Episode 59
Lloydin didn’t miss a single moment as Ayla closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
He didn’t want to let this time together slip away, even for a moment.
Contrary to his calm appearance, he was desperate and anxious.
As he had told her, everything was still okay for now.
But time was running out.
It was almost time.
The time was rapidly approaching for him to leave for that place where death lurked.
He might come back alive, but if luck was against him, he might never return to that place where he existed for a reason.
Watching Ayla, whom Ian called his sister, his heart fluttered for a moment but then cooled down.
What kind of kindness was Ayla showing to him and Ian?
Every time he asked her, she answered very simply.
Everything she showed him was just part of the contract.
If he heard that again today, he felt like he wouldn’t be able to endure it anymore.
The emotions he had been holding back seemed to collapse all at once.
He could control himself when he could stay by her side, but not now.
So he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Are the feelings you show me just part of the contract, and there are no other feelings?
If she says there aren’t, then what should I…?
“Ayla.”
Lloydin gently stroked her sleeping face.
Yes, everything is still okay.
And even if he leaves, he can come back.
He just needs to come back somehow.
That’s what he kept telling himself.
But even in this moment that she didn’t know, his feelings for Ayla were uncontrollable.
Lloydin quickly embraced Ayla.
*Sigh…*
A deep sigh burst forth along with the longing for her, but Lloydin continued to strive to suppress those feelings of longing and anxiety that surged up in him throughout the night.
* * *
Day by day passed quickly.
Ian met with Luke twice a week to learn fencing.
From the first day, the two of them managed to get along quite well, to the point where they now appeared to anyone to be like brothers.
And along with that, the day for Ian to return to the academy was approaching.
Despite my assurances to help in any way I could, Ian’s expression grew progressively worse as the days went by.
Seeing Ian like that made me a bit anxious as well.
I wanted to resolve things to some extent before Ian returned to the academy, but there was no sign of a response regarding the investigation from the academy.
Deciding that I would have to go there myself to sort things out, the next day, as if by magic, a response came from the academy.
While I was in the study handling the affairs of the duke, Riya came in and handed me a letter.
“Madam, a letter has arrived from the academy.”
“From the academy?”
“Yes.”
“Give it here.”
After receiving the letter from Lia, I quickly read through it.
“Hmm, so they persist in denying it to the end?”
To summarize briefly the response from the academy:
Edward McKellan, who had allegedly been violent towards Ian, denied any such incidents.
Despite the warning given that day, the behavior displayed afterwards was deemed unacceptable by Mrs. McKellan and her son, who were outraged and perplexed.
Still, the outcome according to the investigation was quite satisfying.
In addition to explaining the delay in response, the academy’s independent investigation revealed that Edward McKellan had not only been violent towards Ian on this occasion but had done so multiple times, leading to his expulsion from the academy.
While I hadn’t expected it to result in expulsion, it was refreshing to know that justice was served.
This news would likely cause quite a stir in noble society.
Since several students had been harassing Ian, now he could take precautions and be careful.
However, if a person doesn’t directly suffer consequences, they may repeat the same behavior.
Even if things quiet down for now, the students who were tormenting Ian were still at the academy.
I had no intention of letting that slide.
I wanted Ian to be able to make friends and attend the academy in peace, so I wanted to uproot the problem no matter what.
But wait, there was a witness?
I carefully reviewed the response from the academy.
Fortunately, there was a student who witnessed the incident that day at the bookstore. The witness testified that Ian Brighton, a student at the academy, was being harassed, even at the academy.
A witness.
There were indeed people at the bookstore, but who would have thought there was a student from the same academy as Ian?
The student’s name was Dalia Camos. During the investigation, it was discovered through the bookstore owner that Dalia Camos was indeed present at the scene that day.
Dalia Camos?
Could it be…?
As soon as I saw the name Dalia written in the letter, my mind went blank for a moment, and a chill ran down my spine.
How could such a coincidence happen?
A witness turning out to be none other than the protagonist of the original novel.
Wait a minute, could it be?
The girl I met at the bookstore that day suddenly came to mind.
The girl had the same silver hair and blue eyes as the original female protagonist.
“Wow.”
Why didn’t I recognize her?
No, I couldn’t have.
It’s impossible to recognize someone you met by chance based only on their outward appearance and what’s written in a book.
“Madam?”
I heard Riya calling me cautiously, as if sensing that something was off with me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I managed to gather myself and set aside the multitude of thoughts rushing through my mind, folding the letter I had just finished reading and placing it in the drawer.
“Should I start with sharing the good news with Ian?”
Deciding that, I immediately focused on what needed to be done.
“Where is Ian now?”
“He’s reading a book in the garden.”
“Really? Then I should go there too.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare right away.”
After confirming Ian’s whereabouts, I got up from my seat.
I knew where Ian would be.
There was a large tree in the garden, and Ian liked to sit under it and read.
Having spent quite a long time with the Brighton brothers, I had a good idea of their favorite spots and foods.
Approaching the tree, I found Ian engrossed in his book, unaware of my presence.
“Ian.”
Calling out to him cautiously, Ian looked up and glanced at me.
“Were you reading?”
Ian indeed loved books.
With no friends to speak of and his brother not around often, books seemed to have served as his companions during those lonely times.
I felt a mixture of bitterness and admiration at that thought.
“Yes.”
“What book were you reading today?”
Instead of answering, Ian showed me the cover of the book.
“A novel? What’s it about?”
“Just… a story about friends going on an adventure.”
“Wow, that sounds fun. Can I borrow it later?”
“Yes, of course.”
After his response, Ian stared at me intently.
His eyes seemed to be asking why I was here.
“I received a response from the academy.”
Surprised, Ian straightened up.
“From the academy?”
“Yeah. That’s why I came to tell you.”
At first, Ian’s expression was filled with tension.
Without delaying any further, I continued speaking, knowing how he might be feeling.
“The academy has decided to expel Edward McKellan.”
“Expel?”
Ian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Yes. They made the decision after investigating not only this incident but also the continuous harassment you faced within the academy.”
“Ah…”
Ian’s expression was complex.
It seemed like he was devoid of any emotion yet somewhat relieved, or maybe there were various emotions that were hard to describe, even for me.
Seeing him like that, my heart felt heavy, and I was overcome with a mix of emotions.
“To think that such things happened continuously within the academy, how could that even be possible? Ian, have you been enduring this alone all this time?”
Ian didn’t respond to my words.
He simply looked at me silently and mustered a disappointed smile.
But that was enough of an answer.
“And fortunately, there were witnesses.”
“Witnesses?”
“Yeah. It seems there were people who witnessed what happened both at the bookstore and at the academy.”
Ian, who had no idea what was going on, looked bewildered.
It was understandable.
At this point in the story, Ian and Daliah were not acquainted at all.
It was much later in the original story that they met at the academy.
“Did I change the original story too much?”
