My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 91: Ownership of the staff of Estelle 12

As the meeting progressed, the atmosphere in the room became increasingly tense. The explosion at Heiron bank had shaken the academy, leading to heated discussions about how to address the aftermath and prevent future incidents. Armin Dieter, the influential president and chairperson of the merchant company overseeing the commercial district, grew visibly frustrated with the diverging opinions.

With a sudden slam of his hands on the large round table, Armin vented his frustration, catching everyone's attention.

The other eleven individuals seated around the table, including faculty heads, heads of departments, and council members, were momentarily startled by the outburst. Sasha, who sat beside Armin, couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation, as the pressure intensified between those aligned with the Duke Heiron's interests and those advocating for the academy.

The conversation, initially flowing smoothly, now teetered on the edge of conflict. Despite addressing the concerns about the injured and fortifying the academy's security, there was an unspoken tension surrounding the elephant in the room – the mysterious disappearance or presumed death of Schwi Heiron.

The principal seemed to purposefully avoid delving into the details of this significant loss, leaving an uncomfortable gap in the discussions.

As the glares intensified between the Duke's supporters and academy officials, Sasha, caught in the middle, couldn't shake the feeling that the true heart of the matter was being glossed over.

The unresolved fate of Schwi, a matter of great concern for both parties, loomed over the meeting like an unspoken challenge that demanded acknowledgment and resolution.

The room's tension reached its boiling point as Armin Dieter's frustration erupted like a volcano. His anger was directed at Principal Victoria, whose smug face and apparent nonchalance about the matter had clearly pushed him to his limits. Despite the serious discussions about the aftermath of the explosion and the safety of the academy, Armin was fixated on one pressing issue – the fate of Duke Heiron's daughter, Schwi Heiron.

His demand for answers was laced with annoyance and impatience. Armin slammed his hands on the table, the beads of sweat on his chubby face mirroring the intensity of his anger.

Principal Victoria, normally easygoing, found it challenging to contain her amusement at the sight of Armin's seething rage.

However, the stern and serious look from Vice Principal Edward, a silent reminder of the gravity of the situation, compelled her to refocus on the matter at hand.

"Stop avoiding the conversation, Principal Victoria," Armin's voice resonated with anger, "and hurry up and tell us what news you have regarding the Duke's daughter. I'm also sorry for all the lost lives that happened during the incident, but shouldn't you be prioritizing the status of Duke Heiron's daughter?"

Victoria, realizing the seriousness of Armin's request, suppressed her laughter and nodded solemnly.

Principal Victoria maintained her calm demeanor despite Armin's escalating fury. The room grew tenser as Armin's frustration reached its peak, his face turning a fiery shade of red. Victoria listened attentively to his outburst, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

"I understand that you're upset with what happened to Lady Schwi Heiron, Sir Armin. However, due to the mysteriousness of the events, we cannot exactly pinpoint what had exactly happened. One of the witnesses, Lady Schwi's maid, who happened to be rescued right on time before dying, kept shutting her mouth about the matter. So, the investigation is at a sudden halt right now as there are no leads yet to pursue," Principal Victoria explained with a smile, attempting to diffuse the tension.

Armin's face contorted with anger, and he erupted, his voice now thundering through the room.

"What do you mean, no other leads, Principal? Almost everybody who witnessed the scenes unfolding there clearly saw a gigantic flaming serpent wrapping around the building"

"I'm sure there's only one student here at the academy who is contracted and capable of summoning that thing. Why is she not being investigated? In fact, where is she?" Armin shouted, his breath heavy with frustration.

"And I heard from the investigatory team that Adrian Vulter Tellus was also on the scene. What did he say on the matter? Don't you think him being there and coming out almost unscathed is suspicious?"

As Armin continued to voice his accusations, the pressure in the room became suffocating. Suddenly, his head was forcefully pressed down onto the table by a large, translucent hand, seemingly made of solid mana. Armin struggled to breathe as the invisible force threatened to crack his skull.

"You dare say such amusing words in front of me, Mr. Armin? For a mere councilman to accuse my brother? Haha, I suppose putting a crown on a pig's head would make anyone high-headed," a commanding voice echoed in the room. All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, revealing the student council president of the academy and the top fourth-year student in both her department and among all fourth-years, Lilliana Vulter Tellus.

Lilliana's ashen grey eyes and grey hair intensified the pressure in the room. Councilman Armin gulped audibly, realizing the grave error he had made. Accusing the top first-year student of the alchemy department was one thing, but accusing a Tellus, one of the most prestigious ducal families in the empire, and considered the Emperor's sword, right in front of Lilliana was a severe misstep.

The atmosphere in the room became tense as everyone observed the unfolding drama, feeling a mix of pity for Armin and awe at Lilliana's presence.

Sasha found herself increasingly flustered as she observed Lilliana's presence in the room. Despite having seen her occasionally before, Lilliana's unparalleled beauty never failed to captivate Sasha. Lilliana's striking ashen grey eyes and gracefully flowing grey hair seemed to add an ethereal touch to her already commanding presence.

While Lilliana was considered a student, her role as the student council president afforded her a unique position. This elevated status allowed her to attend important meetings like the one unfolding, representing the entire student body.

Whatever Lilliana said carried the weight of the collective student opinion. Her high-ranking noble status further solidified her authority within the school, leaving virtually no one with a status high enough to challenge her words. Even the principal had to tread carefully in her presence.

As Sasha continued to observe the ongoing drama, she couldn't help but be both mesmerized by Lilliana's beauty and awed by her influential position within the academy.

