Adopt 177

Episode 177
As if scalded, I hastily withdrew the hand I had stretched out toward Lady Cherry.

‘How can she look so unconcerned?’

Fanning my burning face, I shot a glare at Lady Cherry, who only seemed as calm as if she’d been exchanging polite greetings.

It was all because of Lady Cherry that I found myself clutching the folding fan I’d tossed aside when disabling the translator.

Yet this infuriatingly buggy AI of a person kept stubbornly staring only at my hand as she asked,

“My lady, may I take your hand?”

“……”

“I worry that you might misstep on the stairs.”

Just look at that innocent face, as if no ulterior motive ever crossed her mind.

Feeling an inexplicable sense of annoyance, I reluctantly took her hand and descended the carriage steps.

---

Guided by an attendant, I arrived at the venue for dinner and paused for a moment as I caught sight of the scene beyond the opening doors.

I had timed my arrival to be neither too early nor too late, keeping the appointed hour in mind.

But contrary to my expectation that there would already be several guests, the only person present was the host of the banquet, the crown prince.

“Am I the first to arrive?”

“And you’re the last guest as well.”

The last? Did that mean I was the only one invited to this dinner?

Unable to hide my confusion, I approached the dining table, where, almost reverently, Mikhail himself pulled out my chair.

“Please, have a seat, Marquis.”

His playful tone and laughter sent an inexplicable shiver running down my spine.

‘What is this? Why is he smiling like that?’

The moment I saw him, I knew something was different about Mikhail today.

That smile just now—it’s the smile he wears for politics.

He always wore that exact expression at meetings when he would quietly talk his opponents into a corner; those who experienced it often said it felt as though their blood were running cold.

I quickly ran through my thoughts.

‘I haven’t heard any rumor of the queen making a move since the last meeting of the House of Lords.’

‘Maybe it has something to do with the king’s health.’

As I pictured the worst-case scenario that I could imagine, Mikhail settled opposite me, his expression affable as he spoke.

“Belinda, why are you so tense?”

“Because Your Highness is giving me a rather threatening smile.”

“You’re the only person who ever calls my smile threatening.”

“Well, that’s rather unfortunate, isn’t it.”

I answered pertly and picked up my fork.

But Mikhail still didn’t reveal the reason he had invited me.

Only when the main course was served did he finally bring up the topic of the House of Lords.

“To be honest, not being able to present Count Partel as the judicial candidate was quite a bitter defeat. Who could have predicted that a black magic crime would occur in his territory?”

As soon as Mikhail finished speaking, we both sighed at the same time.

In the end, the judiciary had fallen into the queen’s grasp. But at least, we had been able to fill the remaining positions with royalist officials unconnected to Count Partel, and just in time.

This was thanks to Ophelia quickly informing me of the black magic crime.

“That’s why this is, in its own way, a consolation dinner. There’s no use regretting what’s already happened, right?”

At last, my stiff shoulders began to relax.

Easing my mind, I accepted his invitation and began to discuss the current political climate freely, just as we did in our lighter conversations.

Perhaps it was the excellent meal or the rather strong wine.

The atmosphere was as peaceful as a dinner with an old friend, when, as if suddenly remembering something, Mikhail tipped his wine glass and asked,

“I heard Leo Blanche is taking the summer course again this year. He’s been at the top of his class every time he switched, so I’m sure the academy must be in a stir.”

“He’s been quite excited lately at the prospect of attending classes with friends he’s close to.”

Once the conversation turned to Leo, I couldn’t stop talking.

I knew I sounded like a doting parent, but I simply couldn’t help myself.

I was passionately describing just how special, adorable, and lovable Leo was, when Mikhail gently cut in to add,

“If he’s truly that special, well… How about offering him an even finer education than the academy can provide?”

“Pardon?”

“In fact, I sponsor a group of talented children. Instead of studying at the academy, they have the very special opportunity to train under the Swordmaster.”

No sooner had Mikhail, still smiling, finished speaking than a quest window popped up before my eyes.

[Quest] The Old Royal Obligation
Crown Prince Mikhail has taken an interest in the talents of the ‘Star of Heroes.’
With his sponsorship, become the Swordmaster’s apprentice for one year and achieve outstanding results.
*Quest reward on completion: +100 Stamina, Royal Protection, Intermediate Swordsmanship Skill
[Accept/Decline]
Wow, so this is what comes up.

Blinking in surprise, I looked at the suddenly appearing quest window.

‘The Old Royal Obligation’ was the quest that marked the crown prince’s official sponsorship of the Star of Heroes.

