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Chapter 04
“Mrs. Catherine, how have you been?”
Yulia ran over and hugged Catherine, who had opened her arms wide.
A sweet perfume drifted from her as their bodies touched, lightly tickling Yulia’s nose.
“Congratulations on your graduation! My dear children.”
Catherine gently said as she wrapped both arms around them and patted their backs.
“So Yulia ended up being the top graduate this year?”
“I wasn’t very confident this semester, but I just got lucky.”
“How can you even be this humble!”
Catherine smiled warmly and looked at Yulia with her shining red eyes.
Pretty face, smart, and even humble—this unexpected blessing that rolled into her life was simply too pleasing to resist.
“Thanks to you, my Jerome graduated safely too. You must have worked so hard taking care of my son while being busy with your own studies.”
Catherine kept patting Yulia’s back as she guided them toward the chairs.
“Oh right, this isn’t the time for that. You there—bring the special tonic I got from Doctor List.”
Catherine pointed at the maid standing behind her.
The maid, wearing a white apron, immediately left the drawing room and soon returned with a square box wrapped in a dark blue cloth.
“Take it, Yulia. It’s yours.”
“What? I haven’t even finished the one you gave me before!”
Yulia waved her hands in surprise.
“Just take it. It’s my graduation gift for my proud sponsored student. You’re so skinny—how are you going to do anything like that?”
Catherine said with a slightly stern face as she grabbed and shook Yulia’s thin wrist.
Yulia’s wrist dangled up and down easily in Catherine’s single hand.
“Take it once a day without forgetting. It’ll improve your appetite and help you gain weight.”
Yulia couldn’t help but feel touched by how much Catherine cared for her.
The Duvert couple didn’t just sponsor her—they looked after her with genuine care.
Yulia quietly promised herself she would never forget this kindness.
“Oh right! I heard this year’s Royal Academy graduation banquet will be held at the newly opened Dunker Hotel in the city?”
Catherine asked as she lifted her golden teacup.
“Yes. Everyone seems excited to experience their first ‘wild night’ after graduation.”
“Well, you’ve all been adults for a few years now… I was always worried you were wasting your youth stuck in school. Why do you study for so long?”
Catherine muttered while popping a cookie into her mouth.
The Royal Academy’s basic curriculum lasted five years, from age 14 to 19.
After completing it, students chose between continuing advanced studies or entering society for practical experience.
Yulia had chosen the former and completed an additional three years of advanced education.
‘The longer your education, the more money you earn!’
For her, there had only ever been one answer.
“That sounds really fun!”
“Right? Jerome, tell us how it was when you come back.”
“Huh? Yulia, you’re not going?”
Catherine asked, widening her eyes.
“No! I’m not going. Now that I’ve graduated, I need to start preparing for job applications right away according to company schedules. Honestly, I’m already late.”
Yulia adjusted her large glasses and took a sip of her chamomile tea.
She was someone who cared about nothing but success.
To enter a top-tier company, she had to prepare everything—from company history to expected interview questions from executives.
“Still… why not go have some fun with Jerome? If you only study when you’re young, life becomes boring!”
“If you want one thing, you have to give up another.”
At Yulia’s firm response, Catherine couldn’t hide her flustered expression.
“T-Then how about this? Go take a look at the new hotel, meet your friends…! I heard the hotel is even providing rooms for banquet guests. When else would you get such a chance? The graduation banquet is one of the academy’s biggest prides. Everyone is desperate to attend—how can you just skip it?”
Since the banquet lasted from early evening until dawn, rooms were prepared for guests to rest whenever they wanted.
Of course, those rooms weren’t just for resting.
Many couples who found themselves attracted to each other during the party would go in together.
‘There’s even a term for it—graduation banquet couples.’
Yulia shrugged as if it didn’t concern her and stared at the pattern on her teacup.
Hmm… is this teacup from a subsidiary of the Shif Company?
“Then how about this? I’ll give you some spending money so you can enjoy yourself with Jerome! Think of it as my gift—just clear that little head of yours for one day and have fun.”
At the word money, Yulia’s ears perked up.
Money was the second thing she cared about most—after success.
Noticing the subtle change in Yulia’s expression, Catherine smiled and pushed further.
“I’ll give you 800 Lark. What do you think? That’s enough for a pretty dress, a nice bag, and more.”
800 Lark was a large sum—enough to buy a dress, bag, and shoes, with money left over.
She could even use the rest for books or send it to her grandfather as living expenses.
After calculating everything in her head, Yulia lifted her head with sparkling blue eyes.
Deal.
The sound of a whip urging the horse and the clatter of hooves echoed faintly.
A luxurious carriage bearing the crest of the Isheide family passed through a wealthy district where famous nobles lived.
Cassian, who had been sitting upright the whole time, turned his head toward the window.
Outside, grand mansions of various noble families passed by.
Just then, the carriage stopped as someone crossed the road.
“Wow, is that the Duvert estate? They say they’re the richest in the Tritan Empire—no wonder it’s so huge.”
Lucas leaned toward the window as he spoke.
Cassian, who had been silent like a statue, suddenly focused his gaze outside.
He fixed his eyes on a woman leaving the Duvert gates.
Yulia, her brown hair neatly tied, was walking out carrying a large box with both hands.
Is she carrying that heavy thing alone?
Cassian’s brow subtly furrowed.
“Oh? That girl’s wearing your academy uniform. The ribbon color is the same as yours—so she must be a graduate this year?”
Lucas muttered as he noticed her.
Just as he was about to say more, the purple curtain suddenly shut, blocking his view.
Cassian withdrew his hand and turned forward again.
“…What was that?”
“What?”
“Why did you suddenly close the curtain?”
“I didn’t know you were looking.”
“…What’s wrong with your personality?”
Lucas straightened himself, annoyed by the cold reply.
“Hey, seeing that uniform reminded me—Cassian, you’re going to the academy graduation banquet, right?”
“I have to.”
“Sounds fun. Enjoy it for me too. Not graduating from the Royal Academy is my lifelong regret. My dream was to attend and build valuable connections there.”
“Fun… yeah right.”
“Then why not make it even more fun and become a ‘graduation banquet couple’ this time?”
Lucas grinned mischievously.
Cassian leaned back and closed his eyes, ignoring him.
Graduation banquet…
A small expectation crept into his mind—maybe he could at least have a normal conversation with her there.
…As if that would happen.
He quickly erased the useless thought.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the Isheide estate.
Cassian got down and walked inside without even glancing at Lucas.
Butler Abil, who hesitated awkwardly, finally approached Lucas instead.
“Greetings, Young Master Lucas. Welcome. Have you been well?”
“Hey Abil, long time no see.”
“His Highness has urgent matters—”
“Cassian’s always like that. Just show me my room. I should be grateful he even came to pick me up at the station.”
Lucas shrugged.
Abil kept apologizing in place of his cold master and signaled the servants, who began carrying Lucas’s luggage.
“Will you be staying long this time, Young Master?”
“Who knows? Depends on whether that guy lets me stay.”
Lucas looked up at the Isheide estate.
“Not sure if there’s anything I can help with either.”
“Oh my goodness…!”
Catherine dramatically fanned herself with the fan in her hand—clearly showing off her new purchase.
“I knew our Yulia was pretty, but now that you’re dressed up like this, you won’t lose to any lady in the empire!”
“Oh, you’re too kind.”
Yulia gave an awkward smile and looked at herself in the mirror.
In the round marble-framed mirror stood a woman with an unfamiliar expression.
The elegant blue dress shimmered, with golden embroidery beautifully stitched along the hem.
It was stunning.
