Neris Pendelston, an agent of the Empire’s Intelligence Department and the chief of the Academy branch.
Fortunately, she had been adopted by one of the five noble families of the Empire. However, the total amount of rights often correlates with the weight of obligations, so Neris’s life was a continuous series of hardships and trials.
For instance, the training she received since childhood was one such hardship.
It was rare for her to have a day where she could sleep for four hours. Despite being at an age where she should be focusing on rest, Neris had to study foreign languages or train her body all day long.
Her growth had indeed been significant.
This was thanks to the vision-enhancing drugs owned by the Pendelston family. They possessed the remarkable ability to forcibly relieve physical fatigue and promote the growth of young children.
The only downside was the intense pain that accompanied it.
The Marquis of Pendelston had a particularly negative stance on pain endurance training. However, since the use of the drugs was inevitable, Neris increasingly developed a fear of both the drugs and pain.
And fear often leads to reverence.
The reason Neris had an unusual love for torture and poison must be related to the wounds of her childhood. In such an environment, the woman learned to maintain an unwavering heart.
A heart unshaken by any circumstance.
Although at one point it had been cruelly shattered by Ian, Neris took pride in being a member of the Empire’s Intelligence Department. She had once resolved never to lose her composure over trivial matters.
Yet today, Neris’s resolve faced yet another crisis.
“Recently, it’s true that the Alphenhausen twins have been making suspicious movements. They are mostly in contact with influential figures of the Empire, particularly the higher-ups of the Academy…”
Hoo, ha.
The sound of her deep breath tickled Neris’s ears.
I must ignore it. I must ignore it.
Neris repeated those words in her mind and tightly shut her eyes.
“…The frequency of their contact with the higher-ups has significantly increased. However, it seems this tendency is not limited to just the Alphenhausen twins.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the Academy itself has become more restless. Not only the Alphenhausen twins, but signs of unusual behavior have been detected among most of the influential figures within the Academy.”
Hmm. The man who heard Neris’s report closed his eyes and swallowed hard.
A hint of concern crossed his expression. It seemed he might already possess some information, yet Neris refrained from expressing her curiosity.
It was a lesson learned from the man.
“The Empire’s crows must be oblivious.”
Neris engraved that instruction thoroughly into her heart.
“However, it appears that only a very small number of individuals possess actual information. Most individuals cannot hide their agitation…”
Cough.
It was an overly blatant sound. Eventually, Neris’s calm was shattered, and a small blood vessel popped on her forehead.
At that moment, Ian couldn’t help but show a perplexed expression.
The source of the disturbing noise was closely related to Ian.
Ceria Yuridina.
Famous for the nickname “Yuridina’s Brat,” her name had since garnered enough esteem to earn the elegant title of “Ice Princess.” Either way, it perfectly encapsulated the demeanor of a cold girl.
But now, it was clear that the reality was different.
Ceria was clinging to Ian with a languid expression like a cat. The girl who nestled against the man’s arm while nuzzling her cheek against him looked incredibly happy.
She even occasionally smelled Ian.
It was an embarrassing sight that made it difficult for Neris to bear looking directly at them.
It was also the rare reason for the complaint that slipped out of Neris’s mouth.
“Um, Sir Ian? I apologize for the indiscretion, but it’s inappropriate for an outsider to be present during a report regarding the Empire’s Intelligence Department…”
“It’s fine.”
The response came not from Ian but from the girl.
Without even throwing him a glance, Ceria rubbed her cheek against Ian’s arm.
“Why am I an outsider? Senior Ian is here.”
It was nonsense.
No matter where Ian was, it was clear that Ceria was not part of the Empire’s Intelligence Department. Thus, there was naturally a lack of justification for her presence here.
Nevertheless, the reason Neris didn’t press strongly against her was due to Ceria’s track record.
Outside the office, there were plenty of subordinates sprawled out, groaning in pain. They all rushed at her, but this monstrous woman had overwhelmed them all.
Her skills had evidently increased compared to when Neris last saw her.
Neris couldn’t even guarantee the outcome of a confrontation.
It was then that Ian, with a sigh, asked a question.
“…How did you find your way here?”
“I could smell Senior Ian.”
