Bab 65: [Chapter 65] If you have a conscience, stay away from that kid
"Yeah, come anytime. What's the class? Are we taking Berlen politics and culture together this semester?"
The dazzling holy power that Ren brought to Cledwyn's body immediately permeated it.
Cledwyn's complexion improved compared to before. Neris sat down beside Cledwyn and nodded quietly.
"Yes."
"It's good that we're taking the same class this year. I hope Mahradi's child isn't there."
"There won't be. It's a Berlen language-only class, and Voltair said that if our grades are low, we won't be allowed to take it."
Voltair clearly said that when we applied for the class last semester.
Ren and Neris, who took the same class last year, knew exactly how good Mahradi's Berlen language skills were.
They were at a level where they could hold everyday conversations, but it was lacking for a politics class taught only in Berlen.
Ren chuckled and raised his holy power again.
"I'm tired of taking the same class as that kid. I won't have to see them again."
Ren was close to graduating and had taken many theology department classes, so it was natural.
Neris, who still had a few years of school left with Mahradi, felt a little envious of Ren.
The light of the holy power, which made Cledwyn's body feel better just by looking at it, continued to flow into him.
And when the speed of the light's penetration slowed down, Ren removed his hand. It was almost time for a cup of tea.
As it seemed like the task was complete, Neris got up to get a drink. As soon as she disappeared, Ren spoke bluntly.
"That's it. Don't put that kid in front of us from now on."
"Thank you."
Cledwyn touched the injured area on his waist and nodded.
It was indeed a rapid treatment. The condition was so good that the wound, which was aching and hot until a while ago, felt like a dream. There was no pain even when he pressed his waist.
"And you."
Ren, who had been watching with a stern expression, spoke in a harsh tone, different from how he was in front of Neris.
"If you have a conscience, stay away from that kid. You know how dangerous the situation is."
"What do you mean?"
Cledwyn's gaze also turned stern.
"It's exactly what I mean. Neris is too kind-hearted, and there's no one to take care of that kid. Nellusion is just pretending to take care of them, but they're not really helping. So, the less attention, the better. Don't ruin the peaceful daily life of that kid with your meddling."
Cledwyn realized that Ren was more worried about Neris than he thought. It seemed like he was thinking of her like a younger sister.
But what right did Ren Faeyel have to interfere with the relationship between Cledwyn and Neris? Did he think he was her real older brother or something?
And besides, saying that Neris's heart was weak?
Cledwyn snorted.
He also thought that Neris's heart was weak.
However, that was a conclusion he came to after seeing her many strong appearances and the choices she made in critical moments.
What did Ren know about Neris? They only had a connection as shallow as a chance encounter.
Ren's eyes sank dangerously.
"...It seems like you're thinking something that's making you angry right now..."
Ren was surprisingly perceptive despite looking like an innocent boy. Cledwyn raised an eyebrow.
"There's no reason for that, senior. Anyway, I have business with her and she has business with me, so it's not something for you to interfere with."
"You damn kid, I didn't like you from the moment I met you."
Ren quickly realized that Cledwyn wouldn't back down and grumbled.
Cledwyn thought the same about Ren. He was just staying out of it because he thought Ren could be helpful to Neris.
In fact, Ren was a talented individual in terms of ability. Although he had been wasting his time until last year, after meeting Neris, he had been getting rid of spies and gathering useful connections, so his chances of surviving for a few more years were high.
So, if it were any other time, Cledwyn would have considered recruiting him.
But Cledwyn didn't feel like it for some reason. Maybe his instincts thought that Ren wasn't the type to be under someone else? Anyway... how could he put it... this... instinctive feeling...
Was it "annoying"?
It wasn't a word that Cledwyn often used, but for some reason, it seemed like the most fitting name for this inexplicable emotion he was feeling right now. So, he decided to keep using that expression for now.
Until he came up with a better expression, Ren would continue to be an "annoying" person.
Neris, who returned to the living room, saw that Cledwyn's complexion had improved and thanked Ren.
"Thank you so much, senior. This person will definitely repay you."
"No need to repay me. It was your request."
Although Ren said so, he shot a glance at Cledwin, as if asking, "Are you just going to let it slide?"
Neris, looking at the stacked dishes in the reception room, spoke worriedly.
"Do you employ a servant? How do you manage this big house all by yourself while studying?"
Ren, who had been living alone since he drove out his servant, Dogon, replied with a face that quickly changed expressions.
"I'm not alone. The priests sometimes come to help. You're still young, how do you manage to live alone?"
"My room is small, so there's not much to worry about..."
Cledwin clicked his tongue inwardly at Ren's shameless attitude, which changed rapidly. It seemed like he was indeed unlucky.
After finishing their conversation, Cledwin and Neris left Ren's dormitory. Ren insisted on going with them, but Cledwin quickly prepared to leave, and Neris followed him without a word.
