With Cecilia's rescue as the final act, the dungeon incident came to a close.
Ashen, Lena, and Theodora, who had aided Professor Eleonore, received considerable bonus points.
Conversely, Cecilia, who could be called the instigator of the incident, was immediately dragged before a disciplinary hearing.
One month after the hearing.
A corner seat in the Humilitas Dormitory lounge.
Cecilia sat alone, tilting her teacup.
In the past, simply sitting still would have drawn other nobles to approach her, but now it was the exact opposite.
Instead, they cast hostile gazes toward her as she sat there quietly.
‘As expected, this is how it turns out.’
Cecilia smiled bitterly as she recalled the hearing.
At the hearing held immediately after the incident, Cecilia testified that all responsibility for the situation lay with herself.
She had wanted to reveal Ramsey's fault, but doing so would have made matters blow up excessively.
At worst, it would have become not merely a problem between two students, but an issue between Count Waitley's household and the Order of War.
If that happened, it would be Count Waitley's house that was disadvantaged.
‘I cannot bring disgrace to the family.’
Though she had never been acknowledged, it was still the family she loved.
This matter had to end with her.
Recalling the memory of that time, Cecilia let out a bitter laugh.
Though they didn't say it outright, the professors gazed at her with disappointment.
The students embroiled in the incident wore expressions filled with rage.
Especially the nobles who had been in the same party looked as though they would devour her alive at any moment.
Only two people looked at her differently.
“Did Student Cecilia truly commit this alone?”
Professor Eleonore looked at Cecilia with eyes filled with doubt.
Though it was a gaze from her idol, Cecilia turned away from those eyes.
“Yes, I did.”
At that answer, Eleonore wore an unconvinced expression, but she did not speak further.
Ashen said nothing.
He merely stared at her with calm eyes.
In the past, she had detested that gaze, but for some reason, at that moment, she understood its meaning.
That he was simply listening to what she had to say.
And that he would respect whatever she said completely.
That fact became a greater source of support for Cecilia than any words.
And so the hearing ended, and the verdict upon Cecilia was handed down as well.
Massive demerit points enough to reduce all her scores earned thus far to zero, and a week in the punishment room.
It was the harshest punishment a student of the Academy could receive short of expulsion.
When the door of the punishment room closed, Cecilia finally felt that she had been left alone.
Being alone.
It was something she had always feared, but for some reason…
The darkness of the punishment room felt so comfortable then.
In a space cut off from everyone, she fell into thought as an individual person for the first time, rather than as a noble lady.
What should she do upon leaving this place? How should she move forward?
Complex thoughts swirled in her head, but the conclusion came easily.
‘First, I must speak with Ashen.’
Apologize for the rudeness she had committed, thank him for saving her, and also…
So a week passed submerged in such thoughts.
Upon leaving the punishment room, Cecilia immediately tried to find Ashen.
And now.
More than three weeks had passed since she left the punishment room, yet she still had not been able to speak to Ashen.
Having finished her thoughts and returned to reality, Cecilia frowned, glaring at the tea liquor for no reason.
Her own reflection was visible upon the red tea.
‘Why can't I talk to him? You idiot.’
The plan had certainly been perfect, but when it actually came to talking with him, she didn't know what to say first.
Nor could she simply strike up a random conversation; the impression from their first conversation remained too vivid.
After brooding repeatedly, Cecilia's eyes lit up and she raised her head.
‘As expected, I can't go on like this.’
She had to accept what must be accepted.
She didn't know what words to speak to a man who was neither a knight nor a nobleman.
Having realized that, what she needed to do was simple.
‘I just need to ask someone who knows well.’
Then who would be best to ask?
Theodora? Another noble student? Or perhaps a commoner student?
‘No, peers cannot be relied upon. Rather, an experienced adult—ah!’
The moment the word “adult” crossed her mind, an ideal adult came to mind.
‘Good. That person would know well.’
Rising from her seat, she immediately set off to find that person.
Because she believed that person would never give a wrong answer.
**
Ten minutes later, Eleonore's office.
“So that is why you came to find me?”
Cecilia nodded repeatedly at Eleonore's question.
“Yes, because you are the most ideal adult I can think of.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I question whether I am a suitable choice.”
