Chapter 54

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Translated by Sylph

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net.
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The bell rang seven times with a long, loud resonance. It was announcing 7:00 PM.

A cold sweat ran down Evi’s back as she remembered Irene’s earnest request that they must eat dinner together.

‘She’ll be waiting!’

Evi hurriedly headed toward the path in the bushes she had entered through.

“Professor, I have to go! I promised to eat dinner with Irene!”

“No, wait. That path is…”

Clois, who was about to say they should take the main road together in case she got hurt again, shut his mouth.

If they did that, she would see the guards protecting the entrance to the path.

If she saw him receiving greetings from the guards, she would be puzzled, and then if she thought it was strange who he was…

While he hesitated, Evi was already halfway into the bushes.

He thought she was just going, but she turned around and waved at him.

“Then next time, I’ll visit you at the professor’s office. Let’s meet there! Have a delicious dinner!”

Evi waved and said goodbye several times before disappearing inside.

Just like last time, Evi vanished in an instant today as well.

Clois looked at the path where the child had disappeared and then turned around.

Under the darkening sky, two tombstones were visible.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

Whenever he came here, he always neatly tidied up around the tombstones of his wife and daughter.

That was more important than anything else to Clois.

But now, he had completely forgotten about that task until Evi returned.

He moved his hands quickly under the darkening sky.

There was regret. However, he did not regret the time he had spent talking with Evi just moments ago.

After tidying up the area and hurrying back to his office, he ordered the Chief Chamberlain.

“Bring Seraphina, the Director of the Gifted Center.”

Evi had said she would visit the professor’s office.

Therefore, he had to prepare quickly.

* * *

A few days passed.

Evi now naturally took Irene’s hand and headed to the dining hall.

She no longer avoided people by going early or late.

The reason was…

“Ah, hello. Miss Irene!”

As she entered with Irene, a female student approached and greeted them as if she had been waiting.

“I am from the Loutiby family…”

“I know. Mary Loutiby, right? I think we greeted each other once before.”

“Yes! That’s right, you remember!”

Mary was very happy and, after sharing a short conversation with Irene, soon departed.

Watching that scene from the side, Evi thought.

‘The students are greeting us again?’

When Irene first turned her back on the children of the noble families, she had truly become a complete loner.

Whether she went to the dining hall or the classroom, the noble students looked away and pretended not to see Irene.

As if she weren’t even visible.

Evi was very upset by that sight.

Irene was someone who was always surrounded by many people.

Yet, for everyone to turn their backs so suddenly. How sad that must feel.

‘What if she regrets helping me?’

But contrary to Evi’s worries, Irene seemed very composed.

After a few days of that, the people who she thought would continue to ignore them began to change their attitudes little by one.

The first time was in the dormitory hallway. When Evi and Irene were walking together, a female student walked toward them from the opposite direction.

She thought the student would ignore them and pass by again, but she looked around and, after confirming no one else was there, bowed and wished them a good day before quickly disappearing.

Then, the number of people who spoke to them as if they were just saying hello because they were sitting next to each other in class increased.

As more time passed, there were people who approached as if they had been waiting, just like moments ago.

Irene did not keep those people at a distance. Not that she welcomed them excessively, either.

Perhaps because of that, the students who approached just gave a proper greeting and then withdrew.

‘And lately, there are people who greet me too.’

Evi remembered when she had gone to take a required subject alone.

She had purposely sat in a corner in the front row so that others would be comfortable, but the student who came in next looked around and approached Evi.

Then she spoke quickly.

“I-I’m Mire Haniel. Nice to meet you!”

Then, looking around, she continued speaking.

“I’m cheering for you! Other people will bully you a lot, but you must hold out until the end!”

Saying “as fellow commoners, let’s get along,” she scurried back to her seat.

After other students arrived, she didn’t talk anymore, but she gave a bright smile whenever their eyes met.

In the meantime, Irene had brought food even for Evi.

Evi settled in a spot where the sun shone well and received the plate from Irene.

Irene, who sat next to Evi as always, chuckled with a satisfied smile.

“Good, it’s according to plan.”

“Huh? According to plan?”

“Students approaching again. It’s going as I thought.”

Evi’s eyes widened at Irene’s words.

“What? You knew this would happen?”

What Evi had worried about for days was that Irene might feel lonely if she continued to be unable to speak to anyone.

But contrary to her worries, Irene was perfectly fine.

Moreover, she chatted well with Arcel and Ruska, whom she met during math class.

And after class, she always brought Evi to the dining hall along with those two.

During that time, she hadn’t said anything to anyone else, so why were people suddenly approaching again?

“Of course.”

Irene shrugged and said.

“It’s thanks to Arcel and Ruska. I don’t like it, but it was worth purposely continuing to eat together.”

She then explained it step-by-step to Evi.

The reason she had proposed eating together and came with them from the beginning was to show people that she was getting along well with them.

“And the rumor about me must have had some influence too.”

“What rumor?”

“Um, the rumor that I might marry one of those two later?”

“Marriage?”

“Quiet!”

“Mmp!”

Irene looked around once and then whispered in a small voice.

“It’s a boring story. One of them will become the Emperor’s adopted son, and there’s a story that I’ll marry the Crown Prince to supplement his legitimacy with the financial power of the South… Well. You probably don’t know what I’m talking about, right?”

Irene gave a short sigh as she looked at Evi, whose eyes seemed to be spinning.

“Yes.”

Evi answered in a dejected voice.

“Being smart and understanding these problems are different… Anyway, to put it simply, because those two are famous, people can’t treat us carelessly since we’re close to them, and might become even closer in the future.”

Evi nodded at Irene’s words.

‘It’s the same as not being able to act carelessly toward the friend of a strong person!’

That’s why the children at the orphanage who went to regular schools always stayed by the side of the strongest friend.

Because then the other kids couldn’t bully them.

While Evi was diligently understanding the current situation, Irene picked up a piece of fruit she had brought with a fork and put it in Evi’s mouth.

She then murmured.

“But I don’t know why they helped.”

Irene knew a bit about those two.

Arcel was cold-hearted. Ruska was on the friendly side, but he also mercilessly rejected those who approached him to benefit from his family’s favor, just like Arcel.

Since they were two people who had lived in such a world, they definitely wouldn’t have been unaware that she was trying to use them to gain an advantage.

They had helped too easily—no, rather, they had helped quite actively.

‘They didn’t exactly help me. No, rather than that…’

Irene looked at Evi, who was munching on the fruit she had given.

‘They definitely helped Evi.’

Ruska was somewhat understandable.

Because the Lagselve family was famous for their righteous personality that didn’t just stand by and watch such bullying.

‘But why is Arcel Kaylan continuing to be with us?’

Even if he was close to Ruska, there was no reason for him to continue being together like this.

‘I heard he has an incredibly cold, calculating, and efficiency-seeking personality. What on earth is the benefit for Arcel to be with us?’

Irene pondered while putting another piece of fruit into Evi’s mouth.

Thinking that she should just focus on fattening up this still-thin child for now.

“Evi, what’s the most delicious? Let’s have one more plate!”