Chapter 12

Iberia woke up with an inexplicable sense of unease. A familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling came into view.  

Startled, she lifted her body and placed her feet on the floor from the bed. Her legs lacked strength, and she collapsed onto the floor, staring blankly at the white curtain in front of her.  

She had followed Cynthia to the promenade. She had been reading her notes, felt tired, and stood up, but then…  

“Ah.”  

“Iberia!”  

Iberia’s thoughts were interrupted. Someone had drawn back the curtain and appeared. Their mismatched eyes met, and Cynthia hugged Iberia tightly. Her brown hair tickled Iberia’s face.  

Startled by the sudden contact, Iberia flinched and pulled her body back. Her hands awkwardly hovered away from Cynthia’s back.  

“You, really!”  

“…I’m fine.”  

Iberia awkwardly patted Cynthia’s trembling back. Her fingertips twitched slightly. Her entire body was tense, which she found somewhat amusing, but she mostly felt sorry for Cynthia.  

“I’m sorry. You must have been so worried.”  

“Take a break, will you? Potions aren’t a cure-all.”  

“Yes, yes. I’m sorry. Don’t worry.”  

Iberia had to endure Cynthia’s worried nagging for a while longer.  

After about ten minutes of lecturing, Cynthia finally said she would head home now that Iberia was awake. Before leaving the infirmary, she tucked Iberia into bed, wrapped her tightly in the blanket, and sternly told her not to even think about getting up today and to rest completely.  

Fortunately or unfortunately, it was a weekend without classes today. Yesterday’s afternoon class had already been replaced with an assignment. This meant there was no risk of losing points for attendance.  

Iberia rummaged through her belongings. The small notebook she was looking for wasn’t there.  

“Cynthia must have taken it…”  

The answer was obvious. Cynthia had earlier mentioned that she wouldn’t let Iberia study even if she wanted to, and this must have been what she meant.  

Resigned, Iberia adjusted the blanket wrapped around her and began recalling content from memory-based subjects. These were mostly related to history or obscure topics likely to appear on exams.  

If Cynthia had seen this, she would have sarcastically asked if Iberia would only stop studying if someone cracked open her brain.  

While concentrating with her eyes closed, she suddenly felt a gaze from somewhere. Iberia cautiously opened her eyes and flinched when she met sharp violet eyes. She straightened her upper body.  

There had been no sound of the curtain being drawn. Not even the slightest hint of presence.  

Pressing her lips together, Iberia nodded politely.  

“Hello, Young Master Nesferos.”  

There was no reply. Iberia glanced sideways at his face. His usual smirking eyes and lips were cold and expressionless. It was the most emotionless face she had ever seen on Young Master Nesferos.  

It was a face clearly displeased, undoubtedly angry.  

But why he was angry, she didn’t know.  

Iberia stared blankly at him, unable to think of looking away. Her large blue eyes blinked, filled with confusion.  

He scrutinized her complexion with his piercing gaze.  

Finally, a cold, sharp sentence reached Iberia’s ears.  

“You’re foolish and short-sighted.”  

“I’m sorr…”  

Iberia couldn’t finish her apology. The moment she began to speak, his aura grew even more menacing.  

Why was he acting like this? Was it because I hadn’t listened to his advice to take breaks? Did he think a mere commoner had overstepped one’s own bounds by daring to challenge him?  

“That’s not it. Stop overthinking.”  

Young Master Nesferos cut off Iberia’s thoughts with his sharp words.  

Her carefully thought-out reasons were dismissed outright. Iberia couldn’t keep her gaze steady.  

She wished he would just leave. Even as she revealed her discomfort, Young Master Nesferos showed no intention of moving away from her bedside.  

Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat beside her. Feeling a sense of foreboding, Iberia instinctively leaned away from him and swallowed dryly.  

“Why don’t you understand yourself better?”  

Iberia’s lips parted slightly. It was an unexpected criticism, an intrusive comment she hadn’t anticipated.  

“Do you not realize that living like this will ruin your body? If so, then you’re truly, absolutely…”  

It was entirely unwelcome interference.  

He worried on his own, judged her circumstances on his own, and made comments based on his own conclusions. There was no way his so-called concerns could be properly conveyed in a relationship devoid of any real bond.  

Iberia lowered her head, hiding her gaze.  

Why. Why was someone who had nothing to do with her life saying such things?  

