***
"I'm disappointed, Irene."
Marquess Leroy said as she snapped down the report card.
This one piece of paper caused her to feel sick on the day she'd wanted to relax.
The Marquess looked like she would say more, when Irene spoke up to express her frustration.
"Mother, I can't help it because the test paper disappeared last time."
"Are you proud of losing your test paper?"
"...."
Irene couldn't say anything more after her Mother's dry, emotionless response. When she just lowered her head, the Marquess was looking at her in disappointment and sighed to herself.
"I don't know what your father will say about this report card."
"Mother..."
"At this rate, will you even be able to qualify for the Imperial Wizard's exam?"
Contrary to what her Mother was worried about, Irene was trembling from head to toe.
"I can do it next time. If I get good grades in all my subjects, I'm sure I will qualify."
"Are you confident you won't lose your test papers again?"
"Mother..."
Irene looked at Marquess Leroy with a puzzled look on her face. However, the Marquess' expression did not change as she lightly clicked her tongue.
"I'll keep this report card to myself. The next time you make a stupid mistake I'll tell your father the truth. So pull yourself together."
"Yes, Mother..."
When she nodded helplessly, Marquess Leroy picked up Irene's report card roughly, crumbled it up, and left the drawing room.
Irene was left alone, she swallowed her tears while she clenched her skirt tightly in her hands. What Marquess Leroy said lingered in her ears.
[The next time you make a stupid mistake I'll tell your father the truth. So pull yourself together.]
She ended up hearing something she didn't want to hear the most today.
If...'
If I make a mistake again.
Will I be abandoned like my eldest sister?'
She wanted to believe it wasn't true, but when she looked at the atmosphere of the house, she wasn't so sure. Marqui Leroy's business was going well, so it was currently going smoothly, but she didn't know when or how it might change.
"No..."
Irene jumped up and ran to her room with a pale face. All she could do right now was read books and study.
I'm not going to be kicked out like I'm nobody.'
Like she's useless, like she wasn't needed.
She will show her worth without fail, and regain the trust and love of her parents.
Then she remembered.
[I don't want you to let the gaze of others destroy you.]
[You're precious to me.]
It was a voice she heard every time she studied.
A warm voice that sincerely cared about her.
"...."
As soon as she entered her room and sat down at her desk she belatedly realized who the voice belonged to.
"Sister Leticia..."
Those were the words Leticia had said when she saw Irene mentally crumbling.
[I'm proud of you.]
to
But...
You're wrong.'
and she couldn't pretend not to care about the
she felt like
it in and opened her
***
soon as they arrived at the Achilles mansion after the Hunting festival, they ran into Ian. He came to meet them at the door and smiled when he brought
job at
wasn't a big
someone came to
had inquired if Ian was bored protecting the mansion alone, but Ian gave an unexpected answer.
really wanted to
"Me?"
pointed to herself in
asked you to come to the Academy of Magic
you for passing on the
smiled and took
out what
nervous and looking forward to it as well. Leticia wanted to
time, Elle was quietly looking at Ian while pouting her lips
festival. You can't
better if we went together. It's a
upset, and Ian tried to smooth it over with an awkward
together next time. I'm busy right now, so I'll go
see he was already leaving to study. Enoch had been quietly watching the scene, he slowly rose from his seat as
Imperial Family now. I have
"At once?"
had only just ended, Leticia was surprised that Enoch said he would be entering the palace. Enoch smiled and stroked Leticia's head to help
"I'll return quickly."
a
holding back her disappointment. He leaned down slightly and with
get
nodded, she felt nervous because
"That's too obvious."
"Hugging you?
"It's not that...!"
mouth in a hurry, but the words had already popped out. The moment Leticia raised her voice without realizing it, she made
"Elle, this is..."
I suddenly remembered I
while clearing her throat. Enoch smiled like he had all the time in the world, despite the fact that anyone could tell
two of us, so let's talk
"Really!"
while she glared at him for his
was saying it was natural
"Oh, did you?"
that,
had
"Lies."
looked at him with exasperation, but Enoch calmly ignored her and
was not until he reached the door to the mansion that Enoch
I'll look forward to
expecting? No, you can't.
you sure I
down as if he was upset. Seeing that the corners of his mouth were slowly rising, it was clear that he was in
I hate you.'
he
to hold her because he enjoyed that moment with
really an
winter chill that even a
looked down at her intensely. She couldn't look away from the eyes that were only soft when
he kept looking at her as lovingly as he is
softly, holding Enoch's sleeve tightly to hide the trembling in her
"Don't laugh."
"Hm?"
"Like that..."
Don't laugh.
beating so fast that Leticia's
suddenly wraps around
"Then I'll be back."
slightly wrinkled from her holding on too tightly. Enoch lightly stroked the back of Leticia's hand
somehow he could see the sadness in her eyes. Whenever their eyes
was out of sight, and a shallow sigh
in her ear before he left made her
you hug me like last