Chapter 4

After sending Amelia home, Glenn came to find me, his clothes still damp from the lake.

"Amy is the eldest daughter of the family. She has her pride. Vic, can't you be a little more accommodating toward her?"

I agreed without hesitation, my expression calm. "Alright."

After all, the man I would ultimately marry had never been him.

Seeing the faint smile on my lips and the anger gone from my face, he let out a breath of relief and said, "Don't worry. Even if you enter my household as my other woman, I would never allow you to be mistreated."

With that, he hurried away with the medicine he had prepared, rushing off to Amelia's place.

I remained where I stood, watching his retreating figure. Memories from more than a decade surfaced one after another. It was then I suddenly realized that all these years, I had always been the one waiting.

I waited for him to finish his studies. I waited for him to fulfill his promise to bring me into Imperial Academy. I waited for him to marry me and bring me home.

Now, I no longer had to wait.

The next day, my seat was moved back to the front of the classroom.

Glenn entered carrying a stack of examination papers.

"Imperial Academy will soon select a student representative to appear before the king. The top candidate will be appointed directly to an official post," he announced.

If a woman secured an official post before marriage, it would be difficult for her husband's family to strip it away afterward even if they disapproved. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Every student in the room wanted it, myself included.

As I took the examination paper, I looked straight at Glenn and asked, "Professor Howard, this time, you'll be fair, right?"

He had promised me just five victories for Amelia.

Without hesitation, he gave a curt nod.

My anxiety slightly eased. I lowered my head and focused on the exam. This time, I poured everything I knew onto the page with full confidence, hoping to secure a future of my own.

But when it was time to submit my paper, I was horrified.

All the answers I had written down were gone. The papers were completely blank.

My grip tightened around the pen. I stood frozen as tears spilled down my cheeks.

"Glenn, was this your doing?"

He had told me that years ago, when he was still a student, someone had once sabotaged him with disappearing ink. The writing had vanished in half an hour, costing him the top ranking.

And that day, the pens and ink had all come directly from him.

I had never wanted to believe that he would use the very same cruel method against me. Yet, he calmly accepted the blank papers. His gaze shifted toward Amelia, soft with indulgence and affection.

"Amelia has always been ambitious. She insists on earning the appointment before you and entering my household as the mistress. Vic, you'll have other opportunities in the future."

With a few careless words, Glenn had destroyed the only future I had left.

Rage surged through me. Before I knew it, I raised my hand and slapped him hard. Then, I grabbed the bottle of disappearing ink and stormed into Headmaster Whittaker's study.

"Headmaster Whittaker, please help me!"

Glenn arrived moments later. He hurriedly bowed respectfully toward Headmaster Whittaker and the red-clad man seated beside him.

"Your Majesty, it was my mistake. I beg your forgiveness," Gelnn said as he reached for my arm, intending to drag me away.

The King swept his gaze over him lightly, then tapped the desk with a finger. "If a mistake occurred during the examination, then just let her retake it. Right here and right now."

Hearing that, Glenn's face darkened. He shot me a look of displeasure. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to provide fresh pens and ink.

Half an hour later, the King was reading my examination paper, laughing heartily.

"What extraordinary talent! Report to the palace for your immediate appointment on the 15th of next month."

He then turned to Glenn and patted him on the shoulder, smiling from ear to ear. "Professor Howard, it seems you've found your rival. Don't become complacent. I'd hate to see you be outshone by a young lady."

Ignoring Glenn's stiff and cold expression beside me, I let out a huge sigh of relief. Without saying another word, I turned and left, leaving him behind. And I never looked back.

That night, Amelia learned that the position she thought was already hers had slipped away. She flew into a rage. The next morning, she stormed into my room and trashed it, leaving it a mess.

Glenn stood in the doorway and witnessed everything with his own two eyes. Yet, all he did was sigh. He raised a hand, attempting to stroke my hair as he said, "Amy is just being childish. Don't hold it against her. During the Lights Festival, I'll take you to the city to see the lights."

For the past ten years, he always claimed that he was busy as an excuse not to attend the Lights Festival. And yet now, he was suddenly willing to offer it.

I was sure that his companionship was just to compensate for Amelia. Yet, it was the very dream I had once cherished.

For a brief moment, I was tempted to say yes, just to make up for ten years of disappointment. But in the end, I turned my head away.

The Lights Festival fell on the third of the next month—the same day I was to be married by imperial decree. Even if I attended the festival next month, the man beside me would be the man I married, not Glenn.

I said nothing, but Glenn took my silence as agreement. Then, he immediately ordered that I be confined for three days for "bullying a fellow student and showing no remorse".

"Vic," he said, "Amy agreed to let me take you to the Lights Festival on one condition. You must be confined for three days to appease her. After all, she is going to be the mistress of my house. I have to make her feel secure."

I nodded quietly.

But I never made it to the confinement room. Because Father's messenger arrived first.

"Prince Colin is critically ill. His Majesty has ordered an immediate wedding before it is too late. You must return home and depart at once!"