Chapter 33 – Research Presentation

Time flowed monotonously, and before anyone noticed, it was the day of the research presentation.

“The Kingdom has long supported various fields of research, focusing on nurturing talent. In herbology, alchemy, swordsmanship manuals, ancient rune studies, and sacred magic—fields that once declined—the Kingdom spared no support to raise the expertise of our scholars and promised a new leap forward. The King and I, Crown Prince Naipon Raike Eipindel La Otranie, deeply value your efforts and commend the hard work you have poured into the Kingdom’s development.”

As always, Amber thought these speeches were boring no matter how many times she heard them. If you boiled it down, the message was just ‘good job, now sacrifice more,’ so why did they have to drag it out like this?

Amber watched the podium with slightly cold eyes. Still, the word ‘commend’ signaled that the speech was almost over, which was a relief.

Luckily, the speech really did end five minutes later.

“…Miss Amber, you look like you slept well last night.”

Professor Hesington seemed nervous before the presentation.

“I was a bit restless too… But haven’t you done this kind of thing a lot, Professor?”

“This is my first time in front of royalty. Haha.”

“Ah. I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to attend either.”

Thinking about it, Amber started to sweat in her palms. Still, she comforted herself that it was better than wandering around not knowing what to do in the past.

Most of all, she’d spent the entire week since returning home rigorously preparing for today’s speech. Any hope of resting after coming back was dashed by the busy days.

First, she filled out her return documents, and since she had spent quite a long time in the Empire, she had to check that she hadn’t brought any prohibited items. Then, as a key figure in this academic exchange, she registered the published paper in the Kingdom together with Professor Hesington and his top student. Just when she thought she could rest, she was dragged to meetings with other professors who had studied herbology for a long time and received plenty of advice on the paper.

Amber’s residence during this time was, of course, Professor Hesington’s research building. The researchers’ dormitory provided one room per person, so it was quite nice. She’d worried about how to face her father, but there was no need to.

On the third day, she met an old academy friend who said, “Did you hear Reynold lost his knight title?” and in the evening, she spent time with her father and her grandmother, who had come up from the countryside. She was so busy, even feelings of surprise or awkwardness dulled.

And in the remaining days, she started preparing for the ‘research presentation’ she’d been notified about on her first day back. Separate from the presentation she’d given in the Empire, those from the Kingdom had to present once more in their home country.

That was today.

“Professor Kennedy Hesington and research student Amber Serentano, please prepare to take the stage.”

When Professor Hesington muttered, “Right, let’s do this…,” the man in charge of the presentation approached to announce it.

There were about five minutes left before the Professor would take the podium. To ease his nerves, Professor Hesington started a different conversation with Amber.

“Did your father come?”

“He said he would… but I don’t know where he is.”

The presentation was quite large, so she couldn’t see her father or her grandmother from here. Grandmother had come all the way to the capital just to see this presentation.

“Professor Kennedy Hesington, please come up to the podium.”

Professor Hesington was the first speaker. The presentation was structured so he would explain the background and contents of the paper, and Amber would come in at the end to wrap things up.

So Amber was still standing below the podium. Which meant she ran into the Crown Prince as he came down.

“Your Highness, it’s an honor to meet you.”

“No need for the formalities.”

The Crown Prince waved off Amber’s greeting. Instead of just passing by, he spoke.

“You’re Amber Serentano?”

“Huh? Yes, I am.”

“Very ordinary.”

The Crown Prince didn’t hesitate to make a rude remark right in front of her. But his attitude was so natural, it didn’t feel offensive. Maybe she was just used to hearing it…

“You’re more ordinary than I expected. Was your name Amber taken from Amber Sweetheart?”

“Maybe…?”

“Because of the actress Sweetheart, there have been a lot of victims like you.”

“……”

What is he trying to say?

Amber, who already knew some of the royals, couldn’t help but fail to keep her expression neutral. The first impression of the Crown Prince was definitely different from his younger brother, but he was oddly honest or arrogant all the same. Just as she tried to push away her thoughts, the Crown Prince threw a curveball.

“You know Diel came back to the Kingdom, right?”

“I saw it in an article.”

Amber had learned of Dieldo’s return from an article. After being poisoned in the Empire, Dieldo received devoted care and treatment and recovered quickly, then returned to the Kingdom. That was yesterday.

“I expected a dramatic reunion?”

“We’ve both been busy.”

“I see.”

The Crown Prince pretended not to notice the strange disappointment on Amber’s face. Or maybe this was his way of showing concern. Amber gripped her script tightly.

“If it’s not too much, could you tell me what you plan to do next?”

“Pardon?”

Why was a man who wasn’t her parent or life partner curious about her future… The reason was quickly revealed.

“What you do is actually a very important matter for me.”

D*mn it, the Crown Prince muttered.

“If that guy hadn’t brought me such a negotiation, I wouldn’t be asking this. Anyway, I want you to tell me what you plan to do, since I have a troublesome younger brother.”

So, it was all because of Dieldo. His tone made it sound like there’d been some kind of deal between the two. Well, Dieldo was a Prince. Considering most royal marriages are political, Amber was not a suitable match.

Nevertheless. Just as Amber had decided not to start over but still chose him, Dieldo had also chosen her.

At that moment, Amber felt she knew where the man who hadn’t shown his face since returning home was. How could they think so alike?

She smiled, whether the Crown Prince thought she was odd or not.

“There’s somewhere I want to go.”

It wasn’t because of the Crown Prince’s words. She’d thought about it all the way home after parting from Dieldo.

What solidified her decision was meeting her grandmother on the third day. Her grandmother had said,

“You’re going back to Napolia? I sold that house, so you can’t use it now, Dear.”

“It’s okay. I’m just going for a quick visit…”

“You’re not going to meet anyone?”

Her grandmother was always quick to notice things at times like these. She sensed changes in Amber’s heart and things she hadn’t even said.

“…That too, I guess.”

“Well then, you should go.”

“Why aren’t you stopping me?”

“It’s your life.”

“Right…”

“I’m joking, but a lot has changed since then. You’re stronger now… So I hope you don’t let the past ruin your present.”

Pushing away the present with pain from the past was foolish. Amber admitted that. That’s why she made this decision.

“I… I want to go back to the beginning.”

She expected the Crown Prince to scoff and tell her to stop talking nonsense, but he looked a bit surprised.

“…We’re saying the same thing. So, will we meet at the beginning?”

The last bit was the Crown Prince’s joke.

“You’re not attending the charity party, then?”

For the next two days after the presentation, a charity party was scheduled to gather sponsors for research. Attendance was optional, but most researchers went. Amber had decided not to attend; the presentation would be enough for her.

Amber nodded lightly.

“Yes.”

“Research student Amber Serentano, please prepare to take the stage.”

Right on cue, the announcer called Amber’s turn. Was it already time? The Crown Prince wisely stopped talking, and Amber nodded at the announcer’s words.

She resolved to keep her own speech as short and concise as possible, and started walking.