This is Romance Fantasy (1)
Selena, drenched in sweat, was carrying Iriel on her back toward the mansion.
As the mansion came into view, just before they reached it…
“Hey, put me down.”
A cold voice reached her ears.
Selena turned her head.
Iriel, having regained consciousness, was looking down at her.
“What, are you planning to brag to Yohaiden? That you brought the unconscious Princess Eustia as a trophy?”
Selena abruptly straightened up and threw Iriel to the ground.
Thud!
“Ouch!”
Iriel’s bottom hit the ground hard.
The pain from Zeke’s earlier hit throbbed.
She glared at Selena from her position on the ground.
Selena looked down at her and said,
“Don’t flatter yourself, Iriel Eustia. If it weren’t for Instructor’s request, I would have left you at the academy. What can you offer me for carrying you all the way here, besides shame?”
“Ha.”
Iriel scoffed, tilting her head.
She got up, dusting off her clothes.
“Zeke’s request? For me to go to Yohaiden?”
“Yes.”
“Tsk, does he think I’ll do anything he asks just because he asked? That man.”
Selena’s eyebrows twitched at Iriel’s sarcastic tone.
“Then go back to the Eustia mansion right now.”
“...”
“Go to a monastery, get engaged, just disappear.”
Selena spat out the words coldly and turned toward the mansion.
Iriel’s lips were pressed into a thin line.
Indeed, returning to the Eustia mansion right now wasn't a good idea.
The fact that she had been in contact with Zeke and that he had even knocked out Hades…
It was obvious that her aunt would hold her responsible.
She might actually be forced to leave the academy and get engaged or enter a monastery.
And Zeke Clayman would be hunted by Eustia’s assassins…
At the thought of Zeke, Iriel’s expression hardened.
‘Where is Zeke now?’
She had unconsciously assumed that Zeke had taken refuge in Yohaiden.
That’s why she had been at ease, thinking he would be safe from Eustia for the time being.
But, if that was the case, shouldn't he be here now?
Only Selena and she were here.
And it was Selena Yohaiden who had been carrying her until just now.
“Wait!”
Selena lifted her head at Iriel’s shout.
“Right now, Zeke Clayman. Where is he?”
“Instructor said he’ll be back by dinner.”
“What!? So… he’s not here now? Where did he go!”
“…”
Selena stared at Iriel with her usual cold expression.
Iriel felt a surge of frustration.
This airhead seemed to underestimate Eustia far too much.
“Eustia’s assassins are after Zeke right now! Do you have any idea who those people are?!”
“I know. You told me.”
“And you knew that, but still…!!!”
Although she maintained a straight face in front of Iriel, her fists were clenched so tightly that they had turned white.
‘I’m the one who should be most worried right now!’
This idiot didn’t seem to have an ounce of understanding about who put Instructor in this situation.
She tried to remain calm, but her head was spinning.
“Iriel.”
“What.”
“You… don’t seem to think Instructor is in this mess because of you? How shameless.”
Flinch.
Iriel’s body trembled at those words.
Contrary to the academy entrance ceremony, Selena was now confronting Iriel.
“Wh-what did I do! I-I did it for Zeke!”
“Hey, I have eyes and ears. And I heard your entire conversation with Instructor.”
Selena’s voice started to rise.
She was truly angry.
“What? For Instructor? This all happened because you dragged Instructor out of the military! Isn’t that why we’re in this mess? And your grand plan was to drag Yohaiden into this?!”
Selena bit her lip.
“…Fine, let’s say dragging me into this was part of the plan. Whose bright idea was it to buy off the Imperial Family with money? That’s the best your little brain could come up with?”
Uncharacteristically harsh words for a Duke’s daughter poured out of her mouth.
“Don’t you realize we don’t have any real political power yet? The First Prince, the Second Prince, and even me! We’re just academy students who are admired within those narrow walls!”
The frustration in her heart burst out mixed with resentment.
“Something happened, and you expect me to mobilize the Yohaiden White Tiger Knights right now! I didn’t even have time to convince Father and prepare! And you, you dare say that? That you did it for Instructor?!”
Huff…
Huff…
Selena’s breath became ragged.
“Then!!!!”
Iriel shouted, lifting her head from where she had buried it in shame at Selena’s words.
“What was I supposed to do…?!”
She lifted her face. Tears streamed down her face.
Iriel mumbled, oblivious to her smudged makeup, “…Zeke was in danger… I-I only realized it now….”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
“I… I didn’t want Zeke… to die… I just wanted to protect him… But I couldn’t stop it… You should have at least hidden him here… Now Zeke is going to die…”
“Instructor won’t die,” Selena cut Iriel off coldly.
“…How do you know that?”
“Because Instructor… he promised me he’d be back. So… he won’t die.”
