Chapter 91
“At this rate, they might make the first move.”
Count Anax clicked his tongue.
Claude asked him softly, looking in his direction:
“Have you found out who the candidates are?”
“Of course. And it turns out there are quite a few of them. Fortunately, that works in our favor—checking all of them will take time. In a way, we’ve bought ourselves some time as well.”
Count Anax rubbed his chin and nodded.
But that thought lasted only briefly.
He looked at Claude with a worried expression and continued:
“However, there’s one candidate among them that you know.”
Unlike the worried Count Anax, Claude remained calm.
He had already expected Estelle to be one of the candidates.
“I heard she recently became friends with Haboni… Kids who stand out in the Academy usually show signs even when they’re young. You were like that too, Claude.”
“……”
“But this child appeared suddenly, out of nowhere. When I checked, there were almost no records of her past. That makes her rather suspicious.”
Indeed, Estelle had suddenly appeared, demonstrated exceptional skills, and her background remained unclear.
“Above all, rumors have it that you are her sponsor, which has led many to doubt her.”
And now, she was supposedly being sponsored by a minor duke from the pro-Imperial Xenofecia family.
It was like pouring fuel on the flames of suspicion.
Count Anax fell silent and waited for Claude’s response.
He wanted to know the child’s identity, where they met, and why Claude decided to sponsor her.
However, Claude had no intention of answering.
No—he couldn’t.
Every time he considered speaking, Reina’s voice echoed in his mind:
“I think there’s a reason you care so much. Even if not now, I believe you’ll tell me someday.”
But Count Anax had no way of knowing that.
He only saw Claude’s lips pressed into a straight line and assumed that he would eventually reveal everything.
“Just be careful. Even though you’re her sponsor, they might think they can easily target her because she’s a commoner.”
Count Anax approached Claude, patted his shoulder twice, and nodded once with eyes full of trust.
Estelle frowned and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“…I don’t like it.”
Green paint smudged her lips as her hand passed.
But she didn’t notice the mess on her face, only staring intently at the canvas in front of her.
“What’s the problem?”
She let her paint-covered hand fall weakly onto her apron.
The paint on her palette and brush flicked slightly.
“Estelle.”
Hearing her name, she turned to see Cial approaching, holding mugs in both hands.
“Drink this while you work.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Cial handed her one of the mugs. Estelle accepted it with a faint smile.
It smelled sweet—and no wonder. The mug was filled with hot chocolate, with marshmallows floating on top.
“You’ve suddenly been working hard lately. Did something change?”
“Just… the Founding Festival is coming soon.”
Cial tilted his head.
“The Elditin Festival? Why the Elditin Festival?”
“I want to participate in the art contest held then.”
“What? I thought you weren’t interested in painting?”
Estelle avoided Cial’s wide-eyed gaze.
“…Just because.”
Because Reina liked it.
Estelle kept the rest unsaid.
Reina had told her that painting could capture memories, preserve recollections.
Then she wanted to leave memories with Reina too—memories of the moments she cherished with her.
She wanted to give Reina a painting, made by her own hands, in a way Reina would love.
Unlike food or fruit that rots, paintings don’t disappear or decay.
She wanted to capture Reina’s joy in seeing the painting, to preserve it.
Yet, whether due to lack of talent or innate inability, nothing she painted satisfied her.
Estelle sighed, holding the hot chocolate in her hand.
Then—
“Estelle!”
A sharp, high-pitched voice broke the quiet as the art room door swung open.
It was Pessi, the temporary instructor covering for Professor Babb.
Seeing his face, Estelle frowned.
Even though he had only recently arrived, she already knew he wasn’t a good person.
And it wasn’t just Estelle who knew.
He often sent students to the cemetery under the guise of “discipline” and laughed at their terrified expressions.
Moreover, during class, he mocked and belittled students’ paintings.
The only student he left alone was Cial, who was favored by Professor Babb.
From the very first day he arrived, the rumor spread to every student in the Academy.
Pessi smirked at Estelle, who scowled at him, clearly unwilling to speak.
Adjusting his glasses, he approached her and looked down with eyes full of disdain.
“What are you doing drinking in front of your canvas? Is that appropriate behavior?”
“Ah, Professor, this is just…”
“Oh, Cial. Staying late and working hard again, I see.”
When Cial spoke, Pessi’s expression softened. But facing Estelle again, he looked fierce.
“Hah. This won’t do. Discipline. You know what that means, right? Out. Now.”
He pointed toward the door with his index finger.
Estelle silently stood and walked toward the direction he indicated.
After a few steps, she felt Cial’s concerned gaze from behind.
But she continued walking without a care.
“You always work hard, Cial. Just as Professor Babb said. Hohoho. I hope when he returns, you might…”
She could hear Pessi flattering Cial while walking.
“Heehee.”
I grinned mischievously at the postcard on the wall.
“Our Estelle’s wonderful moments… just imagining them is adorable!”
Ha. Why am I not an Academy student? Why wasn’t I there?
If I had been, I could have seen her directly.
It’s frustrating.
“But it’s okay, because I know Estelle at home.”
You gain one thing and lose another.
Seeing her affection at home daily meant I couldn’t see her magnificent moments at the Academy.
“But think about it—if she were a complete stranger, I’d see neither.”
Better to see at least one. Hmph!
I crossed my arms and nodded.
“Ah, my mind… this isn’t the time for this.”
Fiona recently got a cat, so I wanted to visit, bring a toy, and check on Peter and how things were going.
But I had spent too much time imagining Estelle at her best, and now it was already this late.
‘…Even the cat can’t compare to Estelle’s charm. Truly overwhelming and formidable.’
I hurriedly prepared to go out, packed the cat toy for Fiona, and left the house.
Imagining bonding with the cat and hearing some romantic stories too.
But—
“A temporary instructor covering for Professor Babb sends students to the cemetery if he doesn’t like them?”
“That’s right!”
I couldn’t believe I was hearing such shocking news from Fiona.
“Really… that’s a joke, right? I don’t like jokes like that.”
“Oh? Are you saying I’m lying?”
Fiona widened her eyes and asked me.
“W-well….”
It couldn’t be.
She’s a source of information.
Even if it were inaccurate, it wouldn’t be a lie.
‘Though it probably isn’t inaccurate either.’
I desperately shook my head at Fiona, who stared at me as if scrutinizing me.
