A stern-faced Hemil was ready for Liel when he arrived on the Academy late within the afternoon after leaving the Marquis’s early within the morning.

“Did you actually wish to relaxation that badly, seeing as the way it’s been over a month since trip?”

At Hemil’s query, Liel shrugged his shoulders and selected his expression. He tried to look remorseful, nevertheless it didn’t work.

“You do understand that you just’ve been gone for over a month, not every week, so that you’re brief on class days this semester, proper?”

“Sure.”

“I counsel you drop this semester and take one other.”

It was anticipated.

Within the first place, Liel had come to speak about taking a go away of absence for lacking lessons. Hemil knew his scenario and didn’t blame him.

“I see.”

Liel bowed and strode out of the workers room, instantly turning to Melissa, who stood guard by the workers room door.

Their eyes met and he or she greeted him in a cold voice.

“Hello.”

It was the sort of greeting that you may inform was out of necessity.

Liel smiled again, out of behavior.

“Hello.”

In contrast to Melissa, his tone was pleasant.

“…I’m simply apprehensive about Lucy.”

Liel’s mild demeanor relaxed Melissa’s nerves, and he or she instantly introduced up Lucy. Her mouth stiffened, as if she was genuinely apprehensive.

“Oh, she’s significantly better now.”

Liel didn’t add any pointless commentary. He solely answered the questions Melissa had requested, and even then, it was nearly a brief reply.

His tone was so pleasant that most individuals wouldn’t have realized he was drawing a line within the sand.

However as quickly as she heard his reply, she realized that he was reluctant to provide her an replace on Lucy.

However, Melissa pressed on with a sequence of questions.

“Now that she’s higher, could I come and see her?”

The information of the Marquis Anise’s passing was already broadly recognized within the Academy.

As if to again up the information, Lucy had instantly utilized for a go away of absence. She must give attention to her household’s affairs moderately than her research.

It was doubtless that Lucy wouldn’t return to the academy, so she must journey to the Marquis’ residence to fulfill her.

However Melissa had by no means had a noble buddy earlier than, so she requested Liel if it might be okay earlier than she made the daring transfer.

“……I don’t suppose it’s a good suggestion proper now. Lucy’s going to be busy studying the ropes.”

Liel smiled coyly, as if that was the tip of the query.

“It’s all about taking on the household enterprise, isn’t it? So…… can I simply wait a month or three?”

Anybody who didn’t know Lucy effectively would have snorted at Melissa’s phrases and checked out her pathetically.

She mentioned that as a commoner, she didn’t understand how a lot work and time it takes to hold on a household identify.

However Melissa, who had been with Lucy for nearly a yr since she began faculty, knew how a lot Lucy’s check scores had improved in two semesters.

And it was the identical for Liel, who had been with Lucy since she was a toddler.

So neither of them thought three months was too brief a time.

“…….”

Liel’s head tilted to the facet at Melissa’s exact time-frame. After a gradual blink, Liel spoke once more.

“I don’t know. I’m unsure about that.”

Not anticipating any extra questions, Liel gave a fast bow and turned to stroll away from Melissa.

Melissa gave him a bitter look as she watched his again.

‘Does he hate me?’

She didn’t actually care what Liel considered her, however she couldn’t assist however really feel just a little uneasy by the best way he was performing.

On the identical time, she realized that if Liel had a crush on Lucy, he would possibly hate her for encouraging her to consider Pavon’s confession.

In fact, that didn’t actually matter to Melissa.

It didn’t matter to her and he or she didn’t wish to give it some thought both.

⁂

After spending the night time within the Academy’s dormitory, Liel headed straight for the Marquis of Seywint.

Upon returning to the Marquis’ residence and opening the door to Lucy’s workplace, Liel was met with an unfamiliar sight.

“…….”

The Duchess of Marsen sitting in entrance of Lucy with a chilly face, and Dioletta wanting perplexed subsequent to her.

Liel’s eyes widened, unable to cover his shock.

Lucy, alternatively, regarded as if her soul had been sucked out of her.

“That’s sufficient for immediately.”

The Duchess of Marsen mentioned, elevating her fan. Then she glanced over at Liel. Naturally, a effective crack appeared on the Duchess’s face.

“Ah, thanks in your assist.”

Lucy mentioned as she stumbled to her ft.

The Duchess returned her greeting with a slight bow of her head. She regarded so elegant and regal, it was like Dioletta.

“I’ll escort you to the ducal residence.”

Liel mentioned in a low, well mannered voice earlier than the Duchess walked previous him.

