CICN Chapter 10

 

 

Clois momentarily suspected that Ivy might have known this was the grave of the Empress and the Princess and was trying to impress him.

There were others who had done such things in the past.

Individuals falsely believed that by feigning respect for the Empress and the princess, the Emperor would view them positively.

He wondered if Ivy might be one of those types of people.

But upon further thought, he realized how absurd the idea was.

Ivy was the child he personally selected from the orphanage. She had just entered the palace for the first time today.

Was it plausible that such a child would come through the overgrown bush path to the Emperor’s most treasured space just to impress him?

It was impossible.

 

‘For now, I need to block the path.’

 

While the academy had been empty for a long time, it seemed that a large animal had made a path by passing back and forth.

Leaving it as it is could lead to another child from the academy coming back.

Feeling both danger and discomfort at the possibility of someone else coming, Clois felt a strong sense of displeasure.

 

‘Not if it’s her.’

 

Still, as Clois considered whether it would be okay for Ivy to come, he was surprised by his own thoughts.

After all, Ivy was only a child with no connection to him, yet he was considering making an exception for her just because he saw her once. Why?

As Clois pondered, the sky darkened gradually.

And after a while, the sound of bells came again from the direction of the academy. Following the preliminary bell, it was the bell that signaled a full curfew.

Regaining his composure at the sound, Clois stood up and approached Lillian’s grave.

Looking at the wreath, which was still full of the scent of wild flowers, he spoke tenderly, as if his wife were there.

 

“Lillian, would Yvien have been like that if she were alive?”

 

If she were alive, she would have been seven, just like Ivy.

Clois recalled the appearance of Ivy he had seen a while ago.

Right now, she is small and thin, but if she lived well at the academy, she would surely gain weight like other children her age.

Then her coarse golden hair would regain its shine, and his green eyes would sparkle even more.

As he thought about it, a shiver ran down his spine.

Somehow, despite being a child he had just met, he felt a familiarity as if he had known him for a long time, perhaps because the color of the child’s eyes was the same green as Lillian’s.

Moreover, if her hair darkened a bit more, it would likely be a shade of golden similar to Clois’s.

It was like the child, the one he briefly imagined Lillian had when she was pregnant so long ago.

Snap out of it.

Reprimanding himself for getting lost in reverie, Clois wiped away the haze of his thoughts.

He had buried Lillian’s body with his own hands, along with Yvien’s body that she had held.

All who remained in the castle at the time said that Lillian had carried little Yvien to the city walls to save the lives of those inside and had thrown herself at the enemy’s command.

And afterward, the enemy mutilated their bodies.

 

“……!”

 

Clois snapped back to reality, wiping away a cold sweat.

Staying here any longer would undoubtedly lead to more useless thoughts. Clois glanced at the graves once more before turning back towards the palace.

After a while, back in his quarters, Clois sat on the sofa and looked at the bouquet of flowers Ivy had handed him.

After fiddling with it for a while, he took out the beautifully arranged flowers from the vase in the room and replaced them with the bouquet Ivy brought.

Then he realized he had inadvertently kept the handkerchief Ivy had given him.

 

“Oh.”

 

It must have been a new item that she received today, but he guessed she ended up inadvertently losing it because she gave it to him.

 

‘I should return it.’

 

Returning it wouldn’t be difficult. He could just send it back through his servants. After all, he could easily hide the fact that it was sent by the emperor.

However, Clois kept thinking about how he should go to the academy to return the handkerchief.

Then it dawned on him.

He realized that he wanted to see Ivy Alden one more time rather than return the handkerchief.

Clois chuckled bitterly.

 

“It seems I’ve become too weak.”

 

That must be why he kept trying to find traces of Yvien in other children.

He placed the handkerchief on the table.

Once it was daylight, he would have his servants return it properly.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The bell signaling the complete curfew rang throughout the academy.

Ivy gasped for breath in the lobby of the dormitory.

Her quick escape from the forest upon hearing the bell allowed her to return to the dormitory just before the bell signaling the complete curfew rang.

As Ivy caught her breath, the staff inside, who were organizing documents, smiled and spoke to her.

 

“Seems like you rushed back here? You should come a bit earlier, starting tomorrow.”

 

She thought they might scold her for barely making it in, but surprisingly, perhaps because it was the first day, the staff were kind.

Promising to be more careful tomorrow, Ivy was about to head upstairs when she suddenly remembered something and approached the staff to ask a question.

 

“Sorry, but can I confirm my guardian here?”

“Your guardian? It’s not difficult to confirm, but… did you come without knowing?”

 

Most children entering the academy usually meet their guardian before coming in, at least once, to greet them.

Even if they didn’t meet, they would know their names.

 

“Yes. I didn’t know such a system existed, but I read in a book that all students must have a guardian appointed. I’d like to know who my guardian is.”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Ivy Alden.”

 

The staff member brought out a file containing students’ information and began to search through it.

 

“Let me see… Ivy Alden… Ah, here it is.”

 

The staff member quickly found Ivy’s file and responded.

 

“Professor Sian Rochen is Miss Ivy’s guardian. He holds the title of a quasi-baron.”

“What? Sian Rochen?”

 

Ivy’s voice rose at the mention of the name.

Then, realizing she had raised her voice too much, she quickly quieted down.

 

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, no problem. Thank you for checking.”

 

Ivy thanked the staff and climbed the stairs to her room.

 

‘Sian Rochen!’

 

When the staff mentioned that name, Ivy couldn’t help but doubt her ears.

The stranger she met in the forest a moment ago was named Sian Rochen.

Moreover, that person had clearly stated that he was a professor at the academy.

 

‘But why would he be my guardian?’

 

Just as Ivy seemed unfamiliar with Professor Sian, Professor Sian seemed unfamiliar with her as well.

But how did he end up being registered as her guardian?

 

‘Maybe somebody at the academy asked the professors if there were any students without guardians?’

 

No matter how much she thought about it, that seemed like the most plausible explanation.

Thinking of Professor Sian, whom she had met in the forest, Ivy’s steps towards her room felt lighter.

Though they had just met, she felt like she had known him for a long time.

And surprisingly, she wasn’t afraid of the imposing adult male, which was a first for her.

Not only was she not afraid, but if she had more time, she would have wanted to talk more.

She returned obediently at the sound of the bell, but the lingering regret lingered in her heart throughout the return journey—that he was her guardian.

If that’s the case, there will be another chance to meet again.

 

‘Plus, since he’s a professor at the academy, I might run into him during class someday.’

 

Then, Ivy remembered an important fact.

 

“My handkerchief!”

 

Come to think of it, she had given her handkerchief to Professor Sian and just returned without it.

She searched her pockets here and there just in case, but it was nowhere to be found.

 

‘Although it was said that more items would be provided if requested…’

 

For Ivy, who always had to save everything at the orphanage, a new handkerchief was a valuable possession.

Receiving such an item for free was something to be grateful for, but losing it on the first day made her feel somewhat guilty. But at the same time, she felt fortunate.

Now she had a reason to confidently approach Professor Sian.

 

‘Professor Sian’s research lab wasn’t marked on the Academy guide map.’

 

The map she memorized also showed the location of the professors’ research labs. But Professor Sian’s name was definitely not on that map.

 

‘I’ll have to ask other staff members about it tomorrow.’

 

With a heart filled with excitement at the thought of meeting Professor Sian again, Ivy opened the door to room 305.

 

“……!”

 

Ivy froze as she faced about a dozen female students standing inside the room, their gazes meeting hers.