I’m Just an Ordinary Academy Student

42 – A Daughter Resembling Her Mother

“Mmm.”

Adelheid Gajou, Count Friedrich, had been suffering from headaches lately.

If it were a health problem, that would be fortunate… No, I’d rather it be that.

At least then, there wouldn’t be trouble everywhere.

“You. Even if you trust the children, isn’t this too indifferent?”

Smiling with her mouth but not her eyes, when his wife glared at him.

The countess wished desperately to just sweep away everything, escape somewhere.

Understanding why his friends secretly bought a villa was almost painful.

Surely he wouldn’t have been comfortable being himself. It was just pretending.

Men achieve the best results when quietly trusted.

In reality, his son Karl was a witness to that method.

However, the father’s heart and the mother’s heart could not be the same.

At first, even his wife, who had shared the same intentions, now averted her gaze.

Slowly, it seemed appropriate to call the son and give him a stern warning.

From the perspective of Count Friedrich, there was no unjust aspect, in fact.

Neither the daughter nor the son had ever disobeyed such commands. Never, not even once.

All actions were decided and carried out by the two children. He merely believed in that.

For example, when Ricata, the heiress and eldest daughter of the family, joined the Special Operations Execution Unit.

And when the eldest son, Karl, unexpectedly overturned the count’s order by enlisting as a soldier.

“To that extent, yes. My wife also seemed to try to understand somehow. But…”

Could anyone have expected this? Could anyone have imagined that the son would continue like this even after being discharged?

When he received an honorary medal upon discharge, he was a son to be proud of.

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Now he should have returned to his original position. He should have shown his face at home.

Especially when his mother was subtly burning inside, it was only natural to expect that.

But this son suddenly became a hero by suppressing terrorists.

That alone was bewildering, and the news said he was even cooperating with the special forces.

Now, he wasn’t even a soldier. Just a nobleman, a regular student!

“Karl, this fellow. Tell him to act appropriately and come home!”

I never expected my wife to notice it like this.

Looking at her, eyes tightly closed, instead of reading the newspaper, made me nervous involuntarily.

When I roughly heard the news, it seemed that something had happened at the academy this time.

The exact details would be known after some time, but one thing was certain for now.

Karl was involved in that incident as well. Deeply involved, like the train bombing.

Otherwise, my daughter, who was preparing for the next family head succession, wouldn’t suddenly be like this.

“Father. No, my lord. I’m preparing for the family head succession. Please delay it a little.”

“Rita? Why all of a sudden?”

“Something came up that I have to take care of. I can’t do anything else until I finish it.”

Parents know their children better than anyone.

And Count Friedrich already had a conviction about why his daughter was suddenly like this.

“It’s related to my brother. There’s nothing else.”

As befitting a member of the Adelheid family, my daughter, Ricata, always rational and cold-headed.

However, matters related to my family, especially concerning my younger sibling, overwhelmed me emotionally, making it nearly impossible to control.

From an early age, the bond between siblings was exceptionally strong. It differed from that of ordinary siblings.

Ricata always took care of the knife, and the knife, in turn, became even more attached to such a sister.

Perhaps in those moments, Ricata harbored the feeling that her sibling belonged to her.

As time passed, and the knife matured, the playful antics of the past nearly disappeared.

I thought Ricata would be less inclined to such behavior now, but it was quite the opposite. If anything, she became more assertive, encircling her younger sibling even more.

When news arrived that the knife had joined the front lines, she rushed in like a bolt of lightning and said,

“Father, may I not go to the battlefield as well?”

“Speak words that make sense.”

“But, Knife! Going through such hardships because of those damn camp bastards!”

Goodness. How did my daughter, who always spoke so gracefully, end up like this?

Was it really because of the camp bastards, or was it the knife? I had to seriously contemplate.

And this incident, too, probably had similar reasons.

“You.”

Ugh, she finally came. The viscount sighed inwardly and turned his head.

There stood his wife, wearing her usual beautiful smile.

“Welcome, my lady.”

“Have you heard the news? Rita, that child, has gone to the princess.”

“What? No… That scoundrel…!”

“Do you not know why? Surely, you would understand better.”

How could he not know? Rita, who rarely bothered searching for the princess, now went on her own.

Though she claimed to be friends with the princess, getting too close might lead to unpleasant rumors.

However, finding the princess despite that meant that only she possessed something the princess would listen to.

“With things turning out this way, we may need to pause the heir succession process.”

