14 - Can I Cry Now?
Chapter 14
The staff from each dormitory greeted each other warmly first and discussed how they would proceed.
In the meantime, students who were acquainted exchanged light greetings.
But in the end, everyone's gaze rested on the same people.
Among the male students, Arcel and Ruska were the center of attention, and among the female students, Irene naturally drew the eyes of others.
It was only natural, as she was such a talked-about student.
"Hello, Arcel. It's nice to see you again here. I believe I greeted you at the Greenhouse Banquet last winter..."
"Ruska! I sent you a letter before entering the Academy for the Gifted. I hope it was delivered well? I..."
Especially the female students surrounding Arcel and Ruska were very proactive in talking to them.
It was because everyone was convinced that one of them would become the Emperor's adopted son.
'But there's no guarantee that the one who is chosen as the adopted son will have to marry Irene Terrence, is there?'
Some people judged that it would be dangerous if the Terrence family's power grew more than it already had.
So, they might not do it with the Terrence family at all.
If so, they would also have a chance.
Arcel and Ruska were valuable not only because of their families but also because of themselves.
People who would shine anywhere, anytime, even if they were not nobles. And they had honor, wealth, and status.
Moreover, they no longer had to wait to meet them aimlessly at the occasional banquet as before.
If classes or extracurricular activities overlapped at the Academy for the Gifted, they could spend much more time together and build friendships, which was incomparable to the social scene.
Naturally, they would become closer.
Although they were only in their early teens, it was about time for noble families to decide on engagements.
Therefore, the eyes of the female students looking at them sparkled even more.
"Lady Irene, wouldn't you like to go and greet them?"
The female students beside Irene were also eager to greet the two.
But Irene glanced at them and turned her head.
"I haven't been formally introduced to them yet."
At Irene's words, the female students became anxious.
They thought Irene was already acquainted with the two.
So, they thought that if they were by Irene's side, they might meet them more often.
Then, they could take care of their friendship with Irene and also take care of their friendship with the two, creating a good relationship.
'Why is she so cold?'
Irene really didn't show any interest in the two and instead just looked around as if searching for someone.
As Irene looked around, Ibi was standing among the people, looking at Arcel and Ruska.
When she first saw the two, she thought of going over and greeting them out of joy.
But before Ibi could take a step, people flocked to them and surrounded them.
They were all students from noble families. And all of them were prominent.
Limora, who had been showing off her brooch next to Ibi with confidence until just a moment ago, was also the same.
She hovered around them, unable to get close to the two.
Seeing that, Ibi couldn't bring herself to greet them.
The two had helped her, but that was it.
To them, she was just another student they had briefly helped on their way inside.
So many people were flocking to them just to say hello...
'They wouldn't remember.'
Moreover, what made Ibi even more intimidated was the attitude of the two.
At first glance, they didn't seem to have changed from before.
But Ibi could tell.
'Somehow... they both seem to be in a bad mood.'
Their faces didn't seem much different from what she had seen yesterday.
But there was an unknown, faint shadow on Arcel's expressionless face and on Ruska's face, which was smiling as usual.
'They look tired.'
Not only that, but somehow both of them seemed to be grieving about something.
But she couldn't tell anyone what she felt.
Even if she told other people, would anyone listen?
It would be fortunate if it ended with just being ignored.
They might glare at her, saying, "Who do you think you are to pretend to know?" and act presumptuously.
So, Ibi could only watch the two from a distance with a heavy heart.
Ruska greeted the people who flocked to him appropriately and glanced at Arcel.
As expected. His usually expressionless and cold face looked even colder today.
Ruska gently grabbed Arcel's shoulder and whispered.
"Cheer up. You look like you're about to kill someone."
At those words, Arcel brushed off Ruska's hand roughly, as if annoyed, and said.
"Go look in the mirror. Who do you think you're talking to?"
As Arcel turned away, the smile on Ruska's face disappeared.
"Is it that obvious?"
"It's a mess."
At Arcel's answer, Ruska gave a bitter smile.
He had tried to look the same as usual, but it seemed he had failed.
Ruska recalled this morning.
\ \ *
"Haa!"
With a rough breath, Ruska kicked off the blanket and got up from his seat.
After taking a few rough breaths while sweating, he looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and ran his hands over his face.
"That's right, I entered the Academy for the Gifted..."
He wondered where this unfamiliar place was, and then he remembered what had happened yesterday.
Arcel's distorted face when he entered this room.
Originally, Ruska and Arcel were not in the same room.
But the male student who was assigned to the same room as Arcel quit the Academy for the Gifted in half a day.
He quickly quit after realizing that he really had to do everything without servants.
Many people were aiming for the room that had become vacant in less than a day.
Just as the female dormitory was full of children trying to get close to Irene, the male dormitory was the same.
From the nobles staying in the capital to the nobles from the provinces who had the opportunity to come up this time.
The male students had also been told by their parents to make friends with the House of Keilon or the Duchy of Ragselb until their ears bled.
Even if their parents didn't say it, all the male students looked at the two with admiration.
Those who would one day reach the very top of this empire.
What could be bad about making a good impression on such people?
Moreover, a considerable number of students besides that student said they would return, so the room assignments became a mess.
In the end, the male dormitory had to urgently reassign the rooms.
There, Ruska drew the same number as Arcel. The moment Arcel checked the number, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
"See? We were destined to use the same room after all."
"...Shut up."
Even so, Arcel moved his luggage to the new room without complaining.
After arranging their respective rooms, they walked around the Academy for the Gifted, did evening exercises, washed up, and fell asleep.
'But...'
Ruska wiped away his sweat and got up from his seat.
"Lilian..."
He muttered the name of the person he had seen in his dream.
Lilian Shell.
The deceased Empress, and to Ruska and Arcel, a childhood friend and older sister... and the only adult they could trust.
He hadn't dreamed of her for a while...
After being dazed for a long time, Ruska came to his senses at the sound of the bell and hurriedly washed up and changed his clothes.
And when he opened the door of his room, he ran into Arcel, who was just coming out.
The two spoke at the same time as soon as they saw each other.
"...Did you dream of Lilian?"
"...Did you dream of Lilian?"
Silence flowed for a moment. And after a long time, they sighed at the same time.
He wondered why his face looked so grim, but it was as he thought.
"That's strange. It's still a long way until the anniversary..."
Ruska muttered as if in wonder.
Usually, they dreamed of Lilian around the time of the anniversary of her death.
At that time, the Emperor's mood was particularly low, and because of that, their parents' moods also darkened.
Moreover, Black Banners, signifying national mourning, were hung on the streets by the Emperor's order.
So, they couldn't forget even if they wanted to, and they thought it was natural to dream of her.
But nothing had happened yesterday...
"..."
"..."
The two left the room without saying a word.
As they quietly descended the stairs, Arcel bit his lip.
Strangely, the two always dreamed of Lilian on the same day.
Until now, they thought it was because they dreamed of her on her anniversary, but even when it wasn't that day, they dreamed of her on the same day.
'She was a mysterious person even when she was alive...'
Arcel recalled a very old memory.
