Chapter 22

Released:

One day before the academy entrance ceremony.

Finally, the day of enrollment at the academy was just one day away.

“Theo, are you sure you’ve packed everything? You didn’t forget anything, right?”

Even though the luggage had been packed ages ago, Mom still seemed uneasy and she repeatedly checked and rechecked the bags.

“I told you, I packed everything carefully. And if I forgot something, I can just buy it at a nearby convenience store or at DaiXso.”

“That’s true, but it’s always better to bring things you’re already familiar with.”

Sending her son off to the capital, which was over three hours away by car, seemed to be making her worry more than a little.

“Theo.”

As Mom continued to fuss around while looking for things to add to the luggage, Dad called out for me to go outside.

“Yes, Dad. What are you doing out here? It’s so cold.”

When I stepped out, I realized that it would be a while before I’d see the snowy fields stretching across the landscape again. That thought left me feeling strangely sentimental.

It was almost as if this place were my real home.

The truth was, I had never once thought about wanting to return to the actual home I lived in before my transmigration.

“Here, take this. I put some pocket money in for you.”

Inside the thick and hefty envelope of paper rested the heartfelt worries and care of Mom and Dad.

“Oh, you didn’t have to give me this much. I’ve been saving up the allowance you’ve given me, and I heard the academy provides plenty of living allowance anyway.”

The academy had several support programs primarily aimed at commoners. First and foremost, tuition fees and meal costs were entirely waived for everyone.

Additionally, since students at the academy couldn’t work to earn a living, the school provided a living allowance. This allowance was equivalent to the average person’s monthly wage, allowing students to attend classes while still receiving financial support.

The academy was truly one of the best institutions in terms of benefits. If you could secure your admission, that is.

“Your mom and I just saved a little bit together, starting when you said you wanted to go to the academy. We made you work on the farm all the time and didn’t really do much for you, but you worked so hard on your own to get into the Academy and study. We’re proud of you.

…Though to be honest, I wasn’t heading there to study so much as to prevent the world’s destruction.

Still, that’s a pretty impressive goal, right? I mean, it counts as something big, doesn’t it?

I stared silently at the envelope filled with my parents’ warm sentiments for a moment before finally accepting it.

“Make sure to eat lots of good food, see wonderful things, and enjoy yourself. I’ve lived my whole life in this countryside, so send me some pictures from time to time.”

“Yes, Dad. If I get the chance, I’ll invite you to the capital someday.”

In the game, there was an event held just before vacations, where students could spend a night with their parents at the academy.

Of course, Estelle or Iris never participated by inviting their parents, though.

The two of them felt an even deeper bond in realizing they had no one to invite, and that shared loneliness brought them closer, deepening their feelings for each other.

At that event, even Lina von Maria who was closest to them in the original “Yuri Mode” storyline invited her parents, which only heightened the unique connection the two shared.

So, I decided that if a similar event occurred, I would definitely invite my parents to ensure things played out in a similar way.

After all, my role was to fill the gap left by the absence of Lina von Maria.

***

One day before the academy entrance ceremony.

While Theo spent some quality time with his parents, Iris was busy attending to her duties as usual.

“All the preparations for tomorrow’s entrance ceremony and the belongings you need to bring are ready.”

“For the time being, we won’t be seeing each other either.”

As the Crown Princess, Iris could have taken as many maids as she wanted, but she chose to go alone.

The official reason was that indulging in luxury by bringing attendants to an institution focused on personal growth wasn’t appropriate, and it aligned with the academy’s image as a place where everyone received equal education.

But that was the justification presented by the Emperor.

Even if the Emperor had insisted she bring attendants, Iris had no intention of doing so. To interact even slightly more comfortably with Theo or Estelle, it was far better to have no one serving her nearby.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to handle Your Highness’s affairs properly.”

Seo Jin-hee wasn’t just Iris’s personal maid; she was also someone with a level of knowledge deep enough to handle Iris’s duties in her stead.

In fact, when Iris enrolled in the academy, it was suggested that she would have to travel to and from the imperial palace personally to handle her affairs. However, Seo Jin-hee’s competence proved otherwise, and she was entrusted with Iris’s responsibilities.

“I feel bad, leaving you with such heavy responsibilities.”

“Not at all. I will do my best to ensure there’s no flaw in Your Highness’s name.”

While the Crown Princess’s duties weren’t as important as the Emperor’s, there were still many tasks that couldn’t afford even the slightest mistake.

“Well, you’re already doing great as it is.”

Though Iris was currently handling her work herself, Seo Jin-hee had already been managing those duties during the past six months that Iris was absent, and there hadn’t been a single report of an issue.

“I trust you’ll do well, Jin-hee, so I’m not worried about you. If anything, I’m the one who’s anxious.”

At Iris’s words, Seo Jin-hee’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Your Highness excels at everything. What could you possibly be worried about? I’m sure you’ll do amazingly there as well.”

Iris had always heard those words from the people around her, and having lived her life without causing any trouble since she was young, she had confidence in herself.

At least, until she met Theo.

“…I wish I could be like that too.”

Theo was a strange person.

He would remain in her thoughts, and she wanted to see him, but whenever she tried to reach out, it felt as though he might suddenly vanish without a trace.

He was someone who made her feel like she had to suppress her emotions and stay by his side only as a friend, as though that was the only way to keep him near.

Iris didn’t know how Estelle felt about him, but to her, Theo was that kind of person.

Someone far too difficult.

A type of person she had never encountered before.

Even in the presence of those of higher status, he never lost his composure.

While she admired that about him, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder, “How can he be like that?”

Because she knew she could never do the same, that thought only deepened.

“…I miss him.”

Still, she would see him at tomorrow’s entrance ceremony.

With that as her comfort, she slowly closed her heavy eyelids.

***

While the other two were spending an uneventful and peaceful day, Estelle was having quite a taxing time.

“I’ll be able to arrive on time, right, Bessie?”

A line of carriages moved in procession: one was carrying luggage, another was carrying the Saintess, followed by the Pope’s carriage, and a whole train of others trailing behind.

The road to the empire was often crowded with merchants, and with this procession, the traffic situation had become utterly chaotic.

However, seeing the Ingrid insignia elaborately engraved on every carriage, people simply looked on and offered prayers to the gods. Not a single complaint could be heard.

“Yes, Saintess. Don’t worry. We’ll make it before the ceremony, so please relax and rest comfortably.”

The carriage Estelle rode in was equipped to allow her to lie down or perform daily activities while in route, and thanks to magical protection, she couldn’t feel even the slightest bump or jolt.

“Now that I think about it, it’s about time for a meal. I’ll prepare something to eat.”

Bessie rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

“Oh, Bessie, could you teach me how to cook sometime?”

“All of a sudden?”

“Mhmm, there’s someone I want to cook for myself.”

“Oh my, is that so? Then come here, Saintess. I’ll teach you everything. From how to use the ingredients to how to prepare and cook them.”

Estelle sprang up from her seat and quickly dashed over to Bessie’s side.

“Perfect, I was worried the journey would be boring, but learning like this will keep me busy the whole way.”

“That’s right. I’ll start by teaching you the basics. How much do you already know?”

“I know the names of cooking tools, and I can use fire.”

The reason she knew even that much was largely thanks to her time adventuring with Duncan and the others.

Back then, she had called herself an adventurer, cooked her own meals, made her own bed, and performed all sorts of tasks while traveling and subduing beasts.

“Have you ever tried cooking before?”

Bessie had only joined as a maid after the runaway incident, so she had no idea about the skills Estelle had picked up during that time.

“Mhmm, I’ve cooked before, though it was just simple things like grilling.”

Even that had been done not with a gas stove but by creating fire with magic.

“That much experience means you can handle just about anything. Have you ever worked with ingredients before?”

When Bessie took a slab of meat out of the refrigerator to show her, Estelle nodded her head.

“In that case, would you like to try it yourself?”

“What? Already? It’s been a while, so I might not be very good at it.”

“The best way to learn is by doing it yourself, Saintess.”

When Estelle received the cooking knife from Bessie, she began to remember the lessons she had learned long ago when she was a much younger girl traveling with Duncan and his party. Then she set to work preparing the meat.

Thwack! Thwack!

Her movements were far from the soft and gentle image others associated with her as the Saintess, and her actions were surprisingly rough.

But having learned these skills during her travels with Duncan, it was only natural that her style was that of an adventurer.

And adventurer style, by nature, was always rugged and rough.

2 responses to “Chapter 22”

  1. JimmyJohns05 Avatar
    JimmyJohns05

    oh, I’m shocked there’s no “love interest can’t cook” stereotype

    1. Pe551 Avatar
      Pe551

      We eating good

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