Chapter 12

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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The next day, morning.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

At the continuing sound of the bell, Evi put down the textbook she was reading and looked outside.

The hands of the clock tower in the distance were pointing to eight o’clock.

It was the wake-up time for the Gifted Center. Of course, Evi had woken up much earlier and was already washed and dressed.

‘They said everyone should wear their uniforms and come down to the entrance by 8:30.’

Starting today, life at the Gifted Center would officially begin.

Taking into account that it would take time to get used to it, they said that this week would be followed by an orientation of the inside of the Gifted Center and a light explanation of the classes.

Standing in front of the mirror and checking her appearance, Evi opened the door to her room.

The morning sunlight was shining brightly into the entrance hall she shared with Irene.

Basking in the warm sunlight, Evi opened the window. A morning breeze that was still a bit cold rushed in.

Nevertheless, at the freshness that drove out the stale air, Evi stretched and laughed.

‘Everyone must be doing well, right?’

The friends at the orphanage all had a hard time waking up in the morning.

When the director’s voice calling them to have breakfast downstairs grew louder, Evi would throw the window wide open.

This was because the children, who were about to fall back asleep in the cold wind, would only then rub their eyes and get up from their seats.

Of course, there were also friends who begged Evi to close the window again.

Friend.

At the thought of her friends at the orphanage, Evi’s shoulders, which had been laughing, slumped down.

‘I wanted to make friends here.’

Just as much as the other students were surprised yesterday, Evi was also surprised that her roommate was the daughter of such an incredible family.

She had heard that roommates were assigned randomly, but she didn’t know that it would actually be true.

‘So I thought there would be a similar commoner roommate.’

If so, couldn’t they become a little close?

Eating together, going to classes together, studying together, and occasionally talking in each other’s rooms…

Before coming to the capital, she had read an essay written about the Gifted Center in the library of the upper school.

The author of the book wrote in detail about life at the Gifted Center, saying that they had spent time with friends like this.

Seeing that, she had dreamed, but her roommate was such an incredible person that she dared not even speak to her.

‘Still, Miss Irene is…’

Thanks to going on errands here and there, she was somewhat used to reading the other person’s mood.

So she could tell.

Unlike the other students who looked at her yesterday, Irene did not hate her.

What dwelled in her eyes was fluster and anger.

Even the anger that was visible disappeared after she said that the director was not like that.

Dong!

Evi, who was lost in thought, came to her senses at the sound of a bell that rang once shortly.

The bell of the clock tower rings a long bell according to the number when it reaches the hour.

One o’clock is once.

Two o’clock is twice.

And in between, every fifteen minutes, a short bell rings once.

Evi turned her head and looked at the clock tower. The hands were now pointing to 8:15.

‘I should head down soon.’

Even while thinking so, Evi was unable to leave her room easily.

The reason was precisely because of Irene.

‘I shouldn’t be late if I leave now.’

Everyone received guidance to come down to the entrance hall by 8:30.

It was the first official schedule of the Gifted Center. So she should go on time, but…

‘Is she still sleeping, perhaps?’

If so, she had to hurry and wake Irene up.

It was the moment Evi was about to knock cautiously on the door.

Knock knock knock!

Someone knocked on the door leading to the hallway. When Evi opened the door, the female students she had seen yesterday were standing there.

Upon seeing Evi, they frowned once and then waved their hands.

“To think you still haven’t left. Shouldn’t lowly things move more quickly?”

“Exactly. But have you been lingering in front of Miss Irene’s room like this the whole time? Surely you weren’t thinking of daring to knock on the door and speak to her first?”

Is that so—at the fierce gaze that made it seem like a hand would be raised immediately if she said that, Evi had no choice but to take a step back.

“I’m telling you in advance because it seems you might commit an impertinence, but Miss Irene is someone a thing like you cannot speak to recklessly. So don’t even slightly disturb her mood and go about while staying out of sight.”

“That’s right. She’s from a family of high nobles in the south. The Gifted Center made some mistake and you were assigned to the same room, but it’s certain that she will move to a new room. So don’t act annoyingly for no reason. Do you understand?”

