CICN 46

Chapter 46

A tense atmosphere settled as Irene and Isriella stared each other down.

Ebi didn’t know much about noble society, but even she could tell this wasn’t a good situation for Irene.

Normally, many would’ve taken Irene’s side.

Hadn’t everyone tried desperately to earn even a single glance from her?

But now, not a single person stood by Irene.

In fact, people subtly edged closer to Isriella, offering their comments.

“She really has to bow her head for something like this?”

“Yeah, don’t you think Miss Irene’s being a bit too much?”

What had started as a minor issue over a sponsor’s gift had now ballooned into a clash between nobles and commoners.

With the mood shifting in her favor, Isriella straightened her shoulders and wore a smug expression.

The students began flocking to her side—even those who usually clung to Irene.

Everyone knew how important it was to stay on Irene’s good side.

But…

They couldn’t tolerate anyone challenging the fundamental pride of being nobility.

And not every student here was seeking Irene’s approval.

“Southern nobility, acting like they matter.”

To students like Isriella, who had lived their whole lives in the capital, the South was just countryside.

So even if Irene had wealth, they still considered her beneath them in status.

It was only the overwhelming power of House Terins that kept them from saying so out loud—until now.

At last, they had what they considered a valid excuse to push back against her.

“That southern noble has been acting way too uppity.”

“Better to put her in her place now.”

And to make someone from a renowned family like Isriella bow to such a lowborn child?

Students who didn’t want to get involved pretended they hadn’t seen anything and quickly returned to their rooms.

In the end, Irene stood alone beside Ebi.

The division was now stark and unmistakable.

Ebi turned her head slightly to glance at Irene.

Irene had asked her not to speak to her in front of others during meals.

Ebi had tried to respect that, but now Irene had stepped up to defend her in front of everyone.

As the noble students gathered around her, Isriella crossed her arms and said confidently,

“Miss Irene? Don’t you want to reconsider?”

At her smug tone, Ebi gently grabbed a corner of Irene’s sleeve.

Irene turned to her.

Ebi shook her head.

She meant: You don’t have to do this because of me.

She was asking Irene to reconcile with Isriella while things could still be smoothed over.

But—

“Even if I thought it over a thousand times, I’d say the same. I don’t apologize to people who don’t know the difference between what should and shouldn’t be said.”

Irene dropped even her usual formal tone and glared directly at Isriella.

Just then, staff members, sensing something was wrong, approached.

“Is something the matter here?”

As soon as they arrived, the students all turned away as if nothing had happened.

And just like that, the confrontation ended with everyone fully split apart.

Tap.

As the door closed, Ebi slumped to the floor with the mana stone still clutched in her arms.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did Isriella really—?!”

“No, it’s not that… Why did you… fight with everyone because of me!”

Ebi recalled the looks the students had given her and Irene.

Starting tomorrow, Irene would likely be ignored just like her.

“Oh, you mean the cold shoulder? Don’t worry about it.”

“But… I’m used to it. You’re not, Irene—”

“I told you, just call me Irene. And I have no intention of being friends with people who steal and then talk like that. Let them ignore me if they want. Hmph!”

Irene continued, as if relieved,

“I’ve been holding back for so long, it’s honestly a relief. Though I’m sure my sister will have something to say… Whatever. I don’t care.”

She muttered while inspecting Ebi closely.

She even checked the inside of the arm that Isriella had grabbed, making sure there were no injuries.

Watching her, Ebi was reminded of the director.

The director had been the first person in her life to genuinely worry about and care for her.

Since then, Ebi hadn’t believed anyone else—especially someone unrelated—would ever show such concern.

Feeling warmth swell in her chest, she hugged the mana stone tighter and lowered her head.

“I’m really glad I came here.”

Maybe tomorrow, Irene would regret this. Being ignored could be terribly painful until you got used to it.

But today, Irene had stood up for her. That alone made Ebi happy.

“Thank you.”

“Hm? For what?”

