“What? What did you just say?”

“Nothing. I didn’t say a word. Maybe there’s something wrong with your ears,” Yuta said with a shrug.

“Anyway, too much work, huh? Go home early today. I’ll take care of the dorm assignments.”

“Ah, senior… Are you perhaps an angel?”

“Yup. Good people can even see my wings. Guess you haven’t noticed them—maybe try living a little better.”

“……”

“Sorry, don’t be too shocked. I was just joking. Whoa, I must’ve sounded so convincing. I just figured you were all grown up…”

“I knew it was a joke!” Theo shouted, shaking his head violently. He barely managed to swallow the words “Seriously, what a twisted way of speaking.” After all, this was his senior.

“Anyway, just pair them up. I’ll handle the final report.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. You’ve got awful handwriting, senior. You even still mix up ‘Antata’ and ‘Theol,’ don’t you?”

“Haha, you caught that, huh…”

“It’s honestly fascinating. You’re so smart—how do you still get those basic letters wrong when even kids know them?”

“Now that you’ve uncovered my deepest secret, I guess I have no choice but to die…”

Yuta made a gesture like slicing his neck.

Theo chuckled dryly and buried his face back into the documents.

He still thought—what a truly weird senior.

* * *

Two Older Brothers

The day of the Academy entrance.

“No. Try something else.”

Julian and Grandfather came into my room first thing in the morning. And they were meddling like there was no tomorrow.

“You look too cute. That Dyfenril brat might get ideas.”

It was about my outfit.

I had woken up at dawn to get ready, but it had taken way too long.

“Nope. Another one.”

If Julian rejected one, Grandfather rejected another.

“The granddaughter of Count Noart can’t show up looking so shabby. Absolutely not. We have to intimidate them with sheer wealth.”

“Ugh, seriously, Grandpa! Stop saying stuff that makes you sound like some tacky nouveau riche! What era do you think this is—trying to dominate people with money? It just makes it more obvious you used to be a slave!”

“What does a bumpkin butcher know! If you throw money around, at least the gold-diggers will come crawling!”

“And what good are those types of people, huh?”

“Better than none! What if you end up eating alone from being ignored! Especially since Ethan’s not going!”

Ethan had declined to enroll, saying he had more to study at the Magic Tower.

Well, Academy attendance wasn’t mandatory, so it made sense.

Spending that time learning more magic would probably benefit Ethan more.

In any case, Grandfather and Julian kept bickering endlessly.

So I ended the argument once and for all.

“I’ll just keep Zahid with me all the time. I won’t eat alone, so don’t worry.”

“What? That guy’s not gonna stick around your side so easily—”

Julian scowled, but I gave him a radiant smile.

“I’ll just blackmail him with the sedative.”

“…What?”

“If he took it, he better earn his pay. That stuff’s expensive. He’s still a kid—he listens to things like that.”

“…Wasn’t it your dream to marry that guy?”

“Well, yeah. But even if you’re close, it’s important to keep those kinds of things strictly transactional. I learned that in the orphanage.”

Julian and Grandfather exchanged glances.

And they quietly came to a consensus: She’ll definitely call it off. Absolutely. If it were me, I wouldn’t marry her either. Thank god.

“Gentlemen.”

The one who finally kicked them out was none other than Heidi.

“We really need to leave now. As the fashion veteran here, I’ll handle her outfit.”

In the end, I left the estate neatly dressed in something perfectly appropriate.

The Academy’s program lasted three months.

It was standard that students weren’t allowed to contact their families during the course.

Instead, there would be a parent conference near [N O V E L I G H T] the end, where everyone would reunite before graduation.

“Squirt.”

Just before I got into the carriage, Julian pulled me into a tight hug and whispered,

“Learn a lot in these three months.”

“Okay.”

“I’m gonna learn a lot too. And keep learning even after that.”

I buried my face into Julian’s chest and nodded.

I couldn’t help thinking—if it were the old Julian, he probably never would’ve let me go.

Sure, it was easier to let me leave now that we were both clueless about everything…

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

But this Julian—the one who didn’t treat me like someone who had to be protected—wasn’t so bad.

“I’ll learn a lot—really a lot—and become the kind of brother who can truly protect you.”

“…Huh?”

I blinked, a bad feeling creeping up on me.

No way… was he going to grow into another overprotective brother during these three months?

“Cecil was just the beginning.”

Julian’s voice dropped low.

“Out there, the Temple’s waiting. In here, our relatives are after us. You and I both have to stay alert at all times.”

I slowly placed my hand on Julian’s back and gently patted him.

This whole ordeal with Cecil had clearly left a deep impact on Julian—someone who used to just yell “I hate it all! I don’t care! Whatever!” over and over.

“So that we can live each day without fear, without always being on edge… I’m gonna rise up fast. And I’ll make sure I get your revenge too.”

“Sniff.”

“I think that crazy bastard from before probably wanted that too.”

Julian gave a wistful smile, and I nodded.

“Yeah. That’s probably why he went and earned 1.37 trillion gold like a madman. Honestly, I never thought he’d stash it all away like that. Julian, it won’t be easy, but try to catch up to that crazy bastard. Fighting.”

“…You didn’t really have to call him a crazy bastard too.”

Julian grimaced, then scooped me up and placed me in the carriage himself.

“I’ll grow up fast.”

And then, trying his best to look cool, he waved.

“So I can protect you, squirt.”

“Okay.”

I smiled sweetly and waved back.

“Do your best. You’ve got a late start, so you’ll always have to work harder. I know your mental age is stuck at seventeen and you don’t know much yet, but don’t forget—the world isn’t so easy. Got it?”

“…Y-yeah.”

And with that, I left the Count’s estate and headed for the Academy.

* * *

At the Academy, students shared dorms two to a room.

“Ah. Of course.”

As soon as I arrived, I took the entrance exam and checked the dorm assignment list. I blinked and smiled faintly.

Zahid and Ray had been assigned to the same room.

<So that’s how they became friends. Roommates.>

The two of them would probably grow close naturally.

<I hope I make a new friend too. I wonder who my roommate will be?>

It didn’t take long to find my name.

Room 282 – Linna Idra, Rosie Noart

My eyes widened when I read my roommate’s name.

<Linna Idra? Lady Idra?>

Linna Idra, daughter of the Duke of Idra, who possessed the Divine Beast of Earth.

I knew almost nothing about her.

Zahid had never mentioned her.

<Was Linna at the Academy back then too? I don’t remember Zahid ever bringing her up.>

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t recall Zahid ever saying anything about Linna.

<And if he’d mentioned a girl our age, there’s no way my jealousy would’ve let me forget it.>

In any case, all I knew about the Idra Duchy was that it had already fallen under the Temple’s control.

<Still, I should try to get along with her. She’ll be the first girl my age I’ve ever spent time with.>

The room was spacious and comfortable—more than enough for two people.

Naturally, since it was a noble-only Academy.

You could even bring maids along to stay in separate housing.

Heidi had come with me too, but since it was the first day, I told her to rest.

There weren’t any scheduled events that day.

Everyone arrived at different times, and the idea was just to settle in, take the entrance test, and get to know your roommate while adjusting to the Academy.

I finished unpacking quickly.

Swinging my feet, I waited for a while. I planned to greet Linna warmly when she arrived.

<Hmm… why isn’t she here yet?>

But as the crimson sunset dyed the empty bed sheets—

No one came.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep