# Chapter 97
—
At Arthur’s suggestion, Anna and Jeannie quickly got ready to go out.
“Jeannie, try this on.”
“A skirt? But…”
Jeannie trailed off, pulling a sour face.
“Why is it so short?”
“This is the latest fashion! And with your figure, it’ll look amazing on you, Jeannie!”
“Mm… Anna. This isn’t about whether it suits me or not—it’s just too short—”
“There’s no such thing as too short or too long in fashion! Just try it on already!”
Unable to withstand Anna’s insistence, Jeannie eventually put on the skirt she had pushed onto her.
“……”
Jeannie stared in shock at her bare legs, completely exposed.
*This… this is considered fashion these days?*
Wouldn’t it be better to just walk around naked?
But Anna looked so thrilled that Jeannie couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
“Gasp! Jeannie, you’re gorgeous! Let’s go just like that!”
And so, Jeannie, dressed in Anna’s chosen outfit, stepped into the parlor.
Arthur, who was sipping coffee on the sofa, turned his head and commented.
“Oh. If you’re going to wear something like that, Jeannie, you may as well just not wear anything at all.”
“……”
Jeannie furrowed her brow sharply, ready to snap at him, but Anna beat her to it.
“Lord Arthur! What are you talking about! This is the latest fashion!”
“…So, stripping down is what’s trendy now?”
“It’s not stripping, it’s fashion!”
Arthur shrugged and stood up.
“Still, it looks good on you. Shall we go?”
Jeannie, who had been debating whether to change back, flinched at his words.
“…Does it really suit me?”
“Of course. With your face, it’d be stranger if it didn’t.”
Jeannie flinched again.
Meanwhile, Arthur opened the door and stepped outside.
“Let’s go to Central Park, Lord Arthur! It’s the hottest picnic spot right now!”
“Sounds good. Let’s go there.”
Following Anna’s lead, the three of them left the mansion and headed to a place called Central Park.
“Oh… this is nice.”
“They say it’s the most famous park in Arcane, my lord.”
As Anna explained, Arthur looked around.
“Waaah—!”
Children were running about, while parents watched with smiles of pure contentment.
Beneath the clear sky, bathed in warm sunlight, the sight was more beautiful than any painting.
*…Hm. Come to think of it, I haven’t called Mother this week.*
He always contacted her once a week, but this time he had been so caught up in missions that he had forgotten.
*I’ll have to call her when I get back. I want to hear Irene’s voice, too.*
With a faint smile, Arthur shifted his gaze.
At some point, Anna had laid out a picnic mat and was pulling out a lunchbox.
“No picnic is complete without sandwiches!”
At her cheerful declaration, Arthur and Jeannie sat down with her.
Naturally, small talk began.
“When vacation comes, we should go somewhere, Lord Arthur! The beach would be fun, or maybe the valley!”
Anna led the chatter, while Jeannie chimed in here and there.
Arthur mostly watched the two, occasionally tossing in a question.
“Going on a trip wouldn’t be bad… but shouldn’t we visit home first?”
“Oh, of course we should visit the main house! Or we could even go together with the Lord and Lady Irene!”
Passersby who noticed them clenched their teeth.
*…So that’s what they mean by ‘birds of a feather flock together.’*
*Those pretty faces just keep rubbing it in, huh?*
*What a filthy, unfair world!*
Considering Central Park was usually filled with families, the three of them made for a peculiar group.
Two women and one man?
And all three stunningly attractive?
Even one would be enough to turn heads, but three together—it was impossible not to stare.
Noticing those stares, Arthur leaned toward Jeannie and whispered.
“Jeannie. Those people watching us—do you think they’re pirates? Or members of the Seven Lords?”
Startled, Jeannie glanced around.
“……”
Just as Arthur said, there were indeed eyes on them.
But they were far from what he suspected.
*They’re… probably just staring out of jealousy.*
The main reason she thought so was the way men kept sneaking glances at her legs.
She’d been subjected to such looks since she was young, so it wasn’t surprising anymore.
*…Come to think of it, this man’s never once shown any sign of that, even while being around me, has he?*
The realization bruised her pride.
Never once had she considered herself lacking in looks—so why was Arthur Bayern the only one who showed no interest?
She was mulling over this when Arthur’s low chuckle reached her.
“Hm… the way they keep staring, something must be up.”
“…?”
“I should grab one and interrogate him. But with Anna here, I don’t want to drag her into it.”
Jeannie cried out in alarm.
“Lord Arthur, that’s not it!”
“It’s not?”
“No! So please don’t cause any trouble!”
Arthur blinked, and Anna tilted her head mid-bite of a sandwich.
“Trouble? Did our lord cause trouble again?”
Composing her expression, Jeannie raised a finger.
“It’s nothing like that—but anyway, just don’t cause trouble, alright?”
“…Well, I wasn’t going to move on them, but why are you so sure?”
“Because they’re staring at me… since I’m pretty.”
“…?”
Arthur’s mouth fell open.
Anna also gaped and muttered.
