CICN 82

Chapter 82

If anyone else had been present, they would have widened their eyes in shock at what they just heard.

To call the Emperor by his name?

An emperor—once enthroned—loses even the right to hear their own name. Who would dare call the emperor of the empire by name?

Thus, calling the emperor by name was a privilege granted only to a very select few.

So far, Clois had granted that privilege only to his close friends, Duke Caelan and Marquis Ragselb.

But even they, though permitted, had never actually called him by name.

And now, Clois was giving that privilege to Ivi.

“Then… Clois-nim?”

Wondering if she had said it right, Ivi sneaked a glance at him.

Clois smiled and patted her head.

“Do it that way. At the very least, it sounds much better than ‘Your Majesty.’”

Ivi also preferred calling him that instead of ‘Your Majesty.’

Because whenever she used that title, it felt as though Professor Sian—the kind man she had known—completely vanished.

“Soon, the imperial physician will bring the medicine you need to take. Truthfully, I wish you could stay here and rest a while longer… but I suppose you wouldn’t feel comfortable here.”

At his words, Ivi carefully nodded.

From the outside, the palace was magnificent and overwhelming.

But once she had stepped inside and been led into such a splendid room deep within, her head had spun.

When she first arrived, she had hesitated to even approach the bed, thinking: “Can I really lie down here?”

In answer, the imperial physician and his assistants assured her that this was a place where anyone who was ill could rest, and told her not to worry and lie down.

But lying there and looking up at the ceiling only made her more tense.

Why would a place said to be available to any sick person have such intricate, beautiful paintings on its ceiling?

The bed was larger than the one at the Academy of Gifted Students, and the blankets were unbelievably soft.

It was the most luxurious place she had ever seen in her life, and she couldn’t calm down.

“The Academy has already contacted me. To begin with, Izriella and the five who attacked you have been relocated to another dormitory building.”

Seraphina reported what had been done so far.

Izriella and her friends had been sent to rooms in another dormitory scheduled to open next year.

“So you won’t be seeing them in your dormitory. And since they’ve been given probation there, you won’t be seeing them anywhere else either.”

Discipline followed procedure. They were still permitted to move for exams, but only under staff supervision, and afterward they had to return directly to their rooms and remain there.

It was a kind of confinement.

But since they knew full well in front of whom they had committed their crimes, they had all been terrified and quietly accepted their punishment.

Clois didn’t care what became of them.

He only worried that Ivi might somehow cross paths with them again.

She was the victim—how could she possibly feel at ease if forced to face her attackers?

Just then, a knock came, and the imperial physician entered.

On the tray he carried was a cup filled with a dark, foul-smelling liquid.

“You must drink it all at once. That way the swelling will go down quickly.”

The medicine looked disgusting to anyone’s eyes, and Ivi made a face.

But then, as if steeling herself, she grabbed the cup with both hands and downed it in one go.

Gulp, gulp.

The liquid quickly disappeared, and soon after, Ivi set the cup back on the tray with a miserable look.

“Pretty bitter, isn’t it? Would you like this?”

The physician handed her a candy, clearly expecting this reaction.

But the problem was that it was wrapped in a very stubborn layer of packaging.

With gauze on her face and her head still spinning from the bitter medicine, Ivi couldn’t manage to unwrap it.

So Clois took it from her, peeled it quickly, and placed it in her mouth.

“Here.”

Ivi accepted it without hesitation.

Watching this, the imperial physician unconsciously smiled.

For the scene before him was like that of a warm, affectionate father and daughter.

Of course, he was not foolish enough to voice such a thought.

He knew better than anyone just how sensitive the topic of a daughter was for the Emperor.

Clois, as if satisfied with himself, patted Ivi’s head again and rose from his seat.

Ivi stood up as well.

I should go back.

The main palace was overwhelming, and besides, she needed to meet Irene.

If Irene hadn’t rushed in when Izriella was beating her, she would’ve been hurt much worse.

And I need to study, too.

Her exams were all scheduled for next week.

So she needed to return and resume her studies.

“Ah.”

Then she remembered her first exam was in a foreign language.

“What’s wrong?”

Hearing her sigh, Clois—who was walking ahead—turned back in alarm.

“Are you hurting somewhere else?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Ivi drooped her shoulders and replied weakly.

“I need to study for exams. The first one’s foreign language…”

“Ah.”

Clois let out the same sound as she had.

He had been about to take her outside but hesitated, then said:

“The, um… I have the same books here as the ones I’ve been teaching you with… If you’d like, would you like to study a little before you go? I could explain what I didn’t get to cover last time.”

Midway through speaking, Clois realized how absurd he sounded and rubbed his face with his hand.

What was he thinking, asking an injured child if she wanted to study? He must have gone mad.

He was about to apologize for such nonsense when Ivi answered immediately:

“I want to! I’ll study here before I go!”

Instead of hesitating as he expected, Ivi rushed over and grabbed him.

Clois looked at her, then turned to the physician.

“Is Ivi’s condition fit for studying?”

“Sitting and studying should be fine… though…”

His eyes clearly asked: In this state, she still wants to study?

Both Clois and Ivi knew it was pushing herself.

But it was necessary. Ivi wanted to learn from Clois as much as possible, and Clois wanted to teach her even a little more.

“Can you really do it?”

“Yes!”

Ivi answered without hesitation.

The main palace wasn’t comfortable, but being with Clois made it feel okay.

And hadn’t he said he would only help her with foreign languages until this semester?

That meant there weren’t many opportunities left. This might even be the last.

So she didn’t want to miss it.

Until today, he’s still Professor Sian.

At Ivi’s eager response, Clois smiled warmly and held out his hand to her—just as he had during the festival.

Naturally, Ivi took it, and together they left the room.

Watching them, the imperial physician blinked, then belatedly came to his senses.

“His Majesty… smiled?”

Only a few months ago, he had quietly reported to the prime minister that the Emperor’s depression seemed to be worsening.

But now, anyone could see how much brighter the Emperor had become.

And the reason…

It’s that child.

The physician looked at the door through which they had left.

For now, it was a joyful thing. But…

From here on, it will be difficult.

From what he’d heard, the Emperor had even revealed his identity for that child’s sake.

Which meant everyone now knew the Emperor held a particular affection for a child at the Academy.

That child’s life will change drastically.

From her perspective, it was a good thing.

Only hours ago, she had been nothing more than a studious commoner girl. Now, she was someone the Emperor cherished dearly.

She had risen to a position almost on par with Arcel or Lusca.

But she had no family.

That void would surely draw countless opportunists hoping to benefit by clinging to the Emperor’s beloved child.

Still…

The physician recalled how the Emperor had left, hand in hand with her, unable to hide his joy, wearing a smile so unguarded he had not shown one like it in years.

And the child—though she must have been tired and shaken by what had just happened—had followed him with light, eager steps.

At that moment, the Emperor and Ivi seemed genuinely, unshakably happy.