Chapter 9: Reproduction of the Truth.

“Yes… I’m so sorry.”

Amelia took the offered hand and hurriedly stood, then followed Julius and the others toward the student council room.

(This is… the student council room…)

Once ushered inside, she couldn’t help but glance around the space.

The academy’s student council was composed exclusively of the highest-ranking nobles.
Under normal circumstances, someone like her would never have set foot here.

The room was divided into two sections: one served as a meeting chamber.
The other held shelves along the walls, meticulously organized with labeled documents.
Amelia and the others were led into the meeting room and seated in chairs.

Julius stood at the front, a large screen mounted on the wall behind him.

“Now then—let’s start with everyone stating their names.”

“…!”

The three young ladies, already pale, shuddered visibly.

“P-please forgive us… We didn’t mean—”

They looked up at Julius with frightened eyes, but his stern expression never wavered.

“If you refuse to answer, we’ll have to take you to the palace for questioning. You did, in fact, attempt to harm Sarju. We cannot simply let this go without consequences.”

Strict penalties were prescribed for anyone who attempted to injure a member of the royal family—due to the irreplaceable value of light magic, which only royalty possessed.

As had been the case when Amelia accidentally collided with Sarju, if intent could be proven absent, the punishment might be waived.
But if they remained silent like this, they truly risked being taken to the palace.

Perhaps realizing that, the three spoke in trembling voices, giving their family names and personal names.

They were apparently one year above Amelia—second-years.

“We had no intention of harming His Highness Sarju… Truly. …I simply… my hand slipped, and the tea fell. She happened to be standing there.”

Only the three perpetrators and Amelia herself knew that the hot tea had been deliberately aimed at her.

They likely never imagined Sarju would appear to shield her.
Their claim of having no intent to harm him was undoubtedly genuine.

For that reason, Amelia let their “it was an accident” excuse pass without comment.
She had been suddenly insulted and nearly scalded—but she had no desire to see them punished on false pretenses.
They were strangers to her anyway.

“I see.”

Julius nodded quietly, then turned his gaze to his younger brother.

“And you—why were you in that place?”

Amelia had wondered the same thing.

To prevent the risk of poisoning or tampering, royals never ate in the common cafeteria with other students.
They had a dedicated private dining room—one so heavily guarded that even royal fiancés were rarely permitted entry.

For Sarju to go this far, there had to be a reason.

Light magic was so exceedingly rare that it had nearly vanished from other nations.
Only once every few decades—or longer—might a child with light affinity be born somewhere on the continent.

Yet in this kingdom, it had been passed down through the royal line for generations.
All four princes possessed light attributes.

Legend held that, several centuries ago, the royal family had welcomed a Saintess of Light as queen consort, thereby receiving the goddess’s blessing.

That blessing was inherited only through the direct royal line—usually passing solely to the children of the crown prince.
Still, historical records suggested it had occasionally manifested in other branches.

Decades earlier, someone had kidnapped a princess of this kingdom in a desperate bid to seize that slim possibility.
The tragedy had unfolded right here at the academy.

That was why royals were guarded so rigorously, with escorts always at their side.

Yet Sarju had been alone in the cafeteria—and had stepped in to protect Amelia.

Everyone would naturally question why.

“I was looking for Amelia because I had something to ask her. When I saw her enter the cafeteria, I followed—and then that happened.”

So he had shielded her instinctively, extending his hand without hesitation.

“What happened to your guards?”

Sarju shook his head as though he had no idea.
The guards standing watch at the door exchanged sympathetic glances toward Sarju’s absent escorts.
It seemed he frequently wandered off alone like this.

“Um… what was it you wanted to ask me…?”

More than anything else, Amelia was curious about Sarju’s question and couldn’t help asking.

“It was about the new cold-resistant wheat variety that was approved for general release two years ago. I was wondering whether the Renia Earldom had adopted it.”

“Oh—the new wheat variety.”

Amelia nodded.

The cold-resistant wheat strain released to the public two years prior had been significantly improved for easier growth, but it had one drawback: vulnerability to pests.
Because of that weakness, widespread adoption had been slow.

However, pest damage could be almost entirely prevented with proper countermeasures.
Since the advantage against cold damage outweighed the risk, the Renia territory had switched to planting mostly the new variety starting this year.

“We tested it last year and saw increased yields, so this year we’ve shifted to nearly full adoption of the new strain.”

“Really?”

Sarju’s face lit up instantly.
He rose to his feet and—still caught in the momentum—grasped Amelia’s hands.

“I’d love to hear more details. If possible, the yield figures from last year, and how the pest damage manifested. Also—”

“…Sarju. I understand you’re excited as a botanical researcher, but right now we need to prioritize this matter.”

At Julius’s sigh-laden words, Sarju snapped back to himself and sat down again.

Amelia had heard Sarju specialized in earth magic—but she hadn’t known he pursued botanical research as well.
He must be genuinely committed to improving the kingdom’s food security.

For a lord of an agriculture-heavy territory like hers, he was an immensely reassuring figure.

Amelia had meticulously recorded the growth patterns, pest issues, and harvest data for the new wheat—originally intending to report it to Reese.
Since she had never met him, the notes had become unnecessary… but she could still submit them to him later.

“…Is there any inaccuracy in your testimony just now? We’ll verify it with reproduction magic.”

Julius gestured toward the large screen behind him.

(Reproduction magic?)

Amelia and the three young ladies looked curiously at the screen.
Suddenly, an image began to float into view.

It appeared to be a view from the back of the cafeteria toward the entrance.