Chapter 112: The House of Baron Roger (1)

After his audience with His Majesty Emperor Leonidas—

He left the academy with his escort and returned to the imperial palace.

Afterwards, the festival resumed, and once their match had ended, Sonia and Ronie came up to the schoolyard together.

Bishop Paul savored the joy of reuniting with his daughter.

He had always worried that his daughter might become broken because of him and his late wife.

But instead, she had chosen to carry a deeper resolve and was silently forging ahead. He was moved by that.

“Because of your useless father, you’ve suffered a lot, Sonia……”

When they first met, the bishop had seemed like someone who would never easily open his heart to anyone.

But before his daughter, he overflowed with warmth like a tender father.

“No, Father.”

Sonia gently embraced him.

And even though she had already done more than enough, she spoke words that surpassed expectations.

“I’m actually grateful.”

With red eyes full of life, like a blazing sun—

“If you’d sent me to a special school like any other family, I wouldn’t have made it here.”

Sonia brushed back her bangs and revealed her pale forehead.

She showed her parents a face that had grown beautifully, like a rose in full bloom.

“But you trusted me and sent me to the Imperial Academy. And you waited for me.”

Sonia softly held her father’s rough, wrinkled hand.

Then, with a bright smile, she said,

“So that I could find my own path……”

Paul stared blankly at her, as though seeing his late wife in their daughter.

Then, steadying his voice, he said,

“Yes… Thank you for saying that.”

Everyone remaining in the guest seats watched the two of them, touched by the heartfelt moment.

Among them, Saint Istina stood beside me and gently leaned her shoulder against mine.

“What kind of magic did you use this time?”

She looked up at me like a sly fox with tricks up her sleeve.

I replied calmly, not even noticing our shoulders were touching.

“There’s no such thing as magic. Life is the same for everyone.”

A secretary, after all, is someone who prepares situations so their master can easily speak their true thoughts aloud.

I had simply used the tricks of that time.

“Lord Roger. Thanks to you, I feel like I’ve regained a little joy in life.”

One of the Twelve Bishops, now reunited with his daughter, approached me.

Wiping away his reddened eyes, he gave me his thanks.

“Truly, thank you. I mean it.”

Paul, who had always hidden his emotions and remained expressionless during bishop council meetings—

He bowed deeply to me with a sincere expression.

“Please, Bishop, don’t do this. How could I possibly accept such undeserved gratitude?”

I hurriedly tried to help him up.

Then, saying it was all right, Archbishop Thomas—who had been standing nearby—spoke to me.

“No, Lord Roger. Your actions today are most worthy of praise.”

A middle-aged man with white hair and a small metal monocle.

The head of this vast Imperial Church spoke with satisfaction.

“The depth of your convictions will soon become a great example to the youth of the Empire.”

I wanted to say it had all been done for my own gain.

But I couldn’t bring myself to speak so easily.

Not just the archbishop, but the Second Empress and the academy headmaster too—

The very stars guiding this nation were praising my actions.

For a brief moment, I wondered how I could naturally navigate through this overwhelming situation.

Then, narrowing my already sharp eyes into slits, I flashed my signature smile.

“Pardon me for saying so, but I didn’t make it this far because of any noble conviction.”

As I took a humble tone, the imperial figures around me simultaneously showed looks of confusion.

At that, I carefully introduced the silver-haired saint who had somehow slipped to my side.

“All of this is thanks to Saint Istina, who called me to the capital.”

Istina’s eyes widened at my elegant gesture.

Like a silver she-wolf startled by praise she hadn’t even imagined.

“While I was still considering what to do as a member of a ducal household, she advised me to come to the capital and see the broader world.”

But even in the face of her surprise, I showed not the slightest concern.

I continued praising her without a hint of shame.

“The reason I was able to tell Miss Sonia to dream big was also thanks to the Saint’s words—that the Grand Duke’s house isn’t the whole world.”

