Noel.
He looked at Lucy and hesitated a little, then opened his mouth.
Why are you so down?
He asked, but he seed to already know that Lucy had lost the top spot. In fact, his brother Eric could not have said anything to his brother because he won the top spot he wanted so much.
Lucy just bowed her head without answering, and Noel scratched the back of his head.
Im sorry, sunbae.
Noel apologized out of the blue. Lucy looked up again with a quizzical expression.
Why are you.?
Its just that sunbaes grades.
In the end, he talked about Lucys performance with difficulty.
Im so sorry, its all because of my brother. If I had told you earlier, you wouldnt have had to worry about the necklace.
Eric, who stole Lucys necklace and Felixs school uniform, was given a week of probation and 50 derit points. Returning what he stole was taken into account and the fact that he did it due to extre academic stress.
It was an ambiguous punishnt, not heavy or light. It was a decision that showed the Academys concern about protecting Erics prestige as a junior while not going against the sentints of Prince Berg, who had his school uniform stolen.
Eric should have been deprived of his chance to take the test. Maybe if you were only in the sa year as the Bergs.
Noel hesitated and spoke.
He was right. The academy set the level of punishnt in consideration of both Felix and Erics positions, but it did not think about Lucys position, another victim.
Although she was the top student, Lucy was a commoner. The Academy may have been secretly hoping that a student from a noble family would take the top spot, not a commoner. Thats why they didnt take the chance to take the test from Eric.
However, Eric was not entirely to bla for Lucys lower-than-expected ranking. No, at so point she didnt care a bit about Eric.
It was a completely different boy who gave her a hard ti while preparing for the exam.
Well, actually, I didnt miss the test because my necklace was missing.
Lucy answered, shaking her head.
I just I couldnt concentrate on studying because I wasnt feeling well this ti. I was really nervous when I took the test.
You cant always be in good shape. I think its great that youve been in first place for a year and a half!
Noel suddenly spoke with a loud voice.
After that, he tried to relieve Lucys subdued mood. Then, he suddenly turned his head and looked toward the main building. Lucys eyes followed his sudden action.
A man with blond hair, who was very visible from a distance, was walking this way. Lucy realized at once that he was Felix just by looking at him walking with one hand in his pocket.
Well, Im going now.
Lucy got up from her seat. She didnt feel like running into Felix now. Suddenly, Noel stood up following Lucy, who was about to leave the bench.
Oh Isnt that Felix sunbae?
Noel asked, following Lucy, who was moving quickly.
I think he is coming to you
Ignoring Noels words, Lucy kept walking. As Noel kept glancing back, Felix seed to be following Lucy without stopping.
Lucy slipped into a nearby building as fast as she could. Hiding behind a large pillar, Felix ca into the building and looked for her. Soon after, he couldnt find Lucy and disappeared.
Why are you hiding? I think Felix ca to thank you. asked Noel, who was hiding with Lucy behind the pillar.
Thank ?
Lucy asked back with a quizzical look at Noels words.
They both topped this ti. Felix and Adrian. Adrian is a given, but its all thanks to Lucy that Felix also took the top spot
Both of them?
Lucy opened her eyes wide.
Adrian and his twin, Felix, were expected to have good brains, but she never imagined Felix could get the top spot in such a short period of ti.
See? You can do it well.
Lucy thought of Felix preparing hard for the test without realizing it, and shook her head in surprise.
But now its none of my business.
Whether Felix was at the top or last place, it was no longer Lucys business. Looking at where Felix disappeared, she smiled bitterly.
* * *
Lucy doesnt want to think about Felix any more. However, not hearing his na was not easy because the news that he joined Adrian to the top spot was such a hot topic among other students.
The book club mbers were also constantly clamoring about the surprising news.
I heard Felix sunbae failed in all his subjects before
How did he get a perfect score at once?
I guess hes been hiding his skills
Or the duke put pressure on the academy to fix his score a little.
Well, if youre the successor, and youre inferior to your brother, youll look terrible..
Shh!
Adrian appeared as the wild speculation crossed the line. The mbers hurriedly shut up and watched Adrians countenance.
But he didnt seem to hear the murmur. As soon as he ca in, he took several envelopes with Bergs seal from his bag and held them out to the mbers.
Take one at a ti.
It was an invitation to a banquet to be held in the Berg family mansion two days later.
That day is Felixs birthday and . I want everyone who has ti to co.
It was the first ti that his juniors were invited to his birthday. Last year alone, only two male students, who always go with the twins, were able to receive invitations.
Huh? Can we go?
Jemima asked with a surprised look on her face whether she thought the sa thing.
Of course, its my last birthday before I beco an adult. I really want you guys to co this ti.
Everyone was buzzing with excitent and anticipation, and hurriedly opened the invitation from Adrian.
In it, Lucy beca alone in a difficult situation. It was only a few days ago that he went to see Felix first and asked him not to see her again in private, but now shes invited to his birthday banquet.
She slipped the invitation she received from Adrian on the table. It seed embarrassing and strange for her to attend.
Adrian found it and pushed the invitation back to Lucy. He asked quietly after confirming that the other mbers were distracted by the invitation.
Youre not coming?
Oh, thats.
Lucy, who couldnt answer because she couldnt bear to see Felixs face, hesitated.
Dont be so discouraged.
Adrian, however, began to cheer Lucy up with a friendly tone as if he had misunderstood sothing else.
Being the top is not given. Its not easy at all. I know that very well.
Then he grinned playfully. At that mont, Lucy was surprised to see Felix on his face.
And just because your grades are down this ti doesnt an its over. You can pull it up again on the next test. Im sure itll go up next ti because youve been doing well so far.
It was all the more touching because it is said by Adrian, not anyone else. She never thought about it before, but sohow, she felt the sa way thinking that she should try harder to protect the first place.
So why dont you co to the banquet instead of being depressed?
He presented the invitation once again. But still Lucy hesitated, Adrian asked with a worried look.
Wait, you dont look so happy or do you have any other concerns?
Its just its the scholarship.
Perhaps because of Adrians soft voice, Lucy unwittingly brought up her own troubles.
Scholarship?
I dont think Ill be able to take the top spot this sester I dont know if I can get a reduction in tuition for the next school year.
Oh, I see.
Adrian looked sad when she finally found out about Lucys real problem. Then he tapped the invitation and said in a confident tone.
Then you should co to the banquet even more.
Lucy looked puzzled by Adrians vague words.
Even though its our birthday party. There are more aristocrats who co to put their eyes on the next Duke of Berg than the people who congratulate us from the bottom of their hearts or they just want to make more connections with our father. Thats why most of the people who will attend the party are our fathers acquaintances. Maybe you can find soone there to back you up.
Lucy opened her eyes wide at Adrians unexpected words.
A sponsor.
It was an unexpected way to find a sponsor other than Baron Conor.
It was common for high-ranking nobles to sponsor talented children. The children of the lower aristocracy, who had no financial leeway due to the collapse of the family, used to form a sponsorship relationship with them to continue their studies.
It didnt sound so bad. Of course, she was a commoner, not of noble birth. Nevertheless, she has been at the top for three sesters. That point deserved a good enough score.
Sienna
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