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Although I found it strange, I assumed he got caught up with some work. My father was the head of an Earl’s family, so there were many things he needed to take care of. We wouldn’t see each other for a while once I entered the Academy, so he made sure to receive my calls every day. However, I understood that he might suddenly get busy.

It turned out that my father was busy indeed. The problem was that it was the wrong kind of busy.

— Irina, don’t worry. It’s just a misunderstanding.

“O-oppa. Is everything okay? How about father?”

— He’ll be fine.

I received contact from my pale and anxious older brother when my father stopped sending even text messages. The news I heard from him at that time was shocking.

Our family had become the target of the Prosecutor’s Office.

The Prosecutor’s Office was a department under the Emperor’s orders. They were in charge of punishing the disloyal nobles and even had the authority to act on their own judgment. Most families that they targeted were extinguished.

It didn’t make sense. Why us? My father was more diligent and honest than other people. He was someone who was kind and warm even to the commoners. He might love money too much, but that wasn’t a crime.

— I’m sure that it’s a mistake, so don’t be shaken and focus on your studies, alright?

“Oppa…”

— I wanted to attend the entrance ceremony, but I won’t be able to. I’m sorry.

Oppa ended the call while making a bitter smile. I clung to the communication crystal and cried for a long time. The sudden disaster, the helplessness of not being able to do anything, the fear of what would happen to my family.

I was excited about starting the Academy’s semester, but everything turned into hell instantly.

The bad news kept coming. My mother had fainted and was bedridden. My younger siblings cried all day, missing our father, who’d been taken away. If only I had been at the mansion with my family.

And then, a miracle happened.

— Irina, are you okay?

“F-father?”

Amidst my despair, I received a call from my father. He looked like he’d aged 10 years in a short span, but I was filled with joy. My father was safe. Our family was safe.

— Everything ended well. Don’t worry and focus on your studies.

“S… Sob… Y, yes… I, I will.”

It took me a while to reply while sobbing.

I heard from my father that the Prosecutor’s Office had made a mistake. The Manager of the Prosecutor’s Office who was in charge of the inspection personally visited our mansion to apologize and compensate. Surprisingly, even the Executive Manager sent an apology letter.

Although the disaster had happened due to the Prosecutor’s Office’s mistake, we couldn’t blame them even if it was unjust. It was similar to a natural disaster; all you could do was lie down and pray for it to end peacefully. In the Empire, the Prosecutor’s Office was such an entity. None of our family members had died, and we’d even received compensation. It truly felt like a miracle.

I wasn’t right in my mind during the early days of the Academy because of my family’s situation, but I quickly recovered thanks to a good friend.

“Hi! You’re Irina Yorun, right?”

At first, I found her cheerful demeanor annoying. I was suffering, and yet she was smiling so cheerfully. Looking back, I feel embarrassed.

“Do you want to have lunch together?”

“No thanks.”

The pink-haired girl was kind to everyone. At first, I pushed her aside. But for some reason, I felt comfortable when I was with her.

“Irina. Do you like it? It’s pretty, right? It matches your hair color, so I got it for you!”

“Yes, it’s pretty. Thanks.”

When I returned to my senses, I somehow became close to her. Maybe it was because I had eased my mind as the innocence of our family had been proven.

That’s why I began spending time with the pink-haired girl, Louise. Thanks to her, I made many friends I wouldn’t have made on my own. In the process, I met the younger brother of the Executive Manager. Erich, the younger brother, was innocent, so I overlooked it.

Suddenly, I found out that the Executive Manager had been dispatched to the Academy. Thankfully, I had no reason to encounter him, so I lived comfortably. That’s how time passed, and soon, the date of the school trip approached.

“Time seems to fly by.”

“Right. It feels like the club fair was just yesterday.”

Until last year, there was no such thing as a school trip on the Academy’s schedule. Because of that, I was prepared to spend all my time at the Academy except for the holidays, and I didn’t think it would be tough.

The Academy had almost every facility one could think of, so going out seemed more troublesome. So I honestly thought it would be a hassle when I heard that there would be a school trip from the year I entered the Academy.

“Irina, is it your first time seeing the sea?”

“Yes. I’ve never been to the sea before.”

But the destination chosen was the Duchy of Boyar. It was regarded as a top vacation spot across the continent, but I didn’t have the opportunity to visit it yet. It was quite far, and hiring a teleportation mage for non-official business travel wasn’t feasible.

