The Academy is Doomed

Chapter 135

“T-this can’t be……”

Kaim Eden Drake, Amon’s father and the current head of the Drake family, was trembling while holding a letter.

The letter bore a clear imperial crest symbolizing the Imperial family.

A letter from the Imperial family.

‘I thought our ties with the Imperial family had been completely severed since my father’s time, yet to receive such a sudden letter….’

At first, fear took precedence, thinking ‘Are they finally trying to apprehend us?’

Given the family’s historical secrets passed down through generations, it was a natural thought.

However, when he opened the letter with trembling hands, it wasn’t that, nor was it just a letter – it was an invitation to a social gathering hosted by the Imperial family!

“C-could such an honor be possible……”

Kaim’s eyes were welling up with tears from how moved he was.

But along with joy, there was also anxiety.

‘Since my father’s time, our family’s ties with the Imperial family were completely severed. In the past, even bad relationships were considered connections and there were occasional interactions, but since my father’s time, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say we’ve been on bad terms with the current Emperor. But even if we received an invitation, is it right to just go there thinking everything’s fine?’

Perhaps it’s a trap?

Maybe it’s a vicious plan to hang him in the marketplace for everyone to see?

‘Although the current Emperor is praised as the greatest of rulers, my father spoke so much about the Emperor’s cruel side that I can’t help but feel confused….’

Therefore, he hesitated.

‘But considering what my father did to me, I’m not so sure.’

Given the poor character his father had shown even to him, his own child, he thought it might be better to trust the Emperor instead.

Anyway, as he was struggling with these various concerns.

“Kaim, why don’t you go?”

At his wife’s voice, Kaim replied with a troubled expression.

“Yulia, but……”

“When you’re hesitating, you won’t have regrets if you face it head-on regardless of the outcome.”

“Hmm……”

“Besides.”

Yulia, who was fixing her hair while looking in the mirror, said with a gentle smile.

“You said you wanted to go to the capital proudly at least once. If we’re going with an invitation, I think that’s plenty dignified.”

“……Yulia.”

It had been a long-held dream.

A small wish of a rural nobleman confined to this remote Drake territory.

Of course, although it was far, they could have visited the capital any time if they wanted to.

However, even if it was long ago, weren’t they descendants of the Grand Duke Drake family?

He didn’t want to sneak in like a mouse, visiting the capital without anyone knowing.

He wanted to step on the capital’s soil proudly, with proper justification.

“……Very well.”

Speaking in a serious voice as if he’d made up his mind, Kaim clenched his fist.

“As you said, whether we become oatmeal or bread, we should try! Let’s go, Yulia!”

* * *

Kaim was regretting it.

‘Ah, I shouldn’t have come.’

As this was a social gathering hosted by the Imperial family, Kaim and Yulia first took care of the most necessary preparations.

Not wanting to show that they had been living in poverty, they prepared formal attire that was neat and luxurious without being too flashy or standing out.

Moreover, they spent days preparing for topics trending among nobles to match their conversations.

But what good was that.

“Grrrr……”

Whip-!

“Grrrrowl……”

Whoosh-!

When the Emperor was right in front of him, growling and examining him from all angles like observing prey!

With such fierce energy like a beast observing its prey, other nobles didn’t dare approach, and the Empress, watching from afar, was twitching as if ready to rush in and strike the back of the Emperor’s neck.

And Kai, who naturally attended as this was an Imperial event, was turning pale with dismay beside the Empress.

‘This can’t be, I didn’t know father’s condition was this serious….’

He had only heard that the antipathy toward the Drake family was severe, but he never imagined it would be to this extent.

‘With other nobles watching, and this being quite a grand social gathering, I thought he would naturally restrain himself, but to have his eyes roll back like that just from hearing the name?’

Although Kai had his own plans, they were useless in front of the composure of an Emperor who ruled the continent!

“……Kai.”

“……Yes, mother.”

The Empress, standing beside Kai, spoke in a chilling voice.

“Did you invite the head of the Drake family?”

“……Yes.”

“Why? For what reason? Did you so desperately want to see your father go mad?”

Before the Empress, excuses like ‘I had a plan’ or ‘I didn’t know it would be like this’ wouldn’t work.

If he tried that, he would later face ‘Reflection Time: Son’s Edition.’

Knowing this fact, Kai first bowed his head.

“……I apologize. I will take responsibility for this matter.”

“Of course you should. You’ve magnificently ruined today’s party.”

At the Empress’ words filled with firm resolve, Kai’s face turned pale.

‘W-what are you planning to do?’

Though he didn’t know exactly, hearing her voice full of determination, it was clear the Empress was planning to cause a scene herself.

‘I must stop that at all costs.’

Hurriedly grabbing the Empress, Kai said,

“M-mother! Please restrain yourself.”

“Hey! Let go! Wouldn’t it be better for me to just cause a scene rather than let other nobles see that man acting like a mad dog again!”

“It would not be better!”

Although Kai was desperately trying to stop his mother, he was no match for the Empress, who was counted among the top Grand Sword Masters.

Thus, Kai was being dragged along while helplessly hugging his mother.

