Noticing the unfair glances thrown her way, Tilia understood why Cecilia had resorted to such petty tactics.
The scene she created on the eve of the start of the semester must have been her way of declaring war.
Tilia wasn't sure how Cecelia had managed to turn the desperate final year students against her, but one thing was clear: Cecelia Clayton had ultimately achieved her goal.
At this point, most of the students had already formed their study groups, but Tilia was unable to join any of them.
A bitter smile appeared on her lips again, but it ended with a deep sigh.
She tried to act calm, but it was due to her final exam. It was impossible not to feel worried and anxious.
What if she really couldn't form such a study group?
Tilia's green eyes trembled with worry.
A group was needed for the second exam.
Unlike previous exams, for which she could study on her own, the debate exam required practice to learn how to present arguments and prepare for unexpected situations that could arise when presenting evidence.
No matter how many times it is practiced alone, it will never be as effective as participating in a real debate.
However, if this was her only option...
Trying to hide her frozen fingertips, Tilia stared at the table, lost in her thoughts.
- Tilia!
Suddenly Judy's voice rang out. She left the lecture hall for a moment to do something.
Tilia turned her head towards the sound.
The lecture in the large hall was a general one, attended by all remaining final year students.
Although their numbers had been reduced by more than half, students still filled the spacious lecture hall, and Judy waved excitedly as she made her way through the crowd.
Two unfamiliar men walked next to her.
Why are these two with her?
While Tilia looked at her friend in bewilderment, Judy approached her with a cheerful voice.
- Tilia, how about we form such a group? It turns out that these two haven’t found a group to study with yet either!
Hearing her words, Tilia opened her eyes wide and looked at Judy, who was standing near her desk.
Initially, Tilia, of course, planned to create a group with Judy.
But as events took a strange turn, she kept her thoughts about forming a study group to herself, as if she had forgotten the conversation they had had on the first night of the term.
It wasn't that she didn't want to pursue higher education. It wasn't that she didn't want to cling to Judy.
However, logically speaking, clinging to her friend will not change anything.
Cecelia Clayton has already instructed everyone not to team up with Tilia Ambrose.
Although Tilia didn't know exactly how Cecilia manipulated everyone, she had a vague idea about it.
The Marquisate of Clayton was influential, having connections in almost every business venture. Cecilia probably used her family's reputation to do this.
(*P.P. Marquisate - possessions of the marquis)
She probably used both coercion and persuasion.
It was difficult to understand why Cecilia would go to such extremes to bring her down, but a woman blinded by love is ready to go to any extreme.
Even if Tilia had managed to attract Judy Wells, her study group would likely only consist of the two of them.
Everyone else had already succumbed to Cecilia's coercion and persuasion.
How much better will a debate conducted by two people be compared to a debate conducted by one person?
Tilia's answer was skeptical.
Unlike her, who planned to move to Ontario, Judy was confident that she would spend her entire life in Acansis. When she thought about Judy's future, the answer became even more pessimistic.
Although she was the youngest daughter of the Wells family, it would have been difficult for her to live in opposition to Cecelia Clayton.
No matter how much Tilia thought about it, she came to the conclusion that forming a group with Judy would do more harm than good.
She assumed that Judy would also prefer to join a full study group rather than form a group with just the two of them.
At least that's what she thought until Judy appeared in front of her, accompanied by two men.
- Don’t tell me that you’ve already found a group?
When Tilia remained silent, Judy's eyebrows lowered.
- How could you? We agreed that we would be in the same group. Are you leaving me?
Seeing her friend's disappointed face, Tilia turned her worried gaze towards Cecilia.
As expected, Cecilia watched them from the group of her followers with a strange smile on her lips, but her eyes were as cold as the day before the start of the semester.
- Judy, I think it would be better if...
Tilia was about to reject her friend, who would most likely remain a part of Acansis' social life for the rest of her life.
- Under no circumstances! You can't do this!
But Judy spoke first, pressing herself close to her friend and pouting her lips.
- All three of us barely passed the first exam, so we really need a smart teammate. Please join us! Please!
Seeing Judy acting like a child throwing a tantrum, Tilia was confused for a moment and then frowned in disappointment.
-...Please, Tilia Ambrose.
The man who had been standing silently behind Judy finally spoke.
Only then did Tilia notice him and turn to look.
She already knew his name: Victor Bartlett. He was one of the few people Judy, who was very shy, interacted with.
- I ask you too, Tilia. I barely passed the first exam and I don't think I'll be able to take the written part again next year.
Hearing Victor's words, the thin man standing next to him folded his hands and begged.
She had to think hard to remember that she also knew his name: Mackenzie Fitz. It is known that he was on academic probation for as long as Gregory Myers.
Remembering the names of the two men, she realized how Judy had managed to bring them to her.
Both the Bartlett and Fitz families were knightly families with members of the Royal Knights. And Judy was the daughter of the respected Wells family, known for producing distinguished knights.
"She used her father's name."
Feeling her head begin to hurt, Tilia looked at her friend, who was rubbing her hands together, as was Mackenzie Fitz.
- Join us. Please. Join us!
Seeing Judy, Victor Bartlett, who was usually calm, also began to rub his hands together in supplication.
- Please, Tilia Ambrose.
- I really want to graduate from the academy. If this continues, before I know it, I’ll be older than my teachers. Please!
When they were joined by Mackenzie Fitz's heartfelt plea, Tilia felt like a woman faced with three crawling insects.
Hearing the quiet rustle of their hands, she couldn't help but laugh.
Judy also probably knew that Cecelia Clayton was watching her. But Judy didn't seem to care; she urged Tilia passionately.
- I don’t want to go to the academy without you for a single day. But this time you will finish it. No, you can't! I can't do this without you!
Hearing her friend's shrill cry, Tilia finally laughed heartily.
Who cares? Cecilia Clayton was a formidable opponent, but Countess Wells was no ordinary lady.
Earl Wells, who doted on his daughter, would not so easily put up with Cecilia's tyranny.
No matter how powerful the Claytons were, they couldn't easily resist the head of the Royal Knights.
- Tilia, please!
Seeing that her friend was begging her when she should have been begging, Tilia finally gave in and took Judy's hand.
-Will you join us?
- You will stay with me.
Her quiet words were sincere.
“If I have to, I’ll even borrow money from my dad to buy her ice cream.”
While Tilia indulged in her little regrets, Judy's face lit up with joy, as did the faces of Victor Bartlett and Mackenzie Fitz.
- So there are four of us? Five would be ideal, but even four is almost a complete group!
Judy quickly sat down next to Tilia and took out her notebook.
- Okay, let's share our schedule first. We need to reserve a study space in the library, so let me know your free time.
- Okay, I’ll go and grab the schedule and notebook from my place.
- Oh, me too!
As the new members of the group hurried to take their seats, Tilia carefully picked up a pen and began to write something in the corner of Judy's empty notebook.
[Thank you]
Judy smiled softly at the slightly crooked letters, so different from Tilia's usually neat handwriting.
But neither Judy nor the others noticed that it was not only Cecilia and her followers who were watching them.
Ilex's gaze, which had previously been fixed on Tilia, shifted to Mackenzie Fitz and Victor Bartlett.
For a brief moment, the temperature in his blue-gray eyes seemed to drop, becoming icy. But before anyone could notice, he covered it up with a neutral expression and turned away.