“Even without that, Rita had already mentioned it.”

“She came to me as well. If you say something, Father, Mother asks for your assistance.”

That child. Engaging in unnecessary actions. When did I ever stop you?

Viscount Friedrich discreetly glanced at his wife, who had lowered her gaze.

The figure of a serene lady. Always graceful and beautiful, with a demeanor that serves as an exemplary model for all women.

Of course, those aspects are captivating enough. Irresistible parts that can steal one’s heart.

But besides that, there was a separate incident where the Earl had proposed to that lady.

“I’m not in a good mood right now.”

“Why is that? Is there something wrong?”

“I received a call from my father a little while ago.”

“Your father?”

Frederick, the Earl’s father, is one of the military elders. Getting a call from someone like him—

“He said they are seriously discussing the overlapping conferment of honors along with the Military Affairs in the War Castle.”

“Overlapping honors?”

“Yes. Specifically, it’s about the overlapping conferment of honorary medals.”

“….”

Overlapping conferment is a rare occurrence, and even obtaining one is challenging. The medal itself is a miraculous decoration received during one’s lifetime.

Suddenly, they are discussing overlapping honors in the War Castle with the Military Affairs.

And the real mystery is, if one doesn’t catch on, it’s a strange thing.

“How long does our Karl have to stay on the battlefield?”

“Madam, that’s…”

“It’s enough now. I’ve come home, but it feels like I’m constantly being pushed back out. I hope he can stop being the ‘ordinary returning student’ that the sword desired and return now.”

The sharp eyes narrow slightly, and within them, a reddish glow flickers.

Frederick, the Earl, couldn’t help but be taken aback by his wife’s unexpected demeanor.

There was a time when Karl muttered like this secretly, away from his family.

Oh my, of all people, it’s Mother who turns out to be a character with sharp eyes!

The lady of Frederick’s mansion. Celine Seren Adelheid.

A quiet lady who lives as a good wife and mother.

But hidden within her is the strongest former chief of the Imperial Special Operations Execution Department.

*

“…Rita. I apologize for speaking in the middle.”

The first princess, Michaella, opened her mouth without even properly drinking her tea.

“You’re saying you’re going back. Are you trying to go directly to the scene?”

“Yes, Your Highness. That’s what I must do.”

“You’re not in your right mind, are you?”

There was a time when Ricata was active in the Special Operations Division, of course.

But then and now are different. Rumor has it that Ricata is now preparing to be the next head of the family.

It’s a big deal if the heir of a noble family moves recklessly. It’s not like some small rural lordship; it’s the Friedrich Barony.

The Adelheid family, who devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the imperial family, and those connected by blood.

If she makes a mistake, it could shake everything, and who in the imperial family would welcome that?

Above all, there hasn’t been a critical issue in the Empire that would warrant her return.

The Rosenz Intelligence operatives hiding in the Empire have been almost annihilated. The rest is just a matter of time.

In the Elven territories, Hygens is diligently working, so a positive answer is expected from that side too.

“Enough. Go quietly and prepare to take the position of the head.”

“Your Highness.”

“This is not a request from a friend; it’s an order from a princess.”

“But!”

Even in front of the princess, Ricata raised her voice.

“Kal! That child! Helped me with special ops work in secret! What could this mean!”

What does it mean? Obviously, you kept it a secret because it would complicate things if you knew—

“I’m not bothering my sister for no reason. I’ll handle it myself! How can I stand by when my sister is going through so much for me? Even if I know that!”

“….”

No, this woman. It’s not like that. In my opinion, it’s definitely not like that!

Kal is doing it for herself, not for you, right? It’s clear that you’re going to keep going around and coming back to the field like this!

“Sigh…”

Why is this usually so rational and cool-headed woman so emotional about her sister’s affairs?

No, that’s not it. Apart from the emotional aspect, that’s just a reflex. How can it be so uncontrolled?

“As you know, I’ve completely withdrawn from the political arena, so I can’t easily lend a hand.”

“I understand. That’s why I came to tell you. I’m going to return. I’ve already met with the Crown Prince this morning.”

This crazy woman. She didn’t come for help or to ask for a favor.

She just came to inform! To tell me that she’s coming back! Really, Ricata, you!

“What on earth are you trying to do?”

“You’re asking the obvious.”

Actually, I have a rough idea of what to do. Asking this is just to make sure, because I want to be certain.

“To allow the sword to once again enjoy student life, I plan to eliminate its source.”