IHTN 03

Chapter: 03

“Lady Catherine, how have you been?”

Yulia ran into Catherine’s open arms and hugged her.

A sweet fragrance of perfume drifted from Catherine as their bodies touched, tickling the tip of Yulia’s nose.

“Congratulations on your graduation, my dear children.”

Catherine gently said as she wrapped both arms around them and stroked their backs.

“So, Yulia ended up as the top graduate this year, didn’t she?”

“I wasn’t very confident this semester, but I got lucky.”

“How can you be so humble, too!”

Catherine smiled warmly and looked at Yulia with her sparkling red eyes.

Beautiful, intelligent, and even humble—this unexpected blessing that had come into her life was simply too perfect for her not to adore.

“Thanks to you, our Jerome managed to graduate safely as well. Even though you were busy studying, you took such good care of my son. You’ve really worked hard.”

Catherine patted Yulia’s back repeatedly as she guided them toward the chairs.

“Oh right, this isn’t the time for that. You there—bring the special tonic I got from Doctor List.”

Catherine pointed at the maid standing behind her.

The maid, wearing a white apron, quickly left the drawing room and returned with a square box wrapped in a navy cloth.

“Take it, Yulia. It’s for you.”

“What? I haven’t even finished the one you gave me last time!”

Yulia waved her hands in surprise.

“Just take it. It’s my graduation gift for our proud sponsored student. How are you going to handle your future looking this skinny?”

Lady Catherine said with a deliberately stern expression, grabbing Yulia’s thin wrist and shaking it.

Yulia’s wrist dangled easily in Catherine’s single hand.

“Make sure to take it once a day without forgetting. It’ll boost your appetite and help you gain some weight.”

Yulia couldn’t help but feel touched by how much Catherine cared for her.

The Duvert couple didn’t just support her—they took care of her attentively in every way.

Yulia quietly vowed never to forget this kindness.

“Oh, right! I heard this year’s Royal Academy graduation banquet is being held at the newly opened Dunker Hotel in the city?”

Catherine asked as she lifted her golden teacup.

“Yes. Everyone seems to be looking forward to experiencing their first wild night after graduation.”

“Well, it has already been years since you all became adults… I was always worried you were wasting your precious youth stuck in school. Why do you study for so long?”

Catherine muttered as she popped a cookie into her mouth.

The Royal Academy’s basic curriculum lasted five years, from age 14 to adulthood at 19.

After completing those five years, students had to choose between staying for advanced courses or going straight into society to gain practical experience.

Yulia had chosen the former and completed an additional three years of advanced study.

“The longer your education, the more money you make!”

For her, there had only ever been one answer.

“That sounds really fun!”

“Right? Jerome, tell me how it was when you come back.”

“Huh? Yulia, you’re not going?”

Catherine asked with wide eyes.

“No! I’m not planning to. Now that I’ve graduated, I need to start preparing for job applications according to company recruitment schedules. Honestly, I’m already late.”

Yulia adjusted her large glasses and took a sip of her chamomile tea.

She truly had no interest in anything other than her own success.

To get into a top-tier company, she needed to prepare everything—from company histories to expected interview questions from executives.

“B-But still, why not go and have fun with Jerome? If you only study when you’re young, life becomes boring!”

“To gain one thing, you must give up another.”

At Yulia’s firm response, Catherine couldn’t hide her flustered expression.

“Then at least go see the new hotel and meet your friends…! I heard the hotel is even providing rooms for banquet attendees. When else would you get such an opportunity? The graduation banquet is one of the Royal Academy’s greatest prides—it’s huge! Everyone is dying to attend, so how can you just skip it?”

Since the banquet lasted from early evening until dawn, the venue provided rooms for guests to rest.

Of course, those rooms weren’t only for resting.

It wasn’t uncommon for couples who hit it off at the party to go into the rooms together.

‘There’s even a term for it—graduation banquet couples.’

Yulia shrugged as if it had nothing to do with her and looked at the pattern on her teacup.

Hmm… was this cup made by a subsidiary of the Shif family?

