The Cruelty of Salvation — Chapter 3

IN JUST 100 YEARS AFTER ITS FOUNDING...

YOU SURE GREW UP FAST...

...POLDER GREW STRONG ENOUGH TO RIVAL HEROD.

SEEING THIS RAPID GROWTH, THE PREVIOUS KING OF HEROD TOOK ACTION.

HE BECAME THE FIRST TO START DEALING WITH POLDER...

...BY OFFERING THEM THE HEROLINGTON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AS A GIFT.

HEROLINGTON UNIVERSITY, POLDER CAMPUS PRESIDENT'S OFFICE

despite your strong qualifications and potential, we regret to inform you that in the application review process... ...we hope to have the opportunity to consider you again in the future.

I'M SURE GRANDMA WILL ASK ME ABOUT THE RESULTS AGAIN.

HOW DO I TELL HER...?

DID I KEEP YOU WAITING? I HAD A QUICK VISITOR.

MARGUERITE ASTRID PRESIDENT OF HEROLINGTON UNIVERSITY AND HONORARY PROFESSOR

NO, PROFESSOR. I ONLY JUST ARRIVED.

YOU ARE BETTER OFF AVOIDING A COMPANY RUN BY IDIOTS...

WHO CAN'T SEE A PERSON'S WORTH.

NOTHING GETS PAST YOU, PROFESSOR.

I'M SORRY. YOU EVEN WROTE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR ME.

YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO BE SORRY ABOUT.

THOSE BASTARDS. THEY DARE REJECT YOU EVEN WITH MY RECOMMENDATION? JUST WAIT AND SEE.

PROFESSOR...

HERE.

IT'S HEROD'S SEAL...!

A Letter From The Palace?

WH-WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME THIS?

BECAUSE IT'S ADDRESSED TO YOU. TAKE A LOOK.

WHY WOULD THE ROYAL PALACE OF HEROD WRITE TO ME?

WE INVITE MS. OLIVIA LIBERTY, THE PRIDE OF HEROLINGTON UNIVERSITY AND ITS TOP GRADUATE, TO THIS YEAR'S AUTUMN BANQUET.

AN INVITATION?

ACTUALLY, I WASN'T GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY INVITING YOU FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT.

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR INVITING ME?

THE ROYAL FAMILY'S TROUBLEMAKER GOT HIMSELF IN TROUBLE AGAIN.

IT'S HITTING THE FRONT PAGES OF EVERY NEWSPAPER.

“OLIVIA LIBERTY COMES TO HEROD!”

SMALL EDIT AILY GAZETTE.

THEY'RE AIMING TO COVER THOSE PAPERS WITH YOUR NAME INSTEAD.

IS THAT...

ACTUALLY POSSIBLE JUST FROM ME VISITING?

Good Grief.

YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW FAMOUS YOU ARE, DO YOU?

WELL, IT'S NO SURPRISE. SHE HAS TOO MUCH GOING ON TO CARE ABOUT GOSSIP.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU WANT TO GO?

OF COURSE.

I WANTED TO GO BACK TO HEROD IF I EVER GOT THE CHANCE.

HOW MANY DAYS WILL IT TAKE...?

IT WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO GET THERE, AND I DOUBT LEONARD WILL LET YOU LEAVE RIGHT AFTER THE BANQUET.

YOU'D BE THERE FOR AT LEAST A WEEK, I WOULD SAY.

THEN INCLUDING THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET BACK, IT'LL BE ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF...

I EXPECT SO.

WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT FOR ME TO GO?

IF I GO, GRANDMA WILL BE ON HER OWN...

SHE WAS YOUR GUARDIAN UNTIL JUST LAST YEAR.

WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE ONE WORRYING?

EVEN SO...

IF IT IS NECESSARY, I WILL SEND SOMEONE TO LOOK AFTER YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

SO JUST CHOOSE WHAT YOU REALLY WANT.

PROFESSOR...

I'LL ACCOMPANY YOU IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO.

IF YOU GO ALONE TO A BANQUET OF THAT SCALE,

I EXPECT YOU'LL GET DRAGGED AROUND.

WILL IT REALLY BE ALL RIGHT?

OKAY THEN!

WHO KNOWS WHEN I'LL GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO VISIT HEROD?

NO.

WHAT...?

WHY NOT?!

I WAS INVITED AS A GUEST OF HONOR, SO LL EXPENSES WILL BE COVER D PROFESSOR MARGUERITE 'LL ACCOMPANY ME! I WA SIT HEROD AGAIN NOW T DULT, AND I MIGHT NEVER OTHER CHANCE IF NOT NO

GOT SOMEONE TO COME TO THE HOUSE TWICE A DAY TO CLEAN UP AND CHECK ON YOU...

INTRODUCING A YOUNG AND PRETTY COMMONER GIRL INTO HIGH SOCIETY?

THAT'S TOO DANGEROUS.

BUT EVER SINCE THAT INCIDENT...

...THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN YOU LIKE THIS.

HOW COULD I POSSIBLY STOP YOU?

PRINCESS MARGUERITE SAID SHE'LL ACCOMPANY YOU?

YES!

THANK YOU, GRANDMA!

THREE WEEKS LATER.

AT A POLO CLUB IN HEROD.

NOAH, IS IT TRUE?

WHAT?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHAT!

IS OLIVIA OF POLDER REALLY COMING TO THE AUTUMN BANQUET?

Oh

YES, SHE IS.

WOOOOOAH!!!

AN ANGEL DESCENDS IN HEROD!

PATHETIC, THE LOT OF THEM...

YOU BETTER NOT GET YOUR HOPES UP.

WHY NOT?

I FIGURE SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT FOOLS LIKE YOU LOT...

MY AUNT WILL BE ACCOMPANYING MS.LIBERTY.

PRIN--

PRINCESS MARGUERITE IS COMING...?

Really?

THE PRINCESS IS COMING FOR JUST ONE STUDENT?

HOW WOULD I KNOW?

SHE PROBABLY FAVORS HER SINCE MS.LIBERTY IS THE ONLY FEMLAE STUDENT.

MAKES SENSE.

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE HER FAVOR SOMEONE.

SO AUNT MARGUERITE TOOK A LIKING TO HER, HUH?

I GUESS SHE WON'T BE EASY TO DEAL WITH.