It had several unlock conditions: first, the ‘Meeting with the Crown Prince’ event must have occurred.

Second, the protagonist must have awakened their aura.

Third, be valedictorian at the academy or win first place in the swordsmanship tournament for two consecutive years.

By chance, all these conditions were met, but in the game, the Star of Heroes could barely unlock it at age fifteen, if at all—a quest that promised generous rewards.

This was a big event, one I could not afford to miss.

However—

“I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of raising Leo to be something special.”

That was only in the game.

Not expecting me to refuse so firmly, Mikhail hesitated for a moment, then spoke again.

“You haven’t heard all the details yet. Wouldn’t it be better to listen carefully before deciding? It might be helpful to Leo’s future, after all.”

If it were for Leo’s future, perhaps it wouldn’t be wrong to accept his sponsorship, as Mikhail said.

After all, it tied into the quest to become commander of the Royal Knights.

But I responded in a firm tone that this was not a matter open to persuasion.

“Leo is thoroughly enjoying his academy life as it is. He’s come to prefer playing with friends over attending classes these days, and not long ago, he also learned that not everyone can always get along.”

These past days, listening to Leo recount his daily life after dinner had become my greatest joy.

Leo’s stories were so varied and colorful that simply listening to them felt as if they made up for the childhood I had lost.

“If I accepted Your Highness’s proposal, Leo would surely become more exceptional than anyone. But at the same time, he would forever lose memories that can only be gained at this age. So I must respectfully decline, Your Highness.”

I thought I had been resolute enough.

Yet the quest window before my eyes did not disappear.

As if refusing to accept my rejection.

It was then that I realized something was wrong.

Not just the quest window, but the deep disappointment that crossed Mikhail’s face at my words.

He dismissed all the attendants who had been serving our meal with a wave of his hand.

Only the servants disappearing from the great banquet hall, but suddenly, I could no longer tell if this was a dining room or the conference room of the noble faction.

For Mikhail’s demeanor and bearing had become more princely than ever before.

“Your Highness?”

At my call, Mikhail answered only with a deep sigh before speaking in a low voice.

“Belinda, can’t you reconsider?”

With that alone, I suddenly realized that this was the true reason he had invited me tonight.

He was strangely fixated on the matter of Leo’s education.

“Before I respond, isn’t there something Your Highness should explain to me?”

“……”

“You’re hiding something from me. That’s hardly fair. Especially when it comes to Leo, I’m most exacting.”

A sharp tension of unknown purpose instantly filled the space between Mikhail and me.

Mikhail was the first to step back.

“Belinda, do you recall what I once said to you about my conviction?”

“Yes, I remember.”

It was a long time ago, but unforgettable.

The first day we met, I had asked him what would prompt him to draw his sword at me. Without a moment’s hesitation, he replied,

“If you stand in the way of my conviction, I’ll point my sword at you. And I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

“What exactly is Your Highness’s conviction?”

“To prevent destruction.”

With a gaze sharp as if searching for monsters lurking beneath the balcony in the darkness, he continued just as he had that day.

“It wasn’t exaggeration or metaphor when I spoke of destruction.”

His eyes, which I’d always considered like spring’s first buds, darkened deeply.

They resembled an ancient forest, holding a tremendous secret and slowly rotting within.

“In the royal archives, there’s a certain book kept—a so-called prophecy. It was written about seven hundred years ago, and, amazingly enough, has foretold all the major events of the kingdom.”

Like entering the forbidden woods, I wandered, unprepared, into the secret forest of the crown prince.

“But that book had a final page. Can you guess how it ended?”

Prophetic books always have similar conclusions.

When there is nothing left to foretell, the prophecy ends, and that is—

“It must predict the kingdom’s destruction.”

“Yes. Six years from now, some calamity will strike this kingdom.”

Six years—a future so near it felt unreal.

Six years…

‘That’s when Leo will only just be turning eighteen…’

A chilling premonition flashed through my mind.

For a moment, I wanted nothing more than to leap up and flee from whatever words the crown prince was about to utter.

But I barely suppressed that urge and, in a dry voice, asked the crown prince,

“What does that prophecy have to do with Leo?”

“The prophecy describes a person destined to prevent the tragedy. It names them specifically.”

I’ve sometimes wondered.

Why is called ‘Hero Maker’?

As if the protagonist…

“It says that the one chosen by the ‘Star of Heroes’ will prevent the calamity.”

Does that not sound like a future that demands someone must become a hero?