I’m sure you know the drill by now, haha! Spoilers below! Source is novel and novel sp...

I’m sure you know the drill by now, haha!

Spoilers below!

Source is novel and novel spoilers thread!!


This spoiler is about the academy arc (vol 2 -3 of novel)

Also, I mentioned this before but Elena was the only one who remembered her last life. She saw Ciel’s first life through his POV in her dreams! And she later tells stories to him about it in the side stories which is ongoing

There are 2 quite important characters briefly mentioned in previous spoilers:
- Caliph: an art broker, but also Lucia/Elena's senior in the Academy
- Emilio: the top state of the Castol Commercial Chamber (a man with high reputation)
Both of them were the first people who helped Elena make her plans and building her Salon.

——————-

The first meeting between Ciel and Elena (angst warning):

Elena learnt painting from Raphael, under the identity of Lucia.

"Will the class be okay from today, sir?"
"It doesn't matter," Raphael responded gladly.
.
.


"Is this the right place?"

Elena and Raphael's head turned at the same time to the unfamiliar voice.

“...!!!!” Elena, surprised at the moment, opened her eyes wide.

The identity of the voice is none other than the Crown Prince Ciel.

Embarrassment was just a passing emotion, and Elena's body was bowing to him with instinctive discipline. Ciel, who had been eyeing her etiquette that would only be seen in the imperial palace, turned his eyes.

"Did you say Raphael?"

"It's an honor to see you again, Your Majesty." Raphael bowed his head.

“Is this your drawing room?”

“Yes.”


“I'm here to see Cecilia, but she's not here."
Ciel looked around the studio and said he was here because of Cecilia.
Presumably Ciel was somehow looking for her, and Cecilia was avoiding him.


"The Empress is a very blessed person." She thought it was all in the past, but Elena felt bitter again.

"I haven't seen Cecilia either."

"Sure."

Ciel, with his unique expressionless face, looked carefully at Raphael's paintings, the humain proportionality, under study, anatomy, and so on.

"Cecilia lavished praise on you, saying that you would be a painter to represent the times."

“There's still a lot of room for improvement.”

“I think what she said is true. I can feel your geniusness in my own eyes."

Despite Ciel - the future emperor's reviews, Raphael bowed his head and was not very happy. He was not satisfied with his paintings, even if the Crown Prince complimented him.

Elena looked at Ciel and inwardly hoped he would leave the studio quickly. It was still inconvenient for Elena to face the past.

Ciel's visit to the painting studio stopped at one painting.

"Did you draw this picture, too?"


Elena's breath was near. The painting that Ciel pointed out was a portrait drawn by Elena.

Inside the gallery, there were ten paintings by Raphael that were enough to rise to the rank of masterpieces, but since Ciel put all those aside and pointed to Ian's portrait, Elena entered the party.

"No, it's not. It's a painting by Miss Lucia here."

"You?" Ciel responded with surprise, glancing at Elena and then looking back to the painting.

She wanted to turn back time so that Ciel could not see the portrait of Ian if she could. Leaving Raphael, who was good at painting, Ciel's eyes kept looking at Ian with a young look, and kept making her suffer.

She hoped he wouldn't say anything.
Despite her wishes, Ciel didn't leave his eyes out of Ian’s portrait.

‘Why? Why? Of all things, you're so interested in Ian's portrait.’

Elena was just eager to see him leave here quickly.

"What a mystery."

Ciel's expression, which broke the long silence and opened his mouth, seemed so complicated that he couldn't help but wonder:

"It's the smiling face of this angelic child. I don't know why it's so touching."

Elena got choked up. A little while ago, Ciel's words lingered in her ears and did not leave. All these moments seem like lies. He didn't know who Ian was. There's no way he knew.
Nevertheless, it's late, it's too late, but now Ian could catch the warm eyes of Ciel.

"What's his relationship with you?"


"It's your son." Elena swallowed her words with a great deal of pent-up emotion. She knew it was the truth that no one in the world could believe.
She was sorry to Ian, but she had no choice but to borrow a younger brother who didn't exist in the world.

"Okay," said Xian, with a small murmur, then he retook the portrait in his eyes. "Please, I hope you grow up well."


Elena was now in the cold with Ciel saying such things.
You've never said that in your life. Why were you so mean back then?

Many words that could not be poured out were caught at the end of her neck.
'Don't say anything.'
There was no Ian anywhere in the world.
'Why didn't you look for Ian a little earlier?'
She could not bear to hate and resent him for saying such a warm word now.


Elena eventually collapsed. Tears welled down from the side of Elena's eyes, who had let go of everything. There was a burst of emotion.

Raphael and Ciel were quite embarrassed by Elena's tears.
Especially, the embarrassment felt by Ciel, who first saw her tears, was great.

"Why are you crying? Did I make a mistake?" Ciel said, "I don't know what to do in this case."

If he knew the reason, he would do anything up there, but he couldn't guess why she cried.

"No." Elena forced a smile.
Tears didn't stop because she couldn't get rid of her emotions, but she still laughed.
"Thank you. Your Majesty's congratulatory remarks were very grateful to me that I cried"

The relationship between parents and children was called Heavenly Law in the East. Even without a face-to-face encounter, Ciel paid attention and said a warm word to Ian, who lived only in Elena's memory.

"He'll grow up well. Because he was blessed by his Majesty. Happy. Stronger than anyone else."
Elena smiled happy and hurtfully.
It was a little late, no, it was a lot late. She sincerely hoped that Ciel's sincere words would have reached Ian.

—————

The second meeting of Ciel and Elena:


Elena was alone in Raphael's workshop. She decided to make some tea while waiting for Raphael to come. She was still in Lucia's disguise (glasses, wig,..)


When the water stopped, Elena, who was looking at the silver kettle, turned to the sound of the feet.

"Hello, sir?"
Elena's face froze as she greeted with a smile. This was because Ciel, not Rafael, stood with a unique expressionless face.
"I'm seeing the Crown Prince," Elena was quite embarrassed, but she still greeted Ciel with polite manners.

"You come here often."
"I'm learning painting from Raphael."
"Painting?"
"Yes."


