- Tilia, where have you been?
When Tilia walked into her dorm room with a heavy heart, Judy rushed towards her as if she had been waiting.
-Are you okay? You look pale...
- I'm fine. It's just from the cold. What about you, Judy? Did the exam go well?
Touching her cheek, Tilia turned the conversation to Judy. Judy froze for a moment, staring at her, before slowly answering.
- Yes. It wasn't bad. I was so nervous that I might end up on the receiving end against Ilex Davenport, but luckily I got the black ball...
The role assigned to those who drew the black ball was that of moderator. Although it didn't count for many points, it was relatively easy to get a basic score as long as no mistakes were made. This was a desirable position for those less confident in debate. However, for students whose first exam scores barely qualified them for the second round, it was a role they desperately wanted to avoid.
- What a relief. Judy, your grades are high enough to graduate, even with a basic score,” Tilia said, finally smiling encouragingly and patting her friend on the shoulder.
Graduation from the Royal Academy was determined by combining the results of the first and second examinations. Those who barely managed to pass the first exam were afraid to draw the black ball for this very reason.
Being a moderator was, of course, a less stressful role that allowed one to step away from heated debates, but at the same time it put achieving high results out of reach.
- That's right. In an exam where luck plays such a big role, who would have thought that I would pull out the perfect ball for myself?
- Well, you made the most of your luck. I heard that there were candidates who did not even remember the basic rules of moderation, because they were preparing only to be members of the commission. If you hadn't prepared properly, that "lucky" balloon could have been your downfall.
Judy's face brightened at Tilia's typical businesslike praise, but soon a look of concern appeared on her face.
- Tilia, what about you? How did you cope? You were in the last group and, of all people, you had to face Cecilia Clayton...
- Well, that was not bad. I've discussed this topic before, and luckily I was on the opposite side of Cecilia.
Judy's face broke into a wide smile at Tilia's playful tone.
- I knew it! Who do you think is my roommate!
Unlike Tilia, who gently patted her shoulder, Judy excitedly patted her friend's shoulder and twirled around her happily.
- If Tilia Ambrose says it wasn't bad, then it was amazing. So what? Did you completely crush Cecilia? Did you make her cry in frustration?
- Not really, but I saw her collapse on the table at the end.
- What? And you haven't told me about this until now?
- I just got back, Judy.
“You should have burst through the door and screamed about it!” “I crushed Cecilia!” or something like that!
Laughing next to her overexcited friend, Tilia sank heavily onto the soft bed. As she threw her coat on the chair, Judy, who had been chatting incessantly, suddenly changed the subject.
- By the way, what about Ilex Davenport?
- Hm?
- I mean Ilex. You took it from the path behind the main building, didn't you?
How did Judy know about this? Tilia looked at her roommate in confusion, who seemed slightly annoyed.
-You didn't see me, did you? I was there during the chaos. I was in the same group as Ilex, remember? After it was all over, I was waiting for you with him, and that’s when the fight started...
Oh exactly. Judy was in the same group with him. Remembering this, Tilia awkwardly apologized.
- Sorry, I was so stunned that I didn’t notice.
- Everything is fine. It was a crazy situation after all. But...is everything okay with Ilex?
- Well, the one who was hit will suffer more. How much pain can the one who strikes experience?
Seeing Tilia's indifferent response, Judy's expression became ambiguous.
- Then that's good...
Her late words and peculiar behavior caused Tilia to raise her head to look at Judy. There was an awkward, worried expression on her face, the kind she wears when she's heard something she didn't want to hear.
Something's wrong.
Tilia immediately felt that there was something more to this story. That Ilex Davenport deliberately hid something from her, and that there is an untold side to events that she does not know about.
- Judy, do you know why Ilex Davenport started hitting Mackenzie Fitz?
- What?
- I asked Ilex about the reason, but, to be honest, I don’t really trust him.
If she had said she didn't know the truth, Judy would probably have stammered and tried to hide everything. So Tilia decided to act as if she already knew something, wanting to double-check what she might know.
With a knowing look on her face, she asked again, looking at Judy.
- So, could you explain it to me? You said you saw it all from start to finish, right? Then you should know everything.
- Well, it is, but...
- Then tell me, okay? I really want to know.
Faced with Tilia's calm demeanor and her natural lies, Judy finally gave in.
After several sighs and hesitant pauses, she reluctantly opened her mouth.
- I'm sure it's not much different from what Ilex said...
Contrary to her words, what Judy said was completely unexpected.
The fight started because Mackenzie Fitz said bad things about her.
Judy explained that as they stood outside the main building, Mackenzie Fitz's loud voice reached their ears. He taunted Tilia, saying that she didn't know her place and acted arrogantly, while she should be being chased by debt collectors like a rat. He continued to claim that she imagined herself to be some kind of duchess only because she had picked up a guy, and even stated that he would soon “buy” her.
Although Judy softened her expressions, Tilia could only imagine how disgusting and vile those words were.
- As soon as Ilex heard this, he rushed towards him and started beating him.
Judy's face paled slightly as she recounted the event, the very memory apparently making her feel nauseous.
- He's a good fighter. Honestly, it was cathartic. This guy continued to talk nonsense even when he was being beaten.
- What did he say?
- Uh... what was that? I'm not sure I remember...
- Just tell me, Judy. Please?
Judy hesitated, trying unsuccessfully to pretend she didn't remember, but eventually gave in to her friend's pleading gaze.
- Something like... that he wants to make you his mistress. And if he does this, he will share you with everyone or something like that...
Bastard. Unable to contain herself, Tilia cursed quietly as Judy carefully watched her reaction.
“But as soon as he said it, his nose was broken.” I saw him up close. Completely broken.
-……
- Tilia, can you tell me now? What's up with Ilex Davenport?
Judy's hesitation and deliberation before asking made it clear how long she had been struggling with this question. While others might casually pry into their relationship, Judy held back the whole time.
- …I don't know.
But all Tilia could offer her pleading friend was this simple truth.
It wasn't that she wanted to hide something or didn't want Judy to find out - she honestly didn't know.
“I really don't know. Why did he react so angrily to insults directed at me? Why did he hide this reason from me.”
What exactly was Ilex trying to achieve with all this?
- To be honest, I have no idea.
Moreover, she could not even understand her own feelings.
Just recently she was angry with him, convinced that they were different, like heaven and earth. But now, hearing how he reacted to the insults directed at her, she couldn’t help but remember that summer day.
That day, when she returned from the ice cream parlor, the feeling she had experienced then resurfaced.
Walking aimlessly under the scorching sun, she felt something akin to an incomprehensible thirst, as if her head was overheating.
Looking back, this was not the first time he acted this way. When Gregory Myers caused problems or when Cecilia Clayton insulted her, Ilex always lost his temper when it came to her.
“So why are you doing this? And why do I..."
Questions to which there were no answers, like thorns, tormented her heart, causing almost physical pain.
- Tilia, then...
Judy, who was about to say something, fell silent, seemingly stunned by the conflicted expression on her friend's face.
The night that should have been a joyful end to their final exams was instead filled with confusing, unresolved questions, like a hopelessly tangled thread in their room.