18 - Can I Cry Now?
Episode 18
As the students of the Academy for the Gifted entered the Imperial Palace, many ministers and staff members were standing there, as if they had been waiting.
“Hello! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Of course, they knew.
The schedule to come to the Imperial Palace today had already been shared several days ago.
However, the students greeted the ministers with smiles, as if it were a real coincidence.
“That’s Count Heres, the Foreign Minister.”
“That’s… Lord Taran of the Imperial Knights!”
When the students mentioned who was inside, the other students who heard the names exclaimed in surprise.
They were all great nobles whom everyone would recognize just by hearing their names.
Therefore, the students who were acquainted with them greeted them and chatted as if to show off.
The commoner students couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the actions of those noble students.
“Yes, how is life at the Academy for the Gifted? Is there anything uncomfortable?”
It had only been two days since they had entered, but the ministers who were their patrons looked worried, as if the children hadn’t been home for months.
“I’m doing well. Thank you for your concern.”
In fact, they were full of complaints, but they couldn’t say that in front of so many people.
They weren’t just talking to their patrons.
The students made a point of greeting all the nobles they knew.
It was to show off that they were children from such powerful families.
Limora bit her lip as she watched.
The staff at the Academy for the Gifted treated everyone fairly, or so she thought.
So, she thought that if she just did well, there wouldn’t be any major problems.
But seeing this now, it seemed like she was at a disadvantage from the start.
But she was just resentful, and she had nothing to show off in front of them.
But still, seeing the nobles laughing and chatting among themselves like this twisted her insides.
‘I wish I had connections too.’
How nice would it be to know someone like the State Affairs Minister, who was the Emperor’s closest aide?
Then she could flatten the noses of those other noble students who were flaunting their connections in front of her like that.
As Limora was racking her brains, she saw Ibi standing alone.
In an instant, Limora’s eyes narrowed.
She had been worrying about it all the way here.
‘I need to find out if she really is nothing, or if she’s lying to avoid introducing me to her connections.’
When she spoke to her in a friendly manner, she naturally expected Ibi to brag about her relationship with His Majesty the Emperor.
But when she talked to her, it seemed like she didn’t even know she had been chosen thanks to the Emperor, let alone have any personal connection with him.
Even now, her friends were divided in their opinions.
Some friends thought that Ibi really had no connection, while others argued that she was cleverly pretending not to know and trying to distance herself from them.
What was certain was that she couldn’t know which was true if things continued like this.
‘The little thing isn’t willing to open her mouth easily.’
But it wasn’t like there was no way. She could force her to tell the truth, couldn’t she?
Limora immediately approached Ibi.
Then, she grabbed Ibi’s wrist and said, as if for everyone around to hear,
“It would have been nice if His Majesty the Emperor were here so Ibi could greet him too. What a shame, right?”
As soon as the word “Emperor” came out, everyone’s attention focused on them in an instant.
Even the people who had been chatting happily closed their mouths and looked at Ibi and Limora.
“Pardon?”
Ibi looked at Limora, unable to understand what she was talking about.
She had asked some incomprehensible questions when they first greeted each other, but why was the Emperor’s story suddenly coming up here?
“Why are you pretending to be humble? Everyone knows that His Majesty the Emperor chose you separately.”
Limora continued to speak, not caring about Ibi’s surprise.
Ibi was truly surprised.
“Pardon? Me?”
It was really the first time she had heard this story. Why would the Emperor choose her?
Elam City was a rural town far from the capital. Moreover, the lord said that he had no connections in the central government.
That’s why he had looked so surprised when Ibi said she was going to the Academy for the Gifted.
But the Emperor chose her? Only the children of great nobles could do that…
While Ibi was at a loss and standing blankly, Limora smiled and said clearly,
“So, you bragged that you met His Majesty separately. I was so envious when I heard that.”
This was a lie.
‘But what are you going to do about it?’
Even if she insisted that she had never said such a thing here, people would think that Ibi was lying anyway.
