Chapter 65

“Yeah, come by anytime. What about classes? We’re taking Understanding the Politics and Culture of Verlaine together this semester, right?”

A radiant glow of divine power spread quickly as Ren placed it over Cledwyn’s body.

Cledwyn’s complexion looked better than before. Nerys sat beside him and quietly nodded.

“Yes.”

“I’m glad we’re in the same class again this year. Hope that Mahradi bastard isn’t in it.”

“He probably won’t be. The entire course is conducted in Verlaine, and Sir Voltaire said students with low grades wouldn’t be allowed in.”

At the end of the last semester, Sir Voltaire had made that clear when students were registering for classes.

And after a whole year of attending the same lectures, Ren and Nerys knew exactly what level Mahradi’s Verlaine was at.

He could manage casual conversation, sure. But he was nowhere near capable of handling a political lecture conducted entirely in Verlaine.

Ren summoned divine power in his hand again and chuckled.

“Taking the same class with that bastard was getting old. Guess we won’t see each other again.”

It made sense—Ren was close to graduating and mostly attending theology courses. Nerys, on the other hand, still had a few years left at the academy with Mahradi, and he felt slightly envious.

The soothing light of divine power continued to flow into Cledwyn’s body.

And then, when the absorption began to slow, Ren pulled his hand away. Not even a teacup’s time had passed.

As the treatment seemed finished, Nerys excused herself to get a drink of water. The moment she was out of sight, Ren spoke bluntly.

“That’s enough. Don’t bring a kid to me again.”

“Thanks.”

Cledwyn tested the area around his injured lower back and gave a nod.

The healing was definitely quick. The pain and heat that had flared just moments ago now felt like a distant memory. Even pressing firmly on the spot, there was no pain.

“And you.”

Ren, who had silently observed everything, now spoke with a biting tone and a sharp glare—completely different from how he had been around Nerys.

“If you have a conscience, stay away from her. I know well enough how dangerous your situation is.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Cledwyn’s expression grew just as grim.

“Exactly what I said. Nerys is too soft-hearted, and there’s no one truly capable of protecting her. Nellusion pretends to look after her, but he’s not really helping. So the less attention she gets, the better. Someone like you shouldn’t be disturbing that girl’s peace.”

Cledwyn realized Ren was more concerned about Nerys than he’d thought. It was almost like he saw her as a little sister.

But what gave Ren Fayel the right to interfere in matters between Cledwyn and Nerys? Did he think he was really her older brother?

Besides, soft-hearted?

Cledwyn scoffed.

He also thought Nerys was soft-hearted.

But that was a conclusion he reached after seeing her many strong moments, and after witnessing the choices she made at crucial times.

What did Ren know about her? Their connection barely counted as a passing acquaintance.

Ren’s eyes darkened dangerously.

“…You’re thinking something that’s pissing you off right now, aren’t you…”

Despite his innocent appearance, Ren was sharp. Cledwyn raised an eyebrow.

“Of course not, senior. In any case, I have business with her, and she with me. So it’s none of your concern.”

“You bastard, I didn’t like you from the moment I saw you.”

Realizing Cledwyn wouldn’t back off, Ren grumbled.

Cledwyn felt the same. The only reason he held his tongue was because Ren seemed to be of some use to Nerys.

In terms of ability, Ren was undeniably talented. Up until last year, he’d wasted time being hot-headed, but after meeting Nerys, he had eliminated a spy and surrounded himself with competent allies, which meant his survival chances had improved significantly.

So under normal circumstances, Cledwyn might’ve considered recruiting him.

But somehow, he didn’t want to.

Maybe it was instinct—Ren didn’t seem like someone who could follow another person.

Whatever it was… this odd, gut-level reaction…

He could only describe it as annoying. (T/N: Annoying or a bud of jealousy? lol)

Cledwyn didn’t use that word often, but right now, it felt like the most accurate term for this inexplicable feeling. So for the time being, he decided to stick with it.

Until he came up with something better, Ren would remain an annoying person.

When Nerys returned to the sitting room, she saw that Cledwyn’s complexion had improved and thanked Ren.

“Thank you so much, senior. He’ll make sure to pay you back.”

“No need for that. It was your request.”

Despite what he said, Ren threw a glance at Cledwyn as if to ask, You really gonna let it slide? Cledwyn fully intended to pay the price.

Nerys looked at the pile of dishes in one corner of the sitting room and spoke with concern.

“You should hire a servant. How can you manage a place this big by yourself while studying?”

After dismissing Dogon, the servant who had long served him, Ren had been living alone. As soon as Nerys returned, his expression brightened like a switch had flipped.

“I’m not alone. Priests stop by to help now and then. What about you? You’re still young—how do you manage?”

“My room’s small, so there’s not much to worry about…”

Watching Ren shift his demeanor so quickly and shamelessly, Cledwyn clicked his tongue inwardly. Maybe this was why he found him so annoying.

After a bit more conversation, Cledwyn and Nerys left Ren’s dormitory. Ren insisted on going with them, but Cledwyn had already finished getting ready, so Nerys followed him without saying much.

Cledwyn led her along a path where no one else walked. Even within the spacious grounds of Noble Academy, Nerys knew quite a few secluded trails—but the one Cledwyn turned into wasn’t even a path she’d considered before.

