The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

No one could have possibly guessed what was really happening to several of the Empire’s most notable figures while the rest of the population debated about them endlessly.

While people argued about privilege, influence, and dramatic shifts in social standing, the so-called privileged were currently bent sideways, half-kneeling on uneven rocks, awkwardly perched on ledges, or outright floating in the air with the help of spiritual tendrils.

And dignified was certainly not the word that best described their current state.

In fact, if anyone had walked in without context, it would have looked like a very poorly coordinated group exercise session.

But to one sparkling little princess, it was the funniest thing she had ever seen.

Princess Nina giggled openly as D-29 hovered nearby, calmly issuing prompts with the seriousness of a professional director.

”A little to the left, Your Highness. Yes. Perfect. Please hold the flower gently. Remember, it is larger than your head.”

Nina obediently adjusted her pose, nearly disappearing behind the enormous bloom before peeking out again, clearly delighted. She gave a tiny wave for good measure, because if she was modeling, she might as well do it properly.

Before all of this very important work, she had already been thoroughly entertained by the elders.

The moment they gathered together, expressions solemn and focused, the little princess leaned forward with interest.

As if the beautiful scene before them wasn’t enough, there were apparently other ways to further heighten this place’s beauty.

Because standing by the edge of the serene stream, the elders opened their arms.

Light spilled outward.

From their palms, dozens upon dozens of luminous butterflies burst forth.

Yes. Apparently those were spiritual butterflies, and they shimmered with soft gold, silver, and pale blue hues. They fluttered upward in a graceful swarm, wings catching the light as they drifted through the air with delicate purpose.

The clearing transformed instantly.

The butterflies moved gently from bloom to bloom, brushing petals, scattering fine motes of light as they aided in pollination. The glow filled the forest, reflecting off the water, the flowers, and even the stunned faces of everyone present.

Princess Nina yelped in pure delight.

”They are flying!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her feet. ”Oh wow!”

It was beautiful. Quietly overwhelming. The kind of scene people talked about for the rest of their lives.

Thankfully, the entire spectacle was captured in perfect detail by the devoted system of her Brother Chipmunk. Otherwise, it would have been an unforgivable tragedy for anyone to miss.

And tonight’s documentation was really important.

After all, the big sister orcs couldn’t be present. They had long scheduled a private celebration and memorial so Princess Kira and Ada could both mourn and honor their people properly.

But with the blooming happening on the same day, Luca had hesitated only briefly before asking D-29 for assistance.

The system had taken the request to heart.

And as the only relatively free person not currently being asked to harvest flowers as big as her head, she assumed the role of modeling for moral and emotional support.

Which, judging by the number of narrowed eyes and tense expressions around the clearing, was sorely needed.

Because while the butterflies danced and the princess giggled, several powerful figures were discovering that crouching at the wrong angle while holding an extremely fragile, extremely valuable flower was a test of patience like no other.

And D-29 caught all of it.

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Duke Leander, in particular, was receiving some very pointed looks from the younger plant parent, Jax.

And they definitely weren’t subtle looks.

They were the kind of looks reserved for someone who had previously caused irreversible harm to his leafy children and their extended family and friends through sheer enthusiasm and good intentions.

Safe to say Duke Leander definitely noticed.

The guilty duke cleared his throat and very carefully adjusted his stance, hands lifted as if approaching a volatile beast rather than a flower.

Jax nodded once, approval granted but very provisional.

Thankfully, this time, no one was allowed anywhere near actual gardening or landscaping tools.

Instead, they were instructed to use spiritual energy.

Apparently, it was the best method. When guided correctly, it allowed the person harvesting to sense the flower’s own spiritual pathways and respond accordingly. No brute force. No enthusiastic hacking. Just careful feeling and precise intent.

It was a novel concept.

The newcomers, particularly Count Alexander and Countess Jenna, were openly astonished when they were suddenly asked to extend their abilities toward a plant.

Assess a flower.

Feel its pathways.

The count stared at the bloom before him, then at his own hands, as if questioning his own version of scientific knowledge.

And yet, after some hesitant trial and error, even he felt it.

A gentle pull. A natural flow. A clear sense of where the flower could be separated with the least harm.

His eyes widened as his attempt actually succeeded. Well, hopefully he got it right. For the tech expert didn’t want to be the next person receiving his son’s pointed looks.

But before anyone could get carried away, Elder Wei stepped forward, voice calm but firm.

”Remember,” he said, gaze sweeping across the group, ”only harvest about half of the flowers from each plant.”

Several people paused mid-motion.

”Make sure the ovaries remain attached to the plant,” Elder Wei continued. ”Also, when you harvest flowers that are in clumps, don’t use wide or careless slicing motions or you might end up damaging the ones closest to them.”

Heads nodded quickly.

From that point on, the forest was filled only with focused movements and hushed concentration.

Still, confusion lingered.

The flowers would wilt by morning. Everyone had already been told that. So why not harvest everything?

Would it not be more efficient?

Apparently not.

Because what they were truly hoping for was fruit.

That revelation rippled through the group like a second wave of shock.

Fruit?

The elders explained patiently that beyond the miraculous petals, the plant also produced fruit. Rare fruit. So rare that even they had encountered it only a handful of times in their extremely long lifetimes.

If the harvesting was done correctly, if enough flowers were left intact, the remaining blooms may actually fruit after wilting.

And that fruit?

That was something else entirely.

Just as expected, the moonlighting harvesters adapted as quickly as they could.

Hands that had been eager moments ago now moved with even greater care.

No one wanted to be the person who ruined the chance at something even the elders considered precious.