LHMYBF – V1C8

CHAPTER 8: EXAM FOR PROMOTION/PROMOTION TEST

– To the tea party? Did you invite her? Lady Kayla?

-You don’t need to ask me three times, Ritaus.

Looking at Estellla’s face, Ritaus put his hand to his forehead. Aster smiled broadly, as if something was wrong. Follow the graceful movements of the hands holding the cup.

I even managed to put it on the table. Looking at him, one might think that this is a well-educated noble girl.

– Estella Eiser? And you followed my mother to the party when I wasn’t around?

It probably wouldn’t be that much of a hassle if he was attending a party for local aristocrats far from Hwando(?). Estellla entered the party of the central aristocracy, both on the ecliptic and on a large scale. He made his debut under the name Estella Eiser.

– The Countess readily agreed.

Ritaus was so discouraged that he was speechless. Despite this, Aster eventually made his public debut as a girl.

– People were very interested in me. Some have asked if I am your sister or cousin.

Aster sighed and walked over to Ritaus, who was sitting on the couch, leaning his head on his shoulder, as if seducing.

– Some said that I am your new bride.

When Ritaus’s brow wrinkled, the amusing low voice chuckled cheerfully.

-But I didn’t say anything. May I speak?

Ritaus got up from her seat, avoiding Estellla, who jokingly tried to kiss his hand.

-I can’t believe my mother played to your tune.

– Ah? It was fun.

Ritaus’s mother, Countess Eiser, was a playful person. Given his mother’s inclination, this was not something he could not understand, but Estellla’s position would have been made more difficult when he became known to the Imperial Family.

– As for the personality of Estella Eiser, everything is in order. You made me pretend to be a different person anyway.

Aster handed Ritaus a wig. It was a beautiful hairstyle with shiny platinum blonde hair. At a glance, it was possible to determine that it was an expensive item.

-This is your temporary status, as far as I can tell. You know this is not something that you can keep using forever. Soon you will have to live like Aster Lysch.

Unlike Ritaus, who was serious, Aster laughed more mischievously. But the violet eyes gradually calmed down.

-I don’t know if I will ever be able to accept that name.

-You are the heir to Duke Lysch. So from now on, you have to be on the lookout. You can’t hide like a girl forever.

Aster burst out into a smug laugh at Ritaus’s words. Ritaus’s heart, when he looked at Aster with such a look, hardened.

The boy, who looked like a girl in front of him, was a son that his father, the Emperor, had not yet learned about. In addition, he is a descendant of the Spirit King, with whom the Imperial family wants nothing to do.

Can they recognize Estellla as a Prince? The Empress thought of Estellla as an eyesore. It will probably be difficult.

– Kayla Vesta did not answer. I can, after all, regard this answer as positive.

Aster looked in the mirror on the wall and put on a wig. When he skillfully tidied up his blonde hair, the pink hair disappeared.

– Everything depends on you.

Sighing at the sight of Aster, Ritaus shook her head.

Ritaus considered Aster’s current interest in Kayla Vesta temporary. The strange girl who saved him from the attack at Berg Station. Maybe it’s just a moment of fun in the daily life of a bored Estellla. He did not take the situation seriously.

***

For a while my nerves were focused on the invitation that Aster had sent me. Aster’s girlish invitation was so shocking that for a while I forgot about Nicholas’s proposal and the problem of voting, which turned me upside down for a while.

Was it because of Estellla that I hid my younger brother Franz and went to Kratie instead? In a way, this could be a more important issue than the current promotion.

– What the hell are you up to?

The white postcard sent by Aster gave off a subtle scent of lilacs. Here women usually sent letters with perfume or dried flowers, boutonnieres. It was a postcard drawn by a man of delicate taste. I ran my hand over my face.

– What are you going to talk about when you invite me to tea?

This man may not have a clue, but I already knew he was a man. In addition, he does not speak in front of others due to his metamorphosis. Therefore, this invitation was awkward.