Elena was uncomfortable with this conversation. Even when they were married, they rarely asked each other how they were doing.
He was not here to see Cecilia. Then why... Elena was speechless because there was no reason for the noble prince to come to the studio.

"I came to see you."
"Me?" Elena looked back at herself as a fool. Ciel's interest was not welcome. "Can you tell me why you came to see me?"


Ciel stared at Elena silently. His eyes, which were filled with grief, showed no emotion then or now.

"Let's pretend I came here today to drink the tea you're making."
"...?"
Ciel's gaze passed Elena to the kettle. Elena was speechless because she didn't expect such an answer.
It was an impromptu answer that she had never heard of from Ciel in the past.

"The water is boiling."

"Yes? Ow!" Elena, surprised, tried to catch the silver kettle reflexively, took her hand in surprise by the heat that was passed on to her fingertips.

"Are you all right?"
"Fortunately, it doesn't burn.'"

"I'll do it,"
Ciel rolled the silver kettle round the canvas on the desk and put it down under the fire.

"I'll do it now. You asked me to give you a cup of tea, didn't you?"
Elena, who was embarrassed by a mistake she had never made in her life, quickly took over the silver pot and put boiling water into the tea tube.

'What an irony. I can't believe I made you tea after I became a stranger.'


Elena had prepared tea for Ciel in the past. She tried hard to express her sincerity toward him. Those who tasted Elena's tea made by herself praised each other in unison.
But Ciel didn't even look at it. He even despised speaking.

But now that the couple's relationship had been cut off and they were completely strangers, she couldn't believe they were making the first step.
She wondered if there would be any more inconsistencies

"Did you learn formally?"

"Because it's the basic skill a Lady should have."

Ciel sat silently in his chair and watched Elena pull out of the kettle.

"Here you are," Elena put out tea water in a glass filled with clear and deep incense.

Ciel, who elegantly filled the cup, first enjoyed the tea with incense, and savored the depth of the tea water.

'What is this?' Elena looked at Ciel's reaction with a little long eyes.

"Surprised."

"Do you like it?"
"Did you say tea ceremony was the basic skill?"

"Yes? Yes, it was."
"What a humble remark. It's a deep taste that I've never tasted in the palace before."
"·····!"

Ciel lavished praise whenever he tasted tea. He quickly put out an empty teacup, as evidenced by the fact that it was not ostentatious.

"Can you give me another drink?"

Elena filled the empty teacup with a half-baked face. Ciel continued to savor tea in an elegant manner according to tea ceremony.
Elena could see that he enjoyed black tea that much.

'You were lying, weren't you?' Elena couldn't believe what was going on. She was frantic to attract Ciel's attention in her past life. But he didn't give a glance.
Such her past life was a lie, Ciel praised her while drinking tea that Elena had made.

As Elena blanked out, Ciel asked.
"Don't you drink?"
"Oh! I'm going to drink now."
Elena poured tea water into a teacup and sipped.

'This is enough. If there is a God, thank you.'

By serving Ciel this hand-made tea, she was able to put down my lingering feelings.
Ah.
Elena, feeling relieved, raised her chin.

She had the courage to look into Ciel's eyes, which she had never done before.
'Please be happy with the empress.'
.
.
'Until when will you be here?'
Ciel did not leave.

The awkward silence lengthened as there was no proper subject to continue the conversation.
Ciel wanted to take a leisurely look around the studio with his hands behind his back.

"You're very late."
"I see."

Elena shut her mouth to the silence that came again. It was not easy to continue the conversation

"I can't stay any longer. I'm afraid I'd rather go back today. I don't think I'll be able to see master today, so I'll come back next time."
Elena wanted to get rid of this awkwardness as soon as possible, so she hurriedly arranged tea leaves in a basket and prepared to go back.

"Your Grace, I'll go first."

"Where are we going?" asked Ciel, looking at Raphael's canvas hanging on the wall.

" The Library. I need to stop by for a moment. "

"I'm just about to go to the library. I'll come with you."
"...Your Highness?" Elena asked back.

"Is there a problem? "
Ciel embarrassed Elena with an insensitive look and speech. This is because he kept acting out of common sense. "Are you going to stand still?"


"That.."
Elena clouded her words. She didn't want to go with him if she could. It was uncomfortable and she wanted to stay quiet while dressing up as Lucia.
'If you go outside like this, you'll get attention.' Ciel was the crown prince who would become emperor in the future and lead the empire. Of course, the woman he talked to had no choice but to be the talk of the people. Elena didn't want that.


"What's wrong? Do you have anything to say? Or I'll go."
At Ciel's urging, Elena followed suit and left the studio.

——

As the two person who left the annex walked side by side, the lines of students, regardless of gender, were concentrated.
"Look, it's the Crown Prince."
"Who's the woman next to him?"
"First time seeing her?"
"What are those glasses?"


The situation Elena was worried about quickly became a reality. Unlike boys who just stop out of curiosity, girls were eager to undermine whoever it was if they couldn't get the attention to become the empress.


'That's it, but the problem is Len. Please don't run into him.'
The chances of encountering Len were bound to increase.

(Len didn't know that Lucia was Elena, but he became rather curious about Lucia since she appeared from nowhere in the academy.)

"Your tea tasted very deep."
"Thank you for the compliment."

While walking toward the library, Ciel lavished praise on Elena as if the deep taste of tea had not gone away.

"So I say."
"Yes, Your Highness."

"Can I have your tea again next time?"

Elena stared at Ciel, and wondered how to answer. Everything Ciel said and did now was confused with his image in her memory. In the end, Elena couldn't answer Ciel's request until she arrived at the library.

"Then, Your Highness, ...."

It was time for Elena, who wanted to wrap up this uncomfortable companion as soon as possible, to say goodbye.


"What kind of combination is this?" The worst man stood there. It was Len. "Our freshman has a knack. bite our king like astray"


"Yo," Len sarcastically looked alternately at Ciel and Elena with a double-faced face. It wasn't something to do in front of Ciel, who would succeed the throne in the future.

And the worst situation that had been feared became a reality, Elena's mouth was burning.
"Hello, Len."

"What are you?"
"What?"

"It's so hard to see you. Oh, it's kind of weird, isn't it?"

'What should I do?' Len alone was too much, but Ciel was next to her. Somehow she had to pass the situation wisely, but there was no way.

