1. The First Letter (43)
Night fell, but the light and heat did not go away from the academy.
The academy’s research building, whose lights never went out, was like a lighthouse. There, many scholars would be wrapping their heads and concentrating on their studies.
Even if it wasn’t just the research building, the night at the academy was always bright. This place, where tens of thousands of people reside, was enough to satisfy the conditions to become a downtown by itself.
The splendid building in front of me now was the same. A soft light radiated from the building, showing off its presence.
It was one of the academy’s dormitories. It is said that only high-ranking aristocrats can afford expensive dormitory fees and that only those with outstanding skills can join the company.
The ‘Aidalos Coffin’, named after the great conquering emperor, maintained an antique atmosphere at night. It was said that there were several times more servants serving them than staying students.
I also stayed in the noble dormitory, but the Aidalos Hall was on a different level.
My room was just a single room, the right size for living alone. However, I heard that each room here is reminiscent of the size of the mansion.
With only a few dozen people living in that large building, it was easy to imagine how luxurious it was. I was swallowing dry saliva with the Aidalos coffin in front of me. It felt like my fingertips were getting stiff from unnecessary tension.
There was only one reason for me to visit the Aidalos House, which I had no ties to. It was because Delphine Yurdina invited me.
She was the heir to the 5th generation family of the Empire and one of the most talented in the academy. He was well qualified to stay in the Aidalos coffin, and there were no nobles who refused privileges in the empire.
She was the only one who would call me to this luxurious dormitory. In other words, I was invited to Delphine Yurdina’s private space.
A man and a woman meet alone at night, and the place is a woman’s room. No matter how much I thought about it, it gave off a strange feeling, but it was after the promise had already been made.
Even so, after hesitating for a long time, I tried to step forward without hesitation like a proud Imperial nobleman.
If it wasn’t for someone who was following me.
Someone grabbed the hem of my clothes as I was about to step forward. My eyes naturally turned to my back.
There, a beautiful girl with gray hair and deep blue eyes was staring at me with rather watery eyes.
It was Seria. A sigh escaped from my mouth.
“Seria, don’t worry.”
“Yeah, but… … .”
Seria lowered her head and began to hesitate. Even so, she did not loosen her grip on the hem of my clothes.
She had been in this state ever since she heard from me that she had an appointment with Delphine. Even after the evening training was over, they followed me and kept repeating the word ‘be careful’.
I’m not going to meet some high-ranking witch, and Delphine must be a noble lady with culture and learning, but I couldn’t figure out why she was doing this.
If you ask Seria the reason out of frustration,
“Unnie, once you like it, you have to do it somehow, so it’s a personality that makes you feel free. Even if someone steals it.”
Could it be that he liked my hatchet?
Then it wouldn’t matter if you paid a reasonable price and sold it. Since the heir of the Yurdina family will never run out of money, he might be able to get a good price.
Despite my consolation, Seria could only cry. I felt embarrassed because she had never looked at me so earnestly.
Since I became a noble, I couldn’t break my promise, and it was impossible to take Seria with me since we decided to watch it alone in the first place.
I couldn’t help it. I spoke to Seria in a firm tone.
“Seria, it’s time to go. Surely you don’t want to dishonor me for breaking your promise?”
“Yeah, that’s right… … .”
Seria must have been unable to hold onto me any longer because of my stern voice, so she slowly relaxed her grip on the hem of my clothes with a sullen expression.
The look was pretty cute. When we first met, she showed only a face as cold as a piece of ice, but before I knew it, she was showing quite a bit of emotional ups and downs.
And the fact that I was the only one with whom she was so emotional gave me a vague sense of satisfaction. It shouldn’t be like this.
I suppressed the shady desire lurking in my heart. And, as always when reassuring Seria, he squeezed Seria’s hand with both hands.
It’s happened several times already, but every time we held hands, Seria would look at me with startled eyes. At that time, I used to tell Seria with sincerity.
“It’s because I also want to meet Delphine and confirm something. You won’t lose anything, so don’t worry. Seria.”
“… … Yes. Since it’s what senior Ian said, I’ll believe it.”
