Chapter 4

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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‘Arcel? Ruska?’

Evi looked at the two people who helped her.

Evi did not know, but both were children of the most prestigious families in the current Empire.

Arcel Kaylan was the third son of Duke Kaylan’s family, the first-class contributor who fully supported the current Emperor Clois and enabled him to ascend the throne.

Since he was young, he had already revealed his genius in all fields, and since he had two older brothers above him anyway, there was no big problem with family succession.

Moreover, because he had met the Emperor often since he was young, people said the Emperor would take him as an adoptee.

Also, Arcel was the person with the highest grades among the students entering the Gifted Center this time.

From philology to mathematics, physics, and even tactics and swordsmanship.

Truly, Arcel was a boy for whom the word genius was not a waste.

And Ruska was the same. The fourth son of Marquis Lagselve’s family, the other force that supported the Emperor along with Duke Kaylan’s family.

Unlike Arcel, who was always calm and polite, he was a boy famous for frequently spitting out rough words and having a fiery personality.

However, when he got angry, it was always when he fought instead for the weak.

Therefore, Marquis Lagselve, famous for his upright character, used to be proud of such a personality of his son who resembled him exactly.

Although Ruska lagged a bit behind Arcel in academic parts, his physical abilities as a knight were superior.

Among his peers, he already showed overwhelmingly superior skills and was even capable of sparring with the knights of the Imperial Palace.

Children of the families with the highest probability of becoming the Emperor’s adoptee and effectively possessing the most powerful authority in this Empire.

Therefore, all those entering the Gifted Center also aimed to become close with these boys.

But to be marked from the beginning.

“There, what’s the matter?”

The staff who was leading ahead noticed the disturbance in the back and approached.

Then Arcel spoke to the fallen boy.

“It’s nothing much. Is that not so?”

The fallen boy nodded his head vigorously at Arcel’s words.

He realized his intention to quietly pass over the incident just now.

“Yes, yes! It’s nothing much! I just fell!”

The staff looked with a suspicious gaze for a moment, but because they had to move quickly to the Gifted Center now, they soon turned their body and went to their position.

When the staff left, Ruska, who was standing beside the boy, tapped the boy’s shoulder and whispered softly.

“You, consider yourself lucky today.”

It was a word full of a quite threatening nature, but the boy nodded his head vigorously again and went toward the place where the other children were as if fleeing.

After the boy disappeared, Evi bowed her head to the two people.

“Thank you for helping.”

At Evi’s greeting, the moment Arcel was about to say something, the staff waiting in front of the Gifted Center greeted the arrived children.

“Evi! Evi Alden! Where are you?”

When her name was called, Evi looked at the two people in embarrassment.

Arcel looked toward the staff as if understanding and spoke to Evi.

“It seems you are being called, so go ahead.”

At Arcel’s words, Evi bowed her waist again to express gratitude and then hurried to the staff.

Then Ruska approached Arcel and spoke.

“That’s unusual? To think I’d see the sight of you taking care of someone?”

Ruska was sincerely surprised.

Who was Arcel?

People would fall for his handsome appearance and praise Arcel as being like an angel or perfect, but he knew well the true appearance of Arcel, who had no mercy.

A fellow who did not have the slightest interest besides the work he had to do.

Words like benevolence or kindness were words that did not exist in Arcel’s life.

For such a fellow to suddenly help a commoner girl he saw for the first time?

Ruska put his arm on Arcel’s shoulder while looking at Evi who had gone to the staff.

“Is that kind of kid your taste? If the young ladies who hang on you find out, they’ll surely make a fuss about coming dressed like that right away.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Arcel spoke coldly and then struck away Ruska’s arm placed on his shoulder.

“What. Then why did you help?”

“Because I was curious.”

“What are you curious about?”

“…”

At Ruska’s words, Arcel shut his mouth.

On the day his admission to the Gifted Center was confirmed, his father, Duke Kaylan, called him and spoke.

“It’s the top admission.”

“I see.”

Arcel was not happy. Because he thought it was a natural result.

Already among his peers, as well as the children of noble families who were several years older than him, there were none who surpassed Arcel’s grades.

