༺ Unshakeable Hawthorn (1) ༻
I’ve been imprisoned in the academy’s dormitory for the crime of being an unfortunate civil servant. At this rate, there had to be a list of prisoners like me somewhere within the capital.
To be fair, my case was a special one. But even so, wasn’t using the Academy as my place of probation considered excessive?
‘I didn’t even beat him up properly.’
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t as if I had beaten Rutis with fists or feet. I just grabbed his clothes and moved him elsewhere. It was nothing more than a tactical relocation.
The fact that the relocation ended on a hard stone floor was indeed a small problem, but what I did certainly wasn’t assault. If Rutis had been just a bit sturdier, perhaps there wouldn’t have been an issue at all. Walter, after all, could fall off a cliff and climb back up on his own.
However, Rutis ended up bleeding, and I was disciplined. The time to ask for leniency had long passed.
— According to Perosa, all is quiet, just as usual.
Still, I was lucky to have someone to endure in my stead.
“That’s comforting to hear. I’m relieved that we have Dame Perosa.”
Since Perosa was the youngest of the three countries’ forces, she was the only one who could wear a school uniform without arousing suspicion.
Of course, those familiar with Perosa would immediately recognize her as an outsider, but those who knew had all tacitly agreed to turn a blind eye to Perosa’s scouting.
— It’s a pity she can’t enter the club room.
“It can’t be helped. Even with a disguise, that would be too difficult.”
As Villar said, the best way to properly monitor them would not just be to wander around but to enter the club room herself.
The issue was that there was a difference between donning a uniform to blend in and boldly entering a club room designed for six members. The club members might even be offended by such obvious surveillance.
But it was not that big of a deal. Having Perosa watch from a distance was enough.
‘Fandoms are scary.’
Entrusting Perosa, who adored Rutis, with the task of monitoring Rutis’s club?
She’d surely exceed the limits with a flourish of enthusiasm. After all, it wasn’t a personal deviation but a public duty. It was practically state-sanctioned stalking.
“Please inform me immediately if anything happens. I will take action.”
I brushed aside my thoughts of Perosa as a state-sanctioned stalker.
Regardless of Perosa’s job satisfaction, monitoring the members was originally my responsibility. Frankly, it was my duty that I had shifted to someone else.
So, promising to rush over if anything happened was only right. Honestly, the fact that the Crown Prince chose the Academy as my place of probation implied that I was expected to spring into action in case of an emergency.
If he had a conscience, he wouldn’t give me extra punishment for leaving my probation site. After all, being placed there to work and then punished for working would be absurd.
‘I guess not.’
For a moment, I mistook a brute for a human.
— No, we’ll handle it as much as we can. Please rest easy, Executive Manager.
And Sir Villar firmly shook his head, as if understanding my sentiment.
That’s right. In Sir Villar’s eyes, I must seem like a poor soul in need of rest. His expression upon hearing the legends of the Prince’s escapades was unforgettable.
If Sir Villar had said, ‘His Majesty ordered me to be on probation at the Academy,’ I probably would have looked at him with the same gaze.
“Thank you for your words.”
So, I decided to take Sir Villar’s advice and rest.
After all, even machines needed oiling to avoid breaking down.
***
My prayers must have reached the heavens since my days on probation passed quietly and peacefully.
The events that unfolded while I was confined to my quarters were too trivial to even be called incidents.
“Being deprived of sunlight isn’t good for your health, so you should at least make sure that what you’re eating is enjoyable.”
“Thank you, Mar.”
For example, the unwavering visits from Marghetta. She was also here today. I don’t know why she treats me like I’m in a dungeon or something, but I feel grateful. That’s why I make sure to serve tea every time she visits.
They never said that others couldn’t come in. I was the only one who wasn’t supposed to go out, and I’m proud of this one. I was on probation, anyways.
“Although the reason we’re together is a sad one, it’s still nice to be in the same room as Carl.”
“I’m sorry…”
But that pride vanished like a bubble with just a word from Marghetta.
“If you’re sorry, then could you come to me after your probation is over, Carl?”
The following statement caught me off guard. Though she said it with a light smile, the content was far from light.
Saying that it was sad to be in the same room due to my probation implied that she wanted to properly be together in her room once it ended. The fact that she asked me to come also suggested that she was talking about her room.
Was Marghetta more shocked about my probation than I thought? I never expected such bold words from a lady who always strived for dignity.
