Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“You could just apologize,” Sirone suggested.

“What?” Amy asked, seemingly taken aback.

“I understand it’s a memory you’d rather forget. You’re at the top of the advanced class and popular, after all. But we can’t undo what’s happened. Instead of trying to justify the situation, wouldn’t apologizing be more appropriate? It’s the right thing to do as well.”

She assessed Sirone’s intentions. Could she trust him to keep the secret if she apologized? Any leverage he might gain from this could spell her downfall. She couldn’t afford to give him the upper hand. Although she was no longer the troublemaker she used to be, her view of people hadn’t shifted much.

Competition during her school days had taught her that even the kindest faces could conceal selfish motives. They might smile outwardly, but behind that facade, they were all sharpening their knives. This insight was precisely why she refrained from mingling with her fellow students, except for the one friend she truly trusted.

“First, tell me how you ended up at this school,” Amy demanded.

Sirone briefly explained his sponsorship from House Ojent and his admission as a guest student.

“House Ojent?” She was visibly perplexed.

The notion of a house known for swordsmanship sponsoring a mage didn’t make sense to her. Perhaps her lack of awareness about the Knight’s Oath contributed to her confusion, but even if she had known about it, it remained uncertain whether she could truly believe it. Understanding the friendship he shared with Lian would also take some time.

I can’t afford to let my guard down around him. Remembering the adage “keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” Amy made a decision.

“You haven’t told anyone, have you?”

“No. Why would I? It’s not a memory I cherish.”

“Good. Let’s make one thing clear. You’re in Class Seven. I’m in Class Four.”

“I’m aware, Miss Amy,” Sirone acknowledged with a hint of formality. However, he felt that it was somewhat petty for her to assert her seniority at that moment.

“Very well,” she continued. “As you’re likely aware, in the world of mages, seniority holds significant importance. Starting tomorrow, after your lessons, buy coffee and bring it to me.”

“Pardon? Why?” he asked, clearly confused.

“Because I don’t trust you. Lies won’t work with me. If you tell anyone about what happened, your school life will be just as difficult as mine.”

Despite her limited social connections, her academic standing gave her considerable influence. I guess all I can do right now is go along with it, Sirone thought.

They were far from establishing trust, being strangers to one another. Yet, he couldn’t help but wish for some form of apology. He tried his best to maintain a positive outlook.

I suppose it’s better than being constantly anxious. I should make a compromise and aim to stay on relatively good terms with her. Trust will develop over time. As he contemplated this, he saw Amy, now masked again, preparing to leave.

“Choose your actions carefully. Your future is on the line as well,” she warned. Her mastery of the Schema allowed her to vanish effortlessly, as light as a feather.

Sirone sighed. “School just started, and I’m already facing a challenge.”

The mere idea of seeing her every day, beginning tomorrow, cast a dauntingly dark shadow over his thoughts.

***

The final bell rang, and Sirone’s posture sagged as he exited the classroom. Another day, another coffee... He had already been running coffee errands for ten days in a row. While he reassured himself that he could cut down on other expenses to afford Amy’s coffee, his heart grew heavier with each passing day.

It’s okay. I’ll consider this part of my training. I’ll stay focused so the coffee doesn’t spill, he muttered, trying to stay positive. Eventually, he couldn’t take it.

“Who am I kidding?” he groaned. “How long must I have to do this?”

Whether they understood his miserable state or not, the girls who spotted Sirone muttered among themselves.

“There goes the hopeless romantic,” they said, mistaking his errands for lovestruck gestures to Amy.

The true dilemma, however, was Amy’s silence. After receiving her coffee, she would lock eyes with Sirone for a fleeting moment, then vanish into the library, leaving the air thick with unspoken words.

Whispers of Sirone’s supposed infatuation with Amy swirled through the student body, which only drove Amy to distance herself further. Today, as usual, she waited for him at the library entrance, her friend by her side.

“There’s your Prince Charming,” her friend teased, gesturing toward Sirone.

“Prince Charming? Oh, please. It’s more like training an underclassman,” Amy responded dryly.

Their daily exchange had become a spectacle, drawing an audience that applauded Sirone’s approach, much to his embarrassment.

Amy’s friend, with a note of sympathy, suggested, “Don’t you pity him? He’s making such an effort. Why don’t you accept his feelings? It’s not like you have zero feelings for him.”

“What? No,” Amy started to protest. “That’s not—”

“You thought I wouldn’t notice?” she interrupted. “You never make eye contact with other guys, but you always accept Sirone’s coffee. Rumor has it that even the standoffish Amy has met her match at this magic school.”

Amy knew about the rumors, but she had no intention of indulging the gossip by acknowledging them. Even so, she couldn’t keep this going on forever.

“Here’s your coffee, Miss Amy,” Sirone said, presenting the cup amidst the crowd’s cheers.

Amy glanced down, then met his gaze again, her eyes flashing red momentarily.

Ugh, not this again, he inwardly groaned. The intense crimson gaze was a hallmark of House Karmis.

Amy, still staring into his eyes, subtly furrowed her brow. Nothing. It was true that lies didn’t work on her, and Amy had the ability to read emotions through minute changes in one’s irises. No change yesterday, the day before, or today. Not even a millimeter of deviation.

This unwavering steadiness in Sirone’s emotional state suggested he was either a master of controlling his emotions or utterly sincere. Amy, contemplating these two possibilities, slapped the coffee out of his hand without warning.

“Ugh, how annoying,” she exclaimed.

The coffee cascaded onto the floor, drawing even more curious glances from the surrounding students.

Seemingly indifferent, Amy chastised Sirone. “Quit bothering me. You don’t have to bring me coffee anymore. Instead, I recommend you use this time to study.”

The crowd responded with sighs of pity.

“Poor Sirone,” they whispered.

