I’m an Ordinary Returning Student at the Academy

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 193

As Karl and Selena’s relationship deepened beyond that of lovers, the two families naturally grew closer. House Adelheit, the Friedrich County, and House Ifrit, the Nafplion Marquisate.

Today, Count Friedrich and Marquis Nafplion were meeting once again.

It wasn’t for political reasons, but simply a casual gathering between in-laws.

The only difference from their usual meetings was the addition of one more person to their group.

“Welcome, in-law.”

“Oh my, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”

“Not at all. I was just having a brief chat with my son.”

Marquis Nafplion subtly stepped aside, revealing the heir to the Marquisate, Deonik.

“It’s been a while, Count Friedrich.”

“Ah, indeed it has. It’s good to see you again, Young Lord.”

“Please, there’s no need for formalities. Even though I am the heir to the Marquisate, it would be quite uncomfortable for me if you, the future father-in-law of my sister, were to address me with such respect.”

Deonik pleaded with Count Friedrich, saying that Selena might scold him if he didn’t address him properly.

In the end, Count Friedrich had to promise to treat him casually.

“I’ve heard that there has been a lot of praise for your family lately.”

“Haha, is that so? My son insisted on repaying his debts, so I gave him the keys to the treasury. It seems like it’s paying off. If he continues like this, there might not be anything left for my daughter’s dowry by the time she’s ready to wed!”

The veteran support project, led by the Nafplion Marquisate, was in full swing.

Since almost half of the Imperial Army veterans had experienced war, it meant providing support to all of them.

Initially, it was quite challenging, with only the Nafplion Marquisate and a few other families involved.

Funds weren’t as plentiful as they were now, and there was a shortage of administrative personnel.

It was Deonik, the young lord beside the Marquis, who had brought the project to its current level.

He increased the number of personnel, sincerely requested help from other families, and even opened up the family’s treasury as a gesture of leading by example.

At first, the servants were a bit worried, but their concerns soon vanished.

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As Karl stepped into the spotlight, more people naturally wanted to help.

“Father, even I wouldn’t touch Selena’s dowry.”

Deonik interjected in a small voice, sounding a bit wronged.

Count Friedrich replied that he didn’t expect a dowry anyway and was just grateful to have gained a wonderful daughter-in-law.

“Besides, Karl wouldn’t mind at all.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

“Then maybe we could increase the support amount a little more…”

“You’re not really going to take your sister’s dowry, are you?!”

“Hahaha! In-law, surely the Young Lord wouldn’t do that. He’s always been known for doting on his sister.”

“You never know. This boy has been so impressed by my future son-in-law that he’s changed completely. If Selena allows it, he might even donate her entire dowry to the veteran support fund.”

“Honestly, wouldn’t Selena understand to some extent?”

“Be quiet, Deonik. It’s because of you that your father’s retirement has been postponed.”

Deonik immediately backed down, saying, ‘I have nothing to say.’

This meant that Marquis Nafplion, who had originally planned to hand over the position of head of the family next year, couldn’t afford to take time off due to Deonik’s involvement in the veteran support project. He had to continue managing the family affairs.

The Marquis had been looking forward to retirement, passing on the headache-inducing responsibilities to his son.

But now, his son was so engrossed in other matters that he, the Marquis, had to work longer.

He was proud of his son, yet couldn’t help but feel exhausted at times.

“…But! This is what I must do, Father.”

Deonik declared his ambition in front of the two family heads, saying he would dedicate his life to the Imperial soldiers that Karl had saved.

The Count smiled, while the Marquis facepalmed.

“I just hope he doesn’t start calling my son-in-law ‘big Brother.'”

War hero. Medal of Honor recipient. Beloved by the Church. A potential Saint. And his future son-in-law.

Marquis Nafplion thought of Karl and burst into laughter.

“Ah, speaking of which, in-law. I heard you’re heading to Lasker next month.”

“It seems that’s how things have turned out.”

“Is it alright?”

Count Friedrich was going to Lasker, of all places. No one could predict how Lasker would interpret this.

“There shouldn’t be any problems. Lasker was the one who requested the meeting.”

“It’s the maternal family of the woman who was once the princess of Lasker, right?”

“It’s also a place where I forged strong bonds on the battlefield. They are people who value honor, so there’s nothing to worry about. In fact, I’m quite looking forward to it.”

Count Friedrich had a rough idea of why Lasker had requested a meeting with him.

Even though Lefia had given up her title, she was still of Lasker’s royal bloodline.

Her father was the former king of Lasker, and her half-sister, despite being from a different mother, was the current queen.

Lefia had built a new life far away and found a new family.

There must be things the royal family wanted to say and ask of this new family.

It seemed they had entrusted this task to Lefia’s maternal family.

“I’m more worried that they’ll challenge me to a duel as soon as we meet.”

“Hmm. That’s certainly possible, given the Lasker knights’ reputation.”

‘Well, if that happens, I’ll just have to indulge them.’

The Count smiled and raised his teacup.

“More tea?”

* * *

“…The tea has a wonderful aroma.”

“Haha, I’m glad you think so.”

The Pope smiled as he looked at the person sitting before him.

The one who was once the Sun of the Empire. The figure who stood at the pinnacle of everything.

And now, the former Emperor had willingly relinquished his ambition and stepped down from his inescapable position.

“I never imagined you would actually come all the way here, Brother.”

“After casting aside the heavy crown and rising from the throne that I couldn’t escape, I finally realized how light I felt. I could go anywhere, and I wanted to go everywhere.”

“You did well. In the end, we are all born with nothing and leave with nothing.”

If it were anyone else, they might have added, ‘The only thing that remains is the teachings of the Goddess and faith in Her.’ But the Pope didn’t feel the need to go that far.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

Instead, he chose to say something that no one else dared to, something that perhaps no one would ever say again.

“…A lot, you say. Sometimes I think I deserve to hear those words, but at other times, I wonder if I even have the right.”

“You have the right, Brother. Look at the Empire now. Were there many who suffered under your reign? Did the number of those who resented the world and the heavens increase?”

“I believe there must have been at least one.”

It is said that people remember one thing they did wrong more than a hundred things they did right.

If that’s true for ordinary people, how much more so for the one who ruled this vast empire?

He wasn’t a tyrant who ignored the people’s livelihood. He was an Emperor who dedicated his life to his reign.

“Do you have any regrets?”

“…”

“Do you have any lingering attachments?”

At the Pope’s words, the former Emperor looked at his reflection in the teacup for a moment before speaking.

“I do have regrets. I could have done better. I have lingering attachments. If I had been a better ruler, perhaps fewer people would have died.”

“…”

“But.”

The former Emperor drank his tea.

He swallowed his regrets and attachments along with it.

“Even so, I did my best. I did my best so that I wouldn’t be ashamed in front of the outstanding people who stood by me and the heroes who fought valiantly to protect the Empire. So that I could stand tall before our ancestors who founded and built this Empire, who brought it to where it is today.”

“…That’s enough. That’s all that matters, Brother.”

The world was once shrouded in darkness. Everyone crawled on the ground, unable to see.

One day, someone lit a lamp in the darkness. It was a bright light, but too small to illuminate everything.

But that light gave some hope that they could overcome the darkness. It inspired others to become like the person holding the lamp.

The one who first lit the lamp is great. Those who follow and light their own lamps are also great. Greatness doesn’t end with one person. It gathers and accumulates, eventually becoming a mighty stream.

“Those who dwell in darkness, light a lamp not for yourselves, but for your friends.”

The former Emperor looked up at the Pope’s sudden words. Then, with a smile, he finished the thought.

“For your friends will surely light a lamp for you as well.”

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]