Murad, startled by Killian's ominous muttering behind him, squeezed his eyes shut.
“Sorry, I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were following along.”
After saying that, Murad never even turned his head in Emily's direction.
Murad, who was walking stiffly and tensely, staring straight ahead, felt a lump in his throat.
But he couldn't turn his head or stop walking. He just wanted to get to class quickly.
'Why are the academy hallways so long today!'
Murad held back his tears and gently rubbed the back of his neck.
“Hello, teacher!”
Murad, who had just arrived in front of the classroom, felt like tears were welling up again as he saw the students greeting him warmly.
He took a deep breath to calm himself down, then guided the Starrs to the back.
“Parents can observe from the seats provided at the back of the classroom.”
“...”
“Yes, thank you for guiding me.”
Emily walked with Killian, who was standing there indifferently without even answering, to the place where the parents were gathered.
The parents were of a different age than Emily's peers, but fortunately, they were people she had seen at social gatherings and was familiar with.
Emily exchanged a quick glance with them and looked for John, who was in the classroom.
“Emily!”
John, who happened to see them, waved happily at Emily.
Emily also looked at the teacher's expression and waved quietly to show that she knew him.
Besides John, the other young students waved happily at their parents, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, and some even ran to their parents and acted like children.
“Yes, yes, everyone, should we start class now?”
Murad calmed the children down and began to call the roll.
Fortunately, until this point, John had not been doing anything particularly outrageous.
“Now, today we will learn about ‘Hippotelia,’ one of the ancient literary works.”
Contrary to her first impression, Mr. Murad was a good teacher who taught in a fun way, mixing in humor appropriately.
Hypotelia is a classic tragic love story between Felix and Selene.
Felix and Selene fell in love with each other at first sight, but Felix was already engaged.
The two were deeply in love, but their families did not allow their relationship.
Ultimately, the story ends with Selene's jealous fiancée poisoning her to death.
“Yew. Everyone, the ‘karmani’ that was fed to Selene here is the mercury we now know.”
As Mr. Murad was writing the ancient language of Mercury on the blackboard, he heard the sound of a chair being pushed back.
Murad felt the back of his neck stiffen again and turned around. As he had expected, the source of the noise was John.
John's eyes sparkled as he wanted to show off his knowledge in front of Emily.
Murad, who was looking at John with unfamiliar eyes as he raised his hand, had no choice but to let him make the announcement.
“Yes. What do you have to say, John?”
“Yes, I think there is some misinformation about mercury.”
The children thought, 'Well, that's right,' of John's actions.
John, usually quiet to the point of gloominess, became passionate whenever the topic of poison was brought up.
If there's anything different from usual, it's that today he's polite and courteous.
Everyone listened to John's words without reacting in a strange way.
"Mercury isn't a very lethal poison. It might make you lose your mind, but it won't kill you instantly."
An excited John read the text describing Selene's death and added an explanation.
"Selene complained of difficulty breathing and then died suddenly of cardiac arrest. So what kind of poison was it?"
John, who had been pretending to think for a moment, clapped his hands and said.
“It could be scopolamine. It’s an anesthetic, but overdosing can cause arrhythmia.”
Killian and Emily locked eyes.
The two seemed to know that what the principal had said was the problem with John.
After Mr. Murad's class, it was break time.
The children had free time, and the homeroom teacher and parents talked about their children.
"I was so glad I sent my kids to Hyperion Academy. They came back after one semester, and they'd grown up so much."
"My child, too. It's definitely different from other academies."
It was a proud time for both Mr. Murad and the parents.
Finally, after the discussion about the semester curriculum was over, parents naturally gathered in groups of three or five to talk.
“How long have you two been married?”
Countess Blunt asked Emily.
“It’s been over a year.”
“It’s already that time.”
Count Blunt, who was standing next to them, also spoke to the young couple with a pleased expression.
“You make a truly beautiful couple. My sister-in-law should get married soon, too.”
“It’s too late to get married now, you know.”
The Countess sighed, pressing her forehead.
“She writes romance novels day and night, but she herself hasn’t been in a relationship. What’s going on?”
“Oh my! A romance novel? So she's a writer?”
Emily immediately showed interest.
“Yes, she has published several books.”
“Would it be rude to ask her name?”
“I don’t know if you know. Her pen name is Lily Dan...”
“Huh? Lily Dan?”
Emily was so shocked that she covered her mouth. She was her favorite author.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems the Marchioness knows something.”
Emily nodded shyly at Count Blunt's words.
