The Surprised Heart Upon Seeing the Executive Manager (2)

There wasnt any problem with the road to Boyar itself. The members of the Student Council had carefully chosen the road, and the lords of the nearby territories were also keen on maintaining public order out of fear.

After all, terrible consequences would ensue if something were to happen to the Academy students on their territories. The students werent just children from normal noble families; there were members of the royal family and future saints among others. If even one of them said, That territory wasnt great, a hard road ahead awaited them.

And as if that werent enough, I heard that the Gold Duke pressured the lords. If there was an accident on the way to Boyar, people would remember it as an accident that happened on the way to Boyar rather than where it happened. Theyd investigate it thoroughly, so they had to be on high alert.

If I knew, I wouldnt have said anything.

Im sorry. I didnt know the Gold Duke had already warned you all.

To avoid something like a rockfall, landslide, or bandit attack from happening, I sent a message to the lords of nearby territories. I dont even want to imagine how they felt after being pressured by both the Gold Duke and the Prosecutors Executive Manager. But still, it was good to see that everyone was paying attention to safety.

Ill take a look around for a moment. Were leaving in 30 minutes, right?

Yes.

Thats how things went smoothly without a fuss. Then, we stopped at a city for a short rest. This was the last rest stop before entering the tollgate, so we would have to stay inside the carriage until we arrived at Boyar. Itll surely be stifling, so now was a good time to get some fresh air.

Unfortunately, the one person I shouldnt have met shared the same idea.

Irina?

Ah. H-hello?

Irina talked like a broken doll. She was wandering alone, and I happened to run into her. I wouldve taken another route if I had seen her while walking, but I met her on the way back to the carriage. This was the only way back, so there was nowhere else to go.

I was scared this might happen, so I came back early. However, it seemed like Irina had the same idea. Our hearts seem to be strangely connected This sort of telepathy wasnt good.

For a moment, I considered rushing ahead of Irina or pretending I had left something behind to go back. But if I avoided her so blatantly, it would make things even more awkward than this chance encounter.

Or is it better to just be awkward?

Now that I think about it, theres no way things could get more awkward. That would be better than being alone with Irina.

Irina was trembling a lot. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she was biting her lips as if she was trying to hold back her tears.

This is going to drive me crazy.

The actual culprit of the trolling, the 3rd Manager, hadnt met members of the Yorun family again after that incident. But I, whod been scolded by the Minister without knowing why, was still suffering like this. If Irina was a worn-out noble, I would have given her something, but she was still an innocent lady.

The stain of the Prosecutors Office was too deep.

* * *

I barely held back my scream. Its clear that Enen despises me. I pray every morning and offer my tithes regularly, yet

I should have just stayed in the carriage.

I inwardly cried with regret. The pressure of being in a small place with the Executive Manager of the Prosecutors Office, the uncertainty of when he might have a change of opinion, and the fear of disturbing the Executive Managers sleep were all too much. All of these made me escape under the guise of taking a walk.

I knew the Executive Manager had gotten off the carriage before me, but what were the chances of running into each other in such a big city? I tried to return to the carriage quickly just in case, but this happened. My heart trembled even more as I tried to calm it down.

At least in the carriage, there were Louise and Erich in case of an emergency. The Executive Manager spent most of the time sleeping, so I had few chances to see him. Why did I foolishly go out? I ended up meeting him.

Should I run away?

But how? We met on the main road, and there was no way to go. Would it be okay to avoid him in such a blatant way? What if he becomes offended?

I know that our familys innocence was proven, and wed even received an apology letter from the Prosecutors Office. However, that didnt mean the incident had never happened. There was no guarantee that something like that wouldnt happen again.

They might be planning to take another jab at us to cover up their mistake. In the distant past, there have been cases where nonexistent crimes were fabricated to eliminate a family. If I make the slightest mistake, they might come right after my family.

What should I do?

Irina.

Y-yes?!

The voice of the Executive Manager made me tremble reflexively. Ive never stood before a judge, but was this how someone felt while being on trial?

Go ahead. I left something behind.

Ah, yes.

