《I’m Reincarnated In An Otome Game?》 Prologue: This Is A Girl’s Romance Game? ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore!¡± A furious shout echoed through the glamorous venue where a party was being held to celebrate the end of the semester. The unexpected outburst caused the young men and women in attendance to fall into a silence. Everyone murmured in hushed voices, trying to catch what was happening¡­ ¡°Elizabeth von Blauvelt, I hereby annul our engagement as of today!¡± ¡°Pffftt!¡± ¡­a young man spit out his drink at the declaration The red-haired young man¡ªRandolph Victor¡ªbent his large frame while holding a cocktail in one hand. He was coughing non stop. (Did he just say¡­ engagement annulment?) Randolph took a small, deep breath to calm himself. Once he steadied his breathing, he stole a quick glance toward the source of the voice. His gaze was met with suspicious looks from others, even the people at the center of the whole sitation were looking in his direction. Randolph hastily looked away, shrinking his large frame further. With his towering height, he knew it was too late to hide entirely, but he decided to at least try to fade into the background. ¡°Elizabeth von Blauvelt, I hereby annul our engagement as of today!¡± ¡­The engagement annulment was declared for the second time, though now with noticeably less vigor, likely due to Randolph¡¯s earlier reaction. But as far as he was concerned, anyone making such a ridiculous announcement at a party like this was in the wrong. Already blending in like part of the d¨¦cor, Randolph decided to take another look at the scene. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. This time, he could see it more clearly¡ªthe commotion centered on a strikingly beautiful woman in a glamorous dress, standing amid a crowd, and an arrogant-looking man in front of her with his chest puffed up like he already won (The woman¡­ she¡¯s the daughter of a marquis from this country, right? If I remember correctly, her name was¡­) ¡°Elizabeth von Blauvelt! Why don¡¯t you say something?¡± (¡­Right, that was it.) With her platinum-blonde hair and deep blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean, she rarely smiled, earning her the nickname ¡°The Ice Princess¡± among the student body, even more famous than her actual name. Even now, as she stood under everyone¡¯s gaze, she remained stoic, her face as unflinching as a steel mask. The man smugly facing her was none other than the crown prince of this country¡ªEdgar Roa Alexandros. With his entourage standing behind him, Edgar stood with his arm around another woman¡¯s shoulder (She¡¯s standing her ground¡­) Though he admired her composure, Randolph felt only a flicker of interest. Both Elizabeth and Edgar were high above him, people from an entirely different world. Elizabeth, with the cool elegance befitting her title. Edgar, rumored to excel in both academics and athletics, though admittedly a bit impulsive The tension between them was suddenly broken by the girl Edgar was holding. ¡°Edgar, darling~¡± The pink-haired girl sidled up to Edgar, her voice a cloying purr. She wore a frilly dress with an overly revealing neckline, pressing herself against Edgar without any shame. All of this was out of line for a noblewoman. The frosty looks from a few other ladies made Randolph feel uneasy for some reason. (What¡¯s with that silly-looking girl?) In stark contrast to Randolph¡¯s dismay, Edgar seemed quite pleased with her, even adopting a protective stance. And his entourage, too¡ªnone of them seemed about to scold the girl, who now looked at Edgar with wide, adoring eyes. (Seeing this in real life, it¡¯s absurd.) Randolph let out a sigh while taking another swig of his cocktail. A party to celebrate the end of the semester A foolish prince and his followers An opportunist but brainless girl. A scenario he¡¯d seen more times than he could count. And¡ª ¡ª¡°I¡¯m annulling our engagement!¡± That familiar phrase. Randolph couldn¡¯t help but think this scene was right out of a story he¡¯d known all too well in his previous life. Now that he realized that the engagement annulment incident was real, there was no reason for Randolph to stay here. Grabbing a nearby sandwich, he quietly started to distance himself from the crowd that was now in a heated exchange about ¡°all your wrongdoings¡± and ¡°I¡¯ll have you exiled from the country.¡± Along the way, a guard at the entrance gave him a startled look, but Randolph simply offered a polite nod before hurrying toward a carriage waiting near the venue. ¡°Oh, Young Master Randy. Back so soon, are you?¡± ¡°Yeah. Got caught in a bit of a storm.¡± Randolph¡ªor rather, Randy¡ªshrugged as the coachman as well as servant, Harrison, glanced back at the party venue with curiosity. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. We¡¯re outsiders, after all. And besides, as minor nobles from a tiny country, we¡¯d be obliterated if we got entangled in a great nation¡¯s internal troubles.¡± Randy gave a wry smile, and Harrison replied with, ¡°Understood,¡± as he snapped the reins to start the carriage. Yes, Randy had no intention of getting involved. He couldn¡¯t get involved. He was only here as a student, he¡¯s just the son of a minor noble from a small country. Were someone like Randy to step in, the situation would only worsen. Elizabeth was a noble of a great nation and engaged to the crown prince. If people thought she was conspiring with a foreign minor noble, it would only jeopardize her position and trouble her family¡ªand Randy¡¯s family as well. So, the only thing he could do was slip away before the drama spiraled out of control. From the carriage window, Randy glanced back at the venue. It was peaceful enough that one would never know there was a commotion inside. ¡°Status, open.¡± With a muttered command, a small window appeared, displaying his status. Just like a game from his previous life. A man who¡¯d died of overwork was now reincarnated into a world much like a game he¡¯d once loved. A common story. This time, he would enjoy life. Live a peaceful, leisurely life. It was the usual plot¡ªor so Randy thought¡­ ¡°Of all things, it turns out to be a world from an otome game¡­¡± With a deep sigh, Randy slumped back into his seat. ¡°It¡¯s such a common story, though.¡± Thus began the summer of Randolph Victor, age 17, as he came to realized that he was a mob character in an otome game world. 1. Accident Encounter Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. 2. There’s No Turning Back If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. 3. Employed If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. 3,5. Elizabeth - The Broken Engagement (Side Chapter) Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. 4. Three Heads are Better than One If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. 5. Catherine - The Reincarnated Person ¡°Ahhh, this is the best!¡± As I swayed on my float, I couldn¡¯t help but shout toward the bright blue sky. Everything was going too perfectly. I deserved to let out a cheer, didn¡¯t I? After all, when I first reincarnated into a world similar to the otome game ¡°The Saintess of Fate and the Waltz of Calamity¡±¡ª I was honestly at a loss. But now¡­ ¡°As expected from our beloved heroine, Cathy!