“It will be difficult. But if Mar wants it, I’ll try.”
It was surprising, but Marghetta must have gathered her courage to speak. I shouldn’t refuse her and cause an awkward atmosphere. After all, climbing into a dorm room through a window wasn’t that hard.
However, Marghetta tilted her head at my determined response, then quickly shook it.
“I’m not talking about my room, but the Vice President’s office!”
“Oh.”
I guess the shock was on me, after all.
‘Did a lewd spirit take over my thoughts?’
Thanks to that, Marghetta, who had entered smiling, left with a flushed face. That was the extent of incidents during my probation.
“Oppa, are you doing well?”
“We met this morning, didn’t we?”
And then, the visits from Louise followed. She visited enthusiastically, coming before school and again after school.
I wonder if there was anyone who visited a family member in jail as much as she did. Well, I technically wasn’t in jail, so it was probably easier to come by.
I accepted the cookie jar she handed me and patted her head.
“Once a day is enough. It must be troublesome for you to come so often.”
I didn’t forget to scold her, though. Marghetta might bring me meals every day, but Louise’s frequent visits seemed a bit much.
Actually, even once a day was excessive. A week was nothing; not receiving visitors for that period wouldn’t be upsetting at all.
“But I’m worried, oppa.”
But I couldn’t push Louise away too hard after seeing her mutter dejectedly. I don’t quite understand why she was so worried about someone who was just staying in their room, but she was.
Yes, I should be grateful for her visits. Too much would be better than scarcity, after all.
***
Oppa patted my head once and invited me in for tea.
‘This is good.’
Oppa never turned away a guest who came to visit on purpose. He always offered hospitality and took care of them.
When I entered oppa’s room, my heart raced. Senior’s words weren’t wrong.
“Lady Louise. You spend a lot of time with Carl, but you rarely have time alone.”
Two days after Rutis collapsed and the day oppa began his probation, Senior came to me quietly to offer advice.
It was unfortunate that oppa was under probation, but she said that it was an opportunity. After all, my usually busy oppa would now have a week with nothing else to do. It was indeed a rare chance.
“Being alone together leads to sincere conversations. With no one else around, you’ll feel more at ease to express your feelings.”
I nodded continuously to Senior’s precious advice.
The only place I could see oppa was the club room, but the club room wasn’t just made for me and oppa. Even when I wanted to approach him, the gaze of other club members made it hard to move closer.
…Yes, it was because of their gazes. I didn’t keep quiet because I was scared. If it wasn’t for those stares, I would have confessed to oppa long ago.
“I know that unrequited love is hard. I don’t want my dear junior to experience that.”
“Senior…”
I decided it was because of their gazes all for Senior, who showed me such undue consideration. That’s what I chose to believe.
“Ah, how’s Rutis?”
As we were having tea, oppa turned to me and asked. He seemed worried about the harm he might have caused.
And for a brief moment, I felt a pang of jealousy towards Rutis. How could oppa bring up someone else’s name when it was just the two of us? That was something I could never tolerate unless it was from Senior herself.
‘I’m glad Rutis is a man.’
If Rutis was a woman, our friendship might have been put at risk.
“He’s getting by as usual. I heard that he was going to visit soon.”
“Just tell him that staying put and breathing quietly is the best help he can give me.”
I laughed awkwardly at oppa’s firm response. Given Rutis’s recent behavior, it was highly unlikely that he’d follow any advice to stay away.
Rutis seemed uneasy since oppa received his probation. The absence of someone he saw daily, coupled with the guilt of being the reason for the punishment, seemed to weigh on him.
It seemed he was making his own preparations to comfort oppa…
“There’s a nourishing dish in Armein for those who have been newly released from prison.”
…Though it seemed a bit off course.
“Speaking of which, Louise. I have a favor to ask you.”
“Oh, yes! Please tell me!”
I nodded eagerly at oppa’s unexpected request.
A favor, he was really asking me for a favor.
Oppa, who always handled things on his own, was asking me for a favor. He wasn’t asking Senior, but me!
‘What is it?’
A mix of worry and excitement rushed over me. I wondered what oppa would ask of me, and I also felt overjoyed that I was the one he asked.
“Could you bring me the hawthorn plant from the club room? It feels lonely being by myself.”
Ah.
This time, my heart started beating for a different reason.
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