Raise Joan of Arc to be an empress, then discard her.

Chapter 67 Taking a Leave of Absence

But for Joan of Arc at that time, behind the calm facade, she actually harbored another thought that Aaron could not know.

It was an emotion of a sixteen-year-old girl that Aaron had never noticed.

Because of the name Joan of Arc, Aaron would subconsciously think that she was the chosen one and would surely shine in the future, but Joan of Arc was unaware of this, as she had the melancholy that a sixteen-year-old girl should have.

Although she had become a saint of the Sacred Heart Cathedral and achieved excellent results at the Holy Church in the Tower, deep down she still retained the part of the village girl from Don Remy.

During this time, she heard a lot of talk about Aaron and learned about the relationship between Aurelia and Aaron from others. Although Joan of Arc knew that this was only the tip of the iceberg, it was enough to make her think a lot.

Because some people do compare her to her teacher, and she has also thought about it. She was the teacher's student, and she gradually fell in love with her teacher in the process. Her teacher was Aurelia's student. Did they experience the same thing?

In addition, Joan of Arc heard another rumor that she did not want to hear.

Some say Aaron is getting on in years and should be getting married, but there's been no word about who he plans to marry. He keeps rejecting the socialites of Asgard without revealing his own thoughts. Could it be because…?

This was a good thing for Joan of Arc, and she hoped to maintain this lifestyle until she came of age, but recently, a rumor had been lingering in her mind...

The leader of the Obsidian Knights, Aurelia, has always remained single. There has never been any news of her having an ambiguous relationship with anyone. It seems that she intends to remain single forever, dedicating everything to the Obsidian Knights and to the country...

Joan of Arc knew, of course, that these things were just rumors without any substantial evidence, but there was no doubt that Aurelia and her teacher trusted each other very much, and it was true that they had never married. But this gave Joan of Arc a sense of crisis.

Then there's the matter of Carol and her teacher. To be honest, this is the most stimulating thing for Joan of Arc. Even though Joan of Arc has won, she knows that this victory is not permanent. It seems that when it comes to matters of the heart, conquering cities and winning victories are never enough. One must take more main cities and keep them firmly in one's hands to feel at ease.

When Aaron returned to Asgard, Joan of Arc harbored this secret thought, a thought that tormented her even more than the danger she had faced in the previous days…

*

After Aaron returned to Asgard, he faced a multitude of important matters every day.

Whether it was the matter of the Knight King, the matter of the High Cliff Valley, or the Catfish Project, he was busy to the point of exhaustion, but one day something else happened that had nothing to do with his work.

After this incident, Aaron even felt a little guilty, because he felt that he was too busy with work and too engrossed in his work, which led to neglecting Joan of Arc and causing this to happen.

One day after Aaron returned to Asgard, at the Holy Tower Academy.

"Excuse me, is this the vice principal's office?"

Aaron knocked on the door of the vice principal's office. He hadn't been here since graduating from the Holy College, and he never expected to come back for this reason, especially with such complicated feelings.

"Please come in." A cold voice came from the vice principal's office.

Aaron went in under pressure, feeling even more pressure than when he went to Lister.

The vice principal of White Tower Holy Academy has been a strict woman who controls the school's discipline since Aaron started attending. She is known as the "old hag" among the students and is the one they fear the most. She is the most upright and unapproachable teacher among them.

Aaron was summoned to the convent as a guardian for a simple reason: Joan of Arc had gotten into trouble.

Joan of Arc and a certain girl at the school seemed to have a long-standing grudge. Finally, during a competition, Joan of Arc, whether intentionally or unintentionally, injured the face of another student from the school. In return, that student injured Joan of Arc. Such an incident occurred during the competition, which was considered extremely serious by the school.

When Aaron learned of this, he was speechless. Joan of Arc was someone who could escape from the Knight King, yet she was injured by a student. This was simply too unbelievable. Was that girl more terrifying than the Knight King?

But before he could think too much, Aaron rushed to the school as soon as he received the news, only to see a scene in the vice principal's office that left him even more speechless.

Joan of Arc and another girl he didn't recognize were sitting on chairs, each with a plaster on their face. Joan of Arc remained silent, while the other girl had red eyes and looked both incredulous and angry. When Aaron saw her, the girl was sobbing incessantly, as if tiny pearls might fall at any moment.

It's hard to imagine how such a girl could have injured Joan of Arc, and even injured her face. Could it be that a monster's power was hidden beneath such a delicate appearance?

"Are you Joan of Arc's guardian?" The vice-principal looked Aaron up and down.

"Yes, it's me, Vice Principal. I studied at the Holy Church, so you should recognize me."

Aaron smiled obsequiously, as if no matter if you are an Obsidian Knight or a Duke of a country outside, once you enter this office, you are just a parent of some student, and your aura diminishes when facing the vice principal.

It was indeed surprising that someone not much older than Joan of Arc walked in, claiming to be her guardian. The other parent also looked at Aaron with surprise. Compared to Aaron,

The other parent was much more normal. She was dressed like a wealthy woman, adorned with jewels, and was clearly the girl's mother. When she saw Aaron looking over, she gave him a cold look, and Aaron could only awkwardly turn his head away.

