Chapter 57
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Incoming Student's Pledge
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The auditorium where the entrance ceremony was taking place was already bustling with people.
Students beaming with bright smiles and families looking blissfully happy.
Magicians could be seen snapping photos to commemorate this special day.
Large framed photos drew the eyes of passersby.
Wendy, one among the crowd, gazed at the back of the man walking ahead and thought to herself.
Y-Yeah, the Count would probably hate this kind of thing...?
Honestly speaking, she wanted to take a photo with Tristan.
She knew photos were a luxury, but Wendy wanted to preserve this moment as a memory, so she casually checked the price.
10,000 Kael per sheet
It was expensive.
No, but at that price... it wasn't entirely impossible.
Ever since becoming his exclusive maid, her salary had skyrocketed.
In the past, she would have given up at the mere sight of the price, but now that her situation had improved, she found herself lingering on it.
Wendy.
Y-Yes?!
The sudden voice made Wendy jump in surprise.
Tristan had stopped in his tracks and was looking back at her.
Is something the matter?
S-Sorry... I was just lost in thought for a moment...
...Follow along diligently. The ceremony is about to start.
Yes!
With those words alone, Tristan turned and resumed walking.
It might have seemed cold at a glance, but Wendy felt no hurt at all.
There was a gentleness hidden behind his indifferent words and actions that others wouldn't know.
Sure enough, the pace of the man leading the way had slowed to one that Wendy could easily keep up with.
It was probably a secret known only to Wendy in this world.
Wendy followed Tristan into the auditorium.
There were many people inside as well.
As expected, with the entrance ceremony about to begin, people were taking their seats.
Stay here and watch the ceremony. I have business to attend to, so I'll be going.
Y-Yes...
She had thought they'd watch it together, so Wendy felt a slight pang of disappointment.
Unaware of her feelings, Tristan vanished somewhere to handle his duties.
Watching his retreating figure, Wendy thought.
-From the very start, you caught my attention.
Haaa...
Just recalling those words from the carriage made Wendy's face burn hot.
She felt confused.
At first, she had only thought Tristan hated her.
No matter how she looked at it, there was no reason for him to like a blundering crybaby like her.
She had assumed that appointing her, a mere errand girl, as his exclusive maid was just a ploy to torment her before firing her.
Tristan had indeed been that kind of person.
A genius at villainy, treating his servants like tools, possessing the worst personality imaginable.
She thought everyone who pointed fingers at him had good reason to do so.
Wendy had believed the same.
But the Count...
Tristan had helped her.
Making her his exclusive maid was only the beginning.
He had arranged for her to receive magic lessons from Sage Myohail.
He had enabled her to learn martial arts from the duke's guard knight, Blanche.
When he learned that the blood of a hero flowed in her veins, he had helped conceal the fact.
And now, he had even gotten her into the empire's top university.
It was no mere favor one would grant a servant.
Wendy felt she finally understood Tristan's feelings.
That all those favors had been given because he had her in mind.
...
No, more precisely, he had been testing her.
10 years.
That specific number he had mentioned was undoubtedly the time limit given to her.
A command to become a woman worthy of him within 10 years.
Count. I'm late to it, but now I understand...
Wendy clenched her fists tightly.
Precisely because she knew that path would be anything but easy.
Right now, there were already plenty of attractive women around Tristan.
Lady Bella was the daughter of a duke family and renowned as the kingdom's greatest beauty.
Even her guard knight, Blanche, possessed such stunning looks that every passerby turned to stare.
Sniff...
Tears welled up in Wendy's eyes.
The auditorium buzzing with people.
There, Wendy quietly bowed her head.
Could a mere servant like her possibly compete with them?
With her short legs, messy hair, and klutzy nature, could she ever match with Tristan?
Such thoughts made her heart feel like it was plummeting endlessly.
Suffocating waves of negative emotion.
From within that, what Wendy recalled were the words of the man she adored.
-I don't keep beside me those for whom I have no feelings.
Thump.
-In 10 years, you will have grown into a more splendid form than anyone.
Thump.
Those words were like magic.
An inexplicable courage welled up within Wendy.
She swallowed her hot tears.
Her heart was now pounding hotter than ever before.
It was then.
Are you okay...?
Y-Yes?
When Wendy raised her head, the girl sitting beside her was looking at her with concern.
Was she a freshman too?
Her elegant-looking robe, glasses, and braided hair gave her a neat, noble-like appearance.
You seemed... like you were crying...
The bespectacled girl offered a handkerchief to Wendy.
Wendy politely accepted it with both hands and wiped her tears.
