CICN 43

Chapter 43

The once-quiet dormitory suddenly erupted in noise.

Even students who were still asleep rubbed their eyes and hurriedly dressed to rush outside when they heard that gifts had arrived.

As the children poured out, Ibi quickly distanced herself from Irene.

If the others saw her with Irene, they would definitely say something to Irene again.

Ibi looked at the retreating Irene with a face full of regret.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Being with her would only hurt Irene’s reputation.

‘But she said it’s okay to talk inside the room.’

For now, that was enough.

Ibi avoided the crowd coming down and used the side stairs to return to her room, put down the flower, and stepped outside again.

She held onto the railing and rose onto her toes to look down.

The lobby was packed with girls from the dormitory, not even a toe’s space left.

It seemed every student in the dorm had come out.

They were laughing and excited as they watched the pile of gift boxes grow.

“They’re finally here. I’ve been waiting since we enrolled.”

“Me too! I thought my neck would stretch from all the waiting.”

“My parents said the sponsor’s gift is really important.”

Ibi perked up her ears at the voices below.

Thanks to that, she was able to gather a few facts.

Once you entered the academy, and things settled a bit, sponsors would send gifts.

And since these gifts were seen as a symbol of how prestigious one’s sponsor was, people went out of their way to send rare and expensive items.

‘I probably won’t have a gift.’

It’s not like Ibi had never received a gift in her life.

Once a year, on the last day of the year, the head of the orphanage would give each child a gift.

They couldn’t afford to get what they really wanted like normal children, so all the kids received the same thing.

And it wasn’t anything grand.

Just three candies per person from the candy shop where kids always lined up.

Still, the children accepted the candy from the director with joyful faces.

It wasn’t just the sweetness—it was the happiness of someone giving them a gift.

Ibi was no exception.

Her heart would always race when she stood in line and it was finally her turn to receive the candy.

Aside from that, she had received gifts before.

Some teachers at higher-level schools had given her notebooks or pens out of pity.

When she helped out in the kitchen, the owner of the cafeteria once packed several large loaves of bread and told her to share them with the other kids.

But all of those gifts had come from people who knew her circumstances.

‘That person has no reason to send me a gift.’

Ibi thought of Professor Sian, whom she had met in the forest.

The man she met on her first day here. He was a tall adult, but not scary at all, which she had found fascinating.

She’d felt strange when she learned he was her sponsor.

It made her happy but also brought an overwhelming emotion she couldn’t quite name.

Like meeting someone she had been waiting for a very long time.

‘Though I’m sure I’m the only one who feels that way.’

Ibi had read about sponsors in the academy handbook.

It said that sponsors were assigned to help ease the anxiety of children suddenly living apart from their families. They were usually people who frequently traveled between the Imperial Palace, the Academy, or the Gifted Institute.

If there was no one to take the role voluntarily, a professor from the academy would be assigned by default.

‘Since no one volunteered for me, he must’ve been forced to take me.’

So there would be no reason for him to send a gift.

Especially since sponsor gifts were said to be expensive and rare.

Even though she was sure she wouldn’t get one, Ibi couldn’t bring herself to go back to her room.

Seeing the joyful expressions of the others made her curious about what kind of gifts they were receiving.

Even if she didn’t get anything, she could still be happy watching others receive their gifts.

Eventually, all the gifts that had been in the wagons were brought into the lobby.

“If your name is called, please come forward to verify and collect your gift!”

The staff calmed the excited students and began calling names from the list.

“Elisha Ridier!”

“That’s me!”

The first student called stepped forward, flustered and excited.

The staff confirmed her name and her sponsor’s before handing her the gift box.

Already knowing what it would be and full of confidence, the student returned to her friends and opened the box proudly.

She tore the ribbon and wrapping paper in a rush.

Inside was a delicately crafted jewelry case.

Grinning smugly, she lifted the box so everyone could see and slowly opened it.

Inside was a sparkling brooch embedded with gemstones.

The other students’ eyes gleamed with envy.

The girl pinned it to her uniform with pride.

Her friends crowded around, admiring the gift and saying how beautiful it was, how lucky she was.

Soon, another student’s name was called.

As each student collected their gift, they showed them off to each other, watching one another’s reactions.

The lobby grew more chaotic as the crowd increased.

Some students, believing their gifts paled in comparison to their friends’, quietly slipped away to their rooms to open them in private.

‘I should go in too.’

Truthfully, Ibi wanted to stay longer.

Watching others receive gifts was entertaining in its own way.

She turned to leave, hiding her envy.

Then—

“Ibi Elden! Is Ibi Elden here?”

A staff member’s voice echoed through the lobby, calling for Ibi.

At first, she thought she’d misheard. But the staff member definitely said her name.

Shocked, Ibi quickly turned around.

“I’m here!”

Why were they calling her?

She stood on her toes and looked down. The staff was waving and holding up a large box.

“Hurry and come get it!”

Ibi couldn’t believe it. But still, she ran down the stairs.

Her little feet tapped against the stone steps as she rushed down.

Breathless, she reached the staff member.

“Here, take it.”

“Um… Are you sure this is really for me?”

Normally, no one would go through the trouble of preparing a gift for a child they were assigned against their will. So what was this?

Seeing Ibi’s hesitation, the staff asked to confirm.

“Your sponsor is Sian Rochen, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then it’s definitely yours. Be careful, it’s heavy.”

The staff handed her the box.

She wondered what could be inside.

Though not huge, the box was heavy enough to make her small body stagger.

Other students began whispering.

“What? She has a sponsor too?”

“I heard some commoners try to get a sponsor after entering. Apparently, people used to pay money for it. Maybe that’s what happened with her.”

Ibi ignored the murmurs and slipped through the crowd.

She looked at the gift in her hands.

It was unmistakably a ‘gift.’ Just from its appearance, anyone could tell.

Her heart pounded.

‘Did he really send this to me?’

Ibi thought once again of Professor Sian in the forest.

Even though it was their first meeting, he had felt somehow familiar.

If it hadn’t been dusk—if they’d had more time—she would’ve wanted to talk to him for hours.

Holding the box with one arm, she gently touched the ribbon.

She had never received a gift wrapped like this before.

A gift that made her heart race just from not knowing what was inside.

‘It really is for me, right?’

She had double-checked with the staff that it had come from him and was meant for her.

Still, because it was her first time receiving a gift like this, she couldn’t shake the unease.

‘What if it’s someone else’s?’

What if she opened it, only to find it had been meant for someone else?

Nervous, Ibi just kept fiddling with the ribbon, unable to open it.

That’s when she noticed a small envelope attached to the box.

“What’s this?”

She gently peeled off the envelope that had been lightly glued to the side, and when she peeked inside—

Her face lit up.