4 - Can I Cry Now?
4
‘Arcel? Ruska?’
Ibi looked at the two people who had helped her.
Ibi didn't know it, but both of them were children of the most prestigious families in the Empire.
Arcel Keilen was the third son of Duke Keilen, who wholeheartedly supported the current His Majesty the Emperor Clois and was the top contributor to his ascension to the throne.
He had already shown genius in all fields since he was young, and there were already two older brothers above him, so there was no major problem with inheriting the family.
In addition, he had met the Emperor frequently since he was young, so people said that the Emperor would adopt him.
Also, Arcel had the highest score among the new students of the Academy for the Gifted this time.
From literature to mathematics, physics, and even tactics and swordsmanship.
Arcel was truly a boy who deserved to be called a genius.
And Ruska was the same. The fourth son of Marquis Ragselb, another force that supported the Emperor along with the House of Keilon.
Unlike Arcel, who was always calm and gentle, he often uttered harsh words and was known for his fiery personality.
But when he got angry, it was always to fight for the weak.
So Marquis Ragselb, known for his upright character, was proud of his son's personality, which resembled him so much.
Ruska was a little behind Arcel in academic areas, but his physical abilities as a knight were superior.
He already showed overwhelmingly superior skills among his peers and was even able to spar with the knights of the Imperial Palace.
The children most likely to become the Emperor's adopted sons, and in fact, the children of the families with the most powerful influence in this empire.
Therefore, everyone who entered the Academy for the Gifted aimed to become close to these boys.
But to be targeted from the start.
“There, what's going on?”
The employee who was walking ahead noticed the commotion in the back and approached.
Then Arcel said to the boy who had fallen.
“It's nothing. Isn't that right?”
The boy who had fallen nodded vigorously at Arcel's words.
He realized that he meant to quietly pass over what had just happened.
“Yes, yes! It's nothing! I just fell!”
The employee looked at him with suspicious eyes for a moment, but he had to move to the Academy for the Gifted quickly, so he turned around and went back to his place.
As soon as the employee left, Ruska, who was standing next to the boy, patted him on the shoulder and whispered.
“You, you better know you're lucky today.”
It was a very threatening remark, but the boy nodded vigorously again and ran away to where the other children were.
After the boy disappeared, Ibi bowed to the two.
“Thank you for helping me.”
As Arcel was about to say something in response to Ibi's greeting, the employees waiting in front of the Academy for the Gifted greeted the arriving children.
“Ibi! Ibi Elden! Where are you?”
When her name was called, Ibi looked at the two in embarrassment.
Arcel seemed to understand and looked at the employee, then said to Ibi.
“It seems like they're calling you, so you should go.”
At Arcel's words, Ibi bowed again to express her gratitude and hurried to the employee.
Then Ruska approached Arcel and said.
“That's unusual? I'm seeing you taking care of someone?”
Ruska was genuinely surprised.
Who is Arcel?
People are easily fooled by his handsome appearance and praise Arcel as angelic or perfect, but he knew Arcel's true nature, which had no mercy.
A guy who doesn't pay attention to anything other than what he has to do.
Soft words like kindness or affection were not in Arcel's life.
But suddenly, he's helping a commoner girl he's never met before?
Ruska put his arm around Arcel's shoulder, looking at Ibi, who had gone to the employee.
“Is that kind of kid your type? If the young ladies who are desperate for you find out, they'll make a fuss about coming dressed like that right away?”
“Cut the nonsense.”
Arcel said coldly and pushed away Ruska's arm on his shoulder.
"What. Then why did you help?"
"I was curious."
"What were you curious about?"
“…….”
Arcel closed his mouth at Ruska's words.
The day his admission to the Academy for the Gifted was confirmed, his father, Duke Keilen, called him and said.
“You were admitted at the top.”
"I see."
Arcel was not happy. He thought it was a natural result.
Already, not only Arcel's peers but also the children of noble families who were several years older did not surpass Arcel's grades.