Eleonore set down the documents she had been working on and looked at Cecilia.
“I shall do my best for now. Before that, tell me what reason you have for approaching him.”
“I wish to offer an apology and my thanks.”
“An apology and thanks… Hmm, I see.”
Eleonore tilted her head, looking puzzled.
“Can't you just do it?”
“Pardon?”
“If you have something you wish to say, you should simply say it, should you not? I fail to see the point of your question.”
Cecilia looked at Eleonore with an expression asking if she was serious, but her attitude was unyieldingly confident.
An expression that did not doubt her own words were the obvious truth.
Seeing that, Cecilia couldn't help but recall one thing.
‘Come to think of it, Professor Eleonore has lived her whole life as a Holy Knight.’
“Professor, by any chance. Have you ever spoken with other men?”
“Many times. I was in the Holy Knight Order, so I always conversed with male knights.”
“Ah…”
Finally understanding the situation, Cecilia nodded.
It was only natural that Eleonore, who had spent her entire life only among the Holy Knight Order, had no experience conversing with ordinary men.
‘It seems that, respect aside, Professor Eleonore was not the answer after all.’
“…It seems I have disappointed you.”
Perhaps her thoughts had shown on her face; Eleonore looked at her apologetically.
“No, not at all. Your advice was a great help.”
“You need not lie. I knew that I was not a suitable choice.”
“Then might you know someone suitable?”
“A suitable choice…”
Eleonore thought for a moment, then soon clapped her hands as if someone had come to mind.
“I see. A suitable person has come to mind.”
“A suitable person?”
“Someone you know well. She always claims to know a great deal about men during faculty meetings, so she should be of help.”
Rising from her seat, Eleonore reached out her hand to Cecilia.
“Come, let us go. She should be on her break about now.”
“But Professor, what about your paperwork?”
“What could be more important than listening to a student's troubles?”
And so Cecilia was led by Eleonore's hand toward another place.
After another ten minutes.
The place the two arrived at was a professor's office near the Miseri Dormitory.
When the door opened, a room with an atmosphere entirely different from Eleonore's office was revealed.
Ornate decorations strewn throughout the room. The thick scent of incense enough to make one's head ache. And a room filled with hookah smoke.
In the center of that room was a large ebony desk and a brown-skinned woman resting her feet upon it.
“Oh? Eleonore? What's the matter?”
Noticing their presence, the woman leaned forward.
The clothes she wore were priestly robes judging by the patterns, but in appearance they were closer to dresses worn by courtesans.
Recognizing her face, Cecilia made a surprised expression.
“Professor Euphoria?”
“Oh, it's Cecilia. Did you get out of the punishment room? Haha. I don't even remember.”
‘Professor Euphoria, of all people.’
She was certainly someone who knew more about men than anyone else.
For she was a priestess of the Order of Euphoria.
But could she truly receive a proper answer from her?
While Cecilia was worrying over this, Eleonore and Euphoria's conversation had already begun.
“Hmm, hmm. You want to talk with a man but don't know how to start. I completely understand.”
Nodding repeatedly, Euphoria turned her gaze toward Cecilia.
“So what's your relationship with this man?”
“Pardon?”
“I need to know what your relationship is to give you a proper answer. It'll determine how far you need to go as well.”
“…How far?”
“My, curious? Shall I tell you?”
When Cecilia reacted with curiosity, a hazy smile formed at Euphoria's lips.
Just as Cecilia was torn by the curiosity that arose upon seeing that smile, Eleonore stepped forward.
“Please do not say strange things to the student, Professor Euphoria.”
“Aw, you're no fun. Kids these days already know everything there is to know. If you act so stiff, you won't be popular with men.”
“I am not interested.”
“Hmph, how long will that last?”
At Eleonore's answer, Euphoria twirled her hair around her right hand, then turned her gaze back to Cecilia.
“So I'll ask again. What is your relationship with this man? No. What kind of relationship do you want with him?”
Unable to answer immediately, Cecilia fell into thought for a moment.
Ashen and herself.
In the past, she would have confidently declared him “someone she wanted to break.”
But now, what sort of relationship did she have with him?
After her deliberation, Cecilia opened her mouth.
“He is my….”