So it was a natural thing to be the top admission to the Gifted Center.

At that time, Duke Kaylan opened his mouth again.

“But it would be good to be nervous. Because there is a child who would surpass you if they were in the same conditions as you.”

“Pardon?”

“Because there is a child from an orphanage who is the second highest after you.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know the name either. I heard it is a commoner child. They said it is a child His Majesty the Emperor personally picked in this Gifted Center admission screening.”

“His Majesty?”

“Yes. He surely picked not because he had particular interest, but as a warning because the conduct of the ministers was pathetic… but it is clear that they are a smart child.”

Duke Kaylan spoke like that and then smiled toward Arcel.

“I think they are younger than you… I think they would become a good friend with you.”

“Are you thinking they wouldn’t become a good rival for me?”

“It’s one and the same. Aren’t you getting along well with Ruska?”

“That fellow is a bothersome lump.”

“My. If Marquis Lagselve hears, he will jump up and down saying what kind of reckless remark is that to my son.”

Arcel did not answer further to his father’s words that spoke as if teasing.

He didn’t ask more, but after that day, Arcel was concerned about the child the Emperor had picked.

‘A commoner and from an orphanage. Yet passed the upper school exam at age 7. And that with nearly a perfect score?’

Arcel also received a perfect score. However, Arcel took the exam at an upper school in the capital, and that child took the exam at an upper school in a countryside city.

So it was said that even with the same perfect score, Arcel’s score was evaluated higher and he was recognized as the sole top scorer.

The more he chewed it over, the more Arcel was curious about that child.

Indeed, if he had lived in an orphanage and studied, would he have been able to produce the same results?

So he thought he should look for what kind of child they were when he entered the Gifted Center.

And today, without even the need to look, he could recognize at a glance who that child was.

A small girl hugging a bag made of cloth tightly and looking around with a nervous face.

Since there was already a distinct difference in appearance, he could see other children walking while being a bit distant.

Therefore, Arcel was able to approach the girl’s side more comfortably.

‘Is 7 years old correct?’

The youngest age that can enter the Gifted Center is 7. However, the girl looked even younger than that.

Under the sleeves of the clothes made of rough cloth but well ironed, thin wrists as if dried were visible.

At that sight, Arcel let out a sigh for no reason.

As it was an orphanage in a countryside city, it seemed that the food situation was not good.

Then, the incident happened when he was about to approach closer to examine more closely.

“Hey, Arcel?”

As if wondering about the still Arcel, Ruska called him.

“Are you really interested in that kid?”

“I just prevented the child His Majesty the Emperor personally picked from being embroiled in trouble from the first day.”

At Arcel’s stiff voice, Ruska made a face as if it were uninteresting and locked his hands behind his neck.

“Yes, yes, I’m sure you did. You’ve already become a loyal subject.”

At that time, the staff called Arcel and Ruska’s names.

“Stop talking useless things and let’s go quickly.”

“Fine. Anyway, I heard the dormitory of the Gifted Center has two people using one room; I wonder if you and I will be able to use it together?”

Ruska shrugged his shoulders and then ran to the staff as if excited.

Arcel, who was walking behind such Ruska, turned his head without realizing it and looked at the place where the girls were gathered.

He could see Evi standing alone as no one still approached her side.

‘It will be hard to get along well like that.’

Arcel turned his head.

If the fact that she is the child the Emperor picked becomes known, she will receive the envy and jealousy of other children while in the Gifted Center.

Moreover, she is young; will she be able to endure the disregard of the nobles?

‘Still…’

Arcel thought he hoped Evi would hold out for a long time in the Gifted Center.

Then he ended up being surprised at his own thoughts.

‘Why me?’

When did I ever see that child to be giving such worry?

‘If that child quits early, it’s just unpleasant as if His Majesty’s will is ignored. It’s also a thing that doesn’t fit the ideology of the Gifted Center.’

Like that, Arcel persuaded himself while even thinking of the ideology of the Gifted Center.

Now they are a child unrelated to him anymore.

However, in his head, the image of the girl who was bowing her head while carrying a bag as big as her body kept coming to mind.