CICN 150

Chapter 150

“Luska.”

Irene called Luska in a very serious voice.

But Luska didn’t answer. She already knew what Irene was going to say.

“Could it be… the royal family—”

“Don’t even ask what kind of punishment you’d get if you harmed a royal, physically or mentally. Just hold it in.”

“Tch.”

Irene scrunched up her pretty face in frustration and glared at something in the distance.

Eve was coming again today.

It had been three days in a row that Eve visited the Academy.

On the first day, they had laughed at her and thought she wouldn’t come back. Everyone was relieved because there had been no contact from the main palace for a few days.

Seraphina and the four children had worried that Professor Malres might get punished, but that worry was gone.

Malres himself had been completely unbothered. “If they fire me, I’ve enjoyed everything and can retire early. Great!”

But then Eve had cried, saying, “Who will teach me math if you’re gone?”

Because of that, Malres had promised never to mention retiring again.

They thought peace would return…

“Hello! Here we go again!”

But after a few days, Eve came back as if nothing had happened, smiling brightly under the excuse of another tour of the Academy.

The problem was that instead of exploring new areas or meeting other professors and students, she kept sticking close to Eve.

She even left Izriella behind and insisted on dragging Eve along.

‘No, that girl… she still hates Eve.’

Irene was sure of it. Even while smiling and holding Eve’s arm, Eve’s gaze was sharp and piercing.

It wasn’t holding a friend—it was like holding a hostage.

‘Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?’

Why was she clinging to Eve and causing such a fuss? It was as if she was following orders from someone.

‘Anyway, it’s annoying!’

Irene pouted. Because Eve was taking up all of Eve’s time, she had less time with Eve, and she was annoyed.

“When will she finally be recognized as a princess? I wish she’d just get recognized quickly and start her duties so she wouldn’t have to come to the Academy.”

“……”

Normally, Luska would have agreed, but she didn’t. She just quietly watched Eve and Evebie from a distance.

Instead, Luska was lost in thought.

‘It seems someone from the Duke’s household found something out.’

Arcel had gone to see his father, Duke Kaelen, immediately after reading the letter. Whatever he had discovered must have been significant.

“Ugh, this won’t do.”

At that moment, Irene suddenly stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t stand watching that little brat. I’ll just go to the library. She hates the library, so she won’t follow me there.”

Irene gathered her books and left. Even though Eve was still there, she left, showing just how stressful Eve had become.

After Irene left, Luska remained alone in the classroom, waiting for Arcel to return, her eyes fixed on the road toward the palace.

Because of that, she didn’t notice Eve and Evebie heading toward the small pond on the Academy grounds.

“Let’s go over there!”

Eve dragged Evebie toward the pond.

Evebie looked around nervously. Normally, the royal knights would have been with her, so why was Eve alone today?

“Um, Lady Eve—”

Evebie spoke cautiously, and Eve’s sharp gaze turned to her.

“Don’t call me Eve. Call me Princess.”

“But….”

Evebie remembered that she wasn’t supposed to call her that yet.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up.”

Under Eve’s insistence, Evebie had no choice but to answer.

“Yes, Princess…”

Hearing that, Eve smiled satisfied and then said as if granting a great favor:

“You can even call me Evebien if you want.”

“Yes…”

Evebien. That was the name she had heard when first meeting the Emperor at that tomb. She had felt sorry for the one buried there. And now, that person was alive, standing right in front of her.

‘The Emperor must be so happy.’

Evebie had not met the Emperor since Eve arrived, but she could imagine how overjoyed he must be. A father who had been crying alone would now cherish his daughter more than anything.

As Evebie followed Eve quietly, she noticed a small boat near the pond. Eve immediately jumped onto it.

“Let’s ride this!”

“Uh? Shouldn’t we ask a professor or a staff member first? Or the knights…?”

“Knights? I left them behind so we could come quietly alone. Now you want me to go call them?”

Eve’s sharp tone made Evebie struggle to row the oar, even though she hadn’t been asked to.

The boat floated slowly toward the center of the pond.

Eve watched Evebie struggling and thought:

‘Noma said I should get along with her.’

After sending a letter to Noma, she had received a reply telling her to be patient and try to become friends with Evebie.

So, reluctantly, Eve was spending time with her now.

‘And the knights need to be replaced.’

That morning, Eve had deliberately left the royal knights behind. She had even tripped on purpose and blamed Hilde and the other knights.

Count Aradman had arrived and protested strongly that the knights were being negligent. Everyone looked surprised, but Eve had gotten hurt, so no one could say anything.

In the end, only Izriella and a few other maids were allowed to come to the Academy with her that day.

Now, they were cleaning her classroom under Eve’s orders.

Meanwhile, bored, Eve slipped away and called Evebie.

Because Evebie was struggling to row, the boat spun in circles.

Far away, they saw Izriella running toward them, shouting.

‘She’s going to scold us again.’

Annoyed at the thought, Eve urged Evebie:

“Row faster!”

Evebie tried her best, but the boat barely moved.

Izriella was getting closer.

Unable to stand it, Eve suddenly stood up.

“Can’t you even do this properly? I’ll do it! Move… huh? Whoa!”