Aster in the original work was very spontaneous and fickle, but at the same time he was meticulous. He was a man who made decisions based on his mood, but predicted what would happen later and did everything for his own benefit.

Of course, this applies to Estellla, who grew up in the original Magic Mirage manhwa. I don’t know how it feels for a young Estellla who is not yet fully formed.

– It’s even worse, because it’s unpredictable.

Based on the original work, this only happens when Aster’s attention is directed to Ritaus. So it was not strange that the target of bullying me, the bride of Ritaus, was me. Maybe that’s why I parted with him in a hurry. Then what is the problem?

Ophelia returned to the room when I groaned because I couldn’t understand Aster’s feelings for me. During several days, when I was distracted by Aster’s invitation, Ophelia was often absent from the Dormitory. On top of that, today she was holding a large paper box of unknown origin.

– Where have you been? At such a late hour. What is this box? When I asked, Ophelia did not dare to look.

– It? Nothing.

Ophelia hastily slid the box under the bed and quickly changed into her pajamas.

– Are you going to sleep yet? Not yet 8 o’clock.

-I’m tired, so I can’t wait to get some rest.

– What have you done to make you tired? When I asked, Ophelia just laughed.

– There were many places where I wandered, here and there. So I want to sleep.

Ophelia, lying in bed and covered with a blanket over her head, seemed very tired and soon fell asleep. I was curious what that big paper box was, but I decided not to ask any more questions because Ophelia didn’t want to tell me.

I tucked Aster’s invitation deep into the inside pocket of my uniform. This is an invitation from Count Eiser, so if I run into Ritaus, I will return it to him by declining

Ritaus is a local knight and often visits the Kratie Academy during vacations. So I think we will cross again. I decided not to write an answer about the refusal, because I think that it will surely go to Ritaus.

***

At the boarding school Kratie did not come immediately after the end of the semester. The academy gave students a grace period of about a week to give them a chance after failing a promotion test. The boarding academy operated until the day before the holidays, as students wishing to graduate during this time will also take a promotion test together.

– I’ll stay in the library. There is nothing to do, because there will be no training for a while. Ophelia changed into a street dress, not a uniform.

– I would prefer to stay in the library, because now there are no classes. I’ll be there today. Plaid coat, hat and gloves. The skirt was not so long that it was easier to work with.

– Are you busy these days? It’s hard to see your face.

Ophelia smiled awkwardly at my question. At the end of the lesson, I didn’t have to stay at the Academy, unless I was a student who wanted to take the exam like me.

-Ophelia, are you staying at the Academy because of me?- When asked about Ophelia, she answered with a shy smile.

– See you later, Kayla. Bon voyage to the library.

Ophelia in civilian clothes hurriedly left the room. I had in my hands a bag of stationery, ink and quills. Where should I go?

I also packed books, notebooks and writing materials to go to the library. I could have given up the promotion and returned home, but I never gave up.

Due to the cold weather, I took out a thick winter cape from the closet.

– At such moments, a quilted jacket would be just perfect.

The warmer the winter coat was, the thicker and heavier it was. Even holding a regular stack of books in fox fur gloves, it became harder to lug around.

– Wow, who is this?

On the street in front of the women’s dormitory, someone in a fur coat was holding a red rose.

I thought that wearing a fur hat was still too much in this weather. Seeing the face of the owner of the fur coat, I stepped back.

– Sister! No, Lady Kayla. I’ve waited so long!

The handsome man with a red rose in full bloom is Nicholas Chiade, Third Class. I thought you took a vacation, when did you come back?

– Are you sick? You look bad.

I felt like I could see the expression on my face even if I didn’t look in the mirror. I tried to stay as far away from Nicholas, whom I treated like a stranger. But then Nicholas began to chase me.

Please stay away. Don’t follow me.

-I’m sure you read my letter safely. Have you heard anything from the Marquis? Apparently, I put it well there with my head in a duel.

-To be honest, I’ve been confused since the duel ended. I couldn’t admit it. There must be something wrong with the brain.

