Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 277: The Master of the Imperial Castle (2)

The woman atop the pavilion looked like a work of art made from nothing but the essence of beauty itself.

Silver hair that seemed woven from moonlight threads.

Braided and coiled into an elegant braided bun.

Flawless skin without a single blemish, and facial features without the faintest imperfection.

Her beauty overflowed so much that even the most renowned painter would not dare attempt to capture it—it was too heavy, too divine for brush or canvas.

She wore a gown composed solely of two colors—gold and silver, symbolizing the sun and moon—yet even that magnificent dress only barely supported the nobility she exuded.

That was the extent of her beauty, and beyond that, she carried a presence so overwhelming it defied description.

Even the simple act of her quietly sipping black tea radiated an unapproachable charisma.

“Your Highness, I have brought the guest as you commanded.”

When Fascius spoke, the gaze that had been cast toward a distant corner of the garden finally turned in their direction.

Eyes like amber locked not onto Fascius, who had spoken, but onto Ludger, standing just behind his shoulder.

“You’ve come.”

A clear voice, beautiful yet filled with commanding strength.

It was a voice he hadn’t heard in seven years, but one he knew all too well.

First Imperial Princess Aileen von Exilion.

The woman effectively known as the next emperor gazed at Ludger with unreadable eyes.

Most would have instinctively bowed their heads under such a gaze, overwhelmed by its pressure.

But Ludger did not look away.

Instead, he met her eyes head-on, staring straight at her.

A subtle smile crept onto Aileen’s face—previously dulled by boredom and ennui.

“You’ve brought him properly. Well done, Sir Fascius.”

“I merely followed your orders.”

“Then allow me to give you one more: leave us. I wish to speak with him alone.”

Fascius was briefly flustered by the command, but at the word "order," he quickly bowed his head.

“Yes, understood.”

Fascius retraced his steps and disappeared from the open space. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Left alone, Ludger continued to look up at Aileen, who remained seated at the overlook.

“What are you doing down there? Aren’t you going to come up?”

“......”

Realizing he could no longer avoid this now that he had come this far, Ludger walked toward the pavilion where Aileen sat.

Ding─tink! Tiri-ring─!

With every step he took on the marble staircase, beautiful piano-like chimes sounded.

The very marble had magic etched into it, designed so that just stepping on it would produce a sweet, melodic tune.

It was a space clearly crafted for someone of the highest stature.

The overlook itself was not particularly high. Having climbed the stairs, Ludger naturally sat in the empty chair across from Aileen.

“How impudent. I never told you to sit.”

“Isn’t that why you called me here?”

“Oh? Do you not know who I am?”

“You are Her Highness, Aileen von Exilion, First Imperial Princess.”

“To think you knew that and still didn’t bow your head, even looking me straight in the eye. Just as the rumors say—such boldness.”

Aileen smiled in amusement.

It was a smile beautiful enough to enchant any man, but Ludger remained unmoved.

“I heard Your Highness wished to see me.”

“That’s right.”

“May I ask the reason?”

Ludger asked directly, not one to speak in circles.

Aileen’s eyes briefly showed interest, perhaps not expecting him to get to the point so quickly.

“The reason, huh. Do I have to explain it?”

A loaded question.

But Ludger did not waver.

“If you don’t explain the reason, no one will ever know it.”

“I’ve heard you’re a genius. Is it something even your brilliant mind can’t deduce?”

“I don’t consider myself a genius. Which is exactly why I can’t understand Your Highness’s intentions.”

His words came without a hint of hesitation.

Not ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ false humility, but spoken with genuine conviction.

“Well, if you’re that curious, I’ll tell you. Though it’s nothing grand. Since the Seorn instructors happened to visit the palace, I simply wanted to meet the man of rumors in person.”

“You mean the rumors?”

“Yes. I’ve taken quite an interest in the magical world. That includes Seorn, of course—it’s where my adorable but hopeless little sister is studying.”

Ludger's eyebrow twitched. He hadn’t expected her to bring up the Third Princess, Erendir.

“And among all the names that reached my ears, one stood out. A man who created Source Code magic, researched Coordinate Designation spells, and even succeeded in increasing mana output.”

As she spoke, Aileen added with a teasing smile:

“Oh, and didn’t he also become the Director of Planning at Seorn?”

“You know quite a lot.”

