Chapter 8

Iberia visited the library for the first time in a while. She was looking for books necessary for her assignments.  

In the past, she practically lived in the library, but lately, she hadn’t had the time to come often.  

As soon as she opened the door and stepped inside, the familiar smell of books greeted her.  

The damp yet dry scent of old paper mixed with the smell of ink. Iberia loved these familiar things the most.  

“History of Mathematics…”  

Iberia crouched down by the bottom of the bookshelf. Finding the book she was looking for, she picked it up and straightened her knees to stand.  

It felt unsatisfying to borrow just one book, so she wandered between the shelves and picked up a few more books related to human relationships.  

She could only hope that these books would help her with her concerns.  

She was sure she had been discourteous to the Young Master Nesferos, but she didn’t know what feelings he harbored toward her. Hatred, annoyance, or something else entirely.  

Emotions that were brought to the surface weren’t dangerous, as they could be addressed. However, the emotions that remained hidden could manifest in unpredictable ways later. That uncertainty made Iberia uneasy. It wasn’t about personal preferences or dislikes.  

After borrowing the books, Iberia grabbed a newspaper in front of the library. The front page still featured an article about the engagement between the Young Master Nesferos and the Imperial Princess.  

“Are they really going to get engaged?”  

Would they get engaged as a joke, then?  

Iberia let out a hollow laugh. Even she found her own words absurd.  

When she flipped to the back of the newspaper, there was a story about the Young Master Nesferos in one corner.  

Iberia’s eyes quickly scanned that part.  

It was an article questioning whether he was qualified to become a member of the Imperial Family. The sentences were sharp and aggressive, making Iberia frown without realizing it.  

“He doesn’t seem like such a scoundrel…”  

In the article, the Young Master Nesferos was portrayed as a rogue who had committed countless violations and hadn’t even mastered basic etiquette.  

A faint sense of guilt crept in.  

If it weren’t for her, such an article wouldn’t have been written.  

Iberia crumpled the newspaper and buried her face in one hand.  

***

Except for having dinner together, things between Iberia and the Young Master Nesferos were the same as before. He turned out to be a more sensible person than she had expected—at least from what she had observed. Perhaps her expectations were too low to begin with, but Iberia couldn’t help but relax her tension and vigilance.  

Iberia made an expression of newfound realization. To think there was any connection between her and the Young Master Nesferos. If she told her past self about the current situation, she might have been treated as insane and chased away.  

The Young Master Nesferos always appeared composed. It seemed as though the academy’s assignments or the fact that exams were approaching had no effect on him.  

It was the opposite of Iberia, whose complexion was growing paler. She had just submitted her last assignment before the exams.  

There was still some time left before the submission deadline, but she thought it would be better to submit early and start studying for the exams.  

“Time to really start studying now.”  

There was a little over a month left until the exams.  

Iberia stretched her body in various directions. When she extended her arms and stretched, her joints cracked audibly.  

Grabbing her books and a potion for recovering from fatigue, Iberia headed to a small study room attached to the lecture hall. She planned to study for a bit before the class started.  

A familiar figure was standing in front of the study room.  

She wanted to ignore him and walk past, but at that moment, their eyes met, forcing her to stop awkwardly. The Young Master Nesferos, who had been standing stiffly, smiled when he saw Iberia.  

Iberia felt an inexplicable sense of relief and furrowed her brow slightly.  

Unbothered, the Young Master Nesferos ran a hand through his hair and asked Iberia,  

“Iberia, are you here to study?”  

“Yes.”  

“Exam preparation?”  

“Yes.”  

“Any chance you’d like to hang out with me?”  

Iberia almost replied positively but caught herself and looked up at him. Her gaze was sharp.  

He truly was someone who lacked context.  

The Young Master Nesferos tilted his head as if urging her to answer. His silver hair swayed slightly. Iberia responded naturally,  

“Sorry.”  

“You didn’t do anything wrong, so don’t apologize. That’s not how it works. Study hard.”

He waved at her and turned to walk away.  

Iberia entered the study room, holding her throbbing head. The fact that she couldn’t figure out the Young Master Nesferos’s intentions made her feelings complicated.  

Settling into a suitable corner, she opened an ancient language book, but the content didn’t register. Iberia closed the book and opened her math textbook and notebook.  