¡± I glanced back at the beach from atop my floating. There they were¡ªthe dazzlingly handsome male leads, all in their swimsuits. - The crown prince, Edgar Roa Alexandros. - The prime minister¡¯s son, Dario Weissman. - The justice minister¡¯s son, Chris Rowe. - The knight commander¡¯s son, Arthur Lance. Each of them was destined to inherit their fathers¡¯ prestigious positions and rise to prominence in this kingdom. Right now, the only one whose route has opened is Edgar¡¯s, but that¡¯s not a problem at all. Actually, Edgar¡¯s story doesn¡¯t even start without something specific happening first. That is, he has to annul his engagement with Elizabeth. Poor, poor, E-li-za-beth (lol). By now, she¡¯s probably wandering the Demon Forest. Or perhaps she¡¯s already been taken in by some impoverished viscount nearby. In the game, Elizabeth, having been exiled from the kingdom, is dragged into the Demon Forest by her lecherous escorts. When she¡¯s about to be attacked, she defends herself, using a nearby stone to knock one of them unconscious. But the guard, while tumbled backward, ends up breaking a shrine that¡¯s part of an ancient seal. This releases the game¡¯s final boss: the witch Eleonora, who takes over Elizabeth¡¯s soul. After massacring the guards and even her maid, Elizabeth regains consciousness and, devastated by what she¡¯s done, stumbles through the forest. Eventually, she¡¯s taken in by a poor viscount family. But as her soul is gradually consumed, Eleonora eventually resurrects in full power, leading to the fall of the duchy. And then, the heroes¡ªhaving bonded with me, the Saintess¡ªconfront Eleonora (Elizabeth) and defeat her, bringing peace to the world. That¡¯s the kind of game it is. I¡¯ve played it countless times and memorized all the events and choices. Now that summer break is over, I¡¯ll need to strengthen my bonds with the male leads while also preparing for the battle against Elizabeth. Well, not that I¡¯ll be doing any fighting myself. As the Saintess, my role is to heal everyone. I¡¯ll leave the fighting to the boys while I relax and watch from the sidelines. It¡¯s not like I can fight¡ªgrowing up in peaceful Japan didn¡¯t exactly prepare me for combat. Even in the game, Cathy only ever healed from the back lines. It¡¯ll be fine. Still, poor Elizabeth. All because she bullied me. Not that she actually did anything in this life¡ªher high-and-mighty attitude just pissed me off. That whole ¡°I¡¯m independent and can do everything myself¡± vibe? Ugh. Hate it. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. She had the audacity to lecture me about: - Not being ladylike enough. - Taking my role as the Saintess seriously. Annoying, wasn¡¯t it? So now she gets what¡¯s coming to her¡ªlost in the forest, possessed by a witch, and ultimately killed by me and her fianc¨¦. Oh, wait, former fianc¨¦. There¡¯s just one thing that¡¯s been nagging me. In the game, Elizabeth used to argue back more. Of course, I had all the perfect dialogue choices memorized, so I could counter her easily, but this time she just stayed silent. It was¡­ unsettling. Could it be¡­? Is Elizabeth also a reincarnated person like me? Nah, impossible. If she were, she¡¯d be way tougher than this. She¡¯d actually be a threat, unlike the pushover she¡¯s been. Sure, the punishment for her family¡ªthe Marquis of Blauvelt¡ªwas slightly less severe, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Sooner or later, rumors of Elizabeth¡¯s death will spread, and her family will be enraged and start a rebellionUnauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Hey, Cathy!¡± ¡°Yes~!¡± Edgar¡¯s calling for me. I¡¯d better go. I slip off the float and wade through the shallows. Edgar rushes over and extends his hand. ¡°You alright?¡± ¡°Yes, perfectly fine~.¡± Ah, this is bliss. As expected of a high-spec, dreamy prince. His natural gentlemanly gesture of offering me his hand? Absolute perfection. While feeling like a true princess, I let him lead me gracefully back to the beach, where the others are waiting with something to say. ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s an old ruin nearby.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be doing dungeon practicals next term.¡± ¡°So we thought we¡¯d scout it out ourselves beforehand.¡± Listening to their chatter, I can hardly suppress my fist pump. This is it¡ªone of the major events: Combat Tutorial and Status Window Expansion. It¡¯s not a side event but a key part of the main story, and since it takes place outside school, I wasn¡¯t sure it would actually happen Persuading Edgar to bring me to this resort was absolutely worth it. But I can¡¯t agree too easily here. ¡°Ehhh, ruins? Aren¡¯t they scary~?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Edgar said. ¡°I¡¯ll protect Cathy!¡± ¡°I know a thing or two about magic myself.¡± ¡°M-me too!¡± The future king, the knight commander, the prime minister, the justice minister¡­ Ahh. This feels incredible. Having these high-spec, gorgeous men working so hard for me? It¡¯s giving me chills. I¡¯ll need to work extra hard next semester to ensure their fianc¨¦es are all properly removed. After all, I am the only one who truly deserves them. Those other young lady were unworthy. Well, for now, let¡¯s focus on moving this event forward. ¡°Trust us, Cathy. We¡¯ll take care of everything.¡± ¡°If you all insist¡­¡± When I looked up at them with doe eyes, they all blushed. Heh. They¡¯re reacting to just this much? This game¡¯s difficulty is way too easy. Draping a jacket over my swimsuit, I joined the group as we started walking, surrounded by these handsome men also in their swimwear and jackets. ¡°Is it okay to go dressed like this~?¡± ¡°Yeah. According to the villagers, there¡¯s only goblins and slimes around here,¡± Edgar reassured me. Edgar holding a sword in his swimsuit¡­ It¡¯s exactly like one of the CG scenes from the game. The water droplets running down his sculpted abs¡­ Seeing it in real life? A feast for the eyes. ¡°If you say so, Edgar~.¡± I offered him a soft smile. That should do the trick. This stage is nothing more than the combat tutorial in the game, filled with ridiculously weak enemies. Ew. This ruin is filthy. I want to grab what I wanted and head back to the beach to relax. ¡°This place looks scary~.¡± ¡°Stay close to me,¡± Edgar said gently. Ahh, Edgar is so sweet! A man like him can only be with a woman like me. Surrounded by my high-spec knights, I strolled through the ruin without a single worry. I felt less like a princess and more like a queen. My buffs seemed to be working properly, the four of them looked so reliable that it felt like they could defeat the witch right now. We quickly made our way through the ruin. Finally, we reached the familiar door at the end¡ªa door I recognized. Beyond this was the Status Window Expansion and a bonus Copy Scroll. The crafting feature from the scroll allows item creation, which becomes essential until mid-game when you acquire the item box expansion. You can craft a magic pouch, among other things, and use it to farm gold. There¡¯s even a mechanic for creating the strongest equipment, but against Eleonora, my holy magic is so effective that weapons aren¡¯t really necessary. Honestly, I already have an item box and a magic pouch Edgar bought for me. Crafting isn¡¯t critical for me. However, the copy scroll could come in handy. Most players would copy my holy magic and teach it to Edgar. But here¡¯s the thing: if I copy the crafting ability instead, I can exploit a cheat that doubles crafting output. This makes farming gold much easier early on. Still, crafting is such a hassle. They advertised it as ¡°unlimited possibilities,¡± but let¡¯s be real¡ªotome game players don¡¯t care about that. Selling the scroll as an ancient magic artifact for a high price might be a better idea. While pondering this, something unexpected caught my eye. ¡°Huh? It¡¯s¡­ moving?