The Harvest Mouse Exits the Fairytale Together with Cinderella-Chapter 103

Cesare’s trial within the academy was an undeniable spectacle.

Any form of academic dishonesty within the academy was met with immediate expulsion—no exceptions.

Even as the sole heir of the Silvaria Kingdom, there would be no room for reconsideration.

"I am being falsely accused. This is clearly a setup!"

However, both the chief assistant instructor and Cesare refused to admit to any wrongdoing.

Even when offered a chance to explain himself, Cesare did not remain silent and leave of his own volition like Edmund once had.

Despite being caught red-handed, he remained defiant.

"As His Highness the Crown Prince has witnessed, the answers written on the test sheet were indeed altered."

"Then, are you admitting to cheating...?"

"No! I am saying that my carefully written answers were maliciously tampered with, replaced by those scribbles in an attempt to frame me."

He deliberately flipped the order of events.

It wasn’t that he had failed to replace the scribbles with answers—rather, his original responses had been turned into gibberish by an unknown force.

"But those scribbles match your handwriting, Your Highness."

"If someone was truly out to frame me, mimicking my handwriting would be the easiest thing to do."

"Hmm...."

The headmaster of the academy, Duke Dvorak, remained skeptical.

Yet, Cesare pressed on.

"I have always held the top rank. If this were truly an act of academic dishonesty, are you suggesting I have been cheating all this time without ever being caught? Would such a thing be possible in the most prestigious educational institution of the Terranolia Empire?"

"......"

At this, the headmaster frowned.

What the prince implied was clear—if the academy officially branded him a cheater, the institution itself would bear disgrace and suffer tremendous consequences.

After all, for eight years, no one had ever noticed anything amiss.

Everything the academy had built up until now could collapse in an instant.

"Are you threatening us?"

"Of course not!"

Cesare slammed his palm onto the desk as if truly exasperated.

"Is it not more reasonable to believe that someone who holds a grudge against me targeted me at such a critical exam?"

Rather than assuming I’ve cheated for years without being caught.

He added with a sneer.

"Hmm...."

The headmaster let out a deep sigh.

Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to accept the prince’s argument and turn a blind ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) eye.

Not only did it make sense, but it was also far easier to handle.

If they simply announced that an unknown perpetrator had attempted to frame the Prince of Silvaria but was swiftly identified, the matter would be resolved neatly.

But eight years of deceit...

It wouldn’t be surprising if the royal family personally intervened, demanding retribution.

No, that was certain to happen.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

...However, if I make the wrong decision now, things could spiral even further out of control.

What if they declared his innocence, only for the truth to surface later?

The backlash would be immeasurable.

It could even threaten the academy’s very existence.

"I felt something during the exam—an external force was interfering with me."

"A force?"

"Magic, curses, alchemy... I cannot pinpoint the exact nature of it, but it is undeniable. My test paper is proof enough."

He truly looked like a man wrongfully accused, his head bowed in apparent misery.

As Cesare hung his head, his caramel-colored bangs fell forward, casting shadows over his face.

Perhaps due to the ordeal, his slightly roughened features bore traces of exhaustion and distress.

"If you doubt me, examine my past test papers. Have you ever found a single trace of dishonesty?"

"That’s..."

There had been a witness to the changes in his test, but that alone was not concrete proof.

As he claimed, it was possible his original answers had been altered against his will.

If someone had used magic or another force to tamper with his test, there should have been a trace left behind.

Yet, none could be found.

"There wouldn’t be, because I never cheated."

"......"

"Please allow me time to prove my innocence. I will find a way to present the truth."

The gathered academy officials let out deep sighs.

"Granting an opportunity for explanation is only fair."

"And it is also true that an extensive review of His Highness’s past exams revealed no irregularities."

The headmaster pressed his fingers to his temple, clearly troubled.

After a long discussion with the other faculty members, he finally spoke.

"Very well. You will be placed under probation for one week. Bring forward even the smallest piece of evidence to prove who is truly responsible for this."

"Anything at all?"

"If you fail to present any evidence, we will have no choice but to proceed with expulsion."

"...Understood."

Cesare exhaled sharply, his trembling lashes casting fleeting shadows over his cheeks.

He offered a short bow before leaving the headmaster’s office with unsteady steps.

However, the moment he exited, his expression and demeanor shifted instantly.

His stride turned sharp and forceful, each step slamming against the floor as if grinding an enemy beneath his heel.

His face twisted into a grimace, his teeth clenched in fury.

Seraphina Bluewood...!

He had nearly suffered the disgrace of expulsion because of that woman.

Had it not been for his carefully cultivated reputation, he would have been cast out immediately. If he had been on bad terms with the professors, things would have ended disastrously.

Even the thought of it darkened his vision.

I was going to go easy on her.

That leniency was gone now.

I just need to buy some time.

One week was enough.

Grinding his teeth, Cesare stormed out of the academy’s main building.

Little did he know—Elodie had been watching everything from a vent above.

‘Wow, he actually slipped through.’

What a slippery little rat! Sera’s plan had been flawless!

The way she had thrown the quill, utterly dismantling the prince’s ploy, was a masterpiece. It was the kind of scene Elodie wished she could capture in a memory crystal and replay forever.

Yet, even after all that, Cesare still refused to go down.

Even in disgrace, he clung on desperately, managing to win himself another chance.

‘What does he plan to do with that one week?’

It was over for him.

No matter what he tried, there was no escape.

Now, all Sera had to do was expose the exact method he used to manipulate his test.

Yet... there was no sign of despair on the prince’s face.

Why did he look so certain that he could turn the situation around?

"Shhh—(Something wrong?)"

"Squeak!"

Elodie almost jumped out of her skin at the sight of a massive black snake slithering toward her in the darkness.

But she soon realized it was Karon and let out a sigh of relief.

‘Ugh, I usually think he’s cute, but...’

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Seeing him from a harvest mouse’s perspective changed everything.

He wasn’t just big—he was monstrous.

At this size, he wouldn’t even bother trying to swallow her. He could just ignore her altogether.

To exaggerate a little, one of his scales was nearly the size of her entire body.

Swallowing hard, Elodie stared up at the snake’s daunting form.

"Done with your tour?"

"I ran away before they could recite all 300 years of the academy’s history."

"Oh dear...."

It seemed Karon had suffered under an assigned guide all this time.

The great black snake lowered himself to the ground, pressing his head against Elodie’s tiny form.

As if asking for comfort after a long, exhausting day.

"If you behave for the next week, I’ll give you a reward."

"...What kind of reward?"

The black snake let out a quiet, inquisitive hiss.