Cledwin led Neris down a path where there were no people. Neris knew many hidden paths in the vast grounds of the Noble Academy, but the path Cledwin took was a place she had never thought of as a path. It was truly a place where students didn't go.
"I've never seen a path like this without people during school hours."
As they crossed the quiet garden of an empty dormitory, Neris exclaimed. Her voice, which was calm overall but contained a subtle sense of wonder, prompted Cledwin to respond calmly.
"You'll find it if you look."
While acting as if he didn't care about anything, he occasionally revealed his true self, just like when he smiled at her birthday gift, which wasn't special at all.
Cledwin clearly acknowledged it. He wanted to treat her well.
If she thought she was ruined, he didn't think he needed to force her to think about her good points.
If Neris Trude thought she was ruined, it wasn't a problem that could be solved by someone else's words.
If she wanted revenge, she could do so. He didn't have a reason to evaluate the cause, justification, or value.
And if she needed something in the process, he wanted to support her without making any excuses about cost or trouble.
It seemed like she prioritized bringing him to Ren, even though she clearly had her own business to attend to from morning.
As they walked through the narrow, shaded alley between buildings, Neris suddenly spoke as if she had just thought of something.
"I've had a maid coming and going since yesterday. Don't send a letter because there's a risk of it being discovered."
"Okay. Until when?"
The subtle, implicit question, which seemed to ask how long she would let the suspicious servant come and go as they pleased, made Neris smile faintly.
"As long as it's useful. I'll find someone if I need to. And I'm planning to visit Sedona around this weekend, so I'll need someone to accompany me. An adult would be better."
It was laughable that she, who usually pretended to be a noble adult, would become like a child when it came to looking for someone to accompany her. It was better to have someone to lead the way and pretend to be their companion.
Cledwin, who understood her words, nodded his head.
"I'll send a suitable person. At the station on Saturday at noon."
"Okay. Thank you."
This person was willing to do anything she asked.
Neris briefly worried about Cledwin as she listened to his gentle agreement. Once she acknowledged that she had worried about him, she couldn't help but worry even more.
The reason he was treating her well was supposedly an investment in recruiting talent. But where in the world was an employer who liked to invest in someone like her, who was still only a 2nd-year student at the Academy and had never been of any help?
While Cledwin himself was directly dealing with traitors and getting injured, he was helping her, who had never been of any use. And yet, he came to her immediately, even though she had only made a trivial request that could be delayed until next week.
As she thought about it, Neris felt a weak emotion that she had forgotten for a long time resurfacing.
Pitifulness. Blind admiration. Absolute trust.
She had poured her sincere love into people who didn't deserve it, and in the end, she had received no reward.
Neris knew well that she was not the person responsible for Cledwin's life. So, she didn't think of giving him a long, preachy lecture to wake him up.
People didn't change just because someone else gave them a lecture, anyway.
Could you tell someone responsible to live without responsibility from now on?
It was a task suitable for someone like her, who knew their methods well and had dirtied their hands, to deal with people who lived without principles and take revenge on them.
At least, it seemed like she could say this much.
"...Thank you very much."
The weak emotions from that time could be killed again anytime. She was not a foolish dog that didn't know its owner was using even its dead body and wagging its tail.
So, it was okay to say this much at this moment.
Neris muttered to herself.
Cledwin, who heard her words, nodded his head with an unreadable expression.
***
Isabelle was quite resentful.
It wasn't her fault that she had come to this place, that she had worked late into the night and gotten blisters on her hands because of the careless Neris Trude, and that Valentine's plan had failed because of her.
However, the person who could scold and reprimand her was limited to the Elantria siblings, who lived in this mansion. Half of the ten servants were from Nellurision.
And since she was directly involved in the incident, Delma really did "catch" Isabelle.
"You can't even escape properly! How can you do this? You know how much the young lady was scared because of you!"
Strictly speaking, it was Valentine's own fault that he was trapped in the dark warehouse for a few hours. But Delma would never acknowledge that fact, and Isabelle didn't want to think that way either. Because there was an easier target for her anger.
"That sly girl."
She had already been kneeling on the floor for 30 minutes, crying.
The proud Isabelle hated the fact that she had become a target for unfair venting, and that even the lowly servant had seen her in such a state. It was miserable.
And all of this was because of the cunning Neris Trude.
The noble young lady wanted to play with her, but couldn't she just take it for one night? Wasn't it enough that she was trapped for just one night, while the people in this mansion were all on thin ice?
It was incomprehensible how someone as kind and dignified as the Nellurision young master had gotten entangled with such a poisonous girl.
Isabelle deliberately ignored the fact that no one knew when Valentine would let Neris go. And she also ignored the fact that Neris had no reason to take the fall for her.
That way, she could feel more resentful.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone