“That’s because the applicability of the formula I created has been recognized. The tiring work has disappeared.”

“No… it’s going to get more tiring, isn’t it? You’re not just a scholar now, but an honorary scholar. You’ve seen how tired my uncle lives.”

Aris burst into laughter at Belle’s playful words.

As elegant and graceful as Aris’s blue dress was, Belle was also dressed in a bright dress. Of course, Belle’s tomboy nature couldn’t be hidden even in that precious attire.

‘It really hits me that today is a special day.’

This morning, Aris had been reborn as an honorary scholar with a commendation at the annual Magic Department award ceremony.

She had been recognized for her magical talent over the long time, and had gradually built up achievements. Then this time, she was recognized by the academic society for successfully researching a way to repeatedly charge a certain amount of magical power using a small amount of magical power.

If a tool applying that formula were to be officially released, Aris would provide it cheaply to help the lives of poor people.

‘Since I didn’t achieve anything in my past life, I wanted to help people this time.’

Leaving Belle who had stepped away, Aris held a champagne glass alone at the reception. Meanwhile, several people approached her.

“Dr. Aristena. Congratulations on becoming an honorary scholar.”

“Thank you for your congratulations.”

Twenty-one years old. Aris, who had passed adulthood and now shed her girlish appearance, smiled brightly like a flower. Her gently waving blonde hair and blooming smile, with gentle light shining in her fresh green eyes, melted the hearts of those around her.

She had the power to make not only the men looking at her, but even the women blush.

Aris had grown as solid as her beauty, which had ripened like a well-matured fruit. Now she didn’t shrink from the attention of many people.

However, if there was a drawback, it might be that she had become too accustomed to it.

‘It’s a bit boring……’

Although Aris blended well with their conversations while surrounded by people, other thoughts kept coming to her mind. Aris raised her gaze and glanced around the corners of the banquet hall.

‘He said he would come, but……’

Aris recalled the letter she had received the day before the award ceremony.

[As it’s a meaningful day, I too should attend Miss Eldeiz’s award ceremony. I feel very proud that you have achieved such excellent results.

If I attend that day, I will watch you from afar.]

Aris fidgeted with the hand holding the champagne glass. He’s probably somewhere here.

‘Could he be among the people I’ve talked to? Maybe he’s even among the people right in front of me.’

Aris bit her trembling lips in anticipation. Just then, as Aris turned her head, her eyes met directly with someone’s.

A man with neatly combed-back silver hair and a sculptured, handsome face. From a spot far from where Aris was, he was looking at her with calm eyes.

“……Dr. Aristena? What’s wrong?”

When she unknowingly frowned and turned her head, the people around her were puzzled. Aris emptied the drink she was holding in one go and smiled freshly.

“It’s nothing. Something…… something unpleasant suddenly caught my eye.”

“Pardon?”

To the people’s perplexed responses, Aris opened her mouth glumly.

“I mean that rainbow-colored cake that Dr. Andre insisted on. It tastes good, but the cream is all melted and mushy, and my face that was drawn on it……”

“……It was a bit grotesque.”

Aris let out a laugh. Don’t you all think so too?

People nodded at her words. Aris put down the empty glass and picked up a new glass filled with alcohol. As she did so, she desperately tried to prevent her gaze from turning back to that direction.

‘……Why did that person come again? Did the Minister invite him this time too?’

A vague sigh was about to escape. I don’t really want to see him.

Aris sipped her champagne and joined in the conversation with people. They mainly brought up topics praising her, and occasionally there was talk of romance that didn’t quite fit the situation.

“Um, Dr. Aristena… do you perhaps… have someone you’re interested in?”

“No, I don’t.”

Aris answered with a firm smile. The man who had asked with expectation smiled embarrassedly at Aris’s immediate response.

“I see……”

“I’m busy enough with just my research.”

As she answered and turned her head, her gaze once again intertwined with those violet eyes. Her smile froze, and she lowered her gaze as naturally as possible while inwardly fretting.

It didn’t seem like he was constantly staring at her, but every time she raised her eyes, they kept meeting his.

