episode_0025

At the royal academy where various classes and ranks converge, a solemn oath is taken during the entrance ceremony for first-year students.

It is a pledge to not use one’s status or position for academic learning.

Under the sacred education, one engraves the fact that everyone is equal and that innate superiority does not prevail in the unique world of the academy.

Thus, one enters the academy at the age of 16 and graduates at the age of 19.

And in the year of turning 20, one debuts formally in society to demonstrate the knowledge and wisdom learned at the academy, entering the world of adults.

Therefore, the academy is also a place where one learns and gains experience in advance for that world.

Communities are formed based on social classes, promises of interaction are made among similar regions, partners are chosen for debut in society, and flattery and bribes begin to take place to climb the social ladder – that is what the academy is for.

It is a place where academic learning and life studies happen simultaneously.

In that intense learning environment, there was someone who could not find any connection.

Ariel Elond, the Countess of the upper nobility.

She was an indifferent figure who did not pay any attention to the flattery and bribes of the nobles below her.

From life studies to advance into the world of adults, academic learning to become an excellent talent, and even the hopes of her parents for her to become the top graduate of the academy, Ariel simply ignored everything and spent three years only focusing on the academy library.

Naturally, she had no close friends, no community to belong to, and no knowledge of how to socialize with the upper class.

Her presence was close to zero.

She had no interest in academics or socializing.

Yet, she managed to enjoy herself alone.

Her bag, the size of her body, was filled with novels instead of textbooks.

Even though the maid worried that she would become a bookworm, Ariel was happiest when she stuffed her bag full of novels.

For Ariel Elond, it was inevitable that she had no friends from her school days.

Academic achievements were out of reach in the fierce competition of the lower ranks.

Being the youngest of three sons and three daughters, she was free from the strict scrutiny of her parents.

For three years, she read all the novels in the academy library and on days without lectures, she would inquire around the surrounding territories to find new books to read.

The royal academy is located in the central capital of the kingdom.

There was no way someone with a superficial understanding of this harsh and distant land would exist, and even if there were [fellow students from the royal academy], there was no reason for them to seek her out.

She had difficulty interacting with people, her personality was not amiable, and although she could have built friendships if she wanted to, she chose to spend her time alone as she could not afford to lose her reading time.

She delved deep into the abyss with a few like-minded readers.

Unfortunately, they all liked romance novels, so she could not share her thoughts.

Nevertheless, it was not difficult for her to identify the guest who came to her on this ambitious night.

Due to the rules of the final evaluation, Ariel could not know that it was impossible for candidates to go out at night, so it was natural for her to identify Elden’s name in her mind.

“The guest has been escorted to the reception room.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

What could be happening at this hour?

Wait, I never told him where my residence is?

How did he know?

With every step, Ariel piled up questions as she made her way to the reception room.

Arriving at the place where two knights guarded the entrance, she entered through the opening door and naturally called out his name.

“Elden…?”

What’s going on? Ariel’s lips remained sealed as she should have asked that question.

It was a woman.

Standing by the window with her hood off, the woman with white hair symbolizing the northerner caught Ariel’s attention with her unfamiliar back.

A strange sense of unease washed over Ariel.

Carefully, she asked, “Who… are you?”

There were no northerners among her academy classmates.

Of course, not all northerners had white hair, but it was a distinctive trait associated with those from the north.

After a moment, the woman turned away from the window.

Her dazzling white hair, clear blue eyes, sharp nose, red lips, graceful jawline, and slender neck captivated Ariel’s gaze.

It was a familiar face.

However, that face was clearly aging, with hints of deep crimson in her red hair.

“Hehe. Long time no see, Lady Ariel.”

“Uh…?”

Upon hearing her voice, a name that seemed vaguely familiar but elusive came to mind.

Ariel struggled to recall the name, but the woman helped her by brushing off the end of her white hair.

“Oh, you must be confused because of my hair color. It’s me.”

“Ah, wait.”

Finally, the name pieced together in her mind.

The student who had blue eyes contrasting with her red hair.

The student who was more passionate about academics than anyone else, living in a place far from her own, making the possibility of a reunion close to zero.

“Erinsia… was it…?”

“Hehe. I’m glad you remembered. It’s an honor to greet you, Lady Erinsia Velroc, the Marchioness.”

The optics enthusiast Remyang and the bookworm Ariel.

Two seemingly different but similar individuals were beginning their reunion.

**

“Clumsy.”

“….”

To be looked down upon so contemptuously.

Thanks to my overwhelming reflexes, there was only a minor collision.

Tsk.

Brushing off my buttocks, I stood up from my seat.

