The Price of Gratitude

The images and sounds within the crystal ball were perfectly clear, the evidence irrefutable, leaving no room for dispute.

Louisa surveyed her surroundings, observing Augustus with an expression that clearly declared ‘this has nothing to do with me.’ She knew then that the outcome was sealed.

“Very well then,” she announced. “The four students, having gravely violated school regulations and discipline, shall receive a private warning, which will not be made public for the time being. Their punishment will entail three months of campus cleaning duty.”

Crossbowman, unwilling to accept this, protested, “But Headmistress, their injuries are quite severe…”

“They deserved it,” Augustus stared at him with chilling intensity. “They brought it upon themselves, did they not?”

Of course. Had it not been for their seemingly severe injuries, coupled with their families’ influential standing, the punishment would hardly have been so lenient.

Indeed, were this campus warning to be made public, not only would their reputations at school be utterly ruined, but their respective families would also become the laughingstock of high society.

A private warning was already a considerable concession.

Augustus, eager to extricate himself from the affair, cast a warning glance at him. Crossbowman visibly flinched and lowered his head in silence.

“Since there are no further objections, let it be so,” Headmistress Louisa rose from her seat and led the way out. “Classes are about to begin; everyone should disperse.”

Hecate offered a gentle smile as well. “I must also prepare for my lessons.”

As she rose and departed, Iordera suddenly realized the situation and quickly dashed after her. “Wait for me!”

Was it truly resolved just like that?

Sophia exhaled slowly, then looked up to see the petite security guard. From a distance, the guard mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ in her direction.

The young woman sighed softly to herself.

While there was nothing inherently wrong with intervening justly, it would be prudent not to act so rashly again within the United Academy.

****

The group gradually dispersed, leaving only Crossbowman and the previously mentioned teacher.

Neither Prince Augustus nor Headmistress Louisa spared the teacher a second glance.

His face was ashen, and a chill settled deep within his heart.

At this juncture, it was painfully clear to all that he, alongside the four students, had become the discarded pawns of this incident.

****

“Um, Hecate, about that,” Iordera scurried to catch up to her, whispering, “Thank you for your help just now.”

Hecate slowed her pace, then abruptly asked, “What does ‘loved’ mean?”

“Huh?”

“When you woke up this morning and left your room,” Hecate gazed at her with a smile, “you kept muttering ‘loved, loved.’ What did you mean by that?”

Iordera’s cheeks flushed crimson. ‘She thought, ‘It’s all because of you, strangling me in my dreams!”

“It’s nothing, just sleep-addled nonsense,” She forcefully steered the conversation back. “Anyway, thank you for today.”

“Just a simple ‘thank you’?”

“What?”

‘What else? Am I expected to pledge myself to you now?’

‘Though there’s some truth to that notion, it hasn’t reached that point, has it…’

Iordera’s mind, usually so clear, was racing with excessive thoughts, churning through a torrent of possibilities. Hecate, however, merely tilted her head slightly and said:

“At the very least, a gift is in order, just as it was in Juneburg.”

Iordera blinked, a little slow to catch on.

“When you expressed your gratitude to Sir Olcott before, and then when I expressed my gratitude to you, did we not exchange gifts?” Hecate prompted. “If you wish to thank me, a gift would be appropriate, wouldn’t it?”

Iordera’s lips twitched involuntarily.

That much was true, but upon carefully recalling those two gifts—Hecate’s bone ring had allowed her to unravel the Lord’s conspiracy, ultimately leading to Juneburg’s collapse.

And the pencil she had given in return was even more noteworthy, effectively delivering a colossal firework (TL Note: a slang term for a large explosion or disaster) to Juneburg.

“What kind of gift do you desire, then?”

The bone ring she had received was made from a coccyx; surely she couldn’t reciprocate with one of her own.

Iordera instinctively covered her rear.

“Don’t fret, my preferences are quite simple,” Hecate, noticing her small gesture, chuckled. “There’s no need to be so alarmed; I won’t be asking for any part of you.”

She raised a slender, pale finger. “I gave you a ring, so you should give me one in return. A diamond ring, specifically from a jewelry store in Saroyan City.”

“A diamond ring?” Iordera blinked in bewilderment.

“Precisely. It’s not difficult to acquire, merely a touch expensive.”

Upon hearing this, Iordera inwardly groaned. ‘She thought, ‘A touch expensive? That’s an understatement!”

Having spent many days in this alternate world, she had come to understand its economic principles. Due to the prevalence of magic and alchemy, productivity here was notably high, meaning basic necessities like food and daily provisions were not overly costly.

However, the prevailing feudal aristocratic system dictated that the upper echelons of society required certain luxuries to signify their exalted status.

For instance, garments woven from fine silk fetched exorbitant prices.

Diamonds, of course, were in a league of their own. Even in her previous life’s modern society, they were purely luxury items, serving as a blatant display of wealth.

And in a city like Saroyan, such a ring would cost at least several hundred gold coins. That amount… well, if she sold herself, she could buy many such rings.

‘Surely, she couldn’t actually sell herself!’

After much deliberation, Iordera decided to address Hecate tactfully. “You likely aren’t short on funds, are you? A diamond ring is something you could easily purchase yourself…”

“Indeed, I could. However, a diamond ring only holds true significance as a gift,” Hecate blinked, her gaze fixed on Iordera. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“…” Iordera found herself utterly speechless.

“Of course, if you are unwilling to show your gratitude, that is perfectly fine. I assisted you of my own accord,” Hecate stated calmly. “You know, I dote on you.”

‘Good heavens, that phrase again. The first time she heard it, she felt a flicker of genuine emotion, but now it only resonated with thinly veiled sarcasm.’

“I never said I wouldn’t give you one; it’s simply that I don’t have enough money at the moment,” Iordera declared, feeling a surge of determination, her hands planted firmly on her hips. “If you are willing to wait, then wait a while. I will purchase it for you.”

‘It’s just a diamond ring, just a few hundred gold coins. She would simply work a few extra jobs to earn it.’

‘Just you wait!’

Iordera, however, overlooked one crucial detail: the inherent significance of a diamond ring itself. She hadn’t considered that aspect at all.

“Very well, I shall await it then.”

****

The professors headed to the lecture halls for their classes, the security guards returned to their posts at the library, and the two women parted ways.

Upon returning to the library, her colleagues immediately gathered around her.

“Iordera, dear, are you alright? We heard those students were causing you trouble.”

“What did they do to you? Were you harmed?”

“Don’t worry. If things get out of hand, we’ll speak to The Curator; she’ll certainly assist.”

A warmth spread through Iordera’s chest. She quickly assured everyone that she was fine, and recounted the events briefly, emphasizing how the boys, attempting to steal a chicken, had ended up losing their rice (TL Note: a Chinese idiom meaning to suffer a loss in an attempt to gain something), not only failing to achieve their goal but also incurring punishment.

“The school’s handling of this was truly commendable,” Mrs. Su said, beaming. “Punishing those who are in the wrong—that’s how it should be.”

Iordera nodded, but a flicker of worry immediately crossed her features. “Those boys were merely pawns, instigated by the Little Prince himself. Augustus was not directly implicated, and essentially suffered a silent loss (TL Note: a Chinese idiom meaning to suffer a setback or loss without being able to openly complain or retaliate). It’s difficult to guarantee he won’t seek further trouble later.”

Upon hearing this, those around her couldn’t help but grow anxious.

“Indeed, the true problem lies with the Little Prince.”

“You must be extra careful from now on.”

“How ruthless.”

Just then, a benevolent voice resonated from behind them. “There is no need to worry.”