"So what's the story?"

Aaron and Joan sat down together and listened to the vice-principal recount what had happened.

The incident began when the school was holding a court dance competition. Joan of Arc happened to be drawn to perform on the same stage as this girl. It seemed that they had a grudge against each other, and coupled with the tense atmosphere of the court dance competition, they got into a conflict, and the two girls scratched each other's faces.

Although the vice-principal appeared stern, during the questioning, he discreetly inquired with Joan of Arc whether any group bullying had occurred. Joan of Arc denied it.

When it was the girl's turn to answer the question, she became extremely agitated and accused Joan of hitting her in the face with a light touch, claiming that Joan's actions were far more serious than hers.

In short, both sides had their own version of events, each with their own reasons, turning the matter into a Rashomon-like situation. Even Aaron and the vice-principal couldn't be entirely sure what had happened during this time. In the end, the vice-principal made a judgment, deciding to punish both sides equally.

Joan of Arc and the girl who got into the fight were both sent home for three weeks of leave from school. After the leave ended, they would return to school for evaluation. If they failed the evaluation, they would be expelled. If they passed the evaluation, they could continue their studies.

They had already packed all their belongings in the dormitory. The guardians came to take their respective students back to their homes so they could reflect on their actions.

Chapter 68 Cohabitation

Suspending school is a very severe punishment, and if it happens unfairly, it could even provoke protests from parents.

Aaron was speechless.

He wouldn't fly into a rage like other parents, but it was his first time dealing with something like this, and he instinctively looked at Joan of Arc.

Joan of Arc kept her head down and remained silent ever since Aaron entered the vice-principal's office.

Was Joan of Arc really bullied at school? Aaron wasn't sure either; in his opinion, Joan of Arc was the one who bullied others...

Of course, if Joan of Arc had truly been bullied, he would have sought justice for her, but Joan remained silent throughout, leaving Aaron at a loss for what to do. In the end, they could only accept the vice-principal's verdict.

In the end, Aaron agreed with the vice principal's decision. For other parents, having their child drop out of school was a devastating blow, a stain on their lives. The wealthy woman's face turned red and white with anger, as if she couldn't accept it. But Aaron didn't think so.

Aaron thought that taking a break from school meant resting at home for a while. He felt that Joan of Arc had been under a lot of pressure lately, so taking a break wouldn't be a bad thing, and he could spend more time with her.

As they left the vice-principal's office, Jeanne followed behind Aaron, still silent, seemingly afraid of Aaron's disappointed gaze.

But Aaron didn't intend to blame her. Joan was a good girl, and she must have been very upset about having to drop out of school. There was no need to blame her further.

“In that case, let’s go home,” Aaron said.

Joan of Arc nodded.

"I've already packed your luggage. Just have them bring it over later."

Joan of Arc nodded again.

"You can choose to stay at Aurelia's house, or you can stay at mine. Staying at Aurelia's house might be a bit more lively."

“I want to stay at my teacher’s house,” Joan of Arc said softly.

"Okay, let's go."

"Should we...go straight home?"

"Let's go buy groceries," Aaron said after thinking for a moment.

"Buying groceries?" Joan of Arc was taken aback.

“Since I’ve already taken the day off, I might as well go home and cook myself a good meal. I’ll do it,” Aaron said.

Although he was on leave from school, Aaron acted as if he were celebrating something. He took Jeanne to stroll through the market in Esgard for the first time in a long time, and Aaron discovered some sights that were different from before.

They went to the market Joan of Arc frequented, where everyone seemed to recognize her. When they saw the scars on Joan's face, they looked surprised and astonished.

An embarrassing incident also occurred. Joan of Arc, as a saint of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, would occasionally go to the workhouse to distribute porridge. Many people in the market knew her, but they did not know Aaron. When they saw Aaron and Joan of Arc walking together, they looked as if the sky had fallen.

They never expected that the perfect saintly lady in their hearts would be shopping at the market with a man. Joan of Arc usually avoided suspicion, but this time she appeared openly with a man, which made them wonder about Aaron's identity...

The two of them shopping for groceries together at the market could easily be mistaken for a couple, and it might even be assumed that only loving couples would go grocery shopping together. Some awkward misunderstandings occurred, but they also made Aaron realize Joan of Arc's influence in Asgard. In a sense, Joan of Arc had gained a reputation, and if someone paid attention to her, they would find that this little nun already possessed a terrifying power among the poor.

Thanks to Joan of Arc, Aaron even got a discount when he bought things at the market.

Aaron intended to make dinner more luxurious, but unfortunately his cooking skills were limited. He usually only cooked for himself, and when he really wanted to make something delicious, he found himself in a bind.

Fortunately, Joan of Arc helped him. Although Aaron usually ate Joan of Arc's cooking, this was the first time he had cooked with her. Aaron was surprised by Joan of Arc's skill and efficiency in the kitchen. However, due to the limited ingredients Aaron had bought, they eventually managed to make five dishes, which was the result of their busy work from afternoon until evening.

