Chapter: 69
The road to Boyar itself was without any issues. With hundreds of members from the Student Council passing through, it was a route carefully mapped out, and the lords of the territories along the way were equally eager to maintain public order, fearful of any blemish happening to the Academy’s procession.
If anything were to happen to the Academy students in their territories, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe. These weren’t just any noble offspring; among them were royalty, future saints, and the like. If even one of them whispered, “That territory is lacking,” an inferno of trouble would await them in the future.
And as if that wasn’t enough, I later found out that the Gold Duke had pressured the lords. If an accident were to occur on the way to Boyar, people would remember it less by where it happened and more that it happened on the road to Boyar. You could bet they scrutinized it with blazing eyes.
‘If I had known, I wouldn’t have gotten involved.’
I’m sorry, but I never thought the Gold Duke would take it so seriously.
Worried that something mundane like a rockslide, landslide, or bandit attack might occur on the road to Boyar, I subtly dropped hints to the lords of the territories. I can’t even begin to imagine how the lords felt after getting hit from both sides by the Gold Duke and the head of the Inspection Department. But hey, at least everyone was united in their efforts to ensure safety; that was nice to see.
“I’m just going to look around for a moment. We’re leaving in 30 minutes, right?”
“Yes, go ahead.”
So there I was, off without a hitch, stopping for a brief rest in a city. This was essentially the last rest stop before we hit the tollgate, meaning we’d have to stay cooped up in the carriage until we reached Boyar. If it felt stifled already, it was time to get some fresh air while I still could.
Unfortunately, the one girl I really shouldn’t bump into had the same idea.
“Irina?”
“Ah, H-hello?”
Irina sounded like a broken wind-up doll. I had crossed paths with this wandering girl. If I had met her while on a stroll, I might have managed to take another route, but fate decided otherwise — I ran into her on the way back to the carriage. This was basically the only way back, leaving me no escape route.
I had a feeling this would happen, so I tried to make my return early, but it seemed like Irina had the same thought. Our minds are oddly in sync… and that kind of telepathy is rather unwelcome.
For a moment, I seriously considered sprinting past her or feigning that I had left something behind to justify my retreat. But if I blatantly attempted to avoid her now, it would only land me in a more awkward situation than this unplanned encounter already was.
‘Would it be better just to lean into the awkwardness?’
Thinking it over, I couldn’t imagine how it could get more awkward than it already was. Honestly, it might be a better choice than being alone with Irina.
I noticed Irina trembling pathetically beside me. Tears were forming in her eyes, and she bit her lips as though trying desperately not to cry.
‘This is going to drive me insane.’
Meanwhile, the primary source of my trolling, the 3rd Manager, hasn’t even laid eyes on any members of the Yorun family since that apology, and here I was, left in this ridiculous situation. If Irina were a seasoned noble, I might have just handed her something to cheer her up, but alas, she was still just an innocent lady.
The stain of the Inspection Department sure did run deep.
*
I barely suppressed a scream. Enen clearly had it out for me. Every morning, I prayed and dutifully made my offerings but… it wasn’t fair…
‘I should have just stayed in the carriage!’
Inside, I lamented my rash decision. The pressure of being confined in a small space with the head of the Inspection Department, the anxiety of when he might suddenly flip, and the fear of disturbing his sleep… Each thought was a brick in a wall of panic. My concocted excuse of going for a stroll seemed flimsy among all my emotions.
I knew that the head of the Inspection Department had disembarked before me from the carriage, but what were the odds of bumping into each other in this sprawling city? Regardless, I hurried back just in case, yet here we were. I went out seeking to calm my trembling heart only to feel even more anxious.
At least inside the carriage, I had Louise and Erich. They would stand beside me in case of any emergencies. The Inspection Department head spent most of his time sleeping, so I rarely had to face him. But look at me now — I went out and bingo, a face-to-face encounter!
‘Should I just run away?’
But where? We met on the main road, and escaping would be impossible. Plus, would being so overtly evasive be appropriate? What if he took offense at that?
I understood that our family’s innocence had been established, and we even received an apology from the Inspection Department. But that didn’t change the fact that the incident had occurred. There was no guarantee something like that wouldn’t happen again.
They might just be plotting to pin another blame on us to erase their previous error. There have been cases in history where nonexistent offenses were fabricated in a bid to exterminate family lines. The moment I slip up, my family might find themselves targeted once again.
What am I going to do? How do I handle this?
“Irina.”
“Y-yes?!”
