A Butterfly Through the Mist - Chapter 52

The second graduation exam at the academy was a debate-style oral evaluation, where five students sat around a round table to discuss in front of a panel of judges.

Since both the groups and the topics were chosen at random, extensive practice was required to become familiar with debate-style speaking.

Unlike the first exam, where it was every student for themselves, the second exam required a learning community to practice debates on various topics together.

‘Who should I pick?’

Naturally, this applied to Tilia, who had preferred to study alone. Preparing for the second exam alone—an exam that also assessed interaction with others, not just the way arguments were structured—would be nothing short of foolish.

‘I’ll definitely team up with Judy, so that’s one of the five sorted. Maybe I’ll ask Diana, who was in my class before…’

Tilia was deep in thought about how to form her group when a voice called her from behind.

“Hello, Tilia.”

Turning her head, Tilia saw a group of three or four young ladies led by a woman with red hair.

Tilia looked at the group adorned with various ribbons and jewels and directed her attention to the one who seemed to have called her.

“Hello, Cecilia.”

Half of the group had disappeared—probably filtered out by the first exam, she thought indifferently, as she finished her greeting and turned back around.

“How brazen!”

Before she could leave, a woman standing beside Cecilia, with a fancy jeweled pin in her hair, snapped at her.

Though it sounded like she was muttering to herself, it was obvious her words were aimed at Tilia, who paused and turned to look at her.

Under Tilia’s gaze, the woman with the jeweled pin, who had spoken boldly, seemed to shrink back slightly.

“F-flirting with an engaged man, how can she be so shameless!”

However, as if remembering who she was standing beside, the woman puffed up her chest dramatically and continued in an exaggerated tone.

“Stop it, Hailey.”

The next voice, steadier than the first, belonged to someone who seemed better at acting—a friend of the woman with the jeweled pin, who now attempted to soothe her anger as if it were part of a script.

“How was your vacation, Tilia?”

“Oh, you know, the usual. What about you, Cecilia?”

“I was quite busy. I was preparing for my engagement with Ilex.”

Ah. Tilia let out a small sound of realization, finally understanding why this tiresome drama had begun.

It seemed that the rumored engagement between Ilex and Cecilia had finally come to pass.

Last semester, their relationship had been rocky, but they must have reconciled over the break.

“It seems the engagement ceremony will take place before graduation. The Davenport family has been insisting on it.”

“I see.”

“Yes. I thought you, at least, should know.”

“Well, congratulations.”

“…Is that all you have to say?”

“What else?”

Tilia spoke gently, looking at Cecilia, whose face looked paler, perhaps from her engagement preparations.

“Is there something else you’d like to hear?”

The moment Cecilia mentioned her engagement, Tilia realized why she had deliberately chosen this crowded path to start the scene.

It was clear that the story about Ilex Davenport sending flowers to her every day had spread throughout society.

In hindsight, it was such an obvious story that Tilia wondered why she hadn’t thought of it sooner.

It wasn’t just the loose-tongued servants to blame—her father and George had undoubtedly talked incessantly about it too.

Receiving this predictable contempt, Tilia remained unbothered, looking calmly at Cecilia.

So what? What am I supposed to do about it?

It seemed Cecilia wanted to treat her as a mistress, now that she was about to become Ilex Davenport’s fiancée. But Tilia had far too much on her plate to indulge in such pettiness.

“You and Ilex seem like a great match. Is that enough congratulations for you, Cecilia?”

At her words, Cecilia’s carefully maintained smile stiffened noticeably. Without it, her face looked quite severe.

“How dare you…!”

“It’s alright, Hailey.”

Cecilia quickly calmed her friend, who seemed ready to repeat her earlier outburst, and regained her usual smile.

“It’s not like he’s only had one or two women.”

With an even brighter smile, Cecilia spoke in a calm voice, “Study hard, Tilia. That’s what matters most for you, right? I know Baron Ambrose has been struggling lately, so you, at least, should support him.”

“Thank you, Cecilia. Hearing that from you really motivates me to work harder.”

Tilia responded with an equally kind smile.

“I hope your engagement preparations go well. After all, that’s probably the most important thing for you.”

With a clear, bright smile, Tilia turned her back on the ribbon-adorned group, leaving them behind.

She thought she heard someone shouting something behind her, but she couldn’t be bothered to turn around.

“Tilia!”

Judy was already in their dorm room.

It seemed she had been waiting for Tilia, as she rushed over to greet her friend, her face even more cheerful than usual.

“I was waiting… Tilia, what’s wrong with your face?”

“My face?”

At Judy’s words, Tilia reached up to touch her cheek.

“What’s wrong with it? Do I have something on my face?”

“No, it’s just so pale. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m fine. I guess I’m just nervous about the second exam already.”

Hearing this, Judy looked at Tilia for a moment, then cautiously reached out and took her hand.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

When Tilia asked, puzzled by Judy’s unusually affectionate gesture, Judy smiled shyly.

“I just realized that this is our last year sharing a room together.”

Tilia was about to scold her, but Judy’s undeniable words made her close her mouth and simply look at her friend.

“Then, should we throw a party to celebrate our last semester before the second exam? Look! The cook sent us another basket full of snacks!”

Just as the mood was about to turn heavy, Judy, eager to keep it light, dragged Tilia to her desk with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Tilia, who had seemed about to say something else, decided to join in her friend’s efforts and played along, making a fuss.

***

Their private snack party lasted late into the night.

Judy, who had loudly declared that she would break all the rules once they graduated, fell asleep first after drinking champagne, and Tilia, having cleaned up, soon lay down as well but got up not long after.

Perhaps because she’d eaten so late, her stomach felt heavy. She wanted to open the window and breathe in some fresh air, but she didn’t want to disturb Judy, who was sleeping soundly.

What should I do? After some thought, Tilia eventually wrapped herself in an old shawl and went outside.

The early morning air, poised between late summer and early autumn, was pleasantly cool.

Taking a deep breath to fill her congested lungs, Tilia habitually rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a small notebook. It was a memorization notebook filled with debate topics.

‘I’ll just review the most likely topics quickly.’

Resolute, Tilia carefully reviewed the topics she had written down, trying to recall arguments both for and against.

Unlike the brief notes in her notebook, the theories that could be revisited through them were endless.

But she couldn’t focus for long. Letting out a deep sigh, Tilia closed the notebook.

In truth, she knew the reason for her unease. It wasn’t because she’d eaten late—it was because her mind was in turmoil.

Staring stubbornly at the notebook that refused to make sense, Tilia thought back to what her father had said that morning.

“Tilia, this time… try to get some financial support from the second son of the Davenport family.”

Baron Ambrose’s request was the same as the question he’d asked on the day she’d pretended to meet Ilex at the used bookstore.

“This time, it’s a sure thing. I’m telling you, there’s a fortune hidden in that mine! Isn’t it a shame to let those gems go undiscovered because of a lack of investment?”

Bradley Ambrose had clung to Tilia while she packed her things, babbling about a venture she’d never inquired about.

But once again, Tilia’s answer was the same.

“I’m sorry, Father. I asked, but it didn’t work.”

“What kind of man doesn’t give his mistress investment money?! He sends flowers, but not funding?!”

Bradley shouted furiously as soon as she refused.

“Did you even ask properly? Or did you just try once and back off immediately, afraid of losing his affection?”

As she bowed her head apologetically to her glaring father, Tilia’s heart was filled with nothing but contempt for him.