After delivering the ‘punishment’ that Senior Delphine desired, I wore a sullen expression.
Is this relationship really correct?
Although Senior Delphine seemed genuinely obedient to me, I couldn’t shake off the suspicion that I was the one accommodating her.
I was deep in thought about how severe the punishment would be if hierarchical sexual abuse was reported to the disciplinary committee.
Senior Delphine appeared somewhat satisfied. The curves of her extended lower body were superb.
Recently, the punishments that Senior Delphine demanded had been escalating in intensity.
Initially, it was just scratching my cheek with an axe edge or striking my solar plexus, but today she even asked me to spank her, as if she had developed a taste for it.
Of course, the sensation was pleasant.
The cool feeling of her bouncy flesh wrapped around my palm was something that couldn’t be understood unless experienced. Senior Delphine’s figure was as perfect as her face, so to be honest, it was quite luxurious.
I simply couldn’t help but feel apologetic toward the Yuridina Marquis.
Once the vacation started, it seemed I should prepare a healthy gift for Senior Delphine. I thought that might alleviate some of my guilt.
The proud and self-respecting noble daughter of the Yuridina Clan was willingly kissing the feet of some outsider.
She even developed a peculiar desire to receive punishment on purpose.
It was a sight that shouldn’t be seen by anyone. She mustn’t be seen by the Yuridina Marquis or even Ceria in her current state.
Otherwise, I could picture Ceria staggering and fainting in shock.
I sighed deeply while in contemplation, but Senior Delphine appeared rather carefree.
She seemed to have no worries at all. She offered me advice in a calm voice.
“By the way, master, it’s better to be careful about the News Department.”
At her words, my bewildered eyes turned to Senior Delphine. She leaned closer, smiling mischievously, and whispered in my ear.
Her hot, humid breath penetrated my eardrum.
“…It’s the Academy branch of the Empire’s Intelligence Department.”
“Pardon?”
The News Department, which published articles that were irrelevant and just provocative, was it?
I was taken aback and responded, but Senior Delphine’s words did not change. She smiled as if she knew I would react this way.
“Did you think the Empire’s Intelligence Department would disguise themselves as a suspicious but capable organization?”
“…Well, that does make sense.”
I nodded as if I truly understood.
Indeed, they could avoid suspicion better the more insignificant they appeared. In that respect, the choice to disguise themselves as the News Department was brilliant.
‘A mere distraction that reads only what piques interest and then burns it.’
That was the current status of the Academy’s News Department.
Of course, until I received information from Senior Delphine, I had never imagined such a thing. I thought the royal family might have some influence on the Academy so perhaps the Intelligence Department could be lurking somewhere.
Then, it suddenly occurred to me about the newspaper I had kept close.
That newspaper, which had consistently provided distorted information about me, now its tone started to make sense.
Having touched on high-ranking nobles and the royal family, it was understandable that they would feel uneasy.
I couldn’t help but let out a half-hearted laugh. Not long ago, when I thought of the ‘Empire’s Intelligence Department,’ I envisioned terrifying secret agents, but now I felt little to no fear.
I’d take mages, mythical monsters, and dark priests over those guys any day.
I felt that I needed to pay a visit to the News Department one day. I wasn’t sure what I could accomplish by going there, though.
The Empire’s Intelligence Department was said to be where talented individuals gathered. Evaluating their mindset through normal perspectives was fraught with difficulties.
As I was lost in thought, I decided to ask Senior Delphine just in case.
“Then what about that ‘Queen of the Martial Arts Festival’?”
“Of course, she belongs to the Empire’s Intelligence Department, the director of the Academy branch.”
As expected, I swallowed hard and nodded.
I had heard of the ‘Queen of the Martial Arts Festival,’ a commoner who dominated the high-society scene full of aristocrats.
Her beauty was undeniable, but I had also heard that her information-gathering skills and intellect were extraordinary.
I had been curious about how a commoner could achieve such a position. However, listening to Senior Delphine’s words, it felt like all my doubts were being resolved.
I pressed all that information tightly into my brain. Senior Delphine seemed even more impressive in that moment.
After the Hunting Festival, she had been struggling to establish her authority as the heir of the Yuridina Clan.
Yet, considering that she was knowledgeable about the highly classified branch of the Empire’s Intelligence Department, her power became all the more palpable.
She was truly the heir of one of the Empire’s five noble families.
As I admired Senior Delphine’s information prowess, I also felt a twinge of guilt.
