“Now… did you say sponsorship?”

Fiocel inwardly frowned.

Vincent, didn’t this fellow say he had lived his whole life for that?

She couldn’t understand why his expression was so calm.

Well, whatever, he’s probably scheming to get something more out of this.

“I mean to help you achieve the dream you’ve longed for your whole life.”

One corner of Fiocel’s mouth curled up nicely.

“No matter how much it costs, no matter how much is spent, I’ll support it fully.”

With a smile, she took out an envelope from her high-quality leather bag and held it out.

“This is an advance payment.”

A flashy jeweled ring sparkled on Fiocel’s finger as she tapped it.

Looking Vincent up and down, Fiocel sneered.

Wasn’t he said to be without a single title after being kicked out for acting like a ruffian at home?

He may talk about finding a woman or whatnot, but the reality is obvious.

He wants to be granted his title.

Those who have nothing run around eagerly like dogs if they can get even one thing.

It would only be a matter of time before that girl is driven out.

Sure enough, he couldn’t take his eyes off the envelope before him.

Seeing him reach for it, Fiocel couldn’t hide her smile.

But Vincent didn’t pull it towards himself, instead placing it back in front of her.

Vincent’s gaze slowly rose to face the slightly distorted Fiocel.

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Faint wrinkles left by time creased the haggard man’s face.

Long shadows fell over them.

The man with a rather heavy impression, known for his stubbornness, was much more handsome than expected.

Enough to wonder if he might have stirred the hearts of several young ladies when he was younger.

His black hair, covering his head instead of the red hair said to be passed down through generations of the Chervion family, was also impressive.

Did he change that too after that woman disappeared, going mad?

A man who should live with red hair, looking like that.

He must be either completely insane or it’s part of some show.

As the wind gently blew through the window gap, red eyes that had been hiding in his hair were revealed.

The light in them was completely different from just before.

It was a resolute and emotionless, cold light.

“I don’t know what grudge you have against Yuriel, but I’ll handle my assistant myself.”

Vincent coldly pronounced towards Fiocel, who had narrowed her eyes.

“Please leave now.”

Wasn’t he supposed to just want his title?

According to reports, this man was extremely picky, obsessed with research.

Because of that, several new administrators had been replaced.

The only one who lasted long among them was that girl.

That’s why quite plausible rumors about that girl were circulating.

The one who cleared that up was none other than Cassian, the man engaged to her.

With his appearance alone, the rather dirty scandal disappeared as if washed away.

Fiocel clenched her fist.

Pain was created where she gripped so tightly that it cut into her flesh, but not a hint of change appeared in her expression.

‘Is there really something between him and that girl?’

No. According to the reports that came up, this man was an excessively quiet and deeply heartbroken person.

If it were that way, a rather decent picture could have come out, tsk.

Thinking it had turned out regrettably, Fiocel looked at Vincent as he tried to rise from his seat.

They say he’d use any means necessary, but he seems to be the type to care about conscience and such more than expected.

If that’s the case, it’s even easier.

“Well. There’s no one else here now who will sponsor you except me.”

Vincent’s face visibly crumpled at Fiocel’s calm words.

“You’d better leave before harsher words come out of my mouth.”

“What do you mean?”

“It turns out you’re the one interfering at every turn to prevent sponsors from coming forward for the project.”

Vincent didn’t find the woman before him even slightly amusing.

A crazy woman who destroys something others have staked their lives on, then comes here on her own feet, mentions a lifelong project with her own mouth, and makes what she calls a proposal but is actually a threat, nothing more or less.

What was even more astounding was that there wasn’t the slightest tremor on her face as she spouted such nonsense.

As if she didn’t care what happened to another person’s life with just one of her fingers.

She was disgustingly the type Vincent hated most.

And after all that, what is she saying now?

That she’ll sponsor him. But only after he drives out his assistant.

The fact that he was staying still now was the last of his patience that he was exercising.

But…

“So what?”

“What did you just…”

“That’s all the more reason you should drive that child out. I’m saying I’ll do everything for you if you just drive that child out.”

Vincent was too dumbfounded to continue speaking.

Fiocel looked at him calmly as she rose from her seat.

“Don’t you understand? Everything that’s happened to you is because of that child.”

With a noble smile on her lips, Fiocel waved the envelope.