But the Academy was sponsoring the trip, and all I needed to do was pack? My annoyance faded and excitement filled me. I had a lot of fun with Louise during the weekend while shopping for swimsuits.

I eagerly awaited the school trip every day. When I jokingly told my friend from the Student Council that I wished I could go tomorrow, she looked at me with teary eyes. I’m sorry, but I’m really excited.

“Irina! Erich’s going to ride in the same carriage as us!”

And to top it off, the random assignment for the carriages turned out well. Even though it was random, we were still grouped within the same class, so my friends and I were grouped together. Good travel companions, and a great location. This trip was going to be so enjoyable.

“Eh? Oppa?”

However, the enjoyable trip took a sudden turn on the day of the school trip, starting with Louise’s words as we got on the carriage.

‘Oppa?’

Cold sweat ran down my back. I would probably see my eyes shaking if I looked in a mirror. Based on what I know, there was only one person in the Academy to whom Louise talked in this way.

”Why…?’

I know that he was Erich’s brother, and I also know that he’s close to Louise. Still, I thought he would be on a different carriage since he wasn’t a student, so why now? I had never seen him since our first encounter, so I thought I’d be safe if I avoided him.

I quickly hid behind Louise even though I knew it was pointless. I knew it was a meaningless action, but if I didn’t do something like this, it felt like my legs would give out. Then, the voice I least wanted to hear greeted me.

“Hi. It’s been a while.”

‘He saw me.’

When my urge to run away was about to burst out, he greeted me, so I couldn’t hide anymore. I opened my mouth while holding back the tears, but my body wouldn’t stop shaking.

Louise looked at me, confused and concerned. I hadn’t told Louise about my incident with the Prosecutor’s Executive Manager. After all, I didn’t want to worry her, and I was afraid that he might get provoked if she told him.

Carefully, I looked up at the black-haired young man. The Executive Manager was sitting across from Erich. He looked relaxed with his arms crossed and was leaning back, but his pitch-black eyes looked down at me, making my heart race like crazy.

“Come on in. Your legs must be hurting.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“It’s nothing.”

As I followed Louise into the carriage, a new problem arose. Erich and the Executive Manager were sitting in opposite seats. The only empty ones were beside Erich or the Executive Manager.

‘Where should I sit…?’

Louise, what should I do? I feel sorry for sitting next to Erich, but I’m too scared to sit on the other side.

The Executive Manager gestured to me as I was hesitating over a problem I couldn’t share with anyone.

“Take a seat.”

“Ah, yes…”

Mother, Father… I miss you so much… Will I be able to see you during the holidays?

* * *

Assuming that the plan was to have Erich and Louise sit together, this arrangement was the best.

But that was from my perspective. For Irina, it must have been the worst. I could feel the faint sense of fear coming from her even now.

‘I’m about to go crazy.’

I’m really sorry. But we should pair Erich and Louise in situations like this. If Louise faces Irina, wouldn’t she avoid looking at me? It’s better to sit side by side without seeing each other’s faces. Traveling for a long time while looking at each other? I wouldn’t be surprised if Irina faints halfway through.

In fact, the previous incident was solved smoothly. We adequately compensated them for the damage caused, and we even sent an apology letter that said, ‘We’re going to turn a blind eye once even if it’s something huge as long as it isn’t an act of treason.’ However, the aristocratic give-and-take and a young lady’s startled heart were two separate issues.

“Irina, are you really okay?”

Louise, who was chatting with Erich, glanced and Irina and asked with concern. There shouldn’t be any problems regarding Louise’s worries. After all, Irina wasn’t physically but mentally drained.

“Yes. I’m fine, Louise. You know I’m healthy, right?”

It was heartbreaking seeing the forced smile of a 17-year-old lady. It’s hard to fathom who the heartless scoundrel was that frightened this poor young lady like this. Damn you, 3rd Manager. Did you lose your conscience and shame after shaving your hair off?

Feeling awkward, I caught Irina’s eyes. Her lips quivered, but she quickly lowered her head. She had blue eyes, just like Erich and Louise, which made me feel even more guilty.

“I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up when we reach the city.”

“Okay, hyung.”

In the end, I took the emergency exit of sleeping. After all, it would be better for her mental health if the monster sitting next to her was asleep rather than awake.

And that’s how the carriage headed for Boyar, with an excited young lady, a happy idiot sitting next to his crush, and two others enveloped in suffocating awkwardness and fear.