– But after the second fight I had to admit it.

Just don’t go on admitting it. This is an illusion caused by a shock to the brain.

I had no choice but to turn my head to avoid Nicholas, who was chasing me. Then Nicholas knelt in front of me.

-I… I am Nicholas Chiade! I love Kayla Vesta!

Nicholas’s loud scream seemed to echo off the central flower bed on the way to the library. I quickly looked around to see if anyone was passing by. What a relief. There weren’t many people at the Academy because it was the end of the semester.

– I understand that the response to the proposal was sent by an urgent telegram. Of course, my father. I feel the same as my father. So our relationship ends here!

I answered as quickly as I could without looking Nicholas in the eye. Since this was a family affair, I had no choice but to treat Nicholas as politely as possible.

– I will not give up!

Nicholas shouted behind me as I hurried towards the library. Is there a specialist in this world who is responsible for brain malfunctions? I have to look for him during the holidays.

Nicholas was a bit of a weird guy in the original. He fought with Franz until he was appointed a knight, and in the end they were both challenged to a duel by order of Ritaus. As a result, Franz won a landslide victory.

Franz was able to defeat Nicholas without Schuette because he was also very talented in swordsmanship.

Franz was intimidated by Nicholas because he deliberately abandoned him. He was guilty of the privilege of being the successor to the Vesta family, so he was punished for bullying him.

However, he could not do this even in a formal duel with the honor of a knight. At this moment, Franz demonstrates his skills for the first time and makes Nicholas fall down.

If this were a regular manhwa, Nicholas would have resigned or become a colleague of Franz. However, unfortunately, The Magic Mirage was a 19+ BL manhwa. There is only one moment left.

Even after the duel, he wandered around Franz. Until he was reunited when Franz escaped after being kidnapped by Estellla. To help Franz asking for help, he demanded Franz’s body in return … I’ll skip the rest of the story.

Anyway, Nicholas. Since the original story was BL manhwa, I assumed that this part was inserted by default, but there was also sadism. It’s too tiring – I’m tired of taking care of Estellla alone. I hurried to the library.

Maybe because it was the end of the semester, the library seemed empty. However, it would be sad if there were no librarian in the quiet library.

I opened every exam book for promotion. I even made a note summarizing only the main content, but before I had no motivation. I was very confident in myself, but I feel that I am losing my will. It was when I sighed, bowing my head with complex thoughts.

– Oh God, what brings Kayla Vesta to this library?

Smiling peridot eyes that I don’t want to date. A girl with shiny blond hair came up to me. I thought she wouldn’t be at the Academy because it’s high season.

– Leodora Schreman.

Unlike usual, there were no groups of followers around her who followed Leodora like carps. It seemed to me that I was left alone at the Academy.

– Foreign language in the fourth mathematical class. All textbooks are for the 4th grade. Oh god, this is fifth grade.

Leodora looked at the cover of the textbook I was looking at with my eyes and looked at me. The smile seemed to be laughing.

– Are you still not giving up, or are you an exemplary student preparing to study?

I stared at the textbook without answering. It was unpleasant to deal with her. I needed both endurance and motivation in the fight, but I was not motivated. Then Leodora cautiously approached me from behind and pressed herself to my shoulder. She squeezed him so hard that I got goosebumps from the place where she grabbed me with her hands.

– I will no longer take the promotion test next year or a year after that.

There was a loud voice in my ear, as if a little bird was singing. Compared to her sweet voice, the content of her words was frighteningly vicious. Like a demon in an angel mask.

-But I’ll let you graduate from school. I’m not going to be on top.

Oh my goodness! Finally, I felt Leodora’s nails dig into my shoulder. I turned my head in surprise and looked at her. Leodora smiled triumphantly. What kind of family education do you need to grow up like this?

– Good luck then. I have the book I was looking for …

Leodora smiled, holding the thick reference book in her hand. It was a guide to the main family genealogies of the Elbach Empire and neighboring countries.