I blankly stared at the back of the Executive Manager as he went back. He left something behind? But he only had a small bag with him, which he left in the carriage.

However, thats none of my business. Maybe he bought something in the city. I dont know what it was, but it was a relief that he forgot it. Thanks to that, I was able to get away from him.

Sob

The tension left my body, and I collapsed to the ground. I felt like I was still tormented by the Prosecutors Office, which made me tear up. However, I quickly got up and hurried back to the carriage. Itd be problematic if he returned and we ended up walking side by side.

Ah, Irina. Youre back already.

Yes, I just went out to get some fresh air.

Louise greeted me as I entered the carriage. Upon seeing her, an unexplainable wave of sadness hit me, so I hugged her. Oh my God, I feel like Im about to cry again.

Hehe, that tickles.

Although Louise said this, she hugged me and didnt push me away. I was thankful for this. It was warm It felt like I was calming down a bit

Erich looked at me with a confused expression, but I ignored him. Please, understand me. I was really scared because of your family.

Im glad Im not late.

Not long after, the Executive Manager arrived.

Hes empty-handed?

Contrary to what he had said about leaving something behind, he returned in the same state as before. Did he lie? Why? Dont tell me it was to distance himself from me?

Why?

Confused, I ended up staring at his hand. It felt like watching someone spit on the road and then pick up trash by the roadside. It felt like an act of kindness, but the person doing it confused me.

* * *

Theres no way I had left something behind. I just used it as an excuse to distance myself from Irina before she caused a scene. In the end, I went for an unexpected walk before returning to the carriage. I almost didnt make it back in time.

Upon opening the carriages door, I saw Irina nestled in Louises arms. Im glad that she seemed to have calmed down.

Were heading straight to Boyar, right? Its really far away.

Yeah.

I briefly replied to Erichs grumbling. Boyar was situated in the southernmost part of the vast Empires territory, probably the furthest away from the Capital among the five Duchies. I always hired a teleport magician if I had a reason to visit Boyar.

Traveling to Boyar by carriage was like going to the Jeju Islands by boat instead of a plane. If this was a leisurely trip, I wouldve enjoyed the journey. But doing it for work? Youd have to be crazy to enjoy it.

Well, although the most important thing wasnt Erichs comment or the distance to Boyar.

Why is she acting like that?

She clearly wanted to distance herself from me as much as possible when we met on the street earlier. But now, she was sneakily looking at me. Of course, she wasnt blatantly staring, but I couldnt help but feel her gaze in such a confined space. If I were someone who couldnt even notice the gaze of an ordinary student, then I wouldve wasted four years of my life.

And yet, every time I shifted my gaze toward her or moved my hand, she immediately shrank back, trembling. It was like the reaction of a child who was scared of being hit by an adult, which made me feel uneasy.

She did get hit that badly.

It wasnt that I had hit anyone, but her family as a whole had been beaten severely. The 3rd Manager was an asshole. To think hed inflict such trauma on a young lady in her prime.

Thats why I decided to endure Irinas stares silently. If I thought about the prank the Prosecutors Office had played on the Yorun family, such minor discomfort was bearable.

It didnt take long to reach the central city once we crossed the boundary of the Boyar Duchy. The Gold Duke had put much effort into the roads to ensure a smooth journey. He truly had the mindset of an artisan.

Its magnificent

Irina and Erich nodded in agreement with Louises words as they gazed out the window. It was magnificent indeed. As the major economic city of the Empire, Boyar had a massive influence due to its strategic location.

The final destination of Boyars roads, the vast harbor where ships that traverse through the continent dock, and the golden city where the ruler of gold, the Gold Duke, lived. I wondered if it was okay for a city that wasnt the Capital to have a grandiose name like the Golden City.

But anyway, we reached one of the ten major cities of the Empire, Pkope. It was the Boyar Duchys center.

That was a long journey.

I could finally escape from the awkward silence with Irina.

I glanced at her. She was glued to the window like Louise, admiring the scenery of Pkope. She looked happy, which was a relief.

Ill be careful not to appear before you, at least during this school trip.