Academy’s Undercover Professor-Chapter 335: The Lion in White (3)

Fifteen minutes before her encounter with Ludger.

Priestess Remria was walking through the halls of the imperial palace, guided by her deputy.

“Truly insolent people. To think they would dare treat a Priestess from the Holy Nation with such disrespect.”

Princess Aileen hadn’t bothered to escort them out or assign them a guide. It was a clear message—You were never invited.

“Priestess, what would you like to do? Shall we proceed immediately to the site where the incident occurred?”

The deputy asked in a carefully respectful tone, doing his best to accommodate Remria’s mood.

But Remria shook her head.

“There’s no need to rush.”

“But if we delay, the impious Empire may try to erase the evidence...”

“If something is truly corrupt, no amount of sand piled over it can hide the shape beneath. The more they try to conceal it, the easier it will be for us to find. So it’s quite all right.”

“Still...”

“And besides,” Remria said with a natural smile, “since we’ve come all this way into the heart of the Empire, wouldn’t it be a shame not to admire the famous scenery?”

No one dared object.

Remria, who normally let the deputy speak for her, was now voicing her will directly. And as the highest authority present, no one could reject her decision.

“We have official permission from the homeland to remain here for a while. So let’s explore this famed Dvalk Imperial Castle. I’ve always been curious about it.”

“Understood. Then I’ll guide you myself.”

Because of Remria’s whim, the Bretus envoy diverted from their planned path out of the palace.

It was an unexpected move—even Aileen hadn’t predicted it.

As Remria strolled through the castle, curiously observing her surroundings, a man approached from the opposite corridor.

She had passed by countless servants and Royal Guards on her way here, but had paid them no mind.

This man was different.

Even Remria—who regarded all beings aside from God with detachment—found her eyes drawn to him.

No, it was more than that. It wasn’t attraction. It was magnetism—an undeniable force of presence. You could even call it magic.

“Who is he?”

His looks alone were enough to be mistaken for a sculpture carved by a master artisan. And yet, it wasn’t just beauty—he exuded an aura, a charisma, a gravity.

For a fleeting second, Remria had mistaken him for one of the imperial family.

But his hair color was different, and no member of the royal bloodline would be walking around alone like this.

So, then—he must be an outside guest. Or perhaps a servant.

The moment he noticed their group, the man paused briefly.

It lasted only a second, but Remria picked up on something subtle in that moment.

As he resumed walking and began to pass them—

Remria opened her mouth for the first time.

“You. Who are you?”

* * *

“You certainly walk around with the kind of subordinate that suits you.”

For a moment, the deputy didn’t understand what Ludger had just said.

“W-What did you just say, you little—”

He sputtered angrily, but Ludger didn’t even spare him a glance.

His sharp gaze remained fixed on the Priestess.

The fact that he was being ignored again made the deputy clench his fists tightly.

Ludger’s attitude mirrored the humiliation he had just suffered at the hands of Princess Aileen.

“Answer me, damn you!”

Finally, Ludger turned toward the man and said coldly,

“Enough noise. I was speaking to the lady—not you.”

“Hah! You insolent bastard. Look properly with those eyes! I am this noble Lady’s representative! If you wish to speak to her, you must go through me first!”

The deputy’s voice rang with unearned pride.

He didn’t feel even a sliver of shame in calling himself her representative.

But Ludger’s response wasn’t just disinterested—it was freezing cold.

“A representative? So all that posturing was just parroting someone else’s words?”

The deputy’s smug expression crumbled into something pitiful.

“I’m not just any representative! Do you even know who she is?!”

“Am I supposed to?”

“...What?”

Ludger’s calm and brazen question left the man speechless.

You don’t know? How could anyone ask such a thing with a straight face?

“Then... you said all that without even knowing who she is?!”

“That’s not quite accurate.”

Ludger sneered.

“You’re the one who started spewing nonsense, not me.”

“Y-You arrogant little—! You’re nothing but a mere servant here in the imperial palace!”

“A servant?” Ludger echoed, coldly amused. “And you’re making baseless accusations without even knowing who I am.”

He’s... not a servant?

The deputy’s confusion deepened—but Ludger didn’t bother correcting him.

“Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that this woman truly is someone important.”

“She isn’t just—!”

“But authority isn’t proven through words alone, is it? You, the so-called representative, raise your voice and throw tantrums. That doesn’t give you any real authority. Haven’t you learned even that much?”

His gaze was as piercing as a dagger. His words sharper still.

“And I, as a citizen of the Empire, am under no obligation to bow to anyone but the Emperor. Not even to foreign envoys. And certainly not by force.”

“Y-You don’t understand. This lady is a Priestess of the Theocracy of Bretus! She’s not like the rest!”

The deputy’s voice cracked as he forced the words out.

Even he knew Ludger wasn’t wrong. But if he didn’t push back now, he’d lose everything.

“A Priestess?” Ludger repeated.

“She is someone graced by the blessing of the Saints themselves! A person of sacred authority! Someone a mongrel like you shouldn’t even dare speak to!”

True, Bretus had long secluded itself from other nations.

But in its golden era, it had once ruled the continent with terrifying force. That prestige still lingered.

The ignorant had forgotten that history. And now, they dared to challenge Bretus’s sacred dignity.

That, the deputy believed, was a line that should never be crossed.

He eyed Ludger smugly, waiting for the man to finally realize his place.

But Ludger’s expression didn’t change.

If anything, he looked annoyed.

As if to say: So what?

“So... are you the Priestess, then?”

“I—I am her representative!”

“Exactly. A mouthpiece for someone else. A parrot without a spine. I know your kind well.”

Of course, the deputy had expected Ludger to back down.