Istina looked like she had quite a bit she wanted to say to me.

But then again, none of it was a lie, and realizing that, she soon found herself at a loss for words.

“Thanks to her, my eyes were opened, and I’ve come to consider what I must do for myself moving forward.”

“Indeed… No wonder I found it so remarkable that someone barely twenty could have such broad insight.”

Archbishop Thomas took the opportunity to lend me his support as well.

From his position, it benefited him for Istina to thrive—so he could keep Bishop Alves of the pro-imperial faction in check.

“So I would like to give all the credit to the Saint.”

After the Emperor’s departure, the highest authority left was Empress Margaret. She slowly nodded, as if in agreement.

Then, with a kind smile, she addressed me—the man who had earned her husband’s favor.

“Your humble heart moves me, Roger.”

The Empress extended her noble hand to me.

“Since His Majesty also gave his approval, I wish to assist with your future endeavors.”

The highest-ranking woman in the Empire had just declared her support for me.

At that dazzling statement, I bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

“Please, no. I too am just a man who lives for his own well-being—I could never dare to hope for special treatment.”

I spoke as if I sought no personal gain whatsoever.

Then I continued, this time pointing to Bishop’s daughter, Sonia.

“Instead, I would be grateful if you could support Miss Sonia, who has taken up the sword with a noble heart.”

Refusing even the crumbs that might fall my way—

At that, both the Empress and the Saint looked at me in disbelief.

They were both clever women.

As though trying to grasp my true intention, Empress Margaret chose to ask Sonia directly.

“Very well then, Miss Sonia. What can I do to help you achieve your goal?”

The red-haired knight, standing side by side with Ronie—

She paused for a moment in deep thought, then her bright eyes lit up like a sunstone.

“I want to become the first graduate of the Erian Foundation track that His Majesty proposed.”

At the mention of the Erian Foundation, both the Empress and her father naturally turned their gaze back to me.

“Roger, if a foundation-backed track were to be established within the Imperial Academy, what sort of educational policy would you envision applying to it?”

A female knight soon to gain massive recognition from this match—

Since she had chosen me, they were now asking about my aspirations moving forward.

“There’s no need to answer immediately. It was a swiftly raised proposal by His Majesty, after all.”

The Empress gave a gentle smile, treating me like a young man barely in his twenties.

But—

Age did not matter in this place.

What mattered was proving that I had the ability to collaborate with them.

“No, I’ll answer right away.”

That was the only way to reach the near-impossible rank of Odeungjak.

“First, for students in the arts field, we plan to provide special lectures and hands-on training from artists affiliated with our foundation.”

The Empress herself was an ardent fan of Bennet Tolkien.

And now, thanks to her performance at Luton Hall, Gehenna Natasha was rising as the industry's top name.

“Then, for general knight cadets, we’ll create a bodyguard program where they can train to protect entertainers. Afterward, we’ll prepare for them to be eligible to join the Imperial Guard.”

A support program that encompassed both the cultural and military sectors.

For noble families, it might be optional—but for commoner students, it was a lifeline.

Understanding this well, the Empress and Bishop Paul both nodded in agreement.

“His Majesty gave me this opportunity because a new era of peace has arrived—an era where all citizens can rise and play a role.”

I began to speak, choosing my words with care.

“In the past, during times of war, it was right that nobles with higher education led the nation.”

This must have been the Emperor’s true intent.

Now that the war had ended, the nobles held a multitude of privileges in their hands.

A new group was needed to check the growth of their influence.

“But given that ordinary students are now receiving quality education as well, His Majesty must have felt it necessary to lessen their burdens and cultivate even more talent.”

And that group would be the wealthy middle class, who moved through capital.

Leonidas had secretly ordered me to forge that very force.

“In short, he spoke of freedom in education.”

It was all wrapped in the beautiful word: freedom.

At this, Bishop Paul looked at me with warm eyes, seemingly touched.