“For helping me. Thanks to you, I was able to keep the gift.”

Ebi smiled and took the mana stone from her arms.

“Even if it’s fake, it’s the first gift I’ve ever gotten. I didn’t want it taken away…”

“What are you talking about?”

“This mana stone. You said it was real just to take my side—”

“Huh? That thing’s real.”

Irene blinked like she had no idea what Ebi was talking about.

Ebi’s eyes widened too.

“It’s… real?”

“Yup. And just so you know, no one in our family ever lies about items. No matter the reason.”

Irene lightly tapped the mana stone Ebi was holding.

“This isn’t some cheap knockoff from a market stall. It’s a genuine, properly imbued mana stone. Though, since all the really strong ones are in the imperial palace, it’s probably not very powerful. Might just glow a bit, that’s all.”

“Isn’t a mana stone a rare item?”

“It is. Something like this could go for at least ten million gold at auction.”

At that, Ebi’s mouth dropped open.

“Your sponsor must really treasure you to send something like that.”

“That… that can’t be.”

Professor Sian didn’t even know who she was.

Just receiving a gift from him had been shocking enough, but for it to be this rare and expensive?

“I mean, I did lend him a handkerchief…”

But that hardly seemed worthy of such a valuable item.

She had never received a gift before—let alone one this precious.

Ebi’s hand trembled as she held the mana stone.

“What if they contact me later and ask for it back?”

That would make sense. No way they’d just give something so valuable to her. Maybe it had been a mistake, and someone would come to collect it soon.

“I’ll take good care of it until then.”

Ebi hugged the warm mana stone to her chest. The warmth was soothing.

That night, Ebi placed the mana stone on the nightstand beside her bed.

It settled there naturally, as if it had always belonged.

She placed her hand on top of it. The moment she did, the stone lit up and radiated warmth, as if it had been waiting.

It really was a fascinating stone. Whenever she touched it, it glowed and warmed her hand. And when she let go, the light would fade.

Ebi stared at the softly glowing mana stone for a long time in the dark room.

“It really does keep glowing…”

She’d heard that real mana stones maintained their power, but it still amazed her.

She wasn’t worried whether it was real or fake anymore—she just didn’t want the beautiful glow and warmth to disappear.

But no matter how many times she touched it throughout the day, the stone’s light and heat never faded.

Eventually, Ebi slipped under her blanket. It was finally time to sleep.

Normally, she would’ve pulled the blanket over her head. She was afraid of the dark.

Ever since the day she’d been trapped in the museum, she sometimes feared she’d get stuck in the dark again.

“But now, it’s okay.”

She remembered her life before the orphanage.

She’d had to work late into the night, even after sunset.

When the work was finally done and she lay down in the hay of the barn, the words of the innkeeper and the others would echo in her mind.

They said ghosts of the war dead roamed at night.

That if they found a living person, they’d drag them away.

They always laughed at her terrified expression.

“Still not crying, huh? What a stubborn brat,” they’d sneer.

Even though Ebi didn’t believe in such things, the pitch-black nights always scared her.

That fear didn’t vanish even after she entered the orphanage.

At first, the director would light a candle and stay by her side at night.

But she couldn’t do that every day.

Candles were expensive, and the director needed rest too.

So Ebi had pretended to be okay, saying she wasn’t scared anymore.

“Sleeping with the other kids helped a little…”

But at the gifted academy, she had to sleep alone again, and all those scary childhood stories came flooding back.

“I’m seven now. I’ll be fine.”

She clenched her fists with that thought, but still pulled the blanket over her head before falling asleep.

But tonight was different.

Bathed in the soft glow—not too bright, not too dark—Ebi’s eyes slowly closed.

Today, she had made a friend in Irene, and she had received a wonderful gift.

“Really…”

“I’m glad I came here.”

With that thought, Ebi drifted into a peaceful sleep.

At that same moment—

“…I hope she liked the gift.”

Chlois muttered as he sat by the window.