The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 227

During the festival, I was extremely busy.

I had to attend various events, help out with my scholarship duties, maintain life at the camp, and avoid neglecting my personal training. As a result, I didn’t feel like I was properly able to enjoy the festival.

However, what was particularly noteworthy was that Princess Selah often publicly mentioned my name.

In a discussion with Deputy Headmistress Rachel, she asked all sorts of questions about me. When she gave a speech at the center stage, she mentioned my name. Even when she attended the religious ceremony held by Saint Clarice, she publicly apologized for her disrespect at the Rothstaylor Mansion.

As if she had made up her mind to bring me to her side no matter what, she continued to approach me aggressively. It was enough to briefly make me forget her usual arrogant attitude.

Not only that, but she also sent me a large number of letters through her butler, Dest.

While she was at Silvenia Academy for the festival, she wrote me a letter every day. Each one was handwritten and fairly long.

It wasn’t difficult to imagine her sitting at a table every night, writing those letters with a quill. Although they weren’t love letters, they were still filled with romantic rhetoric. Ultimately, however, the purpose of those letters was to have me join her side.

‘It’s quite the chilly night here on Acken Island. Does that mean autumn is slowly approaching? Time truly flies by. It hasn’t been long since we first met face to face during the Rothstaylor Mansion disaster, yet I feel as though we still haven’t fully understood one another.

‘To put it bluntly, I want to understand you on a deeper level. While there is a political goal in doing so, I also simply wish to know more about the kind of person you are. Can you tell me? Can you tell me about the hardships you’ve experienced throughout your life, and the beliefs and values you’ve held onto? I am sure you’ve lived a lonely life, yet you have always remained determined and steadfast. That fact alone touches my heart.

‘The atmosphere of the festival remains lively. Today, I visited the commercial district. Knowing it is a place you often visit, it felt quite special to walk through it myself. I couldn’t help but think of you as I watched students happily strolling through the streets, enjoying the festive mood. Seeing them reminded me that nothing good ever comes from unnecessary conflict.

‘Let us put our past behind us and hold hands for a brighter future. I will treat you as best as I can. Though it is unfortunate, I will not be able to grant you the same level of authority within the imperial household that Krepin Rothstaylor once possessed.

‘Let us end this feud. The disaster at the Rothstaylor Mansion was simply the result of Krepin’s wrongdoing. We can envision a new and brighter future together. Though our visions of that future may differ, I have no doubt that if we communicate fully and act as one another’s supporting pillars, we can build a great empire.’

Reading her letter, which was filled with respect and praise, I felt a strong sense of incongruity. It was far removed from the impression I had formed of Princess Selah when we met in person.

When I finished reading, her butler Dest, who had delivered the letter, asked me politely, “Princess Selah is waiting for you. Would you like to accompany me?”

Hearing that question, I shook my head without saying a word.

Then, a new letter arrived the next day.

‘I expected that you would refuse my invitation. You likely still wish to remain at Penia’s side, lending her your strength. However, would that girl truly be happy becoming emperor? She is not someone who cares about power or authority. She is still a child who is called nothing more than a benevolent princess—one who is kind to a fault, even listening to those beneath her.

‘If she ascends the throne, she will need to learn how to harbor hatred and resentment. A monarch must possess the resolve to turn those who oppose their decisions into enemies. Do you truly believe Penia is capable of that? She is a girl who is full of ideals. She will surely be held back by such delusions and fall.

‘But if I were to become emperor, I could protect Penia’s tender heart. As long as you stand by my side and assist me, I can guarantee that Penia will live a fruitful life in the Rose Palace as a kind and benevolent princess who cares for the people. We should be the ones to deal with reality, while allowing Penia to live within her own fantasies. Wouldn’t that be the right thing to do?’

The letter that arrived that day attempted to use Penia’s happiness as a bargaining chip.

Given the circumstances, Princess Selah was certain that I shared a special relationship with Princess Penia. From her perspective, it was a worthwhile move.

However, the more she pressed the issue, the more vividly I recalled what Penia had earnestly told me.

“You can never accept my older sister Selah’s offers.”

“Selah… once she gets her hands on something, she loses interest. Rather, her greed only grows when there is something she cannot obtain. No matter what she offers you or how she does it… the moment you join her side, your value will plummet to nothing, Ed.”

It was a paradox. In order to preserve my worth, I had to reject every proposal from someone who valued me so highly.

“Princess Selah is waiting for you. Would you like to accompany me?” Dest asked again as I sat near the campfire.

I shook my head.

As expected, another letter arrived the following day.

