“Hmm…”
A warm touch felt from somewhere. Riu slowly opened her eyes to the warmth.
“…You’re awake.”
However, hearing a familiar and close voice, Riu immediately took a sharp breath.
“Ah, cough!”
She was about to yell at him for daring to touch a lady’s body, but then…
‘My, my voice doesn’t come out?’
Could it be that her vocal cords were frozen by the fear this man induced?
Her mind froze to the point of making such a foolish assumption. A shock so intense that she couldn’t even form a coherent thought enveloped her.
Even though his character was so atrocious that it was doubtful whether he was truly human, with strategies so devilish that even demons would weep, she thought he at least had some boundaries. But what was this?
At that moment,
“I’m treating you, so shut up for a bit. Because the spirit rampaged in your body, your neck area is covered in frostbite.”
‘Frostbite…?’
With that one scolding remark, everything finally came back to her. The spirit had possessed her body. She had fought Hans Byron. And…
Riu squinted her eyes to check his right arm. It was temporarily bandaged, clearly an injury caused by the spirit that had possessed her.
“Indeed. Judging by the fact that your body is moving fine, the potion’s effects must be kicking in. Try your voice…”
“Kyah!”
No need to check. As expected of a grand wizard’s potion, it worked perfectly.
Hans’s indifferent words didn’t even register in her ears. The massive shock she felt earlier was swallowing her whole.
‘I’m doomed…!’
Despite following his demands and enduring the humiliation of approaching the crown prince to confess, the mistake she made was too great, enough to nullify all her efforts.
‘There’s no way he’ll let this slide.’
Noble society always operates on justifications. Fraud? Blackmail? Even wars between families? As long as there were justifiable reasons, nothing was impossible. Sometimes, not even the royal family could interfere with the ‘honor’ that was so noble yet so bizarre, which served as both the foundation and the shackle that supported them.
However, when there was no justification, the responsibility had to be borne entirely by the individual in a noble manner.
Her sharp mind quickly calculated the future she would face. That right arm, which he didn’t bother to heal despite having precious potions, was left as a message to her:
-You see the injury you caused? Handle it properly.
She couldn’t even make an excuse. Being possessed by a spirit, it wasn’t intentional? That wouldn’t work on him.
-Integration with a spirit happens when emotions align. Lady Casper showed hostility towards me.
He would confidently disgrace her in front of others in that manner.
Therefore, with a short scream, Riu closed her eyes tightly and then opened them, immediately kneeling and bowing her head.
“…What do you want?”
Her trembling voice was filled with fear, shame, and despair.
In truth, her anger was largely due to Hans’s cornering, but she knew now was the time to lower herself as she had made a mistake.
Using this as leverage, he would surely demand something—it was obvious. She held back the tears that were about to spill out and kept her head bowed, waiting quietly for his decision.
“Well, there’s nothing in particular I need to ask for.”
“…What?”
Riu involuntarily lifted her head. This was an entirely unexpected response. She thought he would pressure her using the injury as leverage, like a starving wolf. Instead, his unfamiliar demeanor gave her chills.
“Oh, right. You did an excellent job courting the crown prince. Thanks to you, I could gauge his true intentions and confirm that he’s an enemy of Lady Luciana.”
Moreover, he even gave her an uncharacteristic compliment.
“…What’s your real intention?”
“Intention? What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you going to hold me accountable for the injury on your right arm?”
She exposed her own vulnerability. She knew her opponent too well to let this pass quietly. It was better to address it now and hope for a lighter punishment.
‘He probably already knows any shallow tricks I might try.’
Thus, she had to endure whatever demand came next, without room for negotiation—
“There’s no ulterior motive. From the start, this was all a test.”
“A test?”
“Yeah.”
Riu blinked blankly. His indifferent voice, the same whether he was scolding or commanding, was unchanged even now as he praised her.
“To assess your abilities and loyalty, I thought difficult tasks like this were suitable. You exceeded my expectations and I’m very satisfied.”
“….”
“Be a bit happy. If you had shown any hint of being useless or trying to side with the crown prince, my thoughts might have been different.”
A sly smile briefly crossed his face. But he quickly erased that expression and extended his hand toward her. The hand from his bandaged arm, still visibly trembling and in pain.
At that moment,
‘Don’t be mistaken.’