I shuddered reflexively at the sound of the Executive Manager’s voice. I had never stood in front of a judge, but was this how one felt when your name was called in court?
“Go ahead. I left something behind.”
“Ah, yes.”
I watched dumbly as his back turned, returning to the previous path. Something he left behind? But he had brought only a small bag, and he left it in the carriage.
That being said, it’s not my concern. Perhaps he bought something in the city. I didn’t know what it was, but it was a stroke of luck that he forgot it. Thanks to that, I managed to distance myself from him.
Sob—
The tension escaped my body, and I sank to the floor. I still felt like a rag doll being juggled by the Inspection Department, and a few tears slipped out. I quickly pulled myself together and hurried back to the carriage. We would be in trouble if he emerged and we were walking side by side again.
“Ah, Irina. You’re back already?”
“Yes, I just got some fresh air.”
Louise beamed as I squeezed into the carriage. Seeing her lit a spark of inexplicable sorrow that made me hug her tightly. Oh no, I felt like I might cry again.
“Hehe, that tickles.”
Though she said that, she held me close and didn’t push me away. I was grateful for that. It was warm… I felt like my heart was settling, even if just a little…
Erich shot me a curious glance, but I chose to ignore it. Please, just understand — it was terrifying due to your family!
“Good thing I’m not late.”
Not long after, the head of the Inspection Department returned.
‘Empty-handed?’
Contrary to what he’d said about leaving something, he had returned looking the same way he did before. Was he lying? For what reason? Please don’t tell me he was trying to put distance between us!
‘Why…?’
In my confusion, I merely stared at his hands. It felt akin to seeing someone spit on the road and then pick up litter by the curb. Kind or strange? It’s really hard to pick.
*
There really wasn’t anything left behind anyway. It was a hurried lie to create space between me and Irina before she could cause a scene. In the end, I ambled about unexpectedly before returning to the carriage. I almost didn’t make it back in time!
As I opened the carriage door, I found Irina snuggled against Louise, whining softly. If that brings her comfort, I suppose that’s great. Stay right there.
“We’re heading straight to Boyar, right? It’s a real distance.”
“Yes, indeed.”
I casually replied to Erich’s complaint. Boyar was located at the southernmost tip of the vast Empire, probably the furthest from the Capital of the five duchies. If I needed to visit Boyar, I would always require a teleportation mage to accompany me.
Traveling there by carriage was akin to taking a ship to Jeju Island instead of a flight. If it were a leisurely trip, I might enjoy the journey. But for work? You’d have to be nuts to find that enjoyable.
Well, what mattered now wasn’t Erich’s grievances or even the distance to Boyar.
‘Why is she acting like that?’
When we met on the road, she absolutely wanted to stay as far from me as possible. But now, it seemed she was covertly looking my way. She wasn’t staring outright, yet in such a confined space, I couldn’t help but feel her gaze upon me. If I couldn’t notice the gaze of one measly student, then I had totally squandered four years.
Yet every time I turned my attention to Irina or moved my hand, she shrank back, trembling. It was as if she were a child afraid of being hit by an adult, leaving me feeling uneasy.
‘She really was hit pretty hard.’
I hadn’t actually laid a finger on anyone, but her family had taken quite a beating collectively. The 3rd Manager was a jerk for sure! The damage he inflicted upon a bright young lady in her prime was deplorable.
Because of that, I chose to endure Irina’s inexplicable gaze in silence. Considering the antics from the Inspection Department against the Yorun family, I figured I could manage a bit of discomfort for now.
Upon crossing the boundary into the Boyar Duchy, we quickly arrived at the central hub. The Gold Duke had put in considerable effort into the roads to ensure traffic flowed smoothly. He had the mind of a true craftsman.
“It’s magnificent…”
Louise’s words drew nods from Irina and Erich as they all stared out the window. It truly was magnificent! With being the Empire’s primary economic center, its level of advancement was astounding.
The final destination of Boyar’s roads — a colossal harbor where ships navigating the continent docked — and the golden city where the ruler of gold, the Gold Duke, resided. I found myself wondering if it was fitting for a city, not the capital, to hold such a grand title as the Golden City.
Anyway, we reached Pkope, one of the ten major cities in the Empire, and the heart of the Boyar Duchy.
‘What a journey!’
I could finally break free from the awkward silence with Irina.
Stealing a glance, I noticed she was glued to the window like Louise, taking in Pkope’s lovely sights. She looked genuinely pleased, and that was a relief.
I’ll make sure to avoid appearing in front of her throughout this school trip.
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