~Chapter 96~
“…Bianca?”
Leon’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Ah, no!”
I definitely couldn’t tell him. I was still bothered by what happened yesterday. I shook my head and tried to erase the memory of Ricardo from my mind.
What was wrong with me?
As I sighed, I suddenly noticed a familiar face outside the carriage window.
“Oh, Leon, wait a moment!”
Leon quickly stopped the carriage at my words.
“Thank you! I’ll be right back!”
I hurriedly pushed through the crowd and ran toward the woman standing ahead—my grandaunt, Elizabeth.
She turned to me, having sensed someone approaching.
“…It’s been a while.”
Her face hadn’t changed much since the last time I saw her.
“You look well. I’m glad.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Even though we hadn’t parted on good terms last time, I had something I needed to ask her.
“Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t been near your grandfather. I’m just returning from the temple.”
Elizabeth seemed to guess that I had a reason for approaching her. She gave a small, bitter laugh and spoke in a sarcastic tone.
“Why that look? Your brother safely inherited the title, and that man is still alive and well. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
There were some rumors going around among the side branches of our family.
“Of course. He overcame the opposition and took over Roygin’s estate. How could I not be happy?”
“Let’s hope that happiness lasts. Now that your grandfather rules over Dremokhan, it’s only a matter of time before your family gets caught up in more trouble.”
She knew we wouldn’t die, so her words didn’t hurt me.
But what she said next did.
“Your brother must be afraid of dying, too. When he was younger, he once asked me how your parents managed to avoid death.”
“…!”
“He foolishly thought we had cursed them and then acted pitifully to try to earn our approval. He assumed we’d lift the curse.”
It felt like dry sand was stuck in my throat.
“…Why didn’t you just deny it when he asked?”
“Why should I bother? Watching someone desperately struggle to survive when death is their fate—that was my only entertainment.”
“…”
“He was foolish enough to think he could save himself and your grandfather just by doing that.”
***
No, the foolish one was me.
Back then, I was too busy feeling sorry for myself to pay attention to what was going on around me.
All I did was cry and beg to be sent home.
If only I’d realized the truth sooner…
My chest felt heavy, like something was pressing down on it.
But I couldn’t show that in front of Leon, so I fixed my expression.
“So, why did you ask me to come to the Owen estate?”
If there was any evidence here, Leon would have found it already.
Instead of answering, Leon handed me a small box. I carefully opened it to find a brooch with an amethyst gem.
In the center was the emblem of the academy.
“This is it. The item I got back from Cedric.”
“…”
“Well, he claims I stole it.”
It was a brooch awarded to top students—a sign of recognition from the academy. Those who received it often went on to accomplish great things in the empire.
“I needed it to inherit my title. I’m sure Cedric needed it too.”
His mention of Cedric made my chest tighten a little.
“I’m sorry to say this, but if it weren’t for you, I never would’ve again gotten involved with that guy.”
“…But how did the misunderstanding even start?”
“I’m not sure myself.”
Leon frowned.
“For some reason, rumors started going around that the Owen family paid money to get good grades.”
When I handed the brooch back to him, Leon threw the box into a drawer, like he didn’t even want to look at it.
“I was jealous when Cedric got it, sure. But I admitted he earned it.”
“…”
“But then I found out Cedric was the one who gave the academy evidence that I cheated.”
Leon laughed bitterly.
“The evidence was solid. The academy believed it. That’s why I lost to him.”
“W-Wait, solid evidence? But you didn’t cheat!”
Leon ran his hand through his hair roughly, clearly stressed by the memory.
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure Cedric was the one who submitted it?”
Right as Leon was about to answer—
Step, step.
The door suddenly burst open.
Before I could see who it was, a box thudded onto the desk.
“…!”
It was Cedric.
Leon and I looked at each other in surprise.
This wasn’t something we’d planned.
Leon opened his mouth, struggling to speak.
“Y-You… how did you…”
But Cedric calmly adjusted his glasses and looked around the room. His gaze paused when he saw the brooch box in the drawer.
While he was distracted, I peeked into the box onto the desk. Inside were the academy records of the 241st graduating class that Leon and I had found yesterday.
“There are even documents we didn’t see yesterday…”
I tried to keep talking, but Leon’s sharp gaze made me panic and change the subject.
“S-Since Cedric’s here too, maybe this is our chance?”
I didn’t think I was speaking loudly, but Cedric heard me and sighed.
“The headmaster asked me to deliver something to you.”
“You came all the way here just for that?”
Cedric, who hated leaving his house?
“It was an elder’s request. I had no choice.”
Cedric glanced at me.
“The sooner this is resolved, the less hassle it’ll be for you. Wouldn’t you rather get this done than waste time doing nothing?”
“It’s not a hassle.”
“Right. A perfect excuse to kill time.”
“Don’t say that to Bianca.”
Leon growled. Cedric let out a short laugh.
“Then maybe you should’ve acted better—stop wasting other people’s time.”
“L-Leon never asked me to help! This was my decision!”
But it was like they didn’t even hear me.
“Here’s a warning: stop interfering with Roygin.”
“You think I’ll steal something?”
The air in the room grew tense.
“I’m telling you not to use this fake family act to hide your real intentions and get close to her.”
“Ha!”
Leon’s face turned red as he tried to hold back his anger. The veins in his hand stood out as he stepped toward Cedric with a dangerous look.
“You were fine asking me to take care of Bianca before—what, now you’ve changed your mind? You think I’m a joke?”
“That’s my question. Weren’t you the one who betrayed my trust?”
“Trust? That ever even exist?”
“…No.”
Cedric’s answer came slower than usual.
“Finally being honest now? Must’ve been tough talking to a ‘thief’ all this time.”
Cedric ignored the insult and looked over the messy documents on the table.
“Good luck finding anything in this mess.”
“We don’t need your help. Get out.”
“I don’t plan to stay long, and I’ll leave soon anyway.”
Cedric nodded toward me.
“Let’s go.”
I quickly shook my head.
“I’m staying here.”
Leon smirked at Cedric.
“Well, this is awkward. Bianca wants to help me.”
“This is my decision.”
“You heard her? It’s her choice. If someone’s leaving, it should be you.”
Cedric gave me a cold look, then sat down on the couch like he owned the place.
Leon, clearly shocked, opened his mouth in disbelief.
Cedric began organizing the documents Leon and I had left scattered on the desk. Then he looked up at us.
“Sit. We’re short on time—let’s get this over with.”
