With a trembling heart, I repurchased the gambling item.

Maybe because I had failed once, my heart trembled much more than before. I even flinched involuntarily at the sound of 2 billion cash being deducted.

[ Using ‘Genre Change Ticket Trial.’ Would you like to check the result?]

“Huup!”

That deep breath earlier hadn’t prepared my heart enough.

“Reid, I’ll pray for a moment.”

I clasped my hands and silently shouted.

‘O Language Spirits! Please grant me your blessing!’

Then I checked the result...

[ Your genre is ‘Messy Family Regret Drama.’]

There was no divine blessing.

[‘The Language that Builds the World’ coughs awkwardly.]

[‘The Scales Judging Souls’ folds its arms and scolds you, saying if you wanted romance you should have summoned the original.]

[‘The Eye Watching the Chaos of All Things’ sparkles its eyes and lines up for the next genre draw.]

“.......”

Reid easily understood the meaning behind my stunned silence.

“So it didn’t go well.”

“Yeah.......”

Reid comforted my slumped shoulders.

“Still, luckily you didn’t turn into a baby, an animal, or a man. Seems like no major anomalies......”

Of course, accidents tend to strike when you’re off guard.

For example, at times like this.

“Duke Mage, are you there? Excuse me, I °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° must enter.”

With urgent knocking, a dignified elderly woman appeared. She was Rakshadora Ruwel, a 7th Circle mage and a member of the Mage Council.

Being one of the most normal figures in the Council, Reid responded seriously.

“What’s the matter, Duchess Ruwel?”

“A great incident has occurred in the Winchester royal family. A serious matter the Duke Mage should know.”

Indeed, trouble had finally broken out in the neighboring country whose situation was already unstable.

Duchess Ruwel delivered the news with a stern face.

“First Princess Celestid has been deposed.”

Of course, the ultimate mastermind who knows all the information on Serentra continent was not surprised. Reid smiled leisurely as if expecting this and looked back at me.

“Something we must do has come up.”

[ ‘Lead the Ultimate Mastermind Level 7 (Difficulty: Unknown)’

Conquer the Kingdom of Winchester.

Success reward: ???

Failure penalty: World destruction.]

The goal was set. And the rough plan to achieve it was as follows.

I said,

“Time to commit career fraud.”

Good. Let’s act like villains.

It was an ordinary day. The clang of metal rang clearly in the royal palace’s training grounds, and sweat droplets sparkled in the sunlight.

Young men in uniform training actively were royal knights loyal to Winchester’s royal family.

Last spring, the royal knight corps massively recruited personnel timed with the military academy graduation ceremony. The talented graduates of the prestigious school were mostly excellent, but two especially stood out.

One was Prinz Rodeline, the top graduate of the 117th class.

With pink hair like cherry blossoms and a handsome appearance matched by a gentle personality, he was a commoner-born youth.

The other was Raywin Valenstein, the second top graduate of the 117th class.

Equally handsome and tall, he was the heir to the famous Duke Valenstein family everyone knew by name.

They entered and graduated together, and were assigned to the same unit within the royal knights.

Though they had been comrades for seven years, often seeing each other, they still kept a cool distance.

“Good morning, Sir Raywin.”

“Good morning, Sir Prinz.”

“.......”

“.......”

“Excuse me, but I must train.”

“I have training as well.”

Though their schedules matched, Prinz and Raywin never came to the training ground together and kept a distant relationship.

In truth, this awkwardness was more due to the environment and atmosphere built by the academy over the past six years than their personal will.

A relationship between a commoner top graduate and a perennial second-place grand noble was good fodder for rumors.

Just one incident could spread many rumors, which were mostly divisive in nature.

Heard Prinz won first place in the school tournament?

Yes! He said he considers himself his only competitor and will strive forward.

Isn’t that saying Duke Valenstein’s heir isn’t even a match?

It certainly wasn’t what he meant.

Heard Prinz suddenly left early due to sickness today?

Could it be the heir Valenstein finally lost patience and intervened last night?!

