IAYA 41

chapter 41

After becoming the young lady of House Fredoff, many things had changed.

The first and most obvious difference was that several maids now busied themselves every morning dressing me up and tending to my appearance.

In the past, I would have been preparing breakfast for my mother, who suffered from dementia. But that life and the person I used to be felt like a distant memory now.

Still, it wasn’t as though I enjoyed these mornings of pampering.
Maybe because of Nick’s warning, or maybe because I knew this wasn’t truly my place, I couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

But today, for the first time, I felt a flicker of excitement while looking at myself in the mirror as the maids dressed me.

It was the day I would return to Kamar Academy after several days.
More precisely, it was the day I might finally see Teansis again.

Marlen, who was brushing my silver hair, said with admiration:

“My, my lady, your hair is so soft and beautiful.”

The maid beside her chimed in eagerly — a taller, more mature maid named Hailey.

“It’s not just her hair! Your skin is flawless too. I’m so jealous, my lady.”

It was praise I had never really heard before.
I had never had the luxury or the time to care about my skin or hair. Maybe that’s why the sight of myself in the mirror — looking every inch the noblewoman — felt so strange.

“Is that so? Well… I’m glad you think so.”

Even just having someone skilled like Marlen to do my hair for me was something to be thankful for.

Hailey laughed in her usual teasing tone.

“Oh, come now! Acting like you don’t even know if it’s good or not — of course, someone like you wouldn’t notice. You must have always received such fine treatments that you can’t even tell anymore! Only people who weren’t pampered can feel the difference. Hohoho!”

I just smiled faintly.
I had never received such care before, but as the “Lady Fredoff,” I couldn’t very well admit that.

Marlen finished styling my hair and showed me the back through the mirror.

“What do you think, my lady? I put in a bit of extra effort today since it’s your first day entering Kamar Academy.”

“It’s lovely. I like it.”

The silver hair ornament she had chosen matched my hair perfectly.

As I looked at my reflection from various angles, Hailey spoke again.

“My lady, I’ve already picked out a few dresses for you. Would you like to take a look?”

“Dresses? Aren’t I supposed to wear the Kamar Academy uniform?”

“The tailor measured you last time, but they said it isn’t ready yet — it’s a custom order, after all. They’ll bring it to the academy tomorrow.”

As expected of an academy for nobles — even the uniforms were custom-made, which took time.

Hailey, however, looked delighted.

“That’s perfect! You’ll be wearing the uniform all the time soon enough, so why not arrive in something dazzling — something that will make the other young ladies lower their heads from the start!”

“That won’t be necessary.”

I had no intention of using an extravagant dress to intimidate anyone, but Hailey seemed determined.

Her eyes gleamed as she brought out several dresses — each more brilliant and eye-catching than the last.

After examining them carefully, I chose a soft lavender one that best matched my hair ornament.

Marlen nodded approvingly beside me.

“I agree. That one suits you best, my lady.”

“Really?”

Hailey added,

“An excellent choice, my lady.”

Since everyone was in agreement, there was no reason to hesitate.

“Then let’s go with this one.”

With their help, I changed into the lavender dress.

The person reflected in the full-length mirror was dazzling — so beautiful and noble-looking that I barely recognized myself. It was almost disorienting.

While I stared awkwardly at my reflection, Marlen spoke again as she adjusted my sleeves.

“The marquis has already departed for Kamar Academy. Your carriage is ready outside, my lady. Shall we go?”

“No need to delay. Tell them I’ll be down immediately.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Unlike before, when I had almost no belongings, transporting all the dresses and jewels given to me by the Fredoff family was quite the task — though of course, the servants would take care of it.

Still, I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone by dawdling.
And besides, I was eager to return to Kamar Academy.
I missed studying, I was worried about Lulu, and… there was also Teansis.

So as soon as my preparations were complete, I stepped out of the Fredoff estate with Marlen.

Then — I froze.

Standing by the carriage, waiting for me, was Nick.

It was the first time I had seen him since the day he had strangled me.

He greeted me calmly, as though nothing had ever happened.

“Good morning, my lady. I’ll be escorting you safely to Kamar Academy.”

For a moment, it almost felt like that incident had been just a bad dream.

Unconsciously, I clutched at my skirt tightly. His emotionless face felt unbearably brazen.

I forced my stiff neck to nod slightly in acknowledgment, then quickly climbed into the carriage emblazoned with the Fredoff crest.

The cushioned seats were soft and comfortable — but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get as far away from that suffocating mansion as possible.

It was my first time entering Kamar Academy as an actual student.
But I hadn’t expected the experience to be this different from when I had simply worked in the apothecary.

“Welcome, Lady Fredoff! We sincerely congratulate you on your admission to Kamar Academy!”

Dozens of academy staff members greeted me in unison, bowing deeply.

The sight was so overwhelming that I felt dizzy.
It was the same academy — yet it felt like an entirely different world.

A staff member approached with a courteous smile.

“Please follow me, my lady. I’ll show you to your accommodations first.”

“Ah, yes.”