Math was one of her stronger subjects, so she thought she wouldn’t have much trouble solving problems no matter what. She was completely mistaken.  

“This is insane.”  

About an hour later, Iberia mouthed the words as she stared at her notebook, nearly half of it filled with wrong answers.  

If this were her dormitory instead of the study room, she would have grabbed her pillow and shaken it violently. Not that pillows had collars to grab, but still.  

Iberia checked her notebook again. She had added when she should have multiplied and divided when she should have subtracted. Was her subconscious really this foolish? She couldn’t even read symbols properly or perform basic arithmetic. That couldn’t be her.  

Next to her messy calculations, the name “Young Master Nesferos” was written, surrounded by doodled circles. If Cynthia had seen it, she would have laughed, asking why she was drawing a mind map there.  

This wasn’t her ability. It was all because the Young Master Nesferos had been so intense in front of the study room.  

Iberia rationalized her actions and carefully tore out that part of the notebook, folding it in half.  

It was almost time for class to start. After tidying up, Iberia cautiously made her way to the lecture hall. She sensed a familiar presence beside her.  

The Young Master Nesferos naturally walked next to Iberia. In his characteristic light tone, he spoke to her without hesitation.  

“Did your studying go well?”  

“No…”  

“See, I told you to hang out with me.”  

Iberia barely managed to conceal her expression.  

And just whose fault was it that she couldn’t study?

Suppressing her frustration, Iberia turned her head straight ahead without responding. The Young Master Nesferos adjusted his hair and said,  

“There are a lot of rumors about me at the academy.”  

“…Yes.”  

“There always are, so don’t pay attention to them.”  

His tone was almost indifferent. Iberia turned her head sharply toward him.  

If her understanding was correct, this was clearly a sentence offering comfort and a solution. An indirect reassurance that the rumors caused by her were just a small part of the usual chatter.  

Iberia’s eyes widened and wavered. Observing her reaction, he smiled faintly.  

“Study hard.”  

“Yes.”  

“You’ll have to work hard if you want to beat me, right?”  

Sometimes he was as light as a feather, and other times he was unbearably heavy. Despite the disparity, his tone always remained the same. Iberia’s expression grew complicated.  

Watching her changing expression, he pressed her for an answer.  

“Hm? Iberia.”  

“…Yes, of course.”  

Iberia bit her lip.  

She found herself pathetic for falling for such an obvious provocation.  

A bundle of inferiority. Someone without a single redeeming quality, blinded by competitiveness. Iberia harshly criticized herself.  

Regardless of her feelings, after hearing her response, the Young Master Nesferos casually tossed a book beside her and left the lecture hall.  

Meanwhile, Iberia quietly opened her book. This was the first exam since the Young Master Nesferos had come to Lacanel. For Iberia, this exam was a significant hurdle and challenge in many ways.  

That’s why Iberia couldn’t help but react predictably to such a mundane story.  

***

Iberia drank another fatigue recovery potion today. Watching her, Cynthia snatched the empty bottle and said,  

“You’re going to ruin yourself if you keep drinking like that.”  

“Better to live short and intense, don’t you think?”  

“Is that something you should say to someone who’s worried about you?” 

Cynthia smacked Iberia’s shoulder.  

Saying it hurt, Iberia leaned her upper body against the back of the bench and looked up at the sky. A single cloud drifted lazily with the wind.  

The sky was so beautiful. The sunlight was bright.  

Truly, the temperature and humidity—everything reminded her that it was exam season.  

Turning the beautiful nature into a symbol of exams in an instant, Iberia let out a small sigh.  

“Can I really do this…”  

Not long ago, the entrance exam questions taken by the Young Master Nesferos had been released. Naturally, Iberia had checked them. The questions were supposedly based on the content taught at Lacanel.  

“I didn’t even know I had learned such things.”  

The questions were notoriously difficult. They were unfairly challenging. Iberia had never slacked off since entering the academy. Even so, there were topics she had never encountered before.  

Could she really defeat the person who had scored the highest on that exam? Would her current efforts prove meaningless? Iberia felt fear.  

Right now, the only thing she could boast about was being the top student at the academy. The title of “Lacanel’s Miracle.” 

But if I lost that title…  

Not wanting to imagine further, Iberia tightly shut her eyes.  

If she worked harder, she could make it. Iberia still believed in herself.  

As always, she would find the right answer.