Right. This is what the original story said. It was only when I saw the insignia of each country on the cover of the genealogical dictionary that I remembered another memory.

By then, Estellla had seized the palace and was crowned Crown Prince. It is said that the only daughter of the Archduke, Shreman, will marry the next king of the neighboring country. She was the only daughter, so there would be no others but Leodora.

I clearly remembered, although this was not shown in the mankhi itself, but only expressed in the author’s description. This is because the Shreman family, the Imperial Family, was overwhelmed by Imperial succession and collapsed. If we follow the original plot again this time, Leodora will probably …

– If you want to become the Queen of a neighboring country, you better get rid of this character.

In the end, I couldn’t help my itchy mouth and said that. Leodora, who had stopped, turned slowly and stared at me.

– What does it mean?

Leodora came up to me again. I wanted to say. If you remain in this state, you will not be able to marry a member of the royal family in a neighboring country.

– You ask me what I just said, what I mean? Leodora’s low voice rang out in the empty library.

-You know that ordinary people’s suffrage is growing, right?

And again Leodora, who was standing opposite the table at which I was sitting, looked down at me.

– The world will change.

In the original work, when Estellla took over the palace, our family was not the only one to die first.

Bloody winds blew as imperialists like Grand Duke Shreman rebelled against Estellla’s rise. And the opposition was the council of commoners. Parliament was unhappy with the discrimination and harsh practices that revolved around the aristocracy.

With the appearance of Estellla, they joined forces and entered the sphere of influence of Estellla. Thus, the first target of the Commonwealth Council was Shreman.

It sounded very disrespectful.

For a moment, I felt a tremor in Leodora’s eyes as she looked down at me.

-I don’t know how the world will change, so I tell you not to turn low-class people into enemies.

I turned my gaze back to the textbook on the table. I have to stop here. I have to take care of the comfort of my family.

– Is it because the Vesta family is an abandoned family? Now I see you neglect the liberal arts and manners.

Leodora showed her displeasure, turned and left the library. As I watched the thin back disappear into the distance, I remembered the original again.

What happened to the royal family, Leodora, did not come out of the original book. It has just been mentioned that many imperial families, including Shreman, have been stripped of all their power and purged.

Leodora might have survived this mess, but life would not have been so easy. Thus, the original Magic

Mirage ended with Aster, who became the Crown Prince who held power and threw the Empire into chaos.

The history of the future is unknown. The Magic Mirage became more and more popular for its beautiful and colorful illustrations and was eventually completed early. Of course, the early completion was just a rumor. However, it was true that he suddenly came to a strange ending.

It’s been five hours since I was mindlessly spending my time without study, and I left the library because I couldn’t bring myself to study.

When I left the library again with a few heavy books, I saw Ophelia and Iris running busily. Ophelia had a box in her hands that I had seen before, and inside it was full of envelopes. Iris had a leather file folder, similar to a

lawsuit, in her hands, and they were dressed in civilian clothes.

– Where are you going?

Despite the fact that I was full of heavy luggage, I happily ran to my friends, but Ophelia and Iris stopped when they saw me.

– Y-are you out yet?

-I couldn’t concentrate, so I just left.

Ophelia smiled awkwardly, hiding the box behind her back. Iris also looked the other way.

– Have you already had dinner? If you haven’t eaten yet, let’s eat together. Hearing my suggestion, Ophelia smiled and shook her head.

– Sorry, we already ate outside.

The smiling face looked nervous. Neither Ophelia nor Iris seemed very happy to meet me.

– Where are you going now? What is it?

When I pointed to the box and leather folder Iris was holding, they shook their heads.

– Nothing important. Kayla just focus on studying, so see you later!

It was so urgent that Ophelia and Iris ran away. As if they were running away from me. At the end of the semester, the students had nothing to do. Therefore, most students go home early.

– You can talk to me.

I was shaking little by little. There are only a few days left before the vacation. If I don’t find another way home, I’ll end the semester like this. What I wanted to do was simply my greed, which ran counter to the safety of my family and myself.