¡± The coffin¡ªwhere the scroll should¡¯ve been¡ªhad clearly been moved. And, of course, the scroll was gone. ¡°What the? It¡¯s empty,¡± Arthur muttered, giving the coffin a swift kick. I knew this scene. In the game, that kick was supposed to reveal a hollow sound, hinting at a hidden space below. But wait, isn¡¯t this coffin so heavy that it supposed to require all four of them¡ªbuffed by my magic¡ªto even budge? As I stood there, bewildered, my knights casually shrugged off the empty coffin. ¡°Guess this really is a beginner¡¯s dungeon.¡± What!? There were supposed to be dresses, jewels, and so much more! My money¡ªwhat about my money!? As I bit my nails in frustration, Edgar tilted his head at me. ¡°Cathy?¡± ¡°N-no, it¡¯s just¡­ You all worked so hard, and it¡¯s such a shame there¡¯s nothing here¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re so kind,¡± Edgar said, patting my head. Not what I meant, but¡­ fine. Edgar¡¯s gentle touch soothed my irritation. After all, he and the others could just buy me dresses and jewels later. For now, I¡¯ll let it slide. At least I confirmed their strength, and while there were a few differences from the game, everything should be fine. ¡ª- Meanwhile¡­ ¡°Wow, the Victor family finally hired a craftsman, huh?¡± ¡°Well, something like that.¡± A merchant, brimming with excitement, chatted away, while Randy struggled to suppress his smirk. He and Elizabeth had successfully processed the remains of some corpses into low-quality materials, and the results were more than satisfactory. The sale price wasn¡¯t exceptionally high yet, but the increase of supply was evident. (Looks like our summer vacation will be busy.) Catherine had no idea. While Elizabeth was indeed staying with a viscount, an ancient witch and an absurdly powerful reincarnator were fully supporting her. And these unexpected team were about to throw Catherine¡¯s carefully planned life into chaos. 6. Preparation and Cooperation Are Key for Surprises Randy and Elizabeth, having gained the power of Production Magic¡ªbetter known as Crafting¡ªwere eagerly experimenting with it, testing its effects on various materials. For now, their ability was limited to refining raw resources, but according to Eleonora, Crafting would eventually allow them to create various items as their rank advanced. Among the two, Elizabeth was especially enamored with this newfound power. Like a child given a new toy, she spent her days refining different materials and meticulously recording the results in her notebook. Eleonora mentioned that Elizabeth''s Production Magic would soon evolve, enabling her to synthesize items¡ªa prospect that excited her even further. However, it wasn''t all smooth sailing. The pair''s zealous exploitation of their abilities¡ªhunting magical beasts, refining their remains into materials, and selling them off to merchants¡ªeventually led to an inevitable problem. "This is as much as we can handle, I''m afraid," one merchant admitted apologetically. "Ah, I figured this might happen," Randy replied with a sigh. They had overwhelmed the merchants'' capacity, ending up with a mountain of unsold inventory. Faced with a stockpile of materials in the warehouse, Randy turned to Elizabeth with a wry smile. "The demand for these materials isn''t particularly high, is it?" "If only we could open trade routes overseas, it might be a different story," Elizabeth mused. Her expression momentarily darkened, hinting at her thoughts. (Ah, right. Her family specializes in maritime trade.) Even Randy knew of the Blauvelt family, renowned for their vast port in the kingdom''s southwest. As a powerful noble house, they had built an immense fortune through trade with distant continents and even operated their own merchant guild. Clearly, Elizabeth was reminiscing about her family. Randy hesitated before speaking. "Do you think the dwarves would be interested in buying these materials?" Though his question might have sounded teasing, it was actually an attempt to acknowledge her idea. Avoiding the topic entirely felt too much like walking on eggshells. Elizabeth was briefly startled by the question but quickly smiled softly. "Yes, I believe the dwarves from the distant continent would find these durable materials quite appealing." "Overseas trade, huh¡­ There''s a run-down fishing village near the river at the edge of my territory. If we''re looking for a starting point, it''d have to be there." The village in question was where Randy''s mother, Grace, and his younger siblings had recently returned for a visit. Though nominally a fishing village, most of its residents now worked elsewhere, leaving the area practically abandoned. Transforming it into a port seemed unrealistic "For now, let''s focus on advancing to item synthesis. Once we can turn these materials into items, new opportunities will open up," Randy suggested, signaling the end of the discussion as he reached for the door. Then, as if struck by a thought, he turned back to Elizabeth. "Lady Elizabeth¡­ do you¡­" ¡­worry about your family? The words almost slipped out, but Randy swallowed them. Asking her such a question now wouldn''t help either of them. He wasn''t sure how deeply her family had been involved in her exile or how they might feel about her now. Instead, he said something else. "Lady Elizabeth, to do your best is admirable, but don''t overdo it."This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "I understand," Elizabeth replied gracefully, offering a polite bow as Randy left her office. "Young master Randy''s keen eyes is truly impressive," a voice commented as Randy exited the room. Startled, Randy turned to see Keith, who had appeared out of nowhere with his usual sly smile. "Don''t sneak up on me like that," Randy muttered, scratching his head in embarrassment. Not that there was much to boast about. If he had accomplished anything, it was moving that heavy stone coffin and sharing his status window with Elizabeth. "Flattery won''t get you anything, you know?" Randy sighed. "I assure you, I speak sincerely," Keith replied with a bow. "Well then, since you''re here, does that mean¡­?" Keith shook his head. "No progress, I''m afraid." "Stubborn, huh?" Randy frowned. "It seems the maids have grown quite close, but on this one topic, she refuses to budge," Keith admitted, his tone carrying a hint of admiration for the unwavering loyalty on display. "Alright. I''ll ask her myself. Where is Rita now?" "I''ll take you to her." Keith led Randy through the mansion to the courtyard, where he found Rita chatting cheerfully with other maids while doing laundry. (Looks like she''s gotten along well enough. That''s a relief.) Noticing Randy''s small sigh of relief, one of the maids looked up as though she''d realized something. "Huh? Young Master, what brings you here?" Her voice drew the attention of all the other maids, who quickly stood and turned to face Randy. As they prepared to bow, Randy hastily stopped them. He already felt guilty for intruding into their workspace, and stopping them from their duties would only make it worse. "Sorry to interrupt, but may I borrow Rita for a moment?" "I don''t see why not," one of the maids responded, her tone curious. "To discuss her working conditions," Randy said vaguely, dodging the real reason, while gesturing for Rita to follow. Though she had been happily chatting moments ago, Rita now looked puzzled as she