Under such circumstances, Ciel finally spoke up, defended "Lucia" and asked Len to go away :blobrofl:. Len was not so happy but he couldn't not listen to the Crown Prince.
.
.
Elena was dumbfounded
'Cause you're worried about me? But you're not that kind of man.'

Ciel wasn't a man who easily expressed his feelings. He had to live with a great sense of duty and responsibility. He was always forced to kill his emotions and live coldly and rationally.

"Thank you for your help." What was clear is that Elena owed him today.

"You look a little comfortable now."

"Did it show a lot? It's actually a little hard to deal with." Elena smiled awkwardly.

It was so bad. After sharing tea in a friendly manner earlier, they were now talking like close seniors and juniors.

"How strange you are."
"Me?"

Ciel suddenly changed the subject and stared at Elena. His eyes almost pierced through her "you fell at the first meeting."

"That, ····."
"You cried in the studio."

Elena bowed to embarrassment. It was not too strange, but at a glance, she could only think of it as a disgrace. He must think she was weird, too.

Maybe Ciel knew that Elena wanted to hide in a rat hole, but he couldn't take his eyes off Elena.

He spoke calmly.
"Is it bad if I'm worried about you?"
"......!"

Elena's heart sank.

————

Elena’s plans:

Elena, with Emilio and Caliph, were buying all the cheap lands near the soon-to-be-build L's Salon.

Leabrick still had no doubt about Elena, and she actually thought that the Academy was a necessary means for her to earn all the credits that the Real Veronica couldn’t earn due to her absence and delayed graduation.

Times passed, and the Salon was slowly being built. Convinced of the success, Elena began investing more aggressively in the areas around the Salon.

These lands were also what Leabrick intented to buy in order to build the Noblesse Street. You can imagine how angry was she when she found out that a woman named L, whose identity was unknown, already bought everything.
Leabrick thought that there were spys in the Grand Duchy, so she ordered Lorentz to kill everyone who left the Estate.

—————————

Len and his curiosity about Lucia:

Len was very curious about the new student, Lucias as she appeared from nowhere, and he couldn’t find any information about her background.

After being ‘chased off’ by Ciel in front of the Library (Ciel and Elena’s 2nd encounter), he managed to confront Lucia (Elena in her disguise) again and tried to question her.

At the right moment, Emilio arrived and pretended that Lucia was her daughter so that Len couldn’t do anything more.


Len, even with the top state of the Castol Chamber protected Lucia, still wasn’t convinced.
After some brainstorming, he suddenly had a hunch that Lucia was actually “Veronica”, but he couldn’t understand why the daughter of the most powerful family would hide her identity in the Academy.


He then began to stalk Lucia. However, each time, Lucia disappeared without a trace, as if she evapored, making the tailing impossible, even for such Len.

——————-

4th ML:

It's Raphael.

Raphael began falling in love with Lucia as they spent more time together.
One day, when Raphael was helping Lucia with her painting (they were physically close to each other), he felt his heart beating fast, and couldn't keep his eyes off her (while Elena was only concentrated on her painting)

He accidentally complimented Lucia as an "Angel" which made Elena very surprised since her appearance as Lucia was very sloppy. Raphael insisted that he wanted to paint a portrait of Lucia.

Elena pondered for a moment, and accepted with the condition that when the portrait was completed, he would display it the Art Festival. It was a means to break his shell and make the world finally discover the Genius painter.

———————————

Ciel being a cute bean :

Caliph and Elena talked about their plan about the Salon.
When the conversation was over, Caliph opened the door, prepared to leave when he saw the famous Crown Prince, with his expressionless face, standing in the other side of the door.

Turned out that Ciel saw Lucia walking into the room far away and decided to come over to visit her
He then invited both Lucia and Caliph to dinner in his dormitory
Caliph was really really confused: Wait what you didn't tell me that you're acquaintanced with the Crown Prince???!
When Elena was about to refuse Ciel's offer, the excited Caliph immediately interruped her and told Ciel that they were free and they accepted his invitation.

Well, so they went to Ciel's dormitory, much to the Elena's disappointment because of Caliph, Elena realized that where Ciel lived was not that different from her room: old furnitures, there wasn't even a painting on the wall, even the food was not especially good either.
She immediately knew that the Imperial Family, just like in the past, was facing serious financial problems.

When they arrived in the living room, when Elena was lost in her thoughts, Ciel asked her for a cup of tea "like that time". The request made Elena quite a bit embarrassed.
Ciel also coughed, as if it was embarassing for him to say it.
"I can't easily forget the scent and deep taste. Is it a difficult request?"
"No."
Then Ciel immediately ordered for hot water and tea leaves as if everything was already prepared in advance.

During dinner, Ciel was very amazed about Elena's manners and he couldn't help but to compliment her.
They then began to talk about politics, about the Imperial Family had lost their influence while the nobility's power increased.

Elena looked as such Ciel, who dreamed of strengthening the imperial power and attempting reforms.
He failed in the first timeline, and was about to make the same mistakes.
As they once lived as a married couple, her love and hatred for Ciel still remained. Elena wanted to helped Ciel, just a little.
At their 2nd encounter, she didn't dare to give him any advice, but now, as Ciel granted her permission, Elena decided to speak up:

It was not the Nobility that he should concentrate on, but the commoners. The nobles were rotten and corrupt, but in the Commoners' eyes, Imperial Family and Nobility were the same thing.
If Ciel managed to show that the Imperial Family was different from the Nobles' tyranny, that on the contrary, he was trying to help the common people, he would undoubtly gain a lot of influence.
"It's the only way to achieve what your Majesty wants in the changing area"
Elena respected whatever choice Ciel was about to make.

Don't forget that Caliph was here too. He was really uneasy at the silence which followed and cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"You surprise me everytime". Contrary to Caliph's worries, Ciel's first words were admiration in seeing the world at such a different perspective.

The dinner was finally over.

Ciel called back Elena before she left:
"Today was a really beneficial time. Can you often spend time like this with me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Elena replief reluctanly that she would. Even if she didn't want it, she couldn't just cut in front of Ciel and reject it.

