Chapter 10
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Sitting on the hard bed in the dormitory, I blankly stared at the window where the morning sunlight was shining through.
Looking at that peaceful scene, I felt like everything I had experienced so far might have been a dream.
Today was the day the transfer exam results would be announced.
Originally, I had planned to find Raven and leave this island regardless of the exam results.
“He’s a member of the student council, he’s ruthless about school life. His loyalty to the school is incredible. He’s the Dean’s lapdog.”
“You’re going to take your brother and leave school? No way. Raven definitely won’t think about leaving this school until he graduates.”
“You want me to call him? A way to meet? The only way is for you to enter the school yourself. Raven doesn’t even listen to us. Well, maybe he’ll listen if his sister came. I’ll pass on the message.”
The reason they call Raven “Crazven” is because his personality is really like a crazy person, they say.
Could they be mistaking him for someone else?
To call the kind, innocent, and gentle Raven “Crazven”… this doesn’t make sense.
But…
I recalled the letter I received from Raven just before hearing the news of his death.
That letter full of inexplicable hatred towards me.
Could Raven have been going through a terrible puberty since entering this school?
‘Perhaps taking Raven out of school won’t be easy.’
If Raven doesn’t cooperate willingly, it might be better to stay by his side and protect him constantly.
In that case, it would be better to go through the formal transfer procedure and enter the school.
So, in the early morning, I visited Gloria Bank, the only one in the island village.
Checking the balance in my bank account, fortunately, there was enough for living expenses for about a year with Raven.
Just in case, I’ll have to somehow get a scholarship for the school tuition.
‘If necessary, I should be able to find part-time work on the island.’
I cashed out the living expenses and tuition and left the bank.
On the street, I could see villagers bustling about from the morning.
Regardless of age or gender, everyone’s faces looked peaceful.
Somehow, it reminded me of Chesswind Village which I left behind, making me feel melancholic.
What on earth was that village? Why didn’t I have any suspicions? I’ve always thought I was quite sharp.
Lost in thought, I walked slowly and discovered a cafe at the edge of the village square.
♥ Staff Wanted ♥
Weekends from noon to 8 PM
※Saint Gloria Private School students preferred※
I couldn’t help but be drawn to the notice seeking part-time employees.
I reached into my pocket again, fingering the envelope of money.
Considering Raven’s living expenses and tuition, I did need a bit more money.
‘I guess I should consider working at the cafe too.’
After clearing my complicated thoughts with a morning walk, I returned to find Leonard waiting for me at the dormitory.
I wondered why he was here again, then remembered I had asked him to pass on my message to Raven.
As if reading my mind, Leonard got straight to the point.
“Craz… I mean, I passed on your message to Raven yesterday. He told me not to talk nonsense. He didn’t even believe you were on this island.”
“Did you give him the handwritten letter I wrote? He would believe it if he saw my handwriting.”
“No. He didn’t even look at the letter. Did you do something wrong to your brother?”
I couldn’t answer Leonard’s question. I couldn’t fully believe this situation myself either.
Somehow, I felt that even if I met Raven, he wouldn’t believe what I said.
How strange and frightening the things I experienced were, how hard I struggled to get here to meet him.
I had an ominous feeling that Raven might not even care.
Perhaps my dejected mood showed on my face, because Leonard, who had been quietly watching me, put his arm around my shoulder and joked,
“You’re the first woman to make me, the Ramsport heir, run errands for you at the first meeting, Hastings.”
Appreciating his effort to comfort me despite our recent acquaintance, I decided not to nitpick his old-fashioned comment.
I checked the time on my pocket watch and packed my things.
“It’s already this late. The transfer exam results must be out. Let’s check it.”
“What’s there to check? I’ll be first place anyway.”
Leonard said confidently.
I just smiled and followed him.
🐈⬛
“No way.”
Leonard muttered, looking at the bulletin board where the results and rankings were posted.
1st place – Melody Hastings (Perfect score)
My name was written on the top line.
2nd place – Leonard Norton Ramsport (90 points)
Leonard’s name was written below mine. 90 points, that’s impressive.
The line through his name must be because he doesn’t qualify for the transfer exam conditions. It’s been invalidated.
“I’ve never seen a perfect score on the transfer exam before. Damn, a perfect score? How can anyone get a perfect score on that exam?”
Leonard looked at me with disbelief.
“Hastings, tell me. You’re not human, are you?”
And because he called me ‘Hastings’, attention was drawn to us.
Just then, a teacher came out and shouted in a loud voice.
“Alright. Check the results and those who passed, please follow the transfer exam procedures. And our perfect score student, please come this way.”
In the end, I moved with a lot of attention from people.
Following the teacher, I arrived in front of the Dean’s office of Saint Gloria Private School.
“He’s a member of the student council, he’s ruthless about school life. His loyalty to the school is incredible. He’s the Dean’s lapdog.”
Suddenly, I remembered what Leonard had told me.
He said Raven was the Dean’s lapdog.
I became curious about how it had come to that, and what kind of person the Dean was.
Maybe I could find out why Raven changed after entering the school. Maybe I could find a clue about his death a year later.
The teacher who guided me to the Dean’s office smiled and patted my shoulder.
“It’s nothing much, Miss Hastings. Usually, the top students have a meeting with the Dean once every quarter. He’ll give you a few words of encouragement.”
I cleared my throat and thought about what information I could gain from this situation.
‘They said Raven was the Dean’s lapdog. I need to figure out if the Dean is using Raven, or how he thinks of Raven.’
With these thoughts, I followed the teacher into the Dean’s office.
The Dean’s office wasn’t as intimidating as I had thought. It looked like a neat office.
The most noticeable thing upon entering was a statue of an elderly man with an unfamiliar face.
Below the statue was written “Saint Gloria Private School Founder: Charles Winchester”. So, it was a statue of the founder.
Past the statue, up about half a flight of stairs, was the Dean’s office.
Sitting in front of an elegant desk made of ebony was an old man with a stern and stubborn-looking expression.
🐈⬛
Thank you for reading! ♡
