Chapter 21
Chapter 021.
The Academy's classes resumed as normal, but the atmosphere was still unsettling.
Some of those who had been in the examination hall were absent.
"What's going to happen with the advancement exam?"
"We'll have to retake it, I guess. It'll probably take some time."
Reinia sighed at my words.
I glanced at the paper she was staring down at with a tormented expression.
[Expected Dividend: 1,000,000]
Regret dripped from her eyes as she looked at the dizzying number.
I was the one whose exam had been invalidated, but she seemed even sadder.
As I was patting Lenny on the back as she tore at her hair, someone called out to me.
"Merian, the professor is calling for you."
Behind her, I saw familiar faces with stiff expressions.
They were all faces I had seen in the examination hall.
'A summons for those under investigation, huh.'
As I slowly got up and joined the group, I felt strangely hostile gazes from some of the female students.
We hadn't exchanged a single word since the incident, and before the exam, we hadn't even been aware of each other's existence.
Feeling a little bewildered, I lowered my eyes, pretending not to notice.
Whispered voices echoed for a moment before dissipating into the air.
The professor who had summoned us had a weary look on his face.
He clearly hadn't been able to sleep properly because of the investigation.
"Trevor's condition is more serious than expected, and the Academy will be devoting all its resources to investigating the incident for the time being."
At his stern words, the students exchanged glances.
"Although we haven't been able to pinpoint the cause, we believe there is a high possibility that he was subjected to a severe attack by someone."
I was curious.
Even though the Academy had devoted all its resources to the investigation, had they failed to discover that Trevor had used a curse?
Or perhaps...
Perhaps they were keeping the matter quiet until things became clearer, given the gravity of the situation.
"We haven't discovered much yet. It's uncertain whether the culprit is internal or external."
The implication that there might be another attack caused a stir among those present.
The unease grew even greater.
The professor added, addressing the frightened students.
"For the time being, everyone is expected to actively cooperate with the situation investigation and the search for the culprit."
I see.
Since nobles might be reluctant to cooperate with an investigation, they were amplifying their anxiety to make them more willing to cooperate.
Looking at the other students, who were pressing their lips shut with frightened expressions, it seemed the professor's strategy had worked.
The professor's gaze swept over the students and paused on me for a moment.
He slowly added.
"Keep in mind that, depending on the situation, guardians may be summoned... or there may be home visits."
I flinched involuntarily as the most undesirable scenario was mentioned.
Someone raised their hand.
"By 'home,' do you mean our family's main residence?"
"That's right."
If it was my real family's main residence according to my official records, that would be The Duke's Residence.
'I need to take steps to prevent a home visit.'
It was one thing for Orion to come running out barefoot, but the servants who worked there were no ordinary people either.
Besides me, several others pressed their lips shut with troubled expressions.
As we were leaving in small groups after the professor's advance warning, someone bumped into my shoulder with great force as they passed by.
The light brown hair looked somehow familiar.
As I watched the figure quickly disappear into the distance, I heard someone mutter.
"That's the one who..."
The whispering voice abruptly stopped as I turned around.
The atmosphere of those who had averted their gazes was strange.
I felt uneasy, but I couldn't very well grab the people who were walking away and ask them what was going on.
Rubbing my sore shoulder, I headed towards Lenny.
I needed to make sure she knew about my falsified identity so that she wouldn't discover anything suspicious at the Academy.
* * *
"Your personal information? I guess I should check it too."
Lenny flipped open a notebook she had stashed deep in her bag with a rustling sound.
"...You have my personal information in that notebook?"
'It even looks densely packed with writing and thick.'
Lenny replied proudly.
"I commissioned a novelist to write a synopsis to make it seem plausible. It's a kind of setting book."
"You commissioned a novelist to write a synopsis...?"
A red warning light flashed in my head.
Come to think of it, on my birthday, she had congratulated me and given me a necklace that cost as much as a house, saying, "I didn't write much because you hate that kind of thing."
"Hey, Lenny."
"Ah, here it is."
She began to read 'my personal information' in a clear voice.
"Merian Hoffen. 16 years old. Lost her parents when she was young and lives with her older brother. Her only brother adores his younger sister, but his feelings are so intense that it's hard to tell if it's love or obsession."
"Why is there even a description of the character's feelings in personal information?"
"It has to be realistic. Anyway, her brother took out a loan to get a big, nice house for you."
Certainly, the mansion I was staying in had good security and was a sturdy building.
But still...
"Why did you specifically make it a loan?"
"You told me to make it ordinary. You have to take out a loan to live in that kind of ordinary mansion."