Th-Thank you...
N-No, no need to thank me for something like this...
The girl, who seemed quite shy, bowed her head.
And by the time Wendy had wiped away her tears, she spoke up again.
...Are you a freshman by any chance?
Y-Yes.
Then, how about we drop the formalities...? I'm a freshman starting at this school today too.
I-I'm too young for that...
Huh? How old are you?
12...
At those words, the girl pushed up her glasses in surprise and looked Wendy over.
...A special admission student, perhaps?
Y-Yes...
As I thought... I figured I was the youngest. I'm a special admission too!
The bespectacled girl grabbed Wendy's hand as she spoke.
I'm Luna. 17 years old. And you?
I-I'm Wendy...
I see...! Wendy, pleased to meet you. If it's okay, would you like to be friends?
Y-Yes...?!
Wendy panicked at the sudden proposal.
Though she hadn't said it, Luna was surely a noble.
Their statuses were different.
H-How could someone like me become friends with Lady Luna...!
Ugh... So you don't want to be friends with me after all?
Y-Yes?!
Luna huddled her knees together.
Uuu... I want to go home. I shouldn't have come to the entrance ceremony for nothing and end up bothering everyone...
O-Okay! I'll be your friend!
Really?!
Luna hugged Wendy tightly in delight.
H-Huh?!
Thank you! I was worried about how I'd survive in this school! You've saved me, Wendy! I'm not alone anymore. Sob sob.
It seemed Luna had been a loner before entering the university.
Wendy intended to pat her back until she calmed down.
But a magically amplified voice echoed through the hall.
The Meikahel University's entrance ceremony will now commence! Please take your seats!
At those words, the students in the auditorium sat down, while parents and companions gathered orderly at the back.
Once the auditorium had quieted somewhat, the announcement continued.
We will now begin with the pledge from the freshman representative! Freshman representative, Wendy, please come to the stage!
Wendy? Huh?! No way?
Luna flinched in shock and stared at Wendy.
After taking a deep breath, Wendy slowly rose from her seat.
Luna's expression was one of utter astonishment, incomparable to before.
I'll be right back...
Leaving the mumbling Luna behind, Wendy walked to the stage.
She was already prepared.
Her footsteps were steady, and her posture flawless.
Count... I won't disappoint you anymore.
Naturally, the eyes of the surrounding students focused on her.
What? A little kid?
Cute... She looks just like a bunny.
In uniform, but a college student...?
Wendy accepted their gazes naturally as she slowly ascended the stage.
Recalling his face made her steps feel lighter.
Standing before the rod-shaped magic tool that amplified her voice, Wendy opened her mouth.
Freshman representative, Wendy, pledges before God from this position.
She merely read the pledge text floating before her.
With the abilities and talents bestowed upon me by God...
But Wendy was so focused that she even forgot she wasn't stuttering.
Her voice was clearer and purer than ever before.
To the point that the seated audience stared at her as if entranced.
...I solemnly swear to devote myself to the study and research of magic. That concludes the pledge from freshman representative, Wendy.
When Wendy finished her pledge and raised her head, the auditorium was shrouded in silence.
No one had expected such a resolute voice to emerge from such a small frame.
In terms of time, it was just a little over one minute.
Yet Wendy's pledge had the power to captivate everyone in the hall.
Of course, there was some lingering effect.
I-I managed to do it...
Her legs were trembling as if questioning when she'd mustered such courage.
Cold sweat trickled down her back.
It was her first time speaking before so many people.
D-Did I do well...?
Unlike when she had ascended, Wendy descended the stage hesitantly.
The persistent gazes fixed on her felt unbearably burdensome.
Fortunately for her, the voice guiding the next segment rang out.
Next, we will introduce the new chairman who assumes office today!
Clack.
Perhaps because Wendy had just finished her pledge.
In the auditorium's silence, that heel click sounded loud.
It was a heel sound all too familiar to Wendy.
The moment people saw the man ascending the stage, they frowned.
Soon, the entire auditorium erupted in murmurs.
Not just from the freshmen in their seats, but even from the nobles standing at the backthe buzzing grew louder.
Why is that guy up there...
What? Tell him to get down.
Oh dear. It's Ruelverta...!
As the auditorium grew noisier, only Wendy clearly heard his voice.
Quiet.
The man merely muttered that one word.
Yet not a single person in the hall failed to feel the anger emanating from him.
At the blatant fury he made no effort to conceal, everyone's mouths snapped shut in unison.
In the auditorium where not even breathing could be heard, the man introduced himself.
I am Tristan Ruelverta.