Chapter 76

The student council room, once constantly occupied by affable senior members during Abelus’s presidency, had become much quieter under the leadership of the youngest imperial princess, Izet.

Nerys liked that change.

She had come to the student council room to get the president’s confirmation for her early graduation requirements, and it just so happened to be empty except for Izet.

In the tranquil room filled with the scent of tea, Nerys and Izet sat facing each other. As if they had agreed upon it, they drank their tea at the same time.

“Congratulations.”

Izet had pale ash-gray hair, lighter than that of her siblings, tightly braided and twisted into a strict bun at the back of her head, making her appear a little older than she was.

Her formal congratulations sounded even more rigid than a ceremonial letter from the school administration office.

“I approve your early graduation.”

Compared to Camille or Abelus, Izet was easier for Nerys to deal with.

Of course, Camille had already graduated before Nerys even enrolled, and Abelus wasn’t so much difficult as he was infuriating.

Nerys politely offered her thanks to Izet.

“Thank you.”

Izet responded as if she didn’t care whether Nerys thanked her or not. But that was always how she was, so Nerys wasn’t fazed or intimidated.

Like Camille, Izet had been Nerys’s sister-in-law for several years.

When Abelus had been enamored with Megara and neglected his own wife, Camille had at least said she would scold him. But Izet had simply chosen to ignore it.

That was just how Izet was. The princess wasn’t particularly cruel, but she also had no interest in justice. All she wanted was for the glory of the imperial family to continue as it always had.

So that her own life could carry on comfortably, just like before.

When Nerys first realized what Izet’s values were, she had been confused. Because she didn’t know how to act around a sister-in-law like that.

Camille would always acknowledge and praise Nerys’s contributions to the imperial family.

But Izet didn’t care what Nerys did. Even if Nerys achieved something beneficial to the family, she showed no interest.

During her marriage to Abelus, Nerys had perhaps found Izet a bit frightening. But now, Nerys understood. Izet was someone you simply didn’t have to care about.

There was no need to expect kindness or favor. Just keep the conversation practical and to the point.

“What are you planning to do after graduation? Have you decided?”

“I plan to work, Your Highness.”

“In your hometown? Or elsewhere?”

“Elsewhere, Your Highness. I don’t intend to return home.”

Lord Wilmot of Rohez, Nerys’s hometown, had apparently been unsure how to handle the house where Nerys and her mother used to live, after her mother was officially declared deceased.

Legally, the house belonged to Nerys, and the pension rights of the late Lord Truydd had also passed to her. But Nerys had rarely gone back, and Lord Wilmot had several retainers who needed a house.

To prevent him from agonizing over the matter for long, Nerys had sent a letter in advance.

She wrote that since her mother had passed, her heart was too broken to ever return to Rohez. That she intended to sell the house, and would appreciate the money to help her settle down elsewhere.

Lord Wilmot sent a reply filled with both sympathy and relief, along with a larger sum than Nerys had expected.

Of course, for Nerys, who was raking in astronomical amounts through the Morier Trading Company, the money didn’t matter. But refusing it would only draw suspicion.

Nerys sent a reply expressing her gratitude, and with that, her ties to Rohez were officially severed.

She had already removed the furniture and belongings her parents had made with their own hands. There was no reason to keep the house.

“If not your hometown, then are you thinking of entering the Ducal House? It is your family, after all.”

With that question, Nerys finally understood why the usually indifferent princess had taken an interest in her.

The Elanria family had shown growing interest in Nerys as she continued to perform well academically.

Valentin had hated it so much that she was on the verge of exploding, but because of Nellusion’s presence, she couldn’t lay a hand on Nerys.

Even after Nellusion graduated, perhaps out of habit, Valentin’s harassment never went too far. So to others, it probably seemed like the obvious choice for Nerys to join the Elanria family.

“That’s not my family, Your Highness. They’re distant relatives. I no longer have a family.”

Officially, she was now all alone in the world. Izet offered a ceremonial word of comfort—if it could be called that.

“Someone as capable as you wouldn’t have to worry if you had your family’s support.”

“That’s too kind of you, Your Highness.”

“Have you considered becoming a teacher?”

Nerys gave a bitter smile.

“I don’t enjoy teaching, so I don’t think I’d be a good fit for the Academy. Rather than that… I’d like to gain new experiences in a place I’ve never been before.”

“Such as?”

“As Your Highness may know, my circumstances are difficult. I’ve occasionally taken work from civilian transcription agencies, and one lady who’s always been kind to me asked if I’d be willing to be a companion for her young daughter, along with some maid duties.”

Izet let out a quiet snort.

“So it’s a governess position. But I thought you didn’t like teaching.”

“Not large groups of students. Her daughter is just one child, and the lady said they’d treat me like family… I thought I’d give it a try.”

It was a blatant lie.

Nerys’s explanation lacked credibility. No matter what noble house she entered as a governess, the pay and stability would never match what she could earn as an Academy teacher.

After all, any respectable house would send their children to the Academy at the age of twelve.

But Izet wasn’t truly interested in Nerys’s future.

As royalty, she only needed to check that Nerys—who seemed like a potentially useful tool—wasn’t about to join a major noble house. That was all. Nerys knew this well, and she didn’t expect Izet to dig further.

