CPBF 13

Chapter: 13

Sith said that and turned around, leaving the classroom without the slightest hesitation.

I thought maybe he had finally developed some feelings for me since he had come all the way to my classroom—but it turned out it was just to interrogate me!

He has no way of knowing that I used the secret spell, so he’s probably assuming someone broke down the door and took Anna away.

Ah, but I can’t exactly admit that I used the secret spell…

Later on, the secret spell would be the key tool for Vin and the Crown Prince to overcome adversity. If I reveal it now, the whole storyline will go completely off course.

Damn it. My chance to gain his favor is completely gone.

“Sigh…”

“My heart has been racing lately, and I can’t sleep.”

While I was sighing in despair, I heard Kelly chattering somewhere in the distance. Lately, she had been playing in a different spot because I hadn’t been paying attention to her.

“There are only three days left. How am I supposed to wait until then?”

“Think of it as only three days left.”

They were talking about the Founding Festival.

The academy had been bustling for the past few days. For children who experienced the same daily routine, a special event was like a sudden downpour in a drought.

“I really don’t want to live… sigh.”

I ignored them and buried my face in my desk, sighing heavily. Life ahead seemed completely bleak.

Apparently, my behavior was unusual enough for a thirteen-year-old that the Crown Prince, sitting in the front row, spoke to me in a surprisingly gentle voice:

“Are you sick? You look like you’re about to die. Well, if that were the case, I wouldn’t mind.”

That was clearly not concern—it was a warning.

“Unless you die first, I’ll kill you.”

My relationship with Sith showed no signs of improvement, I didn’t understand why the characters seemed to be deviating from the original story, Vin’s engagement would never be broken, and the Crown Prince already wanted to kill me!

Nothing was going right. At this rate, no matter what I do, I’ll end up executed according to the original storyline.

Is running away really the only option…?

But even if I run, how could I possibly escape? At thirteen, I’d get caught by the marquis’ soldiers before even leaving the capital.

The end would inevitably be a trip to Dr. Saint’s hospital.

“The thing I’m most looking forward to at the Founding Festival is the two carriages sent to the north and south ends at the end of the festival!”

“Watching the enchanted carriages fly through the sky never gets old, even if you see it every year.”

“That’s it!”

I jumped up from my seat.

The forgotten information swirled in my mind, and the idea flashed like hope taking flight.

The blue eyes in the front row glanced at me for a moment before looking away.

The wind outside the window ruffled his silver hair.

Three days later, the Founding Festival finally arrived.

Amid all the chaos of recent events, something in me had faded from existence: the graduation exam.

But fading from existence didn’t mean I was neglecting preparation.

After losing to Raphel Isdan, I had spent two months putting in relentless effort. Thanks to that, my skills had improved considerably.

Though I was still barely holding my own.

In the meantime, the graduation exam was scheduled for tomorrow, and I had been growing increasingly anxious.

Tomorrow was the exam, yet I still couldn’t bring myself to lift a sword.

I had bought a sword, so why can’t I use it…! Damn it.

I felt like I could do it if I summoned just a little more courage, but that “just a little more” was impossible.

I figured the reason was the pressure of the exam being so close.

But that pressure would soon vanish.

Why? Because I had changed my mind!

I decided not to take the exam at all—I would just run away.

Retaking it? I don’t care.

I’m not going to attend the academy forever anyway!

“Student Irilin Heder, please take your seat at number 56.”

Today was the last day I would be treated like a student.

By the time the Founding Festival ended, I wouldn’t be here.

But I still had something to do here.

Since this plan was put together rather hastily, I lacked funds to run away.

That’s why I had signed up for the Founding Festival Art Competition ahead of time.

If I could win a prize, it would be a big help for my escape funds.

With that hope, I naturally chose the writing category.

Not long after all the students took their seats, someone who seemed to be the supervisor came in and announced the themes.

“The themes are as follows: Love, Family, Magic, Dreams, Nation.”

All abstract themes.

Hmm, maybe love would be the easiest. After all, I had extensive experience reading countless BL novels.

I glanced at the adjacent drawing booth, wondering if our BL enthusiast was doing well.

But no matter how much I looked, Sith wasn’t there.

Huh? Did he not enter the competition?

Since Anna ran away, maybe he didn’t need the prize money…?

“Student, focus on your writing.”

“Oh, yes. Sorry.”

I had been staring blankly at the drawing booth when the supervisor called out.

Good—at least they didn’t suspect me of cheating. I needed to focus on my work.

Love… The story I was going to write was…

Exactly that!

Right after the competition ended, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

The results wouldn’t be announced today but a week later.

That meant I wouldn’t receive any prize money until a week later…

By then, I wouldn’t be here.

I had a reason to run away today.

So my plan to use the prize money for my escape funds was ruined.

All I received was a copy of my writing.

How convenient—the magic made a copy even without a copier…

It was discouraging to realize that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this convenience if I ran away.

But if I didn’t run, I would face certain death…

“Damn it!”

I swore without thinking, and the person walking ahead of me paused.

A figure was wrapped in a black robe from head to toe.

I remembered—he had entered the writing category. His outfit was so striking that it was unforgettable.

Suddenly, the person turned his head toward me.

Through the robe, I could see a few strands of hair and the eyes—blue, just like mine.

Extremely familiar.

“Sith? What are you doing here?”

“…And you?”

“Of course, I came for the competition.”

“Me too.”

“Wait, weren’t you at the writing booth just now? Why are you entering the writing category instead of drawing?”

“Because writing was the category I intended to enter from the start.”

…Not drawing, but writing?

Ah, now I understood why he said he wouldn’t enter the competition in front of me.

‘Sith, you want to enter the drawing competition, right?’

‘…What are you talking about? No.’

I had only asked about “drawing.”

Since he had talent in drawing, I assumed he would enter that category…

But he was interested in writing too.

How many hidden talents does this guy even have?

“Are you good at writing too?”

“Yes.”

Surprisingly, Sith answered immediately.

Even though he was usually unsure of everything and only focused on running away…

“You sound pretty confident.”

“Of course. In this world, at least when it comes to writing, I’m the best.”

…That line was a little arrogant.

Did Sith Heder really have that side of his personality?

“You’ve changed. Did you fall on the street or something?”

“It feels weird being called weird by a truly weird person.”

“Ah, stop calling me weird. I feel like I might become weird too.”

“You, stop talking nonsense and go to the banquet hall. Your parents are waiting.”

“And you?”

“I have to go too. I mean, you go first. We’re not close enough to go together, right?”

He threw the robe over his arm and gestured impatiently for me to move ahead.

Something feels off…! There’s definitely something!

I don’t know what it is.

Ah, never mind. If I think about it too much, Sith will start calling me “weird” again.

So I quickly moved ahead.

After a while, I heard Sith following behind me.

This strange formation continued all the way to the banquet hall.

I marveled at the hall without Sith noticing.

“Wow, this is amazing…”

The banquet hall, the likes of which I had never seen, was even more magnificent than I had imagined.

There wasn’t a spot without gems, and the walls were packed with paintings and decorations.

Wow, if I could sell even a few of these, it would be a huge boost to my escape funds…!

“Amazing?”

Sith, standing right behind me, asked.

Oops, I shouldn’t use this word here.

I quickly tried to recover.

“It’s a popular expression these days. Don’t you know?”

“…Huh.”

Sith snorted, clearly bemused.

Hmm, even to someone who doesn’t know, that probably sounded like a ridiculous excuse.