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
Iriel asked with a bewildered expression.
Did Selena not realize her words held no weight?
However, she was desperately clinging to the skills and trust Zeke Clayman had shown her.
“…So… I hate to say this, but… you should come inside the mansion for now. That’s what Instructor asked me to do.”
***
The daughters of Eustia and Yohaiden visited the mansion together.
The sudden visit of the enemy family’s daughter…
The Yohaiden mansion staff didn’t know what to do with this unprecedented event that had unfolded overnight.
As the flustered staff looked on, the head butler stepped forward to greet them.
“Head Butler.”
“Yes, Lady Selena.”
“You have that place, right? The one you use as a storage room.”
“...”
“Give it to her.”
The head butler wore a troubled expression.
Judging from the situation, it didn’t seem like Iriel Eustia was here because they were friends.
However, he couldn’t treat her carelessly, especially since they had already invited her into the mansion.
Behind Selena, Iriel was sniffling and wiping away her tears.
“Lady Selena, that place is… not suitable.”
“Why?”
The head butler spoke to Selena, cautiously gauging her mood.
“If we were to make the Duke’s daughter stay in such a place, it would damage our reputation.”
“Reputation…? And what if I said I don’t care about that? Just… put her in there and send her back quietly.”
The head butler knew how terribly Iriel Eustia had treated Selena.
Therefore, he understood Selena’s attitude, and he, too, felt resentful towards Iriel.
However, he couldn’t let emotions dictate how they handled this situation.
“Lady Selena.”
Selena frowned at the head butler, who seemed to be trying to stop her.
“This… isn’t just a personal matter for Lady Selena. It concerns the reputation of the entire Yohaiden Dukedom.”
“…”
The Dukedom.
In other words, it could tarnish the name of her father, mother, and brothers.
At those words, Selena regained some of her composure.
Sigh.
She let out a sigh.
“Fine. Do as you see fit, Head Butler.”
“Yes. Shuri, please escort Lady Iriel Eustia to Room 7.”
“Yes, Head Butler.”
Selena turned to look at Iriel.
“Iriel Eustia.”
Sniffle—
“Stop crying so pathetically and listen. This is also something Instructor asked me to tell you.”
Iriel lifted her head at those words.
“Zeke…?”
“Wait here today until Instructor returns. And tomorrow, take a day off from the academy.”
“...” Iriel nodded faintly.
“Instructor will call for you when he returns, so please remain quiet until then.”
And so, Iriel was escorted to a separate room, far away from Selena.
As she watched the retreating red hair, Selena spoke.
“…Head Butler.”
“Yes, Lady Selena.”
“How many knights are currently in charge of the mansion’s security?”
“Currently, there are about ten active guards. Including those who are off duty, we have twenty.”
“Are they… strong?”
“Yes, their combat abilities are objectively excellent. They are unmatched among guards.”
“Compared to the elite of Yohaiden’s White Tiger Knights?”
“…They are far inferior.”
Selena closed her eyes.
“Then, have all the knights, even those off duty, on standby. And right now, send two of the fastest ones. Have them scout the surrounding area for any signs of conflict.”
She opened her eyes and grabbed the doorknob.
“They should be able to track down Instructor Zeke Clayman. And if anything happens, let me know immediately.”
The head butler bowed his head at her words, even though he didn’t know the details of the situation.
Thud.
As soon as she returned to her room, Selena’s strength gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor.
“My lady!”
“Ailey…”
“What’s wrong! Are you alright?”
Selena clutched at Ailey’s sleeve as the maid rushed over with a panicked expression.
Ailey embraced Selena, and Selena began to tremble and shed tears.
“Ailey… what should I do… What if… what if something happened to Instructor…?”
People professionally trained by Eustia were after Zeke.
Even if it was Zeke, he might not make it out of this unscathed.
Judging by the situation, it seemed like the group Zeke had been a part of was now pursuing him.
That meant they were on a similar level of skill as Zeke.
Could even the Yohaiden White Tiger Knights, let alone the mansion guards, withstand even a single blow from them?
Furthermore, Selena sending out knights to search for Zeke was a dangerous move in itself.
Zeke probably went alone because he didn’t want to burden her with such a risk.
It was no different from her intervening in the internal affairs of the Eustia family without permission.
If she were to openly intervene, the situation would escalate, potentially leading to a political conflict between the Eustia and Yohaiden families.
As she made her way back to the mansion, various anxieties that had surfaced kept gnawing at her.
She tried to suppress them in front of Iriel and the others, but the moment she returned to her room, her weak heart gave way.
“It’s going to be alright, My Lady.”
Ailey said, gently stroking Selena’s hair, though it was considered disrespectful.
“…Right? It has to be… Ailey, I’m so scared…”
“Even in my eyes, I can tell that Zeke Clayman… is no ordinary man.”