"I-I'm sorry lady Lilliana, I didn't mean it like that!"

As the tension in the room reached its peak, Armin, feeling the crushing pressure on his head, attempted to apologize to Lady Lilliana. However, before his head could suffer further consequences, Principal Victoria intervened, dismantling her magic. Armin, breathing heavily and seemingly in a daze, slumped back into his seat.

A silent exchange occurred between the principal and Lilliana. Although still visibly upset, Lilliana gradually calmed down, realizing that the principal had shifted to a more serious demeanor.

Principal Victoria, seemingly unbothered by the chaos, decided to restore order with a simple clap, capturing everyone's attention.

"Okay, everyone, calm down. Why is everyone so hot-headed, haah," she sighed, attempting to diffuse the escalating tensions in the room.

The atmosphere gradually settled as all eyes turned to the principal, waiting for her to steer the discussion back on track.

She gazed at Armin, addressing his concerns, "Regarding what you asked, Councilman Armin, you're correct that there is a student capable of such a feat. However, that alone is not evidence enough to suspect the student, and besides, she's currently missing right now, you know?"

The principal continued, "And, as you can see, the school, and even you or Duke Heiron, have no right to question Mr. Adrian either unless you and the Duke want to go against the Tellus."

A subtle smile played on the principal's lips as she gestured towards Lilliana, who had been listening quietly. The unspoken implication was clear – challenging Adrian Vulter Tellus meant confronting the power and influence of one of the prestigious three ducal families in the empire.

"And also," the principal continued, her voice laced with stern disapproval, "I heard you guys even illegally investigated Louise Obelia's room without permission. That's a very high violation, you know, Councilman?"

The gravity in her tone resonated through the room, her eyes and mouth expressing a seriousness that left no room for levity. The weight of the accusations hung in the air, casting a shadow over Councilman Armin's authority.

"I let you guys do whatever you did to satisfy your curiosities," she went on, her patience visibly waning, "but illegally investigating the private room of one of my students and even barging in illegally at Lucian Hall was crossing the line, you know?" Her words were a firm reprimand, emphasizing the breach of trust that had occurred.

The atmosphere in the room became charged with tension, as if the very air had stiffened in response to the principal's dissatisfaction.

"I wonder how you'll make up compensation for the foreign royal families who had a shock of their lives as your investigators forcefully made them talk regarding one missing student," she remarked with a resigned exhale.

The principal's frustration was palpable, and the repercussions of the unauthorized actions were now laid bare.

The consequences of the investigation had rippled far beyond the school's walls, affecting diplomatic relations and the peace of foreign dignitaries.

With a heavy sigh, the principal once again fixed her gaze on Councilman Armin.

This time, her stare was intensified, a penetrating glare that seemed capable of bursting him like a balloon due to the sheer density of her mana.

"B-but the duke—" Armin tried to mumble, his voice faltering in the face of the principal's stern gaze.

"Won't accept any of this? I know that's why I'm personally meeting up with him three days from now so you can stop investigating the perimeters. Honestly, you're only making the situation worse and do please allow the school to function normally once again, okay?" The principal's tone held a mix of authority and frustration, emphasizing the urgency of halting the unauthorized investigations. Her words hung in the air, leaving Armin with little room for argument.

After this decisive statement, the meeting begrudgingly continued, addressing a few more lingering issues before finally coming to a close.

Armin, now subdued and meek, withdrew into a corner, his head likely still throbbing from Lilliana's earlier outrage. He avoided making eye contact with her, fully aware that further provoking her anger could lead to dire consequences. The tension in the room was palpable as the councilman navigated the aftermath of his decisions.

The principal, seemingly unfazed by the earlier intensity, clapped her hands once again. "So, I think we're done here now? We've covered most of the issues, right? Meeting dismissed!" With an exuberant hooray face, she stretched her back, signaling the end of the formal proceedings.

As the principal teleported away almost immediately, her sudden departure left everyone in the room momentarily surprised.

Nobody, present possessed the ability to stop her, a testament to the principal's formidable powers and the unyielding nature of her decisions.

The occupants of the room, accustomed to the principal's distinctive demeanor, tilted their heads sideways in a resigned acknowledgment that the meeting had indeed come to an end.

With a collective sigh of relief, they dispersed, each member processing the weight of the decisions made and the repercussions that would undoubtedly follow in the days to come.

...

Principal Victoria materialized in a pristine room, bathed in the soft glow of natural light streaming through wide-open windows and a balcony. The air was crisp, and the room exuded an air of tranquility. She approached the balcony, where an old man sat in one of the chairs at a tea table. Without a word, Victoria took her seat, and a steaming cup of mysteriously hot tea appeared before her.

"Did it go alright?" the old man inquired, his gaze fixed on Victoria.

"Who knows? It won't be long before I and the school itself would be in deep trouble," replied Victoria, her voice carrying a hint of concern.

The old man sighed, understanding the weight of the situation. "Then I guess we should hurry up and find it then."

"Find what?" Victoria inquired; her curiosity piqued.

"The owner of the staff"

Victoria flinched slightly.

"Uhm, there's a slight problem regarding that…" Victoria hesitated, a shadow passing over her face.

"What do you mean?" The old man's expression grew more serious.

"It's lost," Victoria confessed, her words hanging in the air.

"What's lost?" The old man questioned, hoping against hope that he wouldn't hear the words he anticipated.

"The staff… It's gone..."

"What?"