"The vast estate grounds that once seemed so expansive are no longer what they used to be," Alain remarked as he gazed at the new structure being erected on one side of the mansion.

For Alain, the sight of this transformation carried a deep sense of nostalgia. The once lavish garden that filled the area had long since become an empty space, a reminder of the family’s better days.

"I figured it was time to go big with this one," Rupert said, standing beside Alain, also watching the new construction rise.

Currently, there were two single-story buildings: one functioning as a printing factory for books and the other for manufacturing various goods. However, despite their proximity, the back-and-forth between them had become cumbersome. Rupert decided to consolidate everything into one large building.

The first floor would house the book production, handling the heavier machinery. The second floor would focus on merchandise production, and the third floor would be dedicated to a new venture: animation production.

"Looking at it again, this isn't just a burden—it's actually a good opportunity," Rupert thought to himself, recalling the events that unfolded in the imperial palace.

The Emperor, who had been contemplating what reward to bestow upon Rupert after he declined the position of the Crown Prince’s chief chamberlain, seemed lost in thought. Beside the Emperor, Yustaf furrowed his brow slightly, as if pondering something deeply, before finally speaking.

"Your Majesty, wasn’t it just recently that Sir Saint, the court’s painter, retired?" Yustaf had suggested.

"Ah, yes. He said he wished to pursue other interests and requested to resign," the Emperor replied.

"He was also a professor at the academy’s art department, and with his departure, that position remains vacant," Yustaf continued.

"Hmm... The academy is crucial to the Empire’s future. A sudden vacancy like that would indeed be a concern, Yustaf."

"Exactly, Your Majesty. Therefore, I would like to recommend Sir Rupert Somerset for the role."

"Ah, that’s an excellent suggestion," the Emperor agreed without even consulting Rupert.

Rupert stood there, completely caught off guard. Becoming a professor at the Empire’s prestigious academy had never crossed his mind, and the thought of suddenly being thrust into such a position made him uneasy.

However, refusing the Emperor’s command twice was unthinkable. While he had valid reasons to decline the position of chief chamberlain—namely, his duties to his family—he had no such justification for turning down a professorship at the academy. To claim he was too young or inexperienced would be tantamount to questioning the Emperor’s judgment.

And so, Rupert found himself unable to protest. Just like that, at 17, Rupert became the youngest professor in the history of the Imperial Academy.

After leaving the imperial court, Rupert considered confronting Yustaf about recommending him without consulting him first, but Yustaf was now technically his superior, and even the Emperor treated the great archmage with respect. Rupert simply didn’t have the courage to challenge him.

However, Yustaf's next words offered a glimmer of hope to the otherwise gloomy Rupert.

"I heard you put in a research request to the Mage Tower."

"How did you…?"

"There are ways to know such things," Yustaf replied cryptically. "In any case, as a professor, you’ll have access to substantial research grants. You should have no problem funding the project you mentioned."

Unbeknownst to Rupert, Yustaf had done some investigating due to a feeling of unease when they first met. He refrained from mentioning this, of course.

However, Rupert's mind was already fixated on one thing: research grants.

The term was music to his ears, reminiscent of the imperial funds he had previously siphoned off to establish his merchandise factory.

The animation project he had put on hold due to a lack of funds could now finally be realized. With the research and development costs covered by the grant, he and Esteban could handle the rest through private investment.

Upon returning from the palace, Rupert and Esteban had a lengthy discussion and agreed that this was the perfect opportunity to push forward with the animation business.

Teaching at the academy wouldn't consume much of Rupert’s time—just a lecture or two each week. Meanwhile, the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

Not only would he receive a research grant, but the academy was the ideal place to scout talent for the animation industry. He could recruit skilled artists, composers, and even engineers to develop tools for animation production from the academy’s various departments.

In Rupert’s mind, the academy wasn’t just an institution of learning—it was a goldmine.

"Plus, the commute won’t be a problem," Rupert thought.

Unlike the students, who were required to live in the dormitories, professors were free to live wherever they pleased. Those who found the commute inconvenient could be assigned accommodations, while others could simply use the teleportation circle at the academy’s main gate.