I needed to check this part again.

Unable to skip lunch, I left the stack of books in the common room and headed to the restaurant.

There were not many people, because dinner time had already passed. Many students left the dorm because the classes were over. Maybe that’s why there was only one chef or employee in the restaurant.

When I tried to sit down at a nearby table with bread and soup on a tray, I saw Marianne eating alone nearby. Marianne will not return to her house until my account issues are resolved.

I thought Marianne would listen to my concerns. She is a reasonable person. I sat down opposite Marianne with a tray.

– Are you eating alone?

Marianne, hurrying to eat the soup, saw me and coughed as if she heard something.

– Are you all right?

I slowly patted Marianne on the back and looked into her face. Poor Marianne’s face turned red.

– It’s okay, it’s okay. I need to catch the train.

Marianne wiped her mouth and began cleaning up the soup and bread that she could not finish.

– Are you going to leave? Train?

I looked at Marianne, who stood up and said:

-I’m sorry I can’t stay with you until the end, Kayla. I have to go first because I have a family trip.

Marianne bowed slightly and hurriedly left the restaurant, returning the tray.

It’s okay if it’s a family trip. She said she would stay with me until my problem was solved, but Marianne did not have to.

– Still…

Marianne even said she would talk about it with her father, the Minister of Administration. Will it work? I didn’t expect much. Will Duke Dmirov be able to move in with his daughter’s girlfriend? I don’t think this is just a

little girl’s fight.

But…

– I wanted to talk to you.

It would be wise to wait until vacation. And maybe in vain. No, I don’t know if it’s worth trying. If I was in my past life, I would have given up on this question earlier. I felt my mind was getting weaker.

Maybe my role ended with the assignment of Franz Shitsuro? Perhaps I could pass Schuette to my relatives and inherit my father’s title.

Until I send Franz to a quiet place in the countryside to help Franz become Master Shitsuro, I don’t think I should go to Kratie and suffer …

In the end, the decision was made to resign. I was even more resourceful when I decided to give out Schuette and the title to my cousins.

Will Uncle Norrix, alienated as the enemy, kick our family out of Vesta Territories? My family will follow Franz, who loves wild birds, and will be tormented by mountains, fields and sea, and will settle somewhere exhausted. They will become tenant farmers, borrowing land from poor landowners to farm in a way they have never done before. And this year, agriculture will again be crowded out due to poor harVestas and

inability to pay taxes.

And then one of the parents got sick, and Franz went to beg on the street to get medicine. And at the same time, he met with Aster …

Clap!

Be realistic.

I slapped myself on the cheek. My subconscious was already half filled with negative thoughts.

– Let’s cool our head.

Leaving the restaurant, I stood in front of my dorm room. A letter was waiting for me at the door. If Ophelia were here, she would put the mail on the table. She probably hasn’t come yet.

Gently entering the room after the letter fell into my hands, I felt energy. Sitting at my desk, I opened the

letter, not even knowing who the sender was. It was a letter from the Oculus Girls’ School. This was the last of three outlying girls’ schools that I tried to locate Franz in.

– …Oh my God!

I almost screamed. I accepted the offer at the Oculus Girls boarding school. They agreed. They are said to have been looking for a sponsor due to the small number of students and financial difficulties. It was written that if I made the promised donation, they would not accept other male students until Franz graduated from high school.

It was nice. The Oculus Boarding School was surrounded by rivers, swamps and fields. Logically, there will be many plants, insects and migratory birds that only grow in this area.

I hastened to write a reply to tthe Oculus Girls boarding school. It happened at the same moment. I turned my head because I heard a knock on the window pane. A messenger stood outside the window. The seal of the Vesta family was visible in the eyes of the messenger bird. My father called me. The bird’s beak opened when I tapped her on the head.

– You said you had no classes. Where did you go?-

Soon after, I heard my father’s voice, which sounded faint.

– I was in the library.

Is it instead of a sigh or an answer?