It was just a stomachache.

Hey, the atmosphere at the cafeteria earlier was really intense, huh?

Yeah. I wondered why the two sat side by side, but didn’t expect them to compete even while eating.

Wow, I’ll choke from the rivalry between first and second place~

They were just hungry after sword training.

Saw Raywin flinch when the heir chose the pink training dummy?

That’s all because of Prinz.

That was true.

Enduring rumors, Prinz and Raywin got used to avoiding each other so as not to be targeted.

Apart from that, their academy life was peaceful.

Raywin, a nobleman of noble birth, was too aloof for others to approach carelessly, and Prinz was liked by all students for his good impression and personality despite being a commoner.

Meanwhile, Prinz’s charm continued to attract people even after joining the royal knights.

His good nature, kindness, and friendliness made seniors fond of him.

After training, when he changed into clean uniform, sturdy senior knights put their arms around his shoulders.

“Hey, Sir Prinz~”

“Yes! Sir!”

“You’re really disciplined. Excellent.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“I have a question.”

“Yes! Ask me anything!”

“You have a younger sister, right? Introduce me.”

“.......”

At that moment, Prinz’s expression drained.

The friendly and gentle junior disappeared, replaced by an aura expert’s fierce spirit.

A crisis that could have led to rebellion stopped at the right time.

“Ugh! cough cough!”

A distant sound of water spraying brought Prinz back to his senses.

Everyone turned to see Raywin. He seemed to have a severe coughing fit and tears welled at his eyes as he met Prinz’s gaze.

“.......”

“.......”

They were already awkward, but now felt even more so.

Raywin wiped his face with a towel and pretended not to care, while Prinz straightened his neck with his senior comrades, laughing and linking arms.

Meanwhile, the senior knights seemed yet to find their senses.

“If your sister is anything like you, she must be very pretty.”

“Yeah, yeah. So introduce her. Huh?”

“What’s her name?”

“How old?”

“What’s her personality?”

“Still no boyfriend? What kind of guy do you like?”

“Sir Prinz~!”

Though half teasing, Prinz’s expression died and his aura revived.

Then—

“Senior, sirs. Sir Prinz looks uncomfortable.”

“Oh, Duke Valenstein’s heir......”

Someone who even juniors dared not offend intervened.

His awkward honorifics made it seem like he was biting his molars. The seniors glanced around and reluctantly backed off.

By chance, only Prinz and Raywin were left in the lounge. Before their learned awkwardness could ruin the atmosphere again, Prinz mustered courage.

“Um, Sir Raywin.”

“......Did you just call me?”

“Yes. Well... thank you. I was at a loss how to refuse.”

“It’s not like you owe me thanks.”

“Not at all. Even if it wasn’t a big deal to you, it helped me a lot. You are, after all, my seniors......”

Actually it was a matter of status, but Prinz awkwardly covered it with a smile.

Fortunately, Raywin wasn’t totally clueless in this area. Being a commoner-born royal knight was so unusual that it was harder not to know.

“Anyway, thank you.”

Prinz thought he had wrapped things up suitably. But unexpectedly, Raywin showed willingness to continue the conversation.

“You seem.”

“Yes?”

“To really care for your sister.”

“Ah, yes! Of course. She’s my one and only cute and lovely little sister.”

“I see.”

“Come to think of it, I’m really glad you stopped me earlier, Sir Raywin. Otherwise, I might have gotten carried away and caused trouble.”

“Trouble?”

Suddenly Prinz straightened and wore a serious, even solemn expression.

“I would have fought duels to protect my sister. Although she is much stronger than me, so saying I protected her might be a stretch.”

“That’s true......”

“Yes?”

“Ah, no. Nothing.”

Raywin, quietly blushing, asked softly.

“Um, Sir Prinz.”

“Yes, Sir Raywin.”

“Well, objectively speaking. Your seniors aren’t really bad guys, right?”

“Of course. Their noble conviction and loyalty are exemplary of knights. I too want to emulate them.”

“But they’re not so great as a match for your sister?”