Ceria’s tone was calm, as if stating the most natural fact.
“While I was searching for Senior Ian, some strange people suddenly tried to stop me, you know?”
The strange one is you.
Neris barely managed to suppress the retort that rose to her throat. The opponent was one of the powers within the Yuridina Clan.
There was no need to provoke conflict.
“So I took care of them all. Hehe…”
Ceria’s cute laughter made Neris groan, trying to calm her burning heart.
I must endure. I must endure.
As she repeated this to herself, Ian’s incredulous reaction followed.
“Ceria… what are you planning to do about the aftermath?”
It was just then.
“That girl will handle it herself.”
In an instant, it felt as if the temperature around them dropped several degrees. Even Neris was startled enough to look back at Ceria.
At that moment, a cold line formed at the corners of the girl’s mouth. So chilling was her smile that her blue eyes looked like winter frost.
It was a murderous intent.
A murderous intent so intense it would make the softest of feathers bristle.
Instinctively, Neris calculated how many daggers remained in her possession. However, the girl’s emotions were not directed at her.
“I even got permission on purpose… If it means claiming Senior Ian, I’d do whatever it takes.”
The smile that curled at the corners of her eyes was strangely mischievous.
Soon, her blue eyes slowly shifted. She was departing the world where only the man existed to welcome an uninvited guest who interrupted their long-awaited reunion.
“So, Senior Ian… who is this woman?”
“For now, I’m in charge. And today’s events are a secret, so don’t go telling anyone.”
“……Ah.”
Ceria exclaimed in a deliberately exaggerated manner, subtly scanning Neris from head to toe.
For some reason, Neris felt an oddly unpleasant sensation causing her lips to quiver. She could barely maintain her false smile.
“Now that I think about it, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before…”
Of course, she had seen her somewhere.
Neris had accompanied Ian to the North. Initially, she had concealed her identity, but later, she had no choice but to reveal herself during battle.
Ceria, of all people, should be aware of this.
The girl’s face had by now turned rigid and cold. The light in her eyes that stared at Neris had long since vanished.
“I should be careful.”
A warning that seemed directed at no one.
Whether it was a reminder to herself or a message thrown at Neris, either way, Neris felt her anger rising.
The very person who had made a dreadful mess of her precious workplace and subordinates. How could she act so brazenly?
This was why Neris truly despised nobles.
Unable to suppress the words that escaped her lips.
“…Indeed.”
The two frozen gazes met in the air.
Neris maintained a feigned smile while deflecting the girl’s icy stares.
“You should be careful, in every way.”
Thus, time weighed down by silence passed.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
Moments later, the sound of the girl drawing her sword echoed sharply. Neris immediately responded by pulling daggers into her hands.
It was a confrontation she had to properly engage in as the chief of the Academy branch.
Well, if only the man present wasn’t there.
“Stop it, seriously…”
After a plea laden with a sigh, Ian finally had to pull out an axe.
It truly had been a long time since he had to resort to it.
It was only after Ian’s loving guidance that Ceria could finally regain her composure.
Neris trembled and fell to the ground as soon as she saw the axe.
It was a new routine that had come into my life.
The following day saw Ceria’s persistent company.
As if making up for the time they had missed being together, Ceria showed a strong attachment to me. She even went so far as to wait all night in front of the dormitory door.
This was a somewhat awkward situation for me.
While Ceria had always been somewhat dependent, it had never been to this extent before.
The two reasons I could guess behind this were clear.
The first was Ceria confessing her feelings to me.
Having already laid her heart bare, there was no longer any reason for her to suppress herself. Perhaps that’s why she was showing this overt attachment.
And the other reason was the presence of Senior Delphine.
I had no clue what had happened between the sisters. However, based on Ceria’s testimony, it was evident that their relationship had not improved.
Perhaps that memory made Ceria even more rampageous.
On another note, I felt a sense of relief.
There was only one night left until the ‘Holy Night Festival.’ I had been worried that I might end up dancing with Reto like last year, but with Ceria back, I no longer had to worry about pairing.
Surely she wouldn’t try to take me from someone else.
Just as I was thinking this complacently.
“Ah, Sir Ian!”
From a distance, a girl was bouncing towards me, announcing her presence.