But Ludger had no intention of yielding.

He found this man revolting—he’d sooner die than bow to him.

“And if you call yourself a representative, then at least act the part. You’ve done nothing but disgrace yourself. Aren’t you ashamed?”

It was a subtle jab, a barb aimed at his blatant self-interest and performative arrogance.

“If you truly believed you served someone noble, then act accordingly. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Don’t humiliate your master with your pathetic behavior.”

The deputy’s face flushed bright red, like it might explode.

His fists were clenched so tightly they shook, ready to fly at any moment.

But Ludger didn’t even flinch.

“Typical. A man who’s never had to earn respect doesn’t realize his own place.”

This was textbook secondhand authority.

The kind of man who had always enjoyed privilege just by riding someone else’s coattails.

Everyone who ever bowed to him was really bowing to the Priestess.

But over time, he had forgotten that—and now, he was drunk on power.

“Normally, a superior wouldn’t allow a subordinate to act like this.”

And yet the real issue here—the Priestess herself—was simply watching in silence.

No matter how ridiculous her subordinate’s antics became, she didn’t interfere.

She acted as if this had nothing to do with her.

“Judging by the disapproving faces of the priests and paladins behind them, this isn’t the first time either.”

It wasn’t as though the deputy had some hold over the Priestess.

There was only one conclusion—

She simply didn’t care what her subordinate did.

No will, no agency.

She was little more than a doll—breathing, but lifeless.

And somehow, that made her all the more fitting as a Priestess of the Lumenis Church.

That was why Ludger deliberately ignored the deputy and spoke directly to the Priestess.

“Would you agree?”

Let’s see if she reacts even after all that.

The priests and paladins standing behind her went visibly rigid.

Though they themselves weren’t fond of the deputy’s behavior, an outsider speaking so bluntly to the Priestess was dangerously bold.

“Yes, I would.”

Even more shockingly, Priestess Remria responded.

And not with anger—but with agreement.

“P-Pr-Priestess...?”

The deputy stared at her in stunned betrayal, like a puppy abandoned by its master.

But Remria didn’t even glance in his direction.

She showed no concern whatsoever for how rattled her closest aide had become.

“He’s been by my side for a long time, and his passionate dedication was admirable at first. But at some point, he started crossing lines.”

It was true that her silent indulgence had allowed things to get this far.

And yet, no one dared to blame her.

There was no one present who had the authority to hold her accountable.

“P-Priestess, no! I... I would never presume...”

The deputy scrambled to plead his case, but Remria only looked at him from behind her white tiara.

Even though her eyes were hidden, the deputy’s face turned deathly pale.

“You’ve worked very hard handling my affairs for so long. But I think it’s time you took a proper rest.”

Her words were polite—but the meaning was clear: You’re dismissed. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The deputy tried to cry out, but two paladins immediately stepped forward and dragged him away.

“Priestess! Priestess!”

His voice echoed emptily as he was taken out of sight.

Remria didn’t spare him a final look. Instead, she turned to Ludger and gave a bright smile.

“It’s quiet now.”

“......”

He had made the jab intending to provoke, but...

He hadn’t expected her to actually fire the man on the spot.

“And judging by how she said it, that deputy’s been with her for a long time. She dismissed him without the slightest hesitation. I’m not even sure this woman has emotions.”

Even that smile on her face looked like something carved into wax—a mask placed over a mannequin.

“So... what is your name?”

“I was under the impression that courtesy demands one introduce oneself before asking someone else’s name.”

At Ludger’s remark, killing intent rippled from the paladins.

But Ludger didn’t blink.

He even returned their glare, as if daring them to try something.

“Enough.”

Remria spoke again, and immediately, the paladins backed down.

“You’re right. That was rude of me. I apologize. I’m not very used to interacting with people. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Remria. I serve as a Priestess of the Holy Nation of Bretus.”

A Priestess.

“There can’t be more than ten of them in the entire Theocracy.”

She looked significantly younger than the Priestesses he remembered from before his disappearance.

The title must have been passed on while he was gone.

“Ludger Cherish. I’m here as a guest, representing the faculty of Theorn Academy.”

“I see.”

“Well, I believe that clears up all our questions. I’ll be going now.”

Ludger had already made up his mind—he could not afford to get entangled with people like her.

As he turned to leave, making it abundantly clear that he had no interest in further conversation, Remria calmly stepped into his path.

Ludger’s brow twitched.

“...What do you think you’re doing?”

“Isn’t it rather cold to walk away after only exchanging names? I think it’s fate that we met like this. Don’t you think we should talk a bit more?”

“You clearly have something you want to say, but I don’t. Now move.”

His tone wasn’t a suggestion—it was a command.

And it was deliberately rude.

But Remria’s smile didn’t falter.

“Ludger, was it? I sense a very peculiar energy coming from you.”

Of course. She just kept talking like he hadn’t spoken at all.

Ludger felt irritation bubbling inside him at her presumptuousness.

It was becoming clear now where the dismissed deputy had picked up his personality.

“And what of it? Don’t tell me you’re about to ask if I believe in God.”

“Oh, may I?”

“I don’t.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

It was the perfect moment for her to be scandalized, to cry blasphemy—but Remria only smiled with that same serene expression.

“You say you sense something strange, and that’s your excuse for clinging to me? Bit of a flimsy reason, don’t you think?”

“Ah, sorry if it came across that way. But I was being sincere.”

“And so was I.”

“More than strange, actually—I sensed something... familiar. It’s been eating away at my curiosity.”

At the word familiar, Ludger went silent.

Remria tilted her head slightly, voice softening.

“Have we... met somewhere before?”