————————

Ciel breaking his engagement:

When Elena was heading to her studio, she overheard a conversation between 2 people: Cecilia and Ciel.
Elena's heart sank, as for her, in the past life and even now, his Majesty only wanted "the Empress" aka Cecilia, the daughter of Count Lyndon, an undiscutable ally of the Imperial Family.

It was undoubtly a surprise for her to discover that Ciel was breaking his engagement. Even more to know that Cecilia too, also wanted to withdraw from this political marriage and left with a joyful tone.

Elena questioned her ears.
"Maybe....it's me?" Because Elena was the only variable that violated the original story, but she didn't know what did she do.

Kiir...

At that moment, the door opened, and Elena faced Ciel.
She blamed herself and urgently bowed her head, that's why she couldn't see Ciel's expression.
"I made a mistake."
"I know."
Obviously, overhearing was against etiquette and was a hardly forgiven fault, but facing Ciel like that was so painful that Elena couldn't stand it.
Ultimately, only after Ciel left that Elena raised her head and stared at his back.

——————

Salon and Bascilla project:

A few days latter, Elena received a letter from the Grand Duchy with the proposal to buy her recently purchased lands with 10x its original prices.
Of course, contrary to Leabrick's expectation, L refused, and even added:
"So think well and behave, Leabrick"

That made Leabrick so angry "Ha, how you dare to eat me?"
The lands purchased by L were intended to be the central area of the Noblesse Street, and enormous external investments had been made.
While suppressing her anger, Liv decided to close the negociation in order to prevent any more damage.
"L. I won't forget this humiliation."


Meanwhile, Elena as Lucia had been meeting up secretly with Caliph and Emilio to continue the projects:
- She asked to pay 4x the original amount in order to have the exclusivity of the Marble stones' market for her buildings. Marbles were pretty rare and symbol of luxury.
By having this exclusivity, Elena prevented Leabrick to have any access to the precious stones for the Noblesse Street. That made Liv even more enraged at Elena's provocation.

- The purchasing of the slum lands near the Salon under contruction to expand the area in order to compete later on with the Noblesse Street.

- Building a giant cathedral (Basilica) inside the area to attract views and curiosity of the visitors. At the same time, it would also be a place to display and sell art works.
For the construction, Elena hired Randol, a still unknown architect who would soon be revealed as the most brilliant architect of that time.

Leabrick, hearing the news that L had hired a man with unknown skills to design the building, laughed with satisfaction. She was convinced that soon L would suffered a severe loss from that "idiotic" decision, and without any backup, the project would be a failure anyway.

————-

Abella’s harassment and Ciel and Elena’s confrontation:

Abella, the daughter of one of the 4 major families of the Aristocracy, had a crush on Ciel. When she saw Lucia, a commoner without any backgrounds, managed to get near of the Crown Prince, Abella couldn't overcome her jealousy and began to harrass Lucia

Of course, Elena wasn't the type of person who didn't do anything, even in her first life, so each time she retorted back and left Abella even more angrier.

One day, the situation escalated. Lucia was surrounded by Abella's girls.
They forced her to kneel down while Abella prepared to hit Lucia.

At that moment, Abella's hand was stopped by someone.
"What are you doing?"
Abella turned her head and was white in fear. It was Ciel. She was in an embarassing moment when her ugly side was exposed to her crush.
He repeated: "What are you doing?" and looked back at Lucia "Are you okay?"

Anyway, Abella made some excuses that Ciel didn't accept, then run away with the girl.

When they were finally both alone.
Ciel was expresionless as usual, but Elena could read the worries and concerns contained within.

"It's all thanks to your Grace. Thank you."

"Good thing. It's yours." Ciel put the glasses he had in his hand on Elena's face.

With a gentle touch that Elena had never felt before.
Not sure how to accept those alien feelings, Elena turned away.

"Thank you for saving me " Elena politely bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.

If Ciel hadn't helped her, she would have been quite embarrassed

"I want to ask you."
"Yes?"
" Did you hear all the conversations in the studio that day?"
Elena had no time to deal with, and Ciel came in while pulling out the past.
'What, what should I say?'
Elena, who hesitated, decided to be honest.

She confessed that she had overheard everything from the beginning. She wanted to be honest with him, who saved her and was worried sincerely.

"I see. But why don't you ask anything?"

Elena, who could not grasp the point of the conversation, questioned, wondering...

It was a very unfamiliar reaction for Elena, who had never seen his composure break.

Ciel made a strange expression as if something didn't go as he intended, and then hesitated and then opened his mouth.

"I wanted to go to the studio but I couldn't. Because of you."
"Because of me?" Elena didn't understand what Ciel was talking about.

It was Elena who overheard the conversation without permission. This kind of behavior or words was very embarrassed for Elena.

“I'm not sure. What your Majesty is talking about, why are you doing this right now?”

Ciel didn't reply, but instead made eye contact with Elena. His look up close seemed complicated.
"I'm sorry that you don't know, and I'm glad,"
"Your Majesty."
"I thought a lot, but I don't think about anything right now."

Was it Elena's mistake? What she saw was that the tail of Ciel's mouth went up very slightly.
“It's nice to see your face. ”

Elena' heart pounded.

——————

The painting:

Lucia now came to the Studio as a muse to Raphael's painting.

It was with much disapointments that she discovered that Len began to snuck in during the session.
While watching Raphael paintings, Len, always with the hunch that Lucia was Veronica, began to provoke her (like "the glasses would hide her eyes, so she would need to take them off", this and that).

There was a funny part where Len looked at Raphael painting and was confused because he didn't understand the artistic means behind it.
Raphael was tired of Len while Elena just snapped back "You'll need to grow up in order to understand". That made Len shut up.

One day, someone also entered the studio: it was Ciel. He noticed Len and immediately expressed hostility directed at him.
Soon after, Cecilia also joined, with a basket of sandwichs in her hand.

Len, began to sarcastically praise Ciel and Cecilia as looking good together. Cecilia wanted to talk back but decided to keep silent.

Seeing the tension inside the room, Elena then took the basket and asked everyone to eat together.

