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Chapter 232: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat

Chapter 232



On her way back to her room after visiting Yoon Si-woo's, Sylvia walked quietly while gazing out the window at the scenery. Then, the sound of clattering nearby made her turn her head.


It seemed like Sebastian was clearing away the dishes from earlier. He was pushing a cart loaded with trays from the direction of her room. Upon spotting Sylvia, he gave a polite nod.


“Seeing you come from that direction, I assume you went to treat Yoon Si-woo? Was there any improvement?”


“...No, unfortunately.”


“I see… Yoon Si-woo needs to recover quickly…”


Sebastian murmured with a bitter expression. Sylvia could tell that his words weren’t just about Yoon Si-woo’s condition. Despite his attempt to hide it, she noticed his eyes flicking between the untouched food and her.


Sylvia felt the depth of Sebastian’s concern and, with a faint smile, spoke up.


“Sebastian, could you reheat that food for me? It seems I’m hungrier than I thought.”


“...! Reheat it? For you, Miss Sylvia? Absolutely not! I’ll ask the chef to prepare a fresh meal right away. Please wait just a moment.”


Was a simple request for a meal enough to make him that happy?


Sylvia smiled to herself, subtly hiding the bitter amusement behind it. She masked her true intentions from him, just like the dagger she kept concealed within her clothes. 


Given how much Sebastian worried for her, there was no way she could let him know what she was about to do.


I’m sorry, Sebastian.


Sylvia softly whispered her apology, making sure it didn’t reach his ears as he hurried off to the kitchen to prepare what would be her last meal before she escaped the mansion.


The hidden dagger gleamed coldly.


* * *


While waiting for Sebastian to return with her meal, Sylvia recalled the view from the window she had noted on her way back to her room. The reason she had been surveying the scenery was to check the placement of the guards stationed around the mansion.


From her observations, she had counted about ten guards each in both the front and back courtyards. 


With so many guards focused on monitoring the estate, slipping out unnoticed seemed nearly impossible. If she tried to escape, they would undoubtedly attempt to stop her.


A confrontation was inevitable.


While the guards would likely try to subdue her without causing serious harm, she couldn’t afford to inflict significant injuries on them either.


Could she manage it—taking on that many at once?


Sylvia clenched her fists and shook her head. 


No, now wasn’t the time for doubts.


Hadn’t she trained so hard, pushing herself to her limits, for moments like this?


She had done it because she didn’t want to be powerless when she truly needed strength.


So, it wasn’t a matter of whether she could do it—she would do it.


That was the mindset she needed.


It wasn’t just blind confidence either.


There were stories, often told about heroes, who grew stronger when facing extreme adversity. It wasn’t just a tale of mental fortitude—some heroes physically evolved to overcome such challenges, gaining new strength in the process.


After all, Sylvia herself had felt something shift within her after the incident with Scarlet, where Scarlet had taken a monstrous attack meant for her. The thought of going through such an experience again had been unbearable. 


Perhaps that’s why she felt as if she had broken through some barrier holding her back.


So, even though she would be outnumbered, Sylvia believed she could handle it—if she was at her full strength.


But that was the problem.


She looked down at the bracelet locked around her ankle and let out a small sigh. 


The biggest obstacle to escaping the mansion was this magical device. The bracelet would weigh her down the moment she stepped outside the estate, making fighting or fleeing nearly impossible.


The only solution was to get rid of it—and there was only one way she could think of.


She would have to sever her ankle along with the bracelet.


Sylvia felt her hand tremble slightly and closed her eyes.


Cutting off one’s own limb was not a decision that could be made lightly.


But she remembered Scarlet—how she had sacrificed an arm to protect others, how she had been willing to lay down her life for Sylvia’s sake.


So if rescuing Scarlet required the price of an ankle...


“...It’s just an ankle.”


Sylvia opened her eyes with steely determination and pulled open a drawer.


Inside were bandages and emergency medical supplies she had set aside for training. Even though it wasn’t ideal to use these often, their effectiveness was undeniable. They would stop the bleeding. 


