5.3

The Acremen family estate was quiet and peaceful, as always. Rexukan Acremen had ensured it was so, as he desired.  

The Countess of Acremen, taking in the sight of the estate’s magnificent garden—a symbol of the Acremen household—walked slowly.  

She was heading toward her husband Rexukan’s study.  

The decorations and ornaments lining the hallway were all entirely to her husband’s taste.  

Even the sound of birds chirping in the garden and the movements of the servants who greeted her and passed by—all of it.  

Every detail within the estate was exactly as Rexukan Acremen intended.  

Knock, knock.  

The Countess knocked on the door to the study.  

“Husband, it’s me.”  

A brief voice of permission came from beyond the door.  

Pushing open the large door, she stepped into the study, a space even more reflective of Rexukan Acremen’s preferences than the rest of the estate.  

Every item was meticulously placed, perfectly symmetrical in all directions—north, south, east, and west.  

At the center of it all was Rexukan’s desk.  

He was reviewing documents while sipping coffee. Placing the cup down on the table, Rexukan spoke to his wife.  

“Delia came in first again this time.”  

“Oh, really? That’s wonderful, dear.”  

Smiling, the Countess of Acremen congratulated him.  

“It’s only natural. She carries my bloodline.”  

“…Yes, of course.”  

“Finally, everything feels like it’s in its rightful place.”  

Rexukan’s gaze shifted to an ornament on the western side—a vase holding flowers the color of Delia’s golden hair.  

The Countess knew her husband’s nature better than anyone.  

He was a man who cared for nothing but his ambition to extend his influence across the Lapolis Empire.  

A man who couldn’t rest unless everything moved according to his will, his plans.  

He was even the type to go so far as to adopt an illegitimate child to fulfill his obsession.  

Roughly ten years ago, when Delia was adopted, the Countess’s opinion had not been considered at all.  

A stranger’s child had suddenly been brought into their home.  

What kind of Countess would welcome the illegitimate child of her husband, whose existence she hadn’t even known about?  

Nevertheless, she decided to show great tolerance. As long as Delia didn’t tarnish the family’s honor, she was willing to acknowledge her to some extent.  

After all, as the lady of the most prestigious family in the Lapolis Empire, this level of magnanimity was expected of her.  

If Delia failed to achieve first place like her children, it would be entirely Delia’s fault. Everything that made her less merciful stemmed from that.  

While the Countess was managing her thoughts with considerable generosity, Rexukan broke the silence in the room.  

“It seems it was a pointless concern after all.”  

“What concern, dear?”  

His voice was brimming with satisfaction, yet the Countess couldn’t understand what he meant and asked in confusion.  

The only topic they had just discussed was “Delia’s first place.”  

She couldn’t find any connection between that and the word “concern” that had now come out of her husband’s mouth.  

“If she keeps coming in second and tarnishing the Acremen name, it would be better to send her away again.”  

“Oh.”  

A short exclamation escaped the Countess’s lips as if she understood. At the same time, goosebumps rose faintly on her skin.  

Unaware of his wife’s subtle reaction, Rexukan continued speaking.  

“But now that she’s achieved first place so splendidly, she might even graduate at the top if she keeps this up.”  

It was clear that now that Delia had become a useful card, he intended to keep her firmly in his grasp.  

A fleeting thought crossed the Countess’s mind—perhaps her husband viewed even their biological children as mere cards in his hand.  

No, not just the children. Even she seemed like nothing more than a chess piece belonging to her husband.  

The brief process that had led to her marrying him flashed through her mind.  

Thinking back, the bride candidates her husband had sought were all chosen based on their potential to produce exceptionally intelligent offspring.  

Though she had always felt bitter about not being able to bear a fourth child, leading to Delia’s adoption, today she felt differently.  

The emotion that filled her now was “relief.”  

Relief that there wasn’t yet another biological child to suffer under her husband’s control.  

***

‘Why would Professor Idern call for me at this time?’  

Delia was on her way to the professor’s office after receiving his summons.  

It was right after the comprehensive evaluation for the first half of her second year had ended, just before the start of the summer break.  

Though the break was short, it wasn’t a time when anything significant usually happened.  

With a sense of curiosity, Delia knocked on the door to Professor Idern’s office.  

Knock, knock.  

“Professor, it’s me. Delia.”  

The professor’s voice invited her to enter. Delia opened the door and greeted him.  

“Hello.”  

“Ah, Delia. Please, have a seat.”  

Professor Idern welcomed her with a kind smile. However, Delia couldn’t immediately take the offered seat.  

She hadn’t expected there to be another visitor in the office.  

“Huh?”  

A short sound of confusion escaped Delia’s lips.  

Noticing her reaction, Professor Idern introduced the other person.  

“You two must not know each other since you’re in different years.”  

“Oh, I see…”  

But contrary to the professor’s assumption, Delia did know the man standing before her.  

“Repel, introduce yourself to Delia.”  

It was the man she had bumped into in front of the library not long ago.  

The man who had suddenly asked her if she had a lover—why was he here? Delia couldn’t make sense of the situation.  

“Hello. We meet again.” 

Repel greeted her with a friendly tone.  

“Oh, do you two know each other?”  

“Haha, not exactly. We bumped into each other once, but we didn’t even exchange names.”  

“Well, it’s good that you’ve at least seen each other before.”  

The professor’s smile grew even warmer as he gestured for both of them to take a seat.  

Delia was still bewildered. She had no idea why she was sitting here with this man.  

At that moment, the man introduced himself.  

“I’m Repel Roxen.”  

“Delia Acremen… Wait, Roxen?”  

Out of habit, Delia introduced herself but then stopped abruptly.  

It was because of his surname.  

Roxen.  

Wasn’t that Kartan’s last name?  

“Yes, I’m the heir to the Roxen family. I’ll be taking over as the head of the Merchant Guild in the future.”  

He continued explaining things she hadn’t asked about.  

Delia didn’t care whether he was the head of the guild or the heir.  

What shocked her was the fact that he was Kartan’s brother.  

Or rather…  

‘Kartan has a brother?’  

It was only then that Delia realized how little she knew about Kartan.  

What did I even know about him?  

As she tried to think, only strange things came to mind.  

That he seemed perverted, that he wouldn’t let me go for long…  

‘Ugh, what am I even thinking?’  

Delia quickly shook off her thoughts.  

This wasn’t the time to be thinking about such things.  

“You must be curious why I called you here, Delia.”  

Thankfully, Professor Idern spoke up, cutting off Delia’s train of thought.  

She had indeed been wondering.  

“Yes, I was curious.”  

Why had he called me here, and why was Kartan’s brother involved?  

“I have a favor to ask.”  

A favor? 

Curiosity filled Delia’s eyes.  

“I need an assistant for my research.”  

“An assistant?”  

It was completely unexpected. Now that she thought about it, she had heard that some of her peers had become research assistants for professors.  

“I’m preparing a new study, and I think you’d be a great help.”  

But being an assistant…  

Wouldn’t it take up a lot of my time for studying?  

As someone who had always prioritized her grades, Delia couldn’t help but feel concerned.  

“Don’t worry. It’ll be finished before the midterm exams. The duration is about a month.”  

It was as if the professor had read her mind, as he provided an estimated timeline.  

A month. That wasn’t too burdensome. If it ended before the exams, it wouldn’t affect her studies.  

Professor Idern continued explaining.  

The research was already nearing completion.  

He just needed someone to help with the final touches and provide a fresh perspective.  

“If you need time to think about it, you can come back tomorrow. But I’d really like you to do it.”  

The professor’s earnest request left Delia in brief contemplation.  

“Repel has already agreed to help, but one person isn’t enough.”  

‘Should I try it?’  

Having spent her life solely focused on studying for grades, Delia felt a slight dissatisfaction with that monotony.  

This might be an opportunity for something different.  

Her deliberation didn’t last long.  

“I’ll do it.”  

“Oh, thank you, Delia.”  

Professor Idern’s face lit up with a broad smile as he welcomed her decision.  

“This is great. Both of you, please come back here when the second half of the term begins.”  

“Yes, I will.”  

After saying their goodbyes to the professor, Delia and Repel Roxen left the office together.  

“I’m glad we’ll be working together, Delia.”  

Repel extended his hand for a handshake.  

“Since we’ll be seeing each other for a month, can I just call you Delia?”

It seemed absurd for him to ask for permission now, especially since he had already addressed her by name and spoken informally.  

Nevertheless, Delia hid her discomfort and shook his hand.  

After all, he was Kartan’s older brother.  

Kartan had a mischievous side, so perhaps this older brother of his was similar in nature.  

Even though something felt off when their hands met, Delia resolved to make an effort to get along.