CIRN 49

Chapter 49

Irene frowned disapprovingly as she watched Ruska greet Ibi.

“You probably don’t even need to take this class.”

Ruska didn’t back down.

“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that? You always had a flock of girls clinging to you. Where did they all go, and why are you suddenly acting like this?”

Irene and Ruska glared at each other like two cats with their fur standing on end.

Next to them, Professor Malles sighed, placing a hand on his forehead.

“Why are there suddenly so many students in this class…? This wasn’t supposed to happen…”

At that, Irene—still growling at Ruska—pulled Ibi over to her side and said,

“Anyway, Ibi, let’s switch to another class.”

Hearing that, Ruska widened his eyes.

“You’re thinking of switching classes? Then how about Professor Rooster’s class?”

This time, Arcel chimed in.

“Professor Rooster’s class is in the main building, on the first floor…”

“Hold it! You kids!”

Professor Malles angrily interrupted them.

“How can you show up to my class and talk about switching to another professor’s class right in front of me?!”

The three—Irine, Ruska, and Arcel—replied in unison.

“But it’s too far!”

“It’s way too far!”

“I do agree the classroom is quite far from the others.”

At their combined complaints, Professor Malles turned to Ibi.

“Child! What do you think?”

Ibi gave an awkward smile and replied.

“Um… It is a little far.”

At Ibi’s response, the three pounced with more arguments.

“You saw earlier, Professor. If Ibi keeps running to class like this and ends up falling or getting hurt, what then?”

“Exactly, Professor. I can run around just fine, but a small kid like her will struggle!”

“I also believe this classroom is not ideal for efficient transitions between classes. Therefore, I recommend one closer to the main building…”

“Fine! I get it! I’ll do something and try to get the class moved to the main building! So just—!”

Professor Malles, mourning the quiet future that had flown away, slumped his shoulders and muttered weakly.

“Just don’t switch classes, okay? And stop bringing more kids.”

At his words, the three—excluding Ibi—grinned in satisfaction.

They, too, didn’t want more students joining this class.

* * *

Professor Malles ended the class early, saying he’d speak with the dean.

Thanks to that, Ibi and the others left early and headed toward the main building.

“It’s almost lunchtime, let’s go to the cafeteria. I have a free period next. What about you, Ibi?”

“I’m free next period too.”

As the two happily headed toward the cafeteria, Ruska popped his face between them.

“Let’s go together. I’m free too. Oh, Arcel, you’re heading back, right?”

Ruska looked over his shoulder and asked Arcel.

“I’m coming with you.”

“Huh? You’re joining us for lunch?”

“Yeah. Why are you so surprised?”

“Well, it’s just…”

Arcel didn’t like showing others how he ate.

Back when they first met, it had taken several weeks for Ruska to even get him to have a meal together.

And now he’s coming willingly?

‘What a surprise.’

Why was he acting so out of character?

But Ruska couldn’t tease Arcel for being weird.

Because even he thought he was acting strange today.

‘I just woke up early today.’

Ruska, who often joked he’d do anything for five more minutes of sleep, had gotten out of bed the moment he opened his eyes. He ran straight to the bathroom and washed thoroughly from head to toe.

If his father had seen it, he would’ve been shocked.

Ruska loved to play, so he often slept late and woke up late.

Even when he knew he had to wash, he usually squirmed in bed like a caterpillar, muttering complaints.

But today, he got up, washed, dressed, and even knocked on Arcel’s door to tell him to hurry up.

‘But the truth is… I kept thinking about her.’

That small child he’d seen on the first day at the academy had stuck in his mind.

‘It feels strangely like meeting an old friend after a long time.’

That couldn’t be. Ibi said she was from a distant orphanage. There’s no way they’d met before. And yet, he couldn’t understand why he instantly liked her and wanted to look after her.

Then, suddenly, a name long buried in Ruska’s memory surfaced.

‘Lillian?’

He stopped walking in shock.

‘That’s impossible.’

When Lillian died, he cried all day.

And the very next day, he smiled again. As if he had forgotten her.

Later, when Clois became emperor and built a tomb for her in the imperial palace, he told both Ruska and Arcel:

“Lillian cared deeply for both of you. You’re welcome to visit her if you wish.”

But neither Ruska nor Arcel ever visited that grave.

‘Maybe Arcel thought the same as I did.’

That if they saw her tomb, they’d have to accept that Lillian was really gone.

And that the child Lillian begged them to protect had also died.

So, from then on, they never spoke of her again.

It worked, to some extent. They hadn’t met anyone who reminded them of Lillian since.

Because Lillian was Lillian.

‘But now…’

It wasn’t just the color of her eyes that reminded him of Lillian.

There were plenty of people in the world with green eyes.

‘Then what is it that’s similar?’

Just then, Ibi’s gaze met his.

Green eyes looked at him with a bright, innocent smile, completely free of wariness.

“Ah.”

Ruska couldn’t help but sigh.

Now he understood what was similar.

He paused mid-step.

He knew it was a silly thought.

Yet he couldn’t stop wondering.

What if Lillian hadn’t died…?

What if Princess Evevien, who once said she looked forward to meeting them someday, hadn’t died either…?

“Ruska?”

Was it because he had suddenly stopped, looking dazed?

Ibi let go of Irene’s hand and ran over to him.

Her green eyes looked up at him, full of concern, but Ruska still couldn’t find the words.

“Um, Ibi. By any chance, are you…”

But he didn’t finish the question.

Princess Evevien’s body had been personally taken care of by the emperor and buried in the palace.

So this—this wild hope—was just a fantasy.

“No. Let’s hurry.”

Ruska forced a playful smile, choking back emotion, and walked ahead of her.

Normally, he would’ve told Arcel every little thing.

But this—this thought—he couldn’t share.

Because Arcel, just like him, wanted to see Lillian again more than anything.

‘And if I said it…’

Arcel might dismiss it as nonsense and even distance himself from Ibi. And that was the last thing Ruska wanted.

In the end, Ruska and Arcel walked on, unaware that they were both thinking the same thing, trailing in front of and behind Ibi.

* * *

“Glad we came early.”

Ruska whistled as he looked around the mostly empty cafeteria.

Thanks to Professor Malles ending class early, they had arrived before the lunch rush.

The four of them put down their bags and headed to the serving area.

At the front, today’s lunch options were listed.

Ibi stared at the sign.

“What’s wrong? Can’t decide?” Irene asked.

Ibi nodded.

The truth was, Ibi had never really had to make food choices before.

Breakfast was always a fixed menu—salad, fruit, juice, and an omelet with mushrooms and cheese.

Dinner was whatever leftovers remained since she always ate last.

And for lunch, she usually avoided crowds by eating a sandwich alone.

So she’d never really picked from a menu before—especially not one this varied.

‘There’s too much food!’

She had never even approached the menu board due to all the students crowding around.

She didn’t expect there to be so many choices!

Ibi quickly scanned the menu. There were over seven dishes at a glance. But the real problem was—

‘I don’t know what any of this is.’