“Contact me again when you think of this. I’ll be ready anytime.”

As Fiocel stood up, the knight beside her hurriedly pushed the chair in.

“I can’t wait long. I’m a bit impatient by nature.”

Turning her body, Fiocel lit a cigar and blew on it.

As smoke leaked from her mouth, it made Vincent’s space hazy.

Vincent’s irritated voice was laid over the smoke.

“There’s no need to wait. We won’t meet again.”

Fiocel’s forehead, which had been smooth like porcelain, wrinkled nicely.

“Ah, is it because of some last conscience or something? What, does it feel like you’re selling your assistant for money?”

Looking at Vincent who stood still, Fiocel smiled freshly.

“If it’s because of that, you don’t need to. It’s because that woman is throwing herself around carelessly.”

“You, fabricating lies seems to be your habit.”

Despite Vincent’s agitated voice, Fiocel continued calmly.

“Yes. I didn’t want to believe it either. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? That that mere girl would try to do something to my fiancé. Not knowing her place.”

“I heard in the news that your ladyship’s engagement is already as good as broken off…”

“That’s why I’m saying it’s because of that girl who doesn’t know her place.”

Fiocel’s eyes were cold as she spoke in a low temperature.

It was because she was irritated that something she thought would be easily resolved was more troublesome than expected.

However, Fiocel’s eyes that turned towards Vincent soon curved gently as if nothing had happened.

“In short, what you’re doing isn’t selling your disciple for money, but implementing justice. Then I get my engagement back? You get your project back. Everyone gets a happy ending.”

Fiocel put down her cigar as if throwing it and crushed the embers underfoot.

A rosy smile was placed on her upturned face.

“I believe you’ll make a wise choice.”

I couldn’t bear to listen to the end of Lady Fiocel’s words.

The moment she revealed her true colors.

The moment I realized that my mentor knew all of this and still left me be.

It felt like everything was crumbling down.

A high sound resembling something from a string instrument wetly rang in my ears like tinnitus.

After sitting down unable to even breathe for a moment, I quickly stood up at the lady’s last voice.

At the sound of her coming out, I ran down the corridor as if fleeing, and at the end, my breath was rapid.

As if someone was strangling my neck.

My mentor had given me other work to do while coming as an administrator. As if trying to prevent me from stopping by here.

Knowing why he moved like that, knowing all of this, I couldn’t utter a word.

Even after that, he didn’t say anything to me related to that.

Despite the fact that he could receive all the sponsorship money if he just drove me out.

Even in that situation, the search for sponsors continued without cease in hopes of finding some last hope.

Today was no different.

I went to see someone who had been selected as a potential sponsor candidate.

Of course, there was no gain at all.

As is usually the nature of disasters, unpleasant things came crashing in like waves with no intention of receding.

When one problem was dealt with, another problem arose, and another, in a repetition.

So this dark world with no end in sight showed no signs of brightening at all.

The flower petals scattered like rain and splashing at my feet gradually lost the vitality they had when pulsing and were dyed in increasingly deep colors.

It felt like the more I struggled and flailed, the more life sank into the mire.

Like these fallen leaves catching at my feet.

I was properly receiving the punishment Lady Fiocel spoke of.

I know why the lady is doing this.

Her pressure won’t end until I leave that man.

Probably until the day I leave, no, even after that day, I’ll have to live with them on my mind until I die.

If only I were the one receiving punishment…

It would have been much better.

Whatever it might be.

It was even more ridiculous that there wasn’t even a way out.

If I gave up all of this and went back to beg her, I’d have to break up with that man.

If I broke up with that man, my mother would…

On the other hand, meeting that man like this while trying to restore the broken project with my mentor also seemed hopeless.

No matter which path I chose, it was clear that something would break and be miserably shattered.

But this isn’t a problem I can blame on anyone.

In the end, it was I who decided to be born this way and to lose this way.

Unlike those flowers, I… chose this of my own will.

For someone like me to be sad is arrogance, hypocrisy, and a disgusting act.

Time flowed in a way that was indistinguishable.

And so, on a day when the hot summer bestowed a heat wave and the lush green leaves were turning red.

A man approached before my eyes.

The man grasped my chin to face him and stared intently at my face as if examining it.

My puzzlement at the man’s familiar face was brief.

Once I realized his identity, I felt my limbs stiffen.