As for moving with only one ankle, she could still manage with a flight spell.


Combat and whatever came afterward—she would figure that out. Worst-case scenario, she could always get a prosthetic later.


If she was going to do this, there was no point in hesitating now.


Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by Sebastian’s voice.


“Miss Sylvia, I’ve brought your meal.”


“...Yes, come in.”


Resolving herself quietly, Sylvia closed the drawer and responded. First, she needed to eat. Whatever she was about to do next, she needed to regain her strength.


Feeling even hungrier now that she had made up her mind, Sylvia wasted no time starting on the meal as soon as Sebastian set it down.


Watching her eat, Sebastian seemed pleased and spoke with a smile.


“You seem to be in much better spirits than earlier, Miss. I don’t know what brought about the change, but I’m glad to see your appetite has returned. Seeing you eat so well makes me happy too.”


“...It’s just that I was hungry.”


Embarrassed by how accurate Sebastian’s observation was, Sylvia blushed as she gave a curt reply.


But what could she do? Who knew when she’d have the chance to eat a proper meal like this again?


With that in mind, Sylvia polished off the meal, not wanting to waste a single bite. As she finished, Sebastian offered her a cup.


“I’ve prepared tea and sweets for dessert. Would you like some?”


“...Yes, I’ll have some.”


Since it would take a little time for Sebastian to clear the dishes, Sylvia figured there was no harm in enjoying a cup of tea while she waited. 


As Sebastian set down the treats, Sylvia’s ears perked up at the sight of the macarons, and she asked him curiously.


“...You brought macarons? You usually don’t serve them since they’re too sweet for health. What’s the occasion?”


“Well, once in a while is fine. They’re your favorite, after all. I’ve also prepared chamomile tea.”


“Thanks…”


Despite the heavy thoughts weighing on her mind, Sylvia couldn’t help but smile as she took a sip of tea and bit into a macaroon. The taste was so good that, for a brief moment, she almost forgot about everything else.


It wasn’t until she had almost finished the sweets that Sebastian spoke up.


“Speaking of macarons, there was a time when you used to eat them every day. Remember? When that girl, Scarlet, was staying at the mansion, she would make them for you all the time. Who would’ve thought she was a witch? People everywhere seem to be calling her a wicked sorceress now.”


At the sudden mention of Scarlet’s name, Sylvia’s expression stiffened.


Was he about to criticize her too?


Would he call her shameless for staying in the mansion despite being an enemy of the Astra family?


Not wanting to hear such words from Sebastian, Sylvia bit her lip hard.


But then he continued.


“Well, no matter what others say, I don’t believe she was like that. That Scarlet girl—she was kind, not evil.”


Surprised by his words, Sylvia stared at him, taken aback, and asked quietly.


“...Do you really think that?”


“Of course. You don’t know how much she bothered me, insisting on repaying her debt by asking about all the things you liked. She was the type to repay kindness with kindness. Someone like that couldn’t be a bad person.”


It was true.


Scarlet was kind, even if others didn’t see it. People judged her just because she was a witch, without knowing the real her, and it had hurt Sylvia deeply to see that.


Trying to keep her composure, Sylvia held back the urge to nod vigorously in agreement. Sebastian continued.


“And more importantly, Miss Sylvia, I know that you smiled the brightest when Scarlet was around. She must have been a dear friend to you, wasn’t she?”


Hearing that, Sylvia felt a lump rise in her throat. She hung her head, inhaling sharply, before nodding slowly and deeply.


“...Yes, she was. Scarlet was the kindest, sweetest person I knew.”


Watching her for a moment, Sebastian then reached into the cart and handed her something wrapped in cloth.


Startled, Sylvia looked at the bundle and asked.


“...What’s this?”


“I’ve packed some things I thought you might need.”


“Where are you going with—”


Before she could finish, Sebastian cut her off with an answer that froze her in place.


“You’re going to save her, aren’t you? That girl.”


Sylvia’s body went rigid, as if time itself had stopped.


------------------------


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Comments

  1. Tfnc :33 the butler understand her so much XD

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