Seria nodded her head with her cheeks blushing slightly, as if she was relieved to some extent. Seen at night, her beauty shines even more. It was a great fortune to be able to earn the respect of such a beautiful junior.
I thought so and took another step. And the inside of the Aidalos Coffin, which was entered, was so splendid and antique that the voice of “Yes,” came out naturally.
It was only a lobby at best, but dozens of employees were coming and going to take care of their work. The manager who greeted me at the entrance was one of them.
He said he had already heard the story from senior Delphine, and bowed his head respectfully. He took the lead as if he was used to it and started guiding me.
It was a neat job. Like a hillbilly new to town, I looked around and admired the inside of the Aidalos coffin.
How many times can I see the Aidalos Coffin in the future? Maybe today is the last chance. So I pressed the interior of the Aidalos coffin into my head even more.
It was an intention to boast to Leto and Celine later. It was the inside story of the secret Aidalos coffin. It would be an interesting story for the two of them, who together with me form the three musketeers of the lower aristocrats of the empire.
As I walked with such thoughts, I was in front of the door before I knew it. A door too big to be a door to a room where only one person lives.
Smart, the manager who guided me knocked on the door. And he said in a low voice.
“Delphin Yurdina, Ian Percus, whom you mentioned earlier, has visited.”
There was no answer from inside. Instead, the door opened by itself. I opened my eyes wide in surprise, but the caretaker seemed unmoved, as if he had seen it thousands of times.
He bowed his head at me and pointed his arm inward. I meant to go in.
I caught my breath. In front of this was Delphine Yurdina’s private room. The sense of immorality of stepping into that secret space that would not be revealed to anyone made me hesitate for a moment.
But I immediately shook my head and brushed off my thoughts. She was a woman with the courage to invite a man she had never seen before. She didn’t seem to think of me in particular, and maybe her private room was just another social gathering place for Delphine Yurdina.
The thing that greeted me as I entered Delphine-senpai’s room while controlling my mind like that.
“… … Long time no see, ‘The Hatchet Confucius’.”
It was Delphine sitting in a disheveled posture, nude and wearing only a gown.
The scarlet light in the soft room illuminated her pale skin. And crimson eyes that contain boredom as thick as honey, and charming lips.
Brilliant blond hair did not lose its light even in the dark. And the curves she possesses as a woman, revealed by the clinging gown.
One day, my head was dizzy. There was a strong scent in her room. I couldn’t even tell what the scent was. It was just the smell of a woman, the only thought that crossed his mind.
It took quite a long time until I came to my senses. I, who was appreciating Delphine’s plump breastbone exposed through the gown as if possessed, jumped up and shouted as soon as I managed to come to my senses.
“No, no, no… No matter what, you should pack something!”
Then I immediately looked away, but Delphine’s expression didn’t change at all. She sipped the wine from her glass and asked me in a rather puzzled voice.
“… … why?”
The question I threw while tilting my head.
My brain went blank for a moment at that question. Why? There were many reasons. Even in the midst of embarrassment, I stuttered and began to explain the reason.
“No, that… I’m an extramarital man, and Delphine-senpai, as the heir to the Yurdina family, needs to cherish that noble body a little more… … .”
“Is it ugly to look at?”
“no! I’m pretty, but… … .”
When my words about the importance of fidelity faded away, Delphine sighed and laughed.
Her bloody eyes stared at me silently. While avoiding my gaze as if embarrassed, a satisfied smile formed on her lips as she confirmed my glance at her.
“Then, feel free to look at it, it’s probably a rare piece of art… In the old words, did you say ‘Changhae Yuju’?”
And she slowly got up. There was a rustling sound and the soft cloth of the gown rubbing against it. At first glance, I felt as if her pure white naked body had been revealed a little more.
As Delphine-senpai approached, I became restless and backed away. But to no avail.
She walked silently, and before I knew it, she was right in front of me. She gave a hazy smile.
“Welcome to my room, Ian Perkus.”
Only then did I understand Seria’s warning to some extent.
Those words to be careful of Delphine.
It felt like something was being taken away. Cold sweat ran down my back.