stepped away from the laundry area. Feeling somewhat apologetic, Randy reassured her, "This won''t take long," and guided her to the edge of the courtyard. "Young Master, is there something you need from me?" "Do you have to call me that too?" Randy groaned, rubbing his temples. However, there was no time to dwell on titles. He took a deep breath to refocus, then looked directly at her. "I need to contact the marquis'' household." At those words, Rita''s shoulders flinched visibly. Anxiety. Panic. Doubt. Fear. Amid those emotions flickering in her eyes, Randy caught a glimpse of something else¡ªhope. "You told me Lady Elizabeth was abandoned by the world. That''s not the truth, is it?" Rita''s gaze darted away as she stammered, "I-I''m not sure what you mean." "She''s the type who would think it''s fine to sacrifice herself if it spares her family from trouble, isn''t she?" Randy''s accurate remark made Rita widen her eyes in shock. (So I was right.) Though he felt a small sense of relief, Randy wasn''t speaking blindly. He had already seen the evidence in her status window: "Daughter of the Marquis." If Elizabeth truly had been disowned, it should have said "former daughter." The absence of that prefix confirmed that her exile was not her family''s decision. Coupled with her personality, Randy had little trouble connecting the dots. Even Keith and his father, Alan, had reached the same conclusion. "What do you plan to do by contacting the marquis'' house?" Rita asked nervously. "Lady Elizabeth has nothing to do with them anymore," she added, as if trying to protect her mistress. Seeing her loyalty, Randy couldn''t help but smile. "Relax. I''m not planning anything shady. I just want to gauge their response." "Gauge their response¡­?" Randy explained his plan. It had been over a week since Elizabeth''s exile, and rumors of her death were spreading in the kingdom. These whispers had even reached the duchy. However, the rumors were just that¡ªunconfirmed. The kingdom, having exiled her without proper procedures, couldn''t officially confirm her death without risking scrutiny. Randy intended to send word to the marquis'' house, claiming to have found an item that might belong to Elizabeth. Their reaction would reveal how they truly felt about her. "If they say they don''t want it, I won''t tell them she''s alive. But if they do care and want the item, I can at least let them know she''s safe." "They''ll definitely want it," Rita said with conviction. "You sound confident." Randy raised an eyebrow at her unwavering tone. "The marquis cares deeply for Lady Elizabeth. He even managed to arrange for me to serve her, despite her rejecting all other forms of support during her exile," Rita explained. Her story shed light on Elizabeth''s situation. Despite her insistence on cutting ties to avoid burdening her family, the marquis had secretly negotiated with the royal family to assign Rita to her service. "They love each other, even if they''re apart," Rita said. "And that''s why she chose exile alone, to avoid causing trouble for her family," Randy concluded. Rita nodded solemnly. "Keith, what do you think?" Randy asked, glancing at the silent man beside him. "I believe she can be trusted," Keith replied, stroking his beard. He added that Rita had no reason to lie about something that could harm Elizabeth. "Agreed." Satisfied, Randy turned to Rita. "Then the best course is to inform the marquis that she''s alive." "But Lady Elizabeth wouldn''t want that¡­" Rita said hesitantly. "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure this doesn''t hurt her. She''s too important to us," Randy said firmly. "Do you think that the Marquis, who loves his daughter so much, would stay silent after her being pointlessly murdered?" Randy''s earnest gaze finally made Rita nod in agreement. With Rita''s cooperation secured, there was only one thing left to do. "Keith, send a message to Father¡ª" "I already have it prepared." As Keith spoke, he pulled a sealed letter from his coat and handed it over. Randy revealed a surprised expression, realizing his father and the butler had already anticipated his move. "I''ve been watching over you for seventeen years, young master," Keith said with a satisfied smile. Randy''s face twitched slightly, but he returned the smile. "Then it''s settled. I''ll leave contacting Father to you." "Understood," Keith replied with a respectful bow. At that moment, Rita raised her voice hesitantly. "Um, I was told to give this to you once the young lady reaches a safe place." Rita produced a magical tool shaped like a bird. It was a Mailbird, a magical communication device used in this world. However, its cost made it unattainable for ordinary citizens. "The recipient is already written, right?" Randy asked. "Yes, it''s addressed to the Marquis Blauvelt" Rita confirmed with a nod as she handed over the Mailbird. "Please, take care of the young lady," she said, bowing deeply. Randy accepted the Mailbird and raised a hand. "Leave it to me." As Randy walked away, Rita bowed once more to his retreating figure. Carrying Rita''s hopes on his shoulders, Randy''s steps grew quicker without him noticing. By the time he reached his room, he was nearly running. He opened the window and placed the letter from Keith onto the Mailbird''s back. The letter emitted a soft glow before vanishing, and the Mailbird shimmered as it took flight. Randy stood at the window for a while, watching the glowing path of the Mailbird as it soared into the blue sky. 6,5. The Marquis Household – Early Damage Control is Key From the day Elizabeth¡¯s exile was decided, the Marquis Blauvet mansion had fallen eerily silent, as if all life had been extinguished. Usually, during this summer holiday period, the Marquis estate would be bustling with activity. The return of Elizabeth and her father, Lucian von Blauvelt, the Minister of Finance, from the royal capital would bring lively energy to the household. But this year, it was deathly quiet. The Marquisate of Blauvelt, a powerful noble house that built its fortune through maritime trade, was known for its well-trained staff, all of whom were fiercely loyal to their masters. For them, the exile of Elizabeth was an intolerable injustice. Adding to their outrage, rumors of her death had surfaced in recent days. The entire household¡ªnobles and servants alike¡ªwas seething with suppressed fury. It was not that the Marquis estate had become lifeless. Rather, the fire that should have brought warmth and light had turned inward, transforming into the smoldering flames of anger, quietly burning beneath the surface. Their desire for revenge was burning, but at the same time, they understood Elizabeth¡¯s intentions. Because of this, they kept their emotions in check, using their rationality to prevent the fire from spreading. On the surface, the estate seemed calm, but in reality, it was a time bomb waiting to explode. That is, until a Mailbird arrived that day. ¡°Someone! Call Flora and Cedric immediately!¡± The man who burst into the study was none other than Lucian von Blauvelt, head of the household. His blue eyes, the same as Elizabeth¡¯s, burned with emotion, and his usually well-groomed, tawny blonde hair was disheveled¡ªa rare sight since the day of Elizabeth¡¯s exile. The once quiet estate instantly turned into a beehive of activity. The bewildered lady of the house, Flora, and Elizabeth¡¯s older brother, Cedric, were ushered into the study room ¡°My dear¡­¡± ¡°Father?