The Marchioness knew her sister! Mrs. Blunt felt proud.
"There are some books my sister published in the carriage. I'd like to give you a few. Would you like to come and take a look?"
“Really?”
Emily said that and glanced at Killian.
'I can't comfortably talk to the Countess about romance novels when Killian is around...'
Emily was thinking that way, but luckily, Killian was quick-witted.
“Have a nice trip.”
Only then did Emily's expression brighten.
“Then you two can continue talking. I’ll go and take the Marchioness with me.”
As soon as she left the Countess, Killian exchanged a few meaningless words with Count Blunt and then went out into the garden.
Across the garden was a playground, where children were playing with a ball.
Killian sat down roughly on a visible bench.
John wasn't visible among the children playing. He was probably alone in the library, reading a book about poisons.
"Mister."
At that moment, a silver-haired boy stood in front of Killian.
He looked at the boy with suspicious eyes, as any normal child would be afraid of Killian.
“What are you?”
“That’s my seat.”
The boy didn't seem at all afraid of Killian.
Killian looked at the child in disbelief, then read aloud the words engraved on the back of the bench.
“Donor: Marquis Killian Starr.”
The boy asked with a trembling expression.
“Is this you?”
"Yes."
The name "Killian Starr" was well-known—in a negative way, of course. So Killian expected the child to leave soon.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
But the child sat down next to Killian without any hesitation, whether he knew or not.
It was the first time he had ever sat so close to a child, and Killian felt goosebumps run down his body.
“Where are your parents?”
“He’s not here.”
"...Yes?"
As expected, dealing with children is fraught with embarrassing situations. Killian tried his best to offer comfort.
“It’s a sad situation, but everyone has to die.”
“Yes, I know.”
The boy answered as if it were no big deal.
As the time spent with the child grew longer than expected, Killian glanced back at him.
He didn't seem to want to move, and Killian didn't bother to move either.
Anyway, break time will be over soon, and the child will leave.
'Let's hold on a little longer.'
And he checked his watch. It had already been thirty minutes since Emily left.
'If I pick you up now, will you hate it?'
While Killian was thinking about this and that, he heard a child's voice again from beside him.
“But sir.”
Killian lowered his gaze in the direction of the sound.
“So you are John’s uncle?”
Since it was a well-known fact that John's guardian was the Marquis of Starr, the boy continued speaking when Killian did not deny it.
“My mother has seen John. She said his uncle has a more eccentric personality. Is that true?”
What kind of bold woman would say something like that to a child?
“Does your mother know me?”
“Yes, I heard you met recently.”
“Recently too?”
Killian frowned.
“Didn’t you say earlier that your parents weren’t here?”
"I thought you were misunderstanding. My parents aren't dead. They just didn't come to the observation class."
“...From now on, be more precise with your expressions.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“But what is your mother’s name?”
“Don’t you know? I look a lot like my mom.”
The boy chuckled playfully.
Before he could even hear the answer, the bell rang, signaling the next class.
The boy got down from the bench and shook Killian's hand.
“It was nice to meet you.”
Killian held the child's hand with a sullen expression, then let go. Whatever the case, sending the child away quickly was the priority.
The boy disappeared from sight, and Emily was just entering the front door.
Judging by the luggage in both hands, it seemed like she had received a lot of things.
Killian hurried over and took Emily's luggage. Upon receiving it, he saw a worn-out, tattered cushion.
“I received the book and the cushion the author used.”
“...Are you going to use it?”
“Huh? How do I use this? It’s for personal use.”
And Emily looked around.
“I don’t see John, so you didn’t see him either?”
Emily's expression darkened immediately as Killian nodded.
“I’m worried that John might be lonely and have no friends.”
Killian wasn't too worried about John, but he didn't want to see Emily worried.
“I was with a kid earlier, and he said he was friends with John.”
“Yes? Really? What’s his name?”
“...I didn’t get a chance to ask hia name.”
Emily asked with a thoughtful expression.
“From a distance, I see you with a silver-haired boy. Is that him?”
'When did you see it?'
Killian became anxious.
“Shall I ask John?”
At Emily's words, Killian shook his head urgently.
“John would be embarrassed to talk about his friend.”
“Why is he embarrassed about that?”
"Boys are usually embarrassed to have such conversations. I'll find out and tell you."
“...Yes, then.”
He has to find that kid before Emily does. And he has to give him money to befriend John.
Moreover, since the boy's mother and he might know each other, it would be better to prepare in advance to avoid any trouble.
Yes, then everyone will be happy.