The fact that an older brother took out a loan to buy a house for his younger sister was anything but ordinary.
Seeing my unusual expression, Lenny added defensively.
"Merian, you were planning to graduate early. I created the setting to match that."
It was already recorded in the Academy's register, so I couldn't undo it.
I tried to come to terms with this unique setting somehow.
If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have at least reviewed it when Lenny told me to leave everything to her.
A wave of regret washed over me.
"Anyway, the reason you're trying to graduate early is because you found out that you and your brother aren't blood-related siblings."
I was certain that the novel written by the novelist Lenny had hired couldn't possibly be a normal novel.
The basic setting alone was the worst of the worst.
"Your brother works as a mercenary to earn money for you. That's why he's so good at fighting."
"You seem to have put a lot of thought into the brother's setting."
"The novelist really wanted to have a brother like that."
"I didn't need that information."
At least it was a relief that she had set it up so that I had lost my parents, so there was no need to hire actors to play the role of parents.
"Oh, and the one who gave your brother the loan is our Locke Merchant Guild."
"That's why you're set up to be very close to me."
Perhaps this whole setup was a prelude to establishing an inseparable relationship between Lenny and me.
As I cast a suspicious glance at her, Lenny grinned.
Looking at Lenny, who was leaning on my shoulder and watching me carefully, I eventually let out a light sigh instead of scolding her.
"So all I need to do is find an older brother."
"Someone who looks at you with affectionate eyes, is skilled in swordsmanship but not in a rigid way, and doesn't look like your real sibling at first glance."
When I told Jen that I had entrusted the entire Academy enrollment process to Lenny, she had looked utterly incredulous.
'Her expression seemed to say, "Why would you leave it to her of all people?"'
At the time, I thought I was just not trusting my friend enough, but Jen was definitely wise.
Entrusting Lenny with identity laundering was too dangerous a choice.
Her eyes sparkled again.
"Should I hire an actor?"
"No, don't."
I couldn't handle the scale of Lenny's novelization of my life any longer.
There was no telling what kind of consequences would result if I left the casting of an actor to her.
"I'll just take care of it myself."
"Do you know an actor?"
"Not an actor, but there's someone who would be suitable for the current situation."
After refraining from speaking to Lenny, who was tilting her head in confusion, I headed to my destination alone to ask for a favor.
As I got out of the carriage, those who were guarding the gate of the mansion recognized me and gasped.
Fortunately, I cautiously asked those who had recognized me.
"Is a knight from the Blue Royal Guard in the residence today?"
"Yes, he is training at the Training Grounds. He will not be away from his post for the time being as he is training for the upcoming hunting competition."
"I see."
The guards looked at me with sparkling eyes and said in expectant voices.
"To think you would pay us a surprise visit like this, the Vice Duke will surely be delighted."
I had no intention of meeting Orion.
These people were already jumping to conclusions again.
Instead of correcting their misunderstanding, I brought up my business.
"I'm sorry, but would you mind pretending you didn't see me come here?"
At my words, a middle-aged man who looked like he could have children laughed heartily.
Then, he nodded with a knowing look.
"You're still so shy. Don't worry. We'll keep it a secret that you paid a surprise visit to the Vice Duke."
The guard next to him also chimed in.
"Of course, of course! Don't worry! If you want us to keep it a secret, we will! Hahaha!"
If you really intend to keep it a secret, could you lower your voices a little?
I'm not embarrassed about the visit itself, but these people are making me embarrassed.
There was a lot I wanted to say, but I remained silent, maintaining a faint smile, as there was someone I needed to meet.
He told me the way to the Training Grounds.
"I'll go alone."
"Of course. You'd want to go alone. If we went with you, the surprise visit would be ruined!"
The sound of laughter echoed loudly around me.
At this point, I wondered if they were deliberately doing this so that everyone in the mansion would hear.
I had to get away from these nosy, loud-mouthed guards as soon as possible.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Yes, you too! We'll always be cheering for you!"
Please don't.
I turned around quickly without any regrets and headed towards the Training Grounds.
As I walked, I felt a gaze from somewhere, but when I turned around, I couldn't see anyone.
Although I was taking a secluded path, I wondered if there were so few people in The Duke's Residence.
I couldn't help but tilt my head at the quiet path where not even an ant could be seen.
It was as if everyone was hiding from my sight.
"That can't be."
Why would they go to such lengths to avoid me?
No matter how eccentric the people here are, that couldn't be the case.
Leaving the unease behind, I diligently headed towards my destination.
Was it because of the atmosphere that even the voices of the knights training at the Training Grounds sounded so faint today?
The uneasy feeling didn't go away.