-…-

– …

-… Kayla.

– Yes, continue.

– Why don’t you come home now?-

I knew it. But nothing came of it. To some extent, I expected this, so I did not experience much disappointment. And yet it’s not that I don’t have mixed feelings.

– Is there really no solution?

I heard my father sigh again. My father reportedly complained directly to the administrator of the Ministry of Education, which is in charge of the Kratie Boarding Academy. He raised the question of the existence of behavioral voting, as well as friendship and collusion between aristocrats, but it was not accepted.

– They said that parents shouldn’t interfere with what happens among the students. It’s not funny. We can’t even punish those guys who made Franz this way.

Most of the important positions in the Imperial Palace and the central government were held by immigrants from the Kratie Boarding Academy and aristocrats. Therefore, he did not appreciate the situation in which he opposed Kratie’s policy. Kratie’s diploma was a necessary course for succession.

– Don’t get hung up on early graduation. All that is required of you is to successfully graduate from the Academy and inherit the family title.

I felt a little guilty about what my father said. I even thought about quitting the Academy and giving up the title. The Marquis of Vesta must have thought a lot about changing his successor.

– You should try to get along with the Duchess of Schreman. It’s social life. Whether you’re a knight in our family or married, it’s imperative.

– Yes, father. I will think about it.

When my head went cold, I thought about it for the first time. Compared to the safety of my family, it is a great pride to think about coming and bowing to Leodora.

-See you at home.

When I, having finished the conversation with my father, was about to send a messenger out the window, Ophelia stood behind me.

-You’re late, Ophelia.

For some reason, Ophelia looked at me in surprise. Did she hear my conversation with my father?

– Kayla, are you going home?

Ophelia, who came closer, squeezed my hand.

– Never give up, Kayla. Don’t bow to Leodora!

Ophelia’s hands were shaking. Her eyes were serious.

-But Ophelia. My father says this is impossible. As you know, our family is a knightly family, so we cannot use our power in society.

I tried to explain it as simply as possible so that Ophelia would understand. But Ophelia shook her head.

– I understand, Kayla. And Kayla’s position in the aristocracy. But don’t give up. It’s not just Kayla’s problem. We have been waiting for this moment.

– Ophelia.

We have been waiting for this moment. What does it mean? I didn’t understand what Ophelia wanted to say. I wonder what Ophelia, a commoner, can do that even my father couldn’t solve?

But I knew that Ophelia and Iris were doing something for me. I do not know what is this.

In the end, I didn’t go home as Ophelia wanted and stayed in the dorm until the end to prepare for the promotion test.

***

– I will write you. Do not Cry. I’m fine.

– Forgive me, Kayla. I insisted, so I stayed until today. I guess I was just taking my time.

The last day of the semester, the day before the holidays. Ophelia, who stayed with me in the bedroom until the very end, sobbed.

– It’s all right, don’t feel guilty for anything. Ophelia.

– I was so naive, ha! The reality was so harsh.

Tudun-tudun.

I patted Ophelia on the back and looked at her unpacked luggage. Ophelia must have been heartbroken, but she couldn’t even unpack her things properly. Tears dripping from Ophelia’s eyes soaked the carpet on the floor.

– I tried so hard, worked very hard. Peace is not limited to sincerity.

-Of course, I thought to myself, and I hugged Ophelia warmly.

– But what did you do without my knowledge? Can’t you tell me now? When I asked, Ophelia slowly raised her head and smiled.

-I sent the petition with Iris.

– What request? Where to?

– I sent him to the Administration. Because the Ministry of Education is under the direct jurisdiction of the administration.

In the Administration was Duke Dmiroff, Marianne’s father.

– Marianne said that she will talk to Duke Dmirov as a Sami. That’s why she went on a family trip she hadn’t planned.

I remembered the last time I saw Marianne. How she ran away in a hurry, without finishing.

– And I sent a letter to the director’s house.