‘I respect your determination. However, I am certain of this: if you take my hand, I will surely become the next emperor. When that happens, I can guarantee you both status and power. I will elevate House Rothstaylor to become the most prestigious house in the empire, as it once was.

‘I need you, Ed Rothstaylor. I want you to be mine. I desperately need you.’

The letter asked for my strength in a blunt, direct manner. There was also a strange sense of urgency in its tone.

Of course, it was only a letter. I had no way of knowing whether she was truly desperate when she wrote it. She was someone who had lived her entire life surrounded by politics. Even if some of her words felt sincere, I couldn’t allow such writing to sway my heart.

When Dest once again asked whether I would accompany him, I shook my head.

‘I have been thinking about you all day, Ed Rothstaylor. It is beginning to feel as though I desire you for reasons beyond politics.

‘At times, your voice and handsome face come to mind. Throughout the day, I find myself reminiscing about you. Of course, personal feelings should never take precedence over politics that determine the fate of the empire. Still, I am only a woman… There are moments when I cannot suppress the heat rising in my heart.

‘I am curious about you. About that unwavering sense of loyalty you possess—the loyalty that does not falter even before a princess. I wish that loyalty were directed toward me instead. I wish you would look at me as a woman and feel that way about me. Each day, as I sit in my office reviewing my schedule, I imagine you standing at my side.

‘I long for you, Ed Rothstaylor. Please, I ask that you walk beside me on the path I have chosen.’

The following day, she sent yet another letter—this time attempting to offer her heart. Naturally, I couldn’t believe those words either.

At that point, it was frightening. What else was the princess willing to sell to obtain what she wanted?

I could clearly sense how terrifying her greed truly was.

“Princess Selah is waiting for you. Would you like to accompany me?”

Of course… I still shook my head.

Until the final day of the festival, I repeated that same response over and over again.

***

The last day of the festival dawned bright.

I heard that Silvenia Academy’s festival would conclude with a grand fireworks display at the Student Square at midnight.

While the rest of the empire would continue celebrating, this final day marked the end of Emperor Kroel and Princess Selah’s stay on Acken Island.

Once the festival ended, there would be a few days of rest over the weekend before we returned to our regular academic routine.

“Princess Selah is waiting for you.”

Princess Selah continued to send letters until the very last day.

The contents were exactly as expected—a confession of love. My expression remained cold.

“…The princess is certainly skilled at writing. The way her words flow, combined with that strange sense of sincerity, is impressive. She should try writing poetry or a novel.”

After reading the letter, my answer was already decided. Dest likely expected it as well.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going.”

***

“Even consciously, it would be better if you tried to think a little more optimistically, President Tanya.”

“I hate the fact that you’re the one saying that, Ziggs.”

“I’m only saying it because I’m worried about you.”

“……”

The long-awaited break.

Tanya lay sprawled on a sofa in the student council president’s office, looking half-dead as she patted down her curly hair and stared toward the door.

Ziggs Eiffelstein, who had come by to at least provide her with some snacks, placed a few items on the table before sitting on the opposite sofa.

The way he lounged back with his hands clasped behind his head showed no respect for the student council president whatsoever.

He couldn’t help it. In truth, Ziggs was the one keeping the president in line, not the other way around.

He often found himself chasing after Tanya when she tried to escape. At this point, she resembled a prisoner constantly on the run more than a dignified student council president.

“Thinking about it, this is the only pleasure of being student council president. I want to retire. I want to die. I want to run away to a place no one knows about. I wonder what my brother Ed is doing. Should I just make him the head of house instead? Would he even accept? Well, I suppose it’s my responsibility. Why did I ever take responsibility in the first place? I just want to die. Save me. Someone, please save me. Am I just going to keep repeating the same things to you over and over again?”

Tanya took a deep breath and looked at Ziggs.

“At this point… I’m used to it, so it’s not surprising. But still, haven’t you finished all the work that piled up during the festival? And now that you have Anise, I’m sure the regular school schedule will feel much easier.”

“I want peace of mind too, but what can I do when I keep having such dark thoughts?”

“That’s why you should always try to think optimistically, even if you have to force it. It doesn’t matter if you’re lying to yourself.”

“There’s no point in saying good things if they’re lies.”

“No, there is a point. I heard it from Elka.”

Ziggs absentmindedly checked the condition of his equipment as he spoke.

“You can call it self-delusion or wearing a mask, but if you keep lying to yourself for a long enough time, you eventually start believing those lies as truth. I think there’s even a term for it… I just can’t remember.”

“…That sounds like some sort of psychoanalysis theory. I don’t know much about that.”