¡± The two exchanged questioning glances as they approached. Without a word, Lucian handed them a letter that had just arrived. Upon reading it, both froze, their eyes wide, and soon, tears filled their vision. ¡°Elizabeth is alive¡­¡± ¡°Yes. For once, I must thank the heavens.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Flora was crying, and Cedric gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. They, too, had resigned themselves to the reality of Elizabeth¡¯s fate, especially after hearing that her trail had been lost in the Demon Forest Until a few days ago, they had been mourning her loss. Only recently had they begun to recover from their grief. And now, the news of her survival felt like a miracle¡ªa blessing worthy of gratitude to God Though under normal circumstances, they would never have wished to thank the Church that housed the Saintess who had played a role in Elizabeth¡¯s exile. ¡°First, impose a gag order. If word spreads that someone who should have died is alive, it could spell trouble not just for Elizabeth, but for those who aided her as well.¡± Lucian¡¯s grave tone snapped Flora and Cedric out of their emotional haze. They quickly recalled the letter¡¯s description of Elizabeth¡¯s exile. ¡°Let me be blunt: the circumstances of her exile reeked of intent to kill. No, it was definitely an assassination attempt.¡± The letter had made it explicitly clear. Elizabeth¡¯s banishment had been carried out swiftly, leaving no room for debate. The process moved so quickly, mainly because Elizabeth herself had actively confessed to her supposed crimes. Lucian knew better than anyone what that meant. Elizabeth had deliberately taken the blame upon herself to protect her family. Her actions were a shield, meant to keep the flames of hostility away from the Blauvelt household. And there was no way Lucian could remain oblivious to that truth. ¡°Our household was framed.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the Marquis of Blauvelt to reach that conclusion. Adding to their belief, the exile that had seemingly been orchestrated to result in Elizabeth¡¯s death¡ªand the rumors of her demise¡ªfelt like the second arrow aimed at weakening their power. Lucian, the Marquis, couldn¡¯t help but interpret these events as a calculated attack. Kill Elizabeth and destabilize the Blauvelt family. These suspicions had lingered in their minds for past few days. The enemy¡¯s goal seemed clear: to strip the Marquis of its power at any cost. The letter they received turned those suspicions into certainty. The people behind Elizabeth¡¯s exile had schemed solely to weaken the power of the Blauvelt household. ¡­In reality, it was nothing more than the reckless actions of Catherine, who had acted thoughtlessly, and Crown Prince Edgar, who had been manipulated by her. But to the Marquis family, it felt like the moment someone had poured fuel onto the suppressed flames of Marquis¡¯ anger. ¡°The central government seems determined to make an enemy of our house.¡± Lucian¡¯s quiet murmur was laced with unmistakable fury. However, he immediately suppressed his anger, his expression shifting into calm resolve. ¡°Right now, I couldn¡¯t care less about them.¡± Taking a deep breath, Lucian steadied himself. Lady Flora glanced up at him anxiously. ¡°You¡¯re going to see her, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes. Revenge against them doesn¡¯t matter for now. Right now, it¡¯s about Elizabeth.¡± Lucian nodded firmly but then furrowed his brow slightly as he continued. ¡°However, we must proceed carefully. Honestly, I would go to her immediately, but¡­ she¡¯s in a foreign land. If I travel to the territory where she disappeared, unnecessary rumors might start circulating.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s survival needed to be kept secret. Lucian¡¯s unspoken words carried this caution, and both Flora and Cedric nodded in agreement. ¡°First and foremost, we need to establish contact with Liza.¡± The moment the letter arrived, their focus had shifted from revenge to reuniting with Elizabeth. Whatever happened to the royal family or the central government was irrelevant to them now. ¡°Thankfully, thanks to Liza, I¡¯ve been relieved of my duties as Minister of Finance. I now have more time to spare.¡± Lucian smirked, though his mind remained sharp and calculating. He exhaled deeply and called out to the butler who was waiting near the door. ¡°Sebas!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Prepare a two-way Mailbird immediately.¡± With a bow, Sebas quickly left the room. ¡°The Duchy, is it¡­?¡± Lucian murmured, and Cedric, seemingly prepared, handed him a map of the continent. Spreading it across the desk, Lucian began calculating a potential route, muttering under his breath as he worked. Once a feasible plan had been sketched out, Lucian picked up a pen and began writing with a strong grip. By the time he finished, Sebas had returned with a Mailbird ready for use. Taking the bird, Lucian secured his letter to it and personally released it through the window. ¡°Secretly. Slowly, but surely.¡± The three of them¡ªLucian, Flora, and Cedric¡ªwatched the bird¡¯s flight until it disappeared into the horizon. Thus, the rebellion of the Marquis of Blauvelt that was supposed to unfold in the original story ended as an event that never came to happen. However, what no one yet realized was that the flames they had suppressed would one day shift in form. And when they did, those flames would rain down as embers upon the kingdom, Catherine, and her allies. It will be a while before they realize this. 7. Combining Past Life Knowledge and Magic Is the Best Way Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. 8. This Is The Business Partner The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. 9. Randy, Look Behind You! If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. 10. Negotiation The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. 11. Elizabeth ~ About Randolph The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. 12. Tricked Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. 13. The Kingdoms Government – A Letter Stolen novel; please report. 14. Calling Each Other Nicknames Is Lewd The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡ª¡ª- Please give this novel a rating to show some support. Thank you 15. Let Them Say What They Want If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡ª¡ª¡ª- 15,5. The Steel Lion - How Is He So Strong? Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. 16. Dormitory - Don’t Renovate Without Permission The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re back already¡­¡± 17. Well, Of Course This Happens If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. 18. But We’re Friends Tho The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. 19. Harvesting Slime If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Randy and Ellie, having left the guild, arrived at a small cave near the royal capital. The damp and dark environment made it an ideal habitat for slimes, which thrived in such conditions. 20. Connections Are the Most Important If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. 21. Catherine — It’s Hard to Admit Failures or Mistakes The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. 22. Bound by a Curse This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. 23. I Apologize The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. 24. See? Connections Between People Are Super Important The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. 