“She’s also someone who is picky about her friends. Unless you’re from a family around our level, you can’t even be next to her. If you understand, get out quickly!”

They waved their hands at Evi as if chasing away a bug. And then they slammed the door shut.

Evi, who was kicked out of her own room, looked at the door for a moment before turning her body.

‘As expected, she already has many friends.’

It was only natural. It was said that nobles held unofficial social banquets from a young age and made close friends.

Even though she was said to be from the distant south, Irene would have already made many close friends in that way.

‘Still…’

Evi recalled the image of Irene bowing her head slightly to her.

‘It would be nice if I could at least say hello.’

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After Evi left, the students standing inside the door looked at each other.

“Did you see that child?”

“Yes. She was trying to knock on Miss Irene’s door.”

“What would have happened if we were even a little bit late?”

They let out a sigh of relief.

The fact that Irene Terence was entering the Gifted Center was only made known a week ago.

At those words, all the female students from noble families had their eyes sparkling.

Befriending Arcel or Ruska was only natural.

However, since they were male students, their dormitories were different, and in cases where there were classes that used the body such as swordsmanship or physical training, they often had to have separate classes.

But Irene was not.

Among the female students who entered the Gifted Center this time, she was truly a student who could be called a queen.

Because of her independent atmosphere and personal inclination as a southerner, she hardly ever attended the imperial social circles.

The most she had attended was only a year ago, during the festival of the Patron Saint.

On that day, Irene caught everyone’s eye with her beautiful appearance and extravagant dress.

Even though she was young, at her beautiful appearance where the future could already be seen, not only boys of her age but also girls had their eyes sparkling even more.

It was not yet known who would become the emperor’s successor, but everyone was saying it would be one of the two, Arcel or Ruska.

If so, Irene Terence was a perfect candidate for Crown Princess.

‘So we have to become close from now on.’

Just being the daughter of the wealthy Terence family, there were many benefits to becoming close.

But the future Crown Princess?

No matter what happened, they had to become close.

So, as soon as Irene came to the capital, they went to find her.

Saying it was their first time meeting her, saying who they were that had contacted her by letter several times, and saying let’s get along well in the future, they spoke without rest.

If it was a relief, it was a relief; Irene didn’t particularly keep them away.

But she didn’t act friendly either.

Even yesterday, after asking them to go to the cafeteria first, she just quietly listened to their chatter without saying anything special there.

‘She must be nervous. Even though she’s a high noble from the south, after all, didn’t she come here all alone?’

‘She’s surely lonely because the capital is unfamiliar. We have to become her closest friends at this time.’

Everyone knocked on Irene’s door with their own ambitions in mind.

Then the door opened soon. Irene, dressed neatly in her uniform, bowed her head slightly and greeted the students.

“Hello, Miss Irene! Good morning!”

“It must have been a lot of trouble preparing alone since the morning… Miss Irene, would you also like to secretly use a commoner child like a maid? I heard Miss Ezriella brought her vassal’s child and is using her as a maid.”

“Oh my, I should have done that too. Should I try to find one even now? Come to think of it, that commoner we kicked out a little while ago might do well if we give her maid work.”

At that time, the eyes of Irene, who had been listening to their chatter expressionlessly, narrowed.

“You kicked her out?”

“Yes. To think she didn’t know her place and was trying to knock on Miss Irene’s door? It seems she was going to dare to greet you first.”

“So we scolded her sharply and sent her out. If she has any sense, she won’t bother Miss Irene again.”

They were triumphant, as if that action were something to be proud of.

Because of that, they did not notice that Irene’s gaze looking at them had become sharp.

Irene muttered with a cool expression.

“If I hadn’t made a promise with my sister, I would have really… these things…”

One of the female students who heard her muttering smiled brightly with an expression completely different from when she treated Evi and asked.

“Pardon? What did you say, Miss Irene?”

Irene moved her steps without even looking at the student.

“Let’s go down quickly. There’s not much time left.”

Irene passed right by them and went down alone.

At her behavior, which anyone could see was cold as a winter wind, the students looked at each other.

“Did we… do something wrong?”

“W-well, who knows?”

They, who really had no idea at all, hurriedly chased after Irene.