A Butterfly Through the Mist - Chapter 34

“Ah…!”

Abandoned even by the father he trusted, Gregory wailed in despair, rolling on the floor like a tragic figure. He choked on his sobs, but suddenly, his bloodshot eyes rose.

“Tilia Ambrose, it was that bitch! She came into my room and did that!”

His reasoning for naming Tilia as the one who framed him was simple. On the portrait of the Holy Virgin found in his room, an obscene drawing resembling a lustful dog had been scribbled. No one else at the academy held a grudge against him to that extent, except Tilia. He was sure it was her, bearing resentment for what had happened on their graduation exam day.

‘That damned woman…!’

Gregory shook with fury, cursing. Yes, he had used someone to force-feed her excessive holy water, but it wasn’t his intention to ruin her life completely as his had been now. The holy water was supposed to be just a threat. He’d intended to intimidate her, crush her spirit, and then make her write his name on the exam paper.

What was there to be so upset about? Why was she so furious?

All he wanted was to graduate from the academy.

Tilia Ambrose could always retake a year, but if he didn’t graduate this year, his title was in jeopardy. Just one year—that was all he needed to delay, but now she…

And after all that, she didn’t even let him have her!

“I’ll kill her.”

Gregory spat the words, full of murderous intent, as he struggled to stand. He staggered toward an old desk.

It was a desk with a secret drawer that his mother had arranged to be brought here from his old room.

“Yeah. If I die, I’m not dying alone.”

With trembling hands, Gregory opened the hidden drawer deep inside. His eyes gleamed with malice as he smiled.

In his hand, he held several bottles—each containing a lethal dose of specially treated holy water.

***

Tilia, having safely returned home and taken a refreshing bath, found herself unable to hide her confusion.

After all, the official notice she had placed inside her book the previous night had mysteriously vanished.

‘Where could it be?’

Tilia’s face went pale as she checked the thick book from every angle. She even shook it out entirely, then checked the bookshelf where she had placed it, but the paper was nowhere to be found.

‘It couldn’t have grown legs and walked away, so where on earth…’

“Hey.”

Just then, as Tilia wore a serious expression, the door burst open, and George Ambrose entered with a triumphant look.

“Are you looking for this?”

Tilia instinctively frowned at him, but her face hardened the moment she noticed the paper he was holding.

“You…”

“You really think pretty highly of yourself, huh?”

George leaned against the doorframe arrogantly, examining the stolen document.

“The Ontaroa consulate position? Do you think you can actually go to a place like that?”

“……”

“You think Father will even let you interview for it? A consulate position? Men hate women who parade around pretending to be competent. And what if you fall for some sleazy guy while you’re working there? Who’s going to be responsible for that?”

Tilia clasped her hands, now growing cold, and stared at George.

“Did you search my room?”

“Search? I was inspecting it, checking for anything suspicious. You bought a lot of Ontaroan books too, didn’t you? Where did those come from?”

“……”

“If you’ve stolen that much money from the family, you should think about paying it back, not running off abroad. You think I don’t know what’s going on in your head?”

Clicking his tongue at her, George glanced at Tilia’s expression.

“I thought about telling Father right away, but…”

He spoke condescendingly as he noticed his sister’s pale face.

“Maybe you were just too dumb to realize what you were doing, so I’m giving you a chance. But you know, not for free.”

George cleared his throat, straightened his shoulders, and continued, “You know my friend Brad Reynolds, right? He really wants to meet you. Just go see him once.”

“…Brad Reynolds?”

“Yeah. You know the Reynolds family is a count’s family, right? This is a huge opportunity for you. I’m not just ignoring your nonsense dreams; I’m even introducing you to a decent guy. There’s no brother as good as me, you lucky girl!”

George crossed his arms, boasting.

‘Good thing I thought to check her room, just in case.’

George smirked, recalling his promise to Brad. If he introduced Tilia to Brad, then Brad had agreed to introduce him to his sister next week…

‘If I play it right, I could end up with Brianna Reynolds and even get a piece of the count’s estate.’

