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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Ramieli Academy Entrance Ceremony (2)
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Sunlight streamed through the luxurious, wine-colored curtains.
A large chandelier hanging from the ceiling reflected the light, brightening the room.
On the floor, the finely tanned hide of a minotaur, a beast resembling an ox, was spread out.
A translucent white canopy over the bed cast an elegant shadow.
In the middle of this lavish room, a sophisticated woman was inspecting her appearance in a full-length mirror.
Behind her, her maids stood like shadows.
Iriel Justia.
Her figure was long and gracefully slender.
All manner of accessories and jewels adorned her magnificent green dress, sparkling from every angle.
Her rose-red hair cascaded down to her waist in waves.
Her matching red eyes, with corners that tilted slightly upward, gave her a haughty, cat-like look.
As she meticulously examined her reflection in the mirror, a vein throbbed on her forehead.
"Where in the world did that man go!"
As she shrieked in a fit, the maids flinched, their bodies trembling.
In the end, she had to face the entrance ceremony without having found him.
The man had supposedly followed her orders, applying to be a swordsmanship instructor and heading for the academy.
She'd even heard news that a shabby military carriage had arrived in the capital.
But for some reason, as if he had vanished into thin air,
his whereabouts had been unknown for a month.
'I made sure he turned over all his hidden money to the military… Unless he's earning money somewhere, he couldn't have afforded lodging or even food… Is he living on the streets or something?'
Even after scouring all the shops around the capital, she couldn't find a single trace of him.
Iriel had planned to plant her own person in Ramieli Academy, which she was now entering.
To that end, she had played a treasured card she'd been saving for a long time.
But things had gone terribly wrong right from the start.
'He didn't even come to find me right away… The driver dropped him off and left the capital immediately. Where on earth could that man have gone?'
Iriel habitually brought a hand to her mouth to bite her nails, then caught herself.
"I can't ruin my nails on the day of the entrance ceremony."
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded at her door.
After having a maid tighten her corset one more time, Iriel spoke.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and a middle-aged man entered.
"My lady."
"Yes, that man… any news?"
"No, my lady. For some reason, the academy officials just keep repeating that they cannot tell us…"
The man said, bowing his head apologetically.
Right. That was the problem.
In truth, if she really wanted to, she could have easily sent people to find Zeke.
But the academy, which she had already inquired with several times, simply parroted the same response that they could not disclose Zeke's whereabouts.
In fact, they seemed to be trying to distance themselves, as if they wanted no involvement.
This meant someone higher than the ducal House of Justia—
in other words, the Imperial Family—was undoubtedly involved.
If she kept poking around trying to find him and made a mistake, bringing shame upon her family,
she might be forced to return home without ever attending the academy.
Her father was already quite displeased with her due to her past troubles.
She had only managed to get this chance to enroll by throwing a tantrum.
'If I have to go back, I'll be stuck with a fiancé chosen without any regard for my tastes and boring bridal lessons at the estate.'
No matter what, she would absolutely refuse that fate.
"Tsk, of all things, the Imperial Family... He was a man who hated getting involved with power... Just what was he doing in the military?"
Iriel clicked her tongue.
"Well, it's the entrance ceremony. I'll find out today, at least. He's a swordsmanship instructor, after all. Are the preparations complete?"
"Yes, my lady. Let us go now. We will escort you."
Iriel led her seven attendants and servants and boarded a large, elegant carriage.
As the carriage bearing the crest of House Justia passed by, people stopped in their tracks and moved out of the way.
Other carriages did the same, pulling to the side to allow the Justia carriage to pass with ease.
Though she was causing such an inconvenience, Iriel didn't care in the slightest.
To her, she and they were born of different nobility, and respect for the difference in status was only natural.
The reality, however, was that people simply avoided them because the temper of House Justia was so infamous.
"What's the schedule for today?"
The middle-aged man with a stiff expression, sitting opposite her, took out a piece of paper and checked it.
"After the entrance ceremony in the morning, there will be a banquet at the estate in the evening for the new students of Ramieli."
"Who's coming?"
