I Hope to Become the Tyrant’s Secret Supporter
Duke Dinero flipped the newspaper he’d been reading.
The front page prominently featured news about my innocence and succession to the countship.
‘What? A new experience?’
I couldn’t agree with that sentiment at all.
Six years of being the professor’s pseudo-slave in my past life had been more than enough.
“Can’t I try a new experience of a different kind?”
“So, are you saying we should just let this business run its current course unchecked?”
“What does that have to do with this?”
“Sure, you’re making a fortune at a young age—something most people can’t even dream of—but you’re still not satisfied with that money, are you?”
Was he calling me greedy to my face?
Well, it was true, so I wasn’t particularly offended. But him pointing out the state of my business stung more than I expected.
It had indeed been a big deal to secure a contract with Admiral Hermann, who commanded the entire naval forces of the Seriel Empire.
We had also signed transportation deals with other businesses, so things seemed to be going smoothly.
But the problem was that, in the meantime, the value of the countship had risen significantly.
‘At this rate, Lennox might be better off earning a title by going to war and gaining merit.’
I let out a deep sigh as the weight of that realization hit me again.
Duke Dinero’s mention of my business only meant one thing.
“…So, you’re suggesting I go out and recruit new talent?”
“You catch on quick. If your ambition is that great, shouldn’t you make changes to match?”
The Duke smiled with satisfaction.
He hadn’t been like this when we first met, but now, whenever I picked up on his intentions, he smiled as if proud of me.
‘Every time he does that, it really feels like I’m his granddaughter or something.’
Feeling slightly awkward, I picked up my teacup.
New talent, huh?
‘He’s right.’
Tara Transport had hit a plateau. If I wanted it to grow further, I needed new technology.
‘We need to increase durability and expand cargo capacity.’
And I knew exactly one person who could make that happen.
The one who could give Tara Transport wings.
Alfeo.
A genius scientist and engineer.
A character who dies in the middle of the original story.
Unlike most other supporting characters who were killed by Lennox, Alfeo was already dead before Lennox seized the throne—making him the only royal not killed by Lennox.
It was never revealed who killed Alfeo in the story.
“If you stay where you are, you’ll never touch the kind of money you want.”
Hearing Duke Dinero’s confident words, I didn’t hesitate for long.
In the three years I’d known him, he’d never once misjudged a situation. And this was something I’d been worrying about myself, too.
Thirty million gold—what I needed to give Lennox the countship.
But Tara Transport had hit a dilemma.
Though profits were high, the use of mana ore as a power source was causing malfunctions in our vehicles.
The cause? A lack of durability to handle its explosive energy.
Parts corroded quickly when powered by mana ore.
‘No matter how I think about it, the answer is to develop components made from the same mana ore to withstand the energy.’
I even filed a patent and posted job openings for it, but the idea was so unprecedented that no engineer dared attempt it.
‘I thought I could figure it out!’
I was fooled by a period of smooth sailing in the business.
I forgot that I wasn’t a genius.
And so time passed without a solution.
But if it’s Alfeo, he might just be able to do it.
“Alright. In that case…”
I had made my decision to accept the Duke’s suggestion—but one thing still weighed on my mind.
With a solemn face, I continued.
“Then you’ll cover for me with the other professors, right?”
‘I’ve already gotten a reputation for writing good papers and doing successful experiments…’
I had solved that high-level problem in front of every professor without hesitation. Who knows how much more they’re craving me now.
‘If I were the protagonist of a reverse harem, I could at least enjoy the chaos…’
But this was not the kind of reverse harem I wanted.
An obsessive professor genre? Try to come up with a more terrifying setup.
Duke Dinero clicked his tongue when he saw my anxious eyes.
“Oh, come now. As if they’d go so far as to lock you up.”
He said it so casually while sipping his tea.
I wanted to laugh it off too, but I couldn’t even fake a chuckle.
‘Imprisonment…’
Lab confinement honestly didn’t sound too far-fetched.
“Please! I’m begging you! Okay?!”
“Good heavens! You’re going to rupture this old man’s eardrums!”
“Please!”
Duke Dinero frowned in displeasure.
“Fine! These days, young people only know how to shout…”
Relieved at last, I said,
“To me, this is a matter of my freedom.”
At the time, I had no idea why he agreed so readily.
I simply thought Duke Dinero was exercising his authority as the head of the Elder Council.
I never imagined he had actually been the professors’ mentor.
But that was something I’d only learn much later.
“Fine, now go on. Shoo, off to the academy with you.”
He waved his hand like he was swatting away a fly.
Meanwhile, at the Academy, the graduation exams were in full swing.
“That’s the end of the fourth subject, Imperial Studies.”
The exam hall was packed with students.
Most were 8th-year students about to graduate, but some were underclassmen aiming for early graduation.
Among them was Lennox.
As soon as the test ended, the 3rd-years who had just finished walked over to a particular spot.
Where the most popular boy—and 3rd-year class president—Ren stood.
“Ren, did the test go well?”
“It wasn’t hard since I studied those parts.”
Lennox set his pen down as he spoke, even that small act carried with it grace and nobility.
‘How does he keep getting better-looking?’
‘Honestly, it should be illegal for a guy to look like that.’
His sharp, deep-set eyes glowed emerald beneath them, his smooth jawline graceful and elegant—altogether exuding aristocratic charm.
Everyone watching, boys and girls alike, blushed.
In an academy full of nobles, Ren stood out as the only commoner.
And his overwhelming popularity could be explained in one phrase:
‘He excels in every aspect.’
Academics, combat skills, appearance—he had it all.
And he combined all that with poise, humility, and no arrogance—earning everyone’s admiration.
That’s why, even as a commoner, Lennox was admired by the most prideful of noble heirs.
Of course, not everyone liked that.
Louis Bentley, for example.
Still, aside from a few exceptions, Lennox had solid relationships with most of his peers.
“If you graduate now, we won’t get to see you anymore, Ren… that’s kind of sad.”
One student murmured wistfully.
Lennox’s green eyes darkened at that.
It was true. Early graduation—the goal he’d long pursued—was now right in front of him.
And the next and final subject? Imperial Studies.
It was the very subject he had nearly aced the first time he took the graduation exam.
While reviewing his summary notes just in case, Lennox suddenly stopped flipping the pages.
“Did you hear? Jacqueline-sunbae is coming to teach in Professor Rogen’s place!”
“Whoa, really? Does that make her the youngest professor ever?”
“Probably, right?”
Jacqueline… is becoming a professor?
Lennox’s thoughts stalled for a moment.
Just then, the supervising professor entered the room to start the exam.
“Alright, final exam—Imperial Studies. Begin.”
Lennox was sure—this test would determine if he could graduate early.
But after hearing that news…
His hand no longer moved.
