Chapter: 79
In response to the hawthorn sapling gift, Louise decided to treat Irina to some macarons, considering the burden she might feel.
“She said she couldn’t come because she’s busy.”
However, Louise’s macarons never made it into Irina’s stomach. After dropping off a thank-you gift, Irina vanished without a trace, like a mystery novel with a poorly written ending.
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped.”
Louise said this with a gloomy expression, but honestly, it was expected. She mentioned that she had come just a few days ago because her club was taking a break. Unless Irina suddenly had a change of heart about her club commitment, visiting again would be tricky.
Thanks to that, Louise’s freshly baked macarons were devoured by her clubmates, who pounced on them like hyenas at a buffet. Those little rascals usually wouldn’t even look at her treats, so why the sudden interest?
“Oh, Oppa. Irina asked if you liked the gift.”
“The gift? I liked it. Didn’t I ask you to let her know?”
Since I thought it would be hard to see Irina in the clubroom again, I asked Louise to deliver my thanks. Besides, she wasn’t the type to forget a simple request.
“I told her, but she also asked if you mentioned anything else.”
“Really?”
Isn’t just saying thanks sufficient? The way she asked made it seem like there was more to it.
‘Did she hide something in the pot?’
Sometimes, people hide important items inside a plant, disguising it as a simple gift for transport. You could slip in money or documents based on the size of the flower pot. It’s a crafty method, really.
But would Irina actually go that far? The likelihood is low, but the fact that she asked again suggests there’s something amiss.
‘Was it sent by her family?’
If this were a gesture from the Earl of Yorun rather than Irina, that would make more sense. I should probably check when I’m alone.
The next morning, I cautiously replanted the hawthorn sapling back in the empty pot after refilling it with soil. If I wasn’t careful, it could turn to dust.
‘I must be crazy.’
The problem was how I assessed the heart of a blossoming 17-year-old girl with the twisted gaze of an adult. As soon as I stepped into the clubroom and shook out the flower pot, it was, of course, empty.
Seeing the barren pot and the poor sapling’s exposed roots made me feel utterly defeated. I had turned a perfectly fine gift into a heap of self-inflicted destruction fueled by paranoia. I’m so sorry, Irina…
I worried about the expression I’d wear if Irina happened to drop by while I restored the pot, but thankfully, my luck was not that catastrophic.
“It’s pretty.”
I said this, drawing in my admiration, though guilt swirled around with it.
I successfully restored the chaotic pot. The pure white petals seemed to scold my dark heart, making me feel so embarrassed. Yes, the best course of action is to leave the pot as it is. Who would even think to hide something in a flowerpot? Such a silly idea.
Irina must have picked the plant with care, wanting my thoughts on it rather than some hidden agenda. Surely, there couldn’t be anything else to it. That’s what I believe, anyway.
‘Damn.’
It stings.
*
After a series of hefty events—exhibitions, exams, and school trips—the academy fell into a tranquil silence.
With only the final exams looming, all that remained was the hint of vacation in the air. Naturally, the final exams would be less stressful because they didn’t include practical assessments. So now, it really was just vacation!
Only then did it hit me that the first semester of my first year was already in the bag. How will I endure till the second semester of my third year? Will they drop out halfway and head back to their countries?
“It’s almost vacation.”
“Yes, time flies.”
Sir Villar was probably praying for them to withdraw any moment now. Being assigned to protect a royal family member, he was eyeing a promotion once this mission wrapped up. If I were in his shoes, I’d prefer not to deal with the burdens of an extended assignment, thank you very much.
If such a ridiculous task was what led to a promotion, it would mean facing similar assignments each time something like this occurred. ‘Why the heck did I get stuck doing this in the first place?’ Ugh, life is unfair.
“Prosecutor?”
“Oh, sorry! Got lost in thought there.”
Just as I tried to pull myself together, Villar looked at me quizzically. It’s pretty rude to zone out in front of a guest, I know that!
“That’s understandable. My mind wanders too, especially as the day to return home approaches.”
“I see. It’s a pity I won’t see Sir Villar for a while.”
We exchanged smiles.
A pity, indeed? More like a blessing in disguise! For both of us, it would be best to keep our faces away from each other and live comfortably in our own lands. Unfortunately, that’s not on the menu.
“Really? But we’ll see each other again in the fall.”
‘Great, I’ll be in charge next semester too.’