25. Marquis Weissman’s Miscalculation Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. 26. Introducing a Female Friend to Your Mother is Nerve-Wracking Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. 27. Considerate This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. 28. They Are Their Own Victim Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. 29. The Kingdom’s Government - The Price Too Great to Pay Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. 30. Catherine – A Change of Plans engagement? Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. 31. Success And Feast Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. life, the scale was smaller, and the food tasted simpler. 32. Adventurer Randy Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. 33. Clarice the Fashionista If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. 34. The Holy Church – Those Who Work in the Shadows Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. 35. Store In Royal Capital ¡°Whew¡­ It¡¯s finally over.¡± Stretching his arms in an alleyway, Randy sighed in relief. Beside him, Liz let out a sigh of her own, muttering, ¡°That¡¯s so unbecoming of you.¡± Still, she refrained from further scolding him¡ªlikely because she could sympathize with his feelings. The reason? Midterm Exam Math, history, ancient languages, and even the fundamental academic subjects like magical theory and magical physics¡ªall crammed into a single day of relentless testing. After surviving such a grueling ordeal, it was only natural to indulge in a little post-exam euphoria. Anyone, not just Randy, would want to bask in the relief. ¡°So, Randy, how did you do on the tests?¡± Liz tilted her head curiously. Randy¡¯s shoulder gave an involuntary twitch. ¡°Listen, Liz¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°A man¡­ never looks back on the past.¡± Randy gave her a knowing smirk, but Liz¡¯s exasperated sigh didn¡¯t let up. ¡° So, you didn¡¯t do well.¡± she concluded. ¡°L-Look! What¡¯s the deal with that ¦²(Sigma) thing? It doesn¡¯t even make sense! That¡¯s not a number! Couldn¡¯t they have just given us fraction addition instead?¡± Randy protested, clutching his head. ¡°Why would it be fraction addition? That¡¯s elementary school material,¡± Liz replied, her brow furrowing. ¡°I KNOW! I did it when I was little too!¡± Randy wailed, covering his face in frustration. Liz tilted her head, puzzled by his overreaction. But from Randy¡¯s perspective, he had every right to be upset. It was an unspoken rule of these things: test problems should stick to elementary-level arithmetic. Who could¡¯ve guessed that a math problem from another world would involve concepts like calculus-level lessons? Randy, who barely had the mental capacity for everyday survival, was certainly unprepared for this level of academic challenge. Reality had been harsh from the start. Randy recalled how he first realized something was amiss during elementary education provided by the church when fractions came up. ¡°Wait, aren¡¯t we skipping some steps here?¡± he had thought. And from there, the difficulty had only escalated. While he had relied on his past life¡¯s knowledge to scrape by in high school-level education, even that had its limits. Eventually, he entered unknown territory. At this point, his only option was¡­ well, to study. But for some reason, whenever he tried, he¡¯d immediately feel sleepy. A tragic cycle. ¡°Boy, you¡¯ve mastered my magical theory, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Randy averted his gaze without a word. ¡°You stupid!¡± Ellie¡¯s voice rang out as her eyebrows shot up in irritation.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Do you have any idea how much effort I put into dumbing it down so even an idiot like you could understand?¡± ¡°Shut it! No matter how dumbed down you make it, some things just don¡¯t click!¡± Randy shot back. Honestly, he wanted to tell her to cut him some slack. This ancient witch had dismissed even advanced magical theory as ¡°child¡¯s play¡± and proceeded to teach Randy far more complex theories. To Ellie, even the so-called ¡°advanced¡± theories were nothing more than foundational. But for Randy, who struggled to grasp the basics, there was no way he could absorb such large theories overnight. ¡°I¡¯d be fine starting with something simpler, you know!¡± Randy protested, pouting. ¡°What nonsense. The girl picked it up just fine,¡± Ellie retorted smugly. This was the worst part. Liz had absorbed everything with ease, nodding along with a casual, ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Watching her absorbed knowledge like she was a sponge made Randy feel utterly defeated. Ellie¡¯s perspective was clear: ¡°If she can handle it, so should you.¡± ¡°Seems like a birdbrain like you wasn¡¯t ready for the divine wisdom of a goddess like me.¡± ¡°Guh¡­¡± Randy winced, a vein throbbing at his temple as Ellie¡¯s smug grin widened. ¡°Go on, birdbrain. Say something. If you can.¡± Ellie cackled. ¡°Tch¡­ You old hag¡­¡± Randy muttered, his face twisting in frustration. ¡°Hah! The nerve of this little twerp¡­¡± Ellie¡¯s smile disappeared, replaced by a glare. ¡°Oh, I mean it. You¡¯re the most ancient, useless bag of bones I¡¯ve ever met! Just you wait¡ªI¡¯ll find your decrepit body and shove you right back into it!¡± Randy shot back, his words dripping with venom. ¡°You dare call me a hag?!¡± Ellie¡¯s shout shook the alley, her fury reaching new heights. ¡°Fool. I¡¯d like to see if you can still say that after witnessing my explosives body.¡± The tense standoff between Randy and Ellie was broken when Liz, likely holding Ellie back, intervened, and a figure appeared from the other side of the street. ¡°Lord Randolph, shall we go?¡± Taking advantage of the passerby¡¯s presence, Liz quickly urged Randy toward their destination before a second round of bickering could break out. ¡î¡î¡î ¡°You¡¯re both late!¡± ¡°Sorry, Cecily,¡± Liz apologized with a smile, bowing her head. Cecilia returned the smile. ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine.¡± Behind Cecilia stretched a long line of women, all queued in front of a brand-new, white building. In the brick-laden royal capital, the bright Mediterranean-style building stood out prominently. According to Liz, this design was characteristic of her hometown in the Blauvelt territory. And as for what this pristine building was? ¡°Yeah, it really does look perfect for beauty products,¡± Randy remarked, gazing up at the building. As he said, it was a store designed to sell beauty products. The first store had already opened in the Blauvelt¡¯s territory, followed by a second in the Hartfield territory. Interestingly, the Victor territory had opted for a more local approach, selling the products through general stores¡ªa very Victor-like method. Now, at last, the beauty products had made their way to the royal capital. With Liz and Cecilia¡¯s advertisements already having a strong effect, this store was to be the first building in the royal capital that selling beauty products The reason Randy and his companions were here? They had been summoned to this building by a certain individual. Though they arrived on time for the meeting, Randy couldn¡¯t help but focus on the bustling activity surrounding the store. ¡°It feels so rewarding to see it open like this,¡± Cecilia remarked, gazing up at the building. Liz nodded silently in agreement. Having visited the site several times during renovations, the two of them felt a wave of emotion seeing it finally come to life. ¡°It¡¯s incredible how thriving it is,¡± Liz commented in amazement, watching the crowd. Indeed, the area was buzzing with a line of customers and onlookers, creating quite an energetic atmosphere. None of them had the courage to dive into the store, which had turned into a battleground for women vying for products. Emerging from the chaos was a figure with pink hair, clutching a paper bag protectively. It was undoubtedly Catherine, who hurried over to them as soon as she spotted them. ¡°That¡¯s Lady Evans, isn¡¯t it?