Chapter 58: The Return and the Choices Ahead

“Then, Celian, take care and I’ll see you when the academy reopens.”

Since Celian had no intention of returning before me, I decided to head back first.

To get back to the academy, I had to take a cheap carriage, spending my own money, so I asked the royal family for help just in case. They managed to find a carriage for me to use on my way back.

Fortunately, on the day I asked for a carriage, there was one heading to Ferrent, so I was able to share the ride with it through the royal family’s arrangement.

The carriage was already waiting, so I waved once more at Celian, who had come to greet me, and quickly opened the carriage door to board.

As soon as I got in, the carriage set off, and it seemed like I had waited quite a while.

While I hurriedly waved my hand out the window, the carriage had already moved far enough for Celian to be out of sight.

“I’m sorry for being late. Thank you for letting me join.”

I apologized and expressed my gratitude to the person who had agreed to share the ride with me, bowing my head repeatedly.

The person who had been hiding their face under a robe turned their head at my greeting, lifting their hat to reveal their face.

“Boss?”

“When were you planning to return?”

It was an unexpected appearance by Presia. However, it seemed like it wasn’t unexpected for her, as she spoke in a calm voice.

“Did your business already finish? Didn’t you say you were called by His Majesty the Emperor?”

“Yeah. It finished a few days ago. I was waiting to return together.”

If there’s a boss who cares this much for their employee, come out and show yourself! Our boss is the best.

“But I’m so sleepy…”

Now that I think about it, Presia was originally a nocturnal person.

She had no choice but to stay awake during the day to meet the Emperor, but just a few days wouldn’t be enough to change a habit that had been built up over a long period.

Presia was rubbing her eyes with both hands, trying to resist sleep. But the sleepiness was overwhelming, and she looked up at me with half-closed eyes.

I stood up from my seat and moved to sit next to Presia.

This was the perfect moment to use what I had learned.

“Here we go.”

I slid my hands under her arms and gently lifted her up, moving her carefully to the middle of the carriage seat.

Next, I placed my hand on her head, which had been nodding off earlier, and slowly pulled her toward me.

Supporting her body carefully, I placed the back of her head gently on my thigh.

Presia, now lying completely on the carriage seat, rested her head on my thigh and looked up at me with sleepy eyes. I also lowered my head to look at her.

“Elysia…………?”

This is where the special technique comes into play.

I placed my hand on Presia’s black hair and slowly began to stroke it, being as gentle and considerate as when petting a kitten.

Just a moment ago, she had been looking at me with sleepy eyes, questioning my actions, but now her eyes slowly began to close.

“Ely…. sia….”

She called my name, and with each syllable, her voice grew softer.

After a few strokes, Presia let out a small sigh and fell asleep.

Watching this, I now understand why Celian used to rest her head on my lap.

Watching her sleep, using my thigh as a pillow, I felt a sense of healing just from that.

If I get the chance next time, I’d want to do the same for Celian, Yuri, and Anne.

Presia had already gone off to dreamland, but I was able to enjoy stroking her hair a bit more.

“Well, see you later.”

We arrived at the academy just as the sunset was beginning. We parted ways to head to our respective rooms—mine in the dormitory, and Presia’s in the magic building.

Though I said “see you later,” it was more of a formality. It was almost night, so it was time for me to sleep, while Presia, being nocturnal, was likely to stay awake.

After sending her off, I returned to my room and started unpacking my bag.

First, I carefully sorted and put away the clothes I had received from Yuri and Celian, making sure they wouldn’t get mixed up.

Once the clothes were all sorted, I moved on to the underwear.

I had already washed all but the ones I was wearing before coming here, so the six clean pairs went straight into the drawer.

I also organized a few miscellaneous items, though there wasn’t much to put away.

After unpacking everything, the room looked the same as it had before I left, except the wardrobe was now full.

The only thing out of place was the slightly messy bed, so I reached under the bed just in case.

As I searched the floor, I found the bag tucked away in the far corner of the dark space under the bed, where no light reached.

At least, in the month I had been gone, no one seemed to have touched it; only a light dust had settled on it.

I checked to see if anyone had opened it by ensuring that the paper I had intentionally wedged into a gap remained intact.

Still unsure, I decided to input the password I alone knew into the lock.

Inside the bag was the most dangerous and important assassination outfit, both for its meaning and its significance.

Only once I confirmed it was still secure, with multiple layers of protection, did I feel at ease.

After all, no one would break into a room with an occupant still living here, especially when it’s not time to move out.

If someone were caught doing that, it wouldn’t be just a simple penalty but could result in expulsion at the worst.

