Ch.220220 – I Don’t Make Crying Sounds

<220 – I Won’t Cry>

If Arcadia leaves.

If one less person remains to protect Oknodie.

Would it still be possible to protect Oknodie as before?

‘That’s absolutely impossible.’

Giselle was certain. More than half of the Dark Association members believed in Arcadia’s reputation.

The moment she leaves, a massive hole would form in the information network surrounding Oknodie.

A hole so large that even trying to cover it with one’s hands would be impossible.

‘There’s no time.’

She must save Arcadia Ceviche.

For herself, for the Dark Association, and for Oknodie.

Before the formal petition arrives and Arcadia is ultimately expelled from the Academy.

* *

After midterms ended, Arcadia regained her leisure time.

She was enjoying her tea party as usual.

“Hohoho. Today’s treats are from my secret collection that I used to enjoy in my homeland.”

“Wow! Secret collection!”

“Eight Palganchi Cheese buns with eight different sweet flavors. You can enjoy various sweet flavors from milk, eggs, and cheese in different ways.”

“Wooow!”

“How is it?”

“I want to eat it!”

“Hohoho. If you all chant ‘Thank you, Sister Arcadia,’ I’ll gladly allow it.”

“Sister Arcadia is the best! I love you so much!”

A satisfied smile spread across Arcadia’s face.

This child truly made all her efforts worthwhile.

Neither Oknodie nor the other followers would ever know how many days she had lived frugally to save points to bring these snacks.

“Mmmmm~! The cheese flavor spreads throughout my mouth.”

“Hohoho. You recognize it, don’t you? The true taste of Palganchi Cheese buns?”

“It’s like biting into clouds of different colors!”

“Hohoho. What an interesting expression. Even as a noble lady, I have things to learn from Oknodie’s understanding of fine cuisine.”

As expected of a secret bakery creation from the Kingdom of Florence, its price is considerably high.

However, some people disparage it as a symbol of mixed culture without roots, calling it a pathetic food typical of the Kingdom of Florence.

Oknodie never showed any sign of such hurtful words meant to wound others.

Sincerely.

Purely.

She simply enjoyed the taste and was happy.

Arcadia’s tired heart was truly healed by that purity.

‘If only other children could be as pure as this one.’

Oknodie doesn’t know how disappointed and heartbroken Arcadia feels whenever she catches her so-called followers saying different things behind her back.

She doesn’t need to know, and Arcadia will never let her know.

Purity is like an unstained blank page.

If it comes close to filth, it gets stained, and eventually the clean white drawing paper becomes covered in dirty filth.

You can wipe away the filth, but the stains that have seeped into the paper cannot be removed.

The heart becomes tainted.

‘It’s so strange.’

Oknodie should not have been able to remain pure.

The Wiheomhae Foundation.

If even half the rumors were true, it was an organization that exploited talented children through education bordering on abuse, treated those who failed to meet expectations even more harshly, and sold rebels to brothels and slave markets.

Its malevolence was no different from demon clans who spread evil while pledging loyalty to the Demon King.

Despite not even being a magical organization, it had a notoriety exceeding theirs—perhaps they too were a magical organization under the control of magical beings.

The masterpiece of such an organization.

Scholarship student Oknodie.

How could she possibly maintain her purity?

Arcadia had been watching her all along but still couldn’t find the answer.

A child who knows more than she appears to, yet simply wants to be cute.

A child who could become anything she wanted if she set her mind to it—if one couldn’t find healing in her gentle demeanor, where else could they find it?

She wanted to cherish this time a little more.

She wanted to enjoy tea parties forever.

She wanted to tempt her with new treats like raising a small animal, feed her, and tame her little by little.

Arcadia, who had been gradually realizing her usual gloomy desires without Oknodie noticing, was interrupted by an uninvited guest who burst onto the terrace.

“It’s terrible, my lady!”

“…To interrupt tea time, how cruel of you, Titosoga.”

This had better not be trivial.

I’ll give you a good scolding if it is.

Despite Arcadia’s reproachful glare, Titosoga paid no mind.

Honestly, he was scared, but attending Professor Sadaco’s lectures twice a week had given even the greatest coward some courage.

But it wasn’t just because of increased courage.

The fact that this cowardly Titosoga was holding back tears while saying they couldn’t freeze in fear was a sign that this was no ordinary situation.

