IAYA 31

chapter 31

When I came to my senses again, I was lying on my familiar bed in my room. Blinking, I stared at the ceiling that appeared the moment I opened my eyes.

Then, all at once, the things that happened yesterday while I was drunk flashed through my mind like a panorama.

“Ughhh, noooo.”

I let out a groan and curled up right away under the covers. If it were at all possible, I wanted to disappear from existence.

I’m insane. Completely insane.

I had gotten drunk and vomited. Not just anywhere—right in Teansis’s arms.

How was I ever supposed to look him in the eye again? The thought alone made my vision go dark. At some point, the cat hopped onto the bed beside me.

『You’re awake?』

“How did I… get in here last night?”

『That Arcrouge guy carried you back.』

“I see. I was half-hoping it was just a dream, but of course not.”

『I only opened the door because it was him, not anyone else. But he glared at me like he was going to kill me and nagged me to protect you well before leaving.』

“R-really?”

『Yeah. And whatever he was covered in, he reeked of filth so badly I almost died from the stench.』

I knew exactly what the “filth” was, and my face burned. I pulled the pillow over my head.

I didn’t want to hear another word. I just wanted to vanish into dust.

『More importantly, how long do you plan on lying there? Get up. You promised to bring back lots of moon herbs yesterday, but you came home empty-handed.』

“…Sorry.”

『Tsk. Coming back wasted like that.』

I had no excuse. Now I understood why people swear off alcohol the morning after drinking too much.

I, too, vowed from the bottom of my heart: I would never drink again.

Even with a pounding hangover, I avoided the staff cafeteria all day for fear of running into Teansis. My stomach longed for food, but the shame was stronger than hunger.

Never in my life did I imagine a day would come when I’d avoid Teansis. Life truly was unpredictable.

I was working in the dispensary, looking paler than usual, when the door slid open with a clatter and Petryn walked in.

Until now, we’d only exchanged curt greetings, but this time she came straight up to me and spoke.

“You know the festival starts this evening, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“At the staff meeting yesterday, they decided what costumes we’re supposed to wear.”

Since I worked the day shift in the dispensary and Petryn the evening shift, I knew she’d attended the meeting as our representative.

Once upon a time, I’d planned to use the festival to find the cat monster, but those plans had long vanished. I was simply curious now about which costumes had been chosen.

“What kind of—”

But before I could finish, Petryn stomped over to a cabinet, yanked it open, and pulled out two ragged costumes. With a scowl, she threw one at me.

“This is…?”

The costume was shabby beyond belief—so filthy it could have been mistaken for a beggar’s clothes.

“They expect us to wear these in the dispensary. Can you believe it?”

“What costume was chosen by vote?”

“Some fairy-tale characters. But then they suddenly said just having princes and princesses wasn’t fun enough, so they added maids.”

“That wasn’t on the survey.”

“Exactly! And get this—everyone else gets to be princes and princesses, but only our dispensary has to wear maid outfits. How is that fair?”

It was blatantly unjust. Now I understood why she came to me to vent.

This time, Petryn had no one else to confide in.

“So even though you objected, they still forced the maid costumes on us?”

“Exactly! They’re looking down on us because our dispensary professor isn’t here. I’m so furious I couldn’t sleep a wink last night. How are we supposed to go to the festival dressed like this?”

Her dark circles proved her words true. She must’ve been too upset to sleep.

I had secretly been looking forward to the festival too, so being given these rags soured my mood.

As I stared gloomily at the costume, Petryn’s eyes suddenly gleamed. She leaned in and spoke carefully.

“You’re close with the alchemy professor, right?”

“…What?”

“You know he has a lot of influence at Kamar Academy.”

“Well, somewhat…”

“Of course. You got in thanks to his backing, so naturally you’re close. Right?”

“Not exactly that close.”

“Go ask him to change our costumes. Tell him you can’t possibly attend the festival dressed like this!”

So that was her real reason for seeking me out.

I, too, wanted to wear something prettier, but… not long ago, Jer’s laboratory had burned down. He had far bigger concerns, and I couldn’t bring myself to bother him with something so trivial.

“I’d like to, but… the lab just burned down. It doesn’t feel right to trouble him with this.”

“Just ask anyway and see what he says. Why decide for him?”

“You know his personality too. He won’t grant a request just because I ask…”

“Forget it! I was an idiot to come to you. Think you’re so great, huh? Always looking out for yourself—trying to score points with the professor?”

“No, that’s not it…”

But Petryn grabbed one of the costumes, hurled the other into my face, and snapped:

“Let’s see how you dance at the festival in that!”

She stormed out, fuming. Though I was just as much a victim, somehow I felt like the villain.

Looking down at the ragged costume she’d left behind, I let out a long sigh.

“Haa…”

The Kamar Academy Festival lasted three days.

