A Butterfly Through the Mist - Chapter 4

“You…!”

“What? Are you going to hit me?”

Tilia, despite being faced with a man a head taller than herself, showed no sign of backing down. Instead, she gazed at him with mocking eyes, a smooth smile playing on her lips.

“You came all the way here, trembling with fear, afraid I might say something. Do you even have the guts to throw a punch? That would get you expelled on the spot.”

Though Tilia hadn’t heard Gregory’s entire plan, she was fully aware of why he had followed her.

“Don’t worry. I won’t be telling your beloved father, the revered Earl Gregory, about your filthy words. But in exchange…” she said softly, watching him flinch at the mention of his father.

“You’ll have to apologize.”

“…What?”

“Apologize. Or admit you’re no better than a dog digging through trash.”

The moment Gregory met Tilia Ambrose’s cruel, gleaming green eyes, he realized his mistake. He should never have spoken to her. He should have turned and walked away after the first insult. This was the daughter of a poor baron family, infamous for her viciousness. He had gotten caught in her web.

Damn it.

Gregory knew that Tilia Ambrose, of all people, was not someone who would hesitate to act. Frantically, he looked around, searching for help, but all he saw were people gawking, waiting to see the commotion unfold. No one was there to pull him out of this situation.

“What are you doing?” Tilia pressed. “Still thinking about it? For the record, I’m fine with getting hit. If one punch from you gets you expelled after all your extended time here, that’s more than enough for me. Go ahead, Gregory.”

“You…!”

Unable to contain his rage any longer, Gregory Myers’ fist began to tremble, just as a voice interrupted him.

“Stop, Gregory.”

Gregory turned his head toward the voice, and there she was—Cecilia Clayton, daughter of the Marquis of Clayton, walking up the stairs with her fiery red hair gleaming like a May rose. She was the lifeline Gregory had been waiting for.

“Cecilia!”

“Gregory, why are you always so desperate to pick fights with ladies?”

Unlike Gregory, whose face lit up with relief, Cecilia’s pale blue eyes glinted with disapproval.

“You should be ashamed of yourself.”

As the eldest daughter of the Clayton family, which had long been close to the Myers family, Cecilia scolded him sternly.

“What are you waiting for? Get out of here.”

“T-Tilia, you should be thankful to Cecilia for saving you!” Gregory spat out a third-rate villain’s line as he fled, looking like he had just been granted a reprieve.

“Are you okay, Tilia?”

Tilia, who had been staring at Gregory’s retreating figure, turned her head toward Cecilia’s voice.

“You must have been really shaken.”

The sound of expensive shoes, adorned with jewels, echoed as Cecilia stopped next to Tilia’s worn-out flats.

“What can you do? Boys are naturally stupid. Just let it go.”

Cecilia’s ocean-blue eyes softened kindly. Her fiery red hair, contrasting against those clear blue eyes, complemented her striking features, earning her the nickname “Rose of the Blue Sea.”

The moment Cecilia intervened, the surrounding onlookers, who had been anticipating a fight, quickly lost interest and turned away.

But as she gazed at Tilia, a subtle crack appeared in Cecilia’s warm expression, one not easily noticed.

‘She’s really a troublemaker.’

Cecilia discreetly looked Tilia over from head to toe. The first thing that caught her eye was the dull gray uniform, still unaltered since it had first been issued to her. The buttons and ribbon were the most basic design, and the uniform hadn’t been tailored to fit her properly.

Cecilia’s gaze then dropped to Tilia’s scuffed shoes, and for a brief moment, sympathy flickered in her pale blue eyes.

Tilia Ambrose—no money, no connections, and not even a shred of cunning. A foolish girl who seemed to believe that all she had to do was study hard to graduate near the top of her class.

‘Why does she live such a hard life? She must know there’s an easier, more secure path.’

Cecilia’s eyes traveled back up from Tilia’s poor attire to her face.

…Maybe that’s just her type?

For a moment, Cecilia thought of Ilex Davenport, whose eyes had lingered on the path leading to the library. No matter how harshly she judged Tilia, her flawless skin and refined features would surely attract many men if she kept her mouth shut.

Her crow-black hair, though not a favored color in the kingdom, shone with a healthy luster, and her piercing green eyes, though rebellious, held a captivating charm.

How unfortunate.

How unfortunate it was that someone so smart had no grasp of reality.

‘She’d be better off using different weapons than wasting time studying.’

Even if Tilia graduated second in her class, this was a world with strict social hierarchies. No matter how much the world trembled with unrest, she would never surpass Gregory Myers.

Having finished her musings, Cecilia spoke kindly, “Tilia, are you going to study again?”

“Yeah. It’s exam season, after all.”