“Sorry, I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were following along.”
After saying that, Murad never even turned his head in Emily's direction.
Murad, who was walking stiffly and tensely, staring straight ahead, felt a lump in his throat.
But he couldn't turn his head or stop walking. He just wanted to get to class quickly.
'Why are the academy hallways so long today!'
Murad held back his tears and gently rubbed the back of his neck.
“Hello, teacher!”
Murad, who had just arrived in front of the classroom, felt like tears were welling up again as he saw the students greeting him warmly.
He took a deep breath to calm himself down, then guided the Starrs to the back.
“Parents can observe from the seats provided at the back of the classroom.”
“...”
“Yes, thank you for guiding me.”
Emily walked with Killian, who was standing there indifferently without even answering, to the place where the parents were gathered.
The parents were of a different age than Emily's peers, but fortunately, they were people she had seen at social gatherings and was familiar with.
Emily exchanged a quick glance with them and looked for John, who was in the classroom.
“Emily!”
John, who happened to see them, waved happily at Emily.
Emily also looked at the teacher's expression and waved quietly to show that she knew him.
Besides John, the other young students waved happily at their parents, whom they hadn't seen in a long time, and some even ran to their parents and acted like children.
“Yes, yes, everyone, should we start class now?”
Murad calmed the children down and began to call the roll.
Fortunately, until this point, John had not been doing anything particularly outrageous.
“Now, today we will learn about ‘Hippotelia,’ one of the ancient literary works.”
Contrary to her first impression, Mr. Murad was a good teacher who taught in a fun way, mixing in humor appropriately.
Hypotelia is a classic tragic love story between Felix and Selene.
Felix and Selene fell in love with each other at first sight, but Felix was already engaged.
The two were deeply in love, but their families did not allow their relationship.
Ultimately, the story ends with Selene's jealous fiancée poisoning her to death.
“Yew. Everyone, the ‘karmani’ that was fed to Selene here is the mercury we now know.”
As Mr. Murad was writing the ancient language of Mercury on the blackboard, he heard the sound of a chair being pushed back.
Murad felt the back of his neck stiffen again and turned around. As he had expected, the source of the noise was John.
John's eyes sparkled as he wanted to show off his knowledge in front of Emily.
Murad, who was looking at John with unfamiliar eyes as he raised his hand, had no choice but to let him make the announcement.
“Yes. What do you have to say, John?”
“Yes, I think there is some misinformation about mercury.”
The children thought, 'Well, that's right,' of John's actions.
John, usually quiet to the point of gloominess, became passionate whenever the topic of poison was brought up.
If there's anything different from usual, it's that today he's polite and courteous.
Everyone listened to John's words without reacting in a strange way.
"Mercury isn't a very lethal poison. It might make you lose your mind, but it won't kill you instantly."
An excited John read the text describing Selene's death and added an explanation.
"Selene complained of difficulty breathing and then died suddenly of cardiac arrest. So what kind of poison was it?"
John, who had been pretending to think for a moment, clapped his hands and said.
“It could be scopolamine. It’s an anesthetic, but overdosing can cause arrhythmia.”
Killian and Emily locked eyes.
The two seemed to know that what the principal had said was the problem with John.
***
After Mr. Murad's class, it was break time.
The children had free time, and the homeroom teacher and parents talked about their children.
"I was so glad I sent my kids to Hyperion Academy. They came back after one semester, and they'd grown up so much."
"My child, too. It's definitely different from other academies."
It was a proud time for both Mr. Murad and the parents.
Finally, after the discussion about the semester curriculum was over, parents naturally gathered in groups of three or five to talk.
“How long have you two been married?”
Countess Blunt asked Emily.
“It’s been over a year.”
“It’s already that time.”
Count Blunt, who was standing next to them, also spoke to the young couple with a pleased expression.
“You make a truly beautiful couple. My sister-in-law should get married soon, too.”
“It’s too late to get married now, you know.”
The Countess sighed, pressing her forehead.
“She writes romance novels day and night, but she herself hasn’t been in a relationship. What’s going on?”
“Oh my! A romance novel? So she's a writer?”
Emily immediately showed interest.
“Yes, she has published several books.”
“Would it be rude to ask her name?”
“I don’t know if you know. Her pen name is Lily Dan...”
“Huh? Lily Dan?”
Emily was so shocked that she covered her mouth. She was her favorite author.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems the Marchioness knows something.”
Emily nodded shyly at Count Blunt's words.
The Marchioness knew her sister! Mrs. Blunt felt proud.
