I Did a Good Job For the Villain's Early Education - Chapter 52.1
Chapter 52.1
“A birthday present! Surely you wouldn’t be so impolite as to not…”
‘Does he even have any allowance?’
Quickly calculating Cheza’s standing and circumstances, Avel swiftly changed her tune. “Your presence is the greatest gift! Wow! I’m so touched!”
“I did prepare something. Though not that much.”
Glancing at the mountain of gifts, Cheza pulled a small box from his pocket. His angular thumb and forefinger grazed his lower lip.
“An artifact?”
“It’s for medical use.”
“M-Medical use?”
Artifacts themselves were expensive, but emergency healing ones were rarely available.
‘That’s so hard to find!’
Her eyes, wide as the full moon, reflected the boy’s image.
“It can be used multiple times. It can completely heal even a fatal wound once.”
“Oh my.”
‘The same boy who once tossed aside an artifact I gave him!’
Her excited voice, thick with emotion, trembled. “Your Highness! You’ve grown up!”
“I’m two years older than you.”
“What do you want to eat? Oh, should I bring more cake?”
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll be right back!”
Pink hair bobbed away. Watching her go, the knight-in-training murmured, “Your Highness. I don’t like you.”
“Why?”
“For the same reason you don’t like me.”
“I… greatly dislike you.” Similar yet different gazes intertwined.
“…Yes.”
“Right?”
“But Avel said she needs proper interaction with her peers.” A flawless, pale hand extended. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Cardel Lucio suddenly thought of the expression, ‘birds of a feather.’
***
“What? Tomorrow?”
“That’s what they said.”
“B-But tomorrow is too soon! They originally said we had another month!”
“What can I do if that’s what the higher-ups say? Honey, I’m in trouble too. I’m about to be kicked out with barely any compensation!”
The young woman stopped pleading with her landlord and pressed her lips together. She knew. Pestering him wouldn’t change anything.
But when cornered, people grasp at even rotten straws. A youthful voice rang out from behind her.
“Sister, what are we going to do?”
“It’s fine. I’ll figure it out. You hurry to the Academy.”
Ten months had passed since she arrived in the capital with nothing but her younger sister’s hand in hers. Her sister, despite their family’s lack of resources, had earned a scholarship to the Academy.
‘I’m the older sister; I can’t hold her back.’
“Aki, what if I take a leave of absence…?”
“A first-year taking a leave? Don’t worry. Go on. The carriage will be here soon.”
Aki forced a smile and pushed her sister away. Her sister turned, her face etched with worry. Her back, as she headed toward the Academy, seemed unusually slumped today.
The intentionally oversized uniform still hung loosely on her frame.
‘I need to keep her in the Academy until it fits perfectly.’
“What am I going to do…?”
Worry deepened the fatigue on her face. Staring after her receding sister, the woman bit her lip and muttered weakly, “What can I do but go to work?”
But even on her way to work, and at the factory, she couldn’t muster any energy. It was understandable. How could she focus when she was about to be evicted?
“Ugh…”
“Are you stressed about your housing too?”
“Yeah. They want me out by tomorrow. You?”
“I have three days. Where am I supposed to go with the measly relocation allowance they’re giving…?”
“Where can you find a house in this neighborhood for that price?”
“Carrie, from the next line, is thinking of transferring to a different factory. Way out in the suburbs.”
“I wish I could do that too… But no, even now, the Academy is so far that I have to leave an hour and a half early.”
Aki pictured her sister chattering excitedly about being praised by a professor. She picked listlessly at her lunch outside the factory.
“I wish I had somewhere to stay, even for a few months.”
“Even if you have to pay a bit more?”