It couldn't compare to the food they ate at aristocratic banquets, where renowned chefs were often present. If they attended a royal banquet, they might even be able to eat dishes prepared by a court chef—someone like the patriarch of Lucerne cuisine. But as the aroma of the food wafted from the small table, and Aaron lit candles on the table, they felt that this meal was more precious than any other meal they had ever eaten.

After dinner, Aaron opened a bottle of wine and drank alone on the terrace.

A large part of the reason he rented this apartment was the terrace. Aaron's floor wasn't high, but it was high enough to overlook half of the city center, with the bustling metropolis of Asgard in the distance. With Aaron's eyesight, he could even see the signs of Queen Street.

Fifty years ago, illuminated sky signs were a rare sight in Esgard. At night, these signs would glow alone in the hazy darkness, their light stretching across the banks of the Esgard River like giant jewels shining in the night.

With technological advancements, illuminated signs high in the sky have become increasingly common, and other things in the city have also begun to glow. Asgard is gradually taking on a vibrant, colorful character, and scenes unimaginable to people in other cities have become commonplace in Asgard. Perhaps in a few decades, Asgard will overlap with the neon-lit city that Aaron remembers.

Just as Aaron picked up the wine glass and brought it to his lips, darkness suddenly enveloped him, as if he had been instantly transported from a prosperous city back to the primitive night. All light suddenly disappeared from his sight, and humanity was once again returned to a barbaric era where it needed to rely on pitiful torches for light.

His eyes hadn't adjusted to the change brought by the darkness, and a fear of being all alone in the darkness enveloped him. Although it was only a few seconds of silence, it felt as long as an entire night.

At that moment, someone gently hugged him from behind. The hug was very light, with a warm body temperature. The person hugging him was quiet and didn't make a sound, just pressed their body slightly against his. He didn't know if it was his imagination, but even though the other person was hugging him, he felt that the hug was both warm and timid, with a distance between them, making it hard to understand.

Aaron remained seated in the embrace, neither of them uttering a word. After a long while, when the fear brought on by the darkness had subsided, they calmed down. Joan of Arc reached out and gently rested her head on Aaron's shoulder, softly stroking his head.

“It’s okay, it’s just a power outage, there’s nothing to be afraid of. We can light candles. As long as we stay together, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Aaron said softly.

He was embraced by Joan of Arc from behind, unable to touch or see her, so he could only offer this soft comfort.

Chapter 69 The Mad King's Celebration

He was embraced by Joan of Arc from behind, unable to touch or see her, so he could only offer this soft comfort.

He didn't know if his comforting words were effective. Sometimes he felt that Joan of Arc was like an unfathomable stray cat. You think that if you give it cat food, a place to sleep, and pet it occasionally, it will be happy, but that's not the case. Perhaps it's because Joan of Arc is not a stray cat, but a person, and people have very complicated feelings.

Joan of Arc didn't say anything, unusually not responding to Aaron. She knelt down behind Aaron and hugged him. She had grown into a big girl. Joan of Arc was tall and slender. In the darkness, her body appeared as delicate and fragile as a statue. Just a few days ago, she was a child who had managed to escape from the city's pursuit, but when she was with Aaron, she seemed like a completely different person.

The embrace lasted for a long time, so long that Aaron forgot how it ended. Aaron remembered that the scent of Joan of Arc lingered around his nose, and the soft touch of her body became a habit.

Aaron was a little confused about what happened next. Joan of Arc was still not very talkative, but when he woke up the next day, Joan of Arc was making breakfast for him in the kitchen. It seemed no different from the previous days, except that this time Joan of Arc did not come in from outside, but came out of the room in the morning. She got up and tidied the house, watered the flowers, and made breakfast for him.

Joan of Arc's wounds healed slowly. Given her physical condition, such injuries were nothing to her. After recovering, Aaron didn't ask anything of Joan of Arc. Although she stopped going to school, she still went to church occasionally.

When Joan of Arc's leave of absence ended and she returned to school, she continued to live at Aaron's house instead of moving back to the girls' dormitory at school. It is said that this was because Joan of Arc needed to be assessed after returning to school and could not immediately return to the dormitory.

Aaron didn't pay much attention to what Joan told him. Anyway, his apartment wasn't too far from the Holy Church. Joan would come over every day to make him breakfast before he went to school. Now that he made breakfast at home before leaving, he actually had more time.

When the observation period ended, Joan of Arc returned to school at the Holy College as usual, without going back to live in the girls' dormitory. She seemed to have ended up living with Aaron in a daze, and the two began living together.

Aaron realized this when Joan's belongings in the house started to increase day by day. By the time Aaron noticed this, he had already gotten used to Joan's presence. Now Joan cooks at least two meals a day and cleans the house. Aaron had long been used to Joan being in the house.

Sending her back to the girls' dormitory now would feel like kicking her out, and Aaron didn't want that feeling. Besides, there was nothing wrong with their current lifestyle, so Aaron acquiesced to it.

Joan of Arc is a good girl, and now that he has Joan of Arc cleaning and cooking for him every day, it seems that he is indebted to Joan of Arc, so he has no reason to send her away.

More importantly, something big is about to happen in Asgard: the 30th anniversary of King Lusset's accession to the throne.