A Butterfly Through the Mist - Chapter 68

The final graduation exam scoring period at the Arkansis Royal Academy lasted two weeks. Fourteen days after the second exam, the results were announced, and from that day onward, graduation certificates could be issued.

Tilia planned to take hers to Ontaroa for the Foreign Affairs Consulate interview scheduled a week after the results were announced. Since all documents, except for the certificate and application, had already been sent by mail, she only needed to arrive in Ontaroa’s capital two days before the interview.

Looking at the third-class train ticket she had painstakingly saved up for and booked in advance, Tilia sighed softly.

Since the day of the graduation exam, she hadn’t seen Ilex Davenport even once.

In hindsight, it was only natural. The exams were over, their study group disbanded, and they had parted ways without arranging another meeting.

The reason they hadn’t scheduled another Ontaroan language lesson during their final session a week before the second exam was simple: they wanted to focus more on the exam. Doubling the graduation bonus score from the Arkansis Royal Academy was too significant to pass up.

While the interview preparation was important, the graduation exam took precedence. Graduating was a prerequisite to even applying for the Foreign Affairs Consulate and dreaming of any future.

Thus, they had agreed to dedicate the last week to debate practice alone, deciding to set their next schedule after the exam.

If only I had insisted back then. She hadn’t expected him to clam up and disappear completely.

Frowning, Tilia tore her gaze away from the train ticket and looked out of the dormitory window.

She hadn’t expected this from Ilex Davenport. If he had committed to helping with the interview, he should’ve seen it through. How could he vanish three weeks early?

Granted, he had mentioned that she no longer needed language lessons. She herself felt she was on solid footing now.

But still, having left such a strong imprint of his speech patterns on her Ontaroan, he should’ve taken responsibility instead of disappearing like this.

Even as she recognized she was acting like a child demanding more after already having enough, she couldn’t stop complaining.

In truth, the lessons were just an excuse. She wanted to confirm something by seeing him.

Sighing, she fiddled with the train ticket in frustration.

Ever since finishing the graduation exam, the newfound peace of mind she should’ve felt had been entirely consumed by thoughts of Ilex Davenport. Whenever she wasn’t studying for the interview, her thoughts invariably drifted to him.

Her steps often carried her through the biting wind to his dormitory or the secluded places they used to walk together. But even at those places where she had unconsciously hoped to find him, there was no trace of him.

At first, she suspected he was avoiding her on purpose. However, snippets of gossip she overheard suggested otherwise.

As always, rumors about the famous Ilex Davenport of the academy were rife.

Some said he had returned home to prepare for his engagement to Cecilia Clayton. Others claimed his escapades had reached the Duke’s ears, leading to him being confined to a countryside villa.

There was even a rumor that the academy headmaster had witnessed the fight behind the main building on the day of the second exam and was outraged. Supposedly, the Duke of Davenport had barely prevented expulsion proceedings. However, no matter how excellent his grades, it was unlikely he would graduate with top honors.

Many claimed to have witnessed these events or heard the rumors firsthand, emphasizing their reliability, but few took them seriously.

Still, one detail in the swirling rumors seemed consistent: Ilex Davenport was no longer present at the academy.

Wherever he was, it was clear it wasn’t the academy dormitory.

‘Is he really preparing for his engagement?’

But their relationship had clearly been…

Recalling Ilex’s hostility toward Cecilia Clayton, Tilia shook her head.

Noble marriages were strictly business arrangements. For prestigious families like the Davenports and Claytons, emotions wouldn’t play a role.

Personal feelings wouldn’t matter at all.

Ignoring the sensation of the butterfly ring on Ilex’s finger as if it were scratching at her chest, Tilia forced herself to open her interview prep book.

However, it wasn’t until much later that she realized she had been holding the book upside down.

***

The final results were announced on a cloudy, damp day that seemed as if sleet might fall at any moment. Standing in the wind that whipped her hair, Tilia stared blankly at the notice board displaying the results.

“Ilex Davenport isn’t the top graduate? Why not?”

“Didn’t you hear? The headmaster saw Ilex Davenport beating Mackenzie Fitz half to death. Apparently, the headmaster said there was no way he’d let someone like that represent the school as the top graduate.”

“I thought the Duke of Davenport intervened. Wasn’t his score overwhelming?”

“Oh, the Duke just stopped him from being expelled. The headmaster this year is a real stickler.”

“Ah, so someone else got lucky…”

The murmuring behind her gradually faded as someone tapped her shoulder.

“Congratulations, Tilia! You’re finally the top graduate!”

“Right? You worked so hard, I knew you’d make it eventually. Congratulations.”

But Tilia seemed not to hear even their envious congratulations. She continued staring at the notice board.

Her transparent green eyes slowly scanned the listed grades, stopping at the very last entry.

Ilex Davenport. His name was there.

At the very bottom of the notice. Despite having the highest scores, it looked as though he had barely qualified, as if he were unworthy.

“At least he’s graduating?”

“Of course. The Clayton family must have intervened a lot. It’d be a joke if their future son-in-law was expelled.”

Even though Ilex wasn’t the top graduate, people wouldn’t stop talking about him. Staring at his score with a distant gaze, Tilia’s brow furrowed.

“…Shut up.”

“What?”

“I said, shut up.”

Turning her head, Tilia snapped at the startled faces looking back at her.

“If you’re going to chatter, do it somewhere else. There are people waiting behind you to see the results. What are you doing blocking the board?”

The man who had been loudly gossiping about the top spot turned bright red at her sharp words.

“W-what nonsense… Fine!”

Grumbling, he backed away, seemingly intimidated by her glare. His group followed suit, shuffling to the side as they cast furtive glances at her.

With the area around the notice board cleared, silence fell over the space. Ignoring the quiet, Tilia continued to stare at the board.

The top spot had been her dream. She had longed for it, grinding her teeth and burning the midnight oil, believing that achieving it would make her heart bloom like a field of flowers.

But something felt off. Despite reaching that desperately desired position, the joy she had imagined wasn’t there. Instead of blooming flowers, her heart felt barren, like empty branches in the cold wind.

Where is Ilex Davenport now?

Her chaotic thoughts were dominated by the question of his whereabouts. Did he know he wasn’t the top graduate?

Standing in front of the notice board until her hands were freezing, Tilia finally let out a sigh and lowered her gaze.

What did it matter whether he knew or not? It wasn’t as if she could tell him.

Shoving her reddened hands into her pockets, she scanned the board for her friend’s name. Judy had returned home early to care for her ailing grandmother, leaving Tilia to promise she’d share the results.

After a brief search, she found Judy’s name near the middle of the long list.

Look, Judy. You did much better than expected.

Smiling faintly at her friend’s achievement, Tilia turned to leave. That was when…

“Miss Tilia Ambrose?”

A middle-aged man she didn’t recognize appeared before her.

He had neatly groomed black mustache and a silk-lined bowler hat dusted with fine snowflakes. His appearance exuded unfamiliarity and suspicion.

“Are you Tilia Ambrose, the eldest daughter of the Ambrose family?”

“…Yes, that’s me. Who are you?”

“I am an aide sent by Count Brian Dawson.”

Introducing himself briefly, the man arrogantly lifted his chin and continued, “Your father, Baron Ambrose, has absconded after incurring a debt of twelve thousand six hundred gold to Count Dawson. As per the debt settlement agreement, Miss Tilia Ambrose, the eldest daughter of the Ambrose family, has now become the debtor.”