Cardien’s gaze fell upon the remaining two students who were silently holding their breath as if it was none of their business.
As his eyes met theirs, the two students trembled nervously.
In front of them was Count Drake, who was in a state of despair.
“The scene you witnessed just now, make sure to report it to your parents.”
“…….”
“Because it’s not someone else’s business.”
“…….”
Cardien approached us, leaving the stiffened children behind.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah… yes.”
After staring at him blankly, I snapped out of it and looked at Vincent.
Vincent was equally dazed, but he nodded with a look of astonishment on his face.
I took one last look at Count Drake and the children sprawled out like they’d lost their breath, then took Vincent’s hand and walked away with Cardien.
There was no conversation as we left the back corner of the building.
I was feeling conflicted about the situation.
‘Is this… considered a success?’
I couldn’t help but think back to the cruel smile Cardien had worn earlier when he hadn’t even allowed Drake to beg for mercy.
‘But…’
I glanced downward for a moment.
A red flush had risen on both of Vincent’s cheeks.
His ruby-colored eyes were sparkling as he looked at Cardien.
Didn’t Cardien look like a hero in Vincent’s eyes right now?
‘That’s all that matters.’
If their relationship progressed like this, it was better than anything else.
Moreover, even if Count Drake’s family were to fall, it was a minor noble family.
‘The fact that he’s involved in human trafficking and illegal casinos is common knowledge to those in the know.’
However, the complex and extensive web of relationships surrounding this matter made it impossible to interfere recklessly.
‘But if it were Mercedes, it would be a different story.’
Mercedes had enough power to ruin not only Count Drake but also all the families connected to him.
‘It’s just that he didn’t feel the need to.’
Count Drake, who didn’t fully understand this and allowed his son’s recklessness to go unchecked, was the reason for his impending downfall.
‘Would things have turned out differently if he had genuinely begged for forgiveness?’
I don’t know.
Even if Vincent had forgiven them, the downfall of the Count and the two boys would have been certain.
‘Vincent may have forgiven them, but Cardien will never forgive them.’
This is what it means to incur the wrath of the Duke of Mercedes.
‘But…….’
I looked at Vincent, who had an excited expression and smiled.
Perhaps through this incident, Vincent might be able to overcome some of his trauma.
‘Indeed, coming here was a good decision.’
I felt a sense of satisfaction in my heart and looked at Cardien.
Maybe it was my imagination, but his back felt even more reassuring.
* * *
Stepping back out into the center of the campus, I checked the time.
12:25 PM.
The meeting is about to start.
We slowly made our way to the auditorium building where the meeting was being held.
By the time we got there, there were about 10 minutes left until the meeting started.
I confirmed the location once again and was about to enter the building when.
“Livia!”
Suddenly, someone rushed toward me and pulled me into a tight hug, addressing me with a familiar title.
Beyond him, I could see Cardien’s face, slightly startled.
Then, his expression turned dangerously fierce, and he took a step towards me, causing me to instinctively push him away with a loud yelp.
For some reason, it was almost a reflexive action.
I stared at the man in front of me, grinning from ear to ear.
Fiery red hair, magenta eyes, and an intellectual yet light-hearted demeanor.
‘Jeffrey Cuspert.’
A genius who became a professor at the age of 28.
He was the youngest among the academy’s professors.
‘He’s still the same. ‘
Jeffrey, who was now 34 years old, looked like he was in his twenties just by his appearance.
Approaching with a warm smile, Jeffrey opened his mouth.
“Livia, how long has it been?”
“It’s been four years since graduation.”
“Time flies so fast… It feels like you were just following me around saying ‘Professor’ not too long ago.”
“…….”
I blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed.
‘Back then, I didn’t have many friends……’
So, I deliberately created conversation topics and followed Jeffrey around to avoid looking like a loner.
Jeffrey’s personality was so light-hearted and cheerful that it made it even easier to interact with him.
As we exchanged pleasantries, I suddenly felt a tugging at my clothes.
“Tutor……?”
Vincent clung to me, looking up with concern in his eyes.
“Oh, who’s this child…?”
When Jeffrey showed interest, Vincent clung to me even more closely, looking wary.
I awkwardly smiled and introduced him.
“This is my student.”
Knowing I was a home tutor through Anna, I didn’t add any further explanations.
Jeffrey’s eyes widened.
“Your student is that…….”
And when his mouth was about to form the ‘Mer’ sound.
“Tutor.”
Cardien, who I don’t know when he came, stood close to my other me.
Suddenly, I was sandwiched between the father and son, and I looked up at Cardien.
But Cardien’s eyes were fixed on Jeffrey, not me.
Jeffrey, too, noticed Cardien and widened his eyes.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering who I should introduce first, but then turned towards Jeffrey.
‘Because Cardien is a Duke and an outsider.’
It was right to introduce Cardien to Jeffrey first.
“Professor, this person is the Duke of Mer……..”
I was about to finish my sentence when.
“Professor! Something urgent has happened!”
In the distance, a male student came running, gasping for breath.
“Lord Kasa, what’s going on?”
“That…… graduate who was supposed to give a speech at the meeting is not coming.”
“What?!”
Upon hearing the report, Jeffrey exclaimed in surprise.
“What should we do? Changing the schedule or order is impossible.”
“It can’t be…”
It seemed that there was a problem with the gathering.
At this point, I decided to take Cardien and Vincent and slip away quietly.
After all, our appointment was right after the meeting.
‘Besides, Cardien seems a bit off.’
Cardien had his usual expressionless face, but my gut feeling told me something was wrong.
He seemed to be in a very foul mood.
‘Plus, Vincent is sticking to me like glue for some reason.’
Fortunately, both of them were following me obediently.
Alright, as long as we disappear safely…
However, at that moment.
“Ah, Livia!”
A distraught Jeffrey glanced back at me.
Then he was running towards us, faster than the distance we had just covered.
At that moment.
“……?”
I stared blankly at the backs of the two men in front of me.
‘What are they doing?’
As if erecting a barrier, Cardien and Vincent stood between me and Jeffrey.
Vincent had even spread his arms out.
But Jeffrey didn’t seem to mind. He raised his voice from behind them.
“Livia! It might be sudden, but can you give a speech at the gathering?”
“What?”
For a moment, I didn’t understand what Jeffrey was saying.
I soon understood and was astonished.
A speech is not the name of someone’s dog, and suddenly, what was he talking about!
I immediately shook my head.
“It’s impossible! I don’t have a script or anything, and suddenly giving a speech…….”
“You managed the graduation ceremony speech just fine, didn’t you?”
“Is that the same as this?”
I had stayed up for several nights preparing that speech!
Even if they gave me some time, it would still be difficult, and now they wanted me to do it on the spot?
“No, absolutely not.”
I firmly shook my head in refusal.
In response, Jeffrey slumped his shoulders.
“I guess there’s no other choice… then we’ll just let the gathering turn into a disaster.”
What? Did he really say that?
I looked at Jeffrey with incredulous eyes, finding his attempt to appear pitiable quite absurd.
Even if he did that, it was absolutely not an option.
It was then.
“Then how about this.”
That was when Jeffrey changed his expression and looked at me.
“If you come up on stage, I will reveal my lab to you. Livia, you’ve always been interested in my lab, haven’t you?”
That was because of the research paper…
In that moment, like a lightning bolt, I had a realization.
‘Wait, what was Jeffrey’s major? ‘
And an answer followed immediately.
Theology.