So, being admitted to the Academy for the Gifted at the top was a natural thing.
Then Duke Keilen opened his mouth again.
“But you better be nervous. There is a child who would have surpassed you if they were in the same conditions as you.”
"Yes?"
“There's a child from the Poorhouse who is the runner-up after you.”
"Who is it?"
“I don't even know the name. I heard it's a commoner child. His Majesty the Emperor personally selected him in this Academy for the Gifted admission screening.”
"His Majesty?"
“Yes. It's clear that he didn't pick him out of particular interest, but he picked him as a warning because the actions of the ministers were pathetic… but he's definitely a smart kid.”
Duke Keilen said that and smiled at Arcel.
“I think he was younger than you… I think he'll be a good friend to you.”
“You don't think he'll be a good rival to me, do you?”
“That's the same thing. Aren't you getting along well with Ruska?”
“That guy is a nuisance.”
“Oh my. If Marquis Ragselb hears that, he'll jump up and down, saying, 'What nonsense are you saying to my son?'”
Arcel did not answer further to his father's teasing words.
He didn't ask any more questions, but after that day, Arcel was bothered by the child the Emperor had picked.
‘A commoner from the Poorhouse. But he passed the upper school exam at the age of 7. And with almost a perfect score?’
Arcel also got a perfect score. But Arcel took the exam at an upper school in the capital, and that child took the exam at an upper school in a rural city.
So, even if they had the same perfect score, Arcel's score was evaluated higher and he was recognized as the sole top student.
The more he thought about it, the more curious Arcel became about that child.
‘If I had lived in the Poorhouse and studied, could I have gotten the same grades?’
So he thought that when he entered the Academy for the Gifted, he should find out what kind of child he was.
And today, without having to look for him, he could tell at a glance who that child was.
A small girl hugging a bag made of cloth tightly and looking around with a nervous face.
From her attire, there was already a clear difference, so the other children were walking a little distance away.
So Arcel was able to approach the girl more easily.
‘Is she really 7 years old?’
The youngest age to enter the Academy for the Gifted is 7 years old. But the girl looked even younger than that.
Under the neatly ironed sleeves of the rough cloth, her thin wrists could be seen.
At that sight, Arcel sighed for no reason.
It was said to be a Poorhouse in a rural city, but it seemed that the food situation was not good.
Then, as he was about to get closer to take a closer look, the incident happened.
“Hey, Arcel?”
Ruska called him, wondering why Arcel was standing still.
“Are you really interested in that little kid?”
“I just prevented the child His Majesty the Emperor personally picked from getting into trouble on the first day.”
At Arcel's stiff voice, Ruska made a bored expression and clasped his hands behind his head.
“Yes, yes, I'm sure. You're already acting like a loyal subject.”
Then the employee called Arcel and Ruska's names.
“Stop talking nonsense and let's go.”
“Sure. By the way, I heard that the dormitories at the Academy for the Gifted are shared by two people. I wonder if you and I can share a room?”
Ruska shrugged his shoulders and ran to the employee as if he was excited.
Arcel, who was walking behind Ruska, turned his head without realizing it and looked at the place where the girls were gathered.
Ibi, who was still standing alone because no one approached her, was visible.
‘It'll be hard to get along like that.’
Arcel turned his head.
If the fact that she was the child the Emperor picked is known, she will be envied and jealous of by the other children while she is at the Academy for the Gifted.
Besides, she's young, so will she be able to withstand the nobles' contempt?
‘Still…….’
Arcel hoped that Ibi would last a long time at the Academy for the Gifted.
Then he was surprised by his own thoughts.
'Why am I?'
When did I ever see that child and worry about her like this?
‘If that child quits early, it'll feel like the Emperor's will is being ignored, and it's not in line with the ideology of the Academy for the Gifted.’
That's how Arcel convinced himself, even thinking about the ideology of the Academy for the Gifted.
Now she is a child who has nothing to do with him anymore.
But in his head, the image of the girl with a bag as big as her body, bowing politely, kept popping up.