Riu’s rationality cooled down. He had already healed her frostbite with a potion. Thinking about why he hadn’t healed his own arm, it seemed like a calculated move to invoke sympathy and a sense of responsibility to improve their relationship.
Hans Byron was certainly capable of such manipulation.
“You’ve proven your worth to me. Naturally, I’ll treat you accordingly.”
“I’m… honestly bewildered. I was only thinking about being punished.”
She couldn’t let her guard down for a moment. Her opponent was Hans Byron, the one who had thwarted her schemes and toyed with her until now.
“Well, whether you believe it or not is up to you. I always make choices that benefit Lady Luciana.”
Even though she refused his handshake, his voice remained utterly calm. Hans shrugged and turned away. Only then did Riu feel a small sense of relief. This kind of hostile cooperation was the most fitting relationship between him and herself.
“Oh, take this.”
“This is?”
“This is a remnant of the spirit. It’s hard to call it a proper spirit stone since it used you as a medium, but it should be sufficient as proof of your test results.”
But why does he keep crossing that boundary?
“Of course, it’s too meager to be called a reward. The real deal will come later, so look forward to it.”
“…What did you say?”
“Though an accident occurred with the spirit’s possession, it was fortunate as it revealed your talents to me. I’ll prepare something suitable for a spirit user.”
‘That’s… impossible.’
At this point, she was actually terrified. How was she supposed to interpret this sudden shift from someone who had been manipulating and toying with her, now giving praise and offering rewards?
Not knowing the other party’s intentions. For someone like her, who had lived in the political arena all her life, there was nothing more terrifying.
“Why?”
Therefore.
Putting aside the potentially troublesome reward, Riu voiced her question again. Her mind, having been pushed to its limits several times, was now demanding a break. Accepting and understanding this reward was her minimal defensive mechanism.
“I’m already on the verge of expulsion, together with my sister. This time, I’ve made an enormous blunder. You could have just blackmailed me, so why are you showing kindness?”
“Ha, it’s really troublesome to have to explain everything to you.”
‘Who made me this way!?’
But she couldn’t afford to vent her anger any further. Riu clasped her hands quietly, trying to analyze all his actions and the meaning behind his words.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he finally answered her question.
“It seems my previous answer wasn’t enough, but that’s all there is to it. Appropriate treatment for your value. I’m being capricious because it would be a waste for you to just be a puppet.”
…Huh?
“In that short period of midterm exam preparation, within the disadvantageous position of the noble faction, you managed to establish a relationship with the crown prince and reveal his true intentions. Thanks to that, we could clearly understand his stance.”
“…So?”
“Is that something just anyone could do?”
His eyes narrowed, and she could see the black pupils within. And what she saw there was greed.
Seeing that natural human instinct directed towards her, Riu involuntarily swept her hand over her shoulder.
Fortunately.
His eyes, disappearing between his broadly curving smile, seemed to be teasing her as he laughed and continued.
“People naturally become greedy for talent. Think of it as an investment.”
“And such a person resorts to threats on their talent?”
“It’s the minimum safety measure.”
‘He’s… the worst.’
However, now that his hidden intentions had been revealed, Riu finally let out a sigh of mixed relief. Additionally, she felt not entirely bad.
The person who had dealt her a bitter defeat was now acknowledging her abilities like this. Of course, compared to the shame she had endured, it made no sense, and she knew it.
The miserable humiliation, the despair she had to face—all of it stemmed from the defeat inflicted by him.
But.
—What can Lady Riu Caspera offer in return?
The crown prince who questioned her usefulness.
—A disgrace to the noble faction.
—Riu Caspera is now a setting sun.
-It’s better to side with Duke Luke Daimon.
The noble faction that dethroned her after a single defeat. His attitude was certainly different. He gave her tasks, praised her based on the results, and in retrospect, though it was tough, she had accomplished everything. Following his words, she discovered talents she hadn’t known about.
Plus, it became clear that the crown prince’s side was like a rotten rope.
‘Maybe it would be more beneficial for me to join forces with him.’
When her thoughts reached that point, Riu suddenly recalled the oldest saying in high society:
The enemy of your enemy is your most reliable ally. The one you must be most wary of is your friend.
“Let’s go back. You need to find your group, and I need to find mine.”
“Understood.”
A spark of realization flickered in Riu’s eyes. She was bound to be entangled with him anyway. Politics is about mediating conflicts. If the other party desired it too, it wouldn’t hurt to get a bit closer. As she walked beside him, she casually started a conversation.
