Ilex Davenport's eyes were gray-blue, like a drop of gray mixed with the clear blue of sea water. Some described them as dreamy, others as reminiscent of dawn clouds, but for Tilia they evoked nothing but despondency.
Эти странные глаза слегка расширились, зафиксировав Тилию. It only took three steps. A short time during which she moved from one tree to another along the alley.
A cool late spring breeze passed through Ilex's blond hair and blew towards Tilia. Her blue-black hair swayed like willow branches, revealing her pale cheeks and neck.
This was the moment when the air, filled with heat, changed slightly.
- Кья, Айлекс!
A sharp scream pierced the air.
Backed into a corner, the enemy took the opportunity and hit Ilex's weak spot. He must have really relaxed, because tension flashed across Ilex's face as he staggered back.
Can't be.
Tilia's heart began to beat faster as she watched, still looking indifferently in that direction.
Is it possible that her prayers are about to be answered?
She looked at Ilex with shining eyes as he hurried to block the attack.
But it was a fruitless hope.
То, что казалось кратковременной заминкой, быстро оказалось частью его стратегии, поскольку Айлекс быстро перевернул ситуацию против своего противника. As if to prove that he was just playing with him, his movements became noticeably faster. The man on the other side, clearly muscular, collapsed helplessly.
In front of Ilex's stunning skill, the great sword and all the brute force behind it were completely meaningless.
- Wow, did you see that?
Even Judy, who had grown up watching countless duels, let out a sigh of admiration.
- With such skill, he could easily become the best in any knightly academy! I think a true genius is truly a genius.
While everyone was admiring his skill, Tilia's expression turned sour again.
Тц. She had such high hopes.
- Пошли, Джуди. The library will fill up as soon as the duel ends.
- А, точно!
Ignoring the large training area where cheers were heard, Tilia turned her back and headed straight to the library.
***
- As expected from Ilex.
Cecelia Clayton, with her shiny red hair combed to one side, walked up to Ilex. At her appearance, the crowd surrounding the winner parted, as if this was the natural order of things.
-You just pretended to let your guard down, didn't you? - She said, smiling so widely that the dimples on her cheeks became even deeper, and handed him a white handkerchief.
- Но что это? Looks like you were actually serious this time and weren't just warming up for fun.
The delicately embroidered white scarf remained untouched, hanging in the air because no one took it.
- As always, you do everything your own way.
Cecilia, gracefully lowering her handkerchief, turned to follow Ilex's gaze.
-What are you looking at?
He looked, still catching his breath, at the path leading to the library. With exams approaching, more people than usual were heading that direction.
- You don't even come close to the library. Why are you staring like that?
Confused, Cecilia looked at Ilex again, but he had already turned his back and walked away.
***
The Kingdom of Acansis, located in the central-western part of the continent, bordered the North Sea to the west and the Kingdom of Ontario to the south. For generations it has produced many scientists in the world. Many of the geniuses who influenced the entire continent had one thing in common: they all graduated from the academy in Acansis.
Royal Academy of Akansis.
It was an elite educational institution, the pinnacle of knowledge and teaching methods on the entire continent. The academy's entrance exam was only open to those who passed the coming-of-age ceremony, and it was notorious for sending rejection letters even to the royal families of other countries.
- Tilia, what if I can’t finish my studies?
However, passing the incredibly difficult entrance exam did not guarantee everyone would graduate.
“What if I fail and have to stay here another year?”
Чтобы получить диплом, студентам необходимо было пройти все обязательные курсы в течение четырех лет и сдать первый и второй выпускной экзамен.
- Most of all I am afraid of rhetoric. I even had a nightmare last night in which I got a bad grade.
Graduates often have nightmares about failing their exams.
- Don't worry. Dreams are the opposite of reality,” Tilia said, shrugging at Judy, who was biting her lip as they walked up the library steps.
- I'm sure you'll pass. Stop being nervous.