The mess on the bed was probably just because I got distracted while packing and didn’t tidy up properly.

Sitting in a chair at the table, sipping some warm milk, I finally felt like I was home.

Though, to be exact, this is only my dorm room and not really “home,” it’s still the first room I’ve ever decorated according to my own taste, so it holds a special place for me.

However, that feeling quickly gave way to worry and regret.

Despite my best efforts, my first semester grades didn’t reach the level I had hoped for.

The grades were already out, and I had checked every scholarship I could possibly apply for, multiple times.

The three things I needed to focus on the most were: food expenses, tuition, and dorm fees.

But each of these was in a somewhat uncertain situation.

For food, the part-time job I had with Presia covered most of it. In fact, it was enough to cover living expenses as well.

Next, there was the tuition.

Although I couldn’t get a full exemption like Celian did, I was fortunate enough to receive some support.

Honestly, I had hoped for a 50% discount, but missing class for a while seemed to have held me back, and that likely caused me to fall short.

Still, there’s a way out. Considering the compensation I received for the demon invasion incident, there was a way to handle the tuition fees.

As everyone knows, the tuition fees at Griffin Academy are quite steep.

After paying the tuition, the amount of money left in my hands would significantly decrease.

Even so, it’s still a considerable amount for living expenses, but when thinking of it as an emergency fund for situations like this, it’s not nearly enough to feel relaxed.

Thus, I still have no choice but to live frugally.

This is why I find myself thinking a lot about the dormitory situation.

Fortunately, I was able to receive some support for the dormitory.

The issue, however, is that the dormitory where the fees are waived is a four-person room.

Compared to a four-person room, a two-person room is quite expensive, and a single room is so expensive it would be inappropriate to compare.

It’s not just a matter of being twice or four times the cost.

In the end, there are only two options left for me to choose from.

A two-person room or a four-person room.

I could dip into my emergency fund to afford a two-person room, or I could avoid touching the emergency fund and stay in the four-person room.

For me, the fewer people I live with, the easier it is to keep my secrets hidden.

Especially the master servant brand on my body, or the assassination outfit I’ve hidden away.

Since there’s still time before the second semester’s registration deadline, I’ll need to think about it for a while.

**

After Elysia left first, I also returned to my home.

It would have been a comfortable room for me before, but just the fact that Elysia wasn’t there made the place feel so desolate.

Rather than staying at home, I wanted to return to the dormitory immediately and be with Elysia, but my duties and responsibilities as a noble, and the obligations I had as a child, held me back.

Of course, if I only thought about Elysia, I would throw all of this away without a second thought.

But considering that this might later help Elysia in some way, I can’t just ignore it.

For that reason, during the remaining vacation period, instead of staying in my room, I decided to stay in the room that Elysia had used while staying at the mansion.

It’s a bit disappointing that the bed Elysia had used in the dormitory doesn’t have her scent anymore, but I think I can just about manage with that.

Knock knock.

As I sat in the chair where Elysia had sat, drank tea from the cup she had used, and lay in the bed where she had slept, eyes closed, someone knocked on the door.

Feeling a bit disappointed, I got up from my seat and opened the door to find the butler who had been handling my errands.

“Miss, for the second semester registration, we will handle it just as we did for the first semester.”

The purpose of the visit was regarding the registration for the second semester at the academy.

Since the academy had already granted various exemptions for costs through the top scholarship, there was no need for me to pay any money.

All I had to do was register.

Even that, under normal circumstances, wouldn’t require me to step in personally.

Other people would take care of everything and register me automatically, just like when I first enrolled at the academy.

“Just a moment.”

However, if I just let that happen, all the effort I put into the first semester would be meaningless.

So, I stop the butler who was about to leave.

“I’ll request a two-person room for the dormitory.”

By securing the top rank, I made sure that I wouldn’t receive the full scholarship.

“Are you sure? Living with another student might be more uncomfortable than you expect.”

I wanted to tell them about the joy of eating delicious food, but I had intentionally searched for only the most expensive menu items, just to keep my budget tight.

“It’s fine. I’ll be living with a friend anyway.”

After receiving a generous compensation for the accident, I had intentionally provided slightly wrong answers when studying for exams together, in order to reduce the scholarship I’d receive.

“I understand. As you mentioned, I’ll apply for a two-person room for you.”

I can’t let all that effort go to waste.

“Then, if you need anything, please let me know.”

After confirming that the butler had left, I lay back down on the bed and hugged the pillow that Elysia had used.

“Elysia…”

From the second semester, we will be together…