“Then how about this? I’ll give you some spending money so you can enjoy yourself with Jerome! Think of it as my gift. Just clear that little head of yours for one day and have fun.”

At the word money, Yulia’s ears perked up.

Money was the second thing she cared about most after success.

Noticing the subtle change in Yulia’s expression, Catherine smiled and pressed on.

“I’ll give you 800 Lark! What do you think? That’s enough to buy a beautiful dress and a nice bag, isn’t it?”

800 Lark was a huge amount—enough for a dress, a bag, and even shoes.

Any leftover money could be used to buy books for job preparation or sent to her grandfather for living expenses.

After finishing all the calculations in her head, Yulia looked up with sparkling blue eyes.

“Deal.”

* * *

The faint sound of a whip urging horses forward and the clatter of hooves echoed.

A luxurious carriage bearing the emblem of the Isheide family passed through a wealthy district where famous nobles of the capital lived.

Cassian, who had been sitting upright the entire time, turned his head toward the window.

Outside, grand mansions of various noble families passed by, each displaying its unique splendor.

At that moment, the carriage stopped as someone crossed the road.

“Wow, is that the Duvert estate? I heard they’re the richest in the Tritan Empire, and the mansion really is huge.”

Lucas, sitting across from him, leaned toward the window as he spoke.

Seeing Cassian suddenly turn his head and look outside, Lucas assumed there must be something worth seeing.

Without responding, Cassian fixed his gaze on a woman leaving the Duvert gates.

Yulia, with her brown hair neatly tied back, was walking out while holding a large box with both hands.

Is she carrying that heavy thing all by herself?

Cassian’s brows subtly furrowed.

“Oh? That girl is wearing your academy uniform. The ribbon color is the same as yours—does that mean she’s a graduate this year?”

As Lucas leaned further out the window, he spotted Yulia.

Just as he was about to say more, the purple curtain was abruptly pulled shut, blocking his view.

Cassian withdrew his hand from the curtain and turned back forward.

“…What was that?”

“What?”

“Why did you suddenly close the curtain?”

“I didn’t know you were looking.”

“…What’s wrong with your personality?”

At Cassian’s cold reply, Lucas straightened himself.

“Seeing that uniform reminds me—Cassian, you’re going to the academy graduation banquet, right?”

“I have to.”

“That sounds fun. Enjoy it for my share too. Not graduating from the Royal Academy is my lifelong regret. My dream was to attend and build valuable connections.”

“What’s so fun about it…”

“How about making it even more fun by becoming a graduation banquet couple this time?”

Lucas asked with a mischievous grin.

Cassian leaned back and closed his eyes, ignoring him.

Graduation banquet…

A small, faint hope crossed his mind—that he might be able to have a normal conversation with her there.

…As if that would happen.

Cassian dismissed the thought.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the vast gardens of Isheide Castle.

After stepping out, Cassian entered without even glancing at Lucas.

Butler Abil, unsure whether to follow his master or greet the guest, finally made up his mind and hurried toward Lucas.

“Greetings, Young Master Lucas. You must be tired from your journey. Have you been well?”

“Hey, Abil, long time no see.”

“His Highness had urgent matters to attend to…”

“Isn’t that just like Cassian? Just show me to my room. I should be grateful he even came to the station.”

Lucas shrugged.

Abil apologized repeatedly on behalf of his cold master and signaled the servants behind him.

They began carrying Lucas’s luggage.

“Young Master, will you be staying long this time?”

“Who knows? Probably not. I doubt he’ll let me stay long.”

Lucas looked up at Isheide Castle.

“I don’t even know if there’s anything I can help him with.”

* * *

“Oh my goodness…!”

Lady Catherine opened the fan in her hand and began fanning herself dramatically.

It was obvious she was showing off her newly bought fan.

“I knew our Yulia was pretty, but dressed up like this, you wouldn’t lose to any lady in the Empire!”

“Oh, you’re flattering me.”

Yulia smiled shyly and looked at herself in the mirror.

Inside the round marble frame stood a woman with an awkward expression.

The elegant blue dress shimmered, and the golden embroidery at the hem was breathtakingly beautiful.