Chapter 107
Chapter 107
The day for the announcement of the children’s test results arrived. For the first time in a long while, all three children gathered at the county estate. This was because they had arranged for the report cards to be sent to the Everett County estate, promising to check the results together.
“Ena!”
“Hey, you got taller! I think you might even be a little taller than me now.”
“Demi, you got a bit of a tan! You must have had a lot of fun.”
Seeing the drawing room so lively after such a long time, Eleanor felt a little emotional. It was a scene she had missed. It seemed that not only Eleanor, but the Count and Countess and the servants all felt the same way. Everyone was peeking into the drawing room, trying to exchange greetings with the children.
Eleanor clapped her hands to break the scattered atmosphere.
“Everyone’s hungry, right? Let’s eat first.”
“Okay!”
“Shall we go wash our hands quickly?”
The dining table was laden with food perfectly tailored to the children’s tastes. There was steak that Lucas loved, sweet pumpkin soup that Siena loved, and a shrimp dish that Damian loved. It was a meal prepared with extra care, knowing that the time they could all spend together like this would not be plentiful from now on.
“This looks delicious!”
“Make sure you chew slowly and thoroughly.”
The slight awkwardness and tension melted away like snow along with the meal. The children chatted about trivial things and burst into laughter.
‘My lady.’
Just then, Albert sent Eleanor a signal with his eyes. ‘If you could step out for a moment.’
As Eleanor quietly got up and left the room, Albert handed her three envelopes. Eleanor recognized them at a glance.
“The academy test results have arrived.”
“Haa… Why am I so nervous?”
Taking the envelopes, Eleanor squeezed her eyes shut as if in prayer before opening them again. She hadn’t been this nervous even for her own tests, but her heart was pounding wildly.
“It will be fine.”
“I hope so…”
She wasn’t too worried about the other children, but Siena was the problem. ‘If, by any chance, the results are bad… it would be better to tell her separately and gently.’
Eleanor took a deep breath and carefully opened the envelope with Siena’s name on it. As the well-folded paper touched her fingertips, her fingers trembled slightly. Gulp. Swallowing dryly, Eleanor took out the report card.
‘Please…’
Eleanor squeezed her eyes shut and unfolded the paper. Peeking through her lashes, she checked the contents, and her eyes gradually widened.
“How is it?”
Albert prompted Eleanor in an anxious voice. Though he pretended to be calm, it was clear he was extremely curious as well. Eleanor, who had been staring blankly at the report card for a while, carefully parted her lips.
“Well, about that…”
“First, I want to say that you all worked really, really hard.”
Eleanor said, making eye contact with each of the children. A sense of tension filled the faces of the three children, who were gathered together in the living room. Their large eyes kept being drawn down to the bundle of papers in Eleanor’s hand. Eleanor let out a small laugh seeing them.
“Thank you so much for following along so diligently. I think it was a great stroke of luck for me, as a teacher, to have been able to meet such kind and lovely children like you.”
Gulp.
At that moment, a wave of hot emotion surged up inside Eleanor. She had wanted to speak calmly in a bright voice, but before she knew it, her eyes grew hot.
“So…”
After taking a breath to compose herself, Eleanor continued.
“All three of you must stay healthy, happy, and close to each other at the academy, just like you are now.”
Before she could stop it, a single tear dropped from Eleanor’s eye. Eleanor chided herself for being so silly, for acting as if she had raised them from infancy when they had only spent a little over a year together. But even that couldn't push away the heart-swelling pride she felt.
“Congratulations on passing, kids.”
At Eleanor's words, the children just blinked their eyes for a while without saying anything.
Lucas asked.
“We passed?”
“Yes. You passed.”
This time, Damian asked.
“All of us?”
“Yes. All of you.”
Siena, with a bewildered expression, asked as if to confirm.
“For real?”
“Yes, for real.”
Eleanor smiled brightly and nodded her head.
“Congratulations, my little ones.”
As if it were finally sinking in, the children’s faces brightened like the sun.
“Waaaah!”
“We all passed!”
“We can stay together!”
Their faces flushed red with excitement, the children threw themselves into Eleanor’s arms.
“Teacher, we all passed!”
Eleanor staggered for a moment under the weight of the three children, but she quickly spread her arms wide and hugged them back with all her might. A little ways away, the butler and the maids who were watching the scene secretly wiped their eyes. They too had grown very fond of the children over time.
Once the children's excitement had subsided a bit, Eleanor said with a gentle smile.
“And there’s even more good news.”
At Eleanor’s words, Siena tilted her head and asked.
“More good news?”
“Yes, and there are two pieces of it.”
What could it be? The children’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Damian has been admitted as the top student of the entire class.”
Damian had a look of complete surprise at Eleanor’s words. Eleanor reached out and lightly ruffled his hair.
“Congratulations, Demi. Your brother will be so happy when he finds out.”
Damian’s face turned bright red at her words. Lucas patted Damian on the shoulder in admiration.
“Wow! You’re really amazing.”
Siena also smiled brightly and congratulated Damian on his achievement.