Despite the commotion, Sirone felt a rush of relief. At last, freedom!

Amy’s drastic actions were surely aimed at quelling the rumors, but it appeared that she had also resolved her own doubts about him.

“Let’s stay out of each other’s way from now on,” she declared before turning away with determination, leaving some students booing in response.

Her friend hurried after her. “Amy, there was no need to slap the coffee away. What if it leads to more rumors?” she asked.

“What do I care? It only goes to show that people really have nothing better to do. They’re free to think as they please. Besides, once I’m in the graduating class, none of this will matter.”

Much time had passed since, and it was eleven in the evening when Amy, after hours of studying in the library, abruptly shut her book with a heavy sigh. This is really frustrating, she thought.

He appeared as a naive country boy who was unfamiliar with the world, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint the right word to describe him. Did he really get into this school through House Ojent? It seems unlikely...

Her friend asked, “Why did you close your book? Are you done for the night?”

“Yeah, I just can’t seem to focus today. I think I’ll rest up and start fresh an hour earlier tomorrow.”

“Should I go with you?”

“No, it’s fine. No need to cut your study short for me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, then. Good night,” her friend replied.

The two smiled and waved at each other. Amy’s only trusted friend was Seryel Fortress, a lively girl who ranked sixth in Class Four and preferred genuine competition over veiled friendships.

As she exited the reading room, everyone except for the staff had already left for the day, leaving the corridor dark and silent.

While students had dreams associated with school, for the staff, it was just a job to earn money.

“Ugh, I’m so exhausted,” she exhaled, stretching to alleviate the day’s accumulated stress. Mid-stretch, her eyes caught sight of a figure standing on the stairs. “You are...” she began, her voice trailing off.

The man had a pale complexion, underscored with dark circles, and black hair that fell partially over his cheek.

Amy’s initial curiosity quickly soured into recognition. Jake Ardius.

He was of a second-class noble family, and the family head served as the royal financial executor. This granted them an influence rumored to be on par with that of the top-tier nobility. Jake’s arrogance was notorious, and Amy found him particularly distasteful because he presided over the Dark Magicians, a club she deemed nefarious.

In her eyes, their group’s sole purpose was to undermine the school’s elite students. Rumors had it that, despite not being an officially recognized research club and receiving no financial support, they collectively contributed their own money to recruit students. They were known for their shadowy activities—spreading gossip, intimidation, and sowing discord to break the spirits of high-achieving students.

“Seems like you finished your studies early today, Amy. I was planning to wait until midnight,” Jake remarked.

“Why would you wait for me? Do you have nothing better to do?”

“Don’t be like that. I’ve heard the rumors about you and about how some guy named Sirone is pestering you.”

Amy’s intuition screamed that the Dark Magicians were behind these malicious rumors. “I’m warning you. Whatever you’re up to, drop it. If you drag my name into whatever you’re doing, you’ll regret it,” she said with a steely edge.

“You’ve got it all wrong,” he chuckled. “I have nothing to do with the rumors this time. Think about it. What would I benefit by helping someone else?”

His smile was unwavering as he offered her a cup of coffee. “After all, I like you.”

The warmth-infused aroma of the coffee was one that Amy recognized. It was civet coffee.

“This is the finest coffee, the kind you won’t find anywhere else in the school. This kind of coffee is fit for someone of your stature,” Jake insisted.

“What are you up to?” she asked, suspicion lacing her tone.

“What do you mean? This is a gesture of goodwill. You’re aware of my family’s power, aren’t you? One day, I’ll take over my father’s role in managing the royal finances. I’m the only man in this school who’s a match for you.”

“I’m sorry to disappoint, but I don’t engage in personal exchanges in the library. Wrong place, wrong time, and, most importantly, wrong person. I don’t like you. Let’s make sure something like this never happens again,” Amy responded, her tone cold.

Attempting to leave, she found her path blocked by Jake, who had positioned himself against the wall, his expression now steely. “Perhaps I’ve been too lenient with you. I also have the honor of my family to uphold, so being rejected like this is rather upsetting. Isn’t it the same for you too? You study hard just to avoid tarnishing the name of House Karmis. You and I share the same worries, Amy.”

“You’re even more pathetic than I thought.”

“Wh-what?” Jake’s voice wavered, a hostile glint flashing in his eyes.

Unfazed, Amy continued, “Same worries? Don’t make me laugh. My family thrives by doing whatever we please. Sure, the honor of my family is important, but I’m not enslaved by it, unlike you. I’m nothing like you, someone who has no dreams and only chases after money.”

“You...!”

Jake took his mask off. Despite her first-class noble status, he didn’t believe he deserved to be treated so poorly, especially considering his father’s position as the royal financial executor. He held a strong belief that there was nothing in the world that couldn’t be solved with money.

“What makes you think you’re so great? So what if your family belongs to the first-class nobility? How many individuals in your family actually hold authority in this kingdom? With my family’s resources, we could bury the Karmis name. Don’t believe me? Should we put it to the test?”

She observed the desperation in his eyes, feeling a cold realization wash over her. “Wow, thanks. I’ve been on edge all day, but you’ve cleared things up for me,” she said with a hint of sarcasm.

“What are you talking about?” Jake asked.

Her tension eased. She understood now that Sirone was likely someone she could trust.

“See, that’s the look of a true villain. Your eyes are completely different from Sirone’s. Yours are corrupt,” she pointed out.

Jake was partially unhinged. “You think I’m worse than that nobody? I could take him down this instant,” he seethed.

“If you’re going to do something, hurry up. Stop wasting my time with your empty threats. You can’t do a single thing. Did you think a little glare would scare me?”

As Amy pushed Jake’s arm, the mug slipped from his grasp, crashing to the floor and splattering coffee everywhere.