- What if this is a premonition? What if my nightmare comes true?
Tilia looked at Judy with a sympathetic smile.
- If so, then you will have to stay another year.
- Aaaaah! - Judy pulled her hair, letting out a scream. - No! I've been suffering from this for four years now! Do I really have to go through this all over again?
- I will share my notes on theological questions that are likely to arise. But in the end you will have to go through the entire program, just like last time! Working out a lot is good. Questions can be from any part of the program, you understand.
Judy, sulking, allowed Tilia to drag her along when suddenly a hoarse voice came from the top of the stairs.
- Tilia Ambrose!
Turning her head, she saw a man running towards her - Gregory Myers, the eldest son of the Myers family.
- T-Tilia, about what I said in the lecture hall... I thought you might have misunderstood...
Gregory's breathless muttering drew a puzzled look from Judy, who looked up at her friend, silently asking for an explanation.
- What misunderstanding?
Однако в отличие от Джуди Тилия оставалась спокойной, глядя на Грегори.
“Are you saying that I misunderstood when you called me an easy woman to sleep with, or when you said that I could be raped without any consequences?”
- …What? - Judy's face paled as she turned to Gregory, eyes wide, - What did you say...?
- What are you talking about? I never said anything like that! - Gregory shouted, the veins in his neck popping out as if he was trying to dispel the shocked looks on the faces of Judy and those around him.
Then he suddenly changed his tone, giving Tilia a wary look:
- Is that all you heard? Did you just get this part wrong?
- Well, I wouldn't call it a misunderstanding, but there is something else that I saw and heard.
- What else...?
“I saw you fawn over Ilex Davenport as if your tongue was about to fall off from licking his shoes.”
Tilia added in a sweet, calm voice that belied her caustic words:
- Oh, and that's not all. I also saw you groveling over the gift he gave you and licking his shoes as a sign of gratitude.
Someone nearby chuckled at Tilia's words.
This little...
Услышав смех в свой адрес, Грегори залился румянцем.
He was glad, thinking that Tilia had overheard only part of the conversation, but she could not restrain herself and began to mock him. The anxiety he'd felt all week, fearful that she might report his plans to the academy, had all but disappeared. Now he was worried about only one thing: how to put this girl in her place.
- Tilia Ambrose.
If she hadn't overheard his entire plan, then there was no need to worry about her.
- Do you think you will be able to look me in the eyes after you graduate from this academy?
But most importantly, Gregory had a trump card with which he could not lose.
- You are the poor daughter of a baron who will have to look for work to make ends meet, while I am the rightful heir to the earldom. You don't believe that Acansis's social life will work the same way as this academy? You don't think the academy rules will apply there, do you?
His trump card was status.
True to its long tradition, the Royal Academy had its own unique code. Within its walls, all students, regardless of rank, were supposed to be equal. This was an idealistic principle.
But that was just a rule.
- Know your place, Lady Ambrose.
It was a dream, far from the rules of the real world.
- When you graduate, you better think carefully about how you behave. Do you have any idea how I will treat you in the real world if you continue to behave like this?
Gregory grinned, looking down at her with the smug expression of a man who had already decided to completely crush her spirit.
“Aren’t you even afraid of how I will treat you when you enter society?”
- Certainly. After I graduate, this may happen.
But his opponent was Tilia Ambrose.
Known for her sharp tongue and fearlessness, Tilia was not one to be easily intimidated.
- But don’t you think that graduation is still far away? What do you think? Will you even make it to the second round of exams this time?
- You…!
- I appreciate your advice, but I’ll think about what will happen after graduation later. Мне кажется бессмысленным беспокоиться о столь далеком будущем. Unless, of course, you're talking about expulsion from the academy?
Her last comment struck a nerve.
Gregory's face, already flushed with anger, turned a deep shade of purple, as if it were about to explode. His father warned him that if he failed again, he would no longer have a chance.