Ciel took a look at Lucia's painting, and Raphael noticed the affection in his eyes while looking at it.
"Maybe...." maybe the Crown Prince also had the same feeling towards Lucia as him?
But Lucia was only a commoner, and the Ciel, as the Crown Prince, had responsibilities of leading the country. Raphael implicitly told Ciel about this, in which Ciel sadly agreed to his words and left.

———————-

The academy art festival:

During the Academy Art Festival, Elena decided to use her "Veronica" appareance in order to promote Raphael's work.

As the daughter of the most powerful noble family, whatever took her interest during that day would become a trend and the center of gossips.

As expected, as soon as "Veronica" got out of her carriage, people began to gather and admired her
"Look at this, it's Princess Veronica!"
"Wow! She's so beautiful and Elegant!!"

With Hurelbad, Elena took a tour around the stands, looked and gave her opinion on diverse paintings and arts.

When she finally arrived at Raphael's stand, she was surprised at the person who was looking at the painting. It was Ciel.

When Ciel saw "Veronica", he was pretty confused as he somehow saw Lucia in her.
"Veronica" greeted the Crown Prince, which made him confused even more.

"Even the voice....."
But, Ciel soon ignored and left without questioning "Veronica", as he despised the Grand Duke family.

Elena felt a little bit sad, at it was her first meeting with Ciel as "Veronica", and she received almost the same treatments as in her first life. (Well it cannot be helped, he hated, absolutely despised the original Veronica.)

——————

Raphael is heartbroken:

Lucia after the painting was complete.

However, when he saw "Veronica" admiring the painting, his heart shook. It was Lucia.
He was convinced, since he had spent numerious hours observing her, from her eyes, nose, lips, bone structures,... even heavy makeups couldn't hide it.

Raphael ran away and fell desperate. The woman he fell in love was "Veronica", one of the highest noble in the continent. It was impossible for him to reach her.

With all his turbulent emotions, he decided to made another painting.

After the painting was complete (after the Art competition), he decided to show it to Lucia.
It was a mythical painting about humain who venerate the goddess far away. The humans tried to reach the goddess, but couldn't.
"It was something that one can't reach and grab it, but only look at it"

Elena was still completely obvious to Raphael's feelings, and asked excitely if he wanted to work for her soon-to-be salon.

First, Raphael was surprised, but soon smiled and accepted Elena's proposal.

————————————————

Len investigating “who is Veronica?”:

Len was using a spy to secretly monitor the Grand Duke house. He found out, after a few investigations, that:
The doctor who was treating Princess Veronica in the past was still there.
Moreover, the herbs used to detoxify poison were still entering the house. That amount had even doubled from before.

It was a confirmation that would instill confidence in the doubts that Len had throughout.
He expressed his joy with his whole body.

"What really is, this. Did you trick me into a fake substitute? "

He remembered every moment, from the first meeting on her birthday anniversary to the appearance of Lucia, and the laughter did not stop.
Like a fool.

Len was wondering about himself, about why he never thought of using the fact that Elena was a fake Veronica to hit the Grand Duke.
Lucia was not Veronica, Veronica was a fake.
He was not a cousin anymore.

"Are you casually pretending to be a daughter on a fake Lucia theme?”

Laughs came to mind when Len recalled Emilio, the top state of the Castol Chamber of Commerce, and Elena, who played the sweet woman.
Even Raphael, the famous painter portrayed her.

Even Ciel, who was united with a sense of duty, was shaken only in front of Lucia. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, sshe set yourself up among so many people with that many fake identities.

It's only a heartache, but he was guessing that she might be L, an insane human being who was aiming a sword at the Grand Duke.

——————

Ciel changing:

"What? His Majesty was in my semi-final of swordsmanship? Not in the qualifying round, but in the finals?"
Elena, who had been restricted from her activities as Lucia, was only able to meet the Caliph.
It didn't make any sense. Ciel had never been at the top of the ranks of the Swordsmanship Academy, nor did he show any remarkable skills.

But what happened?
The fencing skills of the students of the Swordsmanship Academy are not easy to follow. Was it a fluke ?
"His Majesty told me to tell you something."
“What about me?”
""When I go up to the finals, please come to see me”
“Did he really say that?”

Elena asked her disbelief.
It was a tradition to invite family members or lovers, but Elena was neither family nor lover. At best, they are juniors with close friends.
“It can’t be”
.
.
Ciel began to receive overwhelming support from the common people.
It was because he listened to Elena and tried to reach out to the common people first.
He often participated in discussions among the commoners who were attending the Academy.

At first, it was a reluctance atmosphere, but it was said that students from common people were moved by the appearance of Ciel trying to abandon his sense of authority and approach them.
In addition, they said that Ciel was not bound by the status of Prince, and tried to understand their lives by searching for shops and restaurants near the Academy.
The commoners were enthusiastic about Ciel, who was like a miracle. Seeing Ciel's efforts to change the outcomes gave them hope.

—————————-

Swordsmanship semi-final:

Elena decided to attend the semi-finals. The fact that Ciel, who was careful in everything, invited her to the finals, was no different from saying that he had confidence to advance to the final

Elena left the dormitory as Veronica with Hurelbad. She didn't know much about swordsmanship. That’s why he needed someone to judge whether Ciel, who advanced to the semi-finals, won by luck or by skill.

And... if his Majesty rises in the final, his opponent would be Ren.

In the original history, it was Len's responsibility to win the swordsmanship. Since he was such a monster, he had been called the wolf of the imperial power, one of the three swords of the empire. .

At a glance, Elena looked down at the match, where Ren, who had advanced to the semi-finals, was playing with the right to advance to the finals. The end of Len's sword touched the opponent's neck, scaringly a wooden sword struck on the floor.
“Winner Ren Bastashu. Advance to the finals!”

At the shout of the professor, Len laughed. The opponent closed his eyes and swallowed the resentment of defeat.


"Did you see?” Elena stood behind and asked Hurelbad, who was watching the match.
“Yes, Sir Len tricked him while quickly aiming at the neck and breaking the sword. Without missing the gap, he flew his sword with a decisive cut.”
“It all happened in an instant?”
"That's right. "

“How is he?"
" Strong."
"Compared to the 2nd Knight General, Sir James? "
"Sir Len will be stronger. "

Elena nodded silently.

