Chapter 58

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

In the heart of spring, amidst a flurry of colorful petals, the auditorium at Roxen Academy was crowded with students gathered for the entrance ceremony. The nervousness that came with such an unfamiliar place quickly faded, replaced by the flutter of anticipation evident on every face. It was a perfect day, filled with a gentle warmth that seemed to herald new beginnings.

…If only the headmaster’s endless speech weren’t quite so tedious.

Of course, among the new students, there was one whose clear eyes shone brighter than all the rest…

“My goodness. Doesn’t she find that never-ending speech boring at all?”

“Honestly. Maybe that’s what it takes to be top of the class.”

Good. Very good!

Even though she pretended not to care, Evelyn couldn’t help but perk up her ears, a proud smile blooming on her lips at the mention of her own reputation. Roxen Academy was renowned not just in the Baltian Empire but celebrated even abroad as a school of great prestige.

And she had managed to enter at the very top of her class.

‘It seems all those long winter nights spent studying weren’t for nothing, after all.’

The special tutoring she’d received from the eccentric genius, Viaton, had certainly paid off. At this rate, could she perhaps even graduate as valedictorian?

Suppressing an unfounded confidence that kept tugging at her lips, she pressed her mouth shut with determined modesty. The truth was, she was feeling far more elated than usual. For the next three years, she would finally be free from the tiresome fate that bound her to her fiancé.

Thinking of Axion, whom she had left behind in the capital, she suddenly recalled one of their past conversations.

“Ahem. I’ve been accepted to Roxen Academy.”
“Really? That’s good news.”
“What, is that all you have to say?”
“Why, were you hoping for congratulations from me?”

The day she received her acceptance letter, Evelyn had all but flaunted the news to her fiancé. Yet Axion had only smiled with his usual, leisurely calm as if it were no surprise at all.

‘Why did he have to invade my thoughts today of all days?’

For some reason, she couldn’t shake a lingering sense of unease.

His name hadn’t appeared anywhere on the entrance ceremony list…

Yes, it must be nothing but needless worry. She wasn’t about to let anything spoil the sense of accomplishment she’d earned through such hard work, now that she’d finally made it to the academy.

“Freshman representative, please come forward and give your speech.”

“Ah, yes… Yes!”

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

Just a moment ago, she hadn’t felt the least bit nervous.

Perhaps it was the relief of finishing her speech in front of the entire student body, but now, with the tension ebbing away, Evelyn’s legs suddenly felt weak beneath her.

As she stepped down from the podium, her face drained of color, a nearby professor looked at her with concern.

“Oh my, Lady Evelyn, are you all right?”

“Yes, I think I must have been a bit more nervous than I realized.”

“It’s only natural to feel that way on such an occasion. Still, you did splendidly.”

The professor suggested that, since there was some time before the next event, she might enjoy a bit of fresh air. Evelyn nodded in agreement.

“Then, I’ll just step out for a moment.”

It was only once she found a quiet spot and let the soft breeze wash over her that her nerves truly began to settle.

“Aah, I can finally breathe again.”

She couldn’t help but marvel at how, around this time last year, Viaton had managed to stand in that very same place. In any case, just as she breathed a deep sigh of relief at having made it through the moment unscathed—

“At this rate, you’ll end up leaving a hole in the ground.”

Huup—

Was someone else here?

Startled by the sudden voice, Evelyn turned her head with an awkward smile.

“Haha, I doubt that’s enough to leave a dent in the ground…”

In that instant, her green eyes widened as though she’d seen something she shouldn’t have.

‘…Am I seeing things?’

Standing right before her was someone who absolutely shouldn’t be here. Evelyn rubbed her eyes again and again, but reality stubbornly refused to change.

“What, why are you here…?”

Her voice was laced with shock, but Axion replied in his usual unruffled voice.

“Hm, I must say, I’m a little disappointed by your reaction.”

Despite his words, however, there wasn’t the slightest trace of disappointment on his face.

At least try to sound sincere when you lie, you rascal.

Evelyn, her patience at its limit, pressed her throbbing forehead and shot a glare at her fiancé.

“Seriously, what are you doing here?”

The young man, as if she were asking something perfectly obvious, let a lazy smile tug at his lips.

“My fiancée ran off without so much as a word, after all.”