“Such a model student. Watching you study makes me feel anxious about my own grades.”

“You’ll do fine as always, Cecilia. See you later.”

“…Wait, Tilia.”

Cecilia called out impulsively as Tilia turned to leave.

“Are you planning to get a job after graduation?”

To ask any other noble lady if she intended to work would have been terribly rude, but this was Tilia Ambrose. Everyone in the kingdom knew that the Ambrose family was practically in ruins.

Just as Cecilia expected, Tilia showed no sign of offense as she calmly asked, “And if I am?”

“The secretary working at our family’s estate office just got married,” Cecilia said brightly, her eyes gleaming. “So there’s an open position at our estate. I could write you a recommendation letter… What do you think?”

Although she felt a little uneasy about bringing someone like Tilia into the family estate, Cecilia figured it would be better than leaving her in the capital, destitute.

“It would be better than working as a tutor for some other family. It’s much more respectable to be a secretary at the marquis’ estate.”

Tilia, who had stopped mid-turn, now fully faced Cecilia. Sunlight fell at a sharp angle, illuminating her black hair and pale face. Her dark green eyes, slightly translucent under the strong sunlight, stood in contrast to her black hair, which seemed to absorb the light, appearing even darker.

“Thanks, Cecilia.”

“Don’t mention it. We have to help each other out as fellow academy students.”

“Thanks, but I’ll only consider it if my grades drop.”

Wishing her a good day with a bright smile, Tilia turned her back without hesitation. Judy Wells, as unremarkable as ever, trailed behind her, trying to keep up.

‘What pride,’ Cecilia thought as she watched Tilia’s worn-out uniform fade into the distance. She let out a soft laugh, but a chill emanated from the sound.

How foolish.

No wonder she clung so desperately to her scholarship.

Annoyed that she had felt even the slightest sympathy for Tilia, Cecilia quickly turned and walked away. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the nagging thoughts about that poor girl who had just left.

The path to the library, where Ilex had been watching so tensely a little while ago, stretched out, lined with trees, and there, at the end of it, was that ebony-black hair.

‘…No, that’s ridiculous.’

Cecilia laughed at her own absurd thoughts and shook her head.

There had been plenty of people walking along that path. Surely, Ilex hadn’t been watching that brazen girl. It was just her imagination. After all, Ilex Davenport wasn’t the type to look at anyone’s back.

And he never would be.

Cecilia, with a cold smile, pushed those thoughts aside and walked away without a second thought.

***

“Ugh, Gregory Myers is the worst, isn’t he? He’s notorious for hanging around with lowlifes,” Judy grumbled as they entered the library, casting cautious glances at Tilia all the while.

“That guy doesn’t even realize it, but he talks trash about every girl. Do you think he’s ever harassed only one person? He probably badmouths anyone whose name he notices.”

Judy, who had been fuming with anger, throwing punches in the air, glanced at Tilia again.

“So, you know, Tilia… You don’t have to be hurt by what he said.”

“I’m not hurt.”

“When did Gregory even say something like that? If you’d told me, I’d have joined in cursing him out!”

“I’ve been so focused on studying that I don’t even remember. And honestly, I’d already forgotten about it.”

Judy still looked skeptical, but Tilia was telling the truth.

Contrary to her friend’s concerns, nothing Gregory had said bothered her in the slightest. Even Cecilia’s subtle digs hadn’t affected her. The words of privileged nobles, who had grown up pampered in good homes, were too blunt to hurt Tilia.

“…But still, promise me you’ll tell me next time. Okay?”

As Judy, convinced that her friend was deeply hurt, spoke with genuine concern, Tilia responded with a playful grin, “And what would you do if I told you?”

“I’d confront them with you, of course! I’d curse them out!”

“You can curse?”

“Of course!”

Amused by her usually timid friend trying to act tough, Tilia smiled warmly.

“Those sons of bitches! Where do they get the nerve…?”

“J-Judy!”

But when Judy suddenly started cursing viciously, Tilia’s face turned pale, and she rushed to cover her friend’s mouth.

“This is a library!”

“Oh, right.”

Judy, who had just shocked everyone in the library with her aggressive outburst, suddenly shrank back, looking embarrassed.

“Where did you even learn those curses?”

“My brothers taught me. Told me to use them when needed.”

Judy’s innocent explanation left Tilia momentarily speechless. She had almost forgotten that Judy was the youngest daughter of the Wells family, known for producing fierce knights.

“Next time, I’ll definitely curse them out. Got it, Tilia? Just leave it to me.”

Tilia couldn’t help but laugh at her friend’s overly serious expression. It was a laugh so bright that it once again drew the attention of those who had briefly turned their heads away.