“What if you fight with Len? If you have trouble answering, you don't have to talk. "
“... I think it's half and half."
"It's half and half, it's really good,"

‘Grow up as you are now, Sir Hurell Bard.'

When Elena left the dorm, she allowed Hurell Bard to do personal training and she wanted to help him become stronger by focusing on training.


The 2nd match of the Semi-finale
Ciel won the victory after a fierce duel that took place in the final. The opponent who was defeated by Xian seemed to be fascinated.
Ciel had never beaten him.


"It seems like your Majesty won, but is it right?" Elena asked again. "I'll change the question, with the assumption that you're confronting his Majesty the Crown Prince."

Hurelbad was not just a general knight, but a genius who was praised as the sword of the empire. I

“Isn't it true that his Majesty seems to be lagging behind Ren, who overwhelmingly defeated the opponent? "
"Because he was tailoring to his opponent's level. "
"What does that mean? “

Hurelbard carefully opened his mouth.” It seems that his Majesty is hiding his skills. "

""No way."
“He is currently stronger than me or Sir Len.”

Elena momentarily realized that she had missed something. When she thought that the Ciel she had known was only a shell, she got goosebumps.
Furthermore, for some reason, it seemed that Ciel had made a decision different from the past.
Without that, there would be no reason to reveal the hidden swordsmanship under all circumstances.


—————————


Finale (Ciel vs Len):

The final match between the two was seen as a confrontation of effort and talent.

The nobles, of course, cheered for Len, which was unusual as if they wanted to enjoy the appearance of despair in Ciel.
In contrast, Ciel received overwhelming support from the common people.

Elena, who was disguised as Lucia, not Veronica, came to the match. She was amazed to see the common people filling the seats

“Please break the noble guy's nose.”
"But Len is a genius? He said he had never missed first place throughout his school years."
"Talent? Efforts are the best. Look carefully. His Majesty will chew him, keep your stomach cool."

The commoners defined Len as an enemy of aristocratic nobility and cheered on Ciel. There was also an antipathy towards the nobles, but that's why they got closer to Ciel.

"Hey, friends!"
Elena sighed and reluctantly came out from her seat

In response to Elena's crooked reaction, Len laughed.
"Don't laugh disgustingly, why are you here?"
"If I win today, would you like to eat out with me?"
"Why am I eating out with my senior?"
"I want to do it?"
"I do not like it."
"You can't hate it. I don't have time. I know that we have agreed."

Len ran away after saying his words.

Confused Elena shouted. "Wait a minute! Nobody said yes!"
"You chose the restaurant, I'll pay for it."
“That jerk” Elena sighed. Anxiety came over to Len's sudden offer.
.
.
.

“It's your Majesty! Majesty! Please win!” Caliph cheered as soon as he saw Ciel appearing in the battle hall.

Len's sudden behavior had made Elena embarrassed.
‘I think he misunderstood something? Ignore it.’

As if it wasn't worth paying attention to, Elena fixed her gaze to Ciel.
It was only a moment, but Ciel's gaze and Elena's gaze clashed in the air.
Then Ciel turned his head to face Ren standing in front of him and fixed his wooden sword.

——

The finals started! "

A quiet silence flowed between Xian and Len at the square game hall.
The two people, who didn't even move as if time had stopped, just stared at each other silently.

It wasn't just fighting, but trying to find a gap. The first person who moved was Len.
His wooden sword, which spurred the ground and narrowed the distance at once, rushing as if piercing the opponent's torso. It was so agile and perfect stab that even an experienced knight could not easily respond.

As he lowered his posture, Ciel twisted his upper body, and struck Len's wooden sword, which was pushed in with propulsion, as hard as possible.

Chang,
Len's wooden sword was out of balance and fell to the floor. At the same time, Len's body was defenseless.

Ciel quickly turned the direction of the wooden sword and swung it toward Len's shoulder.
Len picked up his wooden sword and rushed back to Xian.

Chang.

The 2 wooden swords collided, causing a crackling sound to spread.

Even in this situation, Len twisted his back to aim for Ciel. Ciel’s body was pushed back because of his great strength, and at that fleeting moment, Len touched the ground with his hand and then stood with two legs while spinning in the air.


The grandstand was holding their breath from the competition. A huge shout poured out from
"Wow ah! "
Just by looking at it, it was natural to feel the tension with the hair on your whole body.


"Have you been hiding your skills for a while? Then keep hiding it. Why now reveal it and make it difficult for many people?" said Len.
It might be surprising to see Ciel's swordsmanship, but there was no such sign that Len was confused. It was because there was a firm belief that in the end he would win.

"Because I have to change."
"Are you changing? What are you doing? "

It has been a long time since the imperial family has already lost its authority.

"I was like you too. I thought I had to change."
"What are you talking about... "

Ciel glanced and looked at Elena sitting in the special seat.
"And to me, times have changed, and it's not my role to change the world. I'm just going to pave the way to go in a better direction."

Len didn't understand less than half of it. However, he guessed who was the one who made him change: it was Elena.

“I would have warned you before. Don't like her. ” Len referred to Elena.
“It's not your business.”
"Why not, I'm interested in her," as Len made an open declaration, Ciel's eyes widened.
He was guessing, but he didn't know that Len would openly admit it in this way.

"Oh, and if I win, I decided to eat out with her, but you have no intention of losing right?"
"I will do my best to win."
"It's a breakdown in negotiations."

Even in Ciel's calm eyes, a spirit of struggle lingered. As much as he invited Elena to the final, there was no desire to lose.
By the way, he knew Len's feelings, so even Len was the same. The promise he had made with Elena motivated Len to cling to victory.

——

was a fierce confrontation that no one dared to say that one was superior.
Although threatening attacks that seemed to take the opponent's life were constantly coming and going, neither side had retreated.

The audience held their breath and couldn't take their eyes off the confrontation between the two.

"Ha, ha." Len and Xian, who were continuing the workshop without taking a breath, had a lull at a distance. The harsh breathing and sweat dripping down the chin gave a sense of how fierce their confrontation was.
"Oh my Majesty, don't know how you endured while losing to me and being ridiculed?"
"It was just a meaningless battle. "


Ciel had thoroughly concealed his sword skills. Even though he had been defeated by Len in official battles eleven times, he did not show his skills.
It was an unavoidable choice. Wearing a mask of incompetence, it reduced the vigilance’s of the guards and the four grand families.

