Chapter 42: Chapter 44

Emily could not immediately reply.

“Academy… Is it similar to a school?”

“Right, unlike a school, if you have sponsors, you can enter without any restrictions on your status. And you can get access to a wider variety of disciplines.”

“I see…”

Emily is in agony again. Emily, like children her age in the village, once wanted to travel away from the empty countryside.

But the dream was quickly abandoned.

In her hometown of Rohen, she has her precious parents, strawberry fields, and villagers who gave her a warm smile.

Emily didn’t want to lose these precious things. But one night’s nightmare took away all of Emily’s precious things.

The only thing left for her now was the Viscount, who gave her a warm smile.

‘Does the Viscount want me to leave…?’

Emily glanced up at Adelia’s face. She waited calmly for her answer, but there was a faint sense of desperation in her eyes.

It’s as if she wants her to go….

Emily didn’t want to burden Adelia anymore. But at the same time, she didn’t want to be separated from the only precious person left. Emily felt her head throbbing in agony for the first time in her life.

“Ugh…”

Adelia leaned in surprise as a distressing groan came out of Emily’s mouth.

“Emily! Are you sick?”

Adelia asked, putting her hand on Emily’s forehead. She felt a slight fever.

“I’ll have to call a doctor right now.”

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“No! It’s not that…!”

Emily caught Adelia trying to call a doctor.

“You can’t stand the pain right now. The pain will only grow out of control.”

“It’s not that I’m sick, I’m just worried….”

Adelia then breathed a sigh of relief. She can’t believe Emily felt sick because of worrying. She felt like she was pushing Emily too hard.

‘I can’t do this. I’m sending her to the academy to protect her, but my coercion made her suffer.’ Adelia belatedly reflected.

I moved too hastily.

She stayed away from the kid to focus on interpreting the bible, but she suddenly showed up and talked about going to the academy.

After knowing that there will be a safe area from the disaster. She wanted to send Emily right away to protect her but it may sound different to her. Maybe she thought she was abandoning her. Adelia, who took a deep breath and spoke with a calm smile.

“Emily.”

“…Yes.”

“I want to listen to whatever you want, whatever it is. It’s fine if you don’t want to go to the academy. I’m not forcing you. I just want to give you a chance to learn.”

“Chance to learn….” Emily murmured blankly.

“Yeah, learning helps you a lot more than you think. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to go to the Academy to learn. I will do my best to take care of you even if you stay here.” Adelia soothed Emily in a gentle voice.

Actually, this was also what Adelia wanted to say to herself.

The child does not necessarily walk the path the guardian wants.

Someday, she is bound to walk the path she wants.

The guardian should not force the way. It’s just a virtue to trust and watch the child.

However, when the child is walking down the wrong path, it was enough for her to give a heartfelt advice.

So, she shouldn’t force Emily to answer like what she just did earlier.

“I…”

“You don’t have to answer right now. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Because I want to be with Emily.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“There’s no reason for you to apologize.”

Adelia gently hugged Emily and patted her on the shoulder.

So, the friendly night between the girl and the woman deepened.

The time when everyone was asleep.

It was dark. only candles lit up the surroundings.

The tightly closed door slowly opened.

stealthily…

A small shadow hid among the big shadows and headed somewhere. Emily, the owner of the small shadow, headed to the bedroom of the castle’s owner, the Grand Duke.

Emily, who was almost in the Grand Duke’s bedroom, felt awkward.

‘Oh, my. The knights are guarding….’

Emily stamped her feet and watched the knights protecting the Grand Duke’s bedroom while hiding behind the wall.

She thought she was careful, but Emily didn’t know that the knights were listening to the sound of her footsteps.

‘Hey, that kid is your guest, isn’t she?’

‘Yeah, why is she here at this hour?’

‘Should I ask?’

‘I think she came secretly. What if she starts crying if we talk to her?’

The knights discussed what to do with their eyes.

‘Oh, my. What should I do? Shall I just go back to my room? But I need someone to talk to….’

Emily regretted, she should have just visited Grandpa Liam’s room.

Then, the knights, who pretended not to find Emily, turned their heads slightly.

Sadly, Emily, who was thinking about going back to her room while looking around, made eye contact with the knight.

“Hiccups!”

Emily covered her mouth in astonishment.

“Hiccups! Hiccups!”

But the hiccups didn’t recognize Emily’s surprise and continued. Suddenly Emily’s eyes were covered with drops of water.

“Oh, I’m doomed.”

“I made your guest cry….”

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Two burly knights guarding the Grand Duke’s bedroom sighed inwardly.

