When Rose first heard this news, she seemed to stop understanding the words directed at her.
The girl asked again just in case — not because she hadn't heard, but because what she had heard refused to take shape in her mind.
And — incredibly — it turned out to be true.
Countess Rosmund patiently repeated what she had said several more times, happily exclaiming about what incredible luck had fallen upon them.
Yes, luck.
It truly was luck.
Such immense luck that it was impossible to believe...
In the end, she and her mother talked on the magical communicator for about another half an hour, and even after the connection was cut, Rose was still sitting there, unable to collect her thoughts.
Dahlia Valentino... had indeed run away from home.
But why? And how could this have even happened?!
The Countess didn't go into details — she only said what she knew herself: it had already been two months since the Valentino heiress's flight.
Honestly, it was even hard to imagine this.
Was it possible that Dahlia had done this because of the proposed marriage? That she — just like Gilbert — didn't want to tie her life to him and had even decided to take such a desperate step?
At least, that was the only reason that came to Rose's mind.
But in any case, this was indeed very good news! Because it meant that the Duke and Duchess Valentino would be completely and utterly occupied with searching for their daughter in the near future, and they would have no time for the Rosmund family.
Therefore, at least for a while, their family could breathe easy.
Rose couldn't help but feel relief.
It spread through her chest with something warm and thick, making her shoulders drop and her breathing become deeper. The girl was so happy about this news that now she could only think of one thing: they were safe. At least for a while.
The rest of the day passed for Rose in a wonderfully cheerful mood.
And at night, she slept as soundly as she hadn't slept in the last six months. For the first time since enrolling in the academy, Rose Rosmund had a good dream.
***
The next day, Rose was still in a wonderful state of mind.
Zeke and the others kept asking what had happened that the smile wouldn't leave her face. The girl only mysteriously remained silent, putting her finger to her lips, and they, laughing, left her alone.
Closer to lunch, Rose decided that in honor of such a wonderful event, she should buy a special treat. For this reason, in addition to the regular lunch, she bought two slices of cake for her and her roommate — with chocolate filling and cherries on top.
Actually, it was the cheapest cake in the school cafeteria. Rose's modest savings were just enough for two small slices...
Well, never mind. That wasn't the point. She didn't really like sweets that much anyway.
The main thing was the feeling of celebration.
"...It seems you're in a good mood today."
"Hehe, is it that obvious?"
As last time, during the lunch break, they sat with Dylan on a bench in the garden.
The guy, of course, couldn't help but notice that the smile simply wouldn't leave his roommate's face. He looked at Rose with slight bewilderment because she hadn't even bothered to explain the reason for her unexpected cheerfulness.
"Hmm..."
"Dylan? Is something wrong?"
"...No. Nothing. I was just thinking."
In the end, as last time, they ate in silence, to later use the remaining time for studying.
"By the way," Rose announced, taking out a package, "today I bought us cake for dessert. Dylan, have you ever tried cake before?"
"Um... No."
"What?" she stared at him with genuine astonishment. "Seriously?.."
"Well... I am a commoner. My family didn't have money for such things."
That was true.
Rose sighed.
Once again, she felt sorry for her roommate, who, due to his family's difficult situation, couldn't afford even such simple things. Just think: Dylan had lived to this age and had never tried cake. How did they celebrate birthdays then?
Probably his family just prepared something more modest...
Actually, Rose wanted to ask him a little more about his childhood. Simply because she had never had friends from commoners before, and she was genuinely curious about how ordinary people lived.
And yet... at the last moment, she changed her mind.
Her roommate wasn't a very sociable person — she had already learned that. And she didn't want to burden him with conversations that might seem intrusive.
Instead, the girl preferred simply to enjoy the weather and her wonderful mood.
The birds singing nearby, the breath of warm wind mixed with the scent of cherry petals. Blissful silence and grace in which she would like to stay forever.
Everything was truly wonderful.
At least, until the moment when...
"Ha... What do we have here?"
Rose heard a voice — too close, too arrogant — and immediately opened her eyes, which had been closed in bliss until then.
Perhaps because she had relaxed too much in the peaceful surroundings, she hadn't even noticed the approach of an outsider.
Meanwhile, the peace breaker had appeared suddenly — right in front of them.
With his arms crossed on his chest, he said insolently:
"...I'd hate to ruin your idyll, but nothing can be done about it. Ha-ha! I just can't calmly watch as a pathetic commoner defiles this place with his presence."
Rose was taken aback.
She even opened her mouth slightly because this remark seemed like the most stereotypical line from a school bully possible.
No, really.
That exaggeratedly insolent tone. Phrases full of showy pathos. It felt as if someone had read this speech in a stupid book and was now happily reciting it aloud.
And yet, it was reality. And it was unfolding right here, in the middle of their peaceful lunch.
Their peace with Dylan had suddenly been disturbed by an outsider.
And it would have been fine if the owner of this showily villainous voice had been anyone but her younger brother — Gilbert...