"The Emperor is not reigning, but he’s a person who cares for the people. I only knew it now.”
A bitter smile was built around Ciel's mouth without knowing it. He tried to devote all his enthusiasm to rejecting the nobles in search of the former imperial authority and glory.
Then he met Elena and thought again. What kind of being an emperor should be.

Due to the corruption and exploitation of the nobles, the lives of the people were devastated ‘A new era will come, and change will start from the bottom, not the top of the pyramid.’ Ciel, who later understood the meaning of the words, tried to change himself. Plans were also being secretly revised.


The beginning was to reveal his natural sword skills, which had been thoroughly hidden.
Noble checks? He wouldn't care. Rather, he wanted to give the impression that he was standing at the point of symmetry with nobles and commoners.
That was the sketch of the big picture Ciel was drawing.

"What are you saying, what about the emperor, what about the people?"
“I didn't think you would understand.”

Len shook his head, swung his wooden sword in the air threateningly

"Let's see the end. I have an appointment for a meal, but I don't want to make you wait long."
"Your stab is excellent." Ciel also slowly lowered his posture.

Then Len began to push himself with the beast-like instinct to add momentum.
Ciel deliberately cut off his move. When he gave and received the swords two or three times, he spread the distance to take his breath, and after fighting fiercely by bumping the wooden sword, he stepped back and repeated the path.

Len's rhythm broke off when Ciel cut off the flow.

‘It's now,'
Ciel's eyes had changed. He bent his knees and lowered his posture.

Len's long-term stabbing was optimized for overpowering opponents with a blow, but had a weakness that there were many gaps in case of failure.
Ciel struck Len's stab from the front. The balance was broken. Len quickly took a defensive position.

"Oops!"

Cielsword tip was fiercely aiming at the heart, and Len, feeling the crisis, twisted his upper body with an animal instinct.
Ciel's wooden sword, which should have come deeper, changed the course.

'Heocho!'

Ciel had no intention of aiming at the heart in the first place. He simply stretched out his sword to pretend to be aiming and tricked Len into reacting with force.
Ciel launched a wave attack at the collapsed Len. No clutter. A moderate attack aiming only at vital spots.

In the end, Len, who couldn't stand the offensive and allowed Ciel's wooden sword to touch the uvula.


"The game is over! Fourth grader, His Majesty Claudios De Ciel wins!"

At the same time as the professor's announcement of the end, a shout erupted from the crowd watching the duel without breathing.


Ciel took the wooden sword
“It was a good match.”
Len threw the wooden sword and turned around with a nervous expression, as if he had given him politeness.

The thunderous shouts of the commoners who visited the match were poured out toward the winner,Ciel. The latter waved his hand and answered their support. Then Ciel's gaze turned to a special seat.


———


His Majesty won. He beat Len” Elena couldn't believe it.

Len was a wolf in the wilderness, one of the three swords that defended the empire. Except for the Ice Knight Hurelbad, he was a superpower at the peak of an empire that was evaluated as having nothing to deal with.
Ciel defeated such Len.

'Sir Hurelbad was right. He was hiding his skills.' She couldn't help but to admit.

"His majesty is looking this way. Let's wave it! Lucia, what are you doing? Come over here quickly."
“Come on,”

Elena, dragged by Caliph, stood near the terrace and clapped. She congratulated him sincerely with a smile on her lips.


While going to Ciel’s side, Elena accidentaly oversaw Len through a door’s crack.

Slap!

Len’s face was slapped by a hand as big as a bear’s
Elena came to the wall without knowing it, and eavesdropped on the conversation.

"You're a pathetic guy like this." The voice coming from over the wall was profound. He was a middle-aged man who was forty to fifty.

"My father doesn't know how to be satisfied. I can lose. Did you always win against me?"

"Are you talking about that?"


Elena flinched. Hearing the sound was so ruthless that her body crumbled.
Elena's feelings for Len are bad. No matter how much you open it up, it was a relationship that couldn't get along.

Apart from that, however, Spencer's act of slapping his cheek indiscriminately for losing the final was not a mature act as an adult.
"The prince has been in the bottom for all four years. You have never missed the number one in the school rankings. But you lost. It's because you are lazy"
“Yes, I was lazy and lazy,”

"You idiot, I've never taught you defeat. I only taught you to win."


Throughout their conversation, Elena also understood that Len’s mother was killed (?) by Veronica, and that’s why he hated her that much.


When Spencer went away, Len opened his mouth
"Aren't you coming out? “
Elena appeared in the middle of the passage between the walls, and Len smiled with a distinctive smirk.

"What are you doing?"
“How are you?” Elena hesitated and said.
“ What? Oh, this? " Len touched his cheek, and laughed while pretending to be okay. With a face that didn't look good at all.

Elena looked sadly at him, then approached him unknowingly and reached out. Elena's hand covered the red swollen cheeks of Len. It contained the wish that the wounded heart hurt a little less.

Len was embarrassed by Elena's unexpected behavior. He had never learned how to accept the unfamiliar feeling, so he grabbed Elena's wrist
“What? Are you sympathising ? "
"Yes, it's pity. Why do you run around like a fool? You have a big body, and you can't even speak properly while beating here and there "
" Are you comforting me now? " The eyes of Ren, who questioned her, shook without any reason.

Consolation.

He grew up with a sense of responsibility and obligation. For him, the word comfort was a luxury.

Elena touched the weakest part of Len.

"Let go of it. Can you please? Ah!”


Len quickly let go of her hand, realizing that he had gripped Elena's wrist without knowing it. It was a mistake. But seeing Elena's wrist swollen red due to the mistake made his heart sore. He couldn't do it anymore.


Len turned around because it seemed weird

"I couldn't keep my promise, so let's eat out next time. Until then, even if you're sorry, be patient. "

"Senior. "

Why was Elena's last-minute words ringing in his heart like this today? Len turned around, went a couple of steps, and stopped walking.
He wasn't confident to see Elena, so he didn't look back “Because I might cross the line,”

——

Elena and Ciel meet up:

Elena met up with Ciel. The latter asked to be alone with Lucia for a moment.