If this went into Lensley’s ear, it would have been like a reservation for 100 laps at the training ground.

‘Oh, I want to cry, too.’

‘Hey, are you crying? It’s ugly. Don’t cry. Comforting is the first priority.’

Once again, the two men, who shared their opinions with their eyes, drew a harmless smile.

“Little lady. Isn’t it time for you to go to bed?”

“Heuk…”

“Now, do you want this Mister to take you?”

He meant to take her to her room, but in Emily’s ears it sounded like she was going to take her to jail. In the end, Emily poured out her tears.

“Oh, my God. I’m sorry.!”

Embarrassed by Emily’s crying, the two knights hurried up to placate her. However, the more he did, the louder the child’s crying became.

The bedroom door, which had been tightly closed amid the worsening situation, opened.

“What’s the fuss about?”

With a rather sharp voice, the two knights thought to themselves.

‘We’re done.’

With resignation, the two turned and bowed their heads to the lord.

“Your Highness’s young guest has come all the way here, and I was about to take her back to her room.”

The Grand Duke’s gaze turned to the little girl behind the knight.

“Emily.”

“Well, your highness… I… I’m sor, I’m sorry… for making a f, making a fuss….”

Emily hated herself for making a scene in the middle of the night.

I should’ve waited until morning….

“Hmm. Did you come to see me?”

Emily didn’t raise her head, just nodded.

Ivan said with a smirk.

“Come in. It’s warmer inside the castle than outside, but it’s still cold.”

“Hmm, really…?”

Only then did Emily’s drooping shoulder come up.

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Ivan shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah. Do you think I’m joking? Come on in. I have something to do.”

Emily hurried past the two sullen stout knights into the Grand Duke’s room. Ivan closed the door and put down his hand-made hot chocolate in front of Emily.

“Do you like hot chocolate?”

Emily nodded enthusiastically.

“Drink it while it’s warm.”

“Yes…! Thank you!”

Emily didn’t forget to bow her head. Ivan’s mouth was filled with silly laughter.

Slurp.

Only the sound of drinking hot chocolate rang out in the quiet room.

“So. What brings you here late at night?”

“I’m sorry I came so late….”

“It’s fine. After all, it’s not yet time to go to bed anyway.”

Emily’s expression seemed a little brighter at the words.

“Actually… this afternoon, the Viscount asked me if I would like to enter the academy.”

Ivan asked back with a slightly startled look.

“The academy?”

“Yes.”

“…I see.”

Ivan felt a sense of course.

Adelia normally pampered Emily around like a real sister. How could she send this little girl to the academy who treats her like her alter ego? It was a completely unexpected development.

‘Is she trying to keep her away because she’s going to be involved in many political battles in the future? Or maybe she’s trying to give her a chance to learn.’

Whatever Adelia’s intentions were, what was more important now was this little girl in front of him.

A little girl with a look on her face as if she has all the worries in the world.

It was quite cute, so a natural smile came to Ivan’s mouth.

“So, what’s your concern?”

“I don’t… miss, no, I don’t want to be away from the viscount.”

“Well, then you don’t have to go. Viscount Yurpheon will gladly accept your decision.”

Emily shook her head at Ivan’s words.

“That’s what she said. I don’t have to go if I don’t want to.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Emily said, rolling her hands round on her lap.

“I don’t know if I can just live under the viscount’s protection. At this rate, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to escape the “ordinary little girl living in Rohen” for the rest of my life….”

Ivan’s eyes widened at the thought of Emily, who was not like a child.

“But I want to change…. I want to be a person who can stand upright! I don’t want to be a child who needs to be protected anymore.!”

It was a cry of resolution.

Ivan couldn’t speak for a while.

While being surprised by the unparalleled boldness of her age, he sympathized with the little girl who must have been suffering alone.

‘You’ve come this far to ask me for advice.’

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Ivan gave up his lightness and put on a serious look.

“Emily.”

“…Yes.”

“If it were me, I would go to an academy.”

“…May I ask why?” Emily asked in a tense voice.

Ivan answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Learning is the only way you can have power.”

“Power…”

“Power is not just a force. Knowledge can also be a power.”

“I see…” Emily nodded as if she was convinced.

Ivan added, just in case, looking at Emily.

“But this is just my opinion. You have to find the answer on your own. Think carefully about what you really want. And choose the path you think is right. Viscount Yurpheon will support you. That’s all I can say.”

“Yes…”

Emily thanked the Grand Duke and went back to her room.

There were no more worries in her step.