The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 213 Demon Kron (11) - Minefield Tap Dance It's commonly said that an ordinary person makes a better teacher than a genius. When a student hits a wall, an ordinary teacher knows what that feeling is like and can teach them how to overcome it. But a genius teacher has never felt that it was a wall in the first place, so when asked how to overcome it, their response becomes "just get over it, can't you?" Demon Kron was undoubtedly a person(?) who belonged to the genius category, but fortunately, combining his past life, current life, original life, and fragmented life, his life experience was quite abundant. This meant he had long realized that he shouldn't evaluate ordinary people based on his own standards. What was 'normal' by his standards could be very difficult for Kuella. So he only demanded the 'bare minimum necessary' rather than normal. [Now, here you step like this, and pull your arm like this.] "Urgh! Aaaaah!" [Count Ribespegel has been famous since ancient times as a producer of high-quality glass. The territory itself is wealthy, with many skilled craftsmen. However, this could be a double-edged sword for Kuella. From the perspective of proud craftsmen, they were under royal patronage and suddenly placed under a mere count. Some of them will probably react curtly to Kuella, so you should respond with patience, but if they try to steal production techniques, you must deal with them firmly.] "Uuuuuugh." [We often lump it together as administrative ability, but the administrative skills required at the bottom and top of an organization are different. To manage two territories the size of earldoms, it's more important to place talented people in the right positions rather than having Kuella personally control and adjust every detail. Kuella probably doesn't like the retainers and servants currently remaining at Count Ospin's household, and they know it too, but conversely, you've grasped weaknesses that can be wielded at any time. If you use this properly─] "Gyaaaaaaaah." ...But well, originally a professor's "it's really easy" and a regular person's "it's really easy" use the same words and the same pronunciation, but their meanings are completely different. Kron himself had lowered his standards considerably, but it couldn't be helped when his usual "low point" was that of the youngest at the Golden Cloud Palace who gets criticized by his seniors (though he'd be ace-level elsewhere). 'I, I'm dying! I feel like I'm going to die at this rate...!' [No, wait! This is way too hard! Even if you call it the bare minimum, isn't this too much for a beginner!?] At the training schedule that seemed to get harsher day by day, Kuella let out a silent scream. If you ask why it was a silent scream, it's because when she previously made sounds out loud, the servants of Count Ospin's household who witnessed it looked at her with even more terrified eyes. Well, the sight of a female count sitting at a desk moving a pen while making sounds like "Gyaaaaaaaah" would have been nothing but terrifying from the servants' perspective. After hearing the servants murmuring things like "demonic possession" or "rage has gone to her head," Kuella maintained a clean and elegant attitude on the outside, regardless of what was going on inside. And here was another person who had fallen for that exterior. "Miss Kuella is truly wonderful. Every single action of yours is like a painting, you know?" What? Who? Me? Desperately suppressing the urge to reflexively ask such questions, Kuella smiled gently. "That's excessive praise, Miss Selena. If anything, you're the one who's like a princess from a fairy tale." "A, a princess? Oh my..." At Kuella's words, the woman called Selena lowered her head, not knowing what to do. Her eyes wandered without knowing where to go, and her cheeks reddened like ripe apples. What a truly innocent person, Kuella thought with genuine admiration, not sarcasm. In fact, calling her a princess wasn't that much of an exaggeration. There were only three ducal houses in the vast Eizern Empire. As the only daughter of the Valencia family, which could smash any decent small nation in the central region single-handedly, it wouldn't be strange for her to be called a princess. '...When I think about it that way, it's quite absurd that I'm sitting here drinking tea alone with such a person.' In the tea party venue spread out in the center of the lush garden, Kuella inwardly let out a bitter laugh. If you asked how Kuella, who could hardly be said to have good relationships at the academy even as empty words, came to be acquainted with such a top-tier lady even among the upper class, it could only be attributed to the demon who borrowed her body. "Excuse me, could you perhaps lend me those gloves?" "Yes? Oh, here you go." "Thank you. I'll definitely repay you later." "Yes..." During the previous duel commotion, Kron had borrowed gloves from one of the female students nearby and used them in the duel. That female student's identity was Selena Valencia, who was now sitting before her, and this tea party was the result of responding to the 'repayment' she had desired. In summary, that incident had resulted in them becoming something like friends. [Well, think of it as a good connection. It doesn't seem like she approached with any malicious intent.] At Kron's advice, Kuella inwardly nodded. Most of the noble young ladies she knew harbored sticky malevolence behind their flower-like pitiful appearances, but Selena, despite having the background of being from a ducal family, was surprisingly pure and innocent. It might be because she was born as the only youngest daughter in a household with several sons and received all the affection from her parents and older brothers, or it might just be her natural disposition. In any case, from Kuella's perspective, her friendship with Selena was not a bad thing. "Hehe." Though if she had to complain about something. That, um, couldn't she somehow do something about that fan-like gaze of someone looking closely at someone they admire? What was even more frightening was that it wasn't just Selena who was like this, but there were also other female students at the academy who sometimes looked at Kuella with misty eyes. It was to the extent that some male students who tried to approach Kuella after seeing the titles 'current female count' and 'fiancé physically eliminated' couldn't endure the terrifying glares of the female students and fled. While