0&1 Ch 7.6

I tried to recall where I had read the material.

Of course, I couldn’t remember. I just wrote down all the names of the books I had read that were related to the exam topic and wrote that I had referred to them.

Even without rereading my answer sheet, I knew what the problem was.

It was a complete disaster.

Duke Pie’s long lecture came to mind. He had said many things, but the point was: review. Everything else he said was essentially just adverbs decorating that one message.

The conquests of the Conqueror. Military campaigns. Foreign affairs.

I flipped through the pages and underlined the necessary parts. Since I didn’t know how to study, I had no choice but to memorize everything.

I didn’t trust my brain. It was better to trust my body. Repeat until my hands and mouth remembered it.

The last time I tried to study was probably in the first year of middle school. It was my first and last attempt.

After my father died, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. Back then, I thought studying was the answer. But I gave up quickly. I realized I just didn’t have a head for it.

When I entered high school, my homeroom teacher said that studying is more about effort than talent. He said it’s the fairest way to succeed in an unfair world.

I didn’t understand. I wanted to make money, and I didn’t have time. I thought I couldn’t achieve success.

Anyway, unlike me, Joffrey had an environment where he could study hard.

“Dot.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

Dot brought over a stack of blank paper and set it on the nightstand. Ink and pens were ready. I clenched my hands and rotated my wrists. A cracking sound came from my wrists.

Let’s start by writing it out ten times.

Dot brought peppermint tea. The refreshing scent filled the room.

Dot believed that peppermint tea clears the mind and improves concentration. Plus, it supposedly doubles memory retention. In any case, Dot considered it an essential item for studying.

When I first heard him say that, I thought peppermint tea was a game item, even though I didn’t recall ever seeing it in the game.

Of course, peppermint tea wasn’t an item. The Queen and Dot were firm believers in all sorts of pseudoscience when it came to studying.

I drank it out of politeness. Dot smiled contentedly and asked: “Shall I pour you more?”

“Thank you.”

After finishing the cup, I handed it back, and Dot left happily. I felt like I was going to burst.

Finally, it was quiet. 

I couldn’t tell how many times I had repeated it. I closed the book, checked what I had memorized, and if the recently memorized part didn’t come to mind smoothly, I picked up the pen again.

My wrist ached, and my throat hurt. I stretched my back and heard the sound of my bones cracking.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, I’m terribly sorry to disturb your studying. But you told me before to inform you immediately if a messenger from Sir Baumkuchen came…” It was Dot’s voice.

Alex.

I set my pen down and stood up. “I’ll be right there. Tell him to wait in the parlor.” The parlor was a little far from the bedroom. 

Dot responded, “Yes.”

What if I meet the messenger in the parlor and Edward wakes up? Won’t he be worried? A sick child waking up alone in a strange place. 

It was almost time for Edward to wake up.

“Wait a moment, Dot. Could you just take him to the next room? I’ll meet him there.”

“To your study?” Dot sounded surprised.

The study was a place to meet people with whom you had a relatively close and private relationship. 

Since becoming Joffrey, I’d never invited anyone there.

“Yes. I think Edward is about to wake up.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll bring the errand boy.” 

Dot left.

The study was smaller than the parlor. Because the distance between the sofas was shorter, I understood why this room served a different function than the formal parlor.

I sat down in an armchair. According to the game, Baumkuchen would rescue Alex, but I was involved this time. I didn’t know what the outcome would be.

As I waited anxiously, Baumkuchen’s messenger entered. He was a tall man wearing a hat.

He bowed his head to me. Despite his shabby clothes, his imposing build was striking. I stared up at him and asked, “What’s with that outfit, Sir?”

“Did you catch me?” Sir Baumkuchen slightly raised and lowered his hat. “I didn’t think it was an easy disguise to see through.”

“Don’t you think you’re too tall to pretend to be someone else? Why are you dressed like that?”

Even though he covered his face with his hat, I could see it underneath. Besides, he was too well-built to be a messenger.

“It wouldn’t be good if people found out I came to see the Prince, would it?”
“Why not?”

Sir Baumkuchen’s eyes widened. “Should I go back to the palace? Dress up nicely, wear my medals. It would be nice to have a few of the Queen’s attendants with me at an official gathering.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“No.”

Sir Baumkuchen tried to scratch his head, but his hand was blocked by his hat. He took off his hat and threw it down on the floor. Then he sighed.

I felt uneasy. I thought that nothing had gone wrong because Sir Baumkuchen was making strange jokes, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes.

He looked like someone who had made a mistake and was wondering when to tell me.

“Sir?”

Sir Baumkuchen began to give me subtle glances. Did he think I would understand what he meant? I was sorry to disappoint him, but I had no idea what he was talking about.

If there’s a problem, say it. That’s what conversations are for. That was the problem with the people of the royal palace.

“How did it go? Don’t you have something to say to me directly?“ I finally asked.

Had he failed to find Alex? My heart was pounding. What if my involvement had ruined everything?

”I don’t know how to say it. My thoughts are jumbled, and I’m afraid I’ll say something incoherent…“
“Just say it. I never expected eloquence from you.”
”No, that’s not the problem… All right.”

He lowered his hand, which had been ruffling his hair.

“Since His Majesty has given me permission, I will ask without hesitation. Why are you looking for that child? You told me to find him and protect him. Protecting a child is no trouble for a prince like you. There must be very few people you cannot protect. Can you tell me the reason? Is it okay if I know?” Sir Baumkuchen asked without pause. His face was red with excitement.

Why was I trying to save Alex? Because he’s Alex Baumkuchen.

There was no way I could say that to Sir Baumkuchen. 

It was difficult to explain why I couldn’t protect him myself. To do so, I would have to go into detail about the Queen’s overprotectiveness.

What should I say? That the Queen loved Joffrey so much that she wouldn’t even forgive a pickpocket who stole Joffrey’s servant’s belongings? That if the Queen heard that there was a pickpocket in Joffrey’s palace, who knows what kind of trouble would ensue?

It was too embarrassing to say out loud. If I said it, I would only be seen as a mama’s boy. 

And if Sir Baumkuchen thought I was bothering him over something so petty, that would be trouble too.

Many thoughts crossed my mind, but only one word came out of my mouth: “No.”

“I see.” Sir Baumkuchen let out a sigh. “I understand. I understand why you cannot tell me.”

Really?

I almost lost control of my expression in surprise. I didn’t expect Sir Baumkuchen to back down so easily. What did he think he understood?

“I will report back. I met with the captain of the guard as you ordered. He claims that he is unaware of the disappearance of an orphanage building, even though he is responsible for the security of the capital. So I investigated him. The one who sponsored him to become captain of the guard is Baron Ricotta, who, as you know, is one of the Queen’s followers. Two days after the orphanage disappeared, Baron Ricotta entered the palace and requested an audience with the Queen. That is what I have found out.“

It was a long story. I couldn’t make sense of it in my head. And it wasn’t what I really wanted to know.

“What kind of place was that orphanage?”
“It was a place where they took in children with nowhere to go, taught them skills, and collected tribute in return. Something like that.”
“What is that? A criminal training camp?”

How is Alex’s character developing? Alex Baumkuchen was supposed to be a proper and diligent knight.