If Serena was right, Aris would have to overturn her meticulously planned study schedule. She would have to stay up all night studying from today, and still not have time for review on the eve of the exam.

“Do you think I would lie about something like this? This professor tends to set more questions from the latter part, so it’s better to focus on studying that part again.”

“…Is that really true?”

“Of course. It’s up to you whether to believe it or not, but I just felt so sorry thinking about you failing the exam without even knowing the correct coverage.”

Aris was confused. Serena shrugged and soon left with her friend who had come to the room.

After hesitating, Aris ended up staying up all night to study more. It was too late to verify if Serena’s words were correct.

She had been saving her energy for an all-nighter before the exam, but it all became useless in a single moment.

But something felt off no matter how she thought about it. Feeling very uneasy, Aris went to ask the professor as soon as the next class started. The professor scolded her.

“What were you listening to in class? Studying the next exam range on your own? You should have taken notes on such important matters. This exam’s range is up to here.”

The professor pointed to exactly the range Aris had originally known. She was dumbfounded, having stayed up all night with doubts due to Serena’s words.

So Serena Frencia had lied. There was barely enough time to study other things and manage her condition!

As soon as she finished all her classes and returned, Aris confronted Serena. This time, she couldn’t let it slide.

“Ah… Was that so? I’m sorry.”

Serena apologized half-heartedly. Aris frowned, feeling anger rising. Serena smiled even more brightly and spoke in a sweet voice.

“Surely, you’re not going to get angry over something like this? I must have been confused since it’s been a while since I took that class. It’s fine now that you know, right?”

“Look here, Miss Frencia. Even so…!”

Just as Aris was about to lose her temper, someone knocked and called for Serena. It was her friend again. Aris reluctantly stopped speaking.

Serena smirked at Aris and said quietly.

“I already apologized, didn’t I? That should be enough. Don’t show that you’re a narrow-minded easterner, Miss Eldeiz.”

Serena called out to her friend outside, “I’m coming now!” Then she quickly fixed her hair and left the room.

Left alone in the room, Aris let out a hollow laugh. Marquis Eldeiz often used vulgar curses when he was in a bad mood, and now, for the first time, Aris felt she could understand her father’s behavior.

With nowhere to vent her feelings, she eventually took out her stationery.

She did have a few friends who attended classes with her, but she couldn’t tell them about these private matters.

It was better to write to that nameless and faceless person she occasionally exchanged letters with. After all, in his last letter, he had asked her to send her regards from time to time.

‘Just lightly mentioning that such a thing happened…’

Of course, she had no intention of whining about every detail. Nor did she expect him to get angry on her behalf. She just wanted someone to know about this absurd experience. Because it was frustrating.

Aris briefly wrote about what happened today in the letter, and added a bit of her usual daily life stories to avoid making it sound too much like a complaint.

And as always, ending with words of gratitude, she looked over the completed letter.

‘I never thought I could do this with someone I don’t even know.’

He was one of the few people Aris could feel comfortable with. Just a few words in his letter had completely melted her heart.

Even these days, Aris often unfolded and read the letter he had sent. Especially when studying was hard or when she felt inexplicably gloomy. Strangely, reading that letter gave her strength.

‘When I read this person’s letter, I feel joy as I sense with my whole body that I’m living a new life.’

Aris attached a stamp to the letter she wrote and went outside with it. There was a red mailbox near the central plaza of the Magic Department. Aris carefully inserted the letter she had written with care.

How long would it take for a reply to come this time?

‘I hope it comes quickly.’

Just thinking about the letter to come made her forget the unpleasantness from earlier.

‘Since I’m out, I should go to the library to study.’

She headed towards the Magic Department library, enjoying the cool evening breeze.

The reply came just five days later. Last time it took a week for the reply to arrive, so it seemed he had been busy then.

‘Well, considering he readily gave me such a large sum of money and offered to sponsor me, he must be a very busy person.’

He must be incredibly wealthy. Otherwise, there’s no way he could help her to this extent.

Is he an elderly gentleman, or perhaps a middle-aged gentleman?

Aris picked up the purple letter, pondering these questions about him. Once again, only Aris’s name as the recipient was written on the envelope.

‘I guess the post office accepts it even without a sender’s name…’

Or perhaps he uses some other method to send it. When she was about to open the stiff, high-quality envelope, she suddenly felt uneasy and quickly looked around.

‘…Is she not here?’

Aris carefully confirmed that Serena was not present. Just in case, she even peeked around her wardrobe.

In fact, Serena had not been coming to the dormitory for a while now. While Aris couldn’t be happier about it, she was also a little worried as it had been three days since Serena had been in the room.

Serena was only in her teens, so it was unavoidable to have negative thoughts in this situation.

‘There’s no change in her belongings or bedding, so she couldn’t have come and gone in the early morning…’

Aris, holding the letter, was examining Serena’s bed and desk when she finally came to her senses and shook her head.

‘…I shouldn’t worry. It’s not like she’s powerless like me. She’s a great mage after all.’

Aris recalled how Serena left after giving an insincere apology last time. She snorted. Her worried feelings disappeared in an instant.

‘Now, let’s see…’

Straightening her posture again, she took out a paper knife and carefully opened the letter from her sponsor.

As she opened the letter, a cool fragrance wafted out. An irrepressible smile of joy spread across her face. Aris unfolded the letter that had been folded in half.

[Greetings, Miss Eldeiz.

Thank you for writing to me when you must be busy with exam preparations. I hope your studies are going well.

I had no idea such a thing would happen with your roommate. After receiving your letter, I tried to help within my capacity… How is it now? Has it been resolved to some extent?

If you encounter any difficulties or need me for anything, please write to me again anytime. I will gladly help you as I did this time. You are someone who can receive such help without burden.

Then, I hope today is filled with only good things for you.

—From your friend, E—]

Aris tilted her head after reading his letter.

‘He says he helped?’

She couldn’t understand what he meant at all. Aris carefully stored the letter away with a puzzled heart.

It was already late today, so she thought she should write and send a letter tomorrow morning. She would also think about what to write in the meantime.

The next day, from early morning, some people barged in. They started taking away Serena’s belongings. Surprised, Aris stopped them and asked,

“Why are you taking Miss Frencia’s things?”

“The young lady is leaving the school, so she’s vacating the room.”

“Vacating the room?”

“Yes, we can’t be specific, but she’s been assigned to the Imperial Palace on the recommendation of some high-ranking person.”

“I see…”

“Thank you for sharing the room with the young lady, even if it was for a short time.”

“Ah, no. There’s no need to thank me…”

They weren’t particularly close, and she only remembered being prickly towards Serena. Perhaps that’s why she felt a bit sorry when they thanked her.

‘But as far as I know, Miss Frencia should have left the Magic Department after graduating.’

Of course, unlike Aris, Serena was already in her final year, so it wasn’t too strange for her to be scouted somewhere.

But it was different from her past life…

As Aris pondered deeply, she recalled yesterday’s letter.

‘Could it be that person…?’

Was this what he meant by ‘help’? Given the circumstances, it could only be his help.

Aris was speechless with surprise. She never imagined Serena would vanish from the same room so suddenly.

‘To be able to exert such influence in such a short time…’

If he was such a high-ranking official, surely she must have encountered him in her past life as well. Could it be someone I know?

As soon as the people who came to pack Serena’s belongings left, Aris took out her stationery. She explained what had happened in the letter and wrote a few words with sincere feeling.

[Are you perhaps a mage?

Were you able to help me so quickly by using magic?]