"The Marquisate of Romier, the Marquisate of Ketrinne, and the Ibarok…"
"Ah, enough. It's the same old faces. In that case, go to Hillace Bakery and buy some bread. I'll eat it before the banquet."
"Yes, my lady."
She rarely ate at banquets to maintain her image, so she always filled up on bread beforehand.
Even then, she couldn't eat much, as she had to maintain her figure.
Hillace Bakery was a new bread shop on the academy's street.
The young lady of House Ketrinne had brought some as a gift to the last banquet.
Of course, at the time, Iriel had pretended she didn't eat such things and gestured for a servant to take it,
but she later snatched it back and ate it in her room.
The fluffy texture on her tongue, along with its savory and sweet taste, was perfectly suited to Iriel's palate.
For Iriel, bread was a serious matter.
She wouldn't even eat cake if there wasn't any bread.
'Hmm… Should I just sneak out and choose some myself…'
Thinking about bread did make her feel a little better when she was in a bad mood.
'Brioche? No, the chocolat sounds good too. It's too cruel that I can only pick one. Isn't there some kind of bread that won't make me gain weight? Hmm. Still, the classic baguette with cheese and butter is the best…'
"My lady. We have arrived."
Lost in thought, pondering which of the many types of bread to eat, she arrived in no time.
Iriel stepped down from the carriage and, with her attendants, walked toward the grand main gate of Ramieli Academy, the heels of her shoes clicking.
Feeling the stares from all around, Iriel swept her hair back.
Although she had come here for a stroll several times already, she felt a sense of pride every time.
To think I'll be attending this place from now on!
Her father had been so reluctant to grant permission
that it had cost her nearly half of her savings, but she didn't regret it at all.
Could there be a place that suited her more perfectly?
A luxurious environment. Various amenities. Delicious bread. And on top of that, handsome men.
Iriel had no particular interest in studying, but she had desperately wanted to come to the academy.
It would have been much more reassuring if she had come with Zeke, but she would soon see his stern face again anyway.
'I'm so much better than that half-wit Johaiden. She said she wasn't coming to the academy, right? What a fool.'
This was a place where countless talented individuals, the future pillars of the nation, and the children of high nobility gathered.
The young, the smart, and the handsome—they all gathered here.
The potential fiancés her family arranged for her were all much older men who already held positions in the empire. I definitely made the right choice coming here.
'I must look to the future, not the present.'
With that eyesore Johaiden absent, she could meet the sons of many great noble families,
build connections with them, and marry a man Serena couldn't even dream of.
'I heard the 1st Prince is quite the catch… If I marry the 1st Prince, does that mean I'll become the Empress?'
It was possible. Considering her status as a duchess, it was a perfectly achievable future.
Just imagining the beautifully shining tiara on her head sent a thrill through her.
Ahem. But I mustn't get ahead of myself.
With the 2nd Prince also attending the academy, it was unclear who would ascend to the throne.
There's no need to take a risky gamble.
She just had to keep her options open and make her choice at the decisive moment.
She was confident.
There was no one who wouldn't be captivated by her beautiful appearance,
and no matter how stoic a man might be, a few smiling glances and a single beckoning gesture would have him wagging his tail and falling for her.
Iriel turned around and said.
"Where is the entrance ceremony being held?"
"They said it's being prepared near the central flowerbeds of the academy."
"Ah, there. The place that was closed off for a while."
Iriel had wandered through many parts of the academy and knew the place that had been blocked off.
"Yes. It's not too far, but it would be best to hurry a little."
"Right. I can't be later than the 2nd Prince."
As she walked with her attendants toward the ceremony, Iriel suddenly raised a hand, halting those behind her.
"Wait."
A silver-haired girl was hunched over in an alley, muttering something,
when a familiar name among her words caught Iriel's ear.
'Did that girl just say Zeke?'
Iriel stared at the back of the girl's head, which for some reason made her want to smack it, and spoke.
"Zeke?"
The silver-haired girl turned her head at the call.
She saw a face that had no business being here.
'What are *you* doing here?'
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