Truly a place no students frequented.

“I’ve never seen such an empty path during school hours.”

Crossing the quiet garden of some currently unoccupied dormitory, Nerys spoke in quiet wonder. Her voice was calm, tinged with mild admiration. Cledwyn replied serenely.

“If you look, you’ll find one.”

Though she acted indifferent about everything, there were moments like this when she inadvertently revealed herself.

Like when she smiled at the mention of a birthday present she claimed was nothing special.

Cledwyn admitted it clearly—he wanted to treat her well.

He didn’t know exactly what part of her had been “ruined by those people,” as she put it, but if she believed so herself, then he had no intention of telling her to think about her good traits.

If Nerys Truydd believed she had been broken, it wasn’t something that could be fixed with a few words from someone else.

If she wanted revenge, she should pursue it. He had no reason to judge the cause, the justification, or the value behind it.

And if she needed anything along the way, he wanted to support her without making excuses like budget or policy.

Just like she had prioritized bringing him to Ren over her own errands this morning.

As they entered a narrow, shaded space between buildings—barely wide enough for one person to pass—Nerys suddenly spoke, as if the thought had just occurred to her.

“Starting yesterday, a maid’s been coming in and out. There’s a risk of letters being discovered, so don’t send any.”

“Got it. Until when?”

The subtle question held a deeper meaning—how long was she going to let an obvious spy roam around at will? Nerys smiled faintly.

“As long as she’s useful. I’ll come find you if I need anything. Also, I’m thinking of going to Sedona this weekend, and I’ll need someone to accompany me. Preferably an adult.”

It was laughable to pretend to be some unknown noble and then go inspect land all alone like a child. It would be better to tag along behind someone and act like their companion.

Understanding her intent, Cledwyn nodded.

“I’ll send someone suitable. Noon on Saturday, at the station.”

“Got it. Thank you.”

How could this man agree to everything she asked so easily?

Hearing Cledwyn’s easy acceptance, Nerys found herself briefly worried for him. And once she acknowledged that worry, it didn’t take long for other concerns to follow.

His reason for helping her was supposedly an investment in potential recruitment. But seriously—what employer liked paying in advance?

She was just a second-year student at the Academy, hadn’t done anything helpful for him, and yet he was the one personally tracking down traitors and getting injured in the process.

And even so, when she came to the library this morning with a request she could’ve easily delayed until next week, he had come right away.

The more she looked at him, the more it reminded her of her past self. For a moment, it felt like a fragile emotion she hadn’t felt in a long time was beginning to rise again.

Longing. Blind admiration. Absolute trust.

Genuine affection poured out toward people who hadn’t deserved it.

Principles she thought she had to uphold for her own sake, even without being repaid.

And in the end, what had she received in return?

Nerys knew very well she wasn’t someone who could take responsibility for Cledwyn’s life. So she had no intention of lecturing him with some long-winded speech full of moral lessons.

People didn’t change from someone else’s lecture anyway.

You couldn’t tell someone who lived with a sense of duty to start being irresponsible just for their own sake.

Facing those without principles and getting revenge on them—that was a job for someone like her, who already knew their tricks and had already dirtied their hands.

Still, this much, she felt, could be said.

“…Thank you. Truly.”

Because she could always kill off those fragile emotions again if needed. She was no longer a stupid dog wagging its tail without knowing its master would one day use even its corpse.

So in this moment, a simple thank-you was okay.

Nerys murmured softly.

Cledwyn gave a small nod, his face unreadable.

* * *

Isabel felt incredibly wronged.

It wasn’t her fault she had come here, nor that she worked late into the night with blistered hands because of that brat Nerys Truydd. Nor was it her fault she failed to report the failure of Valentin’s plan sooner.

But even in the estate where the Elandria siblings stayed, Delma had a limited number of people she could yell at. About half of the ten or so servants belonged to Nellusion.

And since Isabel had been directly involved in the incident, Delma really let her have it.

“You couldn’t even get out of that cleanly! How do you expect to manage anything with a head that slow? Do you know how terrified Lady Valentin was because of you!”

Technically, it was Valentin’s own fault she’d been stuck shivering in a dark storage room for a couple of hours. But Delma would never admit that, and Isabel didn’t want to think that way either—because there was an easier target for her anger.

‘That cunning little brat.’

She’d been kneeling on the floor for at least thirty minutes, getting chewed out.

Proud as she was, Isabel hated that she had become the scapegoat for someone else’s tantrum—and that even the lowly housemaids had witnessed her like this. It was humiliating.

And all of it was because of that fox, Nerys Truydd.

So what if that precious young lady wanted to mess with her a little? Couldn’t she just take it, being older by a year? Did she have to go and escape like that?

It was just one night locked up, but everyone in the estate was now walking on eggshells.

She couldn’t understand how someone as kind and dignified as Nellusion could’ve ended up entangled with such a venomous girl.

Isabel chose to ignore the fact that no one had any idea when—or if—Valentin would have let Nerys out.

And she also ignored the fact that Nerys had absolutely no reason to endure it in the first place.

Because that way, she could keep telling herself how unfairly she had been treated.