An awkward silence flowed in the space where only the two were left. It was coem who opened his mouth first.
"I wondered what to do if you didn't come."
"Yeah?"
"I went to the match, and I saw you. My heart was relieved."

Elena didn't know what to say.

"..I'm a little surprised".
"Is it because of what I meant? Or because I beat Ren and win?”
“both.”

When Elena answered honestly, Ciel squeezed his chin and said with a glance
“because of you.”

Elena's pupils couldn't find the focus and shook as if it were an earthquake.


“Take advantage of the new era.”

“Ah."

Ciel listened to Elena's words in the dormitory and made his own judgment and decisions

'It was all because of me.’
She could now fully admit that her words and actions had a great influence on Ciel, and the future of the future was likely to be quite different compared to that of the original history.
Like the butterfly effect, she couldn't even guess where the change would happen.
‘No matter what, I don't regret it.'

No matter what variable arose, Elena was willing to persevere. Ciel, who became mature after defeating Len, was so proud that she was proud of him.


“The people will be on your side.” Elena spoke, and a light smile struck Ciel’s mouth.
"You can hear it clearly. The hot cry of the people who are supporting me,"
"Your Majesty."
"The people are not on my side. I will be on their side. It was a contest to prove such determination."
"You proved it in the end. You defeated Len and even won the championship."

His victory in swordsmanship would change the eyes of the nobles who had treated Xian as an incompetent prince.
.

.

.

"I have something I want to ask you."
"Please speak."
“Len said that. He promised to have a meal with you if I beat me, is that true?”

Elena gleamed. "I haven't promised,"
"I guess it was a one-sided coercion."
The tail of Ciel's mouth went up. "I didn't know what happened before and after, but I was angry when I heard about it. I hate you to meet him. Now and in the future. "

Elena's heart thumped.

Graduation!!:


Elena finally decided to reveal everything to Emilio and Caliph, that she was Veronica’s substitute
It was a secret that had never been revealed in the previous and present lives.

"I'm so confused right now. Then where is the real Veronica Princess?"
"I don't know. But, I know that she'll be back in the near future. When that time comes,I'll be abandoned."
"Abandoned?" Elena nodded.
"I'm just a doll to the Grand Duke. I'm a doll that should be disposed of when it's useless. What I'm looking for is the fall of the Grand Duchy."

"I see. A fall. It's never easy." Emilio's expression became complicated. The opponent is the Archduke Friedrich, which is called the pillar of the empire.

Until now, they had inflicted a lot of damage to the Grand duchy through the transactions, but it was not enough.

“It's not easy, but I believe I can do it. I've been doing it well so far,” said Elena, who took a breath, trumpeting. "But I'm not going to stand by the Grand Duke anymore. “

"Okay, let's bring down everything, whether it's the Grand Duke or anything, from now on, what should we do? What should we do first?"
"You just have to do what you're doing well. Consistently."


At the sight of both people supporting her, Elena felt a thrilling impression. She was very grateful for Caliph and Emilio for coming out for her, who was neither Lucia nor Veronica. Contrary to her previous life, she got strong friends that she could open her heart and trust.
.
.
.

This year's graduation ceremony was held larger than usual.

Prince Ciel, who wrote the story of the miraculous swordsmanship victory.
Raphael, the painter of Bella Dona, who was shaking the empire.
Even though he lost to Ciel at the swordsmanship, he was still a promising swordsman, Len Bastashu, who would be later called the sword of the empire.



Thousands of people flocked to celebrate graduation. Among them was Elena, who was disguised as Lucia.
“Happy graduation, seniors,” Raphael nodded after receiving Elena's congratulations.

"Senior Cecilia, congratulations on graduation."
“Thank you, juniors.” Cecilia expressed her gratitude with a bright smile, and spoke to Raphael and Caliph.

Then, Elena felt the gaze behind her back and looked back.
She could see Ciel standing up close.

"Congratulations on graduation, Majesty."
“Thank you,” Ciel said nothing for a moment.

By the time the silence turned into awkwardness, Ciel spoke with difficulty
“When I have time, I come to see you.” then he turned around. This was to prevent Lucia from receiving attention because of himself.

“Wait a minute!” Elena, who had been dumbfounded as she looked at Ciel's back, hurriedly called Ciel.
However, Ciel, who had gone so far, disappeared into a crowded crowd.

Even if his Majesty came, he would not be able to meet her.
Lucia was in a state of absence from school. Bella Donna (Raphael’s painting) made it difficult for her to work as Lucia because her face was so well known. Raphael left the academic institute after graduating.

There was also no longer any reason to work as Lucia, so even if Ciel came to see Lucia, Lucia would not be in the Academy, and that was the same with Veronica, who Elena was pretending.


Then, the contact between Elena and Ciel would disappear completely.

“Don't find me, I won't be here” She had to say this, but she couldn't.

Len didn't come to the graduation ceremony.

.
.
.

Then the vacations ended.

As required by Leabrick, Elena earned her target credits during the seasonal semester. Not surprisingly, shortly before the midterm exam, the academy called Elena. It was a meeting of the president of the Academy, the vice president and several professors.

"The thesis submitted by the princess was very good. The eyes to read the flow of the art world were excellent."

"I was also admired. I'm able to pinpoint the truth and the truth of the art world."

"It has a strong reputation in the art world. She has an excellent view to see the value of art."

Flow of the art world? Paper? Elena bite her lips hard, holding back the leaking laughter. This was why it was ridiculous to praise a paper that had never been published.
Elena wanted to ask them to show the thesis that she had never submitted.

From the president of the academic institute to the vice-chancellor and professors, they all received the support or influence of the Grand Duke.

That was the really scary thing about the Grand Duchy. Because there was no place in the empire out of reach of them.


So, after several meetings and deliberations, they decided to graduate early Veronica.


“Veronica von Friedrich, I express my respect for the Academy's decision,”

Elena bowed lightly and accepted the decision. This was the day that Veronica's name was on the list of early graduation, which was unprecedented in the history of the academic institute.

The four-wheeled carriage carrying Elena, who had finished her academic career, crossed the threshold of the Grand Duchy.

———-

That is the end of the academy arc.

I read the novel on kakao page!