As if signaling the end of their conversation, Izet slid a paper envelope across the table.

“This is your confirmation for meeting the early graduation requirements. Your time at the Academy is almost up. Make the most of what’s left, and I hope things go well wherever you go.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Nerys carefully took the envelope and bowed her head.

* * *

“Um, have you decided on a partner for the graduation ball?”

The boy who asked, his face flushed red, was nineteen.

‘Age—okay. Looks—decent enough. Family—wealthy viscount house and the eldest son, so okay.’

After running a rather strict mental screening, Diane MacKinnon, eighteen years old, concluded that the boy’s qualifications weren’t bad. But for her, there was another more important criterion.

It was whether the boy matched the person he was asking to be his partner.

Well, if your standards are too high, you can’t expect those who meet them to accept you. And in this case, the girl he was asking was far too good for him.

Young, the prettiest face in the world, and through her maternal side, connected to the nation’s most prestigious family—Nerys Truydd declined him cleanly.

“I’m sorry, Senior. I don’t plan to attend the ball with a partner.”

It was an unusual statement. If she had said she wasn’t going at all, that would be one thing. But once someone decided to attend the graduation ball, they usually wanted a partner.

It was a “ball,” after all—wasn’t someone needed to dance with?

The boy had long harbored feelings for this beautiful and mature underclassman.

So even though they weren’t particularly close, he worked up the courage, using the excuse that they shared a few classes together. His friends were probably cheering him on from around the corner.

Just as he was about to try persuading her, he felt a sharp, prickling gaze on him.

When he glanced to the side, he caught sight of Diane’s threatening glare and a hand gesture that he didn’t dare try to decipher.

“Ah, okay. Sorry!”

His hesitation didn’t last long. Watching his retreating back, Nerys commented, puzzled.

“There was no need to apologize.”

Well, she thought so. A boy at the age where romance was natural had asked a girl out—it wasn’t a crime.

Diane, aware of the whole situation, feigned innocence.

“True. Oh, class is starting. Let’s go, Riz.”

“Okay.”

Diane and Nerys linked arms and headed toward their next classroom.

‘I should’ve taken as many classes with her as I could before graduation was finalized.’

Diane had no particular interest in any field of study, so she had simply followed her friend into language studies—which turned out to be extremely difficult for her.

If Nerys weren’t already finishing high-level courses in five foreign languages and now starting a new one from the intermediate level, Diane wouldn’t have been able to attend the same classes.

Intermediate level was manageable, but the advanced level was simply out of reach.

But when Diane heard the sad news that Nerys’s early graduation had been confirmed, she had no choice but to admit she had chosen her major wisely. What if they had picked different majors?

Major aside, there was another thing that came to Diane’s mind with graduation approaching. She pleaded with Nerys.

“Riz, it’s really not fair that you’re going so far away. I don’t know how much that lady is offering you, but if you join our trading company, we’d definitely pay you more, and there’d be way more fun stuff to do. My brother said we’d welcome you with open arms!”

Top student throughout her entire school years. Perfect score on the entrance assessment, skipped two language subjects entirely, fluent in seven languages at the highest level.

Eventually earned acknowledgment from five different professors that they had nothing more to teach her, thus qualifying her for the Academy’s strict early graduation.

And it wasn’t just languages. Nerys had already taken the highest-level courses in international politics and international law from Kartak Institute’s politics division two years ago.

Every professor who had ever taught her wanted to recruit her into their field. According to rumors, one of them praised her as someone who “seems to have several years of frontline diplomatic experience.”

It wasn’t just the incident five winters ago—there was no way the MacKinnon Trading Company wouldn’t want a talent like her.

Yet this friend of hers had coldly repeated the same response every time.

“I really want to do this, Diane. Madam Kellen is the one who’s been giving me work consistently for years. I’d like to visit and personally thank her.”

“Then just go say thanks and come back!”

Diane was annoyed at this “Madam Kellen,” who had been offering Nerys transcription work for years.

Regardless of how old her child was, they would grow up soon, wouldn’t they? It’s not like she could employ her forever—why take her away like this?

Nerys gave her a gentle smile.

“Thanks for the offer. But I really want to give this a try. Even if I end up leaving later, I want to do it for now.”

Well, she had tried to persuade her several times already. Diane was disheartened. She knew she couldn’t change Nerys’s mind when she spoke like this.

So, what else could she do? All she could do now was enjoy the time they had left together.

“Fine. But promise me you’ll go to the graduation ball with me, okay?”

“You’re going with Senior Bren. Do you really need me there?”

The only reason Nerys was even considering going to the graduation ball—despite not caring about having a partner—was because of Diane.

Diane had started dating an older, friendly and outgoing upperclassman a few weeks ago, and she said proudly:

“Of course! What fun would it be if it were just the two of us? I promise you won’t be bored, Riz!”

And Nerys believed her.

During her years at the Academy, Diane had dated a few boys.

But no matter who she was dining with or having tea with, if she saw Nerys passing by, she always waved like she was happier to see her than anyone else.

In fact, it was Nerys who was more worried. If she and Diane stuck together, Diane’s boyfriend would definitely be the one feeling left out.

“Okay.”

But well, what could she do? Nerys laughed, thinking the exact same thing Diane had just said.