Likewise, the Duchess whispered in a low voice, simply loud sufficient for Liel to listen to.

“I’ll let you know what, I don’t want it.”

The air the Duchess left behind was ale-cold on the pores and skin.

However Liel didn’t appear to thoughts, as if he was already accustomed to her demeanor, and he shortly made his method into the drawing room with Lucy and Dioletta.

⁂

I’ve to work exhausting.

That was the primary thought that got here to thoughts.

My grandmother had mentioned she didn’t need me to be tied to the household identify, however I nonetheless wished to do the very best I may.

I’m not even going to maneuver my workplace. It’s not that I don’t wish to honor her, it’s simply that I feel it might be extra of a problem.

Knock knock—

There was a knock on the door of my workplace as I used to be frantically studying the books in my research and the books in my workplace.

Pondering it was Liel, I regarded up and answered the door.

“Are you feeling higher now?”

Opposite to my suspicions, the customer was none apart from Dioletta unnie.

The look of concern on my sister’s face shortly turned to shock when she noticed the book-covered inside of my dwelling workplace.

I used to be just a little dizzy…….

Shrugging, I stood up and walked previous the stack of books to unnie.

“Sorry, the room is so messy, isn’t it? Someplace to sit down…….”

I by accident touched the tower of books, and it collapsed in a heap.

“I’ll be there. You simply keep there.”

Dioletta mentioned from the doorway, extending each arms. She meant don’t come any nearer.

“…….”

Nonetheless, she didn’t get contained in the workplace simply.

Maybe the very first thing I ought to do when she will get again is set up the workplace.

“I’ll simply speak to you right here.”

She mentioned with a straight face. To me, it regarded like an act to cover her awkwardness.

“Positive.”

I nodded vigorously, pretending I didn’t know what she was pondering.

We had been now speaking over a stack of books, however we each pretended to be as unconcerned as potential.

“Initially, I’m glad you’re higher now, as a result of I used to be apprehensive…….”

“Yeah……. I’m sorry I apprehensive you…….”

“No. I’m the one who’s sorry, as a result of I wasn’t any assist once you had been down.”

She glanced across the room once more. Even in spite of everything these years, she was nonetheless sort.

“Lucy, in case you ever have a tough time or need assistance, simply let me know.”

I actually appreciated the gesture, however the fiddle me threatened to overwhelm the sentiment.

“You’ll be able to actually speak to me, no strain.”

I used to be about to say sure, however she interrupted me and reiterated. I actually don’t have something to ask for.

Apart from, I used to be already so indebted to Liel, I felt dangerous about borrowing her hand.

“…….”

I hesitated, and he or she smiled bitterly. It was solely then that I finished making an attempt to refuse and stored my mouth shut.

Apparently, I hadn’t relied on her, and that made her really feel dangerous.

“Properly……. Then…….”

I couldn’t go away her sulking, so I shortly racked my mind. I had to consider one thing.

After a brief pause, I miraculously got here up with one.

“Unnie, do you suppose you possibly can introduce me to somebody who can provide me a successor class? 

I glanced on the stack of books, and my sister’s gaze adopted mine to the books.

Quickly, she requested with a puzzled look on her face.

“You’ve memorized all this……?”

“Sure! So I received’t be embarrassed earlier than my would-be instructor!”

I mentioned, clasping my arms collectively and twinkling my eyes. She nonetheless regarded puzzled.

I used to be about to ask her if she’d already completed her successor class.

“I didn’t consider that. Okay, let me search for you.”

“Actually?”

“Positive. I advised you to inform me something. Reasonably, it’s such a light-weight request that I’m embarrassed.”

She ran a hand over her cheek and tilted her head barely. Her waist-length black hair rustled and flicked.

I dipped my head in gratitude and commenced to make my method by way of the stacks as soon as once more.

I can’t wait to hug my unnie.

Simply as I used to be pondering that, I heard a well-recognized voice.

“Hey, Woman Dioletta. What are you doing standing right here……. Oh, is that this the place you two are speaking as a result of you possibly can’t get into the workplace?”

Sarah, who had appeared simply in time, checked out me and Dioletta in astonishment.

“You may have referred to as for me……. Or you may have come out and talked within the subsequent room since I’m cleansing up anyway…….”

“Oh…….”

In order that’s the way it works.

Unnie and I sighed on the identical time.

I smiled awkwardly and walked out of the workplace with a proud strut, answering Sarah’s query.

“I’ve been that means to do this!”

Naturally, Sarah didn’t look satisfied.