“Rumors are spreading that ledgers containing your family’s shameful secrets will be made public. Urgent news from your homeland has ordered an immediate severance of relations with you, my lady!”

Spring and autumn always end abruptly.

Summer arrives suddenly, and winter follows just as suddenly.

Like seasons scattered by the wind, the emotions that had been floating gently sank in an instant.

Blood freezes.

Hands and feet turn ice cold.

A cold winter arrived in Arcadia’s mind as she had been enjoying her tea party in the flower garden.

* *

There is a communication room in the Academy.

Unlike visitations, it exists to deliver information when problems arise with a student’s guardian or supporting faction outside the Academy.

As a facility for emergencies, the cost is enormous.

It would be better to pay a little extra to send someone for a visit instead.

Nevertheless, students occasionally use the communication room when news is so urgent that there’s no time for a visit.

In that sense, the communication room, which would normally be empty, was now crowded with numerous students—a sign that something major had happened.

“Everyone? If you’ve heard anything about my family, please let me know.”

To Arcadia’s anxious question, followers who would normally have answered immediately now looked at her and each other with cold eyes.

This was the true face of those who had been busy hiding their emotions behind smiles.

“I’m sorry, my lady.”

“I have urgent business, so I must…”

She had been abandoned.

Since nothing was confirmed yet, her followers maintained minimal courtesy with honorifics and greetings.

But even from their attitude alone, Arcadia could tell.

You’re finished now.

Your downfall is imminent.

Was playing noble lady fun?

As if saying that, as if telling her that a different life from before would begin, they dispersed with subtle sneers on their faces.

There was not a trace of the respect or reverence due to a faction boss who had protected the provincial faction from the imperial faction throughout her Academy life.

“Such terrible people!”

“Don’t worry, my lady. We’re different from those traitors!”

Those who clung to her side and offered comforting words had cunning expectations in their eyes.

Their greed was too shallow and light to deceive the noble lady’s eyes.

“Ah, I, I…”

As she stammered, unable to accept this sudden situation, someone called to her from behind.

“Arcadia. Someone’s looking for you.”

“Zigoku? What business do you have with me…”

Their relationship was not good.

Zigoku knew.

She knew that the reason pirates flourished in the Kingdom of Florence was because of the Ceviche ducal family.

At the same time, she knew that Lady Arcadia was someone who faced her family’s karma without turning away.

Privateers who fed off the government were still pirates in the end.

If the Ceviche ducal family hadn’t existed, Zigoku wouldn’t have had her livelihood threatened and wouldn’t have become a pirate.

Arcadia belonged to that enemy family, yet was also treated as an oddity and heretic within her family for considering her family’s past shameful.

It was natural for them to maintain a distant relationship.

“Your narrow-eyed partner is looking for you. She said there’s nothing to gain by staying here and that you should find her as quickly as possible.”

In the midst of this crisis facing the Ceviche ducal family, Zigoku could have mocked and ridiculed her, but unlike the followers who quickly changed their attitudes, she responded with a businesslike demeanor.

Saying she was just delivering a message as requested.

That straightforwardness actually helped Arcadia regain her composure.

“My lady. We’ve heard some news too.”

“Our family will protect you, my lady.”

Girls making sweet, pleasant sounds.

Arcadia easily saw through their aim to absorb her position in the Academy and gently shook off the hands supporting her arms.

This was temptation.

Saying they would protect her in her predicament.

In exchange, give everything you have to us.

It was as cruel as relatives approaching an orphaned child to steal their inheritance, exploiting emotions.

“Thank you. I won’t forget your consideration.”

“My lady? Where are you going? Please, let’s discuss countermeasures with us…”

Arcadia gently shook off those who looked down on her and pulled at her arm, speaking in a calm tone.

“The Ceviche name may be heavy, but the name Arcadia is not light.”

“…!”

With that, I’ll be going.

The noble lady who proudly followed Zigoku demonstrated the strength of the human being, not the family.

Someone who depended on family prestige couldn’t be this dignified.

But Arcadia was different.

She knew.

She knew of a child who could forge ahead in life bravely without relying on someone else’s authority.

‘Compared to the unfortunate past Oknodie experienced, this is nothing. I can’t cry over something like this.’