CHAPTER 28
A few months passed, winter break ended, and it was now time for the academy to accept new students.
Lennox hesitated at the young marquis’ unexpected suggestion after entering his room.
“Len, what do you think about entering the academy?”
The recommended age for admission was between ten and twelve.
Lennox, who had turned twelve earlier in the year, was at the upper age limit.
Callisto recalled the conversation he had previously had with Clemence.
“Callisto, please send Lennox to the academy.”
At first, Callisto didn’t understand Clemence’s suggestion.
With threats still looming over Lennox, why risk exposing him?
But Clemence had provided a clear answer.
“No, it’s actually better to keep him somewhere crowded. That way, no one can mess with him easily.”
Once again, Callisto was impressed by Clemence.
“She’s always so meticulous and thorough.”
When they had first met at the academy, his impression of Clemence wasn’t very favorable.
Even when someone asked to borrow something, she never lent it out, and if someone was crying, she’d walk past without a word of comfort.
Cold and stingy—that’s what Callisto thought of her.
“How did we even become friends?”
A memory surfaced.
Callisto’s study notes were the most sought-after exam prep material at the academy. Many classmates frequently asked to borrow them.
One day had started off like any other.
“Cal, I had a headache last night and couldn’t sleep… Could I borrow your notes?”
Unable to say no, Callisto handed them over.
Just then, Clemence snatched the notes away.
“Last year, I couldn’t take notes because I was grieving my parents. So I’ll be borrowing these, Callisto.”
The student claiming a headache had no choice but to walk away, grumbling.
As soon as they left, Clemence handed the notes back to Callisto.
“Even if you’re kind, you don’t need to give everything away. You spent your precious time writing those notes.”
Despite being raised to be considerate to everyone, Callisto had felt strangely relieved in that moment.
It seemed contradictory to his values, but he never forgot it.
That was how they had become close.
“…Are you going to the academy too, young marquis?”
“Yes, I am,” Callisto replied with a nod.
“Then…”
Lennox began to speak but stopped.
“Will Clemence Jacqueline be at the academy too?”
He couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Somehow, both the young marquis and the swordsmanship instructor, Aaron, were trying to hide Clemence’s existence.
“Why are they doing that?”
That only made him more curious.
He had learned from his time in the criminal underworld that idle curiosity was one of the fastest ways to invite misfortune.
But this time, he couldn’t suppress it.
Instead, Lennox asked:
“Did you make friends there, young marquis?”
“Oh yes, I met some really good friends,” Callisto said with a genuine smile.
“Is Clemence Jacqueline one of them?”
Lennox quietly analyzed.
From their previous conversation, it was obvious that Aaron, the sword instructor, knew Clemence Jacqueline.
And Aaron had also been a student at the academy.
That meant the academy was the common link between them.
“Yes, I want to go.”
Lennox quickly finished piecing it all together and nodded.
Callisto misunderstood his enthusiasm.
“He must want to make friends.”
After all, Lennox had no family. Of course he’d be lonely.
Callisto’s face darkened with sympathy.
But Lennox had only one thought on his mind:
“If I go to the academy, I might see her there…”
Clemence Jacqueline.
If he saw her with his own eyes, he could confirm if she was truly Rose.
At that time, in the study of Countess Jacqueline…
Clemence was flustered by Melin’s sudden request.
“You want to go to the academy?”
Only then did she realize that Melin had turned ten this year—old enough for admission.
One thought immediately crossed Clemence’s mind:
“But Lennox is there.”
Even if she had changed the original story by supporting Lennox, if the two protagonists met and locked eyes…
The plot might resume, even partially.
She didn’t want to leave any possibility for that.
“No, you can’t.”
“Why not?”
“…Because—”
Clemence couldn’t bring herself to say it was because Lennox was there.
It wouldn’t be a convincing reason unless she revealed his true identity.
“But wait a minute…”
A new suspicion crept in.
“Why do you want to go to the academy, Melin?”
“…”
Melin was silent, thinking back to the previous day.
After wandering around the capital without permission, she had been grounded.
But before that punishment, she had said something to “Ren”:
“Let’s meet again this time next week!”
So the previous evening, fearing he might wait for her, she escaped using the help of spirits.
She knew how painful and lonely uncertain waiting could be.
And when she saw him, she told him:
“Heeeng… I can’t come out anymore. This is the last time. My sister said I can’t.”
Ren stayed quiet, then spoke:
“She must really care about you.”
“Is that what it means?”
“Yeah. It means she’s worried about you.”
At that, her mood instantly lifted.
“She cares about me?”
A goofy smile spread across her lips.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
“I’m going to the academy too. I won’t be around here anymore.”
“What’s the academy?”
“It’s where your sister goes.”
That reminded Melin of her sister attending the academy.
“Really? Is it fun?”
“…I don’t know. I’ve never been.”
Ren blinked slowly, his face blank.
“Hmm… I see.”
Melin fell into thought.
Lately, her sister barely slept, juggling work and tutoring her.
She remembered the yawning, always-tired expression.
And she grew gloomy again.
“It’s because Melin isn’t smart…”
She felt like a burden to her sister.
[No, Mel. That’s not true,] whispered a spirit nearby.
But her mood didn’t improve.
She looked at Ren.
Maybe the emotionally distant boy would give her a straight answer.
“Ren, do I seem clingy to my sister?”
“Yeah.”
“Heeeeng…”
His blunt answer made her even more sullen.
“Do you think my sister finds me annoying?”
He stared at her, then tilted his head.
“Who knows?”
Tears welled up at the uncertain response.
“…If that worries you, just go to the academy too.”
“The academy?”
A sparkle lit up in Melin’s eyes.
“That’s where Sister went, right?”
She remembered how cool her sister looked in court, more heroic than any fairytale warrior.
If she went there too, could she become like that?
“Plus, Sis will be there—so I won’t be lonely!”
Not a bad idea.
“Academy? Out of nowhere?”
I looked at Melin in disbelief.
“I want to be a cool person like you, Sis!” she declared, her little fists clenched and eyes shining.
“And… you’ll be at the academy too!”
“I’m not there anymore, though.”
“Huh?”
“I’m in my final year. I’ll be graduating soon.”
At my questioning gaze, asking if she still wanted to go, Melin’s face hardened with determination.
“I want to become someone who can stand on her own, like you!”
I was stunned.
“Was Melin always like this?”
In the original story, like most heroines in dark fantasy romance, she was meek and submissive to everyone.
But the Melin standing before me was completely different.
It was… kind of moving, actually.
But—
“Melin… are you confident you can pass the entrance exam?”
The problem was that the Esland Academy required passing every subject with at least 60 points.
“Huh? Entrance exam?”
Her tilted head and blank expression told me everything I needed to know.
“…You didn’t know?”
“Nooo! I knew! Melin totally knew!”
Yeah, she didn’t know.
Her wavering eyes gave her away.