“Congratulations, Demi.”
“Thanks, Ena.”
“But you know you can’t let your guard down, right? I’m going to be number one by graduation, so you’d better stay on your toes.”
Siena said with a playful smile, lightly tapping Damian’s shoulder. Damian, who had been secretly worried about Siena, finally relaxed and smiled brightly. Seeing this, Eleanor smiled with pride. It was a moment where she truly felt how much the children had grown. In height, in knowledge, and in heart.
“Alright, alright, I’ll hand out the report cards.”
Eleanor handed each of the children their own report card.
「Damian Knox Valentine (Examinee No. 3-10-0125) Written: 375/400 Interview: 91.6/100 Practical: A-A-A Overall Rank: 1/120 Congratulations on your final acceptance to Deln Academy.
As you have passed this school’s examination with outstanding results, we inform you that you have been selected as the representative of the entering class. The student representative will be provided with a scholarship and various benefits, and will read the oath at the entrance ceremony. For details regarding the entrance ceremony and scholarship benefits, please refer to the enclosed guide. 」
「Siena Blake (Examinee No. 4-10-0623) Written: 265/400 Interview: 99.3/100 Practical: A-A-A Overall Rank: 117/120 Congratulations on your final acceptance to Deln Academy. For details regarding the entrance ceremony, please refer to the enclosed guide. 」
「Lucas Ivan de Bellium (Examinee No. 3-10-0201) Written: 315/400 Interview: 96.4/100 Practical: B-A-A Overall Rank: 69/120 Congratulations on your final acceptance to Deln Academy. For details regarding the entrance ceremony, please refer to the enclosed guide. 」
Eleanor approached Siena and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder. She was worried that Siena might be hurt by the result, which was so different from what they had hoped for. Siena looked at Eleanor and gave a broad grin. It was a strong smile, as if telling her not to worry.
Siena said.
“What you told me back then was a big help, Teacher.”
“What did I say?”
“That the opportunity for a comeback had arrived.”
Siena stared at the rank on her report card. It was a rank that was practically last place.
“It just means I have nowhere to go but up, right? When I thought about it, this way seems cooler.”
Siena gave a mischievous smile.
“I’m going to surprise everyone!”
Siena declared her bold ambition, clenching her small fists. Eleanor smiled and gave Siena a light kiss on the cheek.
“Your teacher will be ready to be surprised, too.”
Just then, Lucas suddenly interjected.
“Teacher.”
“Yes?”
“What’s the other good news? You said there were two pieces of it earlier!”
“Ah.”
Eleanor chuckled softly. Siena and Damian also looked at her, curious.
“It’s okay for everyone to sleep over here tonight. I already called your homes and got permission.”
“Yay!”
The children cheered at Eleanor’s words. Lucas, grinning from ear to ear, asked.
“But we don’t have a change of clothes.”
“I got those in advance, too.”
Eleanor gave a wink.
“I’m going to stay up all night! I’m not sleepy at all.”
“Me too.”
“Can we really play all night without sleeping?”
The children began to chatter, full of excitement. In that moment, Eleanor felt a tiny bit of regret. She should have thought more rationally before making the decision!
“Staying up all night is not allowed. You have to sleep early to grow tall.”
Eleanor shook her head firmly. The children’s faces instantly fell.
“Tsk.”
“But this is the first time we’re all sleeping over together…”
“It might be the last time we all sleep over at the county estate.”
The children said, the ends of their eyebrows drooping. Eleanor looked down at them for a moment with an incredulous expression. The way they kept sneaking glances at her, they were like little baby foxes.
“…But I suppose staying up just a little bit later than usual would be okay.”
To that clumsy acting, Eleanor gave in once again. The children burst into laughter. Eleanor watched them and let out a small chuckle.
‘It will probably always be like this. Even when you all grow up and become adults… If you whine, I’ll pretend not to notice and give in. Just like that.’
Pushing two wide beds together created a space with enough room for four people to lie down. While Eleanor, exhausted from handling the three children, had drifted off to sleep, the kids were lying on their stomachs, chattering away.
Siena, who had been rolling around on the soft bed, said in a serious voice.
“But what if we don’t get into the same class and get separated?”
“How many classes did they say there were?”
“Six classes.”
“Then there’s a high chance we’ll be in different classes.”
Damian said in a calm voice.
“We can just meet during break times. Eat together, study together.”
At that, Siena shook her head back and forth.
“They say out of sight, out of mind. Haven’t you heard that?”
“That’s true, but…”
Just then, Lucas made a suggestion.
“Then let’s make a promise beforehand.”
“A promise?”
“That the three of us will always stick together. That no matter how many other friends we make, we’ll be the closest.”
Damian and Siena agreed with Lucas’s words.
“Okay.”
“I like that too.”
Lucas held out his pinky finger.
“Everyone, link your fingers. Hurry.”
After linking their small pinky fingers, Lucas solemnly declared.
“From now on, we are the best of friends. For life!”
It was the moment the eternal three musketeers were born.