The Genius and Calamity of the Villainous Noble: A Brilliant Prodigy Unaware of Their Reincarnation as the Game's Antagonist Defies the Scenario and Dominates with Talent and Hard Work - Chapter 2.13

The Entrance Ceremony.

As the head of a ducal house, my position was absolute. No matter how I chose to live my school life, I could silence any opposition with my authority.

However, when it came to the entrance ceremony, I wasn’t given a choice—I was explicitly ordered to attend as the Duke of Reinhardt.

By none other than His Majesty, the Emperor.

Even I wouldn’t dare refuse a direct request from the emperor himself.

And so, despite my reluctance, I arrived at the academy not as Maria-senpai’s friend, but as Ark von Reinhardt, Duke of the Reinhardt Ducal House.

“Hmm…”

Among my peers were daughters of ducal houses, heirs to prestigious noble families, and even the third prince.

There were plenty of powerful figures in my generation, yet in terms of authority, I stood far above the rest.

Even a prince’s influence was far below that of a reigning duke.

The only one above a duke was the emperor himself—even the crown prince was merely an equal.

“It has been a while, Lord Ark.”

Seated in one of the expensive, high-backed chairs arranged in the front row of the ceremony hall, I found myself marveling at how vastly different it felt from the chairs in Maria’s home.

A voice called out to me.

“Ah, Lady Rina. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

The girl addressing me was Rina von Lavania, the second daughter of the Lavania Ducal House.

She was a striking beauty, with golden hair like pure sunlight and eyes as blue as precious gems.

Her figure was remarkably mature for someone my age.

Given that we were of the same age, she had once been my most promising candidate for a fiancée.

Though various circumstances had led to her being removed from that position, we had met frequently in our childhood due to our past engagement considerations.

“I was deeply saddened to hear about Marina… She was a truly wonderful person.”

“…Yes, she was. Marina was someone I believed would stand by my side, supporting me as the head of my house.”

At present, I had no fiancée.

Likewise, Lady Rina was also without one.

An interesting coincidence, to say the least.

“May I take this seat beside you?”

“Of course, be my guest.”

Lady Rina gracefully took the seat next to mine.

“The ceremony is about to begin.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“Given your position, Lord Ark, don’t you find it pointless to attend the academy? Surely, someone of your caliber would have little to gain from this experience.”

“To be honest, I do. I even had to appoint a temporary regent to oversee my affairs while I attend. I’m fairly certain I’m the first person in history to require a regent just to go to school.”

“Hehe… Yes, I believe you might be.”

Until the ceremony began, Lady Rina and I exchanged words in a calm and pleasant atmosphere.

At the very center of the front row, where we sat, there was an empty seat beside us—one conspicuously left vacant.

Even a prince had left it open.

Seriously… someone could just sit there. It’s not like it’s forbidden.