It began tonight, with food and spectacles galore. But what made it most famous among young men and women was the nightly dance.

Especially at midnight—legend said couples who danced together at that time would fall in love. Unsurprisingly, it was a hot topic among young women.

So Petryn’s fury at having to wear rags was understandable.

‘I hate this costume too, but…’

I had no choice. I wasn’t a student paying hefty tuition, but an employee. Orders were orders.

I rubbed at the dirty patches on the costume, trying to console myself.

As evening approached, everyone else had long gone home. I was the only one left in the dispensary.

I slipped into the ragged maid outfit and looked in the mirror. I wanted to just wear my staff uniform, but since all academy staff were required to match, I couldn’t.

The white fabric was yellowed, dirt smeared all over—it made me look less like a maid and more like a pauper.

Hoping to look a little better, I fussed with my long silver hair, tying it this way and that. But no matter how I styled it, the shabby image in the mirror didn’t change. It was like an inescapable shackle.

“Even if I’ve grown younger… some things don’t change.”

I gave a bitter smile at my own reflection.

Pathetic.

My face might have changed, but inside, I was still the same. I wanted to shine brighter, but I remained as small as a firefly.

In the end, I let my hair down again. If nothing would change, I might as well leave it.

Grrrrowl—

My empty stomach protested loudly. I hadn’t eaten since morning, first to avoid Teansis, then because Petryn had barged in.

Now, by dinner, hunger gnawed at me fiercely.

Looking out the window, I saw the festival already in full swing—colorful lights flickered everywhere, and lively voices drifted in.

Outside, food stalls must be overflowing.

Though I felt embarrassed in these rags, I gathered my courage and stepped outside. I couldn’t let my first festival pass me by.

Click, clack.

The scene stole my breath.

The crowd was immense—students, staff, and even nearby residents.

Their costumes were dazzling, flamboyant, whimsical.

“Wow…”

A man on horseback passed, performing tricks like in a circus. I couldn’t help but gape.

Soon the street lined with food stalls appeared—some rustic, some refined, each overflowing with variety.

I was gazing around excitedly when—

Thud!

I collided with someone. Stumbling, I steadied myself and looked up to see a drunken man scowling.

“Hey, watch where you’re going.”

True, I’d been distracted, but clearly he was the one swaying from drink. Yet he had the audacity to scold me.

I bit back my words, unwilling to argue with a drunk. I started to move past him.

“Hey! Hey! No apology?”

He grabbed my shoulder and shoved hard.

“Ugh!”

I fell to the ground, shocked. He sneered down at me.

“Who do you think you are, looking me in the eye like that?”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What do I think? Hah. You act like you’re some noble.”

The bystanders’ looks made it worse—my shabby clothes painted me as nothing but a lowly maid.

“You’re mistaken—”

But before I could finish, he leaned in close, leering.

“Actually, you’re pretty easy on the eyes.”

His breath stank of alcohol. Instinctively, I shoved him away.

“W-whoa!”

He toppled easily, but shot me a venomous glare.

“Do you know who I am?”

Something inside me snapped. Maybe it was the thought of life without the name Farrington, stripped of noble status.

But I refused to accept this humiliation. Not for me, and not for any other common woman.

“I don’t care who you are. Don’t treat women that way. I’m warning you—you’ll regret it.”

When was the last time I’d spoken so firmly? Maybe never.

“What?”

His face flushed with rage. He scrambled up and reached for me again.

“You, come here—”

I darted back. Guards would come if there was a scene, but during the festival, it could take a while. I had no intention of wasting time locked in a scuffle with him.

Turning, I ran.

He shouted behind me, “Stop right there! If I catch you, you’re finished!”

I ran desperately, the drunkard doggedly giving chase.

At last, I ducked into a dark, empty building.

“Haa… haa…”

Catching my breath, I looked around. No sign of him. Relief washed over me, but so did frustration. My luck tonight was abysmal.

Grrrowl.

My stomach reminded me again how empty it was. With my strength waning, I climbed to the building’s top floor.

If I wander back out now, I might run into him again.

I didn’t want more trouble. Nor did I want my first festival ruined.

Everything tonight had gone wrong—my outfit, the ugly encounter, the gnawing hunger.

I refused to let it end that way. At least I could glimpse the festival from afar.

From the rooftop, the Kamar Academy glowed like a sky full of gathered stars.

What kind of performance is that?

Awestruck by the sight, I was startled when—

Rustle.

A sound behind me.

I spun around. A dark figure approached, and as it stepped into the moonlight, I saw him: a man in an ornate tailcoat, wearing a golden mask.

“Lady, I’ve been looking for you.”

That familiar husky baritone—there was no mistaking it.

“Duke…?”

At my words, he removed the mask. His sculpted features gleamed even more beautifully in the moonlight.

With a puzzled look, Teansis asked:

“What are you doing here?”