“But… but… This time, even I can’t… do anything… Even if I convince Father, it might be too late…”
Selena trembled, her hands shaking with anxiety.
“Lady Selena.”
Ailey gently pulled back, holding Selena’s shoulders, and met her eyes.
“Is there truly… nothing you can do?”
"..."
Selena bit her lip, her eyes bloodshot. Her gaze still flickered with anxiety, but a faint glimmer of determination ignited within them.
*
Selena pulled herself together and sent Ailey out.
She then sat down at her desk, taking out a pen and paper from the drawer.
‘First, I need to assume Instructor will return.’
Selena pressed her hand against her chest.
Her heart pounded with anxiety, but she chose to believe in Zeke.
‘Once Instructor returns safely, I need to figure out how to protect him.’
Even if Zeke overcame this and returned, it wouldn’t be the end.
The Eustia family was known for their persistence.
‘Is there no one on Instructor’s side? Considering the cliff, there might be one or two more…’
Ah, but Instructor has lost his memories.
Even if there were people on his side, it would be difficult for him to seek proper help.
As expected, she had to be the one to protect him.
“First, in terms of military force…”
Selena’s heart grew heavy.
There was little military support she could offer.
The Yohaiden White Tiger Knights were renowned for their strength, but she couldn’t mobilize them. They only followed the orders of the head of the family.
‘Even if I ask Father to protect Instructor, he’ll probably refuse…’
Perhaps, if she revealed that Instructor had saved her from the goblins, he might make a token gesture.
But that would be it.
He wouldn't actively intervene in a situation that involved clashing with Eustia.
No matter how righteous they might be, the Yohaidens were still nobles.
Protecting their power meant carefully considering the risks before taking action.
Would the benefits of protecting Zeke Clayman outweigh the consequences of a conflict with Eustia?
Selena shook her head.
‘That’s right, politics aren’t about emotions. There’s no need to be disappointed. Think rationally.’
Then, all that remained was political protection.
Not through force, but through connections.
Building a position where she could say, “If you touch this person, you’ll be in trouble too. Are you sure you want to do this?”
The first thought that came to mind was a slightly selfish one.
‘An engagement?’
If Selena and Zeke Clayman were engaged, Eustia would find it difficult to touch him.
Normally, this would be the time to get lost in her fantasies, but Selena was serious right now.
‘No, that would take too long. Besides, we’re still in a student-teacher relationship.’
Maybe after Selena graduated from the academy…
As long as they were still in a teacher-student relationship, an engagement would be scandalous.
It would give other noble families, not just Eustia, a reason to gossip and point fingers.
Moreover, her family wouldn’t allow it.
Selena twirled a strand of her silver hair, deep in thought.
‘Saying Yohaiden backs Instructor… this also requires my family’s approval. But if I put myself forward as his sole backer, Eustia could easily snatch him away from me…’
Then, a thought struck her, inspired by the complex relationships she had read about in novels.
‘Why… after saving me, do you intend to leave?’
‘It can’t be helped.’
‘Are you saying you can’t promise to protect me in the future?’
‘Our families are sworn enemies. It’s dangerous for us to even meet like this. Please go back.’
‘You frustrating man! The important thing is that you saved my life!’
Selena recalled how she and Zeke ended up entangled in the first place.
‘That’s right. Instructor saved me when I was in danger.’
Clap!
Selena clapped her hands together.
“A benefactor! We’ll announce to the social circles that Instructor is my lifesaver!”
The relationship of a lifesaver who rescued a Princess was something the Yohaiden family was obligated to acknowledge and repay.
It wasn’t direct military support, but in terms of political aid, it was more than enough to protect him.
In other words, this would be her threat to Eustia:
‘Are you really going to touch the person who saved the Yohaiden Princess’s life?’
And now was the perfect time, as the fact that Zeke Clayman had ties to Eustia remained unknown.
‘If we publicize the fact that Instructor is my lifesaver, Eustia might try to shake us off by spreading rumors that he’s a spy for them.’
‘The Eustia Dukedom sent a spy to target Selena.’
Of course, Selena knew this was a lie.
However, people didn’t know that Zeke had lost his memories.
If such a rumor were to spread, Zeke’s reputation would plummet.
Of course, would Eustia go that far, even if it meant damaging Zeke’s image?
The thought crossed Selena’s mind, but she decided to be prepared for any eventuality.
‘I need to talk to Iriel. I need to gather more information.’
Zeke would be back by nightfall. Until then, she would focus on securing his political protection.
Selena’s resolve solidified.
‘And… I’ll finally find out what kind of relationship they had.’
Selena rang the bell on her desk.
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It feels like Selena's way smarter than I was giving her credit for.
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