The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 226

When Princess Persica exited the Imperial Library, the soldiers standing guard at the entrance bowed their heads politely.

Like the soldiers guarding Rose Palace, they stood neatly in formation.Even though she suddenly stepped outside, they did not look flustered in the slightest.

Persica glanced out the window and realized that the sun was already setting. By that point, the festival was nearly over.

Princess Persica, who had been confined to the library throughout the festival, had not particularly immersed herself in its festive spirit. She was not the type to enjoy the heat of such celebrations, nor was she fond of going outside in the first place.

However, there were many exhausting matters to attend to—such as the power struggle within the imperial household and various political meetings—so she could not remain holed up in the library forever… though the festival itself had been a perfect excuse to spend her time surrounded by books.

It seemed that Selah was taking advantage of the occasion to travel personally with Emperor Kroel.

While leaving a favorable impression on Emperor Kroel was important, it was also crucial to consolidate power within the imperial household while influential figures were absent.

Persica had been considering ways to gain the support of the Prime Minister and key members of the imperial guards while Selah was away.

However, she had become too absorbed in the books. She should have left at least two days earlier.

“Shall I have a meal prepared for you, Princess Persica?”

“No, that’s fine. But…”

Standing in the corridor of Rose Palace, she looked out the window toward a spire rising along the central palace grounds.

Although the spire had originally been built for military purposes, its role had diminished significantly after the empire entered an era of peace and prosperity. Now, it was being used privately by a member of the imperial family.

“Since no one is watching, I want to stop by the spire.”

“……”

“Why? Tell me—why is it so forbidden for me to even take a look?”

Emperor Kroel was extremely reluctant to let anyone approach the spire. That was because a stain upon the imperial household was hiding there.

The three princesses were well aware of that fact, and as such, none of them ever went near it.

Each of the three princesses had her own values and ideals as they competed to succeed the throne of the Kroel Empire. They were all the pride of the illustrious imperial family. However, standing above the three brilliant princesses had once been the eldest son, who was originally appointed as the next emperor.

The Crown Prince—Lindon Kroel.

At one time, he had constantly remained by Emperor Kroel’s side, supporting him. No one embodied the role of successor more completely than he did.

The emperor’s only son and the officially designated heir.

The older brother of the three princesses. He always watched over his people with intelligent, compassionate eyes… possessing all the qualities of a wise king.

Back when Lindon was reliable and steadfast in his role, many vassals spoke openly about him.

That he embodied the strengths of all three princesses combined…

That the Kroel Empire could look forward to another era of peace and prosperity…

He was a symbol of hope.

The imperial dispute among the three princesses began when, one day, Lindon suddenly renounced all claim to the throne and locked himself away inside the spire.

From that moment on, the position of heir became vacant, and Emperor Kroel was forced to deliberate heavily over which of the three princesses should succeed him. That was how the long-standing conflict began.

By then, Lindon Kroel had become a disappointment who never left his room. The days once filled with hope had turned bleak and colorless.

As for the cause… no one knew.

Not his aides, not the Prime Minister, nor even the servants and guards who had always remained by his side were able to determine the reason.

Without warning or precedent, he had lost all motivation and purpose, locking himself away. No matter how many people questioned him, he never answered.

He continued to live—utterly detached from the world.

Lindon’s sudden fall dealt a deep wound to Emperor Kroel.

For the first few months, the emperor waited patiently, convinced his son would recover. But as time passed, Lindon’s condition only worsened.

He starved himself and lived in filth, locked away in his room. Though servants continued bringing meals, he barely touched them. Secluded at the top of the spire, he would sit before the fire, crying or laughing aloud in despair.

With the imperial heir reduced to such a state, those who managed the imperial household decided to isolate him entirely within the spire.

The person who spearheaded that decision was Krepin Rothstaylor. He believed it best to shield the Crown Prince from the public until he regained his senses. After all, there was nothing to gain from publicizing the madness of the empire’s heir.

Prince Lindon personally renounced his title.

That single fact… was the only thing made public.

Since then, servants speculated endlessly about the reason behind Lindon’s behavior. Some concluded that the overwhelming pressure he had accumulated over time had finally broken him.

Others entertained darker conspiracy theories.

Perhaps one of the princesses—each of whom aspired to become emperor—had done something to him.

Selah. Persica. Penia.

Among them, the one most frequently suspected was Princess Persica.

Before Lindon’s downfall, she had been the one closest to him.

In his free time, he often visited the library to converse with her—drinking tea and discussing politics and philosophy.

Because she spent the most time with Crown Prince Lindon, it followed that she would have had the greatest opportunity to influence him.

Of course, voicing such rumors in front of an imperial family member would result in immediate execution.

However… once rumors spread among the servants, they inevitably reached Persica’s ears.

It’s quite amusing.

As she climbed the spire’s stairs, Princess Persica scoffed.

Lately, even Selah had begun looking at her with suspicion.

As though she had truly done something to Lindon.

When the truth is incomplete, people fill in the gaps however they please.

Princess Persica had driven Crown Prince Lindon to ruin.

It was a plausible story—one that made sense—and thus, many believed it.

Yet in truth, Persica herself had no idea why Lindon had locked himself away.

Her memories of him were fond ones. They enjoyed each other’s company, united by their shared insight across many disciplines.

Tea on the terrace while discussing state affairs, or exchanging book recommendations in the library… none of those were bad memories.

She sincerely believed Lindon was fit to inherit the throne and become a wise, thoughtful ruler.

And yet… things had come to this.

Knock. Knock.