Once again, I must emphasize that information about the Empire’s Intelligence Department was classified.
Therefore, leaking it was strictly prohibited. Even if you were the heir of the Yuridina Clan, the same rule applied.
Perhaps it would be forgivable if it were a close confidant, but there was no obligation for someone like me, who was not affiliated with the clan, to be given such information.
In fact, by sharing that information with me, the risk of loss was only heightened. Despite that, Senior Delphine offered me advice without hesitation.
I felt a certain fear at such unprovoked kindness.
Recently, I had been involved in various activities, but at my core, I was merely the second son of a rural viscount. I had not yet reached a level of mastery as a swordsman.
Yet, Senior Delphine was treating me with kindness that exceeded friendship.
I couldn’t understand this at all, so I unintentionally asked her.
“Senior Delphine.”
“…?”
As she was adjusting her clothing and about to leave the workshop, she stopped at my call.
There was a hint of curiosity in her crimson eyes. They were always beautiful, but now was not the time for such admiration.
I asked in a more serious tone.
“…Why are you so attached to me?”
It was a question that could be a bit hurtful to her pride. However, I deliberately voiced my inquiry without filters.
I thought that was the only way I might hear Senior Delphine’s true feelings.
For a moment, Senior Delphine stared at me blankly, then smiled slightly.
She walked closer and whispered in my ear.
“…Of course, it’s to win.”
Before I could even ask, “Win what?”
My eyes met Senior Delphine’s blood-red gaze. My mouth was instantly shut.
A torrent of burning emotions surged from her eyes. Competitive spirit, obsession, blind faith—everything intertwined to unleash a new depth of psychology.
Her smiling face while having lifeless eyes could only be described as madness.
Her sticky voice lingered over my eardrum.
“If I stand by your side, I can win, right? That would be great; victory is everything. The same goes for defeat. As long as I can win, I can do anything.”
With a firm grip, Senior Delphine’s delicate fingers dug deeper into my shoulder. It was enough to cause a subtle pain.
But instead of furrowing my brows, I was more shocked by the raw emotions she was displaying.
“Wag my tail? Sure, I’ll wag it as much as you want. I’ll kiss your feet, or no, not just your feet—anywhere. If you say strip, I’ll strip; if you say kneel, I’ll kneel. But you must ensure that we win.”
With those final words, Senior Delphine pushed me away, distancing herself.
Even then, I could only stare in a daze, my foolish gaze fixed on Senior Delphine.
As if her previous display had been a lie, she wore a strange smile.
“If you can do that, I’ll live my entire life as your possession… So, please, put in the effort?”
After bending down and kissing my foot one last time, Senior Delphine left.
I remained rooted to the spot for quite a while after she departed.
After some time had passed, I finally regained my senses and a bitter smile surfaced on my lips.
“…I suppose I’ll do my best.”
Still thinking that Delphine Yuridina was Delphine Yuridina, I resumed my steps.
The materials were gradually coming together.
As I left the research building and strolled through a quiet corner of the Academy, I noticed a familiar figure.
A lovely maiden with reddish hair stood there.
It was Emma. She was walking with something in a basket, and I contemplated greeting her but decided against it.
It would be troublesome. Even the noble Reto had suffered because he was close to me; how could I approach a commoner like Emma?
A bitter smile formed on my face. Now was not the time to interfere.
After all, the incident would be resolved within a month. As I turned to leave, I suddenly stopped at a disturbing sight.
A group of female students was approaching Emma. They looked like aristocrats at first glance, and it felt ominous.
My intuition was soon proven correct.
I heard some scuffling sounds, and a commotion broke out. Even from afar, the cause was clear.
“…What’s wrong? Is that lowly noble your prince or something?”
“Hurry up and repeat after me: ‘Ian Fercurus is an ignorant fool from a rural family without roots.’”
Laughter and jeering followed. Yet I still hesitated.
Would stepping in actually help Emma?
No matter how much I wanted to be there for her, I couldn’t spend all day by her side. It would be counterproductive if my interference led to intensified bullying.
But then the next moment.
“…Absolutely not!”
Emma’s fierce cry rang out, and with it came the sound of a slap.
Emma screamed as she fell to the ground. The basket toppled over, spilling its contents.
One of the female students had slapped Emma’s cheek.
Time seemed to slow. Seeing Emma being struck and crumbling to the ground caused my mind to go blank.
I felt nothing but a deafening silence.
That was the sound of my patience snapping.