“I can’t help but know. Everyone’s been talking about it non-stop. The only difference is, while others will soon forget, I do not.”

I do not forget.

Something about the strange intensity in her voice made Ludger narrow his eyes.

“Your memory must be quite remarkable.”

“Yes. So remarkable it’s a problem. I remember things from seven years ago like they happened last night.”

“......”

“And it’s not just memory. I have many eyes and ears. I often hear things others don't.”

“That’s nothing unusual. Those in high positions always have such people.”

“True. But I’m not like the others. Their eyes and ears only reach their own courtyards. Mine... see farther.”

Aileen took another sip of her black tea.

Ludger likewise sipped his tea without hesitation.

“And thanks to that, I hear many curious stories—stories no one else knows. Interested?”

Even with her gaze seemingly piercing through him, Ludger replied without a change in expression:

“Not particularly.”

“Most people would be desperate to hear such stories. But not you. I wonder—is it because you truly don’t care? Or because you see no need to know?”

“What is it that I supposedly don’t need to know?”

“Oh, nothing much. Just the identity of a certain great hunter... a criminal of the century... a phantom thief who slips through every net... a legendary mercenary...”

Aileen smiled slyly at him, as if asking if he still planned to keep denying everything.

“......”

Ludger quietly savored his tea, then gently placed the cup on the table.

In the peaceful scene of birds chirping and sunlight shining down—

Ludger finally opened his mouth.

“You forgot one.”

“What do you mean?”

“I did some detective work, too. Not for long, but enough to gain a bit of recognition.”

“Oh? I didn’t know that.”

“You’ll find some material if you look up Eugène-François Vidocq.”

“Any more advice to share?”

“Only that I’m currently working as a magic instructor at Seorn.”

“Ahahaha!”

At that, Aileen burst out laughing, holding her stomach.

It was an unprincess-like gesture, but even that was dazzling.

“You’re not even trying to hide it anymore!”

“There’s no point in denial in front of someone who already knows.”

“Then drop the formal speech too, will you? I don’t believe for a second that you’ve become a man of etiquette in the last seven years.”

“I’m a teacher at a magic academy now. It’s only proper to be courteous to someone who might become the next emperor.”

“‘Might become’? I am already, for all intents and purposes, the emperor.”

“A woman once fleeing down alleyways in a hood now looks quite majestic.”

“Better that than a shadow who tore people apart trying to play the gentleman.”

Neither of them made any attempt to hide their true selves anymore.

With half-lidded eyes and a smirk, Aileen asked:

“So, what brings you to the Imperial Palace? Have you finally decided to serve me again?”

“I didn’t come here to see you. I’m here for business. You’re the one who summoned me.”

“For someone using formal speech, you’re oddly informal. Why not just speak casually?”

“If necessary, I could address you with the utmost reverence. Shall I do so, by your order?”

Aileen waved her hand dismissively.

“Forget it. If you were going to obey orders, you wouldn’t have run away that day.”

“So that’s why you dug into my past?”

“I was curious. The man who made me the next emperor—why would he reject the heights he helped build and vanish?”

“I’m not emperor yet.”

“You will be soon enough. So why did you run?”

“Because power and fame are not what I seek.”

“Strange, then. You’re rather famous now, aren’t you?”

“That’s because I’m acting as Instructor Ludger Cherish. It’s different.”

In truth, he hadn’t expected to become so well known at first. Later, he simply decided to make use of that fame.

But that explanation, he had no intention of offering to the woman in front of him.

She was beautiful—but precisely because of that, she was a woman who harbored a fatal poison.

One must never reveal even the slightest weakness to her.

Though frankly, it was likely already too late, given that she seemed to know so much about his past movements.

“The recent incidents in Rederbelk—were those your doing as well? No—of course they were. If not even Dame Terrina is aware, then who else could it be but you?”

“A rather generous assessment,” Ludger replied smoothly, then asked casually, “Since when? When did you first begin to suspect me?”

“My chess pieces in Rederbelk kept failing to advance. I began to sense something then—something unusual. That sort of thing doesn’t happen often.”

“You’re likely the only one in the country who refers to someone from the Security Bureau as your chess piece.”

“And that’s why I sit atop this nation.”

It was a statement that could only be made by someone completely confident in her own ability and authority.

What made it worse was that Ludger couldn’t refute her audacious declaration.