“I don’t either. But isn’t that a good thing? You could become happy every day.”

“I am happy every day. I’m full of energy. I love work. I can’t stand not working. Work is life. If I don’t work, I’ll die!! If I kept telling myself things like that, wouldn’t I end up with a more positive outlook?”

“I’m sorry, but that sounds like the end of my life.”

“…Fair enough. That example was a bit much. Sorry.”

Ziggs smirked as he glanced at Tanya. She was finally enjoying her break after somehow finishing all her work.

No matter how much she complained, she always completed her duties by the deadline. Watching how she resembled her older brother in unexpected ways, it seemed she had inherited that trait.

Ziggs thought she could become an excellent leader as long as she received proper support… though at the moment, she looked like a corpse devoid of dignity.

Well, there were others like her.

With that thought, Ziggs wiped his sheath with a cloth.

***

“…He has refused to accompany me. It seems he has no intention of meeting you until the end.”

Even with a princess of the empire humbling herself to that extent, he showed no sign of moving.

They were inside a lavish private room prepared for Princess Selah, neatly arranged around a large office desk.

Princess Selah sat at the table, idly twirling a quill. Upon hearing Dest’s report, she scoffed.

“Pretending to be so valuable… In the end, he’s just playing hard to get.”

Because she was accompanying Emperor Kroel throughout the festival, her schedule left little free time. Visiting Ed Rothstaylor’s camp every day was simply impossible.

As a result, she had tried to persuade him through letters. However, there were limits to their effectiveness. Even as she filled them with increasingly bold praise and drastic rhetoric, his resolve remained unmoved.

At some point, she began to feel a strange sense of pride in the struggle. She poured even more effort than planned into writing letters every night.

Of course, not a single word in those letters was sincere. Princess Selah—who neither bled nor cried—had no reason to sacrifice everything merely to place a duke’s son in the palm of her hand.

They were nothing more than honeyed words meant to intoxicate him.

If she could make him believe that the princess of the empire needed him that desperately, he would lose his objective sense of self-worth.

However, for the Tyrant Selah, who regarded all beneath her as chess pieces, such effort was unnecessary.

“If it were up to me, I would visit him again, but…”

Her schedule for the following day was already full, packed with reports to write and a luncheon with Headmaster Obel Forsyth.

In the end, all she could do was write yet another letter filled with pleasantries. The problem was that she was running out of things to say. There was a limit to how many lies she could fabricate while pretending sincerity.

“Even after going to such lengths, he hasn’t even flinched…”

Yet Princess Selah’s lips curled into a greedy smile. Imagining herself defeating Ed Rothstaylor—who had shown such determination and strength—made her heart flutter.

She had never obsessed over anyone to this degree. Normally, she would have already succeeded.

Lately, however, the only thing occupying her thoughts was what seductive words she should write to him next.

She appealed to his loyalty by invoking Princess Penia’s well-being. She even went so far as to confess her love.

Still, Ed Rothstaylor never wavered.

Did he realize everything I wrote was a lie…?

The thought crossed her mind. Though she had written many shocking lines, she had never crossed the line into complete implausibility.

Do I need to act more sincere? Do I sound too artificial? Wealth and status aren’t enough—perhaps I need to write something that conveys genuine honesty.

She continued to ponder how she might persuade him. Something so sincere it would fool even Ed Rothstaylor… She would need to write with such desperation that her lies would deceive even herself.

Once she stole him away from Penia, she would use him to her heart’s content before discarding him. She could already imagine his expression when she abandoned him. At the thought, Selah’s smile slowly deepened.

And so, Princess Selah continued to write letters filled with falsehoods, spending entire days immersed in deception.

Lying to herself, again and again.

***

“Your request has been rejected. Unfortunately, the Sage’s Seal is not open to the public, even for research purposes. As you are a student, approval will be especially difficult.”

A staff member at Trix Hall spoke kindly to Ayla through the window. For several days, she had been submitting requests to meet with Obel Forsyth, including an application to view the Sage’s Seal.

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. Since it is a treasured artifact of the academy—and one that has already been stolen—the administration is exercising extreme caution.”

“I understand… Thank you.”

Ayla thanked the staff member and exited Trix Hall.

Though the festive atmosphere persisted outside, Trix Hall retained its professional, businesslike air.

Even inside, where traces of the festival could still be felt, work continued uninterrupted.

Ayla paused and glanced back at the building before lowering her head, her expression hardening.

She would need to find another way.

For some reason… the feeling that she had to read the Sage’s Seal continued to cry out from deep within her.