“Especially since you’re already frail… I’m worried to death seeing you walk around looking so pale.”  

Was it mere capriciousness? Or just Young Master Nesferos’ trivial pity?  

He paused, seemingly waiting for a reaction from Iberia. She gave none. The emotions she felt were things he didn’t need to know.  

Young Master Nesferos crossed his legs arrogantly. His luxurious clothes shimmered softly under the light. His unsmiling eyes once again scanned Iberia’s condition.  

“You won’t beat me anyway.”  

His eyes, filled with cold intensity, met hers.  

Reading her gaze, he lifted one corner of his mouth into a faint smile. Without breaking eye contact. Without avoiding her gaze. As if he had already decided her future and was utterly confident about it.  

Her trembling eyes briefly looked at his face before dropping downward.  

Iberia clenched her hands. The loosely held blanket crumpled in her grip.  

She had to hold back.  

Once she graduated from the academy, she wouldn’t have to see him again.  

Acting impulsively now just to feel better would only lead to consequences she couldn’t handle. That was something only people with nothing to lose would do. Iberia, while far from timid, valued her life.  

She slowly closed her eyes and opened them again. Uncontrolled emotions spilled from her gaze.  

So what? Let this pass? And offer some ridiculous apology?

The thought made her grit her teeth. Some apologies required a certain level of sincerity. Iberia didn’t think she could genuinely apologize in this situation.  

Taking a deep breath, she looked him straight in the eye.  

“Because only the top two rank gets a full scholarship, Young Master.”  

It was a prideful response, as if to say, “Do you think I’m doing all this just to beat you?” It was also her utmost act of courage and a roundabout expression of her feelings.  

In truth, she did want to surpass him, but she didn’t want to admit it outright.  

Iberia stiffened her neck. Otherwise, her voice would surely tremble.  

“If I don’t give it my all, I’m not even guaranteed second place. You know that.”

There was much more she wanted to say, but this was the boundary she had set for herself. Having barely finished speaking, Iberia forced a smile.  

Unlike her, he wore a relaxed smile. He looked at her trembling hands. Her hands, clenched so tightly, had begun to shake.  

“Are you angry?”  

“…To be honest, I don’t understand your intentions, Young Master.”  

“I see.”  

Iberia lowered her gaze before looking back at him. Her eyes, now more composed, shone brightly as they met his.  

“Young Master, I’m not a genius.”  

“Yes, I know.”  

“So please don’t comment on my efforts.”  

“Just one question.”  

Young Master Nesferos returned to his usual expression. His face was as lively as ever. With a playful curve to his lips and slightly arched eyes, he raised one hand as if he were a student with a question during class.  

“Is there any guarantee that your efforts will yield results?”  

“It’s better than doing nothing. I have nothing to lose.”  

“And what if, in the end, you gain nothing?”  

Why am I having this conversation with Young Master Nesferos? 

Iberia felt a wave of doubt. Seeing the exhaustion in her eyes, he silently stood up.  

“Think it over. Get some rest.”  

“…”

Before fully drawing the curtain, Young Master Nesferos looked back at Iberia and smiled brightly. That smile annoyed her, and the meticulous way he closed the curtain annoyed her even more.  

A deep sigh filled the room. Iberia pulled the blanket up to her face.  

***

Conversations with Young Master Nesferos always had a strange quality.  

Whenever something happened to Iberia, he would say things that provoked her.  

But when she analyzed his words, most of them turned out to be advice that helped her. Sometimes, it even seemed like Young Master Nesferos knew her better than she knew herself.  

“Sigh…”  

Iberia leaned her head against the wall while sitting on the bed.  

Not long ago, she had been shaken by the frivolous remarks of the nobles, which didn’t suit her. At least, it wasn’t the version of herself she aspired to be.  

And her recent obsession with competition wasn’t the Iberia she knew either.  

All she had ever wanted was to always do her best and not be fixated on the results. That had been her goal and her present.  

But the person she saw in herself now felt so different. What had been her present had become her past. Iberia slowly rubbed her forehead. A headache began to form.  

Her head throbbed, and she began hearing strange sounds. The tone of the hallucination felt oddly familiar, causing her to furrow her brows. Her weakened body and mind seemed to be playing tricks on her.  

‘Change is proof that you’re alive.’  

‘Everything alive changes, whether positively or negatively. So don’t try to confine yourself too much.’ 

A faint violet light seemed to flicker before her eyes.