“By the way, the crown prince is quite ridiculous. What’s wrong with having a woman of that caliber? He should have been completely wiped out during the fanatics’ attack.”
“…That’s blasphemy.”
“So what? I’ve already been caught for worse, this doesn’t bother me at all.”
She began just like she had with the crown prince, building relationships through shared grievances.
“Well, I do agree that he deserves divine punishment. To think he could regard Lady Luciana that way.”
And to her surprise, he responded with enthusiasm.
***
“It’s all wrapped up well.”
A clearing prepared for those who finished the exam. Exhausted from all the events, I leaned against a tree to rest my weary body and mind. The clear sky felt sweet compared to the dark cave.
-You have a knack for making things complicated. Why not just be straightforward from the start?
-You don’t understand. You can’t always wear a smiling mask. Sometimes you need to show a ruthless side.
I admit it might seem a bit cumbersome. But for the saint and Riu to reveal their true intentions, this approach was more effective.
-Well, it’s fortunate it ended well… but wasn’t it a waste to give away that remnant?
-It’s just a relic of no real use beyond scoring points. I assure you, if it can win over Riu Caspera, it’s a profitable deal.
More importantly, I gained something far better.
[Skill]
[Rank: Spirit Affinity]
[To command unruly spirits, one must have innate talent. Such individuals are called spirit summoners.]
[Can contract with spirits]
[As the skill level grows, one can bond with higher spirits]
Perhaps it was because I defeated a special boss that wasn’t originally there. Spirits, who were so troublesome as enemies, would be the most reliable allies if tamed.
And it wasn’t just the skill. There were numerous gains from this midterm exam. Identifying the saint’s true nature and solidifying alliances. Estimating Luciana’s growth scale.
Guiding Riu into our ranks…
-Most importantly, it was crucial to see the true nature of that damned crown prince.
His twisted jealousy towards Luciana, who is superior to him.
And yet, his inflated arrogance that the person suited for him must be similar to Luciana.
In the end,
He has no intention of breaking off his engagement with Luciana on his own.
Even with the appearance of a great alternative like Riu Caspera, he doesn’t make a move because she doesn’t meet his standards.
How disgusting and vile his attitude is.
He’s like someone who accidentally found a precious treasure but clings to it, believing it’s his, and tries to treat it harshly.
-Hmph, he should know his place. The only thing he has is the position of the next emperor.
-Isn’t that crown prince position the equivalent of being next to the demon king for us?
Ignoring Bathory’s incredulous remark, I continued to ponder slowly.
Though he has no intention of breaking the engagement now, people’s minds can change over time.
‘Ultimately, what I need to do remains the same.’
It’s unfortunate that the Saint Rene being a possessed one reduces the number of chess pieces I can use, but there are still openings to exploit.
Making sure the crown prince’s jealousy overwhelms his pathetic arrogance.
Solidifying Luciana’s top position to induce him to break up with her himself.
Can that worm truly endure having a woman who shines so brightly, enough to eclipse even the sun’s light, beside him?
Of course, for this to happen,
Luciana must grow and shine even more than now.
Half-closing my eyes, I reviewed my future plans.
‘As for the midterm results, there’s no need to look.’
The spirit stone of the hidden boss, the snow mountain spirit, was the dungeon’s greatest prize.
Maintaining Luciana’s top position was a given.
‘I should prepare for the next episode.’
From what I recall, after the midterms comes the exchange meeting.
It’s time to meet those who entered the academy 1 or 2 years before us.
The so-called ‘seniors’ who are essentially wildcats in disguise.
By the way,
‘I should have prepared one more potion.’
I had to use all the potions on Riu’s unexpectedly deep wounds.
In trying to heal a useful chess piece, I only managed to give emergency treatment to my own forearm, which left a lingering, stinging pain.
‘Recently, the expenses under the pretext of information fees were too high.’
Thinking it was fine to avoid immediate confrontation.
Relying on the saint’s healing as an ally.
And the practical reason of saving money.
The result of this chaotic combination was this.
I made up my mind.
“Indeed, I should drive them even harder in the future.”
King Sejong also said that the more capable the subordinate, the more they should be cherished and used thoroughly.
It was time to actively follow the timeless teachings of our ancestors.
Cliche Novel 