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Chapter 92
After praising Ivy for quite some time to the steward, Clois sat back down beside her.
Ivy carefully poked at the unfamiliar dessert with her fork before opening her mouth wide and swallowing it.
At first, she had been cautious with even touching the food, but now she was eating quite well.
Clois rested his chin in his hand, watching Ivy eat with a satisfied expression.
While Ivy had been amazed at how well Lusca and Arsel ate, she herself was also quite good at it.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say she really enjoyed the food.
Watching her small mouth nibble at the pastries so neatly, Clois was reminded of a squirrel diligently eating an acorn.
For some reason, watching her made him feel proud, as if he wanted to give her even more.
So this is why Irene Terrence always stayed by her side every day.
Ivy had once mentioned that she felt a little embarrassed because Irene kept feeding her.
At the time, Clois had wondered why Irene did that, but now he understood.
From the snacks the steward had brought, Clois picked out some rare fruits and hard-to-find pastries from far away and placed them in front of Ivy.
At the same time, he deliberately took away half of what he gave her.
Even as he took some for himself, Ivy’s expression brightened each time.
She didn’t want to leave food uneaten, but she wanted to try everything.
And since Clois took half, she could eat even more!
Seeing Ivy’s thoughts so clearly, Clois smiled and ate the pastries himself.
To think that he, the Emperor, was eating something left behind by someone else…
The envoys would be scandalized if they knew, but since they didn’t, it didn’t matter.
He took Ivy’s report card and signed it on his desk.
Not satisfied with just that, he stamped it with the Imperial seal from his desk.
Looking proudly at the ordinary report card now adorned with a grand signature, he brought it back to Ivy and asked the most important question.
“Ivy, summer vacation is coming soon. So…”
“That’s right! I was just going to tell you that!”
At the mention of summer vacation, Ivy put down her fork and spoke with obvious delight.
“I’m going to visit Irene, Arsel, and Lusca’s house! All through summer vacation!”
Clois’s smiling face froze at her words.
The many documents on his desk concerning the imperial villa fluttered in the breeze coming through the open window.
“Ugh…”
Outside, the sun was bright, but Izriella’s room was dark, heavy curtains blocking the light.
If it weren’t for the single candle, she might not have been able to see even in front of her.
She pressed her swollen eyes with her hands, but the tears didn’t stop.
What am I going to do now?
On the day she was expelled, her parents sent a carriage that seemed fit only for servants.
The moment Izriella saw it, her vision went dark.
She now knew exactly what kind of treatment awaited her at home.
When she returned home, her father didn’t even glance at her.
Her mother, crying with anger, told her to stay in her room where she couldn’t be seen.
It wasn’t just her parents who had changed their attitude.
Until recently, he was so eager to tell me who Professor Sian was and give me instructions via letters.
Her older brother cursed her, saying her actions had ruined his life too, and even kicked her.
Had the servants not intervened, she would surely have been kicked again.
If her family treated her like this, how much more would others despise her? Or, perhaps, they wouldn’t even bother to meet her.
Even if they did, they’d probably just mock me behind my back.
Those who knew her would pretend not to see her, whispering as they walked away.
Perhaps they would even openly laugh in front of her.
How did it come to this?
Just a few months ago, there was no event too big or small that she wasn’t invited to.
People said that an event without Izriella in the capital was meaningless.
Though she hadn’t officially debuted in the social scene yet due to her age, everyone said that once she came of age, she would instantly become the flower of society.
After being accepted into the gifted academy, the praise only intensified.
Other girls her age envied the connections she would make there.
Many even asked her to invite them to the academy when she could bring friends.
Surrounded by people, she had never doubted that her future would be paved with success.
But now, all of that had become a futile illusion.
Expelled from the gifted academy and fallen from the Emperor’s favor, she would likely be mocked by her family and scorned by everyone else.
Overwhelmed by fear and sorrow, Izriella burst into tears.
Then she thought of the cause of her misery.
“Ivy Alden…”
While she suffered like this, that girl was probably having the time of her life.
Gritting her teeth, Izriella cursed inwardly.
Everyone had openly said it was just a brief moment of pity.
That the Emperor doted on the girl because he had lost his daughter.
Even if the princess were alive, would His Majesty have cared about something like that?
As she thought this, footsteps approached in the hallway, and the door opened.
“…!”
No one had come to see her except the maid bringing meals.
Turning in surprise, she saw her father standing at the door.
“Father…”
“Dress properly and come out.”
“…Yes?”
“Quickly!”
Hearing the remaining sternness in her father’s voice, Izriella hurried to her wardrobe.
Before, she had almost daily received new clothes, but since returning from the gifted academy, not even the maid managing this place had entered.
She quickly changed and stood before her father.
He looked her over from head to toe, then turned his head.
Since he didn’t tell her to change again, it seemed it was acceptable.
The count immediately turned and walked ahead.
Izriella hurried after him.
Her father, who had acted as if he would never see her again, had come looking for her.
Whatever the reason, she couldn’t miss this opportunity.
“Father, I—”
“There is a distinguished guest in the parlor.”
Her father cut her off coldly.
“A distinguished guest? Who is it…?”
“You’ll find out in time. But that person wants a noble friend by their side. That’s why I’m bringing you.”
The more she heard, the more confused she became.
If her father said it was that person, they must be very high-ranking. And they wanted her as a friend by their side?
Normally, friends are chosen from peers.
Her father stopped walking and turned to face her.
“Izriella, you know how grave your mistake was, don’t you? Because of you, our entire family has become the laughingstock of the nobility.”
“…”
Izriella lowered her head. She couldn’t even utter an excuse.
“But if you handle this properly, it could all be undone.”
“Undone? How…!”
Startled by her father’s words, she raised her head.
Undone? That’s impossible. The Emperor’s cold gaze is still vivid in her memory.
The Emperor would probably never forgive that anger.
“You must do well. If you gain their favor and serve properly by their side, our family’s dishonor will be wiped away in one stroke. His Majesty will forget all about that orphaned girl and praise us greatly.”
“I-I will! I’ll do anything!”
Izriella replied desperately. She could do anything if it meant this could work.
“What must I do?”
Her father glanced around and lowered his voice.
“Become friends with the person inside. Teach them all the manners of the nobility. Serve them with all your heart and soul so they are completely comfortable, like a personal maid.”
“Who… could it be…?”
At that moment, the parlor door opened, and a little girl came out, about seven or eight years old.
Who is that?
Izriella had never seen her before.
Her clothes were decent, but looking closely, they were slightly worn and outdated.
The girl approached the two of them. The count bowed his head.
“…!”
Izriella was shocked by her father’s gesture. A count from a prestigious family bowing so respectfully—there was almost no one else who would receive such treatment.
Perhaps only the Emperor himself.
The girl walked up and looked at Izriella.
“So, are you the new friend the count mentioned?”
The girl naturally spoke down to the count.
Izriella couldn’t make sense of the situation. What was going on? Who was this girl?
Blonde hair, green eyes, an unknown little girl.
Suddenly, Izriella realized she had seen a similar girl before.
This girl… looks like Ivy Alden!