Since I had quite a lot of luggage this time, I quickly nodded.

Before following, I glanced back at the group who had come to greet me. It struck me that they might have been waiting quite some time just for my arrival.

“Thank you… for the warm welcome.”

Even that brief expression of gratitude made their faces brighten. Some looked genuinely surprised — as though they hadn’t expected a noble to thank them at all.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Nick watching me, his eyes narrowing slightly, but I turned away.

The servants who had accompanied me from the Fredoff estate followed behind, carrying the luggage.

The accommodation I was assigned wasn’t just a room — it was an entire building.

Like the ones Teansis and Jer once used, it resembled a small private manor more than a dormitory. It even had its own garden path.

“This will be your residence, my lady. Since you entered off-season, this is currently the best available accommodation. If you’re unsatisfied, we can move you once another opens.”

Even as he said this, the staff member seemed nervous, perhaps worried that I would be displeased.

But the lodging was perfectly fine.

“No, this is enough. Thank you.”

Only then did the maids and footmen begin efficiently unloading my belongings.

The staff member, relieved, handed me a beautifully gilded piece of parchment.

“This is the list of courses and the schedule for Kamar Academy. You can design your own timetable according to your preference, my lady. Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.”

I accepted it carefully, trying to hide my astonishment.

Just imagining being able to choose my own classes filled me with quiet joy — and then, the man leaned closer, speaking in a lowered voice.

“Also, Lady Fredoff, this was given to me by a senior who asked me to deliver it to you personally.”

“A senior?”

I frowned slightly, puzzled, as he pulled out something wrapped in velvet from his inner pocket.

Inside was a deep red ruby, glimmering vividly under the light — clearly an expensive gem.

I couldn’t understand why he was giving this to me.

He handed it to me respectfully and continued:

“That senior said he failed to recognize you and acted rudely in the interrogation room. He wanted to offer this as an apology. He also said that while he’d like to apologize in person, he feared your anger might not yet have cooled.”

The moment I heard that, I realized who it was.
It was the man who had tortured me.

‘Lady Velia, your record only lists a name. What family are you from?’

The memory of that day flashed in my mind, and my still-healing right hand seemed to ache again.

Seeing my expression darken, the staff member spoke quickly:

“He even said he intends to injure his own right hand in the same way, to atone for what he did. If that might ease your feelings, my lady…”

I knew deep down — he had only done what he believed was his duty.
My identity had been suspicious. My credentials as an assistant apothecary were flimsy.

But still…
Would he have apologized like this if I weren’t the Fredoff heiress?

“If I weren’t from House Fredoff… would I still receive this apology?”

“Pardon? My lady, what do you mean by—?”

“It’s nothing. Just a thought.”

This apology wasn’t because of justice or remorse. It was because of my title.

As I fell silent, the staff member grew flustered and spoke hurriedly.

“Forgive me for saying this, my lady, but that senior has a very ill mother. He can’t quit the academy or she’ll lose her treatment. He truly regrets what happened. Please, could you find it in your heart to forgive him?”

The mention of a sick mother made me think of my own — the mother I had cared for through her dementia. But even without that connection, I had no intention of seeking revenge.

I only felt… a little bitter.

“I don’t plan to take any action against him. Please tell him he won’t suffer any consequences because of me.”

“Thank you, truly! He’ll be so relieved to hear that. He hasn’t been sleeping from guilt these days.”

He looked genuinely happy — almost proud. It made me feel oddly envious, seeing someone care that much for another.

“He’s lucky to have a junior like you.”

At that, the staff member’s face reddened slightly. He quickly pressed the velvet-wrapped ruby into my hands.

“Please accept it, my lady. It’s small, but it would mean a lot to us.”

“I don’t really—”

“It would ease both our consciences if you did.”

He looked so sincere that I couldn’t refuse. I took the velvet pouch.

Receiving it wouldn’t erase the pain or the nightmares of that day, but rejecting it would be the same as rejecting the apology itself.

If anything, maybe this gesture would allow both of us to move forward.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now, my lady. Call for me anytime you need assistance.”

“I will.”

He bowed politely and left the residence.

I stood there for a while, staring at the ruby in my palm, then turned toward my room, where the maids were busily unpacking.

Everything around me — the room, the people, even the air — felt different now.

It was nice in a way… but also unsettling.
Because I was the same person — yet everyone treated me as if I weren’t.

Thanks to the diligent maids, my belongings were soon all neatly arranged.

Watching everything being put in order made me feel strangely refreshed — like shedding layers of old grime.

It was the same kind of relief you get after cleaning your entire house on a gloomy day.

Just as I sat down to rest in my perfectly organized room, there came a knock.

Knock, knock.

“What is it?”

“My lady, it’s Hailey. You have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

I couldn’t think of anyone who would come see me.
For a moment, I wondered — could it be Teansis?

“The guest says they used to work with you in the apothecary.”

At those words, the image of Petrin, trembling in fear as he tried to pin the blame on me in the interrogation room, flashed in my mind.

I didn’t answer right away, so Hailey asked again from outside:

“What should we do, my lady?”