Everyone knew that she was a child chosen by the Emperor, so they would think that she was bragging about it.
If she didn’t want to become a liar, Ibi would eventually have to tell the story of how she met the Emperor.
‘I think I’ve come up with a good plan.’
Limora chuckled inwardly and looked at Ibi.
Ibi looked around at the noisy surroundings with a bewildered expression.
The way she looked as if she was looking for someone made her words even more plausible.
The commoner students also looked excited.
Everyone’s expression was full of anticipation for what would happen, and Limora gained strength and opened her mouth again.
“His Majesty will continue to take good care of you in the future…”
“I’ve been watching and watching, but how far are you going to lie!”
As Limora continued to rattle off words that Ibi had never said, another female student suddenly raised her voice and interrupted.
“I was trying to be understanding and sympathetic, so I didn’t say anything, but this is too much. That child wasn’t chosen because she had a special connection with His Majesty, but because he picked her up from the discarded documents because he felt sorry for her, right? So why are you lying as if you’re meeting and spending time with His Majesty?”
The surroundings became quiet at those words.
The students held their breath and continued to listen to the female student, as the story they had been curious about was coming out.
“Really… know your place. There were many things that happened that day, but it was just a lucky pick to lighten the mood, so don’t get carried away!”
The female student who said that made eye contact with her patron, who had a surprised expression, and closed her mouth.
Basically, it was forbidden to talk about what happened in the Imperial Palace’s conference hall outside.
But if she said it so clearly like this, she would have nothing to say if she was questioned about where she heard those words.
Realizing her mistake, the female student turned around and disappeared into the crowd of students.
Only Limora and Ibi were left.
“There, what’s all the commotion?”
The staff member, who had given them space for a short conversation, was surprised by the loud voice and approached.
It seemed that he hadn’t heard what had been said because he was away.
Limora quickly let go of Ibi’s hand and returned to her group of close friends as if they were strangers.
When Limora returned, her friends whispered.
“See? I told you there was something strange.”
“So, she doesn’t have any special relationship with His Majesty. Then she’s really just a lucky child who got in.”
“I saw her standing there blankly, unable to say anything, even though she would have mentioned a noble family she was close to if she had one. She really has nothing.”
Then they said to Limora.
“It’s a relief we found out before we got closer. You’re amazing, Limora. You found out everything at once like this.”
“Yeah. It’s a relief we found out before we spent more time together. Did you see the nobles’ eyes earlier? They looked really annoyed.”
“It’s understandable. Who would like it if she lied about meeting His Majesty?”
Limora closed her mouth at her friends’ words.
Of course, Ibi had never said such a thing. It was all a lie she had made up.
But she didn’t feel the need to correct them.
After all, who would listen to that little kid now?
At that time, a student next to Limora smiled similarly to her and whispered.
“Then that child… there’s no need to be friendly or take care of her, right?”
“……?”
As if asking what she meant, Limora looked at her, and her friend glared at Ibi and said,
“Is there any need for a child who lies from the beginning to stay at the Academy for the Gifted? It would be a relief if we weren’t criticized for being commoners.”
Limora thought for a moment at those words, then said in a small voice.
“I have a good idea.”
\ \ *
And Ibi, who was standing alone in the midst of the people’s cold gazes, clenched her fists.
It wasn’t out of resentment or sadness.
The words that Limora and the noble students had said kept ringing in her ears.
‘His Majesty personally chose me.’
Whether it was out of pity or by chance, that was a clear fact.
No matter what people whispered, a smile hung on Ibi’s face.
In fact, she had been feeling uneasy even after entering. Seeing such great students, she wondered if she had been chosen by mistake.
Until today, she had been feeling anxious about whether she would be told to return to the Poorhouse.
But she was sure of it after what happened a little while ago.
It didn’t matter why. She had been chosen to come here because the Emperor had properly checked the documents.
The anxiety she had been feeling disappeared.
It didn’t matter what others said.
‘I can stay here.’
That fact made Ibi happy.