“Grrrr……*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*……”

As if his madness had reached its peak, now the Emperor was sticking close to Kaim and sniffing him – such an unsightly appearance!

At this sight, Kaim, mere prey, was trembling while sweating cold sweat, Yulia was considering whether to strike the Emperor’s chin despite becoming a traitor, and the Empress was about to kick the back of the Emperor’s neck thinking this couldn’t go on any longer.

“Hmm……!? You……”

Suddenly exclaiming while opening his eyes wide, the Emperor took a step back.

“You are indeed Baron Kaim, the current head of the Drake family, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Y-yes!?”

Kaim was startled by the Emperor’s sudden return to sanity.

But it was a question from the Emperor who was like heaven above him.

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then…surely your father is Belial Drake?”

“Huh? Y-yes, Your Majesty. My father is Belial Drake.”

“Is that so……But how……”

The Emperor scrutinized Kaim with a suspicious face.

Unlike his beast-like appearance from earlier, it was now a look of intelligence, like a superior examining their subordinate with interest.

‘But why doesn’t he have the Drake family’s characteristic foul smell? For being the son of that disgusting Belial, he seems too sensible?’

Thus, various suspicions arose.

Is it an impersonation? But with what confidence would someone impersonate the Drake family?

Is he an illegitimate child? But hasn’t the Drake family been spotless in that regard for generations? Even that brute Belial Drake was so.

Therefore, after being lost in thought for a while, the Emperor came to a conclusion.

“Kekekeke! Finally, the Drake family has produced a worthy person!”

“Y-yes!?”

The Emperor put his hand on Kaim’s shoulder and spoke in a small voice.

“Whether you know it or not, I had a long bitter relationship with your father, Belial Drake. However……”

The Emperor said with a benevolent smile.

“That was just a bitter relationship with your father. It has nothing to do with you, his child, does it?”

“Y-Your Majesty……”

“Hohoho! Finally, the time has come to put an end to this long bitter relationship. Who would have known that Belial would have such a sensible child?”

As Kaim’s eyes welled up with emotion, the Emperor, looking at him as if finding him promising, spoke in a thunderous voice for other nobles to hear.

“When you think about it, the Drake family is a close relative of our Amonis family. Also, weren’t they an honorable family that held the Grand Duke position in the distant past? Therefore, you too should strive to live up to that honor. Understand?”

Strive to live up to the honor of the past!

Those words were no different from saying that he could advance if he worked hard.

Kaim knelt while shedding tears.

“I will keep it in mind! Your Majesty!”

“Kekekeke! Yes, yes! I shall watch over you.”

The Emperor walked away with hearty laughter.

Nevertheless, Kaim remained kneeling on one knee, unable to rise while shedding tears.

“Darling……”

Yulia embraced Kaim’s shoulders, and Kaim held his wife’s hand with trembling fingers.

At this affectionate sight, Crown Prince Kaias sniffled his nose that was becoming stuffy.

‘Senior Amon, this turned out really well.’

While being moved, he also wondered how this had happened.

“……Mother, how did this happen?”

“I’m not sure……”

Even the Empress seemed perplexed by the sudden turn of events.

However, she was relieved that the matter was resolved without having to physically restrain the Emperor in front of so many nobles.

“But……This is certainly strange.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

The Empress pointed at Kaim, who had stopped crying by now.

“As I told you before, I too had met his father, Belial Drake. Though only a couple of times.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

By now, thanks to the Emperor’s exclamation, various nobles were approaching Kaim to build connections, recognizing him as ‘a noble the Emperor has taken notice of.’

In this situation, Kaim was shyly but politely receiving them despite the sudden attention.

“But, for him to be that man’s son…? If it was the Belial Drake I knew, at a time like this when all eyes are on him, he would have been causing a scene, acting as if he were king himself.”

“……How bad was he?”

“Don’t even ask. He was a man who became more terrifying than anyone when he judged his position to be superior.”

Hearing that, he certainly didn’t sound like someone you’d want to get close to personally.

At that moment, Kai tilted his head.

‘……But wait a minute.’

Looking at Amon’s father, who was maintaining elegant conversations while being surrounded by nobles, this thought suddenly occurred to him.

‘What if that was Senior Amon…?’

Making this assumption, Kai felt a chill run down his spine.

‘Kekeke! Yes, I am Amon!’

‘Yes! I’m the one receiving the Emperor’s favor!’

‘Kikikiki! What? Show respect? You should worry about yourself!’

It wasn’t hard to imagine.

‘Could it be…Father, is this why you show aversion to Senior Amon but are favorable to his father?’

Hatred for the personality itself!

Having been burned so many times by Belial Drake, perhaps he identifies and filters out such people from the first meeting?

In other words, in Kaim’s case, unlike the previous heads of the Drake family, he was a ‘mutant’ with a humble and gentle personality, and the Emperor recognized this and treated him as a ‘wise ruler’!

‘……While I have such suspicions, I’m not entirely sure. Besides, Senior Amon isn’t that bad, but seeing father making such a fuss, maybe not.’

Unfortunately, Kai was already thoroughly biased in favor of Amon.