“My gosh, Jeannie… that was kind of arrogant.”
Jeannie gave an awkward smile, then quickly shook her head.
If she hadn’t come up with some excuse, Arthur Bayern would definitely have gone after them.
*No way! Absolutely not!*
It had been ages since she’d been out like this.
She wasn’t about to let it be ruined.
—
—
After a short break, Arthur returned home and thought to himself.
*It’s midterms first… I’ll finish those up…*
Then, with vacation ahead, he planned to fully dive into his hunts.
*One by one, methodically, leaving no traces behind.*
It was perfect timing, too, since he would soon be returning to the capital.
Arcane had plenty of enemies, but they couldn’t compare to the capital.
*If I kill one a day… how many can I get rid of?*
If things went according to plan, aside from Cain and Khan Madrid, he could wipe out nearly all of his foes.
*Of course, it won’t be easy… but at this level, it should be possible.*
Reaching the stage where he could manifest Sword Aura meant everything.
With his thoughts in order, Arthur headed to Arcane University.
The streets buzzed with students, most walking with heads buried in books, likely because it was exam season.
Watching them, Arthur stepped into his first exam of the day—Imperial Studies.
“……”
The silence in the classroom felt strange.
He quietly found an empty seat and sat down.
*Hooh…*
Even the usual chatterers had their heads bent over their books today.
Arthur muttered to himself.
*Hm… should I be doing the same?*
Truthfully, he was already finished with preparations.
Another ability engraved in the blood of Bayern—an abnormal memory that never forgot anything once seen.
Thanks to that, studying had been over early on.
*Still… if everyone else is cramming and I don’t even open a book, I’ll stand out. Better at least lay a textbook out.*
He made the decision and placed a few books on his desk.
Just then, the classroom door opened and a man walked in.
“…Uwaaaah!”
The sudden scream shattered the silence.
“Wh-who’s that?”
“What lunatic just barged in—”
“…Prince Leon Madrid?”
The screamer was Leon.
With bloodshot eyes, a scruffy beard, and wild hair, he stood in the middle of the class, breathing heavily.
“Huff, huff!”
After a bizarre round of deep breaths, he collapsed into the seat next to Arthur.
Arthur blinked at him.
“Your Highness, have you finally lost your mind?”
“Who, me?”
“Yes, you.”
Leon snapped his head toward him.
“Hmph… well, I suppose it makes sense.”
“…?”
“I pulled all-nighters for a week straight for this midterm. A normal man would’ve collapsed after three days—but I endured an entire week.”
Arthur nodded.
“I see. So you’ve officially gone mad.”
“Fufu… But Arthur Bayern.”
“Yes?”
“What trouble have you been stirring up?”
Arthur smiled slyly.
“What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”
“Don’t play dumb. Because of you, the entire underworld’s in ruins right now.”
“Hm… ruins, you say?”
“Practically. But we’ll talk later—professor’s here.”
Arthur turned his head.
At some point, the Imperial Studies professor had entered, holding a stack of exams.
“No need for long speeches, right?”
“……”
“We’ll start right away. Any cheating and you’re expelled. If you finish early, you may leave.”
Handing the papers to his assistant, the professor began.
Students swallowed dryly, tension thick in the air.
*…Please, please!*
*I don’t care if it’s not an A—just don’t let it be an F!*
*Just let me avoid retaking this class, I beg you!*
In the silence of desperate prayers, Arthur received his test paper.
*Hmm…*
Rubbing his chin, he picked up his pen.
*Easier than I thought.*
The exam covered a book nearly a thousand pages long, but the questions stayed well within its scope.
*Even the ones that stray are only slight perspective twists. This is way too easy.*
Smiling, Arthur began writing swiftly.
Meanwhile, other students stared down at their tests in horror, clutching their heads.
*This is insane!!!*
*List all twenty royal names in order?*
*And write their achievements, too?*
*How can this be on an exam?!*
Groans broke out all around.
Leon muttered blankly.
*…I don’t know a single thing.*
While pens scratched furiously, the professor’s gaze sharpened.
“…Arthur Bayern?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve already finished?”
Arthur smiled brightly.
“Yes. I’ve completed everything.”
The professor narrowed his eyes, then silently collected Arthur’s paper.
“Well done. You may leave through the back door.”
“Yes, Professor.”
Arthur stood and exited.
Students gaped after him, whispering.
*He finished already?*
*…Is that even possible?*
*Did he just hand in a blank sheet?*
At that moment, someone else stood up.
Naturally, every head turned.
The professor asked with clear reluctance.
“…Leon Madrid?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Half of this is blank. Are you really submitting it like this?”
Leon grinned.
“Yes. That’s my best effort.”
“……”
“I’ll see you next semester, Professor.”
With that, Leon also left the room.
As he did, Arthur, already outside, murmured to himself about the day’s final test.
*Hm… right, there’s also the swordsmanship exam today.*
And with that, he thought of Elin.
*…Our first rematch in three years, huh? This’ll be fun.*
His lips curled upward.
*Well, the result won’t change, of course.*
—