"There are some books my sister published in the carriage. I'd like to give you a few. Would you like to come and take a look?"
“Really?”
Emily said that and glanced at Killian.
'I can't comfortably talk to the Countess about romance novels when Killian is around...'
Emily was thinking that way, but luckily, Killian was quick-witted.
“Have a nice trip.”
Only then did Emily's expression brighten.
“Then you two can continue talking. I’ll go and take the Marchioness with me.”
As soon as she left the Countess, Killian exchanged a few meaningless words with Count Blunt and then went out into the garden.
Across the garden was a playground, where children were playing with a ball.
Killian sat down roughly on a visible bench.
John wasn't visible among the children playing. He was probably alone in the library, reading a book about poisons.
"Mister."
At that moment, a silver-haired boy stood in front of Killian.
He looked at the boy with suspicious eyes, as any normal child would be afraid of Killian.
“What are you?”
“That’s my seat.”
The boy didn't seem at all afraid of Killian.
Killian looked at the child in disbelief, then read aloud the words engraved on the back of the bench.
“Donor: Marquis Killian Starr.”
The boy asked with a trembling expression.
“Is this you?”
"Yes."
The name "Killian Starr" was well-known—in a negative way, of course. So Killian expected the child to leave soon.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
But the child sat down next to Killian without any hesitation, whether he knew or not.
It was the first time he had ever sat so close to a child, and Killian felt goosebumps run down his body.
“Where are your parents?”
“He’s not here.”
"...Yes?"
As expected, dealing with children is fraught with embarrassing situations. Killian tried his best to offer comfort.
“It’s a sad situation, but everyone has to die.”
“Yes, I know.”
The boy answered as if it were no big deal.
As the time spent with the child grew longer than expected, Killian glanced back at him.
He didn't seem to want to move, and Killian didn't bother to move either.
Anyway, break time will be over soon, and the child will leave.
'Let's hold on a little longer.'
And he checked his watch. It had already been thirty minutes since Emily left.
'If I pick you up now, will you hate it?'
While Killian was thinking about this and that, he heard a child's voice again from beside him.
“But sir.”
Killian lowered his gaze in the direction of the sound.
“So you are John’s uncle?”
Since it was a well-known fact that John's guardian was the Marquis of Starr, the boy continued speaking when Killian did not deny it.
“My mother has seen John. She said his uncle has a more eccentric personality. Is that true?”
What kind of bold woman would say something like that to a child?
“Does your mother know me?”
“Yes, I heard you met recently.”
“Recently too?”
Killian frowned.
“Didn’t you say earlier that your parents weren’t here?”
"I thought you were misunderstanding. My parents aren't dead. They just didn't come to the observation class."
“...From now on, be more precise with your expressions.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“But what is your mother’s name?”
“Don’t you know? I look a lot like my mom.”
The boy chuckled playfully.
Before he could even hear the answer, the bell rang, signaling the next class.
The boy got down from the bench and shook Killian's hand.
“It was nice to meet you.”
Killian held the child's hand with a sullen expression, then let go. Whatever the case, sending the child away quickly was the priority.
The boy disappeared from sight, and Emily was just entering the front door.
Judging by the luggage in both hands, it seemed like she had received a lot of things.
Killian hurried over and took Emily's luggage. Upon receiving it, he saw a worn-out, tattered cushion.
“I received the book and the cushion the author used.”
“...Are you going to use it?”
“Huh? How do I use this? It’s for personal use.”
And Emily looked around.
“I don’t see John, so you didn’t see him either?”
Emily's expression darkened immediately as Killian nodded.
“I’m worried that John might be lonely and have no friends.”
Killian wasn't too worried about John, but he didn't want to see Emily worried.
“I was with a kid earlier, and he said he was friends with John.”
“Yes? Really? What’s his name?”
“...I didn’t get a chance to ask hia name.”
Emily asked with a thoughtful expression.
“From a distance, I see you with a silver-haired boy. Is that him?”
'When did you see it?'
Killian became anxious.
“Shall I ask John?”
At Emily's words, Killian shook his head urgently.
“John would be embarrassed to talk about his friend.”
“Why is he embarrassed about that?”
"Boys are usually embarrassed to have such conversations. I'll find out and tell you."
“...Yes, then.”
He has to find that kid before Emily does. And he has to give him money to befriend John.
Moreover, since the boy's mother and he might know each other, it would be better to prepare in advance to avoid any trouble.
Yes, then everyone will be happy.
Comments
Post a Comment