CHAPTER 18
While Clemence was gaining the upper hand in court, a rather awkward scene was playing out at the training grounds of the Skylar estate.
“Aaron Helverto.”
“…Ren,” the boy replied.
Well aware of the warning to use the alias “Ren,” Lennox smoothly introduced himself by that name.
Aaron, who was teaching a student for the first time, raised an eyebrow at him in confusion.
He recalled the letter he had received from Clemence a few days earlier:
*To Aaron Helverto,
There’s a child being sponsored by the Skylar family.
I’d like you to take charge and teach him swordsmanship.
You’ll probably like him—he’ll become a Swordmaster faster than you did.
Oh, and don’t tell him anything about me.*
– Clemence Jacqueline
Unlike the flowery letters he usually received, this one was plain and to the point—very much like Clemence herself. It contained only the necessary details: Teach this child.
As a man from a long line of soldiers, Aaron was used to a strict hierarchy, not the role of a teacher. That’s why he never took on disciples.
“This kid will become a Swordmaster faster than me?”
Aaron found himself intrigued. Clemence had never made such a request before. That, too, sparked his curiosity.
He suddenly recalled the first time he met Clemence, three years ago.
Back then, he was uninterested in anything but the sword. His time at the academy was mostly filled with boredom.
Then one day, a girl with flaming red hair approached him.
“Hi, I’m Clemence Jacqueline. I’ve heard all about how skilled you are with a sword.”
He’d thought it was just another meaningless interaction and didn’t pay much attention.
But then she said something that he couldn’t ignore:
“You’ll probably awaken your aura in a year. Three years, and you could aim for Swordmaster.”
That was exactly how he’d been tracking his own progress.
Yet this girl, who seemed to know nothing about swordsmanship, had read him like an open book.
“But I know someone who’ll become a Swordmaster even earlier than you.”
“Who?”
“Can’t tell you yet. I’ll let you know after you become one.”
It was a strange exchange—definitely not the kind you’d expect between two eleven-year-olds.
Her words should have sounded absurd or boastful, but oddly enough, he believed her.
He’d never understood those who worshipped cult leaders, but if Clemence were one, he might just get it.
Now, facing the student she spoke of, Aaron realized—she hadn’t been exaggerating.
“Just a bit of training, and this kid could be the Empire’s strongest.”
The aura radiating from the boy already surpassed Aaron’s own. It was rare for someone to exude this much talent simply by standing still.
Originally, he’d come out of obligation to Clemence—but now, after meeting “Ren,” he felt something else: ambition.
He wanted to mold this boy into the Empire’s greatest.
If Clemence knew what Aaron was thinking, she’d probably be chilled to the bone. But of course, he had no idea.
Meanwhile, back at the courtroom…
The trial was going well.
My legal team, seizing the perfect opportunity, presented evidence of Artur’s misconduct. The tide had clearly turned in my favor.
And then—
One of the spectators raised her hand.
“I’d like to testify in this case as well.”
She was a young woman with calm features, brown hair, and blue eyes.
“Of course, we meet again here.”
—Istasha Rowen.
She locked eyes with me and smirked. No one else caught it—it was that quick.
“Recently, while working as a tutor for the Jacqueline family, I was unjustly fired by Miss Clemence Jacqueline.”
“Oh my…”
Gasps rippled through the spectators.
Istasha Rowen was highly regarded among the nobility as a tutor.
For someone of her caliber to be unjustly fired? It sounded unthinkable.
“What was the reason for your dismissal?”
“I was tutoring Miss Melin Jacqueline. I was fired for progressing too quickly.”
“I don’t follow,” the judge said, puzzled.
One of the magistrates chimed in:
“It seems the defendant fears that Melin Jacqueline will become capable of leading the family. Is that true, Miss Rowen?”
Just like that, the term “defendant” had shifted from Agathe to me.
I let out an incredulous scoff.
“I’m holding my sister back?”
Apparently, to salvage her own reputation after being fired, Istasha had decided the flaw wasn’t in her—it was in me.
She was trying to paint me as another Artur.
And that was infuriating.
“While I won’t make any rash claims, I can see how one might interpret it that way,” Istasha said with a nod.
The audience murmured. Her gaze toward me brimmed with condescension.
I simply smiled sweetly in return.
She flinched.
You must be wondering why I’m smiling, huh?
Because I saw this coming.
I had already requested the guest list from an informant.
When I saw Istasha Rowen’s name on it, I knew she would attack me before her own wrongful dismissal trial even began.
Being dismissed after only a month was a disgrace in noble circles.
So this trial was her only chance to restore her image.
“Actually, this works out well.”
I signaled to my legal team.
They brought out a prepared box.
“We’d like to submit additional evidence.”
“What kind of evidence?”
“Evidence that proves not only Artur Vince’s negligence but also the reason Istasha Rowen was dismissed.”
It was like someone had set a lavish banquet before me.
Smiling brightly, I personally activated the magic recording device.
“If you can’t even do this much, don’t you think the young lady will be terribly disappointed?”
“My sister?”
“Yes. She might even abandon you. Miss Jacqueline likes clever children, you know.”
“R-really…? I don’t want my sister to abandon me… Sob…”
Istasha Rowen’s voice echoed clearly.
The sound of Melin’s tearful voice made my stomach twist.
“T-That…!”
Istasha immediately turned pale. She must’ve realized when it was recorded.
Yes. It was during your lesson with Melin.
I stared at her coldly.
Gasps filled the room as the device played on.
“Oh my goodness…”
“How could anyone say that to a child? The world is doomed.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
“Poor Clemence, she must’ve gone through a lot.”
I was a little embarrassed to air my family drama like this in front of the court, but at least I was winning sympathy.
“Now, even if they find out about my early graduation later, they probably won’t be too angry.”
I let out a quiet breath of relief. That had been my biggest concern.
Either way, the momentum had shifted completely.
“I’ve never heard of a teaching method that relies on pressure and fear in children.”
I seized the moment and addressed the judge.
“I believe this more than explains the reason for Miss Istasha Rowen’s dismissal.”
Looking him straight in the eye, I continued:
“As you can see, Melin couldn’t even read by age nine. That means she received no proper education while I was away at the academy.”
Then, I slowly turned to the audience.
“Given this, can we really say Artur Vince fulfilled his duties as her guardian?”
“But determining someone’s fitness to lead a family based on this alone is absurd!”
Artur shouted, face flushed and spit flying.
This alone?
A child left unable to read until age nine?
And that’s just a minor issue?