wondering why she had to pay the karma when it was Kron who caused all the trouble, she could only sigh inwardly at the situation where she couldn't even complain when she thought about what she had gained thanks to that Kron. Toward Kuella, who appeared to be elegantly enjoying refreshments, Selena asked a question. "Come to think of it, Miss Kuella. Are you participating in the upcoming ball?" "The ball? Hmm." Formal balls are held regularly at the academy. Participation itself was voluntary rather than mandatory, but aside from commoners, it was rare for children of noble families not to attend. This was because formal balls themselves were not simply venues for dancing and drinking, but places for information exchange and strengthening connections. "Well, honestly, I'm torn about it." When each day was already arduous just from attending Kron's rigorous lessons, did she really need to go to such a troublesome and tiring event? Strengthening connections and such, wouldn't it be better to do that after internal stability was achieved... As Kuella was thinking such thoughts and reaching for a pastry, she tilted her head upon seeing Selena, whose complexion had somehow turned pale. Huh? "I, I'm sorry, Miss Kuella. I asked a rude question..." What is she talking about, Kuella thought as she blinked, and Kron offered advice. [Well, usually the role of partner at formal balls is handled by one's fiancé. Selena's question right now could be interpreted as 'You don't even have a fiancé anymore, so if you go to the ball, do you have someone to dance with?' It seems even she realized it only after she said it.] [Isn't, isn't that too malicious an interpretation?] [For just this much?] Thinking that a demon was indeed a demon at Kron's attitude, as if he had made a very reasonable and decent interpretation, Kuella hastily corrected Selena's misunderstanding. "No, it's not that! It's really fine! It's just, since I suddenly acquired two territories, I have so much to do! So I was wondering whether I'd be able to participate in the ball!" "Ah..." Only then did Selena brighten her complexion as if relieved. "Certainly, unlike other students, Miss Kuella is already someone who governs territories. My father was incredibly busy too, so you must be the same, Miss Kuella." "Even so, it's not to the extent of being comparable to Duke Valencia." While the size of the land might be roughly similar given that there were two earldoms, when you started examining details one by one like military strength, economic power of the territories, and the skill and loyalty of retainers, the gap was at a level where comparison would be laughable. "You're so capable and yet so modest too...!" "......" [Lord Kron! Please do something!! Now whatever I say becomes a 'how amazing!' flow!! Just how much did you bewitch this person!!] [Is it really okay to do something about it? Really?] [I'll just handle it somehow myself.] After clearing her throat with an "Ahem," Kuella asked. "How about you, Miss Selena? Are your preparations for the ball going well?" "Um, yes. It's embarrassing, but I've prepared various things in my own way. As Prince Nikolaus's partner, I can't cause him trouble." That's right. Selena Valencia was also the fiancée of the Empire's Fifth Prince Nikolaus. (E/N: Oh my god what a poor girl) When the engagement was concluded, there were various talks about Duke Valencia's great resolve and the pinnacle of political artistry displayed by Fourth Consort Beatrix, but Kuella didn't know about such detailed behind-the-scenes dealings. Originally, to hear such information, you needed connections and open ears, but where would Kuella, who had been engaged in survival struggles until recently, have obtained such high-level information? However, there were also things that Kuella could know precisely because she was such a person. 'The Fifth Prince. From what I glimpsed of him passing by at the academy, he seemed to be cut from the same cloth as that bastard Lawrence...' Arrogant, hasty, and frivolous. Despite all that, his confidence overflowed, so even when people around him gave admonishments or advice, he only considered it words of envy toward him and didn't take them seriously. Because the title of prince was such a trump card, no one spoke openly about it, but from Kuella's perspective, Selena was far too good for such a couple. "His Highness is someone who likes flashy and bold things, but I'm quite timid and lack confidence... But, um, if Miss Kuella were beside me, I think I could gain a little confidence too! So!" "I, I see. I understand your feelings, but I think it would be good if you calmed down a bit first, Miss Selena." "Oh. I'm sorry..." Watching Selena shrink back as if embarrassed, Kuella inwardly sought advice from the demon. [What would be the best thing to do?] [That depends on Kuella's mindset. Do you want to help the naive friend in front of you, or the precious daughter of a ducal family?] [The friend, of course.] Though sometimes a bit burdensome, Kuella liked Selena's innocence in many ways. She felt empathy for her situation of not being properly treated by her fiancé, and if there was something she could help with, she wanted to help. [Then there's nothing to worry about. Go together and encourage your friend's courage.] At Kron's advice, Kuella nodded. "Then let's go together, Miss Selena. Well, I'll manage to find a partner somehow. I'm a current female count, so surely there will be at least one person who would ask me to dance." "Really?" Selena's face brightened noticeably. She smiled brightly, then carefully added. "But, um, Miss Kuella?" "Yes?" "Now that, um, we're also friends, couldn't we speak a little more casually? O, of course, if it's rude, then it can't be helped!" In terms of family rank alone, Selena, as the daughter of a ducal family, was higher. But unlike Selena, who was merely a member of her family, Kuella was already a legitimate title holder. Due to this subtle relationship, the two had been using formal speech with each other, but Selena seemed to want to move forward from that. Since it wasn't a bad story from Kuella's perspective either, she nodded. "Then, please take care of me, Selena." "Yes, Kuella!" The laughter of the two people softly echoed through the tea party venue. *** "─The villainess who tormented Irene with vile means throughout her school life, Selena Valencia!! I could never marry a woman like you!! The engagement is broken!!" (E/N: LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!)