¡± Liz asked. ¡°Indeed,¡± Cecilia replied. Unlike the two women, who watched Catherine with somewhat troubled expressions, Randy seemed impressed as he looked back at the building. (Well, if it¡¯s the Marquis, this approach makes perfect sense.) As Randy pondered the Marquis¡¯s strategy, a woman emerged from what appeared to be a service entrance at the back of the building. ¡°You must be Lord Randolph and Lady Cecilia. And¡­¡± The woman glanced at Liz but said nothing further. Judging by Liz¡¯s expression, they were not strangers. (Ah, I see. She can¡¯t use ¡®Lady¡¯ in a public setting, but calling her ¡®Miss¡¯ would also be inappropriate.) Smiling wryly at her loyalty, Randy confirmed his identity. ¡°My lord is waiting. Please, this way,¡± the woman said, gesturing toward the building. She was likely a member of the Marquis¡¯s household. Guided by the woman, Randy and the others entered the building. The lively noise of the store faded as they ascended a staircase and arrived at a door. ¡°The guests have arrived,¡± the woman announced, knocking lightly. The door opened silently from within. As they stepped inside¡ª A straight sword was suddenly thrust toward Randy¡¯s face. The blade stopped just short of his nose, the wind from the motion ruffling his bangs. Liz and Cecilia froze in shock, but Randy remained completely still. He locked eyes with the man wielding the sword, both of them wearing calm smiles. ¡°Big Brother! Why¡ª¡± Liz shouted, but Randy stepped in front of her protectively. ¡°As a guard, do I qualify?¡± Randy asked with a smile. The man, whom Liz had called her brother¡ªCedric¡ªlowered his sword and smiled in return. ¡°May I ask why you didn¡¯t dodge? You knew, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t any killing intent behind the sword,¡± Randy shrugged. ¡°Impressive,¡± Cedric remarked, sheathing his sword. ¡°You can sense that much?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been trained,¡± Randy replied with a wry smile. Cedric chuckled and extended a hand. ¡°I apologize for testing you. I¡¯m Cedric, Liza¡¯s older brother.¡± Randy shook his hand, introducing himself. Seizing the opportunity, he let a faint trace of killing intent leak out for a brief moment. The air grew cold as Cedric and the woman guiding them stiffened slightly. But Randy quickly dispelled the aura, smiling cheerfully. ¡°So, as a guard, do I qualify?¡± he repeated, his smile widening. Cedric responded with a broad grin of his own. ¡°Without a doubt. Thank you for protecting my little sister.¡± There was no mistaking the sincerity in Cedric¡¯s gratitude. The young man with androgynous features similar to Liz was still smiling happily as he held Randy¡¯s hand. 36. Blauvelt Family’s Heir A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. 37. Signature For The Fans Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. 38. The Marquis’ Household – As a Brother, As a Man This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. 39. Business as Usual Despite Assassins Lurking Around The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. 40. Brewing Trouble This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. 41. Side Chapter - Bathhouse Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. 42. Ranking Announcement The hectic week filled with tests and a bathhouse expansion¡ªwhich made Randy and team forgot about those suspicious individuals¡ªfinally came to an end, and their regular academy life resumed. With the second semester already halfway through, the season was heat up with anticipation for the academy''s cultural festival which was set to happen at the end of term. But before that, there were final exams. Yet, such minor details were of little concern to the students, whose minds were entirely occupied with the festival, which is less than two months away. At this academy, which lacks traditional class structures, events and exhibitions are organized by individual circles (similar to clubs), the student council, or close friend groups. Each group uses classrooms or other parts of the academy to showcase their creativity. This setup is reminiscent of university festivals in modern school. During the festival, the usual social hierarchies are often reversed, with commoners and lower-ranking nobles taking center stage. Occasionally, upper-class nobles misjudge the event and attempt to run high-end salons, but such venues typically only attract other elites. These exclusive spaces rarely become popular, often ending up complete failure. The crowd favorites include lively food stalls run by commoners, high end cafes by lower-ranking nobles, and exhibitions or demonstrations by various clubs. Popular events also include performances in the main hall and the dance party held the night after the festival The dance party, which also serves as an end-of-term celebration, is famously known as the time when commoners and nobles without fianc¨¦s boldly confess their love. Those preparing events are busy to finish their setups, while those with romantic aspirations strive to grow closer to their crushes before the big day. This atmosphere gives the entire academy a lively spirit during this season. Even now, as students walked along the main avenue to the academy, they excitedly discussed plans for this year''s festival. Amidst this festive chatter, Randy and his companions, on their way to academy, were preoccupied with a completely different topic. "A telescope?" "Yeah. If you''re going on a sail, you''d usually have one, right?" They were seeking inspiration for creating a camera lens from telescopes. "If we ask my brother, we could probably get one right away," Liz suggested. "Lord Cedric, huh¡­" Randy folded his arms, pondering Liz''s suggestion. He had no problem asking Cedric, but he wanted to surprise him¡ªideally by presenting a completed or nearly completed camera along with a photo of Liz. "Is there something inconvenient about my brother?" Liz asked anxiously. "No, not at all," Randy quickly reassured her with a shake of his head, continuing with a grin. "One of the goals of this project is to surprise Cedric. Asking him something would spoil the fun." Liz''s worried expression turned into a pleased smile as she nodded happily, "Is that so?" If he asked Cedric, he''d undoubtedly need to explain what he was working on, including the concept of photography. Once Cedric understood this, it was inevitable that he''d deduce the intention and asked Liz''s photo ahead of time. If that happened, Cedric would surely involve himself in the project with all his resources¡ªvast wealth, unparalleled skills, and an extensive network spanning even into distant continents. