Chapter 69
It had only been an excuse I’d just thought of, but the more I considered it, the more it seemed like a good idea.
If I had money left over, I really should do that.
“Why though?”
At Titus’s question, I froze, unable to answer right away.
Until now, the conversation had been flowing smoothly, but suddenly it felt like it had hit a wall.
“Why? Because it’s pitiful, isn’t it?”
“Why is it pitiful? Your family has plenty of wheat, right?”
Titus widened his eyes as he asked.
“You really are such a silly boy!”
His bright, innocent laugh carried not the slightest trace of malice.
‘What was that all about?’
Turning the last words of Titus over in my mind, I returned to the mansion.
How could someone ask why people are pitiful? Isn’t that usually obvious?
Crossing the empty entrance hall, I headed toward the study—only to see two silhouettes waiting at the doorway.
‘Io… and the head of the house?!’
Thinking I must be dreaming, I even pinched my cheek.
But no matter how much I denied it, the figure standing there as though waiting for someone was definitely the head of the house.
Beside him stood Io, head bowed, trembling.
Quickly hiding myself behind a column, I seized the moment when the master looked away to try to communicate with Io.
‘—Io! What’s going on? What happened?!’
She noticed me, but afraid of being discovered, could only shake her head desperately.
Why was the master home at this hour?
I immediately turned around and slipped out of the mansion.
At this rate, Io was going to be in big trouble.
‘The window. I’ll go in through the study window. I’ll just say I fell asleep inside.’
It was a stroke of luck that I had entrusted the gold coins to Titus earlier.
If they got discovered now too, things would spiral completely out of control.
Circling around, I leapt up to the first-floor study window.
“Hyaah…!”
It was a struggle since I was a little too short, but I somehow managed to haul myself up onto the window ledge.
The opening was tucked between tall shelves deep in the study.
‘Good, if I just climb down from here…’
But the moment I stepped down—
My leather sandals slipped, and I lost my balance, crashing down below.
“Kyah!”
Thud-thump!
The noise was loud, but fortunately, a cushioned chair broke my fall.
As I rubbed my sore elbow and tried to get up—
“Calidora!”
The head of the house called my name, and at the same time, an explosion sounded from the doorway of the study.
“H-huh…!”
I was so stunned I lay sprawled on the chair, unable to move.
The master had smashed open the study door and was rushing toward me!
“Calidora, get a hold of yourself!”
Thinking I had collapsed inside, he scooped me up and hurried out.
The commotion brought servants running, their faces filled with worry.
‘Now things are really blown up!’
“Iolanthe. Speak the truth. How long has the young lady been in this condition?”
“Th-th-th… that is…”
Caught between me and the master, Io could barely stammer.
‘—Io, say you don’t know. Hurry!’
Feigning unconsciousness, I mouthed the words.
“I don’t know! I’m sorry… I’ve failed in my duty to protect the young lady. I’ll atone for it with my life…!”
As Io’s voice trembled, the master dismissed her with a wave, as if that was enough.
He carried me straight to my bed.
Behind him trailed the family physician and numerous attendants who’d been summoned in haste.
“Young lady, are you conscious? What on earth happened…?”
“I just read something too difficult, and my head started spinning… I’m fine…”
I tried to sound as weak as possible.
Now that things had reached this point, I would just pretend I’d collapsed from overstudying.
But the looks on everyone’s faces weren’t what I expected.
I thought they’d be something like: You studied so hard, how admirable! But don’t overdo it.
Instead, their gloomy expressions carried an air of guilt, as if they’d wronged me.
“Calidora!”
Even Lord Avelus, who had been training in the arena, rushed back in haste.
‘What on earth is happening?’
I was dying to ask, but since I was supposed to be sick, I couldn’t just start questioning people.
So instead, I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.
“Huaaam… I’m sleepy…”
“There’s a slight fever. But nothing serious. With some rest, she’ll recover.”
‘See? I told you, I’m just tired. Everyone can go now.’
In truth, even the fever was a misdiagnosis. My head was flushed simply from the effort of climbing the wall earlier.
But still, the heavy mood didn’t lift.
‘…Seriously, what is going on.’
With everyone watching me so intently, it felt like I really would faint for real at this rate.
At last, the master of the house spoke, his tone heavy as he looked down at me in bed.
“Calidora, I regret that I must speak words that may shake your faith. But I, too, am no god—merely a mortal like yourself. It means I do not know everything about Ignitus.”
Startled, I cracked my eyes open slightly.
He gazed at me with a look of deep concern—an expression I’d never seen on him before.
“I have no power to read your unspoken thoughts.”
For the head of Ignitus to admit his shortcomings like this, and in front of so many people—it was something that required no small amount of resolve.
Why was he saying this to me? What did he mean by it?
The answer came quickly.
“So do not try to bear the hardships you face alone.”
‘…’
I was grateful, but… what hardships?
Did he find out something?
I had so many secrets, I couldn’t even guess which one it might be.
…What exactly had I been found out about?
But my ordeal didn’t end that day.
“I’m fine now.”
“You must be bored. Here, choose one. I’ll read you whichever fairy tale you’d like.”
“No, really, I said I’m fine now…”
From that day onward, my family wouldn’t leave me alone for even a moment.
‘Ugh, how am I supposed to pull off any plans like this?!’
Before the semester ended, I had to deliver Aquilinus’s tuition.
But at this rate, not only leaving the house—even scheming inside it was impossible.
“Young lady, I brought you a snack.”
“Oh, a snack! Wait, I’ll have this with Io, so come back later to read!”
“All right, young lady.”
After sending the maid away with an excuse, I quickly turned to Io.
“What on earth is happening, Io? Why is everyone suddenly acting like this?!”
“I really don’t know. I was just guarding the study door when the master suddenly asked if you were inside… sniff… Did he find out you snuck out without us knowing?”
“I don’t think so. If that were the case, they wouldn’t all be so convinced I was just sick.”
I calmed Io, who had begun crying.
“Enough! An aide mustn’t cry.”
“…Yes, young lady.”
Resolute, she wiped away her tears with determination.
“The physician’s been asking me about your condition since yesterday. Whether I’d ever seen you sad or crying.”
“Not at all. Hm? That’s strange. Anyway, it can’t be helped. Io, you’ll have to deliver Aquilinus’s tuition for me instead.”
I pulled out four gold coins I’d kept hidden in my pocket and handed them to her.
“Put these on the mail coach bound for Paulus’s academy. With a note that says, ‘To Marius Aquilinus, from an anonymous benefactor.’”
Io nodded solemnly.
“Understood. Is that all I need to do?”
“Yes. And if you notice anything suspicious, you must tell me at once!”
“Yes, young lady!”
She dashed out.
All I could do was pray that this would settle the tuition matter safely.
