Unable to resist, I often went to the Polon Alley. Originally, there was a set number of times I could go, but the busy maids in Stiana’s service neglected my surveillance.

“Reje! I’ve been waiting!”

When I frequently went to Polon Alley, I enjoyed snacks or games with my siblings.

Perhaps because of this, the disdainful gaze of my stepbrother gradually diminished. My mother, who used to greet me every time I came, went to university a month ago through a professor’s recommendation.

Rodney, who said he would not laugh until he went to university himself, did not smile until the end. Maybe he was worried that his words would actually come true.

Although spending a day in Polon Alley was fun, it didn’t mean I went there every day. When I didn’t go to Polon Alley, I usually headed to Duke Penton’s or Marquis Kito’s estate.

“I have something to tell you, Reje.”

Interrupting our chess game, Marquis Kito spoke.

“What’s the matter?”

“I think I’ll be busier from the end of this year. I’ll spend less time in Hosha Village. I’ll probably be in the capital most of the time, especially during the champion’s tenure.”

I stopped moving the pawn. It was a fact I had known for a long time that Marquis Kito would be busy.

I always felt sorry for the Marquis, who was always busy leading his body to Hosha Village because of me.

“It’s okay. If I take a stagecoach, I can come.”

“Are you coming alone?”

To Marquis Kito’s question, I nodded. If I told Yurik, he would surely say he would come with me, but he started preparing for the entrance exams to enroll in a prestigious boarding school this year. It was ultimately due to pressure from his grandfather.

Yurik tried everything he could to avoid going to school, but it seemed practically impossible.

“Hmm… It’s a problem for you to come alone, but I feel like I won’t have time. I’m worried that I’ll let you come and just send you back without much attention.”

In the end, it meant we wouldn’t play chess together.

Even though I anticipated it, hearing it directly made my heart ache. There was still so much I didn’t know…

There was so much to learn, and without Marquis Kito by my side, playing chess alone was difficult and laborious. Although I had played chess alone a few times, in the end, I could always ask Marquis Kito for advice.

“…”

The uncertainty made even the chess pieces in front of me seem blurry.

“I know you’re anxious, Reje. But you’re a child who can do well on your own.”

“…”

“But you’re still a child. So, I want to ask… Reje, have you ever thought about going to school?”

“School?”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, but it’s the Venetedi Women’s Boarding School. The geometry professor there is my longtime mentor, the one who taught me chess.”

“But, but the entrance exam for Venetedi is known to be very difficult… Moreover, I can’t do geometry. Most importantly, I’m still eleven years old.”

As I hesitated in my speech, Marquis Kito’s stern face softened.

“Actually, I’m not that worried about the entrance exam. You can learn geometry once you get there, right? He’s a true teacher; he’ll surely teach you well.”

“But I can only take the exam three years from now…”

Normally, boarding schools allow entrance exams from the age of fourteen. It was three years away. It was a long time, and honestly, in three years, Marquis Kito might finish his work and be able to stay in Hosha Village.

“As far as I know, Venetedi allows early admission. Come to think of it, a famous female mathematician went there at the age of ten.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. However, after passing the exam, the interview might be a bit tricky. Anyway, Reje, you can take the exam in September this year. Until then, I can stop by and teach you chess. How about it, Reje?”

“I…”

As I struggled to speak, Marquis Kito looked concerned.

“Is it because of your father? Are you afraid he might object?”

“No. My father has a reason to send me to school. It’s in the court decision.”

“Then, do you not want to go to school? If it feels burdensome, you don’t have to go. Since you know many people, you can tell others about yourself…”

“No! I want to go to school! I’ll go!”

I had been contemplating how to tell Yurik about this fact easily.

As I thought about it, I realized that Yurik might not react negatively to this fact. If he went to school, and I also went to school, we wouldn’t miss each other. Besides, from what I knew, Venetedi Women’s Boarding School and the school Yurik wanted to attend were close in distance. Moreover, Yurik’s chosen school was the same school Rodney attended!

I couldn’t miss this opportunity!

“I, I’ll start studying from now on. I won’t neglect chess just because of this! I want to pass and meet Marquis’s mentor!”

“Of course, that’s what you should do, Reje.”

Late spring of that year blossomed in this way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Theus pressed the scar on his eye tightly.

‘Sirius.’

The dry scar on the chilly day seemed to ache continually. He kept rubbing the scar but felt a gaze fixed on him, causing him to drop his hand.

He saw a young boy with dark hair, similar to his, beside him. Judging by his attire, it was clear that this person didn’t belong here, but for several days, he had been staying here without leaving.

Theus moved toward the boy with an empty gaze. The boy flinched at his shoulder but bit his lip to conceal his fear.

“Oh, quite a venomous presence, young master.”

“…”

“Brown brought you, who was lying on the street, right? Brown may be a bit rough, but he has a lot of kindness. I couldn’t just leave you alone, you know.”

“…”

“Still, it’s fortunate that Brown brought you. If you had been taken to the alley by some strange guy, you would have undoubtedly suffered something terrible. But in our guild, there are no such wicked guys.”

Theus laughed aloud and glanced briefly at the silent boy. Despite his young appearance, he didn’t seem scared, which intrigued Theus.

“Anyway, I don’t want to get involved with a well-bred young master. If your parents come looking for you, tell them.”

“…My parents won’t come.”

“Huh?”

“One ran away, and the other went crazy.”

The boy’s hand was trembling visibly.

Instead of leaving, Theus took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. After taking a deep breath and exhaling, the boy immediately coughed. Theus purposely blew smoke toward the boy.

Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes.

“It’s troublesome…”

“…?”
“I’m meticulous about money matters. And the land you’re standing on right now is precisely my land. But, young master, you don’t have money or parents, do you?”

As the boy’s eyes grew fierce, Theus narrowed his eyes.

“You’ll have to work here.”

“What?”

“Young master, what’s your name?”

“…Roger Ba… No, Roger.”

As if understanding Roger’s circumstances, Theus didn’t pry into his surname. Instead, he tossed the cigarette to the ground and laughed heartily.

“Welcome to Ignora Guild.”