Director – Graf Rubez Carlsen, General Director of the Kratie Academy. Usually he could be seen very rarely, because the work was completely delegated to the directors of each Dormitory. He was in an honorary position, but he was a man who had no real power.

– I wanted to personally meet with the director, but I can only make appointments through him. The same goes for letters. You will have to go through the hand of the leaders from time to time. So I sent a letter straight home.

If it is not an expensive express telegram, it will take more than 15 days for the letter to arrive in a remote area.

– But, in the end, nobody answered me. As you might expect, no one cares about the petitions sent by young commoners. This is so unfair. It was very difficult for us to get the signature of the graduates.

Ophelia and Iris did a great job while I waited to be contacted from the office. Ophelia and Iris wrote letters to commoner graduates. Among them, they turned to people who were harmed as a result of voting for behavior for help. Among the aristocrats, Iris sent letters to fallen aristocrats to convince them. How long should we stay like this? This does not end with just graduating from private academies.

The number of signatures obtained in this way is about 2000. The total number of students attending Kratie was less than 700. However, it was phenomenal that only alumni who opposed the behavior voting system filled this number.

This is why they often left. While I was studying in the library, I remembered Ophelia and Iris, who often went out.

– Why are you doing this for me?

I was really innocently curious. We have known each other for six months at best. Why did these people try so hard for me? But an unexpected answer escaped from Ophelia’s lips.

-I’m sorry for Kayla, but I thought this was her chance. Because Kayla is a noblewoman.

The Salon of tyranny was realized not only by one person, Leodora. The history of the Salon was not short.

– Because such a noble man from the Vesta family suffered. I thought that if Kayla became a victim, the aristocracy would pay attention to it.

This is what many commoner students have experienced. Powerless aristocrats like Iris couldn’t even talk to them. So if the target was me, if it was Kayla Vesta, she thought that maybe she could change reality now.

Ophelia observed a lot of unreasonable things while staying close to Iris. So this time, if a high aristocrat suffered injustice, wouldn’t they listen to our voices? I felt a little sorry for Ophelia and Iris.

– I’m sorry that I have no strength. Ophelia shook her head quickly.

– No no no. Kayla tried her best. Rather, I am sorry that we have placed a heavy burden on Kayla. Ophelia continued to speak shyly.

– I’m ashamed, but at first I expected Marianne to play this role. Because she is a high-ranking aristocrat with a high status, and Duke Dmirov is an administrative minister.

Marianne, unlike me, hated trouble. So she joined the Salon. Although he did not actively participate in the meeting, she did not insult Leodora as openly as I did.

Of course, there may be a reason why Duke Dmirov, the Administrative Minister in society, was more powerful than my father, the Marquis of Vesta. Due to her strength in the social world, Leodora could not do this.

– Thank you for trying so hard for me. I know you’re upset, but let’s forget about it.

– Kayla.

I consoled Ophelia and wondered what to do. There was a lot to do to get home. I needed to send a special express telegram, and I had to fill the suitcases open on the floor.

Instead of Ophelia, whose eyes were red and swollen, I decided to buy tickets from the train station to her house.

– I would like to buy a ticket to Berg station and Sandalperk station for tomorrow at 10 am.

– Train to Berg station only at 10:40 am.

– Everything is fine.

Having bought the tickets, I looked around the entire Academy on the way back to the Dormitory. Time is the time when I lived at the Boarding Academy in Kratie. It wasn’t that long, but it seemed very old.

I was going to graduate early on the basis of passing the exam, but I think I will have to leave in four years. My family lives in peace now and isn’t it better than an early release? Starting next semester, let’s live our academic life calmly and without scandals, even if I bow to Leodora.

At that moment, someone called out to me from behind.

– Student of Kayla Vesta!

I could see the woman’s breath catching, as if she had been singing for a long time. The woman, who looked in her early 40s, was not a teacher, but her face was familiar.

– It’s good that you haven’t left yet.

Dovella Lisman, Academic Office Employee. At the beginning of the semester, I went into and out of the office several times, so now I remembered the faces of all the employees.

