“Then I will be brief,” Alicia said quietly. “I was never informed that His Highness the Crown Prince had sent word and visited our estate. Instead, only my stepsister Mariabelle was allowed to meet him. This has been orchestrated by my parents since my childhood. In other words, just as you said, Grandfather, I have been deliberately mistreated.”
The very reason her grandparents had severed ties with House Wellston lay in their conflict with Thomas.
“…Unforgivable. That is precisely why I told Jessica that man was no good,” Edward muttered.
His face twisted with bitter regret. Judging from his tone, the servants’ whispers had been correct—Jessica had truly been infatuated with Thomas.
“Jessica was deceived by that smooth-tongued man,” Barbara said, her voice tight with frustration.
Edward exhaled, then asked sharply, as if resetting himself, “And now, the real point?”
Alicia nodded and spoke.
“I am currently enrolled in the academy’s general course as part of my consort training. However, I wish to transfer to the magic department. In the future, I hope to support myself as an alchemist, crafting magical tools. I humbly ask for your assistance.”
She bowed deeply.
In truth, she felt ashamed of having no choice but to cling to someone else.
Yet this was the only path she could see.
“…I see. You have made up your mind to sever yourself from that household in your own way,” Edward said. “What, precisely, do you want us to do?”
“Fortunately, the tuition for the magic department and the general course is the same. I ask that you help conceal my transfer from my family. I would like you, Grandfather, to act as my guarantor.”
“So they would oppose your entering the magic department,” Edward murmured, then fell silent.
“…Grandfather?” The quiet became unbearable, and Alicia ventured to speak.
Edward replied curtly, “If your family home has become unlivable, you may stay with us during the summer recess. But the transfer examination for the magic department is difficult. Are you confident you can pass?”
“…Absolutely!”
Alicia’s eyes widened in surprise before she hurriedly answered.
She had never imagined that things would be decided here and now.
She had even prepared herself for rejection, and the sudden relief nearly made her knees give way.
“Very well. Then I will arrange for you to take the examination first. We will speak further after that. It so happens the headmaster is an old classmate of mine.”
“Thank you very much.”
Alicia bowed once more, deeply.
Edward had been a schoolmate of both the current headmaster and the former king. It was through those connections that Alicia’s engagement to Joshua had originally been arranged.
Thomas liked to boast that it was his own achievement, but in truth, it had all been decided through Edward.
Thomas lacked such influence, yet he now held the title of marquis. That was the troublesome part.
“Alicia, had you asked me to put in a word with Thomas, I would have refused you outright. I do not yet fully trust you. Half of his blood runs in your veins, after all.”
Though she had long since stopped relying on her family, Edward’s words made her tremble.
At the same time, she felt a surge of revulsion toward the blood she shared with Thomas.
When Alicia finished speaking with her grandparents and prepared to leave the palace, she found, unsurprisingly, that the Wellston family carriage was nowhere to be seen.
Her parents and Mariabelle must have already departed.
The conversation had taken longer than expected.
But surely they did not expect her to walk home in a ball gown.
Standing there in dismay, she heard her name.
“Lady Alicia.”
She turned to find Joshua standing behind her.
“I will see you home.”
“Pardon?”
“There are things I wish to discuss with you.”
An indistinct unease crept into Alicia’s heart.
At last, she had the chance to speak with him alone—yet no joy arose within her.
Because Joshua’s words had always wounded her.
And she was beginning to feel exhausted by a love that would never be returned.