With all this in mind, Rupert decided to proceed with building the new factory, and the result of those plans was now taking shape before his eyes.

Satisfied with the progress of the construction, Rupert returned to his workspace to finish the storyboard for Iron-blooded Alchemist volumes 7 and 8.

At the same time, he had already sketched out a rough outline for his next children’s book, Pinocchio. Fortunately, he had already worked on it previously, so the process was smooth.

"The academy, huh..." Rupert mused.

He hoped to finish Iron-blooded Alchemist before joining the academy, but realistically, it wasn’t possible. He could complete volumes 7 and 8, but volumes 9 and 10 would likely have to be finished after his appointment.

With only a month left before the academy’s entrance ceremony, Rupert knew he’d have to push himself to the limit.

In the original novel, The Youngest Son of the Imperial Family, the entrance ceremony episode wasn’t particularly eventful. At first, the story played out like a typical romance fantasy, with the male lead, the third prince, and the female lead, Amelia, developing feelings for each other in a light-hearted, comedic setting.

But later, when enemies attacked the academy, the tone shifted, making Rupert wonder if it was truly a romance novel or an academy-action story.

"The original plot is already unraveling," Rupert thought.

In the original story, the Abyss Cult had attacked the academy, but since Rupert had already eradicated them, he couldn’t rely on the original plotline anymore.

"The Scarlet Witch Ignicia…" Rupert remembered her vividly, the one who had made him change Ariel’s hair from red to blue in his retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Ignicia, the witch with blood-red hair, was one of the antagonists who attacked the academy. She came in search of a forbidden magical tome hidden within the academy and, upon encountering the third prince, became fascinated with him, leading to her obsessive pursuit.

Ignicia was a major villain throughout the story, spreading her reputation as the infamous red-haired witch and committing countless crimes. Her deep-seated hatred for humanity made her a particularly dangerous foe.

While the third prince could face her in battle, Rupert knew that if he encountered her, he’d be roasted alive in an instant.

"I’ll just have to make sure Yustaf doesn’t leave the academy grounds," Rupert thought.

In the original story, the academy’s downfall was largely due to the headmaster’s untimely absence. If Yustaf remained at the academy, nothing short of a dragon’s attack could threaten it.

Though Rupert had been steadily training with Mulas and had finally reached the physical fitness of an average adult male, he knew he had no hope of fighting off such a formidable enemy on his own.

As much as he trusted Yustaf, the uncertainty of the situation left him feeling anxious.

Woof!

Suddenly, Rasu appeared by Rupert’s side, giving a small bark, as if asking what was bothering him.

Rupert chuckled at the sight. "Are you really just a dog?"

Woof!

Rasu seemed to avert his gaze for a moment, but Rupert chalked it up to his imagination as he stroked the dog’s fur.

"Should I bring Rasu with me?" Rupert wondered.

The dog had taken down a dark wizard before, and Rupert was confident Rasu would make a reliable bodyguard. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, worried that Rasu might get hurt if they faced a truly dangerous enemy. He couldn’t bear the thought of Ada crying for days on end if something happened to her beloved companion.

Meanwhile, Sienna had become quite proficient in drawing under Rupert’s tutelage.

Her natural talent for art, combined with Rupert’s modern, structured teaching methods, had helped her improve rapidly. She could now assist Rupert with his projects, though he still limited the amount of time she spent working to avoid overburdening her.

In her free time, she often played with Ada or spent hours sketching on her own. One of her favorite subjects to draw was characters from Snow White, which had become her favorite of Rupert’s stories.

Sienna was particularly fond of the story because it was through Snow White that she had met Kroon, who had become a close friend. Out of all of Rupert’s works, Snow White held the most significance for her.

"But long hair suits the princess much better!" Sienna often tweaked the story’s visuals and plot in her sketches, enjoying the creative process of making the story her own.

She began sketching her own version of the tale, following what she had learned from Rupert about creating storyboards. In her version, the princess still fell into an enchanted sleep, but it wasn’t because of a poisoned apple—it was a curse from a witch.

"But she’ll still wake up with the prince’s kiss," Sienna muttered to herself, adding more details as her imagination took over.

Unbeknownst to her, a small figure was quietly watching her from the shadows.