Persica knocked before opening the door.

When Emperor Kroel was present in the palace, no one would dare approach this room.

But with all eyes focused on the festival, it was the perfect opportunity to see Lindon.

She had visited him several times since his change, though nothing had improved.

Still, she made a habit of coming whenever she could—just in case.

Expecting nothing different this time, she stepped into the dim room.

Thick curtains blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving only a few flickering candles to illuminate the space. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness—

A horrifying sight greeted her.

“B-Brother Lindon!”

Persica screamed as she rushed forward.

Since guards would never approach the spire, she had no one else to rely on.

The reason she ran was clear—Lindon was in the process of placing a rope, secured to the ceiling, around his neck.

At the moment he was about to take his life, Persica lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and shoving him away. He toppled from the chair and crashed onto the floor.

“K-Keuk… cough… cough…”

“Brother Lindon! What are you thinking?!”

“Damn it… damn it…! I couldn’t even die… again…!”

Clenching his teeth, Lindon struggled to suppress his tears.

“I’m pathetic… I can’t even muster the courage to die. I stared at that rope for hours, but I couldn’t endure the pain… That courage—such a foolish thing—it’s gone…!”

“Calm down! Why would you try to kill yourself?!”

“Persica… it’s you… I don’t have much time left… I have to decide now…”

Lying on the floor, Lindon grabbed a small decorative dagger from a nearby suit of armor and held it out to her, hilt-first. His hands trembled violently.

“Persica… will you… be the one to end me? The servants would never grant such a request…”

“Why would you think I’d agree to something so horrific? Get a hold of yourself!”

She finally took in his full appearance.

His once-lustrous blond hair was brittle and falling out. His eyes were vacant, his body emaciated—like a scarecrow.

Persica swallowed hard.

“There’s no reason… for you to die.”

“I… I no longer have the courage to live. What meaning does imperial power have? What value is peace and prosperity…?”

“Brother…”

“What terrifies me is what lies ahead. Why did I have to know? Why did I lock myself in a cage of fear—learning truths I never needed to learn?! Damn it… I miss my ignorance… Now that I know, everything is meaningless and painful…!”

“Your condition… it keeps worsening…”

The Lindon who once visited her in the library no longer existed.

Persica helped him into a chair and brought a cup of cold water to his cracked lips. He drank hastily, coughing.

“Please… calm down.”

“Persica… everything will end soon… I’m scared… I don’t want to suffer anymore… I just want it to stop…”

Repeating incoherent words, Lindon wept.

Though he gradually calmed, Persica sank onto the sofa, wiping away her sweat.

If she hadn’t come, the empire might have collapsed tonight.

Catching her breath, she surveyed the room.

It felt less like a living space and more like a tomb.

Dust-coated furniture. Silent shelves.

Even the servants’ visits had grown infrequent.

He never should have ended up like this.

Her gaze fell upon a ring resting on the table—engraved with the imperial crest.

“Th-This is…”

It was the ring bestowed only upon the designated heir.

A symbol of the next emperor.

“Brother… you still have this…”

Lindon had relinquished the throne—and even the will to live. Allowing him to keep such a treasure made no sense.

She decided to return it to Emperor Kroel.

As she reached for it—

“No, Persica!”

Thud!

Lindon suddenly leapt forward, snatching the ring before collapsing onto the floor. He clutched it tightly, sobbing.

“No—don’t touch it! You mustn’t! Especially you! You can’t touch it!”

“B-Brother…?”

“If you learn the truth… you’ll become like me…”

“Tell me plainly. What does the ring have to do with this?”

Persica lifted his chin gently.

“You don’t have to suffer alone. Tell me—what do you know? Why didn’t you speak sooner?”

“But… Persica… I…”

“Brother.”

She looked down at him, resolute.

At last, his arms slackened.

“It’s over anyway…”

“This ring… is passed only to the heir. But it’s also a key. I discovered that by accident.”

He began confessing everything.

“The Great Sage Silvenia.”

Persica stiffened.

“She once served the imperial household, researching Celestial Magic.”

“…Yes. She was exiled after injuring Crown Prince Lienfell.”

Lienfell—the previous heir.

He must have possessed the same ring.

“She revealed her true research to Lienfell… out of guilt.”

“How do you know?”

“I found her hidden laboratory.”

Persica’s breath caught.

“It wasn’t in Rose Palace—it was beneath the imperial library.”

Her voice failed.

“Silvenia enchanted this ring to grant access to her true research.”

“What… did you see?”

Lindon trembled.

“Celestial Magic devours those who challenge providence. I saw it—a presence like a god.”

His voice cracked.

“It broke me.”

“Brother…”

“I beg you… end my life.”

Persica’s hands shook as she lifted the dagger.

But—

Clang!

She threw it aside, seized the ring, and fled.

Down the spire she ran, dress in hand.

Persica’s eyes continued to tremble.

***

There was once a user namedPepperoPepe.

He was known for writing strategy guides for the bosses of.

His reputation began with a complete breakdown of the Act 1 Boss, Yennekar Palerover, on release day.

He went on to defeat every major boss—including the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok—in record time.

His guides contained information even developers hadn’t publicly revealed.

Rumors spread.

That he was a developer.

That he was from that world.

No one ever confirmed it.

One night, I found his old blog.

Among archived images was one unfamiliar file.

A dark door of magic.

A robed figure holding a staff.

The filename appeared briefly:

[Hidden BossSilvenia, The LunaticThe one who defied providence.The one who resisted fate.The one who survived to the very end.Now, rest in peace.]