40
“Ah…”
Evie sighed softly as she rubbed her eyes, letting out a soft yawn.
She had spent last night until late recalling what she had learned all day from Professor Mallis, which made her feel a little tired, but her mood was high.
“Yesterday was really fun.”
First, Professor Mallis's classes were very interesting.
Contrary to his intimidating first impression, he explained the points that Evie found difficult with detail and patience.
Even when she repeated the question because she did not understand, he did not get angry. Rather, he would smile and say, “Oh, I seem to have explained it in a very complicated way,” and then gently repeat the explanation.
“What a kind-hearted professor!”
To meet such a wonderful professor was beyond her expectations.
Secondly, there was another pleasure, which was her conversation with Arcel and Ruska.
Until the next lesson started, the three of them talked nonstop.
Not only did they visit her again, but they insisted on knowing what classes she was taking, suggesting that they study together.
From here to there, the conversation touched on various topics.
It was normal conversations, about life at the academy, about the difficulties they face, simple things like that.
Meanwhile, Ruska sighed and said that he had already broken the curfew twice, which earned him penalty points.
As for Arcel, he mocked him sarcastically, saying that Marquis Ragslip would throw him into the pond if he was expelled from the academy.
“Friends, as they say!”
Arcel was scolding Ruska, but at the same time treating him with clear comfort and familiarity.
“How I envy them.”
Having a close friend to share every day with is bound to be fun.
After Evie closed the door and walked out, she paused for a moment.
“…”
Irene followed quietly.
—
The first place Evie visited was the garden.
Gardeners were preparing flowers early in the morning to decorate the grounds of the academy.
As soon as Evie entered, they welcomed her with familiar warmth.
“Hello, Evie. You came to pick up flowers? We prepared them for you here.”
They were now handing her the flowers they had carefully arranged.
At first, they were giving her the leftover flowers after sorting, but now, the flowers Evie held were all fresh and flawless.
Noticing this, Evie smiled and bowed her head.
“Thank you so much as always!”
After saying her thanks, Evie picked up the flowers and headed to the dining hall.
As soon as she entered the hall, she was filled with the aroma of freshly toasted bread, mixed with the smell of vegetable soup and omelet.
Evie had a bright smile on her face.
Since arriving at the academy, there have been nothing but happy moments.
New, clean clothes, plenty of ink, notebooks, and pens.
And most importantly, a bed of her own, with a soft, warm mattress and comfortable sheets, not just stuffed straw.
All of this made Evie feel like a princess in a fairy tale.
But of all this, mealtime was the happiest for her.
At the orphanage, meals were divided equally, but they were always inadequate.
Even if Evie ate a thin soup without a drop, she would feel hungry as soon as she left the table.
On the days when she cleaned the high school, the kitchen workers would give her leftover bread.
How she hesitated on her way back to the orphanage, thinking about eating just one piece on the sly.
But, of course, she remembered her friends, so she carried the bread without touching it.
Sometimes, when she was excitedly playing with her friends and eating dinner quickly, she would lie down to sleep hungry.
On those nights, she would just drink water and then sleep...
“But here, I can eat as much as I want!”
Dozens of types of bread are served, along with copious amounts of cold cuts, cheese, salads and fruits.
Milk and juice are piled high, and jams bear names of fruits you've never heard of.
As for dinner, it is more plentiful.
“It was full of meat!”
Evie remembered the first real dinner she had here.
Soups, salads, and dishes you've never seen before.
When they served her the steak, Evie remained holding the fork and knife, stunned for a while.
“To eat it all by myself!”
At the orphanage, meat was served once a month, when the butcher shop owner would bring in scattered cuts.
It was not possible to grill them, so they were all cooked in a stew.
After eating, the children would brag about the number of pieces of meat on their plates.
The most Evie ever got was five pieces, which she bragged about for a month.
Now, she can eat a large steak on her own, and is even served more if she wants.
It's not just food. Between meals, the dining hall was filled with tea and sweets.
On the first day, when she discovered that she could eat whatever she wanted, she ate five pieces of cake at once, until her stomach bloated.
“Evie, you're here!”
"Welcome!"
“Mushroom omelet today too?”
“Yes, please!”
After greeting the staff she had become familiar with, Evie quickly put the food on her plate.
Crispy toast with butter and jam, cold cuts and cheese, and an omelet filled with cheese and mushrooms.
The plate was so full that the tray felt heavy, and her arms were shaking.
Moreover, the flowers she was carrying were also heavy.
Evie rushed to the nearest table, setting down the tray and flowers.
“Oh, so heavy.”
As she rubbed her arms and looked around, she only saw the workers arranging the bread and food.
There were almost no other students.
She had woken up early and came before everyone else.
She wasn't hungry enough to wake up early, on the contrary, she wanted to sleep more after staying up late studying.
But Evie had a reason to be the first to arrive at the dining hall.
“Everyone feels uncomfortable with me.”
When Evie enters the dining hall, the students whisper and look at her.
They were giving her wary looks, as if they were afraid she would sit next to them.
In the end, Evie chose to either come very early to eat, or be the last to eat.
“In the morning, I'd better eat early.”
This way you will not be late for lessons. In the evening, she used to eat very late.
She didn't feel really sad or upset.
“It's always been that way.”
She had become accustomed to this situation, and no longer felt hurt by it.
But sometimes, as she ate alone in the quiet dining hall, she felt lonely.
“I miss my friends.”
She remembered the noisy mealtimes at the orphanage.
There wasn't much to eat, but everyone was sharing the moment, gossiping and eating together.
Evie missed those fun times, and at that moment, she pricked the omelet with her fork.
“Can I sit here?”
Suddenly, he heard a sound that made Evie raise her head in surprise.
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
Irene was standing in front of her.
“Ah, Irene… ma’am?”
At that word, Irene frowned slightly.
"I'd rather you just call me Irene. So, can I sit here?"
“Oh, yes, of course! Here you are!”
With a slightly sharp voice, Evie nodded quickly and offered the seat.
Irene sat quietly and elegantly.
Evie looked at her nervously.
The delicious smell of bread that she had longed for moments ago was no longer noticeable.
"Why? How?"
Endless questions were running through Evie's mind.
It was very early, and no one was there yet. Of course, there was no reason why Irene couldn't eat at this time.
But to sit directly in front of her in this vast hall was undoubtedly intentional.
Her hands trembled from stress.
Why did Irene deliberately come at this time and sit in front of her?
“The few days we spent together before, it was fun.”
But, even when they were in the same room, it was difficult to even meet her face, and there was only so much Eppie could do.
Moreover, what if she, who does not know the etiquette of nobles, made a mistake?
So, Evie thought, and decided to put the flowers she brought from the garden in a vase at the entrance.
On math class days, she would bring extra flowers to place on the professor's desk.
“I didn't do anything other than that...”
Was that annoying for her?
At that moment, Irene opened her mouth.
"Don't you eat? Don't you like omelettes?"
"No, no! I love it! I'll eat it now!"
Quickly, Evie shoved the omelette into her mouth.
As Irene looked at her calmly, she bit her lip.
Her gaze stopped at Evie's small mouth chewing the omelet.
Watching her, Irene thought:
“Really, she's so young...and cute...”
Irene remembered the moment she first saw Evie.
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