“Haha, I suppose I need to find a gift for Sir Villar during vacation.”
‘Oh, you too? Because I’m definitely not getting out of this.’
Yet we laughed together on the surface while a shadow loomed in our eyes. We hoped someone else might finally come to replace us, but we had to face reality—we’d be here for another two and a half years.
I heard third-country developments say they’d reorganize their escort forces during the break. Of course, the updated roster would be submitted to the Empire, as per usual.
‘That was a rush.’
The sudden enrollment of key figures from the three nations was a shock for both sides. Typically, high-ranking official movements are planned a month in advance, so this was even more daunting.
Thus, what the three countries brought to the academy had barely scraped the bottom of the barrel for available personnel. To put it bluntly, this was a slapdash arrangement just to quell an impending disaster. So, a legitimate reassembly is necessary during the vacation.
Well, Sir Villar is an exception. He isn’t just part of the escort; he serves as a direct line to the Empire. Swapping him out now would just muddy the waters. Because of this, Villar gets the front-row seat to his other colleagues making their escape.
‘Who am I even worrying about?’
For the same reason, I was stuck keeping my title as Executive Manager of the Prosecutor’s Office at the academy. Not long ago, I thought I’d test the waters with the Minister, but instead of taking a joke, he shot back asking me to just carry on. What a jerk; I was being serious!
If Villar were to vanish, I’d have to forge new ties with the three nations. If I disappeared, Villar’d have to forge new ties with the Empire. If we both went poof, both sides’ relationships would entirely reset, leading to utter chaos. Why are they making us endure this nonsense?
“Would you like another cup?”
“Yes, please.”
While it looked like we were gearing up for a soju party, the reality was we were sipping decent tea. After all, school is no place for a drinking spree.
“Perhaps the princes are cherishing the first steps on their home soil after so long?”
‘Couldn’t your princes just come back and stick around?’
“Well, they’re rather set in their ways, so who knows? The Third Prince is quite the patriotic soul.”
‘Good luck with that! He didn’t even look back during enrollment!’
“How impressive. It seems noble blood carries a few gems of uniqueness.”
‘More like stubbornness to the core.’
And then, we quietly sipped our tea. Watching Sir Villar react as if I’d said something absurd made my stomach churn. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I only ended up hurting myself! Those bastards should just stay in their own countries instead of being a nuisance.
After emptying a few cups of tea, I finally managed to part ways with Sir Villar. Well, at least disappearing for the vacation wouldn’t be so bad.
As the sun peeked over the horizon, I grabbed the box gifted by the Gold Duke and headed toward the main building. I’d already informed the Principal that I’d be stepping out for a moment, so a quick trip should be fine; it felt like I was taking an early day off.
“Executive Manager, I’m here to escort you.”
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”
As I waited quietly, a magician suddenly dropped from thin air. Do these guys have a stock phrase they always use? They say the same thing every time!
Anyway, I arrived at the Ministry of Finance in a blink, and the magician nonchalantly went on their way. It’s almost too abrupt, isn’t it? But considering them as human couriers, I guess they’re always on a tight schedule. I wonder if they even have time for a bite.
“You’re already here?”
“Minister? How long have you been here?”
While I pondered the poor working conditions of teleporting magicians, the Minister chimed in from behind me. It hadn’t been long since dawn! Did this guy usually come in this early?
“I woke up early and came in.”
“They say you sleep less as you age.”
“Then what’s your excuse for being awake this early?”
I said that out of sympathy for my aging superior, but he shot back with a curt reply. He can’t even acknowledge concern when it’s offered. Seems like constantly being angry can twist a person’s ears as well.
“The homage service is still far off, so come in. The Prosecutor’s Office team hasn’t gathered yet.”
“Understood.”
I’d prefer to head in first, but since we needed to move as a group, I had no choice.
Their solemn memorial was also the day of commemorating the end of the Great War. Of course, we don’t hold special ceremonies for that. Everyone knows that “the Empire winning against nomadic tribes is a no-brainer.” But we gather at the National Cemetery for a brief moment of silence.
After all, a group remembrance doesn’t take long! I just needed to hang in there until it’s time to visit their graves.
“Oh, the Earl of Tailglehen will also be attending as a representative of Parliament.”
“Really?”
That’s quite unexpected! He’s been hardly active in external affairs since after the war.
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