The Daughter’s Unexpected Encounter
Several days had passed since the meeting at Cafe Florant with Ivan Earnest and Vivian Bright.
Idel finally realized just how shallow she had underestimated this ridiculous world. The reason was simple.
“Well, Miss Janeana, Miss Idel. Look here. This is the very heart of the Empire’s pride—Niveus Academy.”
“Whoa…! Professor Hector, the building is enormous!”
“Indeed. This magnificent structure is the Sacra Palace. Should you two study diligently, you will one day pursue your scholarly pursuits right here. Now then, I shall show you my personal study next, and then complete the tour… Er? Just a moment. Who is that? Ivan! Is that Ivan!”
“Professor Hector?”
Hector, who had temporarily taken over the history class, had come out for a special on-site learning session meant to spark students’ interest in the subject. It was pure coincidence that he had run straight into Ivan Earnest of all people in this sprawling academy, amid all those countless hours.
In this vast academy, at this exact moment, Ivan Earnest stood there with several file folders tucked under his arm, greeting the professor with a polite smile. Idel rubbed the corners of her eyes lightly with her fingers.
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
According to her brother’s theory, the makjang world was made up of thirty percent chance, fifty percent “especially now,” and twenty percent “no way.” In other words, it was no surprise at all that the hardworking journalist Ivan Earnest should suddenly appear right in front of her.
“The young lady must be… thinking the same thing.”
Idel listened to the mix of bewilderment, relief, and shock in Ivan’s voice and gave him a displeased glance, as if pretending not to recognize him.
Hector, usually quick to notice Ivan’s change, had been too distracted by Janeana’s excited exclamation to notice anything else.
“Waaah, I’ve never met a journalist before!”
“Haha, you’re quite interested in journalists, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Very much so! Then are you here for an interview?”
“Well… actually, that’s precisely why. Ivan, you. What brings you to the academy?”
Until then, Ivan had been glancing at Idel, but when Hector asked the question he finally tore his gaze away.
“Oh, nothing special. I was checking if the library might have the material I’m looking for….”
“What material would take you all the way here?”
“It’s about the history and theories of forbidden magic in the Empire… it’s not just ordinary black magic, but includes prohibited spells, so the Empire seems to manage it carefully.”
“Have you always been interested in that area?”
Hector stroked his chin thoughtfully, then opened his mouth again. “Hmm, then come with me to my study. Among the materials I’ve personally collected, I’m sure there’s something that would interest you.”
“Ah, that….”
Ivan hesitated for a moment, then glanced sideways at Idel. The girl with her arms crossed and lips pursed looked distinctly displeased.
Seeing her like that, Ivan made his decision. He gave Hector a polite, firm smile of refusal. Since she had helped him, he did not want the girl to suffer because of him.
But just as he started to explain, a frantic shout came from far away and a student came running.
“Professor! Professor Hector! There’s an emergency!”
“Huh?”
The student, panting heavily, arrived and pointed a finger toward the back of the Sacra Palace. “A research lab in the back exploded! And the basic materials for the Empire’s language dictionary we were preparing got caught in the blast…!”
“What? The dictionary’s materials?! No, how many years’ worth are those?!”
The student’s face had gone pale as he looked ready to dash off at any moment. When he spotted the two young girls, he suddenly realized he was not alone and hurried to Ivan.
“Ivan, if it’s not too much trouble, could you… just for a moment….”
“I understand. You two leave it to me and go on ahead.”
“Thank you, thank you!”
Hector vanished like a bullet after that. The silence swept through the space in an instant.
Ivan stood awkwardly, looking at Janeana’s sparkling eyes and Idel’s sulky expression, and gave a somewhat embarrassed laugh.
“Shall we start over with introductions? As I said earlier, I am Ivan Earnest. You may simply call me Ivan.”
“Yes, Ivan! Call me Janeana! I’m so excited I could burst—Idel, aren’t you excited too?”
“……Not really. I’m not excited at all.”
“Eeeek, again?!”
Janeana burst into laughter at Idel’s blunt reply, then turned to Ivan. “Idel has a bit of a bad side. Just the other day she pretended not to like the fruit cake I like and then bought it anyway!”
“Hey, that’s—”
“So you understand, Ivan! Because you’re an adult!”
Ignoring Idel’s protests, Ivan’s lips curved into a faint smile at Janeana’s unrepentant attitude. He gently adjusted his glasses and nodded calmly.
“Of course. In fact… I think I already understand what you mean, Miss Janeana.”
“Eh?”
“The other day I received help from Miss Idel at Cafe Florant. Of course, I didn’t know it was you at the time.”
Ivan paused and looked directly at Idel, speaking cautiously. “It’s truly fortunate we met again. I wanted to see you again. My father as well.”
“Wha—?!”
Janeana inhaled sharply, eyes widening and feet stomping with excitement. She clearly wanted every detail.
Of course, she knew Idel was not the best person to explain things to, but she decided to ask the seemingly clever journalist instead.
“Idel? When, why, what, how?”
“Miss Janeana will make an excellent journalist.”
Ivan chuckled softly at the six questions and slowly began to outline the events. How Idel had gotten involved with him at the cafe, how she had dealt a powerful blow to Farel and saved him from humiliation.
Janeana listened with rapt attention, hands clasped, completely absorbed by Ivan’s dry journalistic narration and Idel’s grumbling.
“Idel, you’re such a heroine!”
“You don’t listen, do you? It’s not like that at all!”
After hearing everything, Janeana sighed in satisfaction without flinching as Idel got worked up.
Idel’s complaints had become a daily routine.
Instead of soothing her brother, Janeana looked at Ivan with gratitude.
And the moment she faced Ivan directly, her eyes widened and she tilted her head.
“Um, Ivan?”
“Yes?”
“According to what you said, everything ended well, right?”
Ivan’s eyes filled with the same question.
“Ah? Yes. Thanks to Miss Idel’s help… is there something wrong?”
“No, that’s not it….”
Janeana fidgeted with her fingers, then rolled her eyes and spoke again. “Ivan’s expression looked a bit troubled.”
“Me…? You mean me?”
Idel whipped her head around to examine Ivan’s face. His expression, as he rubbed his cheek with a look of embarrassment, was clearly gloomy somewhere.
‘What’s going on?’
Idel narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
Ivan, caught off guard by the gaze of the two children, opened his mouth without realizing it. It was not a story for small children, but some strange intuition told him they might understand.
“The other day, Prince Farel came to the Bright Marquis’s estate. I thought that might be possible, but the part after that….”
“What part after that is the problem?”
“That is….”
Ivan rubbed the back of his neck, his voice hesitant.
“Prince Farel claimed that the Bright Marquis’s child was pregnant….”
Idel and Janeana’s eyes widened in unison.
So who… what had he done?