‘I don’t like this……’

Wondering if it was the location that was the problem, Aris moved to a corner, making excuses to the people who kept trying to talk to her.

She had already lost interest in their conversations, which were subtly bringing up topics of romance and engagement. Aris swallowed the clear-colored alcohol.

‘Belle probably won’t come back……’

Belle, who had welcomed Aris earlier, had long since disappeared somewhere with her lover. Aris sighed and raised her head.

‘Where could he be……’

She slowly took in the faces of the people in the banquet hall, trying to identify potential candidates for her sponsor.

Doing so, she easily came up with a hundred candidates. Without any clues, she had no way to narrow down the list of candidates.

‘Who on earth are you?’

This wasn’t the first opportunity she had to find him.

A year ago, when Aris finally graduated from the Magic Department, he had sent a letter to Aris saying he would attend that graduation ceremony too.

Back then, filled with anticipation, she thought she might recognize her nameless friend at first sight. After all, they had built up quite a closeness through their exchange of letters.

She believed that if she saw him or heard him speak, she would realize, ‘This person is Mr. E!’

But the reality was not so. She couldn’t recognize him at all.

‘……He must be uncomfortable revealing his identity. I should stop trying to uncover it.’

Her curiosity was the problem. As Aris gloomily looked around at the candidates, her gaze stopped again.

Once more, their eyes met. With Kalaian. At this point, she couldn’t help but laugh wryly.

‘Come to think of it, he came to my graduation ceremony too.’

It didn’t seem like he had come with business for Aris. When they met, they just exchanged brief greetings before he went straight to meet the Minister of Magic.

‘Still, apart from seeing him that one time, I haven’t met him at all……’

Maybe it was the alcohol, but Aris felt a surge of irritation.

She didn’t avoid his gaze but rather started to glare at him. Surely he wouldn’t come over to ask why she was staring like that from this far away.

‘Why is that person here on every important day……’

Aris emptied her glass while inwardly fuming.

 He’s a person she really didn’t want to see at all.

The person who hurt me. The person who made me miserable.

Aris bit her lip hard. Feeling unsatisfied and thirsty, she looked for more to drink. At some point, Aris let out a quiet sigh.

‘My head is…… spinning……’

She put down the empty glass with a tipsy feeling. Lost in thought while drinking alone, there was a pile of empty glasses on the table next to her.

The servants collecting the empty glasses and the people glancing at her had shocked expressions. Some even approached to try and stop her, but she politely refused them with slurred pronunciation.

‘It’s sweet……’

It tasted especially good today. Was it because she had achieved results? Because she had finally reached the position she had dreamed of. Perhaps her body knew this was a celebratory drink.

Occasionally picking up and eating canapés from the side while emptying glasses, Aris finally left the spot she had been standing like a statue. Her vision was spinning, and she felt she shouldn’t drink anymore.

Since becoming an adult and drinking to her limit with Belle, she hadn’t been this drunk. She felt like she understood what it meant for the body to send warning signals. If she drank any more, she felt something really bad might happen.

‘If I go out and walk a bit in the cool air, I’ll probably feel better……’

Aris crossed the reception hall, trying to act normal despite her swaying vision. Then suddenly, she had a thought.

If that nameless person was really somewhere here. The person who had always willingly helped her when she was in danger, wouldn’t they reach out their hand this time too?

‘……Why have I become so mean?’

She sighed as she made this unkind imagination. She felt very sorry towards that person.

He had shown so much consideration for her, yet she wasn’t showing any consideration for him.

‘Don’t do anything to disappoint him, Aristena……’

Aris shook her head and opened her eyes resolutely. But perhaps due to the sudden shake, her vision spun round and round. Like a magic circle, round and complex….. At this rate, she was going to fall.

“Ah……”

“……Are you alright?”

Just as she thought she was about to plant her face on the floor, someone wrapped their arm around her shoulders. Thanks to this, Aris didn’t fall but staggered and leaned into the person’s embrace.

This familiar voice. The low tone as cold as a winter wind. Followed by the warm rush of feelings flooding her heart.