantial.
The academy is not only a place of learning but also a place of validation.
Here, the talented and geniuses from across the empire compete, and the better the graduation results, the greater the prestige.
Even royalty is not exempt.
Could it be that among the talents of the Grandeum royal family, there were only geniuses? There were also those who made one wonder, “Can we really entrust the throne to such a fool?”
Of course, on average, the Grandeum royal family has nearly no fools. Talent engraved in one’s genes doesn’t just disappear easily.
In any case, the value that can be built by attending the academy is prestige, and prestige leads to trust.
Epherna can build the trust that allows her to say, “I can entrust my country to this person,” by graduating with excellent results from the academy.
‘I can also efficiently secure talent.’
In the future, there will be capable individuals who will become her hands and feet and bring glory to the nation.
Epherna has seen them during the first semester. They may be inexperienced now, but they will grow into the budding talents that will support the empire.
If she builds goodwill with them early, and they rise to high positions in the empire, it will be a significant help during her reign. Unlike the current nobles sitting in high positions, Epherna has to build her relationships from scratch. Flirting with those seasoned nobles who have decades of experience is no easy task.
However, if she gradually builds that relationship from her teenage years, the trust solidified over decades will surely pierce the heavens.
‘Then… I could enjoy a peaceful retirement.’
It might sound ridiculous to prepare for retirement so early, but the retirement Epherna refers to isn’t in her sixties or seventies.
She envisions her mid-twenties after assuming the throne.
Most of her duties would be left to capable and loyal individuals like a finance minister, while she could focus on parenting or traveling.
Imagining this, Epherna felt the gentle breeze blowing through the window.
*****
The period for moving into the Academy dormitory is five to seven days.
Considering that some students start their journey from distant borders, the time has been extended for convenience.
Epherna arrived just a day before the dormitory opening.
The guards waiting for her welcomed her with great respect.
Shortly after, she placed her belongings in her dorm room, which she hadn’t seen in nearly a month.
First, she planned to rest.
She had traveled in a regular carriage, not the royal one, and was quite fatigued.
Plop, Epherna lay on her bed, not even changing her clothes, staring blankly at the ceiling.
During the last summer break, there had been far too much to do.
Because of Evergreen’s activities across the Empire, she had barely any time to rest, buried under piles of paperwork, constantly threatened by assassination, and had to visit the Shaman nation to secure their cooperation.
And… she had sent away Merien, one of the great pillars of her heart.
She remembered spending days sleeping just to take a break, but even that was only for a day or two.
She was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Perhaps that’s why being at the academy didn’t feel like a hassle.
Here, at least, she wouldn’t be buried under paperwork, threatened by assassins, or going on distant travels.
“Yeah… I’ve worked hard enough.”
Unlike last semester, she wouldn’t need to deal with state affairs at the academy this time.
During the summer break, she had absorbed most of the crumbling power of the Second Prince, and now, with reliable loyalists in place, she had no work left to do.
So, for the second semester, she’ll spend time with Sierra, participating in club activities and doing little things.
She’ll study like an ordinary student, make friends, and worry about grades while living a mundane life.
That’s how she’ll live.
‘…I’m sleepy.’
Maybe it was because I rode an unfamiliar carriage.
The accumulated fatigue transformed into drowsiness.
Epherna didn’t resist the urge to sleep.
Hadn’t she just decided to rest?
As the afternoon sunlight softly filtered through the window, Epherna drifted off.
*****
“Your Highness, you need to wake up.”
Tap, tap.
Sierra poked Epherna’s arm.
However, Epherna showed no signs of waking.
“We can’t be late…”
The club will be closing soon.
With tomorrow being the final exam, Sierra had been studying late with Epherna, but now she looked at her sleeping friend and scratched her cheek in frustration.
She needed to wake her up, so she pinched Epherna’s cheek and tried calling her name, but Epherna showed no signs of awakening. Using harsher methods could risk hurting her.
At that moment, the door behind her creaked open, and someone entered.
“There you are.”
Ern, who had come to meet her, draped his coat over Epherna.
“Thanks, Sierra. If it weren’t for you, I might not have known the Princess was here.”
Sierra’s shadow was cast on the wall beyond the window, which indicated Epherna’s presence. In truth, there were many ways to find her, but Ern simply wanted to express his gratitude to Sierra.
During the first and second semesters, Sierra had been Epherna’s friend.
It wasn’t that Epherna had no friends besides her.
Always maintaining a kind and proper demeanor to please everyone, there was no one who disliked her.
However, as time passed, the number of people Epherna could call a “friend” decreased.
Most of the students who approached her were nobles. They admired her as royalty and sought to gain favor from her.
Naturally, Epherna was aware of this.
Even knowing, maintaining that demeanor was not easy. It was not only contrary to her nature, but the intentions of those around her were often impure, leading to a buildup of dissatisfaction.
Sierra was almost the only true friend with whom she could converse freely without building up resentment.
Even after spending a considerable amount of time together, she could show her true self without needing to be pretentious.
Excluding Cyan, who had a naturally easygoing personality, Sierra could be considered Epherna’s only true friend.
Sierra shook her head, denying it.
“No, it’s me who has gained a lot.”
In truth, Epherna was just a burdensome presence to her.
Having only known magic and alchemy, she felt inadequate.
Even though her mother was one of the Seven Heroes, her own abilities were merely at a genius level.
Though others around her regarded her as a genius, her shy personality meant she had no friends outside her own age group.
Epherna’s presence felt more like a burden, even to the point of fear.
She worried that Epherna’s radiant golden eyes would pierce through her essence, yet Epherna didn’t seem to care at all, even if she saw through her.
There might be many people like her.
If someone were to see through her essence, they might just move on, thinking, “Oh, so that’s what it is.”
But Epherna was the first friend who confirmed that for her, and for that, she was grateful.
Ern bowed his head slightly, then picked up Epherna and carried her out of the club room.
As winter approached, a white breath escaped as soon as they stepped outside.
Perhaps it was due to the biting cold. She felt a slight shiver from her shoulder.
“…Ugh.”
Epherna mumbled, on the verge of waking up.
Her mumbling lasted about three seconds before it concluded.
“…Mister…?”
She asked me.
“How did you know it was me?”
“…Who else has shoulders this wide besides you?”
I nearly laughed at that remark but stopped.
Epherna suddenly opened her eyes wide.
“By the way… time passes so quickly. So this is what a vacation feels like.”
“…Huh?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Haha.
Epherna let out a laugh without a smile.