– The director is looking for Kayla. Come on, go.

What’s happening? Just in case, I ran to the library building with the director’s office. As I ran as hard as I could, I had a fever and my winter coat was burning.

As soon as I approached the door of the director’s office, I knocked gently, catching my breath.

– Who are you?

I cleared my throat and calmly opened my mouth.

– Kayla Vesta.

– Come on in.

I heard a rather calm and caring voice. When I opened the door, an old man who would have been well over 70 was waiting for me with a smile.

This is Count Rubets Carlsen. He is the head of the Kratie Boarding Academy. -You’ve been waiting to see if you can pass the promotion test, right?

The headmaster’s smiling eyes looked so generous that I nodded honestly.

– Tomorrow I will talk to the teachers and ask them to prepare for Kayla Vesta’s test. I do not believe. Are you really letting me do this?

I cover my mouth with both hands, lower and squeeze them. I couldn’t control my hands with excitement.

– Really? Can I take a promotion test?

I asked the director again. The director nodded with a smile.

You did it. Ophelia, Iris! First of all, I thought about the faces of my friends.

– Thank you, sir!

I felt so good. I could not control my fluttering heart.

– Don’t you want to know? What’s happened.

My father’s complaint to the Ministry of Education did not work. Is this all Duke Dmirov?

-Duke Dmirov sent a messenger bird to me a few days ago.

The director’s gaze touched the letter, which he put aside. There was a parcel under the letter, wrapped in tissue paper, but it was impossible to say what exactly. Is it from Duke Dmirov? I could not draw any conclusions because I did not see the content, but thanks to this letter I thought I was here.

-He asked me to take care of Kayla Vesta, a student at this Academy, because she is a relative of his. He asked us to remove the lowered behavioral voting scores by using director powers.

That’s the whole point. Looks like Marianne managed to convince her father.

– The position of director is honorable here, but has almost no power. There is something that I can only do once a semester, but I cannot use this opportunity for the sake of trifles. This is against justice.

My heart sank at these words of demand and justice. If I had the power, I would use all of it. The inside of his neck stabbed like there was sand in it.

– No matter how many times you asked me about it, you could not. I had to use this power at the most important moment. But…

The director handed me a letter and a roll of parchment paper that were on the table.

– You have good friends, Kayla Vesta.

Seeing the contents, I almost cried. The director did not help because of Minister Dmirov. Inside the parchment bag was a thick bundle of bound paper. Densely written signatures and someone’s letters were grouped together.

– I decided to eliminate the behavior voting system with the right to use it only once during my term. The director rose from his seat and held out his hand to me.

-You haven’t passed the test yet, but the results are clear. Congratulations on your promotion, Kayla Vesta.

I left the director’s office and wandered into the Dormitory. Oddly enough, it was not cold at all, although a sharp wind was blowing. My heart was still burning. It seemed to me that I heard the voice of Ophelia, who desperately told me not to give up.

– It’s not just Kayla’s problem. We have been waiting for this moment.

I lived for my purpose, only for my safety. So I would stop thinking about bowing to Leodora if I gave up. For some reason, tears seemed to flow.

– Kayla, what happened when you went to buy tickets? Ophelia asked when she saw my eyes turn red.

-… Ophelia.

I hugged Ophelia with tears that I tried to brush away.

– What’s happening? Is there something bad going on at home? Ophelia patted me on the back as if worried.

– That’s not the point …

I told Ophelia about what happened in the director’s office. Then Ophelia’s eyes, which had barely bounced back, turned red again.

– This is good, this is really good, ooh

Ophelia cried harder than me. The inside of the room became a mess as I searched for letter paper, saying that I needed to send a letter to Iris, who was the first to go home.

The next day, I was able to successfully pass the promotion test. Starting next semester, I’ll be in fifth grade, one grade higher than Ophelia, Iris and Marianne.

But the joy of six months of success made me forget about the invitation, which I put in the pocket of the form. On the first day of vacation, Aster invited me to tea.