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.There was even a risk that Cedric might build a camera himself. This was why Randy wanted to keep Cedric in the dark until at least a prototype was ready. He already imagined presenting Liz''s photograph to Cedric with a mischievous smile, saying, "What do you think of this?" Since this project was born out of Randy''s prank, relying on Cedric would defeat the purpose. "At worst, I could experiment with glasses or shaping glass myself." As Randy muttered to himself, Liz chuckled softly. "In that case, shouldn''t we focus on the photosensitive materials first?" "Photosensitive materials, huh¡­" She had a point, but Randy had no ideas about that either. His understanding of cameras was vague at best: light gathered by a lens passes through a shutter and imprints an image onto film, which is then printed. That was the extent of his knowledge, aside from knowing it all relied on precise chemical reactions. (If I could make one, I''d want something like a Polaroid camera that prints out the photo instantly¡­) A camera that could handle everything from capturing to printing would be ideal. That meant photosensitive paper or film was key, but Randy had no clue where to start. The only thing he knew was that Polaroid film born from an incredible amount of technology. (I can craft all sorts of things, but chemical reactions are beyond me.) As Randy groaned in frustration, Liz tilted her head and suggested, "Wouldn''t it work if something reacts to light and changes color? Maybe there''s a monster like that?" "That''s it!" Randy clapped his hands loudly, drawing the attention of everyone around them. Liz smiled at the curious onlookers, lightly poking Randy''s side to snap him out of it. "Sorry, my bad. I didn''t even think of that." "Please stay focused," Liz replied with a perfect young lady''s smile, managing to deflect the stares. "A monster¡­ Yeah, there''s definitely one like that," Randy said, nodding with newfound confidence. He had been so caught up in associating cameras with science and technology that he''d completely overlooked the possibility of using this world''s unique: magic beasts. "Maybe Ellie knows something." "She says, ''I don''t know.''" "Oh, so she is awake." Liz responded with wry smile to Randy. For Ellie to be awake at this hour was rare, and both Randy and Liz couldn''t help but keep smiling. "In that case, maybe the Adventurers'' Guild¡­?" "That''s a good idea, but I believe there''s also a ''Magical Beast Research Club'' here at the academy." "Oh, really? Might be worth checking out." "Then, let''s stop by after classes today." As they planned the details, they found themselves arriving at the academy''s front gate. Beyond it was a crowd of students gathered in front of the main building. Having been at this academy for a year and a half now, Randy recognized the scene immediately. With a sigh, he slumped his shoulders and muttered, "Oh yeah, it''s that time again." The reason of the gathering was none other than the recently posted results of the midterm exams. The rankings and scores for all students, regardless of year, were displayed prominently in front of the building for everyone to see. (If this were modern times, this would definitely be a problem.) Such public postings stirred up competition, the academy which was attended by nobles and talented students¡ªtaking it as an opportunity for individuals to showcase their abilities. Both the students and their parents were strongly in favor of this practice. Drawn by curiosity, the previously nervous students surged into the crowd to catch a glimpse of the rankings. "It''s like a feeding frenzy," Randy muttered with a furrowed brow, observing the chaotic mix of joy and despair among the students near the results board. For Randy, as long as he wasn''t facing a retake exam, his ranking didn''t matter. He''d rarely paid attention before, but this time, he''d spent a lot of time studying with Liz. Despite saying he wouldn''t dwell on the past, he couldn''t help being a little curious. (It''s times like these that being tall is handy.) Thanks to being a head taller than most student, Randy could scan the results from above the crowd. He searched the list for his name, starting, of course, from the bottom. "Oh!" He let out an involuntary exclamation, prompting Liz to ask with a smile, "Did you go up?" "Yeah. My scores are better than last time." Though his rank was still closer to the bottom, Randy looked genuinely pleased. Improvement was improvement, after all. "By the way, you are¡­" Curious, Randy began looking for Liz''s name. Despite being his attendant, Liz was considered a student due to her involvement with Randy''s study program. Liz wasn''t particularly special, and it wasn''t uncommon for other students as well. Many noble students had attendants who also studied alongside them. For example, Crown Prince Edgar''s attendant, Arthur¡ªson of the Knight Commander¡ªwas also a fellow student. Randy quickly spotted Liz''s name on the list. "¡­First place?!" Her name stood proudly at the very top of the second-year rankings, and next to it, her perfect score¡ª500 out of 500. "It was relatively easy this time," Liz said modestly with a smile. Still, she had outscored even the crown prince and Catherine. The top performers, Dario and Catherine, had both scored 490, while Cecilia had achieved a good 450, securing a spot in the upper ranks. "There''s a master here who are inferior to their attendant," Ellie teased with a cackle. Randy was at a loss for words, while Liz tried to calm Ellie down. Their exchange drew even more attention from the crowd. A servant with a perfect score and a master whose rank was near the bottom¡ªit was a striking contrast, drewing murmur from their surroundings. With this rather conspicuous result, the two decided to leave the place for the time being, If Cecilia had been present, she likely would have urged them to hold their heads high, but she was absent, having returned home last week due to urgent family matters. Randy and Liz retreated toward the front gate, avoiding the lively crowd. Soon enough, a carriage from one of the central noble families would arrive, dispersing the mass of students. Until then, they had to be patient. "By the way, what was Cecilia called home for?" "I''m not sure. It sounded like it was something urgent." "Hmm. I thought maybe it was because her test scores were bad." "That''s not possible¡­ Randy¡ª" Liz stopped herself mid-sentence, realizing what she was about to say. Randy grinned mischievously and leaned in. "Are you implying it''s more likely for me?" Liz averted her gaze, prompting Randy to press further with a teasing, "Liz? Liz?" Before the exchange could go any further, Ellie intervened with a counter, "Unlike you, Cecilia is not stupid!" Meanwhile¡­ "It''s finally in sight. Luke, this must be your first time in the royal capital, yes?" "Yes, it is." Cecilia was in a carriage heading back to the royal capital, accompanied by a young man. She had returned by ship, traveling down and then back up the Rail River for a brief visit home. The man beside her smiled warmly. "I must thank that idiot Randy for this opportunity to come to the capital with you, Lady Cecilia." "Oh my, were the two of you friends?" "Yes, we''ve been close for ages¡ªa bond that just hard to break." Luke chuckled fondly as he reminisced. Luke, a man who had huge influence on Randy in the original story, was now someone influenced by Randy instead in this timeline. Once a troublemaker, now he had gained the respect of even Alan and Harrison. Now, as Cecilia''s bodyguard, Luke was on his way to stand before Catherine in a scenario far different from the original game''s storyline. 43. Should Be Enemies, But Now Allies Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. 44. A True Friend Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.