Chapter 14
Chapter 014.
A cleanly emptied plate flew through the air.
Dishes, washed by magic, quickly returned to their original places, one by one.
I muttered, watching the spectacle as if possessed.
“At times like this, I wish I had learned magic, even if I lacked the talent.”
Jen, who was sitting, raised his eyebrows as if dumbfounded at my words.
“Because of the dishes?”
“Washing dishes is such a pain.”
He, who had never done kitchen work and would never do it in the future, couldn't possibly sympathize with my words.
Instead of refuting my frivolous words, Jen changed the subject.
“How’s the exam preparation going?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’m not too worried.”
Rather than the advancement exam, I was more concerned about what would come after.
Considering the pressure coming from the Dukedom, I felt like I had to get a good score, but getting too high a score would attract attention.
I had been living well, as if I didn't exist, until now.
I didn't want to stand out.
“Why do you have that look on your face when you’re not worried?”
Jen asked, pushing his disheveled hair back.
“What am I doing?”
I unconsciously brought my hand to my face.
Even if I felt around my face, I couldn't know what expression I was making without a mirror.
Jen observed me, touching my cheek with an unreadable expression.
“Did the Vice Duke say something?”
“Why is Orion’s name coming up?”
“You’ve been going there every day for the past few days.”
I hadn't even told Lenny that I had been going to the Dukedom every day for the past few days.
I even took the Macha in places where people wouldn't see me on purpose, and I told all the servants at The Duke's Residence to keep their mouths shut.
“Are you still tracking my location?”
“It’s for your protection.”
It's nice that he's protecting me, but isn't it a problem that my privacy isn't being protected at all?
I glanced at Jen, who looked confident, and soon gave up arguing.
Even if I canceled the magic right now, it would be restored over time.
“So, what’s going on?”
“Nothing happened.”
“You have a look on your face that says something did.”
I eventually opened my mouth first at his gaze that was fixed on me.
“It’s nothing big.”
“I know. Half of your worries are useless anyway.”
Was he offering to give me advice, or not?
He tilted his head slightly, looked at me, and asked languidly.
“Tell me. I’m listening.”
“Orion said…”
“Uh…”
“That we can’t choose who our parents are at the moment we are born, and parents can’t choose their children either. In some ways, we didn’t choose each other to become a family, but since we became a family, we need a process of accepting each other.”
“So what?”
I hesitated at Jen’s question and continued, mumbling.
“I wish blood ties were something special. If the people of the Dukedom, who are tied to me by a single surname due to Mom’s remarriage, and the relationship between Mom and me are no different as ‘family,’ I think I’d be a little sad.”
“If that’s what you think, then that’s what it is.”
“Really?”
“Don’t be swayed by sophistry. It’s obviously a made-up story.”
“No, it seems to make sense…”
He sighed and tapped my forehead.
“I told you that what you think is important, whether it makes sense or not.”
“Uh…”
“The important thing is whether you want to do that. The problem isn’t that the other person’s logic is plausible, but whether you have any intention of playing house with them.”
Well, that’s not something I can choose right now.
When I see Mom looking happy, I feel like anything is fine.
In fact, the most confusing thing is my heart.
Orion’s impulsive actions and the people I meet while being involved with him keep crossing my line and making me feel embarrassed.
‘I don’t… dislike it.’
I’m surprised that I don’t dislike it.
“Make one thing clear.”
I raised my head at Jen’s words.
He asked seriously.
“If Orion Miller and I fell into the water, who would you save?”
“If Orion can’t swim well, shouldn’t I save Orion?”
You’re a good swimmer.
“If Orion Miller and I both can’t swim and fall into the water, who would you save?”
“I’d call Vertein and ask him to save both of you.”
I can’t swim.
Jen glared at me with a mixed look of annoyance, then grabbed my cheek and stretched it out.
“You don’t even need to consider the options; it has to be me unconditionally.”
If you and Orion were in danger to that extent in the first place, I think I’d already be in the afterlife.
As I looked into Jen’s burning eyes, Orion’s eyes, which were burning with competitiveness towards Lord Rune, came to mind.
‘Everyone’s crazy about competition…’
Lenny’s words that we all strive to survive in a competitive society were not wrong.
“Okay. I’ll choose you.”
As soon as I nodded obediently, he finally let go of my cheek.
While I was rubbing my tingling cheek and swallowing cold water, he picked up the hoodie he had taken off and stood up.
“Exam…”
It was quiet, but not difficult to understand.
When I raised my head, something rolled towards me.
Inside a simple silver ring, Rune word were engraved.
“Do well.”
“What is this?”
“Something that enhances concentration. It’s not illegal.”
I looked down at the ring that fit perfectly on my fourth finger, and then I realized.
“Is this why you came?”
Was it true that he didn’t come to eat?