While George was lost in his dreams, he heard a cynical laugh.

When he looked down, he saw Tilia leaning back, laughing as if she found everything truly amusing.

Had she lost her mind?

“Oh, sorry. Your words were just too funny.”

Tilia looked at George, her face still not fully rid of her laughter.

“That I was actually applying for the consulate position? Ridiculous.”

“…Don’t try to deny it. I checked all those Ontaroa language books too.”

“Oh, those?”

Tilia looked calmly at the paper bag he pointed to.

“Those are graduation requirements. You need a second language proficiency. Judy and I bought them today, since the academy gives scholarships for books.”

Seeing Tilia’s obvious smirk, George snorted in return. “Then how do you explain the job notice that was tucked inside the thickest book?”

“Me? I hid that there?”

Tilia laughed out loud again, as if it was absurd to accuse her of such a thing.

“I didn’t even know it was there. Why would I hide a notice for a consulate job?”

“You… You wouldn’t mind if I took this to Father and told him everything, would you? Huh? Right?”

George was sure this time Tilia would stop lying, her face turning pale as she begged at his feet.

However, contrary to his expectations, Tilia casually turned to look at the wall mirror, answering indifferently.

“Sure. Go tell him.”

“……”

“Go to Father and tell him that I bought a bunch of Ontaroan books, found some official notice, and that you think I’m planning to apply for the consulate.”

Tilia continued, giggling as if just the thought was amusing, “Sure, he’ll believe that. Even if he does, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t do anything like that.”

Speaking lightly, Tilia turned her body as if she’d finished saying all she had to.

“Now leave. I’m going to sleep.”

“……”

Well then.

“Not leaving? I’m tired.”

Could it be that she really wasn’t involved?

George’s face began to show signs of anxiety.

No, this wasn’t good. If that were the case, he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise to introduce her to Brad.

Feeling his certainty waver, George unconsciously started gauging Tilia’s reaction.

“What now?”

As George didn’t seem inclined to leave, Tilia looked at him with an irritated expression.

“Wasn’t that all you had to say? Get out.”

“Hey, that… Brad is really a decent guy, you know? So…”

“Just be honest.”

As if she had caught onto something, Tilia glared coldly at George.

“You promised that Brad guy you’d introduce me, didn’t you?”

George, caught off guard, nodded.

“Uh, yeah…”

“Why do you always act without thinking? Did you even consider what Father would do if he found out?”

Tilia snapped, glaring at him in annoyance.

“Did you already make the promise? No, forget it. Don’t say anything. It has nothing to do with me.”

Not even wanting to know, Tilia turned her back on him. George, now desperate, crossed the room’s threshold quickly.

“Hey, families are supposed to help each other. You might need something from me later on too.”

“……”

“Just think about it! In the future, you might need my help, right? If you turn a blind eye and help me just this once, I’ll do something big for you later, okay?”

George looked at Tilia earnestly, emphasizing his plea.

“You never know. I might be able to help you someday.”

At his desperate plea, Tilia seemed to consider it for a moment, then sighed, turning her back again.

“Fine. Alright.”

George looked at Tilia, as if seeing a savior, despite her apparent displeasure. But her acceptance came with a condition.

“Since you’re begging me like this, I’ll go. But don’t forget—you owe me for this.”

George nodded so enthusiastically his brain almost rattled.

“Of course! Definitely!”

“And if you go through my room one more time, I’ll tell Father everything about you trying to set me up with Brad or whatever his name is. Be prepared.”

“Of course! I won’t do it again!”

“Now get out.”

“Yeah, have a good night…!”

Bang.

Tilia closed the door on him, not even bothering to hear the end of his farewell.

From beyond the door, she could hear George cursing. But soon, as if recalling what he’d gained, he started humming as he walked away.

Phew.

Only when his footsteps faded into silence did Tilia finally let out the breath she’d been holding, pressing her forehead against the door.