“That’s a truly meaningful thought. If I ever get the chance, I’d like to help with your plan.”

A bishop showing me favor simply because I had helped his daughter—

And now, I could finally ask for compensation.

“Then, if I may be so bold… would it be possible to ask just two small favors?”

I let out a long sigh first.

Then, with an apologetic expression, I looked toward Bishop Paul.

“Go ahead, speak freely.”

As soon as he gave his permission, I smiled as though I’d been waiting for it.

“Please support Saint Istina—who allowed me to accomplish so much—in becoming a bishop candidate.”

The old man quietly turned his gaze to the silver-haired woman at my side.

Then, in a much more serious voice, he began to speak.

“I used to think the Saint was someone full of nothing but ambition. Her accomplishments always seemed to come faster than news of her good deeds.”

As expected of someone who had held a bishop’s seat for decades—he was sharp.

Istina was certainly no ordinary saint.

“……”

She offered a polite bow in silence.

But knowing the little devil that lay hidden behind that beautiful appearance, I kept my twitching lips tightly shut.

“However, today—through you—I realized that the Saint is truly sincere, and holds deep convictions.”

Bishop Paul gave her a warm smile, as though looking at his own daughter.

A smile he had never once shown throughout the dozens of meetings we’d attended together.

“Therefore, I see no more reason to oppose her becoming a bishop.”

“Do… do you mean it?”

Istina’s lips parted as she looked at the elderly man who had finally opened his heart.

At that, both the Empress and the Archbishop—watching quietly from a step behind—gave a gentle round of applause.

“That’s right, Saint. You are more than qualified to take up the bishop’s post.”

As Istina drew closer to the position she had longed for so desperately, her blue eyes gleamed.

A radiant halo shimmered like the surface of a sunlit lake.

“Thank you, Bishop Paul. I will continue to uphold my faith so as not to make your support a cause for regret.”

The Saint’s lowered hand gently reached out—

And lightly grasped the edge of my pants pocket.

I thought she was simply overcome with joy, so I smiled and congratulated her.

“Now then, what is the second request?”

At the bishop’s question, I looked back at Sonia and my younger sibling, Ronie.

The two seventeen-year-olds giggled and whispered to each other amidst the conversation of adults.

Watching that picture-perfect scene, I brought up my second request.

“I would like to ask for a letter of recommendation so that the Julius family may be elevated to baronial rank.”

“……!”

To become a baronial house—

That might, in fact, be the most difficult request of all.

“A baronial house, you say……?”

As expected, Bishop Paul looked slightly taken aback.

Since it was not something he could decide alone, he glanced toward the Empress and the Archbishop.

The two of them—now seeming to realize the true purpose behind all my earlier humility—looked at me with interest.

Now, I had to turn that interest into trust.

“Yes, that’s right. I believe this is a necessary step in order to properly fulfill the duty His Majesty has entrusted to me.”

The Archbishop appeared to agree, judging by his expression.

The Empress, too, smiled as if she believed I was sufficiently qualified, given the imperial command I had received and the deeds I had displayed so far.

However—

She remained silent, as though in the mood to tease.

It was as if she were saying: Let’s see how much more you can convince me.

‘As expected of the Empress…’

I cleared my throat, preparing to explain to her the reasons why I needed to become a baron.

But then…

“I believe it would be more credible if someone who has observed his actions up close explained it, rather than the man himself.”

This time, it was Saint Istina who stepped forward.

The woman who had captured all the faith of the Northern Empire.

“……”

The Empress stared intently at the silver-haired Saint, who had stepped in on my behalf.

It was a moment that could easily have come across as presumptuous.

But for now, she gave silent permission, as if willing to hear her out.

“Very well. Proceed, Saint Istina.”

The Saint closed her clear eyes respectfully, offering a graceful bow.

Then she looked at me with a captivating gaze and parted her crimson lips.

As if she were repaying a favor—and at the same time, fastening a leash around my neck.

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