Instead of answering the question while looking down at the ring, Jen jumped up and quickly left the spot.
As he was leaving the mansion without a sound, Inga, who came out to clean the kitchen, said.
“Don’t worry, Miss. You’ll do well on the exam.”
“I’ve never worried about that in the first place.”
Looking at the ring on my palm, I sighed.
“I’m just worried because the people around me feel unfamiliar these days.”
It’s also a problem that everyone seems to be overly addicted to competition.
* * *
The early advancement and graduation system, which allows students to graduate earlier than others, has strict requirements for passing and applying.
The difficulty increases sharply in the second exam, and there is a condition that you cannot reapply for two years if you fail the exam.
Therefore, it was difficult to apply without a certain level of confidence.
It would be a great embarrassment to challenge it ambitiously and fail.
As I sat down in an empty seat in the wide exam hall, someone approached with a curious face.
“Which class are you from?”
“General Class C.”
Someone next to the girl who was blinking at my answer muttered.
“That’s Trevor Beryl’s class.”
Everyone seemed to know about him, as he was the most likely person to advance in this exam.
“But is there anyone else in the general class besides Trevor who is a candidate for advancement?”
“I haven’t heard of anyone.”
While listening to the murmurs, I took out the organized materials, and then the question was asked again.
“What’s your last name?”
“Hoffen. It’s Hoffen.”
Everyone tilted their heads when I gave them the last name I was using temporarily.
It was only natural, as it was a family name they had never heard of.
I decided to satisfy the curiosity of the person who was talking to me.
Once they know what they want to know, they won’t bother me anymore.
“I’m a commoner. I don’t have a family sponsoring me, and my grades aren’t that high.”
Someone burst out laughing.
The girl who had asked me the question quickly straightened her body, which had been leaning towards me.
The reaction was mild, considering that I was a commoner without even a family that promised to sponsor me, and my grades weren’t even that great.
Ridicule replaced the wariness that had filled their eyes.
“Your courage is commendable.”
Instead of responding to the muttering voice, I fixed my gaze on the materials I had brought.
Silence fell.
It seemed that they were finally able to concentrate on their studies when they realized that the stranger was not as great as they had thought.
The moment I picked up the pen, a clear sound rang out as it collided with the unfamiliar silver ring on my finger.
‘Should I take it off?’
Jen said it wasn’t illegal, but as someone who knew how much concentration affected the exam, I felt uneasy.
When I looked around, I could see faces that were clearly nervous, burying their noses in their desks and materials.
It was the moment I was fiddling with the ring.
The door opened carefully, and a familiar face entered.
Trevor looked around as if looking for someone, and then waved with a faint smile when he saw me.
I nodded awkwardly, seeing him showing a rapidly friendly attitude since last week.
He wasn’t a bad or difficult person, but he had never talked to me or hung out with me.
I didn’t know why he was being so friendly to me now.
“Long time no see. Did you prepare well?”
“Uh… yeah.”
“I hope you get good results.”
“Yeah. You too.”
As the perfunctory greetings were exchanged, the curious gazes of the kids next to me turned to me again.
Among them were the hostile gazes of some of the female students.
“Actually, I’m a little worried. I didn’t have enough time to prepare.”
“I see.”
Then wouldn’t it be more constructive to look through the materials now than to talk?
I glanced at the textbooks on his desk.
It seemed true that he didn’t have time to prepare.
The books on the desk were all stiff and clean, as if they were new.
“If you need anything, tell me. I have a lot of pens and memo pads.”
I shook my head at Trevor’s words.
Even though he was being kind and showing a friendly attitude, I strangely felt uncomfortable.
“Trevor, I’m sorry, but can you lend me a pen?”
I heard a shy female student’s voice.
A cute-faced girl, who had glared at me, shook the pen she had borrowed as if to show off.
It was the moment I turned my gaze away without reacting to her smug gaze.
“You’re using a good pen.”
“Me?”
“A fountain pen with the Locke Merchant’s emblem. I heard that’s a limited edition.”
“Ah, Reinia Locke is my friend.”
Trevor nodded without looking surprised.
Since we were in the same class, he must have often seen me hanging out with Lenny.
It was the other kids, except for Trevor, who reacted to Reinia Locke’s name.
Everyone took their eyes off the textbooks and materials they were holding and glanced at me.
“Ah, I get it now.”
Someone said in an excited voice.
“Merian Hoffen. Isn’t she the person Reinia Locke endorsed on the list of expected passers for this advancement exam?”
“I heard that more than half of the students have already participated in that.”
“The dividend you get for matching just three passers is enormous.”
I thought they had come to their senses after being disciplined for illegal gambling once.
Besides, my head throbbed at the thought of them betting money on my name.
‘Reinia…’
What are you going to do if you bet so much money on me when you said it’s okay even if I fail the exam?
No wonder she’s been grinning whenever she sees me these days.