“So, what brings a man who once operated as a ‘Shadow Dagger’ to the Imperial Palace?”

“As I said—I'm here in an official capacity, overseeing Seorn’s instructors.”

“That’s a lie. You might fool others, but not me. Surely you’re here for some purpose.”

Aileen’s guess was spot-on.

But even if she had figured it out, that didn’t mean Ludger was obliged to confirm anything.

“Are you... perhaps looking for something?”

“......”

Ludger’s eyes sharpened at her words.

“Ah, so I was right.”

“Seems like you already knew and just wanted to prod me.”

“Not entirely. It took considerable effort to figure it out. I had to proceed in secret so that no one else would notice—took quite a bit of trouble.”

That might’ve sounded like empty words, but Ludger, who knew what kind of person Aileen was, found himself quietly surprised to hear her use the word “effort.”

Someone who once only praised her own brilliance had now uttered that word—meaning she had meant it sincerely.

“I wonder what sort of effort it took.”

“Oh, nothing much. I bought up every single piece of artwork released into the underworld from the Kunst Auction House. All of them. Not one was left untouched.”

Aileen paused, then corrected herself.

“Ah—no, that’s not quite right. There was one I missed.”

“......”

“I gained cooperation from the Luk Corporation to acquire the item listing for the auction. Then I compared that with the recovered pieces. Only one was missing.”

“......”

“And isn’t it just fascinating? It wasn’t anything with special abilities. Just a fragment with no apparent use—gone without a trace.”

The woman before him—

The one he had encountered seven years ago, the first time he ever used a false identity—

She knew more than anyone else.

How many precious artifacts had he taken from Kunst Auction back then?

He had spread them out, sold them through various channels, never in one place, and even spaced the sales out over time.

Even so, Aileen had obsessively hunted them all down.

Through her own power.

Honestly—it was insane.

But Aileen, the First Imperial Princess, had managed to do it.

‘What the hell.’

At this point, he couldn’t even feel angry anymore.

If anything, he felt a strange sense of relief.

No need to make up lies on the spot, no need to waste energy gauging her intentions.

In a way, she was perhaps the most suitable person with whom to have a maskless, honest conversation.

“Well, it’s nothing serious. Just a personal collection. A hobby, if you will.”

Aileen, too, read the intent behind Ludger’s gaze.

‘Ha. This is amusing.’

How many weaknesses did this man think she had uncovered?

Seven years.

For seven years she had never forgotten—relentlessly tracking him, gathering information.

She thought she had finally gained the upper hand.

And yet, the man before her showed no signs of being shaken.

On the contrary, he stared back at her boldly, as if to say, “So what?”

No—maybe not boldly.

‘He’s waiting for me to challenge him.’

For Aileen, it was hard not to feel her pride smarting.

She should have been the one looking down from the high ground, having seized all the intelligence.

Yet it was Ludger who looked down at her now.

“Your Highness must have many underlings at your disposal.”

“Indeed.”

“The festival at Seorn—the Magic Competition—you sent the lieutenant general, didn’t you? I assume you instructed him to make contact with me, just to confirm your suspicions.”

At those words, Aileen visibly flinched.

But she quickly regained composure, narrowing her gaze as she stared at Ludger.

“......Ho. So you caught on to that, too.”

“How could I not, when the other party clearly acted like they had no idea something was off? Thanks to that, I got a clear picture myself.”

“I see. So the opportunity to probe isn’t just reserved for one side.”

“I’ll say this in advance—trying to use whatever weaknesses you’ve found to trap me won’t work. Just like before, I’ll simply vanish again.”

“And what if I tried to restrain you by force? This is my domain. I could call, and more than three master-class elites would descend upon you.”

“Would you, then?”

“You think I wouldn’t?”

“Go ahead. Try.”

There wasn’t the slightest tremor of fear or hesitation in Ludger’s voice.

He wasn’t implying she couldn’t summon the Royal Guard.

It was the opposite.

The Royal Guard, the Imperial Protector Knights, the palace magicians, even the palace guards—

“Personally, I don’t recommend that method.”

Even if she summoned all of them, Ludger was speaking as someone confident that he could take them on.

“I’ll leave the decision to you, Your Highness.”

Sapphire-blue eyes stared straight at Aileen.

“Just like that day, seven years ago.”