“It was an accident.”

“Still, it was quite natural.”

“After all, it was the master who initiated the surprise tackle, wasn’t it?”

“It was just to test your reflexes.”

Not really.

It was clear that I wanted to vent my frustration on the blushing fanfiction reader who didn’t get the refreshing release they expected.

As if understanding my intention, Rachel averted her gaze when I glared at her.

Walking the right path, she clearly wasn’t good at lying.

Of course, it was a commendable quality for a bodyguard protecting her employer.

“So, how did you confirm it?”

“It wasn’t bad.”

“Good to hear. Let’s continue then.”

“Yes.”

After a late-night training session that left me exhausted, I was now returning to the annex with Rachel.

We had trained so intensely that my limbs were wobbly.

If we continued training like this for a few more days, I might evolve into a tardigrade.

I’m not sure if it’s evolution or devolution.

“Thank you for your hard work, Rachel.”

“Will you be training tomorrow as well?”

“If the evaluation ends early.”

“Yes. I’ll be ready.”

Struggling to reach the annex, we entered through the main gate, and the steward Rendler hurried over to me.

Following him, the Chief Counselor Geld was visible.

Approaching me, Geld leaned in and spoke softly.

“Your Excellency.”

“What is it?”

“The Chief Counselor Geld has something to report.”

“…Report?”

“Yes.”

“You should have received it.”

“That… The Grand Lady insists that it must be delivered personally.”

…Hm.

Is our heroine trying to encourage me to participate in another battle?

Since the approval of the withdrawal declaration had not arrived, I looked at Geld with a somewhat skeptical gaze, and he handed me a message.

“Hehe. Nice to see you again, Lord Elden. You seem to have had a tough training session, judging by your sweat.”

“It’s not easy, is it? By the way, what brings you here at this ambitious hour?”

In response to my question, Gelwood politely gestured for a walk towards the garden in the annex.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you spare some time for me?”

Although I wanted to refuse, I was curious.

Curious about what he wanted to convey on this ambitious night.

Curious about why the lady of the house chose to convey her message through a third party.

So, I followed Gelwood to the moonlit garden on this ambitious night.

**

Crunch, crunch.

In the ambitious night garden where the birds slept and the fireflies worked tirelessly, it was filled with tranquility and peace.

Walking there under the moonlight was a pleasant respite.

If it weren’t for Gelwood’s presence, it would have been a cozy and warm garden, perfect for contemplation.

Amidst the tranquility and peace, Gelwood’s voice was heard.

“Among all the gardens in your estate, this one is the most beautiful.”

“It’s my first time walking here today, and it’s truly magnificent.”

“Haha. I’m glad you like it.”

Next to the power of the king, Gelwood, an influential figure, the garden in the annex boasted a grand area.

Compared to the grandeur and splendor of a duke’s garden, it was slightly different due to the harsh land where life struggled to take root.

Filled with coniferous trees instead of evergreens or deciduous trees, a garden where snowdrops lined the path instead of flowers.

As we enjoyed the scenery, Gelwood’s voice was heard again.

“The final evaluation before the formal meeting will take place tomorrow.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“I appreciate the effort you’ve put into participating in an evaluation that you don’t even like as the companion of the Grand Lady.”

“It’s not too difficult. I’m just following the minimum duty that should be done.”

“Do you have any thoughts of withdrawing your intention to forfeit?”

With a solemn reply, Gelwood asked directly.

And after the declaration of forfeiture, the first question that followed seemed to carry a certain intention.

A desire for withdrawal.

Unfortunately.

“I have no intention of withdrawing.”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

Gelwood stopped walking.

What a shame.

It seemed to be quite a biased sentiment for the Chief Advisor who should maintain neutrality in any case.

“What do you mean by ‘that’s a shame’?”

Gelwood smiled and handed me a neatly folded note.

I received it.

“I’ve participated in the marriage tournament five times, but this is the first time a candidate has received a note from the protagonist. So, my mission is done, I’ll take my leave.”

Gelwood nodded and retraced his steps.

…Does this mean that if I withdraw, I could become a strong candidate for victory and become a person of the Grand Family?

It was one of the most chilling stories I had heard recently.

Thinking that there was one more reason not to withdraw, I unfolded the note.

“There should be a cave 800 meters northeast of the starting point. I hope you win in the evaluation tomorrow. In fact… I fell in love with Elder Gongja at first sight.”

I folded the note.

After looking around, I dug into the ground.

I put the note inside.

I made a cross with thin twigs on top, then covered it with dirt.

I pressed it firmly with my hands to prevent it from being discovered.

Then I ran back to the annex.