Tilia continued to talk calmly to her father.
“I conducted an investigation and found out that not only the mine, but also the surrounding area had never produced gold. No matter how you look at it, this investment... is the kind of scam that is in vogue right now...
Just as she was about to list the evidence she had prepared, something whizzed past her hair. At the same time, she heard the sound of something hard, like glass, breaking behind her.
-……
Tilia slowly turned her head to look behind her. Under the wall where something hit, she saw a crystal ashtray broken into pieces.
- Tilia.
Her father, who had thrown an ashtray at her, called out to her in a low voice.
- Do you also have plans to meet Judy Wells tomorrow?
In response to her father's gentle yet warning tone, Tilia fell silent for a moment before slowly opening her mouth to respond.
- Yes, father. Eat.
***
This family is in ruins.
The first thought that came to Tilia's mind when she entered her room, located at the very top of the mansion, was this.
This house has no future.
Tilia quickly walked over and sat down at the table. She then rummaged through the bookshelf and pulled out the book she had hidden deepest.
What's the point in giving them a chance, thinking that she can help one last time?
He just wants to flounder, trying to fall into an even deeper hole.
Her father squandered the family's money all his life, pouring it down the drain in this way. It was clear that he would continue to do this for the rest of his life.
Therefore, she needed to quickly leave this house before she too was dragged down.
Opening the middle of the thick book, Tilia's expression became serious.
Between the thick pages she hid a recruitment advertisement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In particular, it was a recruitment announcement for a consular post in Ontario.
With her heart pounding, Tilia carefully studied the document, which she had already practically memorized.
The recruitment process has been detailed below and it has been stated that exams are held every November.
The first stage was a written diplomacy test, and the second stage was an interview in Ontario.
And at the very end, the criteria for awarding bonus points were clearly stated...
Graduates or future graduates of the Royal Akansis Academy.
Tilia stared at the words, as if committing them to her memory, then looked warily at the door, as if someone might steal her chance. She carefully closed the book and put it back on the shelf.
The reason why Tilia chose a position in a foreign consulate, considered a shunned field, was clear.
Only this position required mandatory work abroad.
Ontario was known as having the most liberal culture on the Western continent.
Tilia planned to live her real life there.
"Yes, real life."
As Tilia returned to her thoughts, her eyes changed.
"There's no time to waste."
She slapped her cheek lightly, turned around, and pulled out an old book from a nearby shelf.
Of course, this was an Ontario language conversation book for self-study.
***
At noon, when the sun was shining brightly, the shopping area of Acansis was filled with animated voices.
But just a block away from the bustling crowd, on the outskirts of the new city, the old bookstore remained quiet.
Tilia enjoyed the tranquility, slowly examining the shelves with foreign books.
The academy's scholarship was modest.
However, this was only by noble standards - Tilia could afford to buy a few books during the holidays if she spent her money wisely.
“I have already learned all the examples from my current phrasebook. I want to learn something new."
Tilia carefully studied the spines of old books, looking for something useful.
Luckily, the bookstore had a section with textbooks on the Ontario language, but the problem was that they were all out of date.
“No, moreover, I really need to practice speaking if I want to pass the interview...”
As Tilia stood on her tiptoes, searching for a suitable book, she sighed.
The second interview, conducted in Ontario, accounted for 40% of the total score. No matter how well she does on the written test, it will be difficult to avoid making a serious mistake in the interview.
Is there really no one who speaks Ontario well?
With a gloomy expression on her face, Tilia was about to pull out a book that seemed at least somewhat useful to her.
Bang! There was the sound of a door opening, and someone's hurried steps were heard.
Quick footsteps passed the shelves and headed straight to the corner where Tilia stood.
Then, as if they were her companions, they stopped right next to her.
Everything happened in an instant.
Tilia blinked as a large, manicured hand snatched the book she was about to study from her.
What the...? My book.
With a delay, Tilia turned her head irritably, but then blinked again, seeing an incomprehensible sight in front of her.
Ilex Davenport.
The man she thought she would never see again was now next to her, leafing through a book she wanted to look at.
The old bookstore was so small that the shelves were stacked tightly together to accommodate as many books as possible, leaving only minimal gaps. Moreover, the books were even stacked on the floor.
Surrounded on all sides by books, Tilia found herself looking at a man who somehow seemed unreal in this setting.
Although he tried to control it, it was clear that he had rushed here in a hurry - his chest moved slightly as he breathed heavily.
Every time he inhaled and exhaled, the thin shirt clung to his firm chest and slipped off again.
When Tilia looked at the smooth line of his nose and chin, his eyes under his long eyelashes, she woke up to the sound of a page being turned.
Only then did she realize how unnaturally close they were standing.
Just when she thought her heart was beating in unison with his, she took a step back...
Ilex turned his head.
Tilia looked at him with eyes full of wariness and suspicion.
But what she saw in his eyes was not the deception she expected him to hide.
He seemed caught off guard as his blue-gray eyes widened and trembled slightly before focusing on her.
Seeing the sparkle in those eyes, Tilia felt like she saw something she shouldn't have seen.
It was as if a warning sounded in her mind, telling her to turn away.
At that moment, a noise came into the bookstore from outside.
Tilia's attention was attracted by the sound of someone screaming, as if the screamer was urgently looking for someone.
What's happened?
When Tilia tried to lean out from behind the bookshelf to take a look, a shadow fell over her head like an umbrella.
Startled, she looked up and saw Ilex Davenport leaning over her.
The shadow he cast on her was like the shadow of a tree.
In the pitch darkness, his eyes, like stars hidden by clouds, looked down at her.
There was only her in those eyes.
Her own reflection, in the corners of whose lips there was still a subtle tension.
At that moment, a feeling of impending crisis, disguised as discomfort, ran down her spine.
What are you doing?
Just when she was about to push Ilex away...
- He couldn't have gone far! Find him quickly! If we catch him now and deliver him to the boss, we'll make it just in time...!
The rough voice of a man was heard giving orders to the knights.
At these words, Ilex frowned, as if with concern.
"…Wait".
Tilia's eyes narrowed as she noticed his reaction.
Words of a knight about the search for a runaway. Despite the urgency, the fact that the knight still spoke politely.
And...
Ilex Davenport, with a look on his face like he wanted to hide.
Quickly realizing the situation, Tilia smiled, relieving the previous tension.
"This is what's happening."
The young master must be playing escape.
Tilia had no intention of playing along with the young master.
Just as she was about to raise her hand to signal to the knights that the one they were looking for was here, Ilex quickly grabbed her wrist and whispered in her ear.
- Ten gold coins.
His hand lightly touched the sleeve of her white blouse, and she felt the same unusual warmth as before - a temperature that was not entirely normal.
- I'll give you ten gold coins if you hide me for a minute.
Tilia's eyes narrowed at these words.
Ten gold coins would be enough to buy over fifty brand new books to replace the old ones here at the used bookstore.
But Tilia didn't need fifty books.
More importantly, she had no interest in accepting anything from Ilex Davenport.
Except, perhaps, for his upset face when the knights take him away.
Tilia shook off his hand without hesitation and was about to call the knights when...
- Or how about this: I won't tell anyone.
Ilex whispered hastily, pulling her slender wrist towards him.
“I won’t say a word to anyone about what happened then.”
Although there was no suitable topic of conversation, Tilia immediately understood what he meant